Foldamers in Medicinal Chemistry

International audienc

Stabilization of an α-helix by short adjacent accessory foldamers

AbstractTemplate-based stabilization of α-peptide helices with short accessory non-peptide helical foldamers fused either at the N- or C-terminus or at both ends of the peptide segment has been investigated by NMR spectroscopy in polar solvents and by X-ray diffraction. In this work, we focused on aliphatic N,N′-linked oligoureas that form predictable and well-defined helical structures akin to α-helices. Our results indicate that urea oligomers have the ability to enforce a peptide segment to adopt a well-defined α-helical structure and may suggest a general approach to stabilize short helical peptide epitopes for the development of modulators of protein–protein interactions

Synthèse en parallèle d'hétérocycles dérivés de séquences dipeptidiques et profil d'activité inhibitrice sur les phospholipases A2 sécrétées

Le squelette 1,3,5-triazépane-2,6-dione est un hétérocycle à sept chainons dérivé de dipeptides et accessible en quatre étapes en solution. Une voie de synthèse en parallèle sur support solide de cet hétérocycle a été élaborée. Cette synthèse, qui repose sur les principes de "catch and release" et de cyclo-clivage, a permis la création d une chimiothèque de plus d une centaine de composés. Pour augmenter la diversité du squelette 1,3,5-triazépane-2,6-dione, des modifications post-cyclisation peuvent avoir lieu telles que des réactions de N-mono-alkylation ou de N,N-di-alkylation de l urée, des réactions d acylation ou bien des réactions de thionation des fonctions carbonyles. De même, la synthèse des cycles analogues aux 1,3,5-triazépane-2,6-diones des tailles plus importantes a été examinée conduisant à l obtention de plusieurs macrocycles.Les 1,3,5-triazépane-2,6-diones présentent un fort potentiel pour la recherche de molécules d intérêt thérapeutique puisque le cycle est rigide, non-planaire et possède une bonne capacité de distribution des pharmacophores dans l espace. Des molécules de cette famille présentent une activité inhibitrice modérée mais spécifique sur les phospholipases A2 secrétées humaines de type V et X. La recherche de nouveaux inhibiteurs de sPLA2 par une étude de relation structure/activité, par création d une pince à calcium ou par simulation moléculaire a conduit à l identification de nouveaux composés actifs.The 1,3,5-triazepane-2,6-dione scaffold is a seven membered heterocycle derived from dipeptides and accessible in a four steps synthesis in solution. A parallel solid phase synthesis of this heterocycle was developed. This strategy, based on "catch and release" and cyclo-cleavage processes, had created a library containing more than one hundred compounds. To increase the diversity of 1,3,5-triazepane-2,6-dione moieties, some post-cyclisation modifications were performed, e.g. urea N-mono-alkylation or N,N-di-alkylation, acylation, and carbonyl thionation. Synthesis of larger cycles was also investigated and several macrocycles were obtained.The 1,3,5-triazepane-2,6-diones have a strong pharmacological interest, because their cycle is rigid, non-planar and can allow multiple presentation of pharmacophores in space. Some 1,3,5-triazepane-2,6-diones have shown a small but specific activity on the groups V and X of the human secreted phospholipases A2. Structure/activity relationships, clamp synthesis to bind calcium or virtual screening were the strategies used to identify new active compounds.BORDEAUX1-Bib.electronique (335229901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Foldamères peptidomimétiques à base d'urées (vers le développement de structures complexes mimes d'architectures biologiques)

La fonction d une protéine dépend dans une large mesure de sa structure tridimensionnelle, c est pourquoi de nombreux chercheurs se sont passionnés pour la synthèse des foldamères, molécules de synthèse, bioinspirées, capables d adopter des structures repliées bien définies. Parmi les différentes classes de foldamères, les oligourées aliphatiques étudiées dans notre laboratoire s organisent pour former des structures hélicoïdales voisines de l hélice a des polypeptides naturels. Pour développer des hélices fonctionnelles mimes de structures biologiques, il est intéressant de mieux comprendre les règles de leur repliement, par exemple en modifiant la nature des unités monomériques. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons donc testé la compatibilité de la géométrie de l hélice d oligourée avec des résidus comportant de fortes contraintes stériques comme des groupements gem-diméthyles et des cycles pyrrolidines. En utilisant les résidus pyrrolidine, nous avons ensuite développé une nouvelle stratégie de synthèse par condensation de segments permettant de concevoir des hélices de grande taille (jusqu à 4 nm). Grâce à cette nouvelle stratégie de synthèse et aux informations obtenues sur la stabilité des hélices nous avons pu concevoir des architectures plus complexes (structures quaternaires) résultant de l assemblage programmé d hélices hydrosolubles.The biological functions of proteins are mainly correlated to their tridimensional structure. For this reason a large number of chemists are interested in the synthesis of foldamers, which are bioinspired artificial molecules possessing well-defined folded conformations. In particular, in our laboratories we focused on the study of oligourea foldamers, which form well-defined and remarkably stable helical structures, analogous to the natural polypeptides a-helix. In order to develop artificial functional helices able to mimic biological structures, it is interesting to understand the rules governing their folding, for example by comparing different residues substitution patterns. During this thesis we have investigated the compatibility of the helix geometry with residues containing steric constraints, such as gem-dimethylated units or pyrrolidine cycle. We have developed a new segment condensation strategy based on these residues, which enabled the facile synthesis of long helical segments (up to 4 nm). The use of this novel approach, combined with the information acquired on helical stability allowed us to produce more complex architectures (quaternary structures) resulting from the controlled assembly of water soluble helices.BORDEAUX1-Bib.electronique (335229901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Hybrid Cell-Penetrating Foldamer with Superior Intracellular Delivery Properties and Serum Stability

International audienceSequence specific molecules with high folding ability (i.e. foldamers) can be used to precisely control the distribution and projection of side chains in space and have recently been introduced as tailored systems for delivering nucleic acids into cells. Designed oligourea sequences with an amphipathic distribution of Arg-and His-type residues were shown to form tight complexes with plasmid DNA, and to effectively promote the release of DNA from the endosomes. Herein, we report the synthesis of new cell-penetrating foldamer sequences in which the foldamer segment is conjugated via a reducible disulfide bond to a ligand that binds cell-surface expressed nucleoproteins with the idea that this system could facilitate both assemblies with nucleic acids and cell entry. This new system was evaluated for delivery of DNA in several cell lines and was found to compare favorably with all comparators tested (DOTAP and b-PEI as well as a number of known cell penetrating peptides) in various cell lines and particularly in culture medium containing up to 50% of serum. These results suggest that this dual molecular platform which is long lasting and non-cytotoxic could be of practical use for in vivo applications

Insights into spatial configuration of a galactosylated epitope required to trigger arthritogenic T-cell receptors specific for the sugar moiety

The immunodominant epitope of bovine type II collagen (CII256–270) in Aq mice carries a hydroxylysine-264 linked galactose (Gal-Hyl264), the recognition of which is central to the development of collagen-induced arthritis. This study explores the molecular interactions involved in the engagement of T-cell receptors (TCRs) with such epitopes. Responses of three anti-CII T-cell hybridomas and clone A9.2 (all sharing close TCR sequences) to a panel of CII256–270 analogues incorporating Gal-Hyl264 with a modified side chain were determined. Recognition of naturally occurring CII256–270 peptides by either group of T cells depended strictly upon the presence of the carbohydrate and, more precisely, its intact HO-4 group. Modifications of primary amino group on the hydroxylysine side chain eliminated T-cell reactivity, notwithstanding the presence of the galactosyl moiety. Moderate stereochemical changes, such as altered sugar orientation and methylation at the galactose anchor position, were still permissive. Conversely, robust transformations affecting the relative positions of the key elements were detrimental to TCR recognition. To conclude, these data provide strong new experimental evidence that integrity of both galactose HO-4 and hydroxylysine side chain primary amino groups are mandatory for activation of anti-Gal-Hyl264 TCRs. They also indicate that there is a certain degree of TCR plasticity in peptide-TCR interactions

Peptide-oligourea chimeric compounds and methods of their use

(EN) The present description provides compositions and methods for producing therapeutic oligomeric compounds. In another aspect the description provides methods for administering the oligomeric compounds for the treatment and prevention of disease in a mammal. In particular, the invention relates to medicaments comprising various novel oligomeric compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention may optionally be administered with at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, additional pharmacologically active agent or a combination thereof

Understanding aroma release from model cheeses by a statistical multiblock approach on oral processing

For human beings, the mouth is the first organ to perceive food and the different signalling events associated to food breakdown. These events are very complex and as such, their description necessitates combining different data sets. This study proposed an integrated approach to understand the relative contribution of main food oral processing events involved in aroma release during cheese consumption. In vivo aroma release was monitored on forty eight subjects who were asked to eat four different model cheeses varying in fat content and firmness and flavoured with ethyl propanoate and nonan-2-one. A multiblock partial least square regression was performed to explain aroma release from the different physiological data sets ( masticatory behaviour, bolus rheology, saliva composition and flux, mouth coating and bolus moistening). This statistical approach was relevant to point out that aroma release was mostly explained by masticatory behaviour whatever the cheese and the aroma, with a specific influence of mean amplitude on aroma release after swallowing. Aroma release from the firmer cheeses was explained mainly by bolus rheology. The persistence of hydrophobic compounds in the breath was mainly explained by bolus spreadability, in close relation with bolus moistening. Resting saliva poorly contributed to the analysis whereas the composition of stimulated saliva was negatively correlated with aroma release and mostly for soft cheeses, when significant

A post-elongation strategy for the introduction of guanidinium units in the main chain of helical oligourea foldamers

International audienc

Chem. Sci.

The isobutyl side chain is a highly prevalent hydrophobic group in drugs, and it notably constitutes the side chain of leucine. Its replacement by a hexafluorinated version containing two CF3 groups may endow the target compound with new and advantageous properties, yet this modification remains overlooked due to the absence of a general and practical synthetic methodology. Herein, we report the first general method to introduce the hexafluoroisobutyl group into ketoesters, malonates, 1,3-diketones, Schiff base esters and malononitrile. We demonstrated that the reaction occurs through an elimination/allylic shift/hydrofluorination cascade process which efficiently overcomes the usual fluoride β-elimination observed with α-CF3-vinyl groups. We showed that with alkali metal bases, a pentafluorinated alkene is obtained predominantly, whereas the use of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) allows hydrofluorination to occur. This tandem process represents a conceptually new pathway to synthesize bis-trifluoromethylated compounds. This methodology was applied to the multigram-scale synthesis of enantiopure (S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-hexafluoroleucine.Interactions supramoléculaires sélectives et directionnelles à base de synthons fluorés hautement polaire