Combined Approach of Backbone Amide Linking and On-Resin N-Methylation for the Synthesis of Bioactive and Metabolically Stable Peptides

J Med Chem. 2018 May 10;61(9):3930-3938. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01809. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

Abstract

Rhabdopeptides are a large class of nonribosomal peptides from the bacteria Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus with low micromolar activity against different protozoa, which are the causative agents of several tropical diseases. The development of a facile and flexible synthesis combining backbone amide linking with on-resin peralkylation for the synthesis of permethylated rhabdopeptides is described. This strategy allows the fast generation of permethylated naturally occurring and artificial rhabdopeptides for a structure-activity study. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed their superior properties regarding their stability and passive membrane diffusion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / metabolism
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Methylation
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Stability
  • Rats
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenorhabdus / chemistry

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Peptides
  • Nitrogen