Engineering P450 TamI as an Iterative Biocatalyst for Selective Late-Stage C-H Functionalization and Epoxidation of Tirandamycin Antibiotics

<div> <div> <div> <p>Iterative P450 enzymes are powerful biocatalysts for selective late-stage C-H oxidation of complex natural product scaffolds. These enzymes represent new tools for selectivity and cascade reactions, facilitating direct access to core structure diversification. Recently, we reported the structure of the multifunctional bacterial P450 TamI and elucidated the molecular basis of its substrate binding and strict reaction sequence at distinct carbon atoms of the substrate. Here, we report the design and characterization of a toolbox of TamI biocatalysts, generated by mutations at Leu101, Leu244 and/or Leu295, that alter the native selectivity, step sequence and number of reactions catalyzed, including the engineering of a variant capable of catalyzing a four-step oxidative cascade without the assistance of the flavoprotein and oxidative partner TamL. The tuned enzymes override inherent substrate reactivity enabling catalyst- controlled C-H functionalization and alkene epoxidation of the tetramic acid-containing natural product tirandamycin. Five new, bioactive tirandamycin derivatives (6-10) were generated through TamI-mediated enzymatic synthesis. Quantum mechanics calculations and MD simulations provide important insights on the basis of altered selectivity and underlying biocatalytic mechanisms for enhanced continuous oxidation of the iterative P450 TamI. </p> </div> </div> </div>

Engineering P450 TamI as an Iterative Biocatalyst for Selective Late-Stage C-H Functionalization and Epoxidation of Tirandamycin Antibiotics

<div> <div> <div> <p>Iterative P450 enzymes are powerful biocatalysts for selective late-stage C-H oxidation of complex natural product scaffolds. These enzymes represent new tools for selectivity and cascade reactions, facilitating direct access to core structure diversification. Recently, we reported the structure of the multifunctional bacterial P450 TamI and elucidated the molecular basis of its substrate binding and strict reaction sequence at distinct carbon atoms of the substrate. Here, we report the design and characterization of a toolbox of TamI biocatalysts, generated by mutations at Leu101, Leu244 and/or Leu295, that alter the native selectivity, step sequence and number of reactions catalyzed, including the engineering of a variant capable of catalyzing a four-step oxidative cascade without the assistance of the flavoprotein and oxidative partner TamL. The tuned enzymes override inherent substrate reactivity enabling catalyst- controlled C-H functionalization and alkene epoxidation of the tetramic acid-containing natural product tirandamycin. Five new, bioactive tirandamycin derivatives (6-10) were generated through TamI-mediated enzymatic synthesis. Quantum mechanics calculations and MD simulations provide important insights on the basis of altered selectivity and underlying biocatalytic mechanisms for enhanced continuous oxidation of the iterative P450 TamI. </p> </div> </div> </div>

Intermolecular CDC Amination of Remote and Proximal Unactivated Csp3–H Bonds Through Intrinsic Substrate Reactivity – Expanding Towards a Traceless Directing Group

An intermolecular radical based distal selectivity in appended alkyl chains has been developed. The selectivity is maximum when the distal carbon is γ to the appended group and decreases by...

The Oxygen Consumption Kinetics of Commercial Oenological Tannins in Model Wine Solution and Chianti Red Wine

One property of oenological tannins, oxygen reactivity, is commonly exploited in winemaking. The reactivity is mediated by the presence of catalysts (i.e., transition metals and sulfur dioxide) and protects wine against oxidation. This work compares the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of four commercial oenological tannins (two procyanidins from grape skin and seed, an ellagitannin from oak wood and a gallotannin from gallnut) in a model wine solution and Chianti red wine. All samples were subjected to consecutive cycles of air saturation at 20 °C to increase the total level of oxygen provided. After each cycle, the oxygen level was measured by means of a non-invasive luminescent sensor glued to a transparent surface (sensor dots) until there was no further change in substrate reactivity. The OCR followed first-order kinetics, regardless of the tannin. As expected, the ellagitannin showed the fastest OCR, followed by the two from grape seeds and skins and finally the gallotannin. The total O2 consumption in the red wine was almost double that of the model solution, due to the oxidation of wine substrates. The measurement of OCR is helpful for setting up an advanced winemaking protocol that makes use of tannins to reduce the use of sulfur dioxide.

Structural Contributions to Autocatalysis and Asymmetric Amplification in the Soai Reaction

Diisopropylzinc alkylation of pyrimidine aldehydes – the Soai reaction, with its astonishing attribute of amplifying asymmetric autocatalysis, occupies a unique position in organic chemistry and stands as an eminent challenge for mechanistic elucidation. A new paradigm of ‘mixed catalyst substrate’ experiments with pyrimidine and pyridine systems allows a disconnection of catalysis from autocatalysis, providing insights into the role played by reactant and alkoxide structure. The alkynyl substituent favorably tunes catalyst solubility, aggregation and conformation while modulating substrate reactivity and selectivity. The alkyl groups and the heteroaromatic core play further complementary roles in catalyst aggregation and substrate binding. In the study of these structure activity relationships, novel pyridine substrates demonstrating amplifying autocatalysis were identified. Comparison of three autocatalytic systems representing a continuum of nitrogen Lewis basicity strength suggests how the strength of N-Zn binding events is a predominant contributor towards the rate of autocatalytic progression.<br><div> </div>

Structural Contributions to Autocatalysis and Asymmetric Amplification in the Soai Reaction

Diisopropylzinc alkylation of pyrimidine aldehydes – the Soai reaction, with its astonishing attribute of amplifying asymmetric autocatalysis, occupies a unique position in organic chemistry and stands as an eminent challenge for mechanistic elucidation. A new paradigm of ‘mixed catalyst substrate’ experiments with pyrimidine and pyridine systems allows a disconnection of catalysis from autocatalysis, providing insights into the role played by reactant and alkoxide structure. The alkynyl substituent favorably tunes catalyst solubility, aggregation and conformation while modulating substrate reactivity and selectivity. The alkyl groups and the heteroaromatic core play further complementary roles in catalyst aggregation and substrate binding. In the study of these structure activity relationships, novel pyridine substrates demonstrating amplifying autocatalysis were identified. Comparison of three autocatalytic systems representing a continuum of nitrogen Lewis basicity strength suggests how the strength of N-Zn binding events is a predominant contributor towards the rate of autocatalytic progression.<br><div> </div>

Catalyst Free Hydroxyl Protection of Quinine via Esterification

A method to protect the hydroxyl group of quinine via esterification is developed. The method uses acetyl and benzoyl as the protection group. The method employs no catalyst that generates reasonable yield at 83% for acetyl and 73% for benzoyl. This catalyst free method emphasizes on the importance substrate reactivity to achieve free catalyst procedure. Ester form of quinine synthesized might be further functionalized for various aims in accordance to its rich functional group and building block of quinine.

Bifunctional Substrate Activation via an Arginine Residue Drives Catalysis in Chalcone Isomerases

Chalcone isomerases are plant enzymes that perform enantioselective oxa-Michael cyclizations of 2′-hydroxy-chalcones into flavanones. An X-ray crystal structure of an enzyme-product complex and molecular dynamics simulations reveal an enzyme mechanism wherein the guanidinium ion of a conserved arginine positions the nucleophilic phenoxide and activates the electrophilic enone for cyclization through Brønsted and Lewis acid interactions. The reaction terminates by asymmetric protonation of the carbanion intermediate syn to the guanidinium. Interestingly, bifunctional guanidine- and urea-based chemical reagents, increasingly used for asymmetric organocatalytic applications, are synthetic counterparts to this natural system. Comparative protein crystal structures and molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate how two active site water molecules coordinate a hydrogen bond network that enables expanded substrate reactivity for 6′-deox-ychalcones in more recently evolved type-2 chalcone isomerases.