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George Barany

Publications and source records attributed to George Barany.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Structure and orientation of sarcolipin in lipid environments.

Sarcolipin (SLN) is a 31 amino acid integral membrane protein that regulates Ca-ATPase activity in skeletal muscle. Here, we report the three-dimensional structure and topology of synthetic SLN in lipid environments, as determined by solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. 2D solution NMR experiments were performed on SLN solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles. We found that SLN adopts a highly defined alpha-helical conformation from F9 through R27, with a backbone RMSD of 0.65 A and a side chain RMSD of 1.66 A. The N-terminus (M1 through L8) and the C-terminus (S28 through Y31) are mostly unstructured. The orientation of the SLN was determined using one-dimensional (15)N NMR solid-state spectroscopy. The protein was incorporated into phospholipid bilayers prepared from a mixture of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. The (15)N chemical shift solid-state spectra from selectively labeled SLN samples indicate that SLN orients perpendicularly to the plane of the membrane bilayers. These results support the proposed mechanism of Ca-ATPase regulation of SLN via protein-protein intramembranous interactions between the highly conserved transmembrane domains of the Ca-ATPase and the conserved transmembrane domain of SLN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

BetaCore, a designed water soluble four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet protein.

BetaCore is a designed approximately 50-residue protein in which two BPTI-derived core modules, CM I and CM II, are connected by a 22-atom cross-link. At low temperature and pH 3, homo- and heteronuclear NMR data report a dominant folded ('f') conformation with well-dispersed chemical shifts, i, i+1 periodicity, numerous long-range NOEs, and slowed amide hydrogen isotope exchange patterns that is a four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet with nonsymmetrical and specific association of CM I and CM II. BetaCore 'f' conformations undergo reversible, global, moderately cooperative, non-two-state thermal transitions to an equilibrium ensemble of unfolded 'u' conformations. There is a significant energy barrier between 'f' and 'u' conformations. This is the first designed four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet that folds in water.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Backbone Amide Linker (BAL) Strategy for N(alpha)()-9-Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) Solid-Phase Synthesis of Unprotected Peptide p-Nitroanilides and Thioesters(1).

A novel and general backbone amide linker (BAL) strategy has been devised for preparation of C-terminal modified peptides containing hindered, unreactive, and/or sensitive moieties, in concert with N(alpha)()-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid-phase synthesis protocols. This strategy comprises (i) start of peptide synthesis by anchoring the penultimate residue, with its carboxyl group orthogonally protected, through the backbone nitrogen, (ii) continuation with standard protocols for peptide chain elongation in the C --> N direction, (iii) selective orthogonal removal of the carboxyl protecting group, (iv) solid-phase activation of the pendant carboxyl and coupling with the desired C-terminal residue, and (v) final cleavage/deprotection to release the free peptide product into solution. To illustrate this approach, several model peptide p-nitroanilides and thioesters have been prepared in excellent yields and purities, with minimal racemization. Such compounds are very difficult to prepare by standard Fmoc chemistry, including the BAL strategy as originally envisaged.

Journal Article↗

Occurrence and Minimization of Cysteine Racemization during Stepwise Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis(1)(,)(2).

Contrary to the conventional wisdom of the peptide synthesis field, N,S-protected derivatives of cysteine can undergo substantial levels of racemization with widely-used reagents and protocols for stepwise incorporation. A systematic study of this problem has been carried out as a function of coupling conditions and beta-thiol protecting groups, i.e., S-acetamidomethyl (Acm), S-triphenylmethyl (trityl or Trt), S-2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl (Tmob), and S-9H-xanthen-9-yl (Xan), taking advantage of a convenient and quantitative model system assay involving HPLC resolution of H-Gly-L-Cys-Phe-NH(2) from H-Gly-D-Cys-Phe-NH(2). For example, standard protocols for couplings mediated by phosphonium and aminium salts, e.g., (benzotriazolyloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP), N-[(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)(dimethylamino)methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HBTU), N-[[(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-1-yl]methylene]-N-methylmethanaminium hexafluorophosphate N-oxide (HATU), and (7-azabenzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyAOP), typically involve 5-min preactivation times and are conducted in the presence of suitable additives such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) or 7-aza-1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOAt) plus a tertiary amine base such as N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIEA) or N-methylmorpholine (NMM). Under such conditions, the levels of racemization in the model peptide, expressed as the ratio of D:L peptide formed, were in the entirely unacceptable range of 5-33%. However, these levels were in general reduced by a factor of 6- or 7-fold by avoiding the preactivation step. Additional strategies to reduce racemization involved change to a weaker base, with 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (TMP, collidine) being substantially better than DIEA or NMM; 2-fold reduction in the amount of base; and change in solvent from neat N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to the less polar CH(2)Cl(2)-DMF (1:1). Coupling methods for the safe incorporation of cysteine with minimal racemization (<1% per step) in 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid-phase peptide synthesis include BOP (or HBTU or HATU)/HOBt (or HOAt)/TMP (4:4:4) without preactivation in CH(2)Cl(2)-DMF (1:1), DIPCDI/HOBt (or HOAt) (4:4) with 5-min preactivation, and preformed pentafluorophenyl (Pfp) esters in CH(2)Cl(2)-DMF (1:1).

Journal Article↗

Synthetic, Mechanistic, and Structural Studies Related to 1,2,4-Dithiazolidine-3,5-dione.

Reaction of O-ethyl thiocarbamate (4) with (chlorocarbonyl)sulfenyl chloride (5) gives 3-ethoxy-1,2,4-dithiazolin-5-one (2) and 3,5-diethoxy-1,2,4-thiadiazole (3), with the relative amounts of 2 and 3 formed depending very much on the solvent (e.g., diethyl ether favors 2; chloroform favors 3). The effects of added base, order of addition, concentration, and temperature were also studied. Mechanisms for the observed transformations have been proposed and are supported by the characterization of relatively unstable acyclic intermediates, e.g., formimidoyl(chlorocarbonyl)disulfane 8, symmetrical bis(formimidoyl)disulfane 10, and ethoxythiocarbonyl imidate 11, which are obtained under alternative conditions. Compound 2 is converted with concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid upon short reflux to 1,2,4-dithiazolidine-3,5-dione (1), rearranges upon prolonged melting to give principally N-ethyl-1,2,4-dithiazolidine-3,5-dione (13), and is desulfurized with various trivalent phosphorus compounds to yield O-ethyl cyanate (15) plus carbonyl sulfide. X-ray crystallographic structures of 1 and 2 have been solved; the planarity and aromatic character of these molecules help to explain some of their reactions.

Journal Article↗

Preparation and Applications of Xanthenylamide (XAL) Handles for Solid-Phase Synthesis of C-Terminal Peptide Amides under Particularly Mild Conditions(1-3).

[[9-[(9-Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl)amino]xanthen-2(or 3)-yl]oxy]alkanoic acid (XAL) handles have been prepared by efficient four-step routes from 2- or 3-hydroxyxanthone and coupled onto a range of amino-functionalized supports. The resultant XAL supports are the starting points for solid-phase peptide synthesis by Fmoc chemistry. Upon completion of chain assembly, C-terminal peptide amides are released in excellent yields and purities by use of low concentrations [1-5% (v/v)] of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in dichloromethane, often without a need for added carbocation scavengers. These cleavage conditions allow retention of all or a significant portion of tert-butyl type and related side-chain protecting groups, which subsequently may be removed fully in a solution process carried out at higher acid concentration. XAL supports are particularly useful for the synthesis of acid-sensitive peptides, including tryptophan-containing sequences that are known to be susceptible to yield- and/or purity-reducing alkylation side reactions. The effectiveness of this chemistry was shown with the syntheses of prothrombin (1-9), acyl carrier protein (65-74), Tabanus atratus adipokinetic hormone, fragments of the protein RHK 1, CCK-8 sulfate, and oxytocin. Furthermore, the application of XAL supports for the preparation of fully protected peptide amides has been demonstrated.

Journal Article↗

Solid-phase synthesis of lidocaine and procainamide analogues using backbone amide linker (BAL) anchoring.

New solid-phase strategies have been developed for the synthesis of lidocaine (1) and procainamide (2) analogues, using backbone amide linker (BAL) anchoring. Both sets were prepared starting from a common resin-bound intermediate, followed by four general steps: (i) attachment of a primary aliphatic or aromatic amine to the solid support via reductive amination (as monitored by a novel test involving reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine with residual aldehyde groups); (ii) acylation of the resultant secondary amine; (iii) displacement of halide with an amine; and (iv) trifluoroacetic acid-mediated release from the support. A manual parallel strategy was followed to provide 60 novel compounds, of which two dozen have not been previously described. In most cases, initial crude purities were >80%, and overall isolated yields were in the 40-88% range.

Lidocaine↗

Colorimetric monitoring of solid-phase aldehydes using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine.

A simple and rapid method to achieve colorimetric monitoring of resin-bound aldehydes, based on ambient temperature reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) in the presence of dilute acid, has been developed as an adjunct to solid-phase organic synthesis and combinatorial chemistry. By this test, the presence of aldehydes is indicated by a red to dark-orange appearance, within a minute. Alternatively, resins that are free of aldehydes or in which aldehyde functions have reacted completely retain their original color. The DNPH test was demonstrated for poly(ethylene glycol)-polystyrene (PEG-PS), aminomethyl polystyrene (AMP), cross-linked ethoxylate acrylate resin (CLEAR), and acryloylated O,O'-bis(2-aminopropyl)poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGA) supports and gave results visible to the naked eye at levels as low as 18 micromol of aldehyde per gram of resin.

Acrylates↗

A convenient orthogonally cleavable methionine handle for anchoring amines to polymeric supports.

Methionine has been used to anchor amines to polymeric supports for solid-phase synthesis. Either a "preformed handle" or a stepwise elongation strategy was followed. Cyanogen bromide (CNBr) treatment then released amines into solution. CNBr reaction variables were evaluated in order to converge to optimal cleavage conditions, and the strategy was shown to be effective for a range of primary and secondary amines, but not for aromatic amines.

Amines↗

Parallel solid-phase syntheses of 1,3,4-thiadiazolium-2-aminides.

An efficient and advantageous solid-phase strategy has been developed to synthesize 1,3,4-thiadiazolium-2-aminides. The title compounds were prepared in parallel fashion according to the following compact route: (i) anchoring of aromatic aldehydes to the solid support; (ii) solution preparation of 1,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazides from hydrazines plus isothiocyanates; (iii) trimethylsilyl chloride-promoted cyclization between the resin-bound aldehydes and 1,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazides; and (iv) removal of the products from the solid support by acid treatment. The products (17 made in all) were cleaved with high initial purities (90-98%) and obtained in generally good isolated yields (53-94%, with one exception).

Journal Article↗