Katarzyna Kurpiewska

Two modes of fatty acid binding to bovine β‐lactoglobulin—crystallographic and spectroscopic studies

Lactoglobulin is a natural protein present in bovine milk and common component of human diet, known for binding with high affinity wide range of hydrophobic compounds, among them fatty acids 12–20 carbon atoms long. Shorter fatty acids were reported as not binding to β‐lactoglobulin. We used X‐ray crystallography and fluorescence spectroscopy to show that lactoglobulin binds also 8‐ and 10‐carbon caprylic and capric acids, however with lower affinity. The determined apparent association constant for lactoglobulin complex with caprylic acid is 10.8 ± 1.7 × 103 M−1, while for capric acid is 6.0 ± 0.5 × 103 M−1. In crystal structures determined with resolution 1.9 Å the caprylic acid is bound in upper part of central calyx near polar residues located at CD loop, while the capric acid is buried deeper in the calyx bottom and does not interact with polar residues at CD loop. In both structures, water molecule hydrogen‐bonded to carboxyl group of fatty acid is observed. Different location of ligands in the binding site indicates that competition between polar and hydrophobic interactions is an important factor determining position of the ligand in β‐barrel. Copyright

Structural and thermodynamic studies of binding saturated fatty acids to bovine β-lactoglobulin ☆

Lactoglobulin is a globular milk protein for which physiological function has not been clarified. Due to its binding properties lactoglobulin might serve as a carrier for bioactive molecules. Binding of 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-carbon saturated fatty acids to bovine β-lactoglobulin has been characterised by isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography as a part of systematic studies of lactoglobulin complexes with ligands of biological importance. The thermodynamic parameters have been determined for lauric, myristic and palmitic acid complexes revealing systematic decrease of enthalpic and increase of entropic component of ΔG with elongation of aliphatic chain. In all crystal structures determined with resolution 1.9-2.1Å, single fatty acid molecule was found in the β-barrel in extended conformation with individual pattern of interactions. Location of a fatty acid in the binding site depends on the length of aliphatic chain and influences polar interactions between protein and ligand. Systematic changes of entropic component indicate important role of water in binding process.

Interaction of apo-transferrin with anticancer ruthenium complexes NAMI-A and its reduced form.

NAMI-A i.e. (ImH)[trans-RuCl(4)(DMSO)(Im)] (where Im is imidazole) is a ruthenium(III) complex with promising antimetastatic activity, which has been classified for II phase clinical trial. In this study, its binding properties toward apo-transferrin (apo-Tf) with regard to its hydrolytic and redox behavior are systematically investigated by the use of fluorescence spectroscopy. The reaction of NAMI-A and its reduced form with apo-Tf is proceeded by formation of aqua derivatives and the presence of at least one labile aqua ligand is sufficient to form adducts. It is found that presence of bicarbonate is not necessary for interaction of studied ruthenium complexes with apo-Tf. The calculated association constants for both NAMI-A and its reduced form are very similar with the values of 1.28 × 10(4)M(-1) and 1.36 × 10(4)M(-1) at 37 °C, respectively however, the reduced derivatives reach the equilibrium ca. 8-10 times slower. The percentage of ruthenium content in protein fractions separated from protein-unbounded ruthenium by using FPLC (fast protein liquid chromatography) method is rather high and depends on redox state of the complex, for most samples is found higher for reduced species.

Development of multifunctional, heterodimeric isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives as cholinesterase and β-amyloid aggregation inhibitors with neuroprotective properties.

The presented study describes the synthesis, pharmacological evaluation (AChE and BuChE inhibition, beta amyloid anti-aggregation effect and neuroprotective effect), molecular modeling and crystallographic studies of a novel series of isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives. The target compounds were designed as dual binding site acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with an arylalkylamine moiety binding at the catalytic site of the enzyme and connected via an alkyl chain to a heterocyclic fragment, capable of binding at the peripheral anionic site of AChE. Among these molecules, compound 15b was found to be the most potent and selective AChE inhibitor (IC50EeAChE = 0.034 μM). Moreover, compound 13b in addition to AChE inhibition (IC50 EeAChE = 0.219 μM) possesses additional properties, such as the ability to inhibit Aβ aggregation (65.96% at 10 μM) and a neuroprotective effect against Aβ toxicity at 1 and 3 μM. Compound 13b emerges as a promising multi-target ligand for the further development of the therapy for age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Versatile Multicomponent Reaction Macrocycle Synthesis Using α-Isocyano-ω-carboxylic Acids

The direct macrocycle synthesis of α-isocyano-ω-carboxylic acids via an Ugi multicomponent reaction is introduced. This multicomponent reaction (MCR) protocol differs by being especially short, convergent, and versatile, giving access to 12-22 membered rings.

Spacer-dependent structural and physicochemical diversity in copper(II) complexes with salicyloyl hydrazones: a monomer and soluble polymers.

Complexation of copper(II) with a series of heterodonor chelating Schiff bases (LL) of salicylic acid hydrazide and aliphatic or cycloaliphatic ketones affords soluble one-dimensional (1D) metallopolymers containing Schiff bases as bridging ligands. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction results reveal nanometer-sized metallopolymeric wires [Cu(μ-LL)(2)](n) with off-axis linkers and a zigzag geometry. Octahedrally coordinated copper centers, exhibiting a Jahn-Teller distortion, are doubly bridged by two Schiff-base molecules in the μ(2)-η(1),η(2) coordination mode. The use of dibutylketone with long alkyl chains as a component for Schiff base formation leads to a distorted square planar monomeric copper(II) complex [Cu(LL)(2)], as evidenced by its X-ray crystal structure. The compounds are characterized by elemental analyses and IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, as well as magnetic susceptibility and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Electrochemical studies on the complexes reveal an existence of polymeric and monomeric forms in solution and the dependence of Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction potentials on alkyl groups of salicyloyl hydrazone ligands. Polymeric complexes form conducting films on Pt electrodes upon multicycle potential sweeps.

High-pressure single-crystal XRD and magnetic study of a octacyanoniobate-based magnetic sponge

In the present study we report the structural and magnetic response of the 3-D cyano-bridged magnetic sponge-like system {[MnII(pydz)(H2O)2][MnII(H2O)2][NbIV(CN)8]·3H2O}nA to external pressure up to 1.8 GPa using single-crystal crystallography and magnetic measurements. The observed pressure-induced structural changes: shrinkage of the Nb–C bonds and bending of Mn–NC–Nb linkages are responsible for the strengthening of the antiferromagnetic interactions between Mn and Nb centers and consequently for the substantial increase of the magnetic ordering temperature from 43 K to 51 K under 0.57 GPa. The observed magneto-structural response to external pressure is similar in nature to the removal of guest molecules and confirms the significant susceptibility of molecular magnetic sponges to mechanical stress.

α‐Amino Acid‐Isosteric α‐Amino Tetrazoles

The synthesis of all 20 common natural proteinogenic and 4 otherα-amino acid-isosteric α-amino tetrazoles has been accomplished, whereby the carboxyl group is replaced by the isosteric 5-tetrazolyl group. The short process involves the use of the key Ugi tetrazole reaction followed by deprotection chemistries. The tetrazole group is bioisosteric to the carboxylic acid and is widely used in medicinal chemistry and drug design. Surprisingly, several of the common α-amino acid-isosteric α-amino tetrazoles are unknown up to now. Therefore a rapid synthetic access to this compound class and non-natural derivatives is of high interest to advance the field.

De Novo Assembly of Highly Substituted Morpholines and Piperazines

The morpholine and piperazine with their remarkable physical and biochemical properties are popular heterocycles in organic and medicinal chemistry used in rational property design. However, in the majority of cases these rings are added to an existing molecule in a building block approach thus limiting their substitution pattern and diversity. Here we introduce a versatile de novo synthesis of the morpholine and piperazine rings using multicomponent reaction chemistry. The large scale amenable building blocks can be further substituted at up to four positions, making this a very versatile scaffold synthesis strategy. Our methods thus fulfill the increasing demand for novel building block design and nontraditional scaffolds which previously were not accessible

Two‐Step Synthesis of Complex Artificial Macrocyclic Compounds

The design and synthesis of head-to-tail linked artificial macrocycles using the Ugi-reaction has been developed. This synthetic approach of just two steps is unprecedented, short, efficient and works over a wide range of medium (8-11) and macrocyclic (≥12) loop sizes. The substrate scope and functional group tolerance is exceptional. Using this approach, we have synthesized 39 novel macrocycles by two or even one single synthetic operation. The properties of our macrocycles are discussed with respect to their potential to bind to biological targets that are not druggable by conventional, drug-like compounds. As an application of these artificial macrocycles we highlight potent p53-MDM2 antagonism.