A novel ∈-lysine acylase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces mobaraensis</Emphasis> for synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N∈</Emphasis>-acyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysines

A novel ∈-lysine acylase (N ₆-acyl-l-lysine amidohydrolase; EC 3.5.1.17) was isolated from Streptomyces mobaraensis and purified to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE from the culture broth. The purified enzyme was monomeric, with a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa. The enzyme was inactivated by the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline and activated in the presence of Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The enzyme showed a pH optimum of 8.0 and was stable at temperatures of up to 50°C for 1 h at pH 8.0. The enzyme specifically catalyzed the hydrolysis of the amide bond of various N∈-acyl-l-lysines. Furthermore, the enzyme efficiently catalyzed the synthesis of N∈-acyl-l-lysines with fatty and aromatic acyl groups in an aqueous buffer. In the syntheses of N∈-decanoyl-l-lysine, N∈-lauroyl-l-lysine, and N∈-myristoyl-l-lysine, the product precipitated and the yield was 90% or higher using 10 mM FA and 0.5 M l-lysine as the substrate.     

Enzymatic synthesis of N-acyl-l-amino acids in a glycerol-water system using acylase I from pig kidney

N-Medium- and long-chain acyl-l-amino acids were enzymatically synthesized from the corresponding l-amino acids and fatty acids using a reverse hydrolysis. Enzymes that are suitable for the synthetic reaction of N-acyl-l-amino acids were screened on the basis of hydrolytic activity toward N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid as an indicator. Acylase I from pig kidney (EC 3.5.1.14) showed the highest N-acyl-l-amino acid hydrolytic activity among 57 commercially available enzymes tested. Acylase I effectively catalyzed the synthesis of N-lauroyl-l-amino acids except for N-lauroyl-l-proline and N-lauroyl-l-tyrosine in a glycerol-water system. Under the optimized reaction conditions, N-lauroyl-l-arginine and N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid were obtained in conversions of 82 and 44%, respectively. The equilibrium constants calculated from the conversion obtained were 5.6, 15.4, 18.0, and 39.4 for the syntheses of N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid, N_α-lauroyl-l-lysine, N-lauroyl-l-glutamine, and N-lauroyl-l-methionine, respectively. N-Acyl-l-arginines with myristic acid and palmitic acid as the fatty acid were also synthesized using acylase I.     

Natural antioxidants produced in oxidized lipid/amino acid browning reactions

1-Substituted pyrroles (1 and2) and1-substituted 2-(1′-hydroxypropyl)pyrroles (3–5) were produced in reactions between a lipid peroxidation product, 4,5(E)-epoxy-2(E)-heptenal, and the amino acid lysine. The antioxidative activity of compounds1–5 was studied. Oxidative stability was evaluated in refined soybean oil containing compounds1–5, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT),n-propyl gallate orl-lysine, at concentrations of 50–200 ppm. Oils were either oxidized at 60°C and oxidation products determined by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances assay, or they were oxidized at 110°C by the Rancimat method. Although both methods gave similar results, greater differences were observed at 60°C than at 110°C. Addition of compounds1–5,l-lysine, BHT, and propyl gallate significantly (P<0.01) protected the oil against oxidation. The effectiveness order found was:l-lysine << compounds3–4 < compounds1–2 < compound5 ≈ BHT << propyl gallate.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of some chiral drug intermediates by oxidoreductases

Chiral intermediates were prepared by biocatalytic processes with oxidoreductases for the chemical synthesis of some pharmaceutical drug candidates. These include: (i) the microbial reduction of 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-[4-(5-fluoro-2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl]-1-butanone (1) to R-(+)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-[4-(5-fluoro-2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl]-1-butanol (2) [R-(+)-BMY 14802], an antipsychotic agent; (ii) the reduction of N-4-(1-oxo-2-chloroacetyl ethyl) phenyl methane sulfonamide (3) to the corresponding chiral alcohol (4), an intermediate for d-(+)-N-4-{1-hydroxy-2-[(-methylethyl)amino]ethyl}phenyl methanesulfonamide [d-(+) sotalol], a β-blocker with class III antiarrhythmic properties; (iii) biotransformation of Nɛ-carbobenzoxy (CBZ)-l-lysine (7) to Nɛ-CBZ-l-oxylysine (5), an intermediate needed for synthesis of (S)-1-[6-amino-2-{[hydroxy(4-phenylbutyl)phosphinyl]oxy}1-oxohexyl]-l-proline (ceronapril), a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (6) and (iv) enzymatic synthesis of l-β-hydroxyvaline (9) from α-keto-β-hydroxyisovalerate (16). l-β-Hydroxyvaline (9) is a key chiral intermediate needed for the synthesis of S-(Z)-{[1-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-2-{[2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-1-(sulfooxy)-3-azetidinyl] amino}-2-oxoethylidene]amino}oxyacetic acid (tigemonam) (10), an orally active monobactam.     

Synthesis and characterization of new optically active poly(amide-imide)s containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety in the main chain

Six new optically active poly(amide-imide)s were synthesized by poly condensation reaction of 2,5-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (8) with six chiral N,N′-(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic)-bis-l-amino acids (3a–f) in a medium consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), triphenylphosphite (TPP), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and pyridine. Chiral N,N′-(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic)-bis-l-amino acids (3a–f) were obtained by the reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (1) with two equimolar of l-alanine (2a), l-valine (2b), l-leucine (2c), l-isoleucine (2d), l-phenyl alanine (2e), and l-2-aminobutyric acid (2f) in acetic acid. The poly condensation reaction produced a series of novel poly(amide-imide)s (9a–f) in high yield and with inherent viscosities between 0.30 and 0.52 dL/g. The resulting polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, viscosity measurement, solubility testing, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), ¹H-NMR, and FT-IR techniques.     

Kinetics of formation of fluorescent products from hexanal andl-lysine in a two-phase system

Kinetics of formation of fluorescent condensation products from hexanal andl-lysine (or itsN-acetylated forms) including mass-transfer has been studied in a two-phase system consisting of lysine (or lysine derivative) in a aqueous phosphate buffer and a 1-octanol solution of hexanal as model for formation of fluorophores between protein and carbonyl compounds in peroxidizing biological systems. The initial rate of formation of fluorescent products in the aqueous phase was found to be proportional to the concentration of hexanal and lysine and to increase in both phases with increasing pH in the aqueous phase, in contrast to a higher-order dependence on hexanal in the octanol phase. At pH=6.8, the temperature dependence of the appearance of fluorescent products corresponds to apparent energies of activation of 63 kJ·mol⁻¹ and 87 kj·mol⁻¹ in the aqueous phase and the octanol phase, respectively. Fluorescent condensation products appeared faster in the octanol phase. However, by a kinetic analysis, the fluorescent products were shown to be formed in the aqueous phase, corresponding to the lower energy of activation and to the simple second-order kinetics, and subsequently distributed between the aqueous phase and the octanol phase.l-Lysine reacted faster thanN _α-acetyl-l-lysine which reacted faster thanN _ε-acetyl-l-lysine. Using fluorescence quantum yields, determined to be 1.4·10⁻² in octanol and 8·10⁻³ in water at pH 6.8, an apparent partition coefficient of 17 (octanol/water) was determined for the condensation product ofl-lysine. The steady-state fluorescence in the octanol phase was attributed to two components with fluorescence life-time at 25°C of 0.7±0.05 ns and 5.1±0.2 ns, assigned to hexanal and the condensation product, respectively. The emission spectra, were resolved in the two components using phase-sensitive detection, and the condensation product had emission maximum at 405 nm.     

Rapid complexing of oxoacylglycerols with amino acids peptides and aminophospholipids

We prepared model Schiff bases from 2-[9-oxo]nonanoyl glycerol (2-MAG-ALD) and various amino compounds. 2-MAG-ALD was obtained by pancreatic lipase hydrolysis of trioleoyl glycerol and reductive ozonolysis of the resulting 2-monooleoyl glycerol. The reaction products were purified by thin-layer chromatography. Schiff bases were synthesized in greater than 50% yield by reacting 2-MAG-ALD with twofold molar excess of valine, Nα-acetyl-l-lysine methyl ester and the tripeptides glycyl-glycyl-glycine, glycyl-glycyl-histidine, and glycyl-histidyl-lysine in aqueous methanol and with 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl glycerophosphoethanolamine (PE) in chloroform.methanol for 16 h at room temperature. Prior to analysis the bases were reduced with sodium cyanoborohydride in methanol for 30 min at 4°C. Reaction products were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS). Reduced Schiff bases of 2-MAG-ALD with PF and amino acids were analyzed by normal-phase HPLC/ESI/MS and those with peptides by reversed-phase HPLC/ESI/MS. Single adducts were obtained in all cases and both the α-amino group of valine and the ε-amino group of Nα-acetyl-l-lysine methyl ester were reactive. Molecular ions of reaction products were the only detected ions in the negative ionization mode, whereas in the positive ion mode sodiated molecular ions were also detected. The present study suggests that 2-MAG-ALD may form Schiff base adducts with amino compounds in other aqueous media, such as the intestinal lumen and in the hydrophobic environment of cell membranes.     

Drug delivery from nonpeptidic α-amino acid containing polyamides

New nonpeptidic α-amino acid-based polyamides were used for drug delivery. Benzocaine was covalently linked via a spacer to N-protected poly(l-cystyl-l-cystine) and to poly(adipoyl-l-lysine). Its release by α-chymotrypsin attack was followed by UV. It was nearly quantitative within two days with l-cystine-based polyamide. Protected forms of these polyamides were used as matrices. Release of benzocaine entrapped in polyamide from (l-cystine) was controlled by diffusion. When entrapped in polyamide from (l-lysine) it was controlled by diffusion and swelling. Received: 10 January 1997/Accepted: 23 January 1997     

Potential bile acid metabolites. 24. An efficient synthesis of carboxyl-linked glucosides and their chemical properties

A facile and efficient synthesis of the carboxyl-linked glucosides of bile acids is described. Direct esterification of unprotected bile acids with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-d-glucopyranose in pyridine in the presence of 2-chloro-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene as a coupling agent afforded a mixture of the α- and β-anomers (ca. 1∶3) of the 1-O-acyl-d-glucoside benzyl ethers of bile acids, which was separated effectively on a C₁₈ reversedphase chromatography column (isolated yields of α- and β-anomers are 4–9% and 12–19%, respectively). Subsequent hydrogenolysis of the α- and β-acyl glucoside benzyl ethers on a 10% Pd−C catalyst in acetic acid/methanol/EtOAc (1∶2∶2, by vol) at 35°C under atmospheric pressure gave the corresponding free esters in good yields (79–89%). Chemical specificities such as facile hydrolysis and transesterification of the acyl glucosides in various solvents were also discussed.     

New cerebrosides from the basidiomycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cortinarius tenuipes</Emphasis>

Five cerebrosides (1–5), including three new ones named cortenuamide A (1), cortenuamide B (2), and cortenuamide C (3), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basid-iomycete Cortinarius tenuipes. The structures of those compounds were elucidated as (4E,8E)-N-d-2′-hydroxytetracosanoyl-1-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (1), (4E,8E)-N-d-2′-hydroxytricosanoyl-1-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8 sphingadienine (2), (4E, 8E)-N-d-2′-hydroxydocosanoyl-1-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (3), (4E, 8E)-N-d-2′-hydroxyoctadecanoyl-1-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (4), and (4E, 8E)-N-d-2′-hydroxypalmitoyl-1-O-β-d-glycopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (5) by spectral and chemical methods.     

The total synthesis of dilinoleoylphosphatidylserine and its activity in blood clotting systems

A total synthesis ofdl-phosphatidyl-(dilinoleoyl)-l-serine was achieved by the acylation of the barium salt of the phthalimidomethyl ester of glycerophosphoryl-n-anisyloxycarbonyl-l-serine. The dilinoleoyl intermediate was treated with hydrazine to remove the phthalimidomethyl group and with hydrogen chloride to remove the anisyloxycarbonyl protecting group. The resulting phosphatidylserine was purified by Rouser's methods, solubilized, and tested for biological activity in the antithromboplastin, recalcification, and Hicks-Pitney tests. It was found to have about the same anticoagulant activity as beef brain phosphatidylserine and hence was more active than the less unsaturated phosphatidylserine synthesized earlier. An abstract of the material in this paper appeared in Fed. Proc.24, No. 727 (1965).     

Synthesis,characterization, and surface properties of phenylalanine-glycerol ether surfactants

A novel homologous series of 1-N-l-phenylalanine-glycerol ether surfactants was synthesized in satisfactory yields via reaction of epichlorohydrin with aliphatic alcohols with alkyl chains of 10–15 carbon atoms. Structural assignment of the new compounds was made on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data. Critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), surfactant concentration required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m (pC₂₀), and the interfacial area occupied by the surfactant molecules (A_min) were determined from aqueous surface tension measurements using the Wilhelmy plate technique.     

A Feeding Stimulant for Manduca sexta from Solanum surattenses

The acceptance of Solanum surattenses as a host plant for the larvae of Manduca sexta was explained by the presence of feeding stimulants in foliage. Bioassay-guided fractionation of plant extracts resulted in the isolation of a highly active compound (1), which was identified as a furostan derivative {26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-furosta-5-ene-3-β-yl-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1″-2′)-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1′″-3″)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside}. This compound has the same steroidal core substructure as that in a stimulant (indioside D) previously identified from potato foliage. However, the sugar substituents attached to the core are different.     

Poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysine) as a polychelatogen to remove toxic metals using ultrafiltration and bactericide properties of poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lysine)–Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> complexes

Poly(l-lysine) is a water-soluble, synthetic polypeptide containing functional amine groups that help remove di- and trivalent metal ions from aqueous solutions. This polymer’s removal properties were studied under different experimental conditions: (1) competitive and non-competitive conditions; (2) different pHs; and (3) filtration factors. Under the conditions of the Liquid-Phase Polymer-Based Retention (LPR) technique, the cooper (II) ion interaction was found to be selective and efficient when compared to other divalent metal ions studied. However, interestingly, this selectivity disappeared when trivalent metal ions were present. The polymer–metal ion interactions are based on the amino groups of the side-chains as well as the polypeptide backbone chain. The removal of metal ions was strongly dependent on the pH. By structural characterization with FT-IR and EPR spectroscopy, participation of the amide and mainly amine groups was found to take place for the coordination. For the Cu²⁺, coordination through four amine nitrogen donor atoms in the primary coordination sphere was detected. Antibacterial activity tests were conducted with the poly(l-lysine)–Cu²⁺ complex and showed a higher activity in comparison with the precursors Cu²⁺ and poly(l-lysine) at the same concentrations for E. coli (6538P), a Gram-negative bacterium, and S. aureus (ATCC), a Gram-positive bacterium.     

Synthesis and Properties of Ascorbyl Esters Catalyzed by Lipozyme TL IM using Triglycerides as Acyl Donors

Esters of l-ascorbic acid with long-chain fatty acids (E-304) are employed as antioxidants in foods rich in lipids. Although their enzymatic synthesis offers some advantages compared with the current chemical processes, most of the reported methods employ the immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica as biocatalyst and free fatty acids or activated esters as acyl donors. In order to diminish the cost of the process, we have investigated the synthesis of ascorbyl oleate and ascorbyl palmitate esters with the immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase Lipozyme TL IM—which is significantly less expensive than Novozym 435—and triglycerides as source of fatty acids. Lipozyme TL IM gave rise to a lower yield of 6-O-ascorbyl oleate than Novozym 435 when using triolein (64 vs. 84%) and olive oil (27 vs. 33%) as acyl donors. Both 6-O-ascorbyl oleate and 6-O-ascorbyl palmitate displayed excellent surfactant and antioxidant properties. The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capability values for the oleate and palmitate were 71 and 84%, respectively, of those obtained with l-ascorbic acid; however, both derivatives were able to stabilize soybean oil towards peroxide formation.     

Determination of feeding preference of Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) for some amino acid additives

A choice feeding test using 21 amino acids was conducted to determine the feeding preference of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, in the laboratory. Significantly more filter paper treated withd-aspartic acid orl-glutamic acid was consumed by Formosan subterranean termites than was control filter paper treated with water. In two-choice feeding tests, termites consumed significantly more filter paper treated withd-aspartic acid orl-aspartic acid than paper treated with water. Addingl-proline,l-lysine, orl-isoleucine to filter paper significantly increased consumption compared with control filter paper in no-choice tests. The use of amino acid additives in termite baits is briefly discussed.     

Synthesis, characterization and surface properties of 1-N-l-tryptophan-glycerol-ether surfactants

A novel homologous series of 1-N-l-tryptophanglycerol-ether surfactants was synthesized and characterized. The precursor compounds, 3-alkyloxy-1-chloropropan-2-ols, were prepared from epichlorohydrin and aliphatic alcohols with alkyl chain lengths of 9–16 carbon atoms. Tryptophan was then attached to the monosubstituted glycerol backbone from its α-amino group through an α-NH-C bond. Structural assignment of the new compounds was made on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data. Critical micelle concentrations of the new surfactants, as well as the negative logs of the surfactant concentrations required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m (pC ₂₀) and the interfacial areas occupied by the surfactant molecules, were calculated from aqueous surface tension measurements using the Wilhelmy plate technique.     

5-Hydroxy fatty acid amides from δ-lactones and alkyl glucamines

δ-Lactones derived from unsaturated fatty acids are useful precursors to fatty amides due to their enhanced reactivity. Consequently, temperature-sensitive glucamines were easily converted to their 5-hydroxy fatty acid amides in high yield (52–97%) by reaction with C₁₈ and C₂₀ δ-lactones. High yields of amides (52–97%) were obtained with little or no solvent at 90°C in less than 24 h. C₁₈ δ-lactones were more miscible in the glucamine than the C₂₀ δ-lactones and thus increased reaction rates and yields of amides. In addition, amidation reactions run in the absence of catalyst gave good yields, whereas reactions in the presence of base catalysts completely inhibited the reaction. The 1-(N-alkyl-5-hydroxy fatty acid amido)-d-glucitols are expected to have useful properties as biodegradable components in detergents.     

Continuous production of acyl <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-ascorbates using a packed-bed reactor with immobilized lipase

Saturated acyl (6-O-caproyl, lauroyl, and myristoyl) and unsaturated acyl (6-O-oleoyl, linoleoyl, and arachidonoyl) l-ascorbates were continuously synthesized at 50°C using a system where a column packed with ascorbic acid powder and a packed-bed reactor with an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica were connected in series. A productivity of 1.6–1.9 kg/L reactor·d was achieved for at least 11 d. The surface tension of the caproyl or lauroyl l-ascorbate in aqueous solution was measured at various temperatures and pH to estimate the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the acyl l-ascorbate. The CMC values were independent of temperature but dependent on the pH. The value of the caproyl ascorbate increased with an increase in pH.     

Synthesis and degradation of nonpeptidic α-amino acid-containing polyamides

This paper describes the synthesis of new water-soluble nonpeptidic α-amino acid-containing polyamides. Preliminary results of hydrolytic and enzymatic degradations of l-lysine and l-cystine-based polyamides are also presented. Most of these polymers revealed to be stable towards hydrolytic degradation. Only poly(l-cystyl-l-cystine) PCC IV was rapidly degraded in Tris buffer pH 7.4. Insoluble poly(adipoyl-l-lysine benzyl ester) could be degraded by papain and pepsin. Polyamides from l-cystine were shown to be more susceptible to enzymatic degradation. Trypsin, papain and glutathione reductase degraded PCC IV much more rapidly than Tris buffer 7.4 alone. Received: 6 January 1997/Accepted: 23 January 1997