Synthesis of fluorescent d-amino acids with 4-acetamidobiphenyl and 4-N,N-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimido containing side chains

Expedient discovery of fluorogenic amino acid-based probes via one-pot palladium-catalysed arylation of tyrosine

To overcome the limitations of using large extrinsic chromophores for biological imaging, fluorescent unnatural α-amino acids have been widely adopted as intrinsic peptidic probes. Although various classes have been successfully utilised for imaging applications, novel amino acid probes readily prepared through operationally simple synthetic methodology are still required. Here, we report a new approach for the synthesis of unnatural α-amino acids via a one-pot process involving activation and palladium-catalysed arylation of tyrosine. Rapid access to a small library of novel α-amino acids has allowed the discovery of a dimethylaminobiphenyl analogue that displays strong charge transfer-based fluorescent properties and is both solvatochromic and pH sensitive with a significant hypsochromic shift in emission under acidic conditions. The imaging potential of the dimethylaminobiphenyl α-amino acid was demonstrated via its application as a FRET donor in a novel decapeptide substrate for monitoring and evaluating the kinetics of a serine protease.

Fluorescent amino acids as versatile building blocks for chemical biology

Fluorophores have transformed the way we study biological systems, enabling non-invasive studies in cells and intact organisms, which increase our understanding of complex processes at the molecular level. Fluorescent amino acids have become an essential chemical tool because they can be used to construct fluorescent macromolecules, such as peptides and proteins, without disrupting their native biomolecular properties. Fluorescent and fluorogenic amino acids with unique photophysical properties have been designed for tracking protein-protein interactions in situ or imaging nanoscopic events in real time with high spatial resolution. In this Review, we discuss advances in the design and synthesis of fluorescent amino acids and how they have contributed to the field of chemical biology in the past 10 years. Important areas of research that we review include novel methodologies to synthesize building blocks with tunable spectral properties, their integration into peptide and protein scaffolds using site-specific genetic encoding and bioorthogonal approaches, and their application to design novel artificial proteins, as well as to investigate biological processes in cells by means of optical imaging.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel, reactive, yellow fluorescent organosilicon dye and its polysiloxanes

A novel, reactive, yellow fluorescent organosilicon dye, N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide, is designed and synthesized and is used to fabricate a covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil by polycondensation of hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane. The chemical structure and optical properties of the N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide and covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil are characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, UV–Vis, and fluorescence spectra. The results indicate that the fluorescence quantum yields of N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide and covalently yellow fluorescent silicone oil are 2.61% and 3.5%, respectively. The λmax values of their dichloromethane solutions are 416 nm, and their λex and λem are 430 and 509 nm, respectively. Furthermore, covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubbers are prepared using tetraethoxysilane as a cross-linker, and some of their properties are investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis show that heat resistance and tan δ of the covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber are improved in comparison with silicone rubbers without N-propyl-(diethoxy)methyl-silane-4-dimethylamino-naphthalimide moieties. Solvent extraction experiments indicate that the solvent resistance of the covalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber is much better than that of noncovalently yellow fluorescent silicone rubber.

Amyloid-β Peptide Targeting Peptidomimetics for Prevention of Neurotoxicity

A new generation of ligands designed to interact with the α-helix/β-strand discordant region of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and to counteract its oligomerization is presented. These ligands are designed to interact with and stabilize the Aβ central helix (residues 13-26) in an α-helical conformation with increased interaction by combining properties of several first-generation ligands. The new peptide-like ligands aim at extended hydrophobic and polar contacts across the central part of the Aβ, that is, "clamping" the target. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the stability of the Aβ central helix in the presence of a set of second-generation ligands were performed and revealed further stabilization of the Aβ α-helical conformation, with larger number of polar and nonpolar contacts between ligand and Aβ, compared to first-generation ligands. The synthesis of selected novel Aβ-targeting ligands was performed in solution via an active ester coupling approach or on solid-phase using an Fmoc chemistry protocol. This included incorporation of aliphatic hydrocarbon moieties, a branched triamino acid with an aliphatic hydrocarbon tail, and an amino acid with a 4'- N, N-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimido group in the side chain. The ability of the ligands to reduce Aβ_1-42 neurotoxicity was evaluated by gamma oscillation experiments in hippocampal slice preparations. The "clamping" second-generation ligands were found to be effective antineurotoxicity agents and strongly prevented the degradation of gamma oscillations by physiological concentration of monomeric Aβ_1-42 at a stoichiometric ratio.

Recent advances in the synthesis and application of fluorescent α-amino acids

The design and synthesis of new fluorescent α-amino acids as well as their application in imaging of biological systems has been reviewed.