The Application of Hydrolytic Enzymes for Biotransformations of Natural Products in NonAqueous Reaction Conditions Submitted by Joseph Bull to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, (June 2009). This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Abstract Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds that are consumed regularly in the diet. The property of flavonoids, which they are most commonly known for, is their antioxidant activity. Other potential pharmaceutical applications of flavonoids can be related to their enzyme inhibition, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. Lipases have been used effectively in the production of flavonoid ester derivatives that have shown both increased antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Enzymatic esterifications of flavonoids are performed in organic solvents that increase substrate solubility of complex organic molecules. For the esterification of compounds in non-aqueous reaction conditions, vinyl esters are often preferred as substrates compared to carboxylic acids (which can be involved in reversible reactions, due to the formation of the by-product, water). In this study a group of vinyl esters of tert-butoxycarbonylated amino acid derivatives were synthesized to study alongside a range of commercially available vinyl esters. The synthesis of ester derivatives of naringin using a range of hydrolytic enzymes has been studied. A range of small to medium sized commercially available vinyl esters (C2- C10), as well as amino acid vinyl esters were selected for the biotransformations. For the esterification of naringin, small-scale reactions were carried out for 72 hrs and the reaction mixtures were analysed by HPLC. Lipases from the species Pseudomonas stutzeri, Candida antarctica and Alcaligenes spp. performed more than 80% conversion of naringin with some of the selected acylating agents. Reactions carried out with P. stutzeri lipase were scaled up to isolate the product of the biotransformation. None of the screened enzymes were successful in the acylation of naringin with the amino acid vinyl esters. Assays were carried out to compare the antioxidant activity of naringin and the synthesized derivatives. Two of the acyl derivatives showed a greater antioxidant activity in the reduction of Cu2+, compared to naringin. Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that have anti-bacterial properties. As well as their anti-bacterial properties some have been employed for their ability to suppress stop codons, which is a useful property in reducing symptoms of some hereditary disorders. 2 In the present work attempts were made to derivatise an aminoglycoside by acylating it with the amino acid vinyl esters, using hydrolytic enzymes. Despite screening with various proteases in different solvents, the acylation of amikacin was not succesful during this investigation. 3 CONTENTS Abstract .........................................................................................................................2 List of Tables ................................................................................................................9 List of Figures .............................................................................................................10 List of Appendices ......................................................................................................15 Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................16 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................17 Species Abbreviations ................................................................................................20 CHAPTER 1.Introduction .......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1 Biocatalysis............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.1 Applications of Biocatalysis .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.2 Biocatalysis in Non-Aqueous Media .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.3 Hydrolase Enzymes ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.3.1 Lipases ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.3.2 Proteases.............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1.4 Biocatalysis in the Synthesis of Pharmaceutical CompoundsError! Bookmark not defined. 1.2 Flavonoids ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.1 Flavonoids .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.2 Structure of Flavonoids ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.3 Naringin ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.4 Biotransformation of Flavonoids ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.5 Biotransformations of Naringin ........................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3.1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3.2 SMN and Aminoglycosides ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3.3 Biotransformation of Aminoglycosides ............... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.4 Project Aims ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4 2. Amino Acid Vinyl Ester SynthesisError! Bookmark not defined. 2.1 Introduction .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2 Synthesis ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.1 Synthetic Routes .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.1.1 Amine Protection ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.1.2 Palladium Catalysed Transvinylation ReactionError! Bookmark not defined. 2.3 Results and Discussion ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.1 Amine Protection ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2 Palladium Catalysed Transvinylation Reaction . Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2.1 Basic Polar Amino Acids…………………………………….……….……..Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2.1.1 Lysine…………………………………………………………………….....Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2.1.2 Histidine and Arginine Derivatives………………………………………....Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2.2 Non-Polar Amino Acid Esters .................. ……………………………………………....Error! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 3. ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Enzymatic Acylations of NaringinError! Bookmark not defined. 3.1. Introduction ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2 Enzymatic Screening of Naringin DerivatisationError! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1 Materials ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1.1 Substrates ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1.2 Enzymes .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1.3 Reaction Media ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1.4 TLC ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1.5 HPLC................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2 Methods .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5 3.2.2.1 Enzyme Screening for Acylations of Naringin Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2.2 Protein Sequence Alignment ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2.2 Protein Homology Modelling ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3 Synthesis of Naringin Ester DerivativesError! Bookmark not defined. 3.3.1 Synthetic Route ..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3.1.1 Lipase-catalysed Reactions ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4 Results and Discussion ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1 Enzyme Screening ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.1 Screening Conditions ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.2 Aliphatic Vinyl Esters ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.3 Aromatic Vinyl Esters .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.4 Succinic Anhydride .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.5 Amino Acid Vinyl Esters ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.5.1 N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Phenylalanine Vinyl Ester……………………...Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.1.5.2 N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Valine and N, N-di-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Lysine Vinyl Esters…………………………………………………………………………...Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.2 Synthesis of Naringin Derivatives ........................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.2.1 Aliphatic Vinyl Esters ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.2.2 Aromatic Vinyl Esters ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.2.3 N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Phenylalanine Vinyl Ester ... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4.4 P. stutzeri Lipase Structure .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 4. Antioxidant Activity of Naringin Derivatives.................................................................................Err or! Bookmark not defined. 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 6 4.2 Screening for Antioxidant Activity of Naringin Derivatives . Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.1 Materials ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.2 Methods .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.2.1 Trolox Standard ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.2.2 Antioxidant Sample ............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.2.2.3 Total Antioxidant Capacity Assay .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4.3 Results and Discussion ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 5. Screening for Acylations of an Aminoglycoside Derivative with Amino Acid Vinyl Esters ........................... …………………Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.1 Introduction .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2 Synthesis ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2.1 Synthetic Routes .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.2.1.1 Amine Protection ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3 Enzymatic Screening of Amikacin DerivatisationError! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1 Materials ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1.1 Substrates ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1.2 Enzymes ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1.3 Reaction Media .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.1.4 TLC ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.2 Methods .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.2.1 Non-Aqueous Protease-catalysed Reactions ........ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.3.2.2 Aqueous Protease-catalysed Reactions ................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4 Results and Discussion ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.1 Amine Protection ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.2 Biotransformation Screening ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.2.1 Non-Aqueous Protease Biotransformation .......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5.4.2.2 Aqueous Protease Biotransformation ................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7 6. Experimental Details ............... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.1 Synthesis of N, N-di-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Lysine ......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.2 Synthesis of N, N-di-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Lysine Vinyl Ester. ........... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.3 Synthesis of N-tert-Butoxylcarbonyl-L-Phenylalanine ....... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.4 Synthesis of N-tert-Butoxylcarbonyl-L-Phenylalanine Vinyl Ester ........... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.5 Synthesis of N-tert-Butoxylcarbonyl-L-Valine ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.6 Synthesis of N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-L-Valine Vinyl Ester . Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.7 Synthesis of Naringin-6’’-O-Acetate ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.8 Synthesis of Naringin-6’’-O-Benzoate .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.9 Synthesis of Naringin-6’’-O-Butyrate .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.10 Synthesis of Naringin-6’’-O-Cinnamate .............. Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.11 Synthesis of Naringin-6’’-O-Crotonate ................ Error! Bookmark not defined. 6.12 Synthesis of tetra-N-tert-Butoxcarbonyl AmikacinError! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 7. Summary and Future Work.Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1 Summary ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2 Future Work ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix…………………………………………………………………………....145 References ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7 8 List of Tables Table 3.1. Table showing the levels of conversion of naringin with acyl donors, catalysed by lyophilised enzymes…................................................................................79 Table 3.2. Table showing the retention time of naringin and the lipase-catalysed derivatives………………………………………………………………………………80 Table 3.3. Table showing the 13C chemical shift (ppm) for 6’’-CH2-OH of naringin and its lipase-catalysed derivatives........................................................................................91 9 List of Figures Figure 1.1. Esterification reaction mechanism occuring in the active site of lipase enzymes……………………………………………………………………...................21 Figure 1.2. Structures of 6-O-acylated derivatives of glucopyranose, galactopyranose and mannopyranose……………………………………………..…………………...…28 Figure 1.3. The acylation of digitonin.............................................................................29 10 Figure 1.4. Acetophenone derivatives deprotected by lipases PPL and CCL.................30 Figure 1.5. Scheme showing the enzymatic synthesis of vinyl uridine esters and polymerisation.................................................................................................................31 Figure 1.6. Scheme showing the biocatalytic preparation of different doxorubicin derivatives........................................................................................................................31 Figure 1.7. Scheme showing the acetylation of GD3 using subtilisin in the presence of triethylamine....................................................................................................................33 Figure 1.8. A diagram showing NSAIDS that have been synthesized using a biocatalyst........................................................................................................................34 Figure 1.9. Scheme showing the resolution of the racemic precursor azetidinone acetate two different Pseudomonas species lipases.....................................................................34 Figure 1.10. Scheme showing two step enzymatic modification of paclitaxel using thermolysin and CALB....................................................................................................35 Figure 1.11. A diagram showing the flavane structure of flavonoids.............................37 Figure 1.12. A diagram showing the structure of the flavonoid naringin.......................38 Figure 1.13. A diagram showing the preferred site of flavonoid glycosylation at the C’3 hydroxyl group of the B-ring...........................................................................................40 10 Figure 1.14. Scheme showing the glycosylation of rutin by a transglycosyaltion enzyme from B. stearothermophilus.............................................................................................40 Figure 1.15. Scheme showing the lipase-catalysed acylation of isoquercitin.................43 Figure 1.16. Scheme showing the acylation of naringin with CALB in ionic liquids..............................................................................................................................45 11 Figure 1.17. Structures of the aminoglycosides gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin………………………………………………………………………...............50 Figure 1.18. Scheme showing the biotransformation of amikacin with divinyl sebacate using B. subtilis protease.................................................................................................51 Figure 2.1. Synthetic route for the tert-butoxcarbonyl derivatives of amino acids.................................................................................................................................56 Figure 2.2. Synthesis of amino acid vinyl esters using N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-protected amino acids as substrates.................................................................................................57 Figure 2.3. Reaction mechanism for the amine protection of L-lysine, L-phenylalanine and L-valine using di-tert-butoxycarbonate....................................................................58 Figure 2.4. A diagram representing the mechanism for the transvinylation of amino acid derivatives........................................................................................................................60 Figure 2.5. Reaction scheme for the synthesis of N, N-di-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-lysine vinyl ester........................................................................................................................61 Figure 2.6. Histidine derivatives selected for transvinylation.........................................62 Figure 2.7. Nucleophilic attack of the imidazole tert-butoxycarbonyl protection group by a hydroxide ion...........................................................................................................63 Figure 2.8. Scheme showing anion exchange of acetate group of Pd(OAc)2 for the histidine derivative..........................................................................................................64 Figure 2.9. Arginine derivatives selected for transvinylation.........................................64 Figure 2.10. The attempted synthesis of vinyl esters of histidine and arginine derivatives........................................................................................................................65 12 Figure 2.11. The synthetic route for the synthesis of the vinyl esters of N-tertbutoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine and N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-valine..........................68 Figure 3.1. Formula used to calculate the levels of conversion of naringin with the acyl donors to form the respective ester derivative.................................................................76 Figure 3.2. Scheme showing the synthesis of naringin ester derivatives using vinyl acids as an acyl donor...............................................................................................................77 Figure 3.3 HPLC chromatograph showing multi-product formation catalysed by P. stutzeri lipase reaction, when using succinic anhydride as an acyl donor................................................................................................................................83 Figure 3.4. HPLC chromatograph showing the control reaction for naringin and succinic anhydride.........................................................................................................................84 Figure 3.5. Scheme showing the attempted synthesis of naringin derivatives with the Ntert-butoxycarbonyl-L-valine vinyl esters and N, N-di-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-lysine vinyl ester........................................................................................................................86 Figure 3.6. Reaction scheme showing the biotransformation of naringin with aliphatic vinyl acid esters...............................................................................................................87 Figure. 3.7. Reaction scheme showing the biotransformation of naringin with aromatic vinyl acid esters...............................................................................................................88 Figure 3.8. HPLC chromatograph of reaction between naringin and N-tertbutoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine vinyl ester, catalysed by Alcaligenes spp. lipase A2....................................................................................................................................89 Figure 3.9. Scheme showing the attempted synthesis of the N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-Lphenylalanine naringin-ester............................................................................................89 13 Figure. 3.10. +NanoESI spectra of the reaction mixture from the attempted acylation of naringin with the vinyl ester N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine vinyl ester..................................................................................................................................90 Figure 3.11. Amino acid sequence of alignment of P. stutzeri lipase compared to three lipases with similar sequence identity.............................................................................93 Figure 3.12. Modelled structure of the active site of P. stutzeri lipase, showing the active site residues of the catalytic triad..........................................................................94 Figure 3.13. Cartoon of the P. mendonica lipase structure...........................................110 Figure. 3.14. The electrostatic potential surface calculated for the P. stutzeri lipase model.............................................................................................................................111 Figure 4.1. Formula used to calculate naringin and its derivatives sample antioxidant capacity..........................................................................................................................100 Figure 4.2. Diagram showing the structure of naringin and its derivatives complexing to Cu2+ to reduce the copper ion to Cu+.............................................................................101 Figure 4.3. Diagram showing the free radical scavenging acivity of the 4-OH B-ring of the flavonoid naringin....................................................................................................102 Figure 4.4. Structure of naringin flavane compared to that of a flavane structure, which has been shown to provide maximum antioxidant activity...........................................102 Figure 4.5. Graph comparing the relative antioxidant capacity of naringin and its derivatives......................................................................................................................104 Figure 5.1. Synthetic route for the tetra-N-tert-butoxcarbonyl derivatives of amikacin, using di-tert- butyl dicarbonate.....................................................................................110 Figure 5.2. Reaction mechanism for the amino protection of amikacin using di-tertbutoxycarbonate to yield tetra-N-tert-butoxtycarbonyl amikacin.................................115 14 Figure 5.3. The attempted synthesis of amino acid ester derivatives of tetra-N-tertbutoxycarbonyl amikacin in non-aqueous and aqueous reaction media using proteases........................................................................................................................118 List of Appendices Appendix 1. Ramachadran Plot for P. stutzeri Lipase..................................................145 Appendix 2. Ramachadran Plot for P. mendonica Lipase (PDB code 2fx5)................146 Appendix 3. Trolox Concentration Standard Curve......................................................147 Appendix 4. Table showing the sample antioxidant activity capacity of naringin and its derivatives......................................................................................................................148 15 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors Prof. Jenny Littlechild and Dr. Steve Taylor for all their help and supervision, as well as giving me the enthusiasm to meet challenging topics head on. I would like to acknowledge the EPSRC for funding the project and for paying me. I would like to thank all the guys who have worked at the Biocat during my time here (especially all the drinking buddies). A special mention goes to Dr. Kirsty Line for helping me with my sequence alignment and modelling plus passing on all her HPLC 16 knowledge. Thanks also go to Dr. Steve Connelly for getting me started with my Chemistry and Chris Sayer for helping me with my IRs. In addition, my thanks go to members of the former Chemistry department, past and present, for useful discussions on many of the chemical aspects of the project. In particular I would like to thank Dr. Mark Wood for all his advice on amino acid Chemistry. I appreciate all the help Gwen Batten and Nick Elliot, have given me in locating the necessary apparatus required to complete my investigation, during the restructuring of the department. I would like to thank the guys at Microanalysis Ltd (Okehampton) for running my elemental analysis samples. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Paul Gates (University of Bristol), for running all my mass spec. samples and helping me with the analysis. Finally I would like to thank my fiancée, Alex, for all the support she has given me and for helping me to retain my sanity during the process of finishing this thesis. Abbreviations ACAT, Acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase Acyl CoA, Acyl coenzyme A AOT, Sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate Å, Angstroms aP, Area % of product (HPLC) Arg, Arginine aS, Area % of substrate (HPLC) Asn, Asparagine Asp, Aspartic acid 17 ([bmim]BF4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF6), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate Boc, tert-butoxycarbonyl c, Conversion (%) °C, Celsius Cys, Cysteine C, Cytosine CAL, Candida antarctica lipase CALB, Candida antarctica lipase B calc., Calculated CCL, Candida cylindracea lipase CHN, Elemental analysis CH3, Methyl group DAPI, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. ddH2O, double distilled water DMF, N,N-dimethylformamide DMSO, Dimethyl sulfoxide e-, Electron eq., Equivalent EC, Enzyme commission number FITC, Fluorescein isothiocyanate. FV-VΙΙ, Coagulation factor seven g, Grams Gln, Glutamine Glu, Glutamic acid 17 His, Histidine hrs, Hours HPLC, High performance liquid chromatography im, Imidazole kb, Kilobases LDL, Low-density lipoprotein Lys, Lysine M, Molar Me4Si, tetramethylsilane Met, Methionine 18 mins, Minutes m/z, Mass-to-charge ratio μ, Micron μl, Microlitres μm, Micromoles mg, Milligrams ml, Millilitres mM, Millimolar mRNA, Messenger ribonucleic acid MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nm, Nanometres nmol, Nanomole NSAIDS, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Pbf, 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-dihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl PDB, Protein Database Pd(OAc)2, Palladium (II) acetate pKa, Acid dissociation constant pH, Measure of acidity Phe, Phenylalanine ppm, Parts per million Q, Glutamine rpm, Revolutions per minute rRNA, Ribosomal ribonucleic acid SC, Subtilisin Carlsberg Ser, Serine SMA, Spinal muscular atrophy SMN, Survival motor neurone snRNPs, Small nuclear ribonucleoproteins spp., Species SOD, Superoxide dismutase SR proteins, Serine and arginine-rich proteins T, Thymine TEAC, Trolox equivalence antioxidant capacity tert, Tertiary THF, Tetrahydrofuran 19 TLC, Thin layer chromatography Tosyl, p-toluenesulfonate tRNA, Transfer ribonucleic acid TRITC, Tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate UV, Ultra violet Val, Valine v/v, volume/volume VRE, Vancomycin resistant Enterococci w/v, weight/volume Species Abbreviations A. melleus, Aspergillus melleus A. oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae B. lentus, Bacillus lentus B. stearothermophilus, Bacillus stearothermophilus B. subtilis, Bacillus subtilis Can. antarctica, Candida antarctica Can. cylindracea, Candida cylindracea Car. papaya, Carica papaya E. coli, Escherichia coli M. miehei, Mucor miehei 20 P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa P. cepacia, Pseudomonas cepacia P. mendonica, Pseudomonas medonica P. stutzeri, Pseudomonas stutzeri R. niveus, Rhizopus niveus R. oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae Sta. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus Str. griseus, Streptomyces griseus 21