Synthesis of a Cytotoxic Amanitin for Biorthogonal Conjugation |
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Authors: | Dr. Liang Zhao Dr. Jonathan P. May Antoine Blanc Dr. David J. Dietrich Dr. Anastak Loonchanta Kaveh Matinkhoo Alla Pryyma Prof. Dr. David M. Perrin |
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Affiliation: | Chemistry Department, UBC, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z1 (Canada) |
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Abstract: | Alpha‐amanitin is an exceedingly toxic, naturally occurring, bicyclic octapeptide that inhibits RNA polymerase and results in cellular and organismal death. Here we report the straightforward synthesis of an amanitin analogue that exhibited near‐native toxicity. A pendant alkyne was readily installed to enable copper‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) to azido‐rhodamine and two azide‐bearing versions of the RGD peptide. The fluorescent toxin analogue entered cells and provoked morphological changes consistent with cell death. The latter two conjugates are as toxic as the parent alkyne precursor, which demonstrates that conjugation does not diminish toxicity. In addition, we showed that toxicity depends on a single diastereomer of the unnatural amino acid, dihydroxyisoleucine (DHIle), at position 3. The convenient synthesis of a heptapeptide precursor now provides access to bioactive amanitin analogues that may be readily conjugated to biomolecules of interest. |
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Keywords: | amanitin bioconjugates click chemistry natural products peptides |
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