Solid-phase total synthesis of cherimolacyclopeptide E and discovery of more potent analogues by alanine screening

J Nat Prod. 2012 Nov 26;75(11):1882-7. doi: 10.1021/np300266e. Epub 2012 Nov 13.

Abstract

Cherimolacyclopeptide E (1) is a cyclic hexapeptide obtained from Annona cherimola, reported to be cytotoxic against the KB (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma) cell line. The solid-phase total syntheses of this cyclic peptide and its analogues were accomplished by employing FMOC/tert-butyl-protected amino acids and the Kenner sulfonamide safety-catch linker. The synthetic peptide 1 was found to be weakly cytotoxic against four cell lines (MOLT-4, Jurkat T lymphoma, MDA-MB-231, and KB). Analogues 3 and 7, where glycine at positions 2 and 6 of the parent compound was replaced by Ala, exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against KB (3, IC50 6.3 μM; 7, IC50 7.8 μM) and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (3, IC50 10.2 μM; 7, IC50 7.7 μM), thereby suggesting possible selective targeting of these cancer cells by these peptides. The spectral data of synthetic peptide 1 was found to be similar to that reported for the natural product. However, a striking difference in biological activity was noted, which warrants the re-evaluation of the original natural product for purity and the existence of conformational differences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / chemistry*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids
  • Annona / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Fluorenes
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • KB Cells
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemical synthesis*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Fluorenes
  • N(alpha)-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonylamino acids
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • cherimolacyclopeptide E
  • Alanine