Serine/threonine ligation for the chemical synthesis of proteins

Abstract

Advances in the development of efficient peptide ligation methods have enabled the total synthesis of complex proteins to be successfully undertaken. Recently, a Ser/Thr ligation has emerged as a new tool in synthetic protein chemistry. The chemoselective reaction between an N-terminal serine or threonine of an unprotected peptide segment and a C-terminal salicylaldehyde ester of another unprotected peptide segment gives rise to an N,O-benzylidene acetal linked product, which upon acidolysis produces a native peptide bond at the site of ligation. Ser/Thr ligation has been used for the synthesis of the human erythrocyte acylphosphatase protein and MUC1 glycopeptide segments, semisynthesis of peptoid/PEG-RNase S protein hybrids, and cyclic peptide synthesis including cyclic tetrapeptides, cyclomontanin B, yunnanin C, mahafacyclin B, and daptomycin.