Enzyme-Catalyzed Asymmetric Domino Thia-Michael/Aldol Condensation Using Pepsin

J Org Chem. 2016 Jul 15;81(14):6042-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b01132. Epub 2016 Jul 6.

Abstract

The novel catalytic promiscuity of pepsin from porcine gastric mucosa for the asymmetric catalysis of the domino thia-Michael/aldol condensation reaction in MeCN and buffer was discovered for the first time. Broad substrate specificity was tested, and a series of corresponding products were obtained with enantioselectivities of up to 84% ee. This specific catalysis was demonstrated by using recombinant pepsin and control experiments with denatured and inhibited pepsin. The reaction was also shown to occur in the active site by site-directed mutagenesis (the Asp32Ala mutant of pepsin), and a possible mechanism was proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Catalysis*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Enzymes / chemistry*
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Mutation
  • Pepsin A / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Solvents
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Swine

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Enzymes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Solvents
  • 3-hydroxybutanal
  • Pepsin A