Streamlined Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Cyclic Peptides by Non-ribosomal Peptide Cyclases

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Feb 15;145(6):3270-3275. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c11082. Epub 2023 Jan 13.

Abstract

Macrocyclization improves the pharmaceutical properties of peptides; however, regio- and chemoselective intramolecular cyclizations remain challenging. Here we developed a streamlined chemoenzymatic approach to synthesize cyclic peptides by exploiting non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) cyclases. Linear peptides linked to the resin through a C-terminal diol ester functionality are synthesized on a solid support, to circumvent the installation of leaving groups to the peptidic substrates in the liquid phase which often triggers undesirable epimerization. Cleavage of the resin-bound peptides yielded the diol esters with sufficient purity to be readily cyclized in a head-to-tail manner by SurE, a representative penicillin-binding protein-type thioesterase (PBP-type TE). Explorations of homologous wild-type enzymes as well as rational protein engineering have broadened the scope of the enzymatic macrolactamization. This method will potentially accelerate the exploitation of NRP cyclases as biocatalysts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyclization
  • Peptides* / chemistry
  • Peptides, Cyclic* / chemistry

Substances

  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Peptides