Skip to main content
Log in

A rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of selectively S-Trt or S-Mmt protected Cys-containing peptides

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Amino Acids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Selective removal of protecting groups under different cleavage mechanisms could be an asset in peptide synthesis, since it provides the feasibility to incorporate different functional groups in similar reactive centres. However, selective protection/deprotection of orthogonal protecting groups in peptides is still challenging, especially for Cys-containing peptides, where protection of the cysteine side-chain is mandatory since the nucleophilic thiol can be otherwise alkylated, acylated or oxidized. Herein, we established a protocol for the synthesis of Cys-selective S-Trt or S-Mmt protected Cys-containing peptides, in a rapid way. This was achieved by, simply fine-tuning the carbocation scavenger in the final acidolytic release of the peptide from the solid support in the classic SPPS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amand HL, Norden B, Fant K (2012) Functionalization with C-terminal cysteine enhances transfection efficiency of cell-penetrating peptides through dimer formation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 418:469–474

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlos K, Gatos D, Hatzi O, Koch N, Koutsogianni S (1996) Synthesis of the very acid-sensitive Fmoc-Cys(Mmt)-OH and its application in solid-phase peptide synthesis. Int J Pept Protein Res 47:148–153

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bauhuber S, Hozsa C, Breunig M, Gopferich A (2009) Delivery of nucleic acids via disulfide-based carrier systems. Adv Mater 21:3286–3306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cremers CM, Jakob U (2013) Oxidant sensing by reversible disulfide bond formation. J Biol Chem 288(37):26489–26496

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fields C, Fields G (1993) Minimization of tryptophan alkylation following 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl solid-phase peptide synthesis. Tetrahedron Lett 34:6661–6664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fields GB, Noble RL (1990) Solid phase peptide synthesis utilizing 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl amino acids. Int J Pept Protein Res 35:161–214

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giraud M, Cavelier F, Martinez J (1999) A side-reaction in the SPPS of Trp-containing peptides. J Pept Sci 5:457–461

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Góngora-Benítez M, Tulla-Puche J, Paradís-Bas M, Werbitzky O, Giraud M, Albericio F (2011) Optimized Fmoc solid-phase synthesis of the cysteine-rich peptide linaclotide. Biopolymers 96(1):69–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gongora-Benitez M, Basso A, Bruckdorfer T, Royo M, Tulla-Puche J, Albericio F (2012a) Eco-friendly combination of the immobilized PGA enzyme and the S-Phacm protecting group for the synthesis of Cys-containing peptides. Chem Eur J 18:16166–16176

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gongora-Benitez M, Mendive-Tapia L, Ramos-Tomillero I, Breman AC, Tulla-Puche J, Albericio F (2012b) Acid-labile Cys-protecting groups for the Fmoc/tBu strategy: filling the gap. Org Lett 14:5472–5475

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grundemann C, Thell K, Lengen K, Garcia-Kaufer M, Huang YH, Huber R et al (2013) Cyclotides suppress human T-lymphocyte proliferation by an interleukin 2-dependent mechanism. PLoS One 8:e68016

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hogg PJ (2013) Targeting allosteric disulphide bonds in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 13:425–431

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlstrom A, Rosenthal K, Unden A (2000) Study of the alkylation propensity of cations generated by acidolytic cleavage of protecting groups in Boc chemistry. J Pept Res 55:36–40

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King DS, Fields CG, Fields GB (1990) A cleavage method which minimizes side reactions following Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis. Int J Pept Protein Res 36:255–266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lundt BF, Johansen NL, Volund A, Markussen J (1978) Removal of t-butyl and t-butoxycarbonyl protecting groups with trifluoroacetic acid. Mechanisms, biproduct formation and evaluation of scavengers. Int J Pept Protein Res 12:258–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCurdy SN (1989) The investigation of Fmoc-cysteine derivatives in solid phase peptide synthesis. Pept Res 2:147–152

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh JM, Yoshikami D, Mahe E, Nielsen DB, Rivier JE, Gray WR et al (1994) A nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand of unique specificity, alpha-conotoxin ImI. J Biol Chem 269:16733–16739

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mehta A, Jaouhari R, Benson T, Douglas K (1992) Improved efficiency and selectivity in peptide synthesis: use of triethylsilane as a carbocation scavenger in deprotection of t-butyl esters and t-butoxycarbonyl-protected sites. Tetrahedron Lett 33:5441–5444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Papas S, Akoumianaki T, Kalogiros C, Hadjiarapoglou L, Theodoropoulos PA, Tsikaris V (2007) Synthesis and antitumor activity of peptide-paclitaxel conjugates. J Pept Sci 13:662–671

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson D, Blanchette M, Baker M, Guindon C (1989) Trialkylsilanes as scavengers for the trifluoroacetic acid deblocking of protecting groups in peptide synthesis. Tetrahedron Lett 30:2739–2742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos-Tomillero I, Mendive-Tapia L, Gongora-Benitez M, Nicolas E, Tulla-Puche J, Albericio F (2013) Understanding acid lability of cysteine protecting groups. Molecules 18:5155–5162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarin VK, Kent SB, Tam JP, Merrifield RB (1981) Quantitative monitoring of solid-phase peptide synthesis by the ninhydrin reaction. Anal Biochem 117:147–157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sieber P (1987) Modification of tryptophan residues during acidolysis of 4-methoxy-2,3,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonyl groups. Effects of scavengers. Tetrahedron Lett 28:1637–1640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stathopoulos P, Papas S, Tsikaris V (2006) C-terminal N-alkylated peptide amides resulting from the linker decomposition of the Rink amide resin: a new cleavage mixture prevents their formation. J Pept Sci 12:227–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stathopoulos P, Papas S, Pappas C, Mousis V, Sayyad N, Theodorou V et al (2013) Side reactions in the SPPS of Cys-containing peptides. Amino Acids 44:1357–1363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stierandova A, Sepetov NF, Nikiforovich GV, Lebl M (1994) Sequence-dependent modification of Trp by the Pmc protecting group of Arg during TFA deprotection. Int J Pept Protein Res 43:31–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torres AG, Gait MJ (2012) Exploiting cell surface thiols to enhance cellular uptake. Trends Biotechnol 30:185–190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The article is in line of a research project, co-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund—ERDF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)—Research Funding Program: Synergasia 2009. Action I. Cooperative small- and mid-scale projects (Project code: 09SYN-12-827). This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund—ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)—Research Funding Program: THALES Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund. (Acronym: FeRedox; ID: 1356). Moreover, special thanks are given to the Mass Spectrometry Unit of University of Ioannina, for providing access to the LC-MS/MS facilities.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Andreas G. Tzakos or Vassilios Tsikaris.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stathopoulos, P., Papas, S., Sakka, M. et al. A rapid and efficient method for the synthesis of selectively S-Trt or S-Mmt protected Cys-containing peptides. Amino Acids 46, 1367–1376 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1696-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1696-0

Keywords

Navigation