scholarly journals , -Dimethylphenylalanine : A Useful Aromatic Amino Acid Surrogate for Tyr or Phe Residue in Opioid Peptides

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Sasaki ◽  
Akihiro Ambo
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Opioid Peptides ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Hydroxyl Group ◽  
Peptide Mimetics ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Receptor Selectivity ◽  
Receptor Affinity ◽  
High Affinity

Two aromatic amino acids, Tyr1 and Phe3 or Phe4, are important structural elements in opioid peptides because they interact with opioid receptors. The usefulness of an artificial amino acid residue ,-dimethylphenylalanine (Dmp) was investigated as an aromatic amino acid surrogate for several opioid peptides, including enkephalin, dermorphin, deltorphin, endomorphin, dynorphin A, and nociceptin peptides. In most peptides, substitutions of Phe3 by a Dmp residue produced analogs with improved receptor-binding affinity and selectivity, while the same substitution of Phe4 induced markedly reduced receptor affinity and selectivity. Interestingly, replacement of Tyr1 by Dmp produced analogs with unexpectedly high affinity or produced only a slight drop in receptor affinity and bioactivity for most peptides. Thus, Dmp is also a useful surrogate for the N-terminal Tyr residue in opioid peptides despite the lack of a phenolic hydroxyl group, which is considered necessary for opioid activity. The Dmp1-substituted analogs are superior to ,-dimethyltyrosine (Dmt)1-substituted analogs for high receptor selectivity since the latter generally have poor receptor selectivity. Thus, Dmp is very useful as an aromatic amino acid surrogate in opioid peptides and may be useful for developing other novel peptide mimetics with high receptor specificity.

Predicting the Strength of Stacking Interactions Between Heterocycles and Aromatic Amino Acid Side Chains

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea N. Bootsma ◽  
Analise C. Doney ◽  
Steven Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Stacking Interactions ◽  
Inhibitor Binding ◽  
Protein Binding Sites ◽  
Amino Acid Side Chains

<p>Despite the ubiquity of stacking interactions between heterocycles and aromatic amino acids in biological systems, our ability to predict their strength, even qualitatively, is limited. Based on rigorous <i>ab initio</i> data, we have devised a simple predictive model of the strength of stacking interactions between heterocycles commonly found in biologically active molecules and the amino acid side chains Phe, Tyr, and Trp. This model provides rapid predictions of the stacking ability of a given heterocycle based on readily-computed heterocycle descriptors. We show that the values of these descriptors, and therefore the strength of stacking interactions with aromatic amino acid side chains, follow simple predictable trends and can be modulated by changing the number and distribution of heteroatoms within the heterocycle. This provides a simple conceptual model for understanding stacking interactions in protein binding sites and optimizing inhibitor binding in drug design.</p>

Selective Chemical Deuteration of Aromatic Amino Acids: A Retrospective

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Matthews ◽  
R. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Hydrolysate ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Cellular Protein ◽  
Target Protein ◽  
Chemical Methods ◽  
Lactose Repressor ◽  
Selective Deuteration

In 1970 when we began post-doctoral work in the laboratory of Professor Oleg Jardetzky, selective deuteration of proteins to limit the number of protons present in the system for subsequent analysis was a newly developed and effective technique for NMR exploration of protein structure (Crespi et al., 1968; Markley et al., 1968). This approach allowed more facile assignment of specific resonances and generated the potential to follow the spectroscopic behavior of protons for a specific amino acid sidechain over a broad range of conditions. The primary method for labeling at that time involved growth of microorganisms (generally bacteria or algae) in D2O, followed by isolation of the deuteratedamino acids from a cellular protein hydrolysate. The amino acids isolated were, therefore, completely deuterated. Selective deuteration of a target protein was achieved by growing the producing organism on a mixture of completely deuterated and selected protonated amino acids under conditions that minimized metabolic interconversion of the amino acids. In one-dimensional spectra, aromatic amino acid resonances occur well downfield of the aliphatic resonances, and this region can therefore be examined somewhat independently by utilizing a single protonated aromatic amino acid to simplify the spectrum of the protein. However, the multiple spectral lines generated by aromatic amino acids can be complex and overlapping, precluding unequivocal interpretation. To address this complication, chemical methods were developed to both completely and selectively deuterate side chains of the aromatic amino acids, thereby avoiding the costly necessity of growing large volumes of microorganisms in D2O and subsequent tedious isolation procedures. In addition, selective deuteration of the amino acids simplified the resonance patterns and thereby facilitated assignment and interpretation of spectra. The methods employed were based on exchange phenomena reported in the literature and generated large quantities of material for use in growth of microorganisms for subsequent isolation of selectively labeled protein (Matthews et al., 1977a). The target protein for incorporation of the selectively deuterated aromatic amino acids generated by these chemical methods was the lactose repressor protein from Escherichia coli, and greatly simplified spectra of this 150,000 D protein were produced by this approach.

scholarly journals A low aromatic amino-acid diet improves renal function and prevent kidney fibrosis in mice with chronic kidney disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Barba ◽  
Bérengère Benoit ◽  
Emilie Bres ◽  
Stéphanie Chanon ◽  
Aurélie Vieille-Marchiset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Uremic Toxins ◽  
Kidney Fibrosis ◽  
Acid Diet ◽  
Chemically Induced ◽  
Amino Acid Diet

AbstractDespite decades of use of low protein diets (LPD) in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), their mechanisms of action are unclear. A reduced production of uremic toxins could contribute to the benefits of LPDs. Aromatic amino-acids (AA) are precursors of major uremic toxins such as p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS). We hypothesize that a low aromatic amino acid diet (LA-AAD, namely a low intake of tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine) while being normoproteic, could be as effective as a LPD, through the decreased production of uremic toxins. Kidney failure was chemically induced in mice with a diet containing 0.25% (w/w) of adenine. Mice received three different diets for six weeks: normoproteic diet (NPD: 14.7% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.019%), LPD (5% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.007%) and LA-AAD (14% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.007%). Both LPD and LA-AAD significantly reduced proteinuria, kidney fibrosis and inflammation. While LPD only slightly decreased plasma free PCS and free IS compared to NPD; free fractions of both compounds were significantly decreased by LA-AAD. These results suggest that a LA-AAD confers similar benefits of a LPD in delaying the progression of CKD through a reduction in some key uremic toxins production (such as PCS and IS), with a lower risk of malnutrition.

Predicting the Strength of Stacking Interactions Between Heterocycles and Aromatic Amino Acid Side Chains

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea N. Bootsma ◽  
Analise C. Doney ◽  
Steven Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Stacking Interactions ◽  
Inhibitor Binding ◽  
Protein Binding Sites ◽  
Amino Acid Side Chains

<p>Despite the ubiquity of stacking interactions between heterocycles and aromatic amino acids in biological systems, our ability to predict their strength, even qualitatively, is limited. Based on rigorous <i>ab initio</i> data, we have devised a simple predictive model of the strength of stacking interactions between heterocycles commonly found in biologically active molecules and the amino acid side chains Phe, Tyr, and Trp. This model provides rapid predictions of the stacking ability of a given heterocycle based on readily-computed heterocycle descriptors. We show that the values of these descriptors, and therefore the strength of stacking interactions with aromatic amino acid side chains, follow simple predictable trends and can be modulated by changing the number and distribution of heteroatoms within the heterocycle. This provides a simple conceptual model for understanding stacking interactions in protein binding sites and optimizing inhibitor binding in drug design.</p>

Purification and properties of aromatic amino acid aminotransferases from Azospirillum brasilense UAP 14 strain

1996 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Soto-Urzua ◽  
Yolanda G. Xochinua-Corona ◽  
Marcos Flores-Encarnacion ◽  
Beatriz E. Baca
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Azospirillum Brasilense ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Acetic Acid Production ◽  
Purification And Properties ◽  
A Subunit ◽  
Aromatic Aminotransferase ◽  
Tryptophan Derivatives

The purification and characterization of AAT1, one of two aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.57) in Azospirillum brasilense, is described. Purified AAT1 had a subunit mass of 33 kDa and a nondenatured molecular mass of 66 kDa, suggesting a dimeric structure. Other properties include a pI of 5.04, an optimum temperature of 45 °C, and optimum pH of 8.5. AAT1 utilized all aromatic amino acids, the L-tryptophan derivatives such as L-5-methyl tryptophan and L-flourtryptophan, and L-histidine. The apparent Km values for L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, and L-tryptophan were 0.19, 0.43, and 1.05 mM, respectively. The enzyme was competive inhibited by indole-3-pyruvic acid with a Ki of 0.17 mM.Key words: aromatic aminotransferase, Azospirillum brasilense, indole acetic acid production.

scholarly journals Histidine Degradation via an Aminotransferase Increases the Nutritional Flexibility of Candida glabrata

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 758-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Brunke ◽  
Katja Seider ◽  
Martin Ernst Richter ◽  
Sibylle Bremer-Streck ◽  
Shruthi Ramachandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid Aminotransferase

ABSTRACTThe ability to acquire nutrients during infections is an important attribute in microbial pathogenesis. Amino acids are a valuable source of nitrogen if they can be degraded by the infecting organism. In this work, we analyzed histidine utilization in the fungal pathogen of humansCandida glabrata. Hemiascomycete fungi, likeC. glabrataorSaccharomyces cerevisiae, possess no gene coding for a histidine ammonia-lyase, which catalyzes the first step of a major histidine degradation pathway in most other organisms. We show thatC. glabratainstead initializes histidine degradation via the aromatic amino acid aminotransferase Aro8. AlthoughARO8is also present inS. cerevisiaeand is induced by extracellular histidine, the yeast cannot use histidine as its sole nitrogen source, possibly due to growth inhibition by a downstream degradation product. Furthermore,C. glabratarelies only on Aro8 for phenylalanine and tryptophan utilization, sinceARO8, but not its homologueARO9, was transcriptionally activated in the presence of these amino acids. Accordingly, anARO9deletion had no effect on growth with aromatic amino acids. In contrast, inS. cerevisiae,ARO9is strongly induced by tryptophan and is known to support growth on aromatic amino acids. Differences in the genomic structure of theARO9gene betweenC. glabrataandS. cerevisiaeindicate a possible disruption in the regulatory upstream region. Thus, we show that, in contrast toS. cerevisiae,C. glabratahas adapted to use histidine as a sole source of nitrogen and that the aromatic amino acid aminotransferase Aro8, but not Aro9, is the enzyme required for this process.

Amino Acid Profile and Aromatic Amino Acid Concentration in Total Parenteral Nutrition: Effect on Growth, Protein Metabolism and Aromatic Amino Acid Metabolism in the Neonatal Piglet

1994 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda J. Wykes ◽  
James D. House ◽  
Ronald O. Ball ◽  
Paul B. Pencharz
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Parenteral Nutrition ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Total Parenteral Nutrition ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
The Other ◽  
Constant Infusion

1. The protein and amino acid utilization of two commercially available amino acid solutions, one egg-patterned (Vamin), the other human-milk-patterned (Vaminolact), were studied in piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition. It was hypothesized that Vaminolact was deficient in total aromatic amino acids, so a third group received a human-milk-patterned amino acid solution with added phenylalanine. 2. The piglets were on total parenteral nutrition for 8 days from day 2 or 3 of life. They all received a total energy intake of 1040 kJ day−1 kg−1 with macro-nutrient intakes of 14.6g of amino acid, 27.4 g of glucose and 9.4 g of fat day−1 kg−1. 3. Nitrogen balances were performed on days 3-8 of total parenteral nutrition. On day 8 a primed constant infusion of (1-14C]-phenylalanine was given to measure phenylalanine flux and fractional conversion to tyrosine. Transamination catabolites of phenylalanine and tyrosine were measured in urine on day 7. 4. The piglets receiving Vaminolact gained significantly less weight (0.86 kg compared with 1.18 kg for Vamin and 1.20 kg for phenylalanine-supplemented Vaminolact; P < 0.02) and nitrogen (1435 mg day−1 kg−1 compared with 1601 mg and 1836 mg day−1 kg−1 for the other groups; P < 0.0001). 5. The piglets receiving Vamin had high plasma phenylalanine levels (2234 μmol/l compared with 156 μmol/l for Vaminolact and 399 μmol for phenylalanine-supplemented Vaminolact; P < 0.0001). Those receiving Vamin also had an elevated excretion of phenylalanine transamination metabolites and low plasma lysine levels. Phenylalanine flux was highest in the Vamin group, intermediate in the phenylalanine-supplemented Vaminolact group and lowest in the Vaminolact group. 6. We conclude that Vaminolact is limiting in aromatic amino acids and that the addition of phenylalanine to the level in Vamin significantly improves growth and nitrogen retention; however, increasing the phenylalanine content of total parenteral nutrition is not the most metabolically suitable way to provide aromatic amino acids in neonatal total parenteral nutrition.

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