Thesis (PhD (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of fluorine in medicinal chemistry has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. The addition of fluorine to a lead compound has various advantages such as the blocking of metabolic active sites, the increase of solubility and lipophilicity of a compound, acting as conformational probes for the active site of an enzyme, and influencing (in most cases increasing) the binding affinity of a compound to a target protein. Their use as mechanism based inhibitors is also well known. In this study we set out to synthesize hydroxyl- and fluorinated-amino acid analogues as potential inhibitors and probes towards the active site of various enzymes. The synthesis of the hydroxylamino acid analogues would precede the fluorinated analogues to serve as precursors with fuorination achieved via a fluoro-dehydroxylation reaction. These aims have successfully been achieved with the synthesis of the two enantiopure isomers of 3-fluoro-aspartic acid. The fluorinated aspartic acid analogues were subsequently used in a conformational analysis, with regards to substrate- and binding activity, which investigated the interaction of these compounds with aspartate decarboxylase (PanD). The synthesis of the 3- hydroxy-analogues of ornithine and diamino pimelic acid was also successfully achieved. These syntheses were done in a stereospecific manner to provide one enantiomer of the L-amino acid analogue. However, our efforts toward the synthesis of the other enantiomer of hydroxy analogues as well as our attempts at the conversion of the hydroxyl group to a fluorine were unsuccessful to date. Nevertheless, these results gave us a new direction towards the synthesis of the desired compounds and have led us to new strategies and ideas. Hopefully, the work done in this study will be part of the ground work towards new methodologies for the synthesis of desired halogenated amino acid analogues as small molecule inhibitors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: The use of fluorine in medicinal chemistry has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. The addition of fluorine to a lead compound has various advantages such as the blocking of metabolic active sites, the increase of solubility and lipophilicity of a compound, acting as conformational probes for the active site of an enzyme, and influencing (in most cases increasing) the binding affinity of a compound to a target protein. Their use as mechanism based inhibitors is also well known. In this study we set out to synthesize hydroxyl- and fluorinated-amino acid analogues as potential inhibitors and probes towards the active site of various enzymes. The synthesis of the hydroxylamino acid analogues would precede the fluorinated analogues to serve as precursors with fuorination achieved via a fluoro-dehydroxylation reaction. These aims have successfully been achieved with the synthesis of the two enantiopure isomers of 3-fluoro-aspartic acid. The fluorinated aspartic acid analogues were subsequently used in a conformational analysis, with regards to substrate- and binding activity, which investigated the interaction of these compounds with aspartate decarboxylase (PanD). The synthesis of the 3- hydroxy-analogues of ornithine and diamino pimelic acid was also successfully achieved. These syntheses were done in a stereospecific manner to provide one enantiomer of the L-amino acid analogue. However, our efforts toward the synthesis of the other enantiomer of hydroxy analogues as well as our attempts at the conversion of the hydroxyl group to a fluorine were unsuccessful to date. Nevertheless, these results gave us a new direction towards the synthesis of the desired compounds and have led us to new strategies and ideas. Hopefully, the work done in this study will be part of the ground work towards new methodologies for the synthesis of desired halogenated amino acid analogues as small molecule inhibitors.

Metabolism of D-amino acids is of considerable interest due to their key importance in cellular functions. The enzymes D-serine dehydratase (DSD) and D-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCyD) are involved in the degradation of D-Ser and D-Cys, respectively. We determined the crystal structure of Salmonella typhimurium DSD (StDSD) by multiple anomalous dispersion method of phasing using selenomethione incorporated protein crystals. The structure revealed a fold typical of fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. Although holoenzyme was used for crystallization of both wild type StDSD (WtDSD) and selenomethionine labeled StDSD (SeMetDSD), significant electron density was not observed for the co-factor, indicating that the enzyme has a low affinity for the cofactor under crystallization conditions. Interestingly, unexpected conformational differences were observed between the two structures. The WtDSD was in an open conformation while SeMetDSD, crystallized in the presence of isoserine, was in a closed conformation suggesting that the enzyme is likely to undergo conformational changes upon binding of substrate as observed in other fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. Electron density corresponding to a plausible sodium ion was found near the active site of the closed but not in the open state of the enzyme. Examination of the active site and substrate modeling suggested that Thr166 may be involved in abstraction of proton from the Cα atom of the substrate. Apart from the physiological reaction, StDSD catalyses α, β-elimination of D-Thr, D-Allothr and L-Ser to the corresponding α-keto acids and ammonia. The structure of StDSD provides a molecular framework necessary for understanding differences in the rate of reaction with these substrates. Salmonella typhimurium DCyD (StDCyD) is a fold type II PLP-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of D-Cys to H2S and pyruvate. We determined the crystal structure of StDCyD using molecular replacement method in two different crystal forms. The better diffracting crystal form obtained in presence of benzamidine illustrated the influence a small molecule in altering protein interfaces and crystal packing. The polypeptide fold of StDCyD consists of a small domain (residues 48-161) and a large domain (residues 1-47 and 162-328) which resemble other fold type II PLP-dependent enzymes. X-ray crystal structures of StDCyD were also obtained in the presence of substrates, D-Cys and βCDA, and substrate analogs, ACC, D-Ser, L-Ser, D-cycloserine (DCS) and L-cycloserine (LCS). The structures obtained in the presence of D-Cys and βCDA show the product, pyruvate, bound at a site 4.0-6.0 Å away from the active site. ACC forms an external aldimine complex while D and L-Ser bind non-covalently suggesting that the reaction with these ligands is arrested at Cα proton abstraction and transimination steps, respectively. In the active site of StDCyD cocrystallized with DCS or LCS, electron density for a pyridoxamine phosphate (PMP) was observed. Crystals soaked in cocktail containing these ligands show density for PLP-cycloserine. Spectroscopic observations also suggested formation of PMP by the hydrolysis of cycloserines. Mutational studies suggested that Ser78 and Gln77 are key determinants of enzyme specificity and the phenolate of Tyr287 is responsible for Cα proton abstraction from D-Cys. Based on these studies, we proposed a probable mechanism for the degradation of D-Cys by StDCyD. The acid-induced arginine decarboxylase (ADC) is part of an enzymatic system in Salmonella typhimurium that contributes to making this organism acid resistant. ADC is a PLP-dependent enzyme that is active at acidic pH. It consumes a proton in the decarboxylation of arginine to agmatine, and by working in tandem with an arginine-agmatine antiporter, this enzymatic cycle protects the organism by preventing the accumulation of protons inside the cell. We have determined the structure of the acid-induced StADC to 3.1 Å resolution. StADC structure revealed an 800 kDa decamer composed as a pentamer of five homodimers. Each homodimer has an abundance of acidic surface residues, which at neutral pH prevent inactive homodimers from associating into active decamers. Conversely, acidic conditions favor the assembly of active decamers. Therefore, the structure of arginine decarboxylase presents a mechanism by which its activity is modulated by external pH.