Conformationally Constrained Histidines in the Design of Peptidomimetics: Strategies for the χ-Space Control.

Stefanucci, Azzurra; Pinnen, Francesco; Feliciani, Federica; Cacciatore, Ivana; Lucente, Gino; Mollica, Adriano

A successful design of peptidomimetics must come to terms with χ-space control. The incorporation of χ-space constrained amino acids into bioactive peptides renders the χ1 and χ2 torsional angles of pharmacophore amino acids critical for activity and selectivity as with other relevant structural features of the template. This review describes histidine analogues characterized by replacement of native α and/or β-hydrogen atoms with alkyl substituents as well as analogues with α, β-didehydro unsaturation or Cα-Cβ cyclopropane insertion (ACC derivatives). Attention is also dedicated to the relevant field of β-aminoacid chemistry by describing the synthesis of β2- and β3-models (β-hHis). Structural modifications leading to cyclic imino derivatives such as spinacine, aza-histidine and analogues with shortening or elongation of the native side chain (nor-histidine and homo-histidine, respectively) are also described. Examples of the use of the described analogues to replace native histidine in bioactive peptides are also given.

AMINO acids; HISTIDINE; PEPTIDES; ALKYLATING agents; MEDICAL geography

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2011, Vol 12, Issue 5, p2853

1661-6596

Academic Journal

10.3390/ijms12052853