Synthesis Properties and Applications of Diazotrifluropropanoyl-Containing Photoactive Analogues of Farnesyl Diphosphate Containing Modified Linkages for Enhanced Stability

摘要

Photoactive analogues of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) are useful probes in studies of enzymes that employ this molecule as a substrate. Here, we describe the preparation and properties of two new FPP analogues that contain diazotrifluoropropionyl photophores linked to geranyl diphosphate via amide or ester linkages. The amide-linked analogue () was synthesized in ³²P-labeled form from geraniol in 7 steps. Experiments with Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein farnesyltransferase (ScPFTase) showed that 3 is an alternative substrate for the enzyme. Photolysis experiments with [³²P]3 demonstrate that this compound labels the β-subunits of both farnesyl- and geranylgeranyltransferase (types 1 and 2). However, the amide-linked probe 3 undergoes a rearrangement to a photochemically unreactive isomeric triazolone upon long term storage making it inconvenient to use. To address this stability issue, the ester-linked analogue 4 was prepared in 6 steps from geraniol. Computational analysis and X-ray crystallographic studies suggest that 4 binds to PFTase in a similar fashion as FPP. Compound 4 is also an alternative substrate for PFTase and a ³²P-labeled form selectively photocrosslinks the β-subunit of ScPFTase as well as E. coli farnesyldiphosphate synthase and a germacrene-producing sesquiterpene synthase from Nostoc sp. strain PCC7120 (a cyanobacterial source). Finally, nearly exclusive labeling of ScPFTase in crude E. coli extract was observed, suggesting that [³²P]4 manifests significant selectivity and should hence be useful for identifying novel FPP utilizing enzymes in crude protein preparations.