121786-31-0Relevant articles and documents
How to spoil the taste of insect prey? A novel feeding deterrent against ants released by larvae of the alder leaf beetle, Agelastica alni
Hilker, Monika,Haeberlein, Christopher,Trauer, Ute,Buennige, Martina,Vicentini, Mark-Oliver,Schulz, Stefan
, p. 1720 - 1726 (2010)
Chemical defense of leaf beetle larvae (Chrysomelidae) against enemies is provided by secretions containing a wide range of deterrent compounds or by unpalatable hemolymph constituents. Here we report a new, very strong feeding deterrent against ants released by larvae of the alder leaf beetle Agelastica alni when attacked. The larvae release a defensive fluid from openings of pairwise, dorsolaterally located tubercles on the first to the eighth abdominal segments. The fluid, consisting of hemolymph and probably a glandular cell secretion, has previously been shown to contain a very stable, non-volatile feeding deterrent. The major deterrent component was isolated by repeated HPLC separation and analyzed by NMR and MS. The compound proved to be γ-L-glutamyl-L-2-furylalanine (1), a novel dipeptide containing the unusual amino acid L-2-furylalanine. This amino acid, although synthetically well known, has not previously been reported from natural sources. The absolute configuration of the natural compound was elucidated by enantioselective gas chromatography after derivatization. The structure of the dipeptide was verified by the synthesis of several isomeric dipeptides. In bioassays a concentration of 1 μgμL-1 was sufficient to deter polyphagous Myrmica rubra ants from feeding.
The interaction of heteroaryl-acrylates and alanines with phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from parsley
Paizs, Csaba,Katona, Adrian,Retey, Janos
, p. 2739 - 2744 (2008/02/03)
Acrylic acids and alanines substituted with heteroaryl groups at the β-position were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized (UV, HRMS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy). The heteroaryl groups were furanyl, thiophenyl, benzofuranyl, and benzothiophenyl and contained the alanyl side chains either at the 2- or 3-positions. While the former are good substrates for phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the latter compounds are inhibitors. Exceptions are thiophen-3-yl-alanine, a moderate substrate and furan-3-yl-alanine, which is inert. Possible reasons for these exceptions are discussed. Starting from racemic het eroaryl-2-alanines their D-enantiomers were prepared by using a stereodestructive procedure. From the heteroaryl-2- acrylates, the L-enantiomers of the heteroaryl-2-alanines were prepared at high ammonia concentration. These results can be best explained by a Friedel - Crafts-type electrophilic attack at the aromatic part of the substrates as the initial step of the PAL reaction.
Kinetic Resolution of Unnatural and Rarely Occuring Amino Acids: Enantioselective Hydrolysis of N-Acyl Amino Acids Catalyzed by Acylase I
Chenault, H. Keith,Dahmer, Juergen,Whitesides, George M.
, p. 6354 - 6364 (2007/10/02)
Acylase I (aminoacylase; N-acylamino-acid amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.14, from porcine kidney and the fungus Aspergillus) is broadly applicable enzymatic catalyst for the kinetic resolution of unnatural and rarely occuring α-amino acids.Its enantioselectivity for the hydrolysis of N-acyl L-α-amino acids is nearly absolute, yet it accepts substrates having a wide range of structure and functionality.This paper reports the initial rates of enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of over 50 N-acyl amino acids and analogues, the stabilities of the enzymes in aqueous and aqueous/organic solutions, and the effects of different acyl groups and metal ions on the rates of enzymatic hydrolysis.Eleven α-amino and α-methyl α-amino acids were resolved on a 2-29-g scale.Crude L- and D-amino acid products had generally >90percent ee.The utility of resolved amino acids as chiral synthons was illustrated by the preparation of (R)- and (S)-1-butene oxide and the diastereoselective (cis:trans, 7-8:1) iodolactonization of three 2-amino-4-alkenoic acid derivatives.
