Electronic control of amide cis-trans isomerism via the aromatic-prolyl interaction.
The cis-trans isomerization of prolyl amide bonds results in large structural and functional changes in proteins and is a rate-determining step in protein folding. We describe a novel electronic strategy to control cis-trans isomerization, based on the demonstration that interactions between aromatic residues and proline are tunable by aromatic electronics. A series of peptides of sequence TXPN, X = Trp, pyridylalanine, pentafluorophenylalanine, or 4-Z-phenylalanine derivatives (Z = electron-donating, electron-withdrawing, or electron-neutral substituents), was synthesized and Ktrans/cis analyzed by NMR. Electron-rich aromatic residues stabilized cis amide bond formation, while electron-poor aromatics relatively favored trans amide bond formation. A Hammett correlation between aromatic electronics and cis-trans isomerization was observed. These results indicate that the interaction between aromatic residues and proline, which is observed to stabilize cis amide bonds and is also a general stabilizing interaction ubiquitous in proteins and protein-protein complexes, is not stabilized exclusively by a classical hydrophobic effect. To a large extent, the aromatic-prolyl interaction is driven and controllable by an electronic effect between the aromatic ring pi-electrons and the proline ring, consistent with a C-H-pi interaction as the key stabilizing force. The aromatic-prolyl interaction is electronically tunable by 0.9 kcal/mol and is enthalpic in nature. In addition, by combining aromatic ring electronics and stereoelectronic effects using 4-fluoroprolines, we demonstrate broad tuning (2.0 kcal/mol) of cis-trans isomerism in tetrapeptides. We demonstrate a simple tetrapeptide, TWflpN, that exhibits 60% cis amide bond and adopts a type VIa1 beta-turn conformation.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
Krista M
KM
Thomas
Devan
D
Naduthambi
Neal J
NJ
Zondlo
D000577:Amides / Q000737:chemistry*; D007536:Isomerism; D007700:Kinetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D017510:Protein Folding; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry
D000577:Amides; D010455:Peptides; D014364:Tryptophan; D011392:Proline