Publications by authors named "Christopher Berube"

Herein, we report the first solid-phase total synthesis of the natural cyclic peptide anabaenopeptin F and the use of metallaphotoredox catalysis to overcome the key challenges associated with the preparation of the non-proteinogenic amino acid homotyrosine contained in these peptides. Starting from L-homoserine, enantiopure Fmoc-protected homotyrosine was prepared in a straightforward manner by metallaphotoredox catalysis with -Fmoc-()-2-amino-4-bromobutanoic acid and 4--butoxybromobenzene partners. The prepared protected amino acid was used in solid-phase peptide synthesis to achieve the total synthesis of anabaenopeptin F and establish the stereochemistry of the isoleucine residue.

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Macrocyclic peptidomimetics have been seriously contributing to our arsenal of drugs to combat diseases. The search for nature's discoveries led us to mortiamides A-D (found in a novel fungus from Northern Canada), which is a family of cyclic peptides that clearly have demonstrated impressive pharmaceutical potential. This prompted us to learn more about their solution-state properties as these are central for binding to target molecules.

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Malaria remains one of the major health problems in the world. In this work, a series of squaramide tethered chloroquine, clindamycin, and mortiamide D hybrids have been synthesized to assess their antiplasmodial activity against 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) and Dd2 strains of . The most active compound, a simple chloroquine analogue, displayed low nanomolar IC value against both strains (3 nM for 3D7 strain and 18 nM for Dd2 strain).

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The global increase in microbial resistance is an imminent threat to public health. Effective treatment of infectious diseases now requires new antimicrobial therapies. We report herein the discovery of aromatic-rich piperazines that inhibit biofilm formation by C.

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Dominicin, a macrocyclic peptide isolated from the marine sponge , has been synthesized for the first time by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The strategy uses oxime resin and takes advantage of the nucleophile susceptibility of the oxime ester bond. The synthesis relies on the preparation of a linear precursor followed by on-resin head-to-tail concomitant cyclization-cleavage.

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Natural glycopeptides have been shown to possess interesting biological activities. In this work, we have developed a general solid-phase approach to C-terminal glycopeptides. Taking advantage of oxime resin ester bond nucleophile susceptibility, we optimised the nucleophilic cleavage step with glycosylamines and demonstrated the generality and scope of this method.

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Mortiamides A-D (1-4) are head-to-tail cyclic heptapeptides that were identified from a novel Mortierella sp. isolate obtained from marine sediments from Northern Canada. Herein we report the first total synthesis of mortiamides A-D (1-4) on a solid support by concomitant cyclization/cleavage without any oligomerization side reactions, and overall yields up to 48%.

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Microorganisms embedded in a biofilm are significantly more resistant to antimicrobial agents and the defences of the human immune system, than their planktonic counterpart. Consequently, compounds that can inhibit biofilm formation are of great interest for novel therapeutics. In this study, a screening approach was used to identify novel cyclic dipeptides that have anti-biofilm activity against oral pathogens.

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Two anabaenopeptins, Schizopeptin 791 and anabaenopeptin NZ825, have similar structural features and have been synthesized via a novel acid-catalyzed head-to-side-chain concomitant cyclization/cleavage reaction on oxime resin. The methodology gave rapid access to the anabaenopeptin scaffold by taking advantage of a combined solid-phase/solution-phase synthetic strategy. Also, as side-products of the synthesis, large C2-symmetric 38-member cyclic peptides ring bearing two endocyclic lysine side-chains were isolated, constituting a novel cyclic peptide scaffold.

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We describe an efficient epoxidation process leading to chiral epoxyketones using the reusable homo-oligopeptide poly-l-leucine (PLL) in pure water, without any organic co-solvent. A range of substituted epoxyketones can be accessed with good conversions and high enantioselectivities. Based on the experimental results and computational studies, we propose a mechanism that demonstrates the importance of both the α-helical structure and the presence of a hydrophobic groove of the homo-oligopeptide catalyst for reactivity and selectivity.

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