Imaging and targeting LOX-mediated tissue remodeling with a reactive collagen peptide.

Collagens are fibrous proteins that are integral to the strength and stability of connective tissues. During collagen maturation, lysyl oxidases (LOX) initiate the cross-linking of fibers, but abnormal LOX activity is associated with impaired tissue function as seen in fibrotic and malignant diseases. Visualizing and targeting this dynamic process in healthy and diseased tissue is important, but so far not feasible.

Alkylation of γ-Azaproline Creates Conformationally Adaptable Proline Derivatives for pH-Responsive Collagen Triple Helices.

C -substituted proline derivatives are valuable tools for developing functionalized collagen peptides for biological and materials investigations, yet the stereochemistry at C can produce undesired steric or stereoelectronic constraints. Alkylated γ-azaproline (γ-azPro) derivatives are proline mimetics that lack a stereogenic center at the γ-position of the ring and can thus utilize the invertibility of nitrogen to adapt their conformation. NMR spectroscopic analyses and DFT calculations highlighted how alkylated γ-azPro derivatives are conformationally dynamic and adopt conformational preferences through ring pucker flip along with nitrogen inversion.

Recent Advances in Bioorthogonal Reactions.

The ability to selectively perform chemical reactions within living systems has transformed the field of Chemical Biology. These chemoselective processes have had a major scientific impact by enabling studies of cellular processes, producing tools for the ligations of large biomolecules, and advancing our ability to image or track small molecular changes such as posttranslational modifications. As more investigators become involved in the development and application of chemical reactions performed within complex biological settings, there have been a rising number of innovations that create improved tools and resources for understanding nature.

γ-Azaproline Confers pH Responsiveness and Functionalizability on Collagen Triple Helices.

Proline derivatives bearing substituents at Cγ are valuable tools for biological and materials investigations. However, the stereochemistry at Cγ can produce undesired steric or stereoelectronic interactions. Here, we introduce γ-azaproline (γ-azPro), which lacks a stereogenic center at Cγ, as a pH-responsive and functionalizable proline analogue that can adapt to its environment.

Oligoprolines as Molecular Entities for Controlling Distance in Biological and Material Sciences.

Nature utilizes large biomolecules to fulfill tasks that require spatially well-defined arrangements at the molecular level such as electron transfer, ligand-receptor interactions, or catalysis. The creation of synthetic molecules that enable precise control over spacing and functionalization provides opportunities across diverse disciplines. Key requirements of functionalizable oligomeric scaffolds include the specific control of their molecular properties where the correct balance of flexibility and rigidity must be maintained in addition to the prerequisite of defined length.

Rapid cycloaddition of a diazo group with an unstrained dipolarophile.

The cycloaddition of a diazoacetamide with ethyl 4,4,4-trifluorocrotonate proceeds with = 0.1 Ms. This second-order rate constant rivals those of optimized strain-promoted azide- alkyne cycloadditions, even though the reaction does not release strain.

Diazo Compounds: Versatile Tools for Chemical Biology.

Diazo groups have broad and tunable reactivity. That and other attributes endow diazo compounds with the potential to be valuable reagents for chemical biologists. The presence of diazo groups in natural products underscores their metabolic stability and anticipates their utility in a biological context.

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition with Diazo Groups: Noncovalent Interactions Overwhelm Strain.

Like azides, diazoacetamides undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with oxanorbornadienes (OND) in a reaction that is accelerated by the relief of strain in the transition state. The cycloaddition of a diazoacetamide with unstrained ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butynoate is, however, 35-fold faster than with the analogous OND because of favorable interactions with the fluoro groups. Its rate constant (k = 0.

Decreasing Distortion Energies without Strain: Diazo-Selective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions.

The diazo group has attributes that complement those of the azido group for applications in chemical biology. Here, we use computational analyses to provide insights into the chemoselectivity of the diazo group in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions. Dipole distortion energies are responsible for ∼80% of the overall energetic barrier for these reactions.

1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Diazo Compounds in the Presence of Azides.

The diazo group has untapped utility in chemical biology. The tolerance of stabilized diazo groups to cellular metabolism is comparable to that of azido groups. However, chemoselectivity has been elusive, as both groups undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with strained alkynes.

Diazo groups endure metabolism and enable chemoselectivity in cellulo.

We introduce a stabilized diazo group as a reporter for chemical biology. ManDiaz, which is a diazo derivative of N-acetylmannosamine, is found to endure cellular metabolism and label the surface of a mammalian cell. There its diazo group can undergo a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with a strained alkyne, providing a signal comparable to that from the azido congener, ManNAz.

A Divalent Protecting Group for Benzoxaboroles.

1-Dimethylamino-8-methylaminonaphthalene is put forth as a protecting group for benzoxaboroles. The ensuing complex is fluorescent, charge-neutral, highly stable under basic conditions, stable to anhydrous acid, and readily cleavable in aqueous acid to return the free benzoxaborole.

Detection of boronic acids through excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer fluorescence.

Boronic acids are versatile reagents for the chemical synthesis of organic molecules. They and other boron-containing compounds can be detected readily by the interruption of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of 10-hydroxybenzo[h]quinolone. This method is highly sensitive and selective, and useful for monitoring synthetic reactions and detecting boron-containing compounds on a solid support.