An artificial aspartic proteinase system

A series of aza crown ether derivatives with or without carboxyl groups in their side arms were synthesized and the former showed deacylation activities toward amino acid p-nitrophenyl ester hydrohalides. Substrate-selective phenomena were also observed. The relationship between the structures and deacylation activities of corresponding compounds suggested a nucleophilic catalytic mechanism. The results partially simulate some aspartic proteinases in the case of catalytic mechanism and are also useful for us to understand the detailed catalytic process of aspartic proteinases.

A series of crown ether compounds can selectively complex some specific esters and the carboxyls in their molecules play the role of a hammer just as depicted in the graphic to cleave ester bonds by nucleophilic catalysis, which partially simulates some aspartic proteinases in the case of catalytic mechanisms.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide