Total synthesis of geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate enantiomers: substrates for characterization of 2,3-O-digeranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase

Org Lett. 2006 Mar 2;8(5):943-6. doi: 10.1021/ol0530878.

Abstract

To determine the enantioselectivity of (S)-2,3-di-O-geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase (DGGGPS) from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, we developed an efficient enantioselective route to the enantiomeric geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphates (R)-GGGP and (S)-GGGP. Previous routes to these substrates involved enzymatic conversions due to the lability of the polyprenyl chains toward common phosphorylation reaction conditions. The synthesis described herein employs a mild trimethyl phosphite/carbon tetrabromide oxidative phosphorylation to circumvent this problem. In contrast to previous results suggesting that only (S)-GGGP can act as the prenyl acceptor substrate, both (R)-GGGP and (S)-GGGP were found to be substrates for DGGGPS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimethylallyltranstransferase / metabolism*
  • Glycerophosphates / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycerophosphates / chemistry
  • Membrane Lipids / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / chemical synthesis*
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfolobus solfataricus / enzymology*

Substances

  • Glycerophosphates
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates
  • digeranylgeranylglycerol phosphate
  • (S)-2,3-di-O-geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase, Sulfolobus solfataricus
  • Dimethylallyltranstransferase