A protocol for the synthesis of 1,2-azaborines and the preparation of their protein complexes with T4 lysozyme mutants is presented.
We describe a general synthesis of 1,2-azaborines using standard air-free techniques and protein complex preparation with T4 lysozyme mutants by vapor diffusion. Oxygen- and moisture-sensitive compounds are prepared and isolated under an inert atmosphere (N2) using either a vacuum gas manifold or a glove box. As an example of azaborine synthesis, we demonstrate the synthesis and purification of the volatile N-H-B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine by a five-step sequence involving distillation and column chromatography for the isolation of products. T4 lysozyme mutants L99A and L99A/M102Q are expressed with Escherichia coli RR1 strain. Standard protocols for chemical cell lysis followed by purification using carboxymethyl ion exchange column affords protein of sufficiently high purity for crystallization. Protein crystallization is performed in various concentrations of precipitant at different pH ranges using the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. Complex preparation with the small molecules is carried out by vapor diffusion method under an inert atmosphere. X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystal complex provides unambiguous structural evidence of binding interactions between the protein binding site and 1,2-azaborines.
Boron-nitrogen containing heterocycles (i.e. 1,2-azaborines) have recently drawn significant attention as isosteres of arenes. This isosterism can lead to diversification of existing structural motifs to expand the chemical space2,3,4. Azaborines have potential utility for application in biomedical research5,6,7,8, especially in the area of medicinal chemistry in which chemists carry out synthesis of libraries of structurally and functionally relevant molecules. Significantly, however, while there are numerous well-developed synthetic routes to available arene-containing molecules, only a limited number of methods for the synthesis of azaborines have been reported9,10,11,12,13. This is mainly due to a limited number of options for the boron source and the air- and moisture- sensitive nature of the molecule in the early stage of synthetic sequence.
In the first part of this article, we will describe a multi-gram scale synthesis of N-TBS-B-Cl-1,2-azaborine (3) using standard air-free techniques. This compound serves as a versatile intermediate that can be further functionalized to structurally more complex molecules14,15. Starting from 3, the synthesis and purification of N-H-B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine (5) for use in protein binding studies will be described. Due to the volatility of 5, its efficient isolation requires precise control of reaction temperature, time, and distillation conditions.
In the second part, protocols for protein expression and isolation of T4 lysozyme mutants (L99A and L99A/M102Q)17,18,19,20 will be presented, followed by protein crystallization and preparation of protein-ligand crystal complexes. T4 lysozyme mutants L99A and L99A/M102Q were chosen as biological model systems to examine the hydrogen bonding capability of N-H containing azaborine molecules17. Using a standard molecular biology protocol, the protein is expressed in Escherichia coli RR1 strain and induced with isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Protein purification is carried out using ion-exchange column chromatography. Protein crystallization is performed with highly concentrated purified protein solution (>95% purity by gel electrophoresis) using the hanging drop vapor diffusion method. Because of the sensitivity of this study's ligands to oxygen, the protein-ligand complexes are prepared under air-free conditions.
In the first part of this protocol, we described a modified synthesis of 1,2-azaborines based on previously reported methods12, 13. Triallylborane22 was used as a substitute for the routes using allyltriphenyl tin or potassium allyltrifluoroborate to prepare N-allyl-N-TBS-B-allyl chloride adduct (1). This method allows for a more atom-economical and environmentally friendly approach. For the synt…
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health NIGMS (R01-GM094541) and Boston College.
Tetrahydrofuran (THF), inhibitor-free, for HPLC, ≥99.9% | Sigma Aldrich | 34865 | |
Diethyl ether (Et2O), for HPLC, ≥99.9%, inhibitor-free | Sigma Aldrich | 309966 | |
Methylene chloride (CH2Cl2), (Stabilized/Certified ACS) | Fisher | D37-20 | |
Toluene | Fisher | T290-4 | |
Pentane, HPLC | Fisher | P399-4 | |
Acetonitrile | Fisher | A21-4 | |
Calcium hydride (CaH2), reagent grade, 95% | Sigma Aldrich | 208027 | Pyrophoric |
Palladium on activated carbon (Pd/C), 10 wt% Pd | Strem | 46-1900 | |
1.0 M Boron trichloride solution in hexane | Sigma Aldrich | 211249 | Highly toxic/ Pyrophoric |
Triethylamine, ≥99.5% | Sigma Aldrich | 471283 | |
Grubbs 1st generation catalyst | materia | C823 | |
Acetamide | Sigma Aldrich | A0500 | |
n-Butanol, anhydrous, 99.8% | Sigma Aldrich | 281549 | |
Ethyllithium solution, 0.5 M in benzene/cyclohexane | Sigma Aldrich | 561452 | Highly toxic/ Pyrophoric |
HCl solution, 2.0 M in Et2O | Sigma Aldrich | 455180 | |
2-Methylbutane, anhydrous, ≥99% | Sigma Aldrich | 277258 | |
Escherichia coli, (Migula) Castellani and Chalmers (ATCC® 31343™) | ATCC | 31343 | |
T4 lysozyme WT* (L99A) | Addgene | 18476 | |
T4 lysozyme mutant (S38D L99A M102Q N144D) | Addgene | 18477 | |
Ampicillin sodium salt | Sigma Aldrich | A0166 | |
isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) | Invitrogen | AM9464 | |
Sodium phosphate monobasic anhydrous | Fisher | BP329 | |
Sodium Phosphate dibasic anhydrous | Fisher | BP332 | |
Sodium chloride | Fisher | S642212 | |
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid | Fisher | BP118 | |
Magnesium chloride | Sigma Aldrich | M4880 | Corrosive |
Thermo scientific pierce DNaseI | Fisher | PI-90083 | |
GE Healthcare Sepharose Fast Flow Cation Exchange Media | Fisher | 45-002-931 | |
Tris-base | Fisher | BP152-500 | |
Sodium azide | TCI | S0489 | Highly toxic |
2-Mercaptoethanol | Fisher | ICN806443 | |
Sartorius Vivaspin 20 Centrifugal Concentrators | Fisher | 14-558-501 | |
Potassium phosphate monobasic | Sigma Aldrich | P5379 | |
2-Hydroxyethyl disulfide | Sigma Aldrich | 380474 | |
N-paratone | Hampton Research | HR2-643 | |
4 RC Dialysis Membrane Tubing 12,000 to 14,000 Dalton MWCO | Fisher | 08-667E | |
CryoLoop | Hampton Research | cryogenic tubing shaped into a loop | |
CryoTong | Thermo Fisher | cryogenic tong | |
Coot | Electron density images are generated from the software |