Hendrik V. Schröder

In nature, molecular environments in proteins can sterically protect and stabilize reactive species such as organic radicals through non-covalent interactions. Here, we report a near-infrared fluorescent rotaxane in which the stabilization of a chemically labile squaraine fluorophore by the coordination of a tetralactam macrocycle can be controlled chemically and electrochemically. The rotaxane can be switched between two co-conformations in which the wheel either stabilizes or exposes the fluorophore. Coordination by the wheel affects the squaraine’s stability across four redox states and renders the radical anion significantly more stable—by a factor of 6.7—than without protection by a mechanically bonded wheel. Furthermore, the fluorescence properties can be tuned by the redox reactions in a stepwise manner. Mechanically interlocked molecules provide an excellent scaffold to stabilize and selectively expose reactive species in a co-conformational switching process controlled by external stimuli.

The lasso peptide benenodin‐1, a naturally occurring and bacterially produced [1]rotaxane, undergoes a reversible zip tie‐like motion under heat activation, in which a peptidic wheel stepwise translates along a molecular thread in a cascade of “tail/loop pulling” equilibria. Conformational and structural analyses of four translational isomers, in solution and in the gas phase, reveal that the equilibrium distribution is controlled by mechanical and non‐covalent forces within the lasso peptide. Furthermore, each dynamic pulling step is accompanied by a major restructuring of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding network between wheel and thread, which affects the peptide's physico‐chemical properties.

Programming the sequence of functional units in redox-switchable hetero[3]rotaxanes is achieved by integrative self-sorting for a library of five crown ethers.

Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), such as rotaxanes and catenanes, have captured the attention of chemists both from a synthetic perspective and because of their role as simple prototypes of molecular machines. Although examples exist in nature, most synthetic MIMs are made from artificial building blocks and assembled in organic solvents. The synthesis of MIMs from natural biomolecules remains highly challenging. Here, we report on a synthesis strategy for interlocked molecules solely made from peptides, that is, mechanically interlocked peptides (MIPs). Fully peptidic, cysteine-decorated building blocks were self-assembled in water to generate disulfide-bonded dynamic combinatorial libraries consisting of multiple different rotaxanes, catenanes and daisy chains as well as more exotic structures. Detailed NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry characterization of a [2]catenane comprising two peptide macrocycles revealed that this structure has rich conformational dynamics reminiscent of protein folding. Thus, MIPs can serve as a bridge between fully synthetic MIMs and those found in nature.

Lasso peptides are a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) defined by their threaded structure. Besides the class-defining isopeptide bond, other post-translational modifications (PTMs) that further tailor lasso peptides have been previously reported. Using genome mining tools, we identified a subset of lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are colocalized with genes encoding protein l-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) homologues. PIMTs have an important role in protein repair, restoring isoaspartate residues formed from asparagine deamidation to aspartate. Here we report a new function for PIMT enzymes in the post-translational modification of lasso peptides. The PIMTs associated with lasso peptide BGCs first methylate an l-aspartate side chain found within the ring of the lasso peptide. The methyl ester is then converted into a stable aspartimide moiety, endowing the lasso peptide ring with rigidity relative to its unmodified counterpart. We describe the heterologous expression and structural characterization of two examples of aspartimide-modified lasso peptides from thermophilic Gram-positive bacteria. The lasso peptide cellulonodin-2 is encoded in the genome of actinobacterium Thermobifida cellulosilytica, while lihuanodin is encoded in the genome of firmicute Lihuaxuella thermophila. Additional genome mining revealed PIMT-containing lasso peptide BGCs in 48 organisms. In addition to heterologous expression, we have reconstituted PIMT-mediated aspartimide formation in vitro, showing that lasso peptide-associated PIMTs transfer methyl groups very rapidly as compared to canonical PIMTs. Furthermore, in stark contrast to other characterized lasso peptide PTMs, the methyltransferase functions only on lassoed substrates.

Lasso peptides are a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) defined by their threaded structure. Besides the class-defining isopeptide bond, other post-translational modifications (PTMs) that further tailor lasso peptides have been previously reported. Using genome mining tools, we identified a subset of lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are colocalized with protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) homologs. PIMTs have an important role in protein repair, restoring isoaspartate residues formed from asparagine deamidation to aspartate. Here we report a new function for PIMT enzymes in the post-translational modification of lasso peptides. The PIMTs associated with lasso peptide BGCs first methylate an L-aspartate sidechain found within the ring of the lasso peptide. The methyl ester is then converted into a stable aspartimide moiety, endowing the lasso peptide ring with rigidity relative to its unmodified counterpart. We describe the heterologous expression and structural characterization of two examples of aspartimide-modified lasso peptides from thermophilic Gram-positive bacteria. The lasso peptide cellulonodin-2 is encoded in the genome of actinobacterium Thermobifida cellulosilytica , while lihuanodin is encoded in the genome of firmicute Lihuaxuella thermophila . Additional genome mining revealed PIMT-containing lasso peptide BGCs in 48 organisms. In addition to heterologous expression, we have reconstituted PIMT-mediated aspartimide formation in vitro , showing that lasso peptide-associated PIMTs transfer methyl groups very rapidly as compared to canonical PIMTs. Furthermore, in stark contrast to other characterized lasso peptide PTMs, the methyltransferase functions only on lassoed substrates. Abstract Figure:

A series of dumbbell-shaped sec-ammonium salts with bulky (pseudo)stoppers (‘speed bumps’) were tested for their ability to form pseudorotaxanes with a redox-switchable, tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-decorated [24]crown-8 ether. Depending on the size of the pseudostoppers, fast (less than ten minutes), slow (hours to days) and very slow (no pseudorotaxanes observed) threading has been observed. NMR spectroscopy as well as tandem mass spectrometry indicate the formation of non-threaded face-to-face complexes prior to pseudorotaxanes formation. Both isomers can be distinguished by their substantially different stability in collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. Two external stimuli affect the stability of the pseudorotaxanes: Deprotonation of the ammonium ion results in fast dethreading, while dethreading is much slower when induced by the charge repulsion upon chemical oxidation of the TTF moiety. Remarkably, the same steric bulk of the pseudostopper thus leads to different dethreading rates depending on the stimulus applied. Based on these findings, two redox-switchable rotaxanes containing a 1-naphthyl and a phenyl moiety as sterically different ‘speed bumps’ in the axle centre were synthesised. Bulk electrolysis of the rotaxanes did not result in the expected macrocycle translocation on the axle independent of the ‘speed bump’ as a remarkable consequence of the mechanical bond.

Crown ethers are common building blocks in supramolecular chemistry and are frequently applied as cation sensors or as subunits in synthetic molecular machines. Developing switchable and specifically designed crown ethers enables the implementation of function into molecular assemblies. Seven tailor-made redox-active crown ethers incorporating tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) or naphthalene diimide (NDI) as redox-switchable building blocks are described with regard to their potential to form redox-switchable rotaxanes. A combination of isothermal titration calorimetry and voltammetric techniques reveals correlations between the binding energies and redox-switching properties of the corresponding pseudorotaxanes with secondary ammonium ions. For two different weakly coordinating anions, a surprising relation between the enthalpic and entropic binding contributions of the pseudorotaxanes was discovered. These findings were applied to the synthesis of an NDI-[2]rotaxane, which retains similar spectroelectrochemical properties compared to the corresponding free macrocycle. The detailed understanding of the thermodynamic and electrochemical properties of the tailor-made crown ethers lays the foundation for the construction of new types of molecular redox switches with emergent properties.

We present the synthesis of a porous, organic [4+4] imine cage containing perfluorinated aromatic panels. Gas adsorption experiments show an uptake of 19.0 wt% CO₂ (4.2 mmol g⁻¹, 273 K and at 1 bar) and 1.5 wt% H₂ (7.5 mmol g⁻¹, 77 K and at 1 bar) for the specific surface area of 536 m² g⁻¹ of the crystalline material obtained directly from the reaction mixture, combined with an outstanding thermal stability, making it a very interesting porous material suitable for gas adsorption.

"Naphthocage", a naphthalene-based organic cage reveals very strong binding (up to 1010 M-1) to aromatic (di)cationic guests, i.e. the tetrathiafulvalene mono- and dication and methyl viologen. Intercalation of the guests between two naphthalene walls is mediated by C-H•••O, C-H•••π and cation•••π interactions. The guests can be switched into and out of the cage by redox processes with high binding selectivity. Oxidation of the flexible cage itself in the absence of a guest leads to a stable radical cation with the oxidized naphthalene intercalated between and stabilized by the other two. Encapsulated guest cations are released from the cavity upon cage oxidation, paving the way to future applications in redox-controlled guest release or novel stimuli-responsive materials.