Generation and Application of All Possible Conformations of Cyclic Tryptophan within and beyond Post-translational Modification.

Isoprenylation of the indole C3-position of tryptophan accompanied by cyclization (c-Trp) is one of the most attractive post-translational modifications because of C-C bond formation and drastic conformational alteration. As the modification generates two stereoisomers of the 6/5/5-fused ring system and consequently, a mixture of four possible conformations as considered in proline, it is expected to influence the biological activity in quorum sensing pheromone ComX containing the c-Trp residue. In this study, the simultaneous control of the amide equilibrium and pyrrolidine ring puckering was achieved by utilizing an N-carbamoylated and α-methylated 6/5/5-fused ring system. Furthermore, the conformationally defined tripeptides containing the c-Trp residue were utilized to examine the relationship between the biological activity and the conformation of the ComX pheromone. Several mimics showed high bioactivity, and more biologically active ComX mimics were created to reinforce the CH-π interaction of the c-Trp and the adjacent aromatic residue.