Purine 3-amino-, ring synthesis

The answer is a. (Murray, pp 375-401. Scriver, pp 2513-2570. Sack, pp 121-138. Wilson, pp 287-320.) During purine ring biosynthesis, the amino acid glycine is completely incorporated to provide C4, C5, and N7. Glutamine contributes N3 and N9, aspartate provides Nl, and derivatives of tetrahydrofolate furnish C2 and C8. Carbon dioxide is the source of C6. In pyrimidine ring synthesis, C2 and N3 are derived from carbamoyl phosphate, while Nl, C4, C5, and C6 come from aspartate. 

A novel approach to purine synthesis involves the use of ADC compounds as a source of one nitrogen atom in the five-membered ring.148 150 Treatment of 6-amino-l,3-dimethyluracil (94, R = H) with DEAZD gives the 5-substitution product (95, R = H). The N—N bond is cleaved by Raney nickel or formic acid, and ring closure to 1,3-dimethyluric acid is simply effected by heating.148 Whether the initial adduct is formed by a substitution... 

The synthesis of the purine ring is more complex. The only major component is glycine, which donates C-4 and C-5, as well as N-7. All of the other atoms in the ring are incorporated individually. C-6 comes from HCOa . Amide groups from glutamine provide the atoms N-3 and N-9. The amino group donor for the inclusion of N-1 is aspartate, which is converted into fumarate in the process, in the same way as in the urea cycle (see p. 182). Finally, the carbon atoms C-2 and C-8 are derived from formyl groups in N °-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (see p. 108). 

The atoms of the purine ring are contributed by a number of compounds, including amino acids (aspartic acid, glycine, and glutamine), CO2, and N10-formyltetrahydrofolate (Figure 22.5). The purine ring is constructed by a series of reactions that add the donated carbons and nitrogens to a preformed ribose 5-phosphate. (See p. 145 for a discussion of ribose 5-phosphate synthesis by the HMP pathway.)... 

Tetrazolof l,5-c]pyrimidine, 8-amino-7-chloro-purine synthesis from, 5, 591 Tetrazolopyrimidines purine synthesis from, 5, 591 Tetrazolof 1,5-a]pyrimidines cycloaddition reactions, 5, 881 reactions, 5, 880 ring opening, 5, 880 structure, 5, 859, 860 synthesis, 5, 902 thermolysis, 5, 881 Tetrazolof 1,5-c]pyrimidines hydrogenation, 5, 881 reactions, 5, 881 structure, 5, 859, 860 synthesis, 5, 902 thermolysis, 5, 881... 

IMP is the key intermediate of purine nucleotide biosynthesis. IMP can react along two pathways that yield either GMP or AMP. Oxidation of the 2 position makes xanthine monophosphate, which is transamidated to GMP. Alternatively, the a-amino group of aspartate can replace the ring oxygen of IMP to make AMP. (Note again how this reaction is similar to the synthesis of arginine fromcitrulline.)... 

Aminopterin and amethopterin are 4-amino analogues of folic acid (Fig. 11.5) and as such are potent inhibitors of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) (Blakley, 1969). This enzyme catalyses the reduction of folic acid and dihydrofolic acid to tetrahy-drofolic acid which is the level of reduction of the active coenzyme involved in many different aspects of single carbon transfer. As is clear from Fig. 11.6, tetrahydrofolate is involved in the metabolism of (a) the amino acids glycine and methionine (b) the carbon atoms at positions 2 and 8 of the purine ring (c) the methyl group of thymidine and (d) indirectly in the synthesis of choline and histidine. 

Almost all recorded purine syntheses from imidazoles involve the cyclization of 5(4)-aminoimidazole-4(5)-carboxylic acid derivatives especially the carboxamides, thiocar-boxamides, carboxamidines, carboxamidoximes, nitriles and esters. The intermediates used for completion of the purine ring are much the same as have been used for Traube cyclization of diaminopyrimidines (Section 4.09.7.3), especially formic and carbonic acid derivatives, and cyclization generally occurs-under much milder conditions. This feature has been of special value in the synthesis of purine nucleosides from imidazole nucleoside precursors. The resultant purine will have variable substituents at C-2 and C-6 and it is convenient to discuss and classify the various preparations largely in terms of the introduced 2-substituents. The C-6 substituents largely reflect the type of carboxylic acid moiety used and do not vary very much between amino, oxo and thioxo. 

The reagents used for the completion of the purine heterocycle are essentially the same as those used for the Traubc synthesis. The purine ring is formed by condensation with derivatives of formic acid or other carboxylic acids. Alternatively, formylation of the amino group is accomplished by a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride followed by cyclization. Alkyl esters or trialkyl ortho esters are also versatile synthons for ring closure. Moreover, heating in formamide or cyclization with urea or thiourea provides a satisfactory route. Condensations with isothiocyanates show unusual versatility leading to 2-sulfanylpurin-6-ols. From carbonic acid derivatives, cyclization is reported with chlorocarbonic esters, diethyl carbonate or carbon disulfide. 

Substituted 4(5)-aminoimidazole-5(4)-carbonitriles are versatile starting materials for the synthesis of purine ring systems. The combination of an electrophilie cyano group proximate to a nucleophilic amino function results in a one-step addition-cyclization reaction of electrophiles to give purine analogs. Triethyl orthoformate is widely used for the preparation of adenine and adenine derivatives without a substituent at C2. 

Purines and pyrimidines are derived largely from amino acids. The biosynthesis of these precursors of DNA, RNA, and numerous coenzymes will be discussed in detail in Chapter 25. The reactive terminus of sphingosine, an intermediate in the synthesis of sphingolipids, comes from serine. Histamine, a potent vasodilator, is derived from histidine by decarboxylation. Tyrosine is a precursor of the hormones thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine) and epinephrine and of melanin, a complex polymeric pigment. The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and the nicotinamide ring of NAD + are synthesized from tryptophan. Let us now consider in more detail three particularly important biochemicals derived from amino acids. 

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