Role of Cys73 in the thermostability of farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus.

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the condensation between one molecule of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and two molecules of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) to produce farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). FPP is an important precursor in the isoprenoid synthesis pathway. In this study, the crystal structure of FPPase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GsFPPase) was determined at 2.31 Å resolution. The structure of GsFPPase shows a three-layered all α-helical fold and conserved functional domains similar to other prenyltransferases. We have analyzed the structural features of GsFPPase related to thermostability and compared it with those of human and avian mesophilic FPPases. "Semi-conserved" regions which appear to be possible features contributing to the thermostability of FPPase were found.

Enantioresolution of 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl oxide using inclusion complex with chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphtyl.

An enantioresolution of 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl oxide (BINAPO) into its enantiomers was achieved using the inclusion complex with a commerciallyavailable chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl ((R)-BINOL), giving the two enantiomers with 99% ee and 72% ee, respectively.

Zinc-mediated allylation and alkylation of aminals in the presence of TMSCl and diisopropylamine.

An alkylation of aminals with organozinc reagents derived from allyl bromide, benzyl bromide, alpha-bromoacetate, and alpha-bromonitrile proceeded efficiently in the presence of TMSCl and diisopropylamine. This reaction system was applied to the synthesis of an antispasmodic: butaverine.

Study on the reactivity of diarylmethane derivatives in supercritical alcohols media: reduction of diarylmethanols and diaryl ketones to diarylmethanes using supercritical 2-propanol.

We found that diarylmethanols and diaryl ketones were smoothly reduced to the corresponding diarylalkanes using supercritical 2-propanol in good yields. Furthermore, we determined the specific reaction of fluorene using supercritical methanol at high temperature.