No abstract

Analogues of mitoQ and idebenone were synthesized to define the structural elements that support oxygen consumption in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Eight analogues were prepared and fully characterized, then evaluated for their ability to support oxygen consumption in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. While oxygen consumption was strongly inhibited by mitoQ analogues 2–4 in a chain length-dependent manner, modification of idebenone by replacement of the quinone methoxy groups by methyl groups (analogues 6 – 8) reduced, but did not eliminate, oxygen consumption. Idebenone analogues 6 – 8 also displayed significant cytoprotective properties toward cultured mammalian cells in which glutathione had been depleted by treatment with diethyl maleate.

Two new fluorescent probes of protein structure and dynamics have been prepared by concise asymmetric syntheses using the Schöllkopf chiral auxiliary. The site-specific incorporation of one probe into dihydrofolate reductase is reported. The utility of these tryptophan derivatives lies in their absorption and emission maxima which differ from those of tryptophan, as well as in their large Stokes shifts and high molar absorptivities.