An artificial aspartic proteinase system

A series of aza crown ether derivatives with or without carboxyl groups in their side arms were synthesized and the former showed deacylation activities toward amino acid p-nitrophenyl ester hydrohalides. Substrate-selective phenomena were also observed. The relationship between the structures and deacylation activities of corresponding compounds suggested a nucleophilic catalytic mechanism. The results partially simulate some aspartic proteinases in the case of catalytic mechanism and are also useful for us to understand the detailed catalytic process of aspartic proteinases. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.