Synthesis of a precursor tripeptide Z-Asp-Val-Tyr-OH of thymopentin by chemo-enzymatic method

The precursor tripeptide of thymopentin was synthesized by a combination of chemical and enzymatic methods. First, Val-Tyr-OH dipeptide was synthesized by a novel chemical method in two steps involving preparation of NCA-Val. Second, the linkage of the third amino acid Z-Asp-OMe to Val-Tyr-OH was completed by an enzymatic method under kinetic control. An industrial alkaline protease alcalase was used in water-organic cosolvent systems. The synthesis reaction conditions were optimized by examining the effects of several factors including organic solvents, water content, temperature, pH, and reaction time on the yield of Z-Asp-Val-Tyr-OH. The optimum condition is of pH 10.0, 35°C, acetonitrile/Na₂CO₃-NaHCO₃ buffer system (85:15, v/v), and reaction time of 2.5 hr, which achieves tripeptide yield of more than 70%.