Synthesis of $\alpha$-L-Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine Methyl Ester from an Artificial Polypeptide

The aspartame, $\alpha$-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester, is an artificial sweetener. Taking advantage of the fact that the aspartame is a derivative of dipeptide, synthesis of aspartame from the artificial polypeptide made by an artificial gene has been attempted. The artificial polypeptide (LAP32), a polymer of tripeptide (aspartyl-phenylalanyl-lysine), was purified from the E. coli cells harboring a recombinant plasmid containing the artificial gene. This polypeptide was then digested with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B to produce dipeptide (Asp-Phe). Using the esterase activity of $\alpha$-chymotrypsin, the dipeptide was directly converted into Asp-Phe methylester in a water-methanol system. When the methanol concentration in reaction mixture was 25%, 50% of dipeptide was converted to the dipeptide methylester without producing any by-products.