Disulfide bond polymerization of a cyclic peptide derived from the surface loop 4 of class 1 OMP of Neisseria meningitidis

Two peptides derived from the surface loop 4 of class1 Outer Membrane Protein (OMP) of Neisseriameningitidis were synthesized on solid phase usingthe Boc/Bzl strategy: one containing the entire loop4 cyclized and the other representing the polymerizedcyclic loop 4. To test a more efficient cyclic peptidepresentation, in the present study astrategy was developed to obtain polymers of cyclic peptides. Inorder to obtain the polymeric cyclic peptide, twoprotecting groups for cysteine were used – Acm andMob. The Cys(Acm)-protected cyclic peptide wasobtained after removing the Mob group. Thepolymerization reaction was carried out bysimultaneous deprotection/oxidation of S-Acmwith iodine. Analysis of the polymeric cyclic peptidein Tris-tricine-SDS-PAGE showed different bandswith molecular weights higher than expected for thecorresponding monomeric cyclic peptide. Both peptideswere used in immunization of four different mouse strains.The antisera raised against the peptides wereevaluated by ELISA and Western blotting vs. OMPpreparation of N. meningitidis. The titersraised against the polymerized cyclic peptide werehigher than the ones raised against the cyclicpeptide. The antisera elicited did not showbactericidal activity. Nevertheless, the antiseraelicited against the polymeric cyclic peptide in theCBA/J mouse strain showed opsonic activity. Theantibodies raised against the polymeric cyclic peptidewere successfully used as probes in Western blottingexperiments to verify the display of loop 4 peptide onthe surface of filamentous phage M13.     

Disulfide bond polymerization of a cyclic peptide derived from the surface loop 4 of class 1 OMP of Neisseria meningitidis

Summary Two peptides derived from the surface loop 4 of class 1 Outer Membrane Protein (OMP) ofNeisseria meningitidis were synthesized on solid phase using the Boc/Bzl strategy: one containing the entire loop 4 cyclized and the other representing the polymerized cyclic loop 4. To test a more efficient cyclic peptide presentation, in the present study a strategy was developed to obtain polymers of cyclic peptides. In order to obtain the polymeric cyclic peptide, two protecting groups for cysteine were used — Acm and Mob. The Cys(Acm)-protected cyclic peptide was obtained after removing the Mob group. The polymerization reaction was carried out by simultaneous deprotection/oxidation ofS-Acm with iodine. Analysis of the polymeric cyclic peptide in Tris-tricine-SDS-PAGE showed different bands with molecular weights higher than expected for the corresponding monomeric cyclic peptide. Both peptides were used in immunization of four different mouse strains. The antisera raised against the peptides were evaluated by ELISA and Western blotting vs. OMP preparation ofN. meningitidis. The titers raised against the polymerized cyclic peptide were higher than the ones raised against the cyclic peptide. The antisera elicited did not show bactericidal activity. Nevertheless, the antisera elicited against the polymeric cyclic peptide in the CBA/J mouse strain showed opsonic activity. The antibodies raised against the polymeric cyclic peptide were successfully used as probes in Western blotting experiments to verify the display of loop 4 peptide on the surface of filamentous phage M13.     

The structure-antiaggregative activity relationship in a series of Arg-Gly-Asp analogues

A series of analogues of Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide, the common structural element of most of the integrin receptor ligands, possessing different conformational features for the interaction with platelet receptors, were synthesized by the methods of conventional peptide chemistry for use in the search for antithrombotic agents. The distance between the guanidine group of Arg and the β-carboxyl group of Asp was shown to affect the antiaggregative activity. A potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, tripeptide Arg-βAla-Asp, with IC₅₀ 10.6 = 10.6 μM (ADP, 1.5 μM) was revealed.     

How to predict product yield in kinetically controlled enzymatic peptide synthesis

The published theory of kinetically controlled enzymatic peptide synthesis needed experimental verification. We carried out the measurement of the peptide yield and estimation of the key parameters alpha and beta for papain-catalyzed synthesis of Mal-L-Phe-L-Ala-LLeuNH(2) from Mal-L-Phe-L-AlaOMe and L-LeuNH(2). The experimental results demonstrate that this theory adequately describes the real process. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

非核糖体多肽合成酶研究进展

细菌和真菌采用非核糖体系统合成一些重要的多肽类物质.近年来的研究表明,在该系统中发挥关键作用的是一类分子巨大的非核糖体多肽合成酶.它们由顺序排列的组件构成,酶分子结构本身即蕴涵着多肽合成的信息.对非核糖体多肽合成酶结构和功能的了解,使人们期望可以通过对这类酶的修饰和重组来合成一些新的多肽类物质.     

人胰岛素原C肽的合成及专一性抗体制备

利用固相多肽合成中的Boc途径合成了人胰岛素原C肽 ,经TSK柱层析一步纯化 ,产物达HPLC及毛细管电泳均一 ,蛋白质序列分析和质谱分析符合理论值 ,总回收率高达 41 %。为了提高寡肽抗体的专一性 ,我们将丙烯酰化的C肽经催化聚合形成了以聚丙酰为骨架 ,C肽为侧链的聚合体 ,分子量约为 2 5kD。免疫新西兰大白兔 1月 ,获得专一性抗体。用酶联免疫吸附法测得抗血清滴度达 2 .5× 1 0 4 ,与BSA无交叉反应。聚丙酰C肽抗原是制备C肽抗体的一种新的尝试 ,而且也可能成为新的多肽工程疫苗之一 ,为其他传染性疾病多肽疫苗的研究提供新的途径     

Inclusion volume solid-phase synthesis

Solid-phase synthesis of peptides was carried out using only the volume of the solvent included in the swollen solid-phase resin beads [inclusion volume synthesis]. This approach enables (i) the use of higher concentrations of activated amino acids, resulting in increased coupling rates, (ii) drastically decreased consumption of solvents, and (iii) the construction of multiple peptide synthesizers having virtually no reaction vessels.     

Rational design of highly stabilized and selective adrenomedullin analogs

The peptide hormone adrenomedullin (ADM) consists of 52 amino acids with a disulfide bond and an amidated C-terminus. Due to the vasodilatory and cardioprotective effects, the agonistic activity of the peptide on the adrenomedullin 1 receptor (AM₁R) is of high pharmacological interest. However, the wild-type peptide shows low metabolic stability leading to rapid degradation in the cardiovascular system. Previous work by our group has identified proteolytic cleavage sites and demonstrated stabilization of ADM by lipidation, cyclization, and N-methylation. Nevertheless, these ADM analogs showed reduced activity and subtype selectivity toward the closely related calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR). Here, we report on the rational development of ADM derivatives with increased proteolytic stability and high receptor selectivity. Stabilizing motifs, including lactamization and lipidation, were evaluated regarding AM₁R and CGRPR activation. Furthermore, the central DKDK motif of the peptide was replaced by oligoethylene glycol linkers. The modified peptides were synthesized by Fmoc/t-Bu solid-phase peptide synthesis and receptor activation of AM₁R and CGRPR was measured by cAMP reporter gene assay. Peptide stability was tested in human blood plasma and porcine liver homogenate and analyzed by RP-HPLC and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Combination of the favorable lactam, lipidation, ethylene glycol linker, and previously described disulfide mimetic resulted in highly stabilized analogs with a plasma half-life of more than 144 h. The compounds display excellent AM₁R activity and wild-type-like selectivity toward CGRPR. Additionally, dose-dependent vasodilatory effects of the ADM derivatives lasted for several hours in rodents. Thus, we successfully developed an ADM analog with long-term in vivo activity.     

The leech excitatory peptide, a member of the GGNG peptide family: isolation and comparison with the earthworm GGNG peptides

A member of the GGNG peptide family was isolated from Hirudo nipponia (leech). GGNG peptides had only been isolated previously from earthworms. The C-terminus structure of the leech peptide, LEP (leech excitatory peptide), was –Gly–Gly–Asn–amide, while that of the earthworm peptides, EEP (earthworm excitatory peptide), was –Gly–Gly–Asn–Gly. LEP exerted 1000-fold more potent activities on leech gut than did EEP-2. On the other hand, EEP-2 was 1000-fold more potent than LEP on the crop-gizzard of the earthworm. Analog peptides of LEP and EEP-2 were synthesized, and the myoactive potency of each analog on the leech and earthworm tissues was compared.     

Novel amino-Li resin for water-based solid-phase peptide synthesis

We report the first application of a novel amino-Li resin to water-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) applying the Smoc-protecting group approach. We demonstrated that it is a suitable support for the sustainable water-based alternative to a classical SPPS approach. The resin possesses good swelling properties in aqueous milieu, provides significant coupling sites, and may be applicable to the synthesis of difficult sequences and aggregation-prone peptides.     

A type-II beta-turn, proline-containing, cyclic pentapeptide as a building block for the construction of models of the cleavage site of pro-oxytocin.

Previous studies have indicated that proteolytic activation of pro-hormones and pro-proteins occurs most frequently at the level of basic amino acids arranged in doublets and that the dibasic sites are situated in or next to beta-turns. Investigations utilizing synthetic peptides reproducing the N-terminal processing domain of pro-oxytocin-neurophysin have suggested a close relationship between the secondary structure of the cleavage locus and enzyme recognition, the minimal recognized sequence being the -Pro-Leu-Gly-Gly-Lys-Arg-Ala-Val-Leu- segment of the native precursor. NMR investigations and energy minimization studies have demonstrated that this sequence is organized in two type-II beta-turns involving the -Pro-Leu-Gly-Gly- and -Lys-Arg-Ala-Val- sequences. To further strengthen the above reported hypothesis and to study the role of turn subtypes, a new proline containing cyclic substrate of the processing enzyme, in which the N-terminal side that comes before the Lys-Arg pair is constrained to adopt a type-lI beta-turn, has been synthesized. The presence of a type-II beta-turn structure in this cyclic peptide model has been demonstrated by a combined NMR, CD and FT-IR absorption investigation. A preliminary study shows that PC1 is able to recognize and process our constrained substrate.     

Peptide synthesis with a proteinase from the extremely thermophilic organism Thermus Rt41A

A proteinase isolated from Thermus RT41a was immobilized to controlled pore glass beads and was used in the free and immobilized forms for peptide synthesis. The observed maximum yield was the same in both cases. a number of dipeptides were produced from amino acid esters and amides. The best acyl components, from those tested, were found to be Ac-Phe-OEt and Bz-Ala-OMe. Tur-NH(2), Trp-NH(2), Leu-pNA, and Val-pNA were all reactive nucleophiles.The kinetically controlled synthesis of Bz-ala-Tyr-NH(2) was optimized by studying the effect of pH, temperature, solvent concentration, ionic strength, and nucleophile and acyl donor concentration, ionic strength, and nucleophile and acyl donor concentration on the maximum yield. The initial conditions used were 25 mM Bz-ala-OMe, 25 mM Tyr-NH(2), 70 degrees C, pH 8.0, and 10% v/v dimethylformamide (DMF). The optimum conditions were 90% v/v DMF using 80 mM bz-Ala-OMe and 615 mM Tyr-NH(2) at 40 degrees C and pH 10. These conditions increased the maximum conversion from 0.75% to 26% (of the original ester concentration). In a number of other cosolvents, the best peptide yields were observed with acetonitrile and ethyl acetate. In 90% acetonitrile similar yields were observed to those in 90% DMF under optimized conditions except that the acyl donor and nucleophile concentrations could be reduced to 25 mM and 100mM, respectively. The effect of the blocking group on the nucleophile was also investigated; -betaNA and -pNA as blocking groups improved the yields markedly. The blocking and leaving groups of the acyldonor had no effect on the dipeptide yield. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

ω—芋螺毒素线性肽合成方法比较

比较了不同偶合方法及裂解条件对ω－芋螺毒素及其衍生物线性肽合成效率的影响。结果表明,Ｂｏｃ／Ｂｚｌ策略、Ｆｍｏｃ／Ｂｕｔ策略、手工及仪器对总偶合率影响较小,但裂解条件及保护策略对肽－树脂裂解影响很大,氟化氢体系裂解Ｂｏｃ／Ｂｚｌ法合成树脂副产物较多,且主链易发生断裂,以低高法裂解效率最高。三氟乙酸体系裂解Ｆｍｏｃ法合成树脂效率高,主要副产物是含Ｔｒｔ基的线性肽,增加１,２－二巯基乙醇可提高肽纯度。     

Reexamination of the recognition preference of the specificity pocket of the Abl SH3 domain

Src homology-3 (SH3) domains mediate important protein-protein interactions in a variety of normal and pathological cellular processes, thus providing an attractive target for the selective interference of SH3-dependent signaling events that govern these processes. Most SH3 domains recognize proline-rich peptides with low affinity and poor selectivity, and the goal to design potent and specific ligands for various SH3 domains remains elusive. Better understanding of the molecular basis for SH3 domain recognition is needed in order to design such ligands with potency and specificity. In this report, we seek to define a clear recognition preference of the specificity pocket of the Abl SH3 domain using targeted synthetic peptide libraries. High-resolution affinity panning coupled with mass spectrometric readout allows for quick identification of Trp as the preferred fourth residue in the decapeptide ligand APTWSPPPPP, which binds to Abl SH3 four times stronger than does the decapeptide containing Tyr or Phe in the fourth position. This finding is in contrast to several reports that Tyr is the only residue selected from phage displayed peptide libraries that interacts with the specificity pocket of Abl SH3. This simple, unbiased approach can fine-tune the affinity and selectivity of both natural and unnatural SH3 ligands whose consensus binding sequence has been pre-defined by combinatorial library methods.     

ω-芋螺毒素及其衍生物的合成

研究ω 芋螺毒素及衍生物的结构与生物活性的关系。采用固相多肽合成法合成了ω 芋螺毒素及其衍生物。结果显示 ,ω 芋螺毒素衍生物结构稳定性和生物活性均比ω 芋螺毒素差。     

The Synthesis of Phosphopeptides Using Microwave-assisted Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

A series of phosphorylated peptides were synthesised using microwave mediated solid phase peptide synthesis. Acidic cleavage of peptides from the solid support using microwave irradiation often resulted in reattachment of the phosphate benzyl protecting group to the peptide chain. However for most phosphopeptide sequences performing the cleavage reaction at room temperature in order to minimize this undesired alkylation was successful. Notably for phosphopeptides containing a methionine residue flanking the phosphorylated residue (for serine and threonine) the trifluoroacetic acid mediated cleavage afforded the benzylated side product as a major component. This detrimental process was not observed for a corresponding tyrosine containing sequence.     

Global phosphorylation at Ser16 of the 32-residue cytoplasmic domain of phospholamban: Comparison of di-t-butyl- and dibenzyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidites

Summary Phospholamban (PLB), a 52-residue integral membrane protein of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, is known as the regulator of the Ca²⁺-ATPase pump via its phosphorylation-dephosphorylation at Ser¹⁶. In order to investigate the structural effects of the phosphorylation on the cytoplasmic domain of PLB, we synthesized PLB 2–33 in its nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms using Fmoc chemistry. PLB 2–33 was phosphorylated using the global phosphorylation method. Phosphorylation with di-t-butyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite led to an incomplete reaction (nonphosphorylated peptide was recovered) and to the formation of an H-phosphonate. In contrast, the use of dibenzyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite yielded the desired phosphorylated peptide quantitatively and did not give rise to the H-phosphonate. Our results show the effectiveness of the dibenzyl-protected phosphoramidite when the site to be phosphorylated is particularly hindered.     

Development of non-phosphorylated cyclic thioether peptide binding to the Grb2-SH2 domain

One of the critical intracellular signaling pathways involves specific interactions between growth factor receptors and the adaptor protein Grb2. These interactions normally involve specific tyrosine phosphorylated regions in receptors and other cognate proteins. Following the lead of our recent findings that a phage library based non-phosphorylated disulfide linked 11-mer peptide inhibited such interactions, we report here the synthesis of novel redox-stable cyclic peptide analogs. These include thioether cyclized and backbone cyclized structures. The thioether analog was prepared under mild conditions from an N-terminally chloroacetylated and C-terminally cysteine extended peptide precursor. The thioether peptide showed equipotent binding affinity for the Grb2-SH2 domain (IC50 = 10–15 M) when compared to the disulfide cyclized lead-peptide. The bioactive thioether linked peptide was demonstrated to offer advantages to the disulfide cyclized peptides under physiological conditions.     

Multiple peptide synthesis

The synthesis of large numbers of peptides can be very labor intensive and, if a conventional peptide synthesizer is used, only small numbers of peptides can be produced within a reasonable time. The techniques described below can make large numbers of different peptides simultaneously with varying degrees of mechanization, ranging from the wholly manual methods, to those involving complete mechanization of the whole synthesis process. Most of the multiple synthesis methods are primarily intended for small scale production ranging from microgram amounts up to a few tens of milligrams. All of the systems are economical in use of solvents and reagents, enabling cost-effective synthesis. The techniques described can also be used to prepare peptide libraries, containing several millions of peptide sequences, to enable the rapid screening of all possible permutations of amino acids within short peptides. However, it is considered that multiple synthesis methods are not particularly suited where extreme high purity or very long peptides are required.