Synthesis of palmitoyl-thioester T-cell epitopes of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). Comparison of two thiol protecting groups (StBu and Mmt) for on-resin acylation.

In order to test the effect of thiopalmitoylation on the encephalitogenic properties of two proteolipid protein (PLP) T-cell epitopes, we have studied the on-resin S-palmitoylation of peptides, synthesized using the Fmoc/tBu strategy. The use of two Cys protecting groups was investigated: the tert-butylsulfenyl (StBu) and the methoxytrityl (Mmt). Our studies show that the ease of deprotection of the thiol protected with StBu was sequence dependent. The deprotection of Cys(StBu) was difficult in the case of the two peptides PLP(104-117) and PLP(139-151). Neither of the two Cys(StBu) (Cys108 and Cys140, respectively) could be deprotected with tributylphosphine. Beta-mercaptoethanol was only efficient for the deprotection of Cys(StBu)140 at 85 degrees C and at 135 degrees C for Cys108. The two palmitoylated peptides could be obtained in good yield starting from Cys protected with Mmt. Our conclusion is that the Mmt group is the more versatile protecting group of the thiol for use in the on-resin synthesis of thiopalmitoylated peptides.