Human somatotropin: Noncovalent interactions of the natural NH2-terminal 1–134 segment with synthetic analogs of the COOH-terminal fragment

Three analogs of the COOH-terminal fragments of human somatotropin (HGH), namely [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(150–187), [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(152–187), and [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(154–187), have been synthesized by the solid-phase method. The synthetic analogs were complemented with the natural NH₂-terminal fragment [Cys(Cam)⁵³]-HGH-(1–134) to form recombinants with HGH activities, as revealed by the rabbit liver membrane receptor binding and the Nb2 lymphoma cell assays.     

Human somatotropin: semisynthesis of the hormone by noncovalent interaction of the natural NH2-terminal fragment with a synthetic analog of the COOH-terminal fragment

Complementation of the natural [Cys (Cam)⁵³]-HGH-(1–134) fragment with synthetic analogs of COOH-terminal fragments of human somatotropin (HGH), namely [Nle¹⁷⁰, Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–182) and [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–187) has been investigated. It was found that the synthetic fragment, [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–187), gave a recombinant with about 40% HGH radioreceptor-binding activity. When compared with the natural recombinant, the semisynthetic hormone exhibited similar receptor-binding activities. The natural and semisynthetic recombinants were indistinguishable in radioimmunoassay. The α-helical content of the semisynthetic recombinant was completely restored in comparison with that of the native hormone as revealed by circular dichroism spectra. On the other hand, attempts to obtain a recombinant with the synthetic [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–182) were unsuccessful. The synthesis of [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–182) and [Nle¹⁷⁰,Ala^165,182]-HGH-(140–187) is herein described.     

Human pituitary growth hormone. 44. Effects of plasmin-modified hormone and its fragments on ornithine decarboxylase activity and lipolysis.

The rat hepatic ornithine decarboxylase stimulating activity of plasmin-modified human growth hormone and its two peptide fragments has been investigated. The activity was completely retained after plasmin treatment. The NH2-terminal fragment [Cys (Cam)53-HGH-(1-134)] retained 10% of the activity, whereas the COOH-terminal fragment [Cys (Cam) 165, 182, 189-(141-191)] was not active. The lipolytic activity of human growth hormone was greatly reduced after plasmin treatment, as examined in isolated rabbit adipocytes. It is suggested that the structural requirements for the lipolytic activity of the hormone are different from those required for stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity.     

Human growth hormone: 1974–1981

Summary Chemical investigations of the human growth hormone (HGH) molecule were briefly reviewed for the period between 1974 and 1981. These include chemical modification, selective enzymic cleavage, the 20K HGH, synthetic peptide fragments, complementation of the natural NH₂ terminal 134-amino acid fragment with natural or synthetic COO H-terminal fragments of various chain lengths, covalent reconstitution of two contiguous fragments of HGH with thrombin and bacterially synthesized methionyl-HGH.Abbreviations GH growth hormone or somatotropin - HGH human GH - CD circular dichroism - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - DEAE diethylaminoethyl - CMC carboxymethyl cellulose - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - RA-HGH reduced-carbamidomethylated HGH - PL-HGH plasmin-modified HGH - Cam Carbamidomethyl - BGH bovine GH - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate     

Total synthesis of S-carbamoylmethyl bovine apocytochrome c by segment coupling

Three peptide segments corresponding to the complete sequence of the 104 amino acid protein bovine apocytochrome c were synthesized by the solid-phase method. The peptides Ac-[Cys(Cam)14,17, GlyS23]-apocytochrome c-(1-23) (I), CF3CO-[GlyS60]-apocytochrome c-(24-60) (II), and CF3CO-apocytochrome c-(61-104) (III) were purified by chromatography on CM-cellulose, partition chromatography and/or HPLC. Each of the peptides was reacted with citraconic anhydride to block all of the lysine side chains, and the 61-104 peptide was treated with 10% hydrazine to remove the trifluoroacetyl group, to give the corresponding peptides Ia, IIa, and IIIa. Peptides IIa and IIIa were coupled together by reaction with silver nitrate/N-hydroxysuccinimide to give the 24-104 sequence. After removal of the trifluoroacetyl group from the amino terminus, peptide Ia was also coupled. Treatment of the peptide mixture with aqueous acetic acid removed the citraconyl groups, and purification by chromatography on CM-cellulose and HPLC gave a 0.6% yield of [Cys(Cam)14,17]-apocytochrome c. The synthetic product was shown to be identical to a sample derived from native bovine cytochrome c by paper or gel electrophoresis, HPLC and by chymotryptic or tryptic map.     

Beta-endorphin. Synthesis and biological activity of analogs with disulfide bridges

Two analogs of human beta-endorphin (beta-EP) which contain cystine bridges, [Cys15-Cys26,Phe27,Gly31]-beta-EP (I) and [Cys16-Cys26,Phe27,Gly31]-beta-EP (II), were synthesized by the solid-phase method. Peptides I and II were shown to contain 2-2.5 times the opiate receptor binding activity of beta-endorphin. We also synthesized two analogs with reduced alkylated cysteine residues and these peptides, [Arg9,19,24,28,29 Cys(Cam)11,26,Phe27,Gly31] and [Arg9,19,24,28,29,Cys-(Cam)12,26,Phe27,Gly31], were shown to have approximately the same opiate receptor activity as beta-endorphin.     

Synthesis of a molt-inhibiting hormone of the American crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and determination of the location of its disulfide linkages

A molt-inhibiting hormone (Prc-MIH) of the American crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, a member of the type II CHH family, was chemically synthesized and the location of its three disulfide linkages was determined. Prc-MIH consists of 75 amino acid residues and was synthesized by a thioester method. Two peptide segments, Boc-[Cys(Acm)(7,24,27), Lys(Boc)(19)]-Prc-MIH(1-39)-SCH(2)CH(2)CO-Nle-NH(2) and H-[Cys(Acm)(40,44,53), Lys(Boc)(42,51,67)]-Prc-MIH(40-75)-NH(2), were prepared using peptides obtained via the Boc solid-phase method. Condensation of the building blocks in the presence of silver chloride, 3,4-dihydro-3-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazine, and N, N-diisopropylethylamine, followed by removal of the protecting groups, gave the reduced form of Prc-MIH(1-75)-NH(2). This product was converted to the native form of Prc-MIH (synthetic Prc-MIH) in a buffer which contained cysteine and cystine. The synthetic Prc-MIH showed the same behavior by RP-HPLC and biological activity assays as the natural Prc-MIH. The disulfide bond between Cys7 and Cys44 was determined by isolation of a fragment from an enzymatic digest of the synthetic Prc-MIH by RP-HPLC, followed by mass analysis. The disulfide bonds between Cys24 and Cys40 and between Cys27 and Cys53 were determined by comparing the elution position of an enzymatic digest of the synthetic Prc-MIH with authentic chemically synthesized samples, which contained three types of possible disulfide linkages.     

Assignment of disulphide bonds in synthetic endothelin-1 isomers by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-residue vasoconstrictor peptide possessing four cysteinyl residues at positions 1, 3, 11 and 15, was synthesized by random oxidation of a tetrahydro-ET-1. On reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, crude product was shown to be a mixture of two disulphide isomers. A method was developed to determine the disulphide structure of the isomers. The method consisted of (a) limited digestion with chymotrypsin, (b) cleavage with cyanogen bromide and (c) manual Edman degradation. Through this procedure, each isomer afforded specific fragments containing a single disulphide bond, which were identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Isomer 1, the minor component, afforded a fragment containing Cys 3 and Cys 15, and isomer 2, the major component, afforded fragments containing Cys 3 and Cys 11. Since little disulphide exchange was observed, it could be concluded clearly that the disulphide bond pairs in isomer 1 were Cys 1-Cys 11 and Cys 3-Cys 15, while those in isomer 2 were Cys 1-Cys 15 and Cys 3-Cys 11 (the same as natural ET-1). The procedure was successfully applied to two synthetic analogues, [Gly18]-ET-1 and [Pro16]-ET-1.     

Spatial proximity between a photolabile residue in position 19 of salmon calcitonin and the amino terminus of the human calcitonin receptor

Calcitonins are 32-amino acid peptide hormones with both peripheral and central actions mediated via specific cell surface receptors, which belong to the class II subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Understanding receptor function, particularly in terms of ligand recognition by calcitonin receptors, may aid in the rational design of calcitonin analogs with increased potency and improved selectivity. To directly identify sites of proximity between calcitonin and its receptor, we carried out photoaffinity labeling studies followed by protein digestion and mapping of the radiolabeled photoconjugated receptor. A fully active salmon calcitonin analog [Arg(11,18),Bpa19]sCT, incorporating a photolabile p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine into position 19 of the ligand, has been used to demonstrate spatial proximity between residue 19 of the peptide and the amino-terminal extracellular domain of the receptor. Cyanogen bromide cleavage together with endoproteinase Asp-N digestion indicated that binding was predominantly to the region delimited by receptor residues Cys134 and Met187. Binding to this fragment was supported further by cyanogen bromide-digestion of receptors that were mutated to remove the predicted cleavage site at Met133 (M133A, M133L). Binding within the 54-amino acid fragment was refined further by digestion with endoproteinase Lys-C to the 8-amino acid region corresponding to Cys134-Lys141. These results provide the first direct demonstration of a contact domain between salmon calcitonin and its receptor and will contribute toward modeling of the calcitonin-receptor interface.     

Agonist binding site of Torpedo electric tissue nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. A negatively charged region of the delta subunit within 0.9 nm of the alpha subunit binding site disulfide

The positively charged quaternary ammonium group of agonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor binds to a negative subsite at most about 1 nm from a readily reducible disulfide. This disulfide is formed by alpha Cys192 and Cys193 (Kao and Karlin, 1986). In order to identify Asp or Glu residues that may contribute to the negative subsite, we synthesized S-(2-[3H]glycylamidoethyl)dithio-2-pyridine. Purified ACh receptor from Torpedo californica was mildly reduced and reacted with S-(2-[3H]glycylamidoethyl)dithio-2-pyridine. The predominant product was a mixed disulfide between the 3H-N-glycylcysteamine moiety and alpha Cys192 or Cys193. In the extended conformation of [3H] N-glycylcysteamine, the distance from the glycyl amino group to the cysteamine thio group is 0.9 nm. Thus, the amino group of disulfide-linked [3H]N-glycylcysteamine could react with carboxyls within 0.9 nm of Cys192/Cys193. To promote amide bond formation between the tethered amino group and receptor carboxyls, we added 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide. The predominant sites of amide coupling were on the delta subunit, in CNBr fragment 4 (delta 164-257). This reaction was inhibited by ACh. Only the first 61 residues of delta CNBr 4 are predicted to be extracellular, and there are 11 Asp or Gly residues in this region. One or more of these residues is likely to contribute to the binding of ACh.     

Photoaffinity labeling of P450Cam by an imidazole-tethered benzophenone probe

[(3)H]4-Benzoyl-N-[2-(imidazole-4-yl)ethyl]benzamide ([(3)H]HBP) was synthesized and used to photoaffinity label P450(Cam). The imidazole moiety of HBP anchors the compound in the P450(Cam) active site by coordination of the heme iron, thereby insuring that covalent modification occurs in the active site. Additionally, the imidazole anchor provides a known binding orientation of HBP to P450(Cam) from which conclusions about enzyme structure can be drawn based upon the locations of photoadducted residues. Two sites of adduction were identified by MS analysis of digested, photoaffinity labeled P450(Cam). Photoaffinity labeling experiments in the presence of the type II competitive inhibitor, 1-phenylimidazole, were used to assess the specificity of the photoadducts characterized. One adduct was located at Met103 on the flexible B'/C loop region of P450(Cam). The other adduct was localized on the C-helix at Met121. The implications of these data are discussed.     

Maurotoxin and the Kv1.1 channel: voltage-dependent binding upon enantiomerization of the scorpion toxin disulfide bridge Cys31-Cys34.

Maurotoxin (MTX) is a 34-amino acid polypeptide cross-linked by four disulfide bridges that has been isolated from the venom of the scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus and characterized. Maurotoxin competed with radiolabeled apamin and kaliotoxin for binding to rat brain synaptosomes and blocked K+ currents from Kv1 channel subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Structural characterization of the synthetic toxin identified half-cystine pairings at Cys3-Cys24, Cys9-Cys29, Cys13-Cys19 and Cys31-Cys34 This disulfide bridge pattern is unique among known scorpion toxins, particularly the existence of a C-terminal '14-membered disulfide ring' (i.e. cyclic domain 31-34), We therefore studied structure-activity relationships by investigating the structure and pharmacological properties of synthetic MTX peptides either modified at the C-terminus ?i.e. MTX(1-29), [Abu31,34]-MTX and [Cys31,34, Tyr32]D-MTX) or mimicking the cyclic C-terminal domain [i.e. MTX(31-34)]. Unexpectedly, the absence of a disulfide bridge Cys31-Cys34 in [Abu 31,34]-MTX and MTX(1-29) resulted in MTX-unrelated half-cystine pairings of the three remaining disulfide bridges for the two analogs, which is likely to be responsible for their inactivity against Kv1 channel subtypes. Cyclic MTX(31-34) was also biologically inactive. [Cys31,34, Tyr32]D-MTX, which had a 'native', MTX-related, disulfide bridge organization, but a D-residue-induced reorientation of the C-terminal disulfide bridge, was potent at blocking the Kv1.1 channel. This peptide-induced Kv1.1 blockage was voltage-dependent (a property not observed for MTX), maximal in the low depolarization range and associated with on-rate changes in ligand binding. Thus, the cyclic C-terminal domain of MTX seems to be crucial for recognition of Kv1.3, and to a lesser extent, Kv1.2 channels and it may contribute to the stabilization and strength of the interaction between the toxin and the Kv1.1 channel.     

Role of prothrombin fragment 1 in the pathway of regulatory exosite I formation during conversion of human prothrombin to thrombin

Prothrombin (Pro) activation by factor Xa generates the thrombin catalytic site and exosites I and II. The role of fragment 1 (F1) in the pathway of exosite I expression during Pro activation was characterized in equilibrium binding studies using hirudin(54-65) labeled with 6-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)hexanoate ([NBD]Hir(54-65)(SO3-)) or 5-(carboxy)fluorescein ([5F]Hir(54-65)(SO3-)). [NBD]Hir(54-65)(SO3-) distinguished exosite I environments on Pro, prethrombin 1 (Pre 1), and prethrombin 2 (Pre 2) but bound with the same affinities as [5F]Hir(54-65)(SO3-). Conversion of Pro to Pre 1 caused a 7-fold increase in affinity for the peptides. Conversely, fragment 1.2 (F1.2) decreased the affinity of Pre 2 for [5F]Hir(54-65)(SO3-) by 3-fold. This was correlated with a 16-fold increased affinity of F1.2 for Pre 2 in comparison to thrombin, demonstrating an enhancing effect of F1 on F1.2 binding. The active intermediate, meizothrombin, demonstrated a 50- to 220-fold increase in exosite affinity. Free thrombin and thrombin.F1.2 complex bound [5F]Hir(54-65)(SO3-) with indistinguishable affinity, indicating that the effect of F1 on peptide binding was eliminated upon expression of catalytic activity and exosite I. The results demonstrate a new zymogen-specific role for F1 in modulating the affinity of ligands for exosite I. This may reflect a direct interaction between the F1 and Pre 2 domains in Pro that is lost upon folding of the zymogen activation domain. The effect of F1 on (pro)exosite I and the role of (pro)exosite I in factor Va-dependent substrate recognition suggest that the Pro activation pathway may be regulated by (pro)exosite I interactions with factor Va.     

Interaction of synthetic sarafotoxin with rat vascular endothelin receptors

The effects of synthetic analogs of sarafotoxin (STX) S6b, a snake venom peptide with a high sequence homology to the endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET), on ET receptor binding activity and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) were studied in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Binding studies revealed that [Cys1-15, Cys3-11] STX competed with 125I-ET for the binding to its vascular receptors with lower affinity than that of ET, but was far more effective than [Cys1-11, Cys3-15]STX in inhibiting the binding. [Cys1-15, Cys3-11]STX had a less potent effect on increasing [Ca2+]i than ET, whereas [Cys1-11, Cys3-15]STX was inactive. These data suggest that there may exist heterogenous subpopulations of the vascular ET/STX receptors, and that the proper double cyclic structure of STX is essential for interacting with its putative receptors to induce the [Ca2+]i response.     

Human pituitary growth hormone: immunochemical investigations of biologically active fragments

Guinea pig antisera to human growth hormone were tested for their ability to recognize the two biologically active fragments of the hormone produced by human plasmin digestion and a synthetic active fragment. A precipitin line was obtained with native human growth hormone, plasmin-treated human growth hormone, and its NH₂-terminal fragment (residues 1–134). In the microcomplement-fixation and radioimmunoassay experiments, the NH₂-terminal plasmin fragment (residues 1–134) showed a greater immunoreactivity than the COOH-terminal plasmin fragment (residues 141–191). This, in turn, was more active than the synthetic fragment (residues 95–136).     

Amino acid sequence of an active fragment of potato proteinase inhibitor IIa.

The complete amino acid sequence of an active fragment of potato proteinase inhibitor IIa has been established by the Edman degradation procedure and the carboxypeptidase technique. Sequence analyses were carried out on the reduced and carboxymethylated active fragment and its tryptic peptides. To aid in the alignment of some tryptic peptides, the partial sequences of two fragments obtained by selective tryptic cleavage of the reactive site peptide bond of inhibitor IIa at acidic pH, with subsequent reduction and carboxymethylation, were also analyzed. The active fragment consisted of 45 amino acid residues including 6 half-cystine residues. Degradation of the intact active fragment by subtilisin [EC 3.4.21.14.] at pH 6.5. yielded 3 cystine-containing peptides. Sequence analyses of these peptides revealed that the 3 disulfide linkages were located between Cys(10) and Cys(24), Cys(14) and Cys(35), and Cys(20) and Cys(43). The reactive site peptide bond of inhibitor IIa, a Lys-Ser bond, was located between positions 32 and 33 of the active fragment. The overall sequence of the active fragment was quite different from those of potato chymotrypsin inhibitor I (subunit A) and potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor.     

Serine incorporation into the selenocysteine moiety of glutathione peroxidase

The selenium in mammalian glutathione peroxidase is present as a selenocysteine ([Se]Cys) moiety incorporated into the peptide backbone 41-47 residues from the N-terminal end. To study the origin of the skeleton of the [Se]Cys moiety, we perfused isolated rat liver with 14C- or 3H-labeled amino acids for 4 h, purified the GSH peroxidase, derivatized the [Se]Cys in GSH peroxidase to carboxymethylselenocysteine ([Se]Cys(Cm)), and determined the amino acid specific activity. Perfusion with [14C]cystine resulted in [14C]cystine incorporation into GSH peroxidase without labeling [Se]Cys(Cm), indicating that cysteine is not a direct precursor for [Se]Cys. [14C]Serine perfusion labeled serine, glycine (the serine hydroxymethyltransferase product), and [Se]Cys(Cm) in purified GSH peroxidase, whereas [3-3H]serine perfusion only labeled serine and [Se]Cys(Cm), thus demonstrating that the [Se]Cys in GSH peroxidase is derived from serine. The similar specific activities of serine and [Se]Cys(Cm) strongly suggest that the precursor pool of serine used for [Se] Cys synthesis is the same or similar to the serine pool used for acylation of seryl-tRNAs.     

The gamma 2 subunit is an integral component of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor but the alpha 1 polypeptide is the principal site of the agonist benzodiazepine photoaffinity labeling reaction

Polyclonal antibodies were raised to a synthetic peptide whose amino acid sequence was derived from the novel gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor subunit, gamma 2. These anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies reacted specifically with the GABAA receptor purified from adult bovine cerebral cortex in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated [3H]flunitrazepam photoaffinity-labeled native receptor in parallel with anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. Immunoprecipitation of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) denatured photoaffinity-labeled receptor by anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies, however, resulted in a significant decrease in the maximum percentage of radioactivity immunoprecipitated compared to that by anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. In immunoblots, anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies reacted with a broad band in the molecular weight range Mr 43,000-49,000 which was distinct from that recognized by anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. The anti-alpha 1 324-341 immunoreactive band was the main subunit irreversibly photoaffinity labeled by [3H]flunitrazepam, i.e. Mr 53,000. These results demonstrate for the first time that the gamma 2 subunit is an integral component of the GABAA receptor but it is the alpha 1 subunit that is the principal site of the agonist benzodiazepine photoaffinity labeling reaction. It supports a role of both the alpha 1 and gamma 2 polypeptides in the formation of the central benzodiazepine binding site within a GABAA receptor oligomer.     

Conformation states of thymopentin and its synthetic analogs

Spatial structures of the biologically active fragment Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr of tymopoetin (tymopentin) and its synthetic analogs: [Lys1-Arg2]-, [Glu3]- and [Gly3] have been investigated by theoretical conformational analysis. These results indicate that the conformational properties of fragments are represented in aqueous solution by five different backbone forms.