Synthesis of RGD analogs as potential vectors for targeted drug delivery

RGD analogs bind to integrin receptors with high affinity and therefore have the potential to be used as vectors for the targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents to designated sites. Critical to this application is the ability to synthesize RGD analogs with different side chain functional groups that allow for the ready tethering of pharmaceutical agents without sacrificing their affinity for the target receptor significantly. A series of RGD analogs intended to be used as delivery vectors of pharmaceutical agents were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit platelet aggregation by binding to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. Among them, compound 11 showed the lowest IC50 against platelets activated by ADP. It was found that such RGD analogs could tolerate side chain modification fairly well with various functional groups attached such as amide, amine, ester, protected amine and poly(ethylene glycol). The fact that the compound with a side chain modification of poly(ethylene glycol) retained high affinity for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (IC50 150 nM) suggests the feasibility of tethering fairly large pharmaceutical agents to such RGD analogs without significant sacrifice of their affinity to the intended receptor.     

新型抗血小板多肽类药物研究进展

抗血小板治疗在血栓性疾病的防治中发挥重要作用,血小板膜糖蛋白 GP IIb/IIIa 受体的活化是血小板聚集的最终共同通路。目 前的研究发现,多种新型多肽能与 GP IIb/IIIa 受体特异性结合,从而发挥抗血小板聚集的药理作用。分类综述含有或类似 RGD 序列和非 RGD 序列的新型抗血小板多肽类药物研究进展。     

Identification of two structurally and functionally distinct sites on human platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa using monoclonal antibodies

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa exists as a calcium-dependent complex of two large peptides (designated IIb and IIIa) in Triton X-100 solutions, but it remains unknown if these peptides are subunits of one glycoprotein or are actually two individual glycoproteins in the intact platelet membrane. We used crossed immunoelectrophoresis to define the epitopes of two monoclonal antibodies to IIb-IIIa, then used these antibodies to study the structural and functional organization of IIb and IIIa in the platelet membrane. Human platelets solubilized in Triton X-100 were electrophoresed through an intermediate gel containing 125I-monoclonal IgG, then into an upper gel containing rabbit anti-human platelet antibodies. Our previously characterized antibody. Tab, and a new monoclonal antibody, T10, both bound to the immunoprecipitate corresponding to the IIb-IIIa complex. When platelets were electrophoresed after solubilization in 5 mM EDTA, 125I-Tab bound to the dissociated IIb polypeptide, but not to IIIa. In contrast, 125-I-T10 did not react with either IIb or IIIa. Thus, Tab recognizes a determinant on IIb, while T10 recognizes a determinant created only after the association of IIb and IIIa. Gel-filtered platelets from six normal donors bound 50,600 +/- 5,600 125I-T10 molecules/platelet and 47,800 +/- 11,200 125I-Tab molecules/platelet, consistent with IIb-IIIa being a heterodimer. 125I-T10 binding was identical in unactivated platelets and platelets stimulated with 10 microM ADP. However, platelets did not aggregate or bind 125I-fibrinogen until ADP was added. T10, but not Tab or nonimmune mouse antibody, inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and 125I-fibrinogen binding. Our findings suggest that IIb and IIIa exist as subunits of a single membrane glycoprotein in unstimulated platelets. Fibrinogen binding appears to require not only the interaction of IIb and IIIa, but also some additional change occurring after platelet activation.     

Peptides as inhibitors of thrombin coagulation activity and of thrombocyte aggregation]

The analysis of literature and our own data of regulatory peptides influence on the blood coagulation system is presenting. Various natural and synthetic peptides inhibit the activity of thrombin and platelet aggregation. Direct specific inhibitors of thrombin are peptides developed on the base of D-Phe-Pro-Arg sequence. Strong specific inhibitors of the prothrombinase complex factor Xa were isolated from tissues and saliva of the blood-sucking organisms. These inhibitors decrease thrombin generation at the early stage of blood coagulation cascade Anticoagulating peptides from the tick Ornithodoros moubata tissue (TAP), the recombinant rTAP from the saliva glands of tick Ornithodoros savignyi and peptide with even greater anticoagulating activity from saliva glands of fly Glossina morsitans morsitans were isolated and characterised. For complete and reliable suppression of thrombus formation simultaneous administration of thrombin and platelet aggregation inhibitors is necessary. Main terminal stage of platelet aggregation is the interaction of receptor GP IIb/IIIa with adhesive fibrinogen sequence Arg-Pro-Asp (RGD). Peptides derived on the base of this sequence compete with fibrinogen in reaction with platelet receptors. A lot of corresponding peptidomimetics were synthesised, e.g. MK-852, RO-44 and particularly effective compound integrelin. Many direct platelet aggregation inhibitors were found in snake venoms. Recombinant peptide TAP mentioned above exerts both antithrombin and antiaggregation activity. Peptides and peptide mimetics of this type rapidly and irreversibly bound with receptor GP IIb/IIIa. They have short half life time in the blood plasma. Their preference in comparison with other drugs is particularly rapid and strong action. In our experiments it was demonstrated, that simple proline-containing peptides Pro-Gly, Trp-Pro, Pro-Gly-Pro (putative fragments of collagen and elastin) possesses significant antithrombotic and anticoagulant potential in vitro and in in vivo. Perhaps these peptides are members on intrinsic complex of haemostasis regulators.     

Ligands "activate" integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIb-IIIa)

Integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (platelet GPIIb-IIIa) binds fibrinogen via recognition sequences such as Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD). Fibrinogen binding requires agonist activation of platelets, whereas the binding of short synthetic RGD peptides does not. We now find that RGD peptide binding leads to changes in alpha IIb beta 3 that are associated with acquisition of high affinity fibrinogen-binding function (activation) and subsequent platelet aggregation. The structural specificities for peptide activation and for inhibition of ligand binding are similar, indicating that both are consequences of occupancy of the same site(s) on alpha IIb beta 3. Thus, the RGD sequence is a trigger of high affinity ligand binding to alpha IIb beta 3, and certain RGD-mimetics are partial agonists as well as competitive antagonists of integrin function.     

Conjugation to hyperbranched polyglycerols improves RGD-mediated inhibition of platelet function in vitro

RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) is a known peptide sequence that binds platelet integrin GPIIbIIIa and disrupts platelet-fibrinogen binding and platelet cross-linking during thrombosis. RGD peptides are unsuitable for clinical applications due to their high 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and low in vivo residence times. We addressed these issues by conjugating RGD peptides to biocompatible macromolecular carriers: hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPG) via divinyl sulfone. The GPIIbIIIa binding activity of RGD was maintained after conjugation and the effectiveness of the HPG-RGD conjugate was dependent upon molecular weight and the number of RGD peptides attached to each HPG molecule. These polyvalent inhibitors of platelet aggregation decreased the IC50 of RGD in an inverse linear manner based on the number of RGD peptides per HPG. Since HPG-RGD conjugates do not cause platelet activation by degranulation and certain substitution ratios do not increase fibrinogen binding to resting platelets, HPG-RGD may serve as a model for a novel class of antithrombotics.     

Purification and characterization of a new RGD/KGD-containing dimeric disintegrin, piscivostatin, from the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus: the unique effect of piscivostatin on platelet aggregation

Piscivostatin, a novel dimeric disintegrin containing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and Lys-Gly-Asp (KGD) sequences, was isolated from the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus. The molecule consisted of two chains designated as the alpha and beta chains, comprising 65 and 68 amino acid residues, respectively. Piscivostatin had two binding motifs recognized by platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa), and the biological activity of dimeric disintegrin piscivostatin toward platelet aggregation differed from those of other monomeric disintegrins such as trimestatin and echistatin. We measured platelet aggregation by the laser light scattering method during the process of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Both dimeric and monomeric disintegrins inhibited the formation of small (9 to 25 microm in diameter), medium-sized and large aggregates (25 to 70 microm in diameter) in a dose-dependent manner. The platelet aggregates disaggregated after reaching a maximal number on either treatment with ADP alone or monomeric disintegrin/ADP. However, the small aggregates did not disaggregate on treatment with piscivostatin/ADP even when applied over time. When washed platelets were incubated with an anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody, PT25-2, which induces conformational changes of GPIIb/IIIa to a form accessible to fibrinogen and other adhesion proteins without platelet activation, piscivostatin induced a platelet shape change alone with no aggregate formation. The present study indicated that piscivostatin has two unique contradictory activities; acting as a double inhibitor of platelet aggregation and platelet aggregate dissociation.     

Variations of glycoprotein IIb–IIIa (αIIb/β3-integrin) content in healthy donors. The influence on platelet aggregation activity and efficacy of aspirin action

The effects of content of a fibrinogen receptor, glycoprotein (GP) IIb–IIIa (αIIb/β3-integrin), GP IIIa genetic polymorphism (substitution Leu33Pro), and fibrinogen concentration in blood plasma on platelet aggregation activity have been investigated in a group of healthy volunteers. In 35 examined donors the GP IIb–IIIa content on platelet surface varied from 40 to 71 × 10³ per platelet. Repeated measurements revealed that the GP IIb–IIIa content coefficient of variation was 9.5%, and deviations from mean levels did not exceed 20%. The level and the rate of platelet aggregation induced by ADP (1.25–20 μM) correlated with GP IIb–IIIa number (r from 0.315 to 0.591) and were higher in the group of donors with high in comparison with low GP IIb–IIIa content (>60 and (40–50) × 10^?3 per platelet, respectively). Aspirin, the inhibitor of thromboxane A₂ synthesis, partially suppressed ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The level of residual aggregation in the presence of aspirin also correlated with GP IIb–IIIa content and increased in subjects with high receptor content. Parameters of ADP-induced aggregation did not differ in donors with genotypes GP IIIa Pro33(?) (Leu33Leu33, n = 20) and Pro33(+) (Leu33Pro33, n = 13, and Pro33Pro33, n = 2) genotype. GP IIb–IIIa content was also not affected by GP IIIa polymorphism. No significant correlations were found between the level and rate of platelet aggregation and fibrinogen concentration in blood plasma. The data obtained indicate that the effects of variations of GP IIb–IIIa content on platelet aggregation are higher than GP IIIa Leu33Pro polymorphism and variations of fibrinogen concentration. High GP IIb–IIIa content is associated with increased platelet aggregation activity and decreased efficacy of aggregation inhibition by aspirin.     

Receptor binding affinity and thermolysin degradation of truncated and retro-inverso-isomeric ANF analogs

The peptides H-Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ile-NH2 (rANF8-15-NH2), Ac-Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ile-NH2 (Ac-rANF8-15-NH2), and their corresponding retro-inverso-isomeric peptides H-D-Ile-D-Arg-D-Asp-D-Ile-D-Arg-Gly-Gly-D-Phe-NH2 (D-rANF15-8-NH2), Ac-D-Ile-D-Arg-D-Asp-D-Ile-D-Arg-Gly-Gly-D-Phe-NH2 (Ac-D-rANF15-8-NH2), were evaluated for their ability to compete for the binding of 125I-rANF5-28 to cultured spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) aortic smooth muscle cell membranes. Their stability toward hydrolysis by the neutral endopeptidase thermolysin was also studied. The octapeptides rANF8-15-NH2 and Ac-rANF8-15-NH2 bound with IC50's of 367 pM and 1900 pM, respectively, but were rapidly hydrolyzed by thermolysin. Retro-inverso-isomers were prepared to provide molecules with an improved enzymatic stability. The retro-inverso-isomers were completely stable to thermolysin but were virtually inactive in the binding assay (IC50 greater than 1 microM).     

Changes in the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex during platelet activation

Platelet activation is accompanied by the appearance on the platelet surface of approximately 45,000 receptor sites for fibrinogen. The binding of fibrinogen to these receptors is required for platelet aggregation. Although it is established that the fibrinogen receptor is localized to a heterodimer complex of the membrane glycoproteins, IIb and IIIa, little is known about the changes in this complex during platelet activation that result in the expression of the receptor. In the present studies, we have developed and characterized a murine monoclonal anti-platelet antibody, designated PAC-1, that binds to activated platelets, but not to unstimulated platelets. PAC-1 is a pentameric IgM that binds to agonist-stimulated platelets with an apparent Kd of 5 nM. Binding to platelets is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ (KCa = 0.4 microM) but is not dependent on platelet secretion. Platelets stimulated with ADP or epinephrine bind 10,000-15,000 125I-PAC-1 molecules/platelet while platelets stimulated with thrombin bind 20,000-25,000 molecules/platelet. Several lines of evidence indicate that PAC-1 is specific for the glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex. First, PAC-1 binds specifically to the IIb.IIIa complex on Western blots. Second, PAC-1 does not bind to thrombasthenic platelets or to platelets preincubated with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid at 37 degrees C, both of which lack the intact IIb.IIIa complex. Third, PAC-1 competitively inhibits the binding of 125I-A2A9, and IgG monoclonal antibody that is specific for the IIb.IIIa complex. Fourth, the antibody inhibits fibrinogen-mediated platelet aggregation. These data demonstrate that PAC-1 recognizes an epitope on the IIb.IIIa complex that is located near the platelet fibrinogen receptor. Platelet activation appears to cause a Ca2+-dependent change involving the glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex that exposes the fibrinogen receptor and, at the same time, the epitope for PAC-1.     

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of potent GPIIb/IIIa antagonists: discovery of FK419

The discovery of the non-peptide antiplatelet injectable agent FK419 is reported. Based on the beta-turn structure of RGD peptide sequences in the alpha chain of fibrinogen, which binds the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) on the surface of platelets to induce platelet aggregation, the prototype 2 was designed. After further substituent effects were investigated at the alpha-position of the carboxylic acid in 2, we enhanced platelet aggregation inhibition, and discovered the useful feature of reduced prolongation of bleeding time. Finally, the potent platelet aggregation inhibitor FK419 (3) could be discovered. FK419 shows a safe feature of reduced prolongation of bleeding time, as well as potent inhibition of platelet aggregation.     

Complete amino acid sequence of kaouthiagin, a novel cobra venom metalloproteinase with two disintegrin-like sequences

The primary structure of kaouthiagin, a metalloproteinase from the venom of the cobra snake Naja kaouthia which specifically cleaves human von Willebrand factor (VWF), was determined by amino acid sequencing. Kaouthiagin is composed of 401 amino acid residues and one Asn-linked sugar chain. The sequence is highly similar to those of high-molecular mass snake venom metalloproteinases from viperid and crotalid venoms comprised of metalloproteinase, disintegrin-like, and Cys-rich domains. The metalloproteinase domain had a zinc-binding motif (HEXXHXXGXXH), which is highly conserved in the metzincin family. Kaouthiagin had an HDCD sequence in the disintegrin-like domain and uniquely had an RGD sequence in the Cys-rich domain. Metalloproteinase-inactivated kaouthiagin had no effect on VWF-induced platelet aggregation but still had an inhibitory effect on the collagen-induced platelet aggregation with an IC(50) of 0.2 microM, suggesting the presence of disintegrin-like activity in kaouthiagin. To examine the effects of these HDCD and RGD sequences, we prepared synthetic peptides cyclized by an S-S linkage. Both the synthetic cyclized peptides from the disintegrin-like domain and from the Cys-rich domain) had an inhibitory effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation with IC(50) values of approximately 90 and approximately 4.5 microM, respectively. The linear peptide (RAAKHDCDLPELC) and the cyclized peptide had little effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation. These results suggest that kaouthiagin not only inhibits VWF-induced platelet aggregation by cleaving VWF but also disturbs the agonist-induced platelet aggregation by both the disintegrin-like domain and the RGD sequence in the Cys-rich domain. Furthermore, our results imply that the corresponding part of the Cys-rich domain in other snake venom metalloproteinases also has a synergistic disturbing effect on platelet aggregation, serving as a second disintegrin-like domain. This is the first report of an elapid venom metalloproteinase with two disintegrin-like sequences.     

Triazolobenzodiazepines competitively inhibit the binding of platelet activating factor (PAF) to human platelets

PAF causes dose dependent platelet aggregation of human platelet rich plasma or gel filtered platelets (GFP). The benzodiazepines alprazolam and triazolam, but not diazepam (1-10 microM), inhibit PAF induced aggregation but have no effect on aggregation induced by other platelet agonists such as ADP, epinephrine and collagen. The IC50 for aggregation by PAF (4 nM) in GFP is 1 microM for both alprazolam and triazolam. The mechanism for this inhibition was explored by studying the binding of 3H-PAF(0.08 nM) to GFP in Tyrodes buffer containing albumin (0.35%), Mg++ (1mM) and Ca++ (0.5mM). GFP was incubated with different doses of the drug for 5 min prior to addition of 3H-PAF. Incubation was then carried out for 60 min at 25 degrees C to achieve binding equilibrium, as previously established. Alprazolam and triazolam, but not diazepam, caused competitive displacement of 3H-PAF from specific binding sites of GFP. The IC50 of alprazolam was 3.8 microM while that of triazolam was 0.82 microM. Lineweaver-Burk plots of 3H-PAF binding in the presence of inhibitor were also consistent with competitive inhibition. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the specific inhibition of PAF induced platelet aggregation by alprazolam and triazolam, respectively, is due to competitive inhibition of binding of PAF to its receptor.     

Savignygrin, a platelet aggregation inhibitor from the soft tick Ornithodoros savignyi, presents the RGD integrin recognition motif on the Kunitz-BPTI fold

Savignygrin, a platelet aggregation inhibitor that possesses the RGD integrin recognition motif, has been purified from the soft tick Ornithodoros savignyi. Two isoforms with similar biological activities differ because of R52G and N60G in their amino acid sequences, indicating a recent gene duplication event. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP (IC50, 130 nm), collagen, the thrombin receptor-activating peptide, and epinephrine was inhibited, although platelets were activated and underwent a shape change. The binding of alpha-CD41 (P2) to platelets, the binding of purified alpha(IIb)beta3 to fibrinogen, and the adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen was inhibited, indicating a targeting of the fibrinogen receptor. In contrast, the adhesion of osteosarcoma cells that express the integrin alpha(v)beta3 to vitronectin or fibrinogen was not inhibited, indicating the specificity of savignygrin toward alpha(IIb)beta3. Savignygrin shows sequence identity to disagregin, a platelet aggregation inhibitor from the tick Ornithodoros moubata that lacks an RGD motif. The cysteine arrangement of savignygrin is similar to that of the bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor family of serine protease inhibitors. A homology model based on the structure of the tick anticoagulant peptide indicates that the RGD motif is presented on the substrate-binding loop of the canonical BPTI inhibitors. However, savignygrin did not inhibit the serine proteases fXa, plasmin, thrombin, or trypsin. This is the first report of a platelet aggregation inhibitor that presents the RGD motif using the Kunitz-BPTI protein fold.     

Epinephrine and shear stress synergistically induce platelet aggregation via a mechanism that partially bypasses vWF-Gp Ib interactions

Elevated shear stress levels in pathologically stenosed vessels induce platelet activation and aggregation, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of arterial disease. Increased plasma catecholamine concentrations have also been implicated in the onset of acute coronary ischemic syndromes. This study was designed to examine the synergistic interaction of shear stress and epinephrine in the activation of platelets. Platelets (in PRP) sheared at 60 dyn/cm² showed little or no aggregation unless pretreated with epinephrine. Pretreatment with 250 nM epinephrine followed by shear at 60 dyn/cm² induced >60% platelet aggregation. The specific α₂-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine inhibited the synergistic aggregation, as did the ADP scavenging system phosphocreatine/creatine phosphokinase, indicating a three-way synergism with ADP. Chemical or monoclonal antibody blockade of von Willebrand factor (vWF) interactions with either platelet glycoprotein (Gp) Ib or Gp IIb/IIIa completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by activating levels of shear stress alone. However, the combination of epinephrine and shear stress induced platelet aggregation that was blocked by 10E5, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits vWF binding to Gp IIb/IIIa, but not by aurin tricarboxylic acid or the monoclonal antibody 6D1, both of which inhibit vWF binding to Gp Ib. Synergistic platelet aggregation in response to epinephrine and shear stress was observed in washed platelets, platelet-rich plasma and whole blood in vitro, and also ex vivo following exercise to elevate endogenous levels of catecholamines. These results indicate that epinephrine synergizes with shear stress to induce platelet aggregation. This synergistic response requires functional Gp IIb/IIIa complexes, but is at least partially independent of vWF-Gp Ib interactions.     

Thrombin receptor activating peptides: importance of the N-terminal serine and its ionization state as judged by pH dependence, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and cleavage by aminopeptidase M.

Peptides derived from the recently identified thrombin receptor were tested for their ability to induce platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma. The 14 amino acid peptide identified as the new N-terminus after thrombin cleavage (T-14) and an 11 amino acid peptide (T-11) lacking the 3 C-terminal amino acids of T-14 were studied. Both induced platelet aggregation at micromolar concentrations, with T-11 about twice as potent as T-14. Induction of platelet aggregation by these two peptides showed an unusual pH dependence, being more potent at pH 7.2 than at pH 8.1; thrombin-induced aggregation showed a reverse pH dependence. Proton NMR studies of T-11 demonstrated that the chemical shift of the C-alpha proton of the N-terminal serine had a pH dependence that mirrored the aggregation potency. Acetylating the N-terminus of T-11 resulted in loss of aggregating activity, and this peptide did not show the pH-dependence change in chemical shift. The T-14 and T-11 peptides lost aggregating activity when incubated in plasma due to cleavage of the N-terminal serine by an enzyme identified as aminopeptidase M based on its pattern of inhibition and the ability of purified aminopeptidase M (EC3.4.11.2) to cleave the T-11 peptide. Endothelial cell aminopeptidase M was also able to cleave T-11. Inhibiting aminopeptidase M with amastatin enhanced aggregation induced by T-11 but not thrombin. These studies suggest that ionization of the N-terminus of the T-11 and T-14 peptides may be important in initiating platelet aggregation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The anti-platelet approach targeting the fibrinogen ligand of the GPIIB/IIIa receptor.

Activation of the platelet surface receptor GPIIb/IIIa is the final pathway of platelet aggregation, regardless of the initiating stimulus. RGD analogues, peptidomimetics and monoclonal antibodies to GPIIb/IIIa have been developed targeting the blockage of the receptor and inhibition of the fibrinogen binding. However, the intrinsic activating effect of GPIIb/IIIa blockers is widely discussed as one potential contributing factor for the disappointing outcome of trials with GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors. An alternative method for thrombus prevention could be the use of specific fibrinogen blockers since they will act at the final step of the platelet aggregation and are expected to leave the receptor unaffected. To achieve this target the design of the fibrinogen ligands could be based on (i) sequences derived from GPIIb/IIIa ligand binding sites, and (ii) sequences complementary to RGD and/or to fibrinogen gamma-chain. The available information, which could be used as a starting point for developing potent fibrinogen ligands, is reviewed.     

From a peptide lead to an orally active peptidomimetic fibrinogen receptor antagonist

Summary Antagonists of the platelet fibrinogen receptor (GP IIb/IIIa receptor) are expected to be a new promising class of antithrombotic agents. The binding of fibrinogen to the fibrinogen receptor depends on an Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) tetrapeptide recognition motif. Structural modifications of the RGDS lead have led to the discovery of a non-peptide RGD mimetic GP IIb/IIIa antagonist20 (S 1197). Compound20 inhibits dose-dependently and reversibly human platelet aggregation. Modeling studies based on structure-activity data revealed the following structural features of the drug as important for receptor binding: the amidino group, the carboxylate group, hydrophobic substitutions at the carboxyl-terminus and at the side chain carrying the positive charge, the carboxyl-terminal NH group of the β-amino acid as a hydrogen bond donor and one oxygen atom of the hydantoin as a hydrogen bond acceptor. The ethyl ester prodrug of20 (S 5740) is an orally active antithrombotic agent which has the potential to be used to treat and prevent thrombotic diseases in humans.     

Triflavin, an antiplatelet Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide, is a specific antagonist of platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex

Triflavin, an antiplatelet peptide containing Arg-Gly-Asp, purified from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom, inhibits aggregation of human platelets stimulated by a variety of agonists. It blocks aggregation through interference with fibrinogen binding to its specific receptor on the platelet surface membrane in a competitive manner, but it has no apparent effect on intracellular events, such as thromboxane B2 formation, phosphoinositides breakdown and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization of thrombin-activated platelets. In this study, we determined the complete sequence of triflavin, which is composed of a single polypeptide chain of 70 amino acids. Its sequence is rich in cysteine and contains Arg-Gly-Asp at residues 49-51 in the carboxy-terminal domain. Triflavin shows about 68% identity of amino acid sequence with trigramin, which is a specific antagonist of the fibrinogen receptor associated with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. [125I]Triflavin binds to unstimulated and ADP-stimulated platelets in a saturable manner and its Kd values are estimated to be 76 and 74 nM, respectively; the corresponding numbers of binding sites are 31,029 and 34,863 per platelet, respectively. [125I]Triflavin binding is blocked by Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser in a competitive manner. EDTA, the Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides (including naturally occurring polypeptides, trigramin and rhodostomin), and monoclonal antibody, 7E3, raised against GP IIb/IIIa complex, inhibit [125I]triflavin binding to unstimulated and ADP-stimulated human platelets. In conclusion, triflavin specifically binds to fibrinogen receptor associated with GP IIb/IIIa complex and its binding site is located at or near GP IIb/IIIa complex, overlapping with those of 7E3 and another Arg-Gly-Asp-containing polypeptide, rhodostomin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Identification of novel peptide antagonists for GPIIb/IIIa from a conformationally constrained phage peptide library.

Methods have recently been developed to present vast libraries of random peptides on the surface of filamentous phage. To introduce a degree of conformational constraint into random peptides, a library of hexapeptides flanked by cysteine residues (capable of forming cyclic disulfides) was constructed. This library was screened using the platelet glycoprotein, IIb/IIIa, which mediates the aggregation of platelets through binding of fibrinogen. A variety of peptides containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp or Lys-Gly-Asp were discovered and synthesized. The cyclic, disulfide-bonded forms of the peptides bound IIb/IIIa with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range, while reduced forms or an analogue in which Ser replaced the Cys residues bound considerably less tightly. These results demonstrate the feasibility for introducing conformational constraints into random peptide libraries and also demonstrates the potential for using phage peptide libraries to discover pharmacologically active lead compounds.