Study of a possible structural relationship between thymopoietin and the facteur thymique serique

Background peptide chemistry, and the known 49-amino acid sequence of thymopoietin and the known 9-amino acid sequence of the facteur thymique serique (FTS) allowed the concept that Arg⁴⁹ of thymopoietin might be linked to Gln¹ of FTS in a new 58-amino acid peptide in tissue. Cleavage between Arg⁴⁹ and Gln⁵⁰ adjacent to the unique Lys⁴⁸-Arg⁴⁹ moiety could liberate thymopoietin and the [H-Gln¹]-FTS which could cyclize to FTS by the known reaction. In support of, rather than negating, this concept, synthetic FTS and the new dodecapeptide consisting of Val-Lys-Arg linked to the N-terminal of [H-Gln¹]-FTS showed comparable immune stimulating activity, $\text{in vivo}$; both peptides appeared more active than synthetic thymopoietin II.     

Synthesis of serum thymic factor (FTS) and two analogs

Serum thymic factor (FTS) and [Gln¹]-FTS were synthesized by fragment condensation using the azide procedure. [d-Ala⁶]-FTS was prepared by stepwise amino acid condensation in combination with fragment condensation on solid-phase resin. Synthetic FTS and [Gln¹]-FTS both enhanced the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) level to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice at a dose of 0.1 ng/mouse per day, while a dose of 1.0 ng/mouse per day of [d-Ala⁶]-FTS was needed for the enhancement reaction.     

Modeling DNA polymerase μ motions: subtle transitions before chemistry

To investigate whether an open-to-closed transition before the chemical step and induced-fit mechanism exist in DNA polymerase μ (pol μ), we analyze a series of molecular-dynamics simulations with and without the incoming nucleotide in various forms, including mutant systems, based on pol μ's crystal ternary structure. Our simulations capture no significant large-scale motion in either the DNA or the protein domains of pol μ. However, subtle residue motions can be distinguished, specifically of His³²⁹ and Asp³³⁰ to assemble in pol μ's active site, and of Gln⁴⁴⁰ and Glu⁴⁴³ to help accommodate the incoming nucleotide. Mutant simulations capture a DNA frameshift pairing and indicate the importance of Arg⁴⁴⁴ and Arg⁴⁴⁷ in stacking with the DNA template, and of Arg⁴⁴⁸ and Gln⁴⁴⁰ in helping to stabilize the position of both the DNA template and the incoming nucleotide. Although limited sampling in the molecular-dynamics simulations cannot be ruled out, our studies suggest an absence of a large-scale motion in pol μ. Together with the known crystallization difficulties of capturing the open form of pol μ, our studies also raise the possibility that a well-defined open form may not exist. Moreover, we suggest that residues Arg⁴⁴⁸ and Gln⁴⁴⁰ may be crucial for preventing insertion frameshift errors in pol μ.     

Interaction between thymopoietin and facteur thymique serique in the rosette inhibition assay.

In the rosette inhibition assay, thymopoietin was active and its activity was enhanced in the presence of high concentrations of ubiquitin. Facteur thymique serique (FTS) was active in the same assay, but its activity was completely inhibited by high concentrations of ubiquitin. Mixtures of thymopoietin and FTS showed activity both in the presence or absence of ubiquitin depending on the concentration of thymopoietin or FTS in the mixtures. There seemed to be an important biologic interaction of thymopoietin and FTS when presented as a mixture, suggesting that thymopoietin and FTS might interact $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ and possibly $\text{in}\text{vivo}$.     

Intracellular Redistribution of Truncated La Protein Produced by Poliovirus 3Cpro-Mediated Cleavage

The La autoantigen (also known as SS-B), a cellular RNA binding protein, may shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm, but it is mainly located in the nucleus. La protein is redistributed to the cytoplasm after poliovirus infection. An in vitro translation study demonstrated that La protein stimulated the internal initiation of poliovirus translation. In the present study, a part of the La protein was shown to be cleaved in poliovirus-infected HeLa cells, and this cleavage appeared to be mediated by poliovirus-specific protease 3C (3C^pro). Truncated La protein (dl-La) was produced in vitro from recombinant La protein by cleavage with purified 3C^pro at only one Gln₃₅₈-Gly₃₅₉ peptide bond in the 408-amino-acid (aa) sequence of La protein. The dl-La expressed in L cells was detected in the cytoplasm. However, green fluorescence protein linked to the C-terminal 50-aa sequence of La protein was localized in the nucleus, suggesting that this C-terminal region contributes to the steady-state nuclear localization of the intact La protein in uninfected cells. The dl-La retained the enhancing activity of translation initiation driven by poliovirus RNA in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. These results suggest that La protein is cleaved by 3C^pro in the course of poliovirus infection and that the dl-La is redistributed to the cytoplasm. dl-La, as well as La protein, may play a role in stimulating the internal initiation of poliovirus translation in the cytoplasm.     

Verification of both the sequence and conformational specificity of neurotensin in binding to mast cells

Neurotensin (NT) analogs, modified at Arg⁸ and Arg⁹, were used to assess the role of Arg in NT binding to mast cells. [D-Arg⁸]- and [D-Arg⁹]-NT bound 4–5 times better than NT, whereas [D-Arg^8,9]-NT had the same binding affinity as NT. Binding of [Ala⁸]-NT was not parallel to NT and exhibited a dissociation constant 38-fold lower than NT while [Ala⁹]-NT had 32% binding. C-terminal peptides, NT_8–13 and NT_9–13, had about 65% binding. These data suggest that Arg⁸ plays a greater role than Arg⁹ in the binding to mast cell NT receptors. Reduction of the disulfide bond in [Cys^2,13]-NT produced an analog 4-times more potent than NT, while the cyclized form had only 3% binding. Thus, a linear peptide with a free C-terminus appears to be required for binding.     

Glucagon like-peptide-1 receptor is covalently modified by endogenous mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase

Our previous study revealed a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase mediated in vitro mono-ADP-ribosylation of IC₃ peptide, a peptide with sequence corresponded to third intracellular loop of glucagon like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Furthermore, Arg³⁴⁸ was shown to be modified amino acid residue although its mutation did not eliminate mono-ADP-ribosylation completely. In order to further study the signaling mechanisms of GLP-1 receptor, we took on lease a possibility that an alternative site of enzymatic modification exist so mono-ADP-ribosylation of Cys³⁴¹ was hypothesized. The results confirmed both Arg³⁴⁸ and Cys³⁴¹ as a site of mono-ADP-ribosylation where Arg³⁴⁸ is modified predominantly. Sum of mono-ADP-ribosylation rate of both single IC₃ mutants coincided with IC₃ rate. What is in vivo role of Cys³⁴¹ mono-ADP-ribosylation is entirely speculative but our study represents an important step toward a complete understanding of signaling via GLP-1 receptor.     

Suppression of vascular endothelium hyperpermeability by cell-permeating peptide inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase

Novel peptides originating from the peptide inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), L-PIK (Arg-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Lys), have been studied for their ability to attenuate the thrombin-induced hyperpermeability of an endothelial cell monolayer in culture. Peptides [N^αMeArg¹]-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Tyr-Arg-(D)Arg⁸-Lys and H-Arg(NO₂)Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Lys-NH₂ (designated PIK2 and PIK4, respectively) appeared to be the most effective inhibitors of endothelial cell monolayer hyperpermeability, and surpassed other known peptide inhibitors of MLCK derived from original L-PIK. Our results validate PIK2 and PIK4 as the leading molecules for the development of novel drugs intended to counteract pathological hyperpermeability of vascular endothelium.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of peptides in brain neurosecretory cells and neurohemal organs in the adult blowfly,Protophormia terraenovae

Neuropeptides in neurosecretory cells of the pars intercerebralis (PI) and pars lateralis (PL) in the brain, and those in the corpus cardiacum–hypocerebral ganglion complex (CC-HG) and corpus allatum (CA) were examined by mass spectrometry and immunocytochemistry in adult females of the blowfly, Protophormia terraenovae. By using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and electrospray ionization quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-Tof MS) and MS/MS, 4 peptides (including myosuppressin and SIFamide) were detected in the PI, 12 peptides (including [Arg⁷]-corazonin and [Arg⁷]-corazonin^3–11) in the PL, 13 peptides (including myosuppressin, [Arg⁷]-corazonin and [Arg⁷]-corazonin^3–11) in the CC-HG, and 6 peptides in the CA. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of each tissue or organ was made in about 20 flies under diapause-inducing (LD 12:12 at 20 °C) and diapause-averting conditions (LD 18:6 at 25 °C). These molecular ion peaks did not distinctively differ between diapause-inducing and diapause-averting conditions. A peptide with an m/z value at 1395.1 was purified from 240 brains and the 2nd–10th amino acids were sequenced as –YRKPPFNGS–, corresponding to a partial sequence of SIFamide. Only two pairs of somata in the PI were immunoreactive to antisera against SIFamide, which were local neurons widely extending fibers throughout the brain neuropils.     

A common polymorphism in XRCC1 as a biomarker of susceptibility for chemically induced genetic damage

We have recently demonstrated a significant dose–response relationship between vinyl chloride exposure and mutant p53 biomarkers in humans. The aim of this study was to examine a common polymorphism in the DNA repair gene XRCC1 as a potential biomarker of susceptibility modifying this relationship, consistent with the known mechanism of production of p53 mutations via vinyl chloride-induced etheno-DNA adducts, which are repaired by XRCC1. A cohort of 211 French vinyl chloride workers were genotyped for the XRCC1 codon 399 polymorphism (CGG>CAG; Arg>Gln). Among the homozygous Arg–Arg individuals, 34% were biomarker positive compared with 47% in the heterozygous Arg–Gln individuals (adjusted odds ratio 1.73, 95% CI0.93–3.22) and 66% in the homozygous Gln–Gln individuals (adjusted odds ratio 3.95, 95% CI 1.68–9.28), with a significant trend for increasing Gln allele dosage (p=0.002). These preliminary results suggest that a common polymorphism in a DNA repair gene can be an important biomarker of susceptibility for chemically induced genetic damage.     

Tc-99m-labeled RGD-conjugated alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone hybrid peptides with reduced renal uptake

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the replacement of the positively-charged Lys or Arg linker with a neutral linker could reduce the renal uptake of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-conjugated alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) hybrid peptide. The RGD motif {cyclic(Arg-Gly-Asp-DTyr-Asp)} was coupled to [Cys^3,4,10, D-Phe⁷, Arg¹¹]α-MSH_3-13 {(Arg¹¹)CCMSH} through the neutral βAla or Ahx {aminohexanoic acid} linker (replacing the Lys or Arg linker) to generate novel RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH hybrid peptides. The receptor-binding affinity and cytotoxicity of RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH were determined in B16/F1 melanoma cells. The melanoma targeting and imaging properties of ^99mTc-RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and ^99mTc-RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH were determined in B16/F1 melanoma-bearing C57 mice. The replacement of the Lys or Arg linker with the βAla or Ahx linker retained nanomolar receptor-binding affinities and remarkable cytotoxicity of RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH. The receptor-binding affinities of RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH were 0.8?±?0.05 and 1.3?±?0.1 nM. Three-hour incubation with 0.1 µM of RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH decreased the survival percentages of B16/F1 cells by 71 and 67 % as compared to the untreated control cells 5 days post the treatment. The replacement of the Arg linker with the βAla or Ahx linker reduced the non-specific renal uptake of ^99mTc-RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH and ^99mTc-RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH by 62 and 61 % at 2 h post-injection. ^99mTc-RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH displayed higher melanoma uptake than ^99mTc-RGD-Ahx-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH at 0.5, 2, 4, and 24 h post-injection. Enhanced tumor to kidney uptake ratio of ^99mTc-RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH warranted the further evaluation of ¹⁸⁸Re-labeled RGD-βAla-(Arg¹¹)CCMSH as a novel MC1 receptor-targeting therapeutic peptide for melanoma treatment in the future.     

The lipid-associated 3D structure of SPA, a broad-spectrum neuropeptide antagonist with anticancer properties

[D-Arg¹, D-Trp^5,7,9, Leu¹¹] substance P (SPA) belongs to a family of peptides including antagonist G and SpD that act as broad-spectrum neuropeptide antagonists at several peripheral receptors. The lipid-induced structure of these peptides may be important for the receptor interactions of these analogs. Thus we describe the tertiary structure of SPA in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate micelles at pH 5.0, and 25°C as determined from two-dimensional ¹H-NMR data recorded at 500 MHz. The resulting three-dimensional structure can be generally described as two type IV nonstandard turns around Arg¹*, Pro², Lys³, and Pro⁴ and Gln⁶, Trp⁷*, Phe⁸, and Trp⁹* residues, respectively, inserted into the interfacial region of the micelles (the asterisks denote D-form amino acid). These turns juxtapose the N- and C-termini of SPA and may form the basis of this peptide's unique ability to inhibit peptide receptor interactions at multiple receptor types.     

Synthesis of [Gln4]-neurotensin using a new solid support,the 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetamidomethyl-resin

For biomedical studies, [Gln⁴]-neurotensin, which appears to be the naturally occurring form of neurotensin, was synthesized using a recently designed new resin for the Merrifield solid-phase synthesis of peptides, 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetamidomethyl resin (PAM-resin). This synthesis was compared to the synthesis of [Gln⁴]-neurotensin by the use of oxymethyl-copoly-(styrene-divinylbenzene) as the solid support. The PAM-resin was superior, since the yield of [Gln⁴]-neurotensin was doubled and fewer purification steps were necessary.     

Synthesis of new vasotocin analogues: effects on renal water and ion excretion in rats

Vasopressin and nonmammalian hormone vasotocin are known to increase the water permeability of mammalian collecting ducts, frog skin and the urinary bladder. Neurohypophysial nonapeptides have also been shown to interfere with the regulation of renal ion transport. The subject of this study was a search for vasopressin and vasotocin analogues with selective effects on renal water, sodium and potassium excretion. During this study, we synthesised the following peptides: 13 vasotocin analogues modified at positions 4 (Thr or Arg), 7 (Gly or Leu) and 8 (d ‐Arg, Lys or Glu); 4 vasopressin analogues modified at positions 4 and 8; and 9 peptides shortened or extended at the C‐terminal or with substitutions for Gly‐NH₂. Most of these peptides had mercaptopropionic acid (Mpa) instead of Cys in position 1. The effects of these nonapeptides on renal water, sodium and potassium transport were evaluated in in vivo experiments using Wistar rats. Some nonapeptides possessed antidiuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic activities ([Mpa¹]‐arginine vasotocin, [Mpa¹, homoArg⁸]‐vasotocin, [Mpa¹, Thr⁴]‐arginine vasotocin and [Mpa¹, Arg⁴]‐arginine vasopressin). Substitutions at positions 4 and 8 increased the selectivity of peptide actions. The antidiuretic [d ‐Arg⁸]‐vasotocin analogues had no effects on sodium excretion. [Mpa¹, Arg⁴]‐arginine vasotocin was antidiuretic and kaliuretic but not natriuretic. [Mpa¹, Glu⁸]‐oxytocin had weak natriuretic activity without any effects on water and potassium transport. In accordance with the data obtained, synthesised vasotocin analogues could be good candidates for pharmaceuticals selectively regulating renal sodium and potassium transport, which is of clinical importance. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A specific N-terminal extension of the 8 kDa domain is required for DNA end-bridging by human Polμ and Polλ

Human DNA polymerases mu (Polµ) and lambda (Polλ) are X family members involved in the repair of double-strand breaks in DNA during non-homologous end joining. Crucial abilities of these enzymes include bridging of the two 3′ single-stranded overhangs and trans-polymerization using one 3′ end as primer and the other as template, to minimize sequence loss. In this context, we have studied the importance of a previously uncharacterised sequence (‘brooch’), located at the N-terminal boundary of the Polß-like polymerase core, and formed by Tyr¹⁴¹, Ala¹⁴², Cys¹⁴³, Gln¹⁴⁴ and Arg¹⁴⁵ in Polµ, and by Trp²³⁹, Val²⁴⁰, Cys²⁴¹, Ala²⁴² and Gln²⁴³ in Polλ. The brooch is potentially implicated in the maintenance of a closed conformation throughout the catalytic cycle, and our studies indicate that it could be a target of Cdk phosphorylation in Polµ. The brooch is irrelevant for 1 nt gap filling, but of specific importance during end joining: single mutations in the conserved residues reduced the formation of two ended synapses and strongly diminished the ability of Polµ and polymerase lambda to perform non-homologous end joining reactions in vitro.     

ALCAPs induce mitochondrial apoptosis and activate DNA damage response by generating ROS and inhibiting topoisomerase I enzyme activity in K562 leukemia cell line

The solution structure of an insecticidal toxin LaIT1, a 36-residue peptide with a unique amino-acid sequence and two disulfide bonds, isolated from the venom of the scorpion Liocheles australasiae was determined by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Structural similarity search showed that LaIT1 exhibits an inhibitory cystine knot (ICK)-like fold, which usually contains three or more disulfide bonds. Mutational analysis has revealed that two Arg residues of LaIT1, Arg¹³ and Arg¹⁵, play significant roles in insecticidal activity.     

The amino acid sequence of thymopoietin II.

The amino acid sequence of bovine thymopoietin II is presented. This T cell differentiating hormone of the thymus is a single 49 amino acid polypeptide chain of 5562 daltons. There is microheterogeneity at the C terminus with approximately two thirds of the molecules lacking the C terminal arginine found on the remaining molecules. Determination of the primary structure of thymopoietin II was facilitated by a long automated sequenator run on thymopoietin II coupled to 2-isothiocyanonaphthalene-4,8-disulfonic acid (NITC), tryptic cleavage of maleated thymopoietin II to yield the overlapping C terminal peptide, and efficient manual sequencing of this peptide using benzene extractions to minimize extractive losses of peptide.     

Circular Dichroism Studies of the Interaction of Tat Analogues Substituted in the Arg52 Position with TAR RNA HIV-1

The Tat wild-type fragment of sequence Arg⁴⁹-Lys-Lys-Arg⁵²-Arg-Gln-Arg-Arg-Arg⁵⁷-NH₂ (labelled as Tat1) and three analogues of this fragment with the substitution Arg⁵² → D-Arg⁵² (labelled as Tat2) or L-citrulline (Cit) (labelled as Tat3) or L-ornithine (Orn) (labelled as Tat4) were synthesized to study Tat-TAR RNA HIV-1 (27-nucleotide fragment of sequence 5′-AGAUCUGAGCCUGGAGCUCUCU-3′) interactions by circular dichroism. α-helical structure was the most readily adopted by the Tat3 analogue with Arg⁵² → Cit substitution. All the peptides investigated caused conformational changes in the TAR structure. The most dramatic changes were observed for the Tat2-TAR complex.     

The Factor VII-activating Protease (FSAP) Enhances the Activity of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2)

Factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) is a circulating protease involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, calcification, and fibrotic processes. To understand how FSAP controls the balance of local growth factors, we have investigated its effect on the regulation of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). BMP-2 is produced as a large pro-form and secreted as a mature heparin-binding growth factor after intracellular processing by pro-protein convertases (PCs). In this study, we discovered that FSAP enhances the biological activity of mature BMP-2 as well as its pro-form, as shown by osteogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. These findings were complemented by knockdown of FSAP in hepatocytes, which revealed BMP-2 processing by endogenous FSAP. N-terminal sequencing indicated that pro-BMP-2 was cleaved by FSAP at the canonical PC cleavage site, giving rise to mature BMP-2 (Arg²⁸²↓Gln²⁸³), as well as in the N-terminal heparin binding region of mature BMP-2, generating a truncated mature BMP-2 peptide (Arg²⁸⁹↓Lys²⁹⁰). Similarly, mature BMP-2 was also cleaved to a truncated peptide within its N-terminal region (Arg²⁸⁹↓Lys²⁹⁰). Plasmin exhibited a similar activity, but it was weaker compared with FSAP. Thrombin, Factor VIIa, Factor Xa, and activated protein C were not effective. These results were further supported by the observation that the mutation of the heparin binding region of BMP-2 inhibited the processing by FSAP but not by PC. Thus, the proteolysis and activation of pro-BMP-2 and mature BMP-2 by FSAP can regulate cell differentiation and calcification in vasculature and may explain why polymorphisms in the gene encoding for FSAP are related to vascular diseases.