瓦草中三个新环肽

从云南民间中草药瓦草（Ｓｉｌｅｎｅｓｚｅｃｈｕｅｎｓｉｓ）的根中分离鉴定了３个新的环肽,分别命名为瓦草环肽Ａ,Ｂ,Ｃ（ｓｉｌｅｎｉｎｓＡ,Ｂ,Ｃ）用光谱和化学方法确定它们均为环八肽,其结构分别为：ｓｉｌｅｎｉａＡ－ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｐｒｏ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｖａｌ）,ｓｉｌｅｎｉｎＢ－－ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｐｈｅ－Ｌｅｕ－Ａｌａ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｒｏ）,ｓｉｌ     

王不留行环肽研究

从中药王不留行（Ｖａｃａｒｉａｓｅｇｅｔａｌｉｓ）种子中分离并鉴定了４个环肽化合物,分别命名为王不留行环肽Ａ,Ｂ,Ｃ,Ｄ（ｖａｃｃａｒｉｎｓＡ,Ｂ,Ｃ,Ｄ）,其中王不留行环肽Ａ为新环肽化合物。其结构通过光谱和化学方法分别确定为：ｖａｃｃａｒｉｎＡ——ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｔｒｐ－Ａｌａ１－Ｇｌｙ－Ｖａｌ－Ａｌａ２）,ｖａｃｃａｒｉｎＢ———ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｐｈｅ１－Ａｌａ－Ｐｈｅ２）,ｖａｃｃａｒｉｎＣ———ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｐｒｏ１－Ｇｌｙ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｖａｌ－Ｐｒｏ２－Ｌｅｕ－Ｔｒｐ）,ｖａｃａｒｉｎＤ———ｃｙｃｌｏ－（Ｐｒｏ－Ｖａｌ１－Ｔｒｐ－Ａｌａ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｖａｌ２）．     

千针万线草环肽A的结构修正

从云南民间药物千针万线草（Ｓｔｅｌｌａｒｉａ ｙｕｎｎａｎｅｎｓｉｓ）的根中分离到一新环肽ｓｔｅｌｌａｒｉｎＡ。前报主要利用快速原子轰击质谱确定其结构为ｃｙｃｌｏ（Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｒｏ）。最近利用最新二维核磁结合快速原子轰击质谱及酶降解重新考察了其结构,修正为ｃｙｃｌｏ（Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｇｌｙ）。     

凤眼莲根分泌物氨基酸组分对根际肠杆菌属F_2细菌的趋化作用

凤眼莲（Ｅｉｃｈｈｏｒｎｉａｃｒａｓｓｉｐｅｓ）的根分泌物中含有Ｍｅｔ等多种氨基酸,其中Ｍｅｔ、ＧＡＢＡ、Ｇｌｙ、Ａｌａ、Ａｓｐ、Ｓｅｒ、Ｖａｌ和Ｌｅｕ（１０－７～１０－２ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）均对凤眼莲的根际肠杆菌属Ｆ２（Ｅｎｔｅｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｓｐ．Ｆ２）细菌有强烈的正趋化作用;Ｇｌｕ、Ｔｈｒ和Ｈｉｓ（１０－７～１０－３ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）也对该菌有一定的正趋化作用;而Ｌｙｓ、Ｃｙｓ、Ａｒｇ、Ｔｙｒ、Ｐｒｏ、Ａｓｎ、Ｇｌｎ、Ｉｌｅ、Ｐｈｅ和Ｔｙｐ则对该菌表现出一定的负趋化作用．对细菌的正趋化作用存在一个趋化物的最适浓度范围．具有正趋化作用的氨基酸在凤眼莲根际的浓度都较高,而具有负趋化作用的浓度则较低,这正是凤眼莲与该根际细菌结合为根际微生态系统的原因之一．     

从织锦芋螺中克隆α芋螺毒素序列

为了从我国南海产织锦芋螺（Ｃｏｎｕｓｔｅｘｔｉｌｅ）中分离新的毒素序列并研究其应用价值,进行了织锦芋螺毒素基因的分离工作．从织锦芋螺毒管中提取ｍＲＮＡ,以Ａ族芋螺毒素的信号肽编码部分和３′端非翻译部分的保守序列为引物,通过ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ扩增和序列分析方法获得新的芋螺毒素序列．结果得到两种不同的α芋螺毒素序列,两者都属于α４／７亚型芋螺毒素,预测其成熟肽序列分别为Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｕ－Ｃｙｓ－Ｃｙｓ－Ｓｅｒ－Ａｓｐ－Ｐｒｏ－Ａｒｇ－Ｃｙｓ－Ａｓｎ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｈｉｓ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｕ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｃｙｓ－Ｇｌｙ（Ｃ端Ｇｌｙ可能被酰胺化）和Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｕ－Ｃｙｓ－Ｃｙｓ－Ｓｅｒ－Ｈｉｓ－Ｐｒｏ－Ａｌａ－Ｃｙｓ－Ａｓｎ－Ｖａｌ－Ａｓｐ－Ｈｉｓ－Ｐｒｏ－Ｇｌｕ－Ｉｌｅ－Ｃｙｓ－Ａｒｇ．采用传统的生化分离手段尚未从织锦芋螺中获得过α芋螺毒素序列,这两种α芋螺毒素作用的种属特异性、受体类型特异性和在小细胞肺癌的诊断和治疗中的应用价值有待进一步研究     

Na2CO3胁迫对星星草幼苗游离氨基酸含量的影响

对Ｎａ２ＣＯ３胁迫下星星草幼苗游离氨基酸含量的研究结果表明,星星草幼苗游离氨基酸总含量随盐浓度的增加而增加。各组分中Ａｌａ、Ｃｙｓ、Ｇｌｙ、ｌｅｕ、Ｍｅｔ、Ｐｒｏ、Ｐｈｅ、Ｖａｌ的含量随着Ｎａ２ＣＯ３浓度的增加而增加,其中Ａｌａ、Ｃｙｓ、Ｇｌｙ、ｌｅｕ、Ｍｅｔ、Ｐｒｏ与Ｎａ２ＣＯ３浓度呈极显正相关关系。Ｎａ２ＣＯ３胁迫下星星草幼苗体内氨累积,同时Ａｓｐ－ＮＨ２的含量明显增加,有效降低氨对幼苗的毒     

猪脑抗吗啡镇痛肽的分离纯化及其抗血清对吗啡耐受影响的初步…

猪脑组织提取液经ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－５０分子筛层析,Ｓ－ＳｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅＦａｓｔＦｌｏｗ阳离子交换柱层析及两次ＨＰＬＣ分离得到一分子量为１２０００,等电点ＰＩ７．１的多肽,并测定了其氨基酸组成和Ｎ末端部分序列：Ｎ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｌｙｓ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｒｏ－Ａｓｐ－Ａｓｐ／（Ｌｙｓ）－Ｌｙｓ／（Ａｓｐ）－Ａｓｐ－Ｔｙｒ,给昆明小鼠脑室注射或尾静脉注射肽均能抑制吗啡引起的镇痛作用,其作用随着注射剂量的     

3个六肽的胰岛素受体结合和体内生物活性

为了研究胰岛素受体结合部位的结构和功能,设计并用固相方法合成了３个六肽．在浓度大于１×１０３ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,ｃｙｃｌｏ（Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｖａｌ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｇｌｙ）具有明显的胰岛素受体结合活力;Ｈ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｖａｌ－Ｌｅｕ－Ｔｙｒ－Ｇｌｙ－ＯＨ的这一活力则不明显;而Ｈ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｇｌｕ－Ａｒｇ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｐｈｅ－Ｐｈｅ－ＯＨ则增强胰岛素和其受体的亲和性．然而,它们都没有体内生物活性．这表明：环六肽部分模拟了胰岛素受体结合部位的空间构象;胰岛素受体结合部位的疏水性和其中的Ｂ２３Ｇｌｙ－Ｂ２４Ｐｈｅ－Ｂ２５Ｐｈｅ对胰岛素和其受体的结合起重要作用．     

一组丝瓜籽小分子核糖体失活蛋白LuffinS的分离、纯化和性质

通过硫酸铵分级沉淀、ＣＭ－５２阳离子交换层析、ＨＲＬＣ分子排阻层析及ＦＰＬＣＭｏｎｏＳ离子交换层析等步骤,从丝瓜籽中分离到一组分子量为８ｋＤ左右的小分子核糖体失活蛋白——ＬｕｆｉｎＳ１、ＬｕｆｉｎＳ２、ＬｕｆｉｎＳ３。末端分析结果表明,它们的Ｎ端氨基酸分别为Ａｌａ、Ｐｒｏ和Ｔｈｒ。氨基酸序列分析确定了ＬｕｆｉｎＳ２的Ｎ端９个氨基酸的序列是Ｐｒｏ－Ａｒｇ－Ａｒｇ－Ｇｌｙ－Ｇｌｎ－Ｇｌｕ－Ａｌａ－Ｐｈｅ－Ａｓｐ。ＬｕｆｉｎＳｓ对核糖体的失活机制与天花粉蛋白（ＴＣＳ）一致,是ＲＮＡＮ－糖苷酶催化型的。它们对无细胞蛋白质生物合成的抑制活性较ＴＣＳ略强,ＩＣ５０分别为１．３×１０－１１、１．０×１０－１０和６．３×１０－１１ｍｏｌ／Ｌ左右。因此ＬｕｆｉｎＳｓ有可能开发成免疫毒素的高效“弹头”。     

信号肽C—端和成熟蛋白N—端氨基酸序列的变化时α—淀粉酶分泌作用的影响

本文利用ｐＡｍｙ４１３质粒通过定点诱变技术,在α－淀粉酶基因的２８７和２９１位分别引入１个Ｇ和Ｃ,代替原来的Ｔ和Ｇ,构建成质粒ｐＡｍｙ４１３Ｂ,使成熟的α－淀粉酶Ｎ－端（７）Ｌｅｕ（８）Ｍｅｔ变为（７）Ａｒｇ（８）Ｉｌｅ。ｐＡｍｙ４１３Ｌα－淀粉酶信号序列因引入１个多酶切点接头而比ｐＡｍｙ４１３的２９个氨基酸增加了１３个氨基酸,创造了１个新的信号肽酶Ｉ识别窗口Ａｌａ－Ｇｌｎ－Ａｌａ↓Ｓｅｒ,利用计算机对该信号肽进行了二级结构分析。这两株突变株产酶能力分别为野生株（ｐＡｍｙ４１３）的３％和３６％;胞外α－淀粉酶的分子量同于野生株;末端分析显示,成熟酶第一个氨基酸为Ａｌａ,表明信号肽酶Ｉ在野生型识别窗口Ａｌａ－Ａｌａ－Ａｌａ↓Ａｌａ处切割。结果还表明,Ｂ．ｌｉｃｈｅｎｉｆｏｒｍｉｓα－淀粉酶在Ｂ．ｓｕｂｔｉｌｉｓ中分泌作用属共翻译转移模型     

Cyclopeptides from Sagina japonica (Caryophyllaceae)

Two new cyclic peptides, named sajaponicin C (1) and sajaponicin D (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Sagina japonica (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were determined as cyclo(Pro(2)-Leu(2)-Tyr-Leu(1)-Phe(1)-Pro(3)-Phe(2)-Pro(1)) (1) and cyclo(Pro(1)-Pro(2)-Pro(3)-Pro(4)-Phe(1)-Gly-Thr-Ser-Phe(2)-Ile-Tyr) (2) on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially by two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques.     

New cyclic peptides with osteoblastic proliferative activity from Dianthus superbus

Two new cyclic peptides, dianthins G-H (1 and 2), together with the known dianthin E (3), were isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Dianthus superbus. The sequences of cyclic peptides 1 and 2 were elucidated as cyclo (-Gly(1)-Pro(2)-Leu(3)-Thr(4)-Leu(5)-Phe(6)-) and cyclo (-Gly(1)-Pro(2)-Val(3)-Thr(4)-Ile(5)-Phe(6)-), on the basis of ESI tandem mass fragmentation analysis, extensive 2D NMR methods and X-ray diffraction. The isolated three compounds all increase proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro using MTT method.     

Unusual thionation of a cyclic hexapeptide. Conformational changes and dynamics.

One carbonyl oxygen of the cyclic hexapeptide cyclo(-Gly1-Pro2-Phe3-Val4-Phe5-Phe6-) (A) can be selectively exchanged with sulphur using Yokoyama's reagent. Surprisingly it was not the C=] of Gly1 but that of Phe5 which was substituted and cyclo(-Gly1-Pro2-Phe3-Val4-Phe5 psi [CS-NH]Phe6-) (B) was obtained. Thionation results in a conformational change of the peptide backbone although the C=O of Phe5 and the corresponding C=S are not involved in internal hydrogen bonds. Two isomers in slow exchange, containing a cis Gly1-Pro2 bond in a beta VIa-turn (minor) and a trans Gly-Pro bond in a beta II'-turn (major), were analyzed by restrained molecular dynamics in vacuo and in DMSO as well as using time dependent distance constraints. It is impossible to fit all experimental data to a static structure of each isomer. Interpreting the conflicting NOEs, local segment flexibility is found. MD simulations lead to a dynamic model for each structure with evidence of an equilibrium between a beta I- and beta II-turn about the Val4-Phe5 amide bond in both the cis and trans isomers. Additionally proton relaxation rates in the rotating frame (R1 rho) were measured to verify the assumption of this fast beta I/beta II equilibrium within each isomer. Significant contributions to R1 rho-rates from intramolecular motions were found for both isomers. Therefore it is possible to distinguish between at least four conformers interconverting on different time scales based on NMR data and MD refinement. This work shows that thionation is a useful modification of peptides for conformation-activity investigations.     

On the transferability of atomic solvation parameters: Ab initio structural prediction of cyclic heptapeptides in DMSO

A statistical mechanics methodology for predicting the solution structures and populations of peptides developed recently is based on a novel method for optimizing implicit solvation models, which was applied initially to a cyclic hexapeptide in DMSO (C. Baysal and H. Meirovitch, Journal of American Chemical Society, 1998, vol. 120, pp. 800-812). Thus, the molecule has been described by the simplified energy function E(tot) = E(GRO) + summation operator(k) sigma(k)A(k), where E(GRO) is the GROMOS force-field energy, sigma(k) and A(k) are the atomic solvation parameter (ASP) and the solvent accessible surface area of atom k, respectively. In a more recent study, these ASPs have been found to be transferable to the cyclic pentapeptide cyclo(D-Pro(1)-Ala(2)-Ala(3)-Ala(4)-Ala(5)) in DMSO (C. Baysal and H. Meirovitch, Biopolymers, 2000, vol. 53, pp. 423-433). In the present paper, our methodology is applied to the cyclic heptapeptides axinastatin 2 [cyclo(Asn(1)-Pro(2)-Phe(3)-Val(4)-Leu(5)-Pro(6)-Val(7))] and axinastatin 3 [cyclo(Asn(1)-Pro(2)-Phe(3)-Ile(4)-Leu(5)-Pro(6)-Val(7))], in DMSO, which were studied by nmr by Mechnich et al. (Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1997, vol. 80, pp. 1338-1354). The calculations for axinastatin 2 show that special ASPs should be optimized for the partially charged side-chain atoms of Asn while the rest of the atoms take their values derived in our previous work; this suggests that similar optimization might be needed for other side chains as well. The solution structures of these peptides are obtained ab initio (i.e., without using experimental restraints) by an extensive conformational search based on E(GRO) alone and E(*)(tot), which consists of the new set of ASPs. For E(*)(tot), the theoretical values of proton-proton distances, (3)J coupling constants, and other properties are found to agree very well with the nmr results, and they are always better than those based on E(GRO).     

Structure investigation of amphiphilic cyclopeptides in isotropic and anisotropic environments-A model study simulating peptide-membrane interactions.

It has been proposed that the membrane allows a much more efficient binding of certain small or medium-sized amphiphilic messenger molecules to their receptor, not only by accumulation of the drug, but also by induction of orientations and conformations that are much more favorable for receptor docking than structures adopted in isotropic phases. A series of eight amphiphilic cyclic peptides containing lipophilic (L-alpha-aminodecanoic acid = Ada, L-alpha-aminohexadecanoic acid = Ahd, Nhdg = N-hexadecylglycine) and hydrophilic (Lys, Asp) amino acids were synthesized and examined by means of NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in isotropic (CDCl3) and membrane-mimicking anisotropic (SDS/H2O) solvents to study the influence of the environment on their individual conformations. NMR data of cyclo(-Gly1-D-Asp2-Ahd3-Ahd4-Asp5-Gly6+ ++-) (C4), cyclo(-Lys1-D-Pro2-Lys3-Ada4-Pro5-Ada6-) (C5) and cyclo(-Lys1-Pro2-Lys3-Ada4-D-Pro5-Ada6-) (C6) clearly indicate that those compounds are too rigid to perform a conformational change upon transition from an isotropic to an anisotropic environment. On the other hand, the experimental data of cyclo (-Gly1-Asp2-Ahd3-Ahd4-Asp5-Gly6-) (C1), cyclo(-Asp1-Ala2-Nhdg3-Ala4-D-Asp5-) (C7), and cyclo(-D-Asp1-Ala2-Nhdg3-Ala4-Asp5-) (C8) suggest highly flexible unstructured molecules in both environments. However, for cyclo(-Asp1-Asp2-Gly3-Ahd4-Ahd5-Gly6-) (C2) we observed a structure inducing effect of a membrane-like environment. The compound populates three different conformations in SDS/H2O, whereas in CDCI3 no preferred conformation can be detected. cyclo(-D-Asp1-Asp2-Gly3-Ahd4-Ahd5-Gly6-) (C3) clearly exhibits two different conformations with a shifted beta,beta-turn motif in CDCI3 and SDS/H2O solutions. The conformational change could be reproduced in a restraint-free MD simulation using the biphasic membrane mimetic CCl4/H2O. Our results give clear evidence that membrane interactions may not only lead to structure inductions, but can also induce major conformational changes in compounds already exhibiting a defined structure in isotropic solution.     

Synthesis and hydrolysis by pepsin and trypsin of a cyclic hexapeptide containing lysine and phenylalanine.

1. A cyclic hexapeptide, cyclo(-Gly2-Phe2-Gly-Lys-), and the corresponding open-chain hexapeptides, Gly2-Phe2-Gly-Lys and Phe-Gly-Lys-Gly2-Phe, have been synthesized and their susceptibilities to the hydrolytic action of pepsin and trypsin were determined. 2. The cyclic peptide was hydrolyzed slowly by trypsin to a hexapeptide Gly2-Phe2-Gly-Lys, the value of the Michaelis constant for this reaction being Km equals 0.00022 M. 3. The cyclic peptide was not cleaved by pepsin at all, but Gly2-Phe2-Gly-Lys was hydrolyzed rapidly at a Phe-Phe bond; Km equals 0.0091 M. 4. The cyclic peptide inhibits the hydrolysis of Gly2-Phe2-Gly-Lys by pepsin in a linear non-competitive manner, the value of the inhibition constant being Ki equals 0.004 M.     

Solution conformations of some azetidine cyclic peptides

The ¹H-nmr spectra (270 MHz) of cyclic di- and tri-L -azatidine-2-carboxylic acid [cy-clo(L -Aze)₂ and cyclo(L -Aze)³] were determined in CDCl₃ and D₂O and computer simulated. The spectral results were compared with those obtained with cyclo (L -Pro)₂ and cyclo (L, -Pro)₃. In CDCl₃ and D₂O solution, the four membered ring of cyclo (L -Aze)₂ is puckered with the α-proton in a pseudo-axial position, and the ? angle is smaller in absolute value than ?60°, as found for cyclo (L -Pro)_2,. The puckering of the four-membered ring of cyclo(L, -Aze)₃ in CDCl₃ has the α-proton in a pseudo–equatorial position and ? angle larger in absolute value than ?60°, in agreement with cyclo(L -Pro)₃. In D₂O, cyclo(L -Aze)₃ was found to interconvert rapidly between different conformers. In the azetidine cyclic peptides studied, the range of values found for the ? angles was smaller than in the related proline cyclic peptides, indicating greater rigidity in the four-membered ring.     

Tetrazole analogues of cyclolinopeptide A: synthesis, conformation, and biology

Linear and cyclic analogues of cyclolinopeptide A (CLA) with two dipeptide segments (Val(5)-Pro(6) and Pro(6)-Pro(7)) replaced by their tetrazole derivatives were synthesized by the SPPS technique and cyclized using TBTU (O-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate) reagent. The conformational properties of the c(Leu(1)-Ile(2)-Ile(3)-Leu(4)-Val(5)-Pro(6)-psi[CN(4)]-Ala(7)-Phe(8)-Phe(9)) were investigated by NMR and computational techniques. The overall solution structure of this cyclic peptide resembles that observed for the CLA in the solid state. These studies of cyclic tetrazole CLA analogue confirm that the 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole ring functions as an effective, well-tolerated cis-amide bond mimic in solution. The peptides were examined for their immunosuppressive activity in the humoral response test. For cyclic analogues the immunosuppressive activity, at low doses, is equal in magnitude to the activity presented by cyclosporin A and native CLA. The conformational and biological data seem indicate that the Pro-Pro-Phe-Phe moiety and the preservation of the CLA backbone conformation are important for immunosuppressive activity.     

Peptide conformation. 48. Conformation and biological activity of proline containing cyclic retro-analogues of somatostatin

Six cyclic retro-analogues of the peptide hormone somatostatin have been synthesized using the solid phase technique. The peptides cyclo(-Xaa1-Phe2-Thr3-Lys4-Ybb5-Phe6-) and cyclo(-Phe1-Xaa2-Thr3-Lys4-Ybb5-Phe6-) with Xaa = D- or L-Pro and Ybb = D- or L-Trp were cyclized via the azide method. The conformations of the cyclic hexapeptides in DMSO-d6 solution were determined by a number of homo- and heteronuclear two-dimensional n.m.r.-techniques including 2D rotating frame NOE-spectroscopy. Two-step coherence transfers, ROE and chemical exchange, are observed for the first time in ROESY spectra. The backbone conformation of the all-trans cyclopeptides consists of a beta-turn containing the Pro residue in the position i + 1. These retro-analogues of somatostatin exhibit a high activity in the inhibition of cholate and phalloidin uptake by liver cells (cytoprotective effect); however, the hormonal activities of the natural hormone are completely suppressed. The constitutional and conformational requirements for the cytoprotective activity are discussed.     

Complex formation with alkali and alkaline earth metal ions of cyclic octapeptides,cyclo(Phe-Pro)4, cyclo(Leu-Pro)4, and cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]4

Complex formation with alkali and alkaline earth metal ions of cyclic octapeptides, cyclo(Phe-Pro)₄, cyclo(Leu-Pro)₄, and cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]₄ was investigated in relation to conformation. In an alcohol solution, cyclo(Phe-Pro)₄ did not form complexes. However, cyclo(Leu-Pro)₄ and cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]₄ formed complexes selectively with Ba²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. Changing the solvent from alcohol to acetonitrile, the complexation behavior was very different. In acetonitrile, cyclo(Phe-Pro)₄ was found to form a complex with Ba²⁺, and CD spectra of cyclo(Leu-Pro)₄ and cyclo[Lys(Z)-Pro]₄ changed sharply on complexation with K⁺. Rate constants of the complex formation between the cyclic octapeptides and metal salts were in the range of 0.7–12 L mol^?1 min^?1 in an alcohol solution. One of the two types of complex formation in acetonitrile was much faster than that in an alcohol solution.