Conformational analysis of a novel cyclic enkephalin analogue using NMR and EDMC calculations

Conformational space of a novel cyclic enkephalin analogue, cyclo(N(epsilon),N(epsilon')-carbonyl-D-Lys2,Lys5)enkephalin amide, was exhaustively examined. A large number of conformations was selected and clustered into families on the basis of their structure and energy. For representative conformations ROESY spectra were generated and their linear combination was fitted to the spectra measured in water and Me2SO-d6. This procedure yielded an ensemble of most populated conformations of the peptide in the two solvents.     

N‐terminal guanidinylation of the cyclic 1,4‐ureido‐deltorphin analogues: the synthesis,receptor binding studies,and resistance to proteolytic digestion

The synthesis of a series of N‐guanidinylated cyclic ureidopeptides, analogues of 1,4‐ureido‐deltorphin/dermorphine tetrapeptide is described. The δ‐ and μ‐opioid receptor affinity of new guanidinylated analogues and their non‐guanidinylated precursors was determined by the displacement radioligand binding experiments. Our results indicate that the guanidinylation of cyclic 1,4‐ureidodeltorphin peptide analogues does not exhibit a uniform influence on the opioid receptor binding properties, similarly as reported earlier for some linear peptides. All analogues were also tested for their in vitro resistance to proteolysis during incubation with large excess of chymotrypsin, pepsin, and papain by means of mass spectroscopy. Guanidinylated ureidopeptides 1G–4G showed mixed μ agonist/δ agonist properties and high enzymatic stability indicating their potential as therapeutic agents for treatment of pain. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elucidating metabolic pathways for amino acid incorporation into dragline spider silk using 13C enrichment and solid state NMR

Spider silk has been evolutionarily optimized for contextual mechanical performance over the last 400 Ma. Despite precisely balanced mechanical properties, which have yet to be reproduced, the underlying molecular architecture of major ampullate spider silk can be simplified being viewed as a versatile block copolymer. Four primary amino acid motifs: polyalanine, (GA)(n), GPGXX, and GGX (X = G,A,S,Q,L,Y) will be considered in this study. Although synthetic mimetics of many of these amino acid motifs have been produced in several biological systems, the source of spider silk's mechanical integrity remains elusive. Mechanical robustness may be a product not only of the amino acid structure but also of the tertiary structure of the silk. Historically, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) has been used to reveal the crystalline structure of the polyalanine motif; however, limitations in amino acid labeling techniques have obscured the structures of the GGX and GPGXX motifs thought to be responsible for the structural mobility of spider silk. We describe the use of metabolic pathways to label tyrosine for the first time as well as to improve the labeling efficiency of proline. These improved labeling techniques will allow the previously unknown tertiary structures of major ampullate silk to be probed.     

Isolation and amino acid sequence of insulins and C-peptides of European bison (Bison bonasus) and fox (Alopex lagopus)

Insulins and C-peptides were extracted and purified from bison and fox pancreatic glands. The insulins were reduced and pyridylethylated, and the derived A- and B-chains separated by HPLC. Amino acid sequence determinations of the pyridylethylated A- and B-chains proved bisontine insulin to be identical to bovine insulin and fox insulin to be identical to dog and porcine insulin. Bisontine C-peptide proved to be identical to bovine C-peptide. The isolated fox C-peptide comprises 23 amino acid residues and probably represents a major tryptic fragment of a larger C-peptide. The fox C-peptide fragment is identical to the dog C-peptide (9-31) except for residue 3 (residue 11 in the dog C-peptide), which is aspartic acid as compared with glutamic acid in the dog C-peptide.     

Not the End of the World? Post-Classical Decline and Recovery in Rural Anatolia

Between the foundation of Constantinople as capital of the eastern half of the Roman Empire in 330 CE and its sack by the Fourth Crusade in 1204 CE, the Byzantine Empire underwent a full cycle from political-economic stability, through rural insecurity and agrarian decline, and back to renewed prosperity. These stages plausibly correspond to the phases of over-extension (K), subsequent release (Ω) and recovery (α) of the Adaptive Cycle in Socio-Ecological Systems. Here we track and partly quantify the consequences of those changes in different regions of Anatolia, firstly for rural settlement (via regional archaeological surveys) and secondly for land cover (via pollen analysis). We also examine the impact of climate changes on the agrarian system. While individual histories vary, the archaeological record shows a major demographic decline between ca .650 and ca. 900 CE in central and southwestern Anatolia, which was then a frontier zone between Byzantine and Arab armies. In these regions, and also in northwest Anatolia, century-scale trends in pollen indicate a substantial decline in the production of cereal and tree crops, and a smaller decline in pastoral activity. During the subsequent recovery (α) phase after 900 CE there was strong regional differentiation, with central Anatolia moving to a new economic system based on agro-pastoralism, while lowland areas of northern and western Anatolia returned to the cultivation of commercial crops such as olive trees. The extent of recovery in the agrarian economy was broadly predictable by the magnitude of its preceding decline, but the trajectories of recovery varied between different regions.     

Potent trypsin-resistant hGH-RH analogues.

A series of analogues of hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 designed to have metabolic stability has been synthesized. Standard Boc-SPPS was employed, modified to permit the guanidinylation of amino side-chains after chain assembly but before release from the resin. [Dat1, Har(11, 12, 20, 21, 29), Ala15, Nle27, Asp28]-, [Dat1, Har(11, 20, 29), Orn12, Ala15, Nle27, Asp28]-, and [Dat1, Gap(11,12, 21, 29), Ala15, Har20, Nle27, Asp28]-hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 were completely resistant to trypsin and about 50 times as potent as hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 itself when injected subcutaneously in rats. These peptides are candidates for clinical application in the therapy of GH deficiency.     

New analogues of laminin active fragment YIGSR: synthesis and biological activity in vitro and in vivo.

Eleven analogues of the laminin pentapeptide amide fragment Tyr-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg-NH2 (YIGSR-NH2) corresponding to a B1 chain fragment of the glycoprotein laminin have been synthesized by the solid phase method, and their biological activity has been studied in vitro by a cell adhesion assay: all of them inhibited the adhesion of LLC tumor cells to laminin. The analogues were found to be more resistant to enzymatic degradation in human serum than YIGSR-NH2 itself. Analogue DatIGSHar-NH2 was selected for an experimental pulmonary metastasis assay in vivo: it had higher antimetastatic activity than YIGSR-NH2.     

Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on EEG Alpha Asymmetry and Anxiety Symptoms in Male Athletes: A Pilot Study

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BFB) has been shown as useful tool to manage stress in various populations. The present study was designed to investigate whether the biofeedback-based stress management tool consisting of rhythmic breathing, actively self-generated positive emotions and a portable biofeedback device induce changes in athletes’ HRV, EEG patterns, and self-reported anxiety and self-esteem. The study involved 41 healthy male athletes, aged 16–21 (mean 18.34 ± 1.36) years. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: biofeedback and control. Athletes in the biofeedback group received HRV biofeedback training, athletes in the control group didn’t receive any intervention. During the randomized controlled trial (days 0–21), the mean anxiety score declined significantly for the intervention group (change-4 p < 0.001) but not for the control group (p = 0.817). In addition, as compared to the control, athletes in biofeedback group showed substantial and statistically significant improvement in heart rate variability indices and changes in power spectra of both theta and alpha brain waves, and alpha asymmetry. These changes suggest better self-control in the central nervous system and better flexibility of the autonomic nervous system in the group that received biofeedback training. A HRV biofeedback-based stress management tool may be beneficial for stress reduction for young male athletes.     

Tryptic Hydrolysis of Dodecapeptides Possessing Paired Basic Residues

Summary Four dodecapeptides of general formula Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-X-X-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-NH₂ (Enk-X-X-Enk-NH₂) possessing X-Arg or Lys have been synthesized and subjected to cleavage by trypsin. The peptide with the sequence containing-Lys-Arg-, depicted as BI-NH₂, represents the 100–111 segment of proenkephalin. The time course of the degradation was followed by high performance liquid chromatography. This method allows one to observe the formation of not only the final but also intermediate peptides. Among the peptides studied, the most susceptible to the cleavage was BI-NH₂. The primary hydrolysis proceeded rapidly at the arginine residue, followed by slow release of arginine. The other peptides (with-Arg-Arg-,-Lys-Lys-and-Arg-Lys-) were cleaved at both possible positions, but the resulting mixture contained Enk-X as a major product, which was the result of both primary and secondary cleavage.