Unconventional Secondary Structure Mimics: Ladder-Rungs

Secondary structures tend to be recognizable because they have repeating structural motifs, but mimicry of these does not have to follow such well-defined patterns. Bioinformatics studies to match side-chain orientations of a novel hydantoin triazole chemotype ( 1 ) to protein-protein interfaces revealed it tends to align well across parallel and antiparallel sheets, like rungs on a ladder. One set of these overlays was observed for the protein-protein interaction uPA⋅uPAR. Consequently, chemotype 1 was made with appropriate side-chains to mimic uPA at this interface. Biophysical assays indicate these compounds did in fact bind uPAR, and elicit cellular responses that affected invasion, migration, and wound healing.     

A new strategy for synthesis of branched cyclic peptide by Asn side-chain hydrazide ligation

Here, we report a new strategy for rapid synthesis of branched peptide by side-chain hydrazide ligation at Asn. The hydrazide was converted to thioester at Asn side chain by NaNO₂ and thiol reagent, and sequential ligation with an N-terminus Cys-peptide efficiently afforded the branched peptide. A branched cyclic peptide was successfully synthesized by side-chain ligation with a two-Cys-peptide and formation of a disulfide bond. This approach provides a new way for expeditious synthesis of branched peptides and facilitates the design of neopeptides as functional bio-mimics.     

Measurement of Residual Dipolar Couplings of Organic Molecules in Multiple Solvent Systems Using a Liquid-Crystalline-Based Medium

Residual dipolar coupling (RDC), a robust anisotropic NMR parameter for structural elucidation of organic molecules, is only accessible in an anisotropic environment. Herein, we introduce a novel alignment medium based on the molecular self-assembly of oligopeptide amphiphile (OPA). This medium is compatible with different intermediate and polar solvent systems, such as CD₃OD, [D₆]DMSO, and D₂O. The preparation of the OPA-based medium is simple and rapid, while only very weak background signals were observed from OPAs. Furthermore, we show that the purity of OPA has only a minor influence on the quality of the RDC data. These advantages allow RDC measurements of organic molecules with different polarities and solubilities with high efficiency and accuracy.     

A convenient semicarbazide resin for the solid-phase synthesis of peptide ketones and aldehydes

Use of a semicarbazide resin for the solid-phase preparation of peptide ketones and aldehyde led to optimal results in terms of both purity of the final product and overall yield. This resin was prepared without complication by activation of the commercial available aminomethyl polystyrene with CDI at room temperature, followed by treatment with tert-butyl carbazate. Furthermore, the TNBSA colorimetric assay has been adapted for checking the incorporation of the carbonyl moiety onto hydrazine-based resins.     

Isosteres of peptides: boron analogs as dipolar forms of α‐amino acids – a theoretical study

Modification of peptides to produce peptidomimetics is of great interest, with the aim of designing potent, selective, and metabolically stable analogs having certain conformational properties. Organoboranes have been reported in the literature with a wide range of therapeutic applications. One of the therapeutically important class of molecules is amine‐carboxyboranes derived from amino acids by replacement of the Cα atom of an amino acid/peptide by boron. The conformational preferences of these peptides, with respect to backbone ω, ?, and ψ torsion angles, have been investigated by theoretical calculations. The amide bond in these molecules has the same geometry in the ground and transition states as the natural peptides. However, the boron isosteres of glycine and alanine peptides are less structured than their natural derivatives, but are distinguished by structures with a positive value for the ? angle, which is normally disfavored for natural peptides. This property could be used to build peptides with a geometry not usually seen in natural peptides. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and cell cycle inhibition of the peptide enamide natural products terpeptin and the aspergillamides

Total syntheses of the peptide enamide natural products terpeptin and aspergillamides A and B are reported. An oxidative decarboxylation-elimination protocol is employed to construct the indolic enamide moiety. Unambiguous stereochemical assignment of (−)-terpeptin is accomplished by synthesis of all possible stereochemical analogues. Select compounds have been evaluated in cell cycle inhibitor assays which show that the natural amino acid configuration of terpeptin has the most potent inhibitory activity.     

Cyclo[(6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactonic acid)4]: a new class of carbopeptoid-cyclodextrin

The formation of the 28-membered ring cyclo[(6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactonic acid)₄] by cyclisation of a protected open chain fully hydroxylated nylon 6 linear tetramer in modest yield provides the first example of a new class of carbopeptoid-cyclodextrin.     

罗氏沼虾幼苗体内一种极小病毒的序列测定与分析

从患罗氏沼虾幼苗肌肉白浊病的幼虾体内分离到两种病毒颗粒,诺达病毒(MrNV)和直径只有15nm的小病毒颗粒(extrasmallvirus,XSV),本文通过建立病毒cDNA文库获得XSV基因组的部分序列,在此基础上合成探针,用从病虾组织中提取的总PNA进行Northern杂交,结果表明XSV基因组至少包括两条RNA片段.利用不同的方法对XSV的两端序列进行克隆和测定,分别得到了872、831和662bp3个相互重叠的序列片段,这3个序列的阅读框编码一个相同的大小在17×103左右的蛋白.     

5-氨基-1,3-二氢-1,3-二氧-异吲哚-2-丙酸类衍生物的合成及抗血管生成活性研究

根据RGD序列肽的构效关系, 设计并合成了一系列以5-氨基-1,3-二氢-1,3-二氧-异吲哚-2-丙酸为分子骨架的新化合物. 其中间体和目标物的化学结构经¹H NMR, MS和元素分析确证. 体外初步生物活性筛选结果表明, 目标物在10^－5 mol/L浓度下对bFGF诱导的鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新生血管生成有显著抑制活性.     

Cecropin B抗菌肽接枝丝素蛋白膜的制备和表征

以体积分数为60%的乙醇处理制得不溶性再生丝素膜, 通过碳二亚胺法将Cecropin B抗菌肽共价接枝到丝素膜表面, 利用红外光谱、扫描电镜、X射线能谱和抗菌性测试等手段对制得的丝素膜结构和表面特性及其抗菌性能进行了测试分析. 结果表明, Cecropin B抗菌肽成功地接枝到了丝素膜的表面, 接枝后的丝素膜水溶性低, 并具有良好、 持久的抗菌能力.