Metal-peptide frameworks (MPFs): "bioinspired" metal organic frameworks

Chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted a growing interest for their potential use in energy technologies, asymmetric catalysis, chiral separation, and on a more basic level, the creation of new topologies in inorganic materials. The current paper is the first report on a peptide-based MOF, a metal peptide framework (MPF), constructed from an oligovaline peptide family developed earlier by our group (Mantion, A.; et al. Macromol. Biosci. 2007, 7, 208). We have used a simple oligopeptide, Z-(L-Val)2-L-Glu(OH)-OH, to grow porous copper and calcium MPFs. The MPFs form thanks to the self-assembling properties of the peptide and specific metal-peptide and metal-ammonia interactions. They are stable up to ca. 250 degrees C and have some internal porosity, which makes them a promising prototype for the further development of MPFs.     

"@-Tides": the 1,2-dihydro-3(6H)-pyridinone unit as a beta-strand mimic.

The cyclic amino acid surrogate 1 was designed to mimic the extended conformation of a peptide unit and to provide hydrogen bond donor and acceptor functions conducive to beta-sheet formation. A convenient synthesis of this unit and solution and solid-phase methods for its incorporation into an oligomer alternating with peptide units have been devised. The resulting "@-tides", as these oligomers have been designated, show a high propensity for self-association in comparison to oligopeptides; insights into the structure and dynamical properties of their antiparallel dimers have been obtained by NMR.     

Palladium(II) complexes, as synthetic peptidases, regioselectively cleave the second peptide bond "upstream" from methionine and histidine side chains

Palladium(II) complexes promote hydrolysis of natural and synthetic oligopeptides with unprecedented regioselectivity; the only cleavage site is the second peptide bond upstream from a methionine or a histidine side chain, that is, the bond involving the amino group of the residue that precedes this side chain. We investigate this regioselectivity with four N-acetylated peptides as substrates: neurotransmitter methionine enkephalin (Ac-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) and synthetic peptides termed Met-peptide (Ac-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Met-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala), His-peptide (Ac-Val-Lys-Gly-Gly-His-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Met(OX)-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala), in which a Met is oxidized to sulfone, and HisMet-peptide (Ac-Val-Lys-Gly-Gly-His-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Met-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala). While maintaining protein-like properties, these substrates are suitable for quantitative study since their coordination to Pd(II) ion can be determined (by NMR spectroscopy), and the cleavage fragments can be separated (by HPLC methods) and identified (by MALDI mass spectrometry). The only peptide bonds cleaved were the Gly3-Phe4 bond in methionine enkephalin, Gly4-Gly5 bond in Met-peptide, Gly3-Gly4 in His-peptide, and Gly3-Gly4 and Gly9-Gly10 bonds in HisMet-peptide. We explain this consistent regioselectivity of cleavage by studying the modes of Met-peptide coordination to the Pd(II) ion in [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) complex. In acidic solution, the rapid attachment of the Pd(II) complex to the methionine side chain is followed by the interaction of the Pd(II) ion with the peptide backbone upstream from the anchor. In the hydrolytically active complex, Met-peptide is coordinated to Pd(II) ion as a bidentate ligand - via sulfur atom in the methionine side chain and the first peptide nitrogen upstream from this anchor - so that the Pd(II) complex approaches the scissile peptide bond. Because the increased acidity favors this hydrolytically active complex, the rate of cleavage guided by either histidine or methionine anchor increased as pH was lowered from 4.5 to 0.5. The unwanted additional cleavage of the first peptide bond upstream from the anchor is suppressed if pH is kept above 1.2. Four Pd(II) complexes cleave Met-peptide with the same regioselectivity but at somewhat different rates. Complexes in which Pd(II) ion carries labile ligands, such as [Pd(H(2)O)(4)](2+) and [Pd(NH(3))(4)](2+), are more reactive than those containing anionic ligands, such as [PdCl(4)](2)(-), or a bidentate ligand, such as cis-[Pd(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+). When both methionine and histidine residues are present in the same substrate, as in HisMet-peptide, 1 molar equivalent of the Pd(II) complex distributes itself evenly at both anchors and provides partial cleavage, whereas 2 molar equivalents of the promoter completely cleave the second peptide bond upstream from each of the anchors. The results of this study bode well for growing use of palladium(II) reagents in biochemical and bioanalytical practice.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (S)-hexafluoroleucine and (S)-tetrafluoroleucine

We have developed a short chemoenzymatic synthesis for both (S)-5,5,5,5',5',5'-hexafluoroleucine (Hfl) and (S)-5,5,5',5'-tetrafluoroleucine (Qfl) on gram scale. Qfl was incorporated into a peptide using standard solid-phase peptide synthesis protocols to measure its helix propensity. The helix propensity for Qfl is 0.68 kcal.mol-1 more favorable compared to Hfl.     

The formation of polymer vesicles or "peptosomes" by polybutadiene-block-poly(L-glutamate)s in dilute aqueous solution

Polybutadiene-block-poly(L-glutamate) copolymers were made by anionic polymerization and subsequent ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides and were characterized by NMR, IR, SEC, and circular dichroism. These polymers, when appropriately designed, form so-called "polymersomes" or "peptosomes", vesicles composed of modified protein units. The size and structure of the vesicles are determined by dynamic light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. It is also shown that the size of the peptosomes does not depend on the pH; that is, the solvating peptide units can perform a helix-coil transition without serious changes of the vesicle morphology.     

Bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amino native peptide ligation

The reaction of a peptide featuring a bis(2-sulfanylethyl)amino (SEA) group on its C-terminus with a cysteinyl peptide in water at pH 7 and 37 °C leads to the chemoselective and regioselective formation of a native peptide bond. This method called SEA ligation enriches the native peptide ligation repertoire available to the peptide chemist. Preparation of an innovative solid support which allows the straightforward synthesis of peptide SEA fragments using standard Fmoc/tert-butyl solid phase peptide synthesis procedures is also described.     

A dimerization "switch" in the internalization mechanism of a cell-penetrating peptide

The internalization mechanism of a cell-penetrating peptide has been explored through combinatorial selection of a phage-displayed peptide dimer library, chemical synthesis, and biophysical characterization. Both energy-dependent and energy-independent modes for peptide uptake by the target mammalian cells were observed, suggesting a role for higher-order structure in modulating the action of this novel cell-penetrating peptide.     

High sequence-coverage detection of proteolytic peptides using a bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complex

The use of a bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(ii) complex for peptide labeling (Ru-CO labeling) supplied high intensity peaks in mass spectrometry (MS) analysis that overcame the contribution of protonation or sodiated adduction to peptides. Ru-CO-labeled insulin A- and B-chains were detected simultaneously in comparable peak abundance by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The mass spectra of chymotryptic peptide fragments of Ru-CO-labeled insulin also simultaneously indicated both N-terminal fragment ions, and amino acid sequences were determined easily by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization post-source-decay (MALDI-PSD). The sensitivity of detecting Ru-CO-labeled peptide fragment ions was not dependent on the length or the sequences of the peptides. The Ru-CO labeling method was applied to tryptic myoglobin fragments. The method indicated that each fragment ion is detected nearly equal in abundance and enabled the desired fragment ions to be distinguished from matrix clusters or their in-source fragments in lower mass regions. The desired fragment ions can be found in the mass region higher than 670.70 (= Ru-CO). This method provided a high sequence coverage (96%) by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). Application of this method to a protein mixture (myoglobin, lysozyme and ubiquitin) successfully achieved high sequence-coverage characterization (>90%) of these proteins simultaneously.     

Biomimetic and aggregation-driven crystallization route for room-temperature material synthesis: growth of beta-Ga(2)O(3) nanoparticles on peptide assemblies as nanoreactors

The room-temperature synthesis of beta-Ga2O3 nanocrystal was examined by coupling two biomimetic crystallization techniques, enzymatic peptide nanoassembly templating and aggregation-driven crystallization. The catalytic template of peptide assembly nucleated and mineralized primary beta-Ga2O3 crystals and then fused them to grow single-crystalline and monodisperse nanoparticles in the cavity of the peptide assembly at room temperature. In this work, the peptide assembly was exploited as a nanoreactor with an enzymatic functionality catalyzing the hydrolysis of gallium precursors. In addition, the characteristic ring structure of peptide assembly is expected to provide an efficient dehydration pathway and crystallization control over the surface tension, which are advantageous for beta-Ga2O3 crystal growth. This multifunctional peptide assembly could be applied for syntheses of a variety of nanomaterials that are kinetically difficult to grow at room temperature.     

Synthesis of (S)-5-(1-aminoethyl)-2-(cyclohexylmethoxy)benzamide

Three short syntheses of the title compound, a peptidomimetic for the Glu-Glu-Ile-NH₂ portion of Ac-pTyr-Glu-Glu-Ile-NH₂, a high affinity peptide for the Src SH2 domain, are described. The most efficient route produces the title compound in a final enantiopurity of 94% ee.     

Effect of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacers on the conformational properties of small peptides: a molecular dynamics study

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is used as an inert spacer in a wide range of biotechnological applications such as to display peptides and proteins on surfaces for diagnostic purposes. In such applications it is critical that the peptide is accessible to solvent and that the PEG does not affect the conformational properties of the peptide to which it is attached. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques, we have investigated the influence of a commonly used PEG spacer on the conformation properties of a series of five peptides with differing physical-chemical properties (YGSLPQ, VFVVFV, GSGGSG, EEGEEG, and KKGKKG). The conformational properties of the peptides were compared (a) free in solution, (b) attached to a PEG-11 spacer in solution, and (c) constrained to a two-dimensional lattice via a (PEG-11)(3) spacer, mimicking a peptide displayed on a surface as used in microarray techniques. The simulations suggest that the PEG spacer has little effect on the conformational properties of small neutral peptides but has a significant effect on the conformational properties of small highly charged peptides. When constrained to a two-dimensional surface at peptide densities similar to those used experimentally, it was found that the peptides, in particular the polar and nonpolar peptides, aggregated strongly. The peptides also partitioned into the PEG layer. Potentially, this means that at high packing densities only a small fraction of the peptide attached to the surface would in fact be accessible to a potential interaction partner.     

Interaction of Cu(II) and Ni(II) with the 63-93 fragment of histone H2B

Chromatin proteins are believed to represent reactive sites for metal ion binding. We have synthesized the 31 amino acid peptide Ac-NSFVNDIFERIAGEASRLAHYNKRSTITSRE-NH2, corresponding to the 63-93 fragment of the histone H2B and studied its interaction with Cu(II) and Ni(II). Potentiometric and spectroscopic studies (UV-vis, CD, NMR and EPR) showed that histidine 21 acts as an anchoring binding site for the metal ion. Complexation of the studied peptide with Cu(II) starts at pH 4 with the formation of the monodentate species CuH2L. At physiological pH values, the 3N complex (N(Im), 2N(-)), CuL is favoured while at basic pH values the 4N (N(Im), 3N(-)) coordination mode is preferred. Ni(II) forms several complexes with the peptide starting from the distorted octahedral NiH2L at about neutral pH, to a square planar complex where the peptide is bound through a (N(Im), 3N(-)) mode in an equatorial plane at basic pH values. These results could be important in revealing more information about the mechanism of metal induced toxicity and carcinogenesis.     

Evaluation of the cytocompatibility of butanediamine- and RGDS-grafted poly(dl-lactic acid)

Butanediamine-grafted polylactic acid (BDPLA) is a well-established poly(dl-lactic acid) (PDLLA) based biomaterial with pendant carboxyl groups and amino groups. It has been proved out that BDPLA possesses highly improved hydrophilicity and reduced acidity of degrading products compared with PDLLA. RGDS-PLA is a BDPLA-based biomimetic material obtained by covalently incorporating RGDS adhesion peptide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytocompatibility of BDPLA and RGDS-PLA with PDLLA as control. Rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROBs) were seeded on various polymer films, and the morphology, adhesion and spreading, and viability and proliferation of ROBs were assessed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), micropipette aspiration system and methylthiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT assay), respectively. ALP activity and extracellular calcium production were exploited to characterize the differentiation of ROBs on various polymer films. The affecting mechanisms of BDPLA and RGDS-PLA on the cytocompatibility were extensively explained. The results revealed that the introduction of butanediamine to PDLLA is obviously beneficial to the adhesion, spreading, growth and differentiation of ROB, and the introduction of RGDS adhesive peptide can further improve the cytocompatibility of PDLLA. These results suggest that, in terms of cytocompatibility, BDPLA and RGDS-PLA are promising biomaterials for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications, and RGDS-PLA is a better one.     

Synthesis of (1,6-alpha,alpha'-diaminosuberic acid)oxytocin ('dicarba-oxytocin')

Starting from a selectively protected derivative of α,α′-diaminosuberic acid ( 3 ) the linear protected peptide 11 has been obtained. Cyclisation to 12 followed by removal of the protecting groups by hydrogenolysis afforded the ‘dicarba’ analogue of oxytocin, 1 c , which showed about 5 IU/μmol of uterotonic activity in vitro.     

The interaction of a peptide with a scrambled hydrophobic/hydrophilic sequence (Pro-Asp-Ala-Asp-Ala-His-Ala-His-Ala-His-Ala-Ala-Ala-His-Gly) (PADH) with DPPC model membranes: a DSC study

Depending on their hydrophobicity, peptides can interact differently with lipid membranes inducing dramatic modifications into their host systems. In the present paper, the interaction of a synthetic peptide with a scrambled hydrophobic/hydrophilic sequence (Pro-Asp-Ala-Asp-Ala-His-Ala-His-Ala-His-Ala-Ala-Ala-His-Gly) (PADH) with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) model membranes has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), adopting three different experimental approaches. In the first, the peptide is forced to be included into the hydrocarbon region of the lipid bilayer, by codissolving it with the lipid giving rise to mixed multilamellar vesicles–peptide systems; in the second, this system is passed through an extruder, thus producing large unilamellar vesicles–peptide systems; in the third, it is allowed to interact with the external surface of the membrane.

The whole of the DSC results obtained have shown that the incorporation of the peptide into the lipid bilayer by means of the first method induces a decrease in the enthalpy of the gel–liquid crystal transition of the membrane and a shift of the transition to the lower temperatures, thus resembling, in spite of its prevalently hydrophilic nature, the behavior of transbilayer hydrophobic peptides. The extrusion of these systems creates unilamellar vesicles free of peptides but of smaller size as evidenced by the decreased cooperativity of the transition. The peptide, added externally to the DPPC model membrane, has no effect on the phase behavior of the bilayer.

These findings suggest that the effect of the interaction of scrambled hydrophobic/hydrophilic peptides into lipid bilayers strongly affects the thermotropic behavior of the host membrane depending on the preparation method of the lipid/peptide systems. The whole of the results obtained in the present paper can be useful in approaching studies of bioactive peptides/lipids systems.     

Solution synthesis of human peptide YY (hPYY)

Human peptide YY (hPYY) was synthesized in a conventional manner by assembling six peptide fragments followed by deprotection with 1 M trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf)-thioanisole in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). After purification by gel-filtration on Sephadex G-25, followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, a highly purified sample of synthetic hPYY was obtained. When administered in dogs, synthetic hPYY was as active as synthetic porcine PYY in terms of the effects on systemic arterial blood pressure, and splanchnic blood flow.     

Solution-phase synthesis of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP)

Alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) was synthesized by assembling six peptide fragments in solution followed by deprotection with HF and subsequent air-oxidation. The trimethylbenzyl group was employed as an S-protecting group of cysteine. The HF-dimethylselenide-m-cresol system was employed as a final deprotecting reagent and, at the same time, as a reducing reagent of Met(O). Synthetic alpha-hANP elicited potent diuretic and natriuretic activity in rats.     

The use of a cysteinyl prolyl ester (CPE) autoactivating unit in peptide ligation reactions

A peptide containing a cysteinyl prolyl ester (CPE) moiety at the C-terminus (CPE peptide) is spontaneously transformed into a diketopiperazine thioester via an intramolecular N-S acyl shift reaction, followed by diketopiperazine formation. The CPE peptide can be ligated with a Cys-peptide in a one-pot procedure. The peptide diketopiperazine thioester can also be transformed into a peptide thioester by intermolecular thiol-thioester exchange with external thiol compounds such as sodium mercaptoethanesulfonate. Since CPE peptides can be prepared by standard Fmoc solid-phase synthesis, it is a versatile alternative to the peptide thioester, providing a flexible ligation strategy that promises to be useful in polypeptide synthesis.     

具有谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)活力的含硒四肽(SecRGD)

以精氨酸-甘氨酸-天冬氨酸(RGD)序列为基础, 在N-端引入硒代半胱氨酸(Sec)设计了SecRGD序列模拟谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx), 利用Fmoc固相合成法合成了SecRGD. 采用ESI-MS质谱和氢化物原子荧光光谱法对硒肽进行表征, 采用酶偶联法进行GPx活力测定和酶动力学分析, 用噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法评价了硒肽的抗氧化效果. 结果表明, 该硒肽的存在形式为SecRGD的二聚体. 该硒肽具有GPx活力, 其催化谷胱甘肽(GSH)还原H2O2的GPx活力为5.54 U/μmol, 高于经典的GPx模拟物Ebselen. 稳态动力学分析结果表明, 该硒肽的催化机制为乒乓机制. 该硒肽具有分子量小, 易溶于水, 毒性低及可有效保护Vero细胞免受氧化损伤的优点, 具有作为抗氧化药物的应用前景.     

Geometric preferences in iron(II) and zinc(II) model complexes of peptide deformylase

A combination of experimental and theoretical studies on (N,S(thiolate))M(II)-formate complexes (M = Fe, Zn) suggests a rationale for the metal ion dependence of peptide deformylase.