Artificial Splitting of a Non‐Ribosomal Peptide Synthetase by Inserting Natural Docking Domains

The interaction in multisubunit non‐ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) is mediated by docking domains that ensure the correct subunit‐to‐subunit interaction. We introduced natural docking domains into the three‐module xefoampeptide synthetase (XfpS) to create two to three artificial NRPS XfpS subunits. The enzymatic performance of the split biosynthesis was measured by absolute quantification of the products by HPLC‐ESI‐MS. The connecting role of the docking domains was probed by deleting integral parts of them. The peptide production data was compared to soluble protein amounts of the NRPS using SDS‐PAGE. Reduced peptide synthesis was not a result of reduced soluble NRPS concentration but a consequence of the deletion of vital docking domain parts. Splitting the xefoampeptide biosynthesis polypeptide by introducing docking domains was feasible and resulted in higher amounts of product in one of the two tested split‐module cases compared to the full‐length wild‐type enzyme.     

Peptide‐Conjugated Long‐Lived Theranostic Imaging for Targeting GRPr in Cancer and Immune Cells

Gastrin‐releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) plays proliferative and inflammatory roles in living systems. Here, we report a highly selective GRPr antagonist (JMV594)‐tethered iridium(III) complex for probing GRPr in living cancer cells and immune cells. This probe exhibited desirable photophysical properties and also displayed negligible cytotoxicity, overcoming the inherent toxicity of the iridium(III) complex. Its long emission lifetime enabled its luminescence signal to be readily distinguished from the interfering fluorescence of organic dyes by using a time‐resolved technique. This probe selectively visualized living cancer cells via specific binding to GRPr, while it also modulated the function of GRPr on TNF‐α secretion in immune cells. To our knowledge, this is the first peptide‐conjugated iridium(III) complex developed as a GRPr bioimaging probe and modulator of GRPr activity. This theranostic agent shows great potential at unmasking the diverse roles of GRPr in living systems.     

Constrained Dipeptide Surrogates: 5- and 7-Hydroxy Indolizidin-2-one Amino Acid Synthesis from Iodolactonization of Dehydro-2,8-diamino Azelates

The constrained dipeptide surrogates 5- and 7-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino acids have been synthesized from L-serine as a chiral educt. A linear precursor ∆⁴-unsaturated (2S,8S)-2,8-bis[N-(Boc)amino]azelic acid was prepared in five steps from L-serine. Although epoxidation and dihydroxylation pathways gave mixtures of hydroxy indolizidin-2-one diastereomers, iodolactonization of the ∆⁴-azelate stereoselectively delivered a lactone iodide from which separable (5S)- and (7S)-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino esters were synthesized by sequences featuring intramolecular iodide displacement and lactam formation. X-ray analysis of the (7S)-hydroxy indolizidin-2-one N-(Boc)amino ester indicated that the backbone dihedral angles embedded in the bicyclic ring system resembled those of the central residues of an ideal type II’ β-turn indicating the potential for peptide mimicry.     

多级质谱法测定Axinastatin 1环肽序列及其断裂机理研究

对具有抗癌活性的海洋环肽Axinastatin 1进行化学合成. 采用多级质谱法对合成环肽进行序列测定. 线性前体测序依据b_x－y_z断裂路径, 在同一张MS²谱中利用b和y离子所提供序列信息的互补来实现. 环肽测序依据b_x→b_x－1断裂路径, 每一级MS由b离子的C端碰撞掉一个氨基酸残基直到MS⁶, 得到2套b离子, 根据它们所提供序列信息的互补可准确测定环肽序列并推断其环结构, 同时观察到b离子重排现象. 讨论了上述断裂与重排的路径和机理, 并利用半经验量子化学PM3和AM1两种算法计算了碎片的生成焓, 验证了路径的合理性. 由离子b_5PN的生成焓偏高和其重排间的联系尝试提出过渡结构假设.     

压电胰岛素-C肽微阵列免疫传感器研究

以AT切型、基频10MHz的镀金膜石英晶体作为换能器,将抗人胰岛素和C肽单克隆抗体固定在石英晶体电极表面,用2×5检测池固定夹具构建一种新型压电胰岛素-C肽微阵列免疫传感器.研究了抗体固定方法、抗体工作浓度、固定量、一致性以及传感器的响应参数如检测温度、时间和特异性等的影响.该微阵列传感器在胰岛素浓度为2.5～160.0mIU/L、C肽浓度为0.375～12.0ng/mL范围内响应特性良好,压电晶体频率偏移值与胰岛素和C肽浓度呈良好的线性关系.将此微阵列传感器用于人血清标本的测定,结果与放射免疫法符合(r为0.92和0.94).此微阵列传感器具有灵敏度高、特异性好,低密度阵列结构,检测通量较高,不需标记,操作简单、能实时在线检测和重复使用等优点,能用于临床实验诊断,具有临床推广应用价值.     

蛋白质组学中基质辅助激光解吸电离的基质研究进展

基质辅助激光解吸电离(MALDI)技术是近年来发展起来的新的质谱离子化技术。本文较为系统地综述了应用于蛋白质组学中的MALDI基质的最新进展以及不同的基质的优缺点及应用范围,并且归纳了其发展趋势。     

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.     

信号肽功能化二氧化硅纳米颗粒的线粒体靶向作用研究

以N-(p-Maleimidophenyl)isocyanate(PMPI)为交联剂, 将线粒体信号肽分子共价修饰到二氧化硅荧光纳米颗粒表面, 构建线粒体信号肽功能化二氧化硅荧光纳米颗粒. 采用荧光分光光度计、Zeta电位仪以及透射电子显微镜对修饰前后的二氧化硅纳米颗粒进行了表征. 结果表明, 信号肽可被成功修饰在纳米颗粒表面, 并且纳米颗粒粒径在信号肽分子修饰前后没有发生明显变化. 以分离纯化的细胞核作为对照, 采用流式细胞术考察了信号肽功能化二氧化硅荧光纳米颗粒与分离纯化后的线粒体的相互作用. 结果表明, 线粒体信号肽修饰到二氧化硅纳米颗粒表面后依然保持良好的生物活性, 能够介导二氧化硅纳米颗粒特异性识别及结合分离纯化的线粒体, 从而为线粒体监测及其功能调控研究提供了新的思路.