Designed peptides with homochiral and heterochiral diproline templates as conformational constraints

Diproline segments have been advanced as templates for nucleation of folded structure in designed peptides. The conformational space available to homochiral and heterochiral diproline segments has been probed by crystallographic and NMR studies on model peptides containing L-Pro-L-Pro and D-Pro-L-Pro units. Four distinct classes of model peptides have been investigated: a) isolated D-Pro-L-Pro segments which form type II' beta-turn; b) D-Pro-L-Pro-L-Xxx sequences which form type II'-I (betaII'-I, consecutive beta-turns) turns; c) D-Pro-L-Pro-D-Xxx sequences; d) L-Pro-L-Pro-L-Xxx sequences. A total of 17 peptide crystal structures containing diproline segments are reported. Peptides of the type Piv-D-Pro-L-Pro-L-Xxx-NHMe are conformationally homogeneous, adopting consecutive beta-turn conformations. Peptides in the series Piv-D-Pro-L-Pro-D-Xxx-NHMe and Piv-L-Pro-L-Pro-L-Xxx-NHMe, display a heterogeneity of structures in crystals. A type VIa beta-turn conformation is characterized in Piv-L-Pro-L-Pro-L-Phe-OMe (18), while an example of a 5-->1 hydrogen bonded alpha-turn is observed in crystals of Piv-D-Pro-L-Pro-D-Ala-NHMe (11). An analysis of pyrrolidine conformations suggests a preferred proline puckering geometry is favored only in the case of heterochiral diproline segments. Solution NMR studies, reveal a strong conformational influence of the C-terminal Xxx residues on the structures of diproline segments. In L-Pro-L-Pro-L-Xxx sequences, the Xxx residues strongly determine the population of Pro-Pro cis conformers, with an overwhelming population of the trans form in L-Xxx=L-Ala (19).     

Gas-phase peptide fragmentation: how understanding the fundamentals provides a springboard to developing new chemistry and novel proteomic tools

This tutorial provides an overview of the evolution of some of the key concepts in the gas-phase fragmentation of different classes of peptide ions under various conditions [e.g. collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD)], and then demonstrates how these concepts can be used to develop new methods. For example, an understanding of the role of the mobile proton and neighboring group interactions in the fragmentation reactions of protonated peptides has led to the design of the 'SELECT' method. For ETD, a model based on the Landau-Zener theory reveals the role of both thermodynamic and geometric effects in the electron transfer from polyatomic reagent anions to multiply protonated peptides, and this predictive model has facilitated the design of a new strategy to form ETD reagent anions from precursors generated via ESI. Finally, two promising, emerging areas of gas-phase ion chemistry of peptides are also described: (1) the design of new gas-phase radical chemistry to probe peptide structure, and (2) selective cleavage of disulfide bonds of peptides in the gas phase via various physicochemical approaches.     

In vivo evaluation and in vitro metabolism of leuprolide in mice--mass spectrometry-based biomarker measurement for efficacy and toxicity

The study of pharmacologically active peptides is central for the understanding of cancer and the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, both qualitative and quantitative determination of bioactive peptides in biological fluids/tissues and their effect on endogenous factors (e.g. hormones) are of great importance. A mass spectrometry-based approach was developed and applied towards the measurement of leuprolide, a peptide drug for the treatment of prostate cancer, in mouse plasma. High-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap (QqLIT) mass spectrometer, a platform that combines the benefits of triple QqLIT instruments, was employed for the study. Using the described methodology, we established that picomolar concentrations of leuprolide could be measured in mouse plasma (limit of quantification of 0.1 ng/ml). In order to optimize pharmacokinetic properties of analogs of leuprolide, a facile in vivo mouse model was developed and leuprolide concentrations were determined in mouse plasma following intraperitoneal administration. In the same animal model, we demonstrated the versatility of the described MS-based approach by the determination of plasma concentrations of testosterone, an established biomarker for the treatment of prostate cancer. Following dosing with leuprolide, circulating testosterone was increased significantly in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. Finally, in vitro metabolism of leuprolide was evaluated by incubation of leuprolide with mouse kidney membranes, followed by identification of major metabolites by MS. Such studies provide the framework for future evaluation of novel leuprolide analogs with potential therapeutic advantages.     

Structure and stability of beta-pleated sheets

Beside alpha-helices, beta-sheets are the most common secondary structure elements of proteins. In this article, the question of structure and stability of parallel and antiparallel sheets of various lengths is addressed. All data obtained are compared to a selected set of protein structures. In antiparallel beta-sheets, one of the two possible H-bonded structures (containing 14 atoms in the H-bonded pseudoring) is energetically more favored and also more abundant in proteins than the other one (with 10 atoms involved in the pseudoring). Parallel beta-sheets and their subunits are energetically less stable and indeed found to occur more rarely in proteins. Antiparallel hairpins are disfavored compared to beta-sheets formed by sequentially separated strands. Agreement between theory and experimental data indicates that characterization of structural building blocks at an appropriately accurate level of theory is a useful tool to get insight into fundamentals of protein structure.     

基于特征肽段的液相色谱-质谱技术鉴定胶原蛋白的物种来源

建立了一种基于特征肽段的液相色谱-质谱技术鉴定胶原蛋白物种来源的方法。样品经蛋白提取,还原,烷基化,胰蛋白酶消化后,采用Eksigent C18色谱柱(75μm×150 mm,3μm)分离,用流动相0. 1%甲酸水-乙腈溶液(98∶2)和0. 1%甲酸乙腈-水溶液(98∶2)梯度洗脱,在正离子模式下,通过纳升电喷雾四极杆飞行时间质谱进行检测,数据经Protein PilotTM软件及blast分析,筛选出潜在的特征肽段。消化后的样品再采用Eclipse Plus C18色谱柱(2. 1 mm×100 mm,1. 8μm)分离,用流动相乙腈和1%甲酸水溶液梯度洗脱,在正离子模式下,通过电喷雾四极杆/线性离子阱串联质谱的多反应监测触发增强子离子扫描模式进行检测,进一步确认肽段的特异性。最终筛选并确证了3种猪源性胶原蛋白特征肽段,4种牛源性胶原蛋白特征肽段,1种羊源性胶原蛋白特征肽段。所筛选的特征肽段具有良好的耐热性,可为动物源性胶原蛋白鉴定提供一种特异性强、准确可靠的检测方法。     

A biofilm resistance surface yielded by grafting of antimicrobial peptides on stainless steel surface

Anti‐biofilm formation on the surface is a severe issue in medical implants, hull surface, and food industry. Antimicrobial peptide, magainin II, was covalently bound to stainless steel surfaces through multi‐step modification. The untreated and modified samples were analyzed by SEM‐EDS, XPS, and contact angle, respectively, which indicated the peptide was immobilized on the surfaces. The antimicrobial tests of modified samples were conducted using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the results revealed that peptide modified surface decreased the biofilm and bacteria quantity of stainless steel surface.     

Croissamide,a proline-rich cyclic peptide with an N-prenylated tryptophan from a marine cyanobacterium Symploca sp.

Croissamide, a proline-rich cyclic peptide that contains an N-prenylated tryptophan, was isolated from a marine cyanobacterium Symploca sp. Its gross structure was determined by spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configuration was established based on chiral HPLC analyses of acid hydrolysates.     

Reversibly switching the conformation of short peptide through in-tether chiral sulfonium auxiliary

A novel approach for reversibly switching the conformation of short constraint λ-helical peptides through chemselective alkylation of the in-tether thioether and dealkylation of the chiral sulfonium was developed and it provides a valuable modifiable site to functionalize the peptides.     

Stapled SC34EK fusion inhibitors with high potency against HIV-1 and improved protease resistance

A single all-hydrocarbon staple introduction in SC34EK can afford a potent HIV inhibitor with high protease resistance for ADIS treatment.     

Direct Synthesis of a Covalently Self‐Assembled Peptide Nanogel from a Tyrosine‐Rich Peptide Monomer and Its Biomineralized Hybrids

There has been significant progress in the self‐assembly of biological materials, but the one‐step covalent peptide self‐assembly for well‐defined nanostructures is still in its infancy. Inspired by the biological functions of tyrosine, a covalently assembled fluorescent peptide nanogel is developed by a ruthenium‐mediated, one‐step photo‐crosslinking of tyrosine‐rich short peptides under the visible light within 6 minutes. The covalently assembled peptide nanogel is stable in various organic solvents and different pH levels, unlike those made from vulnerable non‐covalent assemblies. The semipermeable peptide nanogel with a high density of redox‐active tyrosine acts as a novel nano‐bioreactor, allowing the formation of uniform metal–peptide hybrids by selective biomineralization under UV irradiation. As such, this peptide nanogel could be useful in the design of novel nanohybrids and peptidosomes possessing functional nanomaterials.