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Amino Acid Moieties (amino + acid_moiety)
Selected AbstractsSynthesis, and Helix or Hairpin-Turn Secondary Structures of ,Mixed' ,/, -Peptides Consisting of Residues with Proteinogenic Side Chains and of 2-Amino-2-methylpropanoic Acid (Aib)HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 9 2006Dieter Seebach Abstract Twelve peptides, 1,12, have been synthesized, which consist of alternating sequences of , - and , -amino acid residues carrying either proteinogenic side chains or geminal dimethyl groups (Aib). Two peptides, 13 and 14, containing 2-methyl-3-aminobutanoic acid residues or a ,random mix' of ,-, ,2 -, and ,3 -amino acid moieties were also prepared. The new compounds were fully characterized by CD (Figs.,1 and 2), and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). In two cases, 3 and 14, we discovered novel types of turn structures with nine- and ten-membered H-bonded rings forming the actual turns. In two other cases, 8 and 11, we found 14/15 -helices, which had been previously disclosed in mixed ,/, -peptides containing unusual , -amino acids with non-proteinogenic side chains. The helices are formed by peptides containing the amino acid moiety Aib in every other position, and their backbones are primarily not held together by H-bonds, but by the intrinsic conformations of the containing amino acid building blocks. The structures offer new possibilities of mimicking peptide,protein and protein,protein interactions (PPI). [source] Biosynthesis of fatty acid amide elicitors of plant volatiles by insect herbivores ,ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2005James H. Tumlinson Larvae of several species of Lepidoptera produce fatty acid amide elicitors that induce the plants on which they feed to synthesize and release volatile organic compounds. The volatiles released by the plants act as cues that aid in host location by natural enemies of the herbivorous larvae. The elicitors are synthesized in the larvae by enzymes embedded in the membranes of the crop and anterior midgut tissues. The fatty acid precursors of the elicitors are obtained from the plants on which the caterpillars feed, while the amino acid moieties appear to be obtained from pools within the insects. The fatty acid amide elicitors are rapidly hydrolyzed in the midgut and hindgut by enzymes in the gut lumen. The role of these fatty acid amides in caterpillar metabolism is not yet understood. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 58:54,68, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Proteolytic Stability of ,Designed' , -Peptides Containing , -Peptide-Bond Mimics and of Mixed ,,, -Peptides: Application to the Construction of MHC-Binding PeptidesCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 5 2005David Whereas , -peptides are rapidly degraded in vivo and in vitro by a multitude of peptidases, substrates constructed entirely of or incorporating homologated , -amino acid (i.e., , -amino acid) units exhibit a superior stability profile. Efforts made so far to proteolytically hydrolyze a ,, peptide bond have not proved fruitful; a study aimed at breaching this proteolytic stability is discussed here. A series of such bonds have been designed with side-chain groups similar in relative positions (constitution) and three-dimensional arrangements (configuration) as found about , -peptidic amide bonds. Increasing the prospect for degradation would permit the tuning of , -peptide stability; here, however, no cleavage was observed (1, 2, 4,6, Table,1). Peptides comprised of , - and , -amino acids (mixed ,,, -peptides, 8,11) are expected to benefit from both recognition by a natural receptor and a high level of proteolytic stability, ideal characteristics of pharmacologically active compounds. ,3 -Peptides containing , -amino acid moieties at the N-terminus are degraded, albeit slowly, by several peptidases. Of particular interest is the ability of pronase to cleave an ,, peptide bond, namely that of ,Ala,3hAla. Significantly, successful hydrolysis is independent of the configuration of the , -amino acid. Some of the ,,, -peptides discussed here are being investigated for their binding affinities to class I MHC proteins. The computer-programming steps required to prepare ,,, -peptides on an automated peptide synthesizer are presented. [source] The World of , - and , -Peptides Comprised of Homologated Proteinogenic Amino Acids and Other ComponentsCHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY, Issue 8 2004Dieter Seebach The origins of our nearly ten-year research program of chemical and biological investigations into peptides based on homologated proteinogenic amino acids are described. The road from the biopolymer poly[ethyl (R)-3-hydroxybutanoate] to the , -peptides was primarily a step from organic synthesis methodology (the preparation of enantiomerically pure compounds (EPCs)) to supramolecular chemistry (higher-order structures maintained through non-covalent interactions). The performing of biochemical and biological tests on the , - and , -peptides, which differ from natural peptides/proteins by a single or two additional CH2 groups per amino acid, then led into bioorganic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The individual chapters of this review article begin with descriptions of work on , -amino acids, , -peptides, and polymers (Nylon-3) that dates back to the 1960s, even to the times of Emil Fischer, but did not yield insights into structures or biological properties. The numerous, often highly physiologically active, or even toxic, natural products containing ,- and ,-amino acid moieties are then presented. Chapters on the preparation of homologated amino acids with proteinogenic side chains, their coupling to provide the corresponding peptides, both in solution (including thioligation) and on the solid phase, their isolation by preparative HPLC, and their characterization by mass spectrometry (HR-MS and MS sequencing) follow. After that, their structures, predominantly determined by NMR spectroscopy in methanolic solution, are described: helices, pleated sheets, and turns, together with stack-, crankshaft-, paddlewheel-, and staircase-like patterns. The presence of the additional CC bonds in the backbones of the new peptides did not give rise to a chaotic increase in their secondary structures as many protein specialists might have expected: while there are indeed more structure types than are observed in the , -peptide realm , three different helices (10/12 -, 12 -, and 14 -helix) if we include oligomers of trans -2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid, for example , the structures are already observable with chains made up of only four components, and, having now undergone a learning process, we are able to construct them by design. The structures of the shorter , -peptides can also be reliably determined by molecular-dynamics calculations (in solution; GROMOS program package). Unlike in the case of the natural helices, these compounds' folding into secondary structures is not cooperative. In , - and , -peptides, it is possible to introduce heteroatom substituents (such as halogen or OH) onto the backbones or to incorporate heteroatoms (NH, O) directly into the chain, and, thanks to this, it has been possible to study effects unobservable in the world of the , -peptides. Tests with proteolytic enzymes of all types (from mammals, microorganisms, yeasts) and in vivo examination (mice, rats, insects, plants) showed , - and , -peptides to be completely stable towards proteolysis and, as demonstrated for two , -peptides, extraordinarily stable towards metabolism, even when bearing functionalized side chains (such as those of Thr, Tyr, Trp, Lys, or Arg). The , -peptides so far examined also normally display no or only very weak cytotoxic, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, hemolytic, immunogenic, or inflammatory properties either in cell cultures or in vivo. Even biological degradation by microbial colonies of the types found in sewage-treatment plants or in soil is very slow. That there are indeed interactions of ,- and ,-peptides with biological systems, however, can be seen in the following findings: i) organ-specific distribution takes place after intravenous (i.v.) administration in rats, ii) transport through the intestines of rodents has been observed, iii) , -peptides with positively charged side chains (Arg and Lys) settle on cell surfaces, are able to enter into mammalian cells (fibroplasts, keratinocytes, HeLa cells), and migrate into their cell nuclei (and nucleoli), and iv) in one case, it has already been established that a , -peptide derivative can up- and down-regulate gene expression rates. Besides these less sharply definable interactions, it has also been possible to construct , - and , -peptide agonists of naturally occurring peptide hormones, MHC-binding , -peptides, or amphipathic , -peptide inhibitors of membrane-bound proteins in a controlled fashion. Examples include somatostatin mimics and the suppression of cholesterol transport through the intestinal brush-border membrane (by the SR-BI-protein). The results so far obtained from investigations into peptides made up of homologues of the proteinogenic amino acids also represent a contribution to deepening of our knowledge of the natural peptides/proteins, while potential for biomedicinal application of this new class of substances has also been suggested. [source] Indispensable structure of solution additives to prevent inactivation of lysozyme for heating and refoldingBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2009Tsuneyoshi Matsuoka Abstract This article investigates solution additives that prevent misfolding of lysozyme from heating treatment and during refolding processes. Comparison of heat treatment of native lysozyme and oxidative refolding from the reduced and denatured state of lysozyme in the presence of 44 different additives revealed an indispensable chemical structure for the additives to be effective against heat-induced misfolding and for refolding. The additives effective against heat treatment of native lysozyme possessed a main chain of the amino acid moiety. Amino acids that have esterificated and amidated carboxy groups prevented heat-induced misfoldings more effectively than amino acids themselves. On the other hand, the additives effective against oxidative refolding possessed a guanidium or ureido group. The former additives prevented hydrophobic interaction between the main chains of the unfolded polypeptide, while the latter additives increased the solubility of the aromatic and aliphatic side-chains. These data also support the fact that arginine (Arg) and Arg derivatives are versatile additives for both misfolding processes. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source] Synthesis of Conformationally Constrained Glutamic Acid Homologues and Investigation of Their Pharmacological ProfilesCHEMMEDCHEM, Issue 11 2007Paola Conti Prof. Abstract Homologation of the glutamic acid chain together with conformational constraint is a commonly used strategy to achieve selectivity towards different types of glutamate receptors. We investigated the effects of a further increase in the distance between the amino acid moiety and the distal carboxylate group of model compounds (±)- 1 and (±)- 2 on their activity/selectivity profiles. We therefore synthesized new derivatives (±)- 3,(±)- 6, which are homologues of glutamic acid containing three additional carbon units. Moreover, because the potency of NMDA antagonists can be markedly increased by replacing the distal carboxylate with the bioisosteric phosphonate group, we also prepared the corresponding phosphonate derivatives (±)- 7,(±)- 10. All new compounds were submitted to binding assays with iGluRs, and derivatives (±)- 3,(±)- 6 were also tested in second messenger assays at representative mGluR subtypes. All the applied structural modifications were detrimental to the interaction with NMDA receptors. Conversely, structural variation of the nonselective mGluR ligand (±)- 2 led to derivative (±)- 5, which behaved as a selective group,I metabotropic receptor antagonist. Notably, upon i.c.v. administration in DBA/2 mice, amino acid (±)- 5 produced a significant protection against audiogenic seizures, whereas it was inactive after i.p. administration. [source] | ||||||||||