1.Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. In vitro inhibitory activity of cyclopentane and cyclohexane-derived analogues of glutamic acid and their conformational study by NMR and molecular dynamics in aqueous solution.
Larue V1, Gharbi-Benarous J, Acher F, Azerad R, Girault JP. J Pept Res. 1997 Jan;49(1):28-45.
The conformational analysis of four glutamic acid analogues containing a cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring, substituted in position 1 by a Boc-protected amino group and a methyl ester group and in position 3 by a free carboxylate group (6-9), has been carried out in an aqueous environment, by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD). These compounds have been shown to be weak competitive inhibitors (Ki approximately 20-65 mM) of the vitamin K-dependent carboxylation of Boc-Glu-OMe in rat liver microsomes independently of their ring size and stereochemical features. However, the cyclic trans isomers have been found more active than the cis ones, and Boc-trans-C5-OMe (9) is the most potent inhibitor in the series (cis and trans isomers are defined by the relative arrangement of the carboxyl functions). Such cyclic glutamyl derivatives may provide valuable informations on the preferred bioactive conformations of synthetic glutamyl substrates at the active site of the carboxylase.
2.Synthesis of peptides related to the prosegment of mouse submaxillary gland renin precursor: an approach to renin inhibitors.
Evin G, Devin J, Castro B, Menard J, Corvol P. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Jan;81(1):48-52.
The complete sequence of the structural gene coding for mouse submaxillary gland renin was recently reported and the amino acid sequence of preprorenin was deduced. This sequence includes a 45-amino acid peptide that corresponds to the prosegment of the renin precursor. To investigate whether peptides related to the renin prosegment are able to inhibit renin activity, we have synthesized four peptides having the following structures: Arg-Ile-Pro-OMe, butyloxycarbonyl(Boc)-Leu-Lys-Lys-Met-Pro-OMe, Boc-Arg-Ile-Pro-Leu-Lys-Lys-Met-Pro-OMe, and Boc-Glu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Leu-Lys-Lys-Met-Pro-OMe (corresponding to amino acids 12-14, 15-19, 12-19, and 11-19, respectively, of the renin prosegment). All four peptides were found to inhibit the activity of pure mouse submaxillary renin on a porcine synthetic tetra-decapeptide in vitro, and the most potent inhibitors exhibited IC50 values in the micromolar range. Enzymatic kinetic studies carried out using peptide 15-19 showed an uncompetitive or a mixed type of inhibition with a Ki value of 2.
3.Synthetic bovine prothrombin precursor 13-29 for studies of vitamin K dependent carboxylase.
Pottorf RS, Rich DH, Engelke J, Suttie JW. J Med Chem. 1987 Feb;30(2):445-8.
The synthesis of the amino acid sequence found in bovine prothrombin precursor 13-29 (PTP 13-29) has been achieved by solid-phase synthesis of the bis(acetamidomethyl)-protected linear peptide followed by cyclization to the monomeric disulfide. Synthesis of the disulfide bond was achieved by deprotection with mercuric acetate in acetic acid followed by oxidation with potassium ferricyanide. Experimental conditions for closure of the disulfide bond were identified by obtaining the circular dichroism spectra of the linear precursor in a variety of solvent systems. Cyclization in organic solvent systems was not successful but led to the formation of insoluble polymers. Synthetic PTP 13-29 was tested as a substrate for the vitamin K dependent carboxylase. Neither the linear nor cyclic synthetic 17 amino acid peptides were carboxylated as well as the standard, Boc-Glu-Glu-Leu-OMe, at mM concentrations. The estimated Km of synthetic PTP 13-29 is greater than 1 mM.
4.Side reactions in solid-phase peptide synthesis and their applications.
Hsieh KH1, Demaine MM, Gurusidaiah S. Int J Pept Protein Res. 1996 Sep;48(3):292-8.
Side reactions in peptide synthesis indicate steps needing improvement as well as opportunities for structural diversification in combinatorial design. Among the side reactions observed in this study, transesterification of Boc-Glu(OBzl) occurred in TMAH-catalyzed resin attachment, leading to Boc-DKKREE(OMe) in solid-phase synthesis of Boc-DKKREE. Acetylation of Boc-Arg(NO2)-resin occurred during resin capping with Ac2O/Et3N, leading to GPR (Ac) in GPR synthesis. His- and Lys-modification occurred during GHRPLDKKREE cleavage from resin by Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed hydrogenation in DMF. To verify these side reactions, model experiments were performed, which indicated rapid transesterification of Boc-Glu(OBzl) in methyl, isopropyl, or tert-butyl alcohol into the corresponding ester by TMAH, but studies of acetylation showed that both Boc-Arg(NO2) and Boc-Arg(Tos) were stable to Ac-Im treatment, but were modified by Ac2O/Et3N. Since transfer hydrogenation of Boc-His(Bzl) and Boc-Lys(Z) in HCOOH or ammonium formate did not generate the formylated side-products of catalytic hydrogenation, DMF and not its decomposed product, HCOOH, appeared involved in side-chain modification.