Improving 2-Chlorotrityl Chloride (2-CTC) Resin Activation.

Used in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) for peptides with an acid termination, the 2-chlorotrityl chloride (2-CTC) resin is highly susceptible to moisture, leading to reduced resin loading and lower synthetic yields. It is therefore recommended that the resin be activated with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) before peptide assembly. Here we present an optimized procedure for resin activation that minimizes the use of SOCl2 as the activation reagent and reduces the activation time. Additionally, we demonstrate the feasibility of reusing the 2-CTC resin when following the activation protocol, achieving comparable results to the first usage of the resin. Moreover, we achieved different degrees of resin activation by varying the amount of SOCl2. For instance, the use of 2% SOCl2 in anhydrous dichloromethane (DCM) allowed up to 44% activation of the resin, thereby making it suitable for the synthesis of longer peptides. Alternatively, employing 25% SOCl2 in anhydrous DCM resulted in up to 80% activation with a reaction time of only 5 min in both cases.

In-house standards derived from doping peptides: Enzymatic and serum stability and degradation profile of GHRP and GHRH-related peptides.

Matrix effect and sample pretreatment significantly affect the percentage recovery of peptides in biological matrices, affecting the method robustness and accuracy. To counteract this effect, an internal standard (IS) is used; however, in most cases this is not available, which limits the analytical method. It is important to identify short peptides that can be used as ISs in the quantification of peptides in biological matrices. In this study, doping peptides GHRP-4, GHRP-5, GHRP-6, Sermorelin (1-11), Sermorelin (13-20) and Sermorelin (22-29) were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis. Treatment with human blood, trypsin and chymotrypsin was used to determine the stability of the peptides. Products were evaluated using the high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method. The analytical methodology and sample pretreatment were effective for the analysis of these molecules. A unique profile related to protein binding and enzymatic stability of each peptide was established. GHRP-4, GHRP-6 and Sermorelin (22-29) can be considered as in-house ISs as they were stable to enzyme and blood treatment and can be used for the quantification of peptides in biological samples. Peptides GHRP-6 and Sermorelin (22-29) were used to analyse a dimeric peptide (26 [F] LfcinB (20-30)2 ) in four different matrices to test these peptides as in-house IS.

Optimizing the synthesis of dimeric peptides: influence of the reaction medium and effects that modulate kinetics and reaction yield.

Peptides are remarkably interesting alternatives to several applications. In particular, antimicrobial sequences have raised major interest of the scientific community due to the resistance acquired by commonly used antibiotics. Amongst these, some dimeric peptides have shown very promising characteristics as strong biological activities and resistance against degradation by peptidases. However, despite such promising characteristics, a relatively small number of studies address dimeric peptides, mainly due to the synthesis-related obstacles in their production, whereas the well-implemented routines of solid phase peptide synthesis-which includes the possibility of automation-makes life significantly easier. Here, we present kinetic investigations of the dimerization of a cysteine-containing sequence to obtain the homodimeric antimicrobial peptide homotarsinin. Based on the structural and membrane interaction data already available for the dimer and its monomeric chain, we have proposed distinct dimerization protocols in selected environments, namely, aqueous buffer, TFE:H2O and micellar solutions. The experimental results were adjusted by a theoretical model. Both the kinetic profiles and the reaction yields are dependent on the reaction medium, clearly indicating that aggregation, peptide structure, and peptide-membrane interactions play major roles in the formation of the disulfide bond. Finally, the rationalization of the different aspects addressed here is expected to contribute to research and applications that demand the obtainment of dimeric peptides.

Peptide inhibitors of angiotensin-I converting enzyme based on angiotensin (1-7) with selectivity for the C-terminal domain.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a key regulator of human arterial pressure. Several of its effects are modulated by angiotensin II, an octapeptide originating from the action of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) on the decapeptide angiotensin-I. ACE possess two active sites (nACE and cACE) that have their own kinetic and substrate specificities. ACE inhibitors are widely used as the first-line treatment for hypertension and other heart-related diseases, but because they inactivate both ACE domains, their use is associated with serious side effects. Thus, the search for domain-specific ACE inhibitors has been the focus of intense research. Angiotensin (1-7), a peptide that also belongs to the RAS, acts as a substrate of nACE and an inhibitor of cACE. We have synthetized 15 derivatives of Ang (1-7), sequentially removing the N-terminal amino acids and modifying peptides extremities, to find molecules with improved selectivity and inhibition properties. Ac-Ang (2-7)-NH2 is a good ACE inhibitor, resistant to cleavage and with improved cACE selectivity. Molecular dynamics simulations provided a model for this peptide's selectivity, due to Val3 and Tyr4 interactions with ACE subsites. Val3 has an important interaction with the S3 subsite, since its removal greatly reduced peptide-enzyme interactions. Taken together, our findings support ongoing studies using insights from the binding of Ac-Ang (2-7)-NH2 to develop effective cACE inhibitors.

Peptide Affinity Chromatography Applied to Therapeutic Antibodies Purification.

The interest in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has significantly grown in the pharmaceutical industry, exceeding 100 FDA mAbs approved. Although the upstream processing of their industrial production has been significantly improved in the last years, the downstream processing still depends on immobilized protein A affinity chromatography. The high cost, low capacity and short half-life of immobilized protein A chromatography matrices, encouraged the design of alternative short-peptide ligands for mAb purification. Most of these peptides have been obtained by screening combinatorial peptide libraries. These low-cost ligands can be easily produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis and can be immobilized on chromatographic supports, thus obtaining matrices with high capacity and selectivity. Furthermore, matrices with immobilized peptide ligands have longer half-life than those with protein A due to the higher stability of the peptides. In this review the design and synthesis of peptide ligands, their immobilization on chromatographic supports and the evaluation of the affinity supports for their application in mAb purification is described.

Regulación de la actividad enzimática de la NMNAT de Leishmania braziliensis por péptidos representativos de su extremo N-terminal / Regulation of the enzymatic activity of the NMNAT of Leishmania braziliensis by representative peptides derived from its N-terminus end / Regulação da atividade enzimática do NMNAT de Leishmania braziliensis por peptídeos representativos derivados de sua extremidade N-terminal

Resumen El parásito intracelular Leishmania braziliensis es el agente causal de la leishmaniasis cutánea, enfermedad endémica de zonas tropicales, cuyos tratamientos farmacológicos son tóxicos y para la cual no se dispone de una vacuna en la actualidad. Por esta razón, el estudio de las proteínas relacionadas con el metabolismo energético del parásito es relevante dada su importancia para la supervivencia del mismo. En este estudio, utilizando como secuencia plantilla los primeros 18 residuos del extremo N-terminal de la proteína nicotinamida/ nicotinato mononucleótido adenilil transferasa de L. braziliensis (Lb-NMNAT), se sintetizaron péptidos implementando la estrategia Fmoc/ tert-Butilo en una resina Rink amida MBHA. Los péptidos se purificaron por cromatografía en columna C18 y se caracterizaron mediante RP-HPLC. La proteína recombinante 6xHisLb-NMNAT se expresó en células Escherichia coli M15 y se purificó parcialmente empleando cromatografía de afinidad a metales inmovilizados. De esta proteína se confirmó su actividad enzimática a través de ensayos enzimáticos directos analizados por RP-HPLC. Los péptidos sintetizados se utilizaron para evaluar su efecto sobre la actividad enzimática de la proteína 6xHisLb-NMNAT, observándose una modulación diferencial, lo cual resulta promisorio para el diseño de herramientas quimioterapéuticas basadas en la secuencia N-terminal de la proteína Lb-NMNAT.

Abstract The intracellular parasite Leishmania braziliensis is the etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, an endemic disease in the tropics, whose pharmacological treatments are toxic and for which there is currently no vaccine. For this reason, the study of proteins related to the energy metabolism of the parasite is relevant given its importance for its survival. In this study, based on the first 18 residues of the N-terminal end of the nicotinamide/nicotinate mononucleotide adenylyl transferase protein from L. braziliensis (Lb-NMNAT) as a template, peptides were synthesized implementing the Fmoc/tert-Butyl strategy in a Rink amide MBHA resin. The peptides were purified by C18 column chromatography and characterized by RP-HPLC. The recombinant 6xHisLb-NMNAT protein was expressed in Escherichia coli M15 cells and partially purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The enzymatic activity of the protein was confirmed through direct enzymatic assays analyzed by RP-HPLC. The synthesized peptides were used to evaluate their effect on the enzymatic activity of the 6xHisLb-NMNAT protein, observing a differential modulation, which is promising for the design of chemotherapeutic tools based on the N-terminal sequence of the Lb-NMNAT protein.

Resumo O parasita intracelular Leishmania braziliensis é o agente causador da leishmaniose tegumentar, doença endêmica nos trópicos, cujos tratamentos farmacológicos são tóxicos e para a qual não existe vacina atualmente. Por este motivo, o estudo de proteínas relacionadas ao metabolismo energético do parasita é relevante dada a sua importância para a sua sobrevivência. Neste estudo, usando os primeiros 18 resíduos da extremidade N-terminal da proteína adenilil transferase de nicotinamida/mononucleotídeo nicotinato de L. braziliensis (Lb-NMNAT) como uma sequência modelo, os peptídeos foram sintetizados implementando a estratégia Fmoc/tert-Butil em uma resina Rink amida MBHA. Os peptídeos foram purificados por cromatografia em coluna C18 e caracterizados por RP-HPLC. A proteína recombinante 6xHisLb-NMNAT foi expressa em células de Escherichia coli M15 e parcialmente purificada usando cromatografia de afinidade com metal imobilizado. Desta proteína, sua atividade enzimática foi confirmada por meio de ensaios enzimáticos diretos analisados por RP-HPLC. Os peptídeos sintetizados foram utilizados para avaliar seu efeito na atividade enzimática da proteína 6xHisLb-NMNAT, observando uma modulação diferencial, o que é promissor para o projeto de ferramentas quimioterápicas baseadas na sequência N-terminal da proteína Lb-NMNAT

On the role of surrounding regions in the fusion peptide in dengue virus infection.

Dengue virus infection depends on its fusion with the host membrane, where the binding occurs through interaction between proteins on the virus cell surface and specific viral receptors on target membranes. This process is mediated by the fusion peptide located between residues 98 and 112 (DRGWGNGCGLFGKGG) that forms a loop in domain II of dengue E glycoprotein. In this study, we evaluated the role of fusion peptide surrounding regions (88-97 and 113-123) of the Dengue 2 subtype on its interaction with the membrane and fusion activity. These sequences are important to stabilize the fusion peptide loop and increase fusion activity. Three peptides, besides the fusion peptide, were synthesized by SPPS using the Fmoc chemical approach. The first contains the fusion peptide and the C-terminal region of the loop (sequence 98-123); another contains the N-terminal region (88-112) and the larger peptide contains both regions (88-123). The peptides were able to interact with a model membrane. Differences in morphology of the monolayer promoted by the peptides were assessed by Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM). Our data indicated that the C-terminal region of fusion peptide loop is more efficient in promoting fusion and interacting with the membrane than the N-terminal sequence, which is responsible for the electrostatic initial interaction. We propose a 2-step mechanism for the interaction of the dengue virus fusion peptide with the host membrane, where the N-terminal sequence docks electrostatically on the headgroups and then the C-terminal interacts via hydrophobic forces in the acyl chains.

Design of Affinity Chromatography Peptide Ligands Through Combinatorial Peptide Library Screening.

In this chapter, a protocol to design affinity chromatography matrices with short peptide ligands immobilized for protein purification is described. The first step consists of the synthesis of a combinatorial peptide library on the hydroxymethylbenzoyl (HMBA)-ChemMatrix resin by the divide-couple-recombine (DCR) method using the Fmoc chemistry. Next, the library is screened with the protein of interest labeled with a fluorescent dye or biotin. Subsequently, peptides contained on positive beads are identified by tandem matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS/MS), and those sequences showing greater consensus are synthesized in larger quantities and immobilized on chromatographic supports. Finally, target protein adsorption on peptide affinity matrices is evaluated through equilibrium adsorption isotherms and breakthrough curves.

Synthetic peptides to produce antivenoms against the Cys-rich toxins of arachnids.

Scorpion and spider envenomation is treated with the appropriate antivenoms, prepared as described by Césaire Auguste Phisalix and Albert Calmette in 1894. Such treatment requires the acquisition and manipulation of arachnid venoms, both very complicated procedures. Most of the toxins in the venoms of spiders and scorpions are extremely stable cysteine-rich peptide neurotoxins. Many strategies have been developed to obtain synthetic immunogens to facilitate the production of antivenoms against these toxins. For example, whole peptide toxins can be synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Also, epitopes of the toxins can be identified and after the chemical synthesis of these peptide epitopes by SPPS, they can be coupled to protein carriers to develop efficient immunogens. Moreover, multiple antigenic peptides with a polylysine core can be designed and synthesized. This review focuses on the strategies developed to obtain synthetic immunogens for the production of antivenoms against the toxic Cys-rich peptides of scorpions and spiders.

p-Methoxyphenol: A potent and effective scavenger for solid-phase peptide synthesis.

During the final step of t-Boc/Bzl, solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)-protecting groups from amino acids (aa) side chains must be removed from the target peptides during cleavage from the solid support. These reaction steps involve hydrolysis with hydrogen fluoride (HF) in the presence of a nucleophile (scavenger), whose function is to trap the carbocations produced during SN 1-type reactions. Five peptide sequences were synthesised for evaluating p-methoxyphenol effectiveness as a potent scavenger. After the synthesis, the resin-peptide was then separated into two equal parts to be cleaved using two scavengers: conventional reactive p-cresol (reported in the literature as an effective acyl ion eliminator) and p-methoxyphenol (hypothesised as fulfilling the same functions as the routinely used scavenger). Detailed analysis of the electrostatic potential map (EPM) revealed similarities between these two nucleophiles, regarding net atomic charge, electron density distribution, and similar pKa values. Good scavenger efficacy was observed by chromatography and mass spectrometry results for the synthesised molecules, which revealed that p-methoxyphenol can be used as a potent scavenger during SPPS by t-Boc/Bzl strategy, as similar results were obtained using the conventional scavenger.

Protocol for bevacizumab purification using Ac-PHQGQHIGVSK-agarose.

Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody, produced in CHO cells, used for the treatment of many human cancers. It is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (antsi-VEGF) that blocks the growth of tumor blood vessels. Nowadays its purification is achieved by affinity chromatography (AC) using protein A which is a very expensive ligand. On the other hand, the peptide Ac-PHQGQHIGVSK contained in the VEGF fragment binds bevacizumab with high affinity. This short peptide ligand has higher stability and lower cost than protein A and it can be prepared very easily by solid phase peptide synthesis. The present protocol describes the synthesis of Ac-PHQGQHIGVSK-agarose and its use for affinity chromatography purification of bevacizumab from a clarified CHO cell culture. •Ac-PHQGQHIGVSK-agarose capacity and selectivity are equivalent to those of protein A matrices.•The peptide ligand shows a greater stability and lower cost. The lack of Trp, Met or Cys in the peptide ligand prevents its oxidation and extends the useful life of the chromatographic matrix.•Mild conditions used during chromatography preserved the integrity of bevacizumab.

Antimicrobial activity and structure of a consensus human ß-defensin and its comparison to a novel putative hBD10.

The spread of multidrug resistant bacteria owing to the intensive use of antibiotics is challenging current antibiotic therapies, and making the discovery and evaluation of new antimicrobial agents a high priority. The evaluation of novel peptide sequences of predicted antimicrobial peptides from different sources is valuable approach to identify alternative antibiotic leads. Two strategies were pursued in this study to evaluate novel antimicrobial peptides from the human ß-defensin family (hBD). In the first, a 32-residue peptide was designed based on the alignment of all available hBD primary structures, while in the second a putative 35-residue peptide, hBD10, was mined from the gene DEFB110. Both hBDconsensus and hBD10 were chemically synthesized, folded and purified. They showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but were not hemolytic on human red blood cells. The NMR-based solution structure of hBDconsensus revealed that it adopts a classical ß-defensin fold and disulfide connectivities. Even though the mass spectrum of hBD10 confirmed the formation of three disulfide bonds, it showed limited dispersion in 1 H NMR spectra and structural studies were not pursued. The evaluation of different ß-defensin structures may identify new antimicrobial agents effective against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains.

CPP-Ala-Ala-Tyr-PABA inhibitor analogs with improved selectivity for neurolysin or thimet oligopeptidase.

Thimet oligopeptidase (TOP, EC 3.4.24.15) and neurolysin (NEL, EC 3.4.24.16) are closely related zinc-dependent metalo-oligopeptidases, which take part in the metabolism of oligopeptides (from 5 to 17 amino acid residues) inside and outside cells. Both peptidases are ubiquitously distributed in tissues. TOP is one of the main intracellular peptide-processing enzymes being important for the antigen selection in the MHC Class I presentation route, while NEL function has been more associated with the extracellular degradation of neurotensin. Despite efforts being made to develop specific inhibitors for these peptidases, the most used are: CPP-Ala-Ala-Tyr-PABA, described by Orlowski et al. in 1988, and CPP-Ala-Aib-Tyr-PABA (JA-2) that is an analog more resistant to proteolysis, which development was made by Shrimpton et al. in 2000. In the present work, we describe other analogs of these compounds but, with better discriminatory capacity to inhibit specifically NEL or TOP. The modifications introduced in these new analogs were based on a key difference existent in the extended binding sites of NEL and TOP: the negatively charged Glu469 residue of TOP corresponds to the positively charged Arg470 residue of NEL. These residues are in position to interact with the residue at the P1' and/or P2' of their substrates (mimicked by the Ala-Ala/P1'-P2' residues of the CPP-Ala-Ala-Tyr-PABA). Therefore, exploring this single difference, the following compounds were synthesized: CPP-Asp-Ala-Tyr-PABA, CPP-Arg-Ala-Tyr-PABA, CPP-Ala-Asp-Tyr-PABA, CPP-Ala-Arg-Tyr-PABA. Confirming the predictions, the replacement of each non-charged residue of the internal portion Ala-Ala by a charged residue Asp or Arg resulted in compounds with higher selectivity for NEL or TOP, especially due to the electrostatic attraction or repulsion by the NEL Arg470 or TOP Glu469 residue. The CPP-Asp-Ala-Tyr-PABA and CPP-Ala-Asp-Tyr-PABA presented higher affinities for NEL, and, the CFP-Ala-Arg-Tyr-PABA showed higher affinity for TOP.

Synthesis and Bioactivity of a Cyclopolypeptide from Caribbean Marine Sponge.

Synthesis of a natural proline-rich cyclopolypeptide - rolloamide A was carried out by coupling of tri- and tetrapeptide units Boc-Phe-Pro-Val-OMe and Boc-Pro-Leu-Pro-Ile-OMe after proper deprotection at carboxyl and amino terminals using carbodiimide chemistry in alkaline environment followed by cyclization of linear heptapeptide segment in the presence of base. The structure of synthesized peptide was confirmed by spectral techniques including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS analyses. Newly synthesized peptide was subjected to biological screening against pathogenic microbes and earthworms. Cyclopeptide 8 possessed promising activity against pathogenic fungi Candida albicans (ZOI: 24 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZOI: 27 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ZOI: 23 mm, MIC: 12.5 µg/mL), in comparison to reference drugs - griseofulvin (ZOI: 20 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and ciprofloxacin (ZOI: 25 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL/ZOI: 20 mm, MIC: 12.5 µg/mL). Also, newly synthesized heptacyclopeptide exhibited potent anthelmintic activity against earthworms Megascoplex konkanensis, Pontoscotex corethruses, and Eudrilus species (MPT/MDT ratio - 8.22-16.02/10.06-17.59 min), in comparison to standard drugs - mebendazole (MPT/MDT ratio - 10.52-18.02/12.57-19.49 min) and piperazine citrate (MPT/MDT ratio - 12.38-19.17/13.44-22.17 min).

Identification of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme-Inhibitory and Anticoagulant Peptides from Enzymatic Hydrolysates of Chicken Combs and Wattles.

Peptides from protein hydrolysate of a mixture of chicken combs and wattles (CCWs) were obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis, and their anticoagulant and inhibitory effects on angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) were investigated. The protein hydrolysate exhibited anticoagulant capacity by the intrinsic pathway (activated partial thromboplastin time) and potent ACE-inhibitory activity. The peptides were sequenced by LC-MS to identify those with higher inhibitory potential. From the pool of sequenced peptides, the following three peptides were selected and synthesized based on their low molecular weight and the presence of amino acids with ACE-inhibitory potential at the C-terminus: peptide I (APGLPGPR), peptide II (Piro-GPPGPT), and peptide III (FPGPPGP). Peptide III (FPGPPGP) showed the highest ACE-inhibitory capacity among the peptides selected. In conclusion, a peptide (FPGPPGP) of unknown sequence was identified as having potent ACE-inhibitory capacity. This peptide originated from unconventional hydrolysates from poultry slaughter waste, including combs and wattles.

Cn29, a novel orphan peptide found in the venom of the scorpion Centruroides noxius: Structure and function.

A peptide (Cn29) from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides noxius (about 2% of the soluble venom) was purified and its primary and three-dimensional structures were determined. The peptide contains 27 amino acids with primary sequence: LCLSCRGGDYDCRVKGTCENGKCVCGS. The peptide is tightly packed by three disulfide linkages formed between C2-C23, C5-C18 and C12-C25. Since the native peptide was obtained in limited amounts, the full synthetic peptide was prepared using the standard F-moc-based solid phase synthesis method of Merrifield. The native and synthetic peptides were shown to be identical by sequencing, HPLC separation and mass spectrometry. The solution structure of the peptide solved from NMR data shows that it consists of a well-defined N-terminal region without regular secondary structure extending from Leu 1 to Asp 9, followed by a short helical fragment from Tyr10 to Val14 and two short ß strands (Thr17-Glu19 and Lys22-Val24). The primary and tertiary structures of Cn29 are different from all other scorpion peptides described in the literature. Transcriptome analysis of RNA obtained from C. noxius confirmed the expression of a gene coding for Cn29 in its venom gland. Initial experiments were conducted to identify its possible function: lethality tests in mice and insects as well as ion-channel binding using in vitro electrophysiological assays. None of the physiological or biological tests displayed any activity for this peptide, which at present is considered to be another orphan peptide found in scorpion venoms. The peptide is thus the first example of a novel structural component present in scorpion venoms.

Synthetic Peptide Purification via Solid-Phase Extraction with Gradient Elution: A Simple, Economical, Fast, and Efficient Methodology.

A methodology was implemented for purifying peptides in one chromatographic run via solid-phase extraction (SPE), reverse phase mode (RP), and gradient elution, obtaining high-purity products with good yields. Crude peptides were analyzed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and a new mathematical model based on its retention time was developed in order to predict the percentage of organic modifier in which the peptide will elute in RP-SPE. This information was used for designing the elution program of each molecule. It was possible to purify peptides with different physicochemical properties, showing that this method is versatile and requires low solvent consumption, making it the least polluting one. Reverse phase-SPE can easily be routinely implemented. It is an alternative to enrich and purified synthetic or natural molecules.

Antimicrobial alumina nanobiostructures of disulfide- and triazole-linked peptides: Synthesis, characterization, membrane interactions and biological activity.

Due to the its physical-chemical properties, alumina nanoparticles have potential applications in several areas, such as nanobiomaterials for medicinal or orthodontic implants, although the introduction of these devices poses a serious risk of microbial infection. One convenient strategy to circumvent this problem is to associate the nanomaterials to antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum of activities. In this study we present two novel synthesis approaches to obtain fibrous type alumina nanoparticles covalently bound to antimicrobial peptides. In the first strategy, thiol functionalized alumina nanoparticles were linked via disulfide bond formation to a cysteine residue of an analog of the peptide BP100 containing a four amino acid spacer (Cys-Ala-Ala-Ala). In the second strategy, alumina nanoparticles were functionalized with azide groups and then bound to alkyne-decorated analogs of the peptides BP100 and DD K through a triazole linkage obtained via a copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction. The complete physical-chemical characterization of the intermediates and final materials is presented along with in vitro biological assays and membrane interaction studies, which confirmed the activity of the obtained nanobiostructures against both bacteria and fungi. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aluminum nanoparticles covalently bound to triazole-peptides and to a disulfide bound antimicrobial peptide with high potential for biotechnological applications.

Fragments of the second transmembrane helix of three G-protein-coupled receptors: comparative synthetic, structural and conformational studies.

We compared the synthesis and structural/conformational details of the (66-97) segments of the second transmembrane helix of AT1, MAS and B2, all of which belong to the class of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Step-by-step monitoring of the coupling reactions during the growth of these transmembrane peptides revealed that the increase in the level of difficulty started at the 6-10 regions of the sequence. Possibly due to their long and hydrophobic sequences, the final estimated synthesis yields decreased progressively by up to 20-25%. Analytical high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the hydrophobicity indexes of each TM-8, -16, -24 and -32 segments correlated linearly with their retention time. Microscopic measurements of peptide-resin beads indicated that, in general, dichloromethane and dimethylsulfoxide were the best solvents for solvating resin beads in the initial and final stages of the synthesis, respectively. Results from electron paramagnetic resonance experiments with Toac (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid) spin-labeled peptide resins revealed that the level of peptide chain mobility throughout the polymer network was in agreement with their swelling data measured in different solvents. Initial results regarding conformational features determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectra revealed typical α-helicoidally structures for MAS and B2 TM32 fragments when in more than roughly 30% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE). In contrast, the AT1-TM32 segment revealed CD spectra, more representatives of a mixture of other secondary helical conformers, regardless of the amount of TFE. These findings observed in different aspects of these receptors' fragments support further investigations of GPCR-type macromolecules.

Identification of a linear B-cell epitope in the catalytic domain of bothropasin, a metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca snake venom.

Bothropasin is a hemorrhagic snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) from Bothrops jararaca venom, the snake responsible for most bites in Southeastern Brazil. SVMPs, such as bothropasin, are involved in the main bothropic envenoming symptoms, which include hemorrhage, inflammation, necrosis and blood coagulation deficiency. B-cell epitope mapping of SVMPs can lead to the identification of peptides capable of inducing neutralizing antibodies without causing toxic effects, therefore improving anti-venom production. Here, using the SPOT synthesis technique, we have identified an epitope located in the catalytic domain of bothropasin (202KARMYELANIVNEILRYLYMH222) which was synthesized and named BotEp1. The peptide was used to immunize Swiss mice and Anti-BotEp1 serum cross-reacted with bothropasin and crude venoms from B. jararaca and B. atrox venoms. Furthermore, Anti-BotEp1 antibodies were able to completely neutralize the hemorrhagic activity of a chromatographic fraction from B. jararaca venom, which contains hemorrhagic SVMPs. In addition, the coagulation activity of the hemorrhagic fraction showed to be diminished when tested in serum from rabbit immunized with BotEp1 (compared to serum from non-immunized animal). Our results show the identification of neutralizing epitopes in bothropasin and provide basis for the use of synthetic peptides to improve the production of immunotherapeutics.