Investigation of the 35-62 conserved helix and disulfide loop of bovine prothrombin using an anti-peptide antibody.

A 28-residue peptide corresponding to the 35-62 region of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 (BF1) was synthesized by solid-phase methods. In BF1 this region consists of three conserved aromatic residues within an alpha-helical region followed by a disulfide loop. This synthetic peptide was used to produce murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that would recognize and bind native BF1. Antibody AH.Ab.E3, an IgG1 antibody that was isolated and cloned, recognized and bound to both the synthetic peptide and the BF1 molecule. Residues 55-59 (REKLN) were shown to be critical for antibody binding. This MAb was subsequently used to study the 48-62 disulfide loop region of BF1. MAb AH.Ab.E3, which has been shown to bind the BF1 calcium-dependent conformation (BF1:Ca), does not appear to perturb the binding interaction between BF1:Ca and phospholipid (PL) vesicles as studied by light scattering methods.

Predicted secondary structure of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 and related proteins in different environments by circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 (BF1) and related proteins in several environments. The conformational change induced in BF1 by the addition of Mg[II] ions was found to be different from that induced by Ca[II] or Sr[II]. The Ca[II] and Sr[II] conformations appear to differ only slightly from the apo-metal conformation. The conformation of the 1-45 fragment of prothrombin, however, is markedly different than the conformation of the same fragment in the presence of either Ca[II] of Mg[II]; both of the latter structures differ substantially from one another. The presence of phospholipids has almost no effect on the structure of either BF1 or the 1-45 fragment; in the presence of both phospholipids and Ca[II] a structural change is seen for the 1-45 fragment but not BF1 (relative to the protein alone). The addition of phospholipids to the Mg[II]/BF1 structure did not induce a CD-detectable conformational change, while the addition of phospholipids to the Ca[II]/BF1 or Sr[II]/BF1 structures induced a change to a conformation similar in secondary structure composition to the relative apometal structures.

Determination of human prothrombin activation fragment 1 + 2 in plasma with an antibody against a synthetic peptide.

The present investigation describes a novel approach to prepare a specific antibody against prothrombin activation fragment 1 + 2 (F 1 + 2). The antibody discriminates between native prothrombin and F 1 + 2 in plasma. A synthetic peptide from the negatively charged region of F 1 + 2, which becomes the carboxy-terminal sequence after cleavage of prothrombin by factor Xa, was used for immunization of rabbits. Obtained antiserum was immunopurified and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was constructed for determination of F 1 + 2. The test system follows the sandwich principle and uses two different antibodies directed against F 1 + 2 and prothrombin, respectively. The ELISA was calibrated with purified F 1 + 2 added to F 1 + 2-poor plasma. The lower limit of sensitivity of the assay was 0.02 nmol/l. Coefficients of variation of 6.9 to 10.4% (intraassay) and 6.7 to 11% (interassay) were found for F 1 + 2 concentrations between 0.08 and 4.9 nmol/l. A reference range from 0.32 to 1.2 nmol/l was calculated from 95 healthy donors (mean value +/- SD: 0.67 +/- 0.19 nmol/l). In patients with deep vein thrombosis (n = 7) confirmed by phlebography and in patients with pulmonary embolism (n = 8) confirmed by lung scan, F 1 + 2 levels were found up to 1.5 to 9.5 nmol/l. In plasma samples of patients under oral anticoagulant therapy in the stable state F 1 + 2 concentrations were found to be in the range of 0.08 to 0.5 nmol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synthetic bovine prothrombin precursor 13-29 for studies of vitamin K dependent carboxylase.

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. Thus, bovine prothrombin precursor 13-29 is not an unusually effective substrate for the carboxylase as reported by Soute et al.

Synthesis and biological properties of new hexapeptide substrates for vitamin K dependent carboxylase. Evidence for X-Pro cis/trans amide bond interconversions in prothrombin precursor fragment 18-23.

Three hexapeptide analogues, corresponding to sequence 18-23 of bovine prothrombin precursor [-Cys-Leu-Glu-Glu-Pro-Cys-] have been synthesized and evaluated as substrates for vitamin K dependent carboxylase. These new hexapeptides are moderately good substrates for the carboxylase but do not significantly inhibit carboxylation of Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Leu, a good substrate for the enzyme. Based on proton and carbon-13 NMR experiments, it is established that the conformation of sequence 18-23, which contains proline at position 22, has a trans amide bond for the Glu-Pro22 sequence in chloroform-d. This amide bond is converted to the cis amide geometry in Me2-SO-d6. It is proposed that good substrates for the carboxylase require a trans amide bond between residues 21 and 22.

Synthesis of two analogs of a cyclic hexapeptide with disulfide bridge corresponding to bovine prothrombin precursor sequence 18-23. Extent of carboxylation by Vitamin K-Dependent carboxylase.

The synthesis of two analogs of sequence 18-23 of bovine prothrombin precursor is described. Hexapeptides Boc-Cys (Acm)-Leu-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Pro-Cys (Acm)-OBzl and Ac-Cys(Acm-Leu-Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OBzl)-Pro-Cys(Acm)-OMe were synthesized in solution by stepwise addition of Boc-amino acids using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/N-hydroxybenzotriazole as the coupling reagent. The acetamidomethyl groups were cleaved and oxidized, using iodine in methanol, to the protected cyclic disulfide in 62-69% yield. The O-benzyl groups were removed either by treatment with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or hydrogen bromide in trifluoroacetic acid to give the cyclic hexapeptide disulfides, R1-Cys-Leu-Glu-Glu-Pro-Cys-OR2 where R1 - H or Ac and R2 = H or CH3. The cyclic hexapeptides were evaluated as substrates for vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. Both peptides are unusually poor substrates for the carboxylase, and each appears to inhibit carboxylation of Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Leu, a good substrate for the enzyme.

Synthesis of peptide analogues of prothrombin precursor sequence 5-9. Substrate specificity of vitamin K dependent carboxylase.

Thirty-five analogues of Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Leu, the pentapeptide sequence 5-9 of bovine prothrombin precursor, were synthesized and assayed as potential substrates or inhibitors of rat liver vitamin K dependent carboxylase. Carboxylation of substrate was determined by measuring the incorporation of carbon-24 labeled bicarbonate into product. Changes in substrate carboxylation produced by changing peptide chain length, amino acid chirality, or the distance separating the peptide chain backbone from the carboxyl group were measured. The data suggest that the carboxylase carboxylates L-glutamic acid residues and does not carboxylate L-aspartic acid, L-homoglutamic acid, glutamine, or D-glutamic acid residues; tri-through pentapeptides are better substrates than mono- or bis(amino acid) derivatives, and hydrophobic groups added to the N-terminus can produce better substrates for the enzyme. None of the synthetic substrates is carboxylated as effectively as the endogenous protein substrates for the enzyme. The effect of structure on additional parameters affecting carboxylation is discussed.

Bovine prothrombin fragment 1, segment 1-10. Synthesis and immunological investigation.

The N-terminal decapeptide methyl ester, H-Ala-Asn-Lys-Gly-Phe-Leu-Gla-Gla-Val-Arg-OCH3 (16) of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 has been prepared by standard solution techniques, via a fragment coupling strategy. Hexapeptide Boc-Ala-Asn-Lys epsilon (Boc)-Gly-Phe-Leu-OBzl (9) was obtained by coupling Boc-Ala-Asn-Lys epsilon (Boc)Gly-OH (6) to the trifluoroacetate salt of H-Phe-Leu-OBzl (8). Hydrogenolysis of (9) followed by coupling to HCl. H-Gla gamma (OtBu)2-Gla gamma (OtBu)2-Val-Arg(HCl)-OCH3 (14) gave the fully protected decapeptide (15). Treatment of 15 with 90% trifluoroacetic acid followed by ion exchange chromatography of 15 yielded the methyl ester (16). The decapeptide 16 labeled with 125I using the Bolton-Hunter reagent, did not bind to antibodies specific for the calcium ion-induced conformation of bovine fragment 1.