The proenkephalin A-processing product peptide E, which encompasses two enkephalin sequences, has a much lower opioid activity than beta-endorphin.

Peptide E is a 25-amino acid peptide derived from proenkephalin A that was originally isolated from the bovine adrenal medulla. Bovine peptide E (BPE), which possesses a Met- and a Leu-enkephalin sequence at its N- and C-terminus, respectively, has been described as a highly potent and selective mu-opioid receptor agonist. Paradoxically, the frog counterpart of peptide E (FPE), which exhibits only two amino acid substitutions (Met15-->Gln and Leu25-->Met) compared with BPE, was found to be totally devoid of antinociceptive activity. To decipher this apparent discrepancy, we have decided to compare the structural and pharmacological characteristics of FPE, BPE, and the chimeric peptide [Gln15]BPE (Q15BPE). In methanol, all three peptides exhibited virtually the same conformation, the central region of each peptide (residues 10-20) being involved in a regular helix. Intracerebroventricular administration of FPE, BPE, or Q15BPE, at doses up to 1000 ng per mouse, did not induce any analgesic effects, as evaluated by the hot plate and writhing tests, whereas, in the same tests, beta-endorphin at a dose of 100 ng provoked profound analgesia. Concomitant administration of FPE, BPE, or Q15BPE (100 ng) with the aminopeptidase-N inhibitor bestatin (50 microg) or the endopeptidase 24-11 inhibitor thiorphan (10 microg) did not produce analgesic responses. Antinociceptive effects were only observed when very high doses of FPE, BPE, and Q15BPE (10000 ng per mouse) were administered. These data clearly demonstrate that, contrary to what has been previously reported, peptide E is virtually devoid of opioid activity.

Three-dimensional structure of the ion-channel forming peptide trichorzianin TA VII bound to sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles.

Trichorzianin TA VII, Ac0 U1 A2 A3 U4 J5 Q6 U7 U8 U9 S10 L11 U12 P13 V14 U15 I16 Q17 Q18 Fol19, is a nonadecapeptide member of the peptaibol antibiotics biosynthesized by Trichoderma soil fungi, which is characterized by a high proportion of the alpha, alpha-dialkylated amino acids, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib, U) and isovaline (Iva, J), an acetylated N-terminus and a C-terminal phenylalaninol (Pheol, Fol). The main interest in such peptides stems from their ability to interact with phospholipid bilayers and form voltage-dependent transmembrane channels in planar lipid bilayers. In order to provide insights into the lipid-peptide interaction promoting the voltage gating, the conformational study of TA VII in the presence of perdeuterated sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-d25) micelles has been carried out. 1H sequential assignment have been performed with the use of two-dimensional homo- and -heteronuclear nmr techniques including double quantum filtered correlated spectroscopy, homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn, nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum correlation, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation. Conformational parameters, such as 3JNHC alpha H coupling constants, temperature coefficients of amide protons (delta gamma/delta TNH) and quantitative nuclear Overhauser enhancement data, lead to detailed structural information. Ninety-eight three-dimensional structures consistent with the nmr data were generated from 231 interproton distances six phi dihedral angle restraints, using restrained molecular dynamics and energy minimization calculations. The average rms deviation between the 98 refined structures and the energy-minimized average structure is 0.59 A for the backbone atoms. The structure of trichorzianin TA VII associated with SDS micelles, as determined by these methods, is characterized by two right-handed helical segments involving residues 1-8 and 11-19, linked by a beta-turn that leads to an angle about 90 degrees-100 degrees between the two helix axes; residues 18 and 19 at the end of the C-terminal helix exhibit multiple conformations.

Biological activity and three-dimensional structure of an agonist analog of bombesin.

JMV635, a nonapeptide analog of the active terminal nonapeptide segment of bombesin, was tested for its ability to stimulate in vitro amylase release from rat pancreatic acinar cells and to inhibit the binding of gastrin-releasing peptide to rat pancreatic acini. It was found to be a full agonist of bombesin and to recognize the bombesin receptor with moderate potency. The NMR proton assignments of JMV635 were achieved, and the conformations of JMV635 in aqueous solution and in trifluoroethanol at 297 K were determined using two-dimensional COSY, HOHAHA, NOESY and ROESY experiments. In trifluoroethanol, JMV635, like the active part of bombesin, showed a partial alpha-helical structure. These results were confirmed by circular dichroism and refined by restrained molecular dynamic methods. Structure calculations, using the distance and angle restraints obtained from NMR data on JMV635, gave a total of 75 structures which could be aligned to a root mean square deviation of the bond length of 0.007 A and of the valence angle of 1.55 degrees for the backbone atoms of the amino acid residues. The conformation is a well-defined right-handed alpha-helix in the C-terminal Q2-G6 segment and is less structured in the three C-terminal residues.