GH-releasing activity in vitro was directly correlated with GRF receptor binding affinity for all hGRF analogs examined. hGRF(1-29)-NH2 analogs with Ala15-substitution (for Gly15) displayed 4-5 times higher affinity for the GRF receptor relative to hGRF(1-44)-NH2. Replacement of Gly15 with Sar15 resulted in a dramatic loss of activity and receptor binding. The present data supports the proposal that Ala15-substitution increases receptor affinity, and hence potency, due to increased amphiphilic alpha-helical interactions. Fragments of hGRF, representative of DPP-IV and trypsin-like cleavage, are inactive as a consequence of greatly diminished GRF receptor binding. These results provide a comprehensive analysis of the structural features required for both GRF receptor binding and activation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and biological activity of novel C-terminal-extended and biotinylated growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analogs.

A series of novel hGRF(1-29)-NH2 analogs were synthesized and biotinylated. The immunological and biological activities of these analogs were then characterized. To distance the biotin moiety from the putative bioactive core, a C-terminal spacer arm consisting of -Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 (-GGC) was added to hGRF(1-29)-NH2 (hGRF29) and analogs, with subsequent biotinylation performed at the cysteine residue. Neither addition of the C-terminal spacer arm nor biotinylation affected affinity of these analogs for GRF antibody. Relative to hGRF(1-44)-NH2 (hGRF44: potency = 1.0), the biotinylated analogs were equipotent in vitro to their nonbiotinylated, parent compounds: [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt in)-NH2 (4.7) = [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 (3.9) greater than hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 (0.8). Based upon cumulative GH release data in vivo (0-60 min postinjection), [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt in)-NH2, [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2, and hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 displayed 8.6, 5.5, and 0.8 times, respectively, the potency of hGRF44. These in vivo potency values were not significantly different from the corresponding parent compounds (i.e., with or without the C-terminal spacer arm). In summary, biotinylated hGRF analogs have been developed that retain full immunoreactivity and potent bioactivity (in vitro and in vivo), thus permitting their use in GRF receptor isolation, ELISA, and histochemical procedures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Safety and immunogenicity in man of a synthetic peptide malaria vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites.

A 12 amino-acid synthetic peptide (NANP)3 comprising the immunodominant epitope of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein was conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT), adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide, and administered intramuscularly in three doses at monthly intervals to 35 healthy males as a malaria vaccine. No significant adverse reactions were noted, with mild soreness at the injection site the only common symptom. Seroconversions against NANP occurred in 53% and 71% of recipients of 100 or 160 micrograms, respectively, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Most ELISA-positive sera reacted with sporozoites by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). Three vaccinees with the highest ELISA and IFA titres and four unimmunized controls were challenged with P. falciparum sporozoites introduced via the bites of infective Anopheles mosquitoes. Blood stage parasites were detected in all controls by 10 days (mean 8.5 days, range 7-10). In contrast, the two vaccinees who became infected did not manifest parasitaemia until day 11 and the third vacinee showed neither parasites nor symptoms during the 29 day observation period. This first synthetic peptide parenteral vaccine against a communicable disease tested in man is safe and stimulates biologically active antibodies. These observations encourage the development of improved vaccine formulations which, by enhancing immunogenicity, may lead to practical vaccines to assist in the control of falciparum malaria.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Semisynthesis of human growth hormone-releasing factor by trypsin catalyzed coupling of leucine amide to a C-terminal acid precursor.

Human growth hormone-releasing factor, GRF(1-44)-NH2, was synthesized by trypsin catalyzed coupling of Leu-NH2 to Arg43 of the precursor, GRF(1-43)-OH, prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. The semisynthetic GRF(1-44)-NH2 was fully characterized and showed full potency in the rat pituitary in vitro bioassay. Conversion to GRF(1-44)-NH2 was limited to 60-70% in both 75% v:v N,N'-dimethylacetamide and 95% v:v 1,4-butanediol due to competing transpeptidations at Arg41 and Arg38 generating [Leu42]-GRF(1-42)-NH2 and [Leu39]-GRF(1-39)-NH2 side-products, respectively. The rates of formation and yields of GRF(1-44)-NH2 versus pH, Leu-NH2 concentration, and solvent composition were also studied.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Semisynthesis of human growth hormone-releasing factors by alpha-amidating enzyme catalyzed oxidation of glycine-extended precursors.

Recombinant alpha-amidating enzyme was used in the semisynthesis (1-5 mg scale) of human growth hormone-releasing factor, GRF(1-44)-NH2, by in vitro enzymatic oxidation of the glycine-extended precursor, GRF(1-44)-Gly-OH, prepared by solid-phase synthesis. The equipotent analog, GRF(1-29)-NH2, and the superactive analog, [Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2, were also prepared by this route and were fully characterized. Isolated yields of about 75% were obtained, and the products each possessed full potency in an in vitro rat pituitary bioassay and full receptor-binding affinity. Methods to monitor the amidation of polypeptide substrates and analyze the final products are described, including the use of capillary zone electrophoresis. A transient alpha-hydroxyglycine intermediate, [Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-Gly(alpha-OH)-OH, was isolated and characterized. Kinetic studies with this intermediate demonstrate that the rat alpha-amidating enzyme from recombinant mouse C127 cells possesses both the monooxygenase and lyase activities needed to catalyze both steps of the amidation process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Structure-activity studies with cholecystokinin: stereoisomers containing ortho-, meta- and para-tyrosine sulfate.

Analogs of cholecystokinin (Ac-CCK-7) in which Tyr(SO3H) was replaced with D-Tyr(SO3H), Tyr(m-SO3H), D-Tyr(m-SO3H) Tyr(o-SO3H) and D-Tyr(o-SO3H) were prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis, characterized by amino acid analysis, MS, UV, IR and tested in vivo for their ability to suppress food intake and in vitro (receptor binding). Comparison of the binding efficacy to food intake revealed a poor correlation. Ac-[Tyr(m-SO3H)]-CCK-7 retained substantial anorectic activity, whereas Ac-[Tyr(o-SO3H)-CCK-7 was essentially inactive. Ac-[D-Tyr(SO3H)]-CCK-7 and Ac-[D-Tyr(mSO3H)]-CCK-7 retained substantial biological activity. From these studies we conclude that the position of the negative charge on Tyr (meta or para) is important for anorectic activity, but the chirality of the alpha-carbon is not important for biological activity.

Cholecystokinin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Conformational origin of a difficult coupling in a human growth hormone releasing factor analog.

During the solid-phase synthesis of the human growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) analog [Ala15, Leu27, Asn28] -GRF(1-32)-OH, incorporation of Boc-Gln16 was determined to be incomplete. While aggregation of growing resin-bound peptide chains with concomitant beta-sheet formation and "precipitation" has been proposed to account in general for such "difficult coupling," no feature of sequence in the Gln16 region of this GRF analog provided an immediate rationale for this result. We now report 500 MHz 1H NMR spectra of a series of resin-bound GRF segments surrounding the Gln16 position (19-32 through 14-32), swelled in dimethylsulfoxide-d6 solutions [GRF(14-32) = Leu14-Ala-Gln-Leu-Ser(Bzl)-Ala-Arg(Tos)-Lys(CIZ)-Leu- Leu-Gln-Asp(OcHex)-Ile-Leu-Asn-Arg(Tos)-Gln-Gln-Gly32-PAM resin]. While relatively sharp spectra are observed for GRF(19-32), components with resonances broadened by an order-of-magnitude appear in spectra of the 18-32 and 17-32 peptide-resin, and the entire spectrum of 16-32 is ill-resolved and highly broadened. Subsequent spectra sharpen again (15-32, 14-32). These combined synthesis/spectroscopic experimental results, in conjunction with predictive analyses using standard Chou-Fasman 2 degrees structure parameters, suggest that the completeness of the Gln16 coupling is hindered by formation of a specific, folded beta-sheet/beta-turn structure in GRF(16-32) (with the turn located at 18-21, "upstream" of the difficult coupling site), and accompanying aggregation of peptide chains. This analysis suggests that awareness of such potential beta-sheet/beta-turn sequences can guide analog choices, and/or facilitate pre-programming of synthesis steps in anticipation of problem couplings.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Solid-phase synthesis of extended lactam ring systems: preparation of amino acid alpha-fluorenylmethyl esters for the synthesis of reverse-extended lactams.

Conventional side-chain to side-chain cyclization between Lys/Orn and Asp/Glu side chains has the inherent shortcoming of limited variability in the ring sizes; limited by the amino acids involved in the lactamization. A novel approach to modulate the ring size has been introduced by using "spacers" (e.g., Gly, beta-Ala, gamma-Aba). General solid-phase procedures were developed that enabled the insertion of these spacers for the preparation of extended and reverse-extended lactam ring systems. Extended lactam ring systems were prepared using the Boc/Bzl strategy with Fmoc protection on the side chain of the basic residue, Lys/Orn. The spacer was introduced as the Fmoc amino acid, and chain elongation proceeded by the Boc/Bzl strategy. The acidic residue, Asp/Glu, involved in the lactam bridge was introduced with side-chain -OFm protection. Selective deprotection of the Fmoc and -OFm functions was followed by BOP cyclization, further chain elongation and HF cleavage. Reverse-extended lactam ring systems were prepared analogously using the Boc/Bzl strategy with the initial introduction of -OFm protection on the side chain of the acidic residue. In this case, amino acid alpha-fluorenylmethyl esters were used as the spacers. Amino acid alpha-fluorenylmethyl ester hydrochlorides were prepared in two steps from N-t-butyloxycarbonyl amino acids in excellent yield. These intermediates have general utility in peptide synthesis, including their specific application as "spacers" for the solid-phase synthesis of extended cyclic peptides (lactams). Using these intermediates, we prepared a model dicyclo-peptide that contains both an extended and reverse-extended lactam ring system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pegylated peptides I: Solid-phase synthesis of N alpha-pegylated peptides using Fmoc strategy.

The feasibility of pegylating peptides by the solid-phase procedure was examined. Although polyethyleneglycol (PEG) was shown to be partially degraded by HF, the use of TFA was fully compatible with the PEG system. Therefore, the Fmoc/tBu solid-phase strategy was utilized for the synthesis of a series of model tetra-, octa- and dodecapeptides, and the corresponding N alpha-pegylated peptides, which were prepared from common peptide-resin intermediates. PEG-OCH2-CO-Nle-OH, 3, proved to be an ideal reagent for N-terminal pegylation. This intermediate served as a diagnostic for the determination of the number of PEG units/mole of peptide. Solid-phase coupling reactions proceeded by standard procedures using BOP-activation. The authentic pegylated peptides (readily purified by conventional methods of preparative HPLC) were fully characterized by amino acid analysis, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, analytical HPLC and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, leading to the values that are identical with the expected structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pegylated peptides. IV. Enhanced biological activity of site-directed pegylated GRF analogs.

Conditions have been developed for the site-specific pegylation (NH2-terminus, side-chain and carboxy-terminus) of a potent analog of growth hormone-releasing factor, [Ala15]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2. These pegylated peptides were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc/tBu strategy, and were fully characterized by analytical HPLC, amino-acid analysis, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and laser desorption mass spectrometry. Biological activities of hGRF analogs were determined in vitro utilizing stimulation of growth hormone release by cultured rat pituitary cells as an index. GH-releasing potencies of the pegylated hGRF analogs were compared to a series of model analogs of [Ala15]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2 that were acetylated or protected as the ethylamides at the pegylation sites. It was found that acetylation at the NH2-terminus resulted in reduced potency, which was not further affected when the NH2-terminus was pegylated, regardless of the size of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) employed (e.g. PEG2000 or PEG5000). Pegylation at Asp8 or Lys12 decreased biological potency, a situation which was exacerbated by increasing the molecular weight of PEG. Pegylation at Lys21 or Asp25 did not significantly affect biological activity. The C-terminal model peptide, [Ala15,Orn(Ac)30]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2, was the most potent analog identified in this series (ca. 4-5-fold that of hGRF(1-44)-NH2. The COOH-terminal pegylated analogs retained this increased level of biological activity independent of PEG molecular weight. These studies demonstrate that a biologically active peptide can be pegylated and retain the full in vitro potency of the peptide. However, the biological activity is highly dependent on the site of pegylation and, in some cases, the molecular weight of PEG (degree of pegylation) moiety used.

Acetylation↗