Optically active cyclic hexapeptides with covalently attached pyrene probes: selective alkaline earth metal ion recognition using excimer emission

[structure: see text] The synthesis of two optically active pyrene-modified cyclic hexapetides and their selectivity toward the complexation of alkaline earth metal ions are reported. Complexation was studied by optical and chiroptical methods. The cyclic peptides are forming 2:1 sandwich complexes with the metal ions.

Conformation and complexation with metal ions of cyclic hexapeptides: cyclo (L-Leu-L-Phe-L-Pro)2 and cyclo [L-Cys(Acm)-L-Phe-L-Pro]2

Cyclic hexapeptides, cyclo (L-Leu-L-Phe-L-Pro)2 and cyclo[L-Cys(Acm)-L-Phe-L-Pro]2, in which Acm represents an acetoamide-methyl group, were synthesized, and the conformation and complexation with metal ions were investigated. Cooperation of the carbonyl groups of the Cys(Acm) side chains with those of the cyclic skeleton in complexation was especially examined. Cyclo(L-Leu-L-Phe-L-Pro)2, which possesses no functional groups on side chains, was taken as the reference compound. 13C- and two-dimensional n.m.r. measurements revealed that cyclo(L-Leu-L-Phe-L-Pro)2 and cyclo[L-Cys(Acm)-L-Phe-L-Pro]2 took a C2-symmetric conformation containing cis L-Phe-L-Pro bonds in chloroform and acetonitrile. Both cyclic hexapeptides were found to complex selectively with Ba2+ and Ca2+ in acetonitrile. On complexation the conformation of either cyclic hexapeptide changed into a similar one. However, the binding constant of cyclo[L-Cys(Acm)-L-Phe-L-Pro]2 was higher than that of cyclo(L-Leu-L-Phe-L-Pro)2. The n.m.r. measurements showed that the amide carbonyl groups of Cys(Acm) side chains as well as those of cyclic skeleton in cyclo[L-Cys(Acm)-L-Phe-L-Pro]2 cooperatively bound the cations.

Synthesis and interaction with metal ions of cyclic oligopeptides bearing carboxyl groups

Cyclic di- and tetrapeptides bearing carboxyl or carboxylate groups, cyclo[Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OMe)], cyclo[Glu-Glu(OMe)], cyclo(Glu-Glu), cyclo[Glu(OMe)-Pro)2, and cyclo(Glu-Pro)2, were synthesized and investigated on the intramolecular interaction of carboxyl side chains in the complexation with metal ions in relation with the conformation. The three kinds of cyclic dipeptides were found to take a flagpole boat conformation. Folded conformation of side chains was predominant for cyclo[Glu(OBzl)-Glu(OMe)] and cyclo[Glu-Glu(OMe)]. However, cyclo(Glu-Glu) took an unfolded conformation. Intramolecular interaction of carboxyl groups was observed neither in free state nor in complexation with metal ions. The intramolecular interaction of carboxyl groups was observed in the case of cyclo(Glu-Pro)2 in the absence of metal ions added. Cyclo[Glu(OMe)-Pro]2 and cyclo(Glu-Pro)2 formed a complex with Ca2+ and Ba2+ without participation of side chains.

Ca2+ binding cyclic octapeptides having an alternating Sar and a hydrophobic amino acid in the sequence

Cyclic octapeptides having alternating Sar and hydrophobic amino acid sequences, such as cyclo[Lys(Z)-Sar-Leu-Sar-Leu-Sar-Leu-Sar] (C8KL), cyclo[Glu(OMe)-Sar-Lys(Z)-Sar-Leu-Sar-Leu-Sar] (C8KE, and cyclo[Lys(Suc)-Sar-Leu-Sar-Leu-Sar-Leu-Sar] [C8K(Suc)L, Suc represents succinic acid], were synthesized. These cyclic octapeptides formed a complex selectively with Ca2+. Upon complexation, trans peptide bonds of Sar residues were isomerized to cis peptide bonds. C8KL and C8KE showed very similar characteristics of Ca2+ binding, extraction of Ca2+ from an aqueous solution to a chloroform solution, and Ca2+ transport through a liquid chloroform membrane. C8KL transported Ca2+ across the lipid bilayer membrane above the phase-transition temperature, while C8KE and C8K(Suc)L did not. Therefore, the transport of Ca2+ through the lipid bilayer membrane is very sensitive to the hydrophobicity of the carrier molecule.

Acyclic model peptides with ionophoretic activity. Pr3+ transport by N-tBoc-Pro-Xxx-Ala-NHCH3

Two linear synthetic peptides, N-tBoc-Pro-Gly-Ala-NHCH3 and N-tBoc-Pro-D-Ala-Ala-NHCH3, have previously been shown by us to complex with Ca2+ and form 2:1 (peptide:calcium) complexes. Here we report their binding to Pr3+ and demonstrate, by 1H NMR, the peptide-mediated transport of Pr3+ across dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine unilamellar vesicles via a 2:1 ion-sandwich complex.