An improved procedure for the preparation of aminomethyl polystyrene resin and its use in solid phase (peptide) synthesis

Synthesis and Systematic Study on the Effect of Different PEG Units on Stability of PEGylated, Integrin-αvβ6-Specific A20FMDV2 Analogues in Rat Serum and Human Plasma

A20FMDV2 is a 20-mer peptide that exhibits high selectivity and affinity for the tumour-related αvβ6 integrin that can compete with extracellular ligands for the crucial RGD binding site, playing a role as a promising αvβ6-specific inhibitor for anti-cancer therapies. Unfortunately, the clinical value of A20FMDV2 is limited by its poor half-life in blood caused by rapid renal excretion and its reported high susceptibility to serum proteases. The incorporation of poly (ethylene glycol) chains, coined PEGylation, is a well-established approach to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of drug molecules. Here, we report a systematic study on the incorporation of a varying number of ethylene glycol units (1-20) into the A20FMDV2 peptide to establish the effects of PEGylation size on the peptide stability in both rat serum and human plasma. In addition, the effect of acetyl and propionyl PEGylation handles on peptide stability is also described. Selected peptide analogues were assessed for integrin-αvβ6-targeted binding, showing good specificity and activity in vitro. Stability studies in rat serum established that all of the PEGylated peptides displayed good stability, and an A20FMDV2 peptide containing twenty ethylene glycol units (PEG20) was the most stable. Surprisingly, the stability testing in human plasma identified shorter PEGs (PEG2 and PEG5) as more resistant to degradation than longer PEGs, a trend which was also observed with affinity binding to integrin αvβ6.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of S-lipidated lipopeptides of a connexin 43 channel inhibitory peptide

The synthesis and biological activity of 42 novel S-lipidated analogues of a connexin 43 channel inhibitory Peptide5 is described. Unmodified Peptide5 moderates hemichannels and gap junctions that are both implicated in the progression of neurological disease. Peptide5 was site-specifically modified with a cysteine residue, which then underwent thiol-ene mediated S-lipidation to afford S-lipidated Peptide5 analogues containing straight-chain, branched, or aromatic lipids. The modified peptides were assessed for their effect on hemichannel opening and the most promising candidates were evaluated in serum stability studies.

Molecular Signature for Receptor Engagement in the Metabolic Peptide Hormone Amylin

The pancreatic peptide hormone, amylin, plays a critical role in the control of appetite, and synergizes with other key metabolic hormones such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). There is opportunity to develop potent and long-acting analogues of amylin or hybrids between these and GLP-1 mimetics for treating obesity. To achieve this, interrogation of how the 37 amino acid amylin peptide engages with its complex receptor system is required. We synthesized an extensive library of peptides to profile the human amylin sequence, determining the role of its disulfide loop, amidated C-terminus and receptor "capture" and "activation" regions in receptor signaling. We profiled four signaling pathways with different ligands at multiple receptor subtypes, in addition to exploring selectivity determinants between related receptors. Distinct roles for peptide subregions in receptor binding and activation were identified, resulting in peptides with greater activity than the native sequence. Enhanced peptide activity was preserved in the brainstem, the major biological target for amylin. Interpretation of our data using full-length active receptor models supported by molecular dynamics, metadynamics, and supervised molecular dynamics simulations guided the synthesis of a potent dual agonist of GLP-1 and amylin receptors. The data offer new insights into the function of peptide amidation, how allostery drives peptide-receptor interactions, and provide a valuable resource for the development of novel amylin agonists for treating diabetes and obesity.

Synthetic peptides designed to modulate adiponectin assembly improve obesity-related metabolic disorders

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Adiponectin, an adipokine possessing profound insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory properties, is a potent biotherapeutic agent . The trimeric adiponectin subunit assembles into hexameric and functionally important higher molecular weight (HMW) forms, controlled by the endoplasmic reticulum protein 44 (ERp44). Obesity-induced ER stress decreases the HMW form in serum, contributing to the development of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. In this study, a panel of synthetic peptides, designed to target ERp44-adiponectin interactions, were tested for their effects on circulating levels of HMW adiponectin.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Peptides derived from the ERp44 binding region of adiponectin and immunoglobulin IgM were synthesized with or without a cell-penetrating sequence. Cultures of 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated with the peptides for assessing the assembly and secretion of HMW adiponectin. Mice given standard chow or a high-fat diet were treated acutely or chronically, with the peptides to investigate the therapeutic effects on insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism.

RESULTS

The designed peptides interfered with ERp44-adiponectin interactions and modulated adiponectin assembly and release from adipocytes. In particular, IgM-derived peptides facilitated the release of endogenous adiponectin (especially the HMW form) from adipose tissue, enhanced its circulating level and the ratio of HMW-to-total-adiponectin in obese mice. Long-term treatment of mice fed with high-fat diet by IgM-derived peptides reduced the circulating lipid levels and improved insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Targeting ERp44-adiponectin interactions with short peptides represents an effective strategy to treat of obesity-related metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

Structure-activity relationship study of the tumour-targeting peptide A20FMDV2 via modification of Lys16, Leu13, and N- and/or C-terminal functionality

The 20-residue linear peptide A20FMDV2 has been shown to exhibit high selectivity and affinity for the tumour-related αvβ6 integrin and has potential as a vector for therapeutic drugs. However, it exhibits poor half-life in plasma in part due to its high susceptibility to serum proteases. In this study fourteen A20FMDV2 analogues incorporating non-proteinogenic substitutes of the native Lys16 and Leu13 residues and six A20FMDV2 analogues containing modified N- and C-termini were synthesised to increase the half-life and activity of A20FMDV2. The analogues incorporating modified terminal motifs of A20FMDV2 were found to strongly bind to the αvβ6 integrin and were subsequently functionalized with the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelating agent to facilitate coupling with radioactive indium-111 for human plasma stability and in vivo biodistribution studies. A20FMDV2 peptide variants incorporating an N-terminal d-Asn and C-terminal d-Thr exhibited improved relative activity in vitro and were less susceptible to plasma degradation.

An Efficient Chemical Synthesis of Lassomycin Enabled by an On-Resin Lactamisation–Off-Resin Methanolysis Strategy and Preparation of Chemical Variants

An efficient synthesis of the naturally occurring cyclic peptide lassomycin that bears a unique Asp–Gly isopeptide bond and a C-terminal methyl ester is described. On-resin cyclisation between 1Gly and side chain 8Asp and a subsequent solution-phase transesterification reaction afforded synthetic lassomycin in high yield. Several analogues were also prepared using the optimised methodology. None of the cyclised peptides, including the synthetic natural product, exhibited any significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Comparison of the spectroscopic data for synthetic lassomycin with naturally occurring lassomycin concluded they were otherwise identical.

Characterizing the mode of action of extracellular Connexin43 channel blocking mimetic peptides in an in vitro ischemia injury model

BACKGROUND

Non-selective Connexin43 hemichannels contribute to secondary lesion spread. The hemichannel blocking peptidomimetic Peptide5, derived from the second extracellular loop of the human Connexin43 protein, prevents lesion spread and reduces vascular permeability in preclinical models of central nervous system injury. The molecular mode of action of Peptide5, however, was unknown and is described here.

METHODS

Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and APRE-19 cells were used. Scrape loading was used to assess gap junction function and hypoxic, acidic ion-shifted Ringer solution induced ATP release used to assess hemichannel function. Peptide modifications, including amino acid substitutions and truncations, and competition assays were used to demonstrate Peptide5 functional specificity and site of action respectively.

RESULTS

Peptide5 inhibits Connexin43 hemichannel-mediated ATP release by acting on extracellular loop two of Connexin43, adjacent to its matching sequence within the protein. Precise sequence specificity is important for hemichannel block, but less so for uncoupling of gap junction channels (seen only at high concentrations). The SRPTEKT motif is central to Peptide5 function but on its own is not sufficient to inhibit hemichannels. Both the SRPTEKT motif and Peptide5 reduce gap junction communication, but neither uncoupling below 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced gap junction coupling at high peptide concentrations appears to be relatively non-specific. However, Peptide5 at low concentrations acts upon extracellular loop two of Connexin43 to block hemichannels in a precise, sequence specific manner.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The concentration dependent and sequence specific action of Peptide5 supports its development for the treatment of retinal injury and chronic disease, as well as other central nervous system injury and disease conditions.

Structure activity relationship study on the peptide hormone preptin, a novel bone-anabolic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis

Preptin is a 34-residue pancreatic hormone shown to be anabolic to bone in vitro and in vivo. The bone activity of preptin resides within the (1-16) N-terminal fragment. Due to its peptidic nature, the truncated fragment of preptin is enzymatically unstable; however it provides an attractive framework for the creation of stable analogues using various peptidomimetic techniques. An alanine scan of preptin (1-16) was undertaken which showed that substitution of Ser at position 3 or Pro at position 14 did not inhibit the proliferative activity of preptin in primary rat osteoblasts (bone-forming cells). Importantly, Ser-3 to Ala substitution also showed a significant activity on osteoblast differentiation in vitro and increased the formation of mineralised bone matrix. Additional modifications with non-proteinogenic amino acids at position 3 improved the stability in liver microsomes, but diminished the osteoblast proliferative activity. In addition, to provide greater structural diversity, a series of macrocyclic preptin (1-16) analogues was synthesised using head-to-tail and head-to-side chain macrolactamisation as well as ring-closing metathesis. However, a detrimental effect on osteoblast activity was observed upon macrocyclisation.

Total Chemical Synthesis of an Orf Virus Protein, ORFV002, an Inhibitor of the Master Gene Regulator NF-κB

ORFV002 is a novel orf viral protein (117 Aa) that inhibits nuclear events through the regulation of the transcriptional activity of NF-κB, a master regulator of human gene expression (Diel et al., J Virol 2011, 85, 264-275). It is identified as the first nuclear inhibitor of NF-κB produced by orf virus (ORFV) and no homologues in other genera of the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily have been reported to date (Diel et al., J Virol 2011, 85, 264-275). Our molecular structure predictions suggest that ORFV002 may mimic part of IκB, an inhibitor and natural human partner of NF-κB. Recent advances in total chemical synthesis of proteins have provided solutions in overcoming challenges of current recombinant methods of protein isolation for structure elucidation. Aided by Boc solid phase peptide synthesis and native chemical ligation, ORFV002 was successfully synthesized in multimilligram amounts in good yield and high purity.

Receptor Activity-modifying Proteins 2 and 3 Generate Adrenomedullin Receptor Subtypes with Distinct Molecular Properties

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide hormone with numerous effects in the vascular systems. AM signals through the AM1 and AM2 receptors formed by the obligate heterodimerization of a G protein-coupled receptor, the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), and receptor activity-modifying proteins 2 and 3 (RAMP2 and RAMP3), respectively. These different CLR-RAMP interactions yield discrete receptor pharmacology and physiological effects. The effective design of therapeutics that target the individual AM receptors is dependent on understanding the molecular details of the effects of RAMPs on CLR. To understand the role of RAMP2 and -3 on the activation and conformation of the CLR subunit of AM receptors, we mutated 68 individual amino acids in the juxtamembrane region of CLR, a key region for activation of AM receptors, and determined the effects on cAMP signaling. Sixteen CLR mutations had differential effects between the AM1 and AM2 receptors. Accompanying this, independent molecular modeling of the full-length AM-bound AM1 and AM2 receptors predicted differences in the binding pocket and differences in the electrostatic potential of the two AM receptors. Druggability analysis indicated unique features that could be used to develop selective small molecule ligands for each receptor. The interaction of RAMP2 or RAMP3 with CLR induces conformational variation in the juxtamembrane region, yielding distinct binding pockets, probably via an allosteric mechanism. These subtype-specific differences have implications for the design of therapeutics aimed at specific AM receptors and for understanding the mechanisms by which accessory proteins affect G protein-coupled receptor function.

Chemical synthesis of γ-secretase activating protein using pseudoglutamines as ligation sites

The chemical synthesis of analogue of a novel γ-secretase activating protein, which may play a pivotal role in the formation of amyloid peptides, the precursor to Alzheimer's disease, is described. The linear polypeptide sequence, consisting of 121 amino acids was assembled from four unprotected peptide building blocks using a convergent ligation-based synthesis. A strategic mutation of three glutamine residues to cysteine enabled the ligations, and the cysteines were subsequently converted to pseudoglutamines, to mimic the native glutamine. The full length unfolded protein was obtained in milligram amounts and was demonstrated to be homogeneous by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Chemical synthesis of a polypeptide backbone derived from the primary sequence of the cancer protein NY-ESO-1 enabled by kinetically controlled ligation and pseudoprolines

The cancer protein NY-ESO-1 has been shown to be one of the most promising vaccine candidates although little is known about its cellular function. Using a chemical protein strategy, the 180 amino acid polypeptide, tagged with an arginine solubilizing tail, was assembled in a convergent manner from four unprotected peptide α-thioester peptide building blocks and one cysteinyl polypeptide, which were in turn prepared by Boc and Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) respectively. To facilitate the assembly by ligation chemistries, non-native cysteines were introduced as chemical handles into the polypeptide fragments; pseudoproline dipeptides and microwave assisted Fmoc SPPS were crucial techniques to prepare the challenging hydrophobic C-terminal fragment. Three sequential kinetically controlled ligations, which exploited the reactivity between peptide arylthioesters and peptide alkylthioesters, were then used in order to assemble the more tractable N-terminal region of NY-ESO-1. The ensuing 147 residue polypeptide thioester then underwent successful final native chemical ligation with the very hydrophobic C-terminal polypeptide bearing an N-terminal cysteine affording the 186 residue polypeptide as an advanced intermediate en route to the native NY-ESO-1 protein.

Synthesis and amylin receptor activity of glycomimetics of pramlintide using click chemistry

Pramlintide (Symlin®), a synthetic analogue of the neuroendocrine hormone amylin, is devoid of the tendency to form cytotoxic amyloid fibrils and is currently used in patients with type I and type II diabetes mellitus as an adjunctive therapy with insulin or insulin analogues. As part of an on-going search for a pramlintide analogue with improved pharmacokinetic properties, we herein report the synthesis of mono- and di-glycosylated analogues of pramlintide and their activity at the AMY1(a) receptor. Introduction of N-glycosylated amino acids into the pramlintide sequence afforded the native N-linked glycomimetics whilst use of Cu(i)-catalysed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click) chemistry delivered 1,2,3-triazole linked glycomimetics. AMY1(a) receptor activity was retained by incorporation of single or multiple GlcNAc moieties at positions 21 and 35 of native pramlintide. Importantly, no difference in AMY1(a) activity was observed between native N-linked glycomimetics and 1,2,3-triazole linked glycomimetics demonstrating that the click variants can act as surrogates for the native N-glycosides in a biological setting.

A comparison of Boc and Fmoc SPPS strategies for the preparation of C-terminal peptide α-thiolesters: NY-ESO-1 ³⁹Cys-⁶⁸Ala-COSR

The synthesis of a polypeptide derived from the cancer testis antigen NY-ESO-1 bearing a C-terminal α-thiolester is described. Employing tert-butyloxycarbonyl solid phase peptide synthesis the thiolester moiety was installed on-resin using a mercaptopropionic acid linker, thereby requiring no post synthetic manipulations and delivering the requisite α-thiolester polypeptide after cleavage from the resin with HF. Several 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl solid phase peptide synthesis approaches whereby the thiolester was required to be introduced in a post synthesis manner were examined concurrently. These comprised syntheses on two different "safety catch" linkers, an N-alkyl-N-acyl sulphonamide and an N-acyl benzimidazolone wherein the thiolester is generated from an activated precursor. The condensation of a mercaptan with the C-terminal carboxylate in a direct thiolesterification reaction was also examined. When using either of the three 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-based approaches, the linear polypeptide could be assembled straightforwardly on the solid phase resin; however, a thiolesterification of the C-terminal carboxyl of the fully side chain protected peptide proved to be the most effective post-assembly method for the installation of the C-terminal thiolester.

An investigation of the role of the adiponectin variable domain on the stability of the collagen-like domain

The chemical synthesis is described of a polypeptide construct possessing both the variable and the collagen-like domain of adiponectin, which can be used as a model system for probing the influence of the variable domain on multimerization of this important circulating hormone. Using a collagen domain repeat peptide unit derived from native adiponectin or a glutamic acid analogue was ineffective due to noncollagenous conformational properties in both cases. However, employing a collagen model peptide and linking this to the variable domain thioester peptide using native chemical ligation proved effective. The 63 residue peptide was characterized by circular dichroism and mass spectrometry which demonstrated that a collagen-like triple-helical structure was preserved.

Obviation of hydrogen fluoride in Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis of peptide-αthioesters

Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid performs comparably to hydrogen fluoride for the on-resin global deprotection of peptides prepared by Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis.

Glicentin-related pancreatic polypeptide inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from the isolated pancreas of adult male rats

Peptides derived from the glucagon gene Gcg, for example, glucagon and glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1), act as physiological regulators of fuel metabolism and are thus of major interest in the pathogenesis of diseases, such as type‐2 diabetes and obesity, and their therapeutic management. Glicentin‐related pancreatic polypeptide (GRPP) is a further, 30 amino acid Gcg‐derived peptide identified in human, mouse, rat, and pig. However, the potential glucoregulatory function of this peptide is largely unknown. Here, we synthesized rat GRPP (rGRPP) and a closely related peptide, rat GRPP‐like peptide (rGRPP‐LP), and investigated their actions in the liver and pancreas of adult male rats by employing isolated‐perfused organ preparations. Rat GRPP and rGRPP‐LP did not affect glucose output from the liver, but both elicited potent inhibition of glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from the rat pancreas. This action is unlikely to be mediated by glucagon or GLP‐1 receptors, as rGRPP and rGRPP‐LP did not stimulate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production from the glucagon or GLP‐1 receptors, nor did they antagonize glucagon‐ or GLP‐1‐stimulated cAMP‐production at either receptor. GRPP and GRPP‐LP may be novel regulators of insulin secretion, acting through an as‐yet undefined receptor.

Convergent chemo-enzymatic synthesis of mannosylated glycopeptides; targeting of putative vaccine candidates to antigen presenting cells

The combination of solid phase peptide synthesis and endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) catalysed glycosylation is a powerful convergent synthetic method allowing access to glycopeptides bearing full-length N-glycan structures. Mannose-terminated N-glycan oligosaccharides, produced by either total or semi-synthesis, were converted into oxazoline donor substrates. A peptide from the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) tegument protein pp65 that incorporates a well-characterised T cell epitope, containing N-acetylglucosamine at specific Asn residues, was accessed by solid phase peptide synthesis, and used as an acceptor substrate. High-yielding enzymatic glycosylation afforded glycopeptides bearing defined homogeneous high-mannose N-glycan structures. These high-mannose containing glycopeptides were tested for enhanced targeting to human antigen presenting cells (APCs), putatively mediated via the mannose receptor, and for processing by the APCs for presentation to human CD8+ T cells specific for a 9-mer epitope within the peptide. Binding assays showed increased binding of glycopeptides to APCs compared to the non-glycosylated control. Glycopeptides bearing high-mannose N-glycan structures at a single site outside the T cell epitope were processed and presented by the APCs to allow activation of a T cell clone. However, the addition of a second glycan within the T cell epitope resulted in ablation of T cell activation. We conclude that chemo-enzymatic synthesis of mannosylated glycopeptides enhances uptake by human APCs while preserving the immunogenicity of peptide epitopes within the glycopeptides, provided those epitopes are not themselves glycosylated.

Regulation and Quality Control of Adiponectin Assembly by Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone ERp44

Adiponectin, a collagenous hormone secreted abundantly from adipocytes, possesses potent antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Mediated by the conserved Cys(39) located in the variable region of the N terminus, the trimeric (low molecular weight (LMW)) adiponectin subunit assembles into different higher order complexes, e.g. hexamers (middle molecular weight (MMW)) and 12-18-mers (high molecular weight (HMW)), the latter being mostly responsible for the insulin-sensitizing activity of adiponectin. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone ERp44 retains adiponectin in the early secretory compartment and tightly controls the oxidative state of Cys(39) and the oligomerization of adiponectin. Using cellular and in vitro assays, we show that ERp44 specifically recognizes the LMW and MMW forms but not the HMW form. Our binding assays with short peptide mimetics of adiponectin suggest that ERp44 intercepts and converts the pool of fully oxidized LMW and MMW adiponectin, but not the HMW form, into reduced trimeric precursors. These ERp44-bound precursors in the cis-Golgi may be transported back to the ER and released to enhance the population of adiponectin intermediates with appropriate oxidative state for HMW assembly, thereby underpinning the process of ERp44 quality control.

Structure-activity relationships of the N-terminus of calcitonin gene-related peptide: key roles of alanine-5 and threonine-6 in receptor activation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The N-terminus of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is important for receptor activation, especially the disulphide-bonded ring (residues 1-7). However, the roles of individual amino acids within this region have not been examined and so the molecular determinants of agonism are unknown. This study has examined the role of residues 1, 3-6 and 8-9, excluding Cys-2 and Cys-7.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

CGRP derivatives were substituted with either cysteine or alanine; further residues were introduced at position 6. Their affinity was measured by radioligand binding and their efficacy by measuring cAMP production in SK-N-MC cells and β-arrestin 2 translocation in CHO-K1 cells at the CGRP receptor.

KEY RESULTS

Substitution of Ala-5 by cysteine reduced affinity 270-fold and reduced efficacy for production of cAMP in SK-N-MCs. Potency at β-arrestin translocation was reduced by ninefold. Substitution of Thr-6 by cysteine destroyed all measurable efficacy of both cAMP and β-arrestin responses; substitution with either alanine or serine impaired potency. Substitutions at positions 1, 4, 8 and 9 resulted in approximately 10-fold reductions in potency at both responses. Similar observations were made at a second CGRP-activated receptor, the AMY(1(a)) receptor.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Ala-5 and Thr-6 are key determinants of agonist activity for CGRP. Ala-5 is also very important for receptor binding. Residues outside of the 1-7 ring also contribute to agonist activity.

Convergent chemoenzymatic synthesis of a library of glycosylated analogues of pramlintide: structure-activity relationships for amylin receptor agonism

Pramlintide (Symlin®), a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring pancreatic hormone amylin, is currently used with insulin in adjunctive therapy for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Herein we report a systematic study into the effect that N-glycosylation of pramlintide has on activation of amylin receptors. A highly efficient convergent synthetic route, involving a combination of solid phase peptide synthesis and enzymatic glycosylation, delivered a library of N-glycosylated variants of pramlintide bearing either GlcNAc, the core N-glycan pentasaccharide [Man3(GlcNAc)2] or a complex biantennary glycan [(NeuAcGalGlcNAcMan)2Man(GlcNAc)2] at each of its six asparagine residues. The majority of glycosylated versions of pramlintide were potent receptor agonists, suggesting that N-glycosylation may be used as a tool to optimise the pharmacokinetic properties of pramlintide and so deliver improved therapeutic agents for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

Plant antimicrobial peptides snakin-1 and snakin-2: chemical synthesis and insights into the disulfide connectivity

Antimicrobial peptides and proteins represent an important class of plant defensive compounds against pathogens and provide a rich source of lead compounds in the field of drug discovery. We describe the effective preparation of the cysteine-rich snakin-1 and -2 antimicrobial peptides by using a combination of solid-phase synthesis and native chemical ligation. A subsequent cysteine/cystine mediated oxidative folding to form the six internal disulfide bonds concurrently gave the folded proteins in 40-50 % yield. By comparative evaluation of mass spectrometry, HPLC, biological data and trypsin digest mapping of folded synthetic snakin-2 compared to natural snakin-2, we demonstrated that synthetic snakin-2 possesses full antifungal activity and displayed similar chromatographic behaviour to natural snakin-2. Trypsin digest analysis allowed tentative assignment of three of the purported six disulfide bonds.

Direct peptide lipidation through thiol-ene coupling enables rapid synthesis and evaluation of self-adjuvanting vaccine candidates

A radical lipidation: Application of a novel thiol-ene lipidation enables the one-step synthesis of self-adjuvanting antigenic peptides as vaccine candidates. The resultant monoacyl lipopeptides are shown to activate monocytes in a robust manner.

Synthesis of a dicarba analogue of human β-defensin-1 using a combined ring closing metathesis--native chemical ligation strategy

We herein describe the first synthesis of the native antimicrobial protein HBD-1 making use of an orthogonal thiol protection strategy and a novel dicarba analogue thereof. The robust hydrocarbon linkage was installed by replacement of one disulfide bond using on-resin ring closing metathesis. The unprecedented 59-membered C-terminal cysteine macrocyclic fragment thus formed then engages in native chemical ligation allowing convergent access to this unique synthetic protein analogue.