Determination of the Putative Binding site for Fibronectin on Platelet Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa Complex through a Hydropathic Complementarity Approach

Potential Lead for an Alzheimer Drug: A Peptide That Blocks Intermolecular Interaction and Amyloid β Protein-Induced Cytotoxicity

A peptide chAbeta30-16 (15-mer; CTFVRTHIFCKEHQF) was designed to bind to a region encompassing the entire polymerization-related (16KLVFF20) and part of the polymerization and toxicity-related (25GSNKGAIIGLM35) regions of amyloid beta-protein, Abeta1-42 by a hydropathic complementary approach. This peptide efficiently binds to Abeta and blocks intermolecular interaction and the formation of Abeta aggregates. In addition, the peptide neutralizes the cell toxicity of Abeta fibrils. The chAbeta30-16 peptide or its derivatives may be a starting point for the future development of drugs that prevent the neurotoxicity and deposition of Abeta in the brain of Alzheimer's disease.

Evidence that integrins contribute to multiple stages in the consolidation of long term potentiation in rat hippocampus

Three structurally distinct groups of antagonists were used to test the hypothesis that integrin adhesion receptors play an essential role in consolidating (stabilizing) long term potentiation of the Schaffer collaterals in rat hippocampus. Comparisons were made of percent potentiation at antagonist-treated versus control sites within CA1 stratum radiatum of the same hippocampal slice. Function blocking antibodies against the alpha5 subunit of the fibronectin receptor had no effect on baseline responses or initial potentiation but resulted in a >30% reduction, relative to within-slice control long term potentiation, 45 min later. Larger reductions were recorded in separate experiments continued for 4 h after the induction of potentiation. Alpha(v) and alpha2 subunit antibodies did not reliably affect the stabilization of potentiation. An antagonist peptide with preference for beta1 integrins produced a slowly developing decline of the type seen with alpha5 antibodies. A cyclic peptide antagonist reduced potentiation within 10 min of induction and caused an almost 40% decrease over 45 min. Two disintegrins (snake toxins that potently block integrins) were very effective in preventing the consolidation of long term potentiation: echistatin reduced potentiation by >70%, while triflavin caused approximately 50% decrease. The suppressing effects of echistatin were concentration-dependent, obtained with treatment after induction, and much more rapid than the effects of antibodies. Rapid declines in potentiation were particularly evident when the two disintegrins were applied together. These results indicate that hippocampal fibronectin receptors (alpha5/beta1 integrin) contribute importantly to a slowly developing phase of long term potentiation consolidation. They also suggest that other integrins are critical to aspects of consolidation occurring in the first few minutes after induction.

Cellular prion protein binds laminin and mediates neuritogenesis

Laminin (LN) plays a major role in neuronal differentiation, migration and survival. Here, we show that the cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a saturable, specific, high-affinity receptor for LN. The PrPc-LN interaction is involved in the neuritogenesis induced by NGF plus LN in the PC-12 cell line and the binding site resides in a carboxy-terminal decapeptide from the gamma-1 LN chain. Neuritogenesis induced by LN or its gamma-1-derived peptide in primary cultures from rat or either wild type or PrP null mice hippocampal neurons, indicated that PrPc is the main cellular receptor for that particular LN domain. These results point out to the importance of the PrPc-LN interaction for the neuronal plasticity mechanism.

Evolution of the genetic code: the nonsense, antisense, and antinonsense codes make no sense

According to the molecular recognition theory, the complementarity of the sense and nonsense DNA strands is reflected in a complementarity of polypeptides and the corresponding nonsense polypeptides. A comparison of the sense and nonsense code matrices, and of the antisense and antinonsense code matrices, either by visual inspection or by comparing the corresponding hydrophobicity matrices (e.g. by simply adding them together), revealed no complementarity of these pairs of matrices in terms of possible attractive physical forces. Instead, it was evident that the codes divide the amino acids into two major groups: hydrophilic and hydrophobic, a division which is directly correlated with the folding property of proteins. A simple primordial genetic code distinguishing between these two types of amino acids would have been capable of generating three-dimensionally folded peptides, which could stabilize coding RNAs by forming ribonucleoprotein complexes. This evolutionary scheme is reflected in the present organisation of information processing and storage in essentially all organisms. RNAs are processed and translated into proteins by ribonucleoproteins, while other steps in information retrieval and processing, such as DNA replication, transcription, protein folding and posttranslational processing, are catalyzed by proteins. This shows that the evolution of DNA as an information storage medium was a secondary event, unrelated to the evolution of the genetic code. From the primordial hydrophilic/hydrophobic (f.ex. Leu/Arg) code, evolution proceeded by introduction of a catalytic amino acid (Ser). The further evolution of the code has mainly served to increase the number of functional hydrophilic amino acids, since there has not been a great advantage in increasing the number of structural, hydrophobic amino acids. At some stage during the evolution of the genetic code, double-stranded DNA was introduced as a maximally safe genetic copy of RNA. This required the action of highly specific enzymes, and was therefore preceded by the refinement of the genetic code. As a conclusion of this evolutionary scheme, it can be inferred that, in general only the sense strand encodes proteins.

Functional role of arg-gly-asp (RGD)-binding sites on beta1 integrin in embryo implantation using mouse blastocysts and human decidua

Amino acid residues 140-164 of integrin beta1 comprise an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) cross-linking region. The present study was undertaken to study the role of the RGD cross-linking region of integrin beta1 subunit in embryo implantation. Decidual cells attached to fibronectin (FN)-coated dishes. A peptide corresponding to integrin beta1[140-164] (DDL; DYPIDLYYLMDLSYSMKDDLENVKS) inhibited decidual cell attachment to FN-coated dishes in a dose-dependent manner. A variant integrin peptide in which Asp 157 and Asp 158 were replaced by Ala (AAL; DYPIDLYYLMDLSYSMKAALENVKS) did not affect decidual cell attachment to FN. Inhibition by DDL peptide was reversed by prior treatment with an RGD-containing peptide but not by prior treatment with an RGE-containing peptide. Mouse blastocysts became attached to cultured human decidual cells after embryos hatched from the zona pellucida. The majority of hatched blastocysts attached to human decidual cells within 24 h of culture. Blastocysts that attached to decidual cells exhibited extensive outgrowth after 48 h. Treatment of decidual cells with synthetic peptides did not affect the rates of hatching and attachment of blastocysts. The outgrowth of embryos on decidual cells was inhibited by DDL peptide in a dose-dependent manner, but not by AAL peptide. These findings suggest that integrin beta1[140-164] on decidual cells may be important in embryonic development and differentiation following attachment.

The activation sequence of thrombospondin-1 interacts with the latency-associated peptide to regulate activation of latent transforming growth factor-beta

One of the primary points of regulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activity is control of its conversion from the latent precursor to the biologically active form. We have identified thrombospondin-1 as a major physiological regulator of latent TGF-beta activation. Activation is dependent on the interaction of a specific sequence in thrombospondin-1 (K412RFK415) with the latent TGF-beta complex. Platelet thrombospon-din-1 has TGF-beta activity and immunoreactive mature TGF-beta associated with it. We now report that the latency-associated peptide (LAP) of the latent TGF-beta complex also interacts with thrombospondin-1 as part of a biologically active complex. Thrombospondin.LAP complex formation involves the activation sequence of thrombospondin-1 (KRFK) and a sequence (LSKL) near the amino terminus of LAP that is conserved in TGF-beta1-5. The interactions of LAP with thrombospondin-1 through the LSKL and KRFK sequences are important for thrombospondin-mediated activation of latent TGF-beta since LSKL peptides can competitively inhibit latent TGF-beta activation by thrombospondin or KRFK-containing peptides. In addition, the association of LAP with thrombospondin-1 may function to prevent the re-formation of an inactive LAP.TGF-beta complex since thrombospondin-bound LAP no longer confers latency on active TGF-beta. The mechanism of TGF-beta activation by thrombospondin-1 appears to be conserved among TGF-beta isoforms as latent TGF-beta2 can also be activated by thrombospondin-1 or KRFK peptides in a manner that is sensitive to inhibition by LSKL peptides.

Complementary hydropathy identifies a cellular prion protein receptor

Prions, the etiological agents for infectious degenerative encephalopathies, act by entering the cell and inducing conformational changes in PrPC (a normal cell membrane sialoglycoprotein), which result in cell death. A specific cell-surface receptor to mediate PrPC and prion endocytosis has been predicted. Complementary hydropathy let us generate a hypothetical peptide mimicking the receptor binding site. Antibodies raised against this peptide stain the surface of mouse neurons and recognize a 66-kDa membrane protein that binds PrPC both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, both the complementary prion peptide and antiserum against it inhibit the toxicity of a prion-derived peptide toward neuronal cells in culture. Such reagents might therefore have therapeutic applications.

Anti-angiogenin activity of the peptides complementary to the receptor-binding site of angiogenin

Angiogenesis promotes growth and metastasis of tumor cells. In this study, we have developed two peptide antagonists of human angiogenin by deducing the codes from the antisense RNA sequence corresponding to the receptor-binding site of angiogenin in either 5' --> 3' (chANG) or 3' --> 5' (chGNA) direction. chANG and chGNA peptides bind to angiogenin with specificity and high affinity (Kd approximately 44 nM) and inhibit the interaction of angiogenin with actin, which is regarded as the angiogenin-binding protein on the surface of endothelial cells. The peptides inhibit the neovascularization induced by angiogenin in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. The anti-angiogenic activity of the peptides is specific for angiogenin, and the peptides do not have any apparent effect on embryonic angiogenesis or the preexisting blood vessels. chANG and chGNA also inhibit the angiogenesis induced by the angiogenin-secreting PC 3 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells and have no direct effect on the proliferation as well as the adhesion of PC 3 cells to angiogenin. Therefore, the inhibition of the tumor-induced angiogenesis by the peptides is most likely caused by neutralization of the extracellular angiogenin secreted by PC 3 cells. Based on our results, chANG and chGNA peptides may be effective for treatment of various human tumors which secrete angiogenin.

Identification of a novel dual angiotensin II/vasopressin receptor on the basis of molecular recognition theory

The molecular recognition theory suggests that binding sites of interacting proteins, for example, peptide hormone and its receptor binding site, were originally encoded by and evolved from complementary strands of genomic DNA. To test this theory, we screened a rat kidney complementary DNA library twice: first with the angiotensin II (AII) followed by the vasopressin (AVP) antisense oligonucleotide probe, expecting to isolate cDNA clones of the respective receptors. Surprisingly, the identical cDNA clone was isolated twice independently. Structural analysis revealed a single receptor polypeptide with seven predicted transmembrane regions, distinct AII and AVP putative binding domains, a Gs protein-activation motif, and an internalization recognition sequence. Functional analysis revealed specific binding to both AII and AVP as well as AII- and AVP-induced coupling to the adenylate cyclase second messenger system. Site-directed mutagenesis of the predicted AII binding domain obliterates AII binding but preserves AVP binding. This corroborates the dual nature of the receptor and provides direct molecular genetic evidence for the molecular recognition theory.

The antisense homology box: a new motif within proteins that encodes biologically active peptides

Amphiphilic peptides approximately fifteen amino acids in length and their corresponding antisense peptides exist within protein molecules. These regions (termed antisense homology boxes) are separated by approximately fifty amino acids. Because many sense-antisense peptide pairs have been reported to recognize and bind to each other, antisense homology boxes may be involved in folding, chaperoning and oligomer formation of proteins. The antisense homology box-derived peptide CALSVDRYRAVASW, a fragment of human endothelin A receptor, proved to be a specific inhibitor of endothelin peptide (ET-1) in a smooth muscle relaxation assay. The peptide was able to block endotoxin-induced shock in rats as well. Our finding of endothelin receptor inhibitor among antisense homology box-derived peptides indicates that searching proteins for this new motif may be useful in finding biologically active peptides.

Binding of human tumor necrosis factor alpha to multimeric complementary peptides

A peptide with binding properties for tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) sequence 144-157 has been designed, using a computer-assisted method able to create peptide sequences hydropathically complementary to a given sequence. The complementary peptide was synthesized in a multimeric form starting from an octadentate polylysine core, to facilitate its immobilization and to provide interaction multivalency. Once immobilized on a solid support to prepare an affinity column, it recognized the target TNF144-157 peptide selectively from crude peptide mixtures containing TNF fragments encompassing the entire TNF alpha sequence. Similar selectivity and specificity were shown for full-length recombinant TNF alpha, allowing its purification from crude Escherichia coli extracts. The octameric complementary peptide preserved its recognition properties for TNF alpha and biotinylated TNF alpha even after coating on microtiter plates. Competitive binding occurred with unlabeled TNF alpha in the range between 0.01 and 10 micrograms/ml, in the presence of detergent such as 0.05% Tween 20 and in the presence of 1% normal goat serum. The effect of complementary peptide multimerization was evidenced by its enhanced binding affinity for TNF alpha, which exists in solution as a trimer, while the target TNF[144-157] peptide was recognized with much lower strength. The dissociation constant for interaction with TNF alpha was close to 10 nM, allowing its easy detection by solid phase assays in concentrations as low as 10 pmol/ml.

Localization of the cross-linking sites of RGD and KQAGDV peptides to the isolated fibrinogen receptor, the human platelet integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. Influence of peptide length

The non-covalent and Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer GPIIb/IIIa, formed by platelet glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), also known as the integrin alpha IIb beta 3, is the inducible receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins on the surface of activated platelets. A fraction of the isolated GPIIb/IIIa in solution binds RGD or KQAGDV inhibitory peptides and, upon peptide removal, apparently acquires the capacity to bind fibrinogen ('activated' GPIIb/IIIa) [Du, X., Plow, E. F., Frelinger, A. L., III, O'Toole, T. E., Loftus, J. C. & Ginsberg, M. H. (1991) Cell 65, 409-416]. Photoaffinity labelling was used here to study the ligand binding site(s) of GPIIb/IIIa in solution, for which the peptides CKRKRKRKRRGDV (alpha 1), CGRGDF (alpha 2), CYHHLGGAKQAGDV (gamma 1) and CGAKQAGDV (gamma 2) were synthesized with a photoactivable cross-linker group and a fluorescent reporter group attached to the N-terminal cysteine residue. Contrary to the situation in activated platelets, both GPIIb and GPIIIa were equally labelled by the four peptides and the cross-linking sites were localized by protein chemical analyses of the fluorescently labelled tryptic peptides of both subunits. Thus, the localization of the cross-linking sites in GPIIb varies considerably with the peptide length and is very different from that localization observed in activated platelets: alpha 2 and gamma 2 were found cross-linked to the N-terminal of both the heavy (GPIIbH 42-73) and the light (GPIIbL2 30-75) chains of GPIIb; while the longer peptides alpha 1 and gamma 1 were cross-linked to the C-terminal of GPIIbH within the 696-724 and 752-768 peptide stretches, respectively. On the other hand, the cross-linking sites of the four inhibitory peptides in GPIIIa were found mainly within the proteolysis susceptible region, between the N-terminal (GPIIIa 1-52) and the core (GPIIb 423-622) highly disulphide-bonded domains, observing that the longer the peptide the closer the cross-linking site is to the N-terminal of GPIIIa: alpha 1 at GPIIIa 63-87 and 303-350; gamma 1 at GPIIIa 9-37; alpha 2 at GPIIIa 151-191; and gamma 2 at GPIIIa 303-350. These results led us to the following conclusions. (a) The GPIIIa 100-400 region contributes to the ligand-binding domain in GPIIb/IIIa both in solution and in activated platelets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Design of hydropathically complementary peptides for Big Endothelin affinity purification

Molecular recognition between Big Endothelin (Big ET) and a computer generated peptide hydropathically complementary to Big ET[16-29] sequence has been studied by analytical high performance liquid affinity chromatography (HPLAC), circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Specific binding was observed between solid support immobilized complementary peptide and Big ET[1-38], [1-32], and [16-32], but not with Big ET fragments [1-21], [16-21], [22-32], and [22-38], obtained by chymotrypsin proteolytic degradation. Selectivity in the recognition process was clearly demonstrated by the ability of complementary peptide affinity column to purify the Big ET molecule from complex peptide mixtures, even when present in very low concentrations. Similar selectivity was evidenced with the Big ET fragment [16-32], [NH2-HLDIIWVNTPEHIVPYG-COOH] containing the entire hydropathically complementary sequence. Binding was followed by marked spectroscopic changes, as monitored by circular dichroism and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. The NMR spectra of the complementary peptides 1:1 mixture showed variations in the chemical shifts of proton resonances in several residues, both in the main chain (amide protons) and in the side chains (aliphatic and aromatic protons). These data support the hypothesis of a multilocalized type of interaction between complementary peptides, where many residues along the peptide chains participate in co-operative stabilizing contacts in the forming complex.

Affinity enhancement of complementary peptide recognition

A peptide hydropathically complementary to Big Endothelin [Big ET] residues 16-29 has been synthesized in a multimeric form starting from an octadentate polylysine core, essentially in a way similar to the procedure used for the production of multiple antigenic peptides [MAP's]. Interaction between the multimeric complementary peptide [8 delta ET] and the Big ET fragment 16-32 containing the target complementary region, also synthesized in a multimeric form [8ET], was evaluated by analytical high performance affinity chromatography and solid phase binding assays. While the binding interaction between the monomerics peptide pair was in the micromolar range, the recognition between the corresponding multimeric form was characterized by enhanced binding affinity of at least two orders of magnitude. In solution, complex formation between multimeric complementary peptide and target Big ET sequence in the monomeric and multimeric form was accompanied by precipitation at concentrations higher than 0.5 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL, respectively. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the multimeric target sequence recognized multimeric and monomeric ET target sequences with binding affinities similar to binding affinities exhibited by the multimeric complementary peptide. Multimerization of hydropathically complementary peptides could provide an improved opportunity to measure and thus probe quantitative binding properties of complementary peptides.

Making sense from antisense: a review of experimental data and developing ideas on sense--antisense peptide recognition

Peptides encoded in the antisense strand of DNA have been predicted and found experimentally to bind to sense peptides and proteins with significant selectivity and affinity. Such sense--antisense peptide recognition has been observed in many systems, most often by detecting binding between immobilized and soluble interaction partners. Data obtained so far on sequence and solvent dependence of interaction support a hydrophobic-hydrophilic (amphipathic) model of peptide recognition. Nonetheless, the mechanistic understanding of this type of molecular recognition remains incomplete. Improving this understanding likely will require expanding the types of characteristics measured for sense--antisense peptide complexes and hence the types of analytical methods applied to such interactions. Understanding the mechanism of sense--antisense peptide recognition also may provide insights into mechanisms of native (sense) peptide and protein interactions and protein folding. Such insight may be helpful to learn how to design macromolecular recognition agents in technology for separation, diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purification of recombinant human interferon-beta by immobilized antisense peptides

Synthetic antisense peptides encoded in the antisense strands of DNA corresponding to the 1-14, 42-54 and 103-115 fragments of the human interferon-beta sequence were applied in the purification of recombinant human interferon-beta from a mammalian cell culture. The protein fragments were selected on the basis of their computer-predicted exposure on the surface of the protein. The antisense peptides were synthetized by the solid-phase method directly on the resin used as the stationary phase in affinity chromatography. All the tested antisense peptides showed a selective affinity for human interferon-beta, permitting a ten-fold purification of the protein.

Effects of steroids on laminin-binding integrins in a human melanoma cell line

The MEL-85 human melanoma cell line was used to investigate the effects of both estradiol and dexamethasone on expression of laminin (LM) receptors and cell adhesion capacity. Immunoblotting of eluates from whole-cell extracts applied to LM Sepharose indicates the presence of an LM-binding protein of 116-130 kDa that reacted with an anti-beta 1 integrin antibody, suggesting that the putative LM receptor of MEL-85 cells is a member of the integrin family. Analysis of 125I-LM binding to whole cells indicates the existence of low-affinity components which display positive co-operativity. LM-fragment-8 competes for this binding to the same extent as unlabelled LM (75%), while fragment PI is inactive and fibronectin (FN) competes by about 30% only. Binding of labelled fragment-8 exhibits a pattern similar to that of intact LM. Cell adhesion to substrates coated with LM and LM fragments closely parallels binding to cells in suspension. MEL-85 cells were estradiol-receptor-negative. Estradiol treatment did not stimulate LM receptor levels or attachment to LM. Growth rate also remained unaltered. To characterize the glucocorticoid dependence of MEL-85 cells, we first established the presence of glucocorticoid receptors and an inhibitory effect on growth rate. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in marked enhancement of adhesion to LM, without altering LM receptor number or affinity. In addition, dexamethasone changed the morphology of MEL-85 cells in conjunction with higher LM expression as evaluated by immunofluorescence.

Antisense peptides: tools for receptor isolation? Lack of antisense MSH and ACTH to interact with their sense peptides and to induce receptor-specific antibodies

The use of antisense peptides for receptor isolation as proposed by Blalock and his colleagues (e.g. TIBTECH 8, 140-144, 1990) was tested for human ACTH as well as alpha- and beta-MSH. We synthesized the corresponding antisense peptides HTCAh, HSM-alpha and HSM-beta and analyzed them for specific interaction with the sense peptides using several types of binding assay and bioassay. Similarly HTCAh antibodies were tested for binding to ACTH receptors and ACTH antibodies. All these experiments were negative, i.e. there was no specific interaction between sense and antisense peptides nor between the corresponding antibodies. Receptor binding of the sense peptides was not affected by the antisense peptides or HTCAh antibodies. Unexpectedly, HTCAh but not HSM-alpha or HSM-beta was a weak MSH agonist acting through a site independent of the MSH receptor. A detailed analysis of the concept of antisense peptides revealed that the theoretical background of the hypothesis of the 'molecular recognition theory' is rather weak, explaining the failure of various attempts to obtain specific receptor antibodies.

The amino acid sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu appears to be a fibrinogen binding site in the platelet integrin, glycoprotein IIb

The amino acid sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu-Arg-Val is predicted by the anticomplementarity hypothesis to be a fibrinogen binding site on human platelet fibrinogen receptors. The peptide Ala-Pro-Leu-Arg-Val binds fibrinogen and inhibits platelet aggregation and clot retraction. The peptide Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is the shortest sequence within the predicted sequence which potently inhibits the adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen and platelet aggregation. The sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is present as residues 309-312 in glycoprotein IIb, the alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, the fibrinogen receptor. The sequence Gly-Ala-Pro-Leu is present in 4 of 8 integrin alpha-subunits and Gly-Ala-Pro is present in 8 of 8 integrin alpha-subunits.