Histidyl-proline diketopiperazine. Novel formation that does not originate from thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Influence of N Terminus Amino Acid on Peptide Cleavage in Solution through Diketopiperazine Formation

Diketopiperazine (DKP) formation is an important degradation pathway for peptides and proteins. It can occur during synthesis and storage in either solution or the solid state. The kinetics of peptide cleavage through DKP formation have been analyzed for the model peptides Xaa¹-Pro²-Gly₄-Lys⁷ [Xaa = Gln, Glu, Lys, Ser, Phe, Trp, Tyr, Cha (β-cyclohexylalanine), Aib (α-aminoisobutyric acid), Gly, and Val] at multiple elevated temperatures in ethanol with ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS). When Xaa is an amino acid with a charged or polar side chain, degradation is relatively fast. When Xaa is an amino acid with a nonpolar alkyl side chain, the peptide is relatively stable. For these peptides, a bulky group on the α carbon speeds up dissociation, but the kinetic effects vary in a complicated manner for bulky groups on the β or γ carbon. Peptides where Xaa has a nonpolar aromatic side chain show moderate dissociation rates. The stability of these peptides is a result of multiple factors. The reaction rate is enhanced by (1) the stabilization of the late transition state through the interaction of an aromatic ring with the nascent DKP ring or lowering the activation energy of nucleophilic attack intermediate state through polar or charged residues and (2) the preference of the cis proline bond favored by the aromatic N-terminus. The number of unseen intermediates and transition state thermodynamic values are derived for each peptide by modeling the kinetics data. Most of the transition states are entropically favored (ΔS^⧧ ∼ -5 to +31 J·mol^-1·K^-1), and all are enthalpically disfavored (ΔH^⧧ ∼ 93 to 109 kJ·mol^-1). The Gibbs free energy of activation is similar for all of the peptides studied here (ΔG^⧧ ∼ 90-99 kJ·mol^-1).

TRH-like antidepressant peptide, pyroglutamyltyroslyprolineamide, occurs in rat brain

We have previously reported the occurrence of pGlu-Glu-Pro-NH(2)(Glu-TRH, EEP), Val-TRH, Tyr-TRH, Leu-TRH, Phe-TRH, and Trp-TRH in rat brain using a combination of HPLC and radioimmunoassays with antibodies that cross-react with the general structure pGlu-X-Pro-NH(2) where 'X' maybe any amino acid residue (Peptides 2004; 25 : 647). This new family of TRH-like peptides, along with TRH (pGlu-His-Pro-NH(2)), has neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, euphoric, anti-amnesic, and analeptic effects. We now report that a combination of affinity chromatography using a rabbit antibody specific for Tyr-TRH and Phe-TRH, along with HPLC and tandem mass spectrometry operating in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, provide conclusive evidence for the presence of Tyr-TRH in rat brain. Furthermore, synthetic Tyr-TRH is active in the Porsolt Swim Test suggesting that it is a fourth member of this family of in vivo neuroregulatory agents that have psychopharmacotherapeutic properties.

Mice lacking the thyrotropin-releasing hormone gene: what do they tell us?

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is localized in the brain hypothalamus and stimulates the secretion and synthesis of pituitary thyrotropin (TSH). Although TRH deficiency caused by artificial hypothalamic destructions has been reported to result in significant decreases in TSH secretion in rodents, clinical observations from the patients with possible TRH deficiency did not entirely agree with these animal results. Because of its ubiquitous distribution throughout the brain and in the peripheral tissues, TRH has been suggested to possess a wide variety of functions in these regions. However, the neurobehavioral and peripheral actions of TRH still remains to be established. It has been, therefore, anticipated that detailed analysis of TRH-knockout mice might provide insight into the physiological significance of endogenous TRH. The present review focuses on the phenotypic findings of mice deficient in TRH.

Intramolecular cyclization of diketopiperazine formation in solid-state enalapril maleate studied by thermal FT-IR microscopic system

The pathway of diketopiperazine (DKP) formation of solid-state enalapril maleate has been studied by using a novel Fourier transform infrared microspectroscope equipped with a thermal analyzer (thermal FT-IR microscopic system). The thermogram of the conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method was also compared. The results show new evidence of IR peaks at 3250 cm(-1) (the broad O-H stretching mode of water), and at 1738 and 1672 cm(-1) (the carbonyl band of DKP), indicating DKP formation in enalapril maleate via intramolecular cyclization. Moreover, the disappearance of IR peaks from enalapril maleate at 3215 cm(-1) (the secondary amine), 1728 cm(-1) (the carbonyl group of carboxylic acid), and 1649 cm(-1) (the carbonyl stretching of tertiary amide) also confirmed the DKP formation. The thermal FT-IR microscopic system clearly evidenced that the DKP formation in enalapril maleate started from 129 degrees C, and reached a maximum at 137 degrees C. This result was also confirmed by the conventional DSC thermogram of the compressed mixture of KBr powder and enalapril maleate, in which an endothermic peak at 144 degrees C with an extrapolated onset temperature at 137 degrees C was observed. This strongly suggests that the thermal FT-IR microscopic system was able to qualitatively detect the formation of DKP derivatives in solid-state enalapril maleate via intramolecular cyclization.

Five- and six-membered ring opening of pyroglutamic diketopiperazine

A variety of ring-opening reactions of pyroglutamic diketopiperazine at both the five-membered and six-membered rings is described. Mild, basic conditions facilitate nucleophilic attack by amines at the diketopiperazine carbonyls giving pyroglutamides in excellent yield. Reaction with nucleophiles under acidic conditions give bis-glutamate derivatives of 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP). These reactions provide simple, two-step sequences to pyroglutamides and symmetrical diketopiperazines from commercial pyroglutamic acid with control of product dictated by reaction conditions, catalyst, and nucleophile.

Limited proteolysis and physiological regulation: an example from thyrotropin-releasing hormone metabolism

Proteases like trypsin, elastase, and many others play important regulatory functions by generating new biologically active molecules through limited proteolysis of larger proteins and peptides. The limited proteolysis of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) by Pyroglutamate aminopeptidase yields cyclo(His-Pro) or CHP, a new biopeptide associated with a variety of pharmacological activities, including regulation of body temperature, inhibition of prolactin secretion, and modulation of motor functions. Although the mechanism by which CHP elicits these biological activities is not well understood, it appears that the cyclic peptide may function at least in part by modulating central amine transport mechanisms.

Kinetics of diketopiperazine formation using model peptides

The intramolecular aminolysis of Phe-Pro-p-nitroaniline (Phe-Pro-pNA) to Phe-Pro-diketopiperazine (Phe-Pro-DKP) was studied as a function of pH, temperature, buffer concentration, and buffer species using an HPLC assay that permits simultaneous analysis of the disappearance of the starting material and the appearance of degradation products. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and showed significant dependence on pH. Phosphate (pH 5-8) and glycine (pH 9-10) buffers exhibit general base catalysis. The pH-rate profile suggested that the rate of Phe-Pro-DKP formation depends on the degree of ionization of the N-terminal amino group, with the unprotonated reactant being more reactive than the protonated form. The pKa value of 6.1, determined kinetically, and three microscopic rate constants were adequate to describe the shape of the pH-rate profile. In the pH range studied, Phe-Pro-DKP was the only product generated upon degradation of Phe-Pro-pNA. At pH values between 3 and 8, Phe-Pro-DKP was stable, while at pH less than 3 and greater than 8 it undergoes hydrolysis to the dipeptide, Phe-Pro-OH. Sequence inversion, a reaction normally associated with DKP formation, was not observed. The influence of primary sequence on the formation of DKP was also investigated using X-Pro-pNA analogues, where X = Gly, Ala, Val, Phe, beta-cyclohexylalanine, and Arg. Changing the amino acid preceding the proline residue had a significant effect on the rate of DKP formation at pH 7.0.

Identification and localisation of a synaptosomal membrane prolyl endopeptidase from bovine brain

Prolyl endopeptidase, which has long been recognised for its importance in the degradation of several neuropeptides such as thyroliberin, luteinising hormone releasing hormone, angiotensin, substance P and neurotensin, has been widely characterised as a cytosolic enzyme. However, in this paper, we report the presence of a prolyl endopeptidase activity in the particulate fractions of bovine brain, which is distinct from that in the cytoplasm. This previously uncharacterised activity was found to reside in the synaptosomal membranes, a location which is highly significant for the inactivation of neuropeptides in brain. Following vigorous salt washing and osmotic shock, the prolyl endopeptidase activity was released from the membranes by treatment with the detergent Triton X-100, and was partially purified by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200HR column. This prolyl endopeptidase activity was shown to have a molecular mass (87 kDa) higher than the cytosolic prolyl endopeptidase but, from initial investigation, appears to demonstrate a similarly broad substrate specificity towards proline-containing neuropeptides. The partially purified enzyme was inhibited by certain thiol-protease inhibitors and was also found to be sensitive to the metal chelator 1,10-phenanthroline.

Bioactive cyclic dipeptides

Cyclic dipeptides are among the simplest peptide derivatives commonly found in nature. Most cyclic dipeptides found to date appear to have emerged as by-products of fermentation and food processing. However, many are endogenous to members of animal and plant kingdoms; these include cyclo(Pro-Leu), cyclo(Pro-Val), cyclo(Pro-Phe), cyclo(Ala-Leu), cyclo(Pro-Tyr), cyclo(Pro-Trp), and cyclo(His-Pro). Although the five cyclic dipeptides--cyclo(His-Pro), cyclo(Leu-Gly), cyclo(Tyr-Arg), cyclo(Asp-Pro), and cyclo(Pro-Phe)--exhibit interesting physiological and/or pharmacological activities in mammals, only one of these, cyclo(His-Pro), has been conclusively shown to be endogenous to mammals. On the other hand, cyclo(Leu-Gly), cyclo(Tyr-Arg), and cyclo(Asp-Pro) are structurally related to endogenous peptides Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (melanocyte-stimulating hormone release inhibiting factor), Tyr-Arg (kyotorphin), and Val-Pro-Asp-Pro-Arg (enterostatin), respectively, which may serve as precursor peptides. It needs to be determined, however, whether these peptides can indeed result from the processing of their respective precursors. In conclusion, it appears that cyclic dipeptides are a relatively unexplored class of bioactive peptides that may hold great promise for the future.