Solution structures of rhenium (V) oxo peptide complexes of glycylglycylcysteine and cysteinylglycine as studied by capillary electrophoresis and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Structural modifications of ⁹⁹mTc-labelled bombesin-like peptides for optimizing pharmacokinetics in prostate tumor targeting

PURPOSE

The main goal of the present study was to investigate the importance of the addition of a positively charged aa in the naturally occurring bombesin (BN) peptide for its utilization as radiodiagnostic agent, taking into consideration the biodistribution profile, the pharmacokinetic characteristics and the tumor targeting ability.

METHODS

Two BN-derivatives of the general structure [M-chelator]-(spacer)-BN(2-14)-NH(2), where M: (99m)Tc or (185/187)Re, chelator: Gly-Gly-Cys-, spacer: -(arginine)(3)-, M-BN-A; spacer: -(ornithine)(3)-, M-BN-O; have been prepared and evaluated as tumor imaging agents.

RESULTS

The peptides under study presented high radiolabelling efficiency (>98%), significant stability in human plasma (>60% intact radiolabelled peptide after 1h incubation) and comparable receptor binding affinity with the standard [(125)I-Tyr(4)]-BN. Their internalization rates in the prostate cancer PC-3 cells differed, although the amount of internalized peptide was the same. The biodistribution and the dynamic γ-camera imaging studies in normal and PC-3 tumor-bearing SCID mice have shown significant tumor uptake, combined with fast blood clearance, through the urinary pathway.

CONCLUSION

The addition of the charged aa spacer in the BN structure was advantageous for biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and tumor targeting ability, because it reduced the upper abdominal radioactivity levels and increased tumor/normal tissue contrast ratios.

Syntheses and structures of technetium(V) and rhenium(V) oxo complexes of peptide having KYC-sequence

Technetium(V) and rhenium(V) oxo complexes of a peptide having a KYC-sequence such as KYCAR (H3L5) and KYCAREPPTRTNAYWGQG-NH2 (H3L18) were synthesized, and structures of the complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. All of the complexes were synthesized by the ligand exchange reaction of [(n-C4H9)4N][MOCl4] (M = 99Tc, Re) with peptide in methanol or dimethylformamide solution. These complexes have a square pyramidal structure with an oxo ligand at the apical position. The peptide is coordinated to a metal atom through Namine of lysine, Sthiol of cysteine, and Namide of tyrosine and cysteine in the equatorial plane. A lysine (CH2)4NH2 group of the L5 ligand has the syn conformation with respect to metal-oxo bonding in the complex. The syn isomer was selectively formed in the ligand exchange reaction. The conversion of the syn isomer to the anti isomer was observed only for syn-[ReO(L5)], in which the coordination of water to the trans position of the oxo ligand was involved.

Gastrin-Releasing Peptide (GRP) Analogues for Cancer Imaging

Small neuropeptides, labeled with gamma- and/or beta-emitting radionuclides, are currently being investigated for their ability to bind to cell-surface receptors, overexpressed in a wide variety of malignant tissues being, thus, potentially useful for radionuclide detection and/or therapy for tumors. Particular attention has been focused on the amphibian peptide, bombesin (BN), and the molecularly related gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP). These peptides act as neurotransmitters and endocrine cancer cell-growth factors on normal tissues as well as on neoplastic cells of various origin. In recent investigations, modification of the native peptide structure has been attempted in order to obtain derivatives, which might easily be labeled with radionuclides. Thus, iodinated (I-125) BN derivatives, as well as Indium (In-111) labeled BN analogs are currently being investigated, presenting satisfactory tumor localization. Also, some new BN analogs containing a 6-carbon linker have been prepared and labeled with Rhenium-188, resulting in positive in vitro binding to prostate cancer cells. More recent studies refer to the Technetium-99m labeling of BN, performed either directly, after attaching proper technetium-chelating groups onto the BN sequence, or indirectly, by coupling BN to a preformed 99mTc-tagging ligand. Both types of conjugates were found to have a high in vitro affinity for cells with BN receptors, also presenting satisfactory in vivo uptake in experimental tumor models. Pilot clinical studies of a new BN-derived, 99mTc-labeled pentadecapeptide indicated significant uptake by breast cancer and invaded lymph nodes, as well as by prostate cancer, small-cell lung carcinoma, gastro-entero-pancreatic tumors, and others, Further studies of this new GRP derivative, as well as of other new BN-like peptides, are intensively performed internationally today.

Capillary electrophoresis of peptides

This article gives a review of the recent developments in capillary electrophoresis (CE) of peptides. New approaches to the theoretical description of electromigration behavior of peptides are described, and methodological aspects of CE separations of peptides such as selection of separation conditions, sample treatment, suppression of peptide adsorption to the capillary wall and specificities of CE separation modes are discussed. Progress in application of high performance detection schemes, namely laser-induced fluorescence and mass spectrometry, in peptide separations by CE is presented. Applications of different CE techniques, zone electrophoresis, isotachophoresis, isoelectric focusing, affinity electrophoresis, electrokinetic chromatography and electrochromatography to peptide analysis, preparation and physicochemical characterization are demonstrated.