Sequence peptide polymers. I. Polymers based on aspartic acid and glycine

Effect of polypeptide sequence on polypeptide self-assembly

This study represents a unique example where the self-assembly of five amphiphilic polypeptides was monitored as a function of their hydrophilic-to-lipophilic balance (HLB). The HLB was tuned by preparing a series of polypeptides with aspartic acid (Asp) and phenylalanine (Phe) according to the sequence (Asp(x)Phe(y)) where x and y vary from 1 to 3. The self-assembly of the (Asp(x)Phe(y))(n) polypeptides with M(w) values ranging from 8 to 12 K was studied in solution by fluorescence quenching and nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) fluorescence experiments. Dynamic (DLS) and static (SLS) light scattering studies were used to complement the results obtained. The fluorescence quenching experiments conducted with the chromophore pyrene used as a free probe, physically bound to the polypeptides via hydrophobic interactions, demonstrated that the chromophore was less exposed to the solution for the sequences having a higher hydrophobic character. Protective quenching was also observed for those polypeptides randomly labeled with pyrene where the phenylalanine content was high, whereas pyrene was found to be fully exposed to the quencher for the polypeptides having more hydrophilic sequences. NRET used to probe interpolymeric association was not observed between a naphthalene and a pyrene labeled polypeptide for the polypeptide sequences which were richer in aspartic acid, whereas energy transfer took place with the more hydrophobic polypeptides. This observation led to the conclusion that those sequences with a higher content of aspartic acid essentially generate unimolecular polymeric micelles, whereas those with a higher content of phenylalanine generate polymeric aggregates which offer protection from the solvent to their hydrophobic cargo. The presence of these polymeric aggregates was also confirmed by DLS and SLS studies which suggest that species 100-200 nm in diameter are present in solution.

Identification of the catalytic histidine residue participating in the charge-relay system of carboxypeptidase Y

The essential histidine residue of carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) was modified by a site-specific reagent, a chloromethylketone derivative of benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine. The single modified histidine residue was converted to N tau-carboxy-methyl histidine (cmHis) upon performic acid oxidation. A peptide containing cmHis was isolated from the tryptic-thermolytic digest. Based on the amino acid composition and sequence analysis, the peptide is shown to be Val-Phe-Asp-Gly-Gly-cmHis-MetO2-Val-Pro, which was derived from CPY cleaved by trypsin at Arg 391 and thermolysin at Phe 401, and thus His 397 was modified. This histidine residue has been implicated previously by X-ray analysis to participate in the charge-relay system of CPY.

Syntheses and characterization of tetra-gamma-benzyl-L-glutamates

Monodisperse tetra-gamma-benzyl-L-glutamates are prepared by coupling two kinds of dimers by means of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and then converting a terminal group into the other. An o-nitrophenylthio group is used for blocking the amino terminal, and a p-nitrophenyl ester or an ethylamide substitutes the carboxyl end. The amino-terminal-deblocked tetramer, HCl,H-[Glu(OBzl)] 4-NHEt, is alos prepared. Infrared spectra in nujol mull indicate that all the tetramers are in the beta-structure of antiparallel chains in the solid state. Circular dichroism spectra show that the amino-terminal deblocked tetramer keeps the beta-conformation in ethylene dichloride, while it has the solvated sigma-conformation in trifluoroethanol and in dioxane.

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic activity of new n-diazoacetylglycine derivatives

The syntheses of various N-diazoacetylglycine derivatives are described. The results of an in vitro screening carried out on KB cells for cytotoxic activity are reported. The most active compounds are DGE, DGiBA and DGHA. A possible relationship between the activity and the liposolubility of these compounds is discussed.