Biological and physical properties of a model calcitonin containing a glutamate residue interrupting the hydrophobic face of the idealized amphiphilic alpha-helical region

Calcitonin: A useful old friend

Calcitonin regulates blood calcium levels and possesses certain clinically useful anti-fracture properties. Specifically, it reduces vertebral fractures in postmenopausal osteoporotic women significantly compared to a placebo. Nevertheless, the use of calcitonin has declined over the years and salmon calcitonin is no longer the first-line treatment for many of its indications. Commercial calcitonin only exists in intranasal or injectable preparations, which are less preferable for patients. Efficacy of a potential oral formulation has been under investigation but achieving adequate bioavailability remains a conundrum and the latest phase III trials have not shown promising evidence justifying its use. Associations with cancer have also derailed this treatment option. Furthermore, the rise of bisphosphonates and, more recently, monoclonal antibodies (such as denosumab), has revolutionised the treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Therefore, we are posed with an interesting question: is calcitonin a treatment of the past? This review aims to explore the reasons behind this paradigm shift and outline the potential role of calcitonin in the management of fractures and other conditions in the years to come.

Platypus and opossum calcitonins exhibit strong activities, even though they belong to mammals

In mammalian assay systems, calcitonin peptides of non-mammalian species exhibit stronger activity than those of mammals. Recently, comparative analyses of a wide-range of species revealed that platypus and opossum, which diverged early from other mammals, possess calcitonins that are more similar in amino acid sequence to those of non-mammals than mammals. We herein determined whether platypus and opossum calcitonins exhibit similar biological activities to those of non-mammalian calcitonins using an assay of actin ring formation in mouse osteoclasts. We also compared the dose-dependent effects of each calcitonin on cAMP production in osteoclasts. Consistent with the strong similarities in their primary amino acid sequences, platypus and opossum calcitonins disrupted actin rings with similar efficacies to that of salmon calcitonin. Human calcitonin exhibited the weakest inhibitory potency and required a 100-fold higher concentration (EC₅₀=3×10^-11M) than that of salmon calcitonin (EC₅₀=2×10^-13M). Platypus and opossum calcitonins also induced cAMP production in osteoclast cultures with the same efficacies as that of salmon calcitonin. Thus, platypus and opossum calcitonins exhibited strong biological activities, similar to those of the salmon. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed that platypus and opossum calcitonins clustered with the salmon-type group but not human- or porcine-type group. These results suggest that platypus and opossum calcitonins are classified into the salmon-type group, in terms of the biological activities and amino acid sequences.

Role in diuresis of a calcitonin receptor (GPRCAL1) expressed in a distal-proximal gradient in renal organs of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.)

Evolution of anthropophilic hematophagy in insects resulted in the coordination of various physiological processes for survival. In female mosquitoes, a large blood meal provides proteins for egg production and as a trade-off, rapid elimination of the excess water and solutes (Na(+), Cl(-)) is critical for maintaining homeostasis and removing excess weight to resume flight and avoid predation. This post-prandial excretion is achieved by the concerted action of multiple hormones. Diuresis and natriuresis elicited by the calcitonin-like diuretic hormone 31 (DH(31)) are believed to be mediated by a yet uncharacterized calcitonin receptor (GPRCAL) in the mosquito Malpighian tubules (MTs), the renal organs. To contribute knowledge on endocrinology of mosquito diuresis we cloned GPRCAL1 from MT cDNA. This receptor is the ortholog of the DH(31) receptor from Drosophila melanogaster that is expressed in principal cells of the fruit fly MT. Immunofluorescence similarly showed AaegGPRCAL1 is present in MT principal cells in A. aegypti, however, exhibiting an overall gradient-like pattern along the tubule novel for a GPCR in insects. Variegated, cell-specific receptor expression revealed a subpopulation of otherwise phenotypically similar principal cells. To investigate the receptor contribution to fluid elimination, RNAi was followed by urine measurement assays. In vitro, MTs from females that underwent AaegGPRcal1 knock-down exhibited up to 57% decrease in the rate of fluid secretion in response to DH(31). Live females treated with AaegGPRcal1 dsRNA exhibited 30% reduction in fluid excreted after a blood meal. The RNAi-induced phenotype demonstrates the critical contribution of this single secretin-like family B GPCR to fluid excretion in invertebrates and highlights its relevance for the blood feeding adaptation. Our results with the mosquito AaegGPRCAL1 imply that the regulatory function of calcitonin-like receptors for ion and fluid transport in renal organs arose early in evolution.

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of bone targeting salmon calcitonin analogs in normal and osteoporotic rats

In order to assess the therapeutic efficacy of an antiresorptive drug with imparted bone targeting potential using bisphosphonate (BP) conjugation and an improved pharmacokinetic profile using PEGylation, we synthesized, characterized and evaluated in vivo efficacy of bone-targeting PEGylated salmon calcitonin (sCT) analog (sCT-PEG-BP). sCT-PEG-BP was compared with non-PEGylated bone targeting sCT analog (sCT-BP) and unmodified, commercially available sCT. sCT-PEG-BP conjugates were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. The effect of PEG-BP or BP upon sCT secondary structure was examined by Circular Dichroism and sCT-PEG-BP was evaluated for in vitro bone mineral Hydroxyapatite (HA) binding ability and calcium salts specificity using a binding assay for bone HA and several calcium salts. Anti-calcitonin antibody binding ability of these analogs was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), by reacting bone targeting sCT analogs with calcium phosphate coated Osteologic® plates and detecting the bound sCT using anti-sCT antibody. Potential cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in monocytic RAW 264.7 cells, and sCT bioactivity was evaluated using an in vitro intracellular cAMP stimulation assay in human T47D breast cancer cells. Finally, in vivo efficacy of each compound was evaluated by determining the plasma levels of calcium after s.c. administration in normal rats, and in a rat model of Osteoporosis, secondary to ovariectomy (OVX). In vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was used to temporally map and quantify alterations in bone volume and bone mineral density (BMD) in the same animals at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after OVX surgery. Sixteen 6 week old virgin female rats underwent OVX surgery followed by the daily s.c. injection of 2.5IU/kg/day sCT or equivalent analogs, and compared to four sham-operated, placebo treated control rats. Our results showed the chemical coupling of PEG-BP or BP to sCT altered its secondary structure without altering its antibody binding ability. sCT analogs retained strong sCT bioactivity, were non-toxic to RAW 264.7 cells in culture and elicited a comparable hypocalcemic effect to that of unmodified sCT in normal rats. Compared to marketed unmodified sCT, sCT-PEG-BP showed significantly improved efficacy in terms of preserving bone volume, BMD and trabecular micro-architecture in osteoporotic rats at the initial dose tested. Bisphosphonate-mediated targeting of PEGylated sCT to bone represents a new class of targeted antiresorptive compounds that has not previously been attempted.

Structural Determinants of Salmon Calcitonin Bioactivity

Salmon calcitonin (sCT) forms an amphipathic helix in the region 9-19, with the C-terminal decapeptide interacting with the helix (Amodeo, P., Motta, A., Strazzullo, G., Castiglione Morelli, M. A. (1999) J. Biomol. NMR 13, 161-174). To uncover the structural requirements for the hormone bioactivity, we investigated several sCT analogs. They were designed so as to alter the length of the central helix by removal and/or replacement of flanking residues and by selectively mutating or deleting residues inside the helix. The helix content was assessed by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopies; the receptor binding affinity in human breast cancer cell line T 47D and the in vivo hypocalcemic activity were also evaluated. In particular, by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics calculations we studied Leu(23),Ala(24)-sCT in which Pro(23) and Arg(24) were replaced by helix inducing residues. Compared with sCT, it assumes a longer amphipathic alpha-helix, with decreased binding affinity and one-fifth of the hypocalcemic activity, therefore supporting the idea of a relationship between a definite helix length and bioactivity. From the analysis of other sCT mutants, we inferred that the correct helix length is located in the 9-19 region and requires long range interactions and the presence of specific regions of residues within the sequence for high binding affinity and hypocalcemic activity. Taken together, the structural and biological data identify well defined structural parameters of the helix for sCT bioactivity.

Analysis of the peptides (Prp106-126, MSI-78A, and Oxaldie 1) with the same biological activity by discrete Fourier transform: toward a selection rule in ligand-receptor interaction

Here, we first report a novel method in which the "desired cross-spectrum" of the peptides Prp106-126, MSI-78A, and oxaldie 1 with the same biological activities is obtained by the multiplication of two cross-spectra derived from the RNA sequence and from the cognate amino acid sequence by discrete Fourier transform (DFT), respectively. Based on a well-known method reported previously, we investigated the cross-spectrum by the multiplication of two of three desired cross-spectra. As a result, we found that one prominent peak occurring in the three cross-spectra showed the same frequency when a binary scale was used as a parameter of nucleotide or amino acid in the analysis. Moreover, we examined the relationship between a binary scale and other physicochemical ones. Almost the same results could be reproduced when the absolute electronegativity scale (or the absolute hardness one) was used, but not in the case of the hydrophobic or electron-ion interacting potential scale reported previously. This indicates that either the absolute electronegativity scale (or the absolute hardness one) or a binary scale, or both is very useful in extracting the information desired for various proteins by the present method from the amino acid and the RNA sequence.

Conformationally constrained human calcitonin (hCt) analogues reveal a critical role of sequence 17-21 for the oligomerization state and bioactivity of hCt

Calcitonin (Ct) is a 32-residue peptide hormone that is mainly known for its hypocalcemic effect and the inhibition of bone resorption. Our previous studies have led to potent, side-chain lactam-bridged human Ct (hCt) analogues [Kapurniotu, A. Kayed, R., Taylor, J.W. & Voelter W. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 265, 606-618; Kapurniotu, A. & Taylor, J.W. (1995) J. Med. Chem. 38, 836-847]. We have hypothesized that a possibly type I beta turn/beta sheet conformation in the region 17-21 may play an important role in hCt bioactivity. To investigate this hypothesis, analogues of the potent hCt agonist cyclo17,21-[Asp17,Lys21]hCt (1) bearing type I (and II') or II beta turn-promoting substituents at positions 18 and 19 were designed, synthesized and their solution conformations, human Ct receptor binding affinities and in vivo hypocalcemic potencies were assessed. The novel analogues include cyclo17,21-[Asp17,D-Phe19, Lys21]hCt (2), cyclo17,21-[Asp17,Aib18,Lys21]hCt (3), cyclo17,21-[Asp17,D-Lys18,Lys21]hCt (4), corresponding partial sequence peptides containing the lactam-bridged region 16-22, and nonbridged control peptides. Only 1 showed a higher Ct receptor binding affinity than hCt, whereas analogues 2-4 had similar receptor affinities to hCt. In the in vivo hypocalcemic assay, 3 and 4 were as potent as 1, whereas 2 completely lost the high potency of 1, suggesting that type I (and II') beta turn-promoting substituents are fully compatible with in vivo bioactivity. CD spectroscopy showed that analogues 1-4 were markedly beta sheet-stabilized compared to hCt and indicated the presence of distinct beta turn conformeric populations in each of the analogues. Unexpectedly, the D-amino acid- or Aib-containing cyclic analogues 2-4 but not 1 or hCt self-associated into SDS denaturation-stable dimers. Our results demonstrate a crucial role of the conformational and topological features of the residues in sequence 17-21 and in particular of residues 18 and 19 for human Ct receptor binding and in vivo bioactivity and also for the self association state of hCt. These results may assist to delineate the structure-function relationships of hCt and to design novel hCt agonists for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone-disorder-related diseases.

Enhanced gamma-carboxylation of recombinant factor X using a chimeric construct containing the prothrombin propeptide

Factor Xa is the serine protease component of prothrombinase, the enzymatic complex responsible for thrombin generation. Production of recombinant factor X/Xa has proven to be difficult because of inefficient gamma-carboxylation, a critical post-translational modification. The affinities of the vitamin K-dependent propeptides for the gamma-carboxylase vary over 2 logs, with the propeptide of factor X having the highest affinity followed by the propeptides of factor VII, protein S, factor IX, protein C, and prothrombin [Stanley, T. B. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16940-16944]. On the basis of this observation, it was hypothesized that exchanging the propeptide of factor X with one that binds the gamma-carboxylase with a reduced affinity would enhance gamma-carboxylation by allowing greater substrate turnover. A chimeric cDNA consisting of the human prothrombin signal sequence and propeptide followed by mature human factor X was generated and stably transfected into HEK 293 cells, and modified factor X was purified from conditioned medium. The results indicate that on average 85% of the total factor X produced with the prothrombin propeptide was fully gamma-carboxylated, representing a substantial improvement over a system that employs the native factor X propeptide, with which on average only 32% of the protein is fully gamma-carboxylated. These results indicate that the affinity of the gamma-carboxylase for the propeptide greatly influences the extent of gamma-carboxylation. It was also observed that regardless of which propeptide sequence is directing gamma-carboxylation (factor X or prothrombin), two pools of factor X are secreted; one is uncarboxylated and a second is fully gamma-carboxylated, supporting the notion that the gamma-carboxylase is a processive enzyme.

Rational design, conformational studies and bioactivity of highly potent conformationally constrained calcitonin analogues

Calcitonin is known for its hypocalcaemic effect and the inhibition of bone resorption, and is used therapeutically for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Our studies on the conformational features of human calcitonin (hCt) bioactivity have led to the conformationally constrained hCt analogue cyclo17,21-[Asp17, Lys21]hCt (1), which had a 5-10 times higher in vivo hypocalcaemic potency than hCt [Kapurniotu, A. & Taylor, J.W. (1995) J. Med. Chem. 38, 836-847]. We hypothesized that a stabilized, possibly type I beta turn/beta sheet conformation between residues 17 and 21 could play a crucial role in hCt bioactivity. Here, we designed, synthesized and studied the conformation and bioactivity of 19-member to 17-member ring-size analogues of 1 with the structure cyclo17,21-[Asp17,XX21]hCt with XX = Orn (2), Dab (3) and Dap (4), of the control peptide [Asp17,Orn21]hCt (5), and of the 19-member cyclo17,21-[Glu17,Dab21]hCt (6). Analyses of the far-UV CD spectra indicated increased type I beta turn and antiparallel beta sheet content in the bicyclic analogues compared with hCt. In the in vivo hypocalcaemic assay, cyclo17,21-[Asp17,Orn21]hCt (2) was found to have a 400-fold higher potency than hCt and was fourfold more potent than salmon calcitonin (sCt), which has been the most potent known Ct. Analogue 3 had a 30-fold higher potency than hCt, whereas the highly constrained analogue 4 was as potent as hCt. Bioactivity was not enhanced for the nonbridged compound [Asp17, Orn21]hCt (5), whereas cyclo17,21-[Glu17,Dab21]hCt (6) showed the same bioactivity as 1. This study identifies 2 as exhibiting the highest in vivo potency among currently known Cts, while it differs in only one amino acid residue from hCt, strongly suggesting that the introduced constraint may have served in 'freezing' hCt in a bioactive conformation. Our findings provide evidence for the first time that a beta turn/beta sheet conformation in region 17-21 of hCt and the topological features of the side chain of Asn17 are strongly associated with in vivo bioactivity, and offer a novel lead structure for a hCt-based drug for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone-disorder-related diseases.

Conformational flexibility in calcitonin: the dynamic properties of human and salmon calcitonin in solution

We have studied the dynamic properties of human (h) and salmon (s) calcitonin (CT) in solution. For both hormones, distance geometry in torsion-angle space has been used to generate three-dimensional structures consistent with NMR data obtained in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles. For sCT and hCT we used, respectively, 356 and 275 interproton distances together with hydrogen-bonds as restraints. To better characterize their flexibility and dynamic properties two fully unrestrained 1100-ps molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in methanol were performed on the lowest-energy structures of both hormones. Statistical analyses of average geometric parameters and of their fluctuations performed in the last 1000 ps of the MD run show typical helical values for residues 9-19 of sCT during the whole trajectory. For hCT a shorter helix was observed involving residues 13-21, with a constant helical region in the range 13-19. Angular order parameters S(phi) and S(psi) indicate that hCT exhibits a higher flexibility, distributed along the whole chain, including the helix, while the only flexible amino acid residues in sCT connect three well-defined domains. Finally, our study shows that simulated annealing in torsion-angle space can efficiently be extended to NMR-based three-dimensional structure calculations of helical polypeptides. Furthermore, provided that a sufficient number of NMR restraints describes the system, the method allows the detection of equilibria in solution. This identification occurs through the generation of 'spurious' high-energy structures, which, for right-handed alpha-helices, are likely to be represented by left-handed alpha-helices.

Correlations between biological activities and conformational properties for human, salmon, eel, porcine calcitonins and Elcatonin elucidated by CD spectroscopy

Calcitonin (CT) inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption and induces calcium uptake from body fluids. A comparative study of the conformational behaviours of therapeutic calcitonins [salmon (s), eel (e), a synthetic eel calcitonin analogue (Elcatonin), porcine (p) and human (h) calcitonins] as a function of solvent polarity and temperature have been performed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Elements of secondary structure were lacking in H2O but could be observed in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and sodium dodecyl sulphate. In particular, similar amounts of alpha-helical content (four alpha-helical turns) were estimated in trifluoroethanol despite the considerable differences in amino acid sequences. The relative ability to form an alpha helix, assessed by trifluoroethanol/H2O titration, was found to be Elcatonin > sCT > pCT > eCT > hCT. In Elcatonin, sCT, pCT and eCT the four alpha-helical turns were promoted almost completely in a single step, between 0 and 35% trifluoroethanol, unlike hCT where helical structure formation has been reported to involve two steps over the whole trifluoroethanol/H2O range [Arvinte, T. & Drake, A. F. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 6408-6414]. In SDS, which mimics the membrane environment, conformational differences (3-4 helical turns in Elcatonin, sCT, eCT versus one helical turn in pCT, hCT) were observed and correlate well with biological activity (Elcatonin = sCT = eCT > pCT = hCT). Low-temperature studies in a cryogenic solvent mixture showed the formation of high alpha-helix content (similar to that in trifluoroethanol) in Elcatonin, sCT, eCT and pCT, whilst a left-handed extended helix (3(1) helix) was formed in hCT. This is consistent with the hypothesis of 'linear' and 'helical' calcitonin receptors [Nakanuta, H., Orlowski, R. C. & Epand, R. M. (1990) Endocrinology 127, 163-169].

Genetic Approaches to Protein Structure and Function: Point Mutations as Modifiers of Protein Function

In this review, I summarize data in the biological literature which underscore the utility of a genetic approach to protein structure/function problems, with emphasis on binding phenomena, particularly of cytokine and growth factor/receptor interactions. Useful parallels or contrasts to chemical ligand/receptor systems and DNA binding protein interactions are examined where they simplify the analysis of protein ligand/receptor interactions. This approach was prompted by the fact that purely rational approaches, based on resolution of the three dimensional structure of proteins, are limited because such data is available for fewer than 3% of the 17,000 proteins for which the amino acid sequence has been deduced by molecular biology techniques.

Neuropeptide Y. Optimized solid-phase synthesis and conformational analysis in trifluoroethanol

The 36-amino-acid neuropeptide Y (human), which is one of the most potent vasoconstrictors and which exhibits a number of other biological functions, has been synthesized using automated peptide synthesis. The optimized method, using 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl protecting and single-step coupling, yielded the crude product in 90% purity allowing for single-step reversed-phase HPLC purification to greater than 98% purity and a high overall yield (50%). The hormone was characterized by several chromatographic methods, ion-spray mass spectroscopy and Edman degradation. The conformation of human neuropeptide Y was examined by CD, NMR and computer simulations. The CD measurements in trifluoroethanol/water (9:1) show a large percentage of alpha-helix. Variation of concentration, from 0.5 microM increasing up to the 1 mM used for NMR measurements, indicates no evidence for aggregation. In the same solvent system, the NMR line widths were very broad and therefore the resonance assignment was achieved with the exclusive use of two-dimensional NOE spectra. The 248 clearly distinguishable NOEs from the NMR study were used in distance geometry calculations and the resulting structures were refined with restrained molecular dynamics. The results indicate an alpha-helix extending from Arg19 to Gln34. For the N-terminal half of the molecule no regular structure was observed.

Structure/activity relationship of eel calcitonin. A study using a newly devised method for designing analogs

A series of analogs of eel calcitonin (eCT) was synthesized according to a newly devised scheme, 'the insertion-inactivation method', to clarify the structure/activity relationship of a given peptide. This method consists of two steps: the deletion of a residue of the peptide is first chosen and then a series of analogs with the residue reinserted into serial positions is synthesized and biological activities are assessed in each step. An analog lacking Lys18 (dK), selected as a deleted analog for the first step, showed marked loss of activities determined by inhibition of 125I-eCT binding, growth inhibition, and cAMP production in a porcine kidney cell line LLC-PK1. Activities of a set of 20 analogs with the reinserted lysine residue at serial positions from 12 to 32 (K12-K32) were then evaluated. The results showed the following three patterns of the expression of activities according to the position of the reinsertion: (a) analogs K12-K16 (positions 12-16) and K25 (position 25) showed lower activities than eCT in all assays; (b) K17-K24 (positions 17-24) showed slightly lower activities than eCT in the receptor binding and the growth inhibition and similar level in cAMP production; (c) K26-K32 (positions 26-32) showed considerably lower activities in the former two assays and slightly lower activity in cAMP production. Further, analogs considerably less active than eCT showed unchanged alpha-helix contents and destroyed amphiphilicity by the insertion of a lysine residue, indicating that amphiphilicity is one of important factors for expressing the activity. The results obtained here lead to a conclusion on the significance of each region of eCT molecule as follows: (a) the presence of Lys18 is necessary for the complete expression of biological activity; (b) the length of amphiphilic alpha-helix to be required for the activity is at most 10 residues ranging from position 8 to position 17; (c) the receptor binding region is located within 9 residues ranging from position 24 to position 32.

Structure of the propeptide of prothrombin containing the gamma-carboxylation recognition site determined by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy

The propeptides of the vitamin K dependent blood clotting and regulatory proteins contain a gamma-carboxylation recognition site that directs precursor forms of these proteins for posttranslational gamma-carboxylation. Peptides corresponding to the propeptide of prothrombin were synthesized and examined by circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). CD spectra indicate that these peptides have little or no secondary structure in aqueous solutions but that the addition of trifluoroethanol induces or stabilizes a structure containing alpha-helical character. The maximum helical content occurs at 35-40% trifluoroethanol. This trifluoroethanol-stabilized structure was solved by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The NMR results demonstrate that residues -13 to -3 form an amphipathic alpha-helix. NMR spectra indicate that a similar structure is present at 5 degrees C, in the absence of trifluoroethanol. Of the residues previously implicated in defining the gamma-carboxylation recognition site, four residues (-18, -17, -16, and -15) are adjacent to the helical region and one residue (-10) is located within the helix. The potential role of the amphipathic alpha-helix in the gamma-carboxylation recognition site is discussed.

Degradation of growth hormone releasing factor analogs in neutral aqueous solution is related to deamidation of asparagine residues. Replacement of asparagine residues by serine stabilizes

The incubation of a solution of the human growth hormone releasing factor analog, [Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees, resulted in extensive degradation of the sample. The major degradation products were identified as the peptides [beta-Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 and [alpha-Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2, produced by deamidation of the Asn8 residue. When tested as growth hormone (GH) secretagogues in cultured bovine anterior pituitary cells, [beta-Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 was estimated to be 400-500 times less potent than the parent Asn8 peptide, while [alpha-Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 was calculated to be 25 times less potent than the parent Asn8 peptide. Three additional analogs of [Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 containing either Ser or Asn at positions 8 and 28 were prepared and evaluated for their GH releasing activity and stability in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 37 degrees). Based on disappearance kinetics, [Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 had a half-life of 202 h while the other analogs had the following half-lives: [Leu27, Asn28] hGRF(1-32)NH2 (150 h); [Ser8, Leu27, Asn28] hGRF(1-32)NH2 (746 h); and [Ser8, Leu27] hGRF(1-32)NH2 (1550 h). After 14 days, incubated samples of the Asn8 analogs lost GH releasing potency, while the Ser8 analogs retained full potency. The potential for loss of biological activity brought about by deamidation of other engineered peptides and proteins should be considered in their design.

Synthetic magainin analogues with improved antimicrobial activity

Based on modifications to enhance the alpha-helical structure of the broad spectrum antibiotic magainin 2, a series of analogues have been synthesized which display an increase up to two orders of magnitude in antimicrobial activity and, in the most favorable case, no appreciable increase in hemolytic activity over magainin 1 at the concentrations tested.