Minimum structure of diapause hormone required for biological activity

Synthesis of peptidomimetics and chemo-biological tools for CD95/PLCγ1 interaction analysis

The death receptor CD95 (also known as Fas) induces apoptosis through protein/protein association and the formation of the death-inducing signaling complex. On the other hand, in certain biological conditions, this receptor recruits different proteins and triggers the formation of another complex designated motility-inducing signaling complex, which promotes cell migration and inflammation. This pathway relies on a short sequence of CD95, called calcium-inducing domain (CID), which interacts with the phospholipase PLCγ1. To better understand how CID/PLCγ1 interaction occurs, we synthesized different α-AA peptides mimicking CID. Some of these peptidomimetics are as potent as the natural peptide to disrupt the CID/PLCγ1 interaction and cell migration, and showed improved pharmacokinetic properties. We also generated biotinyl- and palmitoyl-labelled peptidomimetics, useful chemico-biological tools to further explore the pro-inflammatory signal of CD95, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Structural basis for the interaction of diapause hormone with its receptor in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Diapause hormone (DH) is a 24-aa amidated neuropeptide that elicits the embryonic diapause of the silkworm, Bombyx mori ( Bommo), via sensitive and selective interaction with its receptor, Bommo DH receptor ( Bommo-DHR). Previous studies of the structure-activity relationship of Bommo-DH were all based on an in vivo diapause-induction bioassay, which has provided little information on the structure of Bommo-DHR or its iteration with DH. Here, to unveil the interaction of Bommo-DH with its receptor, N-terminally truncated analogs and alanine-scanning mutants of Bommo-DH were chemically synthesized and functionally evaluated by using a Cy5.5-labeled Bommo-DH competitive binding assay and Bommo-DHR-based functional assays, including cAMP assay and Ca²⁺ mobilization assay. Our study demonstrates that the C-terminal residues of Arg23 and Leu24 of Bommo-DH are essential for the binding and activation of Bommo-DHR, and that Trp19 and Phe20 also contribute to the functional activity of Bommo-DH. In contrast, when Gly21 or Pro22 were replaced with alanine, both mutants exhibited binding and signaling activities that were indistinguishable from the wild-type peptide. Furthermore, our homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, together with experimental validations, have identified the residues of Glu89, Phe172, Phe194, and Tyr299 in Bommo-DHR that are critically involved in the interaction with Bommo-DH. These results may deepen our understanding of the interactions of class-A GPCRs with their peptidic ligands, particularly those between pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide/DH family neuropeptides and their cognate receptors.-Shen, Z., Jiang, X., Yan, L., Chen, Y., Wang, W., Shi, Y., Shi, L., Liu, D., Zhou, N. Structural basis for the interaction of diapause hormone with its receptor in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Diapause hormone in the Helicoverpa/Heliothis complex: A review of gene expression, peptide structure and activity, analog and antagonist development, and the receptor

This review summarizes recent studies focusing on diapause hormone (DH) in the Helicoverpa/Heliothis complex of agricultural pests. Moths in this complex overwinter in pupal diapause, a form of developmental arrest used to circumvent unfavorable seasons. DH was originally reported in the silkmoth Bombyx mori, a species that relies on DH to induce an embryonic diapause. But, in the case of Helicoverpa/Heliothis, levels of dh transcripts and DH peptides are more abundant in nondiapausing pupae than in diapausing individuals, and DH effectively terminates diapause within a specific temperature range. A structure activity relationship study indicated that the active core of DH is the C-terminal hepta-peptide, LWFGPRLa. We designed and synthesized a first generation of DH agonists and identified two agonists (PK-2Abf and PK-Etz) that were nearly 50- and 13-fold more potent than the native hormone. These studies revealed two structural characteristics of DH and its agonists that are essential for interaction with the receptor: a trans-Pro configuration to form a type I β-turn and a hydrophobic moiety involved in ligand binding. Modification of DH at the active core yielded a potent DH antagonist (DH-Jo, acetyl-GLWA[Jo]RLa) as well as an agonist (DH-2Abf-K). Three compounds (Decyl-1963, Dodecyl-1967, Heptyl-1965) were identified as agents capable of penetrating the cuticle of young pupae and thereby preventing the entry into diapause. DH receptor cDNA was cloned and an effective in vitro high throughput screen system was established for future use. This work sets the stage for further development of DH analogs and antagonists that have the potential to disrupt insect diapause as a tool for pest management.

Characterization of opioid activities of endomorphin analogs with C-terminal amide to hydrazide conversion

Previously, we have synthesized an endomorphin-2 (EM-2) analog with C-terminal amide to hydrazide conversion, exhibiting slightly lower μ-affinity than EM-2. In the present study, the influence of C-terminal amide group to hydrazide conversion on the in vitro and in vivo opioid activities of EMs was evaluated. Our results demonstrated that C-terminal amide to hydrazide conversion of EMs did not markedly change their μ-opioid receptor binding affinities. Nevertheless, EM-2-NHNH2 decreased guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) potencies by about 10- and 5-fold compared to the parent compound, respectively. It is noteworthy that EM-1-NHNH2 exhibited the highest antinociception after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection, about 1.5-fold more potent than EM-1, but with moderate colonic contractile and expulsive effects, comparable with EM-1. Additionally, though EM-2-NHNH2 showed a slightly lower antinociceptive effect than EM-2, at higher doses (i.c.v., 1.5 and 5 nmol/mouse) the inhibitory effects of colonic propulsion were significantly attenuated, which would be helpful in the development of suitable μ-opioid therapeutics, but without some undesirable side effects. Therefore, the present results gave the evidence that C-terminal amide to hydrazide conversion of EMs may play an important role in the regulation of opioid activities.

Novel diphenylmethyl-derived amide protecting group for efficient liquid-phase peptide synthesis: AJIPHASE

An efficient method for the synthesis of peptides bearing an amide at the C-terminal is described. This method involves the attachment of a C-terminal protecting group bearing long aliphatic chains, followed by the repetition of simple reaction and precipitation steps with the combined advantages of liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS) and solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Using this method, a hydrophobic peptide was successfully synthesized in good yield and high purity, which cannot be obtained satisfactorily by SPPS.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of opioid activities of C-terminal esterified endomorphin-2 analogs

Previously, we have synthesized a series of endomorphin-2 (EM-2) analogs by the substitution of C-terminal amide group. In the present study, to further our knowledge of the influence of C-terminal esterified modification on the pharmacological activities, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo opioid activities of C-terminal esterified EM-2 analogs 1-3. Our results showed that the ED(50) values on contractions of the longitudinal muscle of distal colon induced by analogs 1-3 were about 1.5-fold higher, 2- and 8-fold lower than EM-2, respectively. In addition, intravenous (i.v.) injections of analogs 1 and 2 dose-dependently decreased the system arterial pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR) in anesthetized rats, but the degree of the hypotension and bradycardia was significantly smaller relative to the parent. Moreover, analog 3 was almost ineffective. Nevertheless, all these analogs produced potent antinociception in the tail-flick test after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection, and this antinociception was inhibited by naloxone, indicating an opioid mechanism. In summary, these results gave the evidence that the conversion of C-terminal amide to esterified modification may play an important role in the regulation of opioid affinities and pharmacological activities.

Diapause hormone in the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea: optimum temperature for activity, structure-activity relationships, and efficacy in accelerating flesh fly pupariation

Diapause hormone (DH) effectively terminated pupal diapause in Helicoverpa zea. This effect was temperature-dependent, with an optimum of 21 degrees C. The dose-response curve indicated an ED50 of DH for diapause termination of approximately 100 pmol. The core sequence and essential amino acids were determined by bioassays using modified and truncated DH analogs. A C-terminal hepta-peptide, LWFGPRLa, was the core sequence required for diapause termination. Activity was lost when Alanine was substituted for any of the amino acids in the hepta-peptide, with the exception of Glycine. A fragment series of analogs suggested that the amide and Arginine were the most important components needed for terminating diapause. Leucine, Tryptophan, and Phenylalanine at the N-terminus of the hepta-peptide were also critical for activity. The C-terminal Leucine was less important: deletion resulted in decreased activity, although it could not be substituted by Alanine. The fact that a portion of the DH sequence is similar to the pyrokinin that accelerates fly pupariation prompted us to also evaluate the capability of DH to accelerate development in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata. The threshold dose of DH essential to accelerate fly pupariation was 5 pmol for immobilization/retraction and longitudinal contraction and 10 pmol for tanning, approximately one or two orders of magnitude lower than the effective dose required for diapause termination in H. zea. Tensiometric measurements revealed that DH affected neuromuscular patterns of pupariation behavior and associated cuticular changes in a manner similar to that of the fly pyrokinins and their analogs.

G protein-coupled receptor for diapause hormone, an inducer of Bombyx embryonic diapause

Bombyx diapause hormone was the first chemical substance identified as a maternal control factor that arrests offspring development. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the hormone transduces the signal to the oocyte that induces embryonic diapause immediately after mesoderm segmentation are not fully understood. Here, we describe a cDNA for a G protein-coupled diapause hormone receptor with seven transmembrane domains. Its amino-acid sequence shows a high level of similarity to the receptors of mammalian neuromedin U and insect regulatory peptide, an FXPRL-amide C-terminus. When expressed in a Xenopus oocyte system, the receptor exhibited the highest affinity (EC(50), approximately 70nM) for diapause hormone, when compared with other Bombyx FXPR/KL-amide peptides. Diapause hormone without amidation at the C-terminus, which never induces embryonic diapause in vivo, had no effect in this heterologous expression system. The mRNA is expressed in the ovaries during Bombyx pupal-adult development. These results strongly indicate that the cDNA encodes the diapause hormone receptor.

C-terminal amide to alcohol conversion changes the cardiovascular effects of endomorphins in anesthetized rats

Endomorphin1-ol (Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-ol, EM1-ol) and endomorphin2-ol (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-ol, EM2-ol), with C-terminal alcohol (-ol) containing, have been shown to exhibit higher affinity and lower intrinsic efficacy in vitro than endomorphins. In the present study, in order to investigate the alterations of systemic hemodynamic effects induced by C-terminal amide to alcohol conversion, responses to intravenous (i.v.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of EM1-ol, EM2-ol and their parents were compared in the system arterial pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR) of anesthetized rats. Both EM1-ol and EM2-ol induced dose-related decrease in SAP and HR when injected in doses of 3-100 nmol/kg, i.v. In terms of relative vasodepressor activity, it is interesting to note that EM2-ol was more potent than endomorphin2 [the dose of 25% decrease in SAP (DD25) = 6.01+/-3.19 and 13.99+/-1.56 nmol/kg, i.v., respectively] at a time when responses to EM1-ol were less potent than endomorphin1. Moreover, decreases in SAP in response to EM1-ol and EM2-ol were reduced by naloxone, atropine sulfate, L-NAME and bilateral vagotomy. It indicated that the vasodepressor responses were possibly mediated by a naloxone-sensitive, nitric oxide release, vagus-activated mechanism. It is noteworthy that i.c.v. injections of -ol derivatives produced dose-related decreases in SAP and HR, which were significantly less potent than endomorphins and were attenuated by naloxone and atropine sulfate. In summary, the results of the present study indicated that the C-terminal amide to alcohol conversion produced different effects on the vasodepressor activity of endomorphin1 and endomorphin2 and endowed EM2-ol distinctive hypotension characters in peripheral (i.v.) and central (i.c.v.) tissues. Moreover, these results provided indirect evidence that amidated C-terminus might play an important role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system.

Conformational comparison of mu-selective endomorphin-2 with its C-terminal free acid in DMSO solution, by 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling calculation

In order to make clear the structural role of the C-terminal amide group of endomorphin-2 (EM2, H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH2), an endogenous mu-receptor ligand, in the biological function, the solution conformations of endomorphin-2 and its C-terminal free acid (EM2OH, H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-OH), studied using two-dimensional 1H NMR measurements and molecular modeling calculations, were compared. Both peptides were in equilibrium between the cis and trans isomers around the Tyr-Pro omega bond in a population ratio of approximately/= 1:2. The lack of significant temperature and concentration dependence of NH protons suggested that the NMR spectra reflected the conformational features of the respective molecules themselves. Fifty possible 3D structures for the each isomer were generated by the dynamical simulated annealing method under the proton-proton distance constraints derived from the ROE cross-peaks. These energy-minimized conformers, which were all in the phi torsion angles estimated from J(NHCalphaH) coupling constants within +/- 30 degrees, were then classified in groups one or two according to the folding backbone structures. All trans and cis EM2 conformers adopt an open conformation in which their extended backbone structures are twisted at the Pro2-Phe3 moiety. In contrast, the trans and cis conformers of EM2OH show conformational variation between the 'bow'-shaped extended and folded backbone structures, although the cis conformers of its zwitterionic form are refined into the folded structure of the close disposition of C- and N-terminal groups. These results indicate clearly that the substitution of carboxyl group for C-terminal amide group makes the peptide flexible. The conformational requirement for mu-receptor activation has been discussed based on the active form proposed for endomorphin-1 and by comparing conformational features of EM2 and EM2OH.

Rapid degradation of the silkworm diapause hormone by trypsin and its suppression by VAP-map, a synthetic analog of the cuticular peptide of silkworm, Bm ACP-6.7 (VAP-peptide)

Very fast tryptic degradation of the silkworm diapause hormone was found and the degradation pathway was analyzed by moderating the reaction conditions. It proceeded via cleavage at Arg23 and finally at Arg15 of DH. As the C-terminal structure of DH was essential for exhibiting bioactivity, the first cleavage caused rapid inactivation of the hormone. This tryptic digestion was strongly suppressed by adding VAP-map, a synthetic analog of the cuticular peptide of silkmoths, Bm ACP-6.7 (VAP-peptide), which is a natural synergist of DH. VAP-map suppressed the enzymic reaction by interacting with the substrate, but not with the enzyme.