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A concise solid-phase synthesis of cyclic lipopeptides derived from the antimicrobial peptide c(Lys-Lys-Leu-Lys-Lys-Phe-Lys-Lys-Leu-Gln) () was accomplished. Three different synthetic routes were explored. Best results were obtained using a protocol that includes as key steps: (i) synthesis of the cyclic peptidyl resin incorporating the Lys residue to be acylated protected at the N(ε)-amino group with an ivDde group, (ii) selective removal of the ivDde group, and (iii) acylation. These compounds were screened for their in vitro growth inhibition of bacterial and fungal phytopathogens and for their cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells. A sequence with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolysis was identified, constituting a good candidate for the design of new antimicrobial agents.

A novel strategy to N-Boc-N-methyl--tryptophans (abrine derivatives) was developed that relies on the palladium-catalyzed annulation of ortho-iodoanilines 12 with either N-Boc-N-methyl-propargylglycine 16 or aldehyde 11. Both 11 and 16 can be prepared from d-serine. An alternative route to propargylglycine 16 utilizes an enantioselective propargylation reaction of glycine imine 17.

Phosphopeptide enrichment is essential for large-scale phosphoprotein profiling. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely used in phosphopeptide enrichment, but is limited in the isolation of multi-phosphorylated peptides due to their strong binding. In this study, we found that citric acid greatly affects the binding of mono- and multi-phosphopeptides with TiO2, which can be used for step-wise phosphopeptide separation coupled with mass spectrum (MS) identification. We first loaded approximately 1 mg peptide mixture of HeLa cell digests onto TiO2 beads in highly concentrated citric acid (1 M). Then the flow-through fraction was diluted to ensure low concentration of citric acid (50 mM) and followed by loading onto another aliquot of TiO2 beads. The two eluted fractions were subjected to nanoLC-MS/MS analysis. We identified 1,500 phosphorylated peptides, of which 69% were multi-phosphorylated after the first enrichment. After the second enrichment, 2,167 phosphopeptides, of which 92% were mono-phosphorylated, were identified. In total, we successfully identified 3,136 unique phosphopeptides containing 3,973 phosphosites utilizing this strategy. Finally, more than 37% of the total phosphopeptides and 2.6-fold more of the multi-phosphorylated peptides were identified as compared to the frequently used DHB/TiO2 enrichment strategy. Combining SCX with CATSET, we identified 14,783 phosphopeptides and 15,713 phosphosites, of which 3,678 were unrecorded in PhosphoSitePlus database. This two-step separation procedure for sequentially enriching multi- and mono-phosphorylated peptides by using citric acid is advantageous in multi-phosphorylated peptide separation, as well as for more comprehensive phosphoprotein profiling.

We present a peptide library and data resource of >100,000 synthetic, unmodified peptides and their phosphorylated counterparts with known sequences and phosphorylation sites. Analysis of the library by mass spectrometry yielded a data set that we used to evaluate the merits of different search engines (Mascot and Andromeda) and fragmentation methods (beam-type collision-induced dissociation (HCD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD)) for peptide identification. We also compared the sensitivities and accuracies of phosphorylation-site localization tools (Mascot Delta Score, PTM score and phosphoRS), and we characterized the chromatographic behavior of peptides in the library. We found that HCD identified more peptides and phosphopeptides than did ETD, that phosphopeptides generally eluted later from reversed-phase columns and were easier to identify than unmodified peptides and that current computational tools for proteomics can still be substantially improved. These peptides and spectra will facilitate the development, evaluation and improvement of experimental and computational proteomic strategies, such as separation techniques and the prediction of retention times and fragmentation patterns.

Cys-disulfide bonds contribute to the stabilization of peptide and protein structures. The synthesis of these molecules requires a proper protection of Cys residues, which is crucial to prevent side-reactions and also to achieve the correct Cys connectivity. Here we undertook a mechanistic study of a set of well-known acid-labile Cys protecting groups, as well other new promising groups, in order to better understand the nature of their acid-lability. The stability of the carbocation generated during the acid treatment was found to have a direct impact on the removal of the protective groups from the corresponding protected Cys-containing peptides. Hence a combination of steric and conjugative effects determines the stability of the carbocations generated. Here we propose diphenylmethyl (Dpm) as a promising protecting group on the basis of its intermediate relative carbocation stability. All the optimized geometries and energies presented in this study
were determined using a B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculation. The results discussed herein may be of broader applicability for the development of new protecting groups.

Background: Sodium and water transport across renal proximal tubules is regulated by diverse hormones such as dopamine and urodilatin. We have previously reported that urodilatin stimulates extraneuronal dopamine uptake in external renal cortex by activation of the type A natriuretic peptide receptor, coupled to cyclic guanylate monophosphate signaling and protein kinase G. Moreover, urodilatin enhances dopamine-induced inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity in renal tubules. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether urodilatin could also alter renal dopamine synthesis, release, catabolism and turnover.
Methods: The effects of urodilatin on dopamine synthesis, release, catabolism and turnover were measured in samples of renal cortex from Sprague Dawley rats.
Results: The results indicate that urodilatin increases L-DOPA decarboxylase activity and decreases catechol-o-methyl transferase and monoamine oxidase activity. Moreover, urodilatin does not affect either dopamine basal secretion or potassium chloride-induced dopamine release in external renal cortex, and reduces amine turnover.
Conclusions: Both the present results and previous findings show that urodilatin modifies dopamine metabolism in external renal cortex of rats by enhancing dopamine uptake and synthesis and by decreasing catechol-o-methyl transferase and monoamine oxidase activity and dopamine turnover. Those effects taken together may favor dopamine accumulation in renal cells and increase its endogenous content and availability. This would permit D1 receptor recruitment and stimulation and, in turn, overinhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity, which results in decreased sodium reabsorption. Therefore, urodilatin and dopamine enhance natriuresis and diuresis through a common pathway.

Slow or difficult deprotection and coupling reactions reduce yields and result in crude peptides containing truncation and deletion peptide impurities. AAPPTec’s Infinity 2400 Peptide Synthesizer utilizes microwaves for rapid heating that can accelerate slow reactions, improve yields and produce purer peptides of difficult sequences.

The Infinity 2400™ Synthesizer offers:

• Choice of heating or ambient temperature for each amino acid.
• Separate temperature set points for each amino acid
• Rapid microwave heating to accelerate slow reactions
• Accurate temperature control, no temperature overrun
• Higher purity and yields of difficult peptides
• Up to 6 peptides prepared simultaneously, not in parallel
• 25 mL and 50 mL reaction vessels for larger scales than other microwave synthesizers
• Preactivation in 2 preactivation/measuring vessels
• Optional cooling of preactivated amino acid solutions
• 90 mL or 250 mL amino acid vessels allow overnight operation unattended.
• Accurate reagent measuring with 2 preactivation/measuring vessels
• Optional UV monitoring of Fmoc-deprotection
• On instrument cleavage

Explore infinite possibilities with the Infinity 2400™ Microwave Synthesizer from AAPPTec. See the Infinity 2400™ in our booths (5, 6, 49) at the American Peptide Symposium.

Fmoc-Lys(ivDde)-OH is a useful building block for preparing peptides with selective modification on the lysine sidechain. Commonly, such modifications include labeling with a biotin tag, fluorescence labeling with dansyl of fluorescenyl, or cyclization at the lysine sidechain. ivDde protection of the lysine side chain was recently utilized in solid phase synthesis of cyclic lipopeptides (S. Vilà, et al. Org Biomol Chem. 2013, 11, 3365-74). The ivDde is resistant to TFA and piperidine, but can be removed with hydrazine.

AAPPTec offers Fmoc-Lys(ivDde)-OH and Fmoc-D-Lys(ivDde)-OH in catalog and bulk quantities.

Propargyglycine derivatives were recently utilized to prepare tryptophan derivatives (P. Danner, et al. Org. Lett. Article ASAP, Published (Web): April 30, 2013). The indol ring was formed by palladium-catalyzed annulation of ortho-iodoanilines. Propargylglycine also undergoes Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition with azides (click chemistry) in high yield. AAPPTec provides Fmoc and Boc protected propargylglycines. (For AAPPTec’s azido amino acids for click chemistry, click HERE).

Urodilatin was originally isolated from human urine. It belongs to the family of natriuretic-vasorelaxant peptides found in the heart atria. it was recently reported that urodilatin regulates renal dopamine metabolism. M. Gagelmann, et al., FEBS Lett., 1988, 233, 239; V. di Marzo, Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 1989, 10, 91; A.J. Kenny, et al., Biochem. J., 1993, 291, 83; C. Cedidi, et al., Eur. J. Clin. Invest., 1994, 24, 632;T. Flüge, et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol., 1994, 271, 395; M.R. Choi, et al., J Nephrol. Published on Web: May 6, 2013.

The ACTEvap is useful in any laboratory for:

• Evaporating chromatography fractions (HPLC, Flash, Column chromatography).
• Evaporating/lyopholizing samples directly in easy-to-store vials without loss or contamination due to bumping.
• Lyophilyzing and recovering peptide stock solutions. • Preparing parallel libraries. The ACTEvap can evaporate/lyophilyze up to 35 samples simultaneously.

The ACTEvap system produces a special two stage vacuum that reduces or totally eliminates bumping. As a result
• No product lost to splashing and splattering
• No cross contamination
• All sample remain totally isolated

For more information about the ACTEvap, click HERE

AAPPTec’s On Line Peptide Catalog contains over 2100 peptide products at very competitive prices. The Peptide Catalog includes peptides in these classes:

• Amyloids
• Angiotensins
• Bradykinins
• Calcitonins
• Cholecystokinins
• Fibronectins
• LHRH
• Natriuretic Peptides
• Opioid Peptides
• Viral Protein Fragments
• Many Others

Click HERE to view AAPPTec’s on line Peptide Catalog.