Copper(II) and zinc(II) ion binding properties of a MAP type branched ligand with histidines as surface functionalities.

A novel branched peptide type ligand consisting of three lysines as branching units and four histidines as functional groups has been designed and prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. The N-terminal histidines offer eight primary protonation/metal ion binding sites: four amino and four imidazole groups, capable of binding up to two metal ions. We examined the protonation equilibria, and the complex formation processes with copper(II) and zinc(II) ions in c(M):c(L) = 1:1 and 2:1 initial concentration ratio in aqueous solutions.

Design of histidine containing peptides for better understanding of their coordination mode toward copper(II) by CD spectroscopy.

The systematic investigation of the copper(II) complexes of tripeptides Xaa-Xaa-His, Xaa-His-Xaa and His-Xaa-Xaa, where Xaa=Gly or Ala was performed by combined pH-metry, spectrophotometry, CD and in part EPR spectroscopy. The matrix rank analysis of the spectral data revealed the number of the coloured and optically active species as a basis for the solution speciation. A critical evaluation on the speciation and solution structure of the complexes formed is presented on the basis of their d-d band optical activity.

CD spectroscopic study on the speciation and solution structure of copper(II) complexes of some tripeptides in combination with potentiometric and spectrophotometric results.

The combination of potentiometric, spectrophotometric and CD spectroscopic studies under the same conditions is expected to yield more reliable thermodynamic and structural information for a certain system. The matrix rank analysis of both the spectrophotometric and CD spectra series gives the necessary number of species to be taken into account in the calculations. Based on such speciation diagrams the molar spectra for individual complexes in the copper(II) Gly-Gly-Ala, Gly-Ala-Gly, Ala-Gly-Gly and Ala-Ala-Ala systems were obtained.

[Synthesis of a cyclic enkephalin analog with prolonged action].

A cyclic analog of enkephalin, cyclo(Lys-Tyr-DMet-Gly-Phe-Pro-) and two corresponding linear hexapeptides with lysine residue on the N- and C-termini of the pentapeptide sequence, Lys-Tyr-DMet-Gly-Phe-Pro and Tyr-DMet-Gly-Phe-Pro-Lys were synthesized by classical and solid phase methods of peptide chemistry. The cyclic analog exhibited significantly prolonged analgesic effect, evaluated by the "tail pinch" method after intracysternal injection to mice. The cycloanalog also had a weak influence on the peripheral opiate receptors of the isolated segment of guinea pig iliac intestine.