Comparison of penetratin and other homeodomain-derived cell-penetrating peptides: interaction in a membrane-mimicking environment and cellular uptake efficiency.

Antennapedia and other homeoproteins have the unique ability to efficiently translocate across biological membranes, a property that is mediated by the third helix of the homeodomain. To analyze the effects of sequence divergence in the homeodomain, we have compared the cellular uptake efficiencies and interaction properties in a membrane-mimicking environment of four peptides corresponding to the third helix sequence of Antennapedia, Engrailed-2, HoxA-13, and Knotted-1. NMR studies revealed that these peptides adopt helical conformations in SDS micelles.

Dermaseptin S9, an alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide with a hydrophobic core and cationic termini.

The dermaseptins S are closely related peptides with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity that are produced by the skin of the South American hylid frog, Phyllomedusa sauvagei. These peptides are polycationic (Lys-rich), alpha-helical, and amphipathic, with their polar/charged and apolar amino acids on opposing faces along the long axis of the helix cylinder. The amphipathic alpha-helical structure is believed to enable the peptides to interact with membrane bilayers, leading to permeation and disruption of the target cell.

Helical structure of dermaseptin B2 in a membrane-mimetic environment.

Dermaseptins are antimicrobial peptides from frog skin that have high membrane-lytic activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. The structure of dermaseptin B2 in aqueous solution, in TFE/water mixtures, and in micellar and nonmicellar SDS was analyzed by CD, FTIR, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy combined with molecular dynamics calculations. Dermaseptin B2 is unstructured in water, but helical conformations, mostly in segment 3-18, are stabilized by addition of TFE.

Structure and inhibitory effects on angiogenesis and tumor development of a new vascular endothelial growth inhibitor.

Blocking angiogenesis is an attractive strategy to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We describe here the structure and the biological action of a new cyclic peptide derived from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This 17-amino acid molecule designated cyclopeptidic vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (cyclo-VEGI, CBO-P11) encompasses residues 79-93 of VEGF which are involved in the interaction with VEGF receptor-2.

Characterization of the bioactive conformation of the C-terminal tripeptide Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 of substance P using [3-prolinoleucine10]SP analogues.

Residue Leu10 of substance P (SP) is critical for NK-1 receptor recognition and agonist activity. In order to probe the bioactive conformation of this residue, cis- and trans-3-substituted prolinoleucines were introduced in position 10 of SP. The substituted SP analogues were tested for their affinity to human NK-1 receptor specific binding sites (NK-1M and NK-1m) and their potency to stimulate adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C in CHO cells transfected with the human NK-1 receptor.

Structural and biological effects of a beta2- or beta3-amino acid insertion in a peptide.

Molecular mechanics calculations on conformers of Ac-HGly-NHMe, Ac-beta2-HAla-NHMe and Ac-beta3-HAla-NHMe indicate that low-energy conformations of the beta-amino acids backbone, corresponding to gauche rotamers around the Calpha-Cbeta bond, may overlap canonical backbone conformers observed for alpha-amino acids. Therefore, Substance P (SP) was used as a model peptide to analyse the structural and biological consequences of the substitution of Phe7 and Phe8 by (R)-beta2-HPhe and of Gly9 by HGly (R)-beta2-HAla or (S)-beta3-HAla. [(R)-beta2-HAla9]SP has pharmacological potency similar to that of SP while [HGly9]SP and [(S)-beta3-HAla9]SP show a 30- to 50-fold decrease in biological activities.

Enantiospecific synthesis of delta and lambda [Ru(bpy)(2)ppy](+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)quo](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, ppy = phenylpyridine-H(+), quo = 8-hydroxyquinolate): (1)H and (13)C NMR studies and X-ray structure determination of rac-[Ru(bpy)(2)quo]PF(6).

In this paper, we describe the enantiospecific synthesis and the complete characterization of the two hexacoordinated ruthenium(II) monocations [Ru(bpy)(2)ppy](+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)quo](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, ppy = phenylpyridine-H(+), quo = 8-hydroxyquinolate) in their enantiomeric Delta and Lambda forms. The corresponding enantiomeric excesses (ee's) are determined by (1)H NMR using pure Delta-Trisphat (tris(tetrachlorobenzenedialato)phosphate(V) anion) as a chiral (1)H NMR shift reagent. A complete (1)H and (13)C NMR study has been carried out on rac-[Ru(bpy)(2)ppy]PF(6) and rac-[Ru(bpy)(2)quo]PF(6).

Reactions of estradiol-2,3-quinone with deoxyribonucleosides: possible insights in the reactivity of estrogen quinones with DNA.

Estrogen 2,3- and 3,4-quinones are reactive species toward nucleophiles and Michael acceptors. As such, they can bind to DNA and induce cellular damages. As an alkylation model, reactions of estradiol-2,3-quinone with deoxyribonucleosides were previously studied by mass spectrometry.

Involvement of the second extracellular loop (E2) of the neurokinin-1 receptor in the binding of substance P. Photoaffinity labeling and modeling studies.

Substance P (SP) interacts with the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) G-protein-coupled receptor, which has been cloned in several species. In the present study, the domains of the NK-1 receptor involved in the binding of SP and SP-(7-11) C-terminal fragment have been analyzed using two peptide analogs containing the photoreactive amino acid para-benzoylphenylalanine ((p-Bz)Phe) in position 8 of their sequence. This study was carried out with [BAPA-Lys(6),(p-Bz)Phe(8),Pro(9),Met(O(2))(11)]SP-(7-11) and [BAPA(0),(p-Bz)Phe(8)]SP on both rat and human NK-1 receptors expressed in CHO cells.