The biological consequences of replacing hydrophobic amino acids in deltorphin I with amphiphilic α‐hydroxymethylamino acids

Abstract: New analogues of deltorphin I (DT I), in which the Phe residue in position 3, and the Val residue in position 5 or 6 are replaced with respective amphiphilic α‐hydroxymethylamino acid residues (HmAA), were synthesized and tested for receptor affinity and selectivity to μ and δ opioid receptors. The analogue with (R)‐HmPhe at position 3 lost receptor selectivity, as a result of a partial decrease of affinity to δ and a significant increase of affinity to μ receptors. In contrast, an analogue with (S)‐HmPhe in the same position, was very potent and more specific to δ receptors than parent DT I. The analogue with (R)‐HmVal at position 5 expressed higher δ affinity and selectivity than parent DT I. The analogue with other possible isomer (S)‐HmVal was less selective for δ opioid receptors, as a result of decreasing affinity to δ and increasing affinity to μ receptors. The analogues with (R)‐ or (S)‐HmVal in position 6 expressed equally low receptor affinity and selectivity. The data obtained support a previously proposed model of active conformation of deltorphins.     

Effect of Complexation with Hydroxylpropyl-β-Cyclodextrin on Solubility, Dissolution Rate and Chemical Stability of Prostaglandin E1

Aim To study the effect of complexation with hydroxylpmpyl-β-cycledextrin (HP-β-CD) on the solubility, dissolution rate and chemical stability of pmstaglandin E1 (PGE1), thereby providing a basis for preparing a stable solid or aqueous preparation of PGF1 formulated with HP-β-CD. Methods The effect of HP-β-CD on the solubility of PGF1 was studied by phase solubility method. The formation of inclusion complexes of PGE1 with HP-β-CD in the aqueous solution was confirmed by UV spectra, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and that in the solid state by IR spectra and X-ray diffractometry. An solid inclusion complex of PGF1 with HP-β-CD was prepared by lyophilization. The dissolution rate and stability of the inclusion complex were determined and compared with those of PGE1 alone. Meanwhile, the stability of PGF1 aqueous solutions in the presence of HP-β-CD was studied under different pH conditions. Results The solubility of PGF1 increased linearly with increasing HP-β-CD concentration in various pH buffered solutions, showing typical AL-type phase solubility diagrams. The stability and dissolution rate of the solid inclusion complex of PGE1 were significantly increased, compared with those of pure PGE1 . The stability of PGEI in HP-β-CD solutions was also obviously improved under acidic and basic conditions, but the stabilizing effect was absent under neutral conditions. Conclulsions The solubility, dissolution rate and chemical stability of PGE1 are markedly improved by complexation with HP-β-CD. It is quite possible to prepare a stable PGE1 inclusion complex-containing solid dosage forms, but almost impossible to obtain a stable aqueous preparation of PGE1 formulated with HP-β-CD.     

A chimeric opioid peptide with mixed μ agonist/δ antagonist properties

Abstract: There is evidence to indicate that opioid compounds with mixed μ agonist/δ antagonist properties are analgesics with low propensity to produce tolerance and physical dependence. A chimeric peptide containing the potent and selective μ agonist H‐Dmt‐D‐Arg‐Phe‐Lys‐NH₂ ([Dmt¹]DALDA) (Dmt = 2′,6′‐dimethyltyrosine) and the potent and selective δ antagonist H‐Tyr‐TicΨ[CH₂‐NH]Cha‐Phe‐OH (TICP[Ψ]) (Cha = cyclohexylalanine), connected ‘tail‐to‐tail’ via a short linker, was synthesized using a combination of solid‐phase and solution techniques. The resulting peptide, H‐Dmt→D‐Arg→Phe→Lys‐NH‐CH₂‐CH₂‐NH‐Phe←Cha[NH‐CH₂]ΨTic←Tyr‐H, showed the expected μ agonist/δ antagonist profile in the guinea‐pig ileum and mouse vas deferens assays. Its μ and δ receptor binding affinities were in the low nanomolar range, as determined in rat brain membrane binding assays.     

New tools for the control of peptide conformation: the helicogenic Cα‐methyl,Cα‐cyclohexylglycine*

Abstract: The novel C^α‐tetrasubstituted α‐amino acid C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine was prepared by hydrogenation of its C^α‐methyl, C^α‐phenylglycine precursor. Terminally protected homodi‐, homotri‐, and homotetrapeptides from C^α‐methyl, C^α‐cyclohexylglycine and co‐oligopeptides to the pentamer level in combination with Gly or α‐aminoisobutyric acid residues were prepared by solution methods and fully characterized. The results of a conformational analysis, performed by use of Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrophotomet absorption, ¹H NMR, and X‐ray diffraction techniques, support the contention that this C^α‐methylated, C^β‐trisubstituted aliphatic α‐amino acid is an effective β‐turn and 3₁₀‐helix inducer in tri‐ and longer peptides as its C^α‐methyl valine parent compound, but partially divergent from the corresponding aromatic C^α‐methyl, C^α‐diphenylmethylglycine residue, known to promote folded and fully extended structures to a significant extent in these oligomers.     

Synthetic peptide derived from α‐fetoprotein inhibits growth of human breast cancer: investigation of the pharmacophore and synthesis optimization

Abstract: A synthetic peptide that inhibits the growth of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) human breast cancers, growing as xenografts in mice, has been reported. The cyclic 9‐mer peptide, cyclo[EMTOVNOGQ], is derived from α‐fetoprotein (AFP), a safe, naturally occurring human protein produced during pregnancy, which itself has anti‐estrogenic and anti‐breast cancer activity. To determine the pharmacophore of the peptide, a series of analogs was prepared using solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Analogs were screened in a 1‐day bioassay, which assessed their ability to inhibit the estrogen‐stimulated growth of uterus in immature mice. Deletion of glutamic acid, Glu1, abolished activity of the peptide, but glutamine (Gln) or asparagine (Asn) could be substituted for Glu1 without loss of activity. Methionine (Met2) was replaced with lysine (Lys) or tyrosine (Tyr) with retention of activity. Substitution of Lys for Met2 in the cyclic molecule resulted in a compound with activity comparable with the Met2‐containing cyclic molecule, but with a greater than twofold increase in purity and corresponding increase in yield. This Lys analog demonstrated anti‐breast cancer activity equivalent to that of the original Met‐containing peptide. Therefore, Met2 is not essential for biologic activity and substitution of Lys is synthetically advantageous. Threonine (Thr3) is a nonessential site, and can be substituted with serine (Ser), valine (Val), or alanine (Ala) without significant loss of activity. Hydroxyproline (Hyp), substituted in place of the naturally occurring prolines (Pro4, Pro7), allowed retention of activity and increased stability of the peptide during storage. Replacement of the first Pro (Pro4) with Ser maintains the activity of the peptide, but substitution of Ser for the second Pro (Pro7) abolishes the activity of the peptide. This suggests that the imino acid at residue 7 is important for conformation of the peptide, and the backbone atoms are part of the pharmacophore, but Pro4 is not essential. Valine (Val5) can be substituted only with branched‐chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine or Thr); replacement by d ‐valine or Ala resulted in loss of biologic activity. Thus, for this site, the bulky branched side chain is essential. Asparagine (Asn6) is essential for activity. Substitution with Gln or aspartic acid (Asp), resulted in reduction of biologic activity. Removal of glycine (Gly8) resulted in a loss of activity but nonconservative substitutions can be made at this site without a loss of activity indicating that it is not part of the pharmacophore. Cyclization of the peptide is facilitated by addition of Gln9, but this residue does not occur in AFP nor is it necessary for activity. Gln9 can be replaced with Asn, resulting in a molecule with similar activity. These data indicate that the pharmacophore of the peptide includes side chains of Val5 and Asn6 and backbone atoms contributed by Thr3, Val5, Asn6, Hyp7 and Gly8. Met2 and Gln9 can be modified or replaced. Glu1 can be replaced with charged amino acids, and is not likely to be part of the binding site of the peptide. The results of this study provide information that will be helpful in the rational modification of cyclo[EMTOVNOGQ] to yield peptide analogs and peptidomimetics with advantages in synthesis, pharmacologic properties, and biologic activity.     

Biological activity of silylated amino acid containing substance P analogues

Abstract: The need to replace natural amino acids in peptides with nonproteinogenic counterparts to obtain new medicinal agents has stimulated a great deal of innovation on synthetic methods. Here, we report the incorporation of non‐natural silylated amino acids in substance P (SP), the binding affinity for the two hNK‐1 binding sites and, the potency to stimulate phospholipase C (PLC) and adenylate cyclase of the resulting peptide. We also assess the improvement of their stability towards enzyme degradation. Altogether, we found that replacing glycine with silaproline (Sip) in position 9 of SP leads to a potent analogue exhibiting an increased resistance to angiotensin‐converting enzyme hydrolysis.     

Facile synthesis of Nα‐protected‐l‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acids mediated by polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent in water

Abstract: Hofmann rearrangement of N^α‐Boc‐l ‐Gln‐OH mediated by a polymer‐supported hypervalent iodine reagent poly[(4‐diacetoxyiodo)styrene] (PSDIB) in water afforded N^α‐Boc‐l ‐α,γ‐diaminobutyric acid (Boc‐Dab‐OH, 1 ) in 87% yield. N^α‐Z‐derivative (Z‐Dab‐OH, 2 ) was prepared with PSDIB in 83% yield. Since the reaction of N^α‐Fmoc‐Gln‐OH by this procedure did not proceed because of the insolubility of Fmoc‐Gln‐OH in aqueous media, we synthesized Fmoc‐Dab(Boc)‐OH ( 5 ) from 2 in 54% yield. Polymyxin B heptapeptide (PMBH) which contains four Dab residues was successfully synthesized in a solution‐phase synthesis.     

胃肠术后1号治疗急性弥漫性腹膜炎的研究

目的　探讨胃肠术后 1号治疗急性弥漫性腹膜炎的疗效。方法　测定 2 0例急性弥漫性腹膜炎患者 (随机分为 2组 :对照组 10例 ,治疗组 10例 )血中乳酸、DAO水平。结果　急性弥漫性腹膜炎患者血中乳酸、DAO呈现不同程度升高 ,经治疗随病情好转 ,血中乳酸、DAO呈现不同程度下降 ,而治疗组血中乳酸、DAO下降幅度显著 ,优于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　血中乳酸、DAO在急性弥漫性腹膜炎患者病理过程中起重要作用 ,可作为评估急性弥漫性腹膜炎患者严重程度的指标 ,胃肠术后 1号使乳酸、DAO水平下降 ,促进疾病恢复     

平衡针法对局灶性脑缺血大鼠血清TNF-α、sICAM-1的影响及其相关性的分析

目的 :通过研究缺血性脑卒中大鼠针刺前后的血清TNF α、sICAM 1水平变化 ,探讨缺血性脑损伤机制及平衡针法在缺血性损伤中对脑的保护作用。方法 :将 60只大鼠随机分为空白组、假手术组、模型组、治疗组 ,光化学法诱导局灶性脑缺血模型 ,酶联法 (ELISA)测量血清TNF α、sICAM 1值。结果 :血清TNF α、sICAM 1水平模型组较空白组明显上升 (P <0 .0 0 1) ,平衡针治疗组较模型组有所降低 (P <0 .0 5) ,血清TNF α与sICAM 1呈正相关 (r=0 .83 4,P <0 .0 5)。结论 :局灶性脑缺血大鼠血清TNF α、sICAM 1含量明显上升 ,二者呈正相关。平衡针法治疗可降低其TNF α、sICAM 1水平 ,从一定程度上抑制缺血性脑损伤。     

Dynein抑制剂对卵母细胞体外成熟及cyclinB1 mRNA水平的影响

背景与目的 :胞浆Dynein(动力蛋白)做为微管负极方向的马达蛋白在细胞增殖进程中发挥重要作用。本实验采用原钒酸钠特异抑制Dynein生物活性后,观察卵母细胞体外培养成熟率和cyclinB1基因转录水平变化 ,探讨Dynein功能异常对卵母细胞成熟分裂进程的影响及相关机制。材料与方法 :应用卵母细胞体外培养成熟技术、半定量RT_PCR和单细胞RT_PCR方法 ,分别检测加入Dynein抑制剂前后卵母细胞成熟率和cyclinB1基因转录水平的变化。结果 :12h量效实验结果证实 ,不同浓度原钒酸钠作用后 ,5μmol/L原钒酸钠即可明显降低小鼠卵母细胞成熟率 ,0～400μmol/L卵母细胞成熟率随着剂量的增加而显著减少 ;同时检测发现 ,50～500μmol/L原钒酸钠组卵母细胞cyclinB1mRNA表达呈剂量依赖性增加。时程结果表明 ,卵母细胞与400μmol/L原钒酸钠作用1h以上 ,卵母细胞成熟率明显减少 ;体外分别培养4h或8h后再放入含有原钒酸钠培养基中培养至12h ,仍可明显抑制卵母细胞第一极体排放。400μmol/L原钒酸钠作用后 ,卵母细胞内cyclinB1mRNA时程表达水平与对照组相比...