[Study of gly-proline-containing peptides (PGP and GPGPGP) degradation by aggressive factors in vitro].

PGP, as well as GPGPGP remain stable after 24-hour incubation in a proteolytic environment (in vitro), like equine and rat gastric juice, hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the solution of hydrochloric acid. Perhaps the appearance of PGP's metabolites--PG and GP, that found in the stomachic tissues, is associated with the action of tissue and blood peptidases. Thus, the effects of PGP and GPGPGP cause by the influences both of the peptides and their metabolites, that agree with previously results.

[Effects and mechanism of action of synthetic peptide octarphin].

We have synthesized the peptide TPLVTLFK corresponding to the ß-endorphin fragment 12-19 (the name given by the authors - octarphin), and its analogs (LPLVTLFK, TLLVTLFK, TPLVLLFK, TPLVTLLK, TPLVTLFL). The peptide octarphin was labeled with tritium (the specific activity of 28 Ci/mmol) and its binding to the murine peritoneal macrophages has been studied. [(3)H]Octarphin was found to bind to macrophages with high affinity (K(d) = 2.3 ± 0.2 nM) and specificity. The specific binding of [(3)H]octarphin is inhibited by unlabeled ß-endorphin and selective agonist of non-opioid ß-endorphin receptor synthetic peptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY) (K(i) = 2.7 ± 0.2 and 2.4 ± 0.2 nM respectively) and not inhibited by unlabeled naloxone, α-endorphin, γ-endorphin and [Met(5)]enkephalin (K(i) > 10 µM). Inhibiting activity of unlabeled analogs of octarphin is more then 100 times lower the unlabeled octarphin. Octarphin stimulates activity of murine immunocompetent cells in vitro and in vivo: at the concentration of 1-10 nM enhances the adhesion and spreading of peritoneal macrophages as well as their capacity to digest bacteria of Salmonella typhimurium virulent strain 415 in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of peptide at dose 20 µg/animal on day 7,3 and 1 prior to the isolation of cells increases activity of peritoneal macrophages as well as T- and B-spleen lymphocytes.

[Role of the brain dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems in psychopharmacological effects of ladasten and sydnocarb].

The influence of ladasten and sydnocarb on dopamine and serotonin receptors and the biosynthesis and re-uptake of dopamine and serotonin has been studied. It is established that both drugs do not produce any direct effects on dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptors in rat striatum as well as on serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in rat frontal cortex in vitro. Ladasten in a single dose of 50 mg/kg (i.p.) stimulated ex vivo dopamine biosynthesis and release in striatum, without any influence on serotonin formation neither in striatum nor in frontal cortex. On the contrary, sydnocarb (17.5 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased the level of serotonin synthesis both in striatum and frontal cortex, while not affecting the biosynthesis of dopamine. Both ladasten and sydnocarb inhibited the active transport of dopamine in rat striatal synaptosomes at IC50 = 3.56 microM and 28.66 nM, respectively, but failed to influence the serotonin re-uptake in rat frontal cortex.

[Stress-protective activity of the CH3CO-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-NH2 synthetic peptide (protektin)].

The CH3CO-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-NH2 peptide (the author has named it protectin) was synthesized, and its activity was studied during different stress actions. Protectin was found to normalize the content of corticosterone and adrenalin in adrenal glands and blood after its intranasal administration to rats one day before a cold or heat shock, or hypobaric hypoxia at doses of 1-10 microg/animal and after its intravenous administration just after acute hemorrhage at doses of 0.5-2 microg/animal. The intranasal administration of protectin at doses of 1-10 microg/rat one day before the heat or cold shock was also shown to prevent a change in the content of free histamine and the activity of diamine oxidase in myocardium, which was induced by the dramatic change in the activity of the enzyme after the temperature actions.

[Ligands of glutamate and dopamine receptors evenly labeled with hydrogen isotopes].

A reaction of high-temperature solid-phase catalytic isotope exchange (HSCIE) was studied for the preparation of tritium- and deuterium-labeled ligands of glutamate and dopamine receptors. Tritium-labeled (5S,10R)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclopenten-5,10-imine ([G-(3)H]MK-801) and R(+)-7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline ([G-(3)H]-7-OH-DPAT) were obtained with a specific activity of 210 and 120 Ci/mol, respectively. The isotopomeric distribution of deuterium-labeled ligands was studied using time-of-flight mass-spectrometer MX 5310 (ESI-o-TOF) with electrospray and orthogonal ion injection. Mean deuterium incorporation per ligand molecule was 11.09 and 3.21 atoms for [G-(2)H]MK-801 and [G-(2)H]-7-OH-DPAT, respectively. The isotope label was shown to be distributed all over the ligand molecule. The radioreceptor binding of tritium-labeled ligands [G-(3)H]MK-801 and [G-(3)H]-7-OH-DPAT was analyzed using the brain structure of Vistar rats. It was demonstrated that [G-(3)H]MK-801 specifically binds to hippocampus membranes with K(d) 8.3 +/- 1.4 nM, B(max) being 3345 +/- 300 fmol/mg protein. The [G-(3)H]-7-OH-DPAT ligand specifically binds to rat striatum membranes with K(d) 10.01 +/- 0.91 nM and B(max) 125 +/- 4.5 fmol/mg protein. It was concluded that the HSCIE reaction can be used for the preparation of highly tritium-labeled (+)-MK-801 and 7-OH-DPAT with retention of their physiological activities.

[Stress-protective effect of the KKRR synthetic peptide corresponding to the 15-18 sequence of human adrenocorticotropic hormone].

The activity of the KKRR synthetic peptide corresponding to the 15-18 sequence of human adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and its analogues KKKK, RRRR, RRKK, kKRR, KkRR, KKrR, and KKRr (amino acid residues of the D configuration are designated by small letters) was studied in vivo on rats under cold and heat shock. Intranasal administration of the KKRR peptide at doses of 2-10 microg/animal 1 day before the shock was found to prevent a dramatic increase in the level of corticosterone in rat adrenal glands and blood plasma caused by the temperature effect. Amino acid substitutions in the KKRR peptide were shown to result in an abrupt decrease in its activity. The peptide analogues exhibit a low stress-protective activity and had a low affinity for the ACTH receptor.

[Solid phase reaction of hemoglobin with spillover hydrogen].

The reaction of high-temperature solid-state catalytic isotope exchange (HSCIE) between bovine hemoglobin and spillover hydrogen (SH) was studied. It was shown that, in the field of subunit contact, there is a significant decrease in ability for hydrogen exchange by SH. A comparison of the distribution of the isotope label in the hemoglobin alpha-subunit was carried out for the HSCIE reaction with the hemoglobin complex and with the free alpha-subunit. To this end, enzymatic hydrolysis of protein under the action of trypsin was carried out. The separation of tritium-labeled tryptic peptides was achieved by HPLC. Changes in availability of polypeptide chain fragments caused by complex formation were calculated using a molecular model. The formation of the protein complex was shown to lead to a decrease in the ability of fragments of alpha-subunits MFLSFPTTK (A(32-40)) and VDPVNFK (A(93-99)) for hydrogen replacement by tritium by almost an order of magnitude; hence, their availability to water (1.4 A) twice decreased on the average. The decrease in ability to an exchange of hydrogen by spillover tritium on the formation of hemoglobin complex was shown to be connected with a reduction in availability of polypeptide chain fragments participating in spatial interactions of subunits with each other. Thus, the HSCIE reaction can be used not only for the preparative obtaining of tritium-labeled compounds, but also for determining the contact area in the formation of protein complexes.

[A comparative analysis of distribution of glyprolines administered by various routes].

The distribution of the glyprolines Pro-Gly-Pro and Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro (Selanc) was analyzed and compared in tissues of rat organs after different ways of their administration using the peptides uniformly labeled with tritium. Comparative data on changes in concentrations of the peptides in the rat organs after their intraperitoneal, intranasal, intragastric, and intravenous administration are given. The intranasal administration of both peptides was shown to be optimal for the delivery of glyproline molecules in the CNS. A high affinity of the studied glyprolines for gastric tissues was found for all the ways of their administration. We suggest that a high efficiency of action of glyprolines on homeostasis of the gastric mucous tunic was partially provided by accumulation of these peptides (to high concentrations) in gastric tissues.

[Interaction of the synthetic immunomodulatory dipeptide bestim with murine macrophages and thymocytes].

The tritium-labeled dipeptide bestim (gamma-D-Glu-L-Trp) with a specific activity of 45 Ci/mmol was obtained by high-temperature solid-state catalytic isotope exchange. It was found that [3H]bestim binds with a high affinity to murine peritoneal macrophages (Kd 2.1 +/- 0.1 nM) and thymocytes (Kd 3.1 +/- 0.2 nM), as well as with plasma membranes isolated from these cells (Kd 18.6 +/- 0.2 and 16.7 +/- 0.3 nM, respectively). The specific binding of [3H]bestim to macrophages and thymocytes was inhibited by the unlabeled dipeptide thymogen (L-Glu-L-Trp) (Ki 0.9 +/- 0.1 and 1.1 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively). After treatment with trypsin, macrophages and thymocytes lost the ability to bind [3H]bestim. Bestim in the concentration range of 10(-10) to 10(-6) M reduced the adenylate cyclase activity in the membranes of murine macrophages and thymocytes.

[Binding of beta-endorphin and its fragments to the non-opiod receptor of murine peritoneal macrophages].

The tritium-labeled selective agonist of the nonopioid beta-endorphin receptor the decapeptide immunorphin ([3H]SLTCLVKGFY) with a specific activity of 24 Ci/mmol was prepared. It was shown that [3H]immunorphin binds with a high affinity to the non-opioid beta-endorphin receptor of mouse peritoneal macrophages (Kd 2.4 +/- 0.1 nM). The specific binding of [3H]immunorphin to macrophages was inhibited by unlabeled beta-endorphin (Ki of the [3H]immunorphin-receptor complex 2.9 +/- 0.2 nM) and was not inhibited by unlabeled naloxone, alpha-endorphin, gamma-endorphin, and [Met5]enkephalin (Ki > 10 microM). Thirty fragments of beta-endorphin were synthesized, and their ability to inhibit the specific binding of [3H]immunorphin to macrophages was studied. It was found that the shortest peptide having practically the same inhibitory activity as beta-endorphin is its fragment 12-19 (Ki 3.1 +/- 0.3 nM).

[Regulatory peptides and psychomotor development in infants].

Regulatory peptides (RP) are an important homeostatic factor. The maternal organism and placenta are substantial sources of RP for fetus during the prenatal period. Not only endogenous, but also exogenous RP play an important role during early postnatal period. In this study, the concentration of exogenous RP (casomorphins-7) and the activity of peptidases (enkephalinases) in the serum of breastfed and bottle-fed infants were estimated. Possible interrelation between these two parameters and the psychomotor development (PMD) of infants were evaluated. Using specially developed RIA, the investigators estimated the presence of human and bovine casomorphins immunoreactivity (CMir) in the serum of breastfed and bottle-fed infants. A distinct correlation of CMir with PMD was demonstrated. The activity of RP-degrading serum enzymes also correlated with PMD level. The role of endo- and exogenous peptides in normal PMD process and in the pathogenesis of early child autism is discussed in the article.

[Stress-protective effect of the synthetic ACTH-like peptide leucocorticotropin].

We found that the tritium-labeled synthetic ACTH-like octapeptide leucocorticotropin corresponding to the 81-88 sequence of the precursor of human interleukin-1alpha ([3H]GKVLKKRR) is bound by the ACTH receptor of rat adrenal cortex with a high affinity and specificity (Kd 2.2 +/- 0.1 nM). This peptide was shown to exert no effect on the adenylate cyclase activity of the membranes of rat adrenal cortex in the concentration range from 1 to 1000 nM. Leucocorticotropin administration three times at doses of 10-20 microg/animal did not change the level of hydroxycorticosteroids (11-HOCS) in the rat adrenal glands in the absence of temperature action. At the same time, the peptide abolishes (at a dose of 20 microg/animal, three times) or significantly decreases (at a dose of 10 microg/animal, three times) the dramatic increase in the 11-HOCS content in the adrenal glands occurring in the case of cold or heat shock. Thus, leucocorticotropin normalizes the 11-HOCS level in the rat adrenal cortex during stress. The stress-protective effect of the peptide is mediated through the ACTH receptor.

[Reculatory fragments of collagen in gastric mucosa homeostasis].

The new glyproline family was distinguished from the regulatory peptides recently. It includes the simplest proline- and glycine-containing peptides: PG, GP, PGP, and respective peptides with hydroxylated proline residues. Glyproline's bioactivity covers many important systems of the body including suppression of some reaction in the blood coagulation and platelet aggregation and gastric mucosal maintenance. It was shown that PGP, PG and GP have a wide spectrum of antiulcer activity with respect to gastric mucosal damages of various aetiology. GHyp and HypGP show also antiulcer action. In vivo glyprolines being fragments of collagen may be generated during synthesis and catabolism of collagen. It is well known that approximately 10-60% of newly synthesized collagen degrade intracellularly with succeeding secretion of small peptides composed of less than 5 aminoacid residues out of cells. Different simplest proline and hydroxyproline fragments of glyprolines are revealed in various type of collagen: GP, GHyp, PG, PPG, PGP, PHypG., GPHyp, GPP, GPG, GHypP, HypGP. It is possible that these fragments may be also secreted out of cells during the stage of degradation of newly synthesized collagen. We showed that the intragastric (per oral) introduction of hydrolyzed gelatin, having 20 small peptide fragments, including PGP and HypGP, also increase gastric stability showing protective and therapeutic antiulcer effect. The corresponding receptors for glyprolines are not completely identified yet but it may be supposed that PGP, GP and other glyprolines interact with the same receptors with which the III type collagen is binding with platelet's receptors. It is supposed that octapeptide sequence KPGGluPGPK of collagen is rather important for binding with receptor. When this sequence in the structure of collagen's molecule binds with the receptor, platelet aggregation is induced. Free octapeptide blocks the receptor and inhibits platelet aggregations. Qualitatve characteristics of parameters of inhibition with intact octapeptide and glyproline, as well as the receptor's structure--that's our concern for the nearest future.

[Evenly tritium-labeled peptides and their in vivo and in vitro biodegradation].

Biologically active peptides evenly labeled with tritium were used for studying the in vitro and in vivo biodegradation of the peptides. Tritium-labeled peptides with a specific radioactivity of 50-150 Ci/mmol were obtained by high temperature solid phase catalytic isotope exchange (HSCIE) with spillover tritium. The distribution of the isotope label among all amino acid residues of these peptides allows the simultaneous determination of practically all possible products of their enzymatic hydrolysis. The developed analytical method includes extraction of tritium-labeled peptides from organism tissues and chromatographic isolation of individual labeled peptides from the mixture of degradation products. The concentrations of a peptide under study and the products of its biodegradation were calculated from the results of liquid scintillation counting. This approach was used for studying the pathways of biodegradation of the heptapeptide TKPRPGP (Selank) and the tripeptide PGP in blood plasma. The pharmacokinetics of Selank, an anxiolytic peptide, was also studied in brain tissues using the intranasal in vivo administration of this peptide. The concentrations of labeled peptides were determined, and the pentapeptide TKPRP, tripeptide TKP, and dipeptides RP and GP were shown to be the major products of Selank biodegradation. The study of the biodegradation of the heptapeptide MEHFPGP (Semax) in the presence of nerve cells showed that the major products of its biodegradation are the pentapeptide HFPGP and tripeptide PGP. The enkephalinase activity of blood plasma was studied with the use of evenly tritium-labeled [Leu]enkephalin. A high inhibitory effect of Semax on blood plasma enkephalinases was shown to arise from its action on aminopeptidases. The method, based on the use of evenly tritium-labeled peptides, allows the determination of peptide concentrations and the activity of enzymes involved in their degradation on a tg scale of biological samples both in vitro and in vivo.

[Short peptide fragments with antiulcer activity from a collagen hydrolysate].

A peptide acidic hydrolysate of collagen (PHC) was obtained under conditions (4 N HCl) ensuring the predominant formation of short peptides, glyprolines. They were separated and their antiulcer activity was studied. Thirty individual peptides with molecular masses of 174-420 amu were isolated from the PHC by HPLC. The PHC was shown to predominantly contain 2- to 4-aa peptides, including PG, GP, and PGP. Experiments on rats demonstrated that, on intragastric administration at a dose of 1 mg/kg, PHC enhances the stability of the gastric mucosa to the action of ulcerogenic factors, such as ethanol and stress, and exhibits a protecting antiulcer effect. Even a lesser dose (0.1 mg/kg), which reduced ulcer area twofold, was effective in the stress model of ulcer formation. The intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of PHC at a dose of 1 mg/kg was found to exhibit a therapeutic effect in the acetate model of ulcer formation.

[Solid phase isotope exchange with spillover hydrogen in amino acids, peptides, and proteins].

We summarize here information on the theoretical and experimental study of high-temperature (150-200 degrees C) solid phase catalytic isotope exchange (HTSPCIE) carried out with amino acids, peptides, and proteins under the action of spillover hydrogen. Main specific features of the HTSPCIE reaction, its mechanism, and its use for studying spatial interactions in polypeptides are discussed. A virtually complete absence of racemization makes this reaction a valuable preparative method. The main regularities of the HTSPCIE reaction with the participation of spillover tritium have been revealed in the case of peptides and proteins, and the dependence of reactivity of peptide fragments on the spatial organization of their molecules has been studied. An important peculiarity of this reaction is that HTSPCIE proceeds at 150-200 degrees C with a high degree of chirality retention in amino acids and peptides. This is provided by its reaction mechanism, which consists in a synchronous one-center substitution at the saturated carbon atom characterized by the formation of pentacoordinated carbon and a three-center bond between the carbon and the incoming and outgoing hydrogen atoms.

[Pharmacokinetics of glyprolines (PGP) upon intragastric administration]. / Issledovanie farmakokinetiki gliprolina-PGP- pri vnutrizheludochnom vvedenii.

The pharmacokinetics of glyprolines upon intragastric administration in rats was studied by monitoring the content of tritium-labeled PGP in the blood plasma and protein, in organs (for 5 h), and urine (for 8 h). The maximum radioactivity (2.25% of the introduced level) in the blood plasma was observed 15 min after administration of [3H]-PGP. Then, the radioactivity level gradually decreased, but even in 5 h it exceeded 1%. In contrast, the radioactivity of deposited protein gradually increased. The content of labeled PGP and its metabolites in organs was much lower than in the blood. The radioactivity 15 min after administration was as follows (%): intestine, 1.4; stomach, 0.1; liver, 0.09; brain, heart, and kidney, < 0.05; in 5 h, the radioactivity level was below 0.02% (except for intestine, where it was still greater than 0.1%). No labeled PGP or its metabolites were found in the urine during the 8-h period of observations. It is not excluded that glyprolines introduced with PGP are involved in the synthesis of new peptides and proteins, including collagen.

[The binding of Semax, ACTH 4-10 heptapeptide, to plasma membranes of the rat forebrain basal nuclei and its biodegradation]. / Sviazyvanie analoga ACTH-(4-10)-geptapeptida Semaks s plazmaticheskimi membranami bazal'nykh iader perednego mozga krysy i ego biodegradatsiia.

The binding characteristics of the peptide Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) to plasma membranes of basal nuclei of the rat forebrain and the dynamics of its degradation during its incubation with these membranes were studied. Binding of the homogeneously labeled [G-3H]Semax was shown to be time-dependent, specific, and reversible. Specific binding of the heptapeptide depended on calcium ions and was characterized by the dissociation constant of the ligand-receptor complex Kd = 2.41 +/- 1.02 x 10(-9) M and by the concentration of binding sites Bmax = 33.5 +/- 7.9 x 10(-15) mol/mg of protein. A method of studying Semax biodegradation in the presence of plasma membranes of rat brain was developed. It is based on the use of the peptide homogeneously labeled with tritium and on an HPLC analysis with UV detection at 220 and 254 nm of the peptide fragments formed. The half-life of Semax in the presence of the plasma membranes was demonstrated to be longer than 1 h. Dipeptidylaminopeptidases are considered to be the main enzymes responsible for its biodegradation; they successively cleave Semax to the HFPGP pentapeptide and the PGP tripeptide. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.

[Leu-enkephalin homogeneously labeled with tritium in studying the Selank inhibiting effect on the enkephalin-degrading enzymes of human plasma]. / Odnorodno mechennyi tritiem [Leu]énkefalin v issledovanii ingibiruiushchego deistviia Selanka na énkefalindegradiruiushchie fermenty plazmy krovi.

A method of analysis of enkephalinase activity in blood plasma based on the application of Leu-enkephalin generally labeled with tritium at all its amino acid residues was developed. The method allows the simultaneous estimation of activity of several peptidases in microquantities of tissues. [G-3H]Leu-enkephalin was prepared by the method of solid phase catalytic isotope exchange (120 Ci/mmol) and subjected to proteolysis by the treatment with blood plasma. The resulting radioactive metabolites were separated by HPLC in the presence of the mixture of unlabeled fragments of Leu-enkephalin as internal standards. It was shown that aminopeptidases, dipeptidylaminopeptidases, and dipeptidylcarboxypeptidases respond for approximately 80%, 2%, and 10% of the total enzymatic activity, respectively. The new pathway of degradation of Leu-enkephalin by carboxypeptidase that provides for approximately 6% of the total enkephalin-degrading activity was discovered. Bestatin was shown to predominantly inhibit aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, whereas Selank is more specific for carboxypeptidases and dicarboxypeptidases. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.

[Highly stable regulatory oligopeptides: experience and applications]. / Vysokostabil'nye reguliatornye oligopeptidy: opyt i perspektivy primeneniia.

The most stable regulatory peptides (RP) including the new family of RP (glyprolines) and derivatives of hybrid peptide MEHFPGP are characterized. High ability of glyprolines to penetrate into the blood-stream through the gastrointestinal tract is demonstrated. Antiulcer, antithrombotic and antidiabetic activities of glyprolines were discovered in experiments on white rats. The activity of oligopeptides PGP, PG and GP is compared. Mechanisms of glycoprolines activities and feasibility of their administration with connective tissue food proteins are discussed. Thus, glyprolines are perspective drugs for treatment of gastric ulcer, correction of hemostasis and thrombosis suppression prepared for preclinical trial.