[Prolonged stimulation of hematopoiesis in mice with chemotactic peptide N-f-met-leu-phe-gly incorporated into liposomes].

The experimental study of macrophage-activating chemotactic peptide N-f-met-leu-phe-gly (chemotaxic peptide), as well as its liposomal form, on the proliferation and migration of colony-forming precursor cells in mice was carried out. The study revealed that the subcutaneous injection of chemotaxic peptide into mice in a dose of 20 Mg led to a pronounced, but short-term increase in the proliferation of such precursor cells in the marrow: as shown by the hydroxyurea "suicide" method, a day after the injection almost 50% of hematopoietic stem cells entered the S-phase of the cellular cycle; in addition, an increase in the content of colony-forming precursor cells in the peripheral blood and the spleen was observed. The injection of chemotaxic peptide, incapsulated into liposomes, led to a considerable increase in the duration of the stimulating effect, manifested by the maintenance of a stable proliferative state of the pool of hematopoietic stem cells during 4 weeks (the term of observation). This effect could be attributed to the formation of the liposomal "depot" and the gradual liberation of chemotaxic peptide from it.

[Kinetics and mechanism of peptide synthesis in solution]. / Kinetika i mekhanizm sinteza peptidov v rastvore.

The kinetics of the reaction of Boc-Xaa fluorophenyl esters (where Xaa = Ala, Val, Phe, Ser, Leu, Gly, Met, Pro, or Ile) with leucinamide was studied measuring changes in the fluorescence emission at 375 nm of the fluorophenyl chromophore accompanying the reaction. It was found that the experimental kinetic data couldn't be described by a simple scheme of the second order reaction. The measurements of the kinetic parameters of the reaction at various initial concentrations of reagents indicated that the reaction rate can be expressed as: v = kCNaCAEb, where k is the reaction rate constant, CN is the concentration of leucinamide, and LeuNH2, CAE is the concentration of fluorophenyl ester. The a and b reaction orders were close to 1/2 and 3/2 for Xaa = Ala, Val, Phe, Ser, or Leu, 1/2 and 1 for Gly, Met, or Pro, and 1 and 2 for Ile. The experimental equations for the reaction rate can theoretically be derived from a single scheme of chain reactions with various deactivation ways for active intermediates. The English version of the paper.

Size-exclusion chromatography of protected synthetic polypeptide tandems in an organic solvent.

A novel method for analytical and preparative size exclusion chromatography of large water-insoluble protected peptides in an organic solvent was developed. This method was applied to analysis and separation of protected synthetic peptide tandem repeats and to a control of the reaction of peptide fragment coupling. Columns containing Toyopearl HW-40, HW-50; HW-55 and HW-60 gels of Fine grade were used, and the selectivity of each sorbent, as well as the chromatographic behaviour of the peptides on them, were examined. Separation ranges of these gels applied to separation of protected peptides in DMF were shown to be much smaller (ca. 400-14,000 Da) than those of the same gels applied to protein separations in water buffers (100-1,000,000 Da). An initial evaluation of efficiency of Toyopearl HW Superfine grade gels with respect to similar separations was performed.

[Gel filtration of protected synthetic peptides in dimethylformamide]. / Gel'-fil'tratsiia zashchishchennykh sinteticheskikh peptidov v dimetilformamide.

For large water-insoluble protected peptides, a novel method of analytical and preparative size exclusion liquid chromatography on Toyopearl HW-40, HW-50, HW-55, and HW-60 gels was proposed, with DMF as an eluent. The selectivity and molecular mass ranges of these gels were determined for separation of protected peptides in DMF. The molecular mass ranges of Toyopearl HW gels for protected peptides in DMF were found to differ significantly from those for peptides and proteins in aqueous buffer solutions.

[p-Sulfotetrafluorophenyl hydrophilic activated esters of amino acids in peptide synthesis]. / p-sul'fotetraftorfenilovye gidrofil'nye aktivirovannye éfiry aminokislot v peptidnom sinteze.

Highly reactive hydrophilic (i.e., water-soluble) p-sulfotetrafluorophenyl esters (Tfs esters) are proposed for peptide synthesis in aqueous and aqueous-organic media, as well as for protein and peptide partial synthesis in an aqueous medium. These esters can serve as a basis for creating a series of protein modifying reagents. As they are analogs of the widely used pentafluorophenyl esters, the Tfs esters possess a high reactivity coupled with good stability during storage. The expression for the reaction rate (for substrates AA1 and AA2) is shown to be v = k[Boc-AA1-OTfs][H-AA2-NH2]0.5 for both water and DMF, i.e., the reaction is not a simple second-order reaction. The reaction rate in water is only slightly lower than that in DMF.

Interactions of (Ala*Ala*Lys*Pro)n and (Lys*Lys*Ser*Pro)n with DNA. Proposed coiled-coil structure of AlgR3 and AlgP from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The proteins, AlgR3 and AlgP, are involved in the regulation of alginate synthesis in Pseudomonas. They contain multiple repeats of Ala*Ala*Lys*Pro as do several other proteins that resemble histones. The interactions of synthesis oligopeptides composed of repeated Ala*Ala*Lys*Pro or Lys*Lys*Ser*Pro units with DNA were studied by fluorescence of the Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) group attached to the N-termini of the peptides. DNA quenching of the Fmoc fluorescence of the peptides was used to estimate the apparent association constants for the interaction of Fmoc(AAKP)nOH (n = 2, 4, 8, 18, 32) and of Fmoc (KKSP)nOH (n = 2, 4, 8, 16, 20, 32) with DNA. The Fmoc(AAKP)nOH peptides bind to DNA only at low ionic strength; the Fmoc(KKSP)n OH peptides interact with DNA at both low (0.05 M KCl) and high (0.2 M KCl) salt. At low ionic strength an increase in the number of the repeat units causes an increase in the apparent association constant up to approximately 2 x 10(6) M-1 for both types of peptides at N congruent to 24. The insertion of an AAKTA unit into the middle of the Fmoc(AAKP)8OH peptide increases its affinity to DNA. We propose a model of (AAKP)n and of its interaction with DNA. The repeat unit consists of a single turn of alpha-helix followed by a bend necessitated by Pro. The resultant coiled-coil forms a right-handed superhelix with 10 AAKPs per repeat distance of approximately 33 A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetics of peptide synthesis studied by fluorescence of fluorophenyl esters.

The kinetics of the reaction of Boc-alanine-trifluorophenyl, Boc-alanine-tetrafluorophenyl, Boc-alanine-pentafluorophenyl, and Boc-alanine-p-chlorotetrafluorophenyl esters (BocAlaOTrf, BocAlaOTfp, BocAlaOPfp, and BocAlaTfc, respectively) with leucine amide and with valine methyl ester have been measured using changes in fluorophenyl chromophore emission at 375 nm. The kinetic data cannot be well fit with a simple second-order reaction scheme. Measurements of the reaction kinetics at different concentrations of the reagents showed that the expression for the reaction rate is V = kC(N)0.5C(AE)1.5, in which k is the reaction rate constant, CN is the concentration of either LeuNH2 or ValOCH3, and CAE is the concentration of the fluorophenyl ester. This reaction equation indicates a complex, probably chain-like, reaction mechanism. The order of reactivity for these active esters with ValOCH3 is BocAlaOTfc > BocAlaOPfp > BocAlaOTfp > BocAlaTrf. The apparent rate constant, k, for the reaction with LeuNH2 is higher than that for the reaction with ValOCH3.

p-Chlorotetrafluorophenyl esters of N-protected amino acids.

p-Chlorotetrafluorophenyl (Tfc) esters of protected amino acids and peptides are more reactive than are the well known pentafluorophenyl (Pfp) esters. Two reagents, p-chlorotetrafluorophenyltrifluoroacetate (Tfc-OTfa) and di-(p-chlorotetrafluorophenyl)carbonate (di-Tfc-carbonate), can be used for their syntheses, thereby avoiding use of the allergic dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. This is especially important for bulk preparations. Many Fmoc- and Boc-amino acid-OTfc esters have been synthesized and characterized. The hexadecameric tandem repeat H-(AlaAlaLysPro)4-OH was synthesized using di-Tfc-carbonate for the preparation of Tfc-esters.

Synthesis and properties of the peptide corresponding to the mutant form of the leucine zipper of the transcriptional activator GCN4 from yeast.

A 33 membered polypeptide corresponding to the leucine zipper region of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 was synthesized by solid phase chemical synthesis and characterized. Asparagine in the hydrophobic core of the molecule is replaced by valine in the synthetic variant. The correctness of amino acid sequence of the preparation is corroborated by direct sequencing. High-speed equilibrium ultracentrifugation, ultraviolet circular dichroism spectroscopy and scanning microcalorimetry have been employed to demonstrate that in solution the peptide forms a highly stable triple-stranded alpha-helical coiled coil. The stability of the mutant form is 40 degrees C higher than the dimeric form of natural peptide under similar conditions. It was proposed that location of some polar groups in the 'a' and 'd' positions of natural two-stranded coiled coils may be regarded as protection against alternative triple- and multistranded conformations.

[Fluorescence monitoring of solid-phase peptide synthesis using a quartz reactor-cuvette]. / Fluorestsentnyi kontrol' tverdofaznogo sinteza peptidov s primeneniem kvartsevogo reaktora-kiuvety.

The quartz reactor-cuvette for fluorescent monitoring of the solid phase peptide synthesis consists of a 10 mm diameter quartz tube jacketed in a 14 x 14 mm orthogonal holder and equipped with chemically inert adapters. This allows to use the reactor with almost any standard fluorimeter. Details of the construction are presented. Fluorescence spectra of Fmoc-group, both in solution and on the solid support, are given; effects of concentration quenching of the fluorescence are studied.

[Quantitative determination of the accessible surface of globular proteins by tritium planigraphy]. / Kolichestvennoe opredelenie dostupnoi poverkhnosti globuliarnykh belkov metodom tritievoi planigrafii.

At the last time the term "accessible surface" is used for a description of protein structure. The tritium planigraphy was used for quantitative detection of the accessible surface. The experimental dependence of an interaction probability of the tritium atoms with globular proteins with calculated accessible surface areas was obtained. The method was proposed on the basis of the information about the reactivity of amino acids residues and was used for the determination of an accessible surface of parvalbumin III of pike.

Noncovalent complex between domain AB and domains CD*EF of parvalbumin.

The interaction between domain AB and domains CD*EF of pike parvalbumin III has been studied by intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy. In the presence of Ca2+ ions, parvalbumin fragment 38-108 containing two calcium binding sites interacts with the short peptide 1-37 with association constant 10(5.3 +/- 0.5) M-1. Removal of Ca2+ ions results in the disappearance of the interaction. The affinity of the complex of the two fragments for calcium is 50-times higher than the affinity of the isolated fragment 38-108, but slightly lower than that of the intact protein.

[Modeling of alpha-superhelical proteins. Selection of sequence, synthesis, and properties]. / Modelirovanie alpha-superspiral'nykh belkov. Vybor posledovatel'nosti, sintez i svoistva.

An analysis of the alpha-tropomyosin primary structure suggests a periodic sequence able to form an alpha-superhelical conformation. A repeating unit (the heptapeptide monomer) was obtained by sequential synthesis in solution using pentafluorophenyl esters of the N-protected amino acids. The polyheptapeptide (Glu-Lys-Lys-Leu-Glu-Glu-Ala)n with an average molecular weight 6500 has been synthesized by polymerization of the heptamer. It is shown that the polymer product forms a stable alpha-superhelix at acidic pH in water solution.

Synthesis and kinetic characterisation of omega-guanidinocarbonic acid ethyl esters as trypsin substrates.

Aliphatic omega-guanidinocarbonic acid ethyl esters of different chain length (C3-C6) were synthesized and characterized as 4-toluenesulfonates. The kinetic parameters of the trypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis indicate that the ethyl ester of delta-guanidinovaleric acid is the most effective substrate in this series. The Km value of this compound is in the same order of magnitude as those of arginine-containing ester substrates like N alpha-benzoylarginine ethyl ester (BAEE). However, kcat is decreased by approximately two orders of magnitude.

Partial molar volumes of polypeptides and their constituent groups in aqueous solution over a broad temperature range.

The partial molar volumes of various compounds that model protein constituent groups, such as tripeptides (Gly-X-Gly, where X = Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Met, His, Ser), homopeptides (Glyn, n = 3,4,5), and simple organic analogues of amino acid side chains (methanol, acetamide, propanamide, acetic acid, propanoic acid, n-butanamine, n-butanamine nitrate, n-propylguanidine nitrate, 4-methylphenol), have been determined in aqueous solution with a vibrational densimeter in the temperature range of 5-85 degrees C. The partial molar volumes of amino acid side chains and the peptide unit were estimated from the data obtained. Assuming additivity of component groups, the partial molar volumes of polypeptide chains of several proteins over a broad temperature range were calculated. The partial molar volume functions of four proteins (myoglobin, cytochrome C, ribonuclease A, lysozyme) were compared with those determined experimentally for the unfolded and native forms of these proteins. It has been shown that the average deviation of the calculated functions from the experimental ones does not exceed 3% over the temperature range studied.

[Ca-inhibited binding of melittin with parvalbumin. A new role for parvalbumins?]. / Ingibiruemoe ionami Ca sviazyvanie melittina parval'buminom. Novaia rol' dlia parval'buminov?

It was found that pike parvalbumins pI 4.2 and 5.0 bind amphiphilic peptide melittin extracted from bee venom in an extraordinary Ca-dependent manner: in apo-state the protein forms a tight equimolar complex with melittin (Ka = 10(6) M-1 at 18 degrees C); in Ca- (and Mg-) loaded state it does not take place. Heating of the protein up to temperatures above the denaturation temperature of apo-parvalbumin does not change the stoichiometry of the complex but increases its association constant by an order of magnitude (Ka = 1.2.10(7) M-1 at 44 degrees C). Isolated Ca-binding domain of parvalbumin, 38-108, retains the ability for Ca-inhibited binding of equimolar quantities of melittin. The possible function of parvalbumin in vivo is suggested: Ca-inhibited interactions with some intracellular components.

[Dipentafluorophenyl carbonate--a reagent for peptide synthesis]. / Dipentaftorfenilkarbonat--reagent dlia peptidnogo sinteza.

Dipentafluorophenylcarbonate, belonging to transesterifiying reagents, has been prepared and used for the synthesis of pentafluorophenyl esters of amino acids. In contrast to many other reagents of the kind, its preparation is simple, it is highly reactive and at the same time stable upon storage.

[Synthesis of tetracontapeptide--a hypothetical evolutionary precursor of calcium-binding proteins. I. Synthesis of (1-9), (10-14), (15-20), (21-26), (29-33), (34-40) fragments]. / Sintez tetrakontapeptida--gipoteticheskogo évoliutsionnogo predshestvennika kal'tsiisviazyvaiushchikh belkov. I. Sintez fragmentov (1-9), (10-14), (15-20), (21-26), (29-33), (34-40).

Fragments (1-9), (10-14), (15-20), (21-26), (29-33) and (34-40) of a tetracontapeptide hypothetical ancestor of calcium-binding proteins were synthesised with the use of pentafluorophenyl esters. Formation of a succinimide derivative was detected during synthesis of fragment (15-20) containing Asp(OBzl)-Gly sequence. To avoid this side process, tert-butylprotecting group was used instead of benzyl group. alpha-Carboxyls of C-terminal amino acids were protected by phenacyl group.

[Synthesis of tetracontapeptide--a hypothetical evolutionary precursor of calcium-binding proteins. II. Condensation of fragments]. / Sintez tetrakontapeptida--gipoteticheskogo évoliutsionnogo predshestvennika kal'tsiisviazyvaiushchikh belkov. II. Kondensatsiia fragmentov.

A tetracontapeptide was obtained by condensation of synthetic fragments (see the preceding paper) with the use of pentafluorophenyl esters as well as with carbodiimide and hydroxybenzotriazole. Racemization during fragment condensation was 1-2 per cent. Deblocking of the protected tetracontapeptide was carried out by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid and hydrogen fluoride with thioanisole. The obtained peptide was purified by gel-chromatography and HPLC.