Properties and Activity of Peptide Derivatives of ACE2 Cellular Receptor and Their Interaction with SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Receptor-Binding Domain.

The aim of this work was to design and characterize peptides based on the α-helices h1 and h2 of the ACE2 receptor, forming the interaction interface between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and the cellular ACE2 receptor. Monomeric and heterodimeric peptides connected by disulfide bonds at different positions were synthesized. Solubility, RBD-binding affinity, and peptide helicity were experimentally measured, and molecular dynamics simulation was performed in various solvents. It was established that the preservation of the helical conformation is a necessary condition for the binding of peptides to RBD. The peptides have a low degree of helicity and low affinity for RBD in water. Dimeric peptides have a higher degree of helicity than monomeric ones, probably due to the mutual influence of helices. The degree of helicity of the peptides in trifluoroethanol is the highest; however, for in vitro studies, the most suitable solvent is a water-ethanol mixture.

[Cardiometabolic efficacy and toxicological evaluation of a pharmacological galanin receptor agonist]. / Kardiometabolicheskaia éffektivnost' i toksikologicheskaia kharakteristika farmakologicheskogo agonista retseptorov galanina.

The goal of this study was to examine effects of a novel galanin receptor agonist GalR1-3 [bAla14, His15]-galanine 2-15 (G), obtained by automatic solid-phase synthesis, on the metabolic state of the area at risk and the size of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in rats in vivo and evaluate its toxicity in BALB /c mice. In anesthetized rats, regional ischemia was simulated by coronary artery occlusion and then coronary blood flow was restored. The peptide G was administered intravenously (i.v.) with a bolus after a period of regional ischemia in the dose range of 0.25-3.0 mg/kg. The sizes of MI and the activities of creatine kinase-MB (СK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in blood plasma were estimated. The effect of administration of the optimal dose of G (1.0 mg/kg) on myocardial content of adenine nucleotides (AN), phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine (Cr) and lactate was studied. I.v. administration of G to rats at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg slightly affected hemodynamic parameters, but reduced MI size by 40% and decreased plasma LDH and CK-MB activity by the end of reperfusion compared to control. These effects were accompanied by a significant improvement in energy state of area at risk (AAR) - an increase in myocardial content of ATP, åAN, PCr and åCr, and combined with a decrease in myocardial lactate level compared with the control. Toxicity of peptide G was studied with a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5-3.0% solution of the peptide substance to mice. The absence of signs of intoxication and death of animals after G injection in the maximum possible dose did not allow determining the value of the average lethal dose. The results indicate therapeutic potential of the peptide G for preventing myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury and feasibility for further study of its pharmacological properties and mechanisms of action.

[Protective action of a modified fragment of galanine in rats with doxorubicin-induced heart failure]. / Zashchitnoe deistvie modifitsirovannogo fragmenta galanina pri serdechnoi nedostatochnosti u krys, vyzvannoi doksorubitsinom.

The use of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) is limited due to its cardiotoxic effect. Using the method of automatic solid-phase peptide synthesis, we obtained a synthetic agonist of galanin receptors GalR1-3 [RAla14, His15]-galanine (2-15) (G), exhibiting cardioprotective properties. It was purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The homogeneity and structure of the peptide was confirmed by HPLC, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of G on the metabolism and cardiac function of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) caused by Dox. Experiments were performed using male Wistar rats weighing 280-300 g. The control group of animals (C) was intraperitoneally treated with saline for 8 weeks; the doxorubicin group (D) of rats was intraperitoneally treated with Doх; the group of Doх + peptide G (D+G) received intraperitoneally injections of Doх and subcutaneously injections of peptide G; the peptide G group (G) was subcutaneously treated with G. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activity of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were determined in blood plasma; the animals were weighed, and cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography. At the end of the experiments, the hearts were used for determination of metabolites and assessment of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. After 8-week treatment, animals of group D were characterized by severe heart failure, the lack of weight gain and an increase in plasma TBARS concentration and CK-MB activity. These disorders were accompanied by a decrease in the content of myocardial high-energy phosphates, a reduction inmitochondrial respiratory parameters, accumulation of lactate and glucose in the heart, and disturbances in the metabolism of alanine and glutamic and aspartic acids. Coadministration of G and Dox prevented the increase in plasma CK-MB activity and significantly reduced the plasma TBARS concentration. At the end of the experiments animals of group D+G had higher myocardial energy state and the respiratory control index of mitochondria than animals of group D, there was a decrease in anaerobic glycolysis and no changes in the amino acid content compared to the control. The peptide G significantly improved the parameters of cardiac function and caused weight gain in animals of group D+G in comparison with these parameters in group D. The obtained results demonstrate the ability of a novel agonist of galanin receptors GalR1-3 to attenuate Dox-indiced cardiotoxicity.

Effects of Deltorphin II and Its Retroenantio Analog on Cardiac Tolerance to Ischemia and Reperfusion.

Selective agonist of δ2-opioid receptors deltorphin II and its retroenantio analog (0.12 mg/kg intravenously) were preventively injected to male Wistar rats 15 min prior to 45-min coronary occlusion or 5 min before 120-min reperfusion. Administration of deltorphin II before artery occlusion and before reperfusion decreased the infarct size/area at risk ratio. Deltorphin II prevented the appearance of ischemia-provoked ventricular arrhythmias and exerted no effect on HR and BP (systolic and diastolic). The retroenantio analog of deltorphin II produced no antiarrhythmic or infarct-limiting effects, but reduced HR without affecting BP. Deltorphin II can be viewed as a promising prototype for a medicinal remedy to treat acute myocardial infarction.

[Study of neuroprotective, antihypoxic and antiamnesic effects of new mixture of tripeptides].

A new mixture of tripeptides (NMT: H-Lys-Asp-Glu-OH, H-Asp-Glu-Pro-OH, H-Asp-Glu-Arg-OH) in doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg per day produces clearly pronounced neuroprotective effect in rats with brain ischemia and decreases neurologic deficiency 1.1 times more effectively than reference drug semax. NMT (10, 50 and 150 mg/kg) had marked antihypoxic effect on mice in hermetic and altitude chamber. NMT in doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg was more effective than semax in hermetic chamber (1.3 and 1.5 times, respectively) and in a dose of 150 mg/kg in altitude chamber (1.9 times). NMT (50 and 150 mg/kg) had also marked antiamnesic effect on model amnesia caused by scopolamine in rats and was more effective (1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively) than semax in equal doses. NMT (50 and 150 mg/kg) also had marked antiamnesic effect on model amnesia caused by maximal electroshock and complex extreme factors in mice and in both doses was 4 times more effective than semax on the first model and in a dose of 150 mg/kg was 2.9 times more effective on the second model. NMT (50 mg/kg) increased the amplitude of transcallosal evoked potential in rat brain by 69% and was more effective than semax in equal dose. Thus, NMT is a promising neurotropic drug with neuroprotective, antihypoxic and antiamnesic activity.

[Synthesis and properties of a new conformational antigen modeling an extracellular region of beta(1)-adrenoreceptor].

Two fragments corresponding to the 125-133 and 206-218 sequences of a molecule of the beta(1) adrenoreceptor (autoantibodies to this protein are often found in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy) were synthesized by the solid phase method with the use of Fmoc technology. Two new conformational antigens were prepared by directed (regioselective) and undirected (spontaneous) formation of intramolecular and intermolecular disulfide bridges between the corresponding cysteine residues of the synthesized peptides. One of these antigens consisted of a mixture of disulfide isomers, and another antigen was an isomer with a natural arrangement of S-S bridges. Immunosorbents were obtained by immobilization of the synthesizes antigens on the bromocyanogenactivated sepharose and applied to the removal of autoantibodies in a beta(1)-adrenoreceptor from the blood plasma of patients. We demonstrated that the sorbents on the basis of the conformational antigens were more effective in comparison with those containing linear peptide precursors.

Myocardial resistance to ischemic and reperfusion injuries under conditions of chronic administration of opioid receptor agonists and antagonists.

Chronic treatment with opioid receptor ligands: nonselective peptide opioid receptor agonist dalargin (intraperitoneally in a dose of 1 mg/kg), selective nonpeptide kappa-receptor agonist GR 89696 (subcutaneously in a dose of 0.03 mg/kg), nonselectrive nonpeptide antagonist quadazocine (subcutaneously in a dose of 3 mg/kg) or naltrexone (subcutaneously in a dose of 10 mg/kg) for 20 day had no effect of the incidence of ischemic ventricular arrhythmias and the size of necrotic zone after coronary occlusion and reperfusion in rats in vivo.

[Cardiovascular effects of D-ALA2, LEU5, ARG6-enkephalin (dalargin) are mediated by peripheral mu-opioid receptor activation].

It has been established that intravenous administration of dalargin at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg induced hypotensive, positive inotropic, and positive chronotropic response in patients with myocardial infarction, while not producing the "steal syndrome." The positive chronotropic effect of dalargin was mediated by peripheral mu-opioid receptors. Increase in the heart rate induced by dalargin had a reflex nature. Direct action of dalargin on the heart was accompanied by a decrease in the heart rate and a delay in the cardiac conductance in the atrioventricular junction region.

[The synthesis of immunomodulating peptide alloferon, the active component of the antiviral drug allokine-alpha].

Two variants of the synthesis of tridecapeptide alloferon, the active principle of antiviral preparation allokine-alpha, were developed on the basis of fragment condensation in solution or on the Merrifield resin. The solid phase variant of the synthesis was shown to be more technological; it allows the preparation of the product at a higher total yield (40% vs. 17% for conventional synthesis in solution from the starting derivatives of the C-terminal dipeptide). The by-products formed during the synthesis of alloferon were identified.

[Synthesis and properties of the retro-analogue of myelopeptide MP-2].

The bone marrow myelopeptide MP-2 (Leu-Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp), exhibiting antitumor activity, and its retro-analogue (Trp-Pro-Tyr-Val-Val-Leu) were synthesized, and their properties were studied. The in vitro and in vivo activities of retro-MP-2 were comparable with those of MP-2. Both peptides equally restored the functional activity of T-lymphocytes inhibited by toxins released by HL-60 cells and inhibited by 70-82% the growth of various types of transplantable solid tumors: Ca-755 adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland, Lewis adenocarcinoma of the lung, and S180 sarcoma. The positions and intensities of the Cotton effects in CD spectra of the MP-2 peptide and its retro-analogue in various solvents are almost indistinguishable. The positions of extrema and integral intensities of the amide I and amide A bands in IR spectra of both peptides were practically identical. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2005, vol. 31, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.

[Comparative study of the antiarrhythmic activity of mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonists during acute cardiac ischemia and reperfusion models in rats].

It has been established that pretreatment with the selective mu-opioid receptor (OR) agonist DALDA (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) or the selective delta1-OR agonists DPDPE (0.09 mg/kg) and/or (-)-TAN-67 (0.08 mg/kg) has no effect on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias induced by a 10-min coronary artery occlusion and a 10-min reperfusion in ketamine-anesthetized rats. In contrast, the pretreatment with the selective delta2-OR agonist deltorphin II (0.12 mg/kg) and the proposed delta2-OR agonists deltorphin D (0.3 mg/kg) and/or dermorphin H (0.23 mg/kg) increases cardiac resistance to the arrhythmogenic action of acute ischemia and reperfusion. Administration of the mixed mu- and delta-OR agonist dalargin (0.12 mg/kg) 15 min before the coronary artery ligation abolished only the reperfusive ventricular fibrillation. It is concluded that peptidergic stimulation of delta2-ORs can be used as a new means of increasing cardiac tolerance to the arrhythmogenic effects of acute ischemia and reperfusion.

Chronotropic effect of D-Ala2,Leu5,Arg6-enkephalin (dalargin) is associated with activation of peripheral kappa-opioid receptors.

Intravenous infusion of D-Ala2,Leu5,Arg6-enkephalin (dalargin) caused bradycardia in narcotized rats. This effect was not observed during opioid receptor blockade with naloxone, naloxone methiodide, and norbinaltorphimine. Dalargin and (-)-U-50,488 added to Krebs-Henseleit perfusion solution for isolated rat heart decreased heart rate. Ganglionic blocker hexamethonium potentiated the negative chronotropic effect of dalargin. The negative chronotropic effect of dalargin is probably associated with activation of cardiac kappa-opioid receptors. It should be noted that dalargin caused tachycardia in some animals. This reaction was not observed after treatment with hexamethonium. The positive chronotropic effect of dalargin is probably related to modulation of the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. Agonists and antagonists of delta-opioid receptors caused persistent bradycardia. We hypothesized that selective delta-opioid antagonists exhibit properties of partial delta-receptor agonists.

[The effect of dalargin and des-Tyr-dalargin on the functional state of intact and ischemized-reperfused myocardium]. / Vliianie dalargina i dez-tir-dalargina na funktsional'noe sostoianie intaktnogo serdtsa i miokarda podvergnutogo vozdeistviiu ishemii-reperfuzii.

Experiments on isolated perfused rat heart showed that dalargin, an antagonist of mu- and delta-opioid receptors, favors a decrease in the parameters of contractility of intact myocardium, while not influencing the pumping function (systolic and diastolic contractility) of reperfused myocardium. At the same time, des-Tyr-dalargin (the non-opioid analog of dalargin) suppresses the contractility of both the intact heart and the isolated myocardium subjected to global ischemia and reperfusion. Both dalargin and des-Tyr-dalargin reduced the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmia, but did not affect the coronary flow before ischemia and after restoration of the coronary flow. It is suggested that the effect of dalargin is related to activation of the cardiac delta-opioid receptors, while the inotropic action of des-Tyr-dalargin involves other receptor mechanisms.

[Use of hydrogen peroxide for closing disulfide bridges in peptides]. / Primenenie perekisi vodoroda dlia zamykaniia disul'fidnykh mostikov v peptidakh.

The use of hydrogen peroxide for the formation of disulfide bridges was studied in 15 peptides of various lengths and structures. The oxidation of peptide thiols by hydrogen peroxide was shown to proceed under mild conditions without noticeable side reactions of Trp, Tyr, and Met residues. Yields of the corresponding cyclic disulfides were high and mostly exceeded those obtained with other oxidative agents, in particular, iodine. It was established that the use of hydrogen peroxide in organic medium also provided sufficiently high yields when large-scale syntheses of oxytocin and octreotide (up to 10 g) were carried out. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 2; see also http://www.maik.ru.

Effect of opiate peptide dalargin and des-Tyr-dalargin on cardiac pump function during ischemia-reperfusion.

Experiments on isolated perfused rat heart showed that nonselective micro- and delta-opiate receptor agonist dalargin decreased contractility of the intact heart, but had no effect on pump function of the ischemic myocardium. Dalargin analogue des-Tyr-dalargin not binding to opiate receptors decreased contractility of intact myocardium and isolated heart exposed to 45-min total ischemia. We hypothesize that the influence of dalargin is related to activation of cardiac delta-opiate receptors, while the inotropic effect of des-Tyr-dalargin is mediated by other receptors.

[Delta-opioid receptor agonists prevent the irreversible damage of cardiomyocytes in ischemized-reperfused isolated rat heart]. / Agonisty delta-opoidnykh retseptorov preduprezhdaiut poiavlenie neobratimych povrezhdenii cardiomiotsitov pri ishemii-reperfuzii izolirovannogo serdtsa.

Pretreatment with selective delta-opioid receptor (delta-OR) agonists decreased the level of creatine kinase in the coronary effluent of isolated rat heart during a 45-min global ischemia and a 30-min reperfusion. The effect was completely abolished after pretreatment of the delta-OR antagonist nitrindole. At the same time, pretreatment with mu-OR antagonists did not affect the level of creatine kinase in the coronary effluent. It is suggested that stimulation of the cardiac delta-OR prevents the irreversible cardiac cell damage during global ischemia and reperfusion in vitro. In contrast, the cardiac mu-OR do not play any significant role in regulation of the cardiac resistance to the pathogenic action of ischemia and reperfusion.

Reactions of the protonated dinuclear ruthenium complex [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(mu-H)]+ with nucleophiles.

Complex [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(mu-H)](+)BF(4)(-) (1H(+)BF(4)(-)), which features a protonated Ru-Ru bond, reacts with F(-) to give (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2)Ru(2)(CO)(4) (2), resulting from the cleavage of both SiMe(2) groups, with I(-) to give the Ru-Ru cleaved product [(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(I)(3), and with phosphines (PEt(3), PMe(2)Ph) to give [[(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(PR(3))](+) (4a-b). Reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaOMe in THF generates [(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(2)SiMe(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4) (5), resulting from the cleavage of a single SiMe(2) group, while the reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaOMe in MeOH generates [mu-eta(5):eta(5)-(C(5)H(3)SiMe(2)OMe)(C(5)H(4))SiMe(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4) (6), resulting from the partial cleavage of a SiMe(2) group. Reaction of 1H(+)BF(4)(-) and NaSR (R = Me, Et) in THF generates [(eta(5)-C(5)H(3))(2)(SiMe(2))(2)]Ru(2)(CO)(4)(H)(SR) (R = Me, Et; 7a-b), which undergoes rearrangement upon contact with neutral and basic alumina or silica to give complexes [mu-eta(5):eta(1):eta(5)-(C(5)H(3)C=O)(C(5)H(4))(SiMe(2))(2)O]Ru(2)(mu-SR)(CO)(3) (R = Me, Et; 8a-b). Molecular structures of 4a, 6, and 8a as determined by X-ray diffraction studies are also presented.

Hydrogen peroxide for disulfide bridge formation in methionine-containing peptides.

Two methionine-containing peptides, endothelin 1 and the 1-16 fragment of the receptor of the plasminogen activator 1 for human urokinase, were synthesized and cyclized by hydrogen peroxide. Endothelin 1 was obtained by using regioselective and random schemes of disulfide bond formation. The conditions of cyclization that provided the target products in high purity were found. The general potential of disulfide bond formation by means of hydrogen peroxide was demonstrated for methionine-containing peptides. The method resulted in target products containing insignificant quantities of the corresponding Met-sulfoxide derivatives.