Adrenomedullin – new perspectives of a potent peptide hormone
Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a 52‐amino acid multifunctional peptide, which belongs to the calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) superfamily of vasoactive peptide hormones. ADM exhibits a significant vasodilatory potential and plays a key role in various regulatory mechanisms, predominantly in the cardiovascular and lymphatic system. It exerts its effects by activation of the calcitonin receptor‐like receptor associated with one of the receptor activity‐modifying proteins 2 or 3. ADM was first isolated from human phaeochromocytoma in 1993. Numerous studies revealed a widespread distribution in various tissues and organ...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ria Sch önauer, Sylvia Els‐Heindl, Annette G. Beck‐Sickinger Tags: Special Issue Review Source Type: research
Synthesis of N,N ‐dimethylaminopyrene‐modified short peptides for chemical photocatalysis
The synthesis of peptide‐based photocatalysts that use 1‐N,N‐dimethylaminopyrene as chromophore and their application in photocatalysis is reported. The copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition was applied as key step to prepare the peptide–pyrene conjugates in quantitative yields for different short peptide sequences. The photocatalysts were evaluated for the nucleophilic addition of methanol to 1,1‐diphenylethylenes to products with Markovnikov‐type orientation The short peptides contain arginine as substrate binding site during photocatalysis, and thus, the reaction was performed without the additi...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Sergej Hermann, Hans ‐Achim Wagenknecht Tags: Rapid Communication Source Type: research
DNA ‐modified artificial viral capsids self‐assembled from DNA‐conjugated β‐annulus peptide
β‐Annulus peptides from tomato bushy stunt virus conjugated with DNAs (dA20 and dT20) at the C‐terminal were synthesized. The DNA‐modified β‐annulus peptides self‐assembled into artificial viral capsids with sizes of 45–160 nm. ζ‐Potential measurements revealed that the DNAs were coated on the surface of artificial viral capsids. Fluorescence assays indicated that the DNAs on the artificial viral capsids were partially hybridized with the complementary DNAs. Moreover, the DNA‐modified artificial viral capsids formed aggregates by adding complementary polynucleotides. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide S...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yoko Nakamura, Saki Yamada, Shoko Nishikawa, Kazunori Matsuura Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research
Peptide hormones and lipopeptides: from self ‐assembly to therapeutic applications
This review describes the properties and activities of lipopeptides and peptide hormones and how the lipidation of peptide hormones could potentially produce therapeutic agents combating some of the most prevalent diseases and conditions. The self‐assembly of these types of molecules is outlined, and how this can impact on bioactivity. Peptide hormones specific to the uptake of food and produced in the gastrointestinal tract are discussed in detail. The advantages of lipidated peptide hormones over natural peptide hormones are summarised, in terms of stability and renal clearance, with potential application as therapeuti...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: J. A. Hutchinson, S. Burholt, I. W. Hamley Tags: Special Issue Review Source Type: research
Three molecular forms of atrial natriuretic peptides: quantitative analysis and biological characterization
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is primarily produced in the heart tissue and plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis in endocrine and autocrine/paracrine systems and has clinical applications as a biomarker and a therapeutic agent for cardiac diseases. ANP is synthesized by atrial cardiomyocytes as a preprohormone that is processed by a signal peptidase and stored in secretory granules as a prohormone. Subsequent proteolytic processing of ANP by corin during the secretion process results in a bioactive form consisting of 28 amino acid residues. Mechanical stretch of the atrial wall and multiple hum...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Chiaki Nagai ‐Okatani, Kenji Kangawa, Naoto Minamino Tags: Special Issue Review Source Type: research
Invention of stimulus ‐responsive peptide‐bond‐cleaving residue (Spr) and its application to chemical biology tools
Elucidation of biological functions of peptides and proteins is essential for understanding peptide/protein‐related biological events and developing drugs. Caged peptides and proteins that release a parent active peptide/protein by photo‐irradiation have successfully been employed to elucidate the functions. Whereas the usual caged peptide/protein enables conversion of an inactive form to an active form (OFF‐to‐ON conversion) by photo‐induced deprotection, photo‐triggered main chain cleavage is reported to be applicable to ON‐to‐OFF conversion. These peptides and proteins are photo‐responsive; however, if...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Akira Shigenaga, Jun Yamamoto, Taiki Kohiki, Tsubasa Inokuma, Akira Otaka Tags: Special Issue Review Source Type: research
Highly sensitive detection of E2 activity in ubiquitination using an artificial RING finger
The ubiquitin‐conjugating (E2) enzymes of protein ubiquitination are associated with various diseases such as leukemia, lung cancer, and breast cancer. Rapid and accurate detection of E2 enzymatic activities remains poor. Here, we described the detection of E2 activity on a signal accumulation ISFET biosensor (AMIS sensor) using an artificial RING finger (ARF). The use of ARF enables the simplified detection of E2 activity without a substrate. The high‐sensitivity quantitative detection of E2 activities was demonstrated via real‐time monitoring over a response range of femtomolar to micromolar concentrations. Further...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Kazuhide Miyamoto, Miho Sumida, Mayumi Yuasa ‐Sunagawa, Kazuki Saito Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Peptide Optical waveguides
Small‐scale optical devices, designed and fabricated onto one dielectric substrate, create integrated optical chip like their microelectronic analogues. These photonic circuits, based on diverse physical phenomena such as light–matter interaction, propagation of electromagnetic waves in a thin dielectric material, nonlinear and electro‐optical effects, allow transmission, distribution, modulation, and processing of optical signals in optical communication systems, chemical and biological sensors, and more. The key component of these optical circuits providing both optical processing and photonic interconnections is l...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 13, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Amir Handelman, Boris Apter, Tamar Shostak, Gil Rosenman Tags: Special Issue Review Source Type: research
Comparative analysis reveals amino acids critical for anticancer activity of peptide CIGB ‐552
Because of resistance development by cancer cells against current anticancer drugs, there is a considerable interest in developing novel antitumor agents. We have previously demonstrated that CIGB‐552, a novel cell‐penetrating synthetic peptide, was effective in reducing tumor size and increasing lifespan in tumor‐bearing mice. Studies of protein–peptide interactions have shown that COMMD1 protein is a major mediator of CIGB‐552 antitumor activity. Furthermore, a typical serine‐protease degradation pattern for CIGB‐552 in BALB/c mice serum was identified, yielding peptides which differ from CIGB‐552 in size...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 8, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Soledad Astrada, Yolanda Gomez, Exequiel Barrera, Gonzalo Obal, Otto Pritsch, Sergio Pantano, Maribel G. Vallesp í, Mariela Bollati‐Fogolín Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Issue Information
(Source: Journal of Peptide Science)
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - December 8, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Tags: Issue Information Source Type: research
Synthesis and biological activity of lipophilic analogs of the cationic antimicrobial active peptide anoplin
In this study, novel analogs of anoplin were prepared and examined for their antimicrobial, hemolytic activity, and proteolytic stability. Specific substitutions were introduced in amino acids Gly1, Arg5, and Thr8 and lipophilic groups with different lengths in the N‐terminus in order to investigate how these modifications affect their antimicrobial activity. These cationic analogs exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the native peptide; they are also nontoxic at their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and resistant to enzymatic degradation. The substituted peptide GLLKF5IKK8LL‐NH2 exhibited high ac...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - November 14, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Kostas Chionis, Dimitrios Krikorian, Anna ‐Irini Koukkou, Maria Sakarellos‐Daitsiotis, Eugenia Panou‐Pomonis Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Light ‐driven topochemical polymerization under organogel conditions of a symmetrical dipeptide–diacetylene system
A symmetrical dipeptide‐based diacetylene system (DAs) was found to be able to self‐assemble in dichloromethane and to form a compact fiber network which resulted in a stable organogel. As a consequence of the organogel formation, we explored the possibility to run a light‐induced topochemical polymerization. This is a typical reaction of ordered diacetylene moieties taking advantage from their organized packing mode resulting from fiber formation. Evidence for the generation of peptide‐based polydiacetylenes is provided by Raman, UV–Vis, and CD spectroscopies and a set of microscopic techniques. Finally, we succ...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - November 13, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Daniela Mazzier, Dario Mosconi, Giulia Marafon, Aikebaier Reheman, Claudio Toniolo, Alessandro Moretto Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research
Host defense peptide ‐derived privileged scaffolds for anti‐infective drug discovery
We report here that in addition to the previously reported antibacterial activity on planktonic bacteria, the γ‐core peptide is active against biofilm formation and maturation. We also show that it is readily cell penetrant, like HBD3, although with a different mechanism, which is independent from CD98. Overall, the potency of the single‐disulfide, 23‐amino acid γ‐core is comparable with the full‐length peptide across the whole spectrum of examined properties, and the peptide is not toxic to human cells. The HBD3 γ‐core peptide may therefore represent the first example of an economically viable lead peptide ...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - October 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Ersilia Nigro, Irene Colavita, Daniela Sarnataro, Olga Scudiero, Aurora Daniele, Francesco Salvatore, Antonello Pessi Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research
Peptide fibrils as monomer storage of the covalent HIV ‐1 integrase inhibitor
We report the inherent fibrillization of N‐terminal succinimide‐modified lens epithelium‐derived growth factor (361–370) peptide as an additional factor for covalent inhibition of HIV‐1 integrase. The fibrillization facilitates inhibition, which increases the local concentration at the target protein. This inhibitor is stored as fibrils that serve as a stock for the active inhibitory monomers. The monomer peptide serves both specific recognition sequence and the binding moiety. This approach can be a promising new strategy for developing therapeutic agents. (Source: Journal of Peptide Science)
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - October 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Koushik Chandra, Priyadip Das, Norman Metanis, Assaf Friedler, Meital Reches Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research
Ultrashort self ‐assembling Fmoc‐peptide gelators for anti‐infective biomaterial applications
Biomaterial‐related infections have a significant impact on society and are a major contributor to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Current licensed antibiotic classes struggle to breakdown or penetrate the exopolysaccharide biofilm barrier, resulting in sub‐therapeutic concentrations of antibiotic at the surface of the biomaterial, treatment failure and increased spread of resistant isolates. This paper focuses for the first time on the ability of ultrashort Fmoc‐peptide gelators to eradicate established bacterial biofilms implicated in a variety of medical device infections (Gram‐positive: Staphylo...
Source: Journal of Peptide Science - October 31, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Alice P. McCloskey, Emily R. Draper, Brendan F. Gilmore, Garry Laverty Tags: Special Issue Article Source Type: research
