Electrophilically induced cyclic acetal formation of the O-benzyl dipeptide esters Fmoc-NMeIle-Thr-OBn (1) and of Fmoc-Pro-Thr-OBn (6) has been observed to lead predominantly to the (R) diastereomers 2b and 8b at the 2-C position of the resulting substituted Id-oxazolidine (Psi Pro) unit, while upon acetalization of the corresponding O-methyl ester 4 the 2-C(S) epimer 5a is predominantly formed under the same proton catalyzed cyclization conditions. With boron trifluoride etherate as Lewis acid the reaction is particularly fast and leads selectively to the prolyl threonine derived 2-C(R) dipeptide building block 8b, which could conveniently be assembled into a nonamer with a virtually solvent independent CD-spectrum of the polyproline type I (cis amide bonds).

Tissue transglutaminase (TGase) has been implicated in a number of cellular processes and disease states, where the enzymatic actions of TGase may serve in both, cell survival and apoptosis. To date, the precise functional properties of TGase in cell survival or cell death mechanisms still remain elusive. TGase-mediated cross-linking has been reported to account for the formation of insoluble lesions in conformational diseases. We report here that TGase induces intramolecular cross-linking of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), resulting in structural changes of monomeric Aβ. Using high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) of cross-linked Aβ peptides, we observed a shift in mass, which is, presumably associated with the loss of NH3 due to enzymatic transamidation activity and hence intramolecular peptide cross-linking. We have observed that a large population of Aβ monomers contained an 0.984 Da increase in mass at a glutamine residue, indicating that glutamine 15 serves as an indispensable substrate in TGase-mediated deamidation to glutamate 15. We provide strong analytical evidence on TGase-mediated Aβ peptide dimerization, through covalent intermolecular cross-linking and hence the formation of Aβ1–40 dimers. Our in depth analyses indicate that TGase-induced post-translational modifications of Aβ peptide may serve as an important seed for aggregation.

The creation of native-like macromolecules in copying nature's way represents a fascinating challenge in protein chemistry today. In the absence of a detailed knowledge of the complex folding pathway the ultimate goal in protein de novo design, the construction of artificial proteins with predetermined three-dimensional structure and tailor-made functions based on a defined, generally valid set of rules, appears to be still out of reach. With progress in synthesis strategies and biostructural characterization methods, topological templates have become a versatile tool for inducing and stabilizing secondary and tertiary structures, such as protein loops, beta-turns, alpha-helices, beta-sheets and a variety of folding motifs. In this article, we extend the concept of template-assembled synthetic proteins for the construction of protein-like topologies with multiply bridged, oligocyclic chain architectures termed locked-in tertiary folds that exhibit unique physicochemical and folding properties because of the highly confined conformational space. Furthermore, we show that some fundamental questions in protein assembly can be approached applying the template concept. Using covalent template trapping of self-associated peptide assemblies in aqueous solution the structural and physical forces guiding protein folding, supramolecular assembly and molecular recognition processes can be studied on a molecular level.

Several amyloid-forming proteins are characterized by the presence of hydrophobic and highly amyloidogenic core sequences that play critical roles in the initiation and progression of amyloid fibril formation. Therefore targeting these sequences represents a viable strategy for identifying candidate molecules that could interfere with amyloid formation and toxicity of the parent proteins. However, the highly amyloidogenic and insoluble nature of these sequences has hampered efforts to develop high-throughput fibrillization assays. Here we describe the design and characterization of host-guest switch peptides that can be used for in vitro mechanistic and screening studies that are aimed at discovering aggregation inhibitors that target highly amyloidogenic sequences. These model systems are based on a host-guest system where the amyloidogenic sequence (guest peptide) is flanked by two beta-sheet-promoting (Leu-Ser)(n) oligomers as host sequences. Two host-guest peptides were prepared by using the hydrophobic core of Abeta comprising residues 14-24 (HQKLVFFAEDV) as the guest peptide with switch elements inserted within (peptide 1) or at the N and C termini of the guest peptide (peptide 2). Both model peptides can be triggered to undergo rapid self-assembly and amyloid formation in a highly controllable manner and their fibrillization kinetics is tuneable by manipulating solution conditions (for example, peptide concentration and pH). The fibrillization of both peptides reproduces many features of the full-length Abeta peptides and can be inhibited by known inhibitors of Abeta fibril formation. Our results suggest that this approach can be extended to other amyloid proteins and should facilitate the discovery of small-molecule aggregation inhibitors and the development of more efficacious anti-amyloid agents to treat and/or reverse the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and systemic amyloid diseases.

A series of novel peptide N-caps was designed with an emphasis on ease of synthesis and an abundance of hydrogen bond acceptors. Different scaffolds based on sugars, cyclic hydrocarbons, and amino acids are developed with a variety of hydrogen bond acceptors including esters, carboxyls, amides and a sulfonic acid. The efficient use in solid-phase peptide synthesis was demonstrated by incorporating the N-caps to a resin-bound model peptide. Their differential helix nucleating power in aqueous buffer was determined by CD studies. Increases in peptide helicity to a significant extent are observed, leading to a discussion of N-capping efficiency versus ease of synthesis. The potential of the elaborated N-caps for the reversal of β-sheet to α-helix conformations in the context of fibrillogenesis is discussed.

The study of conformational transitions of peptides has obtained considerable attention recently because of their importance as a molecular key event in a variety of degenerative diseases. However, the study of peptide self-assembly into beta-sheets and amyloid beta(A beta) fibrils is strongly hampered by their difficult synthetic access and low solubility. We have recently developed a new concept termed "switch-peptides" that allows the controlled onset of polypeptide folding and misfolding at physiologic conditions. As a major feature, the folding process is initiated by chemically or enzyme triggered O,N-acyl migration in flexible and soluble folding precursors containing Ser- or Thr-derived switch (S)-elements. The elaborated methodologies are exemplified for the in situ conversion of NPY- and Cyclosporine A-derived produgs, as well as for the onset and reversal of alpha and beta conformational transitions in A beta peptides. In combining orthogonally addressable switch-elements, the consecutive switching on of S-elements gives new insights into the role of individual petide segments ("hot spots") in early process of polypeptide self-assembly and fibrillogenesis.Finally, the well-known secondary structure disrupting effect of pseudoprolines (Psi Pro) is explored for its use as a building block (S-element) in switch-peptides. to this end, synthetic strategies are described, allowing for the preparation of Psi Pro-containing folding precursors, exhibiting flexible random-coil conformations devoid of fibril forming propensity. The onset of beta-sheet and fibril formation by restoring the native peptide chain in a single step classify Psi Pro-units as the most powerful tool for inhibiting peptide self-assembly, and complement the present methodologies of the switch-concept for the study of fibillogenesis. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Manche Probleme lösen sich auf: Die Rückführung einer vom Amyloid abgeleiteten β-Faltblatt- in eine lösliche α-Helix-Struktur durch Anwendung eines Schaltelements S (siehe Schema, σ ist eine helixinduzierende Einheit) kann wesentlich zum Verständnis der Fibrillogenese beitragen, die als molekulare Ursache degenerativer Erkrankungen wie der Alzheimer- oder der Parkinson-Krankheit gilt. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2001/2007/z603681_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Most problems are soluble: Reversal of amyloid formation through a controlled induced transformation from β-sheet to soluble α-helix structures through the use of a switch element S (see scheme, σ is a helix-inducing template) could have an important consequences understanding the mechanisms of amyloid formation and clearance. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2007/z603681_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Studies on designed peptides that exhibit high tendencies for medium-induced conformational transitions have recently attracted much attention because structural changes are considered as molecular key processes in degenerative diseases. The experimental access to these events has been limited so far mainly due to the intrinsic tendency of the involved polypeptides for self-association and aggregation, e.g. amyloid ? plaque formation, thought to be at the origin of Alzheimer's disease. We have developed a new concept termed 'switch-peptides' which allows the controlled onset of polypeptide folding and misfolding in vitro and in vivo, starting from a soluble, non-toxic precursor molecule. As a major feature, the folding process is initiated by enzyme-triggered N,O-acyl migrations restoring the native peptide backbone in situ. As the folding is set off in the moment of creating the bioactive molecule ('in statu nascendi', ISN), our concept allows for the first time the investigation of the early steps of protein misfolding as relevant in degenerative diseases, opening new perspectives for the rational design of therapeutically relevant compounds.

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Substituted Prolines Hydroxyprolines Mercaptoproline Halogenated Prolines Other Proline Analogs Alkylated Proline Analogs Bridged Bicyclic Proline Analogs Locked Proline Mimetics Pseudoprolines in Chemical Synthesis and Biology From Proline to Pseudoproline Synthesis of Pseudoprolines Pseudoprolines for the Synthesis of Difficult Sequences Pseudoprolines in Bioactive Peptides Pseudoprolines for Enhancing Peptide Cyclization and Turn Induction Pseudoprolines for Modulating Polyproline Helices Pseudoprolines for Modulating Structure and Function of Cyclosporins Pseudoprolines for Targeting Cis Bonds in Peptides and Proteins Conclusions and Perspectives

A review. Topics include pseudo-prolines (YPro) as a solubilizing, structure-disrupting protection technique in peptide synthesis and the concept of Template-Assembled-Synthetic Proteins (TASP). [on SciFinder (R)]

New insights into the structure-activity relationship of the peptide hormone oxytocin are presented. Incorporation of the novel cis-prolyl mimic 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (pseudoproline, PsiPro) at position 7 of the hormone yielded the analogue [Cys(Psi(Me,Me)pro)]7oxytocin (1) that showed a 92-95% induction of the cis peptide bond conformation between Cys6 and PsiPro7, as determined by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra in water and in DMSO-d6. The impact of the dimethyl moiety regarding conformation and bioactivity was investigated by the synthesis of the corresponding dihydro compound, [Cys(Psi(H,H)pro)]7oxytocin (2). Biological tests of the uterotonic activity, the pressor activity, and the binding affinity to the rat and human oxytocin receptors were carried out. As a most significant result, no antagonistic activities were found for both the cis-constrained analogue 1 and analogue 2, suggesting that a cis conformation between residues 6 and 7 of the molecule does not result in antagonistic activity. However, the about 10-fold reduction in agonistic activity of 1 as compared to oxytocin is consistent with the reduction of the trans conformation from 90% for oxytocin to 5-8% for compound 1. Compound 1 retained a high binding affinity for the oxytocin receptor, with K(i) values of 8.0 and 1.9 nM for the rat and the human receptor, respectively. The correlation between the biological activities and the cis contents obtained from NMR analysis for compounds 1, 2, and oxytocin leads to the hypothesis that a cis/trans conformational change plays an important role in oxytocin receptor binding and activation.