A proton magnetic resonance study of two synthetic agonist-antagonist pairs of bradykinin analogues

Solution conformations of bradykinin antagonists modified with Calpha-Calpha cyclized nonaromatic residues

The conformations of four BK antagonists, [D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Phe7, Acc8]BK (1), Aaa[D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Phe7, Acc8]BK (2), [D-Arg 0, Hyp3, Thi5, 8, Apc7]BK (3), and Aaa[D-Arg(0), Hyp(3), Thi(5, 8), Apc7]BK (4) were studied by using 2D NMR spectroscopy and MD simulations with time-averaged (TAV) restraints. According to the results of the NMR measurements, the BK antagonists contain 7-30% of minor conformation resulting from cis/trans isomerization of the peptide bonds preceding either Pro or Hyp residues. The major conformation of each peptide possesses all peptide bonds in trans configuration. Peptides modified with the Apc residue at position 7 (peptides 3 and 4) possess a higher percentage of minor isomer. Peptide 1 exhibits the strongest vasodepressor potency among the analogs studied and as a single one forms the betaII-turn in the 2-5 fragment, which is believed to be crucial for antagonistic activity. This peptide is also the most compact. The radius of gyration (Rg) amounts to 6.9 A and is by ca 1.5 A lower than that of the remaining analogs. With peptide 4, the ST-turn of type I within the Ser6-Thi8 fragment was found.

Conformational studies of two bradykinin antagonists by using two-dimensional NMR techniques and molecular dynamics simulations

The solution conformations of two potent antagonists of bradykinin (Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9), [Aca(-1),DArg0,Hyp3,Thi5,DPhe7,(N-Bzl)Gly8]BK (1) and [Aaa(-1),DArg0,Hyp3,Thi5,(2-DNal)7,Thi8]BK (2), were studied by using 2D NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d6 and molecular dynamics simulations. The NMR spectra of peptide 1 reveals the existence of at least two isomers arising from isomerization across the DPhe7-(N-Bzl)Gly8 peptide bond. The more populated isomer possesses the cis peptide bond at this position. The ratio of cis/trans isomers amounted to 7:3. With both antagonists, the NMR data indicate a beta-turn structure for the Hyp3-Gly4 residues. In addition, for peptide 2, position 2,3 is likely to be occupied by turn-like structures. The cis peptide bond between DPhe7 and (N-Bzl)Gly8 in analogue 1 suggests type VI beta-turn at position 7,8. The molecular dynamics runs were performed on both peptides in DMSO solution. The results indicate that the structure of peptide 1 is characterized by type VIb beta-turn comprising residues Ser6-Arg9 and the betaI or betaII-turn involving the Pro2-Thi5 fragment, whereas peptide 2 shows the tendency towards the formation of type I beta-turn at position 2,3. The structures of both antagonists are stabilized by a salt bridge between the guanidine moiety of Arg1 and the carboxyl group of Arg9. Moreover, the side chain of DArg0 is apart of the rest of molecule and is not involved in structural elements except for a few calculated structures.

Synthesis and biological activities of new side chain and backbone cyclic bradykinin analogues

A series of conformationally constrained cyclic analogues of the peptide hormone bradykinin (BK, Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg) was synthesized to check different turned structures proposed for the bioactive conformation of BK agonists and antagonists. Cycles differing in the size and direction of the lactam bridge were performed at the C- and N-terminal sequences of the molecule. Glutamic acid and lysine were introduced into the native BK sequence at different positions for cyclization through their side chains. Backbone cyclic analogues were synthesized by incorporation of N-carboxy alkylated and N-amino alkylated amino acids into the peptide chain. Although the coupling of Fmoc-glycine to the N-alkylated phenylalanine derivatives was effected with DIC/HOAt in SPPS, the dipeptide building units with more bulky amino acids were pre-built in solution. For backbone cyclization at the C-terminus an alternative building unit with an acylated reduced peptide bond was preformed in solution. Both types of building units were handled in the SPPS in the same manner as amino acids. The agonistic and antagonistic activities of the cyclic BK analogues were determined in rat uterus (RUT) and guinea-pig ileum (GPI) assays. Additionally, the potentiation of the BK-induced effects was examined. Among the series of cyclic BK agonists only compound 3 with backbone cyclization between positions 2 and 5 shows a significant agonistic activity on RUT. To study the influence of intramolecular ring closure we used an antagonistic analogue with weak activity, [D-Phe7]-BK. Side chain as well as backbone cyclization in the N-terminus of [D-Phe7]-BK resulted in analogues with moderate antagonistic activity on RUT. Also, compound 18 in which a lactam bridge between positions 6 and 9 was achieved via an acylated reduced peptide bond has moderate antagonistic activity on RUT. These results support the hypothesis of turn structures in both parts of the molecule as a requirement for BK antagonism. Certain active and inactive agonists and antagonists are able to potentiate the bradykinin-induced contraction of guinea-pig ileum.

The importance of the N-terminal beta-turn in bradykinin antagonists

Three peptides, B-10148 (Lys-1-Lys0-Arg1-Pro2-Hyp3-Gly4-Igl5-Ser6- DF5F7-Oic8; where Hyp is trans-4-hydroxyproline, Igl is alpha-(2-indanyl)glycine, F5F is 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenylalanine and Oic is (3aS,7aS)-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid), B-10206 (DArg0-Arg1-Pro2-Hyp3-Gly4-Igl5-Ser6-DF 5F7-Nc7G8-Arg9; where Nc7G is N-cycloheptylglycine) and B- 10284 (Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Thr6-DTic7-Oic8- NH2; where Tic is 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid), were studied in detail by NMR spectroscopy in 60% CD3OH /40% H2O and modeled by a simulated annealing protocol to determine their solution structure. B-10148, an extremely potent BK B1 receptor antagonist with very high BK B2 receptor antagonist activity, despite lacking a C-terminal Arg, displayed an ideal type II beta-turn from Pro2 to Igl5, as well as a salt bridge between the guanidino group of Arg1 and the carboXylate group of Oic8. B-10206, the most potent B2 antagonist, also displayed an ideal type II beta-turn from Pro2 to Igl5 but secondary structure was not observed at the C-terminal end. The third peptide, B-10284, a des-Arg9 analog with a C-terminal amide and a very potent B2 antagonist, had no definite solution structure. The high activity of these peptides emphasizes the importance of the N-terminal beta-turn and the hydrophobic character at the C-terminus in determining the activity of bradykinin antagonists.

Synthesis of different types of dipeptide building units containing N- or C-terminal arginine for the assembly of backbone cyclic peptides

Different types of dipeptide building units containing N- or C-terminal arginine were prepared for synthesis of the backbone cyclic analogues of the peptide hormone bradykinin (BK: Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg). For cyclization in the N-terminal sequence N-carboxyalkyl and N-aminoalkyl functionalized dipeptide building units were synthesized. In order to avoid lactam formation during the condensation of the N-terminal arginine to the N-alkylated amino acids at position 2, the guanidino function has to be deprotected. The best results were obtained by coupling Z-Arg(Z)2-OH with TFFH/collidine in DCM. Another dipeptide building unit with an acylated reduced peptide bond containing C-terminal arginine was prepared to synthesize BK-analogues with backbone cyclization in the C-terminus. To achieve complete condensation to the resin and to avoid side reactions during activation of the arginine residue, this dipeptide unit was formed on a hydroxycrotonic acid linker. HYCRAM technology was applied using the Boc-Arg(Alloc)2-OH derivative and the Fmoc group to protect the aminoalkyl function. The reduced peptide bond was prepared by reductive alkylation of the arginine derivative with the Boc-protected amino aldehyde, derived from Boc-Phe-OH. The best results for condensation of the branching chain to the reduced peptide bond were obtained using mixed anhydrides. Both types of dipeptide building units can be used in solid-phase synthesis in the same manner as amino acid derivatives.

Calcium-binding properties and molecular organization of bradykinin A solution 1H-NMR study

The NMR features of bradykinin were investigated in dimethylsulfoxide containing 1% water. The temperature dependence of chemical shifts and ROESY maps were monitored for the major species where all X-Pro bonds are trans. The occurrence of a head-to-tail ionic interaction and intramolecular hydrogen bonds stabilizing a pseudo cyclic arrangement was inferred, a beta turn at the C-terminus being the main feature of the secondary structure. Calcium was shown to bind to the peptide with a dissociation constant Kd = 2.8 + 0.2 mm. 2Pro and 3Pro carbonyls, as well as the 9Arg carboxyl, were assigned as the metal-binding sites. A molecular model of the 1 : 1 metal-complex was obtained. In light of conformational changes experienced by the peptide upon interaction with calcium, a role for the metal was hypothesized in the process of conformational selection from the free to the receptor-bound state of bradykinin.

New insights into the conformational requirements of B2 bradykinin antagonism

The conformational profiles of a selected group of a new series of small linear and cyclic penta- and hexapeptides, inspired on the C-terminal segment of second-generation bradykinin (BK) antagonists, were independently computed in order to assess the chemical and geometrical requirements necessary for BK antagonism. Specifically, four cyclic peptides: cyclo-(Gly-Thi-D-Tic-Oic-Arg), cyclo-(Gly-Ala-D-Tic-Oic-Arg), cyclo-(Abu-Ala-Ser-D-Tic-Oic-Arg), cyclo-(Abu-D-Phe-Ala-D-Tic-Oic-Arg), and a linear peptide: Thi-Ser-D-Tic-Oic-Arg were selected for the present study. The first three BK analogs are capable to antagonize kinin-induced rabbit jugular vein and rabbit aorta smooth muscle contraction, while last two show no detectable affinity for the BK B2 receptor. The conformational space of the five peptides was thoroughly explored using simulated annealing (SA) in an iterative fashion as sampling technique. The bioactive conformation was assessed by pairwise cross comparisons between each of the unique low energy conformations found for each of the different peptides studied within a 5 kcal/mol threshold in respect to the global minimum. The conformational profile of the highly potent BK antagonist HOE-140, computed in an independent study, was also used in conjunction with the bioactive form assessed in the present study, to propose a pharmacophore that includes the stereochemical requirements for B2 BK antagonism.

Bradykinin antagonists with dehydrophenylalanine analogues at position 5

Continuing the studies on structural requirements of bradykinin antagonists, it has been found that analogues with dehydrophenylalanine (deltaPhe) or its ring-substituted analogues (deltaPhe(X)) at position 5 act as antagonists on guinea pig pulmonary artery, and on guinea pig ileum. Because both organs are considered to be bradykinin B2 receptor tissues, the analogues with deltaPhe or deltaPhe(X) at position 5, but without any replacement at position 7, seem to represent a new structural type of B2 receptor antagonist. All the analogues investigated act as partial antagonists; they inhibit the bradykinin-induced contraction at low concentrations and act as agonists at higher concentrations. Ring substitutions by methyl groups or iodine reduce both the agonistic and antagonistic activity. Only substitution by fluorine gives a high potency. Incorporation of deltaPhe into different representative antagonists with key modifications at position 7 does not enhance the antagonist activity of the basic structures, with one exception. Only the combination of deltaPhe at position 5 with DPhe at position 7 increases the antagonistic potency on guinea pig ileum by about one order of magnitude. Radioligand binding studies indicate the importance of position 5 for the discrimination of B2 receptor subtypes. The binding affinity to the low-affinity binding site (KL) was not significantly changed by replacement of Phe by deltaPhe. In contrast, ring-methylation of deltaPhe results in clearly reduced binding to KL. The affinity to the high-affinity binding site (KH) was almost unchanged by the replacement of Phe in position 5 by deltaPhe, whereas the analogue with 2-methyl-dehydrophenylalanine completely failed to detect the KH-site. The peptides were synthesized on the Wang-resin according to the Fmoc/Bu(t) strategy using Mtr protection for the side chain of Arg. The dehydrophenylalanine analogues were prepared by a strategy involving PyBop couplings of the dipeptide unit Fmoc-Gly-deltaPhe(X)-OH to resin-bound fragments.

An NMR study of the interaction of 15N-labelled bradykinin with an antibody mimic of the bradykinin B2 receptor

An isotope-edited NMR study of the peptide hormone bradykinin (RPPGFSPFR) bound to the Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody against bradykinin (MBK3) is reported. MBK3 was previously shown to provide a binding site model of the B2 bradykinin receptor [Haasemann, M., Buschko, J., Faussner, A., Roscher, A. A., Hoebeke, J., Burch, R. M. & Muller-Esterl, W. (1991) Anti-idiotypic antibodies bearing the internal image of a bradykinin epitope, J. Immunol. 147, 3882-3892]. Bradykinin was obtained in a uniformly 15N-labelled form using recombinant expression of a fusion protein consisting of the glutathione-binding domain of glutathione S-transferase fused to residues 354-375 of the high-molecular-mass kininogen from which bradykinin was released by proteolytic digestion with its natural protease plasma kallikrein. Bradykinin forms a complex with the Fab fragment of MBK3 which exchanges slowly on the NMR time scale. The 15N and 1H resonances of the tightly bound residues of bradykinin show appreciable changes in chemical shift with respect to the free form, while the 15N and 1H linewidths indicate that the hydrodynamic behaviour of bound bradykinin is dominated by the high-molecular-mass Fab fragment. The NMR data indicate that essentially the entire nonapeptide is involved in binding. The kinetics of the ligand-exchange process, together with resonance assignments obtained via exchange spectroscopy. indicate that bradykinin binds to MBK3 only in the all-trans conformation at all three Xaa-Pro amide bonds. NH-NH NOE connectivities suggest that bradykinin is bound in an extended conformation. The spectroscopic data obtained from this study are compared to recently proposed computational models of the conformation of bradykinin bound to the B2 receptor.

Mutations in the B2 bradykinin receptor reveal a different pattern of contacts for peptidic agonists and peptidic antagonists

The B2 bradykinin receptor, a seven-helix transmembrane receptor, binds the inflammatory mediator bradykinin (BK) and the structurally related peptide antagonist HOE-140. The binding of HOE-140 and the binding of bradykinin are mutually exclusive and competitive. Fifty-four site-specific receptor mutations were made. BK's affinity is reduced 2200-fold by F261A, 490-fold by T265A, 60-fold by D286A, and 3-10-fold by N200A, D268A, and Q290A. In contrast, HOE-140 affinity is reduced less than 7-fold by F254A, F261A, Y297A, and Q262A. The almost complete discordance of mutations that affect BK binding versus HOE-140 binding is surprising, but it was paralleled by the effect of single changes in BK and HOE-140. [Ala9]BK and [Ala6]BK are reduced in receptor binding affinity 27,000- and 150-fold, respectively, while [Ala9]HOE-140 affinity is reduced 7-fold and [Ala6]HOE-140 affinity is unchanged. NMR spectroscopy of all of the peptidic analogs of BK or HOE-140 revealed a beta-turn at the C terminus. Models of the receptor-ligand complex suggested that bradykinin is bound partially inside the helical bundle of the receptor with the amino terminus emerging from the extracellular side of helical bundle. In these models a salt bridge occurs between Arg9 and Asp286; the models also place Phe8 in a hydrophobic pocket midway through the transmembrane region. Models of HOE-140 binding to the receptor place its beta-turn one alpha-helical turn deeper and closer to helix 7 and helix 1 as compared with bradykinin-receptor complex models.

Conformation of cyclobradykinin by NMR and distance geometry calculations

The conformation of the head-to-tail cyclic analogue of bradykinin in DMSO was investigated by nmr. Three sets of resonances were detected and fully assigned. These were attributed to the presence of three stable conformers, two of which were exchanging on the nmr time scale. A fourth, incomplete set of resonances was detected but not assigned. The three major conformers differ in the conformation at the three X-Pro bonds present. From nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) spectra, three sets of interproton distances were derived and used in NOE-restrained distance geometry calculations. The resulting structures were refined by energy minimization to yield families of structures. Conformer I is characterized by the presence of two type VIb beta-turns between Arg1 and Gly4 and between Phe5 and Phe8. The first beta-turn is present also in conformer II, while an inverse gamma-turn bridging Pro3 is the most pronounced structural feature of conformer III.

New cyclic bradykinin antagonists containing disulfide and lactam bridges at the N-terminal sequence

Continuing our studies of the bioactive conformation of bradykinin (BK) antagonists, we synthesized a first series of analogues with side-chain cyclization in the N-terminal sequence. Through this conformational constraint it should be possible to gain insight into their three-dimensional structure. The cycles were proposed on the basis of existing ideas and hypotheses about the receptor bound conformation of BK and its antagonists. The reported peptides contain D-Phe at position 7 or D-Tic-Oic (D-Tetrahydroisoquinoline-3 -carboxyl-octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid) at positions 7 and 8, respectively, and a disulfide or lactam bridge between positions 0 and 6. Syntheses, including cyclization reactions, were carried out on PAM resin. The biological activity of the lead compound [DPhe7]-BK, the linear precursors and the cyclic peptides, as estimated on isolated rat uterus, guinea pig ileum and lung strips, are in the same range. The conformational properties of the new cyclic analogues were studied through energy minimization on a model compound. The results of the calculations support the existence of low-energy structures containing a beta-turn. Therefore, such a turn in the N-terminal segment of the molecule can be proposed as an important structural feature of the bioactive conformation of BK antagonists.

NMR conformational study of a model tetradecapeptide mimicking the RXVRG consensus cleavage site of a Xenopus laevis skin endoprotease

A model tetradecapeptide, used for the purification of the RXVRG-endoprotease from Xenopus laevis skin exudate, has been studied by two-dimensional NMR, correlation (COSY) and NOE (NOESY) spectroscopy. This peptide has the 5-9 consensus sequence (RXVRG), along with an acidic moiety (1-4) and a hydrophobic domain (10-14). Variations with temperature of NH chemical shifts in a dimethyl sulfoxide solution (low thermal coefficients at residues 6, 7 and 8) and quantified NOE values from four spectra at different mixing times clearly showed a structural organization in the consensus domain with psi-angles around [-40, -10 degrees] for residues 7 and 8, and two NOE correlations of alpha HiNHi + 2 type (5-7 and 6-8). Moreover, a privileged rotamer in the side chain is established for three residues (Val2, Asp3 and Val7) and limited possibilities are discussed for seven others. Most of the folding trends were not observed in the [Ser7] derivative, underlying the relationship between the conformations and a full consensus sequence. In the model tetradecapeptide an equilibrium between two beta-turns of type I, fragments 4-7 and 5-8, seems the most probable. Comparison between this tetradecapeptide and its 4-14 fragment, also a substrate for RXVRG-endoprotease, shows that the 1-3 moiety (DVD) influences the consensus domain structure(s) and clearly stabilizes the folded one(s). Finally, two analytical methods are developed in order to determine: (1) the trifluoroacetic acid content of the peptide samples, on the basis of 19F NMR spectroscopy; (2) the mean phi- and psi-angles of each residue, from the whole set of NH/alpha H coupling constants (3JN alpha) and NOE data at a local level.

Potent photoaffinity labelled and iodinated antagonists of bradykinin

Continuing the studies on photoaffinity labelled analogues of the peptide hormone bradykinin (BK), several labelled antagonists were synthesized and characterized regarding their biological activities on rat uterus (RUT) and guinea pig ileum (GPI). The photoreactive amino acid p-benzoyl-phenylalanine (Bpa) was incorporated in potent, iodinated BK analogues at positions -2, -1, 0 and 7. The newly synthesized BK antagonists were derived from HOE 140 ([DArg0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-BK) or [D-Phe7]-BK. Because the application of Bpa requires an additional group for the introduction of 125I, iodinated tyrosine was inserted at different positions as a model for radioiodination. Suitable positions for incorporation of tyrosine residues are -1, 0, 3 and 7, whereas the compound with 3-I-Tyr at position 4 had only a low biological activity. The antagonists obtained by modification of HOE 140 generally retained a high antagonistic potency. In this group [D-Bpa-2, 3-I-D-Tyr-1, D-Arg0, Hyp3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-BK (pA2 values 8.06 on RUT and 8.15 on GPI) and [Bpa-1, D-Arg0, 3-I-Tyr3, Thi5, D-Tic7, Oic8]-BK (pA2 values 7.55 on RUT and 8.07 on GPI) belong to the most active compounds. The incorporation of D-Bpa at position 7 also resulted in potent analogues. The antagonists [3-I-Tyr-1, D-Arg0, D-Bpa7]-BK (pA2 on RUT 7.69) and [3-I-Tyr-1, D-Arg0, D-Bpa7, Oic8]-BK (pA2 on GPI 7.53) are an alternative to the N-terminal modified HOE 140 analogues. Compounds with D-Bpa7 act as pure competitive antagonists, whereas the HOE 140 derivatives show a mixed antagonism. The comparison of the results between photoaffinity labelled agonists and antagonists suggests that modifications in the series of BK antagonists were better tolerated.

New photoaffinity labelled agonists of bradykinin

Several photoaffinity labelled agonists of the peptide hormone bradykinin (BK) were synthesized by solid phase methods. Their biological activities and binding affinities were determined in both the isolated rat uterus (RUT) and guinea pig ileum (GPI). As photoreactive groups p-benzoyl-phenylalanine (Bpa) and the arylazides azidobenzoic acid (ABA) and azidosalicylic acid (ASA) were attached to the N-terminus of the BK agonists. In addition, Bpa was incorporated at different positions of the BK sequence. Three different types of BK agonists were used. Firstly, the photolabels ASA and ABA were attached to BK or to Lys-BK (kallidin). Secondly, tyrosine containing BK analogues, suitable for radioiodination, were labelled. This series is derived from the naturally occurring analogue phyllokinin [BK-Ile-Tyr(SO3H)] and from BK analogues with tyrosine at position 0 and 3. The third series includes several analogues with D-N-methyl-phenylalanine (D-NMe-Phe) at position 7, which selectively discriminate between the RUT and GPI bradykinin B2 receptors. Among the photoaffinity labelled BK agonists, the iodinatable Lys(ASA)-BK (50.8% on RUT, 73.0% on GPI), ASA-BK (26.3% on RUT), Bpa-BK-Ile-Tyr (13.6% on RUT, 14.0% on GPI) and the iodinated [D-Bpa-1, 3-I-Tyr0]-BK (15.5% on RUT, 19.0% on GPI) retained a relatively high biological activity compared with BK (100%). Thus, although BK agonists are known to allow only very restricted modifications without a strong reduction in biological activity, these compounds should be useful candidates for receptor labelling.

A CD and an NMR study of multiple bradykinin conformations in aqueous trifluoroethanol solutions

CD and nmr studies have been carried out on aqueous trifluoroethanol (TFE) solutions of bradykinin (BK) and a bradykinin antagonist. The CD results exhibit a striking effect of TFE on the spectra of BK, with sequence Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, and the BK antagonist, with sequence D-Arg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-D-Ser-D-Cpg-Cpg-Arg [where Hyp is 4-hydroxy-L-proline; Thi refers to beta-(2-thienyl)-L-alanine and Cpg refers to alpha-cyclopentylglycine). The effect of increasing concentration of TFE in water on the difference ellipticity at 222 nm was examined and showed that BK may be a mixture of at least two different conformers, one of which largely forms when the TFE concentration is increased beyond 80%. The linear extrapolation of 100% of the difference ellipticity of BK at low TFE concentrations yields a value in agreement with that shown by the BK antagonist, indicating that the conformation of BK at the lower TFE concentrations is similar to that of the BK antagonist. The conformational analysis was carried out using both one-dimensional and two-dimensional 1H-nmr techniques. The total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) spectrum of BK in a 60/40% (v/v) TFE/H2O solution at 10 degrees C and a nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) spectrum that shows only sequential H alpha (i)-NH(i + 1) or the H alpha (i)-H delta delta' (i + 1) NOEs indicate that the majority of the molecules adopt an all-trans extended conformation. The TOCSY for BK in the 95/5% (v/v) TFE/H2O solution shows that there are two major conformations in the solution with about equal population. The NOESY experiment shows two new important cross peaks for one conformation, namely Pro2 (alpha)-Pro3 (alpha) and the Pro2 (alpha)-Gly4(NH), indicating a cis Pro2-Pro3 bond and a type VI beta-turn between residues Arg1 and Gly4 involving cis proline at position 3, respectively. The low temperature coefficient of Gly4 for this conformation suggests the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond, therefore a type VIa beta-turn is present. The other conformation is all trans and extended. The BK antagonist shows difference CD spectra in TFE solutions referred to H2O that are superficially indicative of a beta-bend.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Nmr and molecular modeling investigations of the neuropeptide bradykinin in three different solvent systems: DMSO, 9:1 dioxane/water, and in the presence of 7.4 mM lyso phosphatidylcholine micelles

The linear nonapeptide hormone bradykinin (Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9) is involved, either directly or indirectly, in a wide variety of physiological processes, particularly pain and hyperanalgesia. Additional evidence suggests that bradykinin also plays a major role in inflammatory response, asthma, sepsis, and symptoms associated with the rhinoviral infection. It has long been speculated that a beta-turn at the C-terminus of bradykinin plays a major role in the biological activity of the neuropeptide. The beta-turn forming potential of bradykinin in three vastly different local chemical environments, DMSO, 9:1 dioxane/water, and in the presence of 7.4 mM lyso phosphatidylcholine micelles, was investigated using two-dimensional homonuclear nmr experiments coupled with simulated annealing calculations. The results of these investigations show that in all three systems residues 6-9 of the C-terminus adopt very similar beta-turn like structures. These results suggest that the beta-turn at the C-terminus of bradykinin is an important secondary structural feature for receptor recognition and binding.

The aggregation properties of some bradykinin analogs

Bradykinin (BK) is a peptide hormone with sequence Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-Pro7-Phe8-Arg9 and has been implicated in a multitude of pathophysiological processes such as the ability to lower systemic blood pressure and stimulate pain. Bulky, beta-branched D-aliphatic residues at position 7 combined with bulky L-aliphatic residues at position 8 have now been observed to yield strong antagonists. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies have been carried out on many of these molecules with a view to determining their solution conformations. However, two such analogs, namely DArg-[Hyp3, Thi5, DSer6, DCpg7, Cpg8]-BK [I] and DArg-[Hyp3, DSer6, DCpg7, Cpg8]-BK [II] (Cpg = alpha-cyclopentyl-glycine; Hyp = 4-hydroxy-L-proline, Thi = beta-(2-thienyl)-L-alanine), have exhibited an abnormal, non-linear temperature dependence for the amide NH proton of Cpg8. The NH of Arg9 also shows a slightly non-linear temperature dependence at higher temperatures above 25 degrees C. In addition, a very slow exchange rate for the NH protons of DCpg7, Cpg8 and Arg9 indicated aggregation of these two analogs, which was confirmed using the circular dichroism experiments.