I am involved in the research scientific projects related with design, synthesis, identification and biological activity of peptide analogues and synthetic carries with medical interest.
Particular interest in my projects have the isolation, purification and identification of synthetic peptide analogues with semi-preparative HPLC and Electrospray Mass Spectroscopy (ESI-MS). Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that is used for determining masses and for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and other chemical compounds.
Abstract: Reaction of the N,N-disubstituted bis-(hydroxylamino) ligand 2,6-bis[hydroxy(methyl)amino]-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazine, H(2)bihyat, with V(IV)OSO(4).5H(2)O in water for 6 h followed by the addition of methyl alcohol resulted in the isolation of the unsymmetrical mu-oxido divanadium(V) compound [V(V)(2)O(2)(mu(2)-O)(bihyat)(hyta)(hyto)].3H(2)O (1.3H(2)O) and of the methylhydroxylamido derivative [V(V)O(bihyat)(CH(3)NHO)].H(2)O (2.H(2)O). The N,N-disubstituted mono(hydroxylamino) ligands Hhyta, Hhyto, and CH(3)NHOH were formed by the decomposition of the ligand H(2)bihyat in the presence of vanadium. The structures of compounds 1.3H(2)O and 2.H(2)O were determined by X-ray crystallography. The structure of 1.3H(2)O consists of one five-coordinate vanadium(V) atom and one six-coordinate vanadium(V) atom bridged by an oxido group and ligated to a tridentate bihyat(2-) and two bidentate hyta(-) and hyto(-) ligands, respectively. The two terminal oxido groups in 1.3H(2)O are syn-directed, lying on the same side of the V-O-V plane. The coordination environment of the vanadium atom in 2.H(2)O approximates to a highly distorted pentagonal pyramid with the oxido ligand occupying the apical position. Compounds 1.3H(2)O and 2.H(2)O were studied by multinuclear NMR ((1)H, (13)C, and (51)V) to elucidate their solution structures. The (51)V NMR of 1.3H(2)O in anhydrous CD(2)Cl(2) gave two signals at -199 and -508 ppm, which were assigned to the five- and six-coordinate vanadium(V) atoms, respectively. The resonance of the five-coordinate vanadium nucleus, in a field much lower than that expected from Rehder's [Inorg. Chem., 1988, 27, 584-587] referencing scale, was attributed to the low-energy ligand-to-metal charge transfer transition at 605 nm [epsilon(M) = 5050 M(-1) cm(-1)] of 1.3H(2)O according to Pecoraro et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1992, 114, 9925-9933]. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry studies were used to follow the decomposition products of H(2)bihyat in the presence of vanadium.
Abstract: Activation of the platelet integrin-receptor alpha(IIb)beta(3) is the final pathway of platelet aggregation, regardless of the initiating stimulus. Many studies suggest that there are several cytoplasmic proteins such as talin and beta(3)-endonexin that bind to N(744)PLY(747) and N(756)ITY(759) motif of the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail and play the major role in the receptor activation. In this study, we investigated the role of the membrane distal region of human beta(3) cytoplasmic tail and specifically the N(743)NPLYKEA(750) and T(755)NITYRGT(762) sequence that contains an NXXY motif, in platelet aggregation, secretion, alpha(IIb)beta(3) activation (PAC-1 binding) and fibrinogen binding. We synthesized two peptides corresponding to the above sequences as well as their conjugates with the Tat(48-60) cell-penetrating peptide. The capability of conjugates to penetrate the platelet membrane was investigated with confocal laser scanning microscopy using carboxyfluorescein (CF)-labeled peptides. Our results showed that the conjugated with the Tat(48-60) sequence peptides penetrate the platelet membrane and inhibit platelet aggregation in both PRP and washed platelets in a dose-dependent manner. The Tat-beta(3)743-750 conjugate exhibited similar inhibitory activity in PRP and in washed platelets whereas the Tat-beta(3)755-762 conjugate was more potent inhibitor of aggregation in washed platelets than in PRP. Both conjugated peptides were also able to inhibit P-selectin membrane expression as well as PAC-1 and fibrinogen binding to the platelets, the Tat-beta(3)755-762 conjugate being more potent than Tat-beta(3)743-750. The Tat(48-60) peptide and the peptides beta(3)743-750 and beta(3)755-762, which were not conjugated to the Tat(48-60) sequence, did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on the above parameters. In conclusion, the present study shows for the first time that the peptide analogs of the intracellular domain of the beta(3) subunit beta(3)743-750 and beta(3)755-762 conjugated to the cell-penetrating peptide Tat(48-60) are capable of penetrating the platelet membrane and expressing biological activity by inhibiting the activation of alpha(IIb)beta(3), the fibrinogen binding to the activated receptor as well as platelet aggregation. Further studies are necessary to support whether such conjugated peptides may be useful tools for the development of potent antiplatelet agents acting intracellularly through the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3).
Abstract: Decomposition of the resin linkers during TFA cleavage of the peptides in the Fmoc strategy leads to alkylation of sensitive amino acids. The C-terminal amide alkylation, reported for the first time, is shown to be a major problem in peptide amides synthesized on the Rink amide resin. This side reaction occurs as a result of the Rink amide linker decomposition under TFA treatment of the peptide resin. The use of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene in a cleavage cocktail prevents almost quantitatively formation of C-terminal N-alkylated peptide amides. Oxidized by-product in the tested Cys- and Met-containing peptides were not observed, even if thiols were not used in the cleavage mixture.
Abstract: The undesirable reaction of aspartimide formation has been proved to occur under both acid and base conditions in solid-phase peptide synthesis and is dependent on the beta-carboxyl protecting group, the acid or base used during the synthesis, as well as the peptide sequence. The hydrolysis of aspartimide-containing peptides, especially during HPLC purification, yields a mixture of alpha- and beta-aspartyl peptides that can not be purified easily. A previous study demonstrated that treatment of aspartimide-containing peptides with methanol in the presence of 2% diisopropylethylamine in solution leads to alpha- and beta-aspartyl peptide methyl esters. Taking advantage of these results and aiming at elucidating the optimal conditions for aspartimide ring opening, the effect of different types and concentrations of alcohols (primary and secondary) and bases (diisopropylethylamine, collidine, 4-pyrrolidinopyridine, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, piperidine and KCN) was tested at various temperatures and reaction times. The best results were obtained with a combination of a primary alcohol and diisopropylethylamine, while aspartimide ring opening by secondary alcohols occurred only at high temperatures. The optimal conditions were also applied to solid-phase peptide synthesis.
Abstract: Aspartimide formation is still an unresolved problem in the solid-phase peptide synthesis of aspartic acid-containing peptides, following either Boc- or Fmoc-based synthetic strategies. -Aspartyl peptides of high purity can be obtained, despite aspartimide formation, by incorporating an additional step in the Boc- and Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis protocols, consisting of treatment of the peptide-resin with methanol in the presence of 2% DIEA (v/v) for 15 min immediately after completion of the peptide chain elongation.
