Solid phase synthesis and structural analysis of novel A-chain dicarba analogs of human relaxin-3 (INSL7) that exhibit full biological activity

Org Biomol Chem. 2009 Apr 21;7(8):1547-53. doi: 10.1039/b821882j. Epub 2009 Feb 24.

Abstract

Replacement of disulfide bonds with non-reducible isosteres can be a useful means of increasing the in vivo stability of a protein. We describe the replacement of the A-chain intramolecular disulfide bond of human relaxin-3 (H3 relaxin, INSL7), an insulin-like peptide that has potential applications in the treatment of stress and obesity, with the physiologically stable dicarba bond. Solid phase peptide synthesis was used to prepare an A-chain analogue in which the two cysteine residues that form the intramolecular bond were replaced with allylglycine. On-resin microwave-mediated ring closing metathesis was then employed to generate the dicarba bridge. Subsequent cleavage of the peptide from the solid support, purification of two isomers and their combination with the B-chain via two intermolecular disulfide bonds, then furnished two isomers of dicarba-H3 relaxin. These were characterized by CD spectroscopy, which suggested a structural similarity to the native peptide. Additional analysis by solution NMR spectroscopy also identified the likely cis/trans form of the analogs. Both peptides demonstrated binding affinities that were equivalent to native H3 relaxin on RXFP1 and RXFP3 expressing cells. However, although the cAMP activity of the analogs on RXFP3 expressing cells was similar to the native peptide, the potency on RXFP1 expressing cells was slightly lower. The data confirmed the use of a dicarba bond as a useful isosteric replacement of the disulfide bond.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism*
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Receptors, Peptide / metabolism
  • Relaxin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Relaxin / chemical synthesis
  • Relaxin / chemistry
  • Relaxin / metabolism

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • RLN3 protein, human
  • RXFP1 protein, human
  • RXFP3 protein, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Peptide
  • Relaxin
  • Cyclic AMP