D-β-aspartyl residue exhibiting uncommon high resistance to spontaneous peptide bond cleavage

Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 15:6:21594. doi: 10.1038/srep21594.

Abstract

Although L-amino acids were selected as main constituents of peptides and proteins during chemical evolution, D-aspartyl (Asp) residue is found in a variety of living tissues. In particular, D-β-Asp is thought to be stable than any other Asp isomers, and this could be a reason for gradual accumulation in abnormal proteins and peptides to modify their structures and functions. It is predicted that D-β-Asp shows high resistance to biomolecular reactions. For instance, less reactivity of D-β-Asp is expected to bond cleavage, although such information has not been provided yet. In this work, the spontaneous peptide bond cleavage was compared between Asp isomers, by applying real-time solution-state NMR to eye lens αΑ-crystallin 51-60 fragment, S(51)LFRTVLD(58)SG(60) and αΒ-crystallin 61-67 analog, F(61)D(62)TGLSG(67) consisting of L-α- and D-β-Asp 58 and 62, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed how tough the uncommon D-β-Asp residue was against the peptide bond cleavage as compared to natural L-α-Asp. Differences in pKa and conformation between L-α- and D-β-Asp side chains were plausible factors to determine reactivity of Asp isomers. The present study, for the first time, provides a rationale to explain less reactivity of D-β-Asp to allow abnormal accumulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • D-Aspartic Acid / chemistry
  • D-Aspartic Acid / metabolism*
  • D-Aspartic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Isoaspartic Acid / chemistry
  • Isoaspartic Acid / metabolism*
  • Isoaspartic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Isomerism
  • Lens, Crystalline / chemistry
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Proteolysis*

Substances

  • Isoaspartic Acid
  • D-Aspartic Acid