Oligopeptide-cleaving catalysts

C. Oligopeptide-Cleaving Catalysts Selective for Angiotensins or Melanin-Concentratiiig... 

Catalysts for oxidative decarboxylation of the Wterminal aspartate residue contained in an oligopeptide are unprecedented in both biological and chemical systems. In biological systems, malic enzyme catalyzes conversion of aspartate to pyruvate (145). The substrate of malic enzyme is the free amino acid, whereas those of the angiotensin-cleaving catalysts discovered in this study are oligopeptides containing Wterminal aspartate residue. 

Results of this study indicate that the concept of the peptide-cleaving catalysts can be expanded to include oligopeptides as the targets and nonhy-drolytic reactions as the means for cleavage. 

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