Peptides Oligopeptides

Polymers Constructed of repeating linked stmctural units or monomers, polymers (derived from the Greek words polys meaning many and meros meaifing parts) include peptides/oligopeptides/polypetides/proteins nucleic acids and oligosac-charides/poly saccharides. 

The major analytes in this category are the alicyclic compounds (alkaloids and terpenes) heterocyclic compounds (barbiturates, benzodiazapams, indole alkaloids, quinolines, nucleic acids, and nucleotides) aminoacids and peptides oligopeptides and proteins (globular, nucleo-, and lipo-) saccharides and polysaccharides and condensation products of saccharides with all the other analytes, e.g., glucuronides and gly-coproteins. Thus far, most analyses have been done on solid and solution forms of the drug substances. A few illustrations are reported in which CD was used in the direct analysis of biological extracts. 

CD DETECTION/LIGAND EXCHANGE FOR ASSAYS OF PEPTIDES, OLIGOPEPTIDES,... 

The primary structure of peptides (oligopeptides and polypeptides) is described as a linear sequence consisting of the 20 naturally occurring L-amino acids. These amino acids are linked together by amide bonds. Fig. 33 illustrates this for the pentapeptide Leu-enkephalin. 

Nucleolar proteins (immunolocalization) Peptide/oligopeptide-DNA complexes RecA-DNA complex Replicase-DNA complex Ribosome (prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein immunolocalization RNA localization)... 

Short chains of amino acid residues are known as di-, tri-, tetrapeptide, and so on, but as the number of residues increases the general names oligopeptide and polypeptide are used. When the number of chains grow to hundreds, the name protein is used. There is no definite point at which the name polypeptide is dropped for protein. Twenty common amino acids appear regularly in peptides and proteins of all species. Each has a distinctive side chain (R in Figure 45.3) varying in size, charge, and chemical reactivity. 

The principal hormones of the human posterior pituitary include the two nonapeptides, oxytocin [50-56-6] and arginine vasopressin [11000-17-2] (antidiuretic hormone, ADH). Many other hormones, including opioid peptides (see Opioids, endogenous), cholecystokinin [9011-97-6] (CCK) (see Hormones, BRAIN oligopeptides), and gastrointestinal peptides, also have been located in mammalian neurohypophysis (6), but are usually found in much lower concentrations (7). Studies have demonstrated that oxytocin and vasopressin are synthesized in other human organs, both centrally and peripherally, and there is considerable evidence for their role as neurotransmitters (see Neuroregulators) (8). 

Synthesis. In contrast to pituitary hormones, which usually can be obtained in pure form only after extraction from animal tissues, brain oligopeptides are readily available because of their small size. The synthetic repHca represents the most economical and readily accessible source for the oligopeptides. Two techniques are available for laboratory synthesis of oligopeptides, ie, solution chemistry and soHd-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). 

Fig. 1. Schematic drawing of precursors for selected brain oligopeptides. Shaded areas represent the location of sequences of active peptide products which are normally cleaved by trypsin-like enzymes acting on double-basic amino acid residues. Precursors are not necessarily drawn to scale, (a) CRF precursor (b) proopiomelanocortin (POMC) (c) P-protachykinin (d) proenkephalin A (e) CGRP precursor (f) preprodynorphin, ie, preproenkephalin B. Terms are...

Some peptides have special tastes. L-Aspartyl phenylalanine methyl ester is very sweet and is used as an artificial sweetener (see Sweeteners). In contrast, some oligopeptides (such as L-ornithinyltaurine HQ. and L-oriuthinyl-jB-alariine HQ), and glycine methyl or ethyl ester HQ have been found to have a very salty taste (27). 

E Benedetti, G Morelh, G Nemethy, HA Scheraga. Statistical and energetic analysis of side-chain conformations m oligopeptides. Int J Peptide Pi otem Res 22 1-15, 1983. 

Peptide is the name assigned to short polymers of amino acids. Peptides are classified by the number of amino acid units in the chain. Each unit is called an amino acid residue, the word residue denoting what is left after the release of HgO when an amino acid forms a peptide link upon joining the peptide chain. Dipeptides have two amino acid residues, tripeptides have three, tetrapeptides four, and so on. After about 12 residues, this terminology becomes cumbersome, so peptide chains of more than 12 and less than about 20 amino acid residues are usually referred to as oligopeptides, and, when the chain exceeds several dozen amino acids in length, the term polypeptide is used. The distinctions in this terminology are not precise. 

The —CO—NH - link shown in the red box is called a peptide bond, and each monomer used to form a peptide is called a residue. A typical protein is a polypeptide chain of more than a hundred residues joined through peptide bonds and arranged in a strict order. When only a few amino acid residues are present, we call the molecule an oligopeptide. The artificial sweetening agent aspartame is a type of oligopeptide called a dipeptide because it has two residues. 

Mrksich, M., M.E. Parks, and P.B. Dervan. Hairpin peptide motif A new class of oligopeptides for sequence-specific recognition in the minor-groove of double-helical DNA. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 7983-7988. 

In this work we will focus on the use of the cubic phase as a delivery system for oligopeptides - Desmopressin, Lysine Vasopressin, Somatostatin and the Renin inhibitor H214/03. The amino acid sequences of these peptides are given in Table I. The work focuses on the cubic phase as a subcutaneous or intramuscular depot for extended release of peptide drugs, and as a vehicle for peptide uptake in the Gl-tract. Several examples of how the peptide drugs interact with this lipid-water system will be given in terms of phase behaviour, peptide self-diffusion, in vitro and in vivo release kinetics, and the ability of the cubic phase to protect peptides from enzymatic degradation in vitro. Part of this work has been described elsewhere (4-6). 

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