Solid-phase synthesis and characterization of N-methyl-rich peptides

J Pept Res. 2005 Feb;65(2):153-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3011.2004.00213.x.

Abstract

A library of peptides required for a project investigating the factors relevant for blood-brain barrier transport was synthesized on solid phase. As a result of the high N-methylamino acid content in the peptides, their syntheses were challenging and form the basis of the work presented here. The coupling of protected N-methylamino acids with N-methylamino acids generally occurs in low yield. (7-azabenzotriazol-1-yloxy)-tris(pyrrolidino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyAOP) or PyBOP/1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt), are the most promising coupling reagents for these couplings. When a peptide contains an acetylated N-methylamino acid at the N-terminal position, loss of Ac-N-methylamino acid occurs during trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) cleavage of the peptide from the resin. Other side reactions resulting from acidic cleavage are described here, including fragmentation between consecutive N-methylamino acids and formation of diketopiperazines (DKPs). The time of cleavage is shown to greatly influence synthetic results. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of N-methyl-rich peptides show multiple peaks because of slow conversion between conformers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Peptide Library*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptide Library