A chemically synthesized radiolabeled signal peptide: design, preparation, and Biological evaluation of an iodinated analog of preproparathyroid hormone

• Published in: Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 2; no. 5; pp. 452 - 458
• Main Authors: CAULFIELD, M. P, DUONG, L. T, O'BRIEN, R, MAJZOUB, J. A, ROSENBLATT, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.05.1988
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Linking Reagents; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Iodine - pharmacology; Iodine Radioisotopes; Isotope Labeling; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Parathyroid Hormone - chemical synthesis; Parathyroid Hormone - pharmacology; Protein Precursors - chemical synthesis; Protein Precursors - pharmacology; Protein Sorting Signals - chemical synthesis; Protein Sorting Signals - pharmacology; Structure-Activity Relationship; Sulfur - pharmacology; Translation. Translation factors. Protein processing; Iodination; Leader peptide; Molecular interaction; Preproparathormone; Radiolabelling; Chemical synthesis
• ISSN: 0888-8809; 1944-9917
• DOI: 10.1210/mend-2-5-452

The chemically synthesized signal peptide (native-sequence signal peptide) of preproparathyroid hormone exhibits signal sequence-like activity by inhibiting the translocation/processing of precursor proteins to their mature forms in an in vitro translation system. In order to prepare a biologically functional radiolabeled form of this peptide, we undertook structure-function studies of the native-sequence signal peptide. Since conventional iodination of peptides is performed under oxidizing conditions, chemical design efforts were focused on the oxidation-labile residues, methionine and cysteine, present in the native sequence. Substitution of the three methionines with norleucine and the single cysteine with alanine yielded a surfur-free analog, [Nle-(-25), Nle-(-21),Nle-(-18),Ala-(-14),D-Tyr-(+1)]pre-proPTH-(-29-+1)amide, which is resistant to oxidation and active in the inhibition of processing assay. An interaction between the signal region and one of the components of the intracellular secretory apparatus, signal recognition particle (SRP), was demonstrated: iodinated sulfur-free analog was cross-linked (using the homo-bifunctional reagent disuccinimidyl suberate) to the 54 kilodalton (kDa) subunit of SRP. The 68 kDa and 72 kDa subunits of SRP were also labeled, but to a lesser extent, by the iodinated peptide.