Masami Yagyu

Synthesis of bradykinin fragments and their effect on pentobarbital sleeping time in mouse

Abstract Several peptide fragments related to bradykinin were synthesized and treated in mice for their ability to prolong pentobarbital sleeping time. Similarly to bradykinin, peptides, Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro (II), Ser-Pro (VII) and Phe-Ser-Pro (IX) injected intracerebrally prolonged the sleeping time of pentobarbital.

Synthesis of a nonacosapeptide (β-fragment) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence 1–29 of human liver metallothionein II and its heavy metal-binding properties

A nonacosapeptide (β‐fragment) corresponding to the N‐terminal sequence 1–29 of human liver metallothionein II was synthesized by the fragment condensation method. The Cd‐binding ability of the β‐fragment was much stronger than that of cysteine as thionein and synthetic α‐fragment corresponding to the C‐terminal sequence 30–61 of human liver metallothionein II. Both the α‐ and β‐fragments bound preferentially to Cu ions rather than Cd ions.

Amino acids and peptides. X: Synthesis of two dotriacontapeptides corresponding to C-terminal sequence 30-61 (fragment α) of human liver metallothionein II and their heavy metal binding properties

Two kinds of dotriacontapeptides corresponding to C-terminal sequence 30–61 of human liver metallothionein, both containing 11 cysteine residues, were synthesized by the conventional fragment condensation method employing the HF deprotection or MSA deprotection method at the final step. Their heavy metal (Zn, Cd, or Cu) binding activity was examined, and it was found that their heavy metal binding properties were quite similar to those of native human liver thionein.

Synthesis of a tetratriacontapeptide corresponding to sequence 112–145 of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin

A tetratriacontapeptide corresponding to sequence 112–145 of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which was synthesized by assembling peptide fragments by the azide procedure, was then conjugated to bovine serum albumin; injection of the conjugated antigen into rabbits produced antisera which exhibited 30% specific binding with [125I]hCG at a 1 : 1000 dilution.