Abstract
A new strategy is advanced for the conformational restriction of peptidyl immunogens. Our approach is to replace putative amide-amide hydrogen bonds with covalent hydrogen-bond mimics. Because on average every other amino acid in a protein engages in this bond, the syntheses of diversely shaped peptides can be contemplated. Synthetic methods for introducing a potential hydrogen-bond mimic into a peptide with alpha-helical potential is reported and the structural consequences are discussed. The replacement of the hydrogen bond with a chemical link will modify as well as shape the peptide. To explore the consequences of these changes, a potential synthetic vaccine for malaria, the repeating tetrapeptide Asn-Pro-Asn-Ala, was conformationally restricted. Antibodies to the shaped malarial peptide showed a strong cross reaction with Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 565-572 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences |
Volume | 323 |
Issue number | 1217 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 12 1989 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)