[Cholecystokinin-pancreozymin synthesis. Synthesis of [28-threonine,31-norleucine]- and [28-threonine,31-leucine]cholecystokinin-pancreozymin-(25-33)-nonapeptide]

Abstract

The syntheses of two analogues related to the C-terminal nonapeptide amide sequence 25-33 of cholecystokinin-pankreozymin are described. Based on the primary structure of the CCK-PZ-active caerulein and the experiences gained from the methionine replacement with leucine or norleucine in human little gastrin I, the analogues were designed by substituting methionine 28 with threonine, and methionine 31 with leucine and norleucine, respectively. Using a new method for the synthesis of tyrosine-O-sulfate-containing peptides, developed in our laboratory, and applying acid-labile side-chain protection in combination with the benzyloxycarbonyl group, the fully protected nonapeptide amide derivatives Z-Arg(Z2)-Asp(OBut)-Tyr-(SO3Ba1/2)-Thr(But)-Gly-Trp-Leu-Asp(OBut)-Phe-NH2 and Z-Arg(Z2)-Asp(OBut)-Tyr(SO3-Ba1/2)-Thr(But)-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp(OBut)-Phe-NH2, were obtained. Upon hydrogenolytic and subsequent acidolytic removal of the protecting groups, followed by purification via chromatographic procedures the nonapeptide amides were isolated in satisfactory yields at a high degree of purity. In vivo and in vitro assays showed that a substitution of methionine 31 by norleucine with concomitant replacement of methionine 28 by threonine produced a fully active analogue, whereas for the threonine 28, leucine 31 analogue the pankreozymin-activity was lowered by a factor 10.