C-terminal truncation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mimetic helical peptide preserves structural and receptor binding properties

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Jul 27;424(2):290-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.06.109. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

Abstract

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mimetic peptides have interesting applications in therapeutic angiogenesis. Recently, we described the proangiogenic properties of a 15 mer peptide designed on the N-terminal helix 17-25 of VEGF. The peptide was stabilized introducing well known peptide chemical tools among which N- and C-terminal capping sequence. Here, we show that the C-terminal sequence does not affect the structural and biological properties of the full-length peptide. In fact, a C-terminal truncated analog peptide resulted in a well folded and stable helix retaining the ability to bind to VEGF receptors. This study will allow to develop smaller peptidomimetic analogs able to modulate the VEGF-dependent angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / chemistry*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / chemistry*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • QK VEGF mimetic peptide
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1