Synthesis and evaluation of phosphopeptides containing iminodiacetate groups as binding ligands of the Src SH2 domain

Phosphopeptide pTyr-Glu-Glu-Ile (pYEEI) has been introduced as an optimal Src SH2 domain ligand. Peptides, Ac-K(IDA)pYEEIEK(IDA) (1), Ac-KpYEEIEK (2), Ac-K(IDA)pYEEIEK (3), and Ac-KpYEEIEK(IDA) (4), containing 0-2 iminodiacetate (IDA) groups at the N- and C-terminal lysine residues were synthesized and evaluated as the Src SH2 domain binding ligands. Fluorescence polarization assays showed that peptide 1 had a higher binding affinity (K(d) = 0.6 microM) to the Src SH2 domain when compared with Ac-pYEEI (K(d) = 1.7 microM), an optimal Src SH2 domain ligand, and peptides 2-4 (K(d) = 2.9-52.7 microM). The binding affinity of peptide 1 to the SH2 domain was reduced by more than 2-fold (K(d) = 1.6 microM) upon addition of Ni(2+) (300 microM), possibly due to modest structural effect of Ni(2+) on the protein as shown by circular dichroism experimental results. The binding affinity of 1 was restored in the presence of EDTA (300 microM) (K(d) = 0.79 microM). These studies suggest that peptides containing IDA groups may be used for designing novel SH2 domain binding ligands.