Stability, toxicity and biological activity of retro, inversed and retro-inversed glucagon isomers

Peptide modifications that improve pharmacological properties are of considerable therapeutic importance. Here we consider the retro (R), inversed (D) and retro-inversed (RI) isomers of glucagon with respect to structure, stability, toxicity and biological activity. Biologically, RI-glucagon demonstrated comparable in vivo activity as L-glucagon with respect to magnitude and duration of blood sugar elevation following i.p. administration to mice. Structurally, the isomers were investigated through circular dichroism (CD) and nanopore analysis. CD demonstrated a conserved potential for formation of secondary structure, which was independent of the direction of the peptide (L vs R; D vs RI) as well as formation of symmetry-related structures for the chiral isomers (L vs D; R vs RI). CD, therefore, discriminated chiral but not directional isomers. Nanopore analysis, which depends on interaction of the peptides with chiral pores, discriminated all four isomers on the basis of unique signatures of bumping and translocation. Nanopore analysis offered greater opportunity than CD to discriminate the isomers although neither technique provided a definitive biomarker of biological activity. Functionally, the R and RI isomers resist proteolytic degradation and none of the isomers possess hemolytic activity or cellular toxicity. Collectively, this investigation highlights the potentials and limitations of CD and nanopore analysis for investigation of peptide isomers as well as offering insight into the structural criteria to mimic peptide biological activity. For this example, retro-inversion, through undefined contributions of increased stability and maintained biological activity, was best suited to mimic the biological activity of the parent peptide.