Synthesis of a putative subtype specific antigenic heptapeptide from Escherichia coli K88 ad protein fimbriae

The heptapeptide methyl ester Phe-Asn-Glu-Asn-Met-Ala-Tyr-OMe covering the amino acid sequence of the region 213-219 of Escherichia Coli K88 ad protein fimbriae is synthesized using N alpha-t-butyloxycarbonyl-protection and benzyl groups for side-chain-protection. All condensation reactions are performed in 84-97% yield by preactivation of the protected amino acids by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), and reaction of the resulting active ester with amine in the presence of 4-methylmorpholine (NMM). A mechanism is proposed for the nitrile formation in the side-chain of activated asparagine, and the suppression of this side-reaction is investigated. The repetitive deprotection is performed in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), phenol and p-cresol to give the TFA salts in virtually quantitatively yields. The final deprotection of the heptapeptide is carried out in a mixture of 25% hydrogen fluoride (HF) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in an overall yield of 48%. The serological and conformational properties of the synthetic peptide are under investigation.