[Synthesis of p-nitroanilides of acylated peptides catalyzed by thermolysin]

Thermolysin-catalysed synthesis of p-nitroanilides of acylpeptides of general formula Z-A1-A2-pNA (A1 = Thr, Ala, Val, Leu; A2 = Leu, Phe) and stepwise synthesis of p-nitroanilides of acyltetrapeptides of general formula Z-A1-A2-A3-A4-pNA (A1, A2 = Gly,Ala; A3, A4 = Ala, Leu, Phe) from Z-A1-A2-OH and A3-pNA and then from Z-A1-A2-A3-OH and A4-pNA have been carried out; pNA group was eliminated enzymatically. Increase in solubility of the product in the reaction mixture diminishes its yield. Minimal amount of thermolysin providing a substantial yield of reaction product depends on structure of both amino and carboxylic components. In many cases the molar ratio of the enzyme and starting substances could be decreased to 1:10(6) as compared with the generally used ration 1:10(3)-1:10(4).