Structure-activity studies on synthetic analogs to vasoactive peptides derived from human fibrinogen

Counterparts to two vasoactive peptides previously isolated from fibrin(ogen) degraded by plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7) were synthesized by the solid phase procedure. The synthetic undecapeptide (Ser-Gln-Leu-Gln-Lys-Val-Pro-Pro-Glu-Trp-Lys) was isolated in a homogeneous state by chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and the pentapeptide (Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys) by chromatography on BioGel P-6 and column zone electrophoresis. The effect of these two peptides and of fifteen analogs to the pentapeptide on microvascular permeability in rat skin was investigated. The two synthetic counterparts were as potent as the natural peptides. With respect to the analogs, the influence of different functional groups was first studied. This was followed by attempts to minimize the active structure, induce or relieve rigidity of the peptide back-bone or otherwise accomplish modifications by a change in chirality at critical positions. Our results show that the tetrapeptide Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys has the same effect on microvascular permeability as the pentapeptide in the assay system used. Basic amino acids at both ends, as well as a proline residue adjacent to the N-terminal amino acid appear important for full or essentially full activity. On the other hand, substitution of the Ala at position 4 with several other amino acids did not result in a significant loss in biological potency.