Modified chemotactic peptides: synthesis, crystal conformation, and activity of For-Hse(Me)-Leu-Phe-OMe

The presence of the sulfur atom of the methionine side chain exerts significant effects at different levels on biochemical behavior of chemotactic N-formylpeptides. In order to acquire more information on this point, the synthesis, the conformation in the crystal, and the activity of For-Hse(Me)-Leu-Phe-OMe (2)--an oxygen analogue of For-Met-Leu-Phe-OMe (fMLP-OMe) containing the O-methyl-L-homoserine in place of the native methionine at position 1--is reported. The new analogue 2 adopts a conformation that is extended at the first two residues and folded at the C-terminal phenylalanine. This conformation is different from that of the parent fMLP-OMe and strikingly similar to that adopted by fMLP-OBu(t). The side-chain spatial orientation of 2 corresponds to that adopted by fMLP-OH when cocrystallized with an immunoglobulin possessing binding properties similar to those of neutrophil receptors. When tested on human neutrophils the formylpeptide 2 is more active than the parent in the stimulation of directed mobility and maintains both the granule enzyme release activity and the superoxide anion production.