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Background: Fetal programming is the notion that adverse environmental conditions in utero can cause short term survival adaptations that may have long-term consequences, such as chronic disease in subsequent lifetime. Recently, some authors reported that the increase of allergy prevalence in childhood may be linked with fetal immune development. In this regard, literature survey inspired to study the influence of two conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-isomers (c9,t11 and t10,c12) on parameters of the immune system in pregnancy. Methods: Lymphocytes from allergic and non-allergic mothers, cord blood of their newborns, and the decidual layer of term placentae were isolated and cultured for 2 days and supplemented or not with relevant allergens, c9,t11 CLA, t10,c12 CLA or linoleic acid, respectively. Expression of CD69 (activation marker) and CD71 (transferrin receptor; proliferation marker) on B and T lymphocytes and T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines in culture supernatant were analyzed. Results: Both CLA isomers led to an increase of the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio in supernatants of peripheral maternal and cord blood cells from allergic patients and non-allergic-control. CLA supplementation decreased IL-10 secretion of peripheral maternal and decidual lymphocytes and the portion of CD71+ maternal B cells. Linoleic acid induced a similar effect. Conclusion: An immunological effect of CLA on maternal and fetal lymphocyte responses could be demonstrated. It would be expected that further investigations could reveal differences in effects of CLA and linoleic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total synthesis of the cyclic lipodepsipeptide natural product orfamide A was achieved. By developing a synthesis format using an aminoacid ester building block and SPPS protocol adaptation, a focused library of target compounds was obtained, in high yield and purity. Spectral and LC-HRMS data of all library members with the isolated natural product identified the 5 Leu residue to be d- and the 3'-OH group to be R-configured. The structural correction of orfamide A by chemical synthesis and analysis was confirmed by biological activity comparison in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which indicated compound configuration to be important for bioactivity. Acute toxicity was also found against Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite causing African sleeping sickness., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Clostridia coordinate many important processes such as toxin production, infection, and survival by density-dependent communication (quorum sensing) using autoinducing peptides (AIPs). Although clostridial AIPs have been proposed to be (thio)lactone-containing peptides, their true structures remain elusive. Here, we report the genome-guided discovery of an AIP that controls endospore formation in Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum. Through a combination of chemical synthesis and chemical complementation assays with a mutant strain, we reveal that the genuine chemical mediator is a homodetic cyclopeptide (cAIP). Kinetic analyses indicate that the mature cAIP is produced via a cryptic thiolactone intermediate that undergoes a rapid S→N acyl shift, in a manner similar to intramolecular native chemical ligation (NCL). Finally, by implementing a chemical probe in a targeted screen, we show that this novel enzyme-primed, intramolecular NCL is a widespread feature of clostridial AIP biosynthesis., (© 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Metalation of the formamidine Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-N(H)-C2H4-Py (1a) and benzamidine Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Ph)-N(H)-C2H4-Py (1b) with [(thf)2M{N(SiMe3)2}2] (M = Ca, Sr) yields the corresponding homoleptic complexes [M{Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(R)-N-C2H4-Py}2] (M/R = Ca/H (2a), Ca/Ph (2b), and Sr/Ph (3b)) regardless of the applied stoichiometry. Only during calciation of Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-N(H)-C2H4-Py (1a), the heteroleptic intermediate [{(Me3Si)2N}Ca{Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(R)-N-C2H4-Py}]2 (2a') has been observed. The formamidinate complex of strontium crystallizes as a tmeda adduct of the type [(tmeda)Sr{Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)-N-C2H4-Py}2] (3a). Metalation of the pivalamidine Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(tBu)-N(H)-C2H4-Py (1c) leads to the formation of heteroleptic mononuclear [{(Me3Si)2N}M{Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(tBu)-N(H)-C2H4-Py}] (M = Ca (2c) and Sr (3c)) with a side-on bonding of the Dipp group to the alkaline earth metals. Calciation of chiral Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(tBu)-N(H)-CH2CH(Me)-Py (R)-1d and (S)-1d with [(thf)2Ca{N(SiMe3)2}2] yields the homoleptic complexes [Ca{Dipp-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(tBu)-N-CH2CH(Me)-Py}2] with the enantiomeric forms (R,R)-2d and (S,S)-2d regardless of the applied stoichiometry. The complexes 2c and 2d catalyze the intramolecular hydroamination of the aminoalkene 2,2-diphenylpent-4-enylamine yielding 2-methyl-4,4-diphenylpyrrolidine but the stereochemistry cannot be influenced by the chiral compounds (R,R)-2d and (S,S)-2d.

The largest continuous bacterial nonribosomal peptide synthetase discovered so far is described. It consists of 15 consecutive modules arising from an uninterrupted, fully functional gene in the entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. The identification of its cryptic biosynthesis product was achieved by using a combination of genome analysis, promoter exchange, isotopic labeling experiments, and total synthesis of a focused collection of peptide candidates. Although it belongs to the growing class of D-/ L-peptide natural products, the encoded metabolite kolossin A was found to be largely devoid of antibiotic activity and is likely involved in interspecies communication. A stereoisomer of this peculiar natural product displayed high activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, a recalcitrant parasite that causes the deadly disease African sleeping sickness., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Some phthalates are endocrine disruptors and reproductive and developmental toxicants. Data on newborn phthalate exposure and elimination characteristics are scarce. We determined 21 urinary phthalate metabolites (indicating exposure to 11 parent phthalates) in two study approaches: in the first approach we collected the urine of 20 healthy newborns at days 2-5 post partum together with 47 urine samples of 7 women during pregnancy. In the second fine tuned approach we collected first urine samples of 9 healthy newborns together with their mother's urine shortly before birth. To ensure full and contamination free collection of the newborns first urines we used special adhesive urine bags for children. All urine samples revealed ubiquitous exposures to phthalates comparable to other populations. Metabolite levels in the newborns first day urine samples were generally lower than in all other samples. However, the newborns urines (both first and day 2-5 urines) showed a metabolite pattern distinctly different from the maternal and general population samples: in the newborns urines the carboxy-metabolites of the long chain phthalates (DEHP, DiNP, DiDP) were the by far dominant metabolites with a relative share in the metabolite spectrum up to 6 times higher than in maternal urine. Oppositely, for the short chain phthalates (DBP, DiBP) oxidized metabolites seemed to be less favored than the simple monoesters in the newborns urines. The skewed metabolite distribution in the newborns urine warrants further investigation in terms of early phthalate metabolism, the quantity of internal phthalate exposure of the fetus/newborn and its possible health effects., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: Maternal nutrition in pregnancy has a crucial impact on the development of the fetus. Dietary trans fatty acids (tFA) are known to have adverse health effects, especially during pregnancy. However, the distribution of tFA produced via partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils (mainly elaidic acid; t9) differs compared to ruminant-derived tFA (mainly vaccenic acid; t11). Recent findings indicate that they may have different impact on human health.Therefore, in this study, plasma and erythrocytes of mother-child pairs (n = 55) were sampled to investigate the distribution of tFA, including individual trans C18:1 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in fetal related to maternal lipids; with additional consideration of maternal dairy fat intake., Results: Portion of t9 and t11, but also of c9,t11 CLA was higher in maternal than in fetal blood lipids. The portion of t9 in maternal and fetal lipids differed only slightly. In contrast, the portion of fetal t11 was only half of that in maternal blood. This led to a fetal t9/t11-index in plasma and erythrocytes being twice as high compared to the maternal values. A high dairy fat intake resulted in elevated portions of t11 and its Δ9-desaturation product c9,t11 CLA in maternal blood. In contrast, in the respective fetal blood lipids only c9,t11 CLA, but not t11 was increased. Nevertheless, a positive association between maternal and fetal plasma exists for both t11 and c9,t11 CLA. Furthermore, in contrast to t9, t11 was not negatively associated with n-3 LC-PUFA in fetal blood lipids., Conclusions: Fetal blood fatty acid composition essentially depends on and is altered by the maternal fatty acid supply. However, in addition to dietary factors, other aspects also contribute to the individual fatty acid distribution (oxidation, conversion, incorporation). The lower portion of fetal t11 compared to maternal t11, possibly results from Δ9-desaturation to c9,t11 CLA and/or oxidation. Based on the fatty acid distribution, it can be concluded that t11 differs from t9 regarding its metabolism and their impact on fetal LC-PUFA.

The use of chemically-synthesized short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is the key method of choice to manipulate gene expression in mammalian cell cultures and in vivo. Several previous studies have aimed at inducing cell-specific RNA interference (RNAi) in order to use siRNA molecules as therapeutic reagents. Here, we used peptide-inhibited siRNAs that were activated after cleavage by cell-specific peptidases. We show that siRNAs with bound peptide at the antisense strand could be activated in target cells and were able to induce RNAi in a cell-specific manner. Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-3 gene expression were selectively reduced in a JEG-3 human choriocarcinoma cell line expressing the activating enzyme caspase-4, whereas the effect was absent in HEK cells which lacked the enzyme. In JEG-3 cells, reduction of STAT3 gene expression by conventional and peptide-inhibited siRNA led to a decrease in cell proliferation. This suggests that peptide-inhibited siRNAs provide improved cell specificity and offers new opportunities for their therapeutic use.

In this work we tackle the stacking disorder of melon, a layered carbon imide amide polymer with the ideal composition (C(6)N(7)(NH)(NH(2))). Although its existence has been postulated since 1834 the structure of individual melon layers could only recently be solved via electron diffraction and high-resolution (15)N solid-state NMR spectroscopy. With only weak van der Waals interactions between neighboring layers its long range stacking order is poorly defined preventing an efficient use of diffraction techniques. We, therefore, rely on a combination of solid-state NMR experiments and force field calculations. The key information is obtained based on heteronuclear ((1)H-(13)C) and homonuclear ((1)H-(1)H) second moments M(2) acquired from (1)H-(13)C cross polarization experiments. To allow for an interpretation of the polarization transfer rates the resonances in the (13)C MAS spectra have to be assigned and the hydrogen atoms have to be located. The assignment was performed using a two-dimensional (15)N-(13)C iDCP experiment. For the determination of the position of the hydrogen atoms NH and HH distances were measured via(1)H-(15)N Lee-Goldburg CP and (1)H-(1)H double-quantum build-up curves, respectively. Furthermore, the homogeneity of the material under examination was investigated exploiting (15)N spin-diffusion. Based on force field methods 256 structure models with varying lateral arrangements between neighboring layers were created. For each model the M(2) were calculated allowing them to be ranked by comparing calculated and measured M(2) as well as via their force field energies. This allows the creation of markedly structured hypersurfaces with two distinctly favored shift vectors for the displacement of neighboring layers.

We present an approach for determining the positions of the hydrogen atoms in NH(x) groups of crystalline materials. It is based on a combination of quantum-chemical DFT calculations and quantitative solid-state NMR measurements of N-H and H-H distances. The former provide the alignment of the NHx groups within the crystal structure whereas the latter define their internal geometry. For the model system melem (C6N7(NH2)3) the N-H and H-H distances were determined to 1.055(7) A using a Lee-Goldburg CP experiment and to 1.79(2) A based on homonuclear double-quantum excitation with a R14(6)(2) sequence, respectively. The thus-obtained positions of the hydrogen atoms were verified by analysing 1H-13C solid-state NMR cross-polarization build-up curves. The calculated polarization transfer rates depend on both the hetero- and the homonuclear second moments MHC2 and MHH2. Thus this experiment is highly sensitive to the positions of the hydrogen atoms within a given crystal structure. The agreement between calculated and experimentally observed transfer rate constants turned out to be poor if the calculations were based on single crystal diffraction data only. While the use of quantum chemical relaxed structure models improve the situation significantly, a satisfactory agreement could only be reached with the incorporation of the NMR distances into the optimized structure. Our results prove that the combination of DFT structure optimizations with quantitative solid-state NMR experiments is a powerful and very accurate tool for the determination of the hydrogen substructure for a known structure model of heavy atoms only. Since the localization of the hydrogen atoms is often not possible based on X-ray diffraction data, the presented approach appears to be very promising for future applications.

Problem: Homing of lymphocytes and NK cells into the decidua and its regulation has been very controversially discussed. Therefore, we aimed to establish an in vivo simulation method for analysis of homing behavior, which might be also useful for other cells such as stem or tumor cells., Method of Study: A human term placenta has been perfused with medium to elute blood and then with maternal autologous carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled peripheral blood lymphocytes for 3 hr and rinsed for another 2 hr. Tissue was analysed histologically for detection of labeled cells. Labeled lymphocytes and beads in perfusate have been identified and counted by flow cytometry., Results: At the moment of tissue fixation for histology, the perfusate was free of labeled cells. Labeled perfused lymphocytes have been found adhered and integrated in vessel wall structures, in decidual stroma and as colonies in individual villi., Conclusion: Placenta perfusion with a lymphocyte suspension is feasible without plugging the tube system. Time is sufficient for cells to adhere and to migrate into the stroma. Also some villi have been infiltrated which might be caused by inflammatory stimuli. The perfusion system might be useful to test substances for their capacity to influence homing of lymphocytes or other cells.

It has recently been reported that the increased prevalence in childhood allergy may be linked to deviations in fetal immune development. One reason may be impaired nutrient supply. Hence, a well-differentiated placenta together with an optimal fetal nutrition via the mother are important prerequisites for the establishment of a functional immune system with normal immune responses. Fatty acids and their derivatives can influence both the early immune development and immune maturation by regulating numerous metabolic processes and the gene expression of important proteins such as enzymes and cytokines. The present review summarises the impact of nutritional fatty acids on the development of the immune system as well as the fetal development. It describes the mechanisms of action of PUFA, trans fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids in programming the fetus with regard to its risk of acquiring atopic diseases in childhood.

A simple RP-HPLC method based on fluorescence detection was developed for the quantitation of 7-amino-4-trifluoro methylcoumarin (AFC) in cell lysates from JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells for determination of caspase-4 activity. In contrast to the established methods of AFC detection using a fluorescence microplate reader or using a fluorescence photometer, the separation of AFC-signals from interfering fluorescence signals by a reversed phase column affords more precise quantitation of released AFC. This can be important for analyses of cell lysates with low caspase activity or experimental series with marginal differences among samples. By applying this new method, a linear dynamic range of 40pmol/mL to 3nmol/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 was achieved. Due to the short retention time ( approximately 7min), the determination of AFC by RP-HPLC under isocratic conditions requires small amounts of samples (50microL injection volume), and allows increased sample throughput. This method should be easily applied with little or no modification to other caspase assays by using the same fluorophore.

When pillaring a well crystalline synthetic hectorite using molecular pillars, we obtained a truly microporous material for the first time that displays long range order of the pillars and consequently a narrow pore size distribution.

The gas-phase loading of [Zn(4)O(btb)(2)](8) (MOF-177; H(3)btb=1,3,5-benzenetribenzoic acid) with the volatile platinum precursor [Me(3)PtCp'] (Cp'=methylcyclopentadienyl) was confirmed by solid state (13)C magic angle spinning (MAS)-NMR spectroscopy. Subsequent reduction of the inclusion compound [Me(3)PtCp'](4)@MOF-177 by hydrogen at 100 bar and 100 degrees C for 24 h was carried out and gave rise to the formation of platinum nanoparticles in a size regime of 2-5 nm embedded in the unchanged MOF-177 host lattice as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The room-temperature hydrogen adsorption of Pt@MOF-177 has been followed in a gravimetric fashion (magnetic suspension balance) and shows almost 2.5 wt % in the first cycle, but is decreased down to 0.5 wt % in consecutive cycles. The catalytic activity of Pt@MOF-177 towards the solvent- and base-free room temperature oxidation of alcohols in air has been tested and shows Pt@MOF-177 to be an efficient catalyst in the oxidation of alcohols.

The tautomerism of cyameluric acid C6N7O3H3 (1 a), cyamelurates and other heptazine derivatives has recently been studied by several theoretical investigations. In this experimental study we prepared stannyl and silyl derivatives of cyameluric acid (1 a): C6N7O3[Sn(C4H9)3]3 (3 a), C6N7O3[Sn(C2H5)3]3 (3 b), and C6N7O3[Si(CH3)3]3 (4). In order to investigate the structure of 1 a the mono- and dipotassium cyamelurate hydrates K(C6N7O3H2)2 H2O (5) and K2(C6N7O3H)1 H2O (6) were synthesized by UV/Vis-controlled titration of a potassium cyamelurate solution with aqueous hydrochloric acid. Compounds 3-6 were characterized by FTIR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy as well as simultaneous thermal analysis (TGA, DTA). The single crystal X-ray structures of the salts 5 and 6 show that the hydrogen atoms in both anions are localized on the peripheral nitrogen atoms. This indicates-in combination with the solid-state NMR studies-that the most stable tautomer of solid 1 a is the triketo form with C3h symmetry. However, derivatives of both the hydroxyl and the amido tautomers may be formed depending on the substituent atoms: The spectroscopic data and single crystal structures of compounds C6N7O3[Si(CH3)3]3 (4) and the solvate C6N7O3[Sn(C2H5)3]3C2H4Cl2 (3 b') show that the former is derived from the symmetric trihydroxy form of 1 a, while 3 b' crystallizes as a chain-like polymer, which contains the tin atoms as multifunctional building blocks, that is, bridging pentacoordinated Et3SnO2 and Et3SnON units as well as non-bridging four-coordinated Et3SnN units. The cyameluric nucleus is part of the polymeric chains of C6N7O3[Sn(C2H5)3]3C2H4Cl2 (3 b'), by the action of both tautomeric forms of cyameluric acid, the amide and the ester form.

SrP2N4 was obtained by high-pressure high-temperature synthesis utilizing the multianvil technique (5 GPa, 1400 degrees C) starting from mixtures of phosphorus(V) nitride and strontium azide. SrP2N4 turned out to be isotypic with BaGa(2)O(4) and is closely related to KGeAlO(4). The crystal structure (SrP2N4, a=17.1029(8), c=8.10318(5) A, space group P6(3) (no. 173), V=2052.70(2) A3, Z=24, R(F2)=0.0633) was solved from synchrotron powder diffraction data by applying a combination of direct methods, Patterson syntheses, and difference Fourier maps adding the unit cell information derived from electron diffraction and symmetry information obtained from 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The structure of SrP2N4 was refined by the Rietveld method by utilizing both neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and has been corroborated additionally by 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy by employing through-bond connectivities and distance relations.

Poly(aminoimino)heptazine, otherwise known as Liebig's melon, whose composition and structure has been subject to multitudinous speculations, was synthesized from melamine at 630 degrees C under the pressure of ammonia. Electron diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations revealed that the nanocrystalline material exhibits domains well-ordered in two dimensions, thereby allowing the structure solution in projection by electron diffraction. Melon ([C(6)N(7)(NH(2))(NH)](n), plane group p2 gg, a=16.7, b=12.4 A, gamma=90 degrees, Z=4), is composed of layers made up from infinite 1D chains of NH-bridged melem (C(6)N(7)(NH(2))(3)) monomers. The strands adopt a zigzag-type geometry and are tightly linked by hydrogen bonds to give a 2D planar array. The inter-layer distance was determined to be 3.2 A from X-ray powder diffraction. The presence of heptazine building blocks, as well as NH and NH(2) groups was confirmed by (13)C and (15)N solid-state NMR spectroscopy using (15)N-labeled melon. The degree of condensation of the heptazine core was further substantiated by a (15)N direct excitation measurement. Magnetization exchange observed between all (15)N nuclei using a fp-RFDR experiment, together with the CP-MAS data and elemental analysis, suggests that the sample is mainly homogeneous in terms of its basic composition and molecular building blocks. Semiempirical, force field, and DFT/plane wave calculations under periodic boundary conditions corroborate the structure model obtained by electron diffraction. The overall planarity of the layers is confirmed and a good agreement is obtained between the experimental and calculated NMR chemical shift parameters. The polymeric character and thermal stability of melon might render this polymer a pre-stage of g-C(3)N(4) and portend its use as a promising inert material for a variety of applications in materials and surface science.

A series of bivalent thrombin inhibitors was synthesized, consisting of a d-phenylalanyl-prolyl-N(alpha)(methyl)arginyl active site blocking segment, a fibrinogen recognition exosite inhibitor part, and a peptidic linker connecting these fragments. The methylation of the P1 amino acid led to a moderate decrease in affinity compared with the unmethylated analog. In addition, it prevented the thrombin catalyzed proteolysis, independent of the P1' amino acid used. This is a significant advantage compared to the original hirulogs, which strictly require a proline as P1' amino acid to reduce the cleavage C-terminal to the arginyl residue. Several analogs were prepared by incorporation of different P1' amino acids found in natural thrombin substrates. The most potent inhibitor was I-11 [dCha-Pro-N(Me)Arg-Thr-(Gly)5-DYEPIPEEA-Cha-dGlu] with a Ki of 37 pM. I-11 is highly selective and no inhibition of the related serine proteases trypsin, factor Xa and plasmin was observed. The stability of I-11 in human plasma in vitro was strongly improved compared to hirulog-1. In addition, a significantly reduced plasma clearance of I-11 was observed after intravenous injection in rats. Results from molecular modeling suggest that a strong reorganization of the hydrogen bonds in the active site of thrombin may result in the proteolytic stability found in this inhibitor series.

A series of new analogs with modifications in the C-terminal residue were prepared based on the known thrombin inhibitor D-Phe-Pro-agmatine. These include several compounds alkylated at the N delta-, N omega- and N omega'-atoms of the guanidino group and a number of inhibitors derived from commercially available diamines. All analogs with alkylation of the guanidino group showed very poor activity. In contrast, the most potent and selective inhibitor with a cyclic and basic residue in the P1-position was found to be Ph-CH2-SO2-D-Cha-Pro-4-(amidomethyl) amidinopiperidine 11 with a Ki of 0.27 nM. In addition, a number of compounds were synthesized, in which the basic amidino group of the P1-residue was replaced by a hydroxyl group. Although the inhibition constants of these phenol derivatives showed still remarkable potency (16, Ki = 130 nM), their activity in clotting assays was strongly reduced.

It is commonly assumed that bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists bind to a receptor site partially different from that for agonists. Thus, it is likely that there exists more than one key modification to convert bradykinin receptor agonists into antagonists. In this respect, [L-NMePhe2]-BK represents the basic structure of a new type of bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists without any replacement at position 7. This compound inhibits both in vitro bradykinin-induced contraction of the guinea pig lung strip and in vivo bradykinin-induced bronchoconstriction. Furthermore, this analog shows analgesic activity, blocks in a dose-dependent manner the bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release from macrophages and inhibits at a concentration of 10(-13) M the bradykinin-induced cytokine release from mononuclear cells. Combinations with structural modifications previously performed for other B2 receptor antagonists rather reduce than enhance the potency.

For further studies on the structural and conformational requirements of positions 2,3, and 7 in the bradykinin sequence, we replaced the proline residues by the more hydrophobic and conformationally restricted N-methyl-L- and D-phenylalanine (NMF). The biological activities of the new analogs were evaluated on rat uterus, guinea pig ileum, and guinea pig lung strip. Receptor binding of the analogs was studied in membranes from rat uterus and guinea pig ileum. Influence of bradykinin analogs on the release of cytokines from mouse spleen cell cultures was also measured. Bradykinin analogs were synthesized by the solid phase method, using Boc strategy on PAM or Merrifield resins. The best results in the formation of the N-methylamide bond were obtained with the coupling reagent PyBrop. In position 7 the substitution of D-Phe by D-NMF, retaining the configuration of the amino acid, converts bradykinin antagonists into agonists. The bradykinin analogs with D-NMF at position 7 gave the highest known tissue selectivity for rat uterus among agonists. [L-NMF(2)]bradykinin has moderate agonist activity on rat uterus but antagonist activity on guinea pig lung strip. It represents a new antagonist for B(2) receptors without any replacement at position 7. The same analog completely inhibits bradykinin-evoked cytokine expression by mononuclear cells.

With the aim of synthesizing cyclic antagonists of the nonapeptide hormone bradykinin with minimal side chain modification, we performed backbone to backbone and backbone to side chain cyclization. To probe and compare different strategies for this new kind of cyclization, the branched peptide bonds were formed by both reductive alkylation on the solid phase and by using preformed building units. Lactam bridges between the modified amide groups were formed by the use of the phenylalanine derivatives N(CH2COOH)Phe and N(CH2CH2NH2)Phe. The best results in the formation of the N-alkylamide bond were obtained with the coupling reagent PyBrop. The coupling rate was monitored by estimation of the N-terminal Fmoc-group. The cyclization was performed on the solid support. Unexpected difficulties resulted from the instability of the N-alkylamide bond under strong acidic conditions, as used for deprotection and for removal from the resin. We synthesized peptides with backbone to backbone cyclization between positions 2 and 5, as well as backbone to side chain cyclizations between positions 0 and 5, and between 2 and 6. The relatively high biological activities of some of the cyclic analogues support the supposed receptor-bound conformation of bradykinin antagonists with a beta-turn in the N-terminal sequence.