Structural Determination of Ancovenin, a Peptide Inhibitor of Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme

The structure of ancovenin, a new peptide inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme was determined chemically. Ancovenin is composed of 16 amino acid residues including three lanthionine residues which form a complex tricyclic structure bridged by sulfide bonds. Moreover, this peptide includes dehydroalanine as one of its unusual amino acids. In the present study, plausible mechanisms of the Edman degradation of dehydroalanine and lanthionine-containing peptides were also elucidated.