PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Höcker

Publications and source records attributed to H Höcker.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The role of the C-terminus of the insulin B-chain in modulating structural and functional properties of the hormone.

Within the scope of structure-function studies on the proteohormone insulin, the role of the C-terminal segment B26-B30 for self-association and receptor interaction was analyzed. Insulin derivatives with modifications in the region B26-B30 were synthesized by trypsin-catalyzed coupling reactions of des-(B23-B30)-insulin with synthetic peptides. The peptides were obtained by Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. Insulins with multiple amino acid-->glycine substitutions were examined to distinguish between the influence of the side chains and the influence of the main chain in positions B27-B30 on the self-association of the hormone. The analogues [GlyB27,B28,B29,B30]insulin and [GlyB27,B28,B30]insulin exhibit relative receptor affinities of 80% and self-associate. The successive extension of [AlaB26]des-(B27-B30)-insulin-B26-amide (relative receptor binding 273%) with amino acids corresponding to the native sequence B27-B30 showed the influence of the length of the B-chain on receptor affinity: the extension by B27-threonine amide reduces receptor binding to 71%, all further prolongations have only small effects on the binding. The effect of the B28-side chain on main-chain conformation, self-association and receptor binding was examined with [XB28]des-(B29-B30)-insulin-B28-amides (X = Phe, Gly, D-Pro). While the glycine and D-proline analogues (relative binding 104 and 143%, respectively) retain the self-association properties typical of insulin, [PheB28]des-(B29-B30)-insulin-B28-amide (relative binding 50%) shows diminished self-association. The backbone-modified insulin derivative [SarB26]des-(B27-B30)-insulin-B26-amide (sarcosine = N-methylglycine) exhibits an unexpectedly high receptor affinity of 1100% which demonstrates that the B26-amide hydrogen of the native hormone is not important for receptor binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Proteolyses of a fluorogenic insulin derivative and native insulin in reversed micelles monitored by fluorescence emission, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and capillary zone electrophoresis.

The preparation and substrate properties of the fluorogenic insulin derivative N alpha A1-aminobenzoyl-N epilson B29-Tyr(NO2)- insulin are described. This semisynthetic protein intramolecularly quenched by long-range resonance energy transfer between the donor/acceptor pair 2-aminobenzoic acid and 3-nitrotyrosine was used to prove the activity of serine proteases toward substrates of high molecular weight after incorporation in reversed micelles. The proteases investigated, trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, were shown to be hydrolytically active in reversed micellar solvent systems stabilized by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or sodium-1,2-bis(2-ethylhexylcarbonyl)-1- ethane sulfonate. Apart from fluorometric enzyme assays, methods for monitoring proteolyses in reversed micelles were elaborated using either reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography or capillary zone electrophoresis. Enzymatic digestions of native insulin by the specific protease trypsin and the less specific protease alpha-chymotrypsin were performed. In contrast to aqueous solution, high but still variable specificity of alpha-chymotrypsin which was dependent on the micellar environment was observed. The results promise further insight into the influence of interfacial environments on enzyme action and a novel approach to enzyme-mediated protein modifications by the use of microstructured solvent systems.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1993

Cyclic disulfide analogues of the complement component C3a. Synthesis and conformational investigations.

The flexible C-terminal region of the anaphylatoxic peptide C3a was reported to contain the receptor binding site. To elucidate the receptor binding conformation of the C-terminus, as well as to examine a synthetic approach to potential C3a-antagonists, 26 cyclic disulfide bridged C3a analogues were synthesized. Solid phase peptide synthesis was performed on different polymeric supports by individual peptide synthesis, with Fmoc strategy, and simultaneous multiple peptide synthesis, using Boc and Fmoc strategies. Both strategies gave open-chain peptides in comparable yields. Syntheses using the Boc strategy employed the HF-labile 4(methoxy)benzyl group (Mob) for beta-thiol protection of cysteine; in contrast, the TFA-stable protecting groups, acetamidomethyl (Acm) and trityl (Trt), were chosen for syntheses employing Fmoc strategy. Ring closure reactions by iodine oxidation were carried out starting from protected (Acm/Acm, Trt/Acm) or unprotected dithiols. The resulting cyclic C3a analogues were characterized by HPLC, amino acid analysis, and FAB-MS. Conformational investigations using CD spectroscopy and theoretical structural investigations by means of molecular dynamics calculations revealed that slight variations in sequence result in pronounced conformational consequences. The potential of cyclic C3a analogues to activate or to desensitize guinea pig platelets, a standard test system for biological activities of anaphylatoxic peptides like C3a, revealed relatively low activities for cyclic peptides (< 0.1% C3a activity). N-terminal acylation with cationic, arginine-rich sequences like YRRGR- led to amplified biological effects. Three of the synthesized peptides, namely CAALCLAR (P1), YRRGRCGGLCLAR (P5) and YRRGRAhxCGGLCLAR (P8), point in the direction of C3a antagonists.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Semisynthetic des-(B27-B30)-insulins with modified B26-tyrosine.

Semisynthetic des-(B27-B30)-insulins containing modified B26-tyrosine residues were prepared to refine the understanding of the importance of position B26 with regard to biological and structural properties of the hormone. The following shortened insulin analogues were synthesized by trypsin-catalysed peptide-bond formation between the C-terminal amino acid ArgB22 of des-(B23-B30)-insulin and synthetic tetrapeptides as amino components: des-(B27-B30)-insulin, des-(B27-B30)-insulin-B26-methyl ester, -B26-carboxamide with varying C-terminal hydrophobicity of the B-chain, and [Tyr(NH2)B26]-, [Tyr(NO2)B26]-, [Tyr(I2)B26]-, [D-TyrB26]des-(B27-B30)-insulin-B26-carboxamide containing non-proteinogenic amino acids in position B26. Starting from insulin and an excess of synthetic Gly-Phe-Phe-Tyr-OMe as nucleophile, des-(B27-B30)-insulin-B26-methyl ester--the formal transpeptidation product at ArgB22--was formed in one step. Biological in vitro properties (binding to cultured human IM-9 lymphocytes, relative lipogenic potency in isolated rat adipocytes) of all semisynthetic analogues are reported, ranging from slightly decreased to two-fold receptor affinity and nearly three-fold biopotency relative to insulin. If the C-terminal tetrapeptide B27-B30 is removed, full relative insulin activity is still preserved, while the shortening results in the loss of ability to associate in solution. Only after carboxamidation or methyl esterification of TyrB26 the self-association typical of native insulin can be observed, and the CD-spectral effects in the near UV spectrum related to association and hexamerization of the native hormone are qualitatively reestablished. The results of this investigation underline the importance of position B26 to the modulation of hormonal properties and solution structure of the shortened insulins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Enzyme-assisted semisynthesis of shortened B26-modified insulins.

The role of the invariant residue B26-tyrosine in determining the structural and biological properties of insulin has been extensively investigated by the use of semisynthetic des-(B27-B30)-insulins with modifications of position B26. Apart from the conventional trypsin-catalyzed peptide bond formation between the C-terminal amino acid ArgB22 of des-(B23-B30)-insulin and synthetic tetrapeptides we elaborated a new approach using des-(B26-B30)-insulin as substrate in alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated syntheses. Results obtained from bioassays and CD-spectroscopy underline the importance of position B26 to the association of the native molecule and to the modulation of structural and hormonal properties of shortened insulins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Isolation and characterization of high-molecular mass DNA from hair shafts.

Experiments to identify species by DNA analysis of their hair failed so far because no DNA could be isolated from hair shafts. In this work the preparation of DNA from human--as well as from animal hair shafts (alpaca, angora-rabbit, cashmere, cashgora, mohair, merino and yak) is described for the first time. In general the isolated DNA shows a length of more than 20 kbp. The species of the hair shaft samples could be exactly identified by DNA hybridization experiments. The isolated DNA from hair shafts allow new possibilities to identify species and individuals employing techniques from molecular biology.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy testing for hair care products.

For the efficacy testing of hair care products, a number of methods are available. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy are most suitable for surface evaluation; the swelling properties in the course of a treatment are determined using a fiber-swelling analyzer, and the luster may be reliably determined by means of a multiangle goniophotometer. Further, surface tension is a suitable method to evaluate the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of a hair section, and is sensitive enough to indicate the individual hormone cycle.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗