U.S. patent application number 11/725135 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for activation of peptide prodrugs by hk2.
This patent application is currently assigned to Genspera, Inc.. Invention is credited to Samuel R. Denmeade, John T. Isaacs, Hans Lilja.
Application Number | 20080247950 11/725135 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22516824 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080247950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Denmeade; Samuel R. ; et
al. |
October 9, 2008 |
Activation of peptide prodrugs by hK2
Abstract
The invention provides novel peptide prodrugs that contain
cleavage sites specifically cleaved by human kallikrein 2 (hK2).
These prodrugs are useful for substantially inhibiting the
non-specific toxicity of a variety of therapeutic drugs. Upon
cleavage of the prodrug by hK2, the therapeutic drugs are activated
and exert their toxicity. Methods for treating cell proliferative
disorders are also featured in the invention.
Inventors: |
Denmeade; Samuel R.;
(Ellicot City, MD) ; Isaacs; John T.; (Pheonix,
MD) ; Lilja; Hans; (Skanor, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP
875 15th Street, NW
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Genspera, Inc.
Los Angeles
CA
|
Family ID: |
22516824 |
Appl. No.: |
11/725135 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11212028 |
Aug 24, 2005 |
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11725135 |
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09627600 |
Jul 28, 2000 |
7053042 |
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11212028 |
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60146316 |
Jul 29, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/9.1 ; 435/29;
514/34; 514/44R; 514/468; 514/773; 530/322; 530/326; 530/327;
530/328; 530/329; 530/330; 530/331; 530/391.1; 536/23.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 47/65 20170801;
C07K 14/47 20130101; A61P 35/00 20180101; C12N 9/6445 20130101;
C07K 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/9.1 ;
530/326; 530/327; 530/328; 530/329; 530/330; 530/331; 530/322;
530/391.1; 536/23.1; 514/773; 514/468; 514/44; 514/34; 435/29 |
International
Class: |
A61K 49/00 20060101
A61K049/00; C07K 7/06 20060101 C07K007/06; C07K 7/08 20060101
C07K007/08; C07K 5/00 20060101 C07K005/00; C07K 9/00 20060101
C07K009/00; C07K 16/00 20060101 C07K016/00; C07H 21/00 20060101
C07H021/00; A61P 35/00 20060101 A61P035/00; A61K 47/42 20060101
A61K047/42; A61K 31/343 20060101 A61K031/343; A61K 31/7052 20060101
A61K031/7052; A61K 31/704 20060101 A61K031/704; C12Q 1/02 20060101
C12Q001/02 |
Claims
1. A peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having a cleavage
site specific for an enzyme having a proteolytic activity of human
kallikrein 2 (hK2), wherein the peptide is 20 or fewer amino acids
in length.
2. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the sequence comprises: the
amino acids X.sub.4X.sub.3X.sub.2X.sub.1, wherein X.sub.4 is from 0
to 20 amino acids; X.sub.3 is lysine, serine, alanine, histadine or
glutamine; X.sub.2 is arginine, phenylalanine, lysine or histidine;
and X.sub.1 is arginine, histidine or lysine.
3. The peptide of claim 2, further comprising X.sub.-1 linked to
X.sub.1, wherein X.sub.-1 is from 1 to 10 amino acids.
4. The peptide of claim 2, wherein X.sub.-1 is leucine, alanine or
serine.
5. The peptide of claim 2, further comprising amino acid X.sub.5
linked to the amino terminus of X.sub.4, wherein X.sub.5 is from 0
to 15 amino acids and wherein X.sub.4 is glutamine, alanine,
histidine or lysine.
6. The peptide of claim 5, further comprising amino acid X.sub.6
linked to the amino terminus of X.sub.5, wherein X.sub.6 is from 0
to 14 amino acids and wherein X.sub.5 is glycine, glutamic acid, or
alanine.
7. The peptide of claim 3, wherein X.sub.-1 comprises leucine.
8. The peptide of claim 6, wherein the amino acid sequence is
selected from the group consisting of Ala-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg,
Gly-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg, Glu-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg, Glu-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg,
Gly-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg, Gly-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg, Gly-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg,
Gly-His-Lys-Arg-Arg, Gly-Lys-Ala-Phe-Arg, Glu-Lys-Ala-Gln-Arg, and
Glu-Lys-Ala-Arg-Arg.
9. The peptide of claim 1, further comprising a capping group
attached to the N-terminus of the peptide, the group inhibiting
endopeptidase activity on the peptide.
10. The peptide of claim 9, wherein the capping group is selected
from the group consisting of acetyl, morpholinocarbonyl,
benzyloxycarbonyl, glutaryl and succinyl substituents.
11. A peptide of claim 1, further comprising an added substituent
which renders the peptide water-soluble.
12. A peptide of claim 11, wherein the added substituent is a
polysaccharide.
13. A peptide of claim 12, wherein the polysaccharide is selected
from the group consisting of modified or unmodified dextran,
cyclodextrin, and starch.
14. A peptide of claim 2, further comprising an antibody attached
to the amino terminus of X.sub.5, or X.sub.4 when X.sub.5 is 0.
15. A peptide composition comprising a plurality of peptides, each
peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having a cleavage site
specific for an enzyme having a proteolytic activity of human
kallikrein 2 (hK2), wherein each peptide has 20 or fewer amino
acids.
16. A polynucleotide encoding the peptide of claim 1.
17. A composition comprising a prodrug, the prodrug comprising a
therapeutically active drug; and a peptide of claim 1, wherein the
peptide is linked to the therapeutically active drug to inhibit the
therapeutic activity of the drug, and wherein the therapeutically
active drug is cleaved from the peptide upon proteolysis by an
enzyme having a proteolytic activity of human kallikrein 2
(hK2).
18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the peptide is linked
directly to the therapeutic drug.
19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the peptide is linked
directly to a primary amine group on the drug.
20. The composition of claim 17, wherein the peptide is linked to
the therapeutic drug via a linker.
21. The composition of claim 20, wherein the linker is an amino
acid sequence.
22. The composition of claim 21, wherein the linker comprises a
leucine residue.
23. The composition of claim 17, wherein the therapeutically active
drug inhibits a SERCA pump.
24. The composition of claim 23, wherein the therapeutically active
drug is selected from the group of primary amine containing
thapsigargins or thapsigargin derivatives.
25. The composition of claim 17, wherein the therapeutically active
drug intercalates into a polynucleotide.
26. The composition of claim 25, wherein the therapeutically active
drug is an anthracycline antibiotic.
27. The composition of claim 26, wherein the therapeutically active
drug is selected from the group consisting of doxorubicin,
daunorubicin, epirubicin and idarubicin.
28. The composition of claim 17, wherein the peptide is
Gly-Gly-Lys-Ala-Arg-Arg-Leu.
29. The composition of claim 17, wherein the therapeutic drug is a
compound belonging to the group of thapsigargins which have been
derivatized with a moiety containing a primary amine group, the
peptide is Gly-Gly-Lys-Ala-Arg-Arg-Leu, and the linker is selected
from the group consisting of unsubstituted or alkyl-, aryl-, halo-,
alkoxy-, alkenyl-, amido- or amino-substituted
CO--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--CO--NH--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--CO--NH--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n3--NH.sub.2, and
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n3--NH--CO--CH(R.sub.4)--NH.sub.2, wherein n1
and n2 are from 0 to 5, n3 is from 0 to 15, Ar is any substituted
or unsubstituted aryl group, attachment of NH.sub.2 to Ar is in a
ortho, meta or para position with respect to the remainder of the
linker, and R.sub.4 is any naturally occurring amino acid side
chain.
30. The composition of claim 17, wherein the therapeutically active
drug has an IC.sub.50 toward ER Ca.sup.2+-ATPase of at most 500
nM.
31. The composition of claim 30, wherein the therapeutically active
drug has an IC.sub.50 toward ER Ca.sup.2+-ATPase of at most 50
nM.
32. The composition of claim 17, wherein the therapeutically active
drug has an LC.sub.50 toward hK2-producing tissue of at most
20:M.
33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the therapeutically active
drug has an LC.sub.50 toward hK2-producing tissue of less than or
equal to 2.0:M.
34. The composition of claim 17, further comprising an added
substituent which renders the composition water soluble.
35. The composition of claim 34, wherein the added substituent is a
polysaccharide.
36. The composition of claim 35, wherein the polysaccharide is
selected from the group consisting of modified or unmodified
dextran, cyclodextrin and starch.
37. A method of producing a prodrug, the method comprising the step
of linking a therapeutically active drug and a peptide of claim 1,
wherein the linking of the peptide to the drug inhibits the
therapeutic activity of the drug.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the therapeutically active drug
has a primary amine.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the prodrug contains a linker
between the peptide and the drug.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the linker comprises Leu.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein the peptide further comprises a
capping group attached to the N-terminus of the peptide, the group
inhibiting endopeptidase activity on the peptide.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the capping group is selected
from the group consisting of acetyl, morpholinocarbonyl,
benzyloxycarbonyl, glutaryl, and succinyl substituents.
43. A method of treating a hK2-producing cell proliferative
disorder, the method comprising administering the composition of
claim 17 in a therapeutically effective amount to a subject having
the cell proliferative disorder.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the disorder is benign.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein the disorder is malignant.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the malignant disorder is
prostate cancer.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein the malignant disorder is
breast cancer.
48. A method of detecting human kallikrein 2-producing tissue, the
method comprising: contacting the tissue with a composition
comprising a detectably labeled peptide of claim 1 for a period of
time sufficient to allow cleavage of the peptide; and detecting the
detectable label.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein the peptide further comprises a
capping group attached to the N-terminus of the peptide, the group
inhibiting endopeptidase activity.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the capping group is selected
from the group consisting of acetyl, morpholinocarbonyl,
benzyloxycarbonyl, glutaryl, and succinyl substituents.
51. The method of claim 48, wherein the detectable label is a
fluorescent label.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the fluorescent label is
selected from the group consisting of 7-amino-4-methyl coumarin,
7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin, rhodamine 110, and
6-aminoquinoline.
53. The method of claim 48, wherein the detectable label is a
radioactive label.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the radioactive label is
selected from the group consisting of tritium, carbon-14, and
iodine-125.
55. The method of claim 48, wherein the detectable label is a
chromophoric label.
56. The method of claim 48, wherein the detectable label is a
chemiluminescent label.
57. A method of selecting a human kallikrein 2 activatable prodrug
wherein the prodrug is substantially specific for target tissue
comprising hK2-producing cells, the method comprising: a) linking a
peptide of claim 1 to a therapeutic drug to produce a peptide-drug
composition; b) contacting the composition with cells of the target
tissue; c) contacting the composition with cells of a non-target
tissue; and selecting complexes that are substantially toxic
towards target tissue cells, but which are not substantially toxic
towards non-target tissue cells.
58. A method of determining the activity of hK2 in a sample
containing hK2, the method comprising: a) contacting the sample
with a composition comprising a detectably labeled peptide of claim
1 for a period of time sufficient to allow cleavage of the peptide;
b) detecting the detectable label to yield a detection level; c)
comparing the detection level with a detection level obtained from
contacting the detectably labeled peptide with a standard hK2
sample.
59. A method of imaging hK2-producing tissue, the method
comprising: a) administering a peptide linked to a lipophilic
imaging label to a subject having or suspected of having a hK2
producing associated cell-proliferative disorder; b) allowing a
sufficient period of time to pass to allow cleavage of the peptide
by hK2 and to allow clearance of uncleaved peptide from the subject
to provide a reliable imaging of the imaging label; and c) imaging
the subject.
60. The peptide of claim 1, wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are
arginine.
61. The peptide of claim 60, wherein X.sub.3 is lysine.
62. The peptide of claim 60, wherein X.sub.3 is serine.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to the targeted activation
of biologically active materials to cells that produce human
glandular kallikrein (hK2) and more specifically to hK2-specific
peptides substrates that can act as drug carriers. In addition it
relates to prodrugs consisting of a peptide covalently coupled to a
cytotoxic drug such that the peptide-drug bond can be hydrolyzed by
hK-2. The coupling of the peptide to the cytotoxic drug creates an
inactive prodrug that can only become activated at sites where
enzymatically active hK-2 is being produced.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is currently no effective therapy for men with
metastatic prostate cancer who relapse after androgen ablation,
even though numerous agents have been tested over the past thirty
years. Prolonged administration of effective concentrations of
standard chemotherapeutic agents is usually not possible because of
dose-limiting systemic toxicities.
[0003] Human Glandular Kallikrein 2 (hK2) is the protein product of
the human kallikrein gene hKLK2, one of three related kallikrein
genes that also include hKLK1 and hKLK3. These three genes are
clustered on chromosome 19q13.2-q13.4. The protein product of hKLK3
is prostate-specific antigen (PSA). While PSA is the predominant
tissue kallikrein in the prostate, hK2 is also found almost
exclusively in the prostate. hK2 is a glycoprotein containing 237
amino acids and a mass of 28.5 kDa. hK2 and PSA share some
properties such as high amino acid sequence identity, prostate
localization, androgen regulation and gene expression, but are
quite distinct form one another biochemically.
[0004] hK2 and PSA differ most markedly in their enzyme properties.
Unlike PSA, a chymotrypsin-like protease, hK2 displays the
trypsin-like specificity common to most members of the kallikrein
family of proteases. hK2 can cleave semenogelin proteins, with an
activity that is comparable to PSA. The level of hK2 in the seminal
fluid is only 1% of the level of PSA. hK2 has trypsin-like
activity, similar to hK1, although it does not appear to function
as a classic kininogenase.
[0005] In the normal prostate, the levels of expressed hK2 protein
are lower than those of PSA. However, hK2 is more highly expressed
by prostate cancer cells than by normal prostate epithelium.
Comparison of immunohistochemical staining patterns demonstrated
incrementally increased staining in poorly differentiated prostate
cancers. The intensity of staining has been found to increase with
increasing Gleason score, in contrast to PSA, which tends to show
decreased staining with increasing Gleason grade, suggesting that
hK2 might potentially be a better tumor marker for prostate cancer
than PSA.
[0006] Recently, three independent groups reported that recombinant
hK2 could convert inactive pro-PSA in to the mature PSA protease by
release of the propeptide in vitro, thus establishing a possible
physiologic connection between hK2 and PSA. hK2 is also secreted in
an inactive precursor form. Pro-hK2 may have autocatalytic
activity, but the mechanism of activation in vivo is unknown and
may involve several additional enzymes. hK2 has also been shown to
activate single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator, scuPA,
to the active two-chain form, uPA, which is highly correlated with
prostate cancer metastasis. More recently, hK2 has been shown to
inactivate the major tissue inhibitor of uPA, plasminogen activator
inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Thus hK2 may influence the progression of
prostate cancer by the activation of uPA and by the inactivation of
PAI-1.
[0007] Enzymatically active hK2 has also been shown to form
covalent complexes in vitro with plasma protease inhibitors such as
.alpha..sub.1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), .alpha..sub.2-antiplasmin,
antithrombin III, protein C inhibitor (PCI), and
.alpha..sub.2-macroglobulin (AMG). hK2 has been identified in
prostate cancer serum in a complex with ACT.
[0008] Thapsigargin (TG) is a sesquiterpene-.gamma.-lactone
available by extraction from the seeds and roots of the
umbelliferous plant Thapsia garganica L. Thapsigargin selectively
inhibits the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and endoplasmic reticulum
(ER) Ca.sup.2+-ATPase (SERCA) pump, found in skeletal, cardiac,
muscle and brain microsomes. The apparent dissociation constant for
TG from the SERCA pump is 2.2 pM or less.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a novel class of
oligopeptides that include amino acid sequences containing cleavage
sites for human glandular kallikrein (HK2), FIG. 1. These cleavage
sites are derived from a hK2 specific cleavage map of semenogelin I
and II, FIG. 1. These oligo-peptides are useful in assays that can
determine the free hK2 protease activity. Furthermore, the
invention also provides a therapeutic prodrug composition,
comprising a therapeutic drug linked to a peptide, which is
specifically cleaved by hK2. The linkage substantially inhibits the
non-specific toxicity of the drug, and cleavage of the peptide
releases the drug, activating it or restoring its non-specific
toxicity.
[0010] The invention also provides a method for treating cell
proliferative disorders, including those which involve the
production of hK2, in subjects having or at risk of having such
disorders. The method involves administering to the subject a
therapeutically effective amount of the composition of the
invention.
[0011] The invention also provides a method of producing the
prodrug composition of the invention. In another embodiment, the
invention provides a method of detecting hK2 activity in tissue. In
yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of
selecting appropriate prodrugs for use in treating cell
proliferative disorders involving hK2-production.
[0012] The invention also provides a method for detecting a cell
proliferative disorder associated with hK2 production in a tissue
of a subject, comprising contacting a target cellular component
suspected of having a hK2 associated disorder, with a reagent which
detects enzymatically active hK2.
[0013] The invention also provides a method of determining hK2
activity in a hK2-containing sample, comprising contacting the
sample with a detectably labeled peptide which is specifically
cleaved by hK2 for a period of time sufficient to allow hK2 to
cleave the peptide, detecting the detectable label to yield a
detection level, which is then compared to the detection level
obtained by contacting the same detectably labeled peptide with a
standard hK2 sample of known activity.
[0014] The invention also provides a method of imaging soft tissue
and/or bone metastases which produce hK2, comprising administering
a lipophilic-imaging label linked to a peptide which is
specifically cleaved by hK2 to a patient suspected of having a
hK2-associated cell proliferative disorder, allowing hK2 to cleave
the peptide, allowing the lipophilic imaging label to accumulate in
the tissue and/or bone, allowing the subject to clear the uncleaved
peptide, and imaging the subject for diagnostic purposes.
[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the ordinary meaning as commonly understood by one
of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the
present invention, suitable methods and materials are described
below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other
reference materials mentioned herein are incorporated by reference
in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification,
including definitions, will control. In addition the materials,
methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be
limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
[0016] FIG. 1 is a portion of the amino acid sequence of
Semenogelin I and Semenogelin II, showing the cleavage sites for
human kallikrein 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The invention provides a novel class of peptides that
contain a cleavage site specific for human glandular kallikrein 2
(hK2). These peptides are efficiently and specifically cleaved by
hK2. These peptides are useful for substantially inhibiting the
non-specific toxicity of the therapeutic agents prior to the agents
contracting a tissue containing hK2. Thus, the invention includes
prodrugs which include peptides linked to therapeutic agents. The
prodrugs of the invention comprise peptide sequences containing a
cleavage site specific for hK2 and therapeutic drugs. The
compositions do not show significant non-specific toxicity, but in
environments where hK2 is found, the composition becomes activated
when peptide is cleaved, releasing the therapeutic drug, which
regains its non-specific toxicity.
hK2 Specific Peptide
[0018] As used herein the term "human glandular kallikrein 2" (hK2)
means human glandular kallikrein 2, as well as other proteases that
have the same or substantially the same proteolytic cleavage
specificity as hK2. As used herein, the term "naturally occurring
amino acid side chain" refers to the side chains of amino acids
known in the art as occurring in proteins, including those produced
by post translational modifications of amino acid side chains. The
term "contacting" refers to exposing tissue to the peptides,
therapeutic drugs or prodrugs of the invention so that they can
effectively inhibit cellular processes, or kill cells. Contacting
may be in vitro, for example by adding the peptide, drug or prodrug
to a tissue culture to test for susceptibility of the tissue to the
peptide, drug or prodrug. Contacting may be in vivo, for example
administering the peptide, drug, or prodrug to a subject with a
cell proliferative disorder, such as prostate or breast cancer. By
"polypeptide" is meant any chain of amino acids, regardless of
length or post-translational modification (e.g., glycosylation or
phosphorylation). As written herein, amino acid sequences are
presented according to the standard convention, namely that the
amino-terminus of the peptide is on the left, and the carboxy
terminus on the right. In one aspect the invention features a
peptide containing an amino acid sequence that includes a cleavage
site specific for hk2 or an enzyme having a proteolytic activity of
hK2. The peptides of the invention are preferably not more than 20
amino acids in length, more preferably to more than ten amino acids
in length. The preferred amino acid sequences of the invention are
linear. In an embodiment of the invention the amino acid sequence
may be cyclical such that the cyclical form of the sequence is an
inactive drug that can become an activated drug upon cleavage by
hK2 and linearization.
[0019] The cleavage site recognized by hK2 is flanked by at least
an amino acid sequence, X.sub.4X.sub.3X.sub.2X.sub.1. This
oligopeptide contains the amino acid arginine, histidine or lysine
at position X.sub.1. X.sub.2 can be arginine, phenylalanine,
lysine, or histidine. X.sub.3 can be lysine, serine, alanine,
histidine or glutamine. X.sub.4 can be from 0 to 20 further amino
acids, preferably at least two further amino acids. Some preferred
embodiments include a sequence for X.sub.4 that is substantially
identical to the 20 amino acids in the wild type semenogelin I or
semenogelin II sequence that are the from fourth to twenty fourth
amino acids to the N-terminal side of recognized semenogelin
cleavage sites. The amino acid sequence can further comprise
X.sub.-1, which is linked to the carboxy terminus of X.sub.1 to
create the amino acid sequence
X.sub.4X.sub.3X.sub.2X.sub.1X.sub.-1. X.sub.-1 is up to a further
10 amino acids, and can include any amino acids. Preferably
X.sub.-1 has leucine, alanine or serine linked to the carboxy
terminus of X.sub.1. X.sub.-1 can include L- or D-amino acids. The
hK2 cleavage site is located at the carboxy terminal side of
X.sub.1.
[0020] In some preferred peptides, both X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are
arginine.
[0021] Some examples of preferred peptides include (Note that the
symbol][denotes an hK2 cleavage site):
TABLE-US-00001 1. Lys-Arg-Arg][ 2. Ser-Arg-Arg][ 3. Ala-Arg-Arg][
4. His-Arg-Arg][ 5. Gln-Arg-Arg][ 6. Ala-Phe-Arg][ 7. Ala-Gln-Arg][
8. Ala-Lys-Arg][ 9. Ala-Arg-Lys][ 10. Ala-His-Arg][
[0022] Additional preferred peptides of longer sequence length
include:
TABLE-US-00002 11. Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][ 12. Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg][ 13.
Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg][ 14. Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg][ 15. His-Lys-Arg-Arg][ 16.
Lys-Ala-Phe-Arg][ 17. Lys-Ala-Gln-Arg][ 18. Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg][ 19.
Lys-Ala-Arg-Lys][ 20. Lys-Ala-His-Arg][
[0023] Additional preferred peptides that include an X-1 amino acid
are:
TABLE-US-00003 21. Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 22. Ser-Arg-Arg][Leu 23.
Ala-Arg-Arg][Leu 24. Ala-Arg-Arg][Ser 25. His-Arg-Arg][Ala 26.
Gln-Arg-Arg][Leu 27. Ala-Phe-Arg][Leu 28. Ala-Gln-Arg][Leu 29.
Ala-Lys-Arg][Leu 30. Ala-Arg-Lys][Leu 31. Ala-His-Arg][Leu
[0024] Preferred peptides of still longer sequence length having
X.sub.-1 include:
TABLE-US-00004 32. His-Ala-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 33.
Gly-Gly-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg][Leu 34. His-Glu-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 35.
His-Glu-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 36. Gly-Gly-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 37.
His-Glu-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][Ala 38. Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 39.
His-Glu-Gln-Lys-Arg-Arg][Ser 40. Gly-Gly-Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu 41.
Gly-Gly-His-Lys-Arg-Arg][Leu
[0025] Other embodiments of peptide sequences which are useful for
cleavage by hK2 and proteases with the hydrolytic activity of hK2
are disclosed in the Examples section. Further examples of the
peptides of the invention are constructed as analogs of,
derivatives of and conservative variations on the amino acids
sequences disclosed herein. Thus, the broader group of peptides
having hydrophilic and hydrophobic substitutions, and conservative
variations are encompassed by the invention. Those of skill in the
art can make similar substitutions to achieve peptides with greater
activity and or specificity toward hK2. For example, the invention
includes peptide sequences described above, as well as analogs or
derivatives thereof, as long as the bioactivity of the peptide
remains. Minor modifications of the primary amino acid sequence of
the peptides of the invention may result in peptides that have
substantially equivalent activity as compared to the specific
peptides described herein. Such modifications may be deliberate, as
by site directed mutagenesis or chemical synthesis, or may be
spontaneous. All of the peptides produced by these modifications
are included herein, as long as the biological activity of the
original peptide remains, i.e. susceptibility to cleavage by
hK2.
[0026] Further, deletion of one or more amino acids can also result
in a modification of the structure of the resultant molecule
without significantly altering its biological activity. This can
lead to the development of a smaller active molecule without
significantly altering its biological activity. This can lead to
the development of a smaller active molecule which would also have
utility. For example, amino or carboxy-terminal amino acids which
may not be required for biological activity of the particular
peptide can be removed. Peptides of the invention include any
analog, homolog, mutant or isomer or derivative of the peptides
disclosed in the present invention, as long as bioactivity
described herein remains. All peptides described have sequences
comprised of L-amino acids; however, D-forms of the amino acids can
be synthetically produced and used in the peptides described
herein.
[0027] The peptides of the invention include peptides which are
conservative variations of those peptides specifically exemplified
herein. The term "conservative variation" as used herein denotes
the replacement of an amino acid residue by another, biologically
similar residue. Examples of conserved variations include the
substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine,
leucine, alanine, cysteine, glycine, phenylalanine, proline,
tryptophan, tyrosine, norleucine or methionine for another or the
substitution of one polar residue for another such as the
substitution of arginine for lysine or histidine, glutamic for
aspartic acids or glutamine for asparagine, and the like. Neutral
hydrophilic amino acids that can be substituted for one another
include asparagine, glutamine, serine, and threonine. Such
conservative substitutions are within the definitions of the
classes of peptides of the invention with respect to X positions
which may be any number of amino acids. The peptides that are
produced by such conservative variation can be screened for
suitability of use in the prodrugs of the invention according to
the methods for selecting prodrugs provided herein.
[0028] A wide variety of groups can be linked to the carboxy
terminus of X.sub.1 or X.sub.-1. Notably, therapeutic drugs can be
linked to this position. In this way advantage is taken of the hK2
specificity of the cleavage site, as well as other functional
characteristics of the peptides of the invention. Preferably, the
therapeutic drugs are linked to the carboxy terminus of X.sub.1
either directly or through a linker group. The direct linkage is
preferably through an amide bond, in order to utilize the
proteolytic activity and specificity of hK2. If the connection
between the therapeutic drug and the amino acid sequence is made
through a linker, this connection is also preferably made through
an amide bond, for the same reason. This linker may be connected to
the therapeutic drug through any of the bond types and chemical
groups known to those skilled in the art. The linker may consist of
the amino acid (s) comprising X.sub.-1. The linker may remain on
the therapeutic drug, or may be removed soon thereafter, either by
further reactions or in a self-cleaving step. Self-cleaving linkers
are those linkers which can intramolecularly cyclize and release
the drug or undergo spontaneous S.sub.N1 solvolysis and release the
drug upon peptide cleavage.
[0029] Other materials such as detectable labels or imaging
compounds can be linked to the peptide. Groups can be linked to the
amino terminus of X.sub.7, including such moieties as antibodies,
and peptide toxins, including the 26 amino acid toxin, melittin and
the 35 amino acid toxin cecropin B for example. Both of these
peptide toxins have shown toxicity against cancer cell lines. The
N-terminal amino acid of the peptide may also be attached to the
C-terminal amino acid either via an amide bond formed by the
N-terminal amine and the C-terminal carboxyl, or via coupling of
side chains on the N-terminal and C-terminal amino acids or via
disulfide bond formed when the N-terminal and C-terminal amino
acids both consist of the amino acid cysteine. Further, it is
envisioned that the peptides described herein can be coupled, via
the carboxy terminus of X.sub.1 or X.sub.-1, to a variety of
peptide toxins (for example, melittin and cecropin are examples of
insect toxins), so that cleavage by hK2 liberates an active toxin.
Additionally, the peptide could be coupled to a protein such that
the protein is connected at the X.sub.1 or X.sub.-1 amino acid of
the peptide. This coupling can be used to create an inactive
proenzyme so that cleavage by a tissue-specific protease (such as
hK2 or PSA) would cause a conformational change in the protein to
activate it. For example, Pseudomonas toxin has a leader peptide
sequence which must be cleaved to activate the protein.
Additionally, the peptide sequence could be used to couple a drug
to an antibody. The antibody could be coupled to the N-terminus of
the peptide sequence (that is, X.sub.4 or higher X amino acids),
and the drug coupled to the carboxy terminus (that is X.sub.1 or
X.sub.-1). The antibody would bind to a cell surface protein and
tissue-specific protease present in the extracellular fluid could
cleave the drug from the peptide linker.
[0030] The preferred amino acid sequence can be constructed to be
highly specific for cleavage by hK2. In addition the peptide
sequence can be constructed to be highly selective towards cleavage
by hK2 as compared to purified extracellular and intracellular
proteases. Highly-specific hK2 sequences can also be constructed
that are also stable toward cleavage in human sera.
[0031] The peptides of the invention can be synthesized according
to any of the recognized procedures in the art, including such
commonly used methods as t-boc or fmoc protection of alpha-amino
groups. Both methods involve stepwise syntheses whereby a single
amino acid is added at each step starting from the C-terminus of
the peptide. Peptides of the invention can also be synthesized by
well-known solid phase peptide synthesis methods. Peptides can be
characterized using standard techniques such as amino acid
analysis, thin layer chromatography, or high performance liquid
chromatography, for example.
[0032] The invention encompasses isolated nucleic acid molecules
encoding the hK2-specific peptides of the invention, vectors
containing these nucleic acid molecules, cells harboring
recombinant DNA encoding the hK2-specific peptides of the
invention, and fusion proteins that include the hK2 specific
peptides of the invention. Especially preferred are nucleic acid
molecules encoding the polypeptides described herein.
Prodrug Compositions
[0033] The invention also features prodrug compositions that
consist of a therapeutic drug linked to a peptide containing a
cleavage site that is specific for hK2 or any enzyme that has the
enzymatic activity of hK2. As noted above, the peptides of the
invention can be used to target therapeutic drugs for activation
within hK2 producing tissue. The peptides that are useful in the
prodrugs of the invention are those described above.
[0034] The therapeutic drugs that may be used in the prodrugs of
the invention include any drug which can be directly or indirectly
linked to the hK2-specifically cleavable peptides of the invention.
Preferred drugs are those containing a primary amine. The presence
of the primary amine allows for formation of an amide bond between
the drug and the peptide and this bond serves as the cleavage site
for hK2. The primary amines may be found in the drugs as commonly
provided, or they may be added to the drugs by chemical
synthesis.
[0035] Certain therapeutic drugs contain primary amines and are
among the preferred agents. These include the anthracycline family
of drugs, the vinca drugs, the mitomycins, the bleomycins, the
cytotoxic nucleosides, the pteridine family of drugs, diynenes, the
podophyllotoxins, and the taxanes. Particularly useful members of
these classes include, for example, doxorubicin, daunorubicin,
caminomycin, idarubicin, epirubicin, aminopterin, methotrexate,
methopterin, mitomycin C porfiromycin, 5-fluorouracil, cytosine
arabinoside, etoposide, melphalan, vincristine, vinblastine,
vindesine, 6-mercaptopurine, and the like.
[0036] Other therapeutic drugs are required to have primary amines
introduced by chemical or biochemical synthesis, for example
sesquiterpene-lactones such as thapsigargin, and thapsigargicin and
many others know to those skilled in the art. The thapsigargins are
a group of natural products isolated from species of the
umbelliferous genus Thapsia. The term thapsigargins has been
defined by Christensen, et al., Prog. Chem. Nat. Prod., 71 (1997)
130-165. These derivatives contain a means of linking the
therapeutic drug to carrier moieties, including peptides and
antibodies. The peptides and antibodies can include those which
specifically interact with antigens including hK2. The interactions
can involve cleavage of the peptide to release the therapeutic
analogs of sesquiterpene-.gamma.-lactones. Particular therapeutic
analogs of sesquiterpene-.gamma.-lactones, such as thapsigargins,
are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,822, filed
Jun. 7, 2000, entitled "Tissue Specific Prodrug," and U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith, entitled
"Tissue Specific Prodrug," both of which are incorporated herein in
their entireties.
[0037] For example, thapsigargins with alkanoyl, alkenoyl, and
arenoyl groups at carbon 8 or carbon 2, can be employed in the
practice of the invention disclosed herein. Groups such as
CO--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--Ar--NH.sub.2,
CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--CO--NH--Ar--NH.sub.2 and
CO--(CH.dbd.CH).sub.n1--(CH.sub.2).sub.n2--CO--NH--Ar--NH.sub.2 and
substituted variations thereof can be used as carbon 8
substituents, where n1 and n2 are from 0 to 5, and Ar is any
substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Substituents which may be
present on Ar include short and medium chain alkyl, alkanoxy, aryl,
aryloxy, and alkenoxy groups, nitro, halo, and primary secondary or
tertiary amino groups, as well as such groups connected to Ar by
ester or amide linkages. In other embodiments of thapsigargin
analogs, these substituent groups are represented by unsubstituted,
or alkyl-, aryl-, halo-, alkoxy-, alkenyl-, amido-, or
amino-substituted CO--(CH.sub.2).sub.n3--NH.sub.2, where n3 is from
0 to 15, preferably 3-15, and also preferably 6-12. Particularly
preferred substituent groups within this class are 6-aminohexanoyl,
7-aminoheptanoyl, 8-aminooctanoyl, 9-aminononanoyl,
10-aminodecanoyl, 11-aminoundecanoyl, and 12-aminododecanoyl. These
substituents are generally synthesized from the corresponding amino
acids, 6-aminohexanoic acid, and so forth. The amino acids are
N-terminal protected by standard methods, for example Boc
protection. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCI)-promoted coupling of
the N-terminal protected substituent to thapsigargin, followed by
standard deprotection reactions produces primary amine-containing
thapsigargin analogs.
[0038] The substituents can also carry primary amines in the form
of an amino amide group attached to the alkanoyl-, alkenoyl-, or
arenoyl substituents. For example, C-terminal protection of a first
amino acid such as 6-aminohexanoic acid and the like, by standard
C-terminal protection techniques such as methyl ester formation by
treatment with methanol and thionyl chloride, can be followed by
coupling the N-terminal of the first amino acid with an N-protected
second amino acid of any type.
[0039] The peptide and therapeutic drug are linked directly or
indirectly (by a linker) through the carboxy terminus of the amino
acid at X.sub.1 or X.sub.-1. The site of attachment on the
therapeutic drug must be such that, when coupled to the peptide,
the non-specific toxicity of the drug is substantially inhibited.
Thus the prodrugs should not be significantly toxic.
[0040] The prodrugs of the invention may also comprise groups which
provide solubility to the prodrug as a whole in the solvent in
which the prodrug is to be used. Most often the solvent is water.
This feature of the invention is important in the event that
neither the peptide nor the therapeutic drug is soluble enough to
provide overall solubility to the prodrug. These groups include
polysaccharides or other polyhydroxylated moieties. For example,
dextran, cyclodextrin, starch and derivatives of such groups may be
included in the prodrug of the invention.
Thapsigargin Analogs
[0041] The invention also features derivatized thapsigargin analogs
with the derivatization including providing the molecule with a
residue substituted with a primary amine. The primary amine can be
used to link the derivatized thapsigargin analog with various other
moieties. Among these are peptides which link to the analog to give
prodrugs without significant non-specific toxicity, but enzymatic
reaction with hK2 affords the toxic drug. These enzymatic reactions
can liberate the non-specific toxic thapsigargin derivative, for
example by cleavage through proteolysis or hydrolysis, various
reactions of the side chains of the eptide, or other reactions
which restore the non-specific toxicity of the thapsigargin analog.
These reactions can serve to activate the derivatized thapsigargin
analog locally at hK2 producing tissue, and with relative
exclusivity to regions in which these enzymatic reactions take
place. The primary amine containing thapsigargin analog can also be
linked to an antibody, oligonucleotide, or polypeptide which binds
to an epitope or receptor in the target tissue.
[0042] Thapsigargin is a sesquiterpene-.gamma.-lactone having the
following structure. Primary amines can be placed in substituent
groups pendant from either C-2 or C-8 carbon. Preferred primary
amine containing thapsigargin analogs that can be coupled to the
peptides described above include those described previously by the
inventors ("Tissue Specific Prodrug" International Patent
Application PCT/US98/10285 corresponding to U.S. Ser. Nos.
60/047,070 and 60/080,046, filed May 19, 1997 and Mar. 30, 1998).
These primary amine-containing analogs have non-specific toxicity
toward cells. This toxicity is measured as the toxicity needed to
kill 50% of clonogenic cells (LC.sub.50). The LC50 of the analogs
of this invention is desirably at most 10 .mu.M, preferably at most
2 .mu.M and more preferably at most 200 nM of analog.
Methods of Treatment Using Prodrugs
[0043] The invention also provides methods of treatment of treating
hK2-producing cell proliferative disorders of the invention with
the prodrugs of the invention. The prodrugs of the invention and/or
analogs or derivatives thereof can be administered to any host,
including a human or non-human animal, in an amount effective to
treat a disorder.
[0044] The prodrugs of the invention can be administered
parenterally by injection or by gradual infusion over time. The
prodrugs can be administered intravenously, intraperitoneally,
intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intracavity, or transdermally.
Preferred methods for delivery of the prodrug include intravenous
or subcutaneous administration. Other methods of administration
will be known to those skilled in the art.
Method of Producing Prodrugs
[0045] The invention provides a method of producing the prodrugs of
the invention. This method involves linking a therapeutically
active drug to a peptide of the invention described above. In
certain embodiments the peptide is linked directly to the drug; in
other embodiments the peptide is indirectly linked to the drug via
a linker. In each case the carboxy terminus of the peptide is used
for linking. That is, in an amino acid sequence
X.sub.5X.sub.4X.sub.3X.sub.2X.sub.1, the link is established
through X.sub.1. If X.sub.-1 is linked to the carboxy terminus of
X.sub.1, the carboxy terminus of X.sub.-1 is used for linking. The
therapeutic drug contains a primary amine to facilitate the
formation of an amide bond with the peptide. Many acceptable
methods for coupling carboxyl and amino groups to form amide bonds
are know to those skilled in the art.
[0046] The peptide may be coupled to the therapeutic drug via a
linker. Suitable linkers include any chemical group which contains
a primary amine and include amino acids, primary amine-containing
alkyl, alkenyl or arenyl groups. The connection between the linker
and the therapeutic drug may be of any type know in the art,
preferably covalent bonding.
[0047] In certain embodiments, the linker comprises an amino acid
or amino acid sequence. The sequence may be of any length, but is
preferably between 1 and 10 amino acids, most preferably between 1
and 5 amino acids. Preferred amino acids are leucine or an amino
acid sequence containing this amino acid, especially at their amino
termini.
Method of Screening Tissue and Determining hK2 Activity
[0048] In another aspect the invention provides a method of
detecting hK2-producing tissue using peptides of the invention, as
described above. The method is carried out by contacting a
detectably labeled peptide of the invention with target tissue for
a period of time sufficient to allow hK2 to cleave the peptide and
release the detectable label. The detectable label is then
detected. The level of detection is compared to that of a control
sample not contacted with the target tissue. Many varieties of
detectable labels are available, including optically based labels
such as chromophoric, chemiluminescent, fluorescent or
phosphorescent labels and radioactive labels, such as alpha, beta,
or gamma emitting labels. In addition a peptide label consisting of
an amino acid sequence comprising X.sub.-1 can be utilized for
detection such that release of the X.sub.-1 label by hK2
proteolysis can be detected by high pressure liquid chromatography.
The peptide sequences of the invention can also be incorporated
into the protein sequence of a fluorescent protein such that
cleavage of the incorporated hK2 specific sequence by hK2 results
in either an increased or decreased fluorescent signal that can be
measured using the appropriate fluorometric measuring
instrument.
[0049] The invention provides a method for detecting a cell
proliferative disorder that comprises contacting an hK2-specific
peptide with a cell suspected of producing hK2. The hK2 reactive
peptide is labeled by a compound so that cleavage by hK2 can be
detected. For purposes of the invention, a peptide specific for hK2
may be used to detect the level of enzymatically active hK2 in
biological tissues such as saliva, blood, urine, and tissue culture
media. In an embodiment of the method a specific hK2 inhibitor is
used to confirm that the activity being measured is solely due to
peptide cleavage by hK2 and not secondary to non-specific cleavage
by other proteases present in the biological tissue being assayed.
Examples of hK2 inhibitors that can be employed in the method
include the addition of zinc ions, or the addition of hK2 specific
antibodies that bind to the catalytic site of hK2 thereby
inhibiting enzymatic activity of hK2.
Method of Screening Prodrugs
[0050] The invention also provides a method of selecting potential
prodrugs for use in the invention. The method generally consists of
contacting prodrugs of the invention with hK2-producing tissue and
non-hK2 producing tissue in a parallel experiment. The prodrugs
which exert toxic effects in the presence of hK2-producing tissue,
but not in the presence of non-hK2 producing tissue are suitable
for the uses of the invention.
[0051] The invention will be further described in the following
examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described
in the claims.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Production of Recombinant hK2
[0052] Recombinant hK2 was produced and purified as described in
Lovgren et al., Biochem. Bioph. Res. Co., 238, 549-555 (1997).
Semenogelin I and II were isolated from human semen as described
previously in Malm et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 238, 48-53 (1996). The
tripeptide aminomethylcoumarin (AMC) substrates
Bos-Phe-Ser-Arg-AMC, Boc-Gln-Gly-Arg-AMC, H-Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC,
boc-Val-Pro-Arg-AMC, H-D-Val-Leu-Lys-AMC,
Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-AMC-Tos-Gly-Pro-Lys-AMC, Z-Leu-Leu-Arg-AMC,
Z-Val-Val-Arg-AMC, Z-Ala-Arg-Arg-AMC, and H-Arg-Gln-Arg-Arg-AMC
were from Bachem (Bubendorf, Switzerland). The heptapeptide
substrates Mu-Ala-Pro-Val-Leu-Ile-Leu-Ser-Arg-AMC and
Mu-Val-Pro-Leu-Ile-Gln-Ser-Arg-AMC corresponding to the pro
peptides of PSA hK2 were from Enzyme Systems Product (Livermore,
Calif., USA). ACT was purified from human blood plasma as described
in Christenssson et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 194, 755-63 (1990). PCI
was provided by Prof. Johan Stenflo (Malmo University Hospital,
Malmo, Sweden), and SLPI, and PSTI by Prof. Kjell Ohlsson (Malmo
University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden). Benzamidine hydrochloride was
from Amresco.RTM. (Solon, Ohio, USA), leupeptin and antipain were
from ICN Biomedicals (Costa Mesa, Calif., USA), Aprotinin was from
Sigma (St. Louis, Mo., USA), and PPACK from Calbiochem (La Jolla,
Calif., USA).
Example 2
Determination of hK2 Cleavage Sites in Semenogelin I and II
[0053] Purified semenogelin I and II (40 .mu.g), was incubated with
hK2 (8 .mu.g) in 50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.1 M NaCl, 0.15 M urea at
37.degree. C. for 4 hours. The fragments generated were purified by
reverse phase HPLC using a C-8 column. Elution was achieved with a
0-30% (0.25%/min.) linear acetonitrile gradient and fractions
corresponding to individual peaks were collected. The amino
terminal sequences of the individual peaks were determined by
automated amino terminal sequencing with an Applied Biosystems 470
A gas-phase sequencer. Cleavage of either Sg I or Sg II with hK2
results in generation of a multitude of peptides. After partial
separation of the peptides by reversed phase HPLC on a C-8 column
we obtained sequences of four cleavage sites in Sg I and seven
cleavage sites in Sg II. The semenogelins contain three types of
internal repeats, as described in Lilja et al., J. Biol. Chem.,
264, 1894-2000 (1989) and Lilja et al., PNAS USA, 89, 4559-63
(1992). Most of the identified hK2 cleavage sites were located in
different positions in these repeats. The position and sequence of
the cleavage sites in Sg I and Sg II are shown in FIG. 1, where the
cleavage sites are aligned underneath the arrows. Three identical
sites of cleavage in repeat type I, which occurs twice in SgI and
four times in SgII, were identified at positions 274 and 334 in Sg
I and position 454 in Sg II. All but one of the cleavage sites
contained arginine at position P1, except for one of the cleavages
in Semenogelin II, which occurred on the carboxy terminal side of a
histidine. It is noteworthy that no cleavages occurred on the
carboxy terminal side of a lysine. Five of the eleven cleavage
sites determined were double basic, the amino acid at P2 being
either arginine, lysine or histidine, indicating that hK2 may
cleave substrates at both mono- and di-basic sites. In one case P2
was occupied by phenylalanine which is found in the same position
in PCI. In addition glycine, valine, serine, glutamine and
aspartate were found at P2. In most cleavage sites P3 was occupied
by a large group; in six of the cleavages it was glutamine or
glutamate and in the other serine, histidine or lysine. In one case
alanine was found at P3. When looking at common motifs if can be
seen that in seven cases serine was found in P6. Basic amino acids
were found in addition to positions P1 and P2 once in P5, twice in
P3, P4, P6 and P8, and four times in P7. On the carboxy terminal
side of the cleavage site leucine was found five times in P-1 and
tyrosine four times in position P-3.
Example 3
pH Dependence of the Enzymatic Action of hK2
[0054] The pH dependence of hK2 was determined using a universal
buffer composed of 29 mM citric acid, 29 mM citric acid, 29 mM
KH.sub.2PO.sub.4, 29 mM boric acid 0.1 M NaCl and 0.2% BSA. The
buffering range is Ph 2.4-11.8. The rate of the cleavage of the
substrate I-1295 (100 .mu.M) by 1.6 pmol hK2 was followed for 20
minutes at pH 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, and 10.
[0055] All experiments were done close to physiological pH, at pH
7.5, which is very close to the pH optimum of hK2.
Example 4
Determination of Kinetic Constants
[0056] The measurements were done with Fluoroscan II (Labsystems,
Helsinki, Finland) using a 355 nm excitation filter and a 460 nm
emission filter. The fluorescence of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC)
(Sigma, St. Louis, Mo., USA) was determined to be 700 FIU/nmol and
this value was used in the calculations of the rate of product
formation. Unless otherwise indicated all final analyses were
performed in 200 .mu.l of the buffer 50 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.1 M NaCl,
and 0.2% BSA at 37.degree. C. using 1.6 pmol hK2. BSA was added to
the reaction mixture in order to minimize adsorption of the enzyme
to the walls of the microtiter wells. The amount of hK2 was
quantified by a commercial PSA immunoassay (Prostatus, Wallac,
Turku, Finland) with the Mabs H1 17 and H50 which recognize PSA and
hK2 equally well (Lovgren et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Co., 213,
888-895 (1995)). Under the conditions described, 1.6 pmol of the
hK2 preparation cleaved 50 pmol/min of the 100 .mu.M substrate
Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC. During the 20 minute measurement time the
consumption of the substrates is <7% of their total amount and
was not considered to affect the reaction rate. Initial analyses of
the substrates were performed with 3.2 pmol hK2 at a substrate
concentration of 250 .mu.M. The K.sub.m value for the substrates
cleaved by hK2 at these conditions were determined using at least
four substrate concentrations ranging from 0.2.times.K.sub.m to
5.times.K.sub.m. The K.sub.m and kcat values were calculated from
Lineweaver-Burk plots.
[0057] Substrates ending in either arginine or lysine were tested.
The kinetic constants for hydrolysis of the substrates by hK2 are
shown in Table 1. The best substrate was the kallikrein substrate
Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC having the highest kcat and k.sub.cat/K.sub.m
values. The cathepsin B substrate Ala-Arg-Arg-AMC was also cleaved
quite effectively having a relatively high k.sub.cat value and a
low K.sub.m resulting in a four times lower k.sub.cat/K.sub.m value
than that obtained for the kallidrein substrate Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC.
However, no hydrolysis of Arg-Gln-Arg-Arg-AMC was detected. HK2
cleaved additionally Val-Pro-Arg-AMC, and Leu-Leu-Arg-AMC, but with
lower efficiency. As with the semenogelins hK2 also here cleaves
substrates with Arg at position P1 and preferentially a large
residue or another Arg at position P2. None of the substrates with
lysine in the C-terminal position were cleaved.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 1 Substrate Hydrolysis by hK2 Km Kcat Kcat/km
Substrates (.mu.M) (min.sup.-1) (.mu.M.sup.-1min.sup.-1) Activity
(%) Pro Phe Arg-AMC 40 55 1.375 100 Val Pro Arg-AMC 48 1.6 0.034 6
Gly Pro Arg-AMC NR Gly Pro Lys-AMC NR Leu Leu Arg-AMC 71 2.4 0.034
7 Val Val Arg-AMC NR Val Leu Lys-AMC NR Phe Ser Arg-AMC NR Gln Gly
Arg-AMC NR Ala Arg Arg-AMC 20 7.2 0.360 33 Arg Gln Arg Arg-AMC
NR
[0058] The activity listed in Table 1 is the hydrolytic activity of
hK2 with 100 .mu.M substrate in relation to the hydrolytic activity
of hK2 with 100 .mu.M of the tissue kallikrein substrate
H-Pro-Phe-arg-AMC. The entry "N.R." means that no reaction was
detected.
Example 5
Inhibition of hK2
[0059] Activity of hK2 (1.6 pmol) was monitored using the substrate
H-Pro-Lphe-arg-AMC (90 .mu.M). Inhibitors, at commonly used
concentrations, and hK2 (8.3 nM) were mixed and proteolysis of 90
.mu.M H-Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC was followed up to 20 minutes, starting
directly or 10 minutes after mixing the enzyme with various
inhibitors. Inhibition was evaluated by comparison with enzyme-free
controls.
[0060] The effects of several protease inhibitors on the hydrolytic
activity of hK2 are shown in Table 2. The proteolytic activity is
expressed in percentage of inhibitor-free control after 10 minutes
of incubation.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 2 Effects of Protease Inhibitors on hK2
Activity Final concentration Inhibitor (.mu.M) Activity (%)
ZnCl.sub.2 200 1.2 100 10 PCI 0.08 0 0.016 50 PPACK 5 0 Benzamidine
20,000 8 5000 27 Leupeptin 100 12 Antipain 500 10 100 33 Aprotinin
5 75 30 47 SLPI 4 35 0.08 92 PSTI 4 89 0.08 100 ACT 0.8 100
[0061] None of the reversible protease inhibitors fully inhibited 8
nM hK2 when 90 .mu.M substrate was used. HK2 was only weakly
inhibited by the reversible peptide inhibitors leupeptin and
antipain. The highest recommended working concentration (100 .mu.M)
of the respective inhibitor was found to give approximately 60% and
90% inhibition of hK2 activity against the 90 .mu.M peptide
substrate. Aprotinin proved not to be good hK2 inhibitor and
benzamidine is required at concentrations above 20 mM for efficient
inhibition. The irreversible thrombin inhibitor PPACK inhibited hK2
rapidly when used at a 5 .mu.M concentration. Therefore, PPACK can
be used to obtain fast irreversible inhibition of hK2. ZnCl.sub.2
effectively inhibits hK2 but when used at high concentrations,
easily causes precipitation of proteins. Of the protease inhibitors
present in the prostate, PSTI and SLPI inhibited hK2 weakly and
this inhibition is probably not physiologically significant. This
reaction is however slow and no inhibition of the hK2 activity by a
100-fold molar excess of ACT was detected during the 20 minute
measurement time.
Example 6
Kinetic Analysis of hK2 Inhibition by Zinc
[0062] The inhibition of hK2 by Zn.sup.2+ was studied using the
substrates Pro-Phe-arg-AMC and Ala-Arg-Arg-AMC at concentrations
varying from 9 to 180 .mu.M and ZcCl.sub.2 concentrations ranging
from 0.5 .mu.M to 1 mM. Since BSA contains several binding sites
for Zn.sup.2+ it could not be used in the kinetics buffer during
the zinc inhibition experiments. The binding of hK2 to the
microtiter well walls caused a constant decrease in the reaction
rate, which was however similar to all zinc concentrations. The
velocities were calculated from a five-minute measurement time
after mixing of the enzyme with the buffer containing substrate and
zinc.
[0063] The enzymatic activity of hK2 was inhibited by zinc ions at
micromolar concentrations, and the inhibition was totally reversed
by addition of EDTA. The inhibition of hK2 by zinc was first tested
against competitive, uncompetitive, mixed, non-competitive, and
partial non-competitive inhibitor models using commonly used
formulas described for the respective inhibition models. Zn.sup.2+
both increased the K.sub.m and decreased the V.sub.max. The Dixon
plots 1/v versus [Zn.sup.2+] for the inhibition were not linear.
However, at low zinc ion concentrations the inhibition pattern
looked competitive. The inhibition mechanism is clearly more
complex than the ones described by the formulas used. Further
analysis of the inhibition mechanism was done by deriving the rate
equations for various more complex mechanisms and analyzing the
data by least-squares best-fit systems. The possible mechanism
required two bound zinc ions, and is presented by Scheme 1. In the
best mechanism, the first bound zinc ion does not cause inhibition
(k=k', or k' was even slightly higher than k).
##STR00001##
[0064] For this mechanism, the rate of product formation (v) will
be given by the following equation:
v = S K s ( k + k ' Zn Ki 1 ) e ##EQU00001##
[0065] where the concentration of free enzyme e is the total enzyme
concentration divided by the sum of a) {(the zinc concentration
divided by K.sub.i1) times (the zinc concentration divided by
K.sub.i2)} and b) {(the zinc concentration divided by K.sub.i1)
plus 1} times {(the substrate concentration divided by K.sub.s)
plus 1}.
[0066] The equation fitted the experimental data quite
satisfactorily. The constant values were K.sub.i1=4.6.+-.3.9 .mu.M,
K.sub.i2=3.2.+-.0.7 .mu.M, and k=k'. Best fit analyses were
accomplished also for mechanisms involving inactivating
dimerizations of the hK2 molecules as zinc ions have been shown to
inhibit the mouse gamma-NGF and to be critical in the association
of the mouse 7S NGF complex (Pattison et al., Biochemisty, 14,
2733-39 (1975)). These mechanisms did not result in a more optimal
fit than those in Scheme 2.
Example 7
Kinetic Analysis of hK2 Inhibition by PCI
[0067] The progress of the reaction of hK2 (8 nM final
concentration) with the substrate Pro-Phe-Arg-AMC was monitored at
two different substrate concentrations without or with different
concentrations of PCI (80, 40 or 16 nM final concentration). The
fluorescence measurements were started directly after mixing the
enzyme with the inhibitor. The inhibitor of hK2 by PCI could be
described by the slow-binding inhibition mechanism presented in
Scheme 2, which has been used in analyzing the interaction of PCI
with various serine proteases (Hermans et al., Biochem. J., 295,
239-245 (1993), and Hermans et al., Biochemistry, 33, 5440-44
(1994)). This mechanism assumes that a reversible complex is formed
between the proteinase and serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin).
The issues justifying the use of the slow binding inhibition
mechanism despite the commonly held view that the seprin-proteinase
complex is irreversible has been discussed in more detail by
Hermans et al. (1993).
##STR00002##
[0068] where E, S, P, and I represent the enzyme, substrate
(peptidyl AMC), product (AMC), product (AMC) and inhibitor (PCI)
respectively; K.sub.m and k.sub.cat are Michaelis and catalytic
constants for the enzyme substrate interaction, and K.sub.i is the
inhibition constant which is equal to k.sub.diss/K.sub.ass.
K.sub.ass and K.sub.diss are the association and dissociation rate
constants for the enzyme inhibitor complex. For this mechanism, the
progress curve of product formation is given by:
P = v s t + v o - v s k ' ( 1 - - k t ) ##EQU00002##
[0069] where P is the amount of product at time t, k' is an
apparent first order rate constant, and v.sub.o and v.sub.s are the
initial and steady-state velocities respectively. For the mechanism
shown in Scheme 2, v.sub.o will be independent of the inhibitor
concentration, and v.sub.s and k' will vary with the inhibitor
concentration according to the following equations:
v s = v o 1 + I / K i ' ##EQU00003## k ' = k diss + k ass ' I = k
ass ' ( K i ' + I ) ##EQU00003.2##
[0070] where K'.sub.i and k'.sub.ass are apparent constants that
are related to the true constants by the expressions:
K.sub.i=K'.sub.i/(1+S/K.sub.m)
k.sub.ass=k'.sub.ass(1+S/K.sub.m)
[0071] The effect of heparin of the association rate of hK2 and PCI
was studied using 40 nM PCI, 8 nM hK2, and heparin concentrations
ranging from 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-7 M. The effect of the heparin on
hK2 activity was analysed by determining K.sub.m and k.sub.cat for
the substrate at different heparin concentrations. Heparin slightly
increased the K.sub.m of the substrate (data not shown). The
increase had no significant effect on the calculation of the
constants.
Example 8
Hydrolysis of hK2 Substrates
[0072] Hydrolyses of particular hK2 substrates were carried out at
a hK2 concentrations of 1 .mu.g/ml in 50 mM Tris buffer, with 0.1 M
NaCl, at pH 7.8. Serum hydrolysis measurements were carried out in
50% fresh human serum in 50 mM Tris buffer, with 0.1 M NaCl, at pH
7.8. The single letter amino acid code was used to designate the
peptide sequences used for Table 4. The units FU are arbitrary
fluorescence units. The entries "U.D." were for measurements of
less than 0.01 FU/hour.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 4 Hydrolysis of hK2 Substrates hK2 Hydrolysis
Peptide Sequence Rate Serum Hydrolysis P7 P6 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 P'1
(FU/hr/mg) Rate FU/hr G H E Q K R R L 5966.31 0.17 G G G K A R R L
4784.22 0.03 G G G K A H R L 4100.94 0.09 G P A H Q R R L 4017.81
0.10 G S K G H F R L 3029.27 0.04 G S K G H R R L 2649.96 UD G K D
V S R R L 2316.12 0.08 G S Q N Q R R L 2100.48 0.05 G S Y P S R R L
2060.21 0.09 G S Y P S S R L 1456.18 0.06 G H E Q K G R L 650.80
0.04 G S N T E R R L 592.34 UD G S Y E E R R L 324.75 0.04 G K D V
S G R L 242.91 0.05 G S N T E K R L 255.90 0.13 G S K G H F H L
171.47 0.10 G S Q N Q V R L 193.55 0.03 G P L I L S R L 118.21 0.07
G S Y E E R H L 42.87 0.09 G K D V S G H L 67.55 0.05 G G G K A H H
L 70.15 0.05 G S N T E K H L 80.54 0.03 G P A H Q D R L 75.34 0.06
G H E Q K G H L 1.30 UD G P A H Q D H L 48.06 0.00 G S Y P S S H L
24.68 UD G S Q N Q V H L 32.48 0.03
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 5 Additional hK2 Substrates hK2 Hydrolysis
Substrate Sequence Rate Serum Hydrolysis P7 P6 P5 P4 P3 P2 P1 P'1
(FU/hr/mg) Rate FU/hr G H A Q K R R L 3665.1 0.08 G G K S R R L
3439.7 0.03 G H E Q K R R L 3366.5 UD G H E A K R R L 3324.1 UD G G
Q K R R L 3267.4 0.02 G H E Q K R R A 3051.5 0.06 G G A K R R L
2773.0 0.02 G H E Q K R R S 2638.5 UD G G K K R R L 2583.0 UD G G H
K R R L 2428.4 UD G G K A F R L 2374.2 0.07 G A E Q K R R L 2325.8
0.10 G G K A Q R L 2233.7 0.04 G G K A R R L 2171.2 UD G G K Q R R
L 2171.2 0.02 G G K H R R L 2079.2 UD G H E Q A R R L 1956.4 0.14 G
G K A K R L 1788.9 0.14 G H E Q K R R dL 1690.9 0.15 G G K A R R S
1609.5 UD G G K A R K L 1602.4 UD G H E Q K R R E 1473.8 UD G G K A
H R L 1287.4 0.10 G G K A N R L 1113.9 0.01 G G K A R Q L 1021.9
0.13 G G K A R H L 939.3 UD G G K A R N L 828.4 0.25 G G K A dR R L
494.4 0.06 G G K A K K L 77.9 UD G G K A H K L 73.2 UD G G K A R dR
L 49.6 UD G G K A dR dR L 16.5 UD
[0073] It is to be understood that while the invention has been
described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the
forgoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the
scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the
appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are
within the scope of the following claims.
Sequence CWU 1
1
135111PRTHomo sapiens 1His Lys Gly Gly Lys Ala His Arg Gly Thr Gln
1 5 10211PRTHomo sapiens 2Ser Ser Ser Tyr Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu His
Tyr 1 5 10311PRTHomo sapiens 3Ser Ser Ser Tyr Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu
His Tyr 1 5 10411PRTHomo sapiens 4Val Gln Lys Asp Val Ser Gln Arg
Ser Ile Tyr 1 5 10511PRTHomo sapiens 5Asp Lys Ser Lys Gly His Phe
His Met Ile Val 1 5 10611PRTHomo sapiens 6Gln Cys Ser Asn Thr Glu
Lys Arg Leu Trp Val 1 5 10711PRTHomo sapiens 7Leu His Pro Ala His
Gln Asp Arg Leu Gln His 1 5 10811PRTHomo sapiens 8Lys Ile Ser Tyr
Pro Ser Ser Arg Thr Glu Glu 1 5 10911PRTHomo sapiens 9Gly Lys Ser
Gln Asn Gln Val Arg Ile Pro Ser 1 5 101011PRTHomo sapiens 10Ser Ser
Ser Tyr Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu Asn Tyr 1 5 101111PRTHomo sapiens 11Leu
Ser His Glu Gln Lys Gly Arg Tyr Lys Gln 1 5 10123PRTHomo sapiens
12Lys Arg Arg 1133PRTHomo sapiens 13Ser Arg Arg 1143PRTHomo sapiens
14Ala Arg Arg 1153PRTHomo sapiens 15His Arg Arg 1163PRTHomo sapiens
16Gln Arg Arg 1173PRTHomo sapiens 17Ala Phe Arg 1183PRTHomo sapiens
18Ala Gln Arg 1193PRTHomo sapiens 19Ala Lys Arg 1203PRTHomo sapiens
20Ala Arg Lys 1213PRTHomo sapiens 21Ala His Arg 1224PRTHomo sapiens
22Gln Lys Arg Arg 1234PRTHomo sapiens 23Lys Ser Arg Arg 1244PRTHomo
sapiens 24Ala Lys Arg Arg 1254PRTHomo sapiens 25Lys Lys Arg Arg
1264PRTHomo sapiens 26His Lys Arg Arg 1274PRTHomo sapiens 27Lys Ala
Phe Arg 1284PRTHomo sapiens 28Lys Ala Gln Arg 1294PRTHomo sapiens
29Lys Ala Lys Arg 1304PRTHomo sapiens 30Lys Ala Arg Lys 1314PRTHomo
sapiens 31Lys Ala His Arg 1324PRTHomo sapiens 32Lys Arg Arg Leu
1334PRTHomo sapiens 33Ser Arg Arg Leu 1344PRTHomo sapiens 34Ala Arg
Arg Leu 1354PRTHomo sapiens 35Ala Arg Arg Ser 1364PRTHomo sapiens
36His Arg Arg Ala 1374PRTHomo sapiens 37Gln Arg Arg Leu 1384PRTHomo
sapiens 38Ala Phe Arg Leu 1394PRTHomo sapiens 39Ala Gln Arg Leu
1404PRTHomo sapiens 40Ala Lys Arg Leu 1414PRTHomo sapiens 41Ala Arg
Lys Leu 1424PRTHomo sapiens 42Ala His Arg Leu 1437PRTHomo sapiens
43His Ala Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5447PRTHomo sapiens 44Gly Gly Lys
Ser Arg Arg Leu 1 5457PRTHomo sapiens 45His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu
1 5467PRTHomo sapiens 46His Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5477PRTHomo
sapiens 47Gly Gly Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5487PRTHomo sapiens 48His
Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Ala 1 5497PRTHomo sapiens 49Gly Gly Ala Lys Arg
Arg Leu 1 5507PRTHomo sapiens 50His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Ser 1
5517PRTHomo sapiens 51Gly Gly Lys Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5527PRTHomo
sapiens 52Gly Gly His Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5535PRTHomo
sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Boc (t-butoxy carbonyl) 53Xaa Phe Ser Arg Xaa
1 5545PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Boc (t-butoxy carbonyl) 54Xaa
Gln Gly Arg Xaa 1 5555PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = H (hydrogen)
55Xaa Pro Phe Arg Xaa 1 5565PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Boc
(t-butoxy carbonyl) 56Xaa Val Pro Arg Xaa 1 5575PRTHomo
sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = H-D (free amine without protecting group)
57Xaa Val Leu Lys Xaa 1 5585PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Tos
(4-Toluenesulphonyl) 58Xaa Gly Pro Arg Xaa 1 5595PRTHomo
sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Tos (4-Toluenesulphonyl) 59Xaa Gly Pro Lys Xaa
1 5605PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Z (carbobenzyloxy) 60Xaa Leu Leu
Arg Xaa 1 5615PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Z (carbobenzyloxy) 61Xaa
Val Val Arg Xaa 1 5625PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Z
(carbobenzyloxy) 62Xaa Ala Arg Arg Xaa 1 5636PRTHomo
sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = H (hydrogen) 63Xaa Arg Gln Arg Arg Xaa 1
56410PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Mu (morphourea) 64Xaa Ala Pro Val
Leu Ile Leu Ser Arg Xaa 1 5 10659PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT1Xaa = Mu
(morphourea) 65Xaa Val Pro Leu Ile Gln Ser Arg Xaa 1 5668PRTHomo
sapiens 66Gly His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5678PRTHomo sapiens
67Gly Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg Arg Leu 1 5688PRTHomo sapiens 68Gly Gly
Gly Lys Ala His Arg Leu 1 5698PRTHomo sapiens 69Gly Pro Ala His Gln
Arg Arg Leu 1 5708PRTHomo sapiens 70Gly Ser Lys Gly His Phe Arg Leu
1 5718PRTHomo sapiens 71Gly Ser Lys Gly His Arg Arg Leu 1
5728PRTHomo sapiens 72Gly Lys Asp Val Ser Arg Arg Leu 1 5738PRTHomo
sapiens 73Gly Ser Gln Asn Gln Arg Arg Leu 1 5748PRTHomo sapiens
74Gly Ser Tyr Pro Ser Arg Arg Leu 1 5758PRTHomo sapiens 75Gly Ser
Tyr Pro Ser Ser Arg Leu 1 5768PRTHomo sapiens 76Gly His Glu Gln Lys
Gly Arg Leu 1 5778PRTHomo sapiens 77Gly Ser Asn Thr Glu Arg Arg Leu
1 5788PRTHomo sapiens 78Gly Ser Tyr Glu Glu Arg Arg Leu 1
5798PRTHomo sapiens 79Gly Lys Asp Val Ser Gly Arg Leu 1 5808PRTHomo
sapiens 80Gly Ser Asn Thr Glu Lys Arg Leu 1 5818PRTHomo sapiens
81Gly Ser Lys Gly His Phe His Leu 1 5828PRTHomo sapiens 82Gly Ser
Gln Asn Gln Val Arg Leu 1 5838PRTHomo sapiens 83Gly Pro Leu Ile Leu
Ser Arg Leu 1 5848PRTHomo sapiens 84Gly Ser Tyr Glu Glu Arg His Leu
1 5858PRTHomo sapiens 85Gly Lys Asp Val Ser Gly His Leu 1
5868PRTHomo sapiens 86Gly Gly Gly Lys Ala His His Leu 1 5878PRTHomo
sapiens 87Gly Ser Asn Thr Glu Lys His Leu 1 5888PRTHomo sapiens
88Gly Pro Ala His Gln Asp Arg Leu 1 5898PRTHomo sapiens 89Gly His
Glu Gln Lys Gly His Leu 1 5908PRTHomo sapiens 90Gly Pro Ala His Gln
Asp His Leu 1 5918PRTHomo sapiens 91Gly Ser Tyr Pro Ser Ser His Leu
1 5928PRTHomo sapiens 92Gly Ser Gln Asn Gln Val His Leu 1
5938PRTHomo sapiens 93Gly His Ala Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5947PRTHomo
sapiens 94Gly Gly Lys Ser Arg Arg Leu 1 5958PRTHomo sapiens 95Gly
His Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5967PRTHomo sapiens 96Gly Gly Gln Lys
Arg Arg Leu 1 5978PRTHomo sapiens 97Gly His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Ala
1 5987PRTHomo sapiens 98Gly Gly Ala Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 5998PRTHomo
sapiens 99Gly His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Ser 1 51007PRTHomo sapiens
100Gly Gly Lys Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 51017PRTHomo sapiens 101Gly Gly
His Lys Arg Arg Leu 1 51027PRTHomo sapiens 102Gly Gly Lys Ala Phe
Arg Leu 1 51038PRTHomo sapiens 103Gly Ala Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Leu 1
51047PRTHomo sapiens 104Gly Gly Lys Ala Gln Arg Leu 1 51057PRTHomo
sapiens 105Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg Arg Leu 1 51067PRTHomo sapiens
106Gly Gly Lys Gln Arg Arg Leu 1 51077PRTHomo sapiens 107Gly Gly
Lys His Arg Arg Leu 1 51088PRTHomo sapiens 108Gly His Glu Gln Ala
Arg Arg Leu 1 51097PRTHomo sapiens 109Gly Gly Lys Ala Lys Arg Leu 1
51108PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT8Xaa = dL which is an isomer of Leu
110Gly His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg Xaa 1 51117PRTHomo sapiens 111Gly
Gly Lys Ala Arg Arg Ser 1 51127PRTHomo sapiens 112Gly Gly Lys Ala
Arg Lys Leu 1 51138PRTHomo sapiens 113Gly His Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg
Glu 1 51147PRTHomo sapiens 114Gly Gly Lys Ala His Arg Leu 1
51157PRTHomo sapiens 115Gly Gly Lys Ala Asn Arg Leu 1 51167PRTHomo
sapiens 116Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg Gln Leu 1 51177PRTHomo sapiens
117Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg His Leu 1 51187PRTHomo sapiens 118Gly Gly
Lys Ala Arg Asn Leu 1 51197PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT5Xaa = dR which is
an isomer of Arg 119Gly Gly Lys Ala Xaa Arg Leu 1 51207PRTHomo
sapiens 120Gly Gly Lys Ala Lys Lys Leu 1 51217PRTHomo sapiens
121Gly Gly Lys Ala His Lys Leu 1 51227PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT6Xaa =
dR which is an isomer of Arg 122Gly Gly Lys Ala Arg Xaa Leu 1
51237PRTHomo sapiensVARIANT5, 6Xaa = dR which is an isomer of Arg
123Gly Gly Lys Ala Xaa Xaa Leu 1 51245PRTHomo sapiens 124Ala Gln
Lys Arg Arg 1 51255PRTHomo sapiens 125Gly Lys Ser Arg Arg 1
51265PRTHomo sapiens 126Glu Gln Lys Arg Arg 1 51275PRTHomo sapiens
127Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg 1 51285PRTHomo sapiens 128Gly Gln Lys Arg
Arg 1 51295PRTHomo sapiens 129Gly Ala Lys Arg Arg 1 51305PRTHomo
sapiens 130Gly Lys Lys Arg Arg 1 51315PRTHomo sapiens 131Gly His
Lys Arg Arg 1 51325PRTHomo sapiens 132Gly Lys Ala Phe Arg 1
51335PRTHomo sapiens 133Glu Lys Ala Gln Arg 1 51345PRTHomo sapiens
134Glu Lys Ala Arg Arg 1 51357PRTHomo sapiens 135Gly Gly Lys Ala
Arg Arg Leu 1 5
* * * * *