title: Synthesis and activity of NH2- and COOH-terminal elastase recognition sequences on cotton.
abstract: The application of peptide recognition sequences of elastase to fibers of wound dressings is a possible route to inhibiting high levels of destructive elastase in the chronic wound. For this reason we have synthesized the elastase recognition sequence Val-Pro-Val on both cotton cellulose, and carboxymethylated cellulose cotton (CMC) and prepared chromatography columns of these to examine elastase retention. The tripeptide was synthesized on cotton-based cellulose fibers both in sequence and as a tripeptide methyl ester. Glycine was employed as a linker of the recognition sequence to the cotton cellulose. Pre-treatment of cotton cellulose with cellulase improved the substitution level of glycine. The peptidocellulose conjugates were employed as a chromatographic stationary phase to assess elastase retention. The sequence Val-Pro-Val-OMe was amino-terminally anchored to carboxymethylated cotton and demonstrated retention of up to 58% of elastase when first applied to the column. Higher repetitive retention was demonstrated subsequently. Cotton gauze similarly modified with Val-Pro-Val-Gly cellulose was compared with untreated gauze for reduction of elastase activity in buffered saline. Solutions of elastase that were treated with Val-Pro-Val-Gly cellulose cotton gauze, demonstrated reduced elastase activity. This study demonstrates the use of elastase recognition sequences as sequestering agents of elastase when attached to cotton fibers and constitutes a model for the design of peptidocellulose analogs in dressing fibers for chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, Cotton Textile Chemistry Research Unit, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA. vedwards@nola.srrc.usda.gov
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Batiste
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gibbins
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Goheen
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003368:Gossypium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase