title: Structural features of apolipoprotein B synthetic peptides that inhibit lipoprotein(a) assembly.
abstract: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is assembled via an initial noncovalent interaction between apolipoprotein B100 (apoB) and apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] that facilitates the formation of a disulfide bond between the two proteins. We previously reported that a lysine-rich, alpha-helical peptide spanning human apoB amino acids 4372-4392 was an effective inhibitor of Lp(a) assembly in vitro. To identify the important structural features required for inhibitory action, new variants of the apoB4372-4392 peptide were investigated. Introduction of a central leucine to proline substitution abolished the alpha-helical structure of the peptide and disrupted apo(a) binding and inhibition of Lp(a) formation. Substitution of hydrophobic residues in the apoB4372-4392 peptide disrupted apo(a) binding and inhibition of Lp(a) assembly without disrupting the alpha-helical structure. Substitution of all four lysine residues in the peptide with arginine decreased the IC50 from 40 microM to 5 microM . Complexing of the arginine-substituted peptide to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine improved its activity further, yielding an IC50 of 1 microM. We conclude that the alpha-helical structure of apoB4372-4392, in combination with hydrophobic residues at the lipid/water interface, is crucial for its interaction with apo(a). Furthermore, the interaction of apoB4372-4392 with apo(a) is not lysine specific, because substitutions with arginine result in a more effective inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perugini
authors.forename: Santica M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Marcovina
authors.forename: Sally P A
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McCormick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D010446:Peptide Fragments