title: Polypeptide chains containing D-gamma-hydroxyvaline.
abstract: Life has an unexplained and distinct l-homochirality. Proteins typically incorporate only l-amino acids into their sequences. In the present study, d-Val and d-gamma-hydroxyvaline (d-Hyv; V) have been found within ribosomally expressed polypeptide chains. Four conopeptides were initially isolated, gld-V/gld-V'from the venom of Conus gladiator and mus-V/mus-V' from the venom of Conus mus. Their complete sequences (gld-V/gld-V' = Ala-Hyp-Ala-Asn-Ser-d-Hyv-Trp-Ser and mus-V/mus-V' = Ser-Hyp-Ala-Asn-Ser-d-Hyv-Trp-Ser) were determined by a combination of nano/pico-NMR and MS/MS methods. The amino acid triad that contains the gamma-hydroxylated residue, Ser-d-Hyv-Trp, is a novel structural motif that is stabilized by specific interactions between the d-amino acid and its neighboring l-counterparts. These interactions inhibit lactonization, a peptide backbone scission process that would normally be initiated by gamma-hydroxylated residues. Conopeptides possessing the Ser-d-Hyv-Trp motif have been termed gamma-hydroxyconophans. We have also isolated analogous conopeptides (gld-V and mus-V) containing d-Val instead of d-Hyv; these are termed conophans. gamma-Hydroxyconophans and conophans are particularly atypical because (i) they are not constrained as most conopeptides, (ii) they are extremely short in length, (iii) they have a high content of hydroxylated residues, and (iv) their sequences have no close match with other peptides in sequence databases. Their modifications appear to be part of a novel hyperhydroxylation mechanism found within the venom of cone snails that enhances neuronal targeting. The finding of d-Val and d-Hyv within this family of peptides suggests the existence of a corresponding d-stereospecific enzyme capable of d-Val oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center of Excellence in Biomedical & Marine Biotechnology, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pisarewicz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Fred C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pflueger
authors.forename: Gregg B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marí
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006900:Hydroxylation; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000737:chemistry; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D010455:Peptides; D014633:Valine