DSPE-PEG Modification of α-Conotoxin TxID

oleh: Weinan Zhao, Yang Xiong, Dongting Zhangsun, Sulan Luo

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-06-01

Deskripsi

In order to improve stability of a peptide marine drug lead, &#945;-conotoxin TxID, we synthesized and modified TxID at the N-terminal with DSPE-PEG-NHS by a nucleophilic substitution reaction to prepare the DSPE-PEG-TxID for the first time. The reaction conditions, including solvent, ratio, pH, and reaction time, were optimized systematically and the optimal one was reacted in dimethyl formamide at pH 8.2 with triethylamine at room temperature for 120 h. The in vitro stabilities in serum, simulated gastric juice, and intestinal fluid were tested, and improved dramatically compared with TxID. The PEG-modified peptide was functionally tested on &#945;3&#946;4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) heterologously expressed in <i>Xenopus laevis</i> oocytes. The DSPE-PEG-TxID showed an obvious inhibition effect on &#945;3&#946;4 nAChR. All in all, the PEG modification of TxID was improved in stability, resistance to enzymatic degradation, and may prolong the half-life in vivo, which may pave the way for the future application in smoking cessation and drug rehabilitation, as well as small cell lung cancer.