High potency antagonists of the pancreatic glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor

GLP-1-(7-36)-amide and exendin-4-(1-39) are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, whereas exendin-(9-39) is the only known antagonist. To analyze the transition from agonist to antagonist and to identify the amino acid residues involved in ligand activation of the GLP-1 receptor, we used exendin analogs with successive N-terminal truncations. Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the rat GLP-1 receptor were assayed for changes in intracellular cAMP caused by the test peptides in the absence or presence of half-maximal stimulatory doses of GLP-1. N-terminal truncation of a single amino acid reduced the agonist activity of the exendin peptide, whereas N-terminal truncation of 3-7 amino acids produced antagonists that were 4-10-fold more potent than exendin-(9-39). N-terminal truncation of GLP-1 by 2 amino acids resulted in weak agonist activity, but an 8-amino acid N-terminal truncation inactivated the peptide. Binding studies performed using 125I-labeled GLP-1 confirmed that all bioactive peptides specifically displaced tracer with high potency. In a set of exendin/GLP-1 chimeric peptides, substitution of GLP-1 sequences into exendin-(3-39) produced loss of antagonist activity with conversion to a weak agonist. The results show that receptor binding and activation occur in separate domains of exendin, but they are more closely coupled in GLP-1.     

NH2-terminal structural motifs in staphylokinase required for plasminogen activation

Staphylokinase (Sak) forms an inactive 1:1 stoichiometric complex with plasminogen which requires both conversion of plasminogen to plasmin and hydrolysis of the Lys10-Lys11 peptide bond of Sak to become a potent plasminogen activator (Schlott, B., Guhrs, K.-H., Hartmann, M., Rocker, A., and Collen, D. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 6067-6072). Exposure of a positively charged NH2-terminal amino acid after hydrolysis of Sak is a major determinant of the plasminogen-activating potential, but in itself is neither necessary nor sufficient. Here, the structural motifs of the NH2-terminal region Lys11-Gly-Asp-Asp-Ala-Ser16-Tyr-Phe-Glu of processed Sak, required for plasminogen activating potential, were studied by deletion and substitution mutagenesis. Expression in Escherichia coli of variants with deletion of 11, 14, 15, or 16 NH2-terminal amino acids yielded correctly processed but inactive molecules. Expression of their homologues with the NH2-terminal amino acid substituted with Lys-generated derivatives from which the NH2-terminal initiation Met was no longer removed, yielding inactive (50%) Sak42DDeltaN14(M), A15K and Sak42DDeltaN15(M),S16K, and inactive Sak42DDeltaN16(M),Y17K. Lys variants without NH2-terminal Met, generated from fusion proteins in which a His6 tag and a factor Xa recognition sequence were linked to the NH2 terminus of the Sak variants, were indistinguishable from their NH2-terminal Met-containing counterparts. All variants studied had intact affinities for plasminogen as measured by biospecific interaction analysis. The activity of Sak42DDeltaN11(M),G12K could be restored by additional substitution of both Asp13 and Asp14 with Asn, yielding active Sak42DDeltaN11(M),G12K, D13N, D14N, whereas substitution in Sak42DDeltaN16(M),Y17K of Phe18 and Glu19 with Asn yielded inactive Sak42DDeltaN16(M),Y17K,F18N,E19N. These data, in combination with the recent finding that the 20 NH2-terminal amino acids of Sak lack secondary structure, suggest that the NH2-terminal region of Sak is not required for binding to plasmin/plasminogen, but that a positively charged amino acid in the ultimate or penultimate NH2-terminal position corresponding to amino acids 11-16 of this flexible region participates in the reconfiguration of the active site of the plasmin molecule to endow it with plasminogen-activating potential.     

Mutagenesis of cardiac troponin I. Role of the unique NH2-terminal peptide in myofilament activation

Phosphorylation of Ser residues in the NH2-terminal extension unique to cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is known to occur through protein kinase A and to alter myofilament Ca2+ activation (Robertson, S. P., Johnson, J. D., Holroyde, M. J., Kranias, E. G., Potter, J. D., and Solaro, R. J. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 260-263). Yet, how the NH2-terminal extension may itself affect thin filament Ca2+ signaling is unknown. To approach this question we have used molecular cloning, mutagenesis, and bacterial synthesis of a full-length cTnI and a truncated mutant (cTnI/NH2) missing the 32 amino acids. Using reconstituted preparations we could show no differences between cTnI and cTnI/NH2 either in inhibition of actomyosin ATPase activity, in Ca(2+)-reversible inhibitory activity, or in the relation between pCa and Ca2+ binding to the regulatory site of cTnC at either pH 7.0 or 6.5. There were also no significant differences at either pH in the pCa-MgATPase activity relation of myofibrils into which the various species of TnI has been exchanged. Our results indicate: 1) that phosphorylation most likely induces a new state of TnI activity rather than altering an intrinsic effect of the NH2-terminal peptide on Ca2+ activation; and 2) that domains outside the NH2-terminal extension are important with regard to differences in effects of acidic pH on Ca2+ activation on cardiac and skeletal myofilaments.     

Uncoupling hydrophobicity and helicity in transmembrane segments. Alpha-helical propensities of the amino acids in non-polar environments

Although the chains of amino acids in proteins that span the membrane are demonstrably helical and hydrophobic, little attention has been paid toward addressing the range of helical propensities of individual amino acids in the non-polar environment of membranes. Because it is inappropriate to apply soluble protein-based structure prediction algorithms to membrane proteins, we have used de novo designed peptides (KKAAAXAAAAAXAAWAAXAAAKKKK-amide, where X indicates one of the 20 commonly occurring amino acids) that mimic a protein membrane-spanning domain to determine the alpha-helical proclivity of each residue in the isotropic non-polar environment of n-butanol. Peptide helicities measured by circular dichroism spectroscopy were found to range from theta222 = -17,000 degrees (Pro) to -38,800 degrees (Ile) in n-butanol. The relative helicity of each amino acid is shown to be well correlated with its occurrence frequency in natural transmembrane segments, indicating that the helical propensity of individual residues in concert with their hydrophobicity may be a key determinant of the conformations of protein segments in membranes.     

Enhanced anti-HIV-1 activity and altered chemotactic potency of NH2-terminally processed macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) imply an additional MDC receptor

Posttranslational processing of chemokines increases (IL-8) or decreases (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) their chemotactic potency. Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) attracts monocytes, dendritic cells, activated lymphocytes, and NK cells and has reportedly anti-HIV-1 activity. Here we report that truncation of MDC by deletion of two NH2-terminal residues resulted in impaired binding to CC chemokine receptor (CCR)4, the only identified MDC receptor so far. Truncated MDC(3-69) failed to desensitize calcium mobilization by MDC(1-69) or thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), another CCR4 ligand. MDC(3-69) lacked HUT-78 T cell chemotactic activity but retained its capacity to attract monocytes and to desensitize chemotaxis. Compared with MDC(1-69), MDC(3-69) had weak but enhanced antiviral activity against M- and T-tropic HIV-1 strains. Furthermore, both MDC forms failed to signal through the orphan receptors Bonzo/STRL33 and BOB/GPR15 and to desensitize RANTES and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 responses in CCR5-transfected and CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)4-transfected cells, respectively. These findings suggest that MDC recognizes another, yet unidentified, receptor. We conclude that minimal NH2-terminal truncation of MDC differentially affects its various immunologic functions.     

Synthesis and conformational study of peptides possessing helically arranged delta ZPhe side chains

Z-Dehydrophenylalanine (delta ZPhe) possessing four oligopeptides, Boc-(L-Ala-delta ZPhe-Aib)n-OCH3 (n = 1-4: Boc, t-butoxycarbonyl; Aib, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid), were synthesized, and their solution conformations were investigated by 1H-nmr, ir, uv, and CD spectroscopy and theoretical CD calculation. 1H-nmr (the solvent accessibility of NH groups) and ir studies indicated that all the NH groups except for those belonging to the N-terminal L-Ala-delta ZPhe moiety participate in intramolecular hydrogen bonding in chloroform. This suggests that the peptides n = 2-4 have a 4-->1 hydrogen-bonding pattern characteristic of 3(10)-helical structures. The uv spectra of all these peptides recorded in chloroform and in trimethyl phosphate showed an intense maximum around 276 nm assigned to the delta ZPhe chromophores. The corresponding CD spectra of the peptides n = 2-4 showed exciton couplets with a negative peak at longer wavelengths, whereas that of the peptide n = 1 showed only weak signals. Theoretical CD spectra were calculated for the peptides n = 2-4 of several helical conformations, on the basis of exciton chirality method. This calculation indicated that the three peptides form a helical conformation deviating from the perfect 3(10)-helix that contains three residues per turn, and that their side chains of delta ZPhe residues are arranged regularly along the helix. The center-to-center distance between the nearest phenyl pair(s) was estimated to be approximately 5.5 A. The chemical shifts of the delta ZPhe side-chain protons (H beta and aromatic H) for the peptides n = 2-4 indicated anisotropic shielding effect of neighboring phenyl group (s); the effect also supports a regular arrangement of the delta ZPhe side chains along the helical axis.     

Antibodies to an NH2-terminal fragment of betaS globin. I. Preparation and radioimmunoassay

Polypeptide fragments corresponding to the NH2-terminal 55 amino acids of betaS and betaA globins were prepared by cyanogen bromide treatment of globin and isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. Sheep were immunized with the isolated NH2-terminal fragments, and one of these sheep produced precipitating antibodies to the NH2-terminal fragment of betaS globin. These antibodies also reacted with betaA and betaS globin and hemoglobins A and S, as shown by immunodiffusion and quantitative precipitation studies. A radioimmunoassay was developed using the radioiodinated NH2-terminal fragment as tracer, and dextran-coated charcoal for separating bound and free peptide. The radioimmunoassay was used to characterize the interaction of the antibodies and the NH2-terminal fragment of betaS globin.     

NH2-terminal extensions on skin collagen from sheep with a genetic defect in conversion of procollagen into collagen

A modified form of procollagen was extracted with 10 M urea from the skin of lambs with dermatosparaxis, a disease which is produced by a genetic defect in the conversion of procollagen to collagen. The extracts contained little if any alpha1 and alpha2 chains of normal type I collagen, and instead they contained the larger polypeptides palpha1 and palpha2 together with high polymers. palpha1 was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The polypeptide was shown to be related to alpha1 by its chromatographic behavior, its amino acid composition, and the peptides obtained after cleavage with cyanogen bromide. The molecular weight of palpha1 by gel filtration was 112 300 +/- 6300. After digestion of palpha1 with bacterial collagenase, a fragment of about 100 amino acid residues was obtained which was similar in amino acid composition and antigenic activity to a comparable fragment previously obtained from the NH2-terminal region of palpha1 chains from dermatosparaxic cattle. However, after cleavage of palpha1 with cyanogen bromide, a larger NH2-terminal fragment of about 160 amino acid residues was obtained. The larger cyanogen bromide fragment contained 8 residues of hydroxyproline, 12 residues of proline, and 19 residues of glycine not found in the NH2-terminal fragment isolated after digestion with bacterial collagenase. The results indicated that, in addition to containing amino acid sequences similar to those found in globular proteins, the peptide extensions on the NH2-terminal end of the palpha1 chain of procollagen also contain amino acid sequences similar to those found in the triple-helical region of the collagen molecule. The molecular weight of palpha2 by gel filtration was 102 400 +/- 6800. No additional peptide fragment was recovered after digestion of palpha2 with bacterial collagenase.     

The human purH gene product, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase. Cloning, sequencing, expression, purification, kinetic analysis, and domain mapping

We report here the cloning and sequencing of the cDNA, purification, steady state kinetic analysis, and truncation mapping studies of the human 5-aminoimidazole- 4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/IMP cyclohydrolase (AICARFT/IMPCHase). These steps of de novo purine biosynthesis, respectively. In all species of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes studied, these two activities are present on a single bifunctional polypeptide encoded on the purH gene. The human purH cDNA is 1776 base pairs in length encoding for a 591-amino acid polypeptic (Mr = 64,425). The human and avian purH cDNAs are 75 and 81% similar on the nucleotide and amino acid sequence level, respectively. The Km values for AICAR and (6R,6S)10-formyltetrahydrofolate are 16.8 microM +/- 1.5 and 60.2 microM +/- 5.0, respectively, for the cloned, purified human enzyme. A 10-amino acid sequence within the COOH-terminal portion of human AICARFT/IMPCHase has some degree of homology to a previously noted "folate binding site." Site directed mutagenesis studies indicate that this sequence plays no role in enzymatic activity. We have constructed truncation mutants which demonstrate that each of the two enzyme activities can be expressed independent of the other. IMPCHase and AICARFT activities are located within the NH2-terminal 223 and COOH-terminal 406 amino acids, respectively. The truncation mutant possessing AICARFT activity displays steady state kinetic parameters identical to those of the holoenzyme.     

Long-term reliability and predictive validity of the Teller Acuity Card procedure

A diuretic hormone (DH) of unusual structure was isolated from extracts of heads of Tenebrio molitor. The hormone is a 47 amino acid peptide, Mr = 5,029.9, with the sequence AGALGESGASLSIVNSLDVLRNRLLLEIARKKAKEGANRNRQILLSL. This peptide increases cyclic AMP production in Malpighian tubules of T. molitor. We recently identified a smaller DH from T. molitor with 37 amino acids; these peptides have only 15 identical amino acids when aligned to maximize similarity to other members of the insect DH family. This family has sequence similarity to the corticotropin-releasing factor superfamily of vertebrate peptides.     

Truncation of macrophage-derived chemokine by CD26/ dipeptidyl-peptidase IV beyond its predicted cleavage site affects chemotactic activity and CC chemokine receptor 4 interaction

The serine protease CD26/dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (CD26/DPP IV) and chemokines are known key players in immunological processes. Surprisingly, CD26/DPP IV not only removed the expected Gly1-Pro2 dipeptide from the NH2 terminus of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) but subsequently also the Tyr3-Gly4 dipeptide, generating MDC(5-69). This second cleavage after a Gly residue demonstrated that the substrate specificity of this protease is less restricted than anticipated. The unusual processing of MDC by CD26/DPP IV was confirmed on the synthetic peptides GPYGANMED (MDC(1-9)) and YGANMED (MDC(3-9)). Compared with intact MDC(1-69), CD26/DPP IV-processed MDC(5-69) had reduced chemotactic activity on lymphocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, showed impaired mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ through CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), and was unable to desensitize for MDC-induced Ca2+-responses in CCR4 transfectants. However, MDC(5-69) remained equally chemotactic as intact MDC(1-69) on monocytes. In contrast to the reduced binding to lymphocytes and CCR4 transfectants, MDC(5-69) retained its binding properties to monocytes and its anti-HIV-1 activity. Thus, NH2-terminal truncation of MDC by CD26/DPP IV has profound biological consequences and may be an important regulatory mechanism during the migration of Th2 lymphocytes and dendritic cells to germinal centers and to sites of inflammation.     

Conformational modulation of troponin T by configuration of the NH2-terminal variable region and functional effects

Troponin T (TnT) is an essential element in the thin filament-based regulatory system of striated muscle. Alternative mRNA splicing generates multiple TnT isoforms with primary structural differences in the NH2-terminal region. The functional significance of this hypervariable NH2-terminal domain and the developmental or muscle type-specific TnT isoforms is not fully understood. We have analyzed chicken breast muscle TnT containing a metal-binding cluster [H(E/A)EAH]4-7 (Tx) in the NH2-terminal region to demonstrate potential effects of the NH2-terminal structure on the conformation of TnT [Ogut, O., and Jin, J.-P. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 16581-16590]. Using specific antibody epitope analysis on this metal-binding TnT model, this study revealed that the binding of Zn2+ to the NH2-terminal region of chicken breast muscle TnT induces extensive conformational changes in the whole protein as demonstrated by a significant decrease in binding avidity of a polyclonal anti-TnT serum which recognizes multiple epitopes on the TnT molecule. This NH2-terminal configuration-based effect is not restricted to the metal ion interaction, whereas the binding of anti-NH2 terminus monoclonal antibodies to TnT induced similar changes. Protein-binding assays have shown that the NH2-terminal variability-induced conformational changes can alter TnT's binding affinity for tropomyosin and troponin I. The results suggest a functional modulation of TnT through the configuration of the NH2-terminal domain, and this novel mechanism may mediate the physiological significance of the TnT isoform regulation.     

The NH2- and COOH-terminal amino acid sequence of nuclear protein A24

The NH2- and COOH-terminal sequence of nuclear portein A24 has been determined by automatic Edman degradation and carboxypeptidase A and B digestion. Protein A24 is of interest because it is composed in part of histone 2A (Goldknofp, I.L., and Busch, H., (1975) Biochem, Biophys. Res. Commun. 65, 951-960). The sequence of the first 37 NH2-terminal residues is: Met-Gln-Ile-Phe-Val-Lys-Thr-Leu-Thr-Gly-Lys-Thr-Ile-Thr-Leu-Glu-Val-Glu-Pro-Ser-Asp-Thr-Ile-Glu-Asn-Val-Lys-Ala-Lys-Ile-Gln-Asp-Lys-Glu-Gly-Ile-Pro- This sequence is not homologous to any known histone sequence. It contains regions of internal homology (italics). The COOH-terminal amino acid sequence is the same as that of histone 2A, naely: -His-His-Lys-Ala-Lys-Gly-Lys-COOH.     

The NH2-terminal region of apolipoprotein B is sufficient for lipoprotein association with glycosaminoglycans

An initial event in atherosclerosis is the retention of lipoproteins within the intima of the vessel wall. The co-localization of apolipoprotein (apo) B and proteoglycans within lesions has suggested that retention is due to lipoprotein interaction with these highly electronegative glycoconjugates. Both apoB100- and apoB48-containing lipoproteins, i.e. low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and chylomicron remnants, are atherogenic. This suggests that retention is due to determinants in the initial 48% of apoB. To test this, the interaction of an apoB fragment (apoB17), and apoB48- and apoB100- containing lipoproteins with heparin, subendothelial matrix, and artery wall purified proteoglycans was studied. ApoB100-containing LDL from humans and human apoB transgenic mice and apoB48-containing LDLs from apoE knockout mice were used. Despite the lack of the carboxyl-terminal 52% of apoB, the apoB48-LDL bound to heparin-affinity gel as well as did apoB100-LDL. An NH2-terminal fragment containing 17% of full-length apoB was made using a recombinant adenovirus; apoB17 bound to heparin as well as did LDL. Monoclonal antibodies against the NH2-terminal region of apoB decreased apoB100 LDL binding to heparin, whereas antibodies against the LDL receptor-binding region did not alter LDL-heparin interaction. The role of the NH2-terminal region of apoB in LDL interaction with matrix molecules was also assessed. Media containing apoB17 decreased LDL binding to subendothelial matrix by 42%. Moreover, removal of the apoB17 by immunoprecipitation abrogated the inhibitory effect of these media. Antibodies to the NH2-terminal region decreased LDL binding to matrix and dermatan sulfate proteoglycans. Purified apoB17 effectively competed for binding of LDL to artery derived decorin and to subendothelial matrix. Thus, despite the presence of multiple basic amino acids near the LDL receptor-binding domain of LDL, the NH2-terminal region of apoB is sufficient for the interaction of lipoproteins with glycoconjugates produced by endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The presence of a proteoglycan-binding site in the NH2-terminal region of apoB may explain why apoB48- and apoB100-containing lipoproteins are equally atherogenic.     

Mapping of the complement regulatory domains in the human factor H-like protein 1 and in factor H1

The human factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) is composed of seven repetitive domains (short consensus repeats; SCRs) that are identical in sequence to the seven NH2-terminal SCRs of the complement regulatory protein factor H. We have identified the native FHL-1 protein as a 42-kDa human plasma protein by immunoblotting and by comparing the mobility to that of a recombinant FHL-1 protein. Here, we demonstrate the existence of two distinct co-migrating human plasma proteins that represent the 42-kDa FHL-1 protein and the previously identified 43-kDa factor H-related 1 beta protein. Similar to factor H, the recombinant FHL-1 protein displays cofactor activity in factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b. To identify relevant SCRs of factor H and FHL-1, we recombinantly expressed the domains shared between the two proteins in the baculovirus expression system. Recombinant FHL-1 and all truncated forms that include SCRs 1 to 4 displayed cofactor activity. All four NH2-terminal SCRs are essential, as deletion mutants composed of SCR 1 and 4 only; of SCRs 1, 2, and 4 only, or of SCRs 1, 3, and 4 only were functionally inactive. Similarly, the distance between these individually folding domains is critical for function, as a recombinant protein that had two and four amino acids inserted between SCRs 1 and 2 or between SCRs 3 and 4, respectively, had no activity. These results demonstrate that all four NH2-terminal SCRs of FHL-1 (and of factor H) are required for cofactor activity in factor I-mediated cleavage of C3b, and that the distance between these SCRs is essential.     

Characterization of secretory intermediates of Serratia marcescens serine protease produced during its extracellular secretion from Escherichia coli cells

The Serratia marcescens serine protease (SSP; 66 kDa) is synthesized as a precursor (preproSSP; 112 kDa) composed of the NH2-terminal signal peptide of 27 amino acids, the mature protease part and a large COOH-terminal domain. When the SSP gene is expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the tac promoter, the mature enzyme is excreted into the medium through the outer membrane, whereas preproSSP and two proteins, C-1 (40 kDa) and C-2 (38 kDa), processed from the COOH-terminal domain, are accumulated in the membrane fraction. Although treatment of the intact cells with trypsin caused slight truncation of C-1 and C-2, the main parts of C-1 and C-2, both of which are detected in the outer membrane, were resistant to trypsin, even after the cells had been osmotically shocked. Consistent with this, a high content of beta-sheet structure in C-2 was suggested by marked heat-modifiability, as determined by their electrophoretic mobilities on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. These findings suggest rigid integration of C-1 and C-2 in the outer membrane. Upon induction of the tac promoter, rapid excretion of SSP into the medium was first accompanied by the accumulation of C-1 in the outer membrane, which was followed by conversion of C-1 to C-2. PreproSSP was not detected during the accumulation of SSP in the medium, but it was gradually accumulated after the accumulation of SSP had reached a plateau. In addition, preproSSP still containing the intact NH2-terminal signal peptide was completely digested with trypsin when added to osmotically shocked cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Non-traditional mothers: single heterosexual/lesbian women and lesbian couples electing motherhood via donor insemination

The conformational properties of alpha,alpha-dialkylated amino acid residues possessing acyclic (diethylglycine, Deg; di-n-propylglycine, Dpg; di-n-butylglycine, Dbg) and cyclic (1-aminocycloalkane-1-carboxylic acid, Acnc) side chains have been compared in solution. The five peptides studied by nmr and CD spectroscopy are Boc-Ala-Xxx-Ala-OMe, where Xxx = Deg (I), Dpg (II), Dbg (III), Ac6c (IV), and Ac7c (V). Delineation of solvent-shielded NH groups have been achieved by solvent and temperature dependence of NH chemical shifts in CDCl3 and (CD3)2SO and by paramagnetic radical induced line broadening in peptide III. In the Dxg peptides the order of solvent exposure of NH groups is Ala(1) > Ala(3) > Dxg(2), whereas in the Acnc peptides the order of solvent exposure of NH groups is Ala(1) > Acnc(2) > Ala(3). The nmr results suggest that Acnc peptides adopt folded beta-turn conformations with Ala(1) and Acnc(2) occupying i + 1 and i + 2 positions. In contrast, the Dxg peptides favor extended C5 conformations. The conformational differences in the two series are clearly borne out in CD studies. The solution conformations of peptides I-III are distinctly different from the beta-turn structure observed in crystals. Low temperature nmr spectra recorded immediately after dissolution of crystals of peptide II provide evidence for a structural transition. Introduction of an additional hydrogen-bonding function in Boc-Ala-Dpg-Ala-NHMe (VI) results in a stabilization of a consecutive beta-turn or incipient 3(10)-helix in solution.