SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY OF 4 KINDS OF REVERSED PEPTIDES

We have synthesized four kinds of reversed peptides of various physiol ogically active peptides, which inhibit TNF (tumor necrosis factor) cy totoxicity, produce NGF (nerve growth factor), exert antimicrobial act ivity and inhibit cell attachment, respectively. They were examined fo r their biological activity in comparison with that of normal peptides , that is, naturally occurring peptides. The reversed peptides induce similar activities, but to a lesser extent than those of the normal pe ptides, respectively. These results indicate that there may be conform ationally ambiguous binding in some of the naturally occurring ligand- protein interactions. This method may he useful as a tool to rapidly g enerate a novel lead peptide with the desired biological function from a naturally occurring active peptide.