SYNTHESIS AND IMMUNOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE CONJUGATES COMPOSED FROM A MURAMYL PEPTIDE GMDP AND TUFTSIN

The conjugates of a muramyl dipeptide analog GMDP (N-acetylglucosaminy l beta 1-->4 N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine) and tuftsin (Thr -Lys-Pro-Arg) were synthesized from unprotected GMDP by mixed anhydrid e procedure, The identity of the conjugates was confirmed by high reso lution NMR and their immunomodulating properties were determined in va rious tests. It was found that the conjugate in which the GMDP carboxy l group forms an amide bond with the epsilon-amino group of tuftsin ly syl residue exceeds GMDP in all the activities determined. Synergism o f GMDP and tuftsin was found in phagocytosis stimulation assay. (C) Mu nksgaard 1995.