DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF A QUENCHED FLUOROGENIC PEPTIDE SUBSTRATE FOR HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PROTEINASE

A fluorogenic peptide substrate for HCMV proteinase was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The amino acid sequence of this substr ate is derived from the maturation cleavage site (M site) of the natur al substrate, the assembly protein precursor. The minimum sequence for efficient cleavage requires at least seven residues (P-4-P-3'). A sys tematic modification of the peptide substrate was carried out to ident ify positions suitable for the introduction of the fluorescent donor a nd the quencher acceptor groups.