The substrate sequence specificity of the cdc2 protein kinase from Pisaster ochraceus has been evaluated. The peptide, Ac-Ser-Pro-Gly-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Lys-amide, serves as an efficient cdc2 kinase substrate with a Km of 1.50 +/- 0.04 microM and a Vmax. of 12.00 +/- 0.18 mumol/min per mg. The amino acid sequence of this peptide is not based on any sequence in a known protein substrate of the cyclin-dependent kinase, but rather was designed from structural attributes that appear to be important in the majority of cdc2 substrates. The cyclin-dependent enzyme is remarkably indiscriminate in its ability to recognize and phosphorylate peptides that contain an assortment of structurally diverse residues at the P-2, P-1 and P+2 positions. However, peptides that contain a free N-terminal serine or lack an arginine at the P+4 position are relatively poor substrates. These aspects of the substrate specificity of the cdc2 protein kinase are compared and contrasted with the previously reported substrate specificity of a cdc2-like protein kinase from bovine brain [Beaudette, Lew and Wang (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 20825-20830].

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The binding of the tridecapeptide yeast mating pheromone, alpha-factor, to its receptor represents an excellent model for the investigation of peptide hormone-receptor interactions. In this paper we present a number of strategies to probe the binding site of the alpha-factor receptor, and discuss the synthesis of probes containing radioactive and affinity tags. Preferential acylation of the alpha- or epsilon-amine in [Nle12]-alpha-factor was accomplished using 3-[3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxyphenyl] propanoic acid hydroxysuccinimide ester (diiodo Bolton-Hunter reagent). At pH 8.0 in a N-N-dimethylformamide/water mixture the ratio of epsilon- to alpha-acylation was 2.15 to 1, whereas at pH 6.5 in a 1,2-dimethoxyethane/water mixture alpha-acylation was favored by more than 3 to 1. The product distribution was found to depend on pH, organic cosolvent, and the ratio of organic solvent and aqueous buffer. Product distributions were followed using analytical high performance liquid chromatography and the products were characterized enzymatically and by mass spectrometry. Citraconic anhydride preferentially alpha-acylated [Nle12]-alpha-factor and served as a temporary masking group during the synthesis of epsilon-Bolton-Hunter acylated pheromone. Biotin or diiodo Bolton-Hunter reagents were also directly incorporated into [Nle12]-alpha-factor or Lys[Nle12]-alpha-factor during peptide synthesis. The peptides were assembled on a chloromethyl polystyrene resin or on a (phenylacetamido)methyl resin, and cleaved using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF). Probes were inserted on amino groups either prior (biotin) or subsequent (Bolton-Hunter reagent) to HF cleavage. The biological activity of the synthetic peptides was characterized using growth arrest assays.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Intra-articular corticosteroid injection (IACI) with triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) is a mainstay of therapy for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Our aim was to determine factors that affected the durability of response to IACI with TH in patients with JIA.