The probes for specific detection of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in plasma and in atherosclerotic plaques are expected to be useful for the identification, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for atherosclerosis. In this study, to develop a fluorescent peptide probe for specific detection of ox-LDL, we investigated the interaction of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled peptides with ox-LDL using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two heptapeptides (KWYKDGD and KP6) coupled through the ε-amino group of K at the N-terminus to FITC in the presence/absence of 6-amino-n-caproic acid (AC) linker to FITC--(FITC-AC)KP6 and (FITC)KP6--both bound with high specificity to ox-LDL in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, a tetrapeptide (YKDG) labeled with FITC at the N-terminus and a pentapeptide (YKDGK) coupled through the ε-amino group of K at the C-terminus to FITC did not bind selectively to ox-LDL. Furthermore, (FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6 bound with high specificity to the protein in mouse plasma (probably ox-LDL fraction). These findings strongly suggest that (FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6 may be effective novel fluorescent probes for specific detection of ox-LDL.

Probes that can detect oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in plasma and in atherosclerotic plaques can be useful for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of atherosclerosis. Recently, we have reported that two heptapeptides (Lys-Trp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Gly-Asp, KP6) coupled to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) through the ε-amino group of N-terminus Lys in the absence/presence of 6-amino-n-caproic acid (AC) linker to FITC-(FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6-can be useful as fluorescent probes for the specific detection of ox-LDL. In this study, to develop the fluorescent peptides with high plasma stability for the specific detection of ox-LDL, we investigated the interaction of (FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6 substituted with D-Lys at the N-terminus-(FITC)dKP6 and (FITC-AC)dKP6-with ox-LDL, and the in vitro stability of these peptides in mouse plasma. (FITC)dKP6 and (FITC-AC)dKP6 bound with high specificity to ox-LDL in a dose-dependent manner, and also to ox-LDL in the mouse plasma. Furthermore, (FITC)dKP6 was more stable than (FITC)KP6 in mouse plasma (102.1% versus 69.0% remained after 1 h). These findings strongly suggest that (FITC)dKP6 and (FITC-AC)dKP6 may be effective fluorescent probes with higher plasma stability than (FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6 for the specific detection of ox-LDL.

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