The protein human CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2, also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 or MCP‐1) has been synthesized using a combination of solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and native chemical ligation (NCL). The thioester‐peptide segment was synthesized using the sulfonamide safety‐catch linker and 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) SPPS, and pseudoproline dipeptides were used to facilitate the synthesis of both CCL2 fragments. After assembly of the full‐length peptide chain by NCL, a glutathione redox buffer was used to fold and oxidize the CCL2 protein. Synthetic human CCL2 binds to and activates the CCR2 receptor on THP‐1 cells, as expected. CCL2 was crystallized and the structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction at 1.9‐Å resolution. The structure of the synthetic protein is very similar to that of a previously reported structure of recombinant human CCL2, although the crystal form is different. The functional CCL2 dimer for the crystal structure reported here is formed around a crystallographic twofold axis. The dimer interface involves residues Val9‐Thr10‐Cys11, which form an intersubunit antiparallel β‐sheet. Comparison of the CCL2 dimers in different crystal forms indicates a significant flexibility of the quaternary structure. To our knowledge, this is one of the first crystal structures of a protein prepared using the sulfonamide safety‐catch linker and NCL. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 94: 350–359, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com

The authors investigated longitudinally bereavement in mothers and fathers whose children died of cancer. Thirty-one parents were interviewed 6 and 18 months post-death. Analyses revealed parental differences and changes over time: (a) employment--fathers were more work-focused; (b) grief reactions--mothers expressed more intense grief reactions that lessened over time; (c) coping--mothers were more child-focused, fathers more task-focused; (d) relationship with bereaved siblings-mothers actively nurtured relationship with child; (e) spousal relationship--parents reported diversity in their relationship over time; and (f) relationship with extended family--mothers maintained contact with extended family more. Findings illustrate parental differences in bereavement over time that might be partly socially determined. These findings emphasize the need for tailoring bereavement support services in the family.