Many biologically important peptide sequences contain proline. It confers unique conformational constraints on the peptide chain in that the side-chain is cyclized back onto the backbone amide position. Inside an alpha-helix the possibility of making hydrogen bonds to the preceding turn is lost and a kink will be introduced. The conformational restrictions imposed by proline motifs in a peptide chain appear to imply important structural or biological functions as can be deduced from their often remarkably high degree of conservation as found in many proteins and peptides, especially cytokines, growth factors, G-protein-coupled receptors, V3 loops of the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp 120, and neuro- and vasoactive peptides. Only a limited number of peptidases are known to be able to hydrolyze proline adjacent bonds. Their activity is influenced by the isomeric state (cis-trans) as well as the position of proline in the peptide chain. The three proline specific metallo-peptidases (aminopeptidase P, carboxypeptidase P and prolidase) are activated by Mn2+, whereas the three serine type peptidases cleaving a post proline bond (prolyl oligopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and prolylcarboxypeptidase) share the sequential order of the catalytic Ser-Asp-His triade, which differentiates them from the chymotrypsin (His-Asp-Ser) and subtilisin (Asp-His-Ser) families. An endo or C terminal Pro-Pro bond and an endo pre-Pro peptide bond possess a high degree of resistance to any mammalian proteolytic enzyme.

Summary:Arginine carboxypeptidase activity in human serum, measured with the hippuryl-L-arginine substrate, is about three times higher than in human plasma. This difference is much smaller when hippuryl-Llysine is used äs the Substrate. When fresh serum is incubated at 30 °C, the arginine and lysine carboxypeptidase activity decreases until a stable activity, close to the plasma activity, is reached. This stable carboxypeptidase activity is attributed to carboxypeptidase N. The unstable carboxypeptidase differs from carboxypeptidase N in pH-optimum, esterase activity, Substrate specifity, Co 2+ -activation and dithiotreitol activation. Blood cells are not responsible for the release of this enzyme during coagulation. No activator of carboxypeptidase N was detectable in human serum.-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose confirms the presence of two different molecular forms of arginine carboxypeptidase activity.

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The previously reported diphenyl 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R, S)-phosphonate (5) was used as a lead compound for the development of potent and irreversible inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5). The synthesis of a series of diaryl 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R,S)-phosphonates with different substituents on the aryl rings (hydroxyl, methoxy, acylamino, sulfonylamino, ureyl, methoxycarbonyl, and alkylaminocarbonyl) started from the corresponding phosphites. A good correlation was found between the electronic properties of the substituent and the inhibitory activity and stability. The most striking divergence of this correlation was the high potency combined with a high stability of the 4-acetylamino-substituted derivative 11e. This compound shows low cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also has favorable properties in vivo. Therefore bis(4-acetamidophenyl) 1-(S)-prolylpyrrolidine-2(R,S)-phosphonate (11e) is considered as a major improvement and will be a highly valuable DPP IV inhibitor for further studies on the biological function of the enzyme and the therapeutic value of its inhibition.