Synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides as components for synthetic vaccines: comparison of two synthetic strategies

Org Biomol Chem. 2008 Jan 7;6(1):112-21. doi: 10.1039/b712926b. Epub 2007 Oct 26.

Abstract

Mannose-binding proteins on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are capable of recognizing and internalizing foreign agents in the early stages of immune response. These receptors offer a potential target for synthetic vaccines, especially vaccines designed to stimulate T cells. We set out to synthesize a series of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated peptides using manual solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) on pre-loaded Wang resin, in order to test their ability to bind mannose receptors on human APCs in vitro. A flexible and reliable method for the synthesis of fluorescein-labelled O-mannosylated glycopeptides was desired in order to study their lectin-binding properties using flow cell cytometry. Two synthetic strategies were investigated: incorporation of a fluorescein label into the peptide chain via a lysine side chain epsilon-amino group at the final stage of standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis or attachment of the fluorescein label to the N(alpha)-amino group of a lysine with further incorporation of a mannosylated peptide unit through the side chain N(epsilon)-amino group. The latter strategy proved more effective in that it facilitated SPPS by positioning the growing mannosylated peptide chain further removed from the fluorescein label.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Fluorescein / chemistry*
  • Glycopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry
  • Glycopeptides / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mannose / chemistry*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / chemistry*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Glycopeptides
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • Mannose
  • Fluorescein