Quantum mechanical studies on neuropeptides: conformation of C-terrninal tetra- and pentapeptides of tachykinins

摘要

Tachykinins constitute an important class of neuropepfides which exhibit a wide variety of biological functions, Theyare responsible for exciting neurons and evoking behavioral responses. These peptides have a common C-terrninal pentapuptide sequence and their biological activity depends on the minimum sequence at this end, Quantum mechanical POLO investigations were carried out on the conformation of a number of tetra- and pentapeptide sequences. The results indicate n predominance of the extended backbone conformations for these neuropeptides, This result is discussed in the light of the biological activity of tachykinins.