Cell adhesion promoting peptide GVKGDKGNPGWPGAP from the collagen type IV triple helix: cis/trans proline-induced multiple 1H NMR conformations and evidence for a KG/PG multiple turn repeat motif in the all-trans proline state.

Peptide GVKGDKGNPGWPGAPY (called peptide IV-H1), derived from the protein sequence of human collagen type IV, triple-helix domain residues 1263-1277, represents an RGD-independent, cell-specific, adhesion, spreading, and motility promoting domain in type IV collagen. In this study, peptide IV-H1 has been investigated by 1H NMR (500 MHz) spectroscopy. Cis-trans proline isomerization at each of the three proline residues gives rise to a number of slowly exchanging (500-MHz NMR time scale) conformation states. At least five such states are observed, for example, for the well-resolved A14 beta H3 group, and K3, which is six residues sequentially removed from the nearest proline, i.e., P9, shows two sets. The presence of more than two sets of resonances for residues sequentially proximal to a proline, e.g., A14-cis-P15 and A14-trans-P15, and more than one set for a residue sequentially well-removed from a proline, e.g., K3, indicates long range conformation interactions and the presence of preferred structure in this short linear peptide. Many resonances belonging to these multiple species have been assigned by using mono-proline-substituted analogues. Conformational (isomer) state-specific 2D 1H NMR assignments for the combination of cis and trans proline states have been made via analysis of COSY-type, HOHAHA, and NOESY spectra. Peptide IV-H1 in the all-trans proline state ttt exists in relatively well-defined conformation populations showing numerous short- and long-range NOEs and long-lived backbone amide protons and reduced backbone NH temperature coefficients, suggesting hydrogen-bonding, and structurally informative 3J alpha N coupling constants. The NMR data indicate significant beta-turn populations centered at K3-G4, K5-G6, P9-G10, and P12-G13, and a C-terminal gamma-turn within the A14-P15-Y16 sequence. These NMR data are supported by circular dichroic studies which indicate the presence of 52% beta-turn, 10% helix, and 38% random coil structural populations. Since equally spaced KG and PG residues are found on both sides of peptide IV-H1 in the native collagen type IV sequence, this multiple turn repeat motif may continue through a longer segment of the protein. Synthetic peptide IV-H1 overlapping sequence "walk throughs" indicate that the primary biological activity is localized in the GNPGWPGAP double beta-turn domain, which contains the backbone constraining proline residues. This proline-domain conformation may suggest a collagen type IV receptor-specific, metastatic cell adhesion promoting binding domain.