s-Cis and s-trans isomerism of the His-Pro peptide bond in angiotensin and thyroliberin analogues.

The dipeptide His-Pro isomerizes from all-s-trans to partly s-cis when titrated in D2O from acidic to neutral pD as observed by 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance of the proline side chain. This isomerization is reported by the His C-2 and C-4 protons and carbons which show distinct, well-resolved resonances for each isomer. The influence of the His-Pro peptide bond rotational state on the histidine protons far removed from the bond has not been previously observed in model compounds or peptides. The peptides thyroliberin (TRH), [3-MeHis2]-TRH, and [3-MeHis6]-, [Sar1,Al8]-, and Nalpha-acetylangiotensin II were found to similarly isomerize from all-s-trans to partly s-cis as reported by their His C-2 and C-4 proton resonances. The His C-2 and C-4 protons in the peptides [1,3-diMeHis2]-TRH and [1-MeHis6]-, and [homoHis6]-angiotensin do not report this isomerization. Angiotensin II has previously been found to exhibit the same isomerization. The reporting of the s-trans to s-cis isomerization by the His C-2 proton appears to be correlated with the known potencies of the five angiotensin peptides in rat uterine strips and of the three TRH peptides by radioimmunoassay of released thyrotropin.