Synthesis and antigenic properties of reduced peptide bond pseudopeptide analogues of a histone H3 hexapeptide.

Pseudopeptide analogues of the C-terminal hexapeptide of histone H3 (-Ile-Arg-Gly-Glu-Arg-Ala-OH) were obtained by systematically replacing, in each analogue, one peptide bond at a time by a reduced peptide bond psi (CH2-NH). The resulting analogues were then examined, in ELISA and in the BIAcore system, for their ability to bind polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies generated against the parent natural peptide and the protein. The comparative results show that reduced bond pseudopeptide analogues can mimic the parent peptide. These results present the first unequivocal example for the potent applicability of reduced peptide bond pseudopeptides in the immunological field.