Peptide mimics of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with antagonistic activity

J Biotechnol. 2005 Mar 30;116(3):211-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2004.10.021. Epub 2005 Jan 20.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor is a potent growth-promoting factor for a variety of tissue cells in vivo and in vitro. Epidermal growth factor binds, phosphorylates, and activates epidermal growth factor receptors on the cell surface. In this study, we attempted to design functional peptide mimics by panning a phage display library on the anti-epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody. By using anti-epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody as a mold of the structure of the binding site of epidermal growth factor, high-efficiency probing was expected. From a random peptide phage display library, phage clones that bind to the anti-epidermal growth factor monoclonal antibody were isolated. One of the phage clones also exhibited binding activity to the epidermal growth factor receptor. The amino acid sequence of this phage clone showed slight similarity to the primary sequence of epidermal growth factor. We synthesized this motif to a 9-amino-acid intramolecularly disulfide-linked peptide. This synthetic peptide inhibited mitogenesis as well as epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, which is induced by epidermal growth factor. The present results suggest that the peptide synthesized in this study may mimic the epidermal growth factor receptor-binding region in epidermal growth factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • BALB 3T3 Cells
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Mimicry / immunology*
  • Peptide Library*
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Epidermal Growth Factor