Template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formula

##STR00001##

wherein Z is a template-fixed chain of 8 α-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain (counted starting from the N-terminal amino acid), are Gly or Pro or of certain types which, as the remaining symbols in the above formula, are defined in the description and the claims, and salts thereof, have agonizing or antagonizing activity against urotensin II or show inhibition of the STAT6/NCoA-1 interaction and can be used for preventing or treating diseases or disorders related to urotensin II, STAT6 and NCoA-1.

These β-hairpin peptidomimetics can be manufactured by a process which is based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy.

The invention relates to a peptide combination characterized by peptides each having the same sequence length (SEQL), that can be produced from a mixture (A) comprising a number x of amino acids having a protected acid group or a number z of peptides having an acid group protected by means of a protecting group and an activated amino group, wherein the amino acids are present in the mixture (A) in particular adjustable molar ratios, and a mixture (B) comprising a number y of amino acids having an amino group protected by means of a protecting group, wherein the amino acid molar ratios of the mixture (B) are equal to the amino acid molar ratios of the mixture (A), and wherein the number x=y.

Synthesis of O-benzotriazole and O-imidazole synthons are described. Uses of synthons in synthesis of azapeptides and other peptidomimetics, azapeptides and other peptidomimetics synthesized from the synthons and uses of azapeptides and other peptidomimetics are also described.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a very stable, cyclized mutant protein such that high cyclization efficiency is achieved while the number of amino acids added is minimal and the biological properties of an original protein are maintained. In view of conformational information about the original protein, secondary structure-free regions at N/C terminal portions are deleted. Then, a protein database is screened for proteins with secondary structures similar to those of N/C terminal residues of a secondary structure-forming portion after the deletion. The screening results are used to determine the amino acid length of a loop structure through which the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the secondary structure-forming portion of the original protein are to be connected. A cyclized mutant protein is finally produced having a loop structure with the determined amino acid length.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a very stable, cyclized mutant protein such that high cyclization efficiency is achieved while the number of amino acids added is minimal and the biological properties of an original protein are maintained. In view of conformational information about the original protein, secondary structure-free regions at N/C terminal portions are deleted. Then, a protein database is screened for proteins with secondary structures similar to those of N/C terminal residues of a secondary structure-forming portion after the deletion. The screening results are used to determine the amino acid length of a loop structure through which the N-terminus and the C-terminus of the secondary structure-forming portion of the original protein are to be connected. A cyclized mutant protein is finally produced having a loop structure with the determined amino acid length.

The present invention provides methods of making α4β7 peptide monmer and dimer antagonists. Methods of the present invention include solid phase and solution phase methods, as well as synthesis via condensation of smaller peptide fragments. Methods of the present invention further include methods directed to the synthesis of peptides comprising one or more penicillamine residues.

A method for producing an amide includes: subjecting carboxylic acids to dehydration condensation or causing a reaction between a carboxylic acid and a haloformic acid ester; and subsequently causing a reaction with a first base and a reaction with an amine to obtain an amide, wherein the reaction with a first base and/or the reaction with an amine is performed by adding an acid thereto.

The invention relates to a method for enzymatically synthesizing an (oligo)peptide, comprising coupling (a) an (oligo)peptide C-terminal ester or thioester and (b) an (oligo)peptide nucleophile having an N-terminally unprotected amine, wherein the coupling is carried out in a fluid comprising water, and wherein the coupling is catalyzed by a subtilisin BPN′ variant or a homologue thereof, which comprises the following mutations compared to subtilisin BPN′ represented by SEQUENCE ID NO: 2 or a homologue sequence thereof: a deletion of the amino acids corresponding to positions 75-83; a mutation at the amino acid position corresponding to S221, the mutation being S221C or S221 selenocysteine; preferably a mutation at the amino acid position corresponding to P225 wherein the amino acid positions are defined according to the sequence of subtilisin BPN′ represented by SEQUENCE ID NO: 2. Further, the invention relates to an enzyme suitable for use as a catalyst in a method of the invention.

A method for producing a polypeptide, includes at least one native ligation step using a peptide functionalized with a selenium group. The selenium peptides and compounds are also described.

The present invention relates to a liquid (or solution)-phase manufacturing process for preparing the decapeptide Degarelix, its protected precursor, and other useful intermediates. The invention further relates to polypeptides useful in the solution-phase manufacturing process and to the purification of Degarelix itself. Degarelix can be obtained by subjecting a Degarelix precursor according to formula II: (P.sub.1)AA.sub.1-AA.sub.2-AA.sub.3-AA.sub.4(P.sub.4)-AA.sub.5-AA.sub.6(P.sub.6)-AA.sub.7-AA.sub.8(P.sub.8)-AA.sub.9-AA.sub.10-NH.sub.2 (II) or a salt or solvate thereof, to a treatment with a cleaving agent in an organic solvent, wherein P.sub.1 is an amino protecting groups; preferably acetyl; P.sub.4 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl protecting group, preferably a hydroxyl protecting group; P.sub.6 is hydrogen or an amino protecting groups; preferably an amino protecting groups; and P.sub.8 is an amino protecting group.