Design and recognition properties of a hydropathically complementary peptide to human interleukin 1β

Abstract

A computer-designed hydropathically complementary peptide to human interleukin 1β (IL1β) precursor sequence 204-215 recognized the 204-215 peptide as well the entire IL1β protein with binding affinities in the micromolar range. Interaction between the complementary pair was characterized by analytical high-performance liquid affinity chromatography on columns derivatized with the computer-generated peptide. Recognition selectivity was clearly shown by the ability of the computer-generated complementary peptide columns to purity the IL1β-(204-215)-peptide from complex synthetic mixtures with high yields, independently of the type of solid support used. Recognition specificity was demonstrated by the inability of the IL1β-(204-215)-peptide and IL1β molecules to interact with blank columns or columns derivatized with other non-related peptides. Furthermore, scrambling the sequence of the computer-generated peptide or the IL1β-(204-215)-peptide in such a way as to alter their hydropathic profiles had the effect of abolishing binding. The complementary pair failed to interact in the presence of competing peptide, thus providing further evidence of specificity. Computer-generated complementary peptide affinity columns also proved useful for purification of recombinant human IL1β protein directly from crude Escherichia coli lysates.