SYNTHETIC FRAGMENTS AND ANALOGS OF ELASTIN .1. THE SYNTHESIS

The synthesis of some repetitive sequences of elastin and their simplified analogues, all comprising the structural unit Gly‐X‐Gly (X = Val, Leu, Ala), is described. In particular, the following peptides and polypeptides were synthesized and characterized: Boc‐Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐Leu‐OMe, Boc‐Gly‐Leu‐Gly‐Gly‐Val‐OMe, Boc‐(Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐Leu)2‐OMe, Boc‐(Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐Leu)3‐OMe, Boc‐Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐OEt, Boc‐Leu‐Gly‐Gly‐Leu‐OMe, Boc‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐Val‐OMe, poly(Ala‐Gly‐Gly), poly(Val‐Gly‐Gly), and poly (Leu‐Gly‐Gly). In every case, the synthesis was accomplished by classical procedures in solution, by using the p‐nitrophenyl ester method for the polycondensation step, and the mixed anhydride or the azide methods for the coupling steps. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.