Design of Peptide Ligand for Lactoferrin and Study of Its Binding Specificity

The in silico modelling of peptides complementary to lactoferrin was carried out using the Protein 3D software package and replication of the natural bonding site between pneumococcal surface protein (PSP) and lactoferrin (LF). The modeling was based on analysis of the conjugated ion-hydrogen bond systems between these proteins (CIHBS). The oligopeptide EEVAPQAQAKIAELENQVHRLE was proposed via computer modelling and synthesized using the solid phase synthesis technique, purified, and analyzed with MS and HPLC methods to confirm >95% purity. The peptide was then studied by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The CE experiments demonstrated the split of peptide zone in the presence of LF, due to complex formation and subsequent mobility change of the system peptide-protein. The reference experiments with homomyeloperoxidase and myoglobin did not show binding with LETI-11.