An expedient route for the synthesis of an anti-HIV peptide Kn2-7: A TAG approach

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) where the immune system progressively deteriorates and consequently threatens life. The peptide Kn2-7, a modified version of scorpion venom non-disulphide peptide, possesses the highest anti-HIV activity inhibiting antiviral potencies of 13 HIV-1 strains. In the present study, we achieved a new synthesis of Kn2-7 through a commercially viable, scalable, and impurity-free approach using Tagging Technique. We used (2,4-bis(octadecyloxy)phenyl)methanol as the Tag support for the synthesis and couplings were achieved by COMU with Fmoc-protected amino acids. The method is highly advantageous over conventional SPPS or LPPS methods in terms of economy, time, and most importantly purification. The peptide Kn2-7 and the intermediates were isolated as pure solids, the structures of which were unequivocally confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass spectroscopy.