Title:

Design and synthesis of a tetrapeptide for removal of lead from water

We Have created a lead-targeting peptide Tyr-Cys-Asn-Cys (YCNC) for the remediation of lead from drinking water. Lead is targeted because it is pervasive, toxic, persistent and can easily enter the body through contaminated drinking water. Once inside the body, lead can replace essential metals and bind to proteins, disrupting their function. I have identified isomers of the peptide that have formed and am addressing the mechanism of isomerization. We have prepared YCNC by solid phase synthesis with Fmoc protection/deprotection and amino acid coupling using aexafluorophosphate azabenzotriazole tetramethyl uronium (HATU). We are currently exploring multiple coupling agents and their impact on amino acid isomerization. Additionally, we have observed analytical data consistent with disulfide formation in YCNC and therefore are exploring attachment to a support to retain the chelating thiol groups. A strategy of thiol protection to prevent disulfide formation will also be described. Finally, the impact on chelation of an O-donor amino acid in place of the N-donor histidine will be discussed.

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