Synthesis of adhesive protein from the vitellaria of the liver flukeFasciola hepatica.

The polynonapeptide (Gly-Gly-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Lys)n, which is a precursor sequence of adhesive protein from the vitellaria of the liver flukeFasciola hepatica has been synthesized by the fragment coupling, followed by polycondensation, and by cleavage of the protecting groups by hydrogen bromide. The synthetic adhesive protein was estimated to have the molecular weight of 10,100 (12 repeating units as nonapeptide) and was found to have satisfactory amino acid compositions. The Tyr residues of the synthesized precursor polynonapeptides can be converted to the Dopa residues by tyrosinase, giving the synthetic adhesive protein of the liver fluke.