An approach to sequence-specific antibody proteases. The use of haptens mimicking both a transition state and a distorted ground state.

We describe here a novel strategy for the isolation of antibodies with sequence-specific protease activity: the synthesis of dipeptide haptens in which the targeted peptide bond has been replaced by a ring-strained or torsionally strained hydroxyethylene transition-state analog. Thus, the analogs mimic both a peptide bond in a distorted, reactive conformation and the transition state for peptide bond hydrolysis. In order to obtain sequence-specific antibody proteases, these analogs have been flanked with additional amino acid residues in preparation for immunization. In particular, we have synthesized peptides containing analogs such as 2-cis-amino-3-cis-hydroxycyclobutane carboxylic acid and endo-(3-amino-2-hydroxy)bicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane-7-anti-carboxylic acid. We have also prepared a series of peptide derivatives containing analogs, such as 2-[3-amino-2-oxo-1-azetidinyl]-3-methylbutanoic acid, in which the targeted peptide bond has been incorporated into a beta-lactam ring. Since the "peptide bond" has been left intact, these species mimic only a distorted ground state. At present, antibodies are being elicited against a number of the above peptide derivatives.