Comparative evaluation of different methods for disulfide bond formation in synthesis of the HIV-2 antigenic determinant.

The peptide H-Asn-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-NHEt corresponding to the 593-603 sequence of gp41 protein of the HIV-2 was used to evaluate different methods for the removal of Acm-protection and subsequent disulfide bond formation. The studied methods involved the treatment by salts of heavy metals (silver and mercury) and subsequent cyclization by oxygen, potassium ferricyanide or hydrogen peroxide. The direct oxidative conversion of Acm-peptide to the corresponding cyclic disulfide by iodine under acidic and neutral conditions was investigated, and the structure of by-products was also studied. The best results were obtained using mercuric acetate followed by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide.