As part of a program to investigate the origins of peptide-carbohydrate mimicry, the conformational preferences of peptides that mimic the group B streptococcal type III capsular polysaccharide have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Detailed studies of a dodecapeptide, FDTGAFDPDWPA, a molecular mimic of the polysaccharide antigen, and two new analogs, indicated a propensity for ␤-turn formation. Different ␤-turn types were found to be present in the trans and cis (Trp-10 -Pro-11) isomers

more »

... the peptide: the trans isomer favored a type I ␤-turn from residues Asp-7-Trp-10, whereas the cis isomer exhibited a type VI ␤-turn from residues Asp-9 -Ala-12. The interaction of the dodecapeptide FDT-GAFDPDWPA with a protective anti-group B Streptococcus monoclonal antibody has also been investigated, by transferred nuclear Overhauser effect NMR spectroscopy and saturation-transfer difference NMR spectroscopy (STD-NMR). The peptide was found to adopt a type I ␤-turn conformation on binding to the antibody; the peptide residues (Asp-7-Trp-10) forming this turn are recognized by the antibody, as demonstrated by STD-NMR experiments. STD-NMR studies of the interactions of oligosaccharide fragments of the capsular polysaccharide have also been performed and provide evidence for the existence of a conformational epitope. The production of specific antibodies against polysaccharides plays a significant role in the defense against bacterial infection. The Gram-positive group B streptococci (GBS) 1 are a