A THEORETICAL-STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF BIG ENDOTHELIN

Protein structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulations have been applied for elaborating the three dimensional structure of Big Endothelin (bigET). BigET is 38-amino acid peptide which is converted, by proteolytic cleavage, into Endothelin, the most potent and long lasting endothelium derived contracting factor identified up to date. The intervention of a specific, yet unknown, protease has been evoked. The determination of bigET tertiary structure will contribute to elucidate its proteolytic conversion. In-vitro experimental data on proteolytic fragmentation of bigET in the presence of known proteases and protein homogenates from endothelial cells have been considered for testing the proposed structure.