Cross-affinity of Peptide Ligands Selected from Phage Display Library Against Pancreatic Phospholipase A2 and Ammodytoxin C

Dominik Gaser,¹ Borut Štrukelj,² Tomaž Bratkovič,² Samo Kreft,² Jože Pungerčar³ and Mojca Lunder^2,*

¹ Lek d.d., Verovškova 57, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
² Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
³ Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

* Corresponding author: E-mail: mojca.lunder@ffa.uni-lj.si;
Tel.:+38614769500; Fax: +38614258031

Abstract
Two phage-displayed random peptide libraries were screened for ligands with potential inhibitory activity against pancreatic phospolipase A2 or ammodytoxin C (neurotoxin found in the venom glands of Vipera ammodytes ammodytes). The interaction of selected peptides with pancreatic phospholipase A2 and ammodytoxin C was confirmed with surface plasmon resonance and phage ELISA assays. Interestingly, peptides showed equal affinity to both proteins, regardless which of the two proteins was used as a target in the selection procedure. Despite pronounced affinity, none of the synthetic peptides inhibited enzyme targets in vitro at the concentrations below 167 μM.

Keywords: Pancreatic phospholipase A2; ammodytoxin C; phage display; peptide ligands