Degradation of growth hormone releasing factor analogs in neutral aqueous solution is related to deamidation of asparagine residues

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Abstract
The incubation of a solution of the human growth hormone releasing factor analog, [Leu27] hGRF(1‐32)NH2 at pH 7.4 and 37°, resulted in extensive degradation of the sample. The major degradation products were identified as the peptides [β‐Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(l‐32)NH2 and [α‐Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(1‐32)NH2, produced by deamidation of the Asn8 residue. When tested as growth hormone (GH) secretagogues in cultured bovine anterior pituitary cells, [β‐Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(l‐32)NH2 was estimated to be 400‐500 times less potent than the parent Asn8 peptide, while [2‐Asp8, Leu27] hGRF(l‐32)NH2 was calculated to be 25 times less potent than the parent Asn8 peptide. Three additional analogs of [Leu27] hGRF(1‐32)NH2 containing either Ser or Asn at positions 8 and 28 were prepared and evaluated for their GH releasing activity and stability in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 37°). Based on disappearance kinetics, [Leu27] hGRF(1‐32)NH2 had a half‐life of 202 h while the other analogs had the following half‐lives: [Leu27, Asn28] hGRF(1‐32)NH: (150h); [Ser8, Leu27, Asn28] hGRF(l‐32)NH2 (746h); and [Ser8, Leu27] hGRF(1‐32)NH2 (1550 h). After 14 days, incubated samples of the Asn8 analogs lost GH releasing potency, while the Ser8 analogs retained full potency. The potential for loss of biological activity brought about by deamidation of other engineered peptides and proteins should be considered in their design.