Anthrax Lethal Factor Substrates and Methods of Use Thereof

摘要

Disclosed herein is a peptide substrate that is cleaved specifically by anthrax lethal factor (LF), and assays for detecting the presence of anthrax lethal factor in a sample using the peptide substrate. In some cases, the sample may be obtained from an individual at an early stage of an anthrax infection. Kits that include the peptide substrate and that find use in carrying out the assays are also disclosed.

主权项

1. An anthrax lethal factor-specific peptide substrate comprising an amino acid sequence of the formula X1-X2-X3-X4-X5-X6-X7* (SEQ ID NO:8), wherein
X1 is either present or absent, and when present, is Arg; X2, X3, X4 are each independently selected from Lys and Arg; X5 is selected from Gly and Val; X6 is selected from Tyr, Leu, Ile, Thr and Asn; and X7* has the formula X7—Z, where X7 is Pro, and Z is a detectable label covalently linked by an amide linkage or an ester linkage to an alpha carboxyl group of X7, andwherein at least one of X1, X2, X3 and X4, is a D isomer of the amino acid.