Synthetic peptides for the detection of trimethylamine (TMA) and their detection method and device

Abstract

The present invention describes a peptide and analogs thereof which is a fragment of an olfactory receptor protein capable of selectively binding to trimethylamine so that they are useful for detecting trimethylamine. The present invention further describes a method and a device for detecting trimethylamine by using the peptide and the analogs thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A peptide for detecting trimethylamine, which comprises the following amino acid sequence: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu (SEQ ID NO.1); and analogues thereof.    
     
     
         2 . A peptide according to    claim 1   , which is optionally modified by an addition or deletion of amino acids on the peptide of SEQ ID NO.1.  
     
     
         3 . A peptide according to    claim 2   , wherein the peptide comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr (SEQ ID NO.2);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn (SEQ ID NO.3); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu (SEQ ID NO.4).    
     
     
         4 . A peptide capable of detecting trimethylamine and binding to a piezoelectric crystal, which comprises a peptide according to    claim 1    further comprising a spacer binding the carboxy-terminus of the peptide to a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         5 . A peptide according to    claim 4   , which is optionally modified by an addition or a deletion of amino acids on the peptide of SEQ ID NO.1.  
     
     
         6 . A peptide according to    claim 5   , wherein the peptide comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr (SEQ ID NO.2);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn (SEQ ID NO.3); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu (SEQ ID NO.4).    
     
     
         7 . A peptide according to    claim 4   , wherein the spacer is selected from the group of peptide fragments consisting of: -Gly-Cys-Gly-, -Ala-Cys-Ala-, -Ala-Cys-, -Gly-Cys-, and -Cys-.  
     
     
         8 . A peptide according to    claim 7   , wherein the peptide is optionally modified by an addition or deletion of amino acids on the peptide of SEQ ID NO.1.  
     
     
         9 . A peptide according to    claim 8   , wherein the peptide comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr (SEQ ID NO.2);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn (SEQ ID NO.3); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu (SEQ ID NO.4).    
     
     
         10 . A peptide according to    claim 7   , wherein the spacer is -Gly-Cys-Gly-.  
     
     
         11 . A peptide according to    claim 8   , wherein the spacer is -Gly-Cys-Gly-.  
     
     
         12 . A peptide according to    claim 9   , wherein the spacer is -Gly-Cys-Gly-.  
     
     
         13 . A peptide capable of detecting trimethylamine and binding to a piezoelectric crystal, wherein the peptide comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         14 . A peptide according to    claim 4   , wherein the peptide is in cyclic form.  
     
     
         15 . A peptide according to    claim 5   , wherein the peptide is in cyclic form.  
     
     
         16 . A peptide according to    claim 6   , wherein the peptide is in cyclic form.  
     
     
         17 . A peptide according to    claim 13   , wherein the peptide is in cyclic form.  
     
     
         18 . A peptide according to    claim 14   , wherein the peptide is in partially or totally cyclic form.  
     
     
         19 . A peptide according to    claim 15   , wherein the peptide is in partially or totally cyclic form.  
     
     
         20 . A peptide according to    claim 16   , wherein the peptide is in partially or totally cyclic form.  
     
     
         21 . A peptide according to    claim 17   , wherein the peptide is in partially or totally cyclic form.  
     
     
         22 . A peptide according to    claim 4   , wherein the peptide is a polymer.  
     
     
         23 . A peptide according to    claim 5   , wherein the peptide is a polymer.  
     
     
         24 . A peptide according to    claim 6   , wherein the peptide is a polymer.  
     
     
         25 . A peptide according to    claim 13   , wherein the peptide is a polymer.  
     
     
         26 . A peptide according to    claim 22   , wherein the peptide is a polymer having one or more repeating amino acid units.  
     
     
         27 . A peptide according to    claim 23   , wherein the peptide is a polymer having one or more repeating amino acid units.  
     
     
         28 . A peptide according to    claim 24   , wherein the peptide is a polymer having one or more repeating amino acid units.  
     
     
         29 . A peptide according to    claim 25   , wherein the peptide is a polymer having one or more repeating amino acid units.  
     
     
         30 . A peptide according to    claim 4   , wherein the peptide is a polychained peptide.  
     
     
         31 . A peptide according to    claim 5   , wherein the peptide is a polychained peptide.  
     
     
         32 . A peptide according to    claim 6   , wherein the peptide is a polychained peptide.  
     
     
         33 . A peptide according to    claim 13   , wherein the peptide is a polychained peptide.  
     
     
         34 . A peptide according to    claim 30   , wherein the polychained peptide contains branch chains on its central nucleus.  
     
     
         35 . A peptide according to    claim 31   , wherein the polychained peptide contains branch chains on its central nucleus.  
     
     
         36 . A peptide according to    claim 32   , wherein the polychained peptide contains branch chains on its central nucleus.  
     
     
         37 . A peptide according to    claim 33   , wherein the polychained peptide contains branch chains on its central nucleus.  
     
     
         38 . A method for detecting trimethylamine, comprising the steps of: 
 coating a peptide on an element for signal conversion; and detecting a signal change due to the increase of the adsorption of trimethylamine by the peptide on the surface of the element, wherein the peptide comprises a peptide according to    claim 4   .    
     
     
         39 . The method of    claim 38   , wherein the peptide comprises a peptide according to    claim 5   .  
     
     
         40 . The method of    claim 39   , wherein the peptide comprises a peptide according to    claim 6   .  
     
     
         41 . A method for detecting trimethylamine, comprising the steps of: 
 coating a peptide on an element for signal conversion; and detecting a signal change due to the increase of the adsorption of trimethylamine by the peptide on the surface of the element, wherein the peptide comprises a peptide according to    claim 13   .    
     
     
         42 . A method according to    claim 38   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric crystal (PZ), high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface plasma resonance (SPB), capacitance, electric resistance, reflectometry and ellipsometry.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to    claim 39   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric crystal (PZ), high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface plasma resonance (SPB), capacitance, electric resistance, reflectometry and ellipsometry.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to    claim 40   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric crystal (PZ), high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface plasma resonance (SPB), capacitance, electric resistance, reflectometry and ellipsometry.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to    claim 41   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric crystal (PZ), high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface plasma resonance (SPB), capacitance, electric resistance, reflectometry and ellipsometry.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to    claim 42   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to    claim 43   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to    claim 44   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to    claim 45   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         50 . A device for detecting trimethylamine comprising an element for signal conversion, wherein the detection element is coated with a peptide capable of adsorbing trimethlamine, said peptide comprising a peptide according to    claim 4   .  
     
     
         51 . A device for detecting trimethylamine comprising an element for signal conversion, wherein the detection element is coated with a peptide capable of adsorbing trimethlamine, said peptide comprising a peptide according to    claim 5   .  
     
     
         52 . A device for detecting trimethylamine comprising an element for signal conversion, wherein the detection element is coated with a peptide capable of adsorbing trimethlamine, said peptide comprising a peptide according to    claim 6   .  
     
     
         53 . A device for detecting trimethylamine comprising an element for signal conversion, wherein the detection element is coated with a peptide capable of adsorbing trimethlamine, said peptide comprising a peptide according to    claim 13   .  
     
     
         54 . A device according to    claim 50   , wherein trimethyamine is detected by a signal change due to an increase in the amount of trimethylamine adsorbed on the surface of the detection element.  
     
     
         55 . A device according to    claim 51   , wherein trimethyamine is detected by a signal change due to an increase in the amount of trimethylamine adsorbed on the surface of the detection element.  
     
     
         56 . A device according to    claim 52   , wherein trimethyamine is detected by a signal change due to an increase in the amount of trimethylamine adsorbed on the surface of the detection element.  
     
     
         57 . A The device according to    claim 53   , wherein trimethyamine is detected by the signal change due to an increase in the amount of trimethylamine adsorbed on the surface of the detection element.  
     
     
         58 . A device according to    claim 50   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         59 . A device according to    claim 51   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         60 . A device according to    claim 52   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         61 . A device according to    claim 53   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         62 . A device according to    claim 54   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         63 . A device according to    claim 55   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         64 . A device according to    claim 56   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         65 . A device according to    claim 57   , wherein the detection element for signal conversion is a piezoelectric crystal.  
     
     
         66 . A device according to    claim 50   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         67 . A device according to    claim 51   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         68 . A device according to    claim 52   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         69 . A device according to    claim 53   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         70 . A device according to    claim 54   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         71 . A device according to    claim 55   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         72 . The device according to    claim 56   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).    
     
     
         73 . The device according to    claim 57   , wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: 
 Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide I, SEQ ID NO.5);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Ser-Thr-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide II, SEQ ID NO.6);    Cys-Pro-Ser-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide III, SEQ ID NO.7); and    Cys-Asn-Ser-Thr-Val-Lys-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly (Peptide IV, SEQ ID NO.8).