Abstract: The present application relates to an electrode suitable for use in electrochemical sensing of a target species. The electrode comprises a peptide monolayer of defined length and to one end of which are attached both a redox active species and a receptor that is capable of binding to the target species. Also provided is an electrochemical method of sensing a target species, which involves the use of the electrode.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the chemical synthesis and potentiality for application in several biochemical assays, of a potent agonist of the ?-melanocyte stimulating hormone (?-MSH), labeled with an amino acid-type paramagnetic spin probe (Toac, or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-amino-4-carboxylic acid), valuable for use in electron spin resonance and fluorescence allowing biochemical-clinical investigation of relevant physiological roles of ?-MSH in animal organism. The referred analogue of the present invention, acetil-Toac0-(Nle4, DPhe7)-?-MSH, where (Nle4, DPhe7)-?-MSH is nominated commercially as Melanotan™ and although containing a non-natural compound in its structure such as Toac, maintained entirely its potent agonist potency.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the discovery that the anion exchange resin DEAE-Sephadex A50™ might be also used alternatively as polymeric support for peptide synthesis and affinity chromatography. It was possible to synthesize a model octapeptide (angiotensin II) in this resin using the Fmoc-chemistry and when appropriate “linker groups” are used, free peptide cleaved from the resin can be obtained containing C-terminal extremity in carboxylate or carboxamide forms. By considering the feasibility of synthesizing peptide sequence throughout its structure, the repetitive (NANP)3 sequence found in the antigenic epitope of the sporozoite form of Plasmodium falciparum involved in the malaria transmission was assembled in the DEAE-Sephadex A50 resin. Column with the synthesized (NANP)3-containing DEAE-Sephadex A50 resin retained quantitatively antibody for (NANP)3 sequence which was further removed through usual washing process, thus demonstrating the feasibility of using this anion.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the chemical synthesis and potentiality for application in several biochemical assays, of a potent agonist of the &agr;-melanocyte stimulating hormone (&agr;-MSH), labeled with an amino acid-type paramagnetic spin probe (Toac, or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-amino-4-carboxylic acid), valuable for use in electron spin resonance and fluorescence allowing biochemical-clinical investigation of relevant physiological roles of &agr;-MSH in animal organism. The referred analogue of the present invention, acetil-Toac0-(Nle4, DPhe7)-&agr;-MSH, where (Nle4, DPhe7)-&agr;-(MSH is nominated commercially as Melanotan™ and although containing a non-natural compound in its structure such as Toac, maintained entirely its potent agonist potency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an &agr;-melanocyte stimulating hormone (&agr;-MSH) analogue, labeled with an amino acid-type paramagnetic spin probe, for example, Toac, or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid, and methods for the synthesis thereof. The preferred analogue of the invention, acetyl-Toac0-&agr;-MSH (abbreviated as EPM-2) is the first such analogue that maintains entirely the natural &agr;-MSH activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a &agr;-melanocyte stimulating hormone (&agr;-MSH) analogue, labeled with an amino acid-type paramagnetic spin probe, for example, Toac, or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid, and methods for the synthesis thereof The preferred analogue of the invention, acetyl-Toac0-&agr;-MSH (abbreviated as EPM-2) is the first such analogue that maintains entirely the natural &agr;-MSH activity.