Mca-HQKLVFFA-K(Dnp)-NH2 trifluoroacetate salt

Mca-HQKLVFFA-K(Dnp)-NH2 trifluoroacetate salt is a fluorogenic peptide substrate commonly used for studying amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide interactions and protease activity. It features a 7-methoxycoumarin-4-acetyl (Mca) fluorophore and a dinitrophenyl (Dnp) quencher, placed at opposing termini of a peptide sequence derived from the Aβ region. This design enables fluorescence quenching, which is disrupted upon enzymatic cleavage or structural changes, allowing precise detection and analysis of these processes.

This compound is extensively used in Alzheimer's disease research to investigate the aggregation and disaggregation behavior of amyloid-beta peptides. By monitoring changes in fluorescence, researchers can study the mechanisms of Aβ fibrillogenesis and assess the impact of potential therapeutic agents that inhibit or disrupt amyloid aggregation.

Mca-HQKLVFFA-K(Dnp)-NH2 is a powerful tool for studying protease activity, especially those enzymes involved in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, such as β-secretase and γ-secretase. It provides real-time fluorescence-based assays to evaluate proteolytic cleavage, helping to understand enzymatic specificity and kinetics in neurodegenerative disease contexts.

In drug discovery, this peptide is widely applied in screening inhibitors targeting Aβ aggregation or secretase activity. The fluorescence quenching mechanism allows for high-throughput screening (HTS) of compound libraries, supporting the identification of therapeutic candidates for Alzheimer’s and related diseases.

The peptide also finds applications in structural biology and biophysics for characterizing peptide-protein and peptide-lipid interactions. Its fluorescence properties enable researchers to explore how different molecules influence Aβ structure, stability, and function, providing insights into the molecular basis of amyloid-related pathologies.