1
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Li X, Liu H, Ding S, Tian Z, Song J, Zhong H, Fu L, Cai X, Huang F, Wang K, Dong L, Zhao W, Cai Y, Dai S. Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of DNP-Functionalized FGFR1-Binding Peptides as Novel Peptidomimetic Immunotherapeutics for Treating Lung Cancer. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39145988 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Receptor-binding peptides are promising candidates for tumor target therapy. However, the inability to occupy "hot spots" on the PPI interface and rapid metabolic instability are significant limitations to their clinical application. We investigated a new strategy in which an FGFR1-binding peptide (Pep1) was site-specifically functionalized with the dinitrophenyl (DNP) hapten at the C-terminus. The resulting Pep1-DNP conjugates retained FGFR1 binding affinity and exhibited a similar potency in inhibiting FGF2-dependent cell proliferation, comparable to that of native Pep1 in vitro. In addition, three conjugates could recruit anti-DNP antibodies onto the surface of cancer cells, thereby mediating the CDC efficacy. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies and antitumor studies demonstrated that optimal conjugate 9 exhibited significantly prolonged half-lives and improved antitumor efficacy without prominent toxicity compared to those of native Pep1. This is a general and cost-effective approach for generating peptidomimetic immunotherapeutics with multiple antitumor mechanisms that may have broad applications in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Shengjie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Ziyu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jia Song
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Huayu Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Luwei Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Xiaojun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Fengyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Lilong Dong
- School of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Weixin Zhao
- School of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China
| | - Yuepiao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Shijie Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Drugs and Large-scale Manufacturing, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
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2
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Martínez-Parra JM, Gómez-Ojea R, Daudey GA, Calvelo M, Fernández-Caro H, Montenegro J, Bergueiro J. Exo-chirality of the α-helix. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6987. [PMID: 39143054 PMCID: PMC11325010 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51072-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The structure of helical polymers is dictated by the molecular chirality of their monomer units. Particularly, macromolecular helices with monomer sequence control have the potential to generate chiral topologies. In α-helical folded peptides, the sequential repetition of amino acids generates a chiral layer defined by the amino acid side chains projected outside the amide backbone. Despite being closely related to peptides' structural and functional properties, to the best of our knowledge, a general exo-helical symmetry model has not been yet described for the α-helix. Here, we perform the theoretical, computational, and spectroscopic elucidation of the α-helix principal exo-helical topologies. Non-canonical labeled amino acids are employed to spectroscopically characterize the different exo-helical topologies in solution, which precisely match the theorical prediction. Backbone-to-chromophore distance also shows the expected impact in the exo-helices' geometry and spectroscopic fingerprint. Theoretical prediction and spectroscopic validation of this exo-helical topological model provides robust experimental evidence of the chiral potential on the surface of helical peptides and outlines an entirely new structural scenario for the α-helix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Martínez-Parra
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rebeca Gómez-Ojea
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Geert A Daudey
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martin Calvelo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Hector Fernández-Caro
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Javier Montenegro
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Julian Bergueiro
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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3
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Lin Y, Horne WS. Backbone Modification in a Protein Hydrophobic Core. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202401890. [PMID: 38753977 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein backbone modification can recreate tertiary structures reminiscent of folds found in nature on artificial scaffolds with improved biostability. Incorporation of altered monomers in such entities is typically limited to sites distant from the hydrophobic core to avoid potential disruptions to folding. This is limiting, as it is advantageous in some applications to incorporate artificial connectivity at buried sites. Here, we report an examination of protein backbone modification targeted specifically to hydrophobic core positions and its impacts on tertiary folded structure and fold stability. Different artificial monomer types are placed at core, core-flanking, or solvent-exposed positions in a compact three-helix protein. Effects on structure and folding energetics are assessed by NMR spectroscopy and biophysical methods. Results show that artificial residues can be well accommodated in the hydrophobic core of a defined tertiary fold, with effects on stability only modestly larger than identical changes at solvent-exposed sites. Collectively, these results provide new insights into folding behavior of protein-like artificial chains as well as strategies for the design of such molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - W Seth Horne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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4
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Oktawiec J, Ebrahim OM, Chen Y, Su K, Sharpe C, Rosenmann ND, Barbut C, Weigand SJ, Thompson MP, Byrnes J, Qiao B, Gianneschi NC. Conformational modulation and polymerization-induced folding of proteomimetic peptide brush polymers. Chem Sci 2024:d4sc03420a. [PMID: 39129772 PMCID: PMC11308386 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03420a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptide-brush polymers generated by graft-through living polymerization of peptide-modified monomers exhibit high proteolytic stability, therapeutic efficacy, and potential as functional tandem repeat protein mimetics. Prior work has focused on polymers generated from structurally disordered peptides that lack defined conformations. To obtain insight into how the structure of these polymers is influenced by the folding of their peptide sidechains, a set of polymers with varying degrees of polymerization was prepared from peptide monomers that adopt α-helical secondary structure for comparison to those having random coil structures. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirm the maintenance of the secondary structure of the constituent peptide when polymerized. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies reveal the solution-phase conformation of PLPs in different solvent environments. In particular, X-ray scattering shows that modulation of solvent hydrophobicity, as well as hydrogen bonding patterns of the peptide sidechain, plays an important role in the degree of globularity and conformation of the overall polymer, with polymers of helical peptide brushes showing less spherical compaction in conditions where greater helicity is observed. These structural insights into peptide brush folding and polymer conformation inform the design of these proteomimetic materials with promise for controlling and predicting their artificial fold and morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Oktawiec
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Omar M Ebrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Kaylen Su
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, City University of New York New York NY 10010 USA
| | - Christopher Sharpe
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Nathan D Rosenmann
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Clara Barbut
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
| | - Steven J Weigand
- DuPont-Northwestern-Dow Collaborative Access Team (DND-CAT) Synchrotron Research Center, Northwestern University Argonne IL 60208 USA
| | | | - James Byrnes
- Beamline 16ID, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton NY 11973 USA
| | - Baofu Qiao
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, City University of New York New York NY 10010 USA
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
- International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
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5
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Wang J, Zheng P, Yu J, Yang X, Zhang J. Rational design of small-sized peptidomimetic inhibitors disrupting protein-protein interaction. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:2212-2225. [PMID: 39026653 PMCID: PMC11253864 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00202d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions are fundamental to nearly all biological processes. Due to their structural flexibility, peptides have emerged as promising candidates for developing inhibitors targeting large and planar PPI interfaces. However, their limited drug-like properties pose challenges. Hence, rational modifications based on peptide structures are anticipated to expedite the innovation of peptide-based therapeutics. This review comprehensively examines the design strategies for developing small-sized peptidomimetic inhibitors targeting PPI interfaces, which predominantly encompass two primary categories: peptidomimetics with abbreviated sequences and low molecular weights and peptidomimetics mimicking secondary structural conformations. We have also meticulously detailed several instances of designing and optimizing small-sized peptidomimetics targeting PPIs, including MLL1-WDR5, PD-1/PD-L1, and Bak/Bcl-xL, among others, to elucidate the potential application prospects of these design strategies. Hopefully, this review will provide valuable insights and inspiration for the future development of PPI small-sized peptidomimetic inhibitors in pharmaceutical research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyuan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004 China
| | - Ping Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004 China
| | - Jianqiang Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004 China
| | - Xiuyan Yang
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200025 China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004 China
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6
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Steffen CL, Manoharan GB, Pavic K, Yeste-Vázquez A, Knuuttila M, Arora N, Zhou Y, Härmä H, Gaigneaux A, Grossmann TN, Abankwa DK. Identification of an H-Ras nanocluster disrupting peptide. Commun Biol 2024; 7:837. [PMID: 38982284 PMCID: PMC11233548 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06523-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperactive Ras signalling is found in most cancers. Ras proteins are only active in membrane nanoclusters, which are therefore potential drug targets. We previously showed that the nanocluster scaffold galectin-1 (Gal1) enhances H-Ras nanoclustering via direct interaction with the Ras binding domain (RBD) of Raf. Here, we establish that the B-Raf preference of Gal1 emerges from the divergence of the Raf RBDs at their proposed Gal1-binding interface. We then identify the L5UR peptide, which disrupts this interaction by binding with low micromolar affinity to the B- and C-Raf-RBDs. Its 23-mer core fragment is sufficient to interfere with H-Ras nanoclustering, modulate Ras-signalling and moderately reduce cell viability. These latter two phenotypic effects may also emerge from the ability of L5UR to broadly engage with several RBD- and RA-domain containing Ras interactors. The L5UR-peptide core fragment is a starting point for the development of more specific reagents against Ras-nanoclustering and -interactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candy Laura Steffen
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ganesh Babu Manoharan
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Karolina Pavic
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Alejandro Yeste-Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matias Knuuttila
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Neha Arora
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, UT Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, McGovern Medical School, UT Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Harri Härmä
- Chemistry of Drug Development, Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, 20500, Turku, Finland
| | - Anthoula Gaigneaux
- Bioinformatics Core, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 4367, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Kwaku Abankwa
- Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520, Turku, Finland.
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7
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Cawood EE, Baker E, Edwards TA, Woolfson DN, Karamanos TK, Wilson AJ. Understanding β-strand mediated protein-protein interactions: tuning binding behaviour of intrinsically disordered sequences by backbone modification. Chem Sci 2024; 15:10237-10245. [PMID: 38966365 PMCID: PMC11220606 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02240h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A significant challenge in chemical biology is to understand and modulate protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Given that many PPIs involve a folded protein domain and a peptide sequence that is intrinsically disordered in isolation, peptides represent powerful tools to understand PPIs. Using the interaction between small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) and SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs), here we show that N-methylation of the peptide backbone can effectively restrict accessible peptide conformations, predisposing them for protein recognition. Backbone N-methylation in appropriate locations results in faster target binding, and thus higher affinity, as shown by relaxation-based NMR experiments and computational analysis. We show that such higher affinities occur as a consequence of an increase in the energy of the unbound state, and a reduction in the entropic contribution to the binding and activation energies. Thus, backbone N-methylation may represent a useful modification within the peptidomimetic toolbox to probe β-strand mediated interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma E Cawood
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Emily Baker
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol Medical Sciences Building, University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- BrisSynBio, University of Bristol Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Thomas A Edwards
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- College of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University 18301 N Miami Ave #1 Miami FL 33169 USA
| | - Derek N Woolfson
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol Medical Sciences Building, University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | | | - Andrew J Wilson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
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8
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Zheng D, Guo J, Liang Z, Jin Y, Ding Y, Liu J, Qi C, Shi K, Xie L, Zhu M, Wang L, Hu Z, Yang Z, Liu Q, Li X, Ning W, Gao J. Supramolecular Nanofibers Ameliorate Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Restoring Autophagy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401327. [PMID: 38725147 PMCID: PMC11267363 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and ultimately fatal interstitial lung disease, with limited therapeutic options available. Impaired autophagy resulting from aberrant TRB3/p62 protein-protein interactions (PPIs) contributes to the progression of IPF. Restoration of autophagy by modulating the TRB3/p62 PPIs has rarely been reported for the treatment of IPF. Herein, peptide nanofibers are developed that specifically bind to TRB3 protein and explored their potential as a therapeutic approach for IPF. By conjugating with the self-assembling fragment (Ac-GFFY), a TRB3-binding peptide motif A2 allows for the formation of nanofibers with a stable α-helix secondary structure. The resulting peptide (Ac-GFFY-A2) nanofibers exhibit specific high-affinity binding to TRB3 protein in saline buffer and better capacity of cellular uptake to A2 peptide. Furthermore, the TRB3-targeting peptide nanofibers efficiently interfere with the aberrant TRB3/p62 PPIs in activated fibroblasts and fibrotic lung tissue of mice, thereby restoring autophagy dysfunction. The TRB3-targeting peptide nanofibers inhibit myofibroblast differentiation, collagen production, and fibroblast migration in vitro is demonstrated, as well as bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo. This study provides a supramolecular method to modulate PPIs and highlights a promising strategy for treating IPF diseases by restoring autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debin Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Disaster MedicineMedical Innovation Research Division of the Chinese PLA General HospitalNo. 28 Fu Xing RoadBeijing100853P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Jiasen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Ziyi Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Yueyue Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Yinghao Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Jingfei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Chao Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Kaiwen Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Disaster MedicineMedical Innovation Research Division of the Chinese PLA General HospitalNo. 28 Fu Xing RoadBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Limin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Meiqi Zhu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Disaster MedicineMedical Innovation Research Division of the Chinese PLA General HospitalNo. 28 Fu Xing RoadBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyCollege of PharmacyNankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Zhimou Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of UrologyTianjin First Central HospitalTianjin300192P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxue Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Disaster MedicineMedical Innovation Research Division of the Chinese PLA General HospitalNo. 28 Fu Xing RoadBeijing100853P. R. China
| | - Wen Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
| | - Jie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyKey Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education)College of Life SciencesNankai International Advanced Research Institute (SHENZHEN FUTIAN)Nankai UniversityTianjin300071P. R. China
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9
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Smith FR, Meehan D, Griffiths RC, Knowles HJ, Zhang P, Williams HEL, Wilson AJ, Mitchell NJ. Peptide macrocyclisation via intramolecular interception of visible-light-mediated desulfurisation. Chem Sci 2024; 15:9612-9619. [PMID: 38939126 PMCID: PMC11206203 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05865d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic methods that enable the macrocyclisation of peptides facilitate the development of effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Herein we report a peptide cyclisation strategy based on intramolecular interception of visible-light-mediated cysteine desulfurisation. This method allows cyclisation of unprotected peptides in an aqueous solution via the installation of a hydrocarbon linkage. We explore the limits of this chemistry using a range of model peptides of increasing length and complexity, including peptides of biological/therapeutic relevance. The method is applied to replace the native disulfide of the peptide hormone, oxytocin, with a proteolytically/redox-stable hydrocarbon, and internal macrocyclisation of an MCL-1-binding peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances R Smith
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Declan Meehan
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Rhys C Griffiths
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Harriet J Knowles
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Peiyu Zhang
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Huw E L Williams
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
| | - Andrew J Wilson
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
| | - Nicholas J Mitchell
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD UK
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10
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Taya T, Kami D, Teruyama F, Matoba S, Gojo S. Peptide-encoding gene transfer to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101226. [PMID: 38516692 PMCID: PMC10952081 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Peptide drug discovery has great potential, but the cell membrane is a major obstacle when the target is an intracellular protein-protein interaction (PPI). It is difficult to target PPIs with small molecules; indeed, there are no intervention tools that can target any intracellular PPI. In this study, we developed a platform that enables the introduction of peptides into cells via mRNA-based gene delivery. Peptide-length nucleic acids do not enable stable ribosome binding and exhibit little to no translation into protein. In this study, a construct was created in which the sequence encoding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was placed in front of the sequence encoding the target peptide, together with a translation skipping sequence, as a sequence that meets the requirements of promoting ribosome binding and rapid decay of the translated protein. This enabled efficient translation from the mRNA encoding the target protein while preventing unnecessary protein residues. Using this construct, we showed that it can inhibit Drp1/Fis1 binding, one of the intracellular PPIs, which governs mitochondrial fission, an important aspect of mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, it was shown to inhibit pathological hyperfission, normalize mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism, and inhibit apoptosis of the mitochondrial pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Taya
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kami
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumiya Teruyama
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Pharmacology Research Department, Tokyo New Drug Research Laboratories, Kowa Company, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoaki Matoba
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Gojo
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Li Z, Feng Y, Han H, Jiang X, Chen W, Ma X, Mei Y, Yuan D, Zhang D, Shi J. A Stapled Peptide Inhibitor Targeting the Binding Interface of N6-Adenosine-Methyltransferase Subunits METTL3 and METTL14 for Cancer Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402611. [PMID: 38607929 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
METTL3, a primary methyltransferase catalyzing the RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, has been identified as an oncogene in several cancer types and thus nominated as a potentially effective target for therapeutic inhibition. However, current options using this strategy are limited. In this study, we targeted protein-protein interactions at the METTL3-METTL14 binding interface to inhibit complex formation and subsequent catalysis of the RNA m6A modification. Among candidate peptides, RM3 exhibited the highest anti-cancer potency, inhibiting METTL3 activity while also facilitating its proteasomal degradation. We then designed a stapled peptide inhibitor (RSM3) with enhanced peptide stability and formation of the α-helical secondary structure required for METTL3 interaction. Functional and transcriptomic analysis in vivo indicated that RSM3 induced upregulation of programmed cell death-related genes while inhibiting cancer-promoting signals. Furthermore, tumor growth was significantly suppressed while apoptosis was enhanced upon RSM3 treatment, accompanied by increased METTL3 degradation, and reduced global RNA methylation levels in two in vivo tumor models. This peptide inhibitor thus exploits a mechanism distinct from other small-molecule competitive inhibitors to inhibit oncogenic METTL3 activity. Our findings collectively highlight the potential of targeting METTL3 in cancer therapies through peptide-based inhibition of complex formation and proteolytic degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenghui Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuqing Feng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hong Han
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xingyue Jiang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Weiyu Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xuezhen Ma
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Yang Mei
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Dan Yuan
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dingxiao Zhang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Junfeng Shi
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
- Greater Bay Area Institute for Innovation Institution, Guangzhou, 511300, Guangdong Province, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong Province, China
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12
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Hamm P, Meinel L, Driessen MD. An Introductory Guide to Protease Sensitive Linker Design Using Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 as an Example. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:3693-3706. [PMID: 38813796 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Proteases play a crucial role, not only in physiological, but also in pathological processes, such as cancer, inflammation, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and infections, to name but a few. Their ability to cleave peptides can be harnessed for a broad range of biotechnological purposes. To do this efficiently, it is essential to find an amino acid sequence that meets the necessary requirements, including interdependent factors like specificity, selectivity, cleavage kinetics, or synthetic accessibility. Cleavage sequences from natural substrates of the protease may not be optimal in terms of specificity and selectivity, which is why these frequently require arduous and sometimes unsuccessful optimization such as by iterative exchange of single amino acids. Hence, here we describe the systematic design of protease sensitive linkers (PSLs)─peptide sequences specifically cleaved by a target protease─guided by the mass spectrometry based determination of target protease specific cleavage sites from a proteome-based peptide library. It includes a procedure for identifying bespoke PSL sequences, their optimization, synthesis, and validation and introduces a program that can indicate potential cleavage sites by hundreds of enzymes in any arbitrary amino acid sequence. Thereby, we provide an introduction to PSL design, illustrated by the example of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13). This introduction can serve as a guide and help to greatly accelerate the development and use of protease-sensitive linkers in diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisca Hamm
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marc D Driessen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Proteome Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department for Oral and Craniomaxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
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13
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Muniz Seif EJ, Icimoto MY, Silva Júnior PI. In silico bioprospecting of receptors associated with the mechanism of action of Rondonin, an antifungal peptide from spider Acanthoscurria rondoniae haemolymph. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:55. [PMID: 38863478 PMCID: PMC11162988 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00224-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple drug-resistant fungal species are associated with the development of diseases. Thus, more efficient drugs for the treatment of these aetiological agents are needed. Rondonin is a peptide isolated from the haemolymph of the spider Acanthoscurria rondoniae. Previous studies have shown that this peptide has antifungal activity against Candida sp. and Trichosporon sp. strains, acting on their genetic material. However, the molecular targets involved in its biological activity have not yet been described. Bioinformatics tools were used to determine the possible targets involved in the biological activity of Rondonin. The PharmMapper server was used to search for microorganismal targets of Rondonin. The PatchDock server was used to perform the molecular docking. UCSF Chimera software was used to evaluate these intermolecular interactions. In addition, the I-TASSER server was used to predict the target ligand sites. Then, these predictions were contrasted with the sites previously described in the literature. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for two promising complexes identified from the docking analysis. Rondonin demonstrated consistency with the ligand sites of the following targets: outer membrane proteins F (id: 1MPF) and A (id: 1QJP), which are responsible for facilitating the passage of small molecules through the plasma membrane; the subunit of the flavoprotein fumarate reductase (id: 1D4E), which is involved in the metabolism of nitrogenous bases; and the ATP-dependent Holliday DNA helicase junction (id: 1IN4), which is associated with histone proteins that package genetic material. Additionally, the molecular dynamics results indicated the stability of the interaction of Rondonin with 1MPF and 1IN4 during a 10 ns simulation. These interactions corroborate with previous in vitro studies on Rondonin, which acts on fungal genetic material without causing plasma membrane rupture. Therefore, the bioprospecting methods used in this research were considered satisfactory since they were consistent with previous results obtained via in vitro experimentation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00224-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Jorge Muniz Seif
- Postgraduate Program of Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry Department, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001 Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Toxicology, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling-CeT-ICS/CEPID, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo 05503-900 Brazil
| | - Marcelo Yudi Icimoto
- Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 04024-002 Brazil
| | - Pedro Ismael Silva Júnior
- Postgraduate Program of Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry Department, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 04021-001 Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Toxicology, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling-CeT-ICS/CEPID, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo 05503-900 Brazil
- Postgraduate Program Interunits in Biotechnology, USP/IPT/IBU, São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
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14
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Huang X, Wu F, Ye J, Wang L, Wang X, Li X, He G. Expanding the horizons of targeted protein degradation: A non-small molecule perspective. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:2402-2427. [PMID: 38828146 PMCID: PMC11143490 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) represented by proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) marks a significant stride in drug discovery. A plethora of innovative technologies inspired by PROTAC have not only revolutionized the landscape of TPD but have the potential to unlock functionalities beyond degradation. Non-small-molecule-based approaches play an irreplaceable role in this field. A wide variety of agents spanning a broad chemical spectrum, including peptides, nucleic acids, antibodies, and even vaccines, which not only prove instrumental in overcoming the constraints of conventional small molecule entities but also provided rapidly renewing paradigms. Herein we summarize the burgeoning non-small molecule technological platforms inspired by PROTACs, including three major trajectories, to provide insights for the design strategies based on novel paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Huang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fengbo Wu
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoyun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gu He
- Department of Pharmacy and Department of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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15
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Britton D, Katsara O, Mishkit O, Wang A, Pandya N, Liu C, Mao H, Legocki J, Jia S, Xiao Y, Aristizabal O, Paul D, Deng Y, Schneider R, Wadghiri YZ, Montclare JK. Engineered coiled-coil HIF1α protein domain mimic. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:2951-2959. [PMID: 38656316 PMCID: PMC11191652 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00354c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The development of targeted anti-cancer therapeutics offers the potential for increased efficacy of drugs and diagnostics. Utilizing modalities agnostic to tumor type, such as the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME), may assist in the development of universal tumor targeting agents. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), in particular HIF1, plays a key role in tumor adaptation to hypoxia, and inhibiting its interaction with p300 has been shown to provide therapeutic potential. Using a multivalent assembled protein (MAP) approach based on the self-assembly of the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein coiled-coil (COMPcc) domain fused to the critical residues of the C-terminal transactivation domain (C-TAD) of the α subunit of HIF1 (HIF1α), we generate HIF1α-MAP (H-MAP). The resulting H-MAP demonstrates picomolar binding affinity to p300, the ability to downregulate hypoxia-inducible genes, and in vivo tumor targeting capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Olga Katsara
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Orin Mishkit
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Andrew Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
- College of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11203, USA
| | - Neelam Pandya
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Chengliang Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Heather Mao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Jakub Legocki
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Sihan Jia
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Yingxin Xiao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Orlando Aristizabal
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Deven Paul
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
| | - Yan Deng
- Microscopy Laboratory, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Robert Schneider
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Youssef Z Wadghiri
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA.
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, USA
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, 10012, USA
- Department of Biomaterials, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York, 10010, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, 11201, USA
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16
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Ellenbroek BD, Kahler JP, Evers SR, Pomplun SJ. Synthetic Peptides: Promising Modalities for the Targeting of Disease-Related Nucleic Acids. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401704. [PMID: 38456368 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
DNA and RNA play pivotal roles in life processes by storing and transferring genetic information, modulating gene expression, and contributing to essential cellular machinery such as ribosomes. Dysregulation and mutations in nucleic acid-related processes are implicated in numerous diseases. Despite the critical impact on health of nucleic acid mutations or dysregulation, therapeutic compounds addressing these biomolecules remain limited. Peptides have emerged as a promising class of molecules for biomedical research, offering potential solutions for challenging drug targets. This review focuses on the use of synthetic peptides to target disease-related nucleic acids. We discuss examples of peptides targeting double-stranded DNA, including the clinical candidate Omomyc, and compounds designed for regulatory G-quadruplexes. Further, we provide insights into both library-based screenings and the rational design of peptides to target regulatory human RNA scaffolds and viral RNAs, emphasizing the potential of peptides in addressing nucleic acid-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophie R Evers
- Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address, Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Wintherthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Angera IJ, Wright MM, Del Valle JR. Beyond N-Alkylation: Synthesis, Structure, and Function of N-Amino Peptides. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1287-1297. [PMID: 38626119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The growing list of physiologically important protein-protein interactions (PPIs) has amplified the need for compounds to target topologically complex biomolecular surfaces. In contrast to small molecules, peptide and protein mimics can exhibit three-dimensional shape complementarity across a large area and thus have the potential to significantly expand the "druggable" proteome. Strategies to stabilize canonical protein secondary structures without sacrificing side-chain content are particularly useful in the design of peptide-based chemical probes and therapeutics.Substitution of the backbone amide in peptides represents a subtle chemical modification with profound effects on conformation and stability. Studies focused on N-alkylation have already led to broad-ranging applications in peptidomimetic design. Inspired by nonribosomal peptide natural products harboring amide N-oxidations, we envisioned that main-chain hydrazide and hydroxamate bonds would impose distinct conformational preferences and offer unique opportunities for backbone diversification. This Account describes our exploration of peptide N-amination as a strategy for stabilizing canonical protein folds and for the structure-based design of soluble amyloid mimics.We developed a general synthetic protocol to access N-amino peptides (NAPs) on solid support. In an effort to stabilize β-strand conformation, we designed stitched peptidomimetics featuring covalent tethering of the backbone N-amino substituent to the preceding residue side chain. Using a combination of NMR, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered that backbone N-amination alone could significantly stabilize β-hairpin conformation in multiple models of folding. Our studies revealed that the amide NH2 substituent in NAPs participates in cooperative noncovalent interactions that promote β-sheet secondary structure. In contrast to Cα-substituted α-hydrazino acids, we found that N-aminoglycine and its N'-alkylated derivatives instead stabilize polyproline II (PPII) conformation. The reactivity of hydrazides also allows for late-stage peptide macrocyclization, affording novel covalent surrogates of side-chain-backbone H-bonds.The pronounced β-sheet propensity of Cα-substituted α-hydrazino acids prompted us to target amyloidogenic proteins using NAP-based β-strand mimics. Backbone N-amination was found to render aggregation-prone lead sequences soluble and resistant to proteolysis. Inhibitors of Aβ and tau identified through N-amino scanning blocked protein aggregation and the formation of mature fibrils in vitro. We further identified NAP-based single-strand and cross-β tau mimics capable of inhibiting the prion-like cellular seeding activity of recombinant and patient-derived tau fibrils.Our studies establish backbone N-amination as a valuable addition to the peptido- and proteomimetic tool kit. α-Hydrazino acids show particular promise as minimalist β-strand mimics that retain side-chain information. Late-stage derivatization of hydrazides also provides facile entry into libraries of backbone-edited peptides. We anticipate that NAPs will thus find applications in the development of optimally constrained folds and modulators of PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac J Angera
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Madison M Wright
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Juan R Del Valle
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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18
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Durukan C, Arbore F, Klintrot R, Bigiotti C, Ilie IM, Vreede J, Grossmann TN, Hennig S. Binding Dynamics of a Stapled Peptide Targeting the Transcription Factor NF-Y. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400020. [PMID: 38470946 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) play a central role in gene regulation, and their malfunction can result in a plethora of severe diseases. TFs are therefore interesting therapeutic targets, but their involvement in protein-protein interaction networks and the frequent lack of well-defined binding pockets render them challenging targets for classical small molecules. As an alternative, peptide-based scaffolds have proven useful, in particular with an α-helical active conformation. Peptide-based strategies often require extensive structural optimization efforts, which could benefit from a more detailed understanding of the dynamics in inhibitor/protein interactions. In this study, we investigate how truncated stapled α-helical peptides interact with the transcription factor Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y). We identified a 13-mer minimal binding core region, for which two crystal structures with an altered C-terminal peptide conformation when bound to NF-Y were obtained. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the C-terminal part of the stapled peptide is indeed relatively flexible while still showing defined interactions with NF-Y. Our findings highlight the importance of flexibility in the bound state of peptides, which can contribute to overall binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canan Durukan
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Federica Arbore
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rasmus Klintrot
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlo Bigiotti
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box, 94157, 1090 GD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ioana M Ilie
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box, 94157, 1090 GD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jocelyne Vreede
- Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box, 94157, 1090 GD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Hennig
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Merz ML, Habeshian S, Li B, David JAGL, Nielsen AL, Ji X, Il Khwildy K, Duany Benitez MM, Phothirath P, Heinis C. De novo development of small cyclic peptides that are orally bioavailable. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:624-633. [PMID: 38155304 PMCID: PMC11062899 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01496-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides can bind challenging disease targets with high affinity and specificity, offering enormous opportunities for addressing unmet medical needs. However, as with biological drugs, most cyclic peptides cannot be applied orally because they are rapidly digested and/or display low absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, hampering their development as therapeutics. In this study, we developed a combinatorial synthesis and screening approach based on sequential cyclization and one-pot peptide acylation and screening, with the possibility of simultaneously interrogating activity and permeability. In a proof of concept, we synthesized a library of 8,448 cyclic peptides and screened them against the disease target thrombin. Our workflow allowed multiple iterative cycles of library synthesis and yielded cyclic peptides with nanomolar affinities, high stabilities and an oral bioavailability (%F) as high as 18% in rats. This method for generating orally available peptides is general and provides a promising push toward unlocking the full potential of peptides as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel L Merz
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sevan Habeshian
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Alexandre G L David
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexander L Nielsen
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xinjian Ji
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Khaled Il Khwildy
- Center of Phenogenomics, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maury M Duany Benitez
- Center of Phenogenomics, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Phoukham Phothirath
- Center of Phenogenomics, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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20
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Chen CY, Elmore S, Lalami I, Neal H, Vadlamudi RK, Raj GV, Ahn JM. Oligo-benzamide-based peptide mimicking tools for modulating biology. Methods Enzymol 2024; 698:221-245. [PMID: 38886033 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The oligo-benzamide scaffold is a rigid organic framework that can hold 2-3 functional groups as O-alkyl substituents on its benzamide units, mirroring their natural arrangement in an α-helix. Oligo-benzamides demonstrated outstanding α-helix mimicry and can be readily synthesized by following high yielding and iterative reaction steps in both solution-phase and solid-phase. A number of oligo-benzamides have been designed to emulate α-helical peptide segments in biologically active proteins and showed strong protein binding, in turn effectively disrupting protein-protein interactions in vitro and in vivo. In this chapter, the design of oligo-benzamides for mimicking α-helices, efficient synthetic routes for producing them, and their biomedical studies showing remarkable potency in inhibiting protein functions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yuan Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Scott Elmore
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Ismail Lalami
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Henry Neal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Ratna K Vadlamudi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Ganesh V Raj
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Jung-Mo Ahn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.
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21
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Deng H, Han Y, Liu L, Zhang H, Liu D, Wen J, Huang M, Zhao L. Targeting Myeloid Leukemia-1 in Cancer Therapy: Advances and Directions. J Med Chem 2024; 67:5963-5998. [PMID: 38597264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
As a tripartite cell death switch, B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family members precisely regulate the endogenous apoptosis pathway in response to various cell signal stresses through protein-protein interactions. Myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), a key anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is positioned downstream in the endogenous apoptotic pathway and plays a central role in regulating mitochondrial function. Mcl-1 is highly expressed in a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, contributing to tumorigenesis, poor prognosis, and chemoresistance, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. This Perspective aims to discuss the mechanism by which Mcl-1 regulates apoptosis and non-apoptotic functions in cancer cells and to outline the discovery and optimization process of potent Mcl-1 modulators. In addition, we summarize the structural characteristics of potent inhibitors that bind to Mcl-1 through multiple co-crystal structures and analyze the cardiotoxicity caused by current Mcl-1 inhibitors, providing prospects for rational targeting of Mcl-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongguang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yu Han
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Jiachen Wen
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Min Huang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Linxiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drugs Design & Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
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22
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Pham TL, Thomas F. Design of Functional Globular β-Sheet Miniproteins. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300745. [PMID: 38275210 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The design of discrete β-sheet peptides is far less advanced than e. g. the design of α-helical peptides. The reputation of β-sheet peptides as being poorly soluble and aggregation-prone often hinders active design efforts. Here, we show that this reputation is unfounded. We demonstrate this by looking at the β-hairpin and WW domain. Their structure and folding have been extensively studied and they have long served as model systems to investigate protein folding and folding kinetics. The resulting fundamental understanding has led to the development of hyperstable β-sheet scaffolds that fold at temperatures of 100 °C or high concentrations of denaturants. These have been used to design functional miniproteins with protein or nucleic acid binding properties, in some cases with such success that medical applications are conceivable. The β-sheet scaffolds are not always completely rigid, but can be specifically designed to respond to changes in pH, redox potential or presence of metal ions. Some engineered β-sheet peptides also exhibit catalytic properties, although not comparable to those of natural proteins. Previous reviews have focused on the design of stably folded and non-aggregating β-sheet sequences. In our review, we now also address design strategies to obtain functional miniproteins from β-sheet folding motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Lam Pham
- Truc Lam Pham, Prof. Dr. Franziska Thomas, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Truc Lam Pham, Prof. Dr. Franziska Thomas, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Wu Z, Huang Y, Liu K, Min J. N/C-degron pathways and inhibitor development for PROTAC applications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2024; 1867:194952. [PMID: 37263341 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a fascinating post-translational modification that has received continuous attention since its discovery. In this review, we first provide a concise overview of the E3 ubiquitin ligases, delving into classification, characteristics and mechanisms of ubiquitination. We then specifically examine the ubiquitination pathways mediated by the N/C-degrons, discussing their unique features and substrate recognition mechanisms. Finally, we offer insights into the current state of development pertaining to inhibitors that target the N/C-degron pathways, as well as the promising advances in the field of PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras). Overall, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of the rapidly-evolving field of ubiquitin biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Yunyuan Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Ke Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China.
| | - Jinrong Min
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China.
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24
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Claussen ER, Renfrew PD, Müller CL, Drew K. Scaffold Matcher: A CMA-ES based algorithm for identifying hotspot aligned peptidomimetic scaffolds. Proteins 2024; 92:343-355. [PMID: 37874196 PMCID: PMC10873094 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The design of protein interaction inhibitors is a promising approach to address aberrant protein interactions that cause disease. One strategy in designing inhibitors is to use peptidomimetic scaffolds that mimic the natural interaction interface. A central challenge in using peptidomimetics as protein interaction inhibitors, however, is determining how best the molecular scaffold aligns to the residues of the interface it is attempting to mimic. Here we present the Scaffold Matcher algorithm that aligns a given molecular scaffold onto hotspot residues from a protein interaction interface. To optimize the degrees of freedom of the molecular scaffold we implement the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES), a state-of-the-art derivative-free optimization algorithm in Rosetta. To evaluate the performance of the CMA-ES, we used 26 peptides from the FlexPepDock Benchmark and compared with three other algorithms in Rosetta, specifically, Rosetta's default minimizer, a Monte Carlo protocol of small backbone perturbations, and a Genetic algorithm. We test the algorithms' performance on their ability to align a molecular scaffold to a series of hotspot residues (i.e., constraints) along native peptides. Of the 4 methods, CMA-ES was able to find the lowest energy conformation for all 26 benchmark peptides. Additionally, as a proof of concept, we apply the Scaffold Match algorithm with CMA-ES to align a peptidomimetic oligooxopiperazine scaffold to the hotspot residues of the substrate of the main protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our implementation of CMA-ES into Rosetta allows for an alternative optimization method to be used on macromolecular modeling problems with rough energy landscapes. Finally, our Scaffold Matcher algorithm allows for the identification of initial conformations of interaction inhibitors that can be further designed and optimized as high-affinity reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin R. Claussen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois
at Chicago, Chicago, Il, 60607, USA
| | - P. Douglas Renfrew
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, New
York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Christian L. Müller
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Helmholtz Munich, München
- Center for Computational Mathematics, Flatiron Institute,
New York
| | - Kevin Drew
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois
at Chicago, Chicago, Il, 60607, USA
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25
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Thompson T, Pewklang T, Piyanuch P, Wanichacheva N, Kamkaew A, Burgess K. A fluorescent electrophile for CLIPS: self indicating TrkB binders. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:506-512. [PMID: 38111346 PMCID: PMC10863675 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01654d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Combination of cysteine-containing peptides with electrophiles provides efficient access to cyclo-organopeptides. However, there are no routes to intrinsically fluorescent cyclo-organopeptides containing robust, brilliant fluorophores emitting at wavelengths longer than cellular autofluorescence. We show such fluorescent cyclo-organopeptides can be made via SNAr reactions of cysteine-containing peptides with a BODIPY system. Seven compounds of this type were prepared to test as probes; six contained peptide sequences corresponding to loop regions in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophic factor 4 (BDNF and NT-4) which bind tropomyocin receptor kinase B (TrkB). Cellular assays in serum-free media indicated two of the six key compounds induced survival of HEK293 cells stably transfected with TrkB whereas a control did not. The two compounds inducing cell survival bound TrkB on those cells (Kd ∼40 and 47 nM), illustrating how intrinsically fluorescent cyclo-organopeptides can be assayed for quantifiable binding to surface receptors in cell membrane environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tye Thompson
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A & M University, Box 30012, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA.
| | - Thitima Pewklang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A & M University, Box 30012, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA.
- School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand
| | - Pornthip Piyanuch
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
| | - Nantanit Wanichacheva
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand
| | - Anyanee Kamkaew
- School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand
| | - Kevin Burgess
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A & M University, Box 30012, College Station, TX 77842-3012, USA.
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26
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Wang H, Chen M, Zhang X, Xie S, Qin J, Li J. Peptide-based PROTACs: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:208-222. [PMID: 36718000 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230130121822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an attractive means to target previously undruggable or drug-resistant mutant proteins. While small molecule-based PROTACs are stable and can cross cell membranes, there is limited availability of suitable small molecule warheads capable of recruiting proteins to an E3 ubiquitin ligase for degradation. With advances in structural biology and in silico protein structure prediction, it is now becoming easier to define highly selective peptides suitable for PROTAC design. As a result, peptide-based PROTACs are becoming a feasible proposition for targeting previously "undruggable" proteins not amenable to small molecule inhibition. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the design and application of peptide-based PROTACs as well as several practical approaches for obtaining candidate peptides for PROTACs. We also discuss the major hurdles preventing the translation of peptide-based PROTACs from bench to bedside, such as their delivery and bioavailability, with the aim of stimulating discussion about how best to accelerate the clinical development of peptide- based PROTACs in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huidan Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Miao Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Songbo Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Jie Qin
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
| | - Jingrui Li
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China
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27
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Liu XY, Cai W, Ronceray N, Radenovic A, Fierz B, Waser J. Synthesis of Fluorescent Cyclic Peptides via Gold(I)-Catalyzed Macrocyclization. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:26525-26531. [PMID: 38035635 PMCID: PMC10722513 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and efficient cyclization methods that form structurally novel peptidic macrocycles are of high importance for medicinal chemistry. Herein, we report the first gold(I)-catalyzed macrocyclization of peptide-EBXs (ethynylbenziodoxolones) via C2-Trp C-H activation. This reaction was carried out in the presence of protecting group free peptide sequences and is enabled by a simple commercial gold catalyst (AuCl·Me2S). The method displayed a rapid reaction rate (within 10 min), wide functional group tolerance (27 unprotected peptides were cyclized), and up to 86% isolated yield. The obtained highly conjugated cyclic peptide linker, formed through C-H alkynylation, can be directly applied to live-cell imaging as a fluorescent probe without further attachment of fluorophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Liu
- Laboratory
of Catalysis and Organic Synthesis, École
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCSO, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Cai
- Laboratory
of Biophysical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Institute of Chemical
Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCBM, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Ronceray
- Laboratory
of Nanoscale Biology, School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL STI IBI LBEN, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Radenovic
- Laboratory
of Nanoscale Biology, School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, EPFL STI IBI LBEN, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Beat Fierz
- Laboratory
of Biophysical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Institute of Chemical
Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCBM, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jerome Waser
- Laboratory
of Catalysis and Organic Synthesis, École
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL SB ISIC LCSO, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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28
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Ye T, Tao WY, Chen XY, Jiang C, Di B, Xu LL. Mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the development of peptide inhibitors. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2023; 74:1-13. [PMID: 37821254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain containing receptor 3 (NLRP3), a member of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) like receptors (NLRs) family, plays an important role in the innate immune response against pathogen invasions. NLRP3 inflammasome consisting of NLRP3 protein, the adapter protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) (ASC), and the effector protein pro-caspase-1, is central to this process. Upon activation, NLRP3 inflammasome initiates the release of inflammatory cytokines and triggers a form of cell death known as pyroptosis. Dysregulation or inappropriate activation of NLRP3 has been implicated in various human diseases, including type 2 diabetes, colitis, depression, and gout. Consequently, understanding the mechanism underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation is critical for the development of therapeutic drugs. In the pursuit of potential therapeutic agents, peptides present several advantages over small molecules. They offer higher selectivity, increased potency, reduced toxicity, and fewer off-target effects. The advancements in molecular biology have expanded the opportunities for applying peptides in medicine, unlocking their vast medical potential. This review begins by providing a comprehensive summary of recent research progress regarding the mechanisms governing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Subsequently, we offer an overview of current peptide inhibitors capable of modulating the NLRP3 inflammasome activation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wei-Yan Tao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Bin Di
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Li-Li Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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29
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Tang X, Kokot J, Waibl F, Fernández-Quintero ML, Kamenik AS, Liedl KR. Addressing Challenges of Macrocyclic Conformational Sampling in Polar and Apolar Solvents: Lessons for Chameleonicity. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7107-7123. [PMID: 37943023 PMCID: PMC10685455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated a workflow to reliably sample the conformational space of a set of 47 peptidic macrocycles. Starting from SMILES strings, we use accelerated molecular dynamics simulations to overcome high energy barriers, in particular, the cis-trans isomerization of peptide bonds. We find that our approach performs very well in polar solvents like water and dimethyl sulfoxide. Interestingly, the protonation state of a secondary amine in the ring only slightly influences the conformational ensembles of our test systems. For several of the macrocycles, determining the conformational distribution in chloroform turns out to be considerably more challenging. Especially, the choice of partial charges crucially influences the ensembles in chloroform. We address these challenges by modifying initial structures and the choice of partial charges. Our results suggest that special care has to be taken to understand the configurational distribution in apolar solvents, which is a key step toward a reliable prediction of membrane permeation of macrocycles and their chameleonic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechen Tang
- Department
of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Janik Kokot
- Department
of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Franz Waibl
- Department
of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna S. Kamenik
- Department
of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus R. Liedl
- Department
of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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30
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Ito T, Yokoo H, Kato T, Doi M, Demizu Y. Sculpting Secondary Structure of a Cyclic Peptide: Conformational Analysis of a Cyclic Hexapeptide Containing a Combination of l-Leu, d-Leu, and Aib Residues. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44106-44111. [PMID: 38027316 PMCID: PMC10666233 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
We have previously reported that cyclo(l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib-l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib) (2), a cyclic hexapeptide consisting of heterochiral l-Leu and d-Leu (l-Leu-d-Leu) residues with achiral 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues, forms a figure-8 conformation. In this study, we newly designed cyclo(l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib-d-Leu-l-Leu-Aib)+ (4), an epimer of 2, and examined the conformational differences between 2 and 4 by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Peptide 4 formed a planar cyclic conformation with an antiparallel β-sheet hydrogen-bonding pattern. This investigation demonstrates the potential to manipulate the molecular conformation of cyclic peptides by simply arranging the l- and d-amino acids and emphasizes that diverse conformations can be obtained by using cyclic peptides. Harnessing cyclic peptides as platforms for distinct molecular structures is a promising approach to expanding the chemical space for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Ito
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama
City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Yokoo
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Takuma Kato
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical
University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Mitsunobu Doi
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical
University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama
City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
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31
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Potok P, Kola A, Valensin D, Capdevila M, Potocki S. Copper Forms a PPII Helix-Like Structure with the Catalytic Domains of Bacterial Zinc Metalloproteases. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:18425-18439. [PMID: 37909295 PMCID: PMC10647932 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria continuously raises concerns about the future ineffectiveness of current antimicrobial treatments against infectious diseases. To address this problem, new therapeutic strategies and antimicrobial drugs with unique modes of action are urgently needed. Inhibition of metalloproteases, bacterial virulence factors, is a promising target for the development of antibacterial treatments. In this study, the interaction among Zn(II), Cu(II), and the metal-binding domains of two metalloproteases, AprA (Pseudomonas aureginosa) and CpaA (Acinetobacter baumanii), was investigated. The objective was to determine the coordination sphere of Zn(II) with a peptide model of two zinc-dependent metalloproteases. Additionally, the study explored the formation of Cu(II) complexes with the domains, as Cu(II) has been shown to inhibit metalloproteases. The third aim was to understand the role of nonbinding amino acids in stabilizing the metal complexes formed by these proteases. This work identified specific coordination patterns (HExxHxxxxxH) for both Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes, with AprA and CpaA exhibiting a higher affinity for Cu(II) compared to Zn(II). The study also found that the CpaA domain has greater stability for both Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes compared to AprA. The nonbinding amino acids of CpaA surrounding the metal ion contribute to the increased thermodynamic stability of the metal-peptide complex through various intramolecular interactions. These interactions can also influence the secondary structures of the peptides. The presence of certain amino acids, such as tyrosine, arginine, and glutamic acid, and their interactions contribute to the stability and, only in the case of Cu(II) complexes, the formation of a rare protein structure called a left-handed polyproline II helix (PPII), which is known to play a role in the stability and function of various proteins. These findings provide valuable insights into the coordination chemistry of bacterial metalloproteases and expand our understanding of potential mechanisms for inhibiting these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Potok
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Arian Kola
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Valensin
- Department
of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Merce Capdevila
- Departament
de Química, Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Sławomir Potocki
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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32
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Lushington GH, Linde A, Melgarejo T. Bacterial Proteases as Potentially Exploitable Modulators of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Logic from the Literature, Informatics, and Inspiration from the Dog. BIOTECH 2023; 12:61. [PMID: 37987478 PMCID: PMC10660736 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12040061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic left many intriguing mysteries. Retrospective vulnerability trends tie as strongly to odd demographics as to exposure profiles, genetics, health, or prior medical history. This article documents the importance of nasal microbiome profiles in distinguishing infection rate trends among differentially affected subgroups. (2) Hypothesis: From a detailed literature survey, microbiome profiling experiments, bioinformatics, and molecular simulations, we propose that specific commensal bacterial species in the Pseudomonadales genus confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections by expressing proteases that may interfere with the proteolytic priming of the Spike protein. (3) Evidence: Various reports have found elevated Moraxella fractions in the nasal microbiomes of subpopulations with higher resistance to COVID-19 (e.g., adolescents, COVID-19-resistant children, people with strong dietary diversity, and omnivorous canines) and less abundant ones in vulnerable subsets (the elderly, people with narrower diets, carnivorous cats and foxes), along with bioinformatic evidence that Moraxella bacteria express proteases with notable homology to human TMPRSS2. Simulations suggest that these proteases may proteolyze the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a manner that interferes with TMPRSS2 priming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annika Linde
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA;
| | - Tonatiuh Melgarejo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA;
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33
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Kim S, Chae JB, Kim D, Park CW, Sim Y, Lee H, Park G, Lee J, Hong S, Jana B, Kim C, Chung H, Ryu JH. Supramolecular Senolytics via Intracellular Oligomerization of Peptides in Response to Elevated Reactive Oxygen Species Levels in Aging Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21991-22008. [PMID: 37664981 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Senolytics, which eliminate senescent cells from tissues, represent an emerging therapeutic strategy for various age-related diseases. Most senolytics target antiapoptotic proteins, which are overexpressed in senescent cells, limiting specificity and inducing severe side effects. To overcome these limitations, we constructed self-assembling senolytics targeting senescent cells with an intracellular oligomerization system. Intracellular aryl-dithiol-containing peptide oligomerization occurred only inside the mitochondria of senescent cells due to selective localization of the peptides by RGD-mediated cellular uptake into integrin αvβ3-overexpressed senescent cells and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, which can be used as a chemical fuel for disulfide formation. This oligomerization results in an artificial protein-like nanoassembly with a stable α-helix secondary structure, which can disrupt the mitochondrial membrane via multivalent interactions because the mitochondrial membrane of senescent cells has weaker integrity than that of normal cells. These three specificities (integrin αvβ3, high ROS, and weak mitochondrial membrane integrity) of senescent cells work in combination; therefore, this intramitochondrial oligomerization system can selectively induce apoptosis of senescent cells without side effects on normal cells. Significant reductions in key senescence markers and amelioration of retinal degeneration were observed after elimination of the senescent retinal pigment epithelium by this peptide senolytic in an age-related macular degeneration mouse model and in aged mice, and this effect was accompanied by improved visual function. This system provides a strategy for the treatment of age-related diseases using supramolecular senolytics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangpil Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Byoung Chae
- Department of Ophthalmology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohyun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Woo Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youjung Sim
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungwoo Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Gaeun Park
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeeun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongho Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Batakrishna Jana
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaekyu Kim
- Fusion Biotechnology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja-Hyoung Ryu
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
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Nazzaro A, Lu B, Sawyer N, Watkins AM, Arora PS. Macrocyclic β-Sheets Stabilized by Hydrogen Bond Surrogates. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303943. [PMID: 37170337 PMCID: PMC10592574 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mimics of protein secondary and tertiary structure offer rationally-designed inhibitors of biomolecular interactions. β-Sheet mimics have a storied history in bioorganic chemistry and are typically designed with synthetic or natural turn segments. We hypothesized that replacement of terminal inter-β-strand hydrogen bonds with hydrogen bond surrogates (HBS) may lead to conformationally-defined macrocyclic β-sheets without the requirement for natural or synthetic β-turns, thereby providing a minimal mimic of a protein β-sheet. To access turn-less antiparallel β-sheet mimics, we developed a facile solid phase synthesis protocol. We surveyed a dataset of protein β-sheets for naturally observed interstrand side chain interactions. This bioinformatics survey highlighted an over-abundance of aromatic-aromatic, cation-π and ionic interactions in β-sheets. In correspondence with natural β-sheets, we find that minimal HBS mimics show robust β-sheet formation when specific amino acid residue pairings are incorporated. In isolated β-sheets, aromatic interactions endow superior conformational stability over ionic or cation-π interactions. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopies, along with high-resolution X-ray crystallography, support our design principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Nazzaro
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, NY 10013, New York, USA
| | - Brandon Lu
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, NY 10013, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Sawyer
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, NY 10013, New York, USA
| | | | - Paramjit S Arora
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, NY 10013, New York, USA
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35
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Browne K, Kuppusamy R, Walsh WR, Black DS, Willcox MDP, Kumar N, Chen R. Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics Prevent the Development of Resistance against Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin in Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14966. [PMID: 37834415 PMCID: PMC10573972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria readily acquire resistance to traditional antibiotics, resulting in pan-resistant strains with no available treatment. Antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge and without the development of effective antimicrobials, the foundation of modern medicine is at risk. Combination therapies such as antibiotic-antibiotic and antibiotic-adjuvant combinations are strategies used to combat antibiotic resistance. Current research focuses on antimicrobial peptidomimetics as adjuvant compounds, due to their promising activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here, for the first time we demonstrate that antibiotic-peptidomimetic combinations mitigate the development of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were passaged individually at sub-inhibitory concentrations for 10 days, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) increased up to 32-fold and 128-fold for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively. In contrast, when antibiotics were passaged in combination with peptidomimetics (Melimine, Mel4, RK758), the MICs of both antibiotics and peptidomimetics remained constant, indicating these combinations were able to mitigate the development of antibiotic-resistance. Furthermore, antibiotic-peptidomimetic combinations demonstrated synergistic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, reducing the concentration needed for bactericidal activity. This has significant potential clinical applications-including preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains in hospitals and communities, reviving ineffective antibiotics, and lowering the toxicity of antimicrobial chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Browne
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
- Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratories (SORL), Prince of Wales Clinical School, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Randwick 2031, Australia
| | - Rajesh Kuppusamy
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - William R. Walsh
- Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratories (SORL), Prince of Wales Clinical School, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Randwick 2031, Australia
| | - David StC Black
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Mark D. P. Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Naresh Kumar
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Renxun Chen
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney 2052, Australia
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36
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Zhang L, Liu H. Exploring binding positions and backbone conformations of peptide ligands of proteins with a backbone-centred statistical energy function. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:463-478. [PMID: 37498491 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
When designing peptide ligands based on the structure of a protein receptor, it can be very useful to narrow down the possible binding positions and bound conformations of the ligand without the need to choose its amino acid sequence in advance. Here, we construct and benchmark a tool for this purpose based on a recently reported statistical energy model named SCUBA (Sidechain-Unknown Backbone Arrangement) for designing protein backbones without considering specific amino acid sequences. With this tool, backbone fragments of different local conformation types are generated and optimized with SCUBA-driven stochastic simulations and simulated annealing, and then ranked and clustered to obtain representative backbone fragment poses of strong SCUBA interaction energies with the receptor. We computationally benchmarked the tool on 111 known protein-peptide complex structures. When the bound ligands are in the strand conformation, the method is able to generate backbone fragments of both low SCUBA energies and low root mean square deviations from experimental structures of peptide ligands. When the bound ligands are helices or coils, low-energy backbone fragments with binding poses similar to experimental structures have been generated for approximately 50% of benchmark cases. We have examined a number of predicted ligand-receptor complexes by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, in which the peptide ligands have been found to stay at the predicted binding sites and to maintain their local conformations. These results suggest that promising backbone structures of peptides bound to protein receptors can be designed by identifying outstanding minima on the SCUBA-modeled backbone energy landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China.
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China.
- School of Data Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China.
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37
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Hossain MS, Shovon MTI, Hasan MR, Hakim FT, Hasan MM, Esha SA, Tasnim S, Nazir MS, Akhter F, Ali MA, Halim MA. Therapeutic Potential of Antiviral Peptides against the NS2B/NS3 Protease of Zika Virus. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:35207-35218. [PMID: 37779969 PMCID: PMC10536883 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The NS2B/NS3 protease is highly conserved among various proteases of the Zika virus, making it an important therapeutic target for developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. The NS2B/NS3 protease is a crucial enzyme in the replication cycle of Zika virus and plays a significant role in viral maturation and assembly. Inhibiting the activity of this protease can potentially prevent viral replication, making it an attractive target for developing therapies against Zika virus infection. This work screens 429 antiviral peptides in comparison with substrate peptide against the NS2B/NS3 of Zika virus using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Based on the docking screening, MD simulation conducted for the best four peptides including AVP0239, AVP0642, AVP0660, and AVP2044, could be effective against NS2B/NS3. These results were compared with the control substrate peptide. Further analysis indicates that AVP0642 and AVP2044 are the most promising candidates. The interaction analysis showed that the catalytic site residues including His51, Asp75, Ser135 and other non-catalytic residues such as Asp129, Asp83, and Asp79 contribute substantial interactions. Hydrogen bonds (41%) and hydrophobic interactions (33%) are observed as the prominent non-covalent interaction prompting the peptide-protein complex formation. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) illustrates that positively charged (Lys, Arg) residues in the peptides dominate the interactions. This study provides the basis for developing novel peptide-based protease inhibitors for Zika virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Shahadat Hossain
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Tanjil Islam Shovon
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Rafid Hasan
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fuad Taufiqul Hakim
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Mehedi Hasan
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sadia Afrose Esha
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sabiha Tasnim
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Shahoriar Nazir
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Akhter
- Division
of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Center, BICCB, Tejgaon 1215, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ackas Ali
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw
State University, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144, United States
| | - Mohammad A. Halim
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw
State University, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144, United States
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38
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Marinowic DR, Zanirati GG, Xavier FAC, Varella FJ, Azevedo SPDC, Ghilardi IM, Pereira-Neto NG, Koff MAE, Paglioli E, Palmini A, Abreu JG, Machado DC, da Costa JC. WNT pathway in focal cortical dysplasia compared to perilesional nonlesional tissue in refractory epilepsies. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:338. [PMID: 37749503 PMCID: PMC10521408 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03394-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a malformation of cortical development that causes medical refractory seizures, and one of the main treatments may be surgical resection of the affected area of the brain. People affected by FCD may present with seizures of variable severity since childhood. Despite many medical treatments available, only surgery can offer cure. The pathophysiology of the disease is not yet understood; however, it is known that several gene alterations may play a role. The WNT/β-catenin pathway is closely related to the control and balance of cell proliferation and differentiation in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to explore genes related to the WNT/β-catenin pathway in lesional and perilesional brain tissue in patients with FCD type II. METHODS Dysplastic and perilesional tissue from the primary dysplastic lesion of patients with FCD type IIa were obtained from two patients who underwent surgical treatment. The analysis of the relative expression of genes was performed by a qRT-PCR array (super array) containing 84 genes related to the WNT pathway. RESULTS Our results suggest the existence of molecular alteration in some genes of the WNT pathway in tissue with dysplastic lesions and of perilesional tissue. We call this tissue of normal-appearing adjacent cortex (NAAC). Of all genes analyzed, a large number of genes show similar behavior between injured, perilesional and control tissues. However, some genes have similar characteristics between the perilesional and lesional tissue and are different from the control brain tissue, presenting the perilesional tissue as a molecularly altered material. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the perilesional area after surgical resection of tissue with cortical dysplasia presents molecular changes that may play a role in the recurrence of seizures in these patients. The perilesional tissue should receive expanded attention beyond the somatic mutations described and associated with FCD, such as mTOR, for example, to new signaling pathways that may play a crucial role in seizure recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Marinowic
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Gabriele G Zanirati
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fernando A C Xavier
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fábio Jean Varella
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sofia Prates da Cunha Azevedo
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Isadora Machado Ghilardi
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Normando G Pereira-Neto
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marco Antônio Eduardo Koff
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Eliseu Paglioli
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - André Palmini
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - José Garcia Abreu
- Biomedical Science Institute - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Denise C Machado
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jaderson C da Costa
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Gerontology, Medical School, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Shi C, Kaffy J, Ha-Duong T, Gallard JF, Pruvost A, Mabondzo A, Ciccone L, Ongeri S, Tonali N. Proteolytically Stable Diaza-Peptide Foldamers Mimic Helical Hot Spots of Protein-Protein Interactions and Act as Natural Chaperones. J Med Chem 2023; 66:12005-12017. [PMID: 37632446 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
A novel class of peptidomimetic foldamers based on diaza-peptide units are reported. Circular dichroism, attenuated total reflection -Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and molecular dynamics studies demonstrate that unlike the natural parent nonapeptide, the specific incorporation of one diaza-peptide unit at the N-terminus allows helical folding in water, which is further reinforced by the introduction of a second unit at the C-terminus. The ability of these foldamers to resist proteolysis, to mimic the small helical hot spot of transthyretin-amyloid β (Aβ) cross-interaction, and to decrease pathological Aβ aggregation demonstrates that the introduction of diaza-peptide units is a valid approach for designing mimics or inhibitors of protein-protein interaction and other therapeutic peptidomimetics. This study also reveals that small peptide foldamers can play the same role as physiological chaperone proteins and opens a new way to design inhibitors of amyloid protein aggregation, a hallmark of more than 20 serious human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Shi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Julia Kaffy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Tâp Ha-Duong
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Jean-François Gallard
- Equipe Biologie et Chimie Structurales, Dept Chimie et Biologie Structurales et Analytiques, ICSN CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, 1 avenue de la terrasse, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Alain Pruvost
- CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé, Université Paris-Saclay, SPI 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Aloise Mabondzo
- CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour La Santé, Université Paris-Saclay, SPI 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandrine Ongeri
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Nicolo Tonali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, BioCIS, Bat. Henri Moissan, 17 av. des Sciences, 91400 Orsay, France
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40
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Ko S, Kim JY, Park JY, Jung YJ, Choi MJ, Jin KS, Kim Y, Lim YB, Jeong WJ. Modulating the folding and binding of peptides using a stimuli-responsive molecular tweezer. Chem Sci 2023; 14:9600-9607. [PMID: 37712040 PMCID: PMC10498507 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03758d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
This study presents the development of a β-hairpin (tryptophan zipper, Trpzip)-based molecular tweezer (MT) that can control the folding and binding of α-helical peptides. When an α-helix isolated from the p53 protein was conjugated with Trpzip in an optimized macrocyclic structure, the folded β-hairpin stabilized the helix conformation through the side chain-to-side chain stapling strategy, which notably enhanced target (hDM2) affinity of the peptide. On the other hand, the helicity and binding affinity were significantly reduced when the hairpin was unfolded by a redox stimulus. This stimulus-responsive property was translated into the effective capture and release of model multivalent biomaterials, hDM2-gold nanoparticle conjugates. Since numerous protein interactions are mediated by α-helical peptides, these results suggest that the β-hairpin-based MT holds great potential to be utilized in various biomedical applications, such as protein interaction inhibition and cancer biomarker (e.g., circulating tumor cells and exosomes) detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooho Ko
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Joo-Young Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University Incheon 22212 Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Park
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Department of Integrative Energy Engineering, Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - You-Jin Jung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jae Choi
- Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Dongguk University Seoul 06420 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Sik Jin
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology Pohang 790-784 Republic of Korea
| | - Yongju Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Department of Integrative Energy Engineering, Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Beom Lim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Jin Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Inha University Incheon 22212 Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon 22212 Republic of Korea
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41
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Qing X, Wang Q, Xu H, Liu P, Lai L. Designing Cyclic-Constrained Peptides to Inhibit Human Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase. Molecules 2023; 28:6430. [PMID: 37687259 PMCID: PMC10563079 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Although loop epitopes at protein-protein binding interfaces often play key roles in mediating oligomer formation and interaction specificity, their binding sites are underexplored as drug targets owing to their high flexibility, relatively few hot spots, and solvent accessibility. Prior attempts to develop molecules that mimic loop epitopes to disrupt protein oligomers have had limited success. In this study, we used structure-based approaches to design and optimize cyclic-constrained peptides based on loop epitopes at the human phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) dimer interface, which is an obligate homo-dimer with activity strongly dependent on the oligomeric state. The experimental validations showed that these cyclic peptides inhibit PHGDH activity by directly binding to the dimer interface and disrupting the obligate homo-oligomer formation. Our results demonstrate that loop epitope derived cyclic peptides with rationally designed affinity-enhancing substitutions can modulate obligate protein homo-oligomers, which can be used to design peptide inhibitors for other seemingly intractable oligomeric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Qing
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (X.Q.); (H.X.); (P.L.)
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
| | - Hanyu Xu
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (X.Q.); (H.X.); (P.L.)
| | - Pei Liu
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (X.Q.); (H.X.); (P.L.)
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (X.Q.); (H.X.); (P.L.)
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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42
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Lourenço ALP, Rios TB, da Silva ÁP, Franco OL, Ramada MHS. Peptide Stapling Applied to Antimicrobial Peptides. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1400. [PMID: 37760697 PMCID: PMC10525709 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered a promising therapeutic approach against multi-drug resistant microorganisms. Besides their advantages, there are limitations to be overcome so that these molecules can become market competitive. One of the biggest limitations is proteolytic susceptibility, which could be overcome by structural modifications such as cyclization, especially for helix-constraining strategies. Over the years, many helix stabilization techniques have arisen, such as lactam-bridging, triazole-based, N-alkylation and all-hydrocarbon stapling. All-hydrocarbon stapling takes advantage of modified amino acid residues and olefinic cross-linking to constrain peptide helices. Despite being a well-established strategy and presenting efficient stability results, there are different limitations especially related to toxicity. In this review, recent studies on stapled AMPs for antimicrobial usage are explored with the aim of understanding the future of these molecules as putative antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Pereira Lourenço
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Thuanny Borba Rios
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Brazil
| | - Állan Pires da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Henrique Soller Ramada
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil
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43
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Mata JM, van der Nol E, Pomplun SJ. Advances in Ultrahigh Throughput Hit Discovery with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Encoded Libraries. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:19129-19139. [PMID: 37556835 PMCID: PMC10472510 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Discovering new bioactive molecules is crucial for drug development. Finding a hit compound for a new drug target usually requires screening of millions of molecules. Affinity selection based technologies have revolutionized early hit discovery by enabling the rapid screening of libraries with millions or billions of compounds in short timeframes. In this Perspective, we describe recent technology breakthroughs that enable the screening of ultralarge synthetic peptidomimetic libraries with a barcode-free tandem mass spectrometry decoding strategy. A combination of combinatorial synthesis, affinity selection, automated de novo peptide sequencing algorithms, and advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation now enables hit discovery from synthetic libraries with over 100 million members. We provide a perspective on this powerful technology and showcase success stories featuring the discovery of high affinity binders for a number of drug targets including proteins, nucleic acids, and specific cell types. Further, we show the usage of the technology to discover synthetic peptidomimetics with specific functions and reactivity. We predict that affinity selection coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and automated de novo decoding will rapidly evolve further and become a broadly used drug discovery technology.
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44
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Lāce I, Bazzi S, Uranga J, Schirmacher A, Diederichsen U, Mata RA, Simeth NA. Modulating Secondary Structure Motifs Through Photo-Labile Peptide Staples. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300270. [PMID: 37216330 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Peptide-protein interactions (PPIs) are facilitated by the well-defined three-dimensional structure of bioactive peptides, interesting compounds for the development of new therapeutic agents. Their secondary structure and thus their propensity to engage in PPIs can be influenced by the introduction of peptide staples on the side chains. In particular, light-controlled staples based on azobenzene photoswitches and their structural influence on helical peptides have been studied extensively. In contrast, photolabile staples bearing photocages as a structural key motif, have mainly been used to block supramolecular interactions. Their influence on the secondary structure of the target peptide is under-investigated. Thus, in this study we use a combination of spectroscopic techniques and in silico simulations to systematically study a series of helical peptides with varying length of the photo-labile staple to obtain a detailed insight into the structure-property relationship in such photoresponsive biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilze Lāce
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sophia Bazzi
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jon Uranga
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anastasiya Schirmacher
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulf Diederichsen
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ricardo A Mata
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadja A Simeth
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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45
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Caramiello A, Bellucci MC, Cristina G, Castellano C, Meneghetti F, Mori M, Secundo F, Viani F, Sacchetti A, Volonterio A. Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of Hydantoin-Based Universal Peptidomimetics. J Org Chem 2023; 88:10381-10402. [PMID: 36226862 PMCID: PMC10407853 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c01903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis of a collection of enantiomerically pure, systematically substituted hydantoins as structural privileged universal mimetic scaffolds is presented. It relies on a chemoselective condensation/cyclization domino process between isocyanates of quaternary or unsubstituted α-amino esters and N-alkyl aspartic acid diesters followed by standard hydrolysis/coupling reactions with amines, using liquid-liquid acid/base extraction protocols for the purification of the intermediates. Besides the nature of the α carbon on the isocyanate moiety, either a quaternary carbon or a more flexible methylene group, conformational studies in silico (molecular modeling), in solution (NMR, circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)), and in solid state (X-ray) showed that the presented hydantoin-based peptidomimetics are able to project their substituents in positions superimposable to the side chains of common protein secondary structures such as α-helix and β-turn, being the open α-helix conformation slightly favorable according to molecular modeling, while the closed β-turn conformation preferred in solution and in solid state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio
M. Caramiello
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Bellucci
- Department
of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Gaetano Cristina
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Castellano
- Department
of Chemistry, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Golgi
19, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Fiorella Meneghetti
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università
degli Studi di Milano, via Mangiagalli 25, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Mori
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università
degli Studi di Milano, via Mangiagalli 25, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Secundo
- Consiglio
Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze
e Tecnologie Chimiche “G. Natta” (SCITEC), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131Milan, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Viani
- Consiglio
Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze
e Tecnologie Chimiche “G. Natta” (SCITEC), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sacchetti
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Volonterio
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, 20131Milano, Italy
- Consiglio
Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze
e Tecnologie Chimiche “G. Natta” (SCITEC), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131Milan, Italy
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Wang H, Zhou R, Xu F, Yang K, Zheng L, Zhao P, Shi G, Dai L, Xu C, Yu L, Li Z, Wang J, Wang J. Beyond canonical PROTAC: biological targeted protein degradation (bioTPD). Biomater Res 2023; 27:72. [PMID: 37480049 PMCID: PMC10362593 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-023-00385-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is an emerging therapeutic strategy with the potential to modulate disease-associated proteins that have previously been considered undruggable, by employing the host destruction machinery. The exploration and discovery of cellular degradation pathways, including but not limited to proteasomes and lysosome pathways as well as their degraders, is an area of active research. Since the concept of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) was introduced in 2001, the paradigm of TPD has been greatly expanded and moved from academia to industry for clinical translation, with small-molecule TPD being particularly represented. As an indispensable part of TPD, biological TPD (bioTPD) technologies including peptide-, fusion protein-, antibody-, nucleic acid-based bioTPD and others have also emerged and undergone significant advancement in recent years, demonstrating unique and promising activities beyond those of conventional small-molecule TPD. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in bioTPD technologies, summarize their compositional features and potential applications, and briefly discuss their drawbacks. Moreover, we present some strategies to improve the delivery efficacy of bioTPD, addressing their challenges in further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Wang
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Runhua Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, P. R. China
| | - Fushan Xu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Kongjun Yang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Liuhai Zheng
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Pan Zhao
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Guangwei Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, P. R. China
| | - Lingyun Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Chengchao Xu
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China
| | - Le Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, P. R. China.
| | - Zhijie Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China.
| | - Jianhong Wang
- Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Respirology, The Second Clinical Medical College, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, P. R. China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China.
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47
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Victorio CG, Sawyer N. Folding-Assisted Peptide Disulfide Formation and Dimerization. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:1480-1486. [PMID: 37390465 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds form covalent bonds between distal regions of peptides and proteins to dramatically impact their folding, stability, and oligomerization. Given the prevalence of disulfide bonds in many natural products, considerable effort has been invested in site-selective disulfide bond formation approaches to control the folding of chemically synthesized peptides and proteins. Here, we show that the careful choice of thiol oxidation conditions can lead to monomeric or dimeric species from fully deprotected linear bisthiol peptides. Starting from a p53-derived peptide, we found that oxidation under aqueous (nondenaturing) conditions produces antiparallel dimers with enhanced α-helical character, while oxidation under denaturing conditions promotes formation of a nonhelical intramolecular disulfide species. Examination across peptide variants suggests that intramolecular disulfide formation is robust across diverse peptide sequences, while dimerization is sensitive to both the α-helical folding of the linear peptide and aromatic residues at the dimerization interface. All disulfide species are more resistant to protease degradation than the linear peptide but are easily reduced to restore the initial bisthiol peptide. Both disulfide formation approaches are compatible with α-helix-stabilizing cross-linkers. These results provide an approach for using disulfide bonds to control peptide folding and oligomerization to better understand how folding influences interactions with diverse molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara G Victorio
- Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Rd., Bronx, New York 10458, United States
| | - Nicholas Sawyer
- Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Rd., Bronx, New York 10458, United States
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48
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Breine A, Van Holsbeeck K, Martin C, Gonzalez S, Mannes M, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Remaut H, Ballet S, Van der Henst C. Bypassing the Need for Cell Permeabilization: Nanobody CDR3 Peptide Improves Binding on Living Bacteria. Bioconjug Chem 2023. [PMID: 37418494 PMCID: PMC10360062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Membrane interaction constitutes to be an essential parameter in the mode of action of entities such as proteins, as well as cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides, resulting in noninvasive or lytic activities depending on the membrane compositions and interactions. Recently, a nanobody able to interact with the top priority, multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii was discovered, although binding took place with fixed cells only. To potentially overcome this limitation, linear peptides corresponding to the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) were synthesized and fluorescently labeled. Microscopy data indicated clear membrane interactions of the CDR3 sequence with living A. baumannii cells, indicating both the importance of the CDR3 as part of the parent nanobody paratope and the improved binding ability and thus avoiding the need for permeabilization of the cells. In addition, cyclization of the peptide with an additionally introduced rigidifying 1,2,3-triazole bridge retains its binding ability while proteolytically protecting the peptide. Overall, this study resulted in the discovery of novel peptides binding a multidrug-resistant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Breine
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Van Holsbeeck
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Gonzalez
- CNRS, BioCIS, CY Cergy-Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - M Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Pardon
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Steyaert
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - H Remaut
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Van der Henst
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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49
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Kriegesmann J, Schlatzer T, Che K, Altdorf C, Huhmann S, Kählig H, Kurzbach D, Breinbauer R, Becker CFW. Constraining and Modifying Peptides Using Pd-Mediated Cysteine Allylation. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300098. [PMID: 36917494 PMCID: PMC10947015 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, several strategies for inducing and stabilizing secondary structure formation in peptides have been developed to increase their proteolytic stability and their binding affinity to specific interaction partners. Here, we report how our recently introduced chemoselective Pd-catalyzed cysteine allylation reaction can be extended to stapling and how the resulting alkene-containing staples themselves can be further modified to introduce additional probes into such stabilized peptides. The latter is demonstrated by introducing a fluorophore as well as a PEG moiety into different stapled peptides using bioorthogonal thiol-ene and Diels-Alder reactions. Furthermore, we investigated structural implications of our allyl staples when used to replace conformationally relevant disulfide bridges. To this end, we chose a selective binder of integrin α3 β1 (LXY3), which is only active in its cyclic disulfide form. We replaced the disulfide bridge by different stapling reagents in order to increase stability and binding affinity towards integrin α3 β1 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kriegesmann
- Institute of Biological ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
| | - Thomas Schlatzer
- Institute of Organic ChemistryGraz University of Technology8010GrazAustria
| | - Kateryna Che
- Institute of Biological ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
| | - Claudia Altdorf
- Syntab Therapeutics GmbHPauwelstrasse 17post code?AachenGermany
| | - Susanne Huhmann
- Institute of Biological ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
| | - Hanspeter Kählig
- Department of Organic ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
| | - Dennis Kurzbach
- Institute of Biological ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
| | - Rolf Breinbauer
- Institute of Organic ChemistryGraz University of Technology8010GrazAustria
| | - Christian F. W. Becker
- Institute of Biological ChemistryFaculty of ChemistryUniversity of Vienna1090ViennaAustria
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50
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Ganesan N, Mishra B, Felix L, Mylonakis E. Antimicrobial Peptides and Small Molecules Targeting the Cell Membrane of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0003722. [PMID: 37129495 PMCID: PMC10304793 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00037-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical management of Staphylococcus aureus infections presents a challenge due to the high incidence, considerable virulence, and emergence of drug resistance mechanisms. The treatment of drug-resistant strains, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is further complicated by the development of tolerance and persistence to antimicrobial agents in clinical use. To address these challenges, membrane disruptors, that are not generally considered during drug discovery for agents against S. aureus, should be explored. The cell membrane protects S. aureus from external stresses and antimicrobial agents, but membrane-targeting antimicrobial agents are probably less likely to promote bacterial resistance. Nontypical linear cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), highly modified AMPs such as daptomycin (lipopeptide), bacitracin (cyclic peptide), and gramicidin S (cyclic peptide), are currently in clinical use. Recent studies have demonstrated that AMPs and small molecules can penetrate the cell membrane of S. aureus, inhibit phospholipid biosynthesis, or block the passage of solutes between the periplasm and the exterior of the cell. In addition to their primary mechanism of action (MOA) that targets the bacterial membrane, AMPs and small molecules may also impact bacteria through secondary mechanisms such as targeting the biofilm, and downregulating virulence genes of S. aureus. In this review, we discuss the current state of research into cell membrane-targeting AMPs and small molecules and their potential mechanisms of action against drug-resistant physiological forms of S. aureus, including persister cells and biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narchonai Ganesan
- Infectious Diseases Division, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Infectious Diseases Division, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - LewisOscar Felix
- Infectious Diseases Division, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Infectious Diseases Division, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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