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Polańska O, Szulc N, Stottko R, Olek M, Nadwodna J, Gąsior-Głogowska M, Szefczyk M. Challenges in Peptide Solubilization - Amyloids Case Study. CHEM REC 2024:e202400053. [PMID: 39023378 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202400053] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Peptide science has been a rapidly growing research field because of the enormous potential application of these biocompatible and bioactive molecules. However, many factors limit the widespread use of peptides in medicine, and low solubility is among the most common problems that hamper drug development in the early stages of research. Solubility is a crucial, albeit poorly understood, feature that determines peptide behavior. Several different solubility predictors have been proposed, and many strategies and protocols have been reported to dissolve peptides, but none of them is a one-size-fits-all method for solubilization of even the same peptide. In this review, we look for the reasons behind the difficulties in dissolving peptides, analyze the factors influencing peptide aggregation, conduct a critical analysis of solubilization strategies and protocols available in the literature, and give some tips on how to deal with the so-called difficult sequences. We focus on amyloids, which are particularly difficult to dissolve and handle such as amyloid beta (Aβ), insulin, and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliwia Polańska
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Szulc
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Stottko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Gdanska 7/9, 50-344, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mateusz Olek
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Traugutta 2, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Julita Nadwodna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marlena Gąsior-Głogowska
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Monika Szefczyk
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
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2
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Fankhauser D, Alissandratos A, Liutkus M, Easton CJ. Easy Production of "Difficult Peptides" Using Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and a New Methionine Analogue as a Latent Peptide Cleavage Site. Chemistry 2021; 27:17487-17494. [PMID: 34651362 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Aliphatic γ-chloro-α-amino acids incorporated in place of their canonical analogues through cell-free protein synthesis act as heat-labile linkers, offering a useful strategy for the straightforward production of target peptides as fusion proteins, from which the targets are readily released. Until now, the natural abundance of aliphatic amino acids in peptides has limited the scope of the method, as it leads to undesired cleavage sites in synthesized products, but here the authors report the development of a new cleavable chloro amino acid that incorporates in place of the relatively rare amino acid methionine, thus greatly expanding the scope of producible targets. This new strategy is employed for simplified peptide synthesis with a methionine-free fusion partner, allowing single-site incorporation of the cleavable linker for clean release and easy purification of the target peptide. Its utility is demonstrated through the straightforward preparation of two peptides reported to be challenging targets and not accessible through standard solid-phase chemical methodologies, as well as analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fankhauser
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, 137 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Apostolos Alissandratos
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, 137 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mantas Liutkus
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, 137 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Christopher J Easton
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, 137 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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3
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Apostolopoulos V, Bojarska J, Chai TT, Elnagdy S, Kaczmarek K, Matsoukas J, New R, Parang K, Lopez OP, Parhiz H, Perera CO, Pickholz M, Remko M, Saviano M, Skwarczynski M, Tang Y, Wolf WM, Yoshiya T, Zabrocki J, Zielenkiewicz P, AlKhazindar M, Barriga V, Kelaidonis K, Sarasia EM, Toth I. A Global Review on Short Peptides: Frontiers and Perspectives. Molecules 2021; 26:E430. [PMID: 33467522 PMCID: PMC7830668 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides are fragments of proteins that carry out biological functions. They act as signaling entities via all domains of life and interfere with protein-protein interactions, which are indispensable in bio-processes. Short peptides include fundamental molecular information for a prelude to the symphony of life. They have aroused considerable interest due to their unique features and great promise in innovative bio-therapies. This work focusing on the current state-of-the-art short peptide-based therapeutical developments is the first global review written by researchers from all continents, as a celebration of 100 years of peptide therapeutics since the commencement of insulin therapy in the 1920s. Peptide "drugs" initially played only the role of hormone analogs to balance disorders. Nowadays, they achieve numerous biomedical tasks, can cross membranes, or reach intracellular targets. The role of peptides in bio-processes can hardly be mimicked by other chemical substances. The article is divided into independent sections, which are related to either the progress in short peptide-based theranostics or the problems posing challenge to bio-medicine. In particular, the SWOT analysis of short peptides, their relevance in therapies of diverse diseases, improvements in (bio)synthesis platforms, advanced nano-supramolecular technologies, aptamers, altered peptide ligands and in silico methodologies to overcome peptide limitations, modern smart bio-functional materials, vaccines, and drug/gene-targeted delivery systems are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (V.A.); (J.M.); (V.B.)
| | - Joanna Bojarska
- Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Tsun-Thai Chai
- Department of Chemical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Malaysia;
| | - Sherif Elnagdy
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Gamaa St., Giza 12613, Egypt; (S.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Krzysztof Kaczmarek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (K.K.); (J.Z.)
| | - John Matsoukas
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (V.A.); (J.M.); (V.B.)
- NewDrug, Patras Science Park, 26500 Patras, Greece;
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Roger New
- Vaxcine (UK) Ltd., c/o London Bioscience Innovation Centre, London NW1 0NH, UK;
- Faculty of Science & Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK;
| | - Keykavous Parang
- Center for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, CA 92618, USA;
| | - Octavio Paredes Lopez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Irapuato 36824, Guanajuato, Mexico;
| | - Hamideh Parhiz
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6073, USA;
| | - Conrad O. Perera
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
| | - Monica Pickholz
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina;
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA, UBA-CONICET), Argentina, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Milan Remko
- Remedika, Luzna 9, 85104 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Michele Saviano
- Institute of Crystallography (CNR), Via Amendola 122/o, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.); (I.T.)
| | - Yefeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharma Ceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China;
| | - Wojciech M. Wolf
- Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Janusz Zabrocki
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland; (K.K.); (J.Z.)
| | - Piotr Zielenkiewicz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
- Department of Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maha AlKhazindar
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Gamaa St., Giza 12613, Egypt; (S.E.); (M.A.)
| | - Vanessa Barriga
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (V.A.); (J.M.); (V.B.)
| | | | | | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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4
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Kanai S, Machida K, Masuda R, Koide T. Peptide precursors that acquire denatured collagen-hybridizing ability by O-to-N acyl migration at physiological pH. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 18:2823-2827. [PMID: 32232252 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob02136a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Here, we report peptide probes with either single or cyclic double stranded collagen-like sequences that spontaneously acquire collagen-hybridizing ability at physiological pH. These peptides have ester bonds derived from O-acyl isopeptide units that are converted to amide bonds via intramolecular O-to-N acyl migration by a pH shift. The peptides that do not require pre-treatment for disassembly will be useful as prodrugs in theranostic treatments targeting unfolded collagen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Kanai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan
| | - Koshi Machida
- Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan.
| | - Ryo Masuda
- Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan.
| | - Takaki Koide
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan and Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan.
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5
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Chabenne JR, Mroz PA, Mayer JP, DiMarchi RD. Structural Refinement of Glucagon for Therapeutic Use. J Med Chem 2019; 63:3447-3460. [PMID: 31774682 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glucagon counters insulin's effects on glucose metabolism and serves as a rescue medicine in the treatment of hypoglycemia. Acute hypoglycemia, a common occurrence in insulin-dependent diabetes, is the central obstacle to correcting high blood glucose, a primary cause of long-term microvascular complications. As a result, there has been a resurgence of interest in improved glucagon therapy, including nonconventional liquid formulations, alternative routes of administration, and novel analogs with optimized biophysical properties. These options collectively minimize the complexity of glucagon delivery and enable its application in ways not feasible with conventional emergency rescue kits. These advances have indirectly promoted the integrated use of glucagon agonism with other hormones in a manner that runs counter to the long-standing pursuit of glucagon antagonism. This review summarizes novel approaches to glucagon optimization, methods with potential application to the broader family of therapeutic peptides, where biophysical challenges may be encountered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Chabenne
- Novo Nordisk Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - Piotr A Mroz
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - John P Mayer
- MCD Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Richard D DiMarchi
- Novo Nordisk Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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6
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Mailig M, Liu F. The Application of Isoacyl Structural Motifs in Prodrug Design and Peptide Chemistry. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2017-2031. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Melrose Mailig
- Discovery ChemistryNovo Nordisk Research Center Seattle 530 Fairview Ave N Seattle WA 98109 USA
| | - Fa Liu
- Discovery ChemistryNovo Nordisk Research Center Seattle 530 Fairview Ave N Seattle WA 98109 USA
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7
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Mroz PA, Perez-Tilve D, Liu F, Mayer JP, DiMarchi RD. Native Design of Soluble, Aggregation-Resistant Bioactive Peptides: Chemical Evolution of Human Glucagon. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:3412-3420. [PMID: 27797473 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Peptide-based therapeutics commonly suffer from biophysical properties that compromise pharmacology and medicinal use. Structural optimization of the primary sequence is the usual route to address such challenges while trying to maintain as much native character and avoiding introduction of any foreign element that might evoke an immunological response. Glucagon serves a seminal physiological role in buffering against hypoglycemia, but its low aqueous solubility, chemical instability, and propensity to self-aggregate severely complicate its medicinal use. Selective amide bond replacement with metastable ester bonds is a preferred approach to the preparation of peptides with biophysical properties that otherwise inhibit synthesis. We have recruited such chemistry in the design and development of unique glucagon prodrugs that have physical properties suitable for medicinal use and yet rapidly convert to native hormone upon exposure to slightly alkaline pH. These prodrugs demonstrate in vitro and in vivo pharmacology when formulated in physiological buffers that are nearly identical to native hormone when solubilized in conventional dilute hydrochloric acid. This approach provides the best of both worlds, where the pro-drug delivers chemical properties supportive of aqueous formulation and the native biological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr A. Mroz
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Diego Perez-Tilve
- Department
of Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States
| | - Fa Liu
- Novo Nordisk Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - John P. Mayer
- Novo Nordisk Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
| | - Richard D. DiMarchi
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
- Novo Nordisk Research Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, United States
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8
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Abstract
The aggregation of peptides/proteins is intimately related to a number of human diseases. More than 20 have been identified which aggregate into fibrils containing extensive β-sheet structures, and species generated in the aggregation processes (i.e., oligomers and fibrils) contribute to disease development. Amyloid-β peptide (designated Aβ), related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), is the representative example. The intensive aggregation property of Aβ also leads to difficulty in its synthesis. To improve the synthetic problem, we developed an O-acyl isopeptide of Aβ1-42, in which the N-acyl linkage (amide bond) of Ser(26) was replaced with an O-acyl linkage (ester bond) at the side chain. The O-acyl isopeptide demonstrated markedly higher water-solubility than that of Aβ1-42, while it quickly converted to intact monomer Aβ1-42 via an O-to-N acyl rearrangement under physiological conditions. Inhibition of the pathogenic aggregation of Aβ1-42 might be a therapeutic strategy for curing AD. We succeeded in the rational design and identification of a small molecule aggregation inhibitor based on a pharmacophore motif obtained from cyclo[-Lys-Leu-Val-Phe-Phe-]. Moreover, the inhibition of Aβ aggregation was achieved via oxygenation (i.e., incorporation of oxygen atoms to Aβ) using an artificial catalyst. We identified a selective, cell-compatible photo-oxygenation catalyst of Aβ, a flavin catalyst attached to an Aβ-binding peptide, which markedly decreased the aggregation potency and neurotoxicity of Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhei Sohma
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
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9
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Scaffolded multimers of hIAPP20–29 peptide fragments fibrillate faster and lead to different fibrils compared to the free hIAPP20–29 peptide fragment. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2015; 1854:1890-1897. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Yoshiya T, Uemura T, Maruno T, Kubo S, Kiso Y, Sohma Y, Kobayashi Y, Yoshizawa-Kumagaye K, Nishiuchi Y. O
-Acyl isopeptide method: development of an O
-acyl isodipeptide unit for Boc SPPS
and its application to the synthesis of Aβ
1-42 isopeptide. J Pept Sci 2014; 20:669-74. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Takahiro Maruno
- Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | | | - Yoshiaki Kiso
- Laboratory of Peptide Science; Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology; Shiga 526-0829 Japan
| | - Youhei Sohma
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; The University of Tokyo; Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| | - Yuji Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | | | - Yuji Nishiuchi
- Peptide Institute, Inc.; Osaka 567-0085 Japan
- Graduate School of Science; Osaka University; Osaka 560-0043 Japan
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11
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Yoshiya T, Tsuda S, Mochizuki M, Hidaka K, Tsuda Y, Kiso Y, Kageyama S, Ii H, Yoshiki T, Nishiuchi Y. A Fluorogenic Probe for γ-Glutamyl Cyclotransferase: Application of an Enzyme-Triggered O-to-N Acyl Migration-Type Reaction. Chembiochem 2013; 14:2110-3. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201300481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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12
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Abstract
O-Acyl isopeptides, in which the N-acyl linkage on the hydroxyamino acid residue (e.g., Ser and Thr) is replaced with an O-acyl linkage, generally possess superior water-solubility to their corresponding native peptides, as well as other distinct physicochemical properties. In addition, O-acyl isopeptides can be rapidly converted into their corresponding native peptide under neutral aqueous conditions through an O-to-N acyl migration. By exploiting these characteristics, researchers have applied the O-acyl isopeptide method to various peptide-synthesis fields, such as the synthesis of aggregative peptides and convergent peptide synthesis. This O-acyl-isopeptide approach also serves as a means to control the biological function of the peptide in question. Herein, we report the synthesis of O-acyl isopeptides and some of their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhei Sohma
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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13
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A Single Pseudoproline and Microwave Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis Facilitates an Efficient Synthesis of Human Amylin 1–37. Int J Pept Res Ther 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-012-9325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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14
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Butterfield S, Hejjaoui M, Fauvet B, Awad L, Lashuel HA. Chemical strategies for controlling protein folding and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of amyloid formation and toxicity. J Mol Biol 2012; 421:204-36. [PMID: 22342932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Revised: 01/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It has been more than a century since the first evidence linking the process of amyloid formation to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. During the last three decades in particular, increasing evidence from various sources (pathology, genetics, cell culture studies, biochemistry, and biophysics) continues to point to a central role for the pathogenesis of several incurable neurodegenerative and systemic diseases. This is in part driven by our improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of protein misfolding and aggregation and the structural properties of the different aggregates in the amyloid pathway and the emergence of new tools and experimental approaches that permit better characterization of amyloid formation in vivo. Despite these advances, detailed mechanistic understanding of protein aggregation and amyloid formation in vitro and in vivo presents several challenges that remain to be addressed and several fundamental questions about the molecular and structural determinants of amyloid formation and toxicity and the mechanisms of amyloid-induced toxicity remain unanswered. To address this knowledge gap and technical challenges, there is a critical need for developing novel tools and experimental approaches that will not only permit the detection and monitoring of molecular events that underlie this process but also allow for the manipulation of these events in a spatial and temporal fashion both in and out of the cell. This review is primarily dedicated in highlighting recent results that illustrate how advances in chemistry and chemical biology have been and can be used to address some of the questions and technical challenges mentioned above. We believe that combining recent advances in the development of new fluorescent probes, imaging tools that enabled the visualization and tracking of molecular events with advances in organic synthesis, and novel approaches for protein synthesis and engineering provide unique opportunities to gain a molecular-level understanding of the process of amyloid formation. We hope that this review will stimulate further research in this area and catalyze increased collaboration at the interface of chemistry and biology to decipher the mechanisms and roles of protein folding, misfolding, and aggregation in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Butterfield
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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15
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Monbaliu JCM, Katritzky AR. Recent trends in Cys- and Ser/Thr-based synthetic strategies for the elaboration of peptide constructs. Chem Commun (Camb) 2012; 48:11601-22. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cc34434c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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