1
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Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, D'Andrea LD. Structure-Based Design of Peptides Targeting VEGF/VEGFRs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:851. [PMID: 37375798 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060851] [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: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs) play a main role in the regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, they are implicated in the onset of several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative eye conditions, tumor growth, ulcers and ischemia. Therefore, molecules able to target the VEGF and its receptors are of great pharmaceutical interest. Several types of molecules have been reported so far. In this review, we focus on the structure-based design of peptides mimicking VEGF/VEGFR binding epitopes. The binding interface of the complex has been dissected and the different regions challenged for peptide design. All these trials furnished a better understanding of the molecular recognition process and provide us with a wealth of molecules that could be optimized to be exploited for pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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2
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Pei J, Gao X, Pan D, Hua Y, He J, Liu Z, Dang Y. Advances in the stability challenges of bioactive peptides and improvement strategies. Curr Res Food Sci 2022; 5:2162-2170. [PMID: 36387592 PMCID: PMC9664347 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioactive peptides are widely used in functional foods due to their remarkable efficacy, selectivity, and low toxicity. However, commercially produced bioactive peptides lack quality stability between batches. Furthermore, the efficacies of bioactive peptides cannot be guaranteed in vivo due to gastrointestinal digestion and rapid plasma, liver, and kidney metabolism. The problem of poor stability has restricted the development of peptides. Bioactive peptide stability assessments use different stability assays, so the results of different studies are not always comparable. This review summarizes the quality stability challenges in the enzymatic hydrolysis production of bioactive peptides and the metabolism stability challenges after oral administration. Future directions on the strategies for improving their stability are provided. It was proposed that we use fingerprinting as a quality control measure using qualitative and quantitative characteristic functional peptide sequences. The chemical modification and encapsulation of bioactive peptides in microcapsules and liposomes are widely used to improve the digestive and metabolic stability of bioactive peptides. Additionally, the establishment of a universal stability test and a unified index would greatly improve uniformity and comparability in research into bioactive peptides. In summary, the reliable evaluation of stability is an essential component of peptide characterization, and these ideas may facilitate further development and utilization of bioactive peptides. Stability challenges encountered by bioactive peptides were summarized. Strategies to improve the stability of bioactive peptides were provided. A universal stability test and unified index would improve uniformity and comparability in research into bioactive peptides. It was proposed that we use a method of traditional Chinese medicine fingerprinting as a quality control measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyan Pei
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of AgroProducts, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinchang Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Daodong Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of AgroProducts, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
- National R&D Center for Freshwater Fish Processing, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ying Hua
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun He
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of AgroProducts, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhu Liu
- Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control, Hangzhou, 310052, Zhejiang, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yali Dang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of AgroProducts, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
- Corresponding author. School of Food and Pharmaceutical Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
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3
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Diana D, Di Stasi R, García-Viñuales S, De Rosa L, Isernia C, Malgieri G, Milardi D, D'Andrea LD, Fattorusso R. Structural characterization of the thermal unfolding pathway of human VEGFR1 D2 domain. FEBS J 2021; 289:1591-1602. [PMID: 34689403 PMCID: PMC9299094 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16246] [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: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Folding stability is a crucial feature of protein evolution and is essential for protein functions. Thus, the comprehension of protein folding mechanisms represents an important complement to protein structure and function, crucial to determine the structural basis of protein misfolding. In this context, thermal unfolding studies represent a useful tool to get a molecular description of the conformational transitions governing the folding/unfolding equilibrium of a given protein. Here, we report the thermal folding/unfolding pathway of VEGFR1D2, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily by means of a high-resolution thermodynamic approach that combines differential scanning calorimetry with atomic-level unfolding monitored by NMR. We show how VEGFR1D2 folding is driven by an oxidatively induced disulfide pairing: the key event in the achievement of its functional structure is the formation of a small hydrophobic core that surrounds a disulfide bridge. Such a 'folding nucleus' induces the cooperative transition to the properly folded conformation supporting the hypothesis that a disulfide bond can act as a folding nucleus that eases the folding process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Napoli, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Caserta, Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche 'Giulio Natta', CNR, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Caserta, Italy
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4
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De Rosa L, Diana D, Di Stasi R, Romanelli A, Sciacca MFM, Milardi D, Isernia C, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. Probing the helical stability in a VEGF-mimetic peptide. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105379. [PMID: 34563997 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The analysis of the forces governing helix formation and stability in peptides and proteins has attracted considerable interest in order to shed light on folding mechanism. We analyzed the role of hydrophobic interaction, steric hindrance and chain length on i, i + 3 position in QK peptide, a VEGF mimetic helical peptide. We focused on position 10 of QK, occupied by a leucine, as previous studies highlighted the key role of the Leu7-Leu10 interaction in modulating the helix formation and inducing an unusual thermodynamic stability. Leu10 has been replaced by hydrophobic amino acids with different side-chain length, hydrophobicity and steric hindrance. Ten peptides were, hence, synthesized and analyzed combining circular dichroism, calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy. We found that helical content and thermal stability of peptide QK changed when Leu10 was replaced. Interestingly, we observed that the changes in the helical content and thermal stability were not always correlated and they depend on the type of interaction (strength and geometry) that could be established between Leu7 and the residue in position 10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandra Romanelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Michele F M Sciacca
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Catania, Italy
| | - Danilo Milardi
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Catania, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy.
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5
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Farina B, Andrea C, Del Gatto A, Comegna D, Di Gaetano S, Capasso D, Paladino A, Acconcia C, Teresa Gentile M, Saviano M, Fattorusso R, Zaccaro L, Russo L. A novel approach for studying receptor-ligand interactions on living cells surface by using NUS/T1ρ-NMR methodologies combined with computational techniques: The RGDechi15D-α vβ 5 integrin complex. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3303-3318. [PMID: 34188779 PMCID: PMC8207173 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural investigations of receptor-ligand interactions on living cells surface by high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are problematic due to their short lifetime, which often prevents the acquisition of experiments longer than few hours. To overcome these limitations, we developed an on-cell NMR-based approach for exploring the molecular determinants driving the receptor-ligand recognition mechanism under native conditions. Our method relies on the combination of high-resolution structural and dynamics NMR data with Molecular Dynamics simulations and Molecular Docking studies. The key point of our strategy is the use of Non Uniform Sampling (NUS) and T1ρ-NMR techniques to collect atomic-resolution structural and dynamics information on the receptor-ligand interactions with living cells, that can be used as conformational constraints in computational studies. In fact, the application of these two NMR methodologies allows to record spectra with high S/N ratio and resolution within the lifetime of cells. In particular, 2D NUS [1H–1H] trNOESY spectra are used to explore the ligand conformational changes induced by receptor binding; whereas T1ρ-based experiments are applied to characterize the ligand binding epitope by defining two parameters: T1ρ Attenuation factor and T1ρ Binding Effect. This approach has been tested to characterize the molecular determinants regulating the recognition mechanism of αvβ5-integrin by a selective cyclic binder peptide named RGDechi15D. Our data demonstrate that the developed strategy represents an alternative in-cell NMR tool for studying, at atomic resolution, receptor-ligand recognition mechanism on living cells surface. Additionally, our application may be extremely useful for screening of the interaction profiling of drugs with their therapeutic targets in their native cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biancamaria Farina
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.,Advanced Accelerator Applications, a Novartis Company, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Corvino Andrea
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Annarita Del Gatto
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Comegna
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Domenica Capasso
- Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.,Center for Life Sciences and Technologies (CESTEV) University of Naples Federico II, Via Tommaso De Amicis 95, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Paladino
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via Francesco de Sanctis, Benevento 82100, Italy
| | - Clementina Acconcia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Gentile
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Michele Saviano
- Institute of Crystallography-CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Zaccaro
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging-CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania - Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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6
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Grazioso R, García-Viñuales S, D'Abrosca G, Baglivo I, Pedone PV, Milardi D, Fattorusso R, Isernia C, Russo L, Malgieri G. The change of conditions does not affect Ros87 downhill folding mechanism. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21067. [PMID: 33273582 PMCID: PMC7713307 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Downhill folding has been defined as a unique thermodynamic process involving a conformations ensemble that progressively loses structure with the decrease of protein stability. Downhill folders are estimated to be rather rare in nature as they miss an energetically substantial folding barrier that can protect against aggregation and proteolysis. We have previously demonstrated that the prokaryotic zinc finger protein Ros87 shows a bipartite folding/unfolding process in which a metal binding intermediate converts to the native structure through a delicate barrier-less downhill transition. Significant variation in folding scenarios can be detected within protein families with high sequence identity and very similar folds and for the same sequence by varying conditions. For this reason, we here show, by means of DSC, CD and NMR, that also in different pH and ionic strength conditions Ros87 retains its partly downhill folding scenario demonstrating that, at least in metallo-proteins, the downhill mechanism can be found under a much wider range of conditions and coupled to other different transitions. We also show that mutations of Ros87 zinc coordination sphere produces a different folding scenario demonstrating that the organization of the metal ion core is determinant in the folding process of this family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinaldo Grazioso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Ilaria Baglivo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Paolo Vincenzo Pedone
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Danilo Milardi
- Institute of Crystallography-CNR, Via Paolo Gaifami 18, 95126, Catania, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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7
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Substitution of the Native Zn(II) with Cd(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) Changes the Downhill Unfolding Mechanism of Ros87 to a Completely Different Scenario. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218285. [PMID: 33167398 PMCID: PMC7663847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural effects of zinc replacement by xenobiotic metal ions have been widely studied in several eukaryotic and prokaryotic zinc-finger-containing proteins. The prokaryotic zinc finger, that presents a bigger βββαα domain with a larger hydrophobic core with respect to its eukaryotic counterpart, represents a valuable model protein to study metal ion interaction with metallo-proteins. Several studies have been conducted on Ros87, the DNA binding domain of the prokaryotic zinc finger Ros, and have demonstrated that the domain appears to structurally tolerate Ni(II), albeit with important structural perturbations, but not Pb(II) and Hg(II), and it is in vitro functional when the zinc ion is replaced by Cd(II). We have previously shown that Ros87 unfolding is a two-step process in which a zinc binding intermediate converts to the native structure thorough a delicate downhill folding transition. Here, we explore the folding/unfolding behaviour of Ros87 coordinated to Co(II), Ni(II) or Cd(II), by UV-Vis, CD, DSC and NMR techniques. Interestingly, we show how the substitution of the native metal ion results in complete different folding scenarios. We found a two-state unfolding mechanism for Cd-Ros87 whose metal affinity Kd is comparable to the one obtained for the native Zn-Ros87, and a more complex mechanism for Co-Ros87 and Ni-Ros87, that show higher Kd values. Our data outline the complex cross-correlation between the protein-metal ion equilibrium and the folding mechanism proposing such an interplay as a key factor in the proper metal ion selection by a specific metallo-protein.
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8
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Pal A, Smith CI, Palade J, Nagaraju S, Alarcon-Benedetto BA, Kilbourne J, Rawls A, Wilson-Rawls J, Vernon BL, Nikkhah M. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based dual-crosslinking biohybrid injectable hydrogels for vascularization. Acta Biomater 2020; 107:138-151. [PMID: 32126310 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Injectable hydrogels provide a powerful and non-invasive approach for numerous applications in cell transplantation, growth factor delivery, tissue regeneration and so forth. The properties of injectable hydrogels should be well-tuned for specific applications, where their overall design should ensure biocompatibility, non-toxicity, robust mechanical properties, and most importantly the ability to promote vascularization and integration with the host tissue/organ. Among these criteria, vascularization remains a key design element in the development of functional therapeutic hydrogels for successful translation into clinical settings. To that end, there is still a critical need for the development of the next generation of injectable hydrogels with precisely tuned biophysical and biochemical properties which could simultaneously promote tissue vascularization. In this work, we developed a temperature responsive, dual-crosslinking, biohybrid hydrogels, modified with a vasculogenic peptide for applications in regenerative medicine, specifically tissue vascularization. The synthesized hydrogels consisted of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based copolymer, functionalized gelation and angiogenic VEGF-mimetic QK peptide with enhanced shear-thinning and injectability properties. QK peptide is a VEGF-mimetic vasculogenic peptide which binds to VEGF receptors and activates intercellular pathway for vascularization. Apart from the presence of QK peptide, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels were precisely tuned by altering the polymer concentration, enabling successful assembly and endothelial cell network formation. Extended in vitro studies demonstrated successful encapsulation and homogeneous distribution of endothelial cells within the three-dimensional (3D) environment of the hydrogel matrix with significantly enhanced vascularization in presence of the QK peptide as early as 3 days of culture. A small, preliminary in vivo study in mice showed a trend of increased blood vessel formation in hydrogels that incorporated the QK peptide. Overall, our study presents the design and characterization of injectable, dual-crosslinking and vasculogenic hydrogels with controlled properties which could be utilized for numerous applications in regenerative medicine, minimally invasive cell and drug delivery as well as fundamental studies on tissue vascularization and angiogenesis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this work, we synthesized a new class of temperature responsive, dual-crosslinking, biohybrid injectable hydrogels with enhanced vascularization properties for broad applications in regenerative medicine and minimally invasive cell/drug delivery. The developed hydrogels properly accommodated 3D culture, assembly and network formation of endothelial cells, as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Pal
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Cameron I Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joanna Palade
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Supriya Nagaraju
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Byron A Alarcon-Benedetto
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Kilbourne
- Department of Animal Care Technologies, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Alan Rawls
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Brent L Vernon
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
| | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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9
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Farina B, Del Gatto A, Comegna D, Di Gaetano S, Capasso D, Isernia C, Saviano M, Fattorusso R, Zaccaro L, Russo L. Conformational studies of RGDechi peptide by natural-abundance NMR spectroscopy. J Pept Sci 2019; 25:e3166. [PMID: 30884005 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Integrins are heterodimeric cell-surface proteins that play important roles during developmental and pathological processes. Diverse human pathologies involve integrin adhesion including thrombotic diseases, inflammation, tumour progression, fibrosis, and infectious diseases. Although in the past decade, novel integrin-inhibitor drugs have been developed for integrin-based medical applications, the structural determinants modulating integrin-ligands recognition mechanisms are still poorly understood, reducing the number of integrin subtype exclusive antagonists. In this scenario, we have very recently showed, by means of chemical and biological assays, that a chimeric peptide (named RGDechi), containing a cyclic RGD motif linked to an echistatin C-terminal fragment, is able to interact with the components of integrin family with variable affinities, the highest for αv β3. Here, in order to understand the mechanistic details driving the molecular recognition mechanism of αv β3 by RGDechi, we have performed a detailed structural and dynamics characterization of the free peptide by natural abundance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Our data indicate that RGDechi presents in solution an heterogeneous conformational ensemble characterized by a more constrained and rigid pentacyclic ring and a largely unstructured acyclic region. Moreover, we propose that the molecular recognition of αv β3 integrin by RGDechi occurs by a combination of conformational selection and induced fit mechanisms. Finally, our study indicates that a detailed NMR characterization, by means of natural abundance 15 N and 13 C, of a mostly unstructured bioactive peptide may provide the molecular basis to get essential structural insights into the binding mechanism to the biological partner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annarita Del Gatto
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Comegna
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Domenica Capasso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Laura Zaccaro
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Naples, Italy.,Interdepartmental Center of Bioactive Peptide, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
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10
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De Rosa L, Di Stasi R, D'Andrea LD. Pro-angiogenic peptides in biomedicine. Arch Biochem Biophys 2018; 660:72-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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VEGFR Recognition Interface of a Proangiogenic VEGF-Mimetic Peptide Determined In Vitro and in the Presence of Endothelial Cells by NMR Spectroscopy. Chemistry 2018; 24:11461-11466. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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12
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Young DA, Pimentel MB, Lima LD, Custodio AF, Lo WC, Chen SC, Teymour F, Papavasiliou G. Design and characterization of hydrogel nanoparticles with tunable network characteristics for sustained release of a VEGF-mimetic peptide. Biomater Sci 2018; 5:2079-2092. [PMID: 28744527 DOI: 10.1039/c7bm00359e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Peptides that mimic the bioactivity of growth factors are rapidly emerging as therapeutics for a variety of drug delivery applications including therapeutic neovascularization. Neovascularization requires controlled and sustained delivery of proangiogenic factors to stimulate reperfusion of ischemic tissues. To this end, hydrogel nanoparticles were designed to provide sustained and tunable diffusion-based release of a pro-angiogenic peptide, QK. Inverse phase mini-emulsion polymerization (IPMP) was used to generate crosslinked poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) hydrogel nanoparticles entrapped with the QK peptide. Peptide release kinetics were tuned through adjustments in nanoparticle crosslink density. This was achieved by altering the mole fraction of the crosslinking agent which allowed for the synthesis of low crosslink density (0.754 mmol cm-3) and high crosslink density (0.810 mmol cm-3) nanoparticles. Nanoparticle tracking analysis revealed narrow particle size distributions and similar particle sizes regardless of crosslink density (225 ± 75 nm and 233 ± 73 nm, for low and high crosslink density nanoparticles, respectively). The zeta potential was found to be -26 mV for blank nanoparticles and +4 mV in the case of QK-loaded nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticle crosslink density impacted both peptide loading as well as release kinetics. In terms of cumulative fractional release and weight of peptide released per mass of nanoparticle, higher crosslink density nanoparticles resulted in slower peptide release kinetics. The IPMP process preserved the QK secondary structure and its bioactivity as confirmed using circular dichroism spectroscopy and a Matrigel tubulogenesis assay, respectively, with released peptide. The presented nanoparticles hold great potential for use as drug delivery carriers for stimulation of therapeutic neovascularization of ischemic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Young
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Capasso D, Di Gaetano S, Celentano V, Diana D, Festa L, Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. Unveiling a VEGF-mimetic peptide sequence in the IQGAP1 protein. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2018; 13:1619-1629. [PMID: 28685787 DOI: 10.1039/c7mb00190h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The ability to modulate angiogenesis by chemical tools has several important applications in different scientific fields. With the perspective of finding novel proangiogenic molecules, we searched peptide sequences with a chemical profile similar to that of the QK peptide, a well described VEGF mimetic peptide. We found that residues 1617-1627 of the IQGAP1 protein show molecular features similar to those of the QK peptide sequence. The IQGAP1-derived synthetic peptide was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy and its biological activity was characterized in endothelial cells. These studies showed that this IQGAP1-derived peptide has a biological activity similar to that of VEGF and could be considered as a novel tool for reparative angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Capasso
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Napoli "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sonia Di Gaetano
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Veronica Celentano
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Luisa Festa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli, 80134, Italy.
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15
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Long range Trp-Trp interaction initiates the folding pathway of a pro-angiogenic β-hairpin peptide. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16651. [PMID: 26602442 PMCID: PMC4658480 DOI: 10.1038/srep16651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
HPLW, a designed VEGF (Vascular Endothelium Growth Factor) receptor-binding peptide, assumes a well folded β-hairpin conformation in water and is able to induce angiogenesis in vivo. In this study, we investigated at atomic resolution the thermal folding/unfolding pathway of HPLW by means of an original multi-technique approach combining DSC, NMR, MD and mutagenesis analyses. In particular, careful NMR investigation of the single proton melting temperatures together with DSC analysis accurately delineate the peptide folding mechanism, which is corroborated by computational folding/unfolding simulations. The HPLW folding process consists of two main events, which are successive but do not superimpose. The first folding step initiates at 320 K upon the hydrophobic collapse of the Trp5 and Trp13 side-chains which stabilizes the concurrent β-turn formation, whose COi-HNi + 3 hydrogen bond (Asp10 → Arg7) appears particularly stable. At 316 K, once the β-turn is completely formed, the two β-strands pair, very likely starting by Trp5 and Trp13, which thus play a key role also in the final step of the β-hairpin folding. Overall, here we describe a multi-state hierarchical folding pathway of a highly structured β-hairpin, which can be classified as a broken-zipper mechanism.
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Diana D, Russomanno A, De Rosa L, Di Stasi R, Capasso D, Di Gaetano S, Romanelli A, Russo L, D'Andrea LD, Fattorusso R. Functional binding surface of a β-hairpin VEGF receptor targeting peptide determined by NMR spectroscopy in living cells. Chemistry 2014; 21:91-5. [PMID: 25378243 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201403335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the functional interaction of HPLW peptide with VEGFR2 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2) was determined by using fast (15)N-edited NMR spectroscopic experiments. To this aim, (15)N uniformly labelled HPLW has been added to Porcine Aortic Endothelial Cells. The acquisition of isotope-edited NMR spectroscopic experiments, including (15)N relaxation measurements, allowed a precise characterization of the in-cell HPLW epitope recognized by VEGFR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, C.N.R., via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Napoli (Italy)
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17
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De Rosa L, Diana D, Basile A, Russomanno A, Isernia C, Turco MC, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. Design, structural and biological characterization of a VEGF inhibitor β-hairpin-constrained peptide. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 73:210-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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18
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Diana D, Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, Isernia C, D'Andrea LD, Fattorusso R. Structural investigation of the VEGF receptor interaction with a helical antagonist peptide. J Pept Sci 2013; 19:214-9. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Revised: 12/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16; Napoli; Italy
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16; Napoli; Italy
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16; Napoli; Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali; Seconda Università di Napoli; Via Vivaldi 43; Caserta; Italy
| | - Luca D. D'Andrea
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16; Napoli; Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali; Seconda Università di Napoli; Via Vivaldi 43; Caserta; Italy
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Ali AM, Woolley GA. The effect of azobenzene cross-linker position on the degree of helical peptide photo-control. Org Biomol Chem 2013; 11:5325-31. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob40684a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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20
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C-terminal truncation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mimetic helical peptide preserves structural and receptor binding properties. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 424:290-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.06.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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21
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Finetti F, Basile A, Capasso D, Di Gaetano S, Di Stasi R, Pascale M, Turco CM, Ziche M, Morbidelli L, D'Andrea LD. Functional and pharmacological characterization of a VEGF mimetic peptide on reparative angiogenesis. Biochem Pharmacol 2012; 84:303-11. [PMID: 22554565 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Revised: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Low molecular weight molecules able to stimulate angiogenesis have interesting medical application for example in regenerative medicine, but at present none has reached the clinic. We reported that a VEGF mimetic helical peptide, QK, designed on the VEGF helix sequence 17-25, is able to bind and activate the VEGF receptors, producing angiogenesis. In this study we evaluate the pharmacological properties of peptide QK with the aim to propose it as a VEGF-mimetic drug to be employed in reparative angiogenesis. We show that the peptide QK is able to recapitulate all the biological activities of VEGF in vivo and on endothelial cells. In experiments evaluating sprouting from aortic ring and vessel formation in an in vivo angiogenesis model, the peptide QK showed biological effects comparable with VEGF. At endothelial level, the peptide up-regulates VEGF receptor expression, activates intracellular pathways depending on VEGFR2, and consistently it induces endothelial cell proliferation, survival and migration. When added to angiogenic factors (VEGF and/or FGF-2), QK produces an improved biological action, which resulted in reduced apoptosis and accelerated in vitro wound healing. The VEGF-like activity of the short peptide QK, characterized by lower cost of production and easier handling compared to the native glycoprotein, suggests that it is an attractive candidate to be further developed for application in therapeutic angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Finetti
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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22
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Pandey PR, Roy S. Distinctions in early stage unwinding mechanisms of zwitterionic, capped, and neutral forms of different α-helical homopolymeric peptides. J Phys Chem B 2012; 116:4731-40. [PMID: 22448707 DOI: 10.1021/jp301556x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations of α-helical polyalanine, polyleucine, polylysine, and poly(glutamic acid) with different forms of terminal groups in water at 300 K showed sharp distinctions in their unwinding mechanisms. Zwitterionic, capped, and neutral forms of polyalanine, polyleucine, and polylysine have been explored to elucidate their unwinding mechanism at very early stage, e.g., initial time window. Role of water in the unwinding mechanisms of the various helices has been envisaged. Also, it is evident from our calculations that the short- and long-range nonbonded interactions among the side chains is an important factor determining the unwinding mechanisms of the various homopolymeric α-helices. These findings can be helpful in constructing predictive models for understanding of the unwinding of α-helical proteins and peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithvi Raj Pandey
- Physical Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory , Pune 411008, India
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Celentano V, Diana D, De Rosa L, Romanelli A, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. β-Hairpin stabilization through an interstrand triazole bridge. Chem Commun (Camb) 2011; 48:762-4. [PMID: 22134485 DOI: 10.1039/c1cc16017f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
β-Hairpin peptides were conformationally stabilized through a 1,4 disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole interstrand linkage. A NMR conformational analysis revealed that the β-hairpin content depends on the number and position of substituent methylene units of the 1,2,3-triazole ring. These results will allow the design of metabolically stable peptidomimetic analogs of bioactive β-hairpin peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Celentano
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Napoli, Italy
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24
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Diana D, Basile A, De Rosa L, Di Stasi R, Auriemma S, Arra C, Pedone C, Turco MC, Fattorusso R, D'Andrea LD. β-hairpin peptide that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors: design, NMR characterization, and biological activity. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:41680-41691. [PMID: 21969375 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.257402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
VEGF receptors have been the target of intense research aimed to develop molecules able to inhibit or stimulate angiogenesis. Based on the x-ray structure of the complex placental growth factor-VEGF receptor 1(D2), we designed a VEGF receptor-binding peptide reproducing the placental growth factor β-hairpin region Gln(87)-Val(100) that is involved in receptor recognition. A conformational analysis showed that the designed peptide adopts the expected fold in pure water. Moreover, a combination of NMR interaction analysis and cell binding studies were used to demonstrate that the peptide targets VEGF receptors. The VEGF receptor 1(D2)-interacting residues were characterized at the molecular level, and they correspond to the residues recognizing the placental growth factor sequence Gln(87)-Val(100). Finally, the peptide biological activity was characterized in vitro and in vivo, and it showed a VEGF-like behavior. Indeed, the peptide activated VEGF-dependent intracellular pathways, induced endothelial cell proliferation and rescue from apoptosis, and promoted angiogenesis in vivo. This compound is one of the few peptides known with proangiogenic activity, which makes it a candidate for the development of a novel peptide-based drug for medical applications in therapeutic angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Anna Basile
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche e Biomediche, Università di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Auriemma
- Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Università di Napoli "Federico II," via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Claudio Arra
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale," via Mariano Semmola 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carlo Pedone
- Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Università di Napoli "Federico II," via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Turco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche e Biomediche, Università di Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Seconda Università di Napoli, via Antonio Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Luca Domenico D'Andrea
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
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25
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Pandey PR, Roy S. Early stages of unwinding of zwitterionic α-helical homopolymeric peptides. Chem Phys Lett 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2011.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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26
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Basile A, Del Gatto A, Diana D, Di Stasi R, Falco A, Festa M, Rosati A, Barbieri A, Franco R, Arra C, Pedone C, Fattorusso R, Turco MC, D’Andrea LD. Characterization of a Designed Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Antagonist Helical Peptide with Antiangiogenic Activity in Vivo. J Med Chem 2011; 54:1391-400. [DOI: 10.1021/jm101435r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Basile
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno and BioUniverSA SRL, Salerno, Italy
| | - Annarita Del Gatto
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Donatella Diana
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonia Falco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno and BioUniverSA SRL, Salerno, Italy
| | - Michelina Festa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno and BioUniverSA SRL, Salerno, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rosati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno and BioUniverSA SRL, Salerno, Italy
| | - Antonio Barbieri
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Renato Franco
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Claudio Arra
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Carlo Pedone
- Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Seconda Università di Napoli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Turco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno and BioUniverSA SRL, Salerno, Italy
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