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Stackpole BJ, Fredericksen JM, Brasch NE. Exploring the potential of the vitamin B 12 derivative azidocobalamin to undergo Huisgen 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 254:112504. [PMID: 38412777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112504] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in using the metalloprotein cofactor vitamin B12 as a vehicle to deliver drugs and diagnostic agents into mammalian or bacterial cells by exploiting the B12-specific active uptake pathways. Conjugation of the cargo via the β-axial site or the 5'-OH of the ribose of the nucleotide are the most desirable sites, to maximise intracellular uptake. Herein we show the potential of conjugation at the beta-azido ligand of the vitamin B12 derivative azidocobalamin via a click-type azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (Huisgen cycloaddition) reaction. Reacting azidocobalamin with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate at 40 °C results in essentially stoichiometric conversion of azidocobalamin to the corresponding triazolato complex. The stability of the complex as a function of pH and in the presence of cyanide were investigated. The complex is stable in pD 7.0 phosphate buffer for 24 h. The rate of beta-axial ligand substitution was found to be one order of magnitude slower for the triazolatocobalamin complex compared with azidocobalamin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Stackpole
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; The Dodd-Walls Centre for Quantum and Photonic Technologies, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Jessica M Fredericksen
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; The Dodd-Walls Centre for Quantum and Photonic Technologies, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Nicola E Brasch
- School of Science, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; The Dodd-Walls Centre for Quantum and Photonic Technologies, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
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Liles A, Cham N, Opp ML, Tinsley IC, Chepurny OG, Holz GG, Doyle RP. Corrination mitigates peptide aggregation as exemplified for Glucagon. Peptides 2024; 171:171134. [PMID: 38092266 PMCID: PMC10842878 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2023.171134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical development of glucagon for use in acute hypoglycemia has proved challenging, due in large part to poor solubility, poor stability and aggregate formation. Herein, we describe highly soluble, low aggregating, glucagon conjugates generated through use of the commercially available vitamin B12 precursor dicyanocobinamide ('corrination'), which retain full stimulatory action at the human glucagon receptor. The modified glucagon analogs were tested in a chemical stability assay in 50 mM phosphate buffer and the percentage of original concentration retained was determined after two weeks of incubation at 37° C. Aggregate formation assays were also performed after 48 h of agitation at 37°C using a thioflavin (ThT) fluorescence-based assay. All corrinated compounds retained original concentration to a higher degree than glucagon controls and showed markedly decreased aggregation compared to their respective noncorrinated analogues. Based on the statistically significant increase in chemical stability coupled with the notably decreased tendency to form aggregates, analogues 2 and its corrinated conjugate 5 were used for a functional assay study performed after agitation at 37°C for 24-hr after which agonism was measured at the human glucagon receptor using a cAMP FRET assay. Corrinated 5 exhibited a 6.6-fold increased potency relative to glucagon, which was shown to have a 165-fold reduction in potency. The relative potency of 5 was also improved compared to that of 2 with EC50 values of 5.5 nM and 9.6 nM for 5 and 2, respectively. In conclusion, corrination of peptides mitigates aggregation, presenting a compound with prolonged stability and agonism as demonstrated for glucagon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Liles
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - Nancy Cham
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - Morgan L Opp
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - Ian C Tinsley
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
| | - Oleg G Chepurny
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - George G Holz
- Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States; Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Robert P Doyle
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, United States; Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States; Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States.
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Lennon SR, Wierzba AJ, Siwik SH, Gryko D, Palmer AE, Batey RT. Targeting Riboswitches with Beta-Axial-Substituted Cobalamins. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:1136-1147. [PMID: 37094176 PMCID: PMC10395008 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00939] [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: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
RNA-targeting small-molecule therapeutics is an emerging field hindered by an incomplete understanding of the basic principles governing RNA-ligand interactions. One way to advance our knowledge in this area is to study model systems where these interactions are better understood, such as riboswitches. Riboswitches bind a wide array of small molecules with high affinity and selectivity, providing a wealth of information on how RNA recognizes ligands through diverse structures. The cobalamin-sensing riboswitch is a particularly useful model system, as similar sequences show highly specialized binding preferences for different biological forms of cobalamin. This riboswitch is also widely dispersed across bacteria and therefore holds strong potential as an antibiotic target. Many synthetic cobalamin forms have been developed for various purposes including therapeutics, but their interaction with cobalamin riboswitches is yet to be explored. In this study, we characterize the interactions of 11 cobalamin derivatives with three representative cobalamin riboswitches using in vitro binding experiments (both chemical footprinting and a fluorescence-based assay) and a cell-based reporter assay. The derivatives show productive interactions with two of the three riboswitches, demonstrating simultaneous plasticity and selectivity within these RNAs. The observed plasticity is partially achieved through a novel structural rearrangement within the ligand binding pocket, providing insight into how similar RNA structures can be targeted. As the derivatives also show in vivo functionality, they serve as several potential lead compounds for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby R. Lennon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
| | - Aleksandra J. Wierzba
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303 – 0596, USA
| | - Shea H. Siwik
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
| | - Dorota Gryko
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Amy E. Palmer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303 – 0596, USA
| | - Robert T. Batey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0596, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra J. Wierzba
- Institute of Organic ChemistryPolish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44/52 01-224 Warsaw Poland
| | - Sidra Hassan
- Institute of Organic ChemistryPolish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44/52 01-224 Warsaw Poland
| | - Dorota Gryko
- Institute of Organic ChemistryPolish Academy of Sciences Kasprzaka 44/52 01-224 Warsaw Poland
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Mutti E, Hunger M, Fedosov S, Nexo E, Kräutler B. Organometallic DNA-B 12 Conjugates as Potential Oligonucleotide Vectors: Synthesis and Structural and Binding Studies with Human Cobalamin-Transport Proteins. Chembiochem 2017; 18:2280-2291. [PMID: 28881087 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and structural characterization of Co-(dN)25 -Cbl (Cbl: cobalamin; dN: deoxynucleotide) and Co-(dN)39 -Cbl, which are organometallic DNA-B12 conjugates with single DNA strands consisting of 25 and 39 deoxynucleotides, respectively, and binding studies of these two DNA-Cbl conjugates to three homologous human Cbl transporting proteins, transcobalamin (TC), intrinsic factor (IF), and haptocorrin (HC), are reported. This investigation tests the suitability of such DNA-Cbls for the task of eventual in vivo oligonucleotide delivery. The binding of DNA-Cbl to TC, IF, and HC was investigated in competition with either a fluorescent Cbl derivative and Co-(dN)25 -Cbl, or radiolabeled vitamin B12 (57 Co-CNCbl) and Co-(dN)25 -Cbl or Co-(dN)39 -Cbl. Binding of the new DNA-Cbl conjugates was fast and tight with TC, but poorer with HC and IF, which extends a similar original finding with the simpler DNA-Cbl, Co-(dN)18 -Cbl. The contrasting affinities of TC versus IF and HC for the DNA-Cbl conjugates are rationalized herein by a stepwise mechanism of Cbl binding. Critical contributions to overall affinity result from gradual conformational adaptations of the Cbl-binding proteins to the DNA-Cbl, which is first bound to the respective β domains. This transition is fast with TC, but slow with IF and HC, with which weaker binding results. The invariably tight interaction of the DNA-Cbl conjugates with TC makes the Cbl moiety a potential natural vector for the specific delivery of oligonucleotide loads from the blood into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Mutti
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Miriam Hunger
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sergey Fedosov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Science Park Gustav WiedsVej 10C, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Ebba Nexo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Bernhard Kräutler
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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