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Shahpasand-Kroner H, Siddique I, Malik R, Linares GR, Ivanova MI, Ichida J, Weil T, Münch J, Sanchez-Garcia E, Klärner FG, Schrader T, Bitan G. Molecular Tweezers: Supramolecular Hosts with Broad-Spectrum Biological Applications. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:263-308. [PMID: 36549866 PMCID: PMC9976797 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine-selective molecular tweezers (MTs) are supramolecular host molecules displaying a remarkably broad spectrum of biologic activities. MTs act as inhibitors of the self-assembly and toxicity of amyloidogenic proteins using a unique mechanism. They destroy viral membranes and inhibit infection by enveloped viruses, such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, by mechanisms unrelated to their action on protein self-assembly. They also disrupt biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria. The efficacy and safety of MTs have been demonstrated in vitro, in cell culture, and in vivo, suggesting that these versatile compounds are attractive therapeutic candidates for various diseases, infections, and injuries. A lead compound called CLR01 has been shown to inhibit the aggregation of various amyloidogenic proteins, facilitate their clearance in vivo, prevent infection by multiple viruses, display potent anti-biofilm activity, and have a high safety margin in animal models. The inhibitory effect of CLR01 against amyloidogenic proteins is highly specific to abnormal self-assembly of amyloidogenic proteins with no disruption of normal mammalian biologic processes at the doses needed for inhibition. Therapeutic effects of CLR01 have been demonstrated in animal models of proteinopathies, lysosomal-storage diseases, and spinal-cord injury. Here we review the activity and mechanisms of action of these intriguing compounds and discuss future research directions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Molecular tweezers are supramolecular host molecules with broad biological applications, including inhibition of abnormal protein aggregation, facilitation of lysosomal clearance of toxic aggregates, disruption of viral membranes, and interference of biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria. This review discusses the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of the molecular tweezers, including the discovery of distinct mechanisms acting in vitro and in vivo, and the application of these compounds in multiple preclinical disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedieh Shahpasand-Kroner
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ibrar Siddique
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ravinder Malik
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gabriel R Linares
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tatjana Weil
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elsa Sanchez-Garcia
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Frank-Gerrit Klärner
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schrader
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine (H.S.-K., I.S., R.M., G.B.), Brain Research Institute (G.B.), and Molecular Biology Institute (G.B.), University of California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (G.R.L., J.I.); Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (M.I.I.); Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany (T.W., J.M.); and Department of Computational Biochemistry (E.S.-G.) and Faculty of Chemistry (F-G.K., T.S.), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Meiners A, Bäcker S, Hadrović I, Heid C, Beuck C, Ruiz-Blanco YB, Mieres-Perez J, Pörschke M, Grad JN, Vallet C, Hoffmann D, Bayer P, Sánchez-García E, Schrader T, Knauer SK. Specific inhibition of the Survivin-CRM1 interaction by peptide-modified molecular tweezers. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1505. [PMID: 33686072 PMCID: PMC7940618 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Survivin's dual function as apoptosis inhibitor and regulator of cell proliferation is mediated via its interaction with the export receptor CRM1. This protein-protein interaction represents an attractive target in cancer research and therapy. Here, we report a sophisticated strategy addressing Survivin's nuclear export signal (NES), the binding site of CRM1, with advanced supramolecular tweezers for lysine and arginine. These were covalently connected to small peptides resembling the natural, self-complementary dimer interface which largely overlaps with the NES. Several biochemical methods demonstrated sequence-selective NES recognition and interference with the critical receptor interaction. These data were strongly supported by molecular dynamics simulations and multiscale computational studies. Rational design of lysine tweezers equipped with a peptidic recognition element thus allowed to address a previously unapproachable protein surface area. As an experimental proof-of-principle for specific transport signal interference, this concept should be transferable to any protein epitope with a flanking well-accessible lysine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Meiners
- Department of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sandra Bäcker
- Department of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Inesa Hadrović
- Institute of Organic Chemistry I, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Heid
- Institute of Organic Chemistry I, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christine Beuck
- Department of Structural and Medicinal Biology, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yasser B Ruiz-Blanco
- Department of Computational Biochemistry, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Joel Mieres-Perez
- Department of Computational Biochemistry, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Marius Pörschke
- Department of Structural and Medicinal Biology, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jean-Noël Grad
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Cecilia Vallet
- Department of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Hoffmann
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biophysics, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Peter Bayer
- Department of Structural and Medicinal Biology, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elsa Sánchez-García
- Department of Computational Biochemistry, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Schrader
- Institute of Organic Chemistry I, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Shirley K Knauer
- Department of Molecular Biology II, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Mason AJ, Hurst I, Malik R, Siddique I, Solomonov I, Sagi I, Klärner FG, Schrader T, Bitan G. Different Inhibitors of Aβ42-Induced Toxicity Have Distinct Metal-Ion Dependency. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2243-2255. [PMID: 32559370 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00192] [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] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligomers of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) are thought to be the proximal toxic agents initiating the neuropathologic process in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, targeting the self-assembly and oligomerization of Aβ has been an important strategy for designing AD therapeutics. In parallel, research into the metallobiology of AD has shown that Zn2+ can strongly modulate the aggregation of Aβ in vitro and both promote and inhibit the neurotoxicity of Aβ, depending on the experimental conditions. Thus, successful inhibitors of Aβ self-assembly may have to inhibit the toxicity not only of Aβ oligomers themselves but also of Aβ-Zn2+ complexes. However, there has been relatively little research investigating the effects of Aβ self-assembly and toxicity inhibitors in the presence of Zn2+. Our group has characterized previously a series of Aβ42 C-terminal fragments (CTFs), some of which have been shown to inhibit Aβ oligomerization and neurotoxicity. Here, we asked whether three CTFs shown to be potent inhibitors of Aβ42 toxicity maintained their activity in the presence of Zn2+. Biophysical analysis showed that the CTFs had different effects on oligomer, β-sheet, and fibril formation by Aβ42-Zn2+ complexes. However, cell viability experiments in differentiated PC-12 cells incubated with Aβ42-Zn2+ complexes in the absence or presence of these CTFs showed that the CTFs completely lost their inhibitory activity in the presence of Zn2+ even when applied at 10-fold excess relative to Aβ42. In light of these results, we tested another inhibitor, the molecular tweezer CLR01, which coincidentally had been shown to have a high affinity for Zn2+, suggesting that it could disrupt both Aβ42 oligomerization and Aβ42-Zn2+ complexation. Indeed, we found that CLR01 effectively inhibited the toxicity of Aβ42-Zn2+ complexes. Moreover, it did so at a lower concentration than needed for inhibiting the toxicity of Aβ42 alone. In agreement with these results, CLR01 inhibited β-sheet and fibril formation in Aβ42-Zn2+ complexes. Our data suggest that, for the development of efficient therapeutic agents, inhibitors of Aβ self-assembly and toxicity should be examined in the presence of relevant metal ions and that molecular tweezers may be particularly attractive candidates for therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J. Mason
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Ian Hurst
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Ravinder Malik
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Ibrar Siddique
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Inna Solomonov
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Irit Sagi
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Frank-Gerrit Klärner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45117, Germany
| | - Thomas Schrader
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45117, Germany
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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Liu Y, Pan T, Fang Y, Ma N, Qiao S, Zhao L, Wang R, Wang T, Li X, Jiang X, Shen F, Luo Q, Liu J. Construction of Smart Glutathione S-Transferase via Remote Optically Controlled Supramolecular Switches. ACS Catal 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b02821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Tiezheng Pan
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
- School
of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi
West Road, Xi’an, 710072, China
| | - Yu Fang
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ningning Ma
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Shanpeng Qiao
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Linlu Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Ruidi Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xiumei Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Xiaojia Jiang
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Fangzhong Shen
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Quan Luo
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Junqiu Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Road, Changchun, 130012, China
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