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Su RL, Cao XW, Zhao J, Wang FJ. A high hydrophobic moment arginine-rich peptide screened by a machine learning algorithm enhanced ADC antitumor activity. J Pept Sci 2024:e3628. [PMID: 38950972 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3628] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) with better biomolecule delivery properties will expand their clinical applications. Using the MLCPP2.0 machine algorithm, we screened multiple candidate sequences with potential cellular uptake ability from the nuclear localization signal/nuclear export signal database and verified them through cell-penetrating fluorescent tracing experiments. A peptide (NCR) derived from the Rev protein of the caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus exhibited efficient cell-penetrating activity, delivering over four times more EGFP than the classical CPP TAT, allowing it to accumulate in lysosomes. Structural and property analysis revealed that a high hydrophobic moment and an appropriate hydrophobic region contribute to the high delivery activity of NCR. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, could improve its anti-tumor activity by enhancing targeted delivery efficiency and increasing lysosomal drug delivery. This study designed a new NCR vector to non-covalently bind T-DM1 by fusing domain Z, which can specifically bind to the Fc region of immunoglobulin G and effectively deliver T-DM1 to lysosomes. MTT results showed that the domain Z-NCR vector significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of T-DM1 against HER2-positive tumor cells while maintaining drug specificity. Our results make a useful attempt to explore the potential application of CPP as a lysosome-targeted delivery tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Long Su
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Wei Cao
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- ECUST-FONOW Joint Research Center for Innovative Medicines, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- ECUST-FONOW Joint Research Center for Innovative Medicines, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Jun Wang
- ECUST-FONOW Joint Research Center for Innovative Medicines, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- New Drug R&D Center, Zhejiang Fonow Medicine Co., Ltd., Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Chen K, Stahl EC, Kang MH, Xu B, Allen R, Trinidad M, Doudna JA. Engineering self-deliverable ribonucleoproteins for genome editing in the brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1727. [PMID: 38409124 PMCID: PMC10897210 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45998-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for genome editing in vitro and in vivo has important advantages over other delivery methods, including reduced off-target and immunogenic effects. However, effective delivery of RNPs remains challenging in certain cell types due to low efficiency and cell toxicity. To address these issues, we engineer self-deliverable RNPs that can promote efficient cellular uptake and carry out robust genome editing without the need for helper materials or biomolecules. Screening of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) fused to CRISPR-Cas9 protein identifies potent constructs capable of efficient genome editing of neural progenitor cells. Further engineering of these fusion proteins establishes a C-terminal Cas9 fusion with three copies of A22p, a peptide derived from human semaphorin-3a, that exhibits substantially improved editing efficacy compared to other constructs. We find that self-deliverable Cas9 RNPs generate robust genome edits in clinically relevant genes when injected directly into the mouse striatum. Overall, self-deliverable Cas9 proteins provide a facile and effective platform for genome editing in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stahl
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Min Hyung Kang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bryant Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Allen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Chen K, Stahl EC, Kang MH, Xu B, Allen R, Trinidad M, Doudna JA. Engineering self-deliverable ribonucleoproteins for genome editing in the brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.15.567251. [PMID: 38014180 PMCID: PMC10680703 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.15.567251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for genome editing in vitro and in vivo has important advantages over other delivery methods, including reduced off-target and immunogenic effects 1 . However, effective delivery of RNPs remains challenging in certain cell types due to low efficiency and cell toxicity. To address these issues, we engineered self-deliverable RNPs that can promote efficient cellular uptake and carry out robust genome editing without the need for helper materials or biomolecules. Screening of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) fused to CRISPR-Cas9 protein identified potent constructs capable of efficient genome editing of neural progenitor cells. Further engineering of these fusion proteins identified a C-terminal Cas9 fusion with three copies of A22p, a peptide derived from human semaphorin-3a, that exhibited substantially improved editing efficacy compared to other constructs. We found that self-deliverable Cas9 RNPs generated robust genome edits in clinically relevant genes when injected directly into the mouse striatum. Overall, self-deliverable Cas9 proteins provide a facile and effective platform for genome editing in vitro and in vivo .
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Lei J, Zhao J, Long MYC, Cao XW, Wang FJ. In addition to its endosomal escape effect, platycodin D also synergizes with ribosomal inactivation protein to induce apoptosis in hepatoma cells through AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 364:110058. [PMID: 35872048 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Efficient endosomal escape after cellular uptake is a major challenge for the clinical application of therapeutic proteins. To overcome this obstacle, several strategies have been used to help protein drugs escape from endosomes without affecting the integrity of the cell membrane. Among them, some triterpenoid saponins with special structures were used to greatly enhance the anti-tumor therapeutic effect of protein toxins. Herein, we demonstrated that platycodin D (PD), polygalacin D (PGD) and platycodin D2 (PD2) from Platycodonis Radix significantly enhanced the ability of MHBP (a type I ribosome-inactivating protein toxin MAP30 fused with a cell-penetrating peptide HBP) to induce apoptosis in hepatoma cells. Based on the results of co-localization of endocytosed EGFP-HBP with a lysosomal probe and Galectin-9 vesicle membrane damage sensor, we demonstrated that PD, PGD and PD2 have the ability to promote endosomal escape of endocytic proteins without affecting the integrity of the plasma membrane. Meanwhile, we observed that cholesterol metabolism plays an important role in the activity of PD by RNA-seq analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and confirm that PD, PGD and PD2 enhance the anti-tumor activity of MHBP by inducing the redistribution of free cholesterol and inhibiting the activity of cathepsin B and cathepsin D. Finally, we found that PD synergized with MHBP to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis through inhibiting Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways and activating JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. This study provides new insights into the application of PD in cancer therapy and provides efficient and promising strategies for the cytosolic delivery of therapeutic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lei
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Meng-Yi-Chen Long
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xue-Wei Cao
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Fu-Jun Wang
- New Drug R&D Center, Zhejiang Fonow Medicine Co., Ltd. 209 West Hulian Road, Dongyang, 322100, Zhejiang, China; Shanghai R&D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Wei Y, Zhang C, Zhang M, Niu Q, Hui F, Liu Z, Xu X. Insight of Synergistic Effect between CPP and Cargo on the Facilitation Mechanisms of R7-PTX Translocation: Experiments and Molecular Simulations. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 161:105790. [PMID: 33689859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105790] [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: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In our previous study, a novel cell penetrating peptide (CPP) R7 (Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Trp-Trp, RRRRRWW) has been developed to help cellular internalization of paclitaxel (PTX) through the non-covalent interaction with CPP. However, the facilitation mechanism of R7 mediated PTX translocation is not clear. Here the uptake pathways of R7 and R7-PTX were investigated by in vitro test and molecular simulations. In vitro experiments reveal that both R7 and R7-PTX complex translocate through the direct translocation and clathrin mediated endocytosis and associate with the macropinocytosis pathway at high CPP concentration. The translocation of R7(0.1 mM)-PTX complex further involves the lipid raft/caveolae mediated endocytosis. The simulation results show that the synergistic effect between R7 and PTX not only changes the penetration energy barrier but also activates the macropinocytosis and lipid raft/caveolae mediated pathway, resulting in the improvement in the translocation. The presence of heparin also improves the R7 and R7-PTX translocation. These studies provide a theoretical basis for understanding PTX delivery facilitated by the synergistic effect between CPP and cargo and paves a way for CPP design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Wei
- School of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan Province, 473061, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P.R. China
| | - Caiying Zhang
- School of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan Province, 473061, P.R. China
| | - Man Zhang
- School of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan Province, 473061, P.R. China; Department of Oncology, Nanyang First People's Hospital, Henan Province, 473002, P.R. China
| | - Qionghong Niu
- School of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan Province, 473061, P.R. China
| | - Fengli Hui
- School of Life Science and Agricultural Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan Province, 473061, P.R. China
| | - Zi Liu
- Biochemical Engineering Research Centre, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, 243032, P.R. China; Department of Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, 243032, P.R. China
| | - Xia Xu
- Biochemical Engineering Research Centre, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, 243032, P.R. China; Department of Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan, Anhui Province, 243032, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P.R. China.
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Effective Therapeutic Drug Delivery by GALA3, an Endosomal Escape Peptide with Reduced Hydrophobicity. J Membr Biol 2020; 253:139-152. [DOI: 10.1007/s00232-020-00109-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Cao XW, Wang FJ, Liew OW, Lu YZ, Zhao J. Analysis of Triterpenoid Saponins Reveals Insights into Structural Features Associated with Potent Protein Drug Enhancement Effects. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:683-694. [PMID: 31913047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b01158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based saponins are amphipathic glycosides composed of a hydrophobic aglycone backbone covalently bound to one or more hydrophilic sugar moieties. Recently, the endosomal escape activity of triterpenoid saponins has been investigated as a potentially powerful tool for improved cytosolic penetration of protein drugs internalized by endocytic uptake, thereby greatly enhancing their pharmacological effects. However, only a few saponins have been studied, and the paucity in understanding the structure-activity relationship of saponins imposes significant limitations on their applications. To address this knowledge gap, 12 triterpenoid saponins with diverse structural side chains were screened for their utility as endosomolytic agents. These compounds were used in combination with a toxin (MAP30-HBP) comprising a type I ribosome-inactivating protein fused to a cell-penetrating peptide. Suitability of saponins as endosomolytic agents was assessed on the basis of cytotoxicity, endosomal escape promotion, and synergistic effects on toxins. Five saponins showed strong endosomal escape activity, enhancing MAP30-HBP cytotoxicity by more than 106 to 109 folds. These saponins also enhanced the apoptotic effect of MAP30-HBP in a pH-dependent manner. Additionally, growth inhibition of MAP30-HBP-treated SMMC-7721 cells was greater than that of similarly treated HeLa cells, suggesting that saponin-mediated endosomolytic effect is likely to be cell-specific. Furthermore, the structural features and hydrophobicity of the sugar side chains were analyzed to draw correlations with endosomal escape activity and derive predictive rules, thus providing new insights into structure-activity relationships of saponins. This study revealed new saponins that can potentially be exploited as efficient cytosolic delivery reagents for improved therapeutic drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Wei Cao
- Department of Applied Biology , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai 200237 , China
| | - Fu-Jun Wang
- New Drug R&D Center , Zhejiang Fonow Medicine Company, Ltd. , 209 West Hulian Road , Dongyang 322100 , Zhejiang , China.,Shanghai R&D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines , 1200 Cailun Road , Shanghai 201203 , China.,Institute of Chinese Materia , Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , 1200 Cailun Road , Shanghai 201203 , China
| | - Oi-Wah Liew
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System , Centre for Translational Medicine , MD6#08-01, 14 Medical Drive , 117599 , Singapore
| | - Ye-Zhou Lu
- Department of Applied Biology , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai 200237 , China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Applied Biology , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai 200237 , China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai 200237 , China
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Enhanced anticancer effect of MAP30–S3 by cyclosproin A through endosomal escape. Anticancer Drugs 2018; 29:736-747. [DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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