Synthesis of stabilized alpha-helical peptides

Engineering defensin α‐helix to produce high‐affinity SARS‐CoV ‐2 spike protein binding ligands

The binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike protein to the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expressed on the host cells is a critical initial step for viral infection. This interaction is blocked through competitive inhibition by soluble ACE2 protein. Therefore, developing high‐affinity and cost‐effective ACE2 mimetic ligands that disrupt this protein–protein interaction is a promising strategy for viral diagnostics and therapy. We employed human and plant defensins, a class of small (2–5 kDa) and highly stable proteins containing solvent‐exposed alpha‐helix, conformationally constrained by two disulfide bonds. Therefore, we engineered the amino acid residues on the constrained alpha‐helix of defensins to mimic the critical residues on the ACE2 helix 1 that interact with the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein. The engineered proteins (h‐deface2, p‐deface2, and p‐deface2‐MUT) were soluble and purified to homogeneity with a high yield from a bacterial expression system. The proteins demonstrated exceptional thermostability (Tm 70.7°C), high‐affinity binding to the spike protein with apparent K_d values of 54.4 ± 11.3, 33.5 ± 8.2, and 14.4 ± 3.5 nM for h‐deface2, p‐deface2, and p‐deface2‐MUT, respectively, and were used in a diagnostic assay that detected SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibodies. This work addresses the challenge of developing helical ACE2 mimetics by demonstrating that defensins provide promising scaffolds to engineer alpha‐helices in a constrained form for designing of high‐affinity ligands.

Macrocyclization strategies for cyclic peptides and peptidomimetics

Peptides are a growing therapeutic class due to their unique spatial characteristics that can target traditionally "undruggable" protein-protein interactions and surfaces. Despite their advantages, peptides must overcome several key shortcomings to be considered as drug leads, including their high conformational flexibility and susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage. As a general approach for overcoming these challenges, macrocyclization of a linear peptide can usually improve these characteristics. Their synthetic accessibility makes peptide macrocycles very attractive, though traditional synthetic methods for macrocyclization can be challenging for peptides, especially for head-to-tail cyclization. This review provides an updated summary of the available macrocyclization chemistries, such as traditional lactam formation, azide-alkyne cycloadditions, ring-closing metathesis as well as unconventional cyclization reactions, and it is structured according to the obtained functional groups. Keeping peptide chemistry and screening in mind, the focus is given to reactions applicable in solution, on solid supports, and compatible with contemporary screening methods.

Stereoselective synthesis of macrocyclic peptides via a dual olefin metathesis and ethenolysis approach

Macrocyclic compounds occupy an important chemical space between small molecules and biologics and are prevalent in many natural products and pharmaceuticals. The growing interest in macrocycles has been fueled, in part, by the design of novel synthetic methods to these compounds. One appealing strategy is ring-closing metathesis (RCM) that seeks to construct macrocycles from acyclic diene precursors using defined transition-metal alkylidene catalysts. Despite its broad utility, RCM generally gives rise to a mixture of E- and Z-olefin isomers that can hinder efforts for the large-scale production and isolation of such complex molecules. To address this issue, we aimed to develop methods that can selectively enrich macrocycles in E- or Z-olefin isomers using an RCM/ethenolysis strategy. The utility of this methodology was demonstrated in the stereoselective formation of macrocyclic peptides, a class of compounds that have gained prominence as therapeutics in drug discovery. Herein, we report an assessment of various factors that promote catalyst-directed RCM and ethenolysis on a variety of peptide substrates by varying the olefin type, peptide sequence, and placement of the olefin in macrocycle formation. These methods allow for control over olefin geometry in peptides, facilitating their isolation and characterization. The studies outlined in this report seek to expand the scope of stereoselective olefin metathesis in general RCM.