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Willardiine and Its Synthetic Analogues: Biological Aspects and Implications in Peptide Chemistry of This Nucleobase Amino Acid. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15101243. [PMID: 36297355 PMCID: PMC9611319 DOI: 10.3390/ph15101243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Willardiine is a nonprotein amino acid containing uracil, and thus classified as nucleobase amino acid or nucleoamino acid, that together with isowillardiine forms the family of uracilylalanines isolated more than six decades ago in higher plants. Willardiine acts as a partial agonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors and more in particular it agonizes the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptors of L-glutamate: ie. the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors. Several analogues and derivatives of willardiine have been synthesised in the laboratory in the last decades and these compounds show different binding affinities for the non-NMDA receptors. More in detail, the willardiine analogues have been employed not only in the investigation of the structure of AMPA and kainate receptors, but also to evaluate the effects of receptor activation in the various brain regions. Remarkably, there are a number of neurological diseases determined by alterations in glutamate signaling, and thus, ligands for AMPA and kainate receptors deserve attention as potential neurodrugs. In fact, similar to willardiine its analogues often act as agonists of AMPA and kainate receptors. A particular importance should be recognized to willardiine and its thymine-based analogue AlaT also in the peptide chemistry field. In fact, besides the naturally-occurring short nucleopeptides isolated from plant sources, there are different examples in which this class of nucleoamino acids was investigated for nucleopeptide development. The applications are various ranging from the realization of nucleopeptide/DNA chimeras for diagnostic applications, and nucleoamino acid derivatization of proteins for facilitating protein-nucleic acid interaction, to nucleopeptide-nucleopeptide molecular recognition for nanotechnological applications. All the above aspects on both chemistry and biotechnological applications of willardine/willardine-analogues and nucleopeptide will be reviewed in this work.
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Novel insights on nucleopeptide binding: A spectroscopic and in silico investigation on the interaction of a thymine-bearing tetrapeptide with a homoadenine DNA. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Plant isoquinoline alkaloids as potential neurodrugs: A comparative study of the effects of benzo[c]phenanthridine and berberine-based compounds on β-amyloid aggregation. Chem Biol Interact 2020; 334:109300. [PMID: 33098838 PMCID: PMC7577920 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.109300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Herein we present a comparative study of the effects of isoquinoline alkaloids belonging to benzo[c]phenanthridine and berberine families on β-amyloid aggregation. Results obtained using a Thioflavine T (ThT) fluorescence assay and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy suggested that the benzo[c]phenanthridine nucleus, present in both sanguinarine and chelerythrine molecules, was directly involved in an inhibitory effect of Aβ1-42 aggregation. Conversely, coralyne, that contains the isomeric berberine nucleus, significantly increased propensity for Aβ1-42 to aggregate. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) experiments provided quantitative estimation of these interactions: coralyne bound to Aβ1-42 with an affinity (KD = 11.6 μM) higher than benzo[c]phenanthridines. Molecular docking studies confirmed that all three compounds are able to recognize Aβ1-42 in different aggregation forms suggesting their effective capacity to modulate the Aβ1-42 self-recognition mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that coralyne increased the β-content of Aβ1-42, in early stages of aggregation, consistent with fluorescence-based promotion of the Aβ1-42 self-recognition mechanism by this alkaloid. At the same time, sanguinarine induced Aβ1-42 helical conformation corroborating its ability to delay aggregation as experimentally proved in vitro. The investigated compounds were shown to interfere with aggregation of Aβ1-42 demonstrating their potential as starting leads for the development of therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Roviello GN, Oliviero G, Di Napoli A, Borbone N, Piccialli G. Synthesis, self-assembly-behavior and biomolecular recognition properties of thyminyl dipeptides. ARAB J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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Roviello GN. Novel insights into nucleoamino acids: biomolecular recognition and aggregation studies of a thymine-conjugated L-phenyl alanine. Amino Acids 2018; 50:933-941. [PMID: 29766280 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-018-2562-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
This article deals with the synthesis in solid phase and characterization of a nucleoamino amide, based on a phenylalaninamide moiety which was N-conjugated to a thymine nucleobase. In analogy to the natural nucleobase-amino acid conjugates, endowed with a wide range of biological properties, the nucleoamino amide interacts with single-stranded nucleic acids as verified in DNA- and RNA-binding assays conducted by CD and UV spectroscopies. These technologies were used to show also that this conjugate binds serum proteins altering significantly their secondary structure, as evidenced by CD and UV using BSA as a model. The biomolecular recognition seems to rely on the ability of the novel compound to bind aromatic and heteroaromatic moieties in protein and nucleic acids, not hindered by its propensity to self-assemble in aqueous solution, behavior suggested by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and CD spectroscopy in concentration- and temperature-dependent experiments. Finally, the high stability in human serum concurs to define the picture of the nucleoamino amide: this enzymatically stable drug candidate could interfere with protein and single-stranded nucleic acid-driven biological processes, particularly those associated with mRNA poly(A) tail, and its self-assembling nature, in analogy to other L-Phe-based systems, discloses new scenarios in drug delivery technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini-CNR (UOS Napoli centro), 80134, Naples, Italy.
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Musumeci D, Roviello V, Roviello GN. DNA- and RNA-binding ability of oligoDapT, a nucleobase-decorated peptide, for biomedical applications. Int J Nanomedicine 2018; 13:2613-2629. [PMID: 29750033 PMCID: PMC5936014 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s156381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nucleobase-bearing peptides and their interaction with DNA and RNA are an important topic in the development of therapeutic approaches. On one hand, they are highly effective for modulating the nucleic-acid-based biological processes. On the other hand, they permit to overcome some of the main factors limiting the therapeutic efficacy of natural oligonucleotides, such as their rapid degradation by nucleases. Methods and results This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel thymine-bearing nucleoamino acid based on the l-diaminopropionic acid (l-Dap) and its solid phase oligomerization to α-peptides (oligoDapT), characterized using mass spectrometry, spectroscopic techniques, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The interaction of the obtained nucleopeptide with DNA and RNA model systems as both single strands (dA12, rA12, and poly(rA)) and duplex structures (dA12/dT12 and poly(rA)/poly(rU)) was investigated by means of circular dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet (UV) experiments. From the analysis of our data, a clear ability of the nucleopeptide to bind nucleic acids emerged, with oligoDapT being able to form stable complexes with both unpaired and double-stranded DNA and RNA. In particular, dramatic changes in the dA12/dT12 and poly(rA)/poly(rU) structures were observed as a consequence of the nucleopeptide binding. CD titrations revealed that multiple peptide units bound all the examined nucleic acid targets, with TLdap/A or TLdap/A:T(U) ratios >4 in case of oligoDapT/DNA and ~2 in oligoDapT/RNA complexes. Conclusion Our findings seem to indicate that Dap-based nucleopeptides are interesting nucleic acid binding-tools to be further explored with the aim to efficiently modulate DNA- and RNA-based biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Musumeci
- CNR-Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Naples, Italy.,Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Analytical Chemistry for the Environment and Centro Servizi Metereologici Avanzati, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Platella C, Guida S, Bonmassar L, Aquino A, Bonmassar E, Ravagnan G, Montesarchio D, Roviello GN, Musumeci D, Fuggetta MP. Antitumour activity of resveratrol on human melanoma cells: A possible mechanism related to its interaction with malignant cell telomerase. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:2843-2851. [PMID: 28780124 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND trans-Resveratrol (tRES) is a polyphenolic stilbene found in plant products which has attracted great attention because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. METHODS The possible correlation between tRES-induced suppression of melanoma cell growth and its influence on telomerase expression has been investigated by biological assays. Moreover, in order to gain new knowledge about possible mechanisms of action of tRES as antineoplastic agent, its interaction with biologically relevant secondary structure-forming DNA sequences, its aggregation properties and copper-binding activity have been studied by CD, UV and fluorescence spectroscopies. RESULTS Biological assays have confirmed that growth inhibitory properties of tRES well correlate with the reduction of telomerase activity and hTERT gene transcript levels in human melanoma cells. Biophysical studies in solution have proved that tRES binds all the studied DNA model systems with low affinity, however showing high ability to discriminate G-quadruplex vs. duplex DNA. In addition, tRES has shown no propensity to form aggregates in the explored concentration range and has been found able to bind Cu2+ ions with a 2:1 stoichiometry. CONCLUSIONS From these biological and biophysical analyses it has emerged that tRES produces cytotoxic effects on human melanoma cells and, at a molecular level, is able to bind Cu2+ and cancer-involved G-quadruplexes, suggesting that multiple mechanisms of action could be involved in its antineoplastic activity. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Expanding the knowledge on the putative mechanisms of action of tRES as antitumour agent can help to develop novel, effective tRES-based anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Platella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Guida
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bonmassar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Via Monti di Creta, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Aquino
- School of Medicine, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Bonmassar
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero Ravagnan
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Montesarchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni N Roviello
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Domenica Musumeci
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, I-80126 Naples, Italy; Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Pia Fuggetta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy.
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Weckenmann NM, Nachtsheim BJ. Enantioselective Synthesis ofD-α-(Uracil-5-yl)glycine Derivatives and Their Racemization-Free Incorporation into a Model Peptide. European J Org Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201500914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Roviello GN, Musumeci D, Roviello V, Pirtskhalava M, Egoyan A, Mirtskhulava M. Natural and artificial binders of polyriboadenylic acid and their effect on RNA structure. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 6:1338-1347. [PMID: 26199837 PMCID: PMC4505092 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.6.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The employment of molecular tools with nucleic acid binding ability to specifically control crucial cellular functions represents an important scientific area at the border between biochemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry. In this review we describe several molecular systems of natural or artificial origin, which are able to bind polyriboadenylic acid (poly(rA)) both in its single-stranded or structured forms. Due to the fundamental role played by the poly(rA) tail in the maturation and stability of mRNA, as well as in the initiation of the translation process, compounds able to bind this RNA tract, influencing the mRNA fate, are of special interest for developing innovative biomedical strategies mainly in the field of anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini - CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Domenica Musumeci
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini - CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMaPI), Università di Napoli “Federico II”, 80125 Napoli, Italy
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Roviello GN, Musumeci D, Roviello V. Cationic peptides as RNA compaction agents: a study on the polyA compaction activity of a linear alpha,epsilon-oligo-L-lysine. Int J Pharm 2015; 485:244-8. [PMID: 25772417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the compaction activity of a sequential alpha,epsilon-peptide composed of l-lysines towards two RNA targets, in view of its possible pharmaceutical application in RNA-targeting and RNA delivery. The basic oligolysine, object of the present study, proved not only to be efficient in compacting the single-stranded polyA RNA, but also to strongly interact with the polyA·polyU complex, as evidenced by CD-binding and UV-melting experiments. In particular, the marked differences in the CD spectra of the RNA targets upon addition of the peptide, as well as the different UV melting behaviour for the polyA·polyU complex in the presence and absence of the peptide, sustain the hypothesis of a strong RNA compaction capacity of the alpha,epsilon-oligolysine. Finally, by using HPLC analysis, we found a good resistance of the peptide against the lytic action of human serum, an important requirement in view of in vitro/in vivo biological assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini - CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Domenica Musumeci
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini - CNR, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale(DICMaPI), Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80125 Napoli, Italy
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Roviello GN, Musumeci D, Bucci EM, Pedone C. Synthesis and characterization of a novel ester-based nucleoamino acid for the assembly of aromatic nucleopeptides for biomedical applications. Int J Pharm 2011; 415:206-10. [PMID: 21689737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we report a technological approach to a novel Fmoc-protected nucleoamino acid, based on l-tyrosine, carrying the DNA nucleobase on the hydroxyl group by means of an ester bond, suitable for the solid-phase synthesis of novel aromatic nucleopeptides of potential interest in biomedicine. After ESI-MS and NMR characterization this building block was used for the assembly of a thymine-functionalized tetrapeptide, composed of nucleobase-containing and underivatized l-tyrosine moieties alternated in the backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini - CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
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Roviello GN, Ricci A, Bucci EM, Pedone C. Synthesis, biological evaluation and supramolecular assembly of novel analogues of peptidyl nucleosides. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2011; 7:1773-8. [PMID: 21431179 DOI: 10.1039/c1mb05007a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This work concerns the synthesis, the supramolecular assembly and the evaluation of some biological properties, such as DNA and RNA-binding ability and human serum stability, of novel nucleopeptides. These compounds are of potential interest for the well-known properties that similar compounds, such as natural peptidyl nucleosides, possess in biology and medicine and also for the possibility to realize nucleopeptide-based supramolecular systems useful for drug and gene delivery applications. More particularly, all four nucleobase-containing peptides were synthesized by solid phase synthesis, purified by HPLC and characterized by NMR and ESI-MS. Subsequently, nucleopeptide self-assembly as well as DNA and RNA-binding ability were investigated by CD spectroscopy and further information on the formation of molecular networks, based on the peptidyl nucleoside analogues and nucleic acids, was obtained by Laser Light Scattering. Finally, nucleopeptide enzymatic stability was studied and a half life of about 2 hours was found in the presence of 50% fresh human serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
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Moccia M, Roviello GN, Bucci EM, Pedone C, Saviano M. Synthesis of a l-lysine-based alternate alpha,epsilon-peptide: A novel linear polycation with nucleic acids-binding ability. Int J Pharm 2010; 397:179-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2010] [Revised: 06/24/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Roviello GN, Benedetti E, Pedone C, Bucci EM. Nucleobase-containing peptides: an overview of their characteristic features and applications. Amino Acids 2010; 39:45-57. [PMID: 20349320 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0567-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2010] [Accepted: 03/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Reports on nucleobase-containing chiral peptides (both natural and artificial) and achiral pseudopeptides are reviewed. Their synthesis, structural features, DNA and RNA-binding ability, as well as some other interesting applications which make them promising diagnostic/therapeutic agents of great importance in many areas of biology and therapy are taken into critical consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni N Roviello
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy
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