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Vincenzi M, Mercurio FA, Leone M. Virtual Screening of Peptide Libraries: The Search for Peptide-Based Therapeutics Using Computational Tools. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1798. [PMID: 38339078 PMCID: PMC10855943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031798] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last few decades, we have witnessed growing interest from both academic and industrial laboratories in peptides as possible therapeutics. Bioactive peptides have a high potential to treat various diseases with specificity and biological safety. Compared to small molecules, peptides represent better candidates as inhibitors (or general modulators) of key protein-protein interactions. In fact, undruggable proteins containing large and smooth surfaces can be more easily targeted with the conformational plasticity of peptides. The discovery of bioactive peptides, working against disease-relevant protein targets, generally requires the high-throughput screening of large libraries, and in silico approaches are highly exploited for their low-cost incidence and efficiency. The present review reports on the potential challenges linked to the employment of peptides as therapeutics and describes computational approaches, mainly structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), to support the identification of novel peptides for therapeutic implementations. Cutting-edge SBVS strategies are reviewed along with examples of applications focused on diverse classes of bioactive peptides (i.e., anticancer, antimicrobial/antiviral peptides, peptides blocking amyloid fiber formation).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marilisa Leone
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.V.); (F.A.M.)
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2
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Evans BC, Fletcher RB, Kilchrist KV, Dailing EA, Mukalel AJ, Colazo JM, Oliver M, Cheung-Flynn J, Brophy CM, Tierney JW, Isenberg JS, Hankenson KD, Ghimire K, Lander C, Gersbach CA, Duvall CL. An anionic, endosome-escaping polymer to potentiate intracellular delivery of cationic peptides, biomacromolecules, and nanoparticles. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5012. [PMID: 31676764 PMCID: PMC6825215 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12906-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides and biologics provide unique opportunities to modulate intracellular targets not druggable by conventional small molecules. Most peptides and biologics are fused with cationic uptake moieties or formulated into nanoparticles to facilitate delivery, but these systems typically lack potency due to low uptake and/or entrapment and degradation in endolysosomal compartments. Because most delivery reagents comprise cationic lipids or polymers, there is a lack of reagents specifically optimized to deliver cationic cargo. Herein, we demonstrate the utility of the cytocompatible polymer poly(propylacrylic acid) (PPAA) to potentiate intracellular delivery of cationic biomacromolecules and nano-formulations. This approach demonstrates superior efficacy over all marketed peptide delivery reagents and enhances delivery of nucleic acids and gene editing ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) formulated with both commercially-available and our own custom-synthesized cationic polymer delivery reagents. These results demonstrate the broad potential of PPAA to serve as a platform reagent for the intracellular delivery of cationic cargo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Evans
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
| | - R Brock Fletcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Kameron V Kilchrist
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Eric A Dailing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Alvin J Mukalel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2301 240 Skirkanich Hall, 210S. 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6321, USA
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, 1161 21st Avenue South # D3300, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Matthew Oliver
- Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Joyce Cheung-Flynn
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, D-5237 Medical Center North, 1161 22nd Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Colleen M Brophy
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, D-5237 Medical Center North, 1161 22nd Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, 1310 24th Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - John W Tierney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Isenberg
- Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Kurt D Hankenson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kedar Ghimire
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Cynthia Lander
- Moerae Matrix Inc., 55 Madison Avenue, Suite 400, Morristown, NJ, 07960, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, PMB351826, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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Nair RP, Timiri Shanmugam PS, Sunavala-Dossabhoy G. Discretionary Transduction of MMP-Sensitized Tousled in Head and Neck Cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 14:57-65. [PMID: 31011632 PMCID: PMC6463741 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oral radiotoxicity is often a limiting factor in cancer treatment. Previously, we demonstrated that transfer of cell-permeable, TAT-fusion Tousled-like kinase 1B (TLK1B) protein in salivary glands effectively mitigates radiation-induced salivary dysfunction. However, similar to most radioprotectors, TLK1B can carry the risk of limiting cancer treatment efficacy. The central goal of the study was, therefore, to reengineer TLK1B as a selective radioprotector of normal cells. Degradation of the extracellular matrix by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a hallmark of aggressive tumors. Increased expression of membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP; also called MMP14) is observed in a variety of cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To limit TLK1B transduction to normal cells, we rendered the protein susceptible to MT1-MMP cleavage on the premise that high expression of MT1-MMP on the cell surface of HNSCC will suppress TLK1B internalization. Two optimal MT1-MMP-sensitive sequences (MS) were identified that when incorporated in TAT-TLK1B excluded its cellular entry in HNSCC, SCC40, but not immortalized salivary acinar cells, NS-SV-AC. Importantly, administration of MS-harboring TAT-TLK1B did not affect the sensitivity of tumors to radiation in a nude mouse xenograft tumor model. We conclude that a MMP-sensitive TLK1B can be an attractive therapeutic to allay salivary radiotoxicity without compromising cancer treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjith Parameswaran Nair
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
| | - Prakash Srinivasan Timiri Shanmugam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
| | - Gulshan Sunavala-Dossabhoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Corresponding author: Gulshan Sunavala-Dossabhoy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
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Tang R, Kim CS, Solfiell DJ, Rana S, Mout R, Velázquez-Delgado EM, Chompoosor A, Jeong Y, Yan B, Zhu ZJ, Kim C, Hardy JA, Rotello VM. Direct delivery of functional proteins and enzymes to the cytosol using nanoparticle-stabilized nanocapsules. ACS NANO 2013; 7:6667-6673. [PMID: 23815280 PMCID: PMC3757120 DOI: 10.1021/nn402753y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular protein delivery is an important tool for both therapeutic and fundamental applications. Effective protein delivery faces two major challenges: efficient cellular uptake and avoiding endosomal sequestration. We report here a general strategy for direct delivery of functional proteins to the cytosol using nanoparticle-stabilized capsules (NPSCs). These NPSCs are formed and stabilized through supramolecular interactions between the nanoparticle, the protein cargo, and the fatty acid capsule interior. The NPSCs are ~130 nm in diameter and feature low toxicity and excellent stability in serum. The effectiveness of these NPSCs as therapeutic protein carriers was demonstrated through the delivery of fully functional caspase-3 to HeLa cells with concomitant apoptosis. Analogous delivery of green fluorescent protein (GFP) confirmed cytosolic delivery as well as intracellular targeting of the delivered protein, demonstrating the utility of the system for both therapeutic and imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Chang Soo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - David J. Solfiell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Subinoy Rana
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Rubul Mout
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Elih M. Velázquez-Delgado
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Apiwat Chompoosor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Youngdo Jeong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Bo Yan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Zheng-Jiang Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Chaekyu Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Jeanne A. Hardy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Vincent M. Rotello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
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Lambert MS. Molecular Biosafety. APPLIED BIOSAFETY 2012. [DOI: 10.1177/153567601201700210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Effect of the electrostatic potential on the internalization mechanism of cell penetrating peptides derived from TIRAP. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-011-0482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Transducible form of p47phox and p67phox compensate for defective NADPH oxidase activity in neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 417:162-8. [PMID: 22138397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.11.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Protein delivery to primary cells by protein transduction domain (PTD) serves as a novel measure for manipulation of the cells for biological study and for the treatment of various human conditions. Although the method has been employed to modulate cellular function in vitro, only limited reports are available on its application in the replacement of deficient signaling molecules into primary cells. We examined the potential of recombinant proteins to compensate for defective cytosolic components of the NADPH oxidase complex in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) neutrophils in both p47(phox) and p67(phox) deficiency. The p47(phox) or p67(phox) protein linked to Hph-1 PTD was effectively expressed in soluble form and transduced into human neutrophils efficiently without eliciting unwanted signal transduction or apoptosis. The delivered protein was stable for more than 24h, expressed in the cytoplasm, translocated to the membrane fraction upon activation, and, most importantly able to restored reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Although research on human primary neutrophils using the protein delivery system is still limited, our data show that the protein transduction approach for neutrophils may be applicable to the control of local infections in CGD patients by direct delivery of the protein product.
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Law JH, Li Y, To K, Wang M, Astanehe A, Lambie K, Dhillon J, Jones SJM, Gleave ME, Eaves CJ, Dunn SE. Molecular decoy to the Y-box binding protein-1 suppresses the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells whilst sparing normal cell viability. PLoS One 2010; 5. [PMID: 20844753 PMCID: PMC2937023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is an oncogenic transcription/translation factor that is activated by phosphorylation at S102 whereby it induces the expression of growth promoting genes such as EGFR and HER-2. We recently illustrated by an in vitro kinase assay that a novel peptide to YB-1 was highly phosphorylated by the serine/threonine p90 S6 kinases RSK-1 and RSK-2, and to a lesser degree PKCα and AKT. Herein, we sought to develop this decoy cell permeable peptide (CPP) as a cancer therapeutic. This 9-mer was designed as an interference peptide that would prevent endogenous YB-1S102 phosphorylation based on molecular docking. In cancer cells, the CPP blocked P-YB-1S102 and down-regulated both HER-2 and EGFR transcript level and protein expression. Further, the CPP prevented YB-1 from binding to the EGFR promoter in a gel shift assay. Notably, the growth of breast (SUM149, MDA-MB-453, AU565) and prostate (PC3, LNCap) cancer cells was inhibited by ∼90% with the CPP. Further, treatment with this peptide enhanced sensitivity and overcame resistance to trastuzumab in cells expressing amplified HER-2. By contrast, the CPP had no inhibitory effect on the growth of normal immortalized breast epithelial (184htert) cells, primary breast epithelial cells, nor did it inhibit differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors. These data collectively suggest that the CPP is a novel approach to suppressing the growth of cancer cells while sparing normal cells and thereby establishes a proof-of-concept that blocking YB-1 activation is a new course of cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H. Law
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yvonne Li
- Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen To
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michelle Wang
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Arezoo Astanehe
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen Lambie
- Terry Fox Laboratories, BC Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jaspreet Dhillon
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven J. M. Jones
- Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Martin E. Gleave
- The Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Connie J. Eaves
- Terry Fox Laboratories, BC Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sandra E. Dunn
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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