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Mondal A, Singh B, Felkner RH, De Falco A, Swapna G, Montelione GT, Roth MJ, Perez A. A Computational Pipeline for Accurate Prioritization of Protein-Protein Binding Candidates in High-Throughput Protein Libraries. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202405767. [PMID: 38588243 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405767] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Identifying the interactome for a protein of interest is challenging due to the large number of possible binders. High-throughput experimental approaches narrow down possible binding partners but often include false positives. Furthermore, they provide no information about what the binding region is (e.g., the binding epitope). We introduce a novel computational pipeline based on an AlphaFold2 (AF) Competitive Binding Assay (AF-CBA) to identify proteins that bind a target of interest from a pull-down experiment and the binding epitope. Our focus is on proteins that bind the Extraterminal (ET) domain of Bromo and Extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, but we also introduce nine additional systems to show transferability to other peptide-protein systems. We describe a series of limitations to the methodology based on intrinsic deficiencies of AF and AF-CBA to help users identify scenarios where the approach will be most useful. Given the method's speed and accuracy, we anticipate its broad applicability to identify binding epitope regions among potential partners, setting the stage for experimental verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arup Mondal
- Department of Chemistry and Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Leigh Hall 240, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bhumika Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Leigh Hall 240, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Roland H Felkner
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane Rm 636, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Anna De Falco
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA
| | - Gvt Swapna
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA
| | - Gaetano T Montelione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA
| | - Monica J Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane Rm 636, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alberto Perez
- Department of Chemistry and Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Leigh Hall 240, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Poongavanam V, Wieske LHE, Peintner S, Erdélyi M, Kihlberg J. Molecular chameleons in drug discovery. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:45-60. [PMID: 38123688 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00563-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Molecular chameleons possess a flexibility that allows them to dynamically shield or expose polar functionalities in response to the properties of the environment. Although the concept of molecular chameleons was introduced already in 1970, interest in them has grown considerably since the 2010s, when drug discovery has focused to an increased extent on new chemical modalities. Such modalities include cyclic peptides, macrocycles and proteolysis-targeting chimeras, all of which reside in a chemical space far from that of traditional small-molecule drugs. Both cell permeability and aqueous solubility are required for the oral absorption of drugs. Engineering these properties, and potent target binding, into the larger new modalities is a more daunting task than for traditional small-molecule drugs. The ability of chameleons to adapt to different environments may be essential for success. In this Review, we provide both general and theoretical insights into the realm of molecular chameleons. We discuss why chameleons have come into fashion and provide a do-it-yourself toolbox for their design; we then provide a glimpse of how advanced in silico methods can support molecular chameleon design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefan Peintner
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Máté Erdélyi
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Kihlberg
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Kazmirchuk TDD, Bradbury-Jost C, Withey TA, Gessese T, Azad T, Samanfar B, Dehne F, Golshani A. Peptides of a Feather: How Computation Is Taking Peptide Therapeutics under Its Wing. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1194. [PMID: 37372372 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061194] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leveraging computation in the development of peptide therapeutics has garnered increasing recognition as a valuable tool to generate novel therapeutics for disease-related targets. To this end, computation has transformed the field of peptide design through identifying novel therapeutics that exhibit enhanced pharmacokinetic properties and reduced toxicity. The process of in-silico peptide design involves the application of molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning algorithms. Three primary approaches for peptide therapeutic design including structural-based, protein mimicry, and short motif design have been predominantly adopted. Despite the ongoing progress made in this field, there are still significant challenges pertaining to peptide design including: enhancing the accuracy of computational methods; improving the success rate of preclinical and clinical trials; and developing better strategies to predict pharmacokinetics and toxicity. In this review, we discuss past and present research pertaining to the design and development of in-silico peptide therapeutics in addition to highlighting the potential of computation and artificial intelligence in the future of disease therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas David Daniel Kazmirchuk
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Calvin Bradbury-Jost
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Taylor Ann Withey
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Tadesse Gessese
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Taha Azad
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS), Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Bahram Samanfar
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Frank Dehne
- School of Computer Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Ashkan Golshani
- Department of Biology, and the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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