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Fang L, Cai S, McMullen P, Hsu YC, Chen MYQ, Jiang S. Passivating the Background of Living Microbes with a Zwitterionic Peptide for Therapies. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:575-581. [PMID: 38456602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Living microbial therapies have been proposed as a course of action for a variety of diseases. However, problematic interactions between the host immune system and the microbial organism present significant clinical concerns. Previously, we developed a genetically encoded superhydrophilic zwitterionic peptide, termed EKP, to mimic low-immunogenic zwitterionic materials, which have been used for the chemical modification of biologics such as protein and nucleic acid drugs to increase their in vivo circulation time and reduce their immunogenicity. Herein, we demonstrate the protective effects of the EKP polypeptide genetically cloaking the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model microbe in both in vitro and in vivo systems. First, we show that EKP peptide cloaking suppresses the interactions between yeast cells and their specific antibodies, thereby illustrating its cloaking behavior. Then, we examine the in vitro interactions between EKP peptide surface cloaked yeast cells and murine macrophage cells, which exhibit phagocytotic behavior in the presence of foreign microbes. Our results indicate that EKP cloaking suppresses macrophage interactions and thus reduces phagocytosis. Furthermore, EKP cloaked yeast cells demonstrate a prolonged circulation time in mice in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Fang
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Simian Cai
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Patrick McMullen
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Yi-Chen Hsu
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Michelle Yi Qin Chen
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Shaoyi Jiang
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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Liu Y, Lu X, Chen M, Wei Z, Peng G, Yang J, Tang C, Yu P. Advances in screening, synthesis, modification, and biomedical applications of peptides and peptide aptamers. Biofactors 2024; 50:33-57. [PMID: 37646383 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and peptide aptamers have emerged as promising molecules for a wide range of biomedical applications due to their unique properties and versatile functionalities. The screening strategies for identifying peptides and peptide aptamers with desired properties are discussed, including high-throughput screening, display screening technology, and in silico design approaches. The synthesis methods for the efficient production of peptides and peptide aptamers, such as solid-phase peptide synthesis and biosynthesis technology, are described, along with their advantages and limitations. Moreover, various modification techniques are explored to enhance the stability, specificity, and pharmacokinetic properties of peptides and peptide aptamers. This includes chemical modifications, enzymatic modifications, biomodifications, genetic engineering modifications, and physical modifications. Furthermore, the review highlights the diverse biomedical applications of peptides and peptide aptamers, including targeted drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic. This review provides valuable insights into the advancements in screening, synthesis, modification, and biomedical applications of peptides and peptide aptamers. A comprehensive understanding of these aspects will aid researchers in the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics and diagnostic tools for various biomedical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Liu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoling Lu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Meilun Chen
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zheng Wei
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guangnan Peng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chunhua Tang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peng Yu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Ebrahimi SB, Samanta D. Engineering protein-based therapeutics through structural and chemical design. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2411. [PMID: 37105998 PMCID: PMC10132957 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38039-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-based therapeutics have led to new paradigms in disease treatment. Projected to be half of the top ten selling drugs in 2023, proteins have emerged as rivaling and, in some cases, superior alternatives to historically used small molecule-based medicines. This review chronicles both well-established and emerging design strategies that have enabled this paradigm shift by transforming protein-based structures that are often prone to denaturation, degradation, and aggregation in vitro and in vivo into highly effective therapeutics. In particular, we discuss strategies for creating structures with increased affinity and targetability, enhanced in vivo stability and pharmacokinetics, improved cell permeability, and reduced amounts of undesired immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha B Ebrahimi
- Drug Product Development-Steriles, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA.
| | - Devleena Samanta
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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Yang Z, Zeng X, Zhao Y, Chen R. AlphaFold2 and its applications in the fields of biology and medicine. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:115. [PMID: 36918529 PMCID: PMC10011802 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01381-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
AlphaFold2 (AF2) is an artificial intelligence (AI) system developed by DeepMind that can predict three-dimensional (3D) structures of proteins from amino acid sequences with atomic-level accuracy. Protein structure prediction is one of the most challenging problems in computational biology and chemistry, and has puzzled scientists for 50 years. The advent of AF2 presents an unprecedented progress in protein structure prediction and has attracted much attention. Subsequent release of structures of more than 200 million proteins predicted by AF2 further aroused great enthusiasm in the science community, especially in the fields of biology and medicine. AF2 is thought to have a significant impact on structural biology and research areas that need protein structure information, such as drug discovery, protein design, prediction of protein function, et al. Though the time is not long since AF2 was developed, there are already quite a few application studies of AF2 in the fields of biology and medicine, with many of them having preliminarily proved the potential of AF2. To better understand AF2 and promote its applications, we will in this article summarize the principle and system architecture of AF2 as well as the recipe of its success, and particularly focus on reviewing its applications in the fields of biology and medicine. Limitations of current AF2 prediction will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Yang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zeng
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Yi Zhao
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing, Advanced Computer Research Center, Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Runsheng Chen
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Pingshan Translational Medicine Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518118, China.
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Li Q, Wen C, Yang J, Zhou X, Zhu Y, Zheng J, Cheng G, Bai J, Xu T, Ji J, Jiang S, Zhang L, Zhang P. Zwitterionic Biomaterials. Chem Rev 2022; 122:17073-17154. [PMID: 36201481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The term "zwitterionic polymers" refers to polymers that bear a pair of oppositely charged groups in their repeating units. When these oppositely charged groups are equally distributed at the molecular level, the molecules exhibit an overall neutral charge with a strong hydration effect via ionic solvation. The strong hydration effect constitutes the foundation of a series of exceptional properties of zwitterionic materials, including resistance to protein adsorption, lubrication at interfaces, promotion of protein stabilities, antifreezing in solutions, etc. As a result, zwitterionic materials have drawn great attention in biomedical and engineering applications in recent years. In this review, we give a comprehensive and panoramic overview of zwitterionic materials, covering the fundamentals of hydration and nonfouling behaviors, different types of zwitterionic surfaces and polymers, and their biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsi Li
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Chiyu Wen
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xianchi Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Yingnan Zhu
- Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Gang Cheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Jie Bai
- College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, China
| | - Tong Xu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010051, China
| | - Jian Ji
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Shaoyi Jiang
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
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