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Paulus J, Sewald N. Small molecule- and peptide-drug conjugates addressing integrins: A story of targeted cancer treatment. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3561. [PMID: 38382900 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3561] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Targeted cancer treatment should avoid side effects and damage to healthy cells commonly encountered during traditional chemotherapy. By combining small molecule or peptidic ligands as homing devices with cytotoxic drugs connected by a cleavable or non-cleavable linker in peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) or small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs), cancer cells and tumours can be selectively targeted. The development of highly affine, selective peptides and small molecules in recent years has allowed PDCs and SMDCs to increasingly compete with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Integrins represent an excellent target for conjugates because they are overexpressed by most cancer cells and because of the broad knowledge about native binding partners as well as the multitude of small-molecule and peptidic ligands that have been developed over the last 30 years. In particular, integrin αVβ3 has been addressed using a variety of different PDCs and SMDCs over the last two decades, following various strategies. This review summarises and describes integrin-addressing PDCs and SMDCs while highlighting points of great interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Paulus
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Norbert Sewald
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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Fetse J, Kandel S, Mamani UF, Cheng K. Recent advances in the development of therapeutic peptides. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:425-441. [PMID: 37246037 PMCID: PMC10330351 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Peptides have unique characteristics that make them highly desirable as therapeutic agents. The physicochemical and proteolytic stability profiles determine the therapeutic potential of peptides. Multiple strategies to enhance the therapeutic profile of peptides have emerged. They include chemical modifications, such as cyclization, substitution with d-amino acids, peptoid formation, N-methylation, and side-chain halogenation, and incorporation in delivery systems. There have been recent advances in approaches to discover peptides having these modifications to attain desirable therapeutic properties. We critically review these recent advancements in therapeutic peptide development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Fetse
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Sashi Kandel
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Umar-Farouk Mamani
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Kun Cheng
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
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Paulus J, Nachtigall B, Meyer P, Sewald N. RGD Peptidomimetic MMAE-Conjugate Addressing Integrin αVβ3-Expressing Cells with High Targeting Index. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202203476. [PMID: 36454662 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202203476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) mimicking the RGD sequence (-Arg-Gly-Asp-) with a non-peptide moiety require a pharmacophore-independent attachment site. A library of 36 sulfonamide-modified RGD mimetics with nM to pM affinity for integrin αV β3 was synthesized and analysed via DAD mapping. The best structure of the conjugable RGD mimetic was used and a linker was attached to an aromatic ring by Negishi cross-coupling. The product retained high affinity and selectivity for integrin αV β3 . The conjugable RGD mimetic was then attached to an enzymatically cleavable GKGEVA linker equipped with a self-immolative PABC and the antimitotic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). The resulting SMDC preferred binding to integrin αV β3 over α5 β1 in a ratio of 1 : 4519 (ELISA) and showed selectivity for αV β3 -positive WM115 cells over αV β3 -negative M21-L cells in the in vitro cell adhesion assay as well as in cell viability assays with a targeting index of 134 (M21-L/WM115).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik Paulus
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Beate Nachtigall
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Peter Meyer
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Norbert Sewald
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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Bose D, Roy L, Chatterjee S. Peptide therapeutics in the management of metastatic cancers. RSC Adv 2022; 12:21353-21373. [PMID: 35975072 PMCID: PMC9345020 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra02062a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a leading health concern threatening lives of millions of patients worldwide. Peptide-based drugs provide a valuable alternative to chemotherapeutics as they are highly specific, cheap, less toxic and easier to synthesize compared to other drugs. In this review, we have discussed various modes in which peptides are being used to curb cancer. Our review highlights specially the various anti-metastatic peptide-based agents developed by targeting a plethora of cellular factors. Herein we have given a special focus on integrins as targets for peptide drugs, as these molecules play key roles in metastatic progression. The review also discusses use of peptides as anti-cancer vaccines and their efficiency as drug-delivery tools. We hope this work will give the reader a clear idea of the mechanisms of peptide-based anti-cancer therapeutics and encourage the development of superior drugs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debopriya Bose
- Department of Biophysics Bose Institute Unified Academic Campus EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar Kolkata 700091 WB India
| | - Laboni Roy
- Department of Biophysics Bose Institute Unified Academic Campus EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar Kolkata 700091 WB India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics Bose Institute Unified Academic Campus EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar Kolkata 700091 WB India
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Paulus J, Sewald N. Synthesis and Evaluation of a Non-Peptide Small-Molecule Drug Conjugate Targeting Integrin αVβ3. Front Chem 2022; 10:869639. [PMID: 35480387 PMCID: PMC9035832 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.869639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
An integrin αVβ3-targeting linear RGD mimetic containing a small-molecule drug conjugate (SMDC) was synthesized by combining the antimitotic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), an enzymatically cleavable Val-Ala-PABC linker with a linear conjugable RGD mimetic. The structure proposal for the conjugable RGD mimetic was suggested upon the DAD mapping analysis of a previously synthesized small-molecule RGD mimetic array based on a tyrosine scaffold. Therefore, a diversifying strategy was developed as well as a novel method for the partial hydrogenation of pyrimidines in the presence of the hydrogenolytically cleavable Cbz group. The small-molecule RGD mimetics were evaluated in an ELISA-like assay, and the structural relationships were analyzed by DAD mapping revealing activity differences induced by structural changes as visualized in dependence on special structural motifs. This provided a lead structure for generation of an SMDC containing the antimitotic drug MMAE. The resulting SMDC containing a linear RGD mimetic was tested in a cell adhesion and an in vitro cell viability assay in comparison to reference SMDCs containing cRGDfK or cRADfK as the homing device. The linear RGD SMDC and the cRGDfK SMDC inhibited adhesion of αVβ3-positive WM115 cells to vitronectin with IC50 values in the low µM range, while no effect was observed for the αVβ3-negative M21-L cell line. The cRADfK SMDC used as a negative control was about 30-fold less active in the cell adhesion assay than the cRGDfK SMDC. Conversely, both the linear RGD SMDC and the cRGDfK SMDC are about 55-fold less cytotoxic than MMAE against the αVβ3-positive WM115 cell line with IC50 values in the nM range, while the cRADfK SMDC is 150-fold less cytotoxic than MMAE. Hence, integrin binding also influences the antiproliferative activity giving a targeting index of 2.8.
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Gruß H, Feiner RC, Mseya R, Schröder DC, Jewgiński M, Müller KM, Latajka R, Marion A, Sewald N. Peptide stapling by late-stage Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling. Beilstein J Org Chem 2022; 18:1-12. [PMID: 35047078 PMCID: PMC8744458 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.18.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of peptide stapling techniques to stabilise α-helical secondary structure motifs of peptides led to the design of modulators of protein–protein interactions, which had been considered undruggable for a long time. We disclose a novel approach towards peptide stapling utilising macrocyclisation by late-stage Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of bromotryptophan-containing peptides of the catenin-binding domain of axin. Optimisation of the linker length in order to find a compromise between both sufficient linker rigidity and flexibility resulted in a peptide with an increased α-helicity and enhanced binding affinity to its native binding partner β-catenin. An increased proteolytic stability against proteinase K has been demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Gruß
- Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Rebecca C Feiner
- Department of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ridhiwan Mseya
- Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - David C Schröder
- Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Michał Jewgiński
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kristian M Müller
- Department of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Rafał Latajka
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Antoine Marion
- Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Norbert Sewald
- Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Natural and Synthetic Halogenated Amino Acids-Structural and Bioactive Features in Antimicrobial Peptides and Peptidomimetics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26237401. [PMID: 34885985 PMCID: PMC8659048 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The 3D structure and surface characteristics of proteins and peptides are crucial for interactions with receptors or ligands and can be modified to some extent to modulate their biological roles and pharmacological activities. The introduction of halogen atoms on the side-chains of amino acids is a powerful tool for effecting this type of tuning, influencing both the physico-chemical and structural properties of the modified polypeptides, helping to first dissect and then rationally modify features that affect their mode of action. This review provides examples of the influence of different types of halogenation in amino acids that replace native residues in proteins and peptides. Examples of synthetic strategies for obtaining halogenated amino acids are also provided, focusing on some representative compounds and their biological effects. The role of halogenation in native and designed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their mimetics is then discussed. These are in the spotlight for the development of new antimicrobial drugs to counter the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. AMPs represent an interesting model to study the role that natural halogenation has on their mode of action and also to understand how artificially halogenated residues can be used to rationally modify and optimize AMPs for pharmaceutical purposes.
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Sharma SV, Pubill-Ulldemolins C, Marelli E, Goss RJM. An expedient, mild and aqueous method for Suzuki-Miyaura diversification of (hetero)aryl halides or (poly)chlorinated pharmaceuticals. Org Chem Front 2021; 8:5722-5727. [PMID: 34745636 PMCID: PMC8506956 DOI: 10.1039/d1qo00919b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The development of mild, aqueous conditions for the cross-coupling of highly functionalized (hetero)aryl chlorides or bromides is attractive, enabling their functionalization and diversification. Herein, we report a general method for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling at 37 °C in aqueous media in the presence of air. We demonstrate application of this general methodology for derivatisation of (poly)chlorinated, medicinally active compounds and halogenated amino acids. The approach holds the potential to be a useful tool for late-stage functionalization or analogue generation. Simple, aqueous and direct cross-coupling of diverse and complex (hetero)aromatic halides and active pharmaceutical agents.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil V Sharma
- School of Chemistry and BSRC, University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 9ST UK
| | | | - Enrico Marelli
- School of Chemistry and BSRC, University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 9ST UK
| | - Rebecca J M Goss
- School of Chemistry and BSRC, University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 9ST UK
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Two Novel, Flavin-Dependent Halogenases from the Bacterial Consortia of Botryococcus braunii Catalyze Mono- and Dibromination. Catalysts 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/catal11040485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Halogen substituents often lead to a profound effect on the biological activity of organic compounds. Flavin-dependent halogenases offer the possibility of regioselective halogenation at non-activated carbon atoms, while employing only halide salts and molecular oxygen. However, low enzyme activity, instability, and narrow substrate scope compromise the use of enzymatic halogenation as an economical and environmentally friendly process. To overcome these drawbacks, it is of tremendous interest to identify novel halogenases with high enzymatic activity and novel substrate scopes. Previously, Neubauer et al. developed a new hidden Markov model (pHMM) based on the PFAM tryptophan halogenase model, and identified 254 complete and partial putative flavin-dependent halogenase genes in eleven metagenomic data sets. In the present study, the pHMM was used to screen the bacterial associates of the Botryococcus braunii consortia (PRJEB21978), leading to the identification of several putative, flavin-dependent halogenase genes. Two of these new halogenase genes were found in one gene cluster of the Botryococcus braunii symbiont Sphingomonas sp. In vitro activity tests revealed that both heterologously expressed enzymes are active flavin-dependent halogenases able to halogenate indole and indole derivatives, as well as phenol derivatives, while preferring bromination over chlorination. Interestingly, SpH1 catalyses only monohalogenation, while SpH2 can catalyse both mono- and dihalogenation for some substrates.
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