1
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Batistatou N, Kritzer JA. Comparing Cell Penetration of Biotherapeutics across Human Cell Lines. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1351-1365. [PMID: 38836425 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00211] [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: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
A major obstacle in biotherapeutics development is maximizing cell penetration. Ideally, assays would allow for optimization of cell penetration in the cell type of interest early in the drug development process. However, few assays exist to compare cell penetration across different cell types independent of drug function. In this work, we applied the chloroalkane penetration assay (CAPA) in seven mammalian cell lines as well as primary cells. Careful controls were used to ensure that data could be compared across cell lines. We compared the nuclear penetration of several peptides and drug-like oligonucleotides and saw significant differences among the cell lines. To help explain these differences, we quantified the relative activities of endocytosis pathways in these cell lines and correlated them with the penetration data. Based on these results, we knocked down clathrin in a cell line with an efficient permeability profile and observed reduced penetration of peptides but not oligonucleotides. Finally, we used small-molecule endosomal escape enhancers and observed enhancement of cell penetration of some oligonucleotides, but only in some of the cell lines tested. CAPA data provide valuable points of comparison among different cell lines, including primary cells, for evaluating the cell penetration of various classes of peptides and oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nefeli Batistatou
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joshua A Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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2
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Lampkin BJ, Goldberg BJ, Kritzer JA. BenzoHTag, a fluorogenic self-labeling protein developed using molecular evolution. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.29.564634. [PMID: 38617361 PMCID: PMC11014480 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.29.564634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Self-labeling proteins are powerful tools in chemical biology as they enable the precise cellular localization of a synthetic molecule, often a fluorescent dye, with the genetic specificity of a protein fusion. HaloTag7 is the most popular self-labeling protein due to its fast labeling kinetics and the simplicity of its chloroalkane ligand. Reaction rates of HaloTag7 with different chloroalkane-containing substrates is highly variable and rates are only very fast for rhodamine-based dyes. This is a major limitation for the HaloTag system because fast labeling rates are critical for live-cell assays. Here, we report a molecular evolution system for HaloTag using yeast surface display that enables the screening of libraries up to 108 variants to improve reaction rates with any substrate of interest. We applied this method to produce a HaloTag variant, BenzoHTag, which has improved performance with a fluorogenic benzothiadiazole dye. The resulting system has improved brightness and conjugation kinetics, allowing for robust, no-wash fluorescent labeling in live cells. The new BenzoHTag-benzothiadiazole system has improved performance in live-cell assays compared to the existing HaloTag7-silicon rhodamine system, including saturation of intracellular enzyme in under 100 seconds and robust labeling at dye concentrations as low as 7 nM. It was also found to be orthogonal to the silicon HaloTag7-rhodamine system, enabling multiplexed no-wash labeling in live cells. The BenzoHTag system, and the ability to optimize HaloTag for a broader collection of substrates using molecular evolution, will be very useful for the development of cell-based assays for chemical biology and drug development.
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3
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Mallette TL, Lidke DS, Lakin MR. Heterochiral modifications enhance robustness and function of DNA in living human cells. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300755. [PMID: 38228506 PMCID: PMC10923132 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300755] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics are becoming increasingly important as more are approved by the FDA, both for treatment and vaccination. Similarly, dynamic DNA nanotechnology is a promising technique that can be used to sense exogenous input molecules or endogenous biomarkers and integrate the results of multiple sensing reactions in situ via a programmed cascade of reactions. The combination of these two technologies could be highly impactful in biomedicine by enabling smart oligonucleotide therapeutics that can autonomously sense and respond to a disease state. A particular challenge, however, is the limited lifetime of standard nucleic acid components in living cells and organisms due to degradation by endogenous nucleases. In this work, we address this challenge by incorporating mirror-image, ʟ-DNA nucleotides to produce heterochiral "gapmers". We use dynamic DNA nanotechnology to show that these modifications keep the oligonucleotide intact in living human cells for longer than an unmodified strand. To this end, we used a sequential transfection protocol for delivering multiple nucleic acids into living human cells while providing enhanced confidence that subsequent interactions are actually occurring within the cells. Taken together, this work advances the state of the art of ʟ-nucleic acid protection of oligonucleotides and DNA circuitry for applications in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Mallette
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA
| | - Diane S Lidke
- Department of Pathology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA
| | - Matthew R Lakin
- Department of Computer Science, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA
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4
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Wang J, Zhang S, Li Y, Xu Q, Kritzer JA. Investigating the Cytosolic Delivery of Proteins by Lipid Nanoparticles Using the Chloroalkane Penetration Assay. Biochemistry 2024. [PMID: 38334719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Protein therapeutics are an expanding area for research and drug development, and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the most prominent nonviral vehicles for protein delivery. The most common methods for assessing protein delivery by LNPs include assays that measure the total amount of protein taken up by cells and assays that measure the phenotypic changes associated with protein delivery. However, assays for total cellular uptake include large amounts of protein that are trapped in endosomes or are otherwise nonfunctional. Assays for functional delivery are important, but the readouts are indirect and amplified, limiting the quantitative interpretation. Here, we apply an assay for cytosolic delivery, the chloroalkane penetration assay (CAPA), to measure the cytosolic delivery of a (-30) green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to Cre recombinase (Cre(-30)GFP) fusion protein by LNPs. We compare these data to the data from total cellular uptake and functional delivery assays to provide a richer analysis of uptake and endosomal escape for LNP-mediated protein delivery. We also use CAPA for a screen of a small library of lipidoids, identifying those with a promising ability to deliver Cre(-30)GFP to the cytosol of mammalian cells. With careful controls and optimized conditions, we expect that CAPA will be a useful tool for investigating the rate, efficiency, and mechanisms of LNP-mediated delivery of therapeutic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Shiying Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joshua A Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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5
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Le HN, Kuchlyan J, Baladi T, Albinsson B, Dahlén A, Wilhelmsson LM. Synthesis and photophysical characterization of a pH-sensitive quadracyclic uridine (qU) analogue. Chemistry 2024:e202303539. [PMID: 38230625 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303539] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Fluorescent base analogues (FBAs) have become useful tools for applications in biophysical chemistry, chemical biology, live-cell imaging, and RNA therapeutics. Herein, two synthetic routes towards a novel FBA of uracil named qU (quadracyclic uracil/uridine) are described. The qU nucleobase bears a tetracyclic fused ring system and is designed to allow for specific Watson-Crick base pairing with adenine. We find that qU absorbs light in the visible region of the spectrum and emits brightly with a quantum yield of 27 % and a dual-band character in a wide pH range. With evidence, among other things, from fluorescence lifetime measurements we suggest that this dual emission feature results from an excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process. Furthermore, we find that both absorption and emission of qU are highly sensitive to pH. The high brightness in combination with excitation in the visible and pH responsiveness makes qU an interesting native-like nucleic acid label in spectroscopy and microscopy applications in, for example, the field of mRNA and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang-Ngoan Le
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Cell Gene and RNA Therapy, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, 431 50, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jagannath Kuchlyan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tom Baladi
- Cell Gene and RNA Therapy, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, 431 50, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Bo Albinsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Dahlén
- Cell Gene and RNA Therapy, Discovery Science, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, 431 50, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - L Marcus Wilhelmsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
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6
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Hill AC, Becker JP, Slominski D, Halloy F, Søndergaard C, Ravn J, Hall J. Peptide Conjugates of a 2'- O-Methoxyethyl Phosphorothioate Splice-Switching Oligonucleotide Show Increased Entrapment in Endosomes. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:40463-40481. [PMID: 37929104 PMCID: PMC10620785 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short, single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that alter gene expression. However, their transport into appropriate cellular compartments is a limiting factor in their potency. Here, we synthesized splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) previously developed to treat the rare disease erythropoietic protoporphyria. Using chemical ligation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (CL-qPCR), we quantified the SSOs in cells and subcellular compartments following free uptake. To drive nuclear localization, we covalently conjugated nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptides to a lead 2'-O-methoxyethyl phosphorothioate SSO using thiol-maleimide chemistry. The conjugates and parent SSO displayed similar RNA target-binding affinities. CL-qPCR quantification of the conjugates in cells and subcellular compartments following free uptake revealed one conjugate with better nuclear accumulation relative to the parent SSO. However, compared to the parent SSO, which altered the splicing of the target pre-mRNA, the conjugates were inactive at splice correction under free uptake conditions in vitro. Splice-switching activity could be conferred on the conjugates by delivering them into cells via cationic lipid-mediated transfection or by treating the cells into which the conjugates had been freely taken up with chloroquine, an endosome-disrupting agent. Our results identify the major barrier to the activity of the peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates as endosomal entrapment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C. Hill
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(ETH Zürich), Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - J. Philipp Becker
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(ETH Zürich), Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Daria Slominski
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(ETH Zürich), Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - François Halloy
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(ETH Zürich), Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | | | - Jacob Ravn
- Roche
Innovation Center Copenhagen (RICC), Hørsholm 2970, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Hall
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
(ETH Zürich), Zürich 8093, Switzerland
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7
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Spencer-Dene B, Mukherjee P, Alex A, Bera K, Tseng WJ, Shi J, Chaney EJ, Spillman DR, Marjanovic M, Miranda E, Boppart SA, Hood SR. Localization of unlabeled bepirovirsen antisense oligonucleotide in murine tissues using in situ hybridization and CARS imaging. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1575-1590. [PMID: 37460153 PMCID: PMC10578491 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079699.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Current methods for detecting unlabeled antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs rely on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or conjugated molecules, which lack sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and resolution to fully investigate their biodistribution. Our aim was to demonstrate the qualitative and quantitative distribution of unlabeled bepirovirsen, a clinical stage ASO, in livers and kidneys of dosed mice using novel staining and imaging technologies at subcellular resolution. ASOs were detected in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and frozen tissues using an automated chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) assay: miRNAscope. This was then combined with immunohistochemical detection of cell lineage markers. ASO distribution in hepatocytes versus nonparenchymal cell lineages was quantified using HALO AI image analysis. To complement this, hyperspectral coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (HS-CARS) imaging microscopy was used to specifically detect the unique cellular Raman spectral signatures following ASO treatment. Bepirovirsen was localized primarily in nonparenchymal liver cells and proximal renal tubules. Codetection of ASO with distinct cell lineage markers of liver and kidney populations aided target cell identity facilitating quantification. Positive liver signal was quantified using HALO AI, with 12.9% of the ASO localized to the hepatocytes and 87.1% in nonparenchymal cells. HS-CARS imaging specifically detected ASO fingerprints based on the unique vibrational signatures following unlabeled ASO treatment in a totally nonperturbative manner at subcellular resolution. Together, these novel detection and imaging modalities represent a significant increase in our ability to detect unlabeled ASOs in tissues, demonstrating improved levels of specificity and resolution. These methods help us understand their underlying mechanisms of action and ultimately improve the therapeutic potential of these important drugs for treating globally significant human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Spencer-Dene
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Prabuddha Mukherjee
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Aneesh Alex
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Upper Providence, Pennsylvania 19426, USA
| | - Kajari Bera
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Wei-Ju Tseng
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Upper Providence, Pennsylvania 19426, USA
| | - Jindou Shi
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Eric J Chaney
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Darold R Spillman
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Marina Marjanovic
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Elena Miranda
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A Boppart
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Steve R Hood
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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8
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Batistatou N, Kritzer JA. Investigation of Sequence-Penetration Relationships of Antisense Oligonucleotides. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300009. [PMID: 36791388 PMCID: PMC10305730 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300009] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
A major limitation for the development of more effective oligonucleotide therapeutics has been a lack of understanding of their penetration into the cytosol. While prior work has shown how backbone modifications affect cytosolic penetration, it is unclear how cytosolic penetration is affected by other features including base composition, base sequence, length, and degree of secondary structure. We have applied the chloroalkane penetration assay, which exclusively reports on material that reaches the cytosol, to investigate the effects of these characteristics on the cytosolic uptake of druglike oligonucleotides. We found that base composition and base sequence had moderate effects, while length did not correlate directly with the degree of cytosolic penetration. Investigating further, we found that the degree of secondary structure had the largest and most predictable correlations with cytosolic penetration. These methods and observations add a layer of design for maximizing the efficacy of new oligonucleotide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nefeli Batistatou
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joshua A. Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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9
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Agyekum GA, Zhang M, Li F, Sun M, Zhang F, Yang Y, Lu Y, Chen M, Zhang Z. The complexing of cationic copolymer MPC 30-DEA 70 with TGF-β1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide and transfection into cardiomyocytes in vitro. J Biomater Appl 2023; 37:1315-1324. [PMID: 36373781 DOI: 10.1177/08853282221138922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although gene therapy is an attractive option for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the ideal gene delivery systems are still under investigation and must meet the following criteria: safety, adequate gene transfer efficiency, and stable expression of the transgene for a duration appropriate for treating the disease. In this study, we developed a cationic phosphorylcholine-containing diblock copolymer, namely MPC30-DEA70, as carrier systems to deliver a chemically synthesized transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1) antisense oligonucleotide (AS-ODN) into cardiomyocytes (CMs) to observe the cell transfection efficiency of MPC30-DEA70 and the inhibition effect on the expression of TGF-β1. MPC30-DEA70/TGF-β1 AS-ODN complexes were formed through complexation between copolymer MPC30-DEA70 (N) and AS-ODN (P) at different N/P ratios and were characterized by DNA electrophoresis. Notably, the cytotoxicity and cell growth inhibition assay showed that the MPC30-DEA70 had low cytotoxicity to CMs within the effective transfection dosage range (<20 μL/mL). CLSM/TEM images displayed that most of the AS-ODN molecules engulfed by cells were located around the cell nuclei, and a few entered into the cell nuclei without harming the organelles in the cell. Transfection studies from CMs indicated a steady increase of transfection efficiency with increasing N/P ratios. The expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in CMs were significantly inhibited at high N/P ratios. This study shows that MPC30-DEA70 can function as an effective transgenic vector into CMs and that TGF-β1 AS-ODN delivered by MPC30-DEA70 can silence the expression of the TGF-β1 gene efficiently and specifically and thereafter antagonize TGF-β1-mediated biological function in cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfred Amfo Agyekum
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,38044School of International Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Min Zhang
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fei Li
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Min Sun
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Fengyun Zhang
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yu Yang
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Minmin Chen
- 38044School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zhuoqi Zhang
- 117910Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.,38044School of International Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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10
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Ongwae GM, Lepori I, Chordia MD, Dalesandro BE, Apostolos AJ, Siegrist MS, Pires MM. Measurement of Small Molecule Accumulation into Diderm Bacteria. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:97-110. [PMID: 36530146 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most dangerous bacterial pathogens (Gram-negative and mycobacterial) deploy a formidable secondary membrane barrier to reduce the influx of exogenous molecules. For Gram-negative bacteria, this second exterior membrane is known as the outer membrane (OM), while for the Gram-indeterminate Mycobacteria, it is known as the "myco" membrane. Although different in composition, both the OM and mycomembrane are key structures that restrict the passive permeation of small molecules into bacterial cells. Although it is well-appreciated that such structures are principal determinants of small molecule permeation, it has proven to be challenging to assess this feature in a robust and quantitative way or in complex, infection-relevant settings. Herein, we describe the development of the bacterial chloro-alkane penetration assay (BaCAPA), which employs the use of a genetically encoded protein called HaloTag, to measure the uptake and accumulation of molecules into model Gram-negative and mycobacterial species, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis, respectively, and into the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The HaloTag protein can be directed to either the cytoplasm or the periplasm of bacteria. This offers the possibility of compartmental analysis of permeation across individual cell membranes. Significantly, we also showed that BaCAPA can be used to analyze the permeation of molecules into host cell-internalized E. coli and M. tuberculosis, a critical capability for analyzing intracellular pathogens. Together, our results show that BaCAPA affords facile measurement of permeability across four barriers: the host plasma and phagosomal membranes and the diderm bacterial cell envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M Ongwae
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Irene Lepori
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Mahendra D Chordia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Brianna E Dalesandro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Alexis J Apostolos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - M Sloan Siegrist
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Marcos M Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
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11
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Brown H, Chung M, Üffing A, Batistatou N, Tsang T, Doskocil S, Mao W, Willbold D, Bast RC, Lu Z, Weiergräber OH, Kritzer JA. Structure-Based Design of Stapled Peptides That Bind GABARAP and Inhibit Autophagy. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:14687-14697. [PMID: 35917476 PMCID: PMC9425296 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The LC3/GABARAP family of proteins is involved in nearly every stage of autophagy. Inhibition of LC3/GABARAP proteins is a promising approach to blocking autophagy, which sensitizes advanced cancers to DNA-damaging chemotherapy. Here, we report the structure-based design of stapled peptides that inhibit GABARAP with nanomolar affinities. Small changes in staple structure produced stapled peptides with very different binding modes and functional differences in LC3/GABARAP paralog selectivity, ranging from highly GABARAP-specific to broad inhibition of both subfamilies. The stapled peptides exhibited considerable cytosolic penetration and resistance to biological degradation. They also reduced autophagic flux in cultured ovarian cancer cells and sensitized ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. These small, potent stapled peptides represent promising autophagy-modulating compounds that can be developed as novel cancer therapeutics and novel mediators of targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hawley Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Mia Chung
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Alina Üffing
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nefeli Batistatou
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Tiffany Tsang
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Samantha Doskocil
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Weiqun Mao
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert C Bast
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Zhen Lu
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Oliver H Weiergräber
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Joshua A Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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12
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Becquart C, Stulz R, Thomen A, Dost M, Najafinobar N, Dahlén A, Andersson S, Ewing AG, Kurczy ME. Intracellular Absolute Quantification of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics by NanoSIMS. Anal Chem 2022; 94:10549-10556. [PMID: 35830231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based therapeutics hold great potential for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Therefore, a better understanding of cellular delivery, uptake, and trafficking mechanisms of ASOs is highly important for early-stage drug discovery. In particular, understanding the biodistribution and quantifying the abundance of ASOs at the subcellular level are needed to fully characterize their activity. Here, we used a combination of electron microscopy and NanoSIMS to assess the subcellular concentrations of a 34S-labeled GalNAc-ASO and a naked ASO in the organelles of primary human hepatocytes. We first cross-validated the method by including a 127I-labeled ASO, finding that the absolute concentration of the lysosomal ASO using two independent labeling strategies gave matching results, demonstrating the strength of our approach. This work also describes the preparation of external standards for absolute quantification by NanoSIMS. For both the 34S and 127I approaches used for our quantification methodology, we established the limit of detection (5 and 2 μM, respectively) and the lower limit of quantification (14 and 5 μM, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Becquart
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rouven Stulz
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Maryam Dost
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Neda Najafinobar
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology (R&I), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Dahlén
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Shalini Andersson
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrew G Ewing
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Michael E Kurczy
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
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13
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Rajabi N, Hansen TN, Nielsen AL, Nguyen HT, Baek M, Bolding JE, Bahlke OØ, Petersen SEG, Bartling CRO, Strømgaard K, Olsen CA. Investigation of Carboxylic Acid Isosteres and Prodrugs for Inhibition of the Human SIRT5 Lysine Deacylase Enzyme. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202115805. [PMID: 35299278 PMCID: PMC9315039 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202115805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) is a protein lysine deacylase enzyme that regulates diverse biology by hydrolyzing ϵ-N-carboxyacyllysine posttranslational modifications in the cell. Inhibition of SIRT5 has been linked to potential treatment of several cancers but potent compounds with activity in cells have been lacking. Here we developed mechanism-based inhibitors that incorporate isosteres of a carboxylic acid residue that is important for high-affinity binding to the enzyme active site. By masking of the tetrazole moiety of the most potent candidate from our initial SAR study, we achieved potent and cytoselective growth inhibition for the treatment of SIRT5-dependent leukemic cancer cell lines in culture. Thus, we provide an efficient, cellularly active small molecule that targets SIRT5, which can help elucidate its function and potential as a future drug target. This work shows that masked isosteres of carboxylic acids are viable chemical motifs for the development of inhibitors that target mitochondrial enzymes, which may have applications beyond the sirtuin field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Rajabi
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Present address: Red Glead Discovery, 22363, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tobias N Hansen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexander L Nielsen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Present address: Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Huy T Nguyen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Present address: School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Michael Baek
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julie E Bolding
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oskar Ø Bahlke
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sylvester E G Petersen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian R O Bartling
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Strømgaard
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian A Olsen
- Center for Biopharmaceuticals & Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Rajabi N, Hansen TN, Nielsen AL, Nguyen HT, Bæk M, Bolding JE, Bahlke OØ, Petersen SEG, Bartling CR, Strømgaard K, Olsen CA. Investigation of Carboxylic Acid Isosteres and Prodrugs for Inhibition of the Human SIRT5 Lysine Deacylase Enzyme. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202115805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nima Rajabi
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Tobias N. Hansen
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Alexander L. Nielsen
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Huy T. Nguyen
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Michael Bæk
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Julie. E. Bolding
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Oskar Ø. Bahlke
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Sylvester E. G. Petersen
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Christian R.O. Bartling
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Kristian Strømgaard
- Københavns Universitet: Kobenhavns Universitet Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology DENMARK
| | - Christian Adam Olsen
- University of Copenhagen Center for Biopharmaceuticals Universitetsparken 2 DK-2100 Copenhagen DENMARK
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