1
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Paquette AR, Boddy CN. Double Stranded DNA Binding Stapled Peptides: An Emerging Tool for Transcriptional Regulation. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300594. [PMID: 37750576 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Stapled peptides have rapidly established themselves as a powerful technique to mimic α-helical interactions with a short peptide sequence. There are many examples of stapled peptides that successfully disrupt α-helix-mediated protein-protein interactions, with an example currently in clinical trials. DNA-protein interactions are also often mediated by α-helices and are involved in all transcriptional regulation processes. Unlike DNA-binding small molecules, which typically lack DNA sequence selectivity, DNA-binding proteins bind with high affinity and high selectivity. These are ideal candidates for the design DNA-binding stapled peptides. Despite the parallel to protein-protein interaction disrupting stapled peptides and the need for sequence specific DNA binders, there are very few DNA-binding stapled peptides. In this review we examine all the known DNA-binding stapled peptides. Their design concepts are compared to stapled peptides that disrupt protein-protein interactions and based on the few examples in the literature, DNA-binding stapled peptide trends are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R Paquette
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Christopher N Boddy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
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2
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Li Y, Lim C, Dismuke T, Malawsky DS, Oasa S, Bruce ZC, Offenhäuser C, Baumgartner U, D’Souza RCJ, Edwards SL, French JD, Ock LS, Nair S, Sivakumaran H, Harris L, Tikunov AP, Hwang D, Del Mar Alicea Pauneto C, Maybury M, Hassall T, Wainwright B, Kesari S, Stein G, Piper M, Johns TG, Sokolsky-Papkov M, Terenius L, Vukojević V, Gershon TR, Day BW. Preventing recurrence in Sonic Hedgehog Subgroup Medulloblastoma using the OLIG2 inhibitor CT-179. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2949436. [PMID: 37333134 PMCID: PMC10275055 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2949436/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Recurrence is the primary life-threatening complication for medulloblastoma (MB). In Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)-subgroup MB, OLIG2-expressing tumor stem cells drive recurrence. We investigated the anti-tumor potential of the small-molecule OLIG2 inhibitor CT-179, using SHH-MB patient-derived organoids, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors and mice genetically-engineered to develop SHH-MB. CT-179 disrupted OLIG2 dimerization, DNA binding and phosphorylation and altered tumor cell cycle kinetics in vitro and in vivo, increasing differentiation and apoptosis. CT-179 increased survival time in GEMM and PDX models of SHH-MB, and potentiated radiotherapy in both organoid and mouse models, delaying post-radiation recurrence. Single cell transcriptomic studies (scRNA-seq) confirmed that CT-179 increased differentiation and showed that tumors up-regulated Cdk4 post-treatment. Consistent with increased CDK4 mediating CT-179 resistance, CT-179 combined with CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib delayed recurrence compared to either single-agent. These data show that targeting treatment-resistant MB stem cell populations by adding the OLIG2 inhibitor CT-179 to initial MB treatment can reduce recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Li
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
- These authors contributed equally
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Chaemin Lim
- These authors contributed equally
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok-dong, Dongiak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Taylor Dismuke
- These authors contributed equally
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Daniel S. Malawsky
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Sho Oasa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zara C. Bruce
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | | | - Ulrich Baumgartner
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Rochelle C. J. D’Souza
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Stacey L. Edwards
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Juliet D. French
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Lucy S.H. Ock
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Sneha Nair
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Haran Sivakumaran
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Lachlan Harris
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Andrey P. Tikunov
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30323, USA
| | - Duhyeong Hwang
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Dankook University, 119 Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Coral Del Mar Alicea Pauneto
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mellissa Maybury
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Timothy Hassall
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Oncology Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | | | - Santosh Kesari
- Curtana Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Austin, TX 78756, United States
| | | | - Michael Piper
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Marina Sokolsky-Papkov
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lars Terenius
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Timothy R. Gershon
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30323, USA
| | - Bryan W. Day
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Lead contact
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3
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Inhibition of FOXP3 by stapled alpha-helical peptides dampens regulatory T cell function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209044119. [PMID: 36227917 PMCID: PMC9586281 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209044119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapies and preclinical probes designed to drug and better understand the specific functions of intracellular protein–protein interactions (PPIs) remain an area of unmet need. This study describes the development of prototype therapeutics against the FOXP3 homodimer, a PPI essential for regulatory T cell suppressive capacity. We demonstrate that hydrocarbon stapled peptides designed to block this interaction can dampen regulatory T cell (Treg cell) suppressive function and lead to genetic signatures of immune reactivation. This work provides strong scientific justification for continued development of FOXP3-specific peptide-based inhibitors and provides mechanistic insights into the design and delivery of specific inhibitors of the coiled-coil region of FOXP3. These studies ultimately could lead to new immunotherapeutic strategies to amplify immune responsiveness in a number of settings. Despite continuing advances in the development of novel cellular-, antibody-, and chemotherapeutic-based strategies to enhance immune reactivity, the presence of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) remains a complicating factor for their clinical efficacy. To overcome dosing limitations and off-target effects from antibody-based Treg cell deletional strategies or small molecule drugging, we investigated the ability of hydrocarbon stapled alpha-helical (SAH) peptides to target FOXP3, the master transcription factor regulator of Treg cell development, maintenance, and suppressive function. Using the crystal structure of the FOXP3 homodimer as a guide, we developed SAHs in the likeness of a portion of the native FOXP3 antiparallel coiled-coil homodimerization domain (SAH-FOXP3) to block this key FOXP3 protein-protein interaction (PPI) through molecular mimicry. We describe the design, synthesis, and biochemical evaluation of single- and double-stapled SAHs covering the entire coiled-coil expanse. We show that lead SAH-FOXP3s bind FOXP3, are cell permeable and nontoxic to T cells, induce dose-dependent transcript and protein level alterations of FOXP3 target genes, impede Treg cell function, and lead to Treg cell gene expression changes in vivo consistent with FOXP3 dysfunction. These results demonstrate a proof of concept for rationally designed FOXP3-directed peptide therapeutics that could be used as approaches to amplify endogenous immune responsiveness.
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4
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Oasa S, Krmpot AJ, Nikolić SN, Clayton AHA, Tsigelny IF, Changeux JP, Terenius L, Rigler R, Vukojević V. Dynamic Cellular Cartography: Mapping the Local Determinants of Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 (OLIG2) Function in Live Cells Using Massively Parallel Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy Integrated with Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (mpFCS/FLIM). Anal Chem 2021; 93:12011-12021. [PMID: 34428029 PMCID: PMC8427561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Compartmentalization
and integration of molecular
processes through diffusion are basic mechanisms through which cells
perform biological functions. To characterize these mechanisms in
live cells, quantitative and ultrasensitive analytical methods with
high spatial and temporal resolution are needed. Here, we present
quantitative scanning-free confocal microscopy with single-molecule
sensitivity, high temporal resolution (∼10 μs/frame),
and fluorescence lifetime imaging capacity, developed by integrating
massively parallel fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with fluorescence
lifetime imaging microscopy (mpFCS/FLIM); we validate the method,
use it to map in live cell location-specific variations in the concentration,
diffusion, homodimerization, DNA binding, and local environment of
the oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 fused with the enhanced
Green Fluorescent Protein (OLIG2-eGFP), and characterize the effects
of an allosteric inhibitor of OLIG2 dimerization on these determinants
of OLIG2 function. In particular, we show that cytoplasmic OLIG2-eGFP
is largely monomeric and freely diffusing, with the fraction of freely
diffusing OLIG2-eGFP molecules being fD,freecyt = (0.75
± 0.10) and the diffusion time τD,freecyt = (0.5 ± 0.3) ms. In contrast,
OLIG2-eGFP homodimers are abundant in the cell nucleus, constituting
∼25% of the nuclear pool, some fD,boundnuc = (0.65
± 0.10) of nuclear OLIG2-eGFP is bound to chromatin DNA, whereas
freely moving OLIG2-eGFP molecules diffuse at the same rate as those
in the cytoplasm, as evident from the lateral diffusion times τD,freenuc = τD,freecyt = (0.5
± 0.3) ms. OLIG2-eGFP interactions with chromatin DNA, revealed
through their influence on the apparent diffusion behavior of OLIG2-eGFP,
τD,boundnuc (850 ± 500) ms, are characterized by an apparent dissociation
constant Kd,appOLIG2-DNA = (45 ± 30) nM. The apparent
dissociation constant of OLIG2-eGFP homodimers was estimated to be Kd,app(OLIG2-eGFP)2 ≈ 560 nM. The allosteric inhibitor of OLIG2 dimerization,
compound NSC 50467, neither affects OLIG2-eGFP properties in the cytoplasm
nor does it alter the overall cytoplasmic environment. In contrast,
it significantly impedes OLIG2-eGFP homodimerization in the cell nucleus,
increasing five-fold the apparent dissociation constant, Kd,app,NSC50467(OLIG2-eGFP)2 ≈ 3 μM, thus reducing homodimer levels to below 7%
and effectively abolishing OLIG2-eGFP specific binding to chromatin
DNA. The mpFCS/FLIM methodology has a myriad of applications in biomedical
research and pharmaceutical industry. For example, it is indispensable
for understanding how biological functions emerge through the dynamic
integration of location-specific molecular processes and invaluable
for drug development, as it allows us to quantitatively characterize
the interactions of drugs with drug targets in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Oasa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aleksandar J Krmpot
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Stanko N Nikolić
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andrew H A Clayton
- Optical Sciences Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia
| | - Igor F Tsigelny
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0819, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre Changeux
- Department of Neuroscience, Unité Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, Institut Pasteur, F-75724 Paris 15, France
| | - Lars Terenius
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rudolf Rigler
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB), Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladana Vukojević
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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5
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Abstract
Transcription factors in the bHLH family are potentially relevant for tumor growth. Activation requires homodimerization or heterodimerization. Thus, the dimerization step is a likely significant drug target. The oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) is overexpressed in gliomas. Here, we developed a fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy protocol to examine 10 compounds selected using a pharmacophore-based computational strategy targeting OLIG2 dimerization. We showed that the potency to interact with OLIG2 dimerization in live cells correlates with carcinostatic efficacy. The data indicate a promising approach toward drug development targeting transcription factor overactivity and protein–protein interaction more generally. Transcription factors (TFs) are fundamental in the regulation of gene expression in the development and differentiation of cells. They may act as oncogenes and when overexpressed in tumors become plausible targets for the design of antitumor agents. Homodimerization or heterodimerization of TFs are required for DNA binding and the association interface between subunits, for the design of allosteric modulators, appears as a privileged structure for the pharmacophore-based computational strategy. Based on this strategy, a set of compounds were earlier identified as potential suppressors of OLIG2 dimerization and found to inhibit tumor growth in a mouse glioblastoma cell line and in a whole-animal study. To investigate whether the antitumor activity is due to the predicted mechanism of action, we undertook a study of OLIG2 dimerization using fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) of live HEK cells transfected with 2 spectrally different OLIG2 clones. The selected compounds showed an effect with potency, which correlated with the earlier observed antitumor activity. The OLIG2 proteins showed change in diffusion time under compound treatment in line with dissociation from DNA. The data suggest a general approach of drug discovery based on the design of allosteric modulators of protein–protein interaction.
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6
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Determination of the concentration of transcription factor by using exonuclease III-aided amplification and gold nanoparticle mediated fluorescence intensity: A new method for gene transcription related enzyme detection. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1104:132-139. [PMID: 32106944 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report a new probe for the determination of the concentration of NF-κB p50, one kind of DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs), by using Exonuclease III (Exo III)-aided amplification and gold nanoparticle mediated fluorescence intensity. Since TFs play critical roles in various biological processes, the detection of TFs can provide a lot of useful biological information for studding gene expression regulation related disease. In our system, in the presence of transcription factor, Exo III based amplification reaction was trigged. This enzymatic digestion results in the release of intermediate DNA and ultimately liberating the fluorophore (which, separated from the quencher of AuNP and BHQ2, now fluoresces). The released intermediate DNA then hybridizes with another strand3, whence the cycle starts anew. So, the fluorescence intensity reflects the NF-κB p50 concentration with a detection limit of 1.32 pM. Importantly, this method might be further extended to selectively detect various dsDNA-binding proteins by simply changing the binding-site sequences of strand1/strand2 duplex probes.
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7
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Jeganathan S, Wendt M, Kiehstaller S, Brancaccio D, Kuepper A, Pospiech N, Carotenuto A, Novellino E, Hennig S, Grossmann TN. Constrained Peptides with Fine‐Tuned Flexibility Inhibit NF‐Y Transcription Factor Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201907901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sadasivam Jeganathan
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Mathias Wendt
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesVU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Kiehstaller
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesVU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of Naples “Federico II” Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Arne Kuepper
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Nicole Pospiech
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of Naples “Federico II” Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of Naples “Federico II” Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples Italy
| | - Sven Hennig
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15 44227 Dortmund Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesVU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Tom N. Grossmann
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15 44227 Dortmund Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesVU University Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HZ Amsterdam The Netherlands
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8
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Jeganathan S, Wendt M, Kiehstaller S, Brancaccio D, Kuepper A, Pospiech N, Carotenuto A, Novellino E, Hennig S, Grossmann TN. Constrained Peptides with Fine-Tuned Flexibility Inhibit NF-Y Transcription Factor Assembly. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:17351-17358. [PMID: 31539186 PMCID: PMC6900064 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201907901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Protein complex formation depends on the interplay between preorganization and flexibility of the binding epitopes involved. The design of epitope mimetics typically focuses on stabilizing a particular bioactive conformation, often without considering conformational dynamics, which limits the potential of peptidomimetics against challenging targets such as transcription factors. We developed a peptide-derived inhibitor of the NF-Y transcription factor by first constraining the conformation of an epitope through hydrocarbon stapling and then fine-tuning its flexibility. In the initial set of constrained peptides, a single non-interacting α-methyl group was observed to have a detrimental effect on complex stability. Biophysical characterization revealed how this methyl group affects the conformation of the peptide in its bound state. Adaption of the methylation pattern resulted in a peptide that inhibits transcription factor assembly and subsequent recruitment to the target DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadasivam Jeganathan
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mathias Wendt
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Kiehstaller
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Arne Kuepper
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Nicole Pospiech
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano, 49, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Sven Hennig
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081, HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Payne SR, Pau DI, Whiting AL, Kim YJ, Pharoah BM, Moi C, Boddy CN, Bernal F. Inhibition of Bacterial Gene Transcription with an RpoN-Based Stapled Peptide. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:1059-1066.e4. [PMID: 29887265 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In response to environmental and other stresses, the σ54 subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) controls expression of several genes that play a significant role in the virulence of both plant and animal pathogens. Recruitment of σ54 to RNAP initiates promoter-specific transcription via the double-stranded DNA denaturation mechanism of the cofactor. The RpoN box, a recognition helix found in the C-terminal region of σ54, has been identified as the component necessary for major groove insertion at the -24 position of the promoter. We employed the hydrocarbon stapled peptide methodology to design and synthesize stapled σ54 peptides capable of penetrating Gram-negative bacteria, binding the σ54 promoter, and blocking the interaction between endogenous σ54 and its target DNA sequence, thereby reducing transcription and activation of σ54 response genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling R Payne
- Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Daniel I Pau
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Amanda L Whiting
- Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Ye Joon Kim
- Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Blaze M Pharoah
- Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Christina Moi
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Christopher N Boddy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Federico Bernal
- Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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10
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Speltz TE, Danes JM, Stender JD, Frasor J, Moore TW. A Cell-Permeable Stapled Peptide Inhibitor of the Estrogen Receptor/Coactivator Interaction. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:676-684. [PMID: 29309722 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b01016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We and others have proposed that coactivator binding inhibitors, which block the interaction of estrogen receptor and steroid receptor coactivators, may represent a potential class of new breast cancer therapeutics. The development of coactivator binding inhibitors has been limited, however, because many of the current molecules which are active in in vitro and biochemical assays are not active in cell-based assays. Our goal in this work was to prepare a coactivator binding inhibitor active in cellular models of breast cancer. To accomplish this, we used molecular dynamics simulations to convert a high-affinity stapled peptide with poor cell permeability into R4K1, a cell-penetrating stapled peptide. R4K1 displays high binding affinity for estrogen receptor α, inhibits the formation of estrogen receptor/coactivator complexes, and distributes throughout the cell with a high percentage of nuclear localization. R4K1 represses native gene transcription mediated by estrogen receptor α and inhibits proliferation of estradiol-stimulated MCF-7 cells. Using RNA-Seq, we demonstrate that almost all of the effects of R4K1 on global gene transcription are estrogen-receptor-associated. This chemical probe provides a significant proof-of-concept for preparing cell-permeable stapled peptide inhibitors of the estrogen receptor/coactivator interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E. Speltz
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Jeanne M. Danes
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1835 W Polk St, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Joshua D. Stender
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jonna Frasor
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1835 W Polk St, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, 1801 W Taylor St., Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Terry W. Moore
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, 1801 W Taylor St., Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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11
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Inamoto I, Shin JA. Peptide therapeutics that directly target transcription factors. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Inamoto
- Department of Chemistry; University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road; Mississauga Ontario L5L 1C6 Canada
| | - Jumi A. Shin
- Department of Chemistry; University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road; Mississauga Ontario L5L 1C6 Canada
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12
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Raz DJ. Editorial on "Transcription factor SPZ1 promotes TWIST-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and oncogenesis in human liver cancer". J Thorac Dis 2017; 9:4143-4145. [PMID: 29268454 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.10.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dan J Raz
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope/Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
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13
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The Novel Transcriptional Regulator LmbU Promotes Lincomycin Biosynthesis through Regulating Expression of Its Target Genes in Streptomyces lincolnensis. J Bacteriol 2017; 200:JB.00447-17. [PMID: 29038257 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00447-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lincomycin A is a clinically important antimicrobial agent produced by Streptomyces lincolnensis In this study, a new regulator designated LmbU (GenBank accession no. ABX00623.1) was identified and characterized to regulate lincomycin biosynthesis in S. lincolnensis wild-type strain NRRL 2936. Both inactivation and overexpression of lmbU resulted in significant influences on lincomycin production. Transcriptional analysis and in vivo neomycin resistance (Neor) reporter assays demonstrated that LmbU activates expression of the lmbA, lmbC, lmbJ, and lmbW genes and represses expression of the lmbK and lmbU genes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrated that LmbU can bind to the regions upstream of the lmbA and lmbW genes through the consensus and palindromic sequence 5'-CGCCGGCG-3'. However, LmbU cannot bind to the regions upstream of the lmbC, lmbJ, lmbK, and lmbU genes as they lack this motif. These data indicate a complex transcriptional regulatory mechanism of LmbU. LmbU homologues are present in the biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites of many other actinomycetes. Furthermore, the LmbU homologue from Saccharopolyspora erythraea (GenBank accession no. WP_009944629.1) also binds to the regions upstream of lmbA and lmbW, which suggests widespread activity for this regulator. LmbU homologues have no significant structural similarities to other known cluster-situated regulators (CSRs), which indicates that they belong to a new family of regulatory proteins. In conclusion, the present report identifies LmbU as a novel transcriptional regulator and provides new insights into regulation of lincomycin biosynthesis in S. lincolnensisIMPORTANCE Although lincomycin biosynthesis has been extensively studied, its regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, a novel regulator, LmbU, which regulates transcription of its target genes in the lincomycin biosynthetic gene cluster (lmb gene cluster) and therefore promotes lincomycin biosynthesis, was identified in S. lincolnensis strain NRRL 2936. Importantly, we show that this new regulatory element is relatively widespread across diverse actinomycetes species. In addition, our findings provide a new strategy for improvement of yield of lincomycin through manipulation of LmbU, and this approach could also be evaluated in other secondary metabolite gene clusters containing this regulatory protein.
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14
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Baxter D, Perry SR, Hill TA, Kok WM, Zaccai NR, Brady RL, Fairlie DP, Mason JM. Downsizing Proto-oncogene cFos to Short Helix-Constrained Peptides That Bind Jun. ACS Chem Biol 2017. [PMID: 28636317 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The oncogenic transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) is a DNA-binding protein that assembles through dimerization of Fos and Jun protein subunits, their leucine-rich helical sequences entwining into a coiled-coil structure. This study reports on downsizing the proto-oncogene cFos protein (380 residues) to shorter peptides (37-25 residues) modified with helix-inducing constraints to enhance binding to Jun. A crystal structure is reported for a 37-residue Fos-derived peptide (FosW) bound to Jun. This guided iterative downsizing of FosW to shorter peptide sequences that were constrained into stable water-soluble α-helices by connecting amino acid side chains to form cyclic pentapeptide components. Structural integrity in the presence and absence of Jun was assessed by circular dichroism spectroscopy, while the thermodynamics of binding to cFos was measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. A 25-residue constrained peptide, one-third shorter yet 25% more helical than the structurally characterized 37-residue Fos-derived peptide, retained 80% of the binding free energy as a result of preorganization in a Jun-binding helix conformation, with the entropy gain (TΔS = +3.2 kcal/mol) compensating for the enthalpy loss. Attaching a cell-penetrating peptide (TAT48-57) and a nuclear localization signal (SV40) promoted cell uptake, localization to the nucleus, and inhibition of the proliferation of two breast cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Baxter
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | - Samuel R. Perry
- Division
of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Australian Research Council Centre
of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Institute for Molecular
Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Timothy A. Hill
- Division
of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Australian Research Council Centre
of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Institute for Molecular
Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - W. Mei Kok
- Division
of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Australian Research Council Centre
of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Institute for Molecular
Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nathan R. Zaccai
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - R. Leo Brady
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - David P. Fairlie
- Division
of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Australian Research Council Centre
of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Institute for Molecular
Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jody M. Mason
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
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