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Iskandar SE, Chiou LF, Leisner TM, Shell DJ, Norris-Drouin JL, Vaziri C, Pearce KH, Bowers AA. Identification of Covalent Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors in mRNA Display. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:15065-15070. [PMID: 37395736 PMCID: PMC11246720 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Peptides have historically been underutilized for covalent inhibitor discovery, despite their unique abilities to interact with protein surfaces and interfaces. This is in part due to a lack of methods for screening and identifying covalent peptide ligands. Here, we report a method to identify covalent cyclic peptide inhibitors in mRNA display. We combine co- and post-translational library diversification strategies to create cyclic libraries with reactive dehydroalanines (Dhas), which we employ in selections against two model targets. The most potent hits exhibit low nanomolar inhibitory activities and disrupt known protein-protein interactions with their selected targets. Overall, we establish Dhas as electrophiles for covalent inhibition and showcase how separate library diversification methods can work synergistically to dispose mRNA display to novel applications like covalent inhibitor discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina E Iskandar
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Lilly F Chiou
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Tina M Leisner
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Devan J Shell
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jacqueline L Norris-Drouin
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Cyrus Vaziri
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Curriculum in Toxicology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Albert A Bowers
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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2
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Synthetic biology-inspired cell engineering in diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:112. [PMID: 36906608 PMCID: PMC10007681 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01375-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The fast-developing synthetic biology (SB) has provided many genetic tools to reprogram and engineer cells for improved performance, novel functions, and diverse applications. Such cell engineering resources can play a critical role in the research and development of novel therapeutics. However, there are certain limitations and challenges in applying genetically engineered cells in clinical practice. This literature review updates the recent advances in biomedical applications, including diagnosis, treatment, and drug development, of SB-inspired cell engineering. It describes technologies and relevant examples in a clinical and experimental setup that may significantly impact the biomedicine field. At last, this review concludes the results with future directions to optimize the performances of synthetic gene circuits to regulate the therapeutic activities of cell-based tools in specific diseases.
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Holay M, Krishnan N, Zhou J, Duan Y, Guo Z, Gao W, Fang RH, Zhang L. Single Low-Dose Nanovaccine for Long-Term Protection against Anthrax Toxins. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:9672-9678. [PMID: 36448694 PMCID: PMC9970955 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anthrax infections caused by Bacillus anthracis are an ongoing bioterrorism and livestock threat worldwide. Current approaches for management, including extended passive antibody transfusion, antibiotics, and prophylactic vaccination, are often cumbersome and associated with low patient compliance. Here, we report on the development of an adjuvanted nanotoxoid vaccine based on macrophage membrane-coated nanoparticles bound with anthrax toxins. This design leverages the natural binding interaction of protective antigen, a key anthrax toxin, with macrophages. In a murine model, a single low-dose vaccination with the nanotoxoids generates long-lasting immunity that protects against subsequent challenge with anthrax toxins. Overall, this work provides a new approach to address the ongoing threat of anthrax outbreaks and bioterrorism by taking advantage of an emerging biomimetic nanotechnology.
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Metzger D, Miller K, Lyon W, Migliozzi R, Pangburn HA, Saldanha R. Host Cell Transcriptional Tuning with CRISPR/dCas9 to Mitigate the Effects of Toxin Exposure. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3657-3668. [PMID: 36318971 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00214] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Anthrax infection is caused byBacillus anthracis, a bacterium that once established within the host releases lethal toxin (LeTx). Anthrax LeTx is internalized by the capillary morphogenesis protein 2/anthrax toxin receptor 2 (CMG2/ANTXR2) cell surface receptor on mammalian cells. Once inside the cell, LeTx cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), ultimately leading to cell death. Previous reports have shown that decreased expression of ANTXR2 reduces cell susceptibility to LeTx. By ablating the ANTXR2 gene in cells in vitro, we observed complete resistance to LeTx-induced cell death. Here, we directed CRISPR/dCas9-based tools to the ANTXR2 promoter to modulate ANTXR2 expression without altering the underlying gene sequence in human cell lines that express the receptor at high levels. We hypothesized that downregulating the expression of the ANTXR2 gene at the genomic level would mitigate the impact of toxin exposure. In one epigenetic editing approach, we employed the fusion of DNMT3A DNA methyltransferase and dCas9 (dCas9-DNMT3A) to methylate CpGs within the CpG island of the ANTXR2 promoter and found this repressed ANTXR2 gene expression resulting in significant resistance to LeTx-induced cell death. Furthermore, by multiplexing gRNAs to direct dCas9-DNMT3A to multiple sites in the ANTXR2 promoter, we applied a broader distribution of CpG methylation along the gene promoter resulting in enhanced repression and resistance to LeTx. In parallel, we directed the dCas9-KRAB-MeCP2 transcriptional repressor to the ANTXR2 promoter to quickly and robustly repress ANTXR2 expression. With this approach, in as little as two weeks, we created resistance to LeTx at a similar level to ANTXR2 gene-ablated cells. Overall, we present a transcriptional tuning approach to inhibit the effects of LeTx and provide a framework to repress toxin-binding cell surface receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Metzger
- UES, Inc., assigned to 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Kennedy Miller
- UES, Inc., assigned to 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45432, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Wanda Lyon
- Airman Bioengineering Division, 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Rebecca Migliozzi
- UES, Inc., assigned to 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Heather A Pangburn
- Airman Bioengineering Division, 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Roland Saldanha
- Airman Bioengineering Division, 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
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5
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Mannes M, Martin C, Menet C, Ballet S. Wandering beyond small molecules: peptides as allosteric protein modulators. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 43:406-423. [PMID: 34857409 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen the rise of allosteric modulation as an innovative approach for drug design and discovery, efforts which culminated in the development of several clinical candidates. Allosteric modulation of many drug targets, including mainly membrane-embedded receptors, have been vastly explored through small molecule screening campaigns, but much less attention has been paid to peptide-based allosteric modulators. However, peptides have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry due to the typically higher potency and selectivity for their targets, as compared with small molecule therapeutics. Therefore, peptides represent one of the most promising classes of molecules that can modulate key biological pathways. Here, we report on the allosteric modulation of proteins (ranging from G protein-coupled receptors to specific protein-protein interactions) by peptides for applications in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Christel Menet
- Confo Therapeutics N.V., Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 30, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
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Singh BK, Biswas R, Basak A, Das AK. Mycobacterial crypto-AcpM as a tool to investigate the consequence of drug binding on its key FAS II partner enzyme HadAB. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129964. [PMID: 34252514 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Mycobacterial FASII pathway is governed by the Protein-Protein Interaction mediated dynamics existent between Acyl Carrier Protein and its partner enzymes. The dehydratase HadAB, involved in the third step of FASII synthesis has remained a key target of drugs like Thiacetazone (TAC) and its consequence on AcpM binding is yet to be deciphered. Owing to the transient nature of these interactions, analysing their implications as a drug target has been exhausting. Methods In this context, we have developed an in vitro method to study the effect of thiocarbamide-containing compounds, TAC and SPA0355 (a thiourea analogue) against mycobacterial HadAB. Additionally, by utilizing crypto-ACP (NBD-tagged Acyl Carrier Protein) as a tool of our choice, we attempted at exploring the effect of TAC and SPA0355 on mycobacterial HadAB. Results SPA0355 behaves at par with TAC and undergoes activation in the presence of monooxygenase EthA thus, bringing about a covalent modification in HadA subunit of HadAB. The crypto-ACP method provides insights into the altered substrate housing capability in HadAB associated with the impediment of its AcpM mediated functionality; an outcome attributed to the repercussions associated with the binding of the aforementioned thiourea compounds. Conclusion This investigation has assisted in unveiling a two-step mechanism undertaken by AcpM for interacting with its corresponding partner protein during acyl chain transfer. General significance This study highlights the alterations brought about by drug binding in the interplay between ACP and HadAB. Additionally, this work for the first time establishes the role of SPA0355 as a promising drug candidate against dehydratase HadAB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bina K Singh
- School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Rupam Biswas
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Amit Basak
- School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India; Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Amit K Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India.
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David F, Davis AM, Gossing M, Hayes MA, Romero E, Scott LH, Wigglesworth MJ. A Perspective on Synthetic Biology in Drug Discovery and Development-Current Impact and Future Opportunities. SLAS DISCOVERY 2021; 26:581-603. [PMID: 33834873 DOI: 10.1177/24725552211000669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The global impact of synthetic biology has been accelerating, because of the plummeting cost of DNA synthesis, advances in genetic engineering, growing understanding of genome organization, and explosion in data science. However, much of the discipline's application in the pharmaceutical industry remains enigmatic. In this review, we highlight recent examples of the impact of synthetic biology on target validation, assay development, hit finding, lead optimization, and chemical synthesis, through to the development of cellular therapeutics. We also highlight the availability of tools and technologies driving the discipline. Synthetic biology is certainly impacting all stages of drug discovery and development, and the recognition of the discipline's contribution can further enhance the opportunities for the drug discovery and development value chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian David
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Division of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrew M Davis
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceutical R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael Gossing
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin A Hayes
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elvira Romero
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Louis H Scott
- Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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8
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Iskandar SE, Haberman VA, Bowers AA. Expanding the Chemical Diversity of Genetically Encoded Libraries. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2020; 22:712-733. [PMID: 33167616 PMCID: PMC8284915 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.0c00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The power of ribosomes has increasingly been harnessed for the synthesis and selection of molecular libraries. Technologies, such as phage display, yeast display, and mRNA display, effectively couple genotype to phenotype for the molecular evolution of high affinity epitopes for many therapeutic targets. Genetic code expansion is central to the success of these technologies, allowing researchers to surpass the intrinsic capabilities of the ribosome and access new, genetically encoded materials for these selections. Here, we review techniques for the chemical expansion of genetically encoded libraries, their abilities and limits, and opportunities for further development. Importantly, we also discuss methods and metrics used to assess the efficiency of modification and library diversity with these new techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina E Iskandar
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Victoria A Haberman
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Albert A Bowers
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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9
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Shinbara K, Liu W, van Neer RHP, Katoh T, Suga H. Methodologies for Backbone Macrocyclic Peptide Synthesis Compatible With Screening Technologies. Front Chem 2020; 8:447. [PMID: 32626683 PMCID: PMC7314982 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Backbone macrocyclic structures are often found in diverse bioactive peptides and contribute to greater conformational rigidity, peptidase resistance, and potential membrane permeability compared to their linear counterparts. Therefore, such peptide scaffolds are an attractive platform for drug-discovery endeavors. Recent advances in synthetic methods for backbone macrocyclic peptides have enabled the discovery of novel peptide drug candidates against diverse targets. Here, we overview recent technical advancements in the synthetic methods including 1) enzymatic synthesis, 2) chemical synthesis, 3) split-intein circular ligation of peptides and proteins (SICLOPPS), and 4) in vitro translation system combined with genetic code reprogramming. We also discuss screening methodologies compatible with those synthetic methodologies, such as one-beads one-compound (OBOC) screening compatible with the synthetic method 2, cell-based assay compatible with 3, limiting-dilution PCR and mRNA display compatible with 4.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Choi JS, Joo SH. Recent Trends in Cyclic Peptides as Therapeutic Agents and Biochemical Tools. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2020; 28:18-24. [PMID: 31597413 PMCID: PMC6939695 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2019.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Notable progress has been made in the therapeutic and research applications of cyclic peptides since our previous review. New drugs based on cyclic peptides are entering the market, such as plecanatide, a cyclic peptide approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation. In this review, we discuss recent developments in stapled peptides, prepared with the use of chemical linkers, and bicyclic/tricyclic peptides with more than two rings. These have widespread applications for clinical and research purposes: imaging, diagnostics, improvement of oral absorption, enzyme inhibition, development of receptor agonist/antagonist, and the modulation of protein-protein interaction or protein-RNA interaction. Many cyclic peptides are expected to emerge as therapeutics and biochemical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Seok Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Joo
- College of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Republic of Korea
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11
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Lennard KR, Gardner RM, Doigneaux C, Castillo F, Tavassoli A. Development of a Cyclic Peptide Inhibitor of the p6/UEV Protein-Protein Interaction. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:1874-1878. [PMID: 31411851 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The budding of HIV from infected cells is driven by the protein-protein interaction between the p6 domain of the HIV Gag protein and the UEV domain of the human TSG101 protein. We report the development of a cyclic peptide inhibitor of the p6/UEV interaction, from a non cell-permeable parent that was identified in a SICLOPPS screen. Amino acids critical for the activity of the parent cyclic peptide were uncovered using alanine-scanning, and a series of non-natural analogues synthesized and assessed. The most potent molecule disrupts the p6/UEV interaction with an IC50 of 6.17 ± 0.24 μM by binding to UEV with a Kd of 11.9 ± 2.8 μM. This compound is cell permeable and active in a cellular virus-like particle budding assay with an IC50 of ∼2 μM. This work further demonstrates the relative simplicity with which the potency and activity of cyclic peptides identified from SICLOPPS libraries can be optimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R. Lennard
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Reece M. Gardner
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Cyrielle Doigneaux
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco Castillo
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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12
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Charov K, Burkart MD. A Single Tool to Monitor Multiple Protein-Protein Interactions of the Escherichia coli Acyl Carrier Protein. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1518-1523. [PMID: 31317739 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions are ubiquitous to all domains of life and have gained recent interest as drug targets. However, many current methods to study protein-protein interactions can be costly and are low-throughput. Here, we demonstrate a solvatochromic tool based on the natural post-translational modification of the Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein (EcACP) used to visualize protein-protein interactions between EcACP and 13 different partner enzymes from several biosynthetic pathways. We use this tool to confirm proposed interactions between EcACP and both catalytic and regulatory proteins. We also show the utility of this method toward detecting allosteric changes to partner enzyme structure and the validation of active site inhibitors. We anticipate the future adaptation of this assay into a high-throughput screen for antibiotic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Charov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0358, United States
| | - Michael D. Burkart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0358, United States
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13
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Castillo F, Tavassoli A. Genetic Selections with SICLOPPS Libraries: Toward the Identification of Novel Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors and Chemical Tools. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2001:317-328. [PMID: 31134578 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9504-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptide libraries have successfully been employed for the identification of inhibitors of highly challenging targets. While several methodologies exist for the generation of cyclic peptide libraries, genetically encoded libraries hold several advantages over purely in vitro methods of library generation, including the ability to conduct cell-based functional screens and straightforward hit deconvolution. Here we detail the use of split-intein circular ligation of peptides and proteins (SICLOPPS) for the identification and optimization of several first-in-class and best-in-class inhibitors. We describe the current advances in the identification of SICLOPPS-derived inhibitors, as well as the optimization of library generation through the use of new inteins. Finally, we discuss the production of more diverse libraries as a way of enhancing the hit rate against difficult protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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14
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Abstract
With the increasing utilization of high-throughput screening for lead identification in drug discovery, the need for easily constructed and diverse libraries which cover significant chemical space is greater than ever. Cyclic peptides address this need; they combine the advantageous properties of peptides (ease of production, high diversity, high potential specificity) with increased resistance to proteolysis and often increased biological activity (due to conformational locking). There are a number of techniques for the generation and screening of cyclic peptide libraries. As drug discovery moves toward tackling challenging targets, such as protein-protein interactions, cyclic peptide libraries are expected to continue producing hits where small molecule libraries may be stymied. However, it is important to design robust systems for the generation and screening of these large libraries, and to be able to make sense of structure-activity relationships in these highly variable scaffolds. There are a plethora of possible modifications that can be made to cyclic peptides, which is both a weakness and a strength of these scaffolds; high variability will allow more precise tuning of leads to targets, but exploring the whole range of modifications may become an overwhelming challenge.
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15
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Ran X, Gestwicki JE. Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions (PPIs): an analysis of scaffold choices and buried surface area. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2018; 44:75-86. [PMID: 29908451 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPI) were once considered 'undruggable', but clinical successes, driven by advanced methods in drug discovery, have challenged that notion. Here, we review the last three years of literature on PPI inhibitors to understand what is working and why. From the 66 recently reported PPI inhibitors, we found that the average molecular weight was significantly greater than 500Da, but that this trend was driven, in large part, by the contribution of peptide-based compounds. Despite differences in average molecular weight, we found that compounds based on small molecules or peptides were almost equally likely to be potent inhibitors (KD<1μM). Finally, we found PPIs with buried surface area (BSA) less than 2000Å2 were more likely to be inhibited by small molecules, while PPIs with larger BSA values were typically inhibited by peptides. PPIs with BSA values over 4000Å2 seemed to create a particular challenge, especially for orthosteric small molecules. Thus, it seems important to choose the inhibitor scaffold based on the properties of the target interaction. Moreover, this survey suggests a (more nuanced) conclusion to the question of whether PPIs are good drug targets; namely, that some PPIs are readily 'druggable' given the right choice of scaffold, while others still seem to deserve the 'undruggable' moniker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Ran
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States.
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16
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Yang X, Lennard KR, He C, Walker MC, Ball AT, Doigneaux C, Tavassoli A, van der Donk WA. A lanthipeptide library used to identify a protein-protein interaction inhibitor. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:375-380. [PMID: 29507389 PMCID: PMC5866752 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this article we describe the production and screening of a genetically encoded library of 106 lanthipeptides in Escherichia coli using the substrate-tolerant lanthipeptide synthetase ProcM. This plasmid-encoded library was combined with a bacterial reverse two-hybrid system for the interaction of the HIV p6 protein with the UEV domain of the human TSG101 protein, which is a critical protein-protein interaction for HIV budding from infected cells. Using this approach, we identified an inhibitor of this interaction from the lanthipeptide library, whose activity was verified in vitro and in cell-based virus-like particle-budding assays. Given the variety of lanthipeptide backbone scaffolds that may be produced with ProcM, this method may be used for the generation of genetically encoded libraries of natural product-like lanthipeptides containing substantial structural diversity. Such libraries may be combined with any cell-based assay to identify lanthipeptides with new biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Katherine R Lennard
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Chang He
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mark C Walker
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Andrew T Ball
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Cyrielle Doigneaux
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
| | - Wilfred A van der Donk
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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17
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Osher EL, Castillo F, Elumalai N, Waring MJ, Pairaudeau G, Tavassoli A. A genetically selected cyclic peptide inhibitor of BCL6 homodimerization. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:3034-3038. [PMID: 29555420 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We report an inhibitor of the homodimeric protein-protein interaction of the BCL6 oncoprotein, identified from a genetically encoded SICLOPPS library of 3.2 million cyclic hexapeptides in combination with a bacterial reverse two-hybrid system. This cyclic peptide is shown to bind the BTB domain of BCL6, disrupts its homodimerization, and subsequent binding of the SMRT2 corepressor peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliot L Osher
- Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | | | - Michael J Waring
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Garry Pairaudeau
- AstraZeneca, Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Rd. Cambridge CB40FZ, UK
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
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