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Martínez‐Crespo L, Vitórica‐Yrezábal IJ, Whitehead GFS, Webb SJ. Chemically Fueled Communication Along a Scaffolded Nanoscale Array of Squaramides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307841. [PMID: 37429824 PMCID: PMC10952809 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307841] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Relaying conformational change over several nanometers is central to the function of allosterically regulated proteins. Replicating this mechanism artificially would provide important communication tools, but requires nanometer-sized molecules that reversibly switch between defined shapes in response to signaling molecules. In this work, 1.8 nm long rigid rod oligo(phenylene-ethynylene)s are scaffolds for switchable multi-squaramide hydrogen-bond relays. Each relay can adopt either a parallel or an antiparallel orientation relative to the scaffold; the preferred orientation is dictated by a director group at one end. An amine director responded to proton signals, with acid-base cycles producing multiple reversible changes in relay orientation that were reported by a terminal NH, which is 1.8 nm distant. Moreover, a chemical fuel acted as a dissipative signal. As the fuel was consumed, the relay reverted to its original orientation, illustrating how information from out-of-equilibrium molecular signals can be communicated to a distant site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Martínez‐Crespo
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Manchester Oxford RoadManchesterM13 9PLUK
- Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyUniversity of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | | | | | - Simon J. Webb
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Manchester Oxford RoadManchesterM13 9PLUK
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2
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Shinde SD, Kulkarni N, Sahu B. Synthesis and Investigation of Backbone Modified Squaramide Dipeptide Self-Assembly. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:507-518. [PMID: 36716238 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00803] [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: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Dipeptides are minimalistic peptide building blocks that form well ordered structures through molecular self-assembly. The driving forces involved are cooperative noncovalent interactions such as π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and ionic as well as hydrophobic interactions. One of the most intriguing self-assembled motifs that has been extensively explored as a low molecular weight hydrogel for drug delivery, tissue engineering, imaging and techtonics, etc. is Phe-Phe (FF). The backbone of the dipeptide is very crucial for extending secondary structures in self-assembly, and any subtle change in the backbone drastically affect the molecular recognitions. The squaramide (SQ) motif has the unique advantage of hydrogen bonding which can promote the self-assembly process. In this work we have integrated the SQ unit into the dipeptide FF backbone to achieve molecular self-assembly. The resulting carbamate protected backbone modified dipeptide (BocFSAF-OH, 10) has exhibited molecular self-assembly with a fibrilar network. It formed a stable hydrogel (with CAC of 0.024 ± 0.0098 wt %) via the solvent switch method and was found to possess excellent enzymatic stability. The dipeptide and the resulting hydrogel were found to be cytocompatible. When integrated with a polysaccharide based biopolymer, e.g. sodium alginate, the resulting matrix exhibited strong hydrogel character. Therefore, the dipeptide hydrogel of 10 may find its applications in a variety of fields including drug delivery and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchita Dattatray Shinde
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India
| | - Neeraj Kulkarni
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India
| | - Bichismita Sahu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India
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3
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Stefanucci A, Amato J, Brancaccio D, Pagano B, Randazzo A, Santoro F, Mayol L, Learte-Aymamí S, Rodriguez J, Mascareñas JL, Novellino E, Carotenuto A, Mollica A. A novel β-hairpin peptide derived from the ARC repressor selectively interacts with the major groove of B-DNA. Bioorg Chem 2021; 112:104836. [PMID: 33812270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) have a remarkable role in the homeostasis of the organisms and there is a growing interest in how they recognize and interact with specific DNA sequences. TFs recognize DNA using a variety of structural motifs. Among those, the ribbon-helix-helix (RHH) proteins, exemplified by the MetJ and ARC repressors, form dimers that insert antiparallel β-sheets into the major groove of DNA. A great chemical challenge consists of using the principles of DNA recognition by TFs to design minimized peptides that maintain the DNA affinity and specificity characteristics of the natural counterparts. In this context, a peptide mimic of an antiparallel β-sheet is very attractive since it can be obtained by a single peptide chain folding in a β-hairpin structure and can be as short as 14 amino acids or less. Herein, we designed eight linear and two cyclic dodeca-peptides endowed with β-hairpins. Their DNA binding properties have been investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy together with the conformational analysis through circular dichroism and solution NMR. We found that one of our peptides, peptide 6, is able to bind DNA, albeit without sequence selectivity. Notably, it shows a topological selectivity for the major groove of the DNA which is the interaction site of ARC and many other DNA-binding proteins. Moreover, we found that a type I' β-hairpin folding pattern is a favorite peptide structure for interaction with the B-DNA major groove. Peptide 6 is a valuable lead compound for the development of novel analogs with sequence selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Stefanucci
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio", Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Pagano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Randazzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Santoro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Mayol
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Soraya Learte-Aymamí
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jessica Rodriguez
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Luis Mascareñas
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Adriano Mollica
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio", Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
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Singh A, Singh RK, Patwari GN. Hierarchy of π-stacking determines the conformational preferences of bis-squaramates. CrystEngComm 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1ce00623a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Orientation of squaramate dimers in crystal structures is tuned by varying the degree of cooperativity between hydrogen bonding and π-stacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- IITB-Monash Research Academy
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai 400 076
- India
| | - Reman Kumar Singh
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai 400076
- India
| | - G. Naresh Patwari
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai 400076
- India
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Agnew-Francis KA, Williams CM. Squaramides as Bioisosteres in Contemporary Drug Design. Chem Rev 2020; 120:11616-11650. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kylie A. Agnew-Francis
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Craig M. Williams
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Ramos J, Arufe S, Martin H, Rooney D, Elmes RBP, Erxleben A, Moreira R, Velasco-Torrijos T. Glycosyl squaramides, a new class of supramolecular gelators. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:7916-7926. [PMID: 32724982 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01075h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Glycosyl squaramides were synthesised and evaluated as low molecular weight gelators. Amphiphilic glycosyl squaramides 5 and 6, with a C-16 aliphatic chain, formed thermoreversible gels in polar organic solvents and 1 : 1 ethanol/water mixtures with high efficiency. Rheological analysis showed these gels achieve their structural stability 120 h after gelation and were robust, making them particularly suitable for biomedical applications. The interactions between solvent and gelator strongly influence SAFiN (Self-Assembled Fibrillar Network) formation, critical gelation concentration (CGC) and subsequent gel structure, as evidenced by SEM imaging of xerogels. Spectroscopic studies indicate that H-bonding is involved in the self-assembly of the glycosyl squaramides in organic solvents, while hydrophobic interactions are the major driving force for gel formation in the presence of water. The compounds described herein are the first reported examples of carbohydrate-squaramide conjugates capable of forming supramolecular gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ramos
- Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co., Kildare, Ireland.
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Sen S, Basu A, Sen T, Patwari GN. π-Stacking Driven Aggregation and Folding of Squaramides. J Phys Chem A 2020; 124:5832-5839. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.0c03120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Saumik Sen
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076 India
| | - Arkaprabha Basu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076 India
| | - Tirthendu Sen
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076 India
| | - G. Naresh Patwari
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076 India
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9
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Martínez-Crespo L, Escudero-Adán EC, Costa A, Rotger C. The Role of N
-Methyl Squaramides in a Hydrogen-Bonding Strategy to Fold Peptidomimetic Compounds. Chemistry 2018; 24:17802-17813. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201803930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luís Martínez-Crespo
- Department of Chemistry; University of Balearic Islands; Cra Valldemossa km 7.5 07122 Palma Spain
| | - Eduardo C. Escudero-Adán
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ); Av. Països Catalans 16 43007 Tarragona Spain
| | - Antonio Costa
- Department of Chemistry; University of Balearic Islands; Cra Valldemossa km 7.5 07122 Palma Spain
| | - Carmen Rotger
- Department of Chemistry; University of Balearic Islands; Cra Valldemossa km 7.5 07122 Palma Spain
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10
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Effective anti-leishmanial activity of minimalist squaramide-based compounds. Exp Parasitol 2016; 170:36-49. [PMID: 27480054 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In order to evaluate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of N,N'-Squaramides derivatives, compounds that feature both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups and are capable of multiple interactions with complementary sites, against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania donovani a series of 18compounds was prepared and assayed on extracellular and intracellular parasite forms. Infectivity and cytotoxicity tests were performed on J774.2 macrophage cells using meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) as the reference drug. Changes in metabolite excretion by 1H-NMR and the ultrastructural alterations occurring in the parasites treated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), was analyzed. Compounds 1, 7, 11, 14 and 17 were the more active and less toxic. Infection rates showed that the order of effectiveness was 17 > 11 > 14 > 7 for both L. infantum and L. braziliensis and in the same way, the compound 1 for L. donovani. All these compounds have altered the typical structure of the promastigotes, glycosomes and mitochondria. These severe modifications by the compounds are the ultimate reasons for the alterations observed in the excretion products. The Squaramide 17 (3-(butylamino)-4-((3-(dimetilamino)propyl)(methyl)amino)cyclobut-3-en-1,2-dione) was clearly the most efficient of all compounds. The data appear to confirm that the severe modifications generated in organelles such as glycosomes or mitochondria by the compounds are the ultimate reasons for the alterations observed in the excretion products of all species. The activity, stability, low cost of starting materials, and straightforward synthesis make amino squaramides appropriate molecules for the development of an affordable anti-leishmanial agent.
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Sanna E, López C, Ballester P, Rotger C, Costa A. Unexpected Squaramide-Induced Cleavage of Benzils: Synthesis and Characterization of Mono-Aroyl Squarimides. European J Org Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201501235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Martínez L, Martorell G, Sampedro Á, Ballester P, Costa A, Rotger C. Hydrogen Bonded Squaramide-Based Foldable Module Induces Both β- and α-Turns in Hairpin Structures of α-Peptides in Water. Org Lett 2015; 17:2980-3. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b01268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pablo Ballester
- Institut of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Avda. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Compays 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Pike SJ, Diemer V, Raftery J, Webb SJ, Clayden J. Designing foldamer-foldamer interactions in solution: the roles of helix length and terminus functionality in promoting the self-association of aminoisobutyric acid oligomers. Chemistry 2014; 20:15981-90. [PMID: 25280242 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201403626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The biological activity of antibiotic peptaibols has been linked to their ability to aggregate, but the structure-activity relationship for aggregation is not well understood. Herein, we report a systematic study of a class of synthetic helical oligomer (foldamer) composed of aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues, which mimic the folding behavior of peptaibols. NMR spectroscopic analysis was used to quantify the dimerization constants in solution, which showed hydrogen-bond donors at the N terminus promoted aggregation more effectively than similar modifications at the C terminus. Elongation of the peptide chain also favored aggregation. The geometry of aggregation in solution was investigated by means of titrations with [D6]DMSO and 2D NOE NMR spectroscopy, which allowed the NH protons most involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonds in solution to be identified. X-ray crystallography studies of two oligomers allowed a comparison of the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions in the solid state and in solution and gave further insight into the geometry of foldamer-foldamer interactions. These solution-based and solid-state studies indicated that the preferred geometry for aggregation is through head-to-tail interactions between the N and C termini of adjacent Aib oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Pike
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL (UK), Fax: (+44) 161-275-4939
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Olmo F, Rotger C, Ramírez-Macías I, Martínez L, Marín C, Carreras L, Urbanová K, Vega M, Chaves-Lemaur G, Sampedro A, Rosales MJ, Sánchez-Moreno M, Costa A. Synthesis and biological evaluation of N,N'-squaramides with high in vivo efficacy and low toxicity: toward a low-cost drug against Chagas disease. J Med Chem 2014; 57:987-99. [PMID: 24410674 DOI: 10.1021/jm4017015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Access to basic drugs is a major issue in developing countries. Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a paradigmatic example of a chronic disease without an effective treatment. Current treatments based on benznidazole and nifurtimox are expensive, ineffective, and toxic. N,N'-Squaramides are amide-type compounds that feature both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups and are capable of multiple interactions with complementary sites. When combined with amine and carboxylic groups, squaramide compounds have increased solubility and therefore make suitable therapeutic agents. In this work, we introduce a group of Lipinski's rule of five compliant squaramides as candidates for treating Chagas disease. The in vivo studies confirmed the positive expectations arising from the preliminary in vitro studies, revealing compound 17 to be the most effective for both acute and chronic phases. The activity, stability, low cost of starting materials, and straightforward synthesis make amino squaramides appropriate molecules for the development of an affordable anti-Chagasic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Olmo
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada , E-18071 Granada, Spain
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