1
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Li M, Li J, Lu X, Schroder R, Chandramohan A, Wuelfing WP, Templeton AC, Xu W, Gindy M, Kesisoglou F, Ling J, Sawyer T, Verma CS, Partridge AW, Su Y. Molecular Mechanism of P53 Peptide Permeation through Lipid Membranes from Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:23075-23091. [PMID: 39110018 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Macrocyclic peptides show promise in targeting high-value therapeutically relevant binding sites due to their high affinity and specificity. However, their clinical application is often hindered by low membrane permeability, which limits their effectiveness against intracellular targets. Previous studies focused on peptide conformations in various solvents, leaving a gap in understanding their interactions with and translocation through lipid bilayers. Addressing this, our study explores the membrane interactions of stapled peptides, a subclass of macrocyclic peptides, using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We conducted ssNMR measurements on ATSP-7041M, a prototypical stapled peptide, to understand its interaction with lipid membranes, leading to an MD-informed model for peptide membrane permeation. Our findings reveal that ATSP-7041M adopts a stable α-helical structure upon membrane binding, facilitated by a cation-π interaction between its phenylalanine side chain and the lipid headgroup. This interaction makes the membrane-bound state energetically favorable, facilitating membrane affinity and insertion. The bound peptide displayed asymmetric insertion depths, with the C-terminus penetrating deeper (approximately 9 Å) than the N-terminus (approximately 4.3 Å) relative to the lipid headgroups. Contrary to expectations, peptide dynamics was not hindered by membrane binding and exhibited rapid motions similar to cell-penetrating peptides. These dynamic interactions and peptide-lipid affinity appear to be crucial for membrane permeation. MD simulations indicated a thermodynamically stable transmembrane conformation of ATSP-7041M, reducing the energy barrier for translocation. Our study offers an in silico view of ATSP-7041M's translocation from the extracellular to the intracellular region, highlighting the significance of peptide-lipid interactions and dynamics in enabling peptide transit through membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Li
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Jianguo Li
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Road Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Xingyu Lu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
- Instrumentation and Service Center for Molecular Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Ryan Schroder
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | | | - W Peter Wuelfing
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Allen C Templeton
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Wei Xu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Marian Gindy
- Small Molecule Science and Technology, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Filippos Kesisoglou
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Jing Ling
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Tomi Sawyer
- Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | - Yongchao Su
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
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2
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Callahan AJ, Gandhesiri S, Travaline TL, Reja RM, Lozano Salazar L, Hanna S, Lee YC, Li K, Tokareva OS, Swiecicki JM, Loas A, Verdine GL, McGee JH, Pentelute BL. Mirror-image ligand discovery enabled by single-shot fast-flow synthesis of D-proteins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1813. [PMID: 38418820 PMCID: PMC10901774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45634-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Widespread adoption of mirror-image biological systems presents difficulties in accessing the requisite D-protein substrates. In particular, mirror-image phage display has the potential for high-throughput generation of biologically stable macrocyclic D-peptide binders with potentially unique recognition modes but is hindered by the individualized optimization required for D-protein chemical synthesis. We demonstrate a general mirror-image phage display pipeline that utilizes automated flow peptide synthesis to prepare D-proteins in a single run. With this approach, we prepare and characterize 12 D-proteins - almost one third of all reported D-proteins to date. With access to mirror-image protein targets, we describe the successful discovery of six macrocyclic D-peptide binders: three to the oncoprotein MDM2, and three to the E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP. Reliable production of mirror-image proteins can unlock the full potential of D-peptide drug discovery and streamline the study of mirror-image biology more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J Callahan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Satish Gandhesiri
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tara L Travaline
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Rahi M Reja
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lia Lozano Salazar
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Stephanie Hanna
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yen-Chun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemistry, National Cheng Kung University, No.1, University Road, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan
| | - Kunhua Li
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Olena S Tokareva
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
| | - Jean-Marie Swiecicki
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
- Relay Therapeutics, Inc., 399 Binney Street, 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Andrei Loas
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Gregory L Verdine
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - John H McGee
- FOG Pharmaceuticals Inc., 30 Acorn Park Drive, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA.
| | - Bradley L Pentelute
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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3
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Chandramohan A, Josien H, Yuen TY, Duggal R, Spiegelberg D, Yan L, Juang YCA, Ge L, Aronica PG, Kaan HYK, Lim YH, Peier A, Sherborne B, Hochman J, Lin S, Biswas K, Nestor M, Verma CS, Lane DP, Sawyer TK, Garbaccio R, Henry B, Kannan S, Brown CJ, Johannes CW, Partridge AW. Design-rules for stapled peptides with in vivo activity and their application to Mdm2/X antagonists. Nat Commun 2024; 15:489. [PMID: 38216578 PMCID: PMC10786919 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43346-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Although stapled α-helical peptides can address challenging targets, their advancement is impeded by poor understandings for making them cell permeable while avoiding off-target toxicities. By synthesizing >350 molecules, we present workflows for identifying stapled peptides against Mdm2(X) with in vivo activity and no off-target effects. Key insights include a clear correlation between lipophilicity and permeability, removal of positive charge to avoid off-target toxicities, judicious anionic residue placement to enhance solubility/behavior, optimization of C-terminal length/helicity to enhance potency, and optimization of staple type/number to avoid polypharmacology. Workflow application gives peptides with >292x improved cell proliferation potencies and no off-target cell proliferation effects ( > 3800x on-target index). Application of these 'design rules' to a distinct Mdm2(X) peptide series improves ( > 150x) cellular potencies and removes off-target toxicities. The outlined workflow should facilitate therapeutic impacts, especially for those targets such as Mdm2(X) that have hydrophobic interfaces and are targetable with a helical motif.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tsz Ying Yuen
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138665, Singapore
| | | | - Diana Spiegelberg
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lin Yan
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | | | - Lan Ge
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, 07033, USA
| | - Pietro G Aronica
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | | | - Yee Hwee Lim
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138665, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marika Nestor
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | - David P Lane
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | | | | | - Brian Henry
- MSD International, Singapore, 138665, Singapore.
| | - Srinivasaraghavan Kannan
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138671, Singapore.
| | | | - Charles W Johannes
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, 138665, Singapore.
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
- EPOC Scientific LLC, Stoneham, MA, 02180, USA.
| | - Anthony W Partridge
- MSD International, Singapore, 138665, Singapore.
- Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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4
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Li J, Tan YS, Verma CS. Dissecting the geometric and hydrophobic constraints of stapled peptides. Proteins 2024. [PMID: 38196284 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Stapled peptides are a promising class of molecules with potential as highly specific probes of protein-protein interactions and as therapeutics. Hydrocarbon stapling affects the peptide properties through the interplay of two factors: enhancing the overall hydrophobicity and constraining the conformational flexibility. By constructing a series of virtual peptides, we study the role of each factor in modulating the structural properties of a hydrocarbon-stapled peptide PM2, which has been shown to enter cells, engage its target Mouse Double Minute 2 (MDM2), and activate p53. Hamiltonian replica exchange molecular dynamics (HREMD) simulations suggest that hydrocarbon stapling favors helical populations of PM2 through a combination of the geometric constraints and the enhanced hydrophobicity of the peptide. To further understand the conformational landscape of the stapled peptides along the binding pathway, we performed HREMD simulations by restraining the peptide at different distances from MDM2. When the peptide approaches MDM2, the binding pocket undergoes dehydration which appears to be greater in the presence of the stapled peptide compared with the linear peptide. In the binding pocket, the helicity of the stapled peptide is increased due to the favorable interactions between the peptide residues as well as the staple and the microenvironment of the binding pocket, contributing to enhanced affinity. The dissection of the multifaceted mechanism of hydrocarbon stapling into individual factors not only deepens fundamental understanding of peptide stapling, but also provides guidelines for the design of new stapled peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Li
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yaw Sing Tan
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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5
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Jelinska C, Kannan S, Frosi Y, Ramlan SR, Winnerdy F, Lakshminarayanan R, Johannes CW, Brown CJ, Phan AT, Rhodes D, Verma CS. Stitched peptides as potential cell permeable inhibitors of oncogenic DAXX protein. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:1096-1110. [PMID: 38033728 PMCID: PMC10685803 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00149k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
DAXX (Death Domain Associated Protein 6) is frequently upregulated in various common cancers, and its suppression has been linked to reduced tumor progression. Consequently, DAXX has gained significant interest as a therapeutic target in such cancers. DAXX is known to function in several critical biological pathways including chromatin remodelling, transcription regulation, and DNA repair. Leveraging structural information, we have designed and developed a novel set of stapled/stitched peptides that specifically target a surface on the N-terminal helical bundle domain of DAXX. This surface serves as the anchor point for binding to multiple interaction partners, such as Rassf1C, p53, Mdm2, and ATRX, as well as for the auto-regulation of the DAXX N-terminal SUMO interaction motif (SIM). Our experiments demonstrate that these peptides effectively bind to and inhibit DAXX with a higher affinity than the known interaction partners. Furthermore, these peptides release the auto-inhibited SIM, enabling it to interact with SUMO-1. Importantly, we have developed stitched peptides that can enter cells, maintaining their intracellular concentrations at nanomolar levels even after 24 hours, without causing any membrane perturbation. Collectively, our findings suggest that these stitched peptides not only serve as valuable tools for probing the molecular interactions of DAXX but also hold potential as precursors to the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Jelinska
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building Level 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
- NTU School of Biological Sciences, 60 Nanyang Drive 637551 Singapore
- NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
| | | | - Yuri Frosi
- DITL, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology (A*STAR), 8a Biomedical Grove 138648 Singapore
| | - Siti Radhiah Ramlan
- DITL, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology (A*STAR), 8a Biomedical Grove 138648 Singapore
| | - Fernaldo Winnerdy
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building Level 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
| | - Rajamani Lakshminarayanan
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road Singapore 169856 Singapore
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore Singapore 117543 Singapore
- Academic Clinical Program in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School 169857 Singapore
| | - Charles W Johannes
- DITL, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology (A*STAR), 8a Biomedical Grove 138648 Singapore
| | - Christopher J Brown
- DITL, Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology (A*STAR), 8a Biomedical Grove 138648 Singapore
| | - Anh-Tuan Phan
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building Level 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
- NTU School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. 21 Nanyang link 637371 Singapore
| | - Daniela Rhodes
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Experimental Medicine Building Level 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
- NTU School of Biological Sciences, 60 Nanyang Drive 637551 Singapore
- NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Experimental Medicine Building, 59 Nanyang Drive 636921 Singapore
| | - Chandra S Verma
- NTU School of Biological Sciences, 60 Nanyang Drive 637551 Singapore
- Bioinformatics institute (A*STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix Level 07-01 138671 Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore Block S3 #05-01 16 Science Drive 4 117558 Singapore
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6
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Shen H, Zhang N, Kong X, Wang N, Hu HG, Cong W, Liu C. Benzyl stapled modification and anticancer activity of antimicrobial peptide A4K14-Citropin 1.1. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 96:129499. [PMID: 37804993 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
A4K14-Citropin 1.1 (GLFAVIKKVASVIKGL-NH2) is a derived antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with a more stable α-helical structure at the C-terminal compared to prototype Citropin 1.1 which was obtained from glandular skin secretions of Australian freetail lizards. In a previous report, A4K14-Citropin 1.1 has been considered as an anti-cancer lead compound. However, linear peptides are difficult to maintain stable secondary structure, resulted in poor pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of benzyl-stapled derivatives of A4K14-Citropin 1.1. And their physical and chemical properties, as well as biological activity, were both explored. The result showed that AC-CCSP-2-o and AC-CCSP-3-o exhibited a higher degree of helicity and greater anti-cancer activity compared with the prototype peptide. Besides, there was no significant difference in the hemolytic effect between the stapled peptides and the prototype peptide. AC-CCSP-2-o and AC-CCSP-3-o could serve as promising anti-cancer lead compounds for the novel anti-cancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaxing Shen
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xianglong Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, PR. China
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Hong-Gang Hu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wei Cong
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
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7
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Kong X, Zhang N, Shen H, Wang N, Cong W, Liu C, Hu HG. Design, synthesis and antitumor activity of Ascaphin-8 derived stapled peptides based on halogen-sulfhydryl click chemical reactions. RSC Adv 2023; 13:19862-19868. [PMID: 37409042 PMCID: PMC10318414 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02743k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascaphin-8 (GFKDLLKGAAKALVKTVLF-NH2), isolated from the norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretion of the North American-tailed frog Ascaphus truei, is a C-terminal α-helical antimicrobial peptide with potential antitumor activity. However, linear peptides are difficult to be applied directly as drugs because of their inherent defects, such as low hydrolytic enzyme tolerance and poor structural stability. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of stapled peptides based on Ascaphin-8 via thiol-halogen click chemistry. Most of the stapled peptide derivatives showed enhanced antitumor activity. Among them, A8-2-o and A8-4-Dp had the most improved structural stability, stronger hydrolytic enzyme tolerance and highest biological activity. This research may provide a reference for the stapled modification of other similar natural antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 PR China
| | - Nan Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
| | - Huaxing Shen
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
| | - Wei Cong
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
| | - Hong-Gang Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 PR China
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University Shanghai 200444 China
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8
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Harrison K, Mackay AS, Kambanis L, Maxwell JWC, Payne RJ. Synthesis and applications of mirror-image proteins. Nat Rev Chem 2023; 7:383-404. [PMID: 37173596 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00493-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The homochirality of biomolecules in nature, such as DNA, RNA, peptides and proteins, has played a critical role in establishing and sustaining life on Earth. This chiral bias has also given synthetic chemists the opportunity to generate molecules with inverted chirality, unlocking valuable new properties and applications. Advances in the field of chemical protein synthesis have underpinned the generation of numerous 'mirror-image' proteins (those comprised entirely of D-amino acids instead of canonical L-amino acids), which cannot be accessed using recombinant expression technologies. This Review seeks to highlight recent work on synthetic mirror-image proteins, with a focus on modern synthetic strategies that have been leveraged to access these complex biomolecules as well as their applications in protein crystallography, drug discovery and the creation of mirror-image life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katriona Harrison
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angus S Mackay
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lucas Kambanis
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joshua W C Maxwell
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard J Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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9
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Linker S, Schellhaas C, Kamenik AS, Veldhuizen MM, Waibl F, Roth HJ, Fouché M, Rodde S, Riniker S. Lessons for Oral Bioavailability: How Conformationally Flexible Cyclic Peptides Enter and Cross Lipid Membranes. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2773-2788. [PMID: 36762908 PMCID: PMC9969412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides extend the druggable target space due to their size, flexibility, and hydrogen-bonding capacity. However, these properties impact also their passive membrane permeability. As the "journey" through membranes cannot be monitored experimentally, little is known about the underlying process, which hinders rational design. Here, we use molecular simulations to uncover how cyclic peptides permeate a membrane. We show that side chains can act as "molecular anchors", establishing the first contact with the membrane and enabling insertion. Once inside, the peptides are positioned between headgroups and lipid tails─a unique polar/apolar interface. Only one of two distinct orientations at this interface allows for the formation of the permeable "closed" conformation. In the closed conformation, the peptide crosses to the lower leaflet via another "anchoring" and flipping mechanism. Our findings provide atomistic insights into the permeation process of flexible cyclic peptides and reveal design considerations for each step of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie
M. Linker
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schellhaas
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anna S. Kamenik
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mac M. Veldhuizen
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Franz Waibl
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Jörg Roth
- Novartis
Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis
Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marianne Fouché
- Novartis
Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis
Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephane Rodde
- Novartis
Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis
Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sereina Riniker
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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10
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Zhu H, Xu C, Chen Y, Liang Y. His-Ala-Phe-Lys peptide from Burkholderia arboris possesses antifungal activity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1071530. [PMID: 36560956 PMCID: PMC9763614 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1071530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia arboris, which belongs to the Burkholderia cepacia complex, has been shown to possess antifungal activity against several plant fungal pathogens; however, the antifungal compounds are yet to be identified. Here, we identified the antifungal compounds produced by B. arboris using genetic and metabolomic approaches. We generated a Tn5 transposon mutation library of 3,000 B. arboris mutants and isolated three mutants with reduced antifungal activity against the plant fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Among the mutants, the M464 mutant exhibited the weakest antifungal activity. In the M464 genome, the transposon was inserted into the cobA gene, encoding uroporphyrin-III methyltransferase. Deletion of the cobA gene also resulted in reduced antifungal activity, indicating that the cobA gene contributed to the antifungal activity of B. arboris. Furthermore, a comparison of the differential metabolites between wild type B. arboris and the ∆cobA mutant showed a significantly decreased level of tetrapeptide His-Ala-Phe-Lys (Hafk) in the ∆cobA mutant. Therefore, a Hafk peptide with D-amino acid residues was synthesized and its antifungal activity was evaluated. Notably, the Hafk peptide displayed significant antifungal activity against F. oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea, two plant pathogens that cause destructive fungal diseases. Overall, a novel antifungal compound (Hafk) that can be used for the biocontrol of fungal diseases in plants was identified in B. arboris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuihong Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yicun Chen
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yan Liang, ; Yicun Chen,
| | - Yan Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yan Liang, ; Yicun Chen,
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11
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Zhang M, Du M, Qi X, Wang Y, Li G, Xu C, Zhang X. Retro-inversion follicle-stimulating hormone peptide-modified nanoparticles for delivery of PDK2 shRNA against chemoresistant ovarian cancer by switching glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Cancer Nanotechnol 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s12645-022-00129-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed at advanced stages characterized by abdominal dissemination and frequently exhibit chemoresistance. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) regulates the switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation and contributes to tumor progression and chemoresistance. Here, we investigated the effects of PDK2 blockade on metabolic reprogramming and cisplatin sensitivity and evaluated the in vivo antitumor effects of PDK2 shRNA in chemoresistant ovarian cancer using retro-inverso follicle-stimulating hormone peptide-modified nanoparticle as carriers.
Methods
The expression of PDK2 was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time PCR. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected using CCK-8 and flow cytometry. Cell migration was detected by Transwell assay. Seahorse Analyzer was used to evaluate metabolic changes. The cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells A2780cp were used to establish the mouse model of peritoneal metastatic ovarian cancer.
Results
A higher expression level of PDK2 was observed in chemoresistant ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines and was associated with shorter progression-free survival. PDK2 knockdown inhibited proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis of both cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Cisplatin sensitivity was increased even in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, PDK2 knockdown resulted in an increased oxygen consumption rate and decreased extracellular acidification rate, along with reduced lactate production, increased PDHC activity and increased levels of electron transport chain complexes III and V. The metabolism switched from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Finally, to specifically and effectively deliver PDK2 shRNA in vivo, we formulated a targeted delivery system containing retro-inverso follicle-stimulating hormone peptide as a targeting moiety and polyethylene glycol–polyethylenimine copolymers as carriers. The nanoparticle complex significantly suppressed tumor growth and peritoneal metastasis of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer without obvious toxicities.
Conclusions
Our findings showed the link between metabolic reprogramming and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer and provided an effective targeting strategy for switching metabolic pathways in cancer therapy.
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12
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Wu M, Huang W, Yang N, Liu Y. Learn from antibody–drug conjugates: consideration in the future construction of peptide-drug conjugates for cancer therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:93. [DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00347-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide due to high heterogeneity. Although chemotherapy remains the mainstay of cancer therapy, non-selective toxicity and drug resistance of mono-chemotherapy incur broad criticisms. Subsequently, various combination strategies have been developed to improve clinical efficacy, also known as cocktail therapy. However, conventional “cocktail administration” is just passable, due to the potential toxicities to normal tissues and unsatisfactory synergistic effects, especially for the combined drugs with different pharmacokinetic properties. The drug conjugates through coupling the conventional chemotherapeutics to a carrier (such as antibody and peptide) provide an alternative strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy and simultaneously reduce the unspecific toxicities, by virtue of the advantages of highly specific targeting ability and potent killing effect. Although 14 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have been approved worldwide and more are being investigated in clinical trials so far, several limitations have been disclosed during clinical application. Compared with ADCs, peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) possess several advantages, including easy industrial synthesis, low cost, high tissue penetration and fast clearance. So far, only a handful of PDCs have been approved, highlighting tremendous development potential. Herein, we discuss the progress and pitfalls in the development of ADCs and underline what can learn from ADCs for the better construction of PDCs in the future.
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13
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Li X, Craven TW, Levine PM. Cyclic Peptide Screening Methods for Preclinical Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11913-11926. [PMID: 36074956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are among the most diverse architectures for current drug discovery efforts. Their size, stability, and ease of synthesis provide attractive scaffolds to engage and modulate some of the most challenging targets, including protein-protein interactions and those considered to be "undruggable". With a variety of sophisticated screening technologies to produce libraries of cyclic peptides, including phage display, mRNA display, split intein circular ligation of peptides, and in silico screening, a new era of cyclic peptide drug discovery is at the forefront of modern medicine. In this perspective, we begin by discussing cyclic peptides approved for clinical use in the past two decades. Particular focus is placed around synthetic chemistries to generate de novo libraries of cyclic peptides and novel methods to screen them. The perspective culminates with future prospects for generating cyclic peptides as viable therapeutic options and discusses the advantages and disadvantages currently being faced with bringing them to market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinting Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Timothy W Craven
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Paul M Levine
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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14
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Ng S, Brueckner AC, Bahmanjah S, Deng Q, Johnston JM, Ge L, Duggal R, Habulihaz B, Barlock B, Ha S, Sadruddin A, Yeo C, Strickland C, Peier A, Henry B, Sherer EC, Partridge AW. Discovery and Structure-Based Design of Macrocyclic Peptides Targeting STUB1. J Med Chem 2022; 65:9789-9801. [PMID: 35853179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that deletion of STUB1─a pivotal negative regulator of interferon-γ sensing─may potentially clear malignant cells. However, current studies rely primarily on genetic approaches, as pharmacological inhibitors of STUB1 are lacking. Identifying a tool compound will be a step toward validating the target in a broader therapeutic sense. Herein, screening more than a billion macrocyclic peptides resulted in STUB1 binders, which were further optimized by a structure-enabled in silico design. The strategy to replace the macrocyclic peptides' hydrophilic and solvent-exposed region with a hydrophobic scaffold improved cellular permeability while maintaining the binding conformation. Further substitution of the permeability-limiting terminal aspartic acid with a tetrazole bioisostere retained the binding to a certain extent while improving permeability, suggesting a path forward. Although not optimal for cellular study, the current lead provides a valuable template for further development into selective tool compounds for STUB1 to enable target validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ng
- Quantitative Biosciences, MSD, 8 Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138665
| | - Alexander C Brueckner
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Soheila Bahmanjah
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Qiaolin Deng
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Jennifer M Johnston
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Lan Ge
- Cell Sciences Innovation, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Ruchia Duggal
- ADME Group 2, Merck & Co., Inc., 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Bahanu Habulihaz
- PPDM ADME Transporters & In Vitro Technology, Merck & Co., Inc., 126 East Lincoln Ave, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Benjamin Barlock
- ADME Group 2, Merck & Co., Inc., 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Sookhee Ha
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Ahmad Sadruddin
- Quantitative Biosciences, MSD, 8 Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138665
| | - Constance Yeo
- Quantitative Biosciences, MSD, 8 Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138665
| | - Corey Strickland
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Andrea Peier
- Screening & Compound Profiling, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | - Brian Henry
- Quantitative Biosciences, MSD, 8 Biomedical Grove, Singapore 138665
| | - Edward C Sherer
- Computational & Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
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15
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Zhou Z, Zalutsky MR, Chitneni SK. Stapled peptides as scaffolds for developing radiotracers for intracellular targets: Preliminary evaluation of a radioiodinated MDM2-binding stapled peptide in the SJSA-1 osteosarcoma model. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 66:128725. [PMID: 35436588 PMCID: PMC9940446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Stapled peptides are promising scaffolds for inhibiting protein-protein interactions in cells, including between the intracellular oncoprotein MDM2 and p53. Herein, we have investigated the potential utility of a stapled peptide, VIP116, for developing radiolabeled agents targeting MDM2. VIP116 was radioiodinated using the prosthetic agent N-succinimidyl-3-[*I]iodobenzoate ([*I]SIB). The resulting labeled peptide [*I]SIB-VIP116 exhibited high uptake (165.3 ± 27.7%/mg protein) and specificity in SJSA-1 tumor cells. Tissue distribution studies of [*I]SIB-VIP116 revealed a peak tumor uptake of 2.19 ± 0.56 percent injected dose per gram (%ID/g) in SJSA-1 xenografts at 2 h post-injection, which was stable until 6 h. [*I]SIB-VIP116 exhibited high activity (8.33 ± 1.18%ID/g) in the blood pool but had high tumor-to-muscle ratios (12.0 ± 5.7), at 30 min. Metabolic stability studies in mice indicated that about 80% of the activity in plasma was intact [*I]SIB-VIP116 at 4 h. Our results confirm the cell permeability and specific binding of [*I]SIB-VIP116 to MDM2 and the suitability of the VIP116 scaffold for radiolabeled probe development.
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16
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Helical Foldamers and Stapled Peptides as New Modalities in Drug Discovery: Modulators of Protein-Protein Interactions. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10050924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A “foldamer” is an artificial oligomeric molecule with a regular secondary or tertiary structure consisting of various building blocks. A “stapled peptide” is a peptide with stabilized secondary structures, in particular, helical structures by intramolecular covalent side-chain cross-linking. Helical foldamers and stapled peptides are potential drug candidates that can target protein-protein interactions because they enable multipoint molecular recognition, which is difficult to achieve with low-molecular-weight compounds. This mini-review describes a variety of peptide-based foldamers and stapled peptides with a view to their applications in drug discovery, including our recent progress.
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17
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Hu K, Wu W, Xie L, Geng H, Zhang Y, Hanyu M, Zhang L, Liu Y, Nagatsu K, Suzuki H, Guo J, Wu Y, Li Z, Wang F, Zhang M. Whole-body PET tracking of a d-dodecapeptide and its radiotheranostic potential for PD-L1 overexpressing tumors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:1363-1376. [PMID: 35530129 PMCID: PMC9069398 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides that are composed of dextrorotary (d)-amino acids have gained increasing attention as a potential therapeutic class. However, our understanding of the in vivo fate of d-peptides is limited. This highlights the need for whole-body, quantitative tracking of d-peptides to better understand how they interact with the living body. Here, we used mouse models to track the movement of a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-targeting d-dodecapeptide antagonist (DPA) using positron emission tomography (PET). More specifically, we profiled the metabolic routes of [64Cu]DPA and investigated the tumor engagement of [64Cu/68Ga]DPA in mouse models. Our results revealed that intact [64Cu/68Ga]DPA was primarily eliminated by the kidneys and had a notable accumulation in tumors. Moreover, a single dose of [64Cu]DPA effectively delayed tumor growth and improved the survival of mice. Collectively, these results not only deepen our knowledge of the in vivo fate of d-peptides, but also underscore the utility of d-peptides as radiopharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Hu
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Wenyu Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
| | - Lin Xie
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Hao Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yiding Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Masayuki Hanyu
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yinghuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kotaro Nagatsu
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Hisashi Suzuki
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Jialin Guo
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Yundong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518038, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +81 43 3823709 (Mingrong Zhang), +86 25 52271455 (Feng Wang), +86 755 26033616 (Zigang Li), +86 755 26611113 (Yundong Wu).
| | - Zigang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, the School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Pingshan Translational Medicine Center, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +81 43 3823709 (Mingrong Zhang), +86 25 52271455 (Feng Wang), +86 755 26033616 (Zigang Li), +86 755 26611113 (Yundong Wu).
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +81 43 3823709 (Mingrong Zhang), +86 25 52271455 (Feng Wang), +86 755 26033616 (Zigang Li), +86 755 26611113 (Yundong Wu).
| | - Mingrong Zhang
- Department of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +81 43 3823709 (Mingrong Zhang), +86 25 52271455 (Feng Wang), +86 755 26033616 (Zigang Li), +86 755 26611113 (Yundong Wu).
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18
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Buyanova M, Pei D. Targeting intracellular protein-protein interactions with macrocyclic peptides. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:234-248. [PMID: 34911657 PMCID: PMC8840965 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are challenging targets for traditional drug modalities. Macrocyclic peptides (MPs) prove highly effective PPI inhibitors in vitro and can be rapidly discovered against PPI targets by rational design or screening combinatorial libraries but are generally impermeable to the cell membrane. Recent advances in MP science and technology are allowing for the development of 'drug-like' MPs that potently and specifically modulate intracellular PPI targets in cell culture and animal models. In this review, we highlight recent progress in generating cell-permeable MPs that enter the mammalian cell by passive diffusion, endocytosis followed by endosomal escape, or as-yet unknown mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Buyanova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dehua Pei
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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19
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Qvit N, Lin AJ, Elezaby A, Ostberg NP, Campos JC, Ferreira JCB, Mochly-Rosen D. A Selective Inhibitor of Cardiac Troponin I Phosphorylation by Delta Protein Kinase C (δPKC) as a Treatment for Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:271. [PMID: 35337069 PMCID: PMC8950820 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, with myocardial injury occurring during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (IR). We previously showed that the inhibition of protein kinase C delta (δPKC) with a pan-inhibitor (δV1-1) mitigates myocardial injury and improves mitochondrial function in animal models of IR, and in humans with acute myocardial infarction, when treated at the time of opening of the occluded blood vessel, at reperfusion. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a key sarcomeric protein in cardiomyocyte contraction, is phosphorylated by δPKC during reperfusion. Here, we describe a rationally-designed, selective, high-affinity, eight amino acid peptide that inhibits cTnI's interaction with, and phosphorylation by, δPKC (ψTnI), and prevents tissue injury in a Langendorff model of myocardial infarction, ex vivo. Unexpectedly, we also found that this treatment attenuates IR-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. These data suggest that δPKC phosphorylation of cTnI is critical in IR injury, and that a cTnI/δPKC interaction inhibitor should be considered as a therapeutic target to reduce cardiac injury after myocardial infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Qvit
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Amanda J. Lin
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
| | - Aly Elezaby
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
| | - Nicolai P. Ostberg
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
| | - Juliane C. Campos
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Julio C. B. Ferreira
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Center for Clinical Sciences Research, Department of Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Dr. Room 3145, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (N.Q.); (A.J.L.); (A.E.); (N.P.O.); (J.C.B.F.)
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20
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Li J, Kannan S, Aronica P, Brown CJ, Partridge AW, Verma CS. Molecular descriptors suggest stapling as a strategy for optimizing membrane permeability of cyclic peptides. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:065101. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0078025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Li
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix, Singapore 138671
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | | | - Pietro Aronica
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | | | - Anthony W. Partridge
- MSD International, Translation Medicine Research Centre, 8 Biomedical Grove, #04-01/05 Neuros Building, Singapore 138665, Singapore
| | - Chandra S. Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix, Singapore 138671
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
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21
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Si D, Luo H, Zhang X, Yang K, Wen H, Li W, Liu J. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrrolidone-based derivatives as potent p53-MDM2 inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2021; 115:105268. [PMID: 34426149 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the interactions of the tumor suppressor protein p53 with its negative regulators MDM2 in vitro and in vivo, representing a valuable therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The natural product chalcone exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against MDM2, thus based on the binding mode between chalcone and MDM2, a hit unsaturated pyrrolidone scaffold was obtained through virtual screening. Several unsaturated pyrrolidone derivatives were synthesized and biological evaluated. As a result, because the three critical hydrophobic pockets of MDM2 were occupied by the substituted-phenyl linked at the pyrrolidone fragment, compound 4 h demonstrated good binding affinity with the MDM2. Additionally, compound 4 h also showed excellent antitumor activity and selectivity, and no cytotoxicity against normal cells in vitro. The further antitumor mechanism studies were indicated that compound 4 h could successfully induce the activation of p53 and corresponding downstream p21 proteins, thus successfully causing HCT116 cell cycle arrest in the G1/M phase and apoptosis. Thus, the novel unsaturated pyrrolidone p53-MDM2 inhibitors could be developed as novel antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjuan Si
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huijuan Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kundi Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Hongmei Wen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Jian Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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22
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Zhou J, Li Y, Huang W, Shi W, Qian H. Source and exploration of the peptides used to construct peptide-drug conjugates. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 224:113712. [PMID: 34303870 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) are a class of novel molecules widely designed and synthesized for delivering payload drugs. The peptide part plays a vital role in the whole molecule, because they determine the ability of the molecules to penetrate the membrane and target to the specific targets. Here, we introduce the source of different kinds of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cell-targeting peptides (CTPs) that have been used or could be used in constructing PDCs as well as their latest application in delivering drugs. What's more, the approaches of developing CPPs and CTPs and the techniques to discover novel peptides are focused on and summarized in the review. This review aims to help relevant researchers fast understand the research status of peptides in PDCs and carry forward the process of novel peptides discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Zhou
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Wenlong Huang
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Wei Shi
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Hai Qian
- Centre of Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
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23
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Wang H, Dawber RS, Zhang P, Walko M, Wilson AJ, Wang X. Peptide-based inhibitors of protein-protein interactions: biophysical, structural and cellular consequences of introducing a constraint. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5977-5993. [PMID: 33995995 PMCID: PMC8098664 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00165e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are implicated in the majority of cellular processes by enabling and regulating the function of individual proteins. Thus, PPIs represent high-value, but challenging targets for therapeutic intervention. The development of constrained peptides represents an emerging strategy to generate peptide-based PPI inhibitors, typically mediated by α-helices. The approach can confer significant benefits including enhanced affinity, stability and cellular penetration and is ingrained in the premise that pre-organization simultaneously pays the entropic cost of binding, prevents a peptide from adopting a protease compliant β-strand conformation and shields the hydrophilic amides from the hydrophobic membrane. This conceptual blueprint for the empirical design of peptide-based PPI inhibitors is an exciting and potentially lucrative way to effect successful PPI inhibitor drug-discovery. However, a plethora of more subtle effects may arise from the introduction of a constraint that include changes to binding dynamics, the mode of recognition and molecular properties. In this review, we summarise the influence of inserting constraints on biophysical, conformational, structural and cellular behaviour across a range of constraining chemistries and targets, to highlight the tremendous success that has been achieved with constrained peptides alongside emerging design opportunities and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshuang Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences 5625 Renmin St. Changchun 130022 Jilin China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 Jiangsu China
| | - Robert S Dawber
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Peiyu Zhang
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Martin Walko
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Andrew J Wilson
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds Woodhouse Lane Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences 5625 Renmin St. Changchun 130022 Jilin China
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China
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24
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Wu Y, Williams J, Calder EDD, Walport LJ. Strategies to expand peptide functionality through hybridisation with a small molecule component. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:151-165. [PMID: 34458778 PMCID: PMC8341444 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00167h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining different compound classes gives molecular hybrids that can offer access to novel chemical space and unique properties. Peptides provide ideal starting points for such molecular hybrids, which can be easily modified with a variety of molecular entities. The addition of small molecules can improve the potency, stability and cell permeability of therapeutically relevant peptides. Furthermore, they are often applied to create peptide-based tools in chemical biology. In this review, we discuss general methods that allow the discovery of this compound class and highlight key examples of peptide-small molecule hybrids categorised by the application and function of the small molecule entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuteng Wu
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Jack Williams
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Ewen D D Calder
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Louise J Walport
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
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25
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Wang N, Xie G, Liu C, Cong W, He S, Li Y, Fan L, Hu HG. Design, Synthesis, and Antitumor Activities Study of Stapled A4K14-Citropin 1.1 Peptides. Front Chem 2020; 8:616147. [PMID: 33363118 PMCID: PMC7758422 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.616147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A4K14-citropin 1.1 is a structurally optimized derivative derived from amphibians' skin secreta peptide Citropin, which exhibits broad biological activities. However, the application of A4K14-citropin 1.1 as a cancer therapeutic is restricted by its structural flexibility. In this study, a series of all-hydrocarbon stapled peptides derivatives of A4K14-citropin 1.1 were designed and synthesized, and their chemical and biological characteristics were also investigated. Among them, A4K14-citropin 1.1-Sp1 and A4K14-citropin 1.1-Sp4 displayed improved helicity levels, greater protease stability, and increased antitumor activity compared with the original peptide, which establishes them as promising lead compounds for novel cancer therapeutics development. These results revealed the important influence of all-hydrocarbon stapling side chain on the secondary structure, hydrolase stability, and biological activity of A4K14-citropin 1.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cong
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghua Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Gang Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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26
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Malik AJ, Aronica PGA, Verma CS. DStabilize: A Web Resource to Generate Mirror Images of Biomolecules. Structure 2020; 28:1358-1360.e2. [PMID: 32783952 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Peptides comprising D-amino acids have been shown to be resistant to proteolysis. This makes them potential candidates as probes of cellular interactions, notably protein-biomolecule interactions. However, the empirical conversion of the amino acids that constitute a peptide from L-forms to D-forms will result in abrogation of the normal interactions made by the L-amino acids due to side-chain orientation changes that are associated with the changes in chirality. These interactions can be preserved by reversing the sequence of the D-peptide. We present a web server (http://dstabilize.bii.a-star.edu.sg/) that allows users to convert between L-proteins and D-proteins and for sequence reversal of D-peptides, along with the capability of performing other empirical geometric transforms. This resource allows the user to generate structures of interest easily for subsequent in silico processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashar J Malik
- Bioinformatics Institute (A(∗)STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, 07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Pietro G A Aronica
- Bioinformatics Institute (A(∗)STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, 07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute (A(∗)STAR), 30 Biopolis Street, 07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
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