Self-assembly of chimeric peptides toward molecularly defined hexamers with controlled multivalent ligand presentation

Design and synthesis of multivalent drug delivery system with CA IX inhibitors as ligands

A multivalent ligand delivery system holds tremendous potential in the field of tumor-targeted drug delivery. It addresses the challenges posed by the low affinity between small molecule ligand receptors and the rapid metabolism of small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) in vivo. Notably, existing multivalent ligand systems have demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in various tumor models. In this study, we have developed a novel multivalent ligand delivery system for SN38, utilizing acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) inhibitor, as the target ligand. Our multivalent ligand delivery systems exhibited superior metabolic stability and enhanced targeting specificity compared to SMDC molecules. Furthermore, they demonstrated improved anti-proliferation activity, addressing the existing challenges associated with the low receptor affinity and rapid metabolism of SMDCs.

Programmed Supramolecular Assemblies Using Orthogonal Pairs of Heterodimeric Coiled Coil Peptides

Despite recent progress, it remains challenging to program biomacromolecules to assemble into discrete nanostructures with pre-determined sizes and topologies. We report here a novel strategy to address this challenge. By using two orthogonal pairs of heterodimeric coiled coils as the building blocks, we constructed six discrete supramolecular assemblies, each composed of a prescribed number of coiled coil components. Within these assemblies, different coiled coils were connected via end-to-side covalent linkages strategically pre-installed between the non-complementary pairs. The overall topological features of two highly complex assemblies, a "barbell" and a "quadrilateral" form, were characterized experimentally and were in good agreement to the designs. This work expands the design paradigms for peptide-based discrete supramolecular assemblies and will provide a route for de novo fabrication of functional protein materials.

Enzyme-instructed morphological transition of the supramolecular assemblies of branched peptides

Here, we report the use of an enzymatic reaction to cleave the branch off branched peptides for inducing the morphological transition of the assemblies of the peptides. The attachment of DEDDDLLI sequences to the ε-amine of the lysine residue of a tetrapeptide produces branched peptides that form micelles. Upon the proteolytic cleavage of the branch, catalyzed by proteinase K, the micelles turn into nanofibers. We also found that the acetylation of the N-terminal of the branch increased the stability of the branched peptides. Moreover, these branched peptides facilitate the delivery of the proteins into cells. This work contributes insights for the development of peptide supramolecular assemblies via enzymatic noncovalent synthesis in cellular environment.