1
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Friganović T, Borko V, Weitner T. Protein sialylation affects the pH-dependent binding of ferric ion to human serum transferrin. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:10462-10474. [PMID: 38873789 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01311e] [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: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Physiological or pathophysiological changes lead to posttranslational changes in the sialic acid content of human serum transferrin (hTf), an essential mediator of iron transport in the human body, resulting in a significantly increased concentration of desialylated hTf. The intrinsic fluorescence quenching upon binding of iron to hTf was successfully modeled using the binding polynomial for two iron-binding sites, allowing measurements in a high-throughput format. Removal of sialic acid residues resulted in a 3-fold increase in iron binding affinity for both sites of hTf at pH 7.4. The pH-dependence of iron binding showed significant differences in equilibrium constants, resulting in a 10-fold increase in binding affinity for desialylated hTf at pH 5.9. The changes in hTf sialylation apparently result in tuning of the stability of the conformational state, which in turn contributes to the stability of the diferric hTf. The observed differences in the conditional thermodynamic equilibrium constants suggest that the desialylated protein has a higher preference for diferric hTf over monoferric hTf species down to pH 6.5, which may also influence the interaction with transferrin receptors that preferentially bind to diferric hTf. The results suggest a link between changes in hTf glycan structure and alterations in iron binding equilibrium associated with tissue acidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomislav Friganović
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Valentina Borko
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Tin Weitner
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Ante Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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2
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Shen H, Zhang C, Li S, Liang Y, Lee LT, Aggarwal N, Wun KS, Liu J, Nadarajan SP, Weng C, Ling H, Tay JK, Wang DY, Yao SQ, Hwang IY, Lee YS, Chang MW. Prodrug-conjugated tumor-seeking commensals for targeted cancer therapy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4343. [PMID: 38773197 PMCID: PMC11109227 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48661-y] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Prodrugs have been explored as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy; however, their target specificity remains limited. The tumor microenvironment harbors a range of microorganisms that potentially serve as tumor-targeting vectors for delivering prodrugs. In this study, we harness bacteria-cancer interactions native to the tumor microbiome to achieve high target specificity for prodrug delivery. We identify an oral commensal strain of Lactobacillus plantarum with an intrinsic cancer-binding mechanism and engineer the strain to enable the surface loading of anticancer prodrugs, with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) as a model cancer. The engineered commensals show specific binding to NPC via OppA-mediated recognition of surface heparan sulfate, and the loaded prodrugs are activated by tumor-associated biosignals to release SN-38, a chemotherapy compound, near NPC. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the prodrug-loaded microbes significantly increase the potency of SN-38 against NPC cell lines, up to 10-fold. In a mouse xenograft model, intravenous injection of the engineered L. plantarum leads to bacterial colonization in NPC tumors and a 67% inhibition in tumor growth, enhancing the efficacy of SN-38 by 54%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haosheng Shen
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Changyu Zhang
- Ningbo Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Ningbo, China
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shengjie Li
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuanmei Liang
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Ting Lee
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nikhil Aggarwal
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kwok Soon Wun
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Infectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Saravanan Prabhu Nadarajan
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cheng Weng
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hua Ling
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Wilmar International Limited, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joshua K Tay
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - De Yun Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Infectious Diseases Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shao Q Yao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - In Young Hwang
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Food, Chemical and Biotechnology, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Yung Seng Lee
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB), Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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3
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Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Iraca M, Klumpp C, Visca H, Allababidi D, Pelzer P, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Targeted intracellular delivery of dimeric STINGa by two pHLIP peptides for treatment of solid tumors. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1346756. [PMID: 38495104 PMCID: PMC10940318 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1346756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: We have developed a delivery approach that uses two pHLIP peptides that collaborate in the targeted intracellular delivery of a single payload, dimeric STINGa (dMSA). Methods: dMSA was conjugated with two pHLIP peptides via S-S cleavable self-immolating linkers to form 2pHLIP-dMSA. Results: Biophysical studies were carried out to confirm pH-triggered interactions of the 2pHLIP-dMSA with membrane lipid bilayers. The kinetics of linker self-immolation and dMSA release, the pharmacokinetics, the binding to plasma proteins, the stability of the agent in plasma, the targeting and resulting cytokine activation in tumors, and the biodistribution of the construct was investigated. This is the first study demonstrating that combining the energy of the membrane-associated folding of two pHLIPs can be utilized to enhance the targeted intracellular delivery of large therapeutic cargo payloads. Discussion: Linking two pHLIPs to the cargo extends blood half-life, and targeted delivery of dimeric STINGa induces tumor eradication and the development of robust anti-cancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Marissa Iraca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Craig Klumpp
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Dana Allababidi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Phoebe Pelzer
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry Department, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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Kyrychenko A, Ladokhin AS. Fluorescent Probes and Quenchers in Studies of Protein Folding and Protein-Lipid Interactions. CHEM REC 2024; 24:e202300232. [PMID: 37695081 PMCID: PMC11113672 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence spectroscopy provides numerous methodological tools for structural and functional studies of biological macromolecules and their complexes. All fluorescence-based approaches require either existence of an intrinsic probe or an introduction of an extrinsic one. Moreover, studies of complex systems often require an additional introduction of a specific quencher molecule acting in combination with a fluorophore to provide structural or thermodynamic information. Here, we review the fundamentals and summarize the latest progress in applications of different classes of fluorescent probes and their specific quenchers, aimed at studies of protein folding and protein-membrane interactions. Specifically, we discuss various environment-sensitive dyes, FRET probes, probes for short-distance measurements, and several probe-quencher pairs for studies of membrane penetration of proteins and peptides. The goals of this review are: (a) to familiarize the readership with the general concept that complex biological systems often require both a probe and a quencher to decipher mechanistic details of functioning and (b) to provide example of the immediate applications of the described methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kyrychenko
- Institute of Chemistry and School of Chemistry, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS, 66160, United States
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5
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Tsai YL, Arias-Badia M, Kadlecek TA, Lwin YM, Srinath A, Shah NH, Wang ZE, Barber D, Kuriyan J, Fong L, Weiss A. TCR signaling promotes formation of an STS1-Cbl-b complex with pH-sensitive phosphatase activity that suppresses T cell function in acidic environments. Immunity 2023; 56:2682-2698.e9. [PMID: 38091950 PMCID: PMC10785950 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.010] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
T cell responses are inhibited by acidic environments. T cell receptor (TCR)-induced protein phosphorylation is negatively regulated by dephosphorylation and/or ubiquitination, but the mechanisms underlying sensitivity to acidic environments are not fully understood. Here, we found that TCR stimulation induced a molecular complex of Cbl-b, an E3-ubiquitin ligase, with STS1, a pH-sensitive unconventional phosphatase. The induced interaction depended upon a proline motif in Cbl-b interacting with the STS1 SH3 domain. STS1 dephosphorylated Cbl-b interacting phosphoproteins. The deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b diminished the sensitivity of T cell responses to the inhibitory effects of acid in an autocrine or paracrine manner in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, the deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b promoted T cell proliferative and differentiation activities in vivo and inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival, and improved T cell fitness in tumor models. Thus, a TCR-induced STS1-Cbl-b complex senses intra- or extra-cellular acidity and regulates T cell responses, presenting a potential therapeutic target for improving anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Li Tsai
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Marcel Arias-Badia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Theresa A Kadlecek
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yee May Lwin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aahir Srinath
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Neel H Shah
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zhi-En Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Diane Barber
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John Kuriyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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6
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Zou J. Site-specific delivery of cisplatin and paclitaxel mediated by liposomes: A promising approach in cancer chemotherapy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117111. [PMID: 37734579 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The site-specific delivery of drugs, especially anti-cancer drugs has been an interesting field for researchers and the reason is low accumulation of cytotoxic drugs in cancer cells. Although combination cancer therapy has been beneficial in providing cancer drug sensitivity, targeted delivery of drugs appears to be more efficient. One of the safe, biocompatible and efficient nano-scale delivery systems in anti-cancer drug delivery is liposomes. Their particle size is small and they have other properties such as adjustable physico-chemical properties, ease of functionalization and high entrapment efficiency. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug with clinical approval in patients, but its accumulation in cancer cells is low due to lack of targeted delivery and repeated administration results in resistance development. Gene and drug co-administration along with cisplatin/paclitaxel have resulted in increased sensitivity in tumor cells, but there is still space for more progress in cancer therapy. The delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel by liposomes increases accumulation of drug in tumor cells and impairs activity of efflux pumps in promoting cytotoxicity. Moreover, phototherapy along with cisplatin/paclitaxel delivery can increase potential in tumor suppression. Smart nanoparticles including pH-sensitive nanoparticles provide site-specific delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel. The functionalization of liposomes can be performed by ligands to increase targetability towards tumor cells in mediating site-specific delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel. Finally, liposomes can mediate co-delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel with drugs or genes in potentiating tumor suppression. Since drug resistance has caused therapy failure in cancer patients, and cisplatin/paclitaxel are among popular chemotherapy drugs, delivery of these drugs mediates targeted suppression of cancers and prevents development of drug resistance. Because of biocompatibility and safety of liposomes, they are currently used in clinical trials for treatment of cancer patients. In future, the optimal dose of using liposomes and optimal concentration of loading cisplatin/paclitaxel on liposomal nanocarriers in clinical trials should be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Zou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The first Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 510080, Guangzhou, PR China.
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7
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Matsui T, Toda Y, Sato H, Itagaki R, Konishi K, Moshnikova A, Andreev OA, Hosogi S, Reshetnyak YK, Ashihara E. Targeting acidic pre-metastatic niche in lungs by pH low insertion peptide and its utility for anti-metastatic therapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1258442. [PMID: 38033489 PMCID: PMC10684925 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1258442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated extracellular pH, the universal feature of tumor, works as an evolutional force to drive dissemination of tumor cells. It is well-established that tumor acidity is associated with tumor growth and metastasis. However, the pH of pre-metastatic niche remains unclear. We hypothesized that primary tumor cells remotely prime acidity in secondary organ to achieve metastatic colonization. Herein, we demonstrated that the pH responsive probe pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) was notably accumulated in pre-metastatic lungs of 4T1.2 breast tumor-bearing mice. The pHLIP-targeted lungs showed high amounts of lactate and overexpressed glycolysis-related proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis suppressed the lung acidification induced by 4T1.2 cancer cell culture supernatant and delayed subsequent metastatic burden of disseminated tumor cells. In the acidic lungs, pHLIP was primarily localized in alveolar type 2 cells which strongly expressed glycolysis-related proteins. 4T1.2-derived extracellular vesicles expressed some of the glycolysis-related proteins, and their administration increased pHLIP accumulation and glycolytic enhancement in lungs. pHLIP-conjugated dexamethasone effectively attenuated lung metastatic burden by disrupting pro-inflammatory response in the acidic lungs. From these results, targeting the metastasis-supporting microenvironment by pHLIP technology creates possibility to identify pre-metastatic organ and prevent metastatic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toma Matsui
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Toda
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Haruka Sato
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Rina Itagaki
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuya Konishi
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Shigekuni Hosogi
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Eishi Ashihara
- Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Physiology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
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8
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Dhuri K, Duran T, Chaudhuri B, Slack FJ, Vikram A, Glazer PM, Bahal R. Head-to-head comparison of in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pHLIP-conjugated anti-seed gamma peptide nucleic acids. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2023; 4:101584. [PMID: 38144419 PMCID: PMC10745205 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Gamma peptide nucleic acids (γPNAs) have recently garnered attention in diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Serine and diethylene-glycol-containing γPNAs have been tested for numerous RNA-targeting purposes. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-conjugated serine and diethylene-based γPNAs. pHLIP targets only the acidic tumor microenvironment and not the normal cells. We synthesized and parallelly tested pHLIP-serine γPNAs and pHLIP-diethylene glycol γPNAs that target the seed region of microRNA-155, a microRNA that is upregulated in various cancers. We performed an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation-based computational study to elucidate the interaction of pHLIP-γPNA constructs with the lipid bilayer. We also determined the biodistribution and efficacy of the pHLIP constructs in the U2932-derived xenograft model. Overall, we established that the pHLIP-serine γPNAs show superior results in vivo compared with the pHLIP-diethylene glycol-based γPNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Dhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Tibo Duran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Bodhisattwa Chaudhuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Frank J. Slack
- HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine, Department of Pathology, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ajit Vikram
- Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Peter M. Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Lead contact
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9
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Matsuda M, Ikeda K, Kameda T, Nakao H, Nakano M. Fine-Tuning and Enhancement of pH-Dependent Membrane Permeation of Cyclic Peptides by Utilizing Noncanonical Amino Acids with Extended Side Chains. J Med Chem 2023; 66:7054-7062. [PMID: 37186548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of cyclic peptides that exhibit pH-sensitive membrane permeation is a promising strategy for tissue-selective drug delivery. We investigated the pH-dependent interactions of designed cyclic peptides bearing noncanonical amino acids of long acidic side chains with lipid membranes, including surface binding, insertion, and translocation across the membrane. As the length of the side chain of acidic amino acid increased, the binding affinity of the peptides to phosphatidylcholine bilayer surfaces decreased, while the pH for the 50% insertion of the peptides into the bilayers increased. The pH for membrane permeation of the peptides increased with the side chain length, resulting in specific membrane permeation at pH ∼6.5. The longer side chain of acidic amino acids improved the maximum rate of membrane permeation at low pH, where both entropic and enthalpic contributions affected the permeation. Our peptide also showed intracellular delivery of cargo molecules into living cells in a pH-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motomi Matsuda
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Keisuke Ikeda
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Tomoshi Kameda
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nakao
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Minoru Nakano
- Department of Biointerface Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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10
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Kumar S, Vassallo JD, Nattamai KJ, Hassan A, Karns R, Vollmer A, Soller K, Sakk V, Sacma M, Nemkov T, D'Alessandro A, Geiger H. pH regulates hematopoietic stem cell potential via polyamines. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55373. [PMID: 36943011 PMCID: PMC10157373 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon ex vivo culture, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) quickly lose potential and differentiate into progenitors. The identification of culture conditions that maintain the potential of HSCs ex vivo is therefore of high clinical interest. Here, we demonstrate that the potential of murine and human HSCs is maintained when cultivated for 2 days ex vivo at a pH of 6.9, in contrast to cultivation at the commonly used pH of 7.4. When cultivated at a pH of 6.9, HSCs remain smaller, less metabolically active, less proliferative and show enhanced reconstitution ability upon transplantation compared to HSC cultivated at pH 7.4. HSCs kept at pH 6.9 show an attenuated polyamine pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of the polyamine pathway in HSCs cultivated at pH 7.4 with DFMO mimics phenotypes and potential of HSCs cultivated at pH 6.9. Ex vivo exposure to a pH of 6.9 is therefore a positive regulator of HSC function by reducing polyamines. These findings might improve HSC short-term cultivation protocols for transplantation and gene therapy interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Kumar
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Jeffrey D Vassallo
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kalpana J Nattamai
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aishlin Hassan
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rebekah Karns
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Karin Soller
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Vadim Sakk
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mehmet Sacma
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Travis Nemkov
- University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Hartmut Geiger
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Aging Research Center, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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11
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Imidazole-amino acids. Conformational switch under tautomer and pH change. Amino Acids 2023; 55:33-49. [PMID: 36319875 PMCID: PMC9877100 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03201-0] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Replacement of the main chain peptide bond by imidazole ring seems to be a promising tool for the peptide-based drug design, due to the specific prototropic tautomeric as well as amphoteric properties. In this study, we present that both tautomer and pH change can cause a conformational switch of the studied residues of alanine (1-4) and dehydroalanine (5-8) with the C-terminal peptide group replaced by imidazole. The DFT methods are applied and an environment of increasing polarity is simulated. The conformational maps (Ramachandram diagrams) are presented and the stability of possible conformations is discussed. The neutral forms, tautomers τ (1) and π (2), adapt the conformations αRτ (φ, ψ = - 75°, - 114°) and C7eq (φ, ψ = - 75°, 66°), respectively. Their torsion angles ψ differ by about 180°, which results in a considerable impact on the peptide chain conformation. The cation form (3) adapts both these conformations, whereas the anion analogue (4) prefers the conformations C5 (φ, ψ = - 165°, - 178°) and β2 (φ, ψ ~ - 165°, - 3°). Dehydroamino acid analogues, the tautomers τ (5) and π (6) as well as the anion form (8), have a strong tendency toward the conformations β2 (φ, ψ = - 179°, 0°) and C5 (φ, ψ = - 180°, 180°). The preferences of the protonated imidazolium form (7) depend on the environment. The imidazole ring, acting as a donor or acceptor of the hydrogen bonds created within the studied residues, has a profound effect on the type of conformation.
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12
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Vasquez-Montes V, Goldberg AFX, Thévenin D, Ladokhin AS. Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ Influence the Thermodynamics of Peptide-Membrane Interactions. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167826. [PMID: 36115657 PMCID: PMC10029193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Accurate quantitative estimates of protein-membrane interactions are critical to studies of membrane proteins. Here, we demonstrate that thermodynamic analyses based on current hydropathy scales do not account for the significant and experimentally determined effects that Ca2+ or Mg2+ have on protein-membrane interactions. We examined distinct modes of interaction (interfacial partitioning and folding and transmembrane insertion) by studying three highly divergent peptides: Bid-BH3 (derived from apoptotic regulator Bid), peripherin-2-derived prph2-CTER, and the cancer-targeting pH-Low-Insertion-Peptide (pHLIP). Fluorescence experiments demonstrate that adding 1-2 mM of divalent cations led to a substantially more favorable bilayer partitioning and insertion, with free energy differences of 5-15 kcal/mol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez-Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States
| | - Andrew F X Goldberg
- Eye Research Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States. https://twitter.com/TheveninLab
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States.
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13
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Vasquez‐Montes V, Tyagi V, Sikorski E, Kyrychenko A, Freites JA, Thévenin D, Tobias DJ, Ladokhin AS. Ca 2+ -dependent interactions between lipids and the tumor-targeting peptide pHLIP. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4385. [PMID: 36040255 PMCID: PMC9366937 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cancerous tissues undergo extensive changes to their cellular environments that differentiate them from healthy tissues. These changes include changes in extracellular pH and Ca2+ concentrations, and the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the extracellular environment, which can modulate the interaction of peptides and proteins with the plasma membrane. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of such interactions is critical for advancing the knowledge-based design of cancer-targeting molecular tools, such as pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP). Here, we explore the effects of PS, Ca2+ , and peptide protonation state on the interactions of pHLIP with lipid membranes. Cellular studies demonstrate that exposed PS on the plasma membrane promotes pHLIP targeting. The magnitude of this effect is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ concentration, indicating that divalent cations play an important role in pHLIP targeting in vivo. The targeting mechanism is further explored with a combination of fluorescence and circular dichroism experiments in model membranes and microsecond-timescale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Our results demonstrate that Ca2+ is engaged in coupling peptide-lipid interactions in the unprotonated transmembrane conformation of pHLIP. The simulations reveal that while the pH-induced insertion leads to a strong depletion of PS around pHLIP, the Ca2+ -induced insertion has the opposite effect. Thus, extracellular levels of Ca2+ are crucial to linking cellular changes in membrane lipid composition with the selective targeting and insertion of pHLIP. The characterized Ca2+ -dependent coupling between pHLIP sidechains and PS provides atomistic insights into the general mechanism for lipid-coupled regulation of protein-membrane insertion by divalent cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez‐Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
| | - Vivek Tyagi
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eden Sikorski
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alexander Kyrychenko
- Institute of Chemistry and School of Chemistry, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityKharkivUkraine
| | | | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Alexey S. Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas CityKansasUSA
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14
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Moshnikova A, Golijanin B, Amin A, Doyle J, Kott O, Gershman B, DuPont M, Li Y, Lu X, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK, Golijanin D. Targeting Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma with pHLIP-ICG and Inhibition of Urothelial Cancer Cell Proliferation by pHLIP-amanitin. FRONTIERS IN UROLOGY 2022; 2:868919. [PMID: 36439552 PMCID: PMC9691284 DOI: 10.3389/fruro.2022.868919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Acidity is a useful biomarker for the targeting of metabolically active-cells in tumors. pH Low Insertion Peptides (pHLIPs) sense the pH at the surfaces of tumor cells and can facilitate intracellular delivery of cell-permeable and cell-impermeable cargo molecules. In this study we have shown the targeting of malignant lesions in human bladders by fluorescent pHLIP agents, intracellular delivery of amanitin toxin by pHLIP for the inhibition of urothelial cancer cell proliferation, and enhanced potency of pHLIP-amanitin for cancer cells with 17p loss, a mutation frequently present in urothelial cancers. Twenty-eight ex-vivo bladder specimens, from patients undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, were treated via intravesical incubation for 15-60 minutes with pHLIP conjugated to indocyanine green (ICG) or IR-800 near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dyes at concentrations of 4-8 μM. White light cystoscopy identified 47/58 (81%) and NIRF pHLIP cystoscopy identified 57/58 (98.3%) of malignant lesions of different subtypes and stages selected for histopathological processing. pHLIP NIRF imaging improved diagnosis by 17.3% (p < 0.05). All carcinoma-in-situ cases missed by white light cystoscopy were targeted by pHLIP agents and were diagnosed by NIRF imaging. We also investigated the interactions of pHLIP-amanitin with urothelial cancer cells of different grades. pHLIP-amanitin produced concentration- and pH-dependent inhibition of the proliferation of urothelial cancer cells treated for 2 hrs at concentrations up to 4 μM. A 3-4x enhanced cytotoxicity of pHLIP-amanitin was observed for cells with a 17p loss after 2 hrs of treatment at pH6. Potentially, pHLIP technology may improve the management of urothelial cancers, including imaging of malignant lesions using pHLIP-ICG for diagnosis and surgery, and the use of pHLIP-amanitin for treatment of superficial bladder cancers via intravesical instillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Borivoj Golijanin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ali Amin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Joshua Doyle
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Current address: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ohad Kott
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Boris Gershman
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
- Current address: Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xiongbin Lu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Melvin & Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | | | - Dragan Golijanin
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
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15
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Sharma GP, Meyer AC, Habeeb S, Karbach M, Müller G. Free-energy landscapes and insertion pathways for peptides in membrane environment. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:014404. [PMID: 35974613 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.014404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Free-energy landscapes for short peptides-specifically for variants of the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP)-in the heterogeneous environment of a lipid bilayer or cell membrane are constructed, taking into account a set of dominant interactions and the conformational preferences of the peptide backbone. Our methodology interprets broken internal H-bonds along the backbone of a polypeptide as statistically interacting quasiparticles, activated from the helix reference state. The favored conformation depends on the local environment (ranging from polar to nonpolar), specifically on the availability of external H-bonds (with H_{2}O molecules or lipid headgroups) to replace internal H-bonds. The dominant side-chain contribution is accounted for by residue-specific transfer free energies between polar and nonpolar environments. The free-energy landscape is sensitive to the level of pH in the aqueous environment surrounding the membrane. For high pH, we identify pathways of descending free energy that suggest a coexistence of membrane-adsorbed peptides with peptides in solution. A drop in pH raises the degree of protonation of negatively charged residues and thus increases the hydrophobicity of peptide segments near the C terminus. For low pH, we identify insertion pathways between the membrane-adsorbed state and a stable trans-membrane state with the C terminus having crossed the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganga P Sharma
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA
| | - Aaron C Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA
| | - Suhail Habeeb
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA
| | - Michael Karbach
- Fachgruppe Physik, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, D-42097 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Gerhard Müller
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881, USA
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16
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Preparation and application of pH-responsive drug delivery systems. J Control Release 2022; 348:206-238. [PMID: 35660634 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Microenvironment-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) can achieve targeted drug delivery, reduce drug side effects and improve drug efficacies. Among them, pH-responsive DDSs have gained popularity since the pH in the diseased tissues such as cancer, bacterial infection and inflammation differs from a physiological pH of 7.4 and this difference could be harnessed for DDSs to release encapsulated drugs specifically to these diseased tissues. A variety of synthetic approaches have been developed to prepare pH-sensitive DDSs, including introduction of a variety of pH-sensitive chemical bonds or protonated/deprotonated chemical groups. A myriad of nano DDSs have been explored to be pH-responsive, including liposomes, micelles, hydrogels, dendritic macromolecules and organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles, and micron level microspheres. The prodrugs from drug-loaded pH-sensitive nano DDSs have been applied in research on anticancer therapy and diagnosis of cancer, inflammation, antibacterial infection, and neurological diseases. We have systematically summarized synthesis strategies of pH-stimulating DDSs, illustrated commonly used and recently developed nanocarriers for these DDSs and covered their potential in different biomedical applications, which may spark new ideas for the development and application of pH-sensitive nano DDSs.
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17
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Bauer D, Visca H, Weerakkody A, Carter LM, Samuels Z, Kaminsky S, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK, Lewis JS. PET Imaging of Acidic Tumor Environment With 89Zr-labeled pHLIP Probes. Front Oncol 2022; 12:882541. [PMID: 35664740 PMCID: PMC9160799 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.882541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidosis of the tumor microenvironment is a hallmark of tumor progression and has emerged as an essential biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of treatment response. A tool for quantitatively visualizing the acidic tumor environment could significantly advance our understanding of the behavior of aggressive tumors, improving patient management and outcomes. 89Zr-labeled pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIP) are a class of radiopharmaceutical imaging probes for the in vivo analysis of acidic tumor microenvironments via positron emission tomography (PET). Their unique structure allows them to sense and target acidic cancer cells. In contrast to traditional molecular imaging agents, pHLIP’s mechanism of action is pH-dependent and does not rely on the presence of tumor-specific molecular markers. In this study, one promising acidity-imaging PET probe ([89Zr]Zr-DFO-Cys-Var3) was identified as a candidate for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bauer
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anuradha Weerakkody
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Lukas M. Carter
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Zachary Samuels
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Spencer Kaminsky
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Jason S. Lewis
- Department of Radiology and the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jason S. Lewis,
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18
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Frolova AY, Pakhomov AA, Kakuev DL, Sungurova AS, Deyev SM, Martynov VI. Cancer cells targeting with genetically engineered constructs based on a pH-dependent membrane insertion peptide and fluorescent protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 612:141-146. [PMID: 35525198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The targeted delivery of nanodrugs to malignant neoplasm is one of the most pressing challenges in the development of modern medicine. It was reported earlier that a bacteriorhodopsin-derived pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) targets acidic tumors and has the ability to translocate low molecular weight cargoes across the cancer cell membrane. Here, to better understand the potential of pHLIP-related technologies, we used genetically engineered fluorescent protein (EGFP) as a model protein cargo and examined targeting efficiencies of EGFP-pHLIP hybrid constructs in vitro with the HeLa cell line at different pHs. By two independent monitoring methods we observed an increased binding affinity of EGFP-pHLIP fusions to HeLa cells at pH below 6.8. Confocal images of EGFP-pHLIP-treated cells showed bright fluorescence associated with the cell membrane and fluorescent dots localized inside the cell, that became brighter with time. To elucidate the pHLIP-mediated EGFP cell entry mechanisms, we performed a series of experiments with specific inhibitors of endocytosis. Our results imply that EGFP-pHLIP internalization is realized by endocytosis of various types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya Yu Frolova
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation; A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey A Pakhomov
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation; A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
| | - Dmitry L Kakuev
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Anna S Sungurova
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Sergey M Deyev
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir I Martynov
- M.M. Shemyakin-Y.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation
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19
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Sikorski EL, Wehr J, Ferraro NJ, Rizzo SM, Pires MM, Thévenin D. Selective Display of a Chemoattractant Agonist on Cancer Cells Activates the Formyl Peptide Receptor 1 on Immune Cells. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202100521. [PMID: 35199442 PMCID: PMC9035110 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100521] [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: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Current immunotherapeutics often work by directing components of the immune system to recognize biomarkers on the surface of cancer cells to generate an immune response. However, variable changes in biomarker distribution and expression can result in inconsistent patient response. The development of a more universal tumor-homing strategy has the potential to improve selectivity and extend therapy to cancers with decreased expression or absence of specific biomarkers. Here, we designed a bifunctional agent that exploits the inherent acidic microenvironment of most solid tumors to selectively graft the surface of cancer cells with a formyl peptide receptor ligand (FPRL). Our approach is based on the pH(Low) insertion peptide (pHLIP), a unique peptide that selectively targets tumors in vivo by anchoring to cancer cells in a pH-dependent manner. We establish that selectively remodeling cancer cells with a pHLIP-based FPRL activates formyl peptide receptors on recruited immune cells, potentially initiating an immune response towards tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden L. Sikorski
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Janessa Wehr
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Noel J. Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Sophia M. Rizzo
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Marcos M. Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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20
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Ding GB, Zhu C, Wang Q, Cao H, Li BC, Yang P, Stauber RH, Nie G, Li Z. Molecularly engineered tumor acidity-responsive plant toxin gelonin for safe and efficient cancer therapy. Bioact Mater 2022; 18:42-55. [PMID: 35387163 PMCID: PMC8961304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy and inexorable side effects of small molecule antineoplastic agents, extensive efforts have been devoted to the development of more potent macromolecular agents with high specificity. Gelonin is a plant-derived protein toxin that exhibits robust antitumor effect via inactivating ribosomes and inhibiting protein synthesis. Nonetheless, its poor internalization ability to tumor cells has compromised the therapeutic promise of gelonin. In this study, a tumor acidity-responsive intracellular protein delivery system ─ functional gelonin (Trx-pHLIP-Gelonin, TpG) composed of a thioredoxin (Trx) tag, a pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) and gelonin, was designed and obtained by genetic recombination technique for the first time. TpG could effectively enter into tumor cells under weakly acidic conditions and markedly suppress tumor cell proliferation via triggering cell apoptosis and inhibiting protein synthesis. Most importantly, treatment by intravenous injection into subcutaneous SKOV3 solid tumors in a mouse model showed that TpG was much more effective than gelonin in curtailing tumor growth rates with negligible toxicity. Collectively, our present work suggests that the tumor acidity-targeted delivery manner endowed by pHLIP offers a new avenue for efficient delivery of other bioactive substances to acidic diseased tissues. A pH-responsive gelonin delivery platform — TpG was molecularly engineered. TpG exhibited good thermal stability and excellent serum stability. TpG enabled an efficient intracellular translocation of gelonin at pH 6.5. TpG exerted pronounced anti-proliferative effect via inducing massive apoptosis. TpG significantly delayed tumor growth with favorable in vivo biosafety profile.
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21
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Kratochvil HT, Newberry RW, Mensa B, Mravic M, DeGrado WF. Spiers Memorial Lecture: Analysis and de novo design of membrane-interactive peptides. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:9-48. [PMID: 34693965 PMCID: PMC8979563 DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00061f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-peptide interactions play critical roles in many cellular and organismic functions, including protection from infection, remodeling of membranes, signaling, and ion transport. Peptides interact with membranes in a variety of ways: some associate with membrane surfaces in either intrinsically disordered conformations or well-defined secondary structures. Peptides with sufficient hydrophobicity can also insert vertically as transmembrane monomers, and many associate further into membrane-spanning helical bundles. Indeed, some peptides progress through each of these stages in the process of forming oligomeric bundles. In each case, the structure of the peptide and the membrane represent a delicate balance between peptide-membrane and peptide-peptide interactions. We will review this literature from the perspective of several biologically important systems, including antimicrobial peptides and their mimics, α-synuclein, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ion channels. We also discuss the use of de novo design to construct models to test our understanding of the underlying principles and to provide useful leads for pharmaceutical intervention of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huong T Kratochvil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Robert W Newberry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Bruk Mensa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Marco Mravic
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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22
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Shojaei Baghini M, Vilouras A, Douthwaite M, Georgiou P, Dahiya R. Ultra‐thin ISFET‐based sensing systems. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Shojaei Baghini
- Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group School of Engineering University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Anastasios Vilouras
- Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group School of Engineering University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Matthew Douthwaite
- Centre for Bio‐Inspired Technology Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Imperial College London London UK
| | - Pantelis Georgiou
- Centre for Bio‐Inspired Technology Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Imperial College London London UK
| | - Ravinder Dahiya
- Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group School of Engineering University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
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23
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Lipids modulate the BH3-independent membrane targeting and activation of BAX and Bcl-xL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025834118. [PMID: 34493661 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025834118] [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: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of apoptosis is tightly linked with the targeting of numerous Bcl-2 proteins to the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM), where their activation or inhibition dictates cell death or survival. According to the traditional view of apoptotic regulation, BH3-effector proteins are indispensable for the cytosol-to-MOM targeting and activation of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family. This view is challenged by recent studies showing that these processes can occur in cells lacking BH3 effectors by as yet to be determined mechanism(s). Here, we exploit a model membrane system that recapitulates key features of MOM to demonstrate that the proapoptotic Bcl-2 protein BAX and antiapoptotic Bcl-xL have an inherent ability to interact with membranes in the absence of BH3 effectors, but only in the presence of cellular concentrations of Mg2+/Ca2+ Under these conditions, BAX and Bcl-xL are selectively targeted to membranes, refolded, and activated in the presence of anionic lipids especially the mitochondrial-specific lipid cardiolipin. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the mitochondrial targeting and activation of Bcl-2 proteins in cells lacking BH3 effectors. At cytosolic Mg2+ levels, the BH3-independent activation of BAX could provide localized amplification of apoptotic signaling at regions enriched in cardiolipin (e.g., contact sites between MOM and mitochondrial inner membrane). Increases in MOM cardiolipin, as well as cytosolic [Ca2+] during apoptosis could further contribute to its MOM targeting and activity. Meanwhile, the BH3-independent targeting and activation of Bcl-xL to the MOM is expected to counter the action of proapoptotic BAX, thereby preventing premature commitment to apoptosis.
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Abstract
The use of PET imaging agents in oncology, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease shows the power of this technique in evaluating the molecular and biological characteristics of numerous diseases. These agents provide crucial information for designing therapeutic strategies for individual patients. Novel PET tracers are in continual development and many have potential use in clinical and research settings. This article discusses the potential applications of tracers in diagnostics, the biological characteristics of diseases, the ability to provide prognostic indicators, and using this information to guide treatment strategies including monitoring treatment efficacy in real time to improve outcomes and survival.
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Vasquez-Montes V, Ladokhin AS. Expanding MPEx Hydropathy Analysis to Account for Electrostatic Contributions to Protein Interactions with Anionic Membranes. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:109-117. [PMID: 33564913 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00170-5] [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: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydropathy plots are a crucial tool to guide experimental design, as they generate predictions of protein-membrane interactions and their bilayer topology. The predictions are based on experimentally determined hydrophobicity scales, which provide an estimate for the propensity and stability of these interactions. A significant improvement to the accuracy of hydropathy analyses was provided by the development of the popular Wimley-White interfacial and octanol hydrophobicity scales. These scales have been previously incorporated into the freely available MPEx (Membrane Protein Explorer) online application. Here, we introduce a substantial update to MPEx that allows for the consideration of electrostatic contributions to the bilayer partitioning free energy. This component originates from the Coulombic attraction or repulsion of charges between proteins and membranes. Its inclusion in hydropathy calculations increases the accuracy of hydropathy plot predictions and extends their use to more complex systems (i.e., anionic membranes). We illustrate the application of this analysis to studies on the membrane selectivity of antimicrobial peptides, the membrane partitioning of ion-channel gating modifiers, and the amyloid proteins α-synuclein and Tau, as well as pH-dependent bilayer interactions of diphtheria toxin and apoptotic inhibitor Bcl-xL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez-Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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pHLIP ICG for delineation of tumors and blood flow during fluorescence-guided surgery. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18356. [PMID: 33110131 PMCID: PMC7591906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75443-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence imaging has seen enduring use in blood flow visualization and is now finding a new range of applications in image-guided surgery. In this paper, we report a translational study of a new fluorescent agent for use in surgery, pHLIP ICG, where ICG (indocyanine green) is a surgical fluorescent dye used widely for imaging blood flow. We studied pHLIP ICG interaction with the cell membrane lipid bilayer, the pharmacology and toxicology in vitro and in vivo (mice and dogs), and the biodistribution and clearance of pHLIP ICG in mice. The pHLIP ICG tumor targeting and imaging efficacy studies were carried out in several murine and human mouse tumor models. Blood vessels were imaged in mice and pigs. Clinical Stryker imaging instruments for endoscopy and open surgery were used in the study. Intravenously administered pHLIP ICG exhibits a multi-hour circulation half-life, offering protracted delineation of vasculature. As it clears from the blood, pHLIP ICG targets tumors and tumor stroma, marking them for surgical removal. pHLIP ICG is non-toxic, marks blood flow for hours after injection, and effectively delineates tumors for improved resection on the day after administration.
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