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Ellenbroek BD, Kahler JP, Evers SR, Pomplun SJ. Synthetic Peptides: Promising Modalities for the Targeting of Disease-Related Nucleic Acids. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401704. [PMID: 38456368 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
DNA and RNA play pivotal roles in life processes by storing and transferring genetic information, modulating gene expression, and contributing to essential cellular machinery such as ribosomes. Dysregulation and mutations in nucleic acid-related processes are implicated in numerous diseases. Despite the critical impact on health of nucleic acid mutations or dysregulation, therapeutic compounds addressing these biomolecules remain limited. Peptides have emerged as a promising class of molecules for biomedical research, offering potential solutions for challenging drug targets. This review focuses on the use of synthetic peptides to target disease-related nucleic acids. We discuss examples of peptides targeting double-stranded DNA, including the clinical candidate Omomyc, and compounds designed for regulatory G-quadruplexes. Further, we provide insights into both library-based screenings and the rational design of peptides to target regulatory human RNA scaffolds and viral RNAs, emphasizing the potential of peptides in addressing nucleic acid-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophie R Evers
- Leiden University, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Present address, Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Wintherthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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Pham TL, Thomas F. Design of Functional Globular β-Sheet Miniproteins. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300745. [PMID: 38275210 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300745] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The design of discrete β-sheet peptides is far less advanced than e. g. the design of α-helical peptides. The reputation of β-sheet peptides as being poorly soluble and aggregation-prone often hinders active design efforts. Here, we show that this reputation is unfounded. We demonstrate this by looking at the β-hairpin and WW domain. Their structure and folding have been extensively studied and they have long served as model systems to investigate protein folding and folding kinetics. The resulting fundamental understanding has led to the development of hyperstable β-sheet scaffolds that fold at temperatures of 100 °C or high concentrations of denaturants. These have been used to design functional miniproteins with protein or nucleic acid binding properties, in some cases with such success that medical applications are conceivable. The β-sheet scaffolds are not always completely rigid, but can be specifically designed to respond to changes in pH, redox potential or presence of metal ions. Some engineered β-sheet peptides also exhibit catalytic properties, although not comparable to those of natural proteins. Previous reviews have focused on the design of stably folded and non-aggregating β-sheet sequences. In our review, we now also address design strategies to obtain functional miniproteins from β-sheet folding motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Lam Pham
- Truc Lam Pham, Prof. Dr. Franziska Thomas, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Truc Lam Pham, Prof. Dr. Franziska Thomas, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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3
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Marshall LK, Fahrenbach AC, Thordarson P. RNA-Binding Peptides Inspired by the RNA Recognition Motif. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:243-248. [PMID: 38314708 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00694] [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: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
β-Hairpin peptides with RNA-binding sequences mimicking the central two β-strands of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) protein domain have been observed to bind in a 2:1 fashion to a series of RNA homooligonucleotides in aqueous solution (PBS buffer, pH 7.40) with binding energies (-27 to -35 kJ mol-1) similar to those of full-size protein RRMs. The peptides display mild selectivities with respect to the binding of the different homooligomers. Binding studies in 500 mM magnesium chloride suggest that the complex formation is not predominantly driven by Coulombic attraction. These peptides represent a starting point for further studies of non-Coulombic binding of RNA by peptides and proteins, which is important in the context of contemporary biology, potential therapeutic applications, and prebiotic peptide-RNA interactions.
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McLoughlin NM, Albers MA, Collado Camps E, Paulus J, Ran YA, Neubacher S, Hennig S, Brock R, Grossmann TN. Environment-Responsive Peptide Dimers Bind and Stabilize Double-Stranded RNA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202308028. [PMID: 37603459 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) possess immense potential for biomedical applications. However, their therapeutic utility is limited by low stability and poor cellular uptake. Different strategies have been explored to enhance the stability of dsRNA, including the incorporation of modified nucleotides, and the use of diverse carrier systems. Nevertheless, these have not resulted in a broadly applicable approach thereby preventing the wide-spread application of dsRNA for therapeutic purposes. Herein, we report the design of dimeric stapled peptides based on the RNA-binding protein TAV2b. These dimers are obtained via disulfide formation and mimic the natural TAV2b assembly. They bind and stabilize dsRNA in the presence of serum, protecting it from degradation. In addition, peptide binding also promotes cellular uptake of dsRNA. Importantly, peptide dimers monomerize under reducing conditions which results in a loss of RNA binding. These findings highlight the potential of peptide-based RNA binders for the stabilization and protection of dsRNA, representing an appealing strategy towards the environment-triggered release of RNA. This can broaden the applicability of dsRNA, such as short interfering RNAs (siRNA), for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall M McLoughlin
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marvin A Albers
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Estel Collado Camps
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jannik Paulus
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Youri A Ran
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Neubacher
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Incircular B.V., De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Hennig
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, 293, Bahrain
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Piwko AT, Han X, Kabza AM, Dey S, Sczepanski JT. Inverse In Vitro Selection Enables Comprehensive Analysis of Cross-Chiral L-Aptamer Interactions. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200520. [PMID: 36282114 PMCID: PMC9798143 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200520] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers composed of mirror-image L-(deoxy)ribose nucleic acids, referred to as L-aptamers, are a promising class of RNA-binding reagents. Yet, the selectivity of cross-chiral interactions between L-aptamers and their RNA targets remain poorly characterized, limiting the potential utility of this approach for applications in biological systems. Herein, we carried out the first comprehensive analysis of cross-chiral L-aptamer selectivity using a newly developed "inverse" in vitro selection approach that exploits the genetic nature of the D-RNA ligand. By employing a library of more than a million target-derived sequences, we determined the RNA sequence and structural preference of a model L-aptamer and revealed previously unidentified and potentially broad off-target RNA binding behaviors. These results provide valuable information for assessing the likelihood and consequences of potential off-target interactions and reveal strategies to mitigate these effects. Thus, inverse in vitro selection provides several opportunities to advance L-aptamer technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Piwko
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843 TX, USA
- Current address: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, 32304, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Xuan Han
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843 TX, USA
| | - Adam M Kabza
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843 TX, USA
- Current address: Avidity Biosciences, 92121, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sougata Dey
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77843 TX, USA
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