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Javaid N, Ahmad B, Patra MC, Choi S. Decoy peptides that inhibit TNF signaling by disrupting the TNF homotrimeric oligomer. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 39003565 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17220] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and its functional homotrimeric form interacts with the TNF receptor (TNFR) to activate downstream apoptotic, necroptotic, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Excessive activation of these pathways leads to various inflammatory diseases, which makes TNF a promising therapeutic target. Here, 12-mer peptides were selected from the interface of TNF-TNFR based upon their relative binding energies and were named 'TNF-inhibiting decoys' (TIDs). These decoy peptides inhibited TNF-mediated secretion of cytokines and cell death, as well as activation of downstream signaling effectors. Effective TIDs inhibited TNF signaling by disrupting the formation of TNF's functional homotrimeric form. Among derivatives of TIDs, TID3c showed slightly better efficacy in cell-based assays by disrupting TNF trimer formation. Moreover, TID3c oligomerized TNF to a high molecular weight configuration. In silico modeling and simulations revealed that TID3c and its parent peptide, TID3, form a stable complex with TNF through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, which makes them the promising lead to develop peptide-based anti-TNF therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Javaid
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Suwon, Korea
| | - Bilal Ahmad
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Suwon, Korea
| | | | - Sangdun Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Suwon, Korea
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Zeng J, Loi GWZ, Saipuljumri EN, Romero Durán MA, Silva-García O, Perez-Aguilar JM, Baizabal-Aguirre VM, Lo CH. Peptide-based allosteric inhibitor targets TNFR1 conformationally active region and disables receptor-ligand signaling complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308132121. [PMID: 38551841 PMCID: PMC10998571 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308132121] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 (TNFR1) plays a pivotal role in mediating TNF induced downstream signaling and regulating inflammatory response. Recent studies have suggested that TNFR1 activation involves conformational rearrangements of preligand assembled receptor dimers and targeting receptor conformational dynamics is a viable strategy to modulate TNFR1 signaling. Here, we used a combination of biophysical, biochemical, and cellular assays, as well as molecular dynamics simulation to show that an anti-inflammatory peptide (FKCRRWQWRMKK), which we termed FKC, inhibits TNFR1 activation allosterically by altering the conformational states of the receptor dimer without blocking receptor-ligand interaction or disrupting receptor dimerization. We also demonstrated the efficacy of FKC by showing that the peptide inhibits TNFR1 signaling in HEK293 cells and attenuates inflammation in mice with intraperitoneal TNF injection. Mechanistically, we found that FKC binds to TNFR1 cysteine-rich domains (CRD2/3) and perturbs the conformational dynamics required for receptor activation. Importantly, FKC increases the frequency in the opening of both CRD2/3 and CRD4 in the receptor dimer, as well as induces a conformational opening in the cytosolic regions of the receptor. This results in an inhibitory conformational state that impedes the recruitment of downstream signaling molecules. Together, these data provide evidence on the feasibility of targeting TNFR1 conformationally active region and open new avenues for receptor-specific inhibition of TNFR1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiu Zeng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore308232, Singapore
| | - Gavin Wen Zhao Loi
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore308232, Singapore
| | - Eka Norfaishanty Saipuljumri
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore308232, Singapore
- School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore738964, Singapore
| | - Marco Antonio Romero Durán
- Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia58893, México
| | - Octavio Silva-García
- Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia58893, México
| | - Jose Manuel Perez-Aguilar
- School of Chemical Sciences, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, University City, Puebla72570, México
| | - Víctor M. Baizabal-Aguirre
- Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia58893, México
| | - Chih Hung Lo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore308232, Singapore
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Taghipour F, Motamed N, Amoozegar MA, Shahhoseini M, Mahdian S. Carotenoids as potential inhibitors of TNFα in COVID-19 treatment. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276538. [PMID: 36574379 PMCID: PMC9794061 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine, responsible for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. In COVID-19 patients, increased TNF-α concentration may provoke inflammatory cascade and induce the initiation of cytokine storm that may result in fatal pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ADRS). Hence, TNFα is assumed to be a promising drug target against cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. In the present study, we focused on finding novel small molecules that can directly block TNF-α-hTNFR1 (human TNF receptor 1) interaction. In this regards, TNF-α-inhibiting capacity of natural carotenoids was investigated in terms of blocking TNF-α-hTNFR1 interaction in COVID-19 patients with the help of a combination of in silico approaches, based on virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. A total of 125 carotenoids were selected out of 1204 natural molecules, based on their pharmacokinetics properties and they all met Lipinski's rule of five. Among them, Sorgomol, Strigol and Orobanchol had the most favorable ΔG with the best ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties, and were selected for MD simulation studies, which explored the complex stability and the impact of ligands on protein conformation. Our results showed that Sorgomol formed the most hydrogen bonds, resulting in the highest binding energy with lowest RMSD and RMSF, which made it the most appropriate candidate as TNF-α inhibitor. In conclusion, the present study could serve to expand possibilities to develop new therapeutic small molecules against TNF-α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Taghipour
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Motamed
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Amoozegar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Shahhoseini
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soodeh Mahdian
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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de Carvalho MS, de Almeida-Junior LA, Silva-Sousa AC, Damião Sousa-Neto M, Lucisano MP, Arnez MFM, da Silva LAB, Paula-Silva FWG. Absence of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 inhibits osteoclast activity in apical dental resorption caused by endodontic infection in mice. J Endod 2022; 48:1400-1406. [PMID: 35964707 DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To evaluate osteoclastogenesis and dental resorption resulting from endodontic infection in wild-type (WT) and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 genetically deficient (TNFR1 KO) mice. METHODS After approval by the Ethics Committee on the use of Animals, 40 mice were distributed into two experimental groups based on periods: 14 days (n=10 WT mice; n=10 TNFR1 KO mice) and 42 days (n=10 WT mice; n=10 TNFR1 KO mice). After these periods, morphometrics analysis was done using bright field and fluorescence microscopy and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase histoenzymology to identify osteoclasts. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post-hoc test was used for the statistical analysis (a=0.05). RESULTS WT mice in the 42-day period had a greater resorption in the apical region distal root of the first molar than TNFR1 KO mice (p<0.05). On the other hand, TNFR1 KO mice showed a smaller number of osteoclasts on the dental surface than WT mice (p<0.05). CONCLUSION WT mice had more extensive bone and apical dental resorptions and a larger number of osteoclasts on the tooth surface than TNFR1 KO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio Santos de Carvalho
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Alice Corrêa Silva-Sousa
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoel Damião Sousa-Neto
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marília Pacífico Lucisano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maya Fernanda Manfrin Arnez
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Léa Assed Bezerra da Silva
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Kitaura H, Marahleh A, Ohori F, Noguchi T, Nara Y, Pramusita A, Kinjo R, Ma J, Kanou K, Mizoguchi I. Role of the Interaction of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors 1 and 2 in Bone-Related Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031481. [PMID: 35163403 PMCID: PMC8835906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine expressed by macrophages, monocytes, and T cells, and its expression is triggered by the immune system in response to pathogens and their products, such as endotoxins. TNF-α plays an important role in host defense by inducing inflammatory reactions such as phagocytes and cytocidal systems activation. TNF-α also plays an important role in bone metabolism and is associated with inflammatory bone diseases. TNF-α binds to two cell surface receptors, the 55kDa TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) and the 75kDa TNF receptor-2 (TNFR2). Bone is in a constant state of turnover; it is continuously degraded and built via the process of bone remodeling, which results from the regulated balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts, bone-forming osteoblasts, and the mechanosensory cell type osteocytes. Precise interactions between these cells maintain skeletal homeostasis. Studies have shown that TNF-α affects bone-related cells via TNFRs. Signaling through either receptor results in different outcomes in different cell types as well as in the same cell type. This review summarizes and discusses current research on the TNF-α and TNFR interaction and its role in bone-related cells.
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A De Novo Optimized Cell-Free System for the Expression of Soluble and Active Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020157. [PMID: 35205024 PMCID: PMC8868817 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary As a result of increasing demand for the pleiotropic cytokine TNF-α, recombinant human TNF-α protein with appropriate bioactivities was produced in several heterologous in vivo expression systems. While in vivo expression of this cytokine is laborious and lengthy, cell-free or in vitro expression system has the benefits of speed, simplicity, flexibility, focus of all the system energy on target protein synthesis alone, besides high soluble and functional protein yield. Therefore, we employed and optimized an E. coli-based cell-free system for the first time to express recombinant human TNF-α. Our findings revealed that cell-free expression system can be an alternative platform for producing soluble and functionally active recombinant TNF-α with a yield of 390 µg/mL in only 2 h at a temperature of 40 °C for further research and clinical trials. Abstract Cell-free (in vitro) expression is a robust alternative platform to the cell-based (in vivo) system for recombinant protein production. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an effective pro-inflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic effects. The aim of the current study was de novo optimized expression of soluble and active human TNF-α by an in vitro method in an E. coli-based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system and its biological activity evaluation. The codon-optimized synthetic human TNF-α gene was constructed by a two-step PCR, cloned into pET101/D-TOPO vector and then expressed by the E. coli CFPS system. Cell-free expression of the soluble protein was optimized using a response surface methodology (RSM). The anticancer activity of purified human TNF-α was assessed against three human cancer cell lines: Caco-2, HepG-2 and MCF-7. Data from RSM revealed that the lowest value (7.2 µg/mL) of cell-free production of recombinant human TNF-α (rhTNF-α) was obtained at a certain incubation time (6 h) and incubation temperature (20 °C), while the highest value (350 µg/mL) was recorded at 4 h and 35 °C. This rhTNF-α showed a significant anticancer potency. Our findings suggest a cell-free expression system as an alternative platform for producing soluble and functionally active recombinant TNF-α for further research and clinical trials.
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Murali R, Zhang H, Cai Z, Lam L, Greene M. Rational Design of Constrained Peptides as Protein Interface Inhibitors. Antibodies (Basel) 2021; 10:antib10030032. [PMID: 34449551 PMCID: PMC8395526 DOI: 10.3390/antib10030032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of progress in developing targeted therapeutics directed at protein–protein complexes has been due to the absence of well-defined ligand-binding pockets and the extensive intermolecular contacts at the protein–protein interface. Our laboratory has developed approaches to dissect protein–protein complexes focusing on the superfamilies of erbB and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors by the combined use of structural biology and computational biology to facilitate small molecule development. We present a perspective on the development and application of peptide inhibitors as well as immunoadhesins to cell surface receptors performed in our laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandran Murali
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Biomedical Science, Research Division of Immunology, Los Angeles, CA 90211, USA
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (M.G.)
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (H.Z.); (Z.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Zheng Cai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (H.Z.); (Z.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Lian Lam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (H.Z.); (Z.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Mark Greene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (H.Z.); (Z.C.); (L.L.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (M.G.)
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Zheng J, Chen D, Xu J, Ding X, Wu Y, Shen HC, Tan X. Small molecule approaches to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (Part III): Targeting cytokines and cytokine receptor complexes. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 48:128229. [PMID: 34214508 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Chronic and dysregulated cytokine signaling plays an important role in the pathogenic development of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Despite intrinsic challenges in the disruption of interactions between cytokines and cytokine receptors, many first-in-class small-molecule inhibitors have been discovered over the past few years. The third part of the digest series presents recent progress in identifying such inhibitors and highlights the application of novel research tools in the fields of structural biology, computational analysis, screening methods, biophysical/biochemical assays and medicinal chemistry strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dongdong Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Immunology, Infectious Disease and Ophthalmology, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiao Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yao Wu
- Computer Aided Drug Design, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hong C Shen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xuefei Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Roche Innovation Center Shanghai, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Transmembrane TNF and Its Receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 in Mycobacterial Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115461. [PMID: 34067256 PMCID: PMC8196896 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is one of the main cytokines regulating a pro-inflammatory environment. It has been related to several cell functions, for instance, phagocytosis, apoptosis, proliferation, mitochondrial dynamic. Moreover, during mycobacterial infections, TNF plays an essential role to maintain granuloma formation. Several effector mechanisms have been implicated according to the interactions of the two active forms, soluble TNF (solTNF) and transmembrane TNF (tmTNF), with their receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2. We review the impact of these interactions in the context of mycobacterial infections. TNF is tightly regulated by binding to receptors, however, during mycobacterial infections, upstream activation signalling pathways may be influenced by key regulatory factors either at the membrane or cytosol level. Detailing the structure and activation pathways used by TNF and its receptors, such as its interaction with solTNF/TNFRs versus tmTNF/TNFRs, may bring a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in activation pathways which can be helpful for the development of new therapies aimed at being more efficient against mycobacterial infections.
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In vitro display evolution of the PURE system-expressed TNFα-binding unnatural cyclic peptide containing an N-methyl-d-amino acid. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 534:519-525. [PMID: 33276950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a multifunctional cytokine associated with inflammation, immune responses, and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. In the present study, we performed in vitro selection, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) against human TNFα from mRNA-displayed peptide library prepared with Escherichia coli-reconstituted cell-free transcription/translation system (PURE system) and cyclized by N-chloroacetyl-N-methyl-d-phenylalanine incorporated by genetic code expansion (sense suppression). We identified a novel TNFα-binding thioether-cyclized peptide that contains an N-methyl-d-phenylalanine. Since cyclic structure and presence of an N-methyl-d-amino acid can increase proteolytic stability, the TNFα binding peptide has potential to be used for therapeutic, research and diagnostic applications.
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