1
|
Perez-Miller S, Gomez K, Khanna R. Peptide and Peptidomimetic Inhibitors Targeting the Interaction of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 with the N-Type Calcium Channel for Pain Relief. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1916-1936. [PMID: 39022365 PMCID: PMC11249630 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00181] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Ion channels serve pleiotropic functions. Often found in complexes, their activities and functions are sculpted by auxiliary proteins. We discovered that collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is a binding partner and regulator of the N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2), a genetically validated contributor to chronic pain. Herein, we trace the discovery of a new peptidomimetic modulator of this interaction, starting from the identification and development of CBD3, a CRMP2-derived CaV binding domain peptide. CBD3 uncouples CRMP2-CaV2.2 binding to decrease CaV2.2 surface localization and calcium currents. These changes occur at presynaptic sites of nociceptive neurons and indeed, CBD3 ameliorates chronic pain in preclinical models. In pursuit of a CBD3 peptidomimetic, we exploited a unique approach to identify a dipeptide with low conformational flexibility and high solvent accessibility that anchors binding to CaV2.2. From a pharmacophore screen, we obtained CBD3063, a small-molecule that recapitulated CBD3's activity, reversing nociceptive behaviors in rodents of both sexes without sensory, affective, or cognitive effects. By disrupting the CRMP2-CaV2.2 interaction, CBD3063 exerts these effects indirectly through modulating CaV2.2 trafficking, supporting CRMP2 as an auxiliary subunit of CaV2.2. The parent peptide CBD3 was also found by us and others to have neuroprotective properties at postsynaptic sites, through N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 3, potentially acting as an auxiliary subunit for these pathways as well. Our new compound is poised to address several open questions regarding CRMP2's role in regulating the CaV2.2 pathways to treat pain with the potential added benefit of neuroprotection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department
of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1200 Newell Drive, ARB R5-234, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0267, United States
| | - Kimberly Gomez
- Department
of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1200 Newell Drive, ARB R5-234, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0267, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department
of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1200 Newell Drive, ARB R5-234, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0267, United States
- Pain
and Addiction Therapeutics (PATH) Collaboratory, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou L, Cai F, Li Y, Gao X, Wei Y, Fedorova A, Kirchhofer D, Hannoush RN, Zhang Y. Disulfide-constrained peptide scaffolds enable a robust peptide-therapeutic discovery platform. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300135. [PMID: 38547109 PMCID: PMC10977697 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300135] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptides present an alternative modality to immunoglobulin domains or small molecules for developing therapeutics to either agonize or antagonize cellular pathways associated with diseases. However, peptides often suffer from poor chemical and physical stability, limiting their therapeutic potential. Disulfide-constrained peptides (DCP) are naturally occurring and possess numerous desirable properties, such as high stability, that qualify them as drug-like scaffolds for peptide therapeutics. DCPs contain loop regions protruding from the core of the molecule that are amenable to peptide engineering via direct evolution by use of phage display technology. In this study, we have established a robust platform for the discovery of peptide therapeutics using various DCPs as scaffolds. We created diverse libraries comprising seven different DCP scaffolds, resulting in an overall diversity of 2 x 1011. The effectiveness of this platform for functional hit discovery has been extensively evaluated, demonstrating a hit rate comparable to that of synthetic antibody libraries. By utilizing chemically synthesized and in vitro folded peptides derived from selections of phage displayed DCP libraries, we have successfully generated functional inhibitors targeting the HtrA1 protease. Through affinity maturation strategies, we have transformed initially weak binders against Notch2 with micromolar Kd values to high-affinity ligands in the nanomolar range. This process highlights a viable hit-to-lead progression. Overall, our platform holds significant potential to greatly enhance the discovery of peptide therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Zhou
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Fei Cai
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Xinxin Gao
- Department of Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yuehua Wei
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Anna Fedorova
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel Kirchhofer
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rami N. Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yingnan Zhang
- Departments of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dotsenko VV, Bespalov AV, Sinotsko AE, Temerdashev AZ, Vasilin VK, Varzieva EA, Strelkov VD, Aksenov NA, Aksenova IV. 6-Amino-4-aryl-7-phenyl-3-(phenylimino)-4,7-dihydro-3H-[1,2]dithiolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamides: Synthesis, Biological Activity, Quantum Chemical Studies and In Silico Docking Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:769. [PMID: 38255843 PMCID: PMC10815501 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020769] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
New [1,2]dithiolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamides were synthesized through the reaction of dithiomalondianilide (N,N'-diphenyldithiomalondiamide) with 3-aryl-2-cyanoacrylamides or via a three-component reaction involving aromatic aldehydes, cyanoacetamide and dithiomalondianilide in the presence of morpholine. The structure of 6-amino-4-(2,4-dichloro- phenyl)-7-phenyl-3-(phenylimino)-4,7-dihydro-3H-[1,2]dithiolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide was confirmed using X-ray crystallography. To understand the reaction mechanism in detail, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed with a Grimme B97-3c composite computational scheme. The results revealed that the rate-limiting step is a cyclization process leading to the closure of the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring, with an activation barrier of 28.8 kcal/mol. Some of the dithiolo[3,4-b]pyridines exhibited moderate herbicide safening effects against 2,4-D. Additionally, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, Toxicity) parameters were calculated and molecular docking studies were performed to identify potential protein targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor V. Dotsenko
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technologies, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; (A.V.B.); (E.A.V.)
- Department of Chemistry, North Caucasus Federal University, 1a Pushkin St., 355017 Stavropol, Russia; (N.A.A.); (I.V.A.)
| | - Alexander V. Bespalov
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technologies, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; (A.V.B.); (E.A.V.)
| | - Anna E. Sinotsko
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technologies, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; (A.V.B.); (E.A.V.)
| | - Azamat Z. Temerdashev
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia;
| | - Vladimir K. Vasilin
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Kuban State Technological University, 2 Moskovskaya St., 350072 Krasnodar, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A. Varzieva
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technologies, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; (A.V.B.); (E.A.V.)
| | - Vladimir D. Strelkov
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technologies, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropolskaya St., 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; (A.V.B.); (E.A.V.)
| | - Nicolai A. Aksenov
- Department of Chemistry, North Caucasus Federal University, 1a Pushkin St., 355017 Stavropol, Russia; (N.A.A.); (I.V.A.)
| | - Inna V. Aksenova
- Department of Chemistry, North Caucasus Federal University, 1a Pushkin St., 355017 Stavropol, Russia; (N.A.A.); (I.V.A.)
| |
Collapse
|