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Rutherford KA, McManus KJ. PROTACs: Current and Future Potential as a Precision Medicine Strategy to Combat Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:454-463. [PMID: 38205881 PMCID: PMC10985480 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTAC) are an emerging precision medicine strategy, which targets key proteins for proteolytic degradation to ultimately induce cancer cell killing. These hetero-bifunctional molecules hijack the ubiquitin proteasome system to selectively add polyubiquitin chains onto a specific protein target to induce proteolytic degradation. Importantly, PROTACs have the capacity to target virtually any intracellular and transmembrane protein for degradation, including oncoproteins previously considered undruggable, which strategically positions PROTACs at the crossroads of multiple cancer research areas. In this review, we present normal functions of the ubiquitin regulation proteins and describe the application of PROTACs to improve the efficacy of current broad-spectrum therapeutics. We subsequently present the potential for PROTACs to exploit specific cancer vulnerabilities through synthetic genetic approaches, which may expedite the development, translation, and utility of novel synthetic genetic therapies in cancer. Finally, we describe the challenges associated with PROTACs and the ongoing efforts to overcome these issues to streamline clinical translation. Ultimately, these efforts may lead to their routine clinical use, which is expected to revolutionize cancer treatment strategies, delay familial cancer onset, and ultimately improve the lives and outcomes of those living with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailee A. Rutherford
- Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciencs, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kirk J. McManus
- Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciencs, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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2
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Yang Y, Xue M. Herringbone Helical Foldamers from Aromatic Ether Derived ϵ-Amino Acid Peptides. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301832. [PMID: 37641870 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301832] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Oligomers based on an aromatic ether derived ϵ-amino acid peptides folded into herringbone helical structures, induced by successive NH-O-NH & O-NH-O bifurcated hydrogen bonding interactions and reinforced by π-π stacking between aryls from adjacent layers. The diaryl ether bonds -O- worked both as structural units to provide turn motifs for changing the amplitude of the slope along the axis of helix for herringbone formation, and also as acceptors for hydrogen bonding. Attachment of a single chiral carbon to the C-termini of the peptides induced excess of single-handed screw sense and amplification through the chain propagation as exemplified by chain length dependent circular dichroism (CD) investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Min Xue
- School of Science, Department of Physics, Key Laboratory of Optical Field Manipulation of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
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3
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Ito T, Yokoo H, Kato T, Doi M, Demizu Y. Sculpting Secondary Structure of a Cyclic Peptide: Conformational Analysis of a Cyclic Hexapeptide Containing a Combination of l-Leu, d-Leu, and Aib Residues. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:44106-44111. [PMID: 38027316 PMCID: PMC10666233 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
We have previously reported that cyclo(l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib-l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib) (2), a cyclic hexapeptide consisting of heterochiral l-Leu and d-Leu (l-Leu-d-Leu) residues with achiral 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues, forms a figure-8 conformation. In this study, we newly designed cyclo(l-Leu-d-Leu-Aib-d-Leu-l-Leu-Aib)+ (4), an epimer of 2, and examined the conformational differences between 2 and 4 by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Peptide 4 formed a planar cyclic conformation with an antiparallel β-sheet hydrogen-bonding pattern. This investigation demonstrates the potential to manipulate the molecular conformation of cyclic peptides by simply arranging the l- and d-amino acids and emphasizes that diverse conformations can be obtained by using cyclic peptides. Harnessing cyclic peptides as platforms for distinct molecular structures is a promising approach to expanding the chemical space for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahito Ito
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama
City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Yokoo
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Takuma Kato
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical
University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Mitsunobu Doi
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical
University, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division
of Organic Chemistry, National Institute
of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama
City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
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4
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Shah SKH, Modi U, Patel K, James A, N S, De S, Vasita R, Prabhakaran P. Site-selective post-modification of short α/γ hybrid foldamers: a powerful approach for molecular diversification towards biomedical applications. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:6210-6222. [PMID: 37526301 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00766a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The extensive research work in the exhilarating area of foldamers (artificial oligomers possessing well-defined conformation in solution) has shown them to be promising candidates in biomedical research and materials science. The post-modification approach is successful in peptides, proteins, and polymers to modulate their functions. To the best of our knowledge, site-selective post-modification of a foldamer affording molecules with different pendant functional groups within a molecular scaffold has not yet been reported. We demonstrate for the first time that late-stage site-selective functionalization of short hybrid oligomers is an efficient approach to afford molecules with diverse functional groups. In this article, we report the design and synthesis of hybrid peptides with repeating units of leucine (Leu) and 5-amino salicylic acid (ASA), regioselective post-modification, conformational analyses (based on solution-state NMR, circular dichroism and computational studies) and morphological studies of the peptide nanostructures. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the applications of differently modified peptides as drug delivery agents, imaging probes, and anticancer agents. The novel feature of the work is that the difference in reactivity of two phenolic OH groups in short biomimetic peptides was utilized to achieve site-selective post-modification. It is challenging to apply the same approach to short α-peptides having a poor folding tendency, and their post-functionalization may considerably affect their conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Unnati Modi
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, India
| | - Karma Patel
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, India.
| | - Anjima James
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682022, India
| | - Sreerag N
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, India.
| | - Susmita De
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calicut, Calicut 673635, India
| | - Rajesh Vasita
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, India
| | - Panchami Prabhakaran
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, India.
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5
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Katoh T, Suga H. Translation initiation with exotic amino acids using EF-P-responsive artificial initiator tRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8169-8180. [PMID: 37334856 PMCID: PMC10450175 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad496] [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: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Translation initiation using noncanonical initiator substrates with poor peptidyl donor activities, such as N-acetyl-l-proline (AcPro), induces the N-terminal drop-off-reinitiation event. Thereby, the initiator tRNA drops-off from the ribosome and the translation reinitiates from the second amino acid to yield a truncated peptide lacking the N-terminal initiator substrate. In order to suppress this event for the synthesis of full-length peptides, here we have devised a chimeric initiator tRNA, referred to as tRNAiniP, whose D-arm comprises a recognition motif for EF-P, an elongation factor that accelerates peptide bond formation. We have shown that the use of tRNAiniP and EF-P enhances the incorporation of not only AcPro but also d-amino, β-amino and γ-amino acids at the N-terminus. By optimizing the translation conditions, e.g. concentrations of translation factors, codon sequence and Shine-Dalgarno sequence, we could achieve complete suppression of the N-terminal drop-off-reinitiation for the exotic amino acids and enhance the expression level of full-length peptide up to 1000-fold compared with the use of the ordinary translation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Sang P, Cai J. Unnatural helical peptidic foldamers as protein segment mimics. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:4843-4877. [PMID: 37401344 PMCID: PMC10389297 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00395c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Unnatural helical peptidic foldamers have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique folding behaviours, diverse artificial protein binding mechanisms, and promising applications in chemical, biological, medical, and material fields. Unlike the conventional α-helix consisting of molecular entities of native α-amino acids, unnatural helical peptidic foldamers are generally comprised of well-defined backbone conformers with unique and unnatural structural parameters. Their folded structures usually arise from unnatural amino acids such as N-substituted glycine, N-substituted-β-alanine, β-amino acid, urea, thiourea, α-aminoxy acid, α-aminoisobutyric acid, aza-amino acid, aromatic amide, γ-amino acid, as well as sulfono-γ-AA amino acid. They can exhibit intriguing and predictable three-dimensional helical structures, generally featuring superior resistance to proteolytic degradation, enhanced bioavailability, and improved chemodiversity, and are promising in mimicking helical segments of various proteins. Although it is impossible to include every piece of research work, we attempt to highlight the research progress in the past 10 years in exploring unnatural peptidic foldamers as protein helical segment mimics, by giving some representative examples and discussing the current challenges and future perspectives. We expect that this review will help elucidate the principles of structural design and applications of existing unnatural helical peptidic foldamers in protein segment mimicry, thereby attracting more researchers to explore and generate novel unnatural peptidic foldamers with unique structural and functional properties, leading to more unprecedented and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sang
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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Development of a Penetratin-Conjugated Stapled Peptide that Inhibits Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 73:117021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.117021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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