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Dias SA, Pinto SN, Silva-Herdade AS, Cheneval O, Craik DJ, Coutinho A, Castanho MARB, Henriques ST, Veiga AS. A designed cyclic analogue of gomesin has potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:3256-3264. [PMID: 36171717 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections caused by bacterial biofilms are very difficult to treat. The use of currently approved antibiotics even at high dosages often fails, making the treatment of these infections very challenging. Novel antimicrobial agents that use distinct mechanisms of action are urgently needed. OBJECTIVES To explore the use of [G1K,K8R]cGm, a designed cyclic analogue of the antimicrobial peptide gomesin, as an alternative approach to treat biofilm infections. METHODS We studied the activity of [G1K,K8R]cGm against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogen associated with several biofilm-related infections. A combination of atomic force and real-time confocal laser scanning microscopies was used to study the mechanism of action of the peptide. RESULTS The peptide demonstrated potent activity against 24 h-preformed biofilms through a concentration-dependent ability to kill biofilm-embedded cells. Mechanistic studies showed that [G1K,K8R]cGm causes morphological changes on bacterial cells and permeabilizes their membranes across the biofilm with a half-time of 65 min. We also tested an analogue of [G1K,K8R]cGm without disulphide bonds, and a linear unfolded analogue, and found both to be inactive. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the 3D structure of [G1K,K8R]cGm and its stabilization by disulphide bonds are essential for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. Moreover, our findings support the potential application of this stable cyclic antimicrobial peptide to fight bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana A Dias
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sandra N Pinto
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S Silva-Herdade
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Ana Coutinho
- iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sónia T Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD, 4102 Australia
| | - Ana Salomé Veiga
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Depuydt AS, Rihon J, Cheneval O, Vanmeert M, Schroeder CI, Craik DJ, Lescrinier E, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. Cyclic Peptides as T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers: Characterization and Molecular Mapping of the Binding Site. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1379-1389. [PMID: 34423272 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
T-type calcium (CaV3) channels play a crucial role in the generation and propagation of action potentials in excitable cells and are considered potential drug targets for the treatment of neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Given the limited pharmacological repertoire for these channels, there is a great need for novel potent and selective CaV3 channel inhibitors. In this study, we used Xenopus oocytes to heterologously express CaV3.1 channels and characterized the interaction with a small cyclic peptide, PnCS1. Using molecular modeling, PnCS1 was docked into the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the human CaV3.1 channel and molecular dynamics were performed on the resultant complex. The binding site of the peptide was mapped with the involvement of critical amino acids located in the pore region and fenestrations of the channel. More specifically, we found that PnCS1 reclines in the central cavity of the pore domain of the CaV3.1 channel and resides stably between the selectivity filter and the intracellular gate, blocking the conduction pathway of the channel. Using Multiple Attribute Positional Scanning approaches, we developed a series of PnCS1 analogues. These analogues had a reduced level of inhibition, confirming the importance of specific residues and corroborating our modeling. In summary, functional studies of PnCS1 on the CaV3.1 channel combined with molecular dynamics results provide the basis for understanding the molecular interactions of PnCS1 with CaV3.1 and are fundamental to structure-based drug discovery for treating CaV3 channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Depuydt
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jérôme Rihon
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia
| | - Michiel Vanmeert
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia.,National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Queensland Australia
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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3
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Durek T, Kaas Q, White AM, Weidmann J, Fuaad AA, Cheneval O, Schroeder CI, de Veer SJ, Dellsén A, Österlund T, Larsson N, Knerr L, Bauer U, Plowright AT, Craik DJ. Melanocortin 1 Receptor Agonists Based on a Bivalent, Bicyclic Peptide Framework. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9906-9915. [PMID: 34197114 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have designed a new class of highly potent bivalent melanocortin receptor ligands based on the nature-derived bicyclic peptide sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). Incorporation of melanotropin pharmacophores in each of the two turn regions of SFTI-1 resulted in substantial gains in agonist activity particularly at human melanocortin receptors 1 and 3 (hMC1R/hMC3R) compared to monovalent analogues. In in vitro binding and functional assays, the most potent molecule, compound 6, displayed low picomolar agonist activity at hMC1R (pEC50 > 10.3; EC50 < 50 pM; pKi: 10.16 ± 0.04; Ki: 69 ± 5 pM) and is at least 30-fold more selective for this receptor than for hMC3R, hMC4R, or hMC5R. The results are discussed in the context of structural homology models of hMCRs in complex with the developed bivalent ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew M White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Abdullah Ahmad Fuaad
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Anita Dellsén
- Mechanistic Biology & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Torben Österlund
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden.,Drug Safety and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Niklas Larsson
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Udo Bauer
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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4
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Lawrence N, Philippe GJB, Harvey PJ, Condon ND, Benfield AH, Cheneval O, Craik DJ, Troeira Henriques S. Cyclic peptide scaffold with ability to stabilize and deliver a helical cell-impermeable cargo across membranes of cultured cancer cells. RSC Chem Biol 2020; 1:405-420. [PMID: 34458771 PMCID: PMC8386104 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00099j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are valuable tools for developing anticancer therapies due to their ability to access intracellular targets, including protein–protein interactions. cPF4PD is a newly described CPP designed from a transduction domain of the human defense protein platelet factor 4 (PF4), that also has antimalarial activity. The cPF4PD peptide recapitulates the helical structure of the PF4 domain and maintains activity against intracellular malaria parasites via a selective membrane-active mechanism. We hypothesized that cPF4PD and PF4-derived peptide analogues would enter cancer cells and have utility as scaffolds for delivering a peptide dual inhibitor (pDI) sequence with ability to inhibit p53:MDM2/X interactions and reactivate the p53 pathway. Here we designed and produced PF4 peptide and PF4 peptide-pDI grafted analogues with low micromolar activity toward melanoma and leukemia. Two grafted analogues achieved a stable helical structure and inhibited interaction with MDM2 and MDMX. These peptides reached the cytoplasm of cells but were unable to reactivate the p53 pathway. Instead, the cytotoxic mechanism was attributed to peptide binding to mitochondrial membranes that perturbed function within two hours of treatment. These studies of PF4-derived CPPs suggest their potential as scaffolds for delivering cell-impermeable cargoes into the cytoplasm of cells and highlight the importance of characterizing the internalization and cell death mechanism of designer peptide-based drugs. A new helix-loop-helix peptide scaffold with dual ability to transport cargo across cancer cell membranes and disrupt mitochondrial membrane function.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - Grégoire J-B Philippe
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - Nicholas D Condon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - Aurélie H Benfield
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019.,Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute Brisbane Queensland 4102 Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia +61 7 34437342 +61 7 33462014 +61 7 33462019.,Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute Brisbane Queensland 4102 Australia
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5
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Peigneur S, da Costa Oliveira C, de Sousa Fonseca FC, McMahon KL, Mueller A, Cheneval O, Cristina Nogueira Freitas A, Starobova H, Dimitri Gama Duarte I, Craik DJ, Vetter I, de Lima ME, Schroeder CI, Tytgat J. Small cyclic sodium channel inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 183:114291. [PMID: 33075312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels play crucial roles in a range of (patho)physiological processes. Much interest has arisen within the pharmaceutical industry to pursue these channels as analgesic targets following overwhelming evidence that NaV channel subtypes NaV1.7-NaV1.9 are involved in nociception. More recently, NaV1.1, NaV1.3 and NaV1.6 have also been identified to be involved in pain pathways. Venom-derived disulfide-rich peptide toxins, isolated from spiders and cone snails, have been used extensively as probes to investigate these channels and have attracted much interest as drug leads. However, few peptide-based leads have made it as drugs due to unfavourable physiochemical attributes including poor in vivo pharmacokinetics and limited oral bioavailability. The present work aims to bridge the gap in the development pipeline between drug leads and drug candidates by downsizing these larger venom-derived NaV inhibitors into smaller, more "drug-like" molecules. Here, we use molecular engineering of small cyclic peptides to aid in the determination of what drives subtype selectivity and molecular interactions of these downsized inhibitors across NaV subtypes. We designed a series of small, stable and novel NaV probes displaying NaV subtype selectivity and potency in vitro coupled with potent in vivo analgesic activity, involving yet to be elucidated analgesic pathways in addition to NaV subtype modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium; Department de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo-Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cristina da Costa Oliveira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Flávia Cristina de Sousa Fonseca
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kirsten L McMahon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander Mueller
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Ana Cristina Nogueira Freitas
- Department de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo-Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Hana Starobova
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Igor Dimitri Gama Duarte
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Maria Elena de Lima
- Department de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo-Horizonte, Brazil; Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Brazil
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia; National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
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6
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Lawrence N, Wu B, Ligutti J, Cheneval O, Agwa AJ, Benfield AH, Biswas K, Craik DJ, Miranda LP, Henriques ST, Schroeder CI. Peptide-Membrane Interactions Affect the Inhibitory Potency and Selectivity of Spider Toxins ProTx-II and GpTx-1. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:118-130. [PMID: 30507158 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gating modifier toxins (GMTs) from spider venom can inhibit voltage gated sodium channels (NaVs) involved in pain signal transmission, including the NaV1.7 subtype. GMTs have a conserved amphipathic structure that allow them to interact with membranes and also with charged residues in regions of NaV that are exposed at the cell surface. ProTx-II and GpTx-1 are GMTs able to inhibit NaV1.7 with high potency, but they differ in their ability to bind to membranes and in their selectivity over other NaV subtypes. To explore these differences and gain detailed information on their membrane-binding ability and how this relates to potency and selectivity, we examined previously described NaV1.7 potent/selective GpTx-1 analogues and new ProTx-II analogues designed to reduce membrane binding and improve selectivity for NaV1.7. Our studies reveal that the number and type of hydrophobic residues as well as how they are presented at the surface determine the affinity of ProTx-II and GpTx-1 for membranes and that altering these residues can have dramatic effects on NaV inhibitory activity. We demonstrate that strong peptide-membrane interactions are not essential for inhibiting NaV1.7 and propose that hydrophobic interactions instead play an important role in positioning the GMT at the membrane surface proximal to exposed NaV residues, thereby affecting peptide-channel interactions. Our detailed structure-activity relationship study highlights the challenges of designing GMT-based molecules that simultaneously achieve high potency and selectivity for NaV1.7, as single mutations can induce local changes in GMT structure that can have a major impact on NaV-inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | - Joseph Ligutti
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Akello Joanna Agwa
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Aurélie H. Benfield
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I. Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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7
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Peigneur S, Cheneval O, Maiti M, Leipold E, Heinemann SH, Lescrinier E, Herdewijn P, De Lima ME, Craik DJ, Schroeder CI, Tytgat J. Where cone snails and spiders meet: design of small cyclic sodium-channel inhibitors. FASEB J 2018; 33:3693-3703. [PMID: 30509130 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801909r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A 13 aa residue voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel inhibitor peptide, Pn, containing 2 disulfide bridges was designed by using a chimeric approach. This approach was based on a common pharmacophore deduced from sequence and secondary structural homology of 2 NaV inhibitors: Conus kinoshitai toxin IIIA, a 14 residue cone snail peptide with 3 disulfide bonds, and Phoneutria nigriventer toxin 1, a 78 residue spider toxin with 7 disulfide bonds. As with the parent peptides, this novel NaV channel inhibitor was active on NaV1.2. Through the generation of 3 series of peptide mutants, we investigated the role of key residues and cyclization and their influence on NaV inhibition and subtype selectivity. Cyclic PnCS1, a 10 residue peptide cyclized via a disulfide bond, exhibited increased inhibitory activity toward therapeutically relevant NaV channel subtypes, including NaV1.7 and NaV1.9, while displaying remarkable serum stability. These peptides represent the first and the smallest cyclic peptide NaV modulators to date and are promising templates for the development of toxin-based therapeutic agents.-Peigneur, S., Cheneval, O., Maiti, M., Leipold, E., Heinemann, S. H., Lescrinier, E., Herdewijn, P., De Lima, M. E., Craik, D. J., Schroeder, C. I., Tytgat, J. Where cone snails and spiders meet: design of small cyclic sodium-channel inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.,Department de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo-Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mohitosh Maiti
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Enrico Leipold
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan H Heinemann
- Department of Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Elena De Lima
- Department de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo-Horizonte, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Biomedicina e Medicina, Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Grupo Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Kwon S, Duarte JN, Li Z, Ling JJ, Cheneval O, Durek T, Schroeder CI, Craik DJ, Ploegh HL. Targeted Delivery of Cyclotides via Conjugation to a Nanobody. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2973-2980. [PMID: 30248263 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Many naturally occurring peptides have poor proteolytic stability, which limits their therapeutic applications. Cyclotides are plant-derived cyclic peptides that resist proteolysis due to their highly constrained structure, comprising a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and three disulfide bonds that form a cystine-knotted core. This structure makes them useful as scaffolds onto which peptide sequences (epitopes) can be grafted. In this study, VHH7, an alpaca-derived nanobody that targets murine class II MHC molecules, was used for the targeted delivery of cyclotides to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The cyclotides MCoTI-I, and MCoTI-I with a HA-tag (YPYDVPDYA) grafted into loop 6 (MCoTI-HA), were tested for immunogenic properties. To produce the requisite VHH7-peptide conjugates, a site-specific sortase A-catalyzed reaction in combination with a copper-free strain-promoted cycloaddition reaction was used. MCoTI-I alone did not display any obvious antibody response, thus showing the capacity of cyclotides as immunologically silent scaffolds. By contrast, MCoTI-I conjugated to VHH7 elicited antibodies against cyclic or linear MCoTI-I, thus suggesting a simple and robust approach for targeting cyclotides to APCs, and potentially to other cell types. A similar antibody response was observed when MCoTI-HA was conjugated to VHH7, but there was no reactivity toward a linear HA-tag itself, suggesting differences in conformational constraint between cyclotide-presented and linear epitopes. Studies of commercially available HA antibodies applied to MCoTI-HA confirmed that the conformation of peptide immunogens affects their reactivity. Thus, the production of antibodies that recognize constrained epitopes may benefit from engraftment onto scaffolds such as cyclotides. More broadly, this study validates that a prototypic cyclotide, a member of a peptide family that has proven to be useful as drug design scaffolds in many other studies, can efficiently reach a specific target in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soohyun Kwon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joao N. Duarte
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Zeyang Li
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Jingjing J. Ling
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christina I. Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hidde L. Ploegh
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Division of Molecular Biology, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 3 Blackfan Circle, Third Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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9
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Lawrence N, Dennis ASM, Lehane AM, Ehmann A, Harvey PJ, Benfield AH, Cheneval O, Henriques ST, Craik DJ, McMorran BJ. Defense Peptides Engineered from Human Platelet Factor 4 Kill Plasmodium by Selective Membrane Disruption. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:1140-1150.e5. [PMID: 30033131 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious threat to human health and additional classes of antimalarial drugs are greatly needed. The human defense protein, platelet factor 4 (PF4), has intrinsic antiplasmodial activity but also undesirable chemokine properties. We engineered a peptide containing the isolated PF4 antiplasmodial domain, which through cyclization, retained the critical structure of the parent protein. The peptide, cPF4PD, killed cultured blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum with low micromolar potency by specific disruption of the parasite digestive vacuole. Its mechanism of action involved selective penetration and accumulation inside the intraerythrocytic parasite without damaging the host cell or parasite membranes; it did not accumulate in uninfected cells. This selective activity was accounted for by observations of the peptide's specific binding and penetration of membranes with exposed negatively charged phospholipid headgroups. Our findings highlight the tremendous potential of the cPF4PD scaffold for developing antimalarial peptide drugs with a distinct and selective mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Adelaide S M Dennis
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Adele M Lehane
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Anna Ehmann
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Aurélie H Benfield
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Brendan J McMorran
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
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10
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Durek T, Cromm PM, White AM, Schroeder CI, Kaas Q, Weidmann J, Ahmad Fuaad A, Cheneval O, Harvey PJ, Daly NL, Zhou Y, Dellsén A, Österlund T, Larsson N, Knerr L, Bauer U, Kessler H, Cai M, Hruby VJ, Plowright AT, Craik DJ. Development of Novel Melanocortin Receptor Agonists Based on the Cyclic Peptide Framework of Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1. J Med Chem 2018; 61:3674-3684. [PMID: 29605997 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ultrastable cyclic peptide frameworks offer great potential for drug design due to their improved bioavailability compared to their linear analogues. Using the sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1) peptide scaffold in combination with systematic N-methylation of the grafted pharmacophore led to the identification of novel subtype selective melanocortin receptor (MCR) agonists. Multiple bicyclic peptides were synthesized and tested toward their activity at MC1R and MC3-5R. Double N-methylated compound 18 showed a p Ki of 8.73 ± 0.08 ( Ki = 1.92 ± 0.34 nM) and a pEC50 of 9.13 ± 0.04 (EC50 = 0.75 ± 0.08 nM) at the human MC1R and was over 100 times more selective for MC1R. Nuclear magnetic resonance structural analysis of 18 emphasized the role of peptide bond N-methylation in shaping the conformation of the grafted pharmacophore. More broadly, this study highlights the potential of cyclic peptide scaffolds for epitope grafting in combination with N-methylation to introduce receptor subtype selectivity in the context of peptide-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Philipp M Cromm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia.,Institute for Advanced Study and Center of Integrated Protein Science, Department Chemie , Technische Universität München , Lichtenbergstrasse 4 , 85747 Garching , Germany
| | - Andrew M White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Abdullah Ahmad Fuaad
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Norelle L Daly
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721 , United States
| | - Anita Dellsén
- Mechanistic Biology & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - Torben Österlund
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden.,Drug Safety and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - Niklas Larsson
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - Udo Bauer
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - Horst Kessler
- Institute for Advanced Study and Center of Integrated Protein Science, Department Chemie , Technische Universität München , Lichtenbergstrasse 4 , 85747 Garching , Germany
| | - Minying Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721 , United States
| | - Victor J Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona 85721 , United States
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Gothenburg 43183 Sweden
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , QLD 4072 , Australia
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11
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Agwa AJ, Lawrence N, Deplazes E, Cheneval O, Chen RM, Craik DJ, Schroeder CI, Henriques ST. Corrigendum to "Spider peptide toxin HwTx-IV engineered to bind to lipid membranes has an increased inhibitory potency at human voltage-gated sodium channel hNa V1.7" [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1859(5) (2017) 835-844]. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr 2017; 1859:2277. [PMID: 28842331 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akello J Agwa
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Rachel M Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sónia T Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia.
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12
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Troeira Henriques S, Lawrence N, Chaousis S, Ravipati AS, Cheneval O, Benfield AH, Elliott AG, Kavanagh AM, Cooper MA, Chan LY, Huang YH, Craik DJ. Redesigned Spider Peptide with Improved Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:2324-2334. [PMID: 28741926 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Gomesin, a disulfide-rich antimicrobial peptide produced by the Brazilian spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana, has been shown to be potent against Gram-negative bacteria and to possess selective anticancer properties against melanoma cells. In a recent study, a backbone cyclized analogue of gomesin was shown to be as active but more stable than its native form. In the current study, we were interested in improving the antimicrobial properties of the cyclic gomesin, understanding its selectivity toward melanoma cells and elucidating its antimicrobial and anticancer mode of action. Rationally designed analogues of cyclic gomesin were examined for their antimicrobial potency, selectivity toward cancer cells, membrane-binding affinity, and ability to disrupt cell and model membranes. We improved the activity of cyclic gomesin by ∼10-fold against tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria without increasing toxicity to human red blood cells. In addition, we showed that gomesin and its analogues are more toxic toward melanoma and leukemia cells than toward red blood cells and act by selectively targeting and disrupting cancer cell membranes. Preference toward some cancer types is likely dependent on their different cell membrane properties. Our findings highlight the potential of peptides as antimicrobial and anticancer leads and the importance of selectively targeting cancer cell membranes for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Stephanie Chaousis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anjaneya S. Ravipati
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Aurélie H. Benfield
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Alysha G. Elliott
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Angela Maria Kavanagh
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Cooper
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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13
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Grage SL, Sani MA, Cheneval O, Henriques ST, Schalck C, Heinzmann R, Mylne JS, Mykhailiuk PK, Afonin S, Komarov IV, Separovic F, Craik DJ, Ulrich AS. Orientation and Location of the Cyclotide Kalata B1 in Lipid Bilayers Revealed by Solid-State NMR. Biophys J 2017; 112:630-642. [PMID: 28256223 PMCID: PMC5340158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are ultra-stable cyclic disulfide-rich peptides from plants. Their biophysical effects and medically interesting activities are related to their membrane-binding properties, with particularly high affinity for phosphatidylethanolamine lipids. In this study we were interested in understanding the molecular details of cyclotide-membrane interactions, specifically with regard to the spatial orientation of the cyclotide kalata B1 from Oldenlandia affinis when embedded in a lipid bilayer. Our experimental approach was based on the use of solid-state 19F-NMR of oriented bilayers in conjunction with the conformationally restricted amino acid L-3-(trifluoromethyl)bicyclopent-[1.1.1]-1-ylglycine as an orientation-sensitive 19F-NMR probe. Its rigid connection to the kalata B1 backbone scaffold, together with the well-defined structure of the cyclotide, allowed us to calculate the protein alignment in the membrane directly from the orientation-sensitive 19F-NMR signal. The hydrophobic and polar residues on the surface of kalata B1 form well-separated patches, endowing this cyclotide with a pronounced amphipathicity. The peptide orientation, as determined by NMR, showed that this amphipathic structure matches the polar/apolar interface of the lipid bilayer very well. A location in the amphiphilic headgroup region of the bilayer was supported by 15N-NMR of uniformly labeled protein, and confirmed using solid-state 31P- and 2H-NMR. 31P-NMR relaxation data indicated a change in lipid headgroup dynamics induced by kalata B1. Changes in the 2H-NMR order parameter profile of the acyl chains suggest membrane thinning, as typically observed for amphiphilic peptides embedded near the polar/apolar bilayer interface. Furthermore, from the 19F-NMR analysis two important charged residues, E7 and R28, were found to be positioned equatorially. The observed location thus would be favorable for the postulated binding of E7 to phosphatidylethanolamine lipid headgroups. Furthermore, it may be speculated that this pair of side chains could promote oligomerization of kalata B1 through electrostatic intermolecular contacts via their complementary charges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan L Grage
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marc-Antoine Sani
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Constantin Schalck
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ralf Heinzmann
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Joshua S Mylne
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pavel K Mykhailiuk
- Chemistry Department, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine; Enamine Ltd., Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Sergii Afonin
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Igor V Komarov
- Institute of High Technologies, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Frances Separovic
- School of Chemistry, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anne S Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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14
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Philippe G, Huang Y, Cheneval O, Lawrence N, Zhang Z, Fairlie DP, Craik DJ, de Araujo AD, Henriques ST. Development of cell‐penetrating peptide‐based drug leads to inhibit MDMX:p53 and MDM2:p53 interactions. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2016; 106:853-863. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Philippe
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - Yen‐Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Biosciencethe University of Queensland QLD4072 Australia
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15
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Bhardwaj G, Mulligan VK, Bahl CD, Gilmore JM, Harvey PJ, Cheneval O, Buchko GW, Pulavarti SV, Kaas Q, Eletsky A, Huang PS, Johnsen WA, Greisen P, Rocklin GJ, Song Y, Linsky TW, Watkins A, Rettie SA, Xu X, Carter LP, Bonneau R, Olson JM, Coutsias E, Correnti CE, Szyperski T, Craik DJ, Baker D. Accurate de novo design of hyperstable constrained peptides. Nature 2016; 538:329-335. [PMID: 27626386 PMCID: PMC5161715 DOI: 10.1038/nature19791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring, pharmacologically active peptides constrained with covalent crosslinks generally have shapes that have evolved to fit precisely into binding pockets on their targets. Such peptides can have excellent pharmaceutical properties, combining the stability and tissue penetration of small-molecule drugs with the specificity of much larger protein therapeutics. The ability to design constrained peptides with precisely specified tertiary structures would enable the design of shape-complementary inhibitors of arbitrary targets. Here we describe the development of computational methods for accurate de novo design of conformationally restricted peptides, and the use of these methods to design 18-47 residue, disulfide-crosslinked peptides, a subset of which are heterochiral and/or N-C backbone-cyclized. Both genetically encodable and non-canonical peptides are exceptionally stable to thermal and chemical denaturation, and 12 experimentally determined X-ray and NMR structures are nearly identical to the computational design models. The computational design methods and stable scaffolds presented here provide the basis for development of a new generation of peptide-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Bhardwaj
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Vikram Khipple Mulligan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Christopher D. Bahl
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Jason M. Gilmore
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Peta J. Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Garry W. Buchko
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Diseases, Earth, and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
| | | | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander Eletsky
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Po-Ssu Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - William A. Johnsen
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Per Greisen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Global Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, DK-2760 Måløv, Denmark
| | - Gabriel J. Rocklin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Yifan Song
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Cyrus Biotechnology, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Thomas W. Linsky
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Andrew Watkins
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Stephen A. Rettie
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Xianzhong Xu
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Lauren P. Carter
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Richard Bonneau
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, Simons Foundation, NY, NY 10010
| | - James M. Olson
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Evangelos Coutsias
- Applied Mathematics and Statistics and Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Colin E. Correnti
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Thomas Szyperski
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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16
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Kwon S, Bosmans F, Kaas Q, Cheneval O, Conibear AC, Rosengren KJ, Wang CK, Schroeder CI, Craik DJ. Efficient enzymatic cyclization of an inhibitory cystine knot-containing peptide. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 113:2202-12. [PMID: 27093300 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich peptides isolated from cone snails are of great interest as drug leads due to their high specificity and potency toward therapeutically relevant ion channels and receptors. They commonly contain the inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif comprising three disulfide bonds forming a knotted core. Here we report the successful enzymatic backbone cyclization of an ICK-containing peptide κ-PVIIA, a 27-amino acid conopeptide from Conus purpurascens, using a mutated version of the bacterial transpeptidase, sortase A. Although a slight loss of activity was observed compared to native κ-PVIIA, cyclic κ-PVIIA is a functional peptide that inhibits the Shaker voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel. Molecular modeling suggests that the decrease in potency may be related to the loss of crucial, but previously unidentified electrostatic interactions between the N-terminus of the peptide and the Shaker channel. This hypothesis was confirmed by testing an N-terminally acetylated κ-PVIIA, which shows a similar decrease in activity. We also investigated the conformational dynamics and hydrogen bond network of cyc-PVIIA, both of which are important factors to be considered for successful cyclization of peptides. We found that cyc-PVIIA has the same conformational dynamics, but different hydrogen bond network compared to those of κ-PVIIA. The ability to efficiently cyclize ICK peptides using sortase A will enable future protein engineering for this class of peptides and may help in the development of novel therapeutic molecules. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2202-2212. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soohyun Kwon
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Frank Bosmans
- Department of Physiology and Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Quentin Kaas
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Anne C Conibear
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - K Johan Rosengren
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Conan K Wang
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia.
| | - David J Craik
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia.
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17
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Henriques ST, Deplazes E, Lawrence N, Cheneval O, Chaousis S, Inserra M, Thongyoo P, King GF, Mark AE, Vetter I, Craik DJ, Schroeder CI. Interaction of Tarantula Venom Peptide ProTx-II with Lipid Membranes Is a Prerequisite for Its Inhibition of Human Voltage-gated Sodium Channel NaV1.7. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:17049-65. [PMID: 27311819 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.729095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ProTx-II is a disulfide-rich peptide toxin from tarantula venom able to inhibit the human voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (hNaV1.7), a channel reported to be involved in nociception, and thus it might have potential as a pain therapeutic. ProTx-II acts by binding to the membrane-embedded voltage sensor domain of hNaV1.7, but the precise peptide channel-binding site and the importance of membrane binding on the inhibitory activity of ProTx-II remain unknown. In this study, we examined the structure and membrane-binding properties of ProTx-II and several analogues using NMR spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show a direct correlation between ProTx-II membrane binding affinity and its potency as an hNaV1.7 channel inhibitor. The data support a model whereby a hydrophobic patch on the ProTx-II surface anchors the molecule at the cell surface in a position that optimizes interaction of the peptide with the binding site on the voltage sensor domain. This is the first study to demonstrate that binding of ProTx-II to the lipid membrane is directly linked to its potency as an hNaV1.7 channel inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- From the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Queensland 4072 and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alan E Mark
- From the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Queensland 4072 and
| | - Irina Vetter
- From the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Queensland 4102, Australia
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D’Souza C, Henriques ST, Wang CK, Cheneval O, Chan LY, Bokil NJ, Sweet MJ, Craik DJ. Using the MCoTI-II Cyclotide Scaffold To Design a Stable Cyclic Peptide Antagonist of SET, a Protein Overexpressed in Human Cancer. Biochemistry 2016; 55:396-405. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte D’Souza
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Conan K. Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Nilesh J. Bokil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - Matthew J. Sweet
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 4072
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19
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Huang YH, Chaousis S, Cheneval O, Craik DJ, Henriques ST. Optimization of the cyclotide framework to improve cell penetration properties. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:17. [PMID: 25709580 PMCID: PMC4321561 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides have been regarded as promising vectors to deliver hydrophilic molecules inside cells. Although they are great tools for research and have high potential as drug delivery systems, their application as drugs is impaired by their low stability in serum. Cyclotides, cyclic disulfide-rich peptides from plants, are ultra-stable molecules that have inspired applications in drug design as they can be used as scaffolds to stabilize linear bioactive sequences. Recently, they have also been shown to possess cell-penetrating properties. The combination of their remarkable stability and cell-penetrating properties opens new avenues for the application of peptides to bind to and inhibit intracellular proteins. Nevertheless, for a broader application of these molecules as vectors is of utmost importance to improve their cellular internalization efficiency. In this study we successfully modified MCoTI-II, one of the most widely studied cyclotide scaffolds in drug design, and improved its internalization properties. The internalization of the newly designed MCoTI-II is as efficient as the gold standard cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) TAT and maintains all the required features as a template to graft desired bioactivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephanie Chaousis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sónia T Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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20
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Spincemaille P, Alborzinia H, Dekervel J, Windmolders P, van Pelt J, Cassiman D, Cheneval O, Craik DJ, Schur J, Ott I, Wölfl S, Cammue BPA, Thevissen K. The plant decapeptide OSIP108 can alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction induced by cisplatin in human cells. Molecules 2014; 19:15088-102. [PMID: 25244288 PMCID: PMC6271462 DOI: 10.3390/molecules190915088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effect of the Arabidopsis thaliana-derived decapeptide OSIP108 on human cell tolerance to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin (Cp), which induces apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. We found that OSIP108 increases the tolerance of HepG2 cells to Cp and prevents Cp-induced changes in basic cellular metabolism. More specifically, we demonstrate that OSIP108 reduces Cp-induced inhibition of respiration, decreases glycolysis and prevents Cp-uptake in HepG2 cells. Apart from its protective action against Cp in human cells, OSIP108 also increases the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae tolerance to Cp. A limited yeast-based study of OSIP108 analogs showed that cyclization does not severely affect its activity, which was further confirmed in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the similarity in the activity of the d-stereoisomer (mirror image) form of OSIP108 with the l-stereoisomer suggests that its mode of action does not involve binding to a stereospecific receptor. In addition, as OSIP108 decreases Cp uptake in HepG2 cells and the anti-Cp activity of OSIP108 analogs without free cysteine is reduced, OSIP108 seems to protect against Cp-induced toxicity only partly via complexation. Taken together, our data indicate that OSIP108 and its cyclic derivatives can protect against Cp-induced toxicity and, thus, show potential as treatment options for mitochondrial dysfunction- and apoptosis-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Spincemaille
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
| | - Hamed Alborzinia
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Jeroen Dekervel
- Department of Hepatology and Metabolic Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Petra Windmolders
- Department of Hepatology and Metabolic Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jos van Pelt
- Department of Hepatology and Metabolic Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - David Cassiman
- Department of Hepatology and Metabolic Center, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Old 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Old 4072, Australia
| | - Julia Schur
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität, Braunschweig, Beethovenstrasse 55, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - Ingo Ott
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität, Braunschweig, Beethovenstrasse 55, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - Stefan Wölfl
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Bruno P A Cammue
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Heverlee 3001, Belgium.
| | - Karin Thevissen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
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21
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Cheneval O, Schroeder CI, Durek T, Walsh P, Huang YH, Liras S, Price DA, Craik DJ. Fmoc-based synthesis of disulfide-rich cyclic peptides. J Org Chem 2014; 79:5538-44. [PMID: 24918986 DOI: 10.1021/jo500699m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich cyclic peptides have exciting potential as leads or frameworks in drug discovery; however, their use is faced with some synthetic challenges, mainly associated with construction of the circular backbone and formation of the correct disulfides. Here we describe a simple and efficient Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)-based method for synthesizing disulfide-rich cyclic peptides. This approach involves SPPS on 2-chlorotrityl resin, cyclization of the partially protected peptide in solution, cleavage of the side-chain protecting groups, and oxidization of cysteines to yield the desired product. We illustrate this method with the synthesis of peptides from three different classes of cyclic cystine knot motif-containing cyclotides: Möbius (M), trypsin inhibitor (T), and bracelet (B). We show that the method is broadly applicable to peptide engineering, illustrated by the synthesis of two mutants and three grafted analogues of kalata B1. The method reduces the use of highly caustic and toxic reagents and is better suited for high-throughput synthesis than previously reported methods for producing disulfide-rich cyclic peptides, thus offering great potential to facilitate pharmaceutical optimization of these scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, 4072, QLD Australia
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22
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Schroeder C, Swedberg J, Withka J, Rosengren K, Akcan M, Clayton D, Daly N, Cheneval O, Borzilleri K, Griffor M, Stock I, Colless B, Walsh P, Sunderland P, Reyes A, Dullea R, Ammirati M, Liu S, McClure K, Tu M, Bhattacharya S, Liras S, Price D, Craik D. Design and Synthesis of Truncated EGF-A Peptides that Restore LDL-R Recycling in the Presence of PCSK9 In Vitro. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:284-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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23
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Getz JA, Cheneval O, Craik DJ, Daugherty PS. Design of a cyclotide antagonist of neuropilin-1 and -2 that potently inhibits endothelial cell migration. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:1147-54. [PMID: 23537207 DOI: 10.1021/cb4000585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilin-1 and -2 are critical regulators of angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and cell survival as receptors for multiple growth factors. Disulfide-rich peptides that antagonize the growth factor receptors neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 were developed using bacterial display libraries. Peptide ligands specific for the VEGFA binding site on neuropilin-1 were identified by screening a library of disulfide-rich peptides derived from the thermostable, protease-resistant cyclotide kalata B1. First generation ligands were subjected to one cycle of affinity maturation to yield acyclic peptides with affinities of 40-60 nM and slow dissociation rate constants (∼1 × 10(-3) s(-1)). Peptides exhibited equivalent affinities for human and mouse neuropilin-1 and cross-reacted with human neuropilin-2 with lower affinity. A C-to-N cyclized variant (cyclotide) of one neuropilin ligand retained high affinity, exhibited increased protease resistance, and conferred improved potency for inhibiting endothelial cell migration in vitro (EC50 ≈ 100 nM). These results demonstrate that potent, target-specific cyclotides can be created by evolutionary design and that backbone cyclization can confer improved pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Getz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
93106, United States
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute
for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Patrick S. Daugherty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
93106, United States
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24
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Wagstaff SC, Favreau P, Cheneval O, Laing GD, Wilkinson MC, Miller RL, Stöcklin R, Harrison RA. Molecular characterisation of endogenous snake venom metalloproteinase inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 365:650-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Accepted: 11/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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25
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Favreau P, Cheneval O, Menin L, Michalet S, Gaertner H, Principaud F, Thai R, Ménez A, Bulet P, Stöcklin R. The venom of the snake genus Atheris contains a new class of peptides with clusters of histidine and glycine residues. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2007; 21:406-12. [PMID: 17206746 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.2853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
We investigated venoms from members of the genus Atheris (Serpentes, Viperidae), namely the rough scale bush viper (Atheris squamigera), the green bush viper (A. chlorechis) and the great lakes bush viper (A. nitschei), using mass spectrometry-based strategies, relying on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) with de novo peptide sequencing. We discovered a set of novel peptides with masses in the 2-3 kDa range and containing poly-His and poly-Gly segments (pHpG). Complete primary structural elucidation and confirmation of two sequences by Edman degradation indicated the consensus sequence EDDH(9)GVG(10). Bioinformatic investigations in protein sequence databanks did not show relevant homology with known peptides or proteins. However, a more extensive investigation of data in nucleic acid databases revealed some similarities to the precursor sequences of bradykinin potentiating peptides (BPP) and C-type natriuretic peptides (CNP), agents that are known to affect the cardiovascular system by acting on specific metalloproteases and receptors. The novel pHpG peptides found in Atheris venoms might also act on the cardiovascular system by inhibiting particular metalloproteases, which however remain to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Favreau
- Atheris Laboratories, case postale 314, CH-1233 Bernex-Geneva, Switzerland
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26
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Favreau P, Menin L, Michalet S, Perret F, Cheneval O, Stöcklin M, Bulet P, Stöcklin R. Mass spectrometry strategies for venom mapping and peptide sequencing from crude venoms: case applications with single arthropod specimen. Toxicon 2006; 47:676-87. [PMID: 16626777 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Due to their complexity and diversity, animal venoms represent an extensive source of bioactive compounds such as peptides and proteins. Conventional approaches for their characterization often require large quantities of biological material. Current mass spectrometry (MS) techniques now give access to a wealth of information in a short working time frame with minute amounts of sample. Such MS approaches may now be used for the discovery of novel compounds, and once their structure has been determined they may be synthesized and tested for functional activity. Molecular mass fingerprints of venoms allow the rapid identification of known toxins as well as preliminary structural characterization of new compounds. De novo peptide sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) offers rapid access to partial or total primary peptide structures. This article, written as a tutorial, also contains new material: molecular mass fingerprint analysis of Orthochirus innesi scorpion venom, and identification of components from bumblebee Bombus lapidarius venom, both collected from one single specimen. The structure of the three major peptides detected in the Bombus venom was fully characterized in one working day by de novo sequencing using an electrospray ionization hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight instrument (ESI-QqTOF) and a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight instrument (MALDI-LIFT-TOF-TOF). After presenting the MS-based sequence elucidation, perspectives in using MS and MS/MS techniques in toxinology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Favreau
- Atheris Laboratories, Research and Development, Case postale 314, CH-1233 Bernex-Geneva, Switzerland
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