1
|
Palmioli A, Nicolini G, Tripodi F, Orsato A, Ceresa C, Donzelli E, Arici M, Coccetti P, Rocchetti M, La Ferla B, Airoldi C. Targeting GRP receptor: Design, synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of new non-peptide antagonists of bombesin. Bioorg Chem 2021; 109:104739. [PMID: 33626451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104739] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
We report the rational design, synthesis, and in vitro preliminary evaluation of a new small library of non-peptide ligands of Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRP-R), able to antagonize its natural ligand bombesin (BN) in the nanomolar range of concentration. GRP-R is a transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor promoting the stimulation of cancer cell proliferation. Being overexpressed on the surface of different human cancer cell lines, GRP-R is ideal for the selective delivery to tumor cells of both anticancer drug and diagnostic devices. What makes very challenging the design of non-peptide BN analogues is that the 3D structure of the GRP-R is not available, which is the case for many membrane-bound receptors. Thus, the design of GRP-R ligands has to be based on the structure of its natural ligands, BN and GRP. We recently mapped the BN binding epitope by NMR and here we exploited the same spectroscopy, combined with MD, to define BN conformation in proximity of biological membranes, where the interaction with GRP-R takes place. The gained structural information was used to identify a rigid C-galactosidic scaffold able to support pharmacophore groups mimicking the BN key residues' side chains in a suitable manner for binding to GRP-R. Our BN antagonists represent hit compounds for the rational design and synthesis of new ligands and modulators of GRP-R. The further optimization of the pharmacophore groups will allow to increase the biological activity. Due to their favorable chemical properties and stability, they could be employed for the active receptor-mediated targeting of GRP-R positive tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Palmioli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Gabriella Nicolini
- Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, Experimental Neurology Unit, University of Milano - Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Farida Tripodi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Alexandre Orsato
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy; Departamento de Química, CCE, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, CEP 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Cecilia Ceresa
- Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, Experimental Neurology Unit, University of Milano - Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Donzelli
- Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, Experimental Neurology Unit, University of Milano - Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Martina Arici
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Coccetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Rocchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara La Ferla
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy.
| | - Cristina Airoldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy; Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|