Structural Basis of the Differential Binding of Engineered Knottins to Integrins αVβ3 and α5β1

Targeting both integrins αVβ3 and α5β1 simultaneously appears to be more effective in cancer therapy than targeting each one alone. The structural requirements for bispecific binding of ligand to integrins have not been fully elucidated. RGD-containing knottin 2.5F binds selectively to αVβ3 and α5β1, whereas knottin 2.5D is αVβ3 specific. To elucidate the structural basis of this selectivity, we determined the structures of 2.5F and 2.5D as apo proteins and in complex with αVβ3, and compared their interactions with integrins using molecular dynamics simulations. These studies show that 2.5D engages αVβ3 by an induced fit, but conformational selection of a flexible RGD loop accounts for high-affinity selective binding of 2.5F to both integrins. The contrasting binding of the highly flexible low-affinity linear RGD peptides to multiple integrins suggests that a "Goldilocks zone" of conformational flexibility of the RGD loop in 2.5F underlies its selective binding promiscuity to integrins.

Heterochiral Knottin Protein: Folding and Solution Structure

Homochirality is a general feature of biological macromolecules, and Nature includes few examples of heterochiral proteins. Herein, we report on the design, chemical synthesis, and structural characterization of heterochiral proteins possessing loops of amino acids of chirality opposite to that of the rest of a protein scaffold. Using the protein Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II, we discover that selective β-alanine substitution favors the efficient folding of our heterochiral constructs. Solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of one such heterochiral protein reveals a homogeneous global fold. Additionally, steered molecular dynamics simulation indicate β-alanine reduces the free energy required to fold the protein. We also find these heterochiral proteins to be more resistant to proteolysis than homochiral l-proteins. This work informs the design of heterochiral protein architectures containing stretches of both d- and l-amino acids.

A chemically cross-linked knottin dimer binds integrins with picomolar affinity and inhibits tumor cell migration and proliferation

Molecules that target and inhibit α_vβ₃, α_vβ₅, and α₅β₁ integrins have generated great interest because of the role of these receptors in mediating angiogenesis and metastasis. Attempts to increase the binding affinity and hence the efficacy of integrin inhibitors by dimerization have been marginally effective. In the present work, we achieved this goal by using oxime-based chemical conjugation to synthesize dimers of integrin-binding cystine knot (knottin) miniproteins with low-picomolar binding affinity to tumor cells. A non-natural amino acid containing an aminooxy side chain was introduced at different locations within a knottin monomer and reacted with dialdehyde-containing cross-linkers of different lengths to create knottin dimers with varying molecular topologies. Dimers cross-linked through an aminooxy functional group located near the middle of the protein exhibited higher apparent binding affinity to integrin-expressing tumor cells compared with dimers cross-linked through an aminooxy group near the C-terminus. In contrast, the cross-linker length had no effect on the integrin binding affinity. A chemical-based dimerization strategy was critical, as knottin dimers created through genetic fusion to a bivalent antibody domain exhibited only modest improvement (less than 5-fold) in tumor cell binding relative to the knottin monomer. The best oxime-conjugated knottin dimer achieved an unprecedented 150-fold increase in apparent binding affinity over the knottin monomer. Also, this dimer bound 3650-fold stronger and inhibited tumor cell migration and proliferation compared with cilengitide, an integrin-targeting peptidomimetic that performed poorly in recent clinical trials, suggesting promise for further therapeutic development.

Challenging the state of the art in protein structure prediction: Highlights of experimental target structures for the 10th Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction Experiment CASP10

For the last two decades, CASP has assessed the state of the art in techniques for protein structure prediction and identified areas which required further development. CASP would not have been possible without the prediction targets provided by the experimental structural biology community. In the latest experiment, CASP10, more than 100 structures were suggested as prediction targets, some of which appeared to be extraordinarily difficult for modeling. In this article, authors of some of the most challenging targets discuss which specific scientific question motivated the experimental structure determination of the target protein, which structural features were especially interesting from a structural or functional perspective, and to what extent these features were correctly reproduced in the predictions submitted to CASP10. Specifically, the following targets will be presented: the acid-gated urea channel, a difficult to predict transmembrane protein from the important human pathogen Helicobacter pylori; the structure of human interleukin (IL)-34, a recently discovered helical cytokine; the structure of a functionally uncharacterized enzyme OrfY from Thermoproteus tenax formed by a gene duplication and a novel fold; an ORFan domain of mimivirus sulfhydryl oxidase R596; the fiber protein gene product 17 from bacteriophage T7; the bacteriophage CBA-120 tailspike protein; a virus coat protein from metagenomic samples of the marine environment; and finally, an unprecedented class of structure prediction targets based on engineered disulfide-rich small proteins.

Engineered cystine knot peptides that bind alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5, and alpha5beta1 integrins with low-nanomolar affinity

There is a critical need for compounds that target cell surface integrin receptors for applications in cancer therapy and diagnosis. We used directed evolution to engineer the Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor (EETI-II), a knottin peptide from the squash family of protease inhibitors, as a new class of integrin-binding agents. We generated yeast-displayed libraries of EETI-II by substituting its 6-amino acid trypsin binding loop with 11-amino acid loops containing the Arg-Gly-Asp integrin binding motif and randomized flanking residues. These libraries were screened in a high-throughput manner by fluorescence-activated cell sorting to identify mutants that bound to alpha(v)beta(3) integrin. Select peptides were synthesized and were shown to compete for natural ligand binding to integrin receptors expressed on the surface of U87MG glioblastoma cells with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 10-30 nM. Receptor specificity assays demonstrated that engineered knottin peptides bind to both alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) integrins with high affinity. Interestingly, we also discovered a peptide that binds with high affinity to alpha(v)beta(3), alpha(v)beta(5), and alpha(5)beta(1) integrins. This finding has important clinical implications because all three of these receptors can be coexpressed on tumors. In addition, we showed that engineered knottin peptides inhibit tumor cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin, and in some cases fibronectin, depending on their integrin binding specificity. Collectively, these data validate EETI-II as a scaffold for protein engineering, and highlight the development of unique integrin-binding peptides with potential for translational applications in cancer.

Controlling the selection stringency of phage display using a microfluidic device

We report the utilization of microfluidic technology to phage selection and demonstrate that accurate control of washing stringency in our microfluidic magnetic separator (MMS) directly impacts the diversity of isolated peptide sequences. Reproducible generation of magnetic and fluidic forces allows controlled washing conditions that enable rapid convergence of selected peptide sequences. These findings may provide a foundation for the development of automated microsystems for rapid in vitro directed evolution of affinity reagents.

Cancer screening: a mathematical model relating secreted blood biomarker levels to tumor sizes

BACKGROUND

Increasing efforts and financial resources are being invested in early cancer detection research. Blood assays detecting tumor biomarkers promise noninvasive and financially reasonable screening for early cancer with high potential of positive impact on patients' survival and quality of life. For novel tumor biomarkers, the actual tumor detection limits are usually unknown and there have been no studies exploring the tumor burden detection limits of blood tumor biomarkers using mathematical models. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a mathematical model relating blood biomarker levels to tumor burden.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using a linear one-compartment model, the steady state between tumor biomarker secretion into and removal out of the intravascular space was calculated. Two conditions were assumed: (1) the compartment (plasma) is well-mixed and kinetically homogenous; (2) the tumor biomarker consists of a protein that is secreted by tumor cells into the extracellular fluid compartment, and a certain percentage of the secreted protein enters the intravascular space at a continuous rate. The model was applied to two pathophysiologic conditions: tumor biomarker is secreted (1) exclusively by the tumor cells or (2) by both tumor cells and healthy normal cells. To test the model, a sensitivity analysis was performed assuming variable conditions of the model parameters. The model parameters were primed on the basis of literature data for two established and well-studied tumor biomarkers (CA125 and prostate-specific antigen [PSA]). Assuming biomarker secretion by tumor cells only and 10% of the secreted tumor biomarker reaching the plasma, the calculated minimally detectable tumor sizes ranged between 0.11 mm(3) and 3,610.14 mm(3) for CA125 and between 0.21 mm(3) and 131.51 mm(3) for PSA. When biomarker secretion by healthy cells and tumor cells was assumed, the calculated tumor sizes leading to positive test results ranged between 116.7 mm(3) and 1.52 x 10(6) mm(3) for CA125 and between 27 mm(3) and 3.45 x 10(5) mm(3) for PSA. One of the limitations of the study is the absence of quantitative data available in the literature on the secreted tumor biomarker amount per cancer cell in intact whole body animal tumor models or in cancer patients. Additionally, the fraction of secreted tumor biomarkers actually reaching the plasma is unknown. Therefore, we used data from published cell culture experiments to estimate tumor cell biomarker secretion rates and assumed a wide range of secretion rates to account for their potential changes due to field effects of the tumor environment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study introduced a linear one-compartment mathematical model that allows estimation of minimal detectable tumor sizes based on blood tumor biomarker assays. Assuming physiological data on CA125 and PSA from the literature, the model predicted detection limits of tumors that were in qualitative agreement with the actual clinical performance of both biomarkers. The model may be helpful in future estimation of minimal detectable tumor sizes for novel proteomic biomarker assays if sufficient physiologic data for the biomarker are available. The model may address the potential and limitations of tumor biomarkers, help prioritize biomarkers, and guide investments into early cancer detection research efforts.

Using alpha-helical coiled-coils to design nanostructured metalloporphyrin arrays

We have developed a computational design strategy based on the alpha-helical coiled-coil to generate modular peptide motifs capable of assembling into metalloporphyrin arrays of varying lengths. The current study highlights the extension of a two-metalloporphyrin array to a four-metalloporphyrin array through the incorporation of a coiled-coil repeat unit. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the initial design evolves rapidly to a stable structure with a small rmsd compared to the original model. Biophysical characterization reveals elongated proteins of the desired length, correct cofactor stoichiometry, and cofactor specificity. The successful extension of the two-porphyrin array demonstrates how this methodology serves as a foundation to create linear assemblies of organized electrically and optically responsive cofactors.

Computational de novo design and characterization of a four-helix bundle protein that selectively binds a nonbiological cofactor

We report the complete de novo design of a four-helix bundle protein that selectively binds the nonbiological DPP-Fe(III) metalloporphyrin cofactor (DPP-Fe(III) = 5, 15-Di[(4-carboxymethyleneoxy)phenyl]porphinato iron(III)). A tetrameric, D2-symmetric backbone scaffold was constructed to encapsulate two DPP-Fe(III) units through bis(His) coordination. The complete sequence was determined with the aid of the statistical computational design algorithm SCADS. The 34-residue peptide was chemically synthesized. UV-vis and CD spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and analytical ultracentrifugation indicated the peptide undergoes a transition from a predominantly random coil monomer to an alpha-helical tetramer upon binding DPP-Fe(III). EPR spectroscopy studies indicated the axial imidazole ligands were oriented in a perpendicular fashion, as defined by second-shell interactions that were included in the design. The 1-D 1H NMR spectrum of the assembled protein displayed features of a well-packed interior. The assembled protein possessed functional redox properties different from those of structurally similar systems containing the heme cofactor. The designed peptide demonstrated remarkable cofactor selectivity with a significantly weaker binding affinity for the natural heme cofactor. These findings open a path for the selective incorporation of more elaborate cofactors into designed scaffolds for constructing molecularly well-defined nanoscale materials.