Synthesis and Characterization of Hairpin Mimics that Modulate the Early Oligomerization and Fibrillization of Amyloid β-Peptide

Proteolytically Stable Diaza-Peptide Foldamers Mimic Helical Hot Spots of Protein-Protein Interactions and Act as Natural Chaperones

A novel class of peptidomimetic foldamers based on diaza-peptide units are reported. Circular dichroism, attenuated total reflection -Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and molecular dynamics studies demonstrate that unlike the natural parent nonapeptide, the specific incorporation of one diaza-peptide unit at the N-terminus allows helical folding in water, which is further reinforced by the introduction of a second unit at the C-terminus. The ability of these foldamers to resist proteolysis, to mimic the small helical hot spot of transthyretin-amyloid β (Aβ) cross-interaction, and to decrease pathological Aβ aggregation demonstrates that the introduction of diaza-peptide units is a valid approach for designing mimics or inhibitors of protein-protein interaction and other therapeutic peptidomimetics. This study also reveals that small peptide foldamers can play the same role as physiological chaperone proteins and opens a new way to design inhibitors of amyloid protein aggregation, a hallmark of more than 20 serious human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Recent developments in capillary and microchip electroseparations of peptides (2019-mid 2021)

The review provides a comprehensive overview of developments and applications of high performance capillary and microchip electroseparation methods (zone electrophoresis, isotachophoresis, isoelectric focusing, affinity electrophoresis, electrokinetic chromatography, and electrochromatography) for analysis, microscale isolation, and physicochemical characterization of peptides from 2019 up to approximately the middle of 2021. Advances in the investigation of electromigration properties of peptides and in the methodology of their analysis, such as sample preparation, sorption suppression, EOF control, and detection, are presented. New developments in the individual CE and CEC methods are demonstrated and several types of their applications are shown. They include qualitative and quantitative analysis, determination in complex biomatrices, monitoring of chemical and enzymatic reactions and physicochemical changes, amino acid, sequence, and chiral analyses, and peptide mapping of proteins. In addition, micropreparative separations and determination of significant physicochemical parameters of peptides by CE and CEC methods are described.

β-Hairpin Peptide Mimics Decrease Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP) Aggregation

Amyloid diseases are degenerative pathologies, highly prevalent today because they are closely related to aging, that have in common the erroneous folding of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which aggregate and lead to cell death. Type 2 Diabetes involves a peptide called human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), which undergoes a conformational change, triggering the aggregation process leading to amyloid aggregates and fibers rich in β-sheets mainly found in the pancreas of all diabetic patients. Inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid proteins has emerged as a relevant therapeutic approach and we have recently developed the design of acyclic flexible hairpins based on peptidic recognition sequences of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ_1–42) as a successful strategy to inhibit its aggregation involved in Alzheimer’s disease. The present work reports the extension of our strategy to hIAPP aggregation inhibitors. The design, synthesis, conformational analyses, and biophysical evaluations of dynamic β-hairpin like structures built on a piperidine-pyrrolidine β-turn inducer are described. By linking to this β-turn inducer three different arms (i) pentapeptide, (ii) tripeptide, and (iii) α/aza/aza/pseudotripeptide, we demonstrate that the careful selection of the peptide-based arms from the sequence of hIAPP allowed to selectively modulate its aggregation, while the peptide character can be decreased. Biophysical assays combining, Thioflavin-T fluorescence, transmission electronic microscopy, capillary electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry showed that the designed compounds inhibit both the oligomerization and the fibrillization of hIAPP. They are also capable to decrease the aggregation process in the presence of membrane models and to strongly delay the membrane-leakage induced by hIAPP. More generally, this work provides the proof of concept that our rational design is a versatile and relevant strategy for developing efficient and selective inhibitors of aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins.

Cyclic Dipeptide: A Privileged Molecular Scaffold to Derive Structural Diversity and Functional Utility

Cyclic dipeptides (CDPs) are the simplest form of cyclic peptides with a wide range of applications from therapeutics to biomaterials. CDP is a versatile molecular platform endowed with unique properties such as conformational rigidity, intermolecular interactions, structural diversification through chemical synthesis, bioavailability and biocompatibility. A variety of natural products with the CDP core exhibit anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. The inherent bioactivities have inspired the development of synthetic analogues as drug candidates and drug delivery systems. CDP plays a crucial role as conformation and molecular assembly directing core in the design of molecular receptors, peptidomimetics and fabrication of functional material architectures. In recent years, CDP has rapidly become a privileged scaffold for the design of advanced drug candidates, drug delivery agents, bioimaging, and biomaterials to mitigate numerous disease conditions. This review describes the structural diversification and multifarious biomedical applications of the CDP scaffold, discusses challenges, and provides future directions for the emerging field.

Peptidotriazolamers Inhibit Aβ(1-42) Oligomerization and Cross a Blood-Brain-Barrier Model

In peptidotriazolamers every second peptide bond is replaced by a 1H-1,2,3-triazole. Such foldamers are expected to bridge the gap in molecular weight between small-molecule drugs and protein-based drugs. Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates play an important role in Alzheimer's disease. We studied the impact of amide bond replacements by 1,4-disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazoles on the inhibitory activity of the aggregation "hot spots" K¹⁶ LVFF²⁰ and G³⁹ VVIA⁴² in Aβ(1-42). We found that peptidotriazolamers act as modulators of the Aβ(1-42) oligomerization. Some peptidotriazolamers are able to interfere with the formation of toxic early Aβ oligomers, depending on the position of the triazoles, which is also supported by computational studies. Preliminary in vitro results demonstrate that a highly active peptidotriazolamer is also able to cross the blood-brain-barrier.

Molecular Architectonics-guided Design of Biomaterials

The quest for mastering the controlled engineering of dynamic molecular assemblies is the basis of molecular architectonics. The rational use of noncovalent interactions to programme the molecular assemblies allow the construction of diverse molecular and material architectures with novel functional properties and applications. Understanding and controlling the assembly of molecular systems are daunting tasks owing to the complex factors that govern at the molecular level. Molecular architectures depend on the design of functional molecular modules through the judicious selection of functional core and auxiliary units to guide the precise molecular assembly and co-assembly patterns. Biomolecules with built-in information for molecular recognition are the ultimate examples of evolutionary guided molecular recognition systems that define the structure and functions of living organisms. Explicit use of biomolecules as auxiliary units to command the molecular assemblies of functional molecules is an intriguing exercise in the scheme of molecular architectonics. In this minireview, we discuss the implementation of the principles of molecular architectonics for the development of novel biomaterials with functional properties and applications ranging from sensing, drug delivery to neurogeneration and tissue engineering. We present the molecular designs pioneered by our group owing to the requirement and scope of the article while acknowledging the designs pursued by several research groups that befit the concept.

Cell-penetrating peptides containing 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP) scaffolds as shuttles for anti-cancer drugs: conformational studies and biological activity

A series of linear and cyclic peptidomimetics composed of a cell-penetrating peptide and a non-natural, bifunctional 2,5-diketopiperazine scaffold is reported. Conformational studies revealed well-defined helical structures in micellar medium for linear structures, while cyclic peptidomimetics were more flexible. Biological investigations showed higher membrane-activity of cyclic derivatives allowing their use as shuttles for anti-cancer drugs.

The use of 4,4,4-trifluorothreonine to stabilize extended peptide structures and mimic β-strands

Pentapeptides having the sequence R-HN-Ala-Val-X-Val-Leu-OMe, where the central residue X is L-serine, L-threonine, (2S,3R)-L-CF₃-threonine and (2S,3S)-L-CF₃-threonine were prepared. The capacity of (2S,3S)- and (2S,3R)-CF₃-threonine analogues to stabilize an extended structure when introduced in the central position of pentapeptides is demonstrated by NMR conformational studies and molecular dynamics simulations. CF₃-threonine containing pentapeptides are more prone to mimic β-strands than their natural Ser and Thr pentapeptide analogues. The proof of concept that these fluorinated β-strand mimics are able to disrupt protein–protein interactions involving β-sheet structures is provided. The CF₃-threonine containing pentapeptides interact with the amyloid peptide Aβ_1-42 in order to reduce the protein–protein interactions mediating its aggregation process.