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Illien F, Bánóczi Z, Sagan S. A Quantitative Method to Distinguish Cytosolic from Endosome-Trapped Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Chembiochem 2024:e202400198. [PMID: 38589287 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides are known to penetrate cells through endocytosis and translocation. The two pathways are hardly distinguished in current cell assays. We developed a reliable, simple and robust method to distinguish and quantify independently the two routes. The assay requires (DABCYL) 4-(dimethylaminoazo)benzene-4-carboxylic acid- and (CF) carboxyfluorescein-labeled peptides. When the labeled peptide is intact, the fluorescence signal is weak thanks to the dark quenching property of DABCYL. A 10-fold higher fluorescence signal is measured when the labeled peptide is degraded. By referring to a standard fluorescent curve according to the concentration of the hydrolyzed peptide, we have access to the internalized peptide quantity. Therefore, cell lysis after internalization permits to determine the total quantity of intracellular peptide. The molecular state of the internalized peptide (intact or degraded), depends on its location in cells (cytosol vs endo-lysosomes), and can be blocked by boiling cells. This boiling step results indeed in denaturation and inhibition of the cellular enzymes. The advantage of this method is the possibility to quantify translocation at 37 °C and to compare it to the 4 °C condition, where all endocytosis processes are inhibited. We found that ranking of the translocation efficacy is DABCYL-R6-(ϵCF)K≫DABCYL-R4-(ϵCF)K≥CF-R9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Françoise Illien
- Sorbonne Université, École normale supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Pázmány Péter sétány. 1/A, Budapest H-1117, Hungary, HUN-REN-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sandrine Sagan
- Sorbonne Université, École normale supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005, Paris, France
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2
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Bató C, Szabó I, Bánóczi Z. Enhancing Cell Penetration Efficiency of Cyclic Oligoarginines Using Rigid Scaffolds. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1736. [PMID: 37376184 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Delivering therapeutic agents into cells has always been a major challenge. In recent years, cyclization emerged as a tool for designing CPPs to increase their internalization and stability. Cyclic ring(s) can protect the peptide from enzymatic degradation, so cyclic peptides remain intact. Therefore they can be good carrier molecules. In this work, the preparation and investigation of efficient cyclic CPPs are described. Different oligoarginines were designed to conjugate with rigid aromatic scaffolds or form disulfide bonds. The reaction between the scaffolds and the peptides forms stable thioether bonds, constraining the peptide into a cyclic structure. The constructs presented very efficient internalization on cancerous cell lines. Our peptides use more than one endocytic pathway for cellular uptake. In this way, short peptides, which can compete with the penetration of well-known CPPs such as octaarginine (Arg8), may be synthesized through cyclization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Bató
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szabó
- ELKH-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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3
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Soltész D, Szabó I, Bánóczi Z. The Balance between Hydrophobicity/Aromaticity and Positively Charged Residues May Influence the Cell Penetration Ability. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041267. [PMID: 37111751 PMCID: PMC10146604 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are commonly modified to increase their cellular uptake, alter the mechanism of penetration or enhance their endosomal release. Earlier, we described the internalization enhancement ability of the 4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoyl (Dabcyl) group. We proved that this modification on the N-terminus of tetra- and hexaarginine enhanced their cellular uptake. The introduction of an aromatic ring 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid, AMBA) into the peptide backbone has a synergistic effect with Dabcyl, and the tetraarginine derivatives had outstanding cellular uptake. Based on these results, the effect of Dabcyl or Dabcyl-AMBA modification on the internalization of oligoarginines was studied. Oligoarginines were modified with these groups and their internalization was measured using flow cytometry. The concentration dependence of the cellular uptake of selected constructs was compared too. Their internalization mechanism was also examined by using different endocytosis inhibitors. While the effect of the Dabcyl group was optimal for hexaarginine, the Dabcyl-AMBA group increased the cellular uptake in the case of all oligoarginines. All derivatives, with the exception of only tetraarginine, were more effective than the octaarginine control. The internalization mechanism was dependent on the size of the oligoarginine and was independent of the modification. Our findings suggest that these modifications enhanced the internalization of oligoarginines and resulted in novel, very effective CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Soltész
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szabó
- ELKH-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Yousef M, Szabó I, Murányi J, Illien F, Soltész D, Bató C, Tóth G, Batta G, Nagy P, Sagan S, Bánóczi Z. Cell-Penetrating Dabcyl-Containing Tetraarginines with Backbone Aromatics as Uptake Enhancers. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010141. [PMID: 36678772 PMCID: PMC9864790 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides represent an emerging class of carriers capable of effective cellular delivery. This work demonstrates the preparation and investigation of efficient CPPs. We have already shown that the presence of 4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoic acid (Dabcyl) and Trp greatly increase the uptake of oligoarginines. This work is a further step in that direction. We have explored the possibility of employing unnatural, aromatic amino acids, to mimic Trp properties and effects. The added residues allow the introduction of aromaticity, not as a side-chain group, but rather as a part of the sequence. The constructs presented exceptional internalization on various cell lines, with an evident structure-activity relationship. The CPPs were investigated for their entry mechanisms, and our peptides exploit favorable pathways, yet one of the peptides relies highly on direct penetration. Confocal microscopy studies have shown selectivity towards the cell lines, by showing diffuse uptake in FADU cells, while vesicular uptake takes place in SCC-25 cell line. These highly active CPPs have proved their applicability in cargo delivery by successfully delivering antitumor drugs into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The modifications in the sequences allow the preparation of short yet highly effective constructs able to rival the penetration of well-known CPPs such as octaarginine (Arg8).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo’ath Yousef
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szabó
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Murányi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, 1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Françoise Illien
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Dóra Soltész
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Bató
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Tóth
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gyula Batta
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter Nagy
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sandrine Sagan
- Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Saha A, Mandal S, Arafiles JVV, Gómez‐González J, Hackenberger CPR, Brik A. Structure-Uptake Relationship Study of DABCYL Derivatives Linked to Cyclic Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Live-Cell Delivery of Synthetic Proteins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202207551. [PMID: 36004945 PMCID: PMC9828537 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202207551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Modifying cyclic cell-penetrating deca-arginine (cR10) peptides with 4-(4-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid (DABCYL) improves the uptake efficiency of synthetic ubiquitin (Ub) cargoes into living cells. To probe the role of the DABCYL moiety, we performed time-lapse microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of fluorescent DABCYL-R10 to evaluate the impact on cell entry by the formation of nucleation zones. Furthermore, we performed a structure-uptake relationship study with 13 DABCYL derivatives coupled to CPP to examine their effect on the cell-uptake efficiency when conjugated to mono-Ub through disulfide linkages. Our results show that through structure variations of the DABCYL moiety alone we could reach, at nanomolar concentration, an additional threefold increase in the cytosolic delivery of Ub, which will enable studies on various intracellular processes related to Ub signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Saha
- Schulich Faculty of ChemistryTechnion-Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3200008Israel
| | - Shaswati Mandal
- Schulich Faculty of ChemistryTechnion-Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3200008Israel
| | - Jan Vincent V. Arafiles
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10Berlin13125Germany
| | - Jacobo Gómez‐González
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10Berlin13125Germany
| | - Christian P. R. Hackenberger
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10Berlin13125Germany
- Department of ChemistryHumboldt Universität zu BerlinBrook-Taylor-Str.2Berlin12489Germany
| | - Ashraf Brik
- Schulich Faculty of ChemistryTechnion-Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifa3200008Israel
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Hao M, Zhang L, Chen P. Membrane Internalization Mechanisms and Design Strategies of Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169038. [PMID: 36012300 PMCID: PMC9409441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been discovered to deliver chemical drugs, nucleic acids, and macromolecules to permeate cell membranes, creating a novel route for exogenous substances to enter cells. Up until now, various sequence structures and fundamental action mechanisms of CPPs have been established. Among them, arginine-rich peptides with unique cell penetration properties have attracted substantial scientific attention. Due to the positively charged essential amino acids of the arginine-rich peptides, they can interact with negatively charged drug molecules and cell membranes through non-covalent interaction, including electrostatic interactions. Significantly, the sequence design and the penetrating mechanisms are critical. In this brief synopsis, we summarize the transmembrane processes and mechanisms of arginine-rich peptides; and outline the relationship between the function of arginine-rich peptides and the number of arginine residues, arginine optical isomers, primary sequence, secondary and ternary structures, etc. Taking advantage of the penetration ability, biomedical applications of arginine-rich peptides have been refreshed, including drug/RNA delivery systems, biosensors, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Understanding the membrane internalization mechanisms and design strategies of CPPs will expand their potential applications in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglu Hao
- Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (P.C.)
| | - Pu Chen
- Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (P.C.)
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7
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Szabó I, Yousef M, Soltész D, Bató C, Mező G, Bánóczi Z. Redesigning of Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Improve Their Efficacy as a Drug Delivery System. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14050907. [PMID: 35631493 PMCID: PMC9146218 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are promising tools for the transport of a broad range of compounds into cells. Since the discovery of the first members of this peptide family, many other peptides have been identified; nowadays, dozens of these peptides are known. These peptides sometimes have very different chemical–physical properties, but they have similar drawbacks; e.g., non-specific internalization, fast elimination from the body, intracellular/vesicular entrapment. Although our knowledge regarding the mechanism and structure–activity relationship of internalization is growing, the prediction and design of the cell-penetrating properties are challenging. In this review, we focus on the different modifications of well-known CPPs to avoid their drawbacks, as well as how these modifications may increase their internalization and/or change the mechanism of penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Szabó
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary;
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (Z.B.)
| | - Mo’ath Yousef
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Dóra Soltész
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Csaba Bató
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Gábor Mező
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary;
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (Z.B.)
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8
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Yousef M, Szabó I, Biri‐Kovács B, Szeder B, Illien F, Sagan S, Bánóczi Z. Modification of Short Non‐Permeable Peptides to Increase Cellular Uptake and Cytostatic Activity of Their Conjugates. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202103150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mo'ath Yousef
- Department of Organic Chemistry Eötvös L. University Budapest Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szabó
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Budapest Hungary
| | - Beáta Biri‐Kovács
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Budapest Hungary
| | - Bálint Szeder
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences Institute of Enzymology Budapest Hungary
| | - Françoise Illien
- Sorbonne Université École normale supérieure PSL University CNRS Laboratoire des biomolécules, LBM 75005 Paris France
| | - Sandrine Sagan
- Sorbonne Université École normale supérieure PSL University CNRS Laboratoire des biomolécules, LBM 75005 Paris France
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry Eötvös L. University Budapest Hungary
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