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Han Z, Shen Z, Pei J, You Q, Zhang Q, Wang L. Transformation of peptides to small molecules in medicinal chemistry: Challenges and opportunities. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:4243-4265. [PMID: 39525591 PMCID: PMC11544290 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptides are native binders involved in numerous physiological life procedures, such as cellular signaling, and serve as ready-made regulators of biochemical processes. Meanwhile, small molecules compose many drugs owing to their outstanding advantages of physiochemical properties and synthetic convenience. A novel field of research is converting peptides into small molecules, providing a convenient portable solution for drug design or peptidomic research. Endowing properties of peptides onto small molecules can evolutionarily combine the advantages of both moieties and improve the biological druggability of molecules. Herein, we present eight representative recent cases in this conversion and elaborate on the transformation process of each case. We discuss the innovative technological methods and research approaches involved, and analyze the applicability conditions of the approaches and methods in each case, guiding further modifications of peptides to small molecules. Finally, based on the aforementioned cases, we summarize a general procedure for peptide-to-small molecule modifications, listing the technological methods available for each transformation step and providing our insights on the applicable scenarios for these methods. This review aims to present the progress of peptide-to-small molecule modifications and propose our thoughts and perspectives for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zekai Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jiayue Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qiuyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Mwangi J, Kamau PM, Thuku RC, Lai R. Design methods for antimicrobial peptides with improved performance. Zool Res 2023; 44:1095-1114. [PMID: 37914524 PMCID: PMC10802102 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recalcitrance of pathogens to traditional antibiotics has made treating and eradicating bacterial infections more difficult. In this regard, developing new antimicrobial agents to combat antibiotic-resistant strains has become a top priority. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a ubiquitous class of naturally occurring compounds with broad-spectrum antipathogenic activity, hold significant promise as an effective solution to the current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Several AMPs have been identified and evaluated for their therapeutic application, with many already in the drug development pipeline. Their distinct properties, such as high target specificity, potency, and ability to bypass microbial resistance mechanisms, make AMPs a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Nonetheless, several challenges, such as high toxicity, lability to proteolytic degradation, low stability, poor pharmacokinetics, and high production costs, continue to hamper their clinical applicability. Therefore, recent research has focused on optimizing the properties of AMPs to improve their performance. By understanding the physicochemical properties of AMPs that correspond to their activity, such as amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, structural conformation, amino acid distribution, and composition, researchers can design AMPs with desired and improved performance. In this review, we highlight some of the key strategies used to optimize the performance of AMPs, including rational design and de novo synthesis. We also discuss the growing role of predictive computational tools, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, in the design and synthesis of highly efficacious lead drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mwangi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Peter Muiruri Kamau
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Rebecca Caroline Thuku
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Centre for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511458, China. E-mail:
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Dhanda G, Mukherjee R, Basak D, Haldar J. Small-Molecular Adjuvants with Weak Membrane Perturbation Potentiate Antibiotics against Gram-Negative Superbugs. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1086-1097. [PMID: 35404568 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Combination therapy with membrane-targeting compounds is at the forefront because the bacterial membrane is an attractive target considering its role in various multidrug-resistant elements. However, this strategy is crippled by the toxicity associated with these agents. The structural requirements for optimum membrane perturbation and minimum toxicity have not been explored for membrane-targeting antibiotic potentiators or adjuvants. Here, we report the structural influence of different chemical moieties on membrane perturbation, activity, toxicity, and potentiating ability in norspermidine derivatives. It has been shown in this report that weak membrane perturbation, achieved by the incorporation of cyclic hydrophobic moieties, is an effective strategy to design antibiotic adjuvants with negligible in vitro toxicity and activity but good potentiating ability. Aryl or adamantane functionalized derivatives were found to be better resorts as opposed to the acyclic analogues, exhibiting as high as 4096-fold potentiation of multiple classes of antibiotics toward critical Gram-negative superbugs. The mechanism of potentiation was nonspecific, consisting of weak outer-membrane permeabilization, membrane depolarization, and efflux inhibition. This unique concept of "weakly perturbing the membrane" by incorporating cyclic hydrophobic moieties in a chemical design with free amine groups serves as a breakthrough for nontoxic membrane-perturbing adjuvants and has the potential to revitalize the effect of obsolete antibiotics to treat complicated Gram-negative bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetika Dhanda
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Riya Mukherjee
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Debajyoti Basak
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Jayanta Haldar
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
- School of Advanced Materials, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
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Dai C, Lian C, Fang H, Luo Q, Huang J, Yang M, Yang H, Zhu L, Zhang J, Yin F, Li Z. Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of ERα Modulators via Mitsunobu Macrocyclization. Org Lett 2022; 24:3532-3537. [PMID: 35546524 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The diversity of cyclic peptides was expanded by elaborating Mitsunobu macrocyclization, tethering various hydroxy acid building blocks with different Nε-amine substituents. This new strategy was then applied in synthesizing peptidomimetic estrogen receptor modulator (PERM) analogs on the solid support. The PERM analogs exhibited increased serum peptidase stability, cell penetration, and estrogen receptor α binding affinity. Studying diversity-oriented methods for preparing azacyclopeptides provides a new tool for macrocycle construction and further structural information for optimizing ERα modulators for ER positive breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China.,Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423043, China.,Innovative Drug Research Centre (IDRC), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, P. R. China
| | - Chenshan Lian
- Pingshan translational medicine centre, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huilong Fang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423043, China
| | - Qinhong Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China.,Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423043, China
| | - Junrong Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China
| | - Min Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China
| | - Heng Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China.,Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423043, China
| | - Lizhi Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Shenzhen 518035, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China.,Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423043, China
| | - Jinqiang Zhang
- Innovative Drug Research Centre (IDRC), Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, P. R. China
| | - Feng Yin
- Pingshan translational medicine centre, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zigang Li
- Pingshan translational medicine centre, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518118, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University, Shenzhen 518055, China
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