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Gao X, Kaluarachchi H, Zhang Y, Hwang S, Hannoush RN. A phage-displayed disulfide constrained peptide discovery platform yields novel human plasma protein binders. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299804. [PMID: 38547072 PMCID: PMC10977726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Disulfide constrained peptides (DCPs) show great potential as templates for drug discovery. They are characterized by conserved cysteine residues that form intramolecular disulfide bonds. Taking advantage of phage display technology, we designed and generated twenty-six DCP phage libraries with enriched molecular diversity to enable the discovery of ligands against disease-causing proteins of interest. The libraries were designed based on five DCP scaffolds, namely Momordica charantia 1 (Mch1), gurmarin, Asteropsin-A, antimicrobial peptide-1 (AMP-1), and potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (CPI). We also report optimized workflows for screening and producing synthetic and recombinant DCPs. Examples of novel DCP binders identified against various protein targets are presented, including human IgG Fc, serum albumin, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). We identified DCPs against human IgG Fc and serum albumin with sub-micromolar affinity from primary panning campaigns, providing alternative tools for potential half-life extension of peptides and small protein therapeutics. Overall, the molecular diversity of the DCP scaffolds included in the designed libraries, coupled with their distinct biochemical and biophysical properties, enables efficient and robust identification of de novo binders to drug targets of therapeutic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Gao
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Harini Kaluarachchi
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yingnan Zhang
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sunhee Hwang
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rami N. Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Gaonkar RH, Schmidt YT, Mansi R, Almeida-Hernanadez Y, Sanchez-Garcia E, Harms M, Münch J, Fani M. Development of a New Class of CXCR4-Targeting Radioligands Based on the Endogenous Antagonist EPI-X4 for Oncological Applications. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37328158 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The peptide fragment of human serum albumin that was identified as an inhibitor of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), termed EPI-X4, was investigated as a scaffold for the development of CXCR4-targeting radio-theragnostics. Derivatives of its truncated version JM#21 (ILRWSRKLPCVS) were conjugated to 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and tested in Jurkat and Ghost-CXCR4 cells. Ligand-1, -2, -5, -6, -7, -8, and -9 were selected for radiolabeling. Molecular modeling indicated that 177Lu-DOTA incorporation C-terminally did not interfere with the CXCR4 binding. Lipophilicity, in vitro plasma stability, and cellular uptake hinted 177Lu-7 as superior. In Jurkat xenografts, all radioligands showed >90% washout from the body within an hour, with the exception of 177Lu-7 and 177Lu-9. 177Lu-7 demonstrated best CXCR4-tumor targeting. Ex vivo biodistribution and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging of 177Lu-7/68Ga-7 showed the same distribution profile for both radioligands, characterized by very low uptake in all nontargeted organs except the kidneys. The data support the feasibility of CXCR4-targeting with EPI-X4-based radioligands and designate ligand-7 as a lead candidate for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghuvir Haridas Gaonkar
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Department Theragnostics, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland
| | - Yannik Tim Schmidt
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Department Theragnostics, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland
| | - Rosalba Mansi
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Department Theragnostics, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland
| | - Yasser Almeida-Hernanadez
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45117, Germany
- Computational Bioengineering, Faculty of Bio- and Chemical Engineering, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Elsa Sanchez-Garcia
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45117, Germany
- Computational Bioengineering, Faculty of Bio- and Chemical Engineering, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Mirja Harms
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Melpomeni Fani
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Department Theragnostics, University Hospital Basel, Basel 4031, Switzerland
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Kurtzhals P, Østergaard S, Nishimura E, Kjeldsen T. Derivatization with fatty acids in peptide and protein drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:59-80. [PMID: 36002588 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00529-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and proteins are widely used to treat a range of medical conditions; however, they often have to be injected and their effects are short-lived. These shortcomings of the native structure can be addressed by molecular engineering, but this is a complex undertaking. A molecular engineering technology initially applied to insulin - and which has now been successfully applied to several biopharmaceuticals - entails the derivatization of peptides and proteins with fatty acids. Various protraction mechanisms are enabled by the specific characteristics and positions of the attached fatty acid. Furthermore, the technology can ensure a long half-life following oral administration of peptide drugs, can alter the distribution of peptides and may hold potential for tissue targeting. Due to the inherent safety and well-defined chemical nature of the fatty acids, this technology provides a versatile approach to peptide and protein drug discovery.
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