1
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Chaudhuri D, Lu T, Jacob B, Abraham S, Shankar P, Poss MA, Neamati N, Camarero JA. Lipidation of a bioactive cyclotide-based CXCR4 antagonist greatly improves its pharmacokinetic profile in vivo. J Control Release 2023; 359:26-32. [PMID: 37236320 PMCID: PMC10527528 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The CXCR4 chemokine is a key molecular regulator of many biological functions controlling leukocyte functions during inflammation and immunity, and during embryonic development. Overexpression of CXCR4 is also associated with many types of cancer where its activation promotes angiogenesis, tumor growth/survival, and metastasis. In addition, CXCR4 is involved in HIV replication, working as a co-receptor for viral entry, making CXCR4 a very attractive target for developing novel therapeutic agents. Here we report the pharmacokinetic profile in rats of a potent CXCR4 antagonist cyclotide, MCo-CVX-5c, previously developed in our group that displayed a remarkable in vivo resistance to biological degradation in serum. This bioactive cyclotide, however, was rapidly eliminated through renal clearance. Several lipidated versions of cyclotide MCo-CVX-5c showed a significant increase in the half-life when compared to the unlipidated form. The palmitoylated version of cyclotide MCo-CVX-5c displayed similar CXCR4 antagonistic activity as the unlipidated cyclotide, while the cyclotide modified with octadecanedioic (18-oxo-octadecanoic) acid exhibited a remarkable decrease in its ability to antagonize CXCR4. Similar results were also obtained when tested for its ability to inhibit growth in two cancer cell lines and HIV infection in cells. These results show that the half-life of cyclotides can be improved by lipidation although it can also affect their biological activity depending on the lipid employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankar Chaudhuri
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Tiangong Lu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800, USA
| | - Binu Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sojan Abraham
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79430, USA
| | - Premlata Shankar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79430, USA
| | - Michael A Poss
- Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800, USA
| | - Julio A Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA9033, USA.
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2
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Gattringer J, Gruber CW, Hellinger R. Peptide modulators of cell migration: Overview, applications and future development. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103554. [PMID: 36921670 PMCID: PMC7615922 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration is a key physiological process in the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms; errors in this complex system can trigger the development of cancer or inflammatory disorders. Therefore, modulating cell migration provides opportunities for drug discovery. Peptides are gaining importance on the global therapeutics market, given their unique properties compared with established small-molecule drugs or biologics. In this review, we identified over 470 peptides modulating cell migration and analyzed their characteristics. Over 95% of these peptides are in the discovery or preclinical stage, because the transition of peptide hits into drug leads often results in a bottleneck in the development process. We summarize chemical strategies in (pre-)clinical development to enhance drug-like properties of bioactive peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Gattringer
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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3
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Tyler TJ, Durek T, Craik DJ. Native and Engineered Cyclic Disulfide-Rich Peptides as Drug Leads. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073189. [PMID: 37049950 PMCID: PMC10096437 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive peptides are a highly abundant and diverse group of molecules that exhibit a wide range of structural and functional variation. Despite their immense therapeutic potential, bioactive peptides have been traditionally perceived as poor drug candidates, largely due to intrinsic shortcomings that reflect their endogenous heritage, i.e., short biological half-lives and poor cell permeability. In this review, we examine the utility of molecular engineering to insert bioactive sequences into constrained scaffolds with desired pharmaceutical properties. Applying lessons learnt from nature, we focus on molecular grafting of cyclic disulfide-rich scaffolds (naturally derived or engineered), shown to be intrinsically stable and amenable to sequence modifications, and their utility as privileged frameworks in drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan J. Tyler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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4
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Jacob B, Vogelaar A, Cadenas E, Camarero JA. Using the Cyclotide Scaffold for Targeting Biomolecular Interactions in Drug Development. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27196430. [PMID: 36234971 PMCID: PMC9570680 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the properties of cyclotides and their potential for developing novel peptide-based therapeutics. The selective disruption of protein–protein interactions remains challenging, as the interacting surfaces are relatively large and flat. However, highly constrained polypeptide-based molecular frameworks with cell-permeability properties, such as the cyclotide scaffold, have shown great promise for targeting those biomolecular interactions. The use of molecular techniques, such as epitope grafting and molecular evolution employing the cyclotide scaffold, has shown to be highly effective for selecting bioactive cyclotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binu Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA
| | - Alicia Vogelaar
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA
| | - Enrique Cadenas
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA
- Correspondence:
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5
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Liu W, de Veer SJ, Huang YH, Sengoku T, Okada C, Ogata K, Zdenek CN, Fry BG, Swedberg JE, Passioura T, Craik DJ, Suga H. An Ultrapotent and Selective Cyclic Peptide Inhibitor of Human β-Factor XIIa in a Cyclotide Scaffold. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:18481-18489. [PMID: 34723512 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides with complex structures shaped by their head-to-tail cyclic backbone and cystine knot core. These structural features underpin the native bioactivities of cyclotides, as well as their beneficial properties as pharmaceutical leads, including high proteolytic stability and cell permeability. However, their inherent structural complexity presents a challenge for cyclotide engineering, particularly for accessing libraries of sufficient chemical diversity to design potent and selective cyclotide variants. Here, we report a strategy using mRNA display enabling us to select potent cyclotide-based FXIIa inhibitors from a library comprising more than 1012 members based on the cyclotide scaffold of Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II (MCoTI-II). The most potent and selective inhibitor, cMCoFx1, has a pM inhibitory constant toward FXIIa with greater than three orders of magnitude selectivity over related serine proteases, realizing specific inhibition of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. The cocrystal structure of cMCoFx1 and FXIIa revealed interactions at several positions across the contact interface that conveyed high affinity binding, highlighting that such cyclotides are attractive cystine knot scaffolds for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Simon J de Veer
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Toru Sengoku
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan
| | - Chikako Okada
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ogata
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joakim E Swedberg
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Toby Passioura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, School of Chemistry and Sydney Analytical, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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6
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Jobe A, Vijayan R. Characterization of peptide binding to the SARS-CoV-2 host factor neuropilin. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08251. [PMID: 34722943 PMCID: PMC8540010 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08251] [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: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health concern. It is now well established that the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 interacts with its primary host receptor, the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Additionally, the interaction of S with the neuropilin (NRP) receptor has been reported to facilitate viral entry. SARS-CoV-2 S protein binds to neuropilin-1 (NRP1) by virtue of a CendR motif which terminates with either an arginine or lysine. Furthermore, a number of different peptide sequences have been reported to bind to the same site in NRP1 including vascular endothelial growth factor A and other viral proteins. To gain a deeper understanding of additional factors besides the C-terminal arginine that may favour high NRP1 binding, several modelled peptides were investigated using triplicate 1 μs molecular dynamics simulations. A C-end histidine failed to exhibit strong NRP1 affinity. Some previously reported factors that increase binding affinity and secure NRP1 receptor activation was observed in the NRP1-peptide complexes studied and such complexes had higher molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area based free energy of binding. Additionally, the results also highlight the relevance of an exposed arginine at its canonical location as capping it blocked arginine from engaging key residues at the NRP1 receptor site that are indispensable for functional binding; and that the presence of proline reinforces the C-terminal arginine. Given that stable NRP1 binding is crucial for viral uptake, stable interactions should be accounted for in the design of potential drugs and treatment routes to target or disrupt this interface, considering the S1-NRP1 interaction as well as its endogenous VEGF-A ligand that is associated with nociception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amie Jobe
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ranjit Vijayan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,The Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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7
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Wang M, Fage CD, He Y, Mi J, Yang Y, Li F, An X, Fan H, Song L, Zhu S, Tong Y. Recent Advances and Perspectives on Expanding the Chemical Diversity of Lasso Peptides. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:741364. [PMID: 34631682 PMCID: PMC8498205 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.741364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a growing family of natural products that exhibit a range of structures and bioactivities. Initially assembled from the twenty proteinogenic amino acids in a ribosome-dependent manner, RiPPs assume their peculiar bioactive structures through various post-translational modifications. The essential modifications representative of each subfamily of RiPP are performed on a precursor peptide by the so-called processing enzymes; however, various tailoring enzymes can also embellish the precursor peptide or processed peptide with additional functional groups. Lasso peptides are an interesting subfamily of RiPPs characterized by their unique lariat knot-like structure, wherein the C-terminal tail is inserted through a macrolactam ring fused by an isopeptide bond between the N-terminal amino group and an acidic side chain. Until recently, relatively few lasso peptides were found to be tailored with extra functional groups. Nevertheless, the development of new routes to diversify lasso peptides and thus introduce novel or enhanced biological, medicinally relevant, or catalytic properties is appealing. In this review, we highlight several strategies through which lasso peptides have been successfully modified and provide a brief overview of the latest findings on the tailoring of these peptides. We also propose future directions for lasso peptide tailoring as well as potential applications for these peptides in hybrid catalyst design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Christopher D Fage
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Yile He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jinhui Mi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.,Clinical Laboratory Center, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, China
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozhou Zhu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
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8
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Ganesan R, Dughbaj MA, Ramirez L, Beringer S, Aboye TL, Shekhtman A, Beringer PM, Camarero JA. Engineered Cyclotides with Potent Broad in Vitro and in Vivo Antimicrobial Activity. Chemistry 2021; 27:12702-12708. [PMID: 34159664 PMCID: PMC8410672 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202101438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The search for novel antimicrobial agents to combat microbial pathogens is intensifying in response to the rapid development of drug resistance to current antibiotic therapeutics. Respiratory failure and septicemia are the leading causes of mortality among hospitalized patients. Here, the development of a novel engineered cyclotide with effective broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against several ESKAPE bacterial strains and clinical isolates is reported. The most active antibacterial cyclotide was extremely stable in serum, showed little hemolytic activity, and provided protection in vivo in a murine model of P. aeruginosa peritonitis. These results highlight the potential of the cyclotide scaffold for the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutic leads for the treatment of bacteremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajasekaran Ganesan
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Mansour A. Dughbaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Lisa Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Steven Beringer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Teshome L. Aboye
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Alexander Shekhtman
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Paul M. Beringer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90033, USA
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9
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Craik DJ, Kan MW. How can we improve peptide drug discovery? Learning from the past. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2021; 16:1399-1402. [PMID: 34344242 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1961740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J Craik
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Meng-Wei Kan
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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10
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Liu D, Rubin GM, Dhakal D, Chen M, Ding Y. Biocatalytic synthesis of peptidic natural products and related analogues. iScience 2021; 24:102512. [PMID: 34041453 PMCID: PMC8141463 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidic natural products (PNPs) represent a rich source of lead compounds for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the chemical synthesis of PNPs with diverse modifications for drug research is often faced with significant challenges, including the unavailability of constituent nonproteinogenic amino acids, inefficient cyclization protocols, and poor compatibility with other functional groups. Advances in the understanding of PNP biosynthesis and biocatalysis provide a promising, sustainable alternative for the synthesis of these compounds and their analogues. Here we discuss current progress in using native and engineered biosynthetic enzymes for the production of both ribosomally and nonribosomally synthesized peptides. In addition, we highlight new in vitro and in vivo approaches for the generation and screening of PNP libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Garret M. Rubin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Dipesh Dhakal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Manyun Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yousong Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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11
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Chan LY, Du J, Craik DJ. Tuning the Anti-Angiogenic Effect of the P15 Peptide Using Cyclic Trypsin Inhibitor Scaffolds. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:829-837. [PMID: 33881318 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is important for tumor growth, and accordingly, targeting angiogenesis has become an important pathway for antitumor therapy. A novel proapoptotic peptide, CIGB-300 (P15-Tat), has been shown to be involved in the casein kinase II phosphorylation pathway, conferring it with antiangiogenic activity. Cyclic peptides have been widely used as scaffolds in drug design studies due to their high stability and favorable biopharmaceutical properties. Here, we chose two very stable cyclic trypsin inhibitors, MCoTI-II and SFTI-1, as frameworks to incorporate the bioactive epitope P15 into various backbone loops. NMR studies revealed that all re-engineered analogs had similar secondary structures to their native cyclic frameworks. One key analog, MCoP15, displayed significant improvement for inhibiting human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration, was nontoxic, and had higher stability than the P15 epitope alone. Overall, the results show the value of P15 being engineered into cyclic trypsin inhibitor scaffolds for improving antiangiogenic activity and stability. More broadly, the study highlights the versatility of cyclic peptide frameworks in drug design for antiangiogenic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Junqiao Du
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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12
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Perez-Miller S, Patek M, Moutal A, de Haro PD, Cabel CR, Thorne CA, Campos SK, Khanna R. Novel Compounds Targeting Neuropilin Receptor 1 with Potential To Interfere with SARS-CoV-2 Virus Entry. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1299-1312. [PMID: 33787218 PMCID: PMC8029449 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a multifunctional transmembrane receptor for ligands that affect developmental axonal growth and angiogenesis. In addition to a role in cancer, NRP-1 is a reported entry point for several viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The furin cleavage product of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein takes advantage of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) binding site on NRP-1 which accommodates a polybasic stretch ending in a C-terminal arginine. This site has long been a focus of drug discovery efforts for cancer therapeutics. We recently showed that interruption of the VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling pathway ameliorates neuropathic pain and hypothesize that interference of this pathway by SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein interferes with pain signaling. Here, we report confirmed hits from a small molecule and natural product screen of nearly 0.5 million compounds targeting the VEGF-A binding site on NRP-1. We identified nine chemical series with lead- or drug-like physicochemical properties. Using ELISA, we demonstrate that six compounds disrupt VEGF-A-NRP-1 binding more effectively than EG00229, a known NRP-1 inhibitor. Secondary validation in cells revealed that all tested compounds inhibited VEGF-A triggered VEGFR2 phosphorylation. Further, two compounds displayed robust inhibition of a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus protein that utilizes the SARS-CoV-2 Spike for entry and fusion. These compounds represent a first step in a renewed effort to develop small molecule inhibitors of the VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling for the treatment of neuropathic pain and cancer with the added potential of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marcel Patek
- Bright Rock Path Consulting, LLC, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Paz Duran de Haro
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carly R. Cabel
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
| | - Curtis A. Thorne
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
- Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona
| | - Samuel K. Campos
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
- Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Regulonix LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA
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13
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Montalbán-López M, Scott TA, Ramesh S, Rahman IR, van Heel AJ, Viel JH, Bandarian V, Dittmann E, Genilloud O, Goto Y, Grande Burgos MJ, Hill C, Kim S, Koehnke J, Latham JA, Link AJ, Martínez B, Nair SK, Nicolet Y, Rebuffat S, Sahl HG, Sareen D, Schmidt EW, Schmitt L, Severinov K, Süssmuth RD, Truman AW, Wang H, Weng JK, van Wezel GP, Zhang Q, Zhong J, Piel J, Mitchell DA, Kuipers OP, van der Donk WA. New developments in RiPP discovery, enzymology and engineering. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:130-239. [PMID: 32935693 PMCID: PMC7864896 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00027b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 120.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to June 2020Ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a large group of natural products. A community-driven review in 2013 described the emerging commonalities in the biosynthesis of RiPPs and the opportunities they offered for bioengineering and genome mining. Since then, the field has seen tremendous advances in understanding of the mechanisms by which nature assembles these compounds, in engineering their biosynthetic machinery for a wide range of applications, and in the discovery of entirely new RiPP families using bioinformatic tools developed specifically for this compound class. The First International Conference on RiPPs was held in 2019, and the meeting participants assembled the current review describing new developments since 2013. The review discusses the new classes of RiPPs that have been discovered, the advances in our understanding of the installation of both primary and secondary post-translational modifications, and the mechanisms by which the enzymes recognize the leader peptides in their substrates. In addition, genome mining tools used for RiPP discovery are discussed as well as various strategies for RiPP engineering. An outlook section presents directions for future research.
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14
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Perez-Miller S, Patek M, Moutal A, Cabel CR, Thorne CA, Campos SK, Khanna R. In silico identification and validation of inhibitors of the interaction between neuropilin receptor 1 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.09.22.308783. [PMID: 32995772 PMCID: PMC7523098 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.22.308783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a multifunctional transmembrane receptor for ligands that affect developmental axonal growth and angiogenesis. In addition to a role in cancer, NRP-1 is a reported entry point for several viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The furin cleavage product of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein takes advantage of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) binding site on NRP-1 which accommodates a polybasic stretch ending in a C-terminal arginine. This site has long been a focus of drug discovery efforts for cancer therapeutics. We recently showed that interruption of the VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling pathway ameliorates neuropathic pain and hypothesize that interference of this pathway by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interferes with pain signaling. Here, we report hits from a small molecule and natural product screen of nearly 0.5 million compounds targeting the VEGF-A binding site on NRP-1. We identified nine chemical series with lead- or drug-like physico-chemical properties. Using an ELISA, we demonstrate that six compounds disrupt VEGF-A-NRP-1 binding more effectively than EG00229, a known NRP-1 inhibitor. Secondary validation in cells revealed that almost all tested compounds inhibited VEGF-A triggered VEGFR2 phosphorylation. Two compounds displayed robust inhibition of a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus protein that utilizes the SARS-CoV-2 Spike for entry and fusion. These compounds represent a first step in a renewed effort to develop small molecule inhibitors of the VEGF-A/NRP-1 signaling for the treatment of neuropathic pain and cancer with the added potential of inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 virus entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA
| | - Marcel Patek
- Bright Rock Path Consulting, LLC, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Aubin Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Carly R. Cabel
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
| | - Curtis A. Thorne
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
- Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona
| | - Samuel K. Campos
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of Arizona
- Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona
- Department of Immunobiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- The Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA
- Regulonix LLC, 1555 E. Entrada Segunda, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA
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15
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Lu S, Wu Y, Li J, Meng X, Hu C, Zhao Y, Wu C. Directed Disulfide Pairing and Folding of Peptides for the De Novo Development of Multicyclic Peptide Libraries. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:16285-16291. [PMID: 32914969 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c06044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs) have been an emerging frontier for drug discovery. There have been two DRPs approved as drugs (i.e., Ziconotide and Linaclotide), and many others are undergoing preclinical studies or in clinical trials. All of these DRPs are of nature origin or derived from natural peptides. It is still a challenge to design new DRPs without recourse to natural scaffolds due to the difficulty in handling the disulfide pairing. Here we developed a simple and robust strategy for directing the disulfide pairing and folding of peptides with up to six cysteine residues. Our strategy exploits the dimeric pairing of CPPC (cysteine-proline-proline-cysteine) motifs for directing disulfide formation, and DRPs with different multicyclic topologies were designed and synthesized by regulating the patterns of CPPC motifs and cysteine residues in peptides. As neither sequence manipulations nor unnatural amino acids are involved, the designed DRPs can be used as templates for the de novo development of biosynthetic multicyclic peptide libraries, enabling selection of DRPs with new functions directly from fully randomized sequences. We believe that this work represents as an important step toward the discovery and design of new multicyclic peptide ligands and therapeutics with structures not derived from natural scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaimin Lu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Yapei Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Jinjing Li
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoting Meng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Chenliang Hu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Yibing Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
| | - Chuanliu Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, P.R. China
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16
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Huang Z, Wu Y, Dong H, Zhao Y, Wu C. Design and Synthesis of Disulfide-Rich Peptides with Orthogonal Disulfide Pairing Motifs. J Org Chem 2020; 85:11475-11481. [PMID: 32786636 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c01600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs) are a class of peptides that are constrained through two or more disulfide bonds. Though natural DRPs have been extensively exploited for developing protein binders or potential therapeutics, their synthesis and re-engineering to bind new targets are not straightforward due to difficulties in handling the disulfide pairing problem. Rationally designed DRPs with an intrinsically orthogonal disulfide pairing propensity provide an alternative to the natural scaffolds for developing functional DRPs. Herein we report the use of tandem CXPen/PenXC motifs ((C) cysteine; (Pen) penicillamine; (X) any residue) for directing the oxidative folding of peptides. Diverse tricyclic peptides were designed and synthesized by varying the pattern of C/Pen residues and incorporating a tandem CXPen/PenXC motif into peptides. The folding of these peptides was determined primarily by C/Pen patterns and tolerated to sequence manipulations. The applicability of the designed C/Pen-DRPs was demonstrated by designing protein binders using an epitope grafting strategy. This study thus demonstrates the potential of using orthogonal disulfide pairing to design DRP scaffolds with new structures and functions, which would greatly benefit the development of multicyclic peptide ligands and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirong Huang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yapei Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Huilei Dong
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibing Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanliu Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
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17
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Mehta L, Dhankhar R, Gulati P, Kapoor RK, Mohanty A, Kumar S. Natural and grafted cyclotides in cancer therapy: An insight. J Pept Sci 2020; 26:e3246. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lovekesh Mehta
- Medical Microbiology and Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of MicrobiologyMaharshi Dayanand University Rohtak India
| | - Rakhi Dhankhar
- Medical Microbiology and Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of MicrobiologyMaharshi Dayanand University Rohtak India
| | - Pooja Gulati
- Medical Microbiology and Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of MicrobiologyMaharshi Dayanand University Rohtak India
| | - Rajeev Kumar Kapoor
- Medical Microbiology and Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of MicrobiologyMaharshi Dayanand University Rohtak India
| | - Aparajita Mohanty
- Department of Botany, Gargi CollegeUniversity of Delhi New Delhi India
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Medical Microbiology and Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of MicrobiologyMaharshi Dayanand University Rohtak India
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18
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Tombling BJ, Wang CK, Craik DJ. EGF‐artige und andere disulfidreiche Mikrodomänen als therapeutische Molekülgerüste. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201913809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Tombling
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
| | - Conan K. Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
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19
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Tombling BJ, Wang CK, Craik DJ. EGF-like and Other Disulfide-rich Microdomains as Therapeutic Scaffolds. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:11218-11232. [PMID: 31867866 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201913809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds typically introduce conformational constraints into peptides and proteins, conferring improved biopharmaceutical properties and greater therapeutic potential. In our opinion, disulfide-rich microdomains from proteins are potentially a rich and under-explored source of drug leads. A survey of the UniProt protein database shows that these domains are widely distributed throughout the plant and animal kingdoms, with the EGF-like domain being the most abundant of these domains. EGF-like domains exhibit large diversity in their disulfide bond topologies and calcium binding modes, which we classify in detail here. We found that many EGF-like domains are associated with disease phenotypes, and the interactions they mediate are potential therapeutic targets. Indeed, EGF-based therapeutic leads have been identified, and we further propose that these domains can be optimized to expand their therapeutic potential using chemical design strategies. This Review highlights the potential of disulfide-rich microdomains as future peptide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Tombling
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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20
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Abstract
This Review explores the class of plant-derived macrocyclic peptides called cyclotides. We include an account of their discovery, characterization, and distribution in the plant kingdom as well as a detailed analysis of their sequences and structures, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis, biological functions, and applications. These macrocyclic peptides are around 30 amino acids in size and are characterized by their head-to-tail cyclic backbone and cystine knot motif, which render them to be exceptionally stable, with resistance to thermal or enzymatic degradation. Routes to their chemical synthesis have been developed over the past two decades, and this capability has facilitated a wide range of mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship studies. In turn, these studies have both led to an increased understanding of their mechanisms of action as well as facilitated a range of applications in agriculture and medicine, as ecofriendly crop protection agents, and as drug leads or scaffolds for pharmaceutical design. Our overall objective in this Review is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of cyclotides that we hope will stimulate further work on this fascinating family of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Meng-Wei Kan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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21
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Jia T, Ciccione J, Jacquet T, Maurel M, Montheil T, Mehdi A, Martinez J, Eymin B, Subra G, Coll JL. The presence of PEG on nanoparticles presenting the c[RGDfK]- and/or ATWLPPR peptides deeply affects the RTKs-AKT-GSK3β-eNOS signaling pathway and endothelial cells survival. Int J Pharm 2019; 568:118507. [PMID: 31299336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Covering the surface of a nanoparticle with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common way to prevent non-specific interactions but how its presence impacts on the activity of targeting ligands is still poorly documented. We synthesized a set of 9 silica nanoparticles grafted with c[RGDfK]-, a peptide targeting integrin αvß3 (cRGD), and/or with ATWLPPR, an anti-neuropilin 1 peptide (ATW). We then added various PEGs, and studied NPs binding on primary endothelial cells, the downstream activated signaling pathways and the impact on apoptosis. Our results show that the presence of PEG2000 on cRGD/ATW nanoparticles moderately improves cell binding but induces a 6000 times augmentation of AKT-dependent cell response due to the recruitment of other Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Augmenting the length of the spacer that separates the peptides from the silica (using PEG3000) mainly resulted in a loss of specificity. Finally, the PEG-mediated hyperactivation of AKT did not protect endothelial cell from dying in the absence of serum, while its moderate activation obtained without PEG did. Finally, PEGylation of cRGD/ATW-NPs can generate nanoparticles with potent capacities to activate the AKT-GSK3β-eNOS cascade and to affect the resistance of endothelial cells to apoptosis. Thus, the impact of PEGylation should be precisely considered in order to avoid the apparition of counter-productive biological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jia
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France; Université. Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France
| | - Jéremy Ciccione
- IBMM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France; ICGM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Thibault Jacquet
- Université. Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France
| | - Manon Maurel
- IBMM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Titouan Montheil
- IBMM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Ahmad Mehdi
- ICGM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean Martinez
- IBMM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Béatrice Eymin
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France; Université. Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France
| | - Gilles Subra
- IBMM Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Luc Coll
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France; Université. Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, F-38600 La Tronche, France.
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22
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Poth AG, Huang YH, Le TT, Kan MW, Craik DJ. Pharmacokinetic characterization of kalata B1 and related therapeutics built on the cyclotide scaffold. Int J Pharm 2019; 565:437-446. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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23
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Fedorczyk B, Lipiński PFJ, Puszko AK, Tymecka D, Wilenska B, Dudka W, Perret GY, Wieczorek R, Misicka A. Triazolopeptides Inhibiting the Interaction between Neuropilin-1 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-165. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24091756. [PMID: 31064153 PMCID: PMC6539594 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24091756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibiting the interaction of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has become an interesting mechanism for potential anticancer therapies. In our previous works, we have obtained several submicromolar inhibitors of this interaction, including branched pentapeptides of general structure Lys(Har)-Xxx-Xxx-Arg. With the intent to improve the proteolytic stability of our inhibitors, we turned our attention to 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles as peptide bond isosteres. In the present contribution, we report the synthesis of 23 novel triazolopeptides along with their inhibitory activity. The compounds were synthesized using typical peptide chemistry methods, but with a conversion of amine into azide completely on solid support. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized derivatives spans from 9.2% to 58.1% at 10 μM concentration (the best compound Lys(Har)-GlyΨ[Trl]GlyΨ[Trl]Arg, 3, IC50 = 8.39 μM). Synthesized peptidotriazoles were tested for stability in human plasma and showed remarkable resistance toward proteolysis, with half-life times far exceeding 48 h. In vitro cell survival test resulted in no significant impact on bone marrow derived murine cells 32D viability. By means of molecular dynamics, we were able to propose a binding mode for compound 3 and discuss the observed structure–activity relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piotr F J Lipiński
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Anna K Puszko
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Dagmara Tymecka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Beata Wilenska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Wioleta Dudka
- Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteura 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Gerard Y Perret
- Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM U1125, 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017 Bobigny, France.
| | - Rafal Wieczorek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Misicka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
- Department of Neuropeptides, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
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24
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Dong H, Meng X, Zheng X, Cheng X, Zheng Y, Zhao Y, Wu C. Design and Synthesis of Cross-Link-Dense Peptides by Manipulating Regioselective Bisthioether Cross-Linking and Orthogonal Disulfide Pairing. J Org Chem 2019; 84:5187-5194. [PMID: 30895794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Existing disulfide-rich peptides, both naturally occurring and de novo designed, only represent a tiny amount of the possible sequence space because natural evolution and de novo design only keep sequences that are structurally approachable by correct disulfide pairings. To bypass this limitation for designing new peptide scaffolds beyond the natural sequence space, we dedicate to developing novel disulfide-rich peptides with predefined disulfide pairing patterns irrelevant to primary sequences. However, most of these designed peptides still suffer from disulfide rearrangements to at least one to three possible isomers. Here, we report a general and reliable strategy for the design and synthesis of a range of structurally diverse cross-link-dense peptide (CDP) scaffolds with two orthogonal disulfide bonds and a bisthioether bridge that are not subject to disulfide isomerizations. Altering the pattern of cysteine and penicillamine generates hundreds of different CDP scaffolds tolerant to extensive sequence manipulations. This work thus provides many useful scaffolds for the design of functional molecules such as protein binders with improved proteolytic stability (e.g., designed by epitope grafting).
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilei Dong
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Xiaoting Meng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Xiaoli Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Xueting Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Yiwu Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Yibing Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
| | - Chuanliu Wu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , P.R. China
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25
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Camarero JA, Campbell MJ. The Potential of the Cyclotide Scaffold for Drug Development. Biomedicines 2019; 7:biomedicines7020031. [PMID: 31010257 PMCID: PMC6631875 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7020031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are a novel class of micro-proteins (≈30-40 residues long) with a unique topology containing a head-to-tail cyclized backbone structure further stabilized by three disulfide bonds that form a cystine knot. This unique molecular framework makes them exceptionally stable to physical, chemical, and biological degradation compared to linear peptides of similar size. The cyclotides are also highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot, and are orally bioavailable and able to cross cellular membranes to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs), both in vitro and in vivo. These unique properties make them ideal scaffolds for many biotechnological applications, including drug discovery. This review provides an overview of the properties of cyclotides and their potential for the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics. The selective disruption of PPIs still remains a very challenging task, as the interacting surfaces are relatively large and flat. The use of the cell-permeable highly constrained polypeptide molecular frameworks, such as the cyclotide scaffold, has shown great promise, as it provides unique pharmacological properties. The use of molecular techniques, such as epitope grafting, and molecular evolution have shown to be highly effective for the selection of bioactive cyclotides. However, despite successes in employing cyclotides to target PPIs, some of the challenges to move them into the clinic still remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA.
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA.
| | - Maria Jose Campbell
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9033, USA.
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26
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Using backbone-cyclized Cys-rich polypeptides as molecular scaffolds to target protein-protein interactions. Biochem J 2019; 476:67-83. [PMID: 30635453 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The use of disulfide-rich backbone-cyclized polypeptides, as molecular scaffolds to design a new generation of bioimaging tools and drugs that are potent and specific, and thus might have fewer side effects than traditional small-molecule drugs, is gaining increasing interest among the scientific and in the pharmaceutical industries. Highly constrained macrocyclic polypeptides are exceptionally more stable to chemical, thermal and biological degradation and show better biological activity when compared with their linear counterparts. Many of these relatively new scaffolds have been also found to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the disulfide bonds, able to cross cellular membranes and modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions both in vitro and in vivo These properties make them ideal tools for many biotechnological applications. The present study provides an overview of the new developments on the use of several disulfide-rich backbone-cyclized polypeptides, including cyclotides, θ-defensins and sunflower trypsin inhibitor peptides, in the development of novel bioimaging reagents and therapeutic leads.
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27
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Fang GM, Chen XX, Yang QQ, Zhu LJ, Li NN, Yu HZ, Meng XM. Discovery, structure, and chemical synthesis of disulfide-rich peptide toxins and their analogs. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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28
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Wang CK, Ghani HA, Bundock A, Weidmann J, Harvey PJ, Edwards IA, Schroeder CI, Swedberg JE, Craik DJ. Calcium-Mediated Allostery of the EGF Fold. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:1659-1667. [PMID: 29715432 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain is one of the most abundant disulfide-containing domains in nature and is involved in many cellular processes critical to life. Although many EGF-like domains participate in calcium-dependent functions by responding to the local calcium concentration, little is known about how this responsiveness is programmed at the molecular level. Here, we reveal the structural and environmental determinants underpinning the folding of a synthetic analogue of the EGF-A domain (from the low-density lipoprotein receptor). We show that calcium sensitivity is enabled by an allosteric folding pathway, in which calcium binding is connected to the peptide core through local inter-residue interactions. In the absence of calcium, the fold favors disorder because the inherently weak core is insufficient to stabilize the active form, resulting in substantial loss in activity of 2 orders of magnitude. The EGF-A fold, which can freely transition between active and disordered states, is volatile, and we found it to be intolerant of mutations, unlike other disulfide-rich peptides that have been used as stabilizing frameworks. This volatility is beneficial for modularity/plasticity and appears to have evolved for such a purpose, allowing cellular pathways to sense and respond to environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conan K. Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Hafiza Abdul Ghani
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anna Bundock
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Peta J. Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Ingrid A. Edwards
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I. Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joakim E. Swedberg
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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29
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Powell J, Mota F, Steadman D, Soudy C, Miyauchi JT, Crosby S, Jarvis A, Reisinger T, Winfield N, Evans G, Finniear A, Yelland T, Chou YT, Chan AWE, O'Leary A, Cheng L, Liu D, Fotinou C, Milagre C, Martin JF, Jia H, Frankel P, Djordjevic S, Tsirka SE, Zachary IC, Selwood DL. Small Molecule Neuropilin-1 Antagonists Combine Antiangiogenic and Antitumor Activity with Immune Modulation through Reduction of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ) Production in Regulatory T-Cells. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4135-4154. [PMID: 29648813 PMCID: PMC5957473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
We
report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of some
potent small-molecule neuropilin-1 (NRP1) antagonists. NRP1 is implicated
in the immune response to tumors, particularly in Treg cell fragility,
required for PD1 checkpoint blockade. The design of these compounds
was based on a previously identified compound EG00229. The design
of these molecules was informed and supported by X-ray crystal structures.
Compound 1 (EG01377) was identified as having properties
suitable for further investigation. Compound 1 was then
tested in several in vitro assays and was shown to have antiangiogenic,
antimigratory, and antitumor effects. Remarkably, 1 was
shown to be selective for NRP1 over the closely related protein NRP2.
In purified Nrp1+, FoxP3+, and CD25+ populations of Tregs from mice, 1 was able to block
a glioma-conditioned medium-induced increase in TGFβ production.
This comprehensive characterization of a small-molecule NRP1 antagonist
provides the basis for future in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Powell
- NCE Discovery (Domainex Ltd) , Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford , Saffron Walden , Essex CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Filipa Mota
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - David Steadman
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Christelle Soudy
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Jeremy T Miyauchi
- Department of Pharmacology , Stony Brook University , Stony Brook , New York 11794 , United States
| | - Stuart Crosby
- NCE Discovery (Domainex Ltd) , Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford , Saffron Walden , Essex CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Ashley Jarvis
- NCE Discovery (Domainex Ltd) , Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford , Saffron Walden , Essex CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Tifelle Reisinger
- NCE Discovery (Domainex Ltd) , Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford , Saffron Walden , Essex CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Natalie Winfield
- NCE Discovery (Domainex Ltd) , Chesterford Research Park, Little Chesterford , Saffron Walden , Essex CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Graham Evans
- Park Place Research Ltd , Unit 5/6 Willowbrook Technology Park, Llandogo Road, St. Mellons , Cardiff CF3 0EF , U.K
| | - Aled Finniear
- Park Place Research Ltd , Unit 5/6 Willowbrook Technology Park, Llandogo Road, St. Mellons , Cardiff CF3 0EF , U.K
| | | | - Yi-Tai Chou
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - A W Edith Chan
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Andrew O'Leary
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Lili Cheng
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Dan Liu
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Constantina Fotinou
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Carla Milagre
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - John F Martin
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Haiyan Jia
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Paul Frankel
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - Snezana Djordjevic
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
| | - Stella E Tsirka
- Department of Pharmacology , Stony Brook University , Stony Brook , New York 11794 , United States
| | - Ian C Zachary
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Division of Medicine , University College London , 5 University Street , London WC1E 6JJ , U.K
| | - David L Selwood
- The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research , University College London , Gower Street , London WC1E 6BT , U.K
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30
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Designing macrocyclic disulfide-rich peptides for biotechnological applications. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:417-427. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0039-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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31
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Mota F, Fotinou C, Rana RR, Chan AWE, Yelland T, Arooz MT, O'Leary AP, Hutton J, Frankel P, Zachary I, Selwood D, Djordjevic S. Architecture and hydration of the arginine-binding site of neuropilin-1. FEBS J 2018; 285:1290-1304. [PMID: 29430837 PMCID: PMC5947257 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilin‐1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane co‐receptor involved in binding interactions with variety of ligands and receptors, including receptor tyrosine kinases. Expression of NRP1 in several cancers correlates with cancer stages and poor prognosis. Thus, NRP1 has been considered a therapeutic target and is the focus of multiple drug discovery initiatives. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binds to the b1 domain of NRP1 through interactions between the C‐terminal arginine of VEGF and residues in the NRP1‐binding site including Tyr297, Tyr353, Asp320, Ser346 and Thr349. We obtained several complexes of the synthetic ligands and the NRP1‐b1 domain and used X‐ray crystallography and computational methods to analyse atomic details and hydration profile of this binding site. We observed side chain flexibility for Tyr297 and Asp320 in the six new high‐resolution crystal structures of arginine analogues bound to NRP1. In addition, we identified conserved water molecules in binding site regions which can be targeted for drug design. The computational prediction of the VEGF ligand‐binding site hydration map of NRP1 was in agreement with the experimentally derived, conserved hydration structure. Displacement of certain conserved water molecules by a ligand's functional groups may contribute to binding affinity, whilst other water molecules perform as protein–ligand bridges. Our report provides a comprehensive description of the binding site for the peptidic ligands’ C‐terminal arginines in the b1 domain of NRP1, highlights the importance of conserved structural waters in drug design and validates the utility of the computational hydration map prediction method in the context of neuropilin. Database The structures were deposited to the PDB with accession numbers PDB ID: 5IJR, 5IYY, 5JHK, 5J1X, 5JGQ, 5JGI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Mota
- Magnus Life, Magnus Life Science, London, UK
| | | | | | - A W Edith Chan
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, UK
| | | | - Mohamed T Arooz
- The Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK
| | | | | | - Paul Frankel
- Magnus Life, Magnus Life Science, London, UK.,Centre for Cardiovascular Biology & Medicine, BHF Laboratories at University College London, UK
| | - Ian Zachary
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology & Medicine, BHF Laboratories at University College London, UK
| | - David Selwood
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, UK
| | - Snezana Djordjevic
- The Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK
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32
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Zha M, Lin P, Yao H, Zhao Y, Wu C. A phage display-based strategy for the de novo creation of disulfide-constrained and isomer-free bicyclic peptide affinity reagents. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:4029-4032. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc09142g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We report a phage-screening strategy for the development of bicyclic peptide ligands constrained with two sterically different and isomerically forbidden noncanonical disulfide bridges without elaborate chemical modifications and recourses to genetic code reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirao Zha
- Department of Chemistry
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces
- Xiamen University
| | - Ping Lin
- Department of Chemistry
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces
- Xiamen University
| | - Hongwei Yao
- Department of Chemistry
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces
- Xiamen University
| | - Yibing Zhao
- Department of Chemistry
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces
- Xiamen University
| | - Chuanliu Wu
- Department of Chemistry
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces
- Xiamen University
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33
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Camarero JA. Cyclotides, a versatile ultrastable micro-protein scaffold for biotechnological applications. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:5089-5099. [PMID: 29110985 PMCID: PMC5812341 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.10.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are fascinating microproteins (≈30-40 residues long) with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone, stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. This unique topology makes them exceptionally stable to chemical, thermal and biological degradation compared to other peptides of similar size. Cyclotides have been also found to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot, able to cross cellular membranes and modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions both in vitro and in vivo. These properties make them ideal scaffolds for many biotechnological applications. This article provides and overview of the properties of cyclotides and their applications as molecular imaging agents and peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA.
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34
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Hellinger R, Thell K, Vasileva M, Muhammad T, Gunasekera S, Kümmel D, Göransson U, Becker CW, Gruber CW. Chemical Proteomics for Target Discovery of Head-to-Tail Cyclized Mini-Proteins. Front Chem 2017; 5:73. [PMID: 29075625 PMCID: PMC5641551 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2017.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Target deconvolution is one of the most challenging tasks in drug discovery, but a key step in drug development. In contrast to small molecules, there is a lack of validated and robust methodologies for target elucidation of peptides. In particular, it is difficult to apply these methods to cyclic and cysteine-stabilized peptides since they exhibit reduced amenability to chemical modification and affinity capture; however, such ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products are rich sources of promising drug candidates. For example, plant-derived circular peptides called cyclotides have recently attracted much attention due to their immunosuppressive effects and oral activity in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in mice, but their molecular target has hitherto not been reported. In this study, a chemical proteomics approach using photo-affinity crosslinking was developed to determine a target for the circular peptide [T20K]kalata B1. Using this prototypic nature-derived peptide enabled the identification of a possible functional modulation of 14-3-3 proteins. This biochemical interaction was validated via competition pull down assays as well as a cellular reporter assay indicating an effect on 14-3-3-dependent transcriptional activity. As proof of concept, the presented approach may be applicable for target elucidation of various cyclic peptides and mini-proteins, in particular cyclotides, which represent a promising class of molecules in drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Thell
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mina Vasileva
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Taj Muhammad
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sunithi Gunasekera
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Daniel Kümmel
- School of Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christian W Becker
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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35
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Abstract
Cyclotides are globular microproteins with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone, stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. This unique circular backbone topology and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds makes them exceptionally stable to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation compared to other peptides of similar size. In addition, cyclotides have been shown to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot. Cyclotides can also cross cellular membranes and are able to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. All of these features make cyclotides highly promising as leads or frameworks for the design of peptide-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This article provides an overview on cyclotides and their applications as molecular imaging agents and peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gould
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
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36
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Abstract
Among the various molecules that plants produce for defense against pests and pathogens, cyclotides stand out as exceptionally stable and structurally unique. These ribosomally synthesized peptides are around 30 amino acids in size, and are stabilized by a head-to-tail cyclic peptide backbone and three disulfide bonds that form a cystine knot. They occur in certain plants of the Rubiaceae, Violaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae families, with an individual plant producing up to hundreds of different cyclotides. Aside from being exploitable as crop protection agents based on their natural pesticidal activities, cyclotides are amenable to repurposing by chemists for use as drug leads or as tools in chemical biology. Their macrocyclic peptide backbone and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds engenders cyclotides with resistance to proteolytic degradation, high temperatures, and chemical chaotropes. Furthermore, their small size makes them accessible to synthesis using solid-phase peptide chemistry and so non-natural cyclotides can be designed and synthesized for a variety of applications. Our focus here is on cyclotides as tools in chemical biology, and there are four main areas of application that have appeared in the literature so far: (i) cyclotides as probes of membrane binding; (ii) cyclotides as probes of biosynthetic pathways for peptide cyclization; (iii) cyclotides as probes of protease specificity and function; and (iv) cyclotides as probes of receptor binding and specificity, with the potential for them to be developed as drug leads. The main methods used in these studies include solid-phase peptide chemistry for synthesis and NMR spectroscopy for structural characterization, as well as a wide range of biochemical and biophysical techniques for probing intermolecular interactions. In addition, cyclotides have been examined in diverse biological assays, ranging from enzyme inhibition to cell penetration, intracellular targeting and cytotoxicity. The main finding to have emerged from studies over the past decade is that cyclotides are exceptionally stable under a variety of conditions (in assay buffers, biological fluids, membranes, and recombinant expression systems). Furthermore, they are structurally very well-defined and amenable to sequence substitutions that can introduce new desired biological activities, generally without compromising their exceptional stability. Both features contribute to their use as peptide-based frameworks in drug design. Finally, they occupy a size niche between traditional small-molecule drugs (<500 Da in molecular weight) and protein-based biologics (>5000 Da) and thus can probe receptors, membranes, and protein-protein interactions in different ways to what is possible with either small molecules or biologics. Overall, cyclotides are an exciting class of peptides that have great potential as ultrastable chemical biology probes in a variety of applications. They have the advantage of specificity (typical of proteins) combined with the synthetic accessibility of small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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37
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Cyclotides as drug design scaffolds. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2017; 38:8-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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38
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Conformational latitude – activity relationship of KPPR tetrapeptide analogues toward their ability to inhibit binding of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 to neuropilin‐1. J Pept Sci 2017; 23:445-454. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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39
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Qu H, Smithies BJ, Durek T, Craik DJ. Synthesis and Protein Engineering Applications of Cyclotides. Aust J Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/ch16589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a group of plant-derived peptides with a head-to-tail cyclized backbone that is stabilized by three knotted disulfide bonds. Their exceptional stability and tolerance for residue substitutions have led to interest in their application as drug design scaffolds. To date, chemical synthesis has been the dominant methodology for producing cyclotides and their analogues. Native chemical ligation is the most common strategy to generate the cyclic backbone and has been highly successful at producing a wide range of cyclotides for studies of structure–activity relationships. Both this and other chemical approaches require a specific linker at the C-terminus and typically involve a non-directed folding (disulfide oxidation) regimen, which can sometimes be a limiting factor in final yields. Following the recent discovery of enzymes involved in peptide cyclization in planta, site-specific and highly efficient enzymatic ligations have been used for synthetic cyclotide backbone cyclization. In this review, chemical synthesis strategies and approaches involving cyclization via enzymes for the production of cyclotides are described.
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40
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Mahatmanto T. Review seed biopharmaceutical cyclic peptides: From discovery to applications. Biopolymers 2016; 104:804-14. [PMID: 26385189 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Mini-proteins (or peptides) with disulfide bond/s and a cyclic backbone offer exciting opportunities for applications in medicine, as these ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides are exceptionally stable and amenable to grafting epitopes with desirable activities. Here I discuss important aspects of the discovery and applications of disulfide-bonded cyclic peptides from seeds, i.e., the trypsin inhibitor cyclotides and the preproalbumin with sunflower trypsin inhibitor-derived peptides, focusing on bioanalytical methods for and insights generated from their discovery as well as their potential use as engineering scaffolds for peptide-based drug design. The recent discovery of their precursors and processing enzymes could potentially enable in planta production of designer disulfide-bonded cyclic peptides, preferably in edible seeds, and address the demand for new biopharmaceutical peptides in a cost-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tunjung Mahatmanto
- Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, 65145, Indonesia
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41
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Kintzing JR, Cochran JR. Engineered knottin peptides as diagnostics, therapeutics, and drug delivery vehicles. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2016; 34:143-150. [PMID: 27642714 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitor cystine-knots, also known as knottins, are a structural family of ultra-stable peptides with diverse functions. Knottins and related backbone-cyclized peptides called cyclotides contain three disulfide bonds connected in a particular arrangement that endows these peptides with high thermal, proteolytic, and chemical stability. Knottins have gained interest as candidates for non-invasive molecular imaging and for drug development as they can possess the pharmacological properties of small molecules and the target affinity and selectively of protein biologics. Naturally occurring knottins are clinically approved for treating chronic pain and GI disorders. Combinatorial methods are being used to engineer knottins that can bind to other clinically relevant targets in cancer, and inflammatory and cardiac disease. This review details recent examples of engineered knottin peptides; their use as molecular imaging agents, therapeutics, and drug delivery vehicles; modifications that can be introduced to improve peptide folding and bioactivity; and future perspectives and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Kintzing
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, United States
| | - Jennifer R Cochran
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, United States; Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, United States.
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42
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Discoidin Domains as Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2016; 37:641-659. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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43
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Sankaran S, Stojanovic I, Barendregt A, Heck AJ, Schasfoort RB, Jonkheijm P. Scaffolding of Cystine-Stabilized Miniproteins. ChemistrySelect 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201600323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shrikrishnan Sankaran
- Molecular Nanofabrication Group; MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
- Bioinspired Molecular Engineering Laboratory; MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Ivan Stojanovic
- Medical Cell BioPhysics Group; MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Barendregt
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics; Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences; Utrecht University; Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Albert J.R. Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics; Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences; Utrecht University; Padualaan 8 3584 CH Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Richard B.M. Schasfoort
- Medical Cell BioPhysics Group; MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
- IBIS Technologies; 7521 PR Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Pascal Jonkheijm
- Molecular Nanofabrication Group; MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
- Bioinspired Molecular Engineering Laboratory; MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine; University of Twente; P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
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Wang CK, Stalmans S, De Spiegeleer B, Craik DJ. Biodistribution of the cyclotide MCoTI-II, a cyclic disulfide-rich peptide drug scaffold. J Pept Sci 2016; 22:305-10. [PMID: 26929247 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich macrocyclic peptides are promising templates for drug design because of their unique topology and remarkable stability. However, little is known about their pharmacokinetics. In this study, we characterize the biodistribution in mice of Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II (MCoTI-II), a cyclic three-disulfide-containing peptide that has been used in a number of studies as a drug scaffold. The distribution of MCoTI-II was compared with that of chlorotoxin, which is a four-disulfide-containing peptide that has been used to develop brain tumor imaging agents; dermorphin, which is a disulfide-less peptide; and bovine serum albumin, a large protein. Both MCoTI-II and chlorotoxin distributed predominantly to the serum and kidneys, confirming that they are stable in serum and suggesting that they are eliminated from the blood through renal clearance. Although cell-penetrating peptides have been reported to be able to transport across the blood-brain barrier, MCoTI-II, which is a cell-penetrating peptide, showed no uptake into the brain. The uptake of chlorotoxin was higher than that of MCoTI-II but lower than that of dermorphin, which is considered to have low uptake into the brain. This study provides insight into the behavior of disulfide-rich peptides in vivo. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Sofie Stalmans
- Drug Quality and Registration (DruQuaR) Group, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart De Spiegeleer
- Drug Quality and Registration (DruQuaR) Group, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Abstract
Lasso peptides are a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) typified by an isopeptide-bonded macrocycle between the peptide N-terminus and an aspartate or glutamate side chain. The C-terminal portion of the peptide threads through the N-terminal macrocycle to give the characteristic lasso fold. Because of the inherent stability, both proteolytic and often thermal, of lasso peptides, we became interested in whether proteins could be fused to the free C-terminus of lasso peptides. Here, we demonstrate fusion of two model proteins, the artificial leucine zipper A1 and the superfolder variant of GFP, to the C-terminus of the lasso peptide astexin-1. Successful lasso cyclization of the N-terminus of these fusion proteins requires a flexible linker in between the C-terminus of the lasso peptide and the N-terminus of the protein of interest. The ability to fuse lasso peptides to a protein of interest is an important step toward phage and bacterial display systems for the high-throughput screening of lasso peptide libraries for new functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuhan Zong
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Mikhail O. Maksimov
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - A. James Link
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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Synthetic Cystine-Knot Miniproteins - Valuable Scaffolds for Polypeptide Engineering. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 917:121-44. [PMID: 27236555 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-32805-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Peptides with the cystine-knot architecture, often termed knottins, are promising scaffolds for biomolecular engineering. These unique molecules combine diverse bioactivities with excellent structural, thermal, and proteolytical stability. Being different in the composition and structure of their amino acid backbone, knottins share the same core element, namely cystine knot, which is built by six cysteine residues forming three disulfides upon oxidative folding. This motif ensures a notably rigid framework that highly tolerates both rational and combinatorial changes in the primary structure. Being accessible through recombinant production and total chemical synthesis, cystine-knot miniproteins can be endowed with novel bioactivities by variation of surface-exposed loops and incorporation of non-natural elements within their non-conserved regions towards the generation of tailor-made peptidic compounds. In this chapter the topology of cystine-knot peptides, their synthesis and applications for diagnostics and therapy is discussed.
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Li X, Parker MW, Vander Kooi CW. Control of cellular motility by neuropilin-mediated physical interactions. Biomol Concepts 2015; 5:157-66. [PMID: 25018786 DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2013-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropilin (Nrp) family consists of multifunctional cell surface receptors with critical roles in a number of different cell and tissue types. A core aspect of Nrp function is in ligand-dependent cellular migration, where it controls the multistep process of cellular motility through integration of ligand binding and receptor signaling. At a molecular level, the role of Nrp in migration is intimately connected to the control of adhesive interactions and cytoskeletal reorganization. Here, we review the physiological role of Nrp in cellular adhesion and motility in the cardiovascular and nervous systems. We also discuss the emerging pathological role of Nrp in tumor cell migration and metastasis, providing motivation for continued efforts toward developing Nrp inhibitors.
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Cyclic thrombospondin-1 mimetics: grafting of a thrombospondin sequence into circular disulfide-rich frameworks to inhibit endothelial cell migration. Biosci Rep 2015; 35:BSR20150210. [PMID: 26464514 PMCID: PMC4660582 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20150210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The findings suggest re-engineered cyclic TSP-1 mimetics are non-toxic, highly stable, and possess potent anti-angiogenesis activity without altering the native fold of the cyclic frameworks. This provides an alternative approach for cancer drug development particularly in the thrombospondin field. Tumour formation is dependent on nutrient and oxygen supply from adjacent blood vessels. Angiogenesis inhibitors can play a vital role in controlling blood vessel formation and consequently tumour progression by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation, sprouting and migration. The primary aim of the present study was to design cyclic thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) mimetics using disulfide-rich frameworks for anti-angiogenesis therapies and to determine whether these peptides have better potency than the linear parent peptide. A short anti-angiogenic heptapeptide fragment from TSP-1 (GVITRIR) was incorporated into two cyclic disulfide-rich frameworks, namely MCoTI-II (Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II) and SFTI-1 (sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1). The cyclic peptides were chemically synthesized and folded in oxidation buffers, before being tested in a series of in vitro evaluations. Incorporation of the bioactive heptapeptide fragment into the cyclic frameworks resulted in peptides that inhibited microvascular endothelial cell migration, and had no toxicity against normal primary human endothelial cells or cancer cells. Importantly, all of the designed cyclic TSP-1 mimetics were far more stable than the linear heptapeptide in human serum. The present study has demonstrated a novel approach to stabilize the active region of TSP-1. The anti-angiogenic activity of the native TSP-1 active fragment was maintained in the new TSP-1 mimetics and the results provide a new chemical approach for the design of TSP-1 mimetics.
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Sankaran S, de Ruiter M, Cornelissen JJLM, Jonkheijm P. Supramolecular Surface Immobilization of Knottin Derivatives for Dynamic Display of High Affinity Binders. Bioconjug Chem 2015; 26:1972-80. [PMID: 26270829 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Knottins are known as a robust and versatile class of miniprotein scaffolds for the presentation of high-affinity binding peptides; however, to date their application in biomaterials, biological coatings, and surface applications have not been explored. We have developed a strategy to recombinantly synthesize a β-trypsin inhibitory knottin with supramolecular guest tags that enable it to adhere to self-assembled monolayers of the supramolecular host cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). We have described a strategy to easily express knottins in E. coli by conjugating them to a fluorescent protein after which they are cleaved and purified. Knottin constructs that varied in the number and position of the supramolecular tag at either the N- or C-termini or at both ends have been verified for their trypsin inhibitory function and CB[8]-binding properties in solution and on surfaces. All of the knottin constructs showed strong inhibition of trypsin with inhibition constants between 10 and 30 nM. Using microscale thermophoresis, we determined that the supramolecular guest tags on the knottins bind CB[8] with a Kd of ∼6 μM in solution. At the surface, strong divalent binding has been determined with a Kd of 0.75 μM in the case of the knottin with two supramolecular guest tags, whereas only weak monovalent binding occurred when only one guest tag was present. We also show successful supramolecular surface immobilization of the knottin using CB[8] and prove that they can be used to immobilize β-trypsin at the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrikrishnan Sankaran
- Bioinspired Molecular Engineering Laboratory of the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Pascal Jonkheijm
- Bioinspired Molecular Engineering Laboratory of the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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Zhan C, Li C, Wei X, Lu W, Lu W. Toxins and derivatives in molecular pharmaceutics: Drug delivery and targeted therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2015; 90:101-18. [PMID: 25959429 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Protein and peptide toxins offer an invaluable source for the development of actively targeted drug delivery systems. They avidly bind to a variety of cognate receptors, some of which are expressed or even up-regulated in diseased tissues and biological barriers. Protein and peptide toxins or their derivatives can act as ligands to facilitate tissue- or organ-specific accumulation of therapeutics. Some toxins have evolved from a relatively small number of structural frameworks that are particularly suitable for addressing the crucial issues of potency and stability, making them an instrumental source of leads and templates for targeted therapy. The focus of this review is on protein and peptide toxins for the development of targeted drug delivery systems and molecular therapies. We summarize disease- and biological barrier-related toxin receptors, as well as targeted drug delivery strategies inspired by those receptors. The design of new therapeutics based on protein and peptide toxins is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyou Zhan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China
| | - Chong Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University & Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Pharmaceutical Process and Quality Control, Chongqing 400716, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Weiyue Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201203, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
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