1
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Mazzocato Y, Perin S, Morales-Sanfrutos J, Romanyuk Z, Pluda S, Acquasaliente L, Borsato G, De Filippis V, Scarso A, Angelini A. A novel genetically-encoded bicyclic peptide inhibitor of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator with better cross-reactivity toward the murine orthologue. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 95:117499. [PMID: 37879145 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The inhibition of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (huPA), a serine protease that plays an important role in pericellular proteolysis, is a promising strategy to decrease the invasive and metastatic activity of tumour cells. However, the generation of selective small molecule huPA inhibitors has proven to be challenging due to the high structural similarity of huPA to other paralogue serine proteases. Efforts to generate more specific therapies have led to the development of cyclic peptide-based inhibitors with much higher selectivity against huPA. While this latter property is desired, the sparing of the orthologue murine poses difficulties for the testing of the inhibitor in preclinical mouse model. In this work, we have applied a Darwinian evolution-based approach to identify phage-encoded bicyclic peptide inhibitors of huPA with better cross-reactivity towards murine uPA (muPA). The best selected bicyclic peptide (UK132) inhibited huPA and muPA with Ki values of 0.33 and 12.58 µM, respectively. The inhibition appears to be specific for uPA, as UK132 only weakly inhibits a panel of structurally similar serine proteases. Removal or substitution of the second loop with one not evolved in vitro led to monocyclic and bicyclic peptide analogues with lower potency than UK132. Moreover, swapping of 1,3,5-tris-(bromomethyl)-benzene with different small molecules not used in the phage selection, resulted in an 80-fold reduction of potency, revealing the important structural role of the branched cyclization linker. Further substitution of an arginine in UK132 to a lysine resulted in a bicyclic peptide UK140 with enhanced inhibitory potency against both huPA (Ki = 0.20 µM) and murine orthologue (Ki = 2.79 µM). By combining good specificity, nanomolar affinity and a low molecular mass, the bicyclic peptide inhibitor developed in this work may provide a novel human and murine cross-reactive lead for the development of a potent and selective anti-metastatic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylenia Mazzocato
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Stefano Perin
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Julia Morales-Sanfrutos
- Proteomics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), C. de Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Zhanna Romanyuk
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Stefano Pluda
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy; Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A., Via Ponte della Fabbrica 3/A, Abano Terme 35031, Italy
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borsato
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scarso
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy
| | - Alessandro Angelini
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, Italy; European Centre for Living Technology (ECLT), Ca' Bottacin, Dorsoduro 3911, Calle Crosera, 30123 Venice, Italy.
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2
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Chen FJ, Pinnette N, Yang F, Gao J. A Cysteine-Directed Proximity-Driven Crosslinking Method for Native Peptide Bicyclization. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202306813. [PMID: 37285100 PMCID: PMC10527288 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202306813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Efficient and site-specific modification of native peptides and proteins is desirable for synthesizing antibody-drug conjugates as well as for constructing chemically modified peptide libraries using genetically encoded platforms such as phage display. In particular, there is much interest in efficient multicyclization of native peptides due to the appeals of multicyclic peptides as therapeutics. However, conventional approaches for multicyclic peptide synthesis require orthogonal protecting groups or non-proteinogenic clickable handles. Herein, we report a cysteine-directed proximity-driven strategy for the constructing bicyclic peptides from simple natural peptide precursors. This linear to bicycle transformation initiates with rapid cysteine labeling, which then triggers proximity-driven amine-selective cyclization. This bicyclization proceeds rapidly under physiologic conditions, yielding bicyclic peptides with a Cys-Lys-Cys, Lys-Cys-Lys or N-terminus-Cys-Cys stapling pattern. We demonstrate the utility and power of this strategy by constructing bicyclic peptides fused to proteins as well as to the M13 phage, paving the way to phage display of novel bicyclic peptide libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa-Jie Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Nicole Pinnette
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Jianmin Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, Merkert Chemistry Center, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
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3
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Sandomenico A, Ruggiero A, Iaccarino E, Oliver A, Squeglia F, Moreira M, Esposito L, Ruvo M, Berisio R. Unveiling CD59-Antibody Interactions to Design Paratope-Mimicking Peptides for Complement Modulation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108561. [PMID: 37239905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
CD59 is an abundant immuno-regulatory human protein that protects cells from damage by inhibiting the complement system. CD59 inhibits the assembly of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC), the bactericidal pore-forming toxin of the innate immune system. In addition, several pathogenic viruses, including HIV-1, escape complement-mediated virolysis by incorporating this complement inhibitor in their own viral envelope. This makes human pathogenic viruses, such as HIV-1, not neutralised by the complement in human fluids. CD59 is also overexpressed in several cancer cells to resist the complement attack. Consistent with its importance as a therapeutical target, CD59-targeting antibodies have been proven to be successful in hindering HIV-1 growth and counteracting the effect of complement inhibition by specific cancer cells. In this work, we make use of bioinformatics and computational tools to identify CD59 interactions with blocking antibodies and to describe molecular details of the paratope-epitope interface. Based on this information, we design and produce paratope-mimicking bicyclic peptides able to target CD59. Our results set the basis for the development of antibody-mimicking small molecules targeting CD59 with potential therapeutic interest as complement activators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Sandomenico
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Ruggiero
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Emanuela Iaccarino
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Angela Oliver
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Flavia Squeglia
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Miguel Moreira
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luciana Esposito
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Menotti Ruvo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rita Berisio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), I-80131 Napoli, Italy
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4
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Lee K, Willi JA, Cho N, Kim I, Jewett MC, Lee J. Cell-free Biosynthesis of Peptidomimetics. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2023; 28:1-17. [PMID: 36778039 PMCID: PMC9896473 DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0268-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A wide variety of peptidomimetics (peptide analogs) possessing innovative biological functions have been brought forth as therapeutic candidates through cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems. A key feature of these peptidomimetic drugs is the use of non-canonical amino acid building blocks with diverse biochemical properties that expand functional diversity. Here, we summarize recent technologies leveraging CFPS platforms to expand the reach of peptidomimetics drugs. We also offer perspectives on engineering the translational machinery that may open new opportunities for expanding genetically encoded chemistry to transform drug discovery practice beyond traditional boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanghun Lee
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Korea
| | - Jessica A. Willi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 USA
| | - Namjin Cho
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Korea
| | - Inseon Kim
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Korea
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 USA
| | - Joongoo Lee
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering (I-Bio), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Korea
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5
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Zhang Y, Guo J, Cheng J, Zhang Z, Kang F, Wu X, Chu Q. High-Throughput Screening of Stapled Helical Peptides in Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2023; 66:95-106. [PMID: 36580278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic peptides have revolutionized treatment for a number of human diseases. In particular, the past two decades have witnessed rapid progress of stapled helical peptides in drug discovery. Stapled helical peptides are chemically modified and constrained in their bioactive α-helical conformation. Compared to unstabilized linear peptides, stapled helical peptides exhibit superior binding affinity and selectivity, enhanced membrane permeability, and improved metabolic stability, presenting exciting promise for targeting otherwise challenging protein-protein interfaces. In this Perspective, we summarize recent applications of high-throughput screening technologies for identification of potent stapled helical peptides with optimized binding properties. We expect to provide a broad reference to accelerate the development of stapled helical peptides as the next generation of therapeutic peptides for various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jiabei Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jiongjia Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials of Nanjing, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China
| | - Zhenghua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fenghua Kang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Xiaoxing Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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6
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The development of a high-affinity conformation-sensitive antibody mimetic using a biocompatible copolymer carrier (iBody). J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101342. [PMID: 34710374 PMCID: PMC8600089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide display methods are a powerful tool for discovering new ligands of pharmacologically relevant targets. However, the selected ligands often suffer from low affinity. Using phage display, we identified a new bicyclic peptide binder of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a metalloprotease frequently overexpressed in prostate cancer. We show that linking multiple copies of a selected low-affinity peptide to a biocompatible water-soluble N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer carrier (iBody) improved binding of the conjugate by several orders of magnitude. Furthermore, using ELISA, enzyme kinetics, confocal microscopy, and other approaches, we demonstrate that the resulting iBody can distinguish between different conformations of the target protein. The possibility to develop stable, fully synthetic, conformation-selective antibody mimetics has potential applications for molecular recognition, diagnosis and treatment of many pathologies. This strategy could significantly contribute to more effective drug discovery and design.
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7
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Carle V, Kong XD, Comberlato A, Edwards C, Díaz-Perlas C, Heinis C. Generation of a 100-billion cyclic peptide phage display library having a high skeletal diversity. Protein Eng Des Sel 2021; 34:6333815. [PMID: 34341825 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage display is a powerful technique routinely used for the generation of peptide- or protein-based ligands. The success of phage display selections critically depends on the size and structural diversity of the libraries, but the generation of large libraries remains challenging. In this work, we have succeeded in developing a phage display library comprising around 100 billion different (bi)cyclic peptides and thus more structures than any previously reported cyclic peptide phage display library. Building such a high diversity was achieved by combining a recently reported library cloning technique, based on whole plasmid PCR, with a small plasmid that facilitated bacterial transformation. The library cloned is based on 273 different peptide backbones and thus has a large skeletal diversity. Panning of the peptide repertoire against the important thrombosis target coagulation factor XI enriched high-affinity peptides with long consensus sequences that can only be found if the library diversity is large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Carle
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Xu-Dong Kong
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Alice Comberlato
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Chelsea Edwards
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Díaz-Perlas
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
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8
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Chen S, Lovell S, Lee S, Fellner M, Mace PD, Bogyo M. Identification of highly selective covalent inhibitors by phage display. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:490-498. [PMID: 33199876 PMCID: PMC8043995 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0733-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Molecules that covalently bind macromolecular targets have found widespread applications as activity-based probes and as irreversibly binding drugs. However, the general reactivity of the electrophiles needed for covalent bond formation makes control of selectivity difficult. There is currently no rapid, unbiased screening method to identify new classes of covalent inhibitors from highly diverse pools of candidate molecules. Here we describe a phage display method to directly screen for ligands that bind to protein targets through covalent bond formation. This approach makes use of a reactive linker to form cyclic peptides on the phage surface while simultaneously introducing an electrophilic 'warhead' to covalently react with a nucleophile on the target. Using this approach, we identified cyclic peptides that irreversibly inhibited a cysteine protease and a serine hydrolase with nanomolar potency and exceptional specificity. This approach should enable rapid, unbiased screening to identify new classes of highly selective covalent inhibitors for diverse molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Chen
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Scott Lovell
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sumin Lee
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthias Fellner
- Biochemistry Department, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Peter D Mace
- Biochemistry Department, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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9
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Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses whose ubiquity in nature and remarkable specificity to their host bacteria enable an impressive and growing field of tunable biotechnologies in agriculture and public health. Bacteriophage capsids, which house and protect their nucleic acids, have been modified with a range of functionalities (e.g., fluorophores, nanoparticles, antigens, drugs) to suit their final application. Functional groups naturally present on bacteriophage capsids can be used for electrostatic adsorption or bioconjugation, but their impermanence and poor specificity can lead to inconsistencies in coverage and function. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored both genetic and chemical modifications to enable strong, specific bonds between phage capsids and their target conjugates. Genetic modification methods involve introducing genes for alternative amino acids, peptides, or protein sequences into either the bacteriophage genomes or capsid genes on host plasmids to facilitate recombinant phage generation. Chemical modification methods rely on reacting functional groups present on the capsid with activated conjugates under the appropriate solution pH and salt conditions. This review surveys the current state-of-the-art in both genetic and chemical bacteriophage capsid modification methodologies, identifies major strengths and weaknesses of methods, and discusses areas of research needed to propel bacteriophage technology in development of biosensors, vaccines, therapeutics, and nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie M. Goddard
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sam R. Nugen
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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10
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Wu Y, Williams J, Calder EDD, Walport LJ. Strategies to expand peptide functionality through hybridisation with a small molecule component. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:151-165. [PMID: 34458778 PMCID: PMC8341444 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00167h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Combining different compound classes gives molecular hybrids that can offer access to novel chemical space and unique properties. Peptides provide ideal starting points for such molecular hybrids, which can be easily modified with a variety of molecular entities. The addition of small molecules can improve the potency, stability and cell permeability of therapeutically relevant peptides. Furthermore, they are often applied to create peptide-based tools in chemical biology. In this review, we discuss general methods that allow the discovery of this compound class and highlight key examples of peptide-small molecule hybrids categorised by the application and function of the small molecule entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuteng Wu
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Jack Williams
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Ewen D D Calder
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
| | - Louise J Walport
- Protein-Protein Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute London UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London London UK
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11
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Hacker DE, Abrigo NA, Hoinka J, Richardson SL, Przytycka TM, Hartman MCT. Direct, Competitive Comparison of Linear, Monocyclic, and Bicyclic Libraries Using mRNA Display. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2020; 22:306-310. [PMID: 32418423 PMCID: PMC7284801 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.0c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Peptide
macrocyclization is typically associated with the development of higher
affinity and more protease stable protein ligands, and, as such, is
an important tool in peptide drug discovery. Yet, within the context
of a diverse library, does cyclization give inherent advantages over
linear peptides? Here, we used mRNA display to create a peptide library
of diverse ring sizes and topologies (monocyclic, bicyclic, and
linear). Several rounds of in vitro selection against streptavidin
were performed and the winning peptide sequences were analyzed for
their binding affinities and overall topologies. The effect of adding
a protease challenge on the enrichment of various peptides was also
investigated. Taken together, the selection output yields insights
about the relative abundance of binders of various topologies within
a structurally diverse library.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Hacker
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, 23284, Virginia, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, 23219, Virginia, United States
| | - Nicolas A. Abrigo
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, 23284, Virginia, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, 23219, Virginia, United States
| | - Jan Hoinka
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, 20894, Maryland, United States
| | - Stacie L. Richardson
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, 23284, Virginia, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, 23219, Virginia, United States
| | - Teresa M. Przytycka
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, 20894, Maryland, United States
| | - Matthew C. T. Hartman
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, 23284, Virginia, United States
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, 23219, Virginia, United States
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12
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Ahangarzadeh S, Kanafi MM, Hosseinzadeh S, Mokhtarzadeh A, Barati M, Ranjbari J, Tayebi L. Bicyclic peptides: types, synthesis and applications. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:1311-1319. [PMID: 31102732 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Bicyclic peptides form one of the most promising platforms for drug development owing to their biocompatibility, similarity and chemical diversity to proteins, and they are considered as a possible practical tool in various therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Bicyclic peptides are known to have the capability of being employed as an effective alternative to complex molecules, such as antibodies, or small molecules. This review provides a summary of the recent progress on the types, synthesis and applications of bicyclic peptides. More specifically, natural and synthetic bicyclic peptides are introduced with their different production methods and relevant applications, including drug targeting, imaging and diagnosis. Their uses as antimicrobial agents, as well as the therapeutic functions of different bicyclic peptides, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrzad Ahangarzadeh
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Kanafi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Simzar Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahmood Barati
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Ranjbari
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA.
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13
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Valeur E, Jimonet P. New Modalities, Technologies, and Partnerships in Probe and Lead Generation: Enabling a Mode-of-Action Centric Paradigm. J Med Chem 2018; 61:9004-9029. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Valeur
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Patrick Jimonet
- External Innovation Drug Discovery, Global Business Development & Licensing, Sanofi, 13 quai Jules Guesde, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, France
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14
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Cyclization of peptides with two chemical bridges affords large scaffold diversities. Nat Chem 2018; 10:715-723. [DOI: 10.1038/s41557-018-0042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha J. Thombare
- School of ChemistryThe University of MelbourneVictoria3010 Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of MelbourneVictoria3010 Australia
| | - Craig A. Hutton
- School of ChemistryThe University of MelbourneVictoria3010 Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of MelbourneVictoria3010 Australia
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16
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Thombare VJ, Holden JA, Pal S, Reynolds EC, Chattopadhyay A, O'Brien-Simpson NM, Hutton CA. Antimicrobial activity of simplified mimics of celogentin C. Tetrahedron 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2017.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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17
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Deyle K, Kong XD, Heinis C. Phage Selection of Cyclic Peptides for Application in Research and Drug Development. Acc Chem Res 2017; 50:1866-1874. [PMID: 28719188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides can bind to protein targets with high affinities and selectivities, which makes them an attractive modality for the development of research reagents and therapeutics. Additional properties, including low inherent toxicity, efficient chemical synthesis, and facile modification with labels or immobilization reagents, increase their attractiveness. Cyclic peptide ligands against a wide range of protein targets have been isolated from natural sources such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Many of them are currently used as research tools, and several have found application as therapeutics, such as the peptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin and the antibiotics vancomycin and daptomycin, proving the utility of cyclic peptides in research and medicine. With the advent of phage display and other in vitro evolution techniques, it has become possible to generate cyclic peptide binders to diverse protein targets for which no natural peptides have been discovered. A highly robust and widely applied approach is based on the cyclization of peptides displayed on phage via a disulfide bridge. Disulfide-cyclized peptide ligands to more than a hundred different proteins have been reported in the literature. Technology advances achieved over the last three decades, including methods for generating larger phage display libraries, improved phage panning protocols, new cyclic peptide formats, and high-throughput sequencing, have enabled the generation of cyclic peptides with ever better binding affinities to more challenging targets. A relatively new cyclic peptide format developed using phage display involves bicyclic peptides. These molecules consist of two macrocyclic peptide rings cyclized through a chemical linker. Compared to monocyclic peptides of comparable molecular mass, bicyclic peptides are more constrained in their conformation. As a result, they can bind to their targets with a higher affinity and are more resistant to proteolytic degradation. Phage-encoded bicyclic peptides are generated by chemically cyclizing random peptide libraries on phage. Binders are identified by conventional phage panning and DNA sequencing. Next-generation sequencing and new sequence alignment tools have enabled the rapid identification of bicyclic peptides. Bicyclic peptide ligands were developed against a range of diverse target classes including enzymes, receptors, and cytokines. Most ligands bind with nanomolar affinities, with some reaching the picomolar range. To date, several bicyclic peptides have been positively evaluated in preclinical studies, and the first clinical tests are in sight. While bicyclic peptide phage display was developed with therapeutic applications in mind, these peptides are increasingly used as research tools for target evaluation or as basic research probes as well. Given the efficient development method, the ease of synthesis and handling, and the favorable binding and biophysical properties, bicyclic peptides are being developed against more and more targets, ever increasing their potential applications in research and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaycie Deyle
- Institute of Chemical Sciences
and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xu-Dong Kong
- Institute of Chemical Sciences
and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences
and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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18
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Valeur E, Guéret SM, Adihou H, Gopalakrishnan R, Lemurell M, Waldmann H, Grossmann TN, Plowright AT. New Modalities for Challenging Targets in Drug Discovery. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:10294-10323. [PMID: 28186380 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201611914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our ever-increasing understanding of biological systems is providing a range of exciting novel biological targets, whose modulation may enable novel therapeutic options for many diseases. These targets include protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions, which are, however, often refractory to classical small-molecule approaches. Other types of molecules, or modalities, are therefore required to address these targets, which has led several academic research groups and pharmaceutical companies to increasingly use the concept of so-called "new modalities". This Review defines for the first time the scope of this term, which includes novel peptidic scaffolds, oligonucleotides, hybrids, molecular conjugates, as well as new uses of classical small molecules. We provide the most representative examples of these modalities to target large binding surface areas such as those found in protein-protein interactions and for biological processes at the center of cell regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Valeur
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden
| | - Stéphanie M Guéret
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden.,AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hélène Adihou
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden.,AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ranganath Gopalakrishnan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden.,AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Malin Lemurell
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Dortmund, Germany.,Fakultät für Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 431 83, Sweden
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19
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Valeur E, Guéret SM, Adihou H, Gopalakrishnan R, Lemurell M, Waldmann H, Grossmann TN, Plowright AT. Neue Modalitäten für schwierige Zielstrukturen in der Wirkstoffentwicklung. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201611914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Valeur
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
| | - Stéphanie M. Guéret
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
- AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit; Abteilung Chemische Biologie; Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie; Dortmund Deutschland
| | - Hélène Adihou
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
- AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit; Abteilung Chemische Biologie; Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie; Dortmund Deutschland
| | - Ranganath Gopalakrishnan
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
- AstraZeneca MPI Satellite Unit; Abteilung Chemische Biologie; Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie; Dortmund Deutschland
| | - Malin Lemurell
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Abteilung Chemische Biologie; Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie; Dortmund Deutschland
- Fakultät für Chemie and Chemische Biologie; Technische Universität Dortmund; Deutschland
| | - Tom N. Grossmann
- Chemical Genomics Centre der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft; Dortmund Deutschland
- Department of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences; VU University Amsterdam; Niederlande
| | - Alleyn T. Plowright
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases; Innovative Medicines and Early Development Biotech Unit; AstraZeneca; Pepparedsleden 1 Mölndal 431 83 Schweden
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20
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van de Langemheen H, Korotkovs V, Bijl J, Wilson C, Kale SS, Heinis C, Liskamp RMJ. Polar Hinges as Functionalized Conformational Constraints in (Bi)cyclic Peptides. Chembiochem 2017; 18:387-395. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Helmus van de Langemheen
- School of Chemistry; University of Glasgow; Joseph Black Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Valerijs Korotkovs
- School of Chemistry; University of Glasgow; Joseph Black Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Joachim Bijl
- School of Chemistry; University of Glasgow; Joseph Black Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Claire Wilson
- School of Chemistry; University of Glasgow; Joseph Black Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
| | - Sangram S. Kale
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Rob M. J. Liskamp
- School of Chemistry; University of Glasgow; Joseph Black Building University Avenue Glasgow G12 8QQ UK
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21
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Wilbs J, Middendorp SJ, Heinis C. Improving the Binding Affinity of in-Vitro-Evolved Cyclic Peptides by Inserting Atoms into the Macrocycle Backbone. Chembiochem 2016; 17:2299-2303. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Wilbs
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; EPFL); 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Simon J. Middendorp
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; EPFL); 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; EPFL); 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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22
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Rentero Rebollo I, McCallin S, Bertoldo D, Entenza JM, Moreillon P, Heinis C. Development of Potent and Selective S. aureus Sortase A Inhibitors Based on Peptide Macrocycles. ACS Med Chem Lett 2016; 7:606-11. [PMID: 27326335 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sortases are transpeptidase enzymes that anchor surface proteins, including virulence factors, to the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, and they are potential targets for the development of anti-infective agents. While several large compound libraries were searched by high-throughput screening, no high-affinity inhibitors of sortases could be developed to date. Here, we applied phage display to screen billions of peptide macrocycles against sortase A (SrtA) of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). We were able to identify potent and selective inhibitors of SrtA that blocked SrtA-mediated anchoring of synthetic substrates to the surface of live S. aureus cells. A region present in all inhibitory peptides (Leu-Pro-Pro) resembled the natural substrates of SrtA (Leu-Pro-Xaa-Thr-Gly), suggesting that the macrocycles bind to the enzyme's active site and that they form similar molecular contacts as natural substrates. The evolved peptide macrocycles may be used as lead structures for the development of potent peptidomimetic SrtA inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Rentero Rebollo
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shawna McCallin
- Department
of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Davide Bertoldo
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - José Manuel Entenza
- Department
of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Moreillon
- Department
of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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23
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Urech-Varenne C, Radtke F, Heinis C. Phage Selection of Bicyclic Peptide Ligands of the Notch1 Receptor. ChemMedChem 2015; 10:1754-61. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201500261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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24
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Bionda N, Fasan R. Ribosomal Synthesis of Natural-Product-Like Bicyclic Peptides in Escherichia coli. Chembiochem 2015; 16:2011-6. [PMID: 26179106 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Methods to access natural-product-like macrocyclic peptides can disclose new opportunities for the exploration of this important structural class for chemical biology and drug discovery applications. Here, the scope and mechanism of a novel strategy for directing the biosynthesis of thioether-bridged bicyclic peptides in bacterial cells was investigated. This method entails split intein-catalyzed head-to-tail cyclization of a ribosomally produced precursor peptide, combined with inter-side-chain crosslinking through a genetically encoded cysteine-reactive amino acid. This strategy could be successfully applied to achieve formation of structurally diverse bicyclic peptides with high efficiency and selectivity in Escherichia coli. Insights into the sequence of reactions underlying the peptide bicyclization process were gained from time-course experiments. Finally, the potential utility of this methodology toward the discovery of macrocyclic peptides with enhanced functional properties was demonstrated through the isolation of a bicyclic peptide with sub-micromolar affinity for streptavidin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Bionda
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, RC Box 270216, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Rudi Fasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, RC Box 270216, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA.
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25
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Heinis C, Winter G. Encoded libraries of chemically modified peptides. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2015; 26:89-98. [PMID: 25768886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of powerful technologies for generating and screening DNA-encoded protein libraries has helped drive the development of proteins as pharmaceutical ligands. However the development of peptides as pharmaceutical ligands has been more limited. Although encoded peptide libraries are typically several orders of magnitude larger than classical chemical libraries, can be more readily screened, and can give rise to higher affinity ligands, their use as pharmaceutical ligands is limited by their intrinsic properties. Two of the intrinsic limitations include the rotational flexibility of the peptide backbone and the limited number (20) of natural amino acids. However these limitations can be overcome by use of chemical modification. For example, the libraries can be modified to introduce topological constraints such as cyclization linkers, or to introduce new chemical entities such as small molecule ligands, fluorophores and photo-switchable compounds. This article reviews the chemistry involved, the properties of the peptide ligands, and the new opportunities offered by chemical modification of DNA-encoded peptide libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Greg Winter
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
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26
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Abstract
Bicyclic peptides can bind with high affinity and selectivity to protein targets, making this format attractive for biotechnological and medicinal applications. The good binding properties are based to a large extent on the limited conformational flexibility of the two connected peptide rings. Bicyclic peptides with desired binding specificity can be isolated from phage display libraries that are generated by chemically cyclizing linear peptide on phage with alkylating reagents. Recently, we presented a strategy for the phage selection of bicyclic peptides based on two disulfide bridges. This approach allows the generation and screening of topologically highly diverse bicyclic peptide structures. Herein, we describe step-by-step protocols to clone and produce disulfide-cyclized bicyclic peptide libraries as well as to screen the libraries and to synthesize and characterize isolated bicyclic peptides.
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27
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Rentero Rebollo I, Sabisz M, Baeriswyl V, Heinis C. Identification of target-binding peptide motifs by high-throughput sequencing of phage-selected peptides. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:e169. [PMID: 25348396 PMCID: PMC4267670 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing was previously applied to phage-selected peptides in order to gain insight into the abundance and diversity of isolated peptides. Herein we developed a procedure to efficiently compare the sequences of large numbers of phage-selected peptides for the purpose of identifying target-binding peptide motifs. We applied the procedure to analyze bicyclic peptides isolated against five different protein targets: sortase A, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, coagulation factor XII, plasma kallikrein and streptavidin. We optimized sequence data filters to reduce biases originating from the sequencing method and developed sequence correction algorithms to prevent identification of false consensus motifs. With our strategy, we were able to identify rare target-binding peptide motifs, as well as to define more precisely consensus sequences and sub-groups of consensus sequences. This information is valuable to choose peptide leads for drug development and it facilitates identification of epitopes. We furthermore show that binding motifs can be identified after a single round of phage selection. Such a selection regimen reduces propagation-related bias and may facilitate application of phage display in non-specialized laboratories, as procedures such as bacterial infection, phage propagation and purification are not required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Rentero Rebollo
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michal Sabisz
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Baeriswyl
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christian Heinis
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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28
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Smith JM, Hill NC, Krasniak PJ, Fasan R. Synthesis of bicyclic organo-peptide hybrids via oxime/intein-mediated macrocyclization followed by disulfide bond formation. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 12:1135-42. [PMID: 24395107 DOI: 10.1039/c3ob42222d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A new strategy is described to generate bicyclic peptides that incorporate non-peptidic backbone elements starting from recombinant polypeptide precursors. These compounds are produced via a one-pot, two-step sequence, in which peptide macrocyclization by means of a bifunctional oxyamine/1,3-amino-thiol synthetic precursor is followed by intramolecular disulfide formation between the synthetic precursor-borne thiol and a cysteine embedded in the peptide sequence. This approach was found to be compatible with the cysteine residue occupying different positions within 8mer and 10mer target peptide sequences and across different synthetic precursor scaffolds, thereby enabling the formation of a variety of diverse bicyclic scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
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29
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Chen S, Bertoldo D, Angelini A, Pojer F, Heinis C. Peptide Ligands Stabilized by Small Molecules. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201309459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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30
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Chen S, Bertoldo D, Angelini A, Pojer F, Heinis C. Peptide Ligands Stabilized by Small Molecules. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:1602-6. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201309459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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31
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Chen S, Touati J, Heinis C. Tracking chemical reactions on the surface of filamentous phage using mass spectrometry. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:5267-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cc47496h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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32
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Chen S, Gfeller D, Buth SA, Michielin O, Leiman PG, Heinis C. Improving binding affinity and stability of peptide ligands by substituting glycines with D-amino acids. Chembiochem 2013; 14:1316-22. [PMID: 23828687 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201300228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Improving the binding affinity and/or stability of peptide ligands often requires testing of large numbers of variants to identify beneficial mutations. Herein we propose a type of mutation that promises a high success rate. In a bicyclic peptide inhibitor of the cancer-related protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), we observed a glycine residue that has a positive ϕ dihedral angle when bound to the target. We hypothesized that replacing it with a D-amino acid, which favors positive ϕ angles, could enhance the binding affinity and/or proteolytic resistance. Mutation of this specific glycine to D-serine in the bicyclic peptide indeed improved inhibitory activity (1.75-fold) and stability (fourfold). X-ray-structure analysis of the inhibitors in complex with uPA showed that the peptide backbone conformation was conserved. Analysis of known cyclic peptide ligands showed that glycine is one of the most frequent amino acids, and that glycines with positive ϕ angles are found in many protein-bound peptides. These results suggest that the glycine-to-D-amino acid mutagenesis strategy could be broadly applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Chen
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, BCH 5305 (Batochime), Avenue Forel 2, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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33
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Chen S, Rentero Rebollo I, Buth SA, Morales-Sanfrutos J, Touati J, Leiman PG, Heinis C. Bicyclic peptide ligands pulled out of cysteine-rich peptide libraries. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:6562-9. [PMID: 23560397 DOI: 10.1021/ja400461h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Bicyclic peptide ligands were found to have good binding affinity and target specificity. However, the method applied to generate bicyclic ligands based on phage-peptide alkylation is technically complex and limits its application to specialized laboratories. Herein, we report a method that involves a simpler and more robust procedure that additionally allows screening of structurally more diverse bicyclic peptide libraries. In brief, phage-encoded combinatorial peptide libraries of the format X(m)CX(n)CX(o)CX(p) are oxidized to connect two pairs of cysteines (C). This allows the generation of 3 × (m + n + o + p) different peptide topologies because the fourth cysteine can appear in any of the (m + n + o + p) randomized amino acid positions (X). Panning of such libraries enriched strongly peptides with four cysteines and yielded tight binders to protein targets. X-ray structure analysis revealed an important structural role of the disulfide bridges. In summary, the presented approach offers facile access to bicyclic peptide ligands with good binding affinities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Chen
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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34
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35
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Rentero Rebollo I, Heinis C. Phage selection of bicyclic peptides. Methods 2013; 60:46-54. [PMID: 23313750 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Revised: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bicyclic peptides are small, constrained peptides that can bind with high affinity and selectivity to protein targets. Their small size provides a number of advantages over larger protein-based ligands, including access to chemical synthesis, better tissue penetration, and a wider choice of application routes. Bicyclic peptide ligands can be identified using phage display technology with moderate effort and cost. Here we provide step-by-step protocols for the isolation of bicyclic peptide ligands using phage display. These protocols have been successfully used in our laboratory for the generation of high-affinity binders to a variety of protein targets. We describe library generation, affinity selection and ligand characterization, and provide troubleshooting advice concerning frequent problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Rentero Rebollo
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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