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Behera LM, Gupta PK, Ghosh M, Shadangi S, Rana S. A Rationally Designed Synthetic Antiviral Peptide Binder Targeting the Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 38657271 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, is the causative agent responsible for the spread of the COVID19 pandemic across the globe. The global impact of the COVID19 pandemic, the successful approval of vaccines for controlling the pandemic, and the further resurgence of COVID19 necessitate the exploration and validation of alternative therapeutic avenues targeting SARS-CoV-2. The initial entry and further invasion by SARS-CoV-2 require strong protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors expressed on the cell surfaces of various tissues. In principle, disruption of the PPIs between the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor by designer peptides with optimized pharmacology appears to be an ideal choice for potentially preventing viral entry with minimal immunogenicity. In this context, the current study describes a short, synthetic designer peptide (codenamed SR16, ≤18 aa, molecular weight ≤2.5 kDa), which has a few noncoded amino acids, demonstrates a helical conformation in solution, and also engages the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 through a high-affinity interaction, as judged from a battery of biophysical studies. Further, the designer peptide demonstrates resistance to trypsin degradation, appears to be nontoxic to mammalian cells, and also does not induce hemolysis in freshly isolated human erythrocytes. In summary, SR16 appears to be an ideal peptide binder targeting the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, which has the potential for further optimization and development as an antiviral agent targeting SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Mohan Behera
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 752050, Odisha, India
| | - Pulkit Kr Gupta
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 752050, Odisha, India
| | - Manaswini Ghosh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 752050, Odisha, India
| | - Sucharita Shadangi
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 752050, Odisha, India
| | - Soumendra Rana
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar 752050, Odisha, India
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2
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Bedding MJ, Franck C, Johansen-Leete J, Aggarwal A, Maxwell JWC, Patel K, Hawkins PME, Low JKK, Siddiquee R, Sani HM, Ford DJ, Turville S, Mackay JP, Passioura T, Christie M, Payne RJ. Discovery of High Affinity Cyclic Peptide Ligands for Human ACE2 with SARS-CoV-2 Entry Inhibitory Activity. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:141-152. [PMID: 38085789 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The development of effective antiviral compounds is essential for mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entry of SARS-CoV-2 virions into host cells is mediated by the interaction between the viral spike (S) protein and membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the surface of epithelial cells. Inhibition of this viral protein-host protein interaction is an attractive avenue for the development of antiviral molecules with numerous spike-binding molecules generated to date. Herein, we describe an alternative approach to inhibit the spike-ACE2 interaction by targeting the spike-binding interface of human ACE2 via mRNA display. Two consecutive display selections were performed to direct cyclic peptide ligand binding toward the spike binding interface of ACE2. Through this process, potent cyclic peptide binders of human ACE2 (with affinities in the picomolar to nanomolar range) were identified, two of which neutralized SARS-CoV-2 entry. This work demonstrates the potential of targeting ACE2 for the generation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics as well as broad spectrum antivirals for the treatment of SARS-like betacoronavirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Bedding
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Charlotte Franck
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Jason Johansen-Leete
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | | | - Joshua W C Maxwell
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Karishma Patel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Paige M E Hawkins
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Jason K K Low
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Rezwan Siddiquee
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Hakimeh Moghaddas Sani
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Daniel J Ford
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | | | - Joel P Mackay
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Toby Passioura
- Sydney Analytical Core Research Facility, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Mary Christie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Richard J Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Liu M, Morewood R, Yoshisada R, Pascha MN, Hopstaken AJP, Tarcoveanu E, Poole DA, de Haan CAM, Nitsche C, Jongkees SAK. Selective thiazoline peptide cyclisation compatible with mRNA display and efficient synthesis. Chem Sci 2023; 14:10561-10569. [PMID: 37799990 PMCID: PMC10548512 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03117a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide display technologies are a powerful method for discovery of new bioactive sequences, but linear sequences are often very unstable in a biological setting. Macrocyclisation of such peptides is beneficial for target affinity, selectivity, stability, and cell permeability. However, macrocyclisation of a linear hit is unreliable and requires extensive structural knowledge. Genetically encoding macrocyclisation during the discovery process is a better approach, and so there is a need for diverse cyclisation options that can be deployed in the context of peptide display techniques such as mRNA display. In this work we show that meta-cyanopyridylalanine (mCNP) can be ribosomally incorporated into peptides, forming a macrocycle in a spontaneous and selective reaction with an N-terminal cysteine generated from bypassing the initiation codon in translation. This reactive amino acid can also be easily incorporated into peptides during standard Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis, which can otherwise be a bottleneck in transferring from peptide discovery to peptide testing and application. We demonstrate the potential of this new method by discovery of macrocyclic peptides targeting influenza haemagglutinin, and molecular dynamics simulation indicates the mCNP cross-link stabilises a beta sheet structure in a representative of the most abundant cluster of active hits. Cyclisation by mCNP is also shown to be compatible with thioether macrocyclisation at a second cysteine to form bicycles of different architectures, provided that cysteine placement reinforces selectivity, with this bicyclisation happening spontaneously and in a controlled manner during peptide translation. Our new approach generates macrocycles with a more rigid cross-link and with better control of regiochemistry when additional cysteines are present, opening these up for further exploitation in chemical modification of in vitro translated peptides, and so is a valuable addition to the peptide discovery toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglong Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Richard Morewood
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Ryoji Yoshisada
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Mirte N Pascha
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Yalelaan 1 3584 CL Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Antonius J P Hopstaken
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Eliza Tarcoveanu
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | - David A Poole
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis A M de Haan
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Yalelaan 1 3584 CL Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Christoph Nitsche
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Seino A K Jongkees
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
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Beeg M, Baroni S, Piotti A, Porta A, De Luigi A, Cagnotto A, Gobbi M, Diomede L, Salmona M. A Comprehensive Technology Platform for the Rapid Discovery of Peptide Inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12146. [PMID: 37569522 PMCID: PMC10418426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512146] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We developed and validated a technology platform for designing and testing peptides inhibiting the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-based pseudoviruses. This platform integrates target evaluation, in silico inhibitor design, peptide synthesis, and efficacy screening. We generated a cyclic peptide library derived from the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The cell-free validation process by ELISA competition assays and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) studies revealed that the cyclic peptide c9_05, but not its linear form, binds well to ACE2. Moreover, it effectively inhibited the transduction in HEK293, stably expressing the human ACE2 receptor of pseudovirus particles displaying the SARS-CoV-2 spike in the Wuhan or UK variants. However, the inhibitory efficacy of c9_05 was negligible against the Omicron variant, and it failed to impede the entry of pseudoviruses carrying the B.1.351 (South African) spike. These variants contain three or more mutations known to increase affinity to ACE2. This suggests further refinement is needed for potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibition. Our study hints at a promising approach to develop inhibitors targeting viral infectivity receptors, including SARS-CoV-2's. This platform also promises swift identification and evaluation of inhibitors for other emergent viruses.
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Thijssen V, Hurdiss DL, Debski-Antoniak OJ, Spence MA, Franck C, Norman A, Aggarwal A, Mokiem NJ, van Dongen DAA, Vermeir SW, Liu M, Li W, Chatziandreou M, Donselaar T, Du W, Drulyte I, Bosch BJ, Snijder J, Turville SG, Payne RJ, Jackson CJ, van Kuppeveld FJM, Jongkees SAK. A broad-spectrum macrocyclic peptide inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303292120. [PMID: 37339194 PMCID: PMC10293842 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303292120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had great societal and health consequences. Despite the availability of vaccines, infection rates remain high due to immune evasive Omicron sublineages. Broad-spectrum antivirals are needed to safeguard against emerging variants and future pandemics. We used messenger RNA (mRNA) display under a reprogrammed genetic code to find a spike-targeting macrocyclic peptide that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) Wuhan strain infection and pseudoviruses containing spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants or related sarbecoviruses. Structural and bioinformatic analyses reveal a conserved binding pocket between the receptor-binding domain, N-terminal domain, and S2 region, distal to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor-interaction site. Our data reveal a hitherto unexplored site of vulnerability in sarbecoviruses that peptides and potentially other drug-like molecules can target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Thijssen
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CG, the Netherlands
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel L. Hurdiss
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Oliver J. Debski-Antoniak
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew A. Spence
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, CanberraACT2601, Australia
| | - Charlotte Franck
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
| | - Alexander Norman
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
| | | | - Nadia J. Mokiem
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CH, the Netherlands
| | - David A. A. van Dongen
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CG, the Netherlands
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Stein W. Vermeir
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CG, the Netherlands
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Minglong Liu
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CG, the Netherlands
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, the Netherlands
| | - Wentao Li
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Marianthi Chatziandreou
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Tim Donselaar
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Wenjuan Du
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Ieva Drulyte
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Materials and Structural Analysis, Eindhoven5651GG, the Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Joost Snijder
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CH, the Netherlands
| | | | - Richard J. Payne
- School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, SydneyNSW2006, Australia
| | - Colin J. Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, CanberraACT2601, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Australian National University, CanberraACT2601, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, CanberraACT2601, Australia
| | - Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld
- Section Virology, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CL, the Netherlands
| | - Seino A. K. Jongkees
- Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht3584CG, the Netherlands
- Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081HV, the Netherlands
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