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Behzadipour Y, Hemmati S. Covalent conjugation and non-covalent complexation strategies for intracellular delivery of proteins using cell-penetrating peptides. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116910. [PMID: 38852512 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116910] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins provided new opportunities for patients and high sales volumes. However, they are formulated for extracellular targets. The lipophilic barrier of the plasma membrane renders the vast array of intracellular targets out of reach. Peptide-based delivery systems, namely cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have few safety concerns, and low immunogenicity, with control over administered doses. This study investigates CPP-based protein delivery systems by classifying them into CPP-protein "covalent conjugation" and CPP: protein "non-covalent complexation" categories. Covalent conjugates ensure the proximity of the CPP to the cargo, which can improve cellular uptake and endosomal escape. We will discuss various aspects of covalent conjugates through non-cleavable (stable) or cleavable bonds. Non-cleavable CPP-protein conjugates are produced by recombinant DNA technology to express the complete fusion protein in a host cell or by chemical ligation of CPP and protein, which ensures stability during the delivery process. CPP-protein cleavable bonds are classified into pH-sensitive and redox-sensitive bonds, enzyme-cleavable bonds, and physical stimuli cleavable linkers (light radiation, ultrasonic waves, and thermo-responsive). We have highlighted the key characteristics of non-covalent complexes through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to preserve the conformational integrity of the CPP and cargo. CPP-mediated protein delivery by non-covalent complexation, such as zippers, CPP adaptor methods, and avidin-biotin technology, are featured. Conclusively, non-covalent complexation methods are appropriate when a high number of CPP or protein samples are to be screened. In contrast, when the high biological activity of the protein is critical in the intracellular compartment, conjugation protocols are preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Behzadipour
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Shiva Hemmati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Okafor M, Champomier O, Raibaut L, Ozkan S, El Kholti N, Ory S, Chasserot-Golaz S, Gasman S, Hureau C, Faller P, Vitale N. Restoring cellular copper homeostasis in Alzheimer disease: a novel peptide shuttle is internalized by an ATP-dependent endocytosis pathway involving Rab5- and Rab14-endosomes. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1355963. [PMID: 38645276 PMCID: PMC11026709 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1355963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
CPPs, or Cell-Penetrating Peptides, offer invaluable utility in disease treatment due to their ability to transport various therapeutic molecules across cellular membranes. Their unique characteristics, such as biocompatibility and low immunogenicity, make them ideal candidates for delivering drugs, genes, or imaging agents directly into cells. This targeted delivery enhances treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. CPPs exhibit versatility, crossing biological barriers and reaching intracellular targets that conventional drugs struggle to access. This capability holds promise in treating a wide array of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases, offering a potent avenue for innovative and targeted therapies, yet their precise mechanism of cell entry is far from being fully understood. In order to correct Cu dysregulation found in various pathologies such as Alzheimer disease, we have recently conceived a peptide Cu(II) shuttle, based on the αR5W4 CPP, which, when bound to Cu(II), is able to readily enter a neurosecretory cell model, and release bioavailable Cu in cells. Furthermore, this shuttle has the capacity to protect cells in culture against oxidative stress-induced damage which occurs when Cu binds to the Aβ peptide. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the cell entry route used by this shuttle and determine in which compartment Cu is released. Pharmacological treatments, siRNA silencing and colocalization experiments with GFP-Rab fusion proteins, indicate that the shuttle is internalized by an ATP-dependent endocytosis pathway involving both Rab5 and Rab14 endosomes route and suggest an early release of Cu from the shuttle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Okafor
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut de Chimie—UMR7177, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Olivia Champomier
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut de Chimie—UMR7177, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurent Raibaut
- Institut de Chimie—UMR7177, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sebahat Ozkan
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Naima El Kholti
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Ory
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvette Chasserot-Golaz
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Gasman
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christelle Hureau
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR8241, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie—UMR7177, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Vitale
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR3212, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Klipp A, Burger M, Leroux JC. Get out or die trying: Peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115047. [PMID: 37536508 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics offer great potential to transform the biomedical landscape, encompassing the treatment of hereditary conditions and the development of better vaccines. However, the delivery of RNAs into the cell is hampered, among others, by poor endosomal escape. This major hurdle is often tackled using special lipids, polymers, or protein-based delivery vectors. In this review, we will focus on the most prominent peptide- and protein-based endosomal escape strategies with focus on RNA drugs. We discuss cell penetrating peptides, which are still incorporated into novel transfection systems today to promote endosomal escape. However, direct evidence for enhanced endosomal escape by the action of such peptides is missing and their transfection efficiency, even in permissive cell culture conditions, is rather low. Endosomal escape by the help of pore forming proteins or phospholipases, on the other hand, allowed to generate more efficient transfection systems. These are, however, often hampered by considerable toxicity and immunogenicity. We conclude that the perfect enhancer of endosomal escape has yet to be devised. To increase the chances of success, any new transfection system should be tested under relevant conditions and guided by assays that allow direct quantification of endosomal escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Klipp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael Burger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
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Cho DH, Hwang YJ, Park JH, Lee JY, Park JH, Jo I. Nucleus-targeted delivery of nitric oxide in human mesenchymal stem cells enhances osteogenic differentiation. Bioorg Chem 2023; 135:106483. [PMID: 37062230 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106483] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is an important gaseous signaling molecule in various physiological processes, which functions through interactions with its acceptor molecules located in organelles. NO has an extremely short half-life, making it challenging to experimentally achieve effective NO levels in organelles to study these interactions. Here we developed an organelle-specific, peptide-based NO delivery material that targets the nucleus. NO was attached to the SH group of a cysteine residue inserted into the N-terminus of a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) conjugated to varying repeats of the nuclear localization signal (NLS), which we denoted NO-CysCPP-NLS, through S-nitrosylation. NO-CysCPP-NLS strongly induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. This delivery concept can be extended to cells other than stem cells to elucidate the effects of NO release in the nucleus. Furthermore, conjugation of NO to CysCPP fused to mitochondria- or lysosome-targeting signals can be used to deliver NO to other organelles such as mitochondria and lysosomes, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Du-Hyong Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170 Hyunchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Jin Hwang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170 Hyunchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hee Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, 25 Magokdong-ro-2-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Young Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, 25 Magokdong-ro-2-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hyun Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, 25 Magokdong-ro-2-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea; AbT R&D Center, AZothBio.Inc, 520 Misa-daero, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do 12925, Republic of Korea.
| | - Inho Jo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, 25 Magokdong-ro-2-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea.
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Laniel A, Marouseau É, Nguyen DT, Froehlich U, McCartney C, Boudreault PL, Lavoie C. Characterization of PGua 4, a Guanidinium-Rich Peptoid that Delivers IgGs to the Cytosol via Macropinocytosis. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:1577-1590. [PMID: 36781165 PMCID: PMC9997486 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00783] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the structure-cellular penetration relationship of guanidinium-rich transporters (GRTs), we previously designed PGua4, a five-amino acid peptoid containing a conformationally restricted pattern of eight guanidines, which showed high cell-penetrating abilities and low cell toxicity. Herein, we characterized the cellular uptake selectivity, internalization pathway, and intracellular distribution of PGua4, as well as its capacity to deliver cargo. PGua4 exhibits higher penetration efficiency in HeLa cells than in six other cell lines (A549, Caco-2, fibroblast, HEK293, Mia-PaCa2, and MCF7) and is mainly internalized by clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. Confocal microscopy showed that it remained trapped in endosomes at low concentrations but induced pH-dependent endosomal membrane destabilization at concentrations ≥10 μM, allowing its diffusion into the cytoplasm. Importantly, PGua4 significantly enhanced macropinocytosis and the cellular uptake and cytosolic delivery of large IgGs following noncovalent complexation. Therefore, in addition to its peptoid nature conferring high resistance to proteolysis, PGua4 presents characteristics of a promising tool for IgG delivery and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréanne Laniel
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Étienne Marouseau
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Duc Tai Nguyen
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Ulrike Froehlich
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Claire McCartney
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Pierre-Luc Boudreault
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Christine Lavoie
- Institut de Pharmacologie
de Sherbrooke, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université
de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
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