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Xie F, Tang S, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Lin Y, Yao Y, Wang M, Gu Z, Wan J. Designing Peptide-Based Nanoinhibitors of Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) for Enhanced Chemo-immunotherapy. ACS Nano 2024; 18:1690-1701. [PMID: 38165832 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The combination of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chemotherapy has shown significant potential in the clinical treatment of various cancers. However, circulating regeneration of PD-L1 within tumor cells greatly limits the efficiency of chemo-immunotherapy and consequent patient response rates. Herein, we report the synthesis of a nanoparticle-based PD-L1 inhibitor (FRS) with a rational design for effective endogenous PD-L1 suppression. The nanoinhibitor is achieved through self-assembly of fluoroalkylated competitive peptides that target PD-L1 palmitoylation. The FRS nanoparticles provide efficient protection and delivery of functional peptides to the cytoplasm of tumors, showing greater inhibition of PD-L1 than nonfluorinated peptidic inhibitors. Moreover, we demonstrate that FRS synergizes with chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) to boost the antitumor activities via simultaneous reduction of PD-L1 abundance and induction of immunogenic cell death in murine colon tumor models. The nano strategy of PD-L1 regulation present in this study is expected to advance the development of ICB inhibitors and overcome the limitations of conventional ICB-assisted chemo-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjuan Xie
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Shasha Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinbing Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingying Lin
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Yining Yao
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiyan Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengying Gu
- Shanghai Institute of Thoracic Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, People's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China
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2
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Jülke EM, Fischer JP, Els-Heindl S, Bierer D, Flamme I, Köbberling J, Riedl B, Beck-Sickinger AG. Rational design of highly stabilized and selective adrenomedullin analogs. J Pept Sci 2023; 29:e3530. [PMID: 37423610 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The peptide hormone adrenomedullin (ADM) consists of 52 amino acids with a disulfide bond and an amidated C-terminus. Due to the vasodilatory and cardioprotective effects, the agonistic activity of the peptide on the adrenomedullin 1 receptor (AM1 R) is of high pharmacological interest. However, the wild-type peptide shows low metabolic stability leading to rapid degradation in the cardiovascular system. Previous work by our group has identified proteolytic cleavage sites and demonstrated stabilization of ADM by lipidation, cyclization, and N-methylation. Nevertheless, these ADM analogs showed reduced activity and subtype selectivity toward the closely related calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR). Here, we report on the rational development of ADM derivatives with increased proteolytic stability and high receptor selectivity. Stabilizing motifs, including lactamization and lipidation, were evaluated regarding AM1 R and CGRPR activation. Furthermore, the central DKDK motif of the peptide was replaced by oligoethylene glycol linkers. The modified peptides were synthesized by Fmoc/t-Bu solid-phase peptide synthesis and receptor activation of AM1 R and CGRPR was measured by cAMP reporter gene assay. Peptide stability was tested in human blood plasma and porcine liver homogenate and analyzed by RP-HPLC and MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. Combination of the favorable lactam, lipidation, ethylene glycol linker, and previously described disulfide mimetic resulted in highly stabilized analogs with a plasma half-life of more than 144 h. The compounds display excellent AM1 R activity and wild-type-like selectivity toward CGRPR. Additionally, dose-dependent vasodilatory effects of the ADM derivatives lasted for several hours in rodents. Thus, we successfully developed an ADM analog with long-term in vivo activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Jülke
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan-Patrick Fischer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sylvia Els-Heindl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Donald Bierer
- Division Pharmaceuticals, Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Ingo Flamme
- Division Pharmaceuticals, Research & Early Development, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Johannes Köbberling
- Division Pharmaceuticals, Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Bernd Riedl
- Division Pharmaceuticals, Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
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3
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Vink S, Akondi KB, Jin J, Poth K, Torres AM, Kuchel PW, Burke SL, Head GA, Alewood PF. Taipan Natriuretic Peptides Are Potent and Selective Agonists for the Natriuretic Peptide Receptor A. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073063. [PMID: 37049825 PMCID: PMC10095932 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular ailments are a major cause of mortality where over 1.3 billion people suffer from hypertension leading to heart-disease related deaths. Snake venoms possess a broad repertoire of natriuretic peptides with therapeutic potential for treating hypertension, congestive heart failure, and related cardiovascular disease. We now describe several taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) natriuretic peptides TNPa-e which stimulated cGMP production through the natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) with higher potencies for the rat NPR-A (rNPR-A) over human NPR-A (hNPR-A). TNPc and TNPd were the most potent, demonstrating 100- and 560-fold selectivity for rNPR-A over hNPR-A. In vivo studies found that TNPc decreased diastolic and systolic blood pressure (BP) and increased heart rate (HR) in conscious normotensive rabbits, to a level that was similar to that of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP). TNPc also enhanced the bradycardia due to cardiac afferent stimulation (Bezold-Jarisch reflex). This indicated that TNPc possesses the ability to lower blood pressure and facilitate cardiac vagal afferent reflexes but unlike hANP does not produce tachycardia. The 3-dimensional structure of TNPc was well defined within the pharmacophoric disulfide ring, displaying two turn-like regions (RMSD = 1.15 Å). Further, its much greater biological stability together with its selectivity and potency will enhance its usefulness as a biological tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Vink
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
| | - Kalyana Bharati Akondi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean Jin
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
| | - Kim Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
| | - Allan M Torres
- Nanoscale Organisation and Dynamics Group, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2759, Australia
| | - Philip W Kuchel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Sandra L Burke
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Geoffrey A Head
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
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Decker AP, Su Y, Mishra B, Verma A, Lushnikova T, Xie J, Wang G. Peptide Stability Is Important but Not a General Requirement for Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity In Vitro and In Vivo. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:738-749. [PMID: 36485036 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Peptide stability to proteases has been a major requirement for developing peptide therapeutics. This study investigates the effects of peptide stability on antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity under various conditions. For this purpose, two human cathelicidin-derived peptides differing in stability to proteases were utilized. While GF-17, a peptide derived from the major antimicrobial region of human LL-37, can be rapidly cleaved by proteases, the engineered peptide 17BIPHE2 is resistant to multiple proteases. In the standard antimicrobial susceptibility, killing kinetics, and membrane permeabilization assays conducted in vitro using planktonic bacteria, these two peptides displayed similar potency. The two peptides were also similarly active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) USA300 prior to biofilm formation. However, 17BIPHE2 was superior to GF-17 in disrupting preformed biofilms probably due to both enhanced stability and slightly higher DNA binding capacity. In a wax moth model, 17BIPHE2 better protected insects from MRSA infection-caused death than GF-17, consistent with the slower degradation of 17BIPHE2 than GF-17. Here, peptide antimicrobial activity was found to be critical for in vivo efficacy. When incorporated in the nanofiber/microneedle delivery device, GF-17 and 17BIPHE2 displayed a similar effect in eliminating MRSA in murine chronic wounds, underscoring the advantage of nanofibers in protecting the peptide from degradation. Since nanoformulation can ease the requirement of peptide stability, it opens the door to a direct use of natural peptides or their cocktails for antimicrobial treatment, accelerating the search of effective antibiofilm peptides to treat chronic wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron P Decker
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Yajuan Su
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Atul Verma
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Tamara Lushnikova
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Jingwei Xie
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
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Rodríguez-Alfonso A, Heck A, Ruiz-Blanco YB, Gilg A, Ständker L, Kuan SL, Weil T, Sanchez-Garcia E, Wiese S, Münch J, Harms M. Advanced EPI-X4 Derivatives Covalently Bind Human Serum Albumin Resulting in Prolonged Plasma Stability. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36499357 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced derivatives of the Endogenous Peptide Inhibitor of CXCR4 (EPI-X4) have shown therapeutic efficacy upon topical administration in animal models of asthma and dermatitis. Here, we studied the plasma stability of the EPI-X4 lead compounds WSC02 and JM#21, using mass spectrometry to monitor the chemical integrity of the peptides and a functional fluorescence-based assay to determine peptide function in a CXCR4-antibody competition assay. Although mass spectrometry revealed very rapid disappearance of both peptides in human plasma within seconds, the functional assay revealed a significantly higher half-life of 9 min for EPI-X4 WSC02 and 6 min for EPI-X4 JM#21. Further analyses demonstrated that EPI-X4 WSC02 and EPI-X4 JM#21 interact with low molecular weight plasma components and serum albumin. Albumin binding is mediated by the formation of a disulfide bridge between Cys10 in the EPI-X4 peptides and Cys34 in albumin. These covalently linked albumin-peptide complexes have a higher stability in plasma as compared with the non-bound peptides and retain the ability to bind and antagonize CXCR4. Remarkably, chemically synthesized albumin-EPI-X4 conjugates coupled by non-breakable bonds have a drastically increased plasma stability of over 2 h. Thus, covalent coupling of EPI-X4 to albumin in vitro before administration or in vivo post administration may significantly increase the pharmacokinetic properties of this new class of CXCR4 antagonists.
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Mori A, Masuda T, Ito S, Ohtsuki S. Human Hepatic Transporter Signature Peptides for Quantitative Targeted Absolute Proteomics: Selection, Digestion Efficiency, and Peptide Stability. Pharm Res 2022; 39:2965-2978. [PMID: 36131112 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03387-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Quantitative targeted absolute proteomics (QTAP) quantifies proteins by measuring the signature peptides produced from target proteins by trypsin digestion. The selection of signature peptides is critical for reliable peptide quantification. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively assess the digestion efficiency and stability of tryptic peptides and to identify optimal signature peptides for human hepatic transporters and membrane marker proteins. METHODS The plasma membrane fraction of the human liver was digested at different time points and the peptides were comprehensively quantified using quantitative proteomics. Transporters and membrane markers were quantified using the signature peptides by QTAP. RESULTS Tryptic peptides were classified into clusters with low digestion efficiency, low stability, and high digestion efficiency and stability. Using the cluster information, we found that a proline residue next to the digestion site or the peptide position in or close to the transmembrane domains lowers digestion efficiency. A peptide containing cysteine at the N-terminus or arginine-glycine lowers peptide stability. Based on this information and the time course of peptide quantification, optimal signature peptides were identified for human hepatic transporters and membrane markers. The quantification of transporters with multiple signature peptides yielded consistent absolute values with less than 30% of coefficient variants in human liver microsomes and homogenates. CONCLUSIONS The signature peptides selected in the present study enabled the reliable quantification of human hepatic transporters. The QTAP protocol using these optimal signature peptides provides quantitative data on hepatic transporters usable for integrated pharmacokinetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Mori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Takeshi Masuda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan.,Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Shingo Ito
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan.,Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Sumio Ohtsuki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan.
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Klubthawee N, Bovone G, Marco‐Dufort B, Guzzi EA, Aunpad R, Tibbitt MW. Biopolymer Nano-Network for Antimicrobial Peptide Protection and Local Delivery. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101426. [PMID: 34936732 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) develops when bacteria no longer respond to conventional antimicrobial treatment. The limited treatment options for resistant infections result in a significantly increased medical burden. Antimicrobial peptides offer advantages for treatment of resistant infections, including broad-spectrum activity and lower risk of resistance development. However, sensitivity to proteolytic cleavage often limits their clinical application. Here, a moldable and biodegradable colloidal nano-network is presented that protects bioactive peptides from enzymatic degradation and delivers them locally. An antimicrobial peptide, PA-13, is encapsulated electrostatically into positively and negatively charged nanoparticles made of chitosan and dextran sulfate without requiring chemical modification. Mixing and concentration of oppositely charged particles form a nano-network with the rheological properties of a cream or injectable hydrogel. After exposure to proteolytic enzymes, the formed nano-network loaded with PA-13 eliminates Pseudomonas aeruginosa during in vitro culture and in an ex vivo porcine skin model while the unencapsulated PA-13 shows no antibacterial effect. This demonstrates the ability of the nano-network to protect the antimicrobial peptide in an enzyme-challenged environment, such as a wound bed. Overall, the nano-network presents a useful platform for antimicrobial peptide protection and delivery without impacting peptide bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natthaporn Klubthawee
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Thammasat University Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
| | - Giovanni Bovone
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092 Switzerland
| | - Bruno Marco‐Dufort
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092 Switzerland
| | - Elia A. Guzzi
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092 Switzerland
| | - Ratchaneewan Aunpad
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Thammasat University Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
| | - Mark W. Tibbitt
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich 8092 Switzerland
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Legrand P, Gahoual R, Houzé P, Dufaÿ S. Accelerated Stability Assessment Program to Predict Long-term Stability of Drugs: Application to Ascorbic Acid and to a Cyclic Hexapeptide. AAPS PharmSciTech 2021; 22:234. [PMID: 34498167 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-021-02121-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During pharmaceutical development, the stability of the product is assessed during long-term study. If any stability issues are discovered at this point of the process, it will result in re-formulation and important loss of time and cost. Therefore, important efforts are made in order to select the most stable product. Nevertheless, predicting the stability of the developed product at early stage of the development is challenging. Accelerated stability assessment program (ASAP), based on modified Arrhenius equation and isoconversion approach, appears as an interesting tool allowing to evaluate stability and shelf-life of pharmaceutical product in a short period of time. Nevertheless, few studies using these approaches are published in the literature, and the majority concern small drug molecules. Here, this approach was applied on a small drug molecule, ascorbic acid (AA), and on a cyclic hexapeptide named cFEE. AA and cFEE have been exposed to various temperatures for a maximum of 3 weeks, and then analyzed by capillary electrophoresis coupled to UV detection (CZE-UV) for AA or LC-MS for cFEE. The level of major degradation products was used to build ASAP models and predict the stability of both compounds. Comparison between predicted and long-term data were found accurate for both compounds undergoing two different degradation pathways (oxidation and hydrolysis), confirming the real interest of accelerated predicting stability approach for consistent determination of long-term stability shelf-life of pharmaceutical products.
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Lenčo J, Šemlej T, Khalikova MA, Fabrik I, Švec F. Sense and Nonsense of Elevated Column Temperature in Proteomic Bottom-up LC-MS Analyses. J Proteome Res 2020; 20:420-432. [PMID: 33085896 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Elevated column temperature represents a simple means for improving chromatographic separation of peptides. Here, we demonstrated the advantages of the column temperature in peptide separation using state-of-the-art columns. More importantly, we also determined how temperature can impair proteomic bottom-up analyses. We found that an elevated temperature in combination with the acidic pH of the mobile phase induced in-column peptide hydrolysis with high specificity to Asp and accelerated five modification reactions of amino acids. The positive effects of temperature dominated in the 30 min long gradients since the column operated at 90 °C provided the largest number of identified peptides and proteins. However, the adverse effects of temperature on peptide integrity in longer liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses required its reduction to obtain optimum results. The largest number of peptides was identified using the column maintained at 75 °C in 60 min long gradients, at 60 °C in 120 min long gradients, and at 45 °C in 240 min long gradients. Our results indicate that no universal column temperature exists for bottom-up LC-MS analyses. Quite the contrary, the temperature setting must be selected rationally to exploit the full capabilities of the state-of-the-art mass spectrometers in proteomic LC-MS analyses, with the gradient time being a critical factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juraj Lenčo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Šemlej
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Maria A Khalikova
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Fabrik
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - František Švec
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203/8, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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Cesari A, Recchimurzo A, Fabiano A, Balzano F, Rossi N, Migone C, Uccello-Barretta G, Zambito Y, Piras AM. Improvement of Peptide Affinity and Stability by Complexing to Cyclodextrin-Grafted Ammonium Chitosan. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:polym12020474. [PMID: 32092950 PMCID: PMC7077720 DOI: 10.3390/polym12020474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclodextrin-grafted polymers are attractive biomaterials that could bring together the host–guest complexing capability of pristine cyclodextrin and the pharmaceutical features of the polymeric backbone. The present paper is aimed at characterizing the potential application of ammonium–chitosan grafted with 2-methyl-β-cyclodextrin (N+-rCh-MCD) as the functional macromolecular complexing agent for the oral administration of the neuropeptide dalargin (DAL). Specific NMR characterization procedures, along with UV and fluorescence techniques, as well as biological in vitro assessments have been performed. The results indicate that N+-rCh-MCD forms water-soluble complexes with DAL, with a prevalent involvement of Tyr or Phe over Leu and Ala residues. The association constant of DAL with the polymeric derivative is one order of magnitude higher than that with the pristine cyclodextrin (Ka: 2600 M−1 and 120 M−1, respectively). Additionally, N+-rCh-MCD shields DAL from enzymatic degradation in gastrointestinal in vitro models with a three-fold time delay, suggesting a future pharmaceutical exploitation of the polymeric derivative. Therefore, the greater affinity of N+-rCh-MCD for DAL and its protective effect against enzymatic hydrolysis can be attributed to the synergistic cooperation between cyclodextrin and the polymer, which is realized only when the former is covalently linked to the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cesari
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.R.); (G.U.-B.)
| | - Alessandra Recchimurzo
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.R.); (G.U.-B.)
| | - Angela Fabiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.F.); (N.R.); (C.M.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Federica Balzano
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.R.); (G.U.-B.)
- Correspondence: (F.B.); (A.M.P.)
| | - Nicolò Rossi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.F.); (N.R.); (C.M.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Chiara Migone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.F.); (N.R.); (C.M.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Gloria Uccello-Barretta
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.R.); (G.U.-B.)
| | - Ylenia Zambito
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.F.); (N.R.); (C.M.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Anna Maria Piras
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.F.); (N.R.); (C.M.); (Y.Z.)
- Correspondence: (F.B.); (A.M.P.)
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Altman RA, Sharma KK, Rajewski LG, Toren PC, Baltezor MJ, Pal M, Karad SN. Tyr 1-ψ[( Z)CF═CH]-Gly 2 Fluorinated Peptidomimetic Improves Distribution and Metabolism Properties of Leu-Enkephalin. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:1735-1742. [PMID: 29648788 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid peptides are key regulators in cellular and intercellular physiological responses, and could be therapeutically useful for modulating several pathological conditions. Unfortunately, the use of peptide-based agonists to target centrally located opioid receptors is limited by poor physicochemical (PC), distribution, metabolic, and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) properties that restrict penetration across the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion. To address these problems, the present paper exploits fluorinated peptidomimetics to simultaneously modify PC and DMPK properties, thus facilitating entry into the central nervous system. As an initial example, the present paper exploited the Tyr1-ψ[( Z)CF═CH]-Gly2 peptidomimetic to improve PC druglike characteristics (computational), plasma and microsomal degradation, and systemic and CNS distribution of Leu-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu). Thus, the fluoroalkene replacement transformed an instable in vitro tool compound into a stable and centrally distributed in vivo probe. In contrast, the Tyr1-ψ[CF3CH2-NH]-Gly2 peptidomimetic decreased stability by accelerating proteolysis at the Gly3-Phe4 position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Altman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Krishna K. Sharma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Lian G. Rajewski
- Biotechnology Innovation and Optimization Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Paul C. Toren
- Biotechnology Innovation and Optimization Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Michael J. Baltezor
- Biotechnology Innovation and Optimization Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
| | - Mohan Pal
- Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Somnath N. Karad
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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Birch D, Christensen MV, Staerk D, Franzyk H, Nielsen HM. Stereochemistry as a determining factor for the effect of a cell-penetrating peptide on cellular viability and epithelial integrity. Biochem J 2018; 475:1773-88. [PMID: 29686042 DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20180155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) comprise efficient peptide-based delivery vectors. Owing to the inherent poor enzymatic stability of peptides, CPPs displaying partial or full replacement of l-amino acids with the corresponding d-amino acids might possess advantages as delivery vectors. Thus, the present study aims to elucidate the membrane- and metabolism-associated effects of l-Penetratin (l-PEN) and its corresponding all-d analog (d-PEN). These effects were investigated when exerted on hepatocellular (HepG2) or intestinal (Caco-2 and IEC-6) cell culture models. The head-to-head comparison of these enantiomeric CPPs included evaluation of their effects on cell viability and morphology, epithelial membrane integrity, and cellular ultrastructure. In all investigated cell models, a rapid decrease in cell viability, pronounced membrane perturbation and an altered ultrastructure were detected upon exposure to d-PEN. At equimolar concentrations, these observations were less pronounced or even absent for cells exposed to l-PEN. Both CPPs remained stable for at least 2 h during exposure to proliferating cells (cultured for 24 h), although d-PEN exhibited a longer half-life when compared with that of l-PEN when exposed to well-differentiated cell monolayers (cultured for 18-20 days). Thus, the stereochemistry of the CPP penetratin significantly influences its effects on cell viability and epithelial integrity when profiled against a panel of mammalian cells.
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Zuconelli CR, Brock R, Adjobo-Hermans MJW. Linear Peptides in Intracellular Applications. Curr Med Chem 2017; 24:1862-1873. [PMID: 28482790 DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170508143523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To this point, efforts to develop therapeutic peptides for intracellular applications were guided by the perception that unmodified linear peptides are highly unstable and therefore structural modifications are required to reduce proteolytic breakdown. Largely, this concept is a consequence of the fact that most research on intracellular peptides hitherto has focused on peptide degradation in the context of antigen processing, rather than on peptide stability. Interestingly, inside cells, endogenous peptides lacking any chemical modifications to enhance stability escape degradation to the point that they may even modulate intracellular signaling pathways. In addition, many unmodified synthetic peptides designed to interfere with intracellular signaling, following introduction into cells, have the expected activity demonstrating that biologically relevant concentrations can be reached. This review provides an overview of results and techniques relating to the exploration and application of linear, unmodified peptides. After an introduction to intracellular peptide turnover, the review mentions examples for synthetic peptides as modulators of intracellular signaling, introduces endogenous peptides with bioactivity, techniques to measure peptide stability, and peptide delivery. Future experiments should elucidate the rules needed to predict promising peptide candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane R Zuconelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Merel J W Adjobo-Hermans
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Waterman R, Lewis J, Waterman KC. Accelerated Stability Modeling for Peptides: a Case Study with Bacitracin. AAPS PharmSciTech 2017; 18:1692-1698. [PMID: 27714699 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-016-0635-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Accelerated Stability Assessment Program (ASAP) was applied for the first time to a peptide, the antibiotic active pharmaceutical ingredient bacitracin. Bacitracin and its complex with zinc were exposed to temperature and relative humidity conditions from 50 to 80°C and from 0 to 63% for up to 21 days. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the stressed samples for both degradant formation and loss of the active (bacitracin A) and two inactive isoforms, with identities confirmed by mass spectrometry. These data were then analyzed using a humidity-corrected Arrhenius equation and isoconversion approach to create a shelf-life predicting model for typical storage conditions. Model fitting was found to be good with low residuals in both temperature and relative humidity axes for all parameters examined. The generated model's predictions for both the native and zinc complex of bacitracin for both formation of the major degradation product (F) and loss of the active isoform (A) were consistent with longer-term measured values at 30°C/53%RH and 40°C/75%RH, validating this approach for accelerating the determination of long-term stability of a peptide.
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Abstract
Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are gene-coded defense molecules discovered in all the three life domains: Eubacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. The latter covers protists, fungi, plants, and animals. It is now recognized that amino acid composition, peptide sequence, and post-translational modifications determine to a large extent the structure and function of AMPs. This article systematically describes post-translational modifications of natural AMPs annotated in the antimicrobial peptide database (http://aps.unmc.edu/AP). Currently, 1147 out of 1755 AMPs in the database are modified and classified into more than 17 types. Through chemical modifications, the peptides fold into a variety of structural scaffolds that target bacterial surfaces or molecules within cells. Chemical modifications also confer desired functions to a particular peptide. Meanwhile, these modifications modulate other peptide properties such as stability. Elucidation of the relationship between AMP property and chemical modification inspires peptide engineering. Depending on the objective of our design, peptides may be modified in various ways so that the desired features can be enhanced whereas unwanted properties can be minimized. Therefore, peptide design plays an essential role in developing natural AMPs into a new generation of therapeutic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA,
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16
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Abstract
The ability of several naturally occurring substances known as osmolytes to induce helix formation in an alanine-based peptide have been investigated. As predicted by the osmophobic effect hypothesis, the osmolytes studies here do induce helix formation. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is the best structure-inducing osmolytes investigated here, but it is not as effective in promoting helix formation as the common cosolvent trifluoroethanol (TFE). We also provide a semiquantitative study of the ability of TMAO to induce helix formation and urea, which acts as a helix (and protein) denaturant. We find that on a molar basis, these agents are exactly counteractive as structure inducing and unfolding agents. Finally, we extend the investigations to the effects of urea and TMAO on the stability of a dimeric coiled-coil peptide and find identical results. Together these results support the tenets of the osmophobic hypothesis and highlight the importance of the polypeptide backbone in protein folding and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Celinski
- Department of Medical Biochemistry & Genetics, Center for Advanced Biomolecular Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-1114, USA
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