Design, Synthesis, and Structural Characterization of Lysine Covalent BH3 Peptides Targeting Mcl-1.

Modulating disease-relevant protein-protein interactions (PPIs) using pharmacological tools is a critical step toward the design of novel therapeutic strategies. Over the years, however, targeting PPIs has proven a very challenging task owing to the large interfacial areas. Our recent efforts identified possible novel routes for the design of potent and selective inhibitors of PPIs using a structure-based design of covalent inhibitors targeting Lys residues. In this present study, we report on the design, synthesis, and characterizations of the first Lys-covalent BH3 peptide that has a remarkable affinity and selectivity for hMcl-1 over the closely related hBfl-1 protein. Our structural studies, aided by X-ray crystallography, provide atomic-level details of the inhibitor interactions that can be used to further translate these discoveries into novel generation, Lys-covalent pro-apoptotic agents.

Experimental Characterization of the Binding Affinities between Proapoptotic BH3 Peptides and Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 Proteins.

The Bcl-2 family proteins are key regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and are among the validated targets for developing anticancer drugs. Protein-protein interactions between the pro- and antiapoptotic members of this family determine mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization. Elucidating such protein-protein interactions in a quantitative way is helpful for network pharmacology studies on the Bcl-2 family, which, in turn, will provide valuable guidance for developing new anticancer therapies. In this study, the binding affinities of the BH3 peptides derived from eight proapoptotic BH3-only proteins (i.e., Bid, Bim, Puma, Noxa, Bad, Bmf, Bik, Hrk) against five well-studied antiapoptotic proteins (i.e., Bcl-xL , Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-w, Bfl-1) in the Bcl-2 family have been measured. Three different types of binding assay (i.e., surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence polarization, and homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence) were employed for cross-validation. The results confirmed that each proapoptotic BH3 peptide exhibited a distinct binding profile against the five antiapoptotic proteins. The binding data obtained herein serve as a fresh update or correction to existing knowledge. It is expected that such binding data will be helpful for building more accurate mathematical network models for depicting the complex protein-protein interactions within the Bcl-2 family.

Crystal Structures of Anti-apoptotic BFL-1 and Its Complex with a Covalent Stapled Peptide Inhibitor.

BCL-2 family proteins are high-priority cancer targets whose structures provide essential blueprints for drug design. Whereas numerous structures of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein complexes with α-helical BH3 peptides have been reported, the corresponding panel of apo structures remains incomplete. Here, we report the crystal structure of apo BFL-1 at 1.69-Å resolution, revealing similarities and key differences among unliganded anti-apoptotic proteins. Unlike all other BCL-2 proteins, apo BFL-1 contains a surface-accessible cysteine within its BH3-binding groove, allowing for selective covalent targeting by a NOXA BH3-based stapled peptide inhibitor. The crystal structure of this complex demonstrated the sulfhydryl bond and fortuitous interactions between the acrylamide-bearing moiety and a newly formed hydrophobic cavity. Comparison of the apo and BH3-liganded structures further revealed an induced conformational change. The two BFL-1 structures expand our understanding of the surface landscapes available for therapeutic targeting so that the apoptotic blockades of BFL-1-dependent cancers can be overcome.

Functional Interrogation of the N-Terminal Lid of MDMX in p53 Binding via Native Chemical Ligation.

The homologous proteins MDM2 and MDMX negatively regulate the tumor suppressor protein p53 by antagonizing p53 transactivation activity and targeting p53 for degradation. MDM2 and MDMX bind to p53 via N-terminal p53-binding domains to control the level of p53. The N-terminal regions of MDM2 and MDMX are modified in vivo under stressed conditions, suggesting that modifications to MDM2/MDMX also may affect the p53-MDM2/MDMX interaction. Ample evidence suggests that the MDM2 lid (residues 1-24) is partially structured and significantly reduces its binding affinity with p53 several fold. Since MDM2 and MDMX possess very similar p53-binding domains but different lids, however, the function of the N-terminal lid of MDMX still remains poorly understood. Using a native chemical ligation technique, the p53-binding domain of MDMX, (1-108)MDMX, and its N-terminal lid (residues 1-23) truncated analogue (24-108)MDMX were chemically synthesized. We comparatively characterized their structures by circular dichroism (CD) spectra, and measured their binding affinities with a panel of p53-derived peptide ligands by fluorescence polarization and surface plasmon resonance assays. Our results indicate that, as opposed to the lid of MDM2, the lid of MDMX has little effect on p53-binding, adopts no structural conformation, and has rare auto-inhibitory function. Different lid modifications of MDM2 and MDMX are functionally different with respect to p53 binding, which should be considered when designing dual specific inhibitors of MDM2 and MDMX.

Structural basis of how stress-induced MDMX phosphorylation activates p53.

The tumor-suppressor protein p53 is tightly controlled in normal cells by its two negative regulators--the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2 and its homolog MDMX. Under stressed conditions such as DNA damage, p53 escapes MDM2- and MDMX-mediated functional inhibition and degradation, acting to prevent damaged cells from proliferating through induction of cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence or apoptosis. Ample evidence suggests that stress signals induce phosphorylation of MDM2 and MDMX, leading to p53 activation. However, the structural basis of stress-induced p53 activation remains poorly understood because of the paucity of technical means to produce site-specifically phosphorylated MDM2 and MDMX proteins for biochemical and biophysical studies. Herein, we report total chemical synthesis, via native chemical ligation, and functional characterization of (24-108)MDMX and its Tyr99-phosphorylated analog with respect to their ability to interact with a panel of p53-derived peptide ligands and PMI, a p53-mimicking but more potent peptide antagonist of MDMX, using FP and surface plasmon resonance techniques. Phosphorylation of MDMX at Tyr99 weakens peptide binding by approximately two orders of magnitude. Comparative X-ray crystallographic analyses of MDMX and of pTyr99 MDMX in complex with PMI as well as modeling studies reveal that the phosphate group of pTyr99 imposes extensive steric clashes with the C-terminus of PMI or p53 peptide and induces a significant lateral shift of the peptide ligand, contributing to the dramatic decrease in the binding affinity of MDMX for p53. Because DNA damage activates c-Abl tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates MDMX at Tyr99, our findings afford a rare glimpse at the structural level of how stress-induced MDMX phosphorylation dislodges p53 from the inhibitory complex and activates it in response to DNA damage.

Novel Mcl-1/Bcl-2 dual inhibitors created by the structure-based hybridization of drug-divided building blocks and a fragment deconstructed from a known two-face BH3 mimetic.

We have previously reported a small-molecule two-face Bim BH3 mimetic, 2,3-dihydroxy-6-(4-isopropylphenylthio)anthracene-9,10-dione (1). Herein, we linked a polyphenol fragment, which was deconstructed from compound 1, with a drug-derived building block gained from computer-aided molecular design. 2-Phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole as a new scaffold for two-face Bim mimetics was developed; based on this, a series of Mcl-1/Bcl-2 dual inhibitors were obtained. The most potent compound 6d binds to Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 with K(i) values of 127 and 607 nM, respectively, and effectively induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent, mechanism-based manner in multiple cancer cell lines.

Multivalent design of apoptosis-inducing bid-BH3 peptide-oligosaccharides boosts the intracellular activity at identical overall peptide concentrations.

Multivalent peptide-oligosaccharide conjugates were prepared and used to investigate the multivalency effect concerning the activity of Bid-BH3 peptides in live cells. Dextran oligosaccharides were carboxyethylated selectively in the 2-position of the carbohydrate units and activated for the ligation of N-terminally cysteinylated peptides. Ligation through maleimide coupling was found to be superior to the native chemical ligation protocol. Monomeric Bid-BH3 peptides were virtually inactive, whereas pentameric peptide conjugates induced apoptosis up to 20-fold stronger at identical peptide concentrations. Comparison of lowly multivalent and highly multivalent peptide dextrans proved a multivalency effect in life cells which was specific for the BH3 peptide sequence.

Anticalins small engineered binding proteins based on the lipocalin scaffold.

Anticalins are a novel class of small, robust proteins with designed ligand-binding properties derived from the natural lipocalin scaffold. Due to their compact molecular architecture, comprising a single polypeptide chain, they provide several benefits as protein therapeutics, such as high target specificity, good tissue penetration, low immunogenicity, tunable plasma half-life, efficient Escherichia coli expression, and suitability for furnishing with additional effector functions via genetic fusion or chemical conjugation. The lipocalins are a widespread family of proteins that naturally serve in many organisms, including humans, for the transport, storage, or sequestration of small biological compounds like vitamins and hormones. Their fold is dominated by an eight-stranded antiparallel ß-barrel, which is open to the solvent at one end. There, four loops connect the ß-strands in a pairwise manner and, altogether, they form the entry to a ligand-binding site. This loop region can be engineered via site-directed random mutagenesis in combination with genetic library selection techniques to yield "Anticalins" with exquisite specificities-and down to picomolar affinities-for prescribed molecular targets of either hapten or antigen type. Several Anticalins directed against medically relevant disease targets have been successfully engineered and can be applied, for example, for the blocking of soluble signaling factors or cell surface receptors or for tissue-specific drug targeting. While natural lipocalins were already subject to clinical studies in the past, a first Anticalin has completed Phase I trials in 2011, thus paving the way for the broad application of Anticalins as a promising novel class of biopharmaceuticals.

Investigation of unanticipated alkylation at the N(π) position of a histidyl residue under Mitsunobu conditions and synthesis of orthogonally protected histidine analogues.

We had previously reported that Mitsunobu-based introduction of alkyl substituents onto the imidazole N(π)-position of a key histidine residue in phosphothreonine-containing peptides can impart high binding affinity against the polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1. Our current paper investigates the mechanism leading to this N(π)-alkylation and provides synthetic methodologies that permit the facile synthesis of histidine N(π)-modified peptides. These agents represent new and potentially important tools for biological studies.

Dissecting intracellular signaling pathways with membrane-permeable peptides.

Peptides can be designed that mimic protein interaction motifs and thus, can be used to specifically and selectively block particular steps in signal transduction cascades where protein interactions have been previously identified. This protocol describes methods to synthesize peptides coupled to a membrane-permeable sequence (MPS), designed from the signal sequence of Kaposi fibroblast growth factor, which has been previously shown to translocate covalently attached cargo peptides across the cell membrane. To increase efficiency, yield, and versatility in the preparation of these membrane-permeable peptides, a modular synthesis strategy based on two unprotected peptide segments was designed. The modular synthesis strategy allows the MPS and functional peptides to be synthesized separately. In this manner, the functional domain of a peptide or protein, synthesized by traditional fluoroenylmethyloxy-carbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry or derived from recombinant expression, may be purchased commercially to expedite synthesis. Subsequently, the MPS domain may be attached to any functional domain using a one-step conjugation reaction. This protocol provides detailed methods for peptide synthesis, activation of the MPS, and the subsequent conjugation protocol.

Design of a synthetic Mdm2-binding mini protein that activates the p53 response in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The transcriptional activation function of the p53 tumour suppressor protein is induced by DNA damage and results in growth arrest and/or apoptotic responses. A key component of this response is the dramatic rise in p53 protein concentration resulting from an increase in the protein's stability. Very recently, it has been suggested that interaction with the Mdm2 protein may target p53 for rapid degradation. We have designed a gene encoding a small protein that binds tightly to the p53-binding pocket on the Mdm2 protein. We have constructed the gene by cloning a phage display optimised Mdm2-binding peptide into the active-site loop of thioredoxin. RESULTS: When introduced into cells containing low levels of wild-type p53, this protein causes a striking accumulation of the endogenous p53 protein, activation of a p53-responsive reporter gene, and cell cycle arrest mimicking the effects seen in these cells after exposure to UV or ionising radiation. Microinjection of a monoclonal antibody to the p53-binding site on Mdm2 achieves a similar effect, establishing its specificity. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the p53 response is constitutively regulated in normal cells by Mdm2 and that disruption of the interaction alone is sufficient to stabilise the p53 protein and activate the p53 response. Our mini protein approach provides a powerful new method to activate p53 without causing DNA damage. More broadly, it establishes a powerful general method for determining the biological consequences of the specific disruption of protein-protein interactions in cells.

Production of a human monoclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide by active in vivo immunization using a SCID mouse grafted with human lymphocytes.

In order to meet the present increased demands, we have tried to improve the methods to produce human monoclonal antibodies by using a SCID mouse grafted with human mononuclear cells. Initially, we gave an anti-asialo GM1 antibody to a SCID mouse to suppress the NK activity, as a pretreatment. Then, fifty million human mononuclear cells (MNC) from a healthy volunteer were injected intraperitoneally to the SCID mouse so as to construct a human immune system in the mouse (PBL-SCID mouse). We immunized the mouse with a synthetic peptide (pep 190) conjugated with KLH four times. The spleen cells taken from the immunized PBL-SCID mouse were fused with (mouse x human) heteromyeloma cells. The hybridoma cells were selected in GIT medium containing HAT and IL-6. Among 68 hybridoma-growing wells, we obtained one hybridoma clone (#41-1-4) which secreted a specific antibody to pep 190. The reactivity of this monoclonal antibody was tested by ELISA and the specificity of this antibody was confirmed by an absorption test with different kinds of proteins. This paper is the first report of the successful production of peptide-specific human monoclonal antibody by active in vivo immunization using a PBL-SCID mouse. By this active in vivo immunization system using a PBL-SCID mouse, human monoclonal antibodies for any sort of peptide antigens may easily be made available.