Inhibition of Bacterial Gene Transcription with an RpoN-Based Stapled Peptide.

In response to environmental and other stresses, the σ54 subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) controls expression of several genes that play a significant role in the virulence of both plant and animal pathogens. Recruitment of σ54 to RNAP initiates promoter-specific transcription via the double-stranded DNA denaturation mechanism of the cofactor. The RpoN box, a recognition helix found in the C-terminal region of σ54, has been identified as the component necessary for major groove insertion at the -24 position of the promoter. We employed the hydrocarbon stapled peptide methodology to design and synthesize stapled σ54 peptides capable of penetrating Gram-negative bacteria, binding the σ54 promoter, and blocking the interaction between endogenous σ54 and its target DNA sequence, thereby reducing transcription and activation of σ54 response genes.

First-in-class small molecule potentiators of cancer virotherapy.

The use of engineered viral strains such as gene therapy vectors and oncolytic viruses (OV) to selectively destroy cancer cells is poised to make a major impact in the clinic and revolutionize cancer therapy. In particular, several studies have shown that OV therapy is safe and well tolerated in humans and can infect a broad range of cancers. Yet in clinical studies OV therapy has highly variable response rates. The heterogeneous nature of tumors is widely accepted to be a major obstacle for OV therapeutics and highlights a need for strategies to improve viral replication efficacy. Here, we describe the development of a new class of small molecules for selectively enhancing OV replication in cancer tissue. Medicinal chemistry studies led to the identification of compounds that enhance multiple OVs and gene therapy vectors. Lead compounds increase OV growth up to 2000-fold in vitro and demonstrate remarkable selectivity for cancer cells over normal tissue ex vivo and in vivo. These small molecules also demonstrate enhanced stability with reduced electrophilicity and are highly tolerated in animals. This pharmacoviral approach expands the scope of OVs to include resistant tumors, further potentiating this transformative therapy. It is easily foreseeable that this approach can be applied to therapeutically enhance other attenuated viral vectors.