A bioinspired approach for the modulation of electroosmotic flow and protein-surface interactions in capillary electrophoresis using silylated amino-amides blocks and covalent grafting.

We explore a bioinspired approach to design tailored functionalized capillary electrophoresis (CE) surfaces based on covalent grafting for biomolecules analysis. First, the approach aims to overcome well-known common obstacles in CE protein analysis affecting considerably the CE performance (asymmetry, resolution, and repeatability) such as the unspecific adsorption on fused silica surface and the lack of control of electroosmotic flow (EOF). Then, our approach, which relies on new amino-amide mimic hybrid precursors synthesized by silylation of amino-amides (Si-AA) derivatives with 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, aims to recapitulate the diversity of protein-protein interactions (π-π stacking, ionic, Van der Waals…) found in physiological condition (bioinspired approach) to improve the performance of CE protein analysis (electrochromatography). As a proof of concept, these silylated Si-AA (tyrosinamide silylation, serinamide silylation, argininamide silylation, leucinamide silylation, and isoglutamine silylation acid) have been covalently grafted in physiological conditions in different amount on bare fused silica capillary giving rise to a biomimetic coating and allowing both the modulation of EOF and protein-surface interactions. The analytical performances of amino-amide functionalized capillaries were assessed using lysozyme, cytochrome C and ribonuclease A and compared to traditional capillary coatings poly(ethylene oxide), poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), and sodium poly(styrenesulfonate). EOF, protein adsorption rate, protein retention factor k, and selectivity were determined for each coating. All results obtained showed this approach allowed to modulate the EOF, reduce unspecific adsorption, and generate specific interactions with proteins by varying the nature and the amount of Si-AA in the functionalization mixture.

Development of Amino Acids Functionalized SBA-15 for the Improvement of Protein Adsorption.

Ordered mesoporous materials and their modification with multiple functional groups are of wide scientific interest for many applications involving interaction with biological systems and biomolecules (e.g., catalysis, separation, sensor design, nano-science or drug delivery). In particular, the immobilization of enzymes onto solid supports is highly attractive for industry and synthetic chemistry, as it allows the development of stable and cheap biocatalysts. In this context, we developed novel silylated amino acid derivatives (Si-AA-NH2) that have been immobilized onto SBA-15 materials in biocompatible conditions avoiding the use of toxic catalyst, solvents or reagents. The resulting amino acid-functionalized materials (SBA-15@AA) were characterized by XRD, TGA, EA, Zeta potential, nitrogen sorption and FT-IR. Differences of the physical properties (e.g., charges) were observed while the structural ones remained unchanged. The adsorption of the enzyme lysozyme (Lyz) onto the resulting functionalized SBA-15@AA materials was evaluated at different pHs. The presence of different functional groups compared with bare SBA-15 showed better adsorption results, for example, 79.6 nmol of Lyz adsorbed per m2 of SBA-15@Tyr compared with the 44.9 nmol/m2 of the bare SBA-15.

Metal-free synthesis of imino-disaccharides and calix-iminosugars by photoinduced radical thiol-ene coupling (TEC).

Radical thiol-ene coupling was exploited for the first time to prepare imino-disaccharides and multivalent iminosugars starting from sugar thiols and iminosugar alkenes or iminosugar thiols and tetra-allylated calixarene, respectively.

Multivalent Carbonic Anhydrases Inhibitors.

Biomolecular recognition using a multivalent strategy has been successfully applied, this last decade on several biological targets, especially carbohydrate-processing enzymes, proteases, and phosphorylases. This strategy is based on the fact that multivalent interactions of several inhibitory binding units grafted on a presentation platform may enhance the binding affinity and selectivity. The zinc metalloenzymes carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are considered as drug targets for several pathologies, and different inhibitors found clinical applications as diuretics, antiglaucoma agents, anticonvulsants, and anticancer agents/diagnostic tools. Their main drawback is related to the lack of isoform selectivity leading to serious side effects for all pathologies in which they are employed. Thus, the multivalent approach may open new opportunities in the drug design of innovative isoform-selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with biomedical applications.

Photomodulation of DNA-Templated Supramolecular Assemblies.

A new type of DNA ligand that contains a phosphate-binding group and a photoresponsive azobenzene moiety is reported. When the azobenzene is in trans configuration, the ligand binds to the minor groove of a double-stranded DNA, whereas it partially desorbs upon trans-cis isomerisation with light. The ability to photoswitch the ligand upon interaction with DNA is evidenced by (chir)optical signatures, and deciphered by the differences of binding geometry, stability, and dynamics of the DNA/ligand complexes for the two isomers. We exploit these properties to photomodulate DNA-templated self-assembly, through the incorporation of another π-stacking DNA ligand, which together with the photoresponsive ligand form mixed supramolecular complexes along DNA. Our study demonstrates that well-designed photoresponsive DNA binders can be used to modulate multicomponent supramolecular DNA assemblies.

Systemic Delivery of Tumor-Targeted Bax-Derived Membrane-Active Peptides for the Treatment of Melanoma Tumors in a Humanized SCID Mouse Model.

Melanoma is a highly metastatic and deadly form of cancer. Invasive melanoma cells overexpress integrin αvß3, which is a well-known target for Arg-Gly-Asp-based (RGD) peptides. We developed a sophisticated method to synthetize milligram amounts of a targeted vector that allows the RGD-mediated targeting, internalization, and release of a mitochondria-disruptive peptide derived from the pro-apoptotic Bax protein. We found that 2.5 µM Bax[109-127] was sufficient to destabilize the mitochondria in ten different tumor cell lines, even in the presence of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein, which is often involved in tumor resistance. This pore-forming peptide displayed antitumor activity when it was covalently linked by a disulfide bridge to the tetrameric RAFT-c[RGD]4-platform and after intravenous injection in a human melanoma tumor model established in humanized immuno-competent mice. In addition to its direct toxic effect, treatment with this combination induced the release of the immuno-stimulating factor monocyte chimoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) in the blood and a decrease in the level of the pro-angiogenic factor FGF2. Our novel multifunctional, apoptosis-inducing agent could be further customized and assayed for potential use in tumor-targeted therapy.

Self-assembly and chiroptical properties in supramolecular complexes of adenosine phosphates and guanidinium-bispyrene.

Supramolecular systems that respond to the hydrolysis of adenosine phosphates (APs) are attractive for biosensing and to fabricate bioinspired self-assembled materials. Here, we report on the formation of supramolecular complexes between an achiral guanidinium derivative bearing two pyrene moieties, with each of the three adenosine phosphates: AMP, ADP, and ATP. By combining results from circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular modeling simulations, we explore the induced chirality, the dynamics of the complexes, and the interactions at play, which altogether provide insights into the supramolecular self-assembly between APs and the guanidinium-bispyrene. Finally, we identify the chiroptical signals of interest in mixtures of the guanidinium derivative with the three APs in different proportions. This study constitutes a basis to evolve toward a chiroptical detection of the hydrolysis of APs based on organic supramolecular probes.

Carbonic anhydrases from Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani chagasi are inhibited by benzoxaboroles.

A series of 6-substituted ureido- and thioureido-benzoxaboroles were investigated as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcCA), and Leishmania donovani chagasi (LdcCA). Both enzymes were inhibited by benzoxaboroles in the micromolar range. Preferential inhibitory potency against the ß-CA LdcCA versus the α-CA TcCA was observed with submicromolar inhibitory activities. Some derivatives displayed excellent inhibitory and selectivity profile over the ubiquitous and physiological relevant human off-target hCA II. This study provides a convincing opportunity to study benzoxaborole scaffold for the design of antiprotozoan potential drugs targeting the pathogen's carbonic anhydrases.

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Bearing Glyoxylic Aldehyde as Clickable Platform Towards Multivalent Conjugates.

The straightforward access to octafunctional "cubic" silsesquioxane platform grafter with pendant glyoxylic aldehydes is described. This clickable hybrid platform readily reacts with oxyamine or hydrazide compounds to provide, respectively, oxime and acylhydrazone conjugates, thereby offering a new and effective access from which one can elaborate multivalent systems for the targeting of biomolecules of interest.

Effective Access to Multivalent Inhibitors of Carbonic Anhydrases Promoted by Peptide Bioconjugation.

Multivalency has impressive effects on (bio)molecular recognition, through the simultaneous presentation of multiple copies of a ligand, which can change a weak millimolar binder into a potent nanomolar one. The implementation of multivalency in enzyme inhibition is rather recent, being exemplified by few serendipitous discoveries, and hitherto relying on the random exploration of new multivalent structures as potential enzyme inhibitors. Here, a straightforward and versatile method is reported that enables the construction of multivalent systems for the inhibition of carbonic anhydrases (CA), widespread enzymes that catalyze a fundamental biochemical reaction. Oxime and hydrazone click-type bioconjugation techniques were successfully used for the preparation of tetravalent peptide conjugates tethered with sulfonamide CA inhibitors. The enzyme inhibition assays show that multivalent effects were present with these novel compounds, but also reveal various structural effects provided by the scaffolds. The versatility of this approach may facilitate the exploration of structure-activity relationships for other types of enzyme inhibitors.

One-Pot Self-Assembly of Peptide-Based Cage-Type Nanostructures Using Orthogonal Ligations.

The designed arrangement of biomolecular entities within monodisperse nanostructures is an important challenge toward functional biomaterials. We report herein a method for the formation of water-soluble peptide-based cages using orthogonal ligation reactions-acylhydrazone condensation and thiol-maleimide addition. The results show that using preorganized cyclic peptides and heterobifunctional spacers as building blocks and a set of orthogonal and chemoselective ligation reactions enable cage formation in one pot from six components and through eight reactions. Molecular modelling simulations reveal the structural dynamics of these structures. Finally, we exploited the reactional dynamics of the acylhydrazone by demonstrating the controlled dissociation of the cage through directed component exchange.

An oxime-based glycocluster microarray.

Carbohydrate microarrays represent powerful tools to study and detect carbohydrate-binding proteins, pathogens or cells. In this paper, we report two original oxime-based methods to prepare surfaces displaying well-defined structures and valency in a given microspot with improved recognition potency with lectins. In a first "direct" approach, fully synthetic aminooxylated glycoclusters have been coated onto aldehyde-activated SiO2 (silicium substrate doped with 50 nm thermal oxide layer). To improve the preparation of the microarray in terms of rapidity and simplicity and to provide addressable surfaces on which sugars can be linked chemoselectively as clusters at defined plots, a second "indirect" strategy has been developed using successive oxime ligation steps. In both cases, binding assays with labelled lectins have revealed more potent and selective interaction due to the clustered presentation of sugars. The observed differences of interaction have been confirmed in solution by ITC.

Influence of Pre-organised Architecture on Cell Adhesion by Using Multivalent RGD Compounds.

Multimeric RGD-containing compounds were designed to study the influence of ligand architecture on binding avidity. We report the synthesis of a series of tetrameric RGD compounds and their in vitro biological evaluation. The further application of molecular dynamic simulations for structural studies of RGD derivatives reveals that the observed affinities correlate with the accessibility of segregated RGD motif.

Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles with Multivalent Inhibitory Effects towards Carbonic Anhydrases.

Multifunctional silica nanoparticles decorated with fluorescent and sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors were prepared and investigated as multivalent enzyme inhibitors against the cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II and the transmembrane tumor-associated ones hCA IX and XII. Excellent inhibitory effects were observed with these nanoparticles, with KI values in the low nanomolar range (6.2-0.67 nM) against all tested isozymes. A significant multivalency effect was seen for the inhibition of the monomeric enzymes hCA I and II compared to the dimeric hCA IX and hCA XII isoforms, where no multivalent effect was observed, suggesting that the multivalent binding is occurring through enzyme clustering.

Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles with Multivalent Inhibitory Effects towards Carbonic Anhydrases.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Jean-Yves Winum and co-workers at University of Montpellier (France) and University of Florence (Italy). The image depicts the multivalency approach applied to zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrases. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201501037.

Emerging trends in enzyme inhibition by multivalent nanoconstructs.

Multivalent nanoconstructs, extensively used for enhancing the recognition of biomolecular targets, have been recently exploited for enzyme inhibition showing interesting properties such as improvement of inhibitory potency and selectivity. We review herein the recent results highlighting the potential of multivalent nanoconstructs for the inhibition of different enzymes, and the emerging trends in the generation and identification of multivalent clusters as enzyme inhibitors.

Multivalent DNA recognition by self-assembled clusters: deciphering structural effects by fragments screening and evaluation as siRNA vectors.

The identification of low-molecular-weight clusters that effectively complex oligonucleotides of therapeutic interest is of great importance for applications in gene delivery. We recently reported the use of self-assembly processes based on chemoselective ligation in order to generate biomolecular clusters for the multivalent recognition of DNA. Herein, we exploit the modularity of this methodology to perform a one-pot fragments screening of scaffolds and binding groups. Structural parameters affecting DNA binding were observed and hits have been identified by fluorescence displacement and gel electrophoresis assays. Finally, we evaluated the potential of these systems for siRNA transfection. One biomolecular cluster was found to effectively complex and transport a 21-mer siRNA inside MCF7 human breast cancer cells, resulting in a significant knockdown of the target gene.

N-glycosyl-N-hydroxysulfamides as potent inhibitors of Brucella suis carbonic anhydrases.

We investigated a series of N-hydroxysulfamides obtained by Ferrier sulfamidoglycosylation for the inhibition of two bacterial carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) present in the pathogen Brucella suis. bsCA I was moderately inhibited by these compounds with inhibition constants ranging between 522 and 958 nM and no notable differences of activity between the acetylated or the corresponding deacetylated derivatives. The compounds incorporating two trans-acetates and the corresponding deprotected ones were the most effective inhibitors in the series. bsCA II was better inhibited, with inhibition constants ranging between 59.8 and 799 nM. The acetylated derivatives were generally better bsCA II inhibitors compared to the corresponding deacetylated compounds. Although these compounds were not highly isoform-selective CA inhibitors (CAIs) for the bacterial over the human CA isoforms, some of them possess inhibition profiles that make them interesting leads for obtaining better and more isoform-selective CAIs targeting bacterial enzymes.

Inhibition of ß-carbonic anhydrases from Brucella suis with C-cinnamoyl glycosides incorporating the phenol moiety.

A small series of C-glycosides containing the phenol moiety was tested for the inhibition of the ß-class carbonic anhydrases (ßCAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from Brucella suis. Many compounds showed activities in the micromolar or submicromolar range and excellent selectivity for pathogen CAs over human isozymes. Glycosides incorporating the 3-hydroxyphenyl moiety showed the best inhibition profile, and therefore this functionality represents lead for the development of novel anti-infectives with a new mechanism of action.

A dynamic combinatorial approach for identifying side groups that stabilize DNA-templated supramolecular self-assemblies.

DNA-templated self-assembly is an emerging strategy for generating functional supramolecular systems, which requires the identification of potent multi-point binding ligands. In this line, we recently showed that bis-functionalized guanidinium compounds can interact with ssDNA and generate a supramolecular complex through the recognition of the phosphodiester backbone of DNA. In order to probe the importance of secondary interactions and to identify side groups that stabilize these DNA-templated self-assemblies, we report herein the implementation of a dynamic combinatorial approach. We used an in situ fragment assembly process based on reductive amination and tested various side groups, including amino acids. The results reveal that aromatic and cationic side groups participate in secondary supramolecular interactions that stabilize the complexes formed with ssDNA.