A Fluorescent-Labeled Phosphono Bisbenzguanidine As an Activity-Based Probe for Matriptase.

Activity-based probes are compounds that exclusively form covalent bonds with active enzymes. They can be utilized to profile enzyme activities in vivo, to identify target enzymes and to characterize their function. The design of a new activity-based probe for matriptase, a member of the type II transmembrane serine proteases, is based on linker-connected bis-benzguanidines. An amino acid, introduced as linker, bears the coumarin fluorophore. Moreover, an incorporated phosphonate allows for a covalent interaction with the active-site serine. The resulting irreversible mode of action was demonstrated, leading to enzyme inactivation and, simultaneously, to a fluorescence labeling of matriptase. The ten-step synthetic approach to a coumarin-labeled bis-benzguanidine and its evaluation as activity-based probe for matriptase based on in-gel fluorescence and fluorescence HPLC is reported. HPLC fluorescence detection as a new application for activity-based probes for proteases is demonstrated herein for the first time.

The intact Kunitz domain protects the amyloid precursor protein from being processed by matriptase-2.

Proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) leads to amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides. So far, the mechanism of APP processing is insufficiently characterized at the molecular level. Whereas the knowledge of Aß generation by several proteases has been expanded, the contribution of the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor domain (KPI) present in two major APP isoforms to the complex proteolytic processing of APP is poorly understood. In this study, we have identified KPI-containing APP as a very potent, slow-binding inhibitor for the membrane-bound proteolytic regulator of iron homeostasis matriptase-2 by forming stable complexes with its target protease in HEK cells. Inhibition and complex formation depend on the intact KPI domain. By inhibiting matriptase-2, KPI-containing APP is protected from matriptase-2-mediated proteolysis within the Aß region, thus preventing the generation of N-terminally truncated Aß.

Phosphono Bisbenzguanidines as Irreversible Dipeptidomimetic Inhibitors and Activity-Based Probes of Matriptase-2.

Matriptase-2, a type II transmembrane serine protease, plays a key role in human iron homeostasis. Inhibition of matriptase-2 is considered as an attractive strategy for the treatment of iron-overload diseases, such as hemochromatosis and ß-thalassemia. In the present study, synthetic routes to nine dipeptidomimetic inactivators were developed. Five active compounds (41-45) were identified and characterized kinetically as irreversible inhibitors of matriptase-2. In addition to a phosphonate warhead, these dipeptides possess two benzguanidine moieties as arginine mimetics to provide affinity for matriptase-2 by binding to the S1 and S3/S4 subpockets, respectively. This binding mode was strongly supported by covalent docking analysis. Compounds 41-45 were obtained as mixtures of two diastereomers and were therefore separated into the single epimers. Compound 45 A, with S configuration at the N-terminal amino acid and R configuration at the phosphonate carbon atom, was the most potent matriptase-2 inactivator with a rate constant of inactivation of 2790 m(-1) s(-1) and abolished the activity of membrane-bound matriptase-2 on the surface of intact cells. Based on the chemotyp of phosphono bisbenzguanidines, the design and synthesis of a fluorescent probe (51 A) by insertion of a coumarin label is described. The in-gel fluorescence detection of matriptase-2 was demonstrated by applying 51 A as the first activity-based probe for this enzyme.

Metalloprotease meprin ß is activated by transmembrane serine protease matriptase-2 at the cell surface thereby enhancing APP shedding.

Increased expression of metalloprotease meprin ß is associated with fibrotic syndromes and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence, regulation of meprin activity might be a suitable strategy for the treatment of these conditions. Meprin ß is a type 1 transmembrane protein, but can be released from the cell surface by ectodomain shedding. The protease is expressed as an inactive zymogen and requires proteolytic maturation by tryptic serine proteases. In the present study, we demonstrate, for the first time, the differences in the activation of soluble and membrane bound meprin ß and suggest transmembrane serine protease 6 [TMPRSS6 or matriptase-2 (MT2)] as a new potent activator, cleaving off the propeptide of meprin ß between Arg(61) and Asn(62) as determined by MS. We show that MT2, but not TMPRSS4 or pancreatic trypsin, is capable of activating full-length meprin ß at the cell surface, analysed by specific fluorogenic peptide cleavage assay, Western blotting and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Maturation of full-length meprin ß is required for its activity as a cell surface sheddase, releasing the ectodomains of transmembrane proteins, as previously shown for the amyloid precursor protein (APP).

Integration of robotic in the reprocessing and transfer of endoscopes.

Background and study aims Optimal hygiene is crucial for patients undergoing flexible endoscopy. Reprocessing is currently influenced by manual procedures performed by endoscopy staff. To overcome this limitation, we designed and evaluated the integration of robotic application for an automated endoscope processing pathway. Methods We used an endoscope reprocessing pass through machine with drying cabinet and a Franka Emika Panda robot. The robot was programmed to interact with its environment in a compliant way, guaranteeing desired contact force thresholds and therefore ensuring safety of both robot and medical equipment. Results In an initial phase we tested the robots' ability to handle a modified tray holding an endoscope as well as certain challenges (correct positioning, connection of tubing, undesired collisions). We added another Panda robot arm resulting in a device featuring two independent manipulators and tested the accuracy of each individual step. We evaluated 50 consecutive processing and transfer procedures, simulating the average daily throughput of an endoscopic unit. The endoscopes were removed in adapted tray using a specially designed lifting device and placed in an endoscope storage and venting cabinet. The mean time for the handling of the scope was 104.2 ±â€Š1.2 seconds and an accuracy of 100 % (0 failures in 50 attempts) was achieved. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description and evaluation of an automated compliant robotic assistance in the processing of endoscopes. Further development could help to overcome shortcomings of the man handled endoscope processing and could lead to reproducible, standardized and certified endoscope processing.

Truncation of Huia versabilis Bowman-Birk inhibitor increases its selectivity, matriptase-1 inhibitory activity and proteolytic stability.

A gradual truncation of the primary structure of frog skin-derived Huia versabilis Bowman-Birk peptidic inhibitor (HV-BBI) resulted in 18-times stronger inhibitor of matriptase-1 (peptide 6, Ki = 8 nm) in comparison to the full-length HV-BBI (Ki = 155 nm). Analogous increase in the inhibitory activity in correlation with the peptide length reduction was not observed in case of other serine proteases, bovine trypsin (Ki = 151 nm for peptide 6 and Ki = 120 nm for HV-BBI) and plasmin (Ki = 120 nm for peptide 6 and 82 nm for HV-BBI). Weaker binding affinity to these enzymes emphasized an inhibitory specificity of peptide 6. Molecular dynamic analysis revealed that the observed variations in the binding affinity of peptide 6 and HV-BBI with matriptase-1 are associated with the entropic differences of the unbound peptides. Moreover, several aspects explaining differences in the inhibition of matriptase-1 by peptide 6 (bearing the C-terminal amide group) and its two analogues, peptide 6∗ (having the C-terminal carboxyl group, Ki = 473 nm) and cyclic peptide 6∗∗ (Ki = 533 nm), both exhibiting more than 50-fold reduced inhibitory potency, were discovered. It was also shown that peptide 6 presented significantly higher resistance to proteolytic degradation in human serum than HV-BBI. Additional investigations revealed that, in contrast to some amphibian-derived inhibitors, HV-BBI and its truncated analogues do not possess bactericidal activity, thus they cannot be considered as bifunctional agents.

Engineering preferentially-aligned nitrogen-vacancy centre ensembles in CVD grown diamond.

Here we report a method for improving the magnetic field sensitivity of an ensemble of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centres in 12C-enriched diamond aligned along the [111] crystal axis. The preferentially-aligned NV centres are fabricated by a Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD) process and their concentration is quantitatively determined by analysing the confocal microscopy images. We further observe that annealing the samples at high temperature (1500 °C) in vacuum leads to a conversion of substitutional nitrogen into NV centres. This treatment also increases the coherence time of the NV centres electron spins up to 40 µs, which corresponds to enhancement of the sensitivity by a factor of three. However, this procedure also leads to a loss of the preferential alignment by 34%.

Chemical Inactivation of the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cereblon by Pomalidomide-based Homo-PROTACs.

The immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) thalidomide and its analogs, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, all FDA approved drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma, induce ubiquitination and degradation of the lymphoid transcription factors Ikaros (IKZF1) and Aiolos (IKZF3) via the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ubiquitin ligase for proteasomal degradation. IMiDs have recently been utilized for the generation of bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to target other proteins for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation by the CRBN E3 ligase. We designed and synthesized pomalidomide-based homobifunctional PROTACs and analyzed their ability to induce self-directed ubiquitination and degradation of CRBN. Here, CRBN serves as both, the E3 ubiquitin ligase and the target at the same time. The homo-PROTAC compound 8 degrades CRBN with a high potency with only minimal remaining effects on IKZF1 and IKZF3. CRBN inactivation by compound 8 had no effect on cell viability and proliferation of different multiple myeloma cell lines. This homo-PROTAC abrogates the effects of IMiDs in multiple myeloma cells. Therefore, our homodimeric pomalidomide-based compounds may help to identify CRBN's endogenous substrates and physiological functions and investigate the molecular mechanism of IMiDs.

A Short Peptide Inhibitor as an Activity-Based Probe for Matriptase-2.

Matriptase-2 is a type II transmembrane serine protease and a key regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. Since the activation mechanism and several features of the physiological role of matriptase-2 are not fully understood, there is strong need for analytical tools to perform tasks such as distinguishing active and inactive matriptase-2. For this purpose we present a short biotinylated peptide derivative with a chloromethyl ketone group, biotin-RQRR-CMK, as an activity-based probe for matriptase-2. Biotin-RQRR-CMK was kinetically characterized and exhibited a second-order rate constant of inactivation (kinac/Ki) of 10,800 M−1 s−1 towards the matriptase-2 activity in the supernatant of transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Biotin-RQRR-CMK was able to label active matriptase-2, as visualized in western blot experiments. Pretreatment with aprotinin, an active-site directed inhibitor of serine proteases, protected matriptase-2 from the reaction with biotin-RQRR-CMK.

Matriptase-2: monitoring and inhibiting its proteolytic activity.

Matriptase-2 (MT2) is a membrane-anchored proteolytic enzyme. It acts as the proteolytic key regulator in human iron homeostasis. A high expression level can lead to iron overload diseases, whereas mutations in the gene encoding MT2, TMPRSS6, may result in various forms of iron deficiency anemia. Recently, MT2 has been reported as a positive prognostic factor in breast and prostate cancers. However, the exact functions of MT2 in various pathophysiological conditions are still not fully understood. In this review, we describe the synthetic tools designed and synthesized to regulate or monitor MT2 proteolytic activity and present the latest knowledge about the role of MT2 in iron homeostasis and cancer.