Gs protein peptidomimetics as allosteric modulators of the ß2-adrenergic receptor.

A series of Gs protein peptidomimetics were designed and synthesised based on the published X-ray crystal structure of the active state ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR) in complex with the Gs protein (PDB 3SN6). We hypothesised that such peptidomimetics may function as allosteric modulators that target the intracellular Gs protein binding site of the ß2AR. Peptidomimetics were designed to mimic the 15 residue C-terminal α-helix of the Gs protein and were pre-organised in a helical conformation by (i, i + 4)-stapling using copper catalysed azide alkyne cycloaddition. Linear and stapled peptidomimetics were analysed by circular dichroism (CD) and characterised in a membrane-based cAMP accumulation assay and in a bimane fluorescence assay on purified ß2AR. Several peptidomimetics inhibited agonist isoproterenol (ISO) induced cAMP formation by lowering the ISO maximal efficacy up to 61%. Moreover, some peptidomimetics were found to significantly decrease the potency of ISO up to 39-fold. In the bimane fluorescence assay none of the tested peptidomimetics could stabilise an active-like conformation of ß2AR. Overall, the obtained pharmacological data suggest that some of the peptidomimetics may be able to compete with the native Gs protein for the intracellular binding site to block ISO-induced cAMP formation, but are unable to stabilise an active-like receptor conformation.

Diversity-Oriented Peptide Stapling: A Third Generation Copper-Catalysed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Stapling and Functionalisation Strategy.

The introduction of macrocyclic constraints in peptides (peptide stapling) is an important tool within peptide medicinal chemistry for stabilising and pre-organising peptides in a desired conformation. In recent years, the copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) has emerged as a powerful method for peptide stapling. However, to date CuAAC stapling has not provided a simple method for obtaining peptides that are easily diversified further. In the present study, we report a new diversity-oriented peptide stapling (DOPS) methodology based on CuAAC chemistry. Stapling of peptides incorporating two azide-modified amino acids with 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene efficiently provides (i, i+7)- and (i, i+9)-stapled peptides with a single free alkyne positioned on the staple, which can be further conjugated or dimerised. A unique feature of the present method is that it provides easy access to radiolabelled stapled peptides by catalytic tritiation of the alkyne positioned on the staple.