Design, synthesis, and applications of ring-functionalized histidines in peptide-based medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.

Modified and synthetic α-amino acids are known to show diverse applications. Histidine, which possesses numerous applications when subjected to synthetic modifications, is one such amino acid. The utility of modified histidines varies widely from remarkable biological activities to catalysis, and from nanotechnology to polymer chemistry. This renders histidine residue an important place in scientific research. Histidine is a well-studied scaffold and constitutes the active site of various enzymes catalyzing important reactions in the biological systems. A rational modification in histidine structure with a distinctly developed protocol extensively changes its physical and chemical properties. The utilization of modified histidines in search of potent, target selective and proteostable scaffolds is vital in the development of bioactive peptides with enhanced drug-likeliness. This review is a compilation and analysis of reported side-chain ring modifications at histidine followed by applications of ring-modified histidines in the synthesis of various categories of bioactive peptides and peptidomimetics.

Investigating the Structure-Activity Relationship of 1,2,4-Triazine G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 84 (GPR84) Antagonists.

G-protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) is a proinflammatory orphan G-protein-coupled receptor implicated in several inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Several agonist and antagonist ligands have been developed that target GPR84; however, a noncompetitive receptor blocker that was progressed to phase II clinical trials failed to demonstrate efficacy. New high-quality antagonists are required to investigate the pathophysiological role of GPR84 and to validate GPR84 as a therapeutic target. We previously reported the discovery of a novel triazine GPR84 competitive antagonist 1. Here, we describe an extensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) of antagonist 1 and also present in silico docking with supporting mutagenesis studies that reveals a potential binding pose for this type of orthosteric antagonist. Lead compound 42 is a potent GPR84 antagonist with a favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile suitable for further drug development.

Peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif bind to ACE2 but do not block ACE2-mediated host cell entry or pro-inflammatory cytokine induction.

SARS-CoV-2 viral attachment and entry into host cells is mediated by a direct interaction between viral spike glycoproteins and membrane bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The receptor binding motif (RBM), located within the S1 subunit of the spike protein, incorporates the majority of known ACE2 contact residues responsible for high affinity binding and associated virulence. Observation of existing crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (SRBD)-ACE2 interface, combined with peptide array screening, allowed us to define a series of linear native RBM-derived peptides that were selected as potential antiviral decoy sequences with the aim of directly binding ACE2 and attenuating viral cell entry. RBM1 (16mer): S443KVGGNYNYLYRLFRK458, RBM2A (25mer): E484GFNCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVGYQPY508, RBM2B (20mer): F456NCYFPLQSYGFQPTNGVGY505 and RBM2A-Sc (25mer): NYGLQGSPFGYQETPYPFCNFVQYG. Data from fluorescence polarisation experiments suggested direct binding between RBM peptides and ACE2, with binding affinities ranging from the high nM to low µM range (Kd = 0.207-1.206 µM). However, the RBM peptides demonstrated only modest effects in preventing SRBD internalisation and showed no antiviral activity in a spike protein trimer neutralisation assay. The RBM peptides also failed to suppress S1-protein mediated inflammation in an endogenously expressing ACE2 human cell line. We conclude that linear native RBM-derived peptides are unable to outcompete viral spike protein for binding to ACE2 and therefore represent a suboptimal approach to inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 viral cell entry. These findings reinforce the notion that larger biologics (such as soluble ACE2, 'miniproteins', nanobodies and antibodies) are likely better suited as SARS-CoV-2 cell-entry inhibitors than short-sequence linear peptides.

Stapled ACE2 peptidomimetics designed to target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein do not prevent virus internalization.

COVID-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Virus cell entry is mediated through a protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A series of stapled peptide ACE2 peptidomimetics based on the ACE2 interaction motif were designed to bind the coronavirus S-protein RBD and inhibit binding to the human ACE2 receptor. The peptidomimetics were assessed for antiviral activity in an array of assays including a neutralization pseudovirus assay, immunofluorescence (IF) assay and in-vitro fluorescence polarization (FP) assay. However, none of the peptidomimetics showed activity in these assays, suggesting that an enhanced binding interface is required to outcompete ACE2 for S-protein RBD binding and prevent virus internalization.

Development of Potent PfCLK3 Inhibitors Based on TCMDC-135051 as a New Class of Antimalarials.

The protein kinase PfCLK3 plays a critical role in the regulation of malarial parasite RNA splicing and is essential for the survival of blood stage Plasmodium falciparum. We recently validated PfCLK3 as a drug target in malaria that offers prophylactic, transmission blocking, and curative potential. Herein, we describe the synthesis of our initial hit TCMDC-135051 (1) and efforts to establish a structure-activity relationship with a 7-azaindole-based series. A total of 14 analogues were assessed in a time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer assay against the full-length recombinant protein kinase PfCLK3, and 11 analogues were further assessed in asexual 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) strains of P. falciparum parasites. SAR relating to rings A and B was established. These data together with analysis of activity against parasites collected from patients in the field suggest that TCMDC-135051 (1) is a promising lead compound for the development of new antimalarials with a novel mechanism of action targeting PfCLK3.

Validation of the protein kinase PfCLK3 as a multistage cross-species malarial drug target.

The requirement for next-generation antimalarials to be both curative and transmission-blocking necessitates the identification of previously undiscovered druggable molecular pathways. We identified a selective inhibitor of the Plasmodium falciparum protein kinase PfCLK3, which we used in combination with chemogenetics to validate PfCLK3 as a drug target acting at multiple parasite life stages. Consistent with a role for PfCLK3 in RNA splicing, inhibition resulted in the down-regulation of more than 400 essential parasite genes. Inhibition of PfCLK3 mediated rapid killing of asexual liver- and blood-stage P. falciparum and blockade of gametocyte development, thereby preventing transmission, and also showed parasiticidal activity against P. berghei and P. knowlesi Hence, our data establish PfCLK3 as a target for drugs, with the potential to offer a cure-to be prophylactic and transmission blocking in malaria.

Synthesis of HDAC Substrate Peptidomimetic Inhibitors Using Fmoc Amino Acids Incorporating Zinc-Binding Groups.

Syntheses of Fmoc amino acids having zinc-binding groups were prepared and incorporated into substrate inhibitor H3K27 peptides using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Peptide 11, prepared using Fmoc-Asu(NHOtBu)-OH, is a potent inhibitor (IC50 = 390 nM) of the core NuRD corepressor complex (HDAC1-MTA1-RBBP4). The Fmoc amino acids have the potential to facilitate the rapid preparation of substrate peptidomimetic inhibitor (SPI) libraries in the search for selective HDAC inhibitors.

Lipopeptidomimetics derived from teixobactin have potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

A series of lipopeptidomimetics derived from teixobactin have been prepared that probe the role of residues (1-6) as a membrane anchor and the function of enduracididine. The most active compounds, with a farnesyl tail and End10 to Lys10 or Orn10 substitution have potent activity (MIC 8 µg mL-1) against S. aureus. These results pave the way for the synthesis of simple, cost-effective yet potent lipopeptidomimetic antimicrobials.

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of His(2-aryl)-Arg and Trp-His(2-aryl) Classes of Dipeptidomimetics.

In this communication, we report the design, synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activity of ultra short peptidomimetics. Besides producing promising antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), the dipeptidomimetics exhibited high antifungal activity against C. neoformans with IC50 values in the range of 0.16-19 µg/mL. The most potent analogs exhibited 4-fold higher activity than the currently used drug amphotericin B, with no apparent cytotoxicity in a panel of mammalian cell lines.

Synthetically modified L-histidine-rich peptidomimetics exhibit potent activity against Cryptococcus neoformans.

We describe the synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of structurally new peptidomimetics, rich in synthetically modified L-histidine. Two series of tripeptidomimetics were synthesized by varying lipophilicity at the C-2 position of L-histidine and at the N- and C-terminus. The data indicates that peptides (5f, 6f, 9f and 10f) possessing highly lipophilic adamantan-1-yl group displayed strong inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans. Peptide 6f is the most potent of all with IC50 and MFC values of 0.60 and 0.63 µg/mL, respectively, compared to the commercial drug amphotericin B (IC50=0.69 and MFC=1.25 µg/mL). The selectivity of these peptides to microbial pathogen was examined by a tryptophan fluorescence quenching study and transmission electron microscopy. These studies indicate that the peptides plausibly interact with the mimic membrane of pathogen by direct insertion, and results in disruption of membrane of pathogen.

Discovery of Short Peptides Exhibiting High Potency against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Rapid increase in the emergence of resistance against existing antifungal drugs created a need to discover new structural classes of antifungal agents. In this study we describe the synthesis of a new structural class of short antifungal peptidomimetcis, their activity, and plausible mechanism of action. The results of the study show that peptides 11e and 11f are more potent than the control drug amphotericin B, with no cytotoxicity to human cancer cells and noncancerous mammalian kidney cells. The selectivity of peptides to fungus is depicted by transmission electron microscopy studies, and it revealed that 11e possibly disrupts the model membrane of the fungal pathogen.

Regiocontrolled palladium-catalyzed and copper-mediated C-H bond functionalization of protected L-histidine.

We describe the controlled and regioselective transition-metal-catalyzed C-H bond arylation of protected L-histidine with aryl halides as the coupling partner. Using this approach, a large number of C-2 arylated L-histidines have been synthesized with diverse substitutions bearing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups, in good to excellent yields. These synthetic amino acids possessing dual hydrophobic-hydrophilic character are important synthons of bioactive peptidomimetics, which are imperative potent inhibitors of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C-5 arylation of protected L-histidine: microwave-assisted C-H activation adjacent to donor arm.

An efficient, microwave-assisted direct C-H arylation at the C-5 position of fully protected L-histidine has been achieved via a palladium-catalyzed transformation reaction. This highly regioselective reaction has been applied to synthesize a series of protected 5-aryl-L-histidines using aryl iodides as coupling partners, in good to excellent yields. The reaction is compatible with substrates possessing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents and offers high reactive functional group tolerance.