Iterative optimization yields Mcl-1-targeting stapled peptides with selective cytotoxicity to Mcl-1-dependent cancer cells.

Bcl-2 family proteins regulate apoptosis, and aberrant interactions of overexpressed antiapoptotic family members such as Mcl-1 promote cell transformation, cancer survival, and resistance to chemotherapy. Discovering potent and selective Mcl-1 inhibitors that can relieve apoptotic blockades is thus a high priority for cancer research. An attractive strategy for disabling Mcl-1 involves using designer peptides to competitively engage its binding groove, mimicking the structural mechanism of action of native sensitizer BH3-only proteins. We transformed Mcl-1-binding peptides into α-helical, cell-penetrating constructs that are selectively cytotoxic to Mcl-1-dependent cancer cells. Critical to the design of effective inhibitors was our introduction of an all-hydrocarbon cross-link or "staple" that stabilizes α-helical structure, increases target binding affinity, and independently confers binding specificity for Mcl-1 over related Bcl-2 family paralogs. Two crystal structures of complexes at 1.4 Å and 1.9 Å resolution demonstrate how the hydrophobic staple induces an unanticipated structural rearrangement in Mcl-1 upon binding. Systematic sampling of staple location and iterative optimization of peptide sequence in accordance with established design principles provided peptides that target intracellular Mcl-1. This work provides proof of concept for the development of potent, selective, and cell-permeable stapled peptides for therapeutic targeting of Mcl-1 in cancer, applying a design and validation workflow applicable to a host of challenging biomedical targets.

The protofilament architecture of a de novo designed coiled coil-based amyloidogenic peptide.

Amyloid fibrils are polymers formed by proteins under specific conditions and in many cases they are related to pathogenesis, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Their hallmark is the presence of a ß-sheet structure. High resolution structural data on these systems as well as information gathered from multiple complementary analytical techniques is needed, from both a fundamental and a pharmaceutical perspective. Here, a previously reported de novo designed, pH-switchable coiled coil-based peptide that undergoes structural transitions resulting in fibril formation under physiological conditions has been exhaustively characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-TEM, atomic force microscopy (AFM), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and solid-state NMR (ssNMR). Overall, a unique 2-dimensional carpet-like assembly composed of large coexisiting ribbon-like, tubular and funnel-like structures with a clearly resolved protofilament substructure is observed. Whereas electron microscopy and scattering data point somewhat more to a hairpin model of ß-fibrils, ssNMR data obtained from samples with selectively labelled peptides are in agreement with both, hairpin structures and linear arrangements.

Investigation of the network of preferred interactions in an artificial coiled-coil association using the peptide array technique.

We screened a randomized library and identified natural peptides that bound selectively to a chimeric peptide containing α-, ß- and γ-amino acids. The SPOT arrays provide a means for the systematic study of the possible interaction space accessible to the αßγ-chimera. The mutational analysis reveals the dependence of the binding affinities of α-peptides to the αßγ-chimera, on the hydrophobicity and bulkiness of the side chains at the corresponding hydrophobic interface. The stability of the resulting heteroassemblies was further confirmed in solution by CD and thermal denaturation.

A systematic study of fundamentals in α-helical coiled coil mimicry by alternating sequences of ß- and γ-amino acids.

Aimed at understanding the crucially important structural features for the integrity of α-helical mimicry by ßγ-sequences, an α-amino acid sequence in a native peptide was substituted by differently arranged ßγ-sequences. The self- and hetero-assembly of a series of αßγ-chimeric sequences based on a 33-residue GCN4-derived peptide was investigated by means of molecular dynamics, circular dichroism, and a disulfide exchange assay. Despite the native-like behavior of ßγ alternating sequences such as retention of α-helix dipole and the formation of 13-membered α-helix turns, the αßγ-chimeras with different ßγ substitution patterns do not equally mimic the structural behavior of the native parent peptide in solution. The preservation of the key residue contacts such as van der Waals interactions and intrahelical H-bonding, which can be met only by particular substitution patterns, thermodynamically favor the adoption of coiled coil folding motif. In this study, we show how successfully the destabilizing structural consequences of α â†’ ßγ modification can be harnessed by reducing the solvent-exposed hydrophobic surface area and placing of suitably long and bulky helix-forming side chains at the hydrophobic core. The pairing of αßγ-chimeric sequences with the native wild-type are thermodynamically allowed in the case of ideal arrangement of ß- and γ-residues. This indicates a similarity in local side chain packing of ß- and γ-amino acids at the helical interface of αßγ-chimeras and the native α-peptide. Consequently, the backbone extended residues are able to participate in classical "knob-into-hole" packing with native α-peptide.

Intramolecular charge interactions as a tool to control the coiled-coil-to-amyloid transformation.

Under the influence of a changed environment, amyloid-forming proteins partially unfold and assemble into insoluble beta-sheet rich fibrils. Molecular-level characterization of these assembly processes has been proven to be very challenging, and for this reason several simplified model systems have been developed over recent years. Herein, we present a series of three de novo designed model peptides that adopt different conformations and aggregate morphologies depending on concentration, pH value, and ionic strength. The design strictly follows the characteristic heptad repeat of the alpha-helical coiled-coil structural motif. In all peptides, three valine residues, known to prefer the beta-sheet conformation, have been incorporated at the solvent-exposed b, c, and f positions to make the system prone to amyloid formation. Additionally, pH-controllable intramolecular electrostatic repulsions between equally charged lysine (peptide A) or glutamate (peptide B) residues were introduced along one side of the helical cylinder. The conformational behavior was monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis and thioflavin T fluorescence, and the resulting aggregates were further characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Whereas uninterrupted alpha-helical aggregates are found at neutral pH, Coulomb repulsions between lysine residues in peptide A destabilize the helical conformation at acidic pH values and trigger an assembly into amyloid-like fibrils. Peptide B features a glutamate-based switch functionality and exhibits opposite pH-dependent folding behavior. In this case, alpha-helical aggregates are found under acidic conditions, whereas amyloids are formed at neutral pH. To further validate the pH switch concept, peptide C was designed by including serine residues, thus resulting in an equal distribution of charged residues. Surprisingly, amyloid formation is observed at all pH values investigated for peptide C. The results of further investigations into the effect of different salts, however, strongly support the crucial role of intramolecular charge repulsions in the model system presented herein.

Designing helical peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.

Short helical peptides combine characteristics of small molecules and large proteins and provide an exciting area of opportunity in protein design. A growing number of studies report novel helical peptide inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. New techniques have been developed for peptide design and for chemically stabilizing peptides in a helical conformation, which frequently improves protease resistance and cell permeability. We summarize advances in peptide crosslinking chemistry and give examples of peptide design studies targeting coiled-coil transcription factors, Bcl-2 family proteins, MDM2/MDMX, and HIV gp41, among other targets.

Rapid Optimization of Mcl-1 Inhibitors using Stapled Peptide Libraries Including Non-Natural Side Chains.

Alpha helices form a critical part of the binding interface for many protein-protein interactions, and chemically stabilized synthetic helical peptides can be effective inhibitors of such helix-mediated complexes. In particular, hydrocarbon stapling of peptides to generate constrained helices can improve binding affinity and other peptide properties, but determining the best stapled peptide variant often requires laborious trial and error. Here, we describe the rapid discovery and optimization of a stapled-helix peptide that binds to Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic protein that is overexpressed in many chemoresistant cancers. To accelerate discovery, we developed a peptide library synthesis and screening scheme capable of identifying subtle affinity differences among Mcl-1-binding stapled peptides. We used our method to sample combinations of non-natural amino-acid substitutions that we introduced into Mcl-1 inhibitors in the context of a fixed helix-stabilizing hydrocarbon staple that increased peptide helical content and reduced proteolysis. Peptides discovered in our screen contained surprising substitutions at sites that are conserved in natural binding partners. Library-identified peptide M3d is the most potent molecule yet tested for selectively triggering mitochondrial permeabilization in Mcl-1 dependent cell lines. Our library approach for optimizing helical peptide inhibitors can be readily applied to the study of other biomedically important targets.

An unusual interstrand H-bond stabilizes the heteroassembly of helical αßγ-chimeras with natural peptides.

The substitution of α-amino acids by homologated amino acids has a strong impact on the overall structure and topology of peptides, usually leading to a loss in thermal stability. Here, we report on the identification of an ideal core packing between an α-helical peptide and an αßγ-chimera via phage display. Selected peptides assemble with the chimeric sequence with thermal stabilities that are comparable to that of the parent bundle consisting purely of α-amino acids. With the help of MD simulations and mutational analysis this stability could be explained by the formation of an interhelical H-bond between the selected cysteine and a backbone carbonyl of the ß/γ-segment. Gained results can be directly applied in the design of biologically relevant peptides containing ß- and γ-amino acids.

ß- and γ-Amino Acids at α-Helical Interfaces: Toward the Formation of Highly Stable Foldameric Coiled Coils.

Since peptides are vital for cellular and pathogenic processes, much effort has been put into the design of unnatural oligomers that mimic natural peptide structures, also referred to as foldamers. However, to enable the specific application of foldamers, a thorough characterization of their interaction profiles in native protein environments is required. We report here the application of phage display for the identification of suitable helical environments for a sequence comprising an alternating set of ß- and γ-amino acids. In vitro selected sequences show that an increase in the hydrophobic surface area at the helical interface as well as the incorporation of a polar H-bond donor functionality can significantly improve interhelical interactions involving backbone-extended amino acids. Thus, our data provide insight into the principles of the rational design of foldameric inhibitors for protein-protein interactions.