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Macrocyclized Extended Peptides: Inhibiting the Substrate-Recognition Domain of Tankyrase

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Xu, W 
Lau, YH 
Tan, YS 
Chattopadhyay, A 

Abstract

We report a double-click macrocyclization approach for the design of constrained peptide inhibitors having non-helical or extended conformations. Our targets are the tankyrase proteins (TNKS), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) that regulate Wnt signaling by targeting Axin for degradation. TNKS are deregulated in many different cancer types, and inhibition of TNKS therefore represents an attractive therapeutic strategy. However, clinical development of TNKS-specific PARP catalytic inhibitors is challenging due to off-target effects and cellular toxicity. We instead targeted the substrate-recognition domain of TNKS, as it is unique among PARP family members. We employed a two-component strategy, allowing peptide and linker to be separately engineered and then assembled in a combinatorial fashion via click chemistry. Using the consensus substrate-peptide sequence as a starting point, we optimized the length and rigidity of the linker and its position along the peptide. Optimization was further guided by high-resolution crystal structures of two of the macrocyclized peptides in complex with TNKS. This approach led to macrocyclized peptides with submicromolar affinities for TNKS and high proteolytic stability that are able to disrupt the interaction between TNKS and Axin substrate and to inhibit Wnt signaling in a dose-dependent manner. The peptides therefore represent a promising starting point for a new class of substrate-competitive inhibitors of TNKS with potential for suppressing Wnt signaling in cancer. Moreover, by demonstrating the application of the double-click macrocyclization approach to non-helical, extended, or irregularly structured peptides, we greatly extend its potential and scope, especially given the frequency with which such motifs mediate protein-protein interactions.

Description

Keywords

Click Chemistry, Crystallography, X-Ray, Enzyme Inhibitors, Humans, Macrocyclic Compounds, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Molecular Structure, Peptides, Tankyrases, Thermodynamics

Journal Title

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0002-7863
1520-5126

Volume Title

139

Publisher

American Chemical Society
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G1002329)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K039520/1)
Wellcome Trust (090340/Z/09/Z)
MRC (MC_PC_14116 v2)
European Research Council (279337)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P020291/1)
The Itzhaki lab acknowledges support from the Medical Research Council (MRC) (Grant G1002329) and an MRC Confidence in Concept grant. L.S.I. acknowledges the support of a Senior Fellowship from the Medical Research Foundation. The Spring lab acknowledges support from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC Grant 279337/DOS. In addition, the group’s research was supported by grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council, Royal Society, and Wellcome Trust. The work in the Hyvonen lab was funded by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (090340/Z/09/Z).