Stable Peptides Instead of Stapled Peptides: Highly Potent αvβ6‐Selective Integrin Ligands

The αvβ6 integrin binds the RGD‐containing peptide of the foot and mouth disease virus with high selectivity. In this study, the long binding helix of this ligand was downsized to an enzymatically stable cyclic peptide endowed with sub‐nanomolar binding affinity toward the αvβ6 receptor and remarkable selectivity against other integrins. Computational studies were performed to disclose the molecular bases underlying the high binding affinity and receptor subtype selectivity of this peptide. Finally, the utility of the ligand for use in biomedical studies was also demonstrated here.     

A Molecular Toolkit for the Functionalization of Titanium‐Based Biomaterials That Selectively Control Integrin‐Mediated Cell Adhesion

We present a click chemistry‐based molecular toolkit for the biofunctionalization of materials to selectively control integrin‐mediated cell adhesion. To this end, α5β1‐selective RGD peptidomimetics were covalently immobilized on Ti‐based materials, and the capacity to promote the selective binding of α5β1 was evaluated using a solid‐phase integrin binding assay. This functionalization strategy yielded surfaces with a nine‐fold increased affinity for α5β1, in comparison to control samples, and total selectivity against the binding of the closely related integrin αvβ3. Moreover, our methodology allowed the screening of several phosphonic acid containing anchoring units to find the best spacer–anchor moiety required for establishing an efficient binding to titanium and to promote selective integrin binding. The integrin subtype specificity of these biofunctionalized surfaces was further examined in vitro by inducing selective adhesion of genetically modified fibroblasts, which express exclusively the α5β1 integrin. The versatility of our molecular toolkit was proven by shifting the cellular specificity of the materials from α5β1‐ to αvβ3‐expressing fibroblasts by using an αvβ3‐selective peptidomimetic as coating molecule. The results shown here represent the first functionalization of Ti‐based materials with α5β1‐ or αvβ3‐selective peptidomimetics that allow an unprecedented control to discriminate between α5β1‐ and αvβ3‐mediated adhesions. The role of these two integrins in different biological events is still a matter of debate and is frequently discussed in literature. Thus, such bioactive titanium surfaces will be of great relevance for the study of integrin‐mediated cell adhesion and the development of new biomaterials targeting specific cell types.     

Overcoming the Lack of Oral Availability of Cyclic Hexapeptides: Design of a Selective and Orally Available Ligand for the Integrin αvβ3

A highly systematic approach for the development of both orally bioavailable and bioactive cyclic N‐methylated hexapeptides as high affinity ligands for the integrin αvβ3 is based on two concepts: a) screening of systematically designed libraries with spatial diversity and b) masking of the peptide charge with a lipophilic protecting group. The key steps of the method are 1) initial design of a combinatorial library of N‐methylated analogues of the stem peptide cyclo(d ‐Ala‐Ala₅); 2) selection of cyclic peptides with the highest intestinal permeability; 3) design of sublibraries with the bioactive RGD sequence in all possible positions; 4) selection of the best ligands for RGD‐recognizing integrin subtypes; 5) fine‐tuning of the affinity and selectivity by additional Ala to Xaa substitutions; 6) protection of the charged functional groups according to the prodrug concept to regain intestinal and oral permeability; 7) proof of biological effects in mice after oral administration.     

The homo‐PADAM Protocol: Stereoselective and Operationally Simple Synthesis of α‐Oxo‐ or α‐Hydroxy‐γ‐acylaminoamides and Chromanes

A straightforward and fully stereoselective synthesis of a new class of peptidomimetics, that is α‐oxo‐γ‐acylaminoamides, was achieved starting from various benzaldehydes by a sequence of 1) an asymmetric organocatalytic Mannich reaction, 2) a Passerini multicomponent reaction, 3) an amine deprotection–acyl migration protocol, and 4) a final oxidation. The whole sequence can be performed without purification of the intermediates and represents the first example of a homo‐Passerini–amine deprotection–acyl migration (PADAM) strategy. Highly stereoselective reduction of the α‐oxo‐γ‐acylaminoamides afforded α‐hydroxy‐γ‐acylaminoamides as well. In some cases both diastereomers were obtained by simply changing the reducing agent. Finally, starting from protected salicylaldehyde, the same sequence, followed by a Mitsunobu cyclization, afforded highly substituted chromanes.     

A Minimal β‐Lactone Fragment for Selective β5c or β5i Proteasome Inhibitors

Broad‐spectrum proteasome inhibitors are applied as anticancer drugs, whereas selective blockage of the immunoproteasome represents a promising therapeutic rationale for autoimmune diseases. We here aimed at identifying minimal structural elements that confer β5c or β5i selectivity on proteasome inhibitors. Based on the natural product belactosin C, we synthesized two β‐lactones featuring a dimethoxybenzyl moiety and either a methylpropyl (pseudo‐isoleucin) or an isopropyl (pseudo‐valine) P1 side chain. Although the two compounds differ only by one methyl group, the isoleucine analogue is six times more potent for β5i (IC₅₀=14 nM ) than the valine counterpart. Cell culture experiments demonstrate the cell‐permeability of the compounds and X‐ray crystallography data highlight them as minimal fragments that occupy primed and non‐primed pockets of the active sites of the proteasome. Together, these results qualify β‐lactones as a promising lead‐structure motif for potent nonpeptidic proteasome inhibitors with diverse pharmaceutical applications.     

A Combined NMR and Computational Approach to Determine the RGDechi‐hCit‐αvβ3 Integrin Recognition Mode in Isolated Cell Membranes

The critical role of integrins in tumor progression and metastasis has stimulated intense efforts to identify pharmacological agents that can modulate integrin function. In recent years, α_vβ₃ and α_vβ₅ integrin antagonists were demonstrated to be effective in blocking tumor progression. RGDechi‐hCit, a chimeric peptide containing a cyclic RGD motif linked to an echistatin C‐terminal fragment, is able to recognize selectively α_vβ₃ integrin both in vitro and in vivo. High‐resolution molecular details of the selective α_vβ₃ recognition of the peptide are certainly required, nonetheless RGDechi‐hCit internalization limited the use of classical in cell NMR experiments. To overcome such limitations, we used WM266 isolated cellular membranes to accomplish a detailed NMR interaction study that, combined with a computational analysis, provides significant structural insights into α_vβ₃ molecular recognition by RGDechi‐hCit. Remarkably, on the basis of the identified molecular determinants, we design a RGDechi‐hCit mutant that is selective for α_vβ₅ integrin.     

Selective Integrin α5β1 Targeting through Spatially Constrained Multivalent DNA-Based Nanoparticles

Targeting cells specifically based on receptor expression levels remains an area of active research to date. Selective binding of receptors cannot be achieved by increasing the individual binding strength, as this does not account for differing distributions of receptor density across healthy and diseased cells. Engaging receptors above a threshold concentration would be desirable in devising selective diagnostics. Integrins are prime target candidates as they are readily available on the cell surface and have been reported to be overexpressed in diseases. Insights into their spatial organization would therefore be advantageous to design selective targeting agents. Here, we investigated the effect of activation method on integrin α₅β₁ clustering by immunofluorescence and modeled the global neighbor distances with input from an immuno-staining assay and image processing of microscopy images. This data was used to engineer spatially-controlled DNA-scaffolded bivalent ligands, which we used to compare trends in spatial-selective binding observed across HUVEC, CHO and HeLa in resting versus activated conditions in confocal microscopy images. For HUVEC and CHO, the data demonstrated an improved selectivity and localisation of binding for smaller spacings ~7 nm and ~24 nm, in good agreement with the model. A deviation from the mode predictions for HeLa was observed, indicative of a clustered, instead of homogeneous, integrin organization. Our findings demonstrate how low-technology imaging methods can guide the design of spatially controlled ligands to selectively differentiate between cell type and integrin activation state.     

Stapled Peptides with γ‐Methylated Hydrocarbon Chains for the Estrogen Receptor/Coactivator Interaction

“Stapled” peptides are typically designed to replace two non‐interacting residues with a constraining, olefinic staple. To mimic interacting leucine and isoleucine residues, we have created new amino acids that incorporate a methyl group in the γ‐position of the stapling amino acid S5. We have incorporated them into a sequence derived from steroid receptor coactivator 2, which interacts with estrogen receptor α. The best peptide (IC₅₀=89 nm ) replaces isoleucine 689 with an S‐γ‐methyl stapled amino acid, and has significantly higher affinity than unsubstituted peptides (390 and 760 nm ). Through X‐ray crystallography and molecular dynamics studies, we show that the conformation taken up by the S‐γ‐methyl peptide minimizes the syn‐pentane interactions between the α‐ and γ‐methyl groups.     

Intrinsically Photoswitchable α/β Peptides toward Two‐State Foldamers

A simple, unsaturated, E–Z photoisomerizable β‐amino acid, (Z)‐3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic acid, has been introduced into peptide foldamers through a one‐pot chemical coupling, based on Pd/Cu‐catalyzed olefin oxidative amidation, between two peptide segments carrying, respectively, a ‐Gly‐NH₂ residue at the C‐terminus and an acryloyl group at the N‐terminus. Reversible conversion between the Z and E configurations of the 3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic linkage was achieved photochemically. A crystallographic analysis on two model compounds shed light on the consequences, in terms of 3D structure and self‐association properties, brought about by the different configuration of the unsaturated linkage. As a proof of concept, E–Z photoisomerization of a 3‐aminoprop‐2‐enoic acid residue, inserted as the junction between two conformationally distinct peptide domains (one helical while the other β‐sheet promoter), allowed supramolecular self‐association to be reversibly turned on/off.     

Site‐Selective δ‐C(sp3)−H Alkylation of Amino Acids and Peptides with Maleimides via a Six‐Membered Palladacycle

The site‐selective functionalization of unactivated C(sp³)?H bonds remains one of the greatest challenges in organic synthesis. Herein, we report on the site‐selective δ‐C(sp³)?H alkylation of amino acids and peptides with maleimides via a kinetically less favored six‐membered palladacycle in the presence of more accessible γ‐C(sp³)?H bonds. Experimental studies revealed that C?H bond cleavage occurs reversibly and preferentially at γ‐methyl over δ‐methyl C?H bonds while the subsequent alkylation proceeds exclusively at the six‐membered palladacycle that is generated by δ‐C?H activation. The selectivity can be explained by the Curtin–Hammett principle. The exceptional compatibility of this alkylation with various oligopeptides renders this procedure valuable for late‐stage peptide modifications. Notably, this process is also the first palladium(II)‐catalyzed Michael‐type alkylation reaction that proceeds through C(sp³)?H activation.