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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Discovery of G-quadruplex stabilizing ligands through direct ELISA of a one-bead-one-compound library.

We describe the identification of small-molecule G-quadruplex ligands using a direct ELISA screen of a one-bead-one-compound library of unnatural polyamides displayed on a branched linker with a biotin tag. This general purpose parallel screen for small molecule-oligonucleotide interactions was validated by surface plasmon resonance and ELISA of resynthesized compounds. Linear polyamides displayed similar rankings in their affinity for quadruplex as their branched counterparts. Quadruplex affinity as judged by these surface based techniques was a useful predictor of the ability of the ligands to stabilize the quadruplex to thermal unfolding in solution.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

A tandem-column chromatographic method for studying the interaction between ligands and their targets: lipopolysaccharide as a model.

The identification of a lead ligand from a library of compounds for a specific target requires both a selection process and a method to assess relative affinities. Using a tandem-column chromatographic technique, we have developed a novel and rapid method for determination of relative affinities for ligands binding to a specific target molecule. We demonstrate, using known ligands for the lipid A region of lipopolysaccharide, that the relative affinities of these ligands can be determined and may be used to characterize the competitive interaction between ligands for the same target. The method can be adapted toward screening of soluble libraries of peptides and small molecules and those ligands exhibiting a desired affinity can be rapidly selected for further characterization/development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

DNA-templated organic synthesis and selection of a library of macrocycles.

The translation of nucleic acid libraries into corresponding synthetic compounds would enable selection and amplification principles to be applied to man-made molecules. We used multistep DNA-templated organic synthesis to translate libraries of DNA sequences, each containing three "codons," into libraries of sequence-programmed synthetic small-molecule macrocycles. The resulting DNA-macrocycle conjugates were subjected to in vitro selections for protein affinity. The identity of a single macrocycle possessing known target protein affinity was inferred through the sequence of the amplified DNA template surviving the selection. This work represents the translation, selection, and amplification of libraries of nucleic acids encoding synthetic small molecules rather than biological macromolecules.

Amides↗

High throughput screening identifies novel inhibitors of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase that are competitive with dihydrofolate.

This communication describes the high-throughput screen of a diverse library of 50,000 small molecules against Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase to detect inhibitors. Sixty-two compounds were identified as having significant inhibitory activity against the enzyme. Secondary screening of these revealed twelve molecules that were competitive with dihydrofolate, nine of which have not been previously characterized as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. These novel molecules ranged in potency (K(i)) from 26 nM to 11 microM and may represent fresh starting points for new small molecule therapeutics directed against dihydrofolate reductase.

Binding, Competitive↗

Identification of enzyme inhibitors using combinatorial libraries.

Potent enzyme inhibitors have long been recognized as powerful tools for assessing the physiological roles of enzymes and have led to the therapeutic drugs able to modulate their activities in vivo. However, to be valuable tools such inhibitors should be selective so that they do not interfere with other members of the particular enzyme family. Combinatorial chemistry has proven to be a novel approach for the identification of molecules with a desired selectivity profile from the libraries of several million compounds. In recent years it has been extensively used in conjunction with computational methods for the development of potent inhibitors of therapeutically interesting targets. This review describes the various structurally diverse enzyme inhibitors identified by screening combinatorial libraries of peptides and small organic molecules.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

Small molecule biaryl FSH receptor agonists. Part 1: Lead discovery via encoded combinatorial synthesis.

High-throughput screening of two million compounds in 37 distinct encoded combinatorial libraries using FSH receptor transfected cells provided small molecule agonists such as 1 (EC(50)=3 microM) and 2 (EC(50)=3.9 microM), based on which a focused combinatorial library with a total of 31372 compounds was designed, synthesized, and screened to reveal 72 novel biaryl FSH receptor agonists such as 8a-c as well as a unique combinatorial SAR.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

RNomics: an experimental approach that identifies 201 candidates for novel, small, non-messenger RNAs in mouse.

In mouse brain cDNA libraries generated from small RNA molecules we have identified a total of 201 different expressed RNA sequences potentially encoding novel small non-messenger RNA species (snmRNAs). Based on sequence and structural motifs, 113 of these RNAs can be assigned to the C/D box or H/ACA box subclass of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), known as guide RNAs for rRNA. While 30 RNAs represent mouse homologues of previously identified human C/D or H/ACA snoRNAs, 83 correspond to entirely novel snoRNAS: Among these, for the first time, we identified four C/D box snoRNAs and four H/ACA box snoRNAs predicted to direct modifications within U2, U4 or U6 small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Furthermore, 25 snoRNAs from either class lacked antisense elements for rRNAs or snRNAS: Therefore, additional snoRNA targets have to be considered. Surprisingly, six C/D box snoRNAs and one H/ACA box snoRNA were expressed exclusively in brain. Of the 88 RNAs not belonging to either snoRNA subclass, at least 26 are probably derived from truncated heterogeneous nuclear RNAs (hnRNAs) or mRNAS: Short interspersed repetitive elements (SINEs) are located on five RNA sequences and may represent rare examples of transcribed SINES: The remaining RNA species could not as yet be assigned either to any snmRNA class or to a part of a larger hnRNA/mRNA. It is likely that at least some of the latter will represent novel, unclassified snmRNAS:

Animals↗

Engineering an affinity tag for genetically encoded cyclic peptides.

Peptide expression libraries are valuable probes of cellular function. SICLOPPS technology merges the principal advantages of both genetic methods and small-molecule approaches in yielding superior library sizes of operationally stable, structurally well-defined entities with an established biological and medicinal record. Here, we describe development, application, and the first-generation library implementation of an expressed affinity tag for a library of cyclic peptides. A tripeptide streptavidin-binding motif (HPQ) proved to be compatible with presentation from a backbone cyclized template. A resulting peptide was employed as a sensitive indicator of peptide splicing, expression, and recovery as well as an affinity tag for one-step purification. Specific recognition of the tag by streptavidin was also critical for an analysis of intein mutants. Finally, the initially identified probe was used as a template for design of a streptavidin-responsive cyclic peptide library.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Orthogonal protecting groups for N(alpha)-amino and C-terminal carboxyl functions in solid-phase peptide synthesis.

For the controlled synthesis of even the simplest dipeptide, the N(alpha)-amino group of one of the amino acids and the C-terminal carboxyl group of the other should both be blocked with suitable protecting groups. Formation of the desired amide bond can now occur upon activation of the free carboxyl group. After coupling, peptide synthesis can be continued by removal of either of the two protecting groups and coupling with the free C-terminus or N(alpha)-amino group of another protected amino acid. When three functional amino acids are present in the sequence, the side chain of these residues also has to be protected. It is important that there is a high degree of compatibility between the different types of protecting groups such that one type may be removed selectively in the presence of the others. At the end of the synthesis, the protecting groups must be removed to give the desired peptide. Thus, it is clear that the protection scheme adopted is of the utmost importance and makes the difference between success and failure in a given synthesis. Since R. B. Merrifield introduced the solid-phase strategy for the synthesis of peptides, this prerequisite has been readily accepted. This strategy is usually carried out using two main protection schemes: the tert-butoxycarbonyl/benzyl and the 9-flourenylmethoxycarbonyl/tert-butyl methods. However, for the solid-phase preparation of complex or fragile peptides, as well as for the construction of libraries of peptides or small molecules using a combinatorial approach, a range of other protecting groups is also needed. This review summarizes other protecting groups for both the N(alpha)-amino and C-terminal carboxyl functions.

Amino Acids↗

Self-assembled small-molecule microarrays for protease screening and profiling.

Small-molecule microarrays are attractive for chemical biology as they permit the analysis of hundreds to thousands of interactions in a highly miniaturized format. Methods to prepare small-molecule microarrays from combinatorial libraries by a self-assembly process based on the sequence-specific hybridization of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) encoded libraries to oligonucleotide arrays are presented. A systematic study of the dynamic range for multiple detection agents, including direct fluorescence of attached fluorescein and cyanine-3 dyes, antibody-mediated fluorescence amplification, and biotin-gold nanoparticle detection, demonstrated that individual PNA-encoded probes can be detected to concentrations of 10 pM on the oligonucleotide microarrays. Furthermore, a new method for parallel processing of biological samples by using gel-based separation of probes is presented. The methods presented in this report are exemplified through profiling two closely related cysteine proteases, cathepsin K and cathepsin F, across a 625-member PNA-encoded tetrapeptide acrylate library. A series of the specific cathepsin K and F inhibitors identified from the library were kinetically characterized and shown to correlate with the observed microarray profile, thus validating the described methods. Importantly, it was shown that this method could be used to obtain orthogonal inhibitors that displayed greater than tenfold selectivity for these closely related cathepsins.

Endopeptidases↗

Identification of HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein: nucleic acid antagonists with cellular anti-HIV activity.

The crucial functions of HIV-1 nucleocapsid-p7 protein (NC-p7) at different stages of HIV replication are dependent on its nucleic acid binding properties. In this study, a search has been made to identify antagonists of the interaction between NC-p7 and d(TG)(4). A chemical library of approximately 2000 small molecules (the NCI Diversity Set) was screened, of the 26 active inhibitors that were identified, five contained a xanthenyl ring structure. Further analysis of 63 structurally related compounds led to the identification of 2,3,4,5-tetrachloro-6-(4('),5('),6(')-trihydroxy-3(')-oxo-3H-xanthen-9(')-yl)benzoic acid, which binds to NC-p7 stoichiometrically. This compound exerted a significant anti-HIV activity in vitro with an IC(50) of 16.6+/-4.3 microM (means+/-SD). Synthetic variants lacking the two hydroxyls at positions 4(') and 5(') in the xanthenyl ring system failed to bind NC-p7 and showed significantly less protection against HIV infection. Molecular modeling predicts that these hydroxyl groups would bind to the amide nitrogen of Gly(35) with other contacts at the carbonyl oxygens of Gly(40) and Lys(33).

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Developments in microarray technologies.

The focus of high-throughput drug discovery has progressed through the genome and the transcriptome and is now moving towards more difficult problems in assessing the proteome, glycome and metabolome. Microarrays are currently the major tool in the assessment of gene expression via cDNA or RNA analysis; however, they are also used to screen libraries of proteins and small molecules. Microarrays have helped to extract more information from smaller sample volumes and enabled the incorporation of low-cost high-throughput assays in the drug discovery process. The technology continues to develop and is being rapidly transferred into more challenging areas, with the potential to further aid and enhance the drug discovery process through the development of, for example, proteomic, glycomic and tissue arrays.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

Solution- and solid-phase synthesis of natural product-like tetrahydroquinoline-based polycyclics having a medium size ring.

A solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline-derived polycyclic 4, having a medium size ring with an enamide functionality, was achieved from tetrahydroquinoline derivative 3 in five steps with overall 40-45% yield. An enantiopure, tetrahydroquinoline-derived beta-amino ester, 1, was converted into compound 2 that has a free phenolic hydroxyl group as an anchoring site for solid-phase synthesis. The solid-phase worked well for this sequence, in which the synthesis of the unsaturated eight-membered enamide lactam was obtained by a ring-closing metathesis approach. Compound 4 is a novel, natural product-like polycyclic derivative that could further be utilized in library generation for developing small molecule chemical probes.

Biological Products↗

The cystine knot of a squash-type protease inhibitor as a structural scaffold for Escherichia coli cell surface display of conformationally constrained peptides.

The Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II (EETI-II), a member of the squash family of protease inhibitors, is composed of 28 amino acid residues and is a potent inhibitor of trypsin. Its compact structure is defined by a triple-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, which is held together by three intramolecular disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. In order to explore the potential of the EETI-II peptide to serve as a structural scaffold for the presentation of randomized oligopeptides, we constructed two EETI-II derivatives, where the six-residue inhibitor loop was replaced by a 13-residue epitope of Sendai virus L-protein and by a 17-residue epitope from human bone Gla-protein. EETI-II and derived variants were produced via fusion to maltose binding protein MalE. By secretion of the fusion into the periplasmic space, fully oxidized and correctly folded EETI-II was obtained in high yield. EETI-II and derived variants could be presented on the Escherichia coli outer membrane by fusion to truncated Lpp'-OmpA', which comprises the first nine residues of mature lipoprotein plus the membrane spanning beta-strand from residues 46-66 of OmpA protein. Gene expression was under control of the strong and tightly regulated tetA promoter/operator. Cell viability was found to be drastically reduced by high level expression of Lpp'-OmpA'-EETI-II fusion protein. To restore cell viability, net accumulation of fusion protein in the outer membrane was reduced to a tolerable level by introduction of an amber codon at position 9 of the lpp' sequence and utilizing an amber suppressor strain as expression host. Cells expressing EETI-II variants containing an epitope were shown to be surface labeled with the respective monoclonal antibody by indirect immunofluorescence corroborating the cell surface exposure of the epitope sequences embedded in the EETI-II cystine knot scaffold. Cells displaying a particular epitope sequence could be enriched 10(7)-fold by combining magnetic cell sorting with fluorescence-activated cell sorting. These results demonstrate that E.coli cell surface display of conformationally constrained peptides tethered to the EETI-II cystine knot scaffold has the potential to become an effective technique for the rapid isolation of small peptide molecules from combinatorial libraries that bind with high affinity to acceptor molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional inhibitor of virulence factors in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The type III secretion system (TTSS) is a key virulence mechanism of many important gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The TTSS is conserved among different bacterial pathogens, and mutations and deletions to the system significantly decrease virulence, making the TTSS an important potential therapeutic target. We have developed a high-throughput assay to search for inhibitors of the TTSS. We screened a commercial library of 20,000 small molecules for their ability to inhibit type III secretion by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). After discarding compounds that had no effect on secretion, inhibited bacterial growth, and/or caused degradation of EPEC-secreted proteins, the search was focused on a class of compounds that, while not direct inhibitors of type III secretion, inhibit expression of TTSS-related genes and other genes involved in virulence. This class of compounds does not affect bacterial viability or motility, indicating that it is not significantly affecting the expression of essential genes and is specific to virulence-associated genes. Transcriptional fusion assays confirmed that virulence-associated promoters were more sensitive to inhibition by this class of compounds. Overall, we have identified a class of compounds that can be used as a tool to probe the mechanism(s) that regulates virulence gene expression in EPEC.

Cell Movement↗

A Melanophore-Based Screening Assay for Erythropoietin Receptors.

A rapid, functional assay in frog melanophore cells for the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), a member of the cytokine receptor family, is demonstrated. A chimeric receptor that comprised the extracellular portion of the murine EPOR and the transmembrane and intracellular domains of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was subcloned into the expression vector pJG3.6. When the full-length EGFR was expressed in melanophores, EGF but not EPO mediated pigment dispersion in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an EC50 of 12.6 6 2.9 pM. However, when the chimeric EPOR/EGFR was expressed, EPO but not EGF stimulated pigment dispersion in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an EC50 of 380 6 107 pM. Neither EGF nor EPO had any effect on pigment dispersion in wild-type melanophores. EGF- and EPO-mediated pigment dispersion was blocked by the bis-indolylmaleimide protein kinase C inhibitor Ro 31-8220. This study extends the use of the melanophore-based bioassay to include cytokine receptors in addition to G protein­ and tyrosine kinase­coupled receptors. It represents a potentially powerful method for screening of combinatorial libraries to identify novel small molecule agonists and antagonists to this clinically important class of binding sites as well as performing studies of functional ligand-receptor interactions.

Journal Article↗

In situ assembly of enzyme inhibitors using extended tethering.

Cysteine aspartyl protease-3 (caspase-3) is a mediator of apoptosis and a therapeutic target for a wide range of diseases. Using a dynamic combinatorial technology, 'extended tethering', we identified unique nonpeptidic inhibitors for this enzyme. Extended tethering allowed the identification of ligands that bind to discrete regions of caspase-3 and also helped direct the assembly of these ligands into small-molecule inhibitors. We first designed a small-molecule 'extender' that irreversibly alkylates the cysteine residue of caspase-3 and also contains a thiol group. The modified protein was then screened against a library of disulfide-containing small-molecule fragments. Mass-spectrometry was used to identify ligands that bind noncovalently to the protein and that also form a disulfide linkage with the extender. Linking the selected fragments with binding elements from the extenders generates reversible, tight-binding molecules that are druglike and distinct from known inhibitors. One molecule derived from this approach inhibited apoptosis in cells.

Apoptosis↗

Synthesis utilizing insoluble polymers: new reactions and small molecules.

It can be argued that solid-phase organic chemistry is the preferred method of preparing screening libraries for lead compound discovery and lead optimization within the pharmaceutical industry. Solid-phase peptide chemistry is the most reliable and general of the synthetic methods available today; however, the purities of products are inadequate for the needs of the current market and the screening departments of pharmaceutical companies. Recent synthetic advances in solid-phase organic chemistry have started to increase the range of chemistry that can be used to prepare 'drug-like' small molecules in library format.

Chemistry, Organic↗