bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Sept. 14, 2024
SUMMARY
Peptides
and
peptidomimetics
that
self-assemble
via
LLPS
have
recently
emerged
as
building
blocks
for
fabricating
functional
biomaterials
due
to
their
unique
physicochemical
properties
dynamic
nature.
One
of
life’s
most
distinctive
signatures
is
its
selectivity
chiral
molecules
and,
date,
coacervates
comprised
D-amino
acids
not
been
reported.
Here,
we
demonstrate
histidine-rich
repeats
(GHGXY)
4
(X=L/V/P)
enantiomers
undergo
opening
new
avenues
enhancing
coacervate
stability.
Through
a
series
biophysical
studies,
find
kinetics,
droplet
size,
fusion,
encapsulation
efficiency
are
dictated
by
the
primary
sequence.
Further,
these
can
encapsulate
therapeutic
cargo
which
then
internalized
endocytic
mechanisms.
Finally,
show
enhance
antigen
presentation
CD4
+
CD8
T
cells
resulting
in
robust
proliferation
production
cytokines.
Collectively,
our
study
describes
development
characterization
enantiomeric
peptide
attractive
vaccine
delivery
vehicles
with
tunable
properties.
HIGHLIGHTS
D
amino
acid-peptides
were
used
first
time
construct
phase
separating
Chirality
does
restrict
or
modulate
other
Antigen
using
enhances
prolongs
PROGRESS
AND
POTENTIAL
self-assembly
liquid-liquid
separation
(LLPS)
result
solute-rich
serve
biomaterials.
Using
repeats,
this
work
demonstrates
peptides
composed
entirely
form
coaceravtes.
The
kinetics
bulk
droplets
be
controlled
through
simple
acid
substitutions.
coacervates,
while
immunologically
inert,
exert
an
adjuvanting
effect
leading
cytokine
production.
materials
showcased
here
possess
high
translational
potential
combined
immunomodulators
antigens
against
infectious
diseases
cancer.
deliverables
from
will
also
inspire
systems
contribute
knowledge
cellular
processes
associated
changes
integral
both
physiology
pathology.
ChemBioChem,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
24(4)
Published: Oct. 24, 2022
Abstract
Total
chemical
protein
synthesis
provides
access
to
entire
D‐protein
enantiomers
enabling
unique
applications
in
molecular
biology,
structural
and
bioactive
compound
discovery.
Key
enzymes
involved
the
central
dogma
of
biology
have
been
prepared
their
D‐enantiomeric
forms
facilitating
development
mirror‐image
life.
Crystallization
a
racemic
mixture
L‐
high‐resolution
X‐ray
structures
polypeptides.
Additionally,
D‐enantiomers
drug
targets
can
be
used
phage
display
allowing
discovery
non‐proteolytic
D‐peptide
ligands
as
lead
candidates.
This
review
discusses
D‐proteins
including
synthetic
challenges
opportunities.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
62(33)
Published: June 26, 2023
Abstract
Membrane‐associated
D‐proteins
are
an
important
class
of
synthetic
molecules
needed
for
D‐peptide
drug
discovery,
but
their
chemical
synthesis
using
canonical
ligation
methods
such
as
native
is
often
hampered
by
the
poor
solubility
constituent
peptide
segments.
Here,
we
describe
a
B
ackbone‐
I
nstalled
S
plit
ntein‐
A
ssisted
L
igation
(BISIAL)
method
these
proteins,
wherein
L‐forms
N‐
and
C‐intein
fragments
unique
consensus‐fast
(Cfa)
(i.e.
L–Cfa
N
C
)
separately
installed
onto
two
segments
to
be
ligated
via
removable
backbone
modification.
The
proceeds
smoothly
at
micromolar
(μM)
concentrations
under
strongly
chaotropic
conditions
(8.0
M
urea),
subsequent
removal
modification
groups
affords
desired
without
leaving
any
“ligation
scar”
on
products.
effectiveness
practicality
BISIAL
exemplified
D‐enantiomers
extracellular
domains
T
cell
immunoglobulin
ITIM
domain
(TIGIT)
tropomyosin
receptor
kinase
(TrkC).
further
expands
protein
toolkit
provides
practical
access
challenging
D‐protein
targets.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
63(9)
Published: Jan. 9, 2024
D-peptide
ligands
can
be
screened
for
therapeutic
potency
and
enzymatic
stability
using
synthetic
mirror-image
proteins
(D-proteins),
but
efficient
acquisition
of
these
D-proteins
hampered
by
the
need
to
accomplish
their
in
vitro
folding,
which
often
requires
formation
correctly
linked
disulfide
bonds.
Here,
we
report
finding
that
temporary
installation
natural
O-linked-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine
(O-GlcNAc)
groups
onto
selected
D-serine
or
D-threonine
residues
disulfide-bonded
facilitate
folding
vitro,
glycosyl
completely
removed
from
folded
afford
desired
chirally
inverted
D-protein
targets
naturally
occurring
O-GlcNAcase.
This
approach
enabled
chemical
syntheses
several
important
difficult-to-fold
incorporating
bonds
including
tumor
necrosis
factor
alpha
(D-TNFα)
homotrimer
receptor-binding
domain
Omicron
spike
protein
(D-RBD).
Our
work
establishes
use
O-GlcNAc
synthesis
proves
bearing
good
substrates
ACS Central Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(6), P. 1167 - 1178
Published: May 3, 2024
Until
now,
no
fast,
low-cost,
and
direct
technique
exists
to
identify
detect
protein/peptide
enantiomers,
because
their
mass
charge
are
identical.
They
essential
since
l-
d-protein
enantiomers
have
different
biological
activities
due
unique
conformations.
Enantiomers
potential
for
diagnostic
purposes
several
diseases
or
normal
bodily
functions
but
yet
be
utilized.
This
work
uses
an
aerolysin
nanopore
electrical
detection
vasopressin
l-AVP
d-AVP,
associated
with
processes
pathologies.
We
show
identification
according
conformations,
in
either
native
reducing
conditions,
using
specific
signature.
To
improve
identification,
we
used
a
principal
component
analysis
approach
define
the
most
relevant
parameters
identification.
Finally,
Monte
Carlo
prediction
assign
each
event
type
d-AVP
enantiomer.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
26(7), P. 3117 - 3117
Published: March 28, 2025
Protein-protein
interactions
(PPIs)
form
an
intricate
cellular
network
known
as
the
interactome,
which
is
essential
for
various
processes,
such
gene
regulation,
signal
transduction,
and
metabolic
pathways.
The
dysregulation
of
this
has
been
closely
linked
to
disease
states.
In
cancer,
these
aberrant
PPIs,
termed
oncogenic
PPIs
(OncoPPIs),
are
involved
in
tumour
formation
proliferation.
Therefore,
inhibition
OncoPPIs
becomes
a
strategy
targeted
cancer
therapy.
Small
molecule
inhibitors
have
dominant
PPI
owing
their
small
size
ability
cross
cell
membranes.
However,
peptide-based
emerged
compelling
alternatives,
offering
distinct
advantages
over
inhibitors.
Peptides,
with
larger
flexible
backbones,
can
effectively
engage
broad
interfaces
PPIs.
Their
high
specificity,
lower
toxicity,
ease
modification
make
them
promising
candidates
Over
past
decade,
significant
advancements
made
developing
This
review
discusses
critical
aspects
targeting
emphasizes
significance
therapy,
explores
using
therapeutic
agents.
It
also
highlights
recent
progress
peptide
design
aimed
at
overcoming
limitations
therapeutics,
comprehensive
overview
current
landscape
potential
treatment.
Chemical Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(9), P. 3214 - 3222
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
We
developed
a
new
cysteine-specific
solubilizing
tag
strategy
via
cysteine-conjugated
succinimide.
This
remains
stable
under
common
native
chemical
ligation
conditions
and
can
be
efficiently
removed
with
palladium-based
catalysts.
Utilizing
this
approach,
we
synthesized
two
proteins
containing
notably
difficult
peptide
segments:
interleukin-2
(IL-2)
insulin.
IL-2
synthesis
represents
the
simplest
most
efficient
approach
to
date,
which
is
enabled
by
synthesize
ligate
long
segments.
Additionally,
T8P
insulin
variant,
previously
identified
in
an
infant
neonatal
diabetes.
show
that
exhibits
reduced
bioactivity
(a
30-fold
decrease
compared
standard
insulin),
potentially
contributing
onset
of
diabetes
these
patients.
In
summary,
our
work
provides
tool
challenging
opens
avenues
for
exploring
research
directions
understanding
their
biological
functions.
ACS Chemical Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
19(5), P. 1194 - 1205
Published: May 2, 2024
Immunogenicity
is
a
major
caveat
of
protein
therapeutics.
In
particular,
the
long-term
administration
therapeutic
agents
leads
to
generation
antidrug
antibodies
(ADAs),
which
reduce
drug
efficacy
while
eliciting
adverse
events.
One
promising
solution
this
issue
use
mirror-image
proteins
consisting
d-amino
acids,
are
resistant
proteolytic
degradation
in
immune
cells.
We
have
recently
reported
chemical
synthesis
enantiomeric
form
variable
domain
antibody
heavy
chain
(d-VHH).
However,
identifying
capable
binding
natural
ligands
remains
challenging.
study,
we
developed
novel
screening
platform
identify
d-VHH
specific
for
vascular
endothelial
growth
factor
A
(VEGF-A).
performed
two
newly
constructed
synthetic
VHH
libraries
displayed
on
T7
phage
and
identified
sequences
that
effectively
bound
VEGF-A
target
(d-VEGF-A).
subsequently
synthesized
candidate
preferentially
native
(l-VEGF-A)
with
submicromolar
affinity.
Furthermore,
immunization
studies
mice
demonstrated
elicited
no
ADAs,
unlike
its
corresponding
l-VHH.
Our
findings
highlight
utility
development
therapeutics
exhibiting
both
reduced
immunogenicity
improved
efficacy.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 17, 2025
Abstract
Due
to
the
favorable
chemical
properties
of
mirrored
chiral
centers
(such
as
improved
stability,
bioavailability,
and
membrane
permeability)
computational
design
D-peptides
targeting
biological
L-proteins
is
a
valuable
area
research.
To
these
structures
in
silico
,
workflow
should
correctly
dock
fold
peptide
while
maintaining
centers.
The
latest
AlphaFold
3
(AF3)
from
Abramson
et
al.
(2024)
enforces
strict
violation
penalty
maintain
model
inputs
reported
have
low
rate
only
4.4%
on
PoseBusters
benchmark
containing
diverse
molecules.
Herein,
we
report
results
3,255
experiments
with
AF3
evaluate
its
ability
predict
fold,
chirality,
binding
pose
heterochiral
complexes.
Despite
our
specifying
explicit
D-stereocenters,
that
for
D-peptide
binders
much
higher
at
51%
across
all
evaluated
predictions;
average
accurate
chance
(random
chirality
choice,
L
or
D,
each
residue).
Increasing
number
seeds
failed
improve
this
rate.
predictions
exhibit
incorrect
folds
poses,
commonly
oriented
incorrectly
L-protein
pocket.
Confidence
metrics
returned
by
also
fail
distinguish
correct
docking
vs.
high
docking.
We
conclude
poor
predictor
pose.
Summary
A
crucial
task
protein
predicting
property
determines
structure
function
protein.
1
published
Nature
(AF3),
powerful
deep
learning
framework
both
bound
unbound
states.
This
architecture
tuned
respect
centers,
which
are
atoms
(in
proteins,
backbone
α
-carbons)
covalently
four
different
species
2
.
These
adopt
two
non-superposable
forms,
often
called
“handedness,”
termed
(all
proteins
form)
D
(the
mirror
image
L).
exert
significant
influence
function;
changing
even
single
residue
can
dramatically
alter
such
enantioselective
(e.g.,
antifolate
resistance
)
stability
4
Additionally,
(small
exclusively
centers)
many
advantages
compared
their
L-peptide
counterparts,
protease
evasion
5
therefore
therapeutically
relevant
modalities.
vastly
differing
properties,
an
algorithm
center
error
0%.
Although
reports
found
explicitly
specified
51%.
fails
Our
data
highlights
structural
prediction
demonstrates
Compared
empirical
structures,
highly
inaccurate
when
folding
D-peptide:L-protein
failure
accurately
interactions
indicates
more
work
need
high-quality
D-peptides.