Abstract

New chemical inhibitors of protein–protein interactions are needed to propel advances in molecular pharmacology. Peptoids are peptidomimetic oligomers with the capability to inhibit protein-protein interactions by mimicking protein secondary structure motifs. Here we report the in silico design of a macrocycle primarily composed of peptoid subunits that targets the β-catenin:TCF interaction. The β-catenin:TCF interaction plays a critical role in the Wnt signaling pathway which is over-activated in multiple cancers, including prostate cancer. Using the Rosetta suite of protein design algorithms, we evaluate how different macrocycle structures can bind a pocket on β-catenin that associates with TCF. The in silico designed macrocycles are screened in vitro using luciferase reporters to identify promising compounds. The most active macrocycle inhibits both Wnt and AR-signaling in prostate cancer cell lines, and markedly diminishes their proliferation. In vivo potential is demonstrated through a zebrafish model, in which Wnt signaling is potently inhibited.

Details

Title
Design of Peptoid-peptide Macrocycles to Inhibit the β-catenin TCF Interaction in Prostate Cancer
Author
Schneider, Jeffrey A 1 ; Craven, Timothy W 2 ; Kasper, Amanda C 3 ; Chi, Yun 4 ; Haugbro, Michael 3 ; Briggs, Erica M 5 ; Svetlov, Vladimir 6 ; Nudler, Evgeny 6 ; Knaut, Holger 4 ; Bonneau, Richard 7 ; Garabedian, Michael J 8 ; Kirshenbaum, Kent 3 ; Logan, Susan K 5 

 Departments of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 
 Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA 
 Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA 
 Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 
 Departments of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 
 Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 
 Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA 
 Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Departments of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 
Pages
1-10
Publication year
2018
Publication date
Oct 2018
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2124454227
Copyright
© 2018. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.