Lupin Peptides Modulate the Protein-Protein Interaction of PCSK9 with the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor in HepG2 Cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 18:6:29931. doi: 10.1038/srep29931.

Abstract

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been recently identified as a new useful target for hypercholesterolemia treatment. This work demonstrates that natural peptides, deriving from the hydrolysis of lupin protein and absorbable at intestinal level, are able to inhibit the protein-protein interaction between PCSK9 and the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). In order to sort out the best potential inhibitors among these peptides, a refined in silico model of the PCSK9/LDLR interaction was developed. Docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and peptide binding energy estimations, by MM-GBSA approach, permitted to select the two best candidates among tested peptides that were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity. The most active was P5 that induced a concentration dependent inhibition of the PCSK9-LDLR binding, with an IC50 value equal to 1.6 ± 0.33 μM. Tested at a 10 μM concentration, this peptide increased by 66 ± 21.4% the ability of HepG2 cells to take up LDL from the extracellular environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Fluorescence
  • Humans
  • Lupinus / chemistry*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Proprotein Convertase 9 / chemistry
  • Proprotein Convertase 9 / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Receptors, LDL / chemistry
  • Receptors, LDL / metabolism*

Substances

  • LDLR protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Plant Proteins
  • Receptors, LDL
  • PCSK9 protein, human
  • Proprotein Convertase 9