α-Helix-Mimicking Sulfono-γ-AApeptide Inhibitors for p53-MDM2/MDMX Protein-Protein Interactions

J Med Chem. 2020 Feb 13;63(3):975-986. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00993. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Abstract

The use of peptidomimetic scaffolds is a promising strategy for the inhibition of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Herein, we demonstrate that sulfono-γ-AApeptides can be rationally designed to mimic the p53 α-helix and inhibit p53-MDM2 PPIs. The best inhibitor, with Kd and IC50 values of 26 nM and 0.891 μM toward MDM2, respectively, is among the most potent unnatural peptidomimetic inhibitors disrupting the p53-MDM2/MDMX interaction. Using fluorescence polarization assays, circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and computational simulations, we demonstrate that sulfono-γ-AApeptides adopt helical structures resembling p53 and competitively inhibit the p53-MDM2 interaction by binding to the hydrophobic cleft of MDM2. Intriguingly, the stapled sulfono-γ-AApeptides showed promising cellular activity by enhancing p53 transcriptional activity and inducing expression of MDM2 and p21. Moreover, sulfono-γ-AApeptides exhibited remarkable resistance to proteolysis, augmenting their biological potential. Our results suggest that sulfono-γ-AApeptides are a new class of unnatural helical foldamers that disrupt PPIs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Peptidomimetics / chemistry
  • Peptidomimetics / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects*
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / metabolism*
  • Sulfones / chemical synthesis
  • Sulfones / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / chemistry
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MDM4 protein, human
  • Peptidomimetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Sulfones
  • TP53 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • MDM2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2