title: Potent inhibitors of LXXLL-based protein-protein interactions.
abstract: Protein-protein interactions between estrogen receptors, ERalpha and ERbeta, and their coactivators (CoAs) are an attractive target for drug intervention. This interaction is mediated by a small pentapeptide motif (LXXLL), termed the NR box. Based on this motif, a variety of cyclic and linear peptides were synthesized in order to gain a better understanding of the association of CoA proteins with the ER isoforms. Utilizing a time-resolved florescence-based coactivator interaction assay, we determined the abilities of these peptides to inhibit this interaction. Using molecular modeling and CD spectroscopy, we have examined the structural basis of their bioactivities with both hormone receptor isoforms. Either homocysteine or penicillamine was utilized as a substitute for cysteine in the disulfide-bridged peptides, while tertiary leucine and neopentyl glycine were used as the surrogates for the NR box leucines. The most potent disufide-bridged peptide (K(i)= 70 pM, with ERalpha) incorporates neopentyl glycine in the NR box, while the most active peptide in this series with ERbeta (K(i)=350 pM) incorporates tertiary leucine. Surprisingly, several linear peptides containing a single cysteine residue showed activities with low nanomolar K(i) values. Collectively, our results suggest a synthetic approach for designing potent and selective peptidomimetics for ERalpha and ERbeta interactions with CoA proteins effecting estrogen action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Amit K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Galande
authors.forename: Kelli S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bramlett
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Trent
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Burris
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wittliff
authors.forename: Arno F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Spatola
mesh_terms: D000106:Acetate-CoA Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000187:drug effects*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D015195:Drug Design; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D010455:Peptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000106:Acetate-CoA Ligase