An enzyme-responsive system programmed for the double release of bioactive molecules through an intracellular chemical amplification process.
The rise of chemical biology has led to the development of sophisticated molecular devices designed to explore and manipulate biological processes. Within this framework, we developed the first chemical system programmed for the selective internalization and subsequent enzyme-catalyzed double release of bioactive compounds inside a targeted population of cells. This system is composed of five distinct units including a targeting ligand, an enzymatic trigger, a self-immolative linker and two active compounds articulated around a chemical amplifier. Designed as such, this molecular assembly is capable in an autonomous manner to recognize a selected population of cells, penetrate into the intracellular medium through endocytosis and transform a single enzymatic activation step into the release of two active units. Demonstrating that an enzyme-catalyzed amplification process can occur spontaneously under the conditions prevailing within the cells could be an important step toward the development of innovative molecular systems for a diverse range of applications spanning drug delivery, biological sensors and diagnostics.
Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe « Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés », 4 rue Michel Brunet, BP 633, 86022 Poitiers, France. sebastien.papot@univ-poitiers.fr.
Marion
M
Grinda
Thibaut
T
Legigan
Jonathan
J
Clarhaut
Elodie
E
Peraudeau
Isabelle
I
Tranoy-Opalinski
Brigitte
B
Renoux
Mikaël
M
Thomas
François
F
Guilhot
Sébastien
S
Papot
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055162:Biocatalysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005697:Galactosides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005697:Galactosides; D001616:beta-Galactosidase