title: Synthesis of cell-permeable stapled BH3 peptide-based Mcl-1 inhibitors containing simple aryl and vinylaryl cross-linkers.
abstract: We report the synthesis of a series of distance-matching aryl and vinylaryl cross-linkers for constructing stapled peptides containing cysteines ati,i+7 positions. Langevin dynamics simulation studies helped to classify these cross-linkers into two categories: the rigid cross-linkers with narrower S-S distance distribution and the flexible cross-linkers with wider S-S distance distribution. The stapled Noxa BH3 peptides with the flexible distance-matching cross-linkers gave the highest degree of helicity as well as the most potent inhibitory activity against Mcl-1. However, the stapled peptides with the highest hydrophobicity showed the most efficient cellular uptake. Together, this work illustrates the divergent nature of binding affinity and cellular uptake, and the vital importance of choosing appropriate cross-linkers in constructing stapled peptides with the drug-like properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muppidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Carlo P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ramil
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Hong-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: cross-linkers; inhibitors; peptides; protein-protein interaction; stapled peptides