2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
O-フタルアルデヒド基を用いたペプチドの高効率マクロ環化とその応用
| Project/Area Number |
22KF0114
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
菅 裕明 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (00361668)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
ZHANG YUE 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-03-08 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | RaPID / peptide cyclization / OPA / mRNA display |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
We successfully established an mRNA display-based in vitro bicyclic peptide construction platform using a flexible in vitro translation (FIT) system with novel o-phthalaldehyde amino acids that can toggle reactivity on and off during the translation process. This strategy has been demonstrated on the construction of over 20 different nonstandard peptides with various lengths and sequences in vitro, facilitating the rapid assembly of a bicyclic nonstandard peptide library with up to 10^12 unique peptide sequences.
Additionally, the applicant developed an optimized thiopeptide drug discovery platform that predominantly incorporates non-proteinogenic structural elements. This platform successfully produced natural product-like drug candidates that target the Traf2- and NCK-interacting kinase (TNIK); a protein implicated in several forms of cancer. These candidates not only demonstrate high affinity and inhibitory activity (best KD = 2.1 nM, best IC50 = 0.15 μM) but also significant metabolic stability human serum (half-life of up to 99 hours).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We are currently evaluating the cyclization limits of our strategy by analyzing various model peptide RNA sequences to determine the optimal cyclization sites and nearby amino acid combinations. Subsequently, we are applying this novel strategy to construct nonstandard peptide libraries, characterized by densely functionalized structures reminiscent of natural products. We will assemble and screen a large combinatorial library of bicyclic peptides against TNIK protein, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of immediate-type allergy. Our goal is to identify a series of compounds that act as potent and selective inhibitors. Currently, we are focused on the novel library design and are nearing completion of the library assembly. We will commence the new phase of bicyclic nonstandard peptide drug discovery targeting these two proteins within few months.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
1.Evaluation of Cyclization Limits: We will assess the cyclization efficiency of our established OPA-based in vitro bicyclic peptide construction strategy, which utilizes the flexible in vitro translation (FIT) system to synthesize OPA-based novel non-proteinogenic amino acid-containing peptides. These peptides spontaneously cyclize with internal cysteine and lysine residues to form stable bicyclic structures. Our goal is to determine the optimal cyclization sites for both cysteine and lysine residues across different peptide sequences and structures.
2.Construction of a Bicyclic Nonstandard Peptide Library: Utilizing the optimized OPA-based in vitro method, we aim to construct various libraries that feature complex, densely functionalized structures reminiscent of natural products. This approach enables the establishment of large numbers of nonstandard peptides (>10^12 unique compounds) for early-stage peptide drug discovery.
3.Affinity Selection Against Disease-Related Protein Targets: Leveraging the established OPA-based bicyclic peptide library in combination with the random nonstandard peptide integrated discovery (RaPID) system, our focus is on rapid early-stage drug discovery targeting both cancer and allergy-related proteins, specifically TNIK and TSLP proteins. These targets are crucial in the pathogenesis of various cancers and immediate-type allergies, respectively.
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