Proline cis-trans isomerization and its implications for the dimerization of analogues of cyclopeptide stylostatin 1: a combined computational and experimental study

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2016 May 14;18(18):12755-67. doi: 10.1039/c5cp05937b. Epub 2016 Apr 21.

Abstract

Cis and trans proline conformers are often associated with dramatic changes in the biological function of peptides. A slow equilibrium between cis and trans Ile-Pro amide bond conformers occurs in constrained derivatives of the native marine cyclic heptapeptide stylostatin 1 (cyclo-(NSLAIPF)), a potential anticancer agent. In this work, four cyclopeptides, cyclo-(NSTAIPF), cyclo-(KSTAIPF), cyclo-(RSTAIPF) and cyclo-(DSTAIPF), which are structurally related to stylostatin 1, are experimentally and computationally examined in order to assess the effect of residue mutations on the cis-trans conformational ratio and the apparent capacity to form dimeric aggregates. Primarily, cyclo-(KSTAIPF) and cyclo-(RSTAIPF) showed specific trends in circular dichroism, MALDI-TOF and HPLC purification experiments, which suggests the occurrence of peptide dimerization. Meanwhile, the NMR spectrum of cyclo-(KSTAIPF) indicates that this cyclopeptide exists in the two slow-exchange families of conformations mentioned above. Molecular dynamics simulations combined with quantum mechanical calculations have shed light on the factors governing the cis/trans conformational ratio. In particular, we have found that residue mutations affect the internal hydrogen bond pattern which ultimately tunes the cis/trans conformational ratio and that only trans conformers are capable of aggregating due to the shape complementarity of the two subunits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimerization
  • Isomerism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry*
  • Proline / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • stylostatin 1
  • Proline