Ultra-large chemical libraries for the discovery of high-affinity peptide binders

Nat Commun. 2020 Jun 23;11(1):3183. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16920-3.

Abstract

High-diversity genetically-encoded combinatorial libraries (108-1013 members) are a rich source of peptide-based binding molecules, identified by affinity selection. Synthetic libraries can access broader chemical space, but typically examine only ~ 106 compounds by screening. Here we show that in-solution affinity selection can be interfaced with nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry peptide sequencing to identify binders from fully randomized synthetic libraries of 108 members-a 100-fold gain in diversity over standard practice. To validate this approach, we show that binders to a monoclonal antibody are identified in proportion to library diversity, as diversity is increased from 106-108. These results are then applied to the discovery of p53-like binders to MDM2, and to a family of 3-19 nM-affinity, α/β-peptide-based binders to 14-3-3. An X-ray structure of one of these binders in complex with 14-3-3σ is determined, illustrating the role of β-amino acids in facilitating a key binding contact.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acids
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptide Library*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2