A protein tertiary structure mimetic modulator of the Hippo signalling pathway

Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 27;11(1):5425. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19224-8.

Abstract

Transcription factors are key protein effectors in the regulation of gene transcription, and in many cases their activity is regulated via a complex network of protein-protein interactions (PPI). The chemical modulation of transcription factor activity is a long-standing goal in drug discovery but hampered by the difficulties associated with the targeting of PPIs, in particular when extended and flat protein interfaces are involved. Peptidomimetics have been applied to inhibit PPIs, however with variable success, as for certain interfaces the mimicry of a single secondary structure element is insufficient to obtain high binding affinities. Here, we describe the design and characterization of a stabilized protein tertiary structure that acts as an inhibitor of the interaction between the transcription factor TEAD and its co-repressor VGL4, both playing a central role in the Hippo signalling pathway. Modification of the inhibitor with a cell-penetrating entity yielded a cell-permeable proteomimetic that activates cell proliferation via regulation of the Hippo pathway, highlighting the potential of protein tertiary structure mimetics as an emerging class of PPI modulators.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Peptidomimetics*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Signal Transduction
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Peptidomimetics
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • TEAD1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • VGLL4 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases