Peptidomimetic Star Polymers for Targeting Biological Ion Channels

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 23;11(3):e0152169. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152169. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Four end-functionalized star polymers that could attenuate the flow of ionic currents across biological ion channels were first de novo designed computationally, then synthesized and tested experimentally on mammalian K+ channels. The 4-arm ethylene glycol conjugate star polymers with lysine or a tripeptide attached to the end of each arm were specifically designed to mimic the action of scorpion toxins on K+ channels. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the lysine side chain of the polymers physically occludes the pore of Kv1.3, a target for immuno-suppression therapy. Two of the compounds tested were potent inhibitors of Kv1.3. The dissociation constants of these two compounds were computed to be 0.1 μM and 0.7 μM, respectively, within 3-fold to the values derived from subsequent experiments. These results demonstrate the power of computational methods in molecular design and the potential of star polymers as a new infinitely modifiable platform for ion channel drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Charybdotoxin / pharmacology
  • Electrophysiology
  • HEK293 Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / drug effects*
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel / drug effects
  • Peptidomimetics / pharmacology*
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Potassium Channels / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Kv1.3 Potassium Channel
  • Peptidomimetics
  • Polymers
  • Potassium Channels
  • Charybdotoxin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, and The Medical Advances Without Animals Trust (MAWA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.