Coupling Computational and Intracellular Screening and Selection Toward Co-compatible cJun and cFos Antagonists

Biochemistry. 2020 Feb 4;59(4):530-540. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00631. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Abstract

Basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) proteins represent difficult, yet compelling, oncogenic targets since numerous cell-signaling cascades converge upon them, where they function to modulate the transcription of specific gene targets. bZIPs are widely recognized as important regulators of cellular processes that include cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Once such validated transcriptional regulator, activator protein-1, is typically composed of heterodimers of Fos and Jun family members, with cFos-cJun being the best described. It has been shown to be key in the progression and development of a number of different diseases. As a proof-of-principle for our approach, we describe the first use of a novel combined in silico/in cellulo peptide-library screening platform that facilitates the derivation of a sequence that displays high selectivity for cJun relative to cFos, while also avoiding homodimerization. In particular, >60 million peptides were computationally screened and all potential on/off targets ranked according to predicted stability, leading to a reduced size library that was further refined by intracellular selection. The derived sequence is predicted to have limited cross-talk with a second previously derived peptide antagonist that is selective for cFos in the presence of cJun. The study provides new insight into the use of multistate screening with the ability to combine computational and intracellular approaches in evolving multiple cocompatible peptides that are capable of satisfying conflicting design requirements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dimerization
  • Genes, fos / physiology
  • Genes, jun / physiology
  • Humans
  • Oncogenes
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / chemistry
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • Transcription Factor AP-1