Conformationally Constrained Peptides with High Affinity to the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

J Med Chem. 2021 Aug 12;64(15):10900-10907. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00219. Epub 2021 Jul 16.

Abstract

The design of efficient vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors is a high-priority research area aimed at the treatment of pathological angiogenesis. Among other compounds, v114* has been identified as a potent VEGF-binding peptide. In order to improve the affinity to VEGF, we built a conformational constrain in its structure. To this aim, Cα-tetrasubstituted amino acid Aib was introduced into the N-terminal tail, peptide loop, or C-terminal helix. NMR studies confirmed the stabilization of the helical conformation in proximity to the Aib residue. We found that the induction of the N-terminal helical structure or stabilization of the C-terminal helix can noticeably increase the peptide affinity to the VEGF. These peptides efficiently inhibited VEGF-stimulated cell proliferation as well. The insertion of the non-proteinogenic Aib residue significantly enhanced the stability of the peptides in the vitreous environment. Thus, these Aib-containing peptides are promising candidates for the design of VEGF inhibitors with improved properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A