Positional Scanning Identifies the Molecular Determinants of a High Affinity Multi-Leucine Inhibitor for Furin and PACE4

J Med Chem. 2017 Apr 13;60(7):2732-2744. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01499. Epub 2017 Mar 24.

Abstract

The proprotein convertase family of enzymes includes seven endoproteases with significant redundancy in their cleavage activity. We previously described the peptide Ac-LLLLRVK-Amba that displays potent inhibitory effects on both PACE4 and prostate cancer cell lines proliferation. Herein, the molecular determinants for PACE4 and furin inhibition were investigated by positional scanning using peptide libraries that substituted its leucine core with each natural amino acid. We determined that the incorporation of basic amino acids led to analogues with improved inhibitory potency toward both enzymes, whereas negatively charged residues significantly reduced it. All the remaining amino acids were in general well tolerated, with the exemption of the P6 position. However, not all of the potent PACE4 inhibitors displayed antiproliferative activity. The best analogues were obtained by the incorporation of the Ile residue at the P5 and P6 positions. These substitutions led to inhibitors with increased PACE4 selectivity and potent antiproliferative effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Furin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Furin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Proprotein Convertases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proprotein Convertases / metabolism
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • PCSK6 protein, human
  • Proprotein Convertases
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Furin