Global optimization of conformational constraint on non-phosphorylated cyclic peptide antagonists of the Grb2-SH2 domain

Abstract

Following our earlier work on a phage library derived non-phosphorylated thioether-cyclized peptide inhibitor of Grb2 SH2 domain, a series of small peptide analogues with various cyclization linkage or various ring size were designed and synthesized and evaluated to investigate the optimal conformational constraint for this novel Grb2-SH2 blocker. Our previous SAR studies have indicated that constrained conformation as well as all amino acids except Leu 2 and Gly 7 in this lead peptide, cyclo(CH 2CO-Glu 1-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Val-Gly-Met-Tyr-Cys 10)-amide (termed G1TE), was necessary for sustenance of the biological activity. In this study, in an effort to derive potent and bioavailable Grb2-SH2 inhibitor with minimal sequence, we undertook a systematic conformational study on this non-phosphorylated cyclic ligand by optimizing the ring linkage, ring configuration and ring size. The polarity and configuration of the cyclization linkage were implicated important in assuming the active conformation. Changing the flexible thioether linkage in G1TE into the relatively rigid sulfoxide linkage secured a 4-fold increase in potency ( 4, IC 50=6.5 μM). However, open chain, shortening or expanding the ring size led to a marked loss of inhibitory activity. Significantly, the introduction of ω-amino carboxylic acid linker in place of three C-terminal amino acids in G1TE can remarkably recover the apparently favorable conformation, which is otherwise lost because of the reduced ring size. This modification, combined with favorable substitutions of Gla for Glu 1 and Adi for Glu 4 in the resulting six-residue cyclic peptide, afforded peptide 19, with an almost equal potency ( 19, IC 50=23.3 μM) relative to G1TE. Moreover, the lipophilic chain in ω-amino carboxylic acid may confer better cell membrane permeability to 19. These newly developed G1TE analogues with smaller ring size and less peptide character but equal potency can serve as templates to derive potent and specific non-phosphorylated Grb2-SH2 antagonists.