In vivo modulation of ubiquitin chains by N-methylated non-proteinogenic cyclic peptides.

ABSTRACT: Cancer and other disease states can change the landscape of proteins post-translationally tagged with ubiquitin (Ub) chains. Molecules capable of modulating Ub chains are potential therapeutic agents, but their discovery represents a significant challenge. Recently, it was shown that de novo cyclic peptides, selected from trillion-member random libraries, are capable of binding particular Ub chains. However, these peptides were overwhelmingly proteinogenic, so the prospect of in vivo activity was uncertain. Here, we report the discovery of small, non-proteinogenic cyclic peptides, rich in non-canonical features like N-methylation, which can tightly and specifically bind Lys48-linked Ub chains. These peptides engage three Lys48-linked Ub units simultaneously, block the action

SUBMITTER: Rogers JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8232551 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature