Retro-inversal of intracellular selected β-amyloid-interacting peptides: implications for a novel Alzheimer's disease treatment

Biochemistry. 2014 Apr 8;53(13):2101-11. doi: 10.1021/bi5001257. Epub 2014 Mar 21.

Abstract

The aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) into toxic oligomers is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease pathology. Here we present a novel approach for the development of peptides capable of preventing amyloid aggregation based upon the previous selection of natural all-l peptides that bind Aβ1-42. Using an intracellular selection system, successful library members were further screened via competition selection to identify the most effective peptides capable of reducing amyloid levels. To circumvent potential issues arising from stability and protease action for these structures, we have replaced all l residues with d residues and inverted the sequence. These retro-inverso (RI) peptide analogues therefore encompass reversed sequences that maintain the overall topological order of the native peptides. Our results demonstrate that efficacy in blocking and reversing amyloid formation is maintained while introducing desirable properties to the peptides. Thioflavin-T assays, circular dichroism, and oblique angle fluorescence microscopy collectively indicate that RI peptides can reduce amyloid load, while 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays demonstrate modest reductions in cell toxicity. These conclusions are reinforced using Drosophila melanogaster studies to monitor pupal hatching rates and fly locomotor activity in the presence of RI peptides delivered via RI-trans-activating transcriptional activator peptide fusions. We demonstrate that the RI-protein fragment complementation assay approach can be used as a generalized method for deriving Aβ-interacting peptides. This approach has subsequently led to several peptide candidates being further explored as potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / prevention & control
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • PC12 Cells
  • Peptide Fragments / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Plaque, Amyloid / drug therapy
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rats

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)