Conformational Ensembles Explored Dynamically from Disordered Peptides Targeting Chemokine Receptor CXCR4

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Marian Vincenzi²  Susan Costantini⁵  Stefania Scala⁶  Diego Tesauro²  Antonella Accardo²  Marilisa Leone¹  Giovanni Colonna³  Jean Guillon⁴  Luigi Portella⁶  Anna Maria Trotta⁶  Luisa Ronga⁴  Filomena Rossi² 

[1] Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy; E-Mail:;Department of Pharmacy University of Naples “Federico II”, and CIRPeB, Via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Naples, Italy; E-Mails:;Center of Medical Informatics, AOU, Second University of Naples, I-80138 Napoli, Italy; E-Mail:;UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques—Collège Sciences de la Santé, INSERM U869, Laboratoire ARNA, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France; E-Mail:;Oncology Research Center of Mercogliano (CROM), Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; E-Mail:;Molecular Immunology and Immuneregulation, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”, IRCCS, I-80131 Napoli, Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: intrinsically disordered protein (IDP);    intrinsically disordered region (IDR);    conformational ensemble;    MD;    NMR;    CD;    chemokine;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160612159

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This work reports on the design and the synthesis of two short linear peptides both containing a few amino acids with disorder propensity and an allylic ester group at the C-terminal end. Their structural properties were firstly analyzed by means of experimental techniques in solution such as CD and NMR methods that highlighted peptide flexibility. These results were further confirmed by MD simulations that demonstrated the ability of the peptides to assume conformational ensembles. They revealed a network of transient and dynamic H-bonds and interactions with water molecules. Binding assays with a well-known drug-target, i.e., the CXCR4 receptor, were also carried out in an attempt to verify their biological function and the possibility to use the assays to develop new specific targets for CXCR4. Moreover, our data indicate that these peptides represent useful tools for molecular recognition processes in which a flexible conformation is required in order to obtain an interaction with a specific target.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.