Structure-activity relationships of a peptide inhibitor of the human FcRn:human IgG interaction

Bioorg Med Chem. 2008 Jun 15;16(12):6394-405. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2008.05.004. Epub 2008 May 6.

Abstract

A family of five peptides was previously discovered by phage display techniques that binds to the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and inhibits the human IgG:human FcRn protein-protein interaction [Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.2008, 105, 2337-2342]. The consensus peptide motif consists of the sequence GHFGGXY where X is preferably a hydrophobic amino acid, and also includes a disulfide bridge enclosing 11-amino acids in varying positions about the consensus sequence. We describe herein the structure-activity relationships of one of the five peptides in binding to FcRn using surface plasmon resonance and IgG:FcRn competition ELISA assays. Modifications of the peptide length, cyclization, and the incorporation of amino acid substitutions and dipeptide mimetics were studied. The most potent analogs exhibited a 50- to 100-fold improvement of in vitro activity over that of the phage-identified peptide sequence.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Consensus Sequence
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Fc / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Fc / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Fc receptor, neonatal