Combinatorial synthesis of cholesterol ester transfer protein-mRNA ligands and screening by nondenaturating gel-electrophoresis

J Med Chem. 2001 Jun 21;44(13):2172-7. doi: 10.1021/jm0010466.

Abstract

RNA, as one of the biomolecules with the most structural and functional diversity, is an attractive therapeutic target.(1) Employing combinatorial chemistry methods, small peptide ligands were found, which bind to a short RNA with important biological functions. A 23-nt RNA oligonucleotide from the cholesterol ester transfer protein mRNA was chosen as a molecular target.(2) A 27-nt RNA oligonucleotide from the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) TAR RNA was used to control the binding specificity.(3) Tetrapeptide libraries, composed of the amino acids Lys, Tyr, Leu, Ile, and Arg, with and without C- and N-terminal lysines, were synthesized by a combination of combinatorial and divergent solid-phase synthesis. Gel-shift affinity screening was used to extract the peptides with the best RNA binding properties. The peptide Lys-Tyr-Lys-Leu-Tyr-Lys-Cys-NH(2) (1) showing micromolar affinity to its RNA target was characterized with circular dichroism (CD), ultra violet (UV) measurement, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Glycoproteins*
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mice
  • Protein Denaturation
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • CETP protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Ligands
  • RNA, Messenger