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Helix-loop-helix peptide (VS42-LR3) in complex with VEGF-A
Structural highlights
DiseaseVEGFA_HUMAN Defects in VEGFA are a cause of susceptibility to microvascular complications of diabetes type 1 (MVCD1) [MIM:603933. These are pathological conditions that develop in numerous tissues and organs as a consequence of diabetes mellitus. They include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy leading to end-stage renal disease, and diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic retinopathy remains the major cause of new-onset blindness among diabetic adults. It is characterized by vascular permeability and increased tissue ischemia and angiogenesis. FunctionVEGFA_HUMAN Growth factor active in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth. Induces endothelial cell proliferation, promotes cell migration, inhibits apoptosis and induces permeabilization of blood vessels. Binds to the FLT1/VEGFR1 and KDR/VEGFR2 receptors, heparan sulfate and heparin. NRP1/Neuropilin-1 binds isoforms VEGF-165 and VEGF-145. Isoform VEGF165B binds to KDR but does not activate downstream signaling pathways, does not activate angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth.[1] [2] [3] Publication Abstract from PubMedMid-sized binding peptides have recently emerged as a new therapeutic modality. A helix-loop-helix (HLH) peptide was designed as a scaffold for combinatorial peptide libraries. We screened the HLH peptide libraries against human vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) to generate a peptide, VS42-LR3, which inhibited VEGF/receptor interaction and suppressed tumor growth in a murine xenograft model of human colorectal cancer. Here, we report the first crystal structure of the HLH peptide in a complex with VEGF at high resolution using space-grown protein crystals. The X-ray structural analysis revealed that the monomeric VS42-LR3 adopted an HLH structure and bound to VEGF at the VEGF receptor-binding site. Interestingly, from the site-directed mutagenesis, thermodynamic analysis, and molecular dynamic simulations, it turned out that the loop region in the non-interacting surface to VEGF affected the structural rigidity of the whole HLH to increase the binding affinity. These findings provide valuable insights for the design of more structurally stable and higher affinity mid-sized binding peptides as well as HLH peptides, that could play a crucial role in advancing molecular-targeting therapies. Structural insights into molecular-targeting helix-loop-helix peptide against vascular endothelial growth factor-A.,Michigami M, Notsu K, Kamo M, Hirokawa T, Kinoshita T, Inaka K, Nakase I, Fujii I Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Nov 19;734:150749. doi: , 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150749. Epub 2024 Sep 27. PMID:39357335[4] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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