We report the rational design, synthesis, and in vitro preliminary evaluation of a new small library of non-peptide ligands of Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRP-R), able to antagonize its natural ligand bombesin (BN) in the nanomolar range of concentration. GRP-R is a transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor promoting the stimulation of cancer cell proliferation. Being overexpressed on the surface of different human cancer cell lines, GRP-R is ideal for the selective delivery to tumor cells of both anticancer drug and diagnostic devices. What makes very challenging the design of non-peptide BN analogues is that the 3D structure of the GRP-R is not available, which is the case for many membrane-bound receptors. Thus, the design of GRP-R ligands has to be based on the structure of its natural ligands, BN and GRP. We recently mapped the BN binding epitope by NMR and here we exploited the same spectroscopy, combined with MD, to define BN conformation in proximity of biological membranes, where the interaction with GRP-R takes place. The gained structural information was used to identify a rigid C-galactosidic scaffold able to support pharmacophore groups mimicking the BN key residues’ side chains in a suitable manner for binding to GRP-R. Our BN antagonists represent hit compounds for the rational design and synthesis of new ligands and modulators of GRP-R. The further optimization of the pharmacophore groups will allow to increase the biological activity. Due to their favorable chemical properties and stability, they could be employed for the active receptor-mediated targeting of GRP-R positive tumors.

Palmioli, A., Nicolini, G., Tripodi, F., Orsato, A., Ceresa, C., Donzelli, E., et al. (2021). Targeting GRP receptor: design, synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of new non-peptide antagonists of bombesin. BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 109(April 2021) [10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104739].

Targeting GRP receptor: design, synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of new non-peptide antagonists of bombesin

Palmioli, Alessandro
Primo
;
Nicolini, Gabriella;Tripodi, Farida;Orsato, Alexandre;Ceresa, Cecilia;Donzelli, Elisabetta;Arici, Martina;Coccetti, Paola;Rocchetti, Marcella;La Ferla, Barbara
;
Airoldi, Cristina
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

We report the rational design, synthesis, and in vitro preliminary evaluation of a new small library of non-peptide ligands of Gastrin Releasing Peptide Receptor (GRP-R), able to antagonize its natural ligand bombesin (BN) in the nanomolar range of concentration. GRP-R is a transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor promoting the stimulation of cancer cell proliferation. Being overexpressed on the surface of different human cancer cell lines, GRP-R is ideal for the selective delivery to tumor cells of both anticancer drug and diagnostic devices. What makes very challenging the design of non-peptide BN analogues is that the 3D structure of the GRP-R is not available, which is the case for many membrane-bound receptors. Thus, the design of GRP-R ligands has to be based on the structure of its natural ligands, BN and GRP. We recently mapped the BN binding epitope by NMR and here we exploited the same spectroscopy, combined with MD, to define BN conformation in proximity of biological membranes, where the interaction with GRP-R takes place. The gained structural information was used to identify a rigid C-galactosidic scaffold able to support pharmacophore groups mimicking the BN key residues’ side chains in a suitable manner for binding to GRP-R. Our BN antagonists represent hit compounds for the rational design and synthesis of new ligands and modulators of GRP-R. The further optimization of the pharmacophore groups will allow to increase the biological activity. Due to their favorable chemical properties and stability, they could be employed for the active receptor-mediated targeting of GRP-R positive tumors.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Bombesin (BN); Circular dichroism; Gastrin Releasing Peptide (GRP); GRP receptors (GRP-R); GRP-R antagonists; GRP-R ligands; MM and MD conformational studies; NMR-based structural and conformational analysis;
English
17-feb-2021
2021
109
April 2021
104739
none
Palmioli, A., Nicolini, G., Tripodi, F., Orsato, A., Ceresa, C., Donzelli, E., et al. (2021). Targeting GRP receptor: design, synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of new non-peptide antagonists of bombesin. BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 109(April 2021) [10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104739].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/303819
Citazioni
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
Social impact