Pepducins are cell-penetrating peptides that act as intracellular modulators of signal transference from receptors to G proteins. Pepducins were first developed at the Tufts Medical Center laboratories of Dr. Athan Kuliopulos and Dr. Lidija Covic.[1]

Pepducins employ lipidated fragments of intracellular G protein-coupled receptor loops to modulate GPCR action in targeted cell-signaling pathways.[2] A pepducin molecule consists of a short peptide derived from a GPCR intracellular loop tethered to a hydrophobic moiety. This structure allows pepducin lipopeptides to anchor in the cell membrane lipid bilayer and target the GPCR/G protein interface via a unique intracellular allosteric mechanism. Pepducins for over 15 different GPCRs have been successfully produced, several of which have shown activity in preclinical in vivo models.[3]

An anti-PAR4 pepducin extended bleeding time in mice and protected against systemic platelet activation and thrombosis.[2]

A CXCR4 agonist pepducin mobilizes bone marrow hematopoietic cells.[4]

A PAR1 pepducin, PZ-128, has successfully completed phase I clinical trials.[5][6][7]

References

  1. ^ Covic L, Gresser AL, Talavera J, Swift S, Kuliopulos A (January 2002). "Activation and inhibition of G protein-coupled receptors by cell-penetrating membrane-tethered peptides". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99 (2): 643–8. Bibcode:2002PNAS...99..643C. doi:10.1073/pnas.022460899. PMC 117359. PMID 11805322.
  2. ^ a b Kuliopulos A, Covic L (December 2003). "Blocking receptors on the inside: pepducin-based intervention of PAR signaling and thrombosis". Life Sci. 74 (2–3): 255–62. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2003.09.012. PMID 14607253.
  3. ^ Kubo S, Ishiki T, Doe I, et al. (December 2006). "Distinct activity of peptide mimetic intracellular ligands (pepducins) for proteinase-activated receptor-1 in multiple cells/tissues". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1091: 445–59. doi:10.1196/annals.1378.087. PMID 17341635. S2CID 24166439.
  4. ^ "Discovery of a CXCR4 agonist pepducin that mobilizes bone marrow hematopoietic cells". 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  5. ^ Zhang, P.; Gruber, A.; Kasuda, S.; Kimmelstiel, C.; O’Callaghan, K.; Bohm, A.; Baleja, J.D.; Covic, L. & Kuliopulos, A. (2012). "Suppression of Arterial Thrombosis with Affecting Hemostatic Parameters with a Cell-Penetrating PAR1 Pepducin". Circulation. 126 (1): 83–91. doi:10.1161/circulationaha.112.091918. PMC 3423084. PMID 22705889.
  6. ^ Tressel SL, Koukos G, Tchernychev B, Jacques SL, Covic L, Kuliopulos A (2011). "Pharmacology, Biodistribution, and Efficacy of GPCR-Based Pepducins in Disease Models". Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Methods in Molecular Biology. Vol. 683. Clifton, N.J. pp. 259–75. doi:10.1007/978-1-60761-919-2_19. ISBN 978-1-60761-918-5. PMC 3780409. PMID 21053136.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ O’Callaghan, K.; Kuliopulos, A.; Covic, L. (2012). "Turning Receptors On and Off with Intracellular Pepducins: New Insights into G-protein Coupled Receptor Drug Development". J Biol Chem. 287 (16): 12787–96. doi:10.1074/jbc.r112.355461. PMC 3339939. PMID 22374997.
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