Screening Peptide Inhibitors Using Phage Peptide Library with Isocitrate Lyase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis as Target

When devoured by macrophages,Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains persistent in macrophages and gains energy through the glyoxylate bypass to maintain its long-term existence in host cells.Therefore it is possible to stop persistent infections by interdicting the glyoxylate bypass in which the isocitrate lyase（ICL） is the key rate-limiting enzyme and a persistence factor.ICL is the target of anti-TB（TB：tubercular） drugs,which could screen ICL out and effectively inhibit the activity of ICL in Mycobacterium tuberculosis,and because of this,anti-TB drugs can be used to kill persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis.In this study,the ICL gene of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was cloned successfully and recombinant protein with bioactivity was obtained through the enzyme characteristic appraisal.The specific activity of the recombined ICL is 24μmol·mg-1·min-1.The recombined ICL protein was used as the target,and phages which can specifically combine to ICL were screened in the phage 7 peptide library.According to the results of the ELISA and DNA sequence detection,eventually three 7-peptide chains were synthesized.Then the peptide chains were reacted with ICL,respectively,to detect their inhibitory effects on ICL.The results show that all the three 7-peptide chains possessed varying inhibitory effects on the activity of ICL.This study provided lead compounds for the research and development of new peptide anti-TB drugs.

Screening and Identification of a Novel Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Binding Peptide by Using a Phage Display Library

The purpose of this study was to screen peptides that can specifically bind to human hepatocellular carcinoma （hHCC） cells using phage display of random peptide library in order to develope a peptide-based carrier for the diagnosis or therapy of hHCC. A peptide 12-mer phage display library was employed and 4 rounds of subtractive panning were performed using the hHCC cell line HepG2 as the target. After panning, the phages that specifically bound to and internalized in hHCC cells were selected. The selected phages demonstrated highly specific affinity to HepG2 cells analyzed by ELISA and immunofluorescence analysis. 57.3% of the selected phage clones displayed repeated sequence FLLEPHLMDTSM, and 4 amino acid residues, FLEP were extremely conservative. Based on the sequencing results, a 16-mer peptide （WH-16） was synthesized. The competitive EL1SA showed that the binding of the phage clones displayed sequence FLLEPHLMDTSM to HepG2 cells was efficiently inhibited by WH-16. Our findings indicate that cellular binding of phage is mediated via its displayed peptide and the synthesized 16-mer peptide may have the potential to be a delivery carrier in target diagnosis or therapy for hHCC.

Screening and Identification of a Targeting Peptide to nGLP-1R from Phage Display Peptide Library

In order to provide the structure information for designing new exendin-4 analogues, a phage display peptide library was screened by targeting the N-terminal extracellular domain of GLP-1R（nGLP-1R）. After four rounds of selection, nine sequences were obtained, four of them have higher affinity for nGLP-1R than the others. We chose two of them named X and Y peptides. Islet β-cell proliferation assay suggested that X and Y peptides didn＇t have any activity to increase islet β-cell proliferation. In other words, X and Y peptides were not agonists to GLP-1R. However, the conservative motifs of X and Y peptides provided us useful information to design new exendin-4 analogues.

Identification and Characterization of Peptides Binding AgEG1 from a Phage Display Library

Endoglucanases are the main cellulolytic enzymes digestion as well as its good kinetic properties make it an attractive of Anoplophora glabripennis. Their high activities in cellulose target for development of cellulase inhibitors. In this study, random pepfide phage display technology was employed to identify peptides that bound the AgEG1, a member of endoglucanase isozymes. Phage clones with peptide LPPNPTK and XPP （X is residue T, L, A or H） motif frequently occurred in the selected phage population and showed a higher phage recovery than other clones. Peptide LPPNPTK was chemically synthesized and characterized tor its binding activities to AgEG1. The synthetic peptide exhibited high specificity for AgEG1. The peptide LPPNPTK has the potential to be developed into inhibitors of the endoglucanase of A. glabripennis.

Transforming growth factor-β1 phage model peptides isolated from a phage display 7-mer peptide library can inhibit the activity of keloid fibroblasts

Background Transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） is known to have a role in keloid formation through the activation of fibroblasts and the acceleration of collagen deposition. The objective of this current study was to isolate TGF-β1 phage model peptides from a phage display 7-mer peptide library to evaluate their therapeutic effect on inhibiting the activity of keloid fibroblasts.Methods A phage display 7-mer peptide library was screened using monoclonal anti-human TGF-β1 as the target to obtain specific phages containing ectogenous model peptides similar to TGF-β1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to select monoclonal phages with good binding activity, which underwent DNA sequencing. MTT assay and apoptosis assessment were used to evaluate the biological effects of the phage model peptides on keloid fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence assay was employed to show the binding affinity of the model peptides on phages causing keloid fibroblasts. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was carried out to detect the expressions of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） mRNA, connective tissue growth factor （CTGF） mRNA and TGF-β receptor Ⅱ （TβRII） mRNA in keloid fibroblasts.Results Specific phages with good results of ELISA were beneficiated. Four phage model peptides were obtained. The data of MTT showed that TGF-β1 and one phage model peptide （No. 4） could promote keloid fibroblasts proliferation,however, three phage model peptides （No. 1-3） could inhibit keloid fibroblasts proliferation. The results of apoptosis assessment showed that the three phage model peptides could slightly induce the apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts. The data of immunofluorescence assay revealed that the model peptides on phages rather than phages could bind to keloid fibroblasts. The findings of quantitative real-time PCR analysis suggested that the expressions of NF-κB mRNA and CTGF mRNA in the three phage model peptide groups decreased, while the expression of TβRII mRNA slightly increased.Conclusions Three phage model peptides isolated from a phage display 7-mer peptide library can inhibit keloid fibroblasts proliferation and induce the apoptosis in keloid fibroblasts. They can inhibit the activity of keloid fibroblasts by blocking TGF-β1 binding to its receptor and then regulating the expressions of NF-κB, CTGF and TβRII.

Screening of Peptide Inhibitors of TACE from a Phage Display Random 15-Peptide Library by Recombinant TACE Ectodomain

Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α-converting enzyme(TACE)is the major protease responsible for processing pro-TNF-αfrom membrane-anchored precursors to secreted TNF-α.In the present study,a 15-peptide library was used to identify potential TACE antagonists.To obtain the recombinant TACE ectodomain and to use it as a selective molecule for the screening of peptide inhibitors of TACE,cDNA coding for the catalytic domain(T800)and full-length ectodomain(T1300)of TACE were amplified by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.The expression plasmid were constructed by inserting T800/T1300 into plasmid pET-28a/c respectively and were transformed into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3).Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDSPAGE)andWestern blot analysis revealed that T800/T1300 were highly expressed in the form of an inclusion body induced by isopropylthiogalactoside.After Ni2+–NTA resin affinity chromatography,the purity of the recombinant T800/T1300 protein was more than 90%.T800 and T1300 proteins were used in the screening of T800/T1300-binding peptides from a phage display random 15-peptide library.After four rounds of biopanning,the positive phage clones were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,competitive inhibition assay(ELESA),and DNA sequencing.A common amino acid sequence(TRWLVYFS RPYLVAT)was confirmed and synthesized.A synthetic peptide was shown to bind to TACE and to inhibit TNF-αrelease from lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)by up to 60.3%.Fluorescence-activated cell sorter(FACS)analysis revealed that the peptide mediated the accumulation of TNF-αon an LPS-stimulated PBMC surface.These results demonstrate that the TACE-binding peptide is an effective antagonist of TACE and that the deduced motif might be applied to the molecular design of anti-inflammatory drugs.

A resistin binding peptide selected by phage display inhibits 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation

Background Resistin, a newly discovered cysteine-rich hormone secreted mainly by adipose tissues, has been proposed to form a biochemical link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the resistin receptor has not yet been identified. This study aimed to identify resistin binding proteins/receptor. Methods Three cDNA fragments with the same 11 bp 5＇ sequence were found by screening a cDNA phage display library of rat multiple tissues. As the reading frames of the same 11 bp 5＇ sequence were interrupted by a TGA stop codon, plaque lift assay was consequently used to prove the readthrough phenomenon. The stop codon in the same 11 bp 5＇ sequence was replaced by tryptophan, and the binding activity of the coded peptide [AWIL, which was designated as resistin binding peptide （RBP）] with resistin was identified by the confocal microscopy technique and the affinity chromatography experiment, pDual GC-resistin and pDual GC-resistin binding peptide were co-transfected into 3T3-L1 cells to confirm the function of resistin binding peptide. Results Three cDNA fragments with the same 11 bp 5＇ sequence were found. The TGA stop codon in reading frames of the same 11 bp 5＇ sequence was proved to be readthroughed. The binding activity of RBP with resistin was consequently identified. The expression of the resistin binding peptide in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes expressing pDual G-C-resistin significantly inhibited the adipogenic differentiation. Conclusion RBP could effectively rescue the promoted differentiation of resistin overxepressed 3T3-L1 preadipocyte.

Keratinocyte growth factor phage model peptides can promote epidermal cell proliferation without tumorigenic effect

Background Keratinocyte growth factor （KGF） significantly influences epithelial wound healing. The aim of this study was to isolate KGF phage model peptides from a phage display 7-mer peptide library to evaluate their effect on promoting epidermal cell proliferation. Methods A phage display 7-mer peptide library was screened using monoclonal anti-human KGF antibody as the target. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to select monoclonal phages with good binding activity. DNA sequencing was done to find the similarities of model peptides. Three-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl） -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay, immunofluorescence assay and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were employed to evaluate the effect of the phage model peptides on epidermal cells. Results Thirty-three out of fifty-eight （56.9%） of the isolated monoclonal phages exhibited high binding activity by ELISA. Ten of fifteen obtained phage model peptides were similar to KGF or epidermal growth factor （EGF）. MTT assay data showed that four （No. 1-4） of the ten phage model peptides could promote epidermal cell proliferation. The expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor （KGFR） mRNA in the KGF control group and the two phage model peptide groups （No. 1 and No. 2） increased. Expression of c-Fos mRNA and c-Jun mRNA in the KGF control group increased, but did not increase in the four phage model peptide groups （No.1-4）. Conclusion Four phage model peptides isolated from the phage display 7-mer peptide library can safely promote epidermal cell proliferation without tumorigenic effect.

Identification and Characterization of Peptides Mimicking the Epitopes of Metalloprotease of Schistosoma Japonicum

In an attempt to isolate and characterize peptides mimicking epitopes of metalloprotease and explore their immunological protection against Schistosoma japonicum （S. japonicum）, polyclonal anti-metalloprotease sera was prepared to screen a 12-mer random peptide library to isolate phages binding specially to antisera IgG. Then, phage ELISA, animal immunization, DNA sequencing, Western blotting and enzymatic activity neutralizing analysis were used to characterize the selected phage clones. All of ten randomly picked clones were shown to be positive. Five peptides of different amino acid sequences deduced from DNA sequences were obtained and two of them （peptides 2 and 3） could induce significant reduction （31.0% and 31.8%, respectively） in worm burden and high reduction （52.6% and 54.9%, respectively） in liver eggs per gram （LEPG）, while, unexpectedly, others （peptides 1, 4 and 5） could not elicit enough protection against infection of S. japonicum. Peptides 2 and 3 could be recognized by S. japonicum infected mouse sera （IMS） and could elicit neutralizing Abs. The results show that peptides 2 and 3 are antigenic and immunogenic. They are true mimics of epitopes of metalloprotease and useful as novel vaccine candidates against S.japonicum. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology. 2005;2（3）：219-223.