Cyclic RGD and <i>iso</i>DGR Integrin Ligands Containing <i>cis</i>-2-amino-1-cyclopentanecarboxylic (<i>cis</i>-β-ACPC) Scaffolds

oleh: Silvia Panzeri, Daniela Arosio, Silvia Gazzola, Laura Belvisi, Monica Civera, Donatella Potenza, Francesca Vasile, Isabell Kemker, Thomas Ertl, Norbert Sewald, Oliver Reiser, Umberto Piarulli

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-12-01

Deskripsi

Integrin ligands containing the tripeptide sequences Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and <i>iso</i>-Asp-Gly- Arg (<i>iso</i>DGR) were actively investigated as inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis and directing unit in tumor-targeting drug conjugates. Reported herein is the synthesis, of two RGD and one <i>iso</i>DGR cyclic peptidomimetics containing (1<i>S</i>,2<i>R</i>) and (1<i>R</i>,2<i>S</i>) <i>cis</i>-2-amino-1-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (<i>cis</i>-β-ACPC), using a mixed solid phase/solution phase synthetic protocol. The three ligands were examined in vitro in competitive binding assays to the purified α<sub>v</sub>β<sub>3</sub> and α<sub>5</sub>β<sub>1</sub> receptors using biotinylated vitronectin (α<sub>v</sub>β<sub>3</sub>) and fibronectin (α<sub>5</sub>β<sub>1</sub>) as natural displaced ligands. The IC50 values of the ligands ranged from nanomolar (the two RGD ligands) to micromolar (the isoDGR ligand) with a pronounced selectivity for α<sub>v</sub>β<sub>3</sub> over α<sub>5</sub>β<sub>1</sub>. In vitro cell adhesion assays were also performed using the human skin melanoma cell line WM115 (rich in integrin α<sub>v</sub>β<sub>3</sub>). The two RGD ligands showed IC<sub>50</sub> values in the same micromolar range as the reference compound (<i>cyclo</i>[RGDfV]), while for the <i>iso</i>DGR derivative an IC<sub>50</sub> value could not be measured for the cell adhesion assay. A conformational analysis of the free RGD and <i>iso</i>DGR ligands by NMR (VT-NMR and NOESY experiments) and computational studies (MC/EM and MD), followed by docking simulations performed in the α<sub>V</sub>β<sub>3</sub> integrin active site, provided a rationale for the behavior of these ligands toward the receptor.