Baptiste Legrand

Helical Oligomers of Thiazole‐Based γ‐Amino Acids: Synthesis and Structural Studies

9-Helix: 4-Amino(methyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acids (ATCs) were synthesized as new γ-amino acid building blocks. The structures of various ATC oligomers were analyzed in solution by CD and NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The ATC sequences adopted a well-defined 9-helix structure in the solid state and in aprotic and protic organic solvents as well as in aqueous solution.

A Two-amino Acid Mutation Encountered in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Decreases Stability of the Rod Domain 23 (R23) Spectrin-like Repeat of Dystrophin

Lack of functional dystrophin causes severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The subsarcolemmal location of dystrophin, as well as its association with both cytoskeleton and membrane, suggests a role in the mechanical regulation of muscular membrane stress. In particular, phenotype rescue in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice model has shown that some parts of the central rod domain of dystrophin, constituted by 24 spectrin-like repeats, are essential. In this study, we made use of rare missense pathogenic mutations in the dystrophin gene and analyzed the biochemical properties of the isolated repeat 23 bearing single or double mutations E2910V and N2912D found in muscle dystrophy with severity grading. No dramatic effect on secondary and tertiary structure of the repeat was found in mutants compared with wild type as revealed by circular dichroism and NMR. Thermal and chemical unfolding data from circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence show significant decrease of stability for the mutants, and stopped-flow spectroscopy shows decreased refolding rates. The most deleterious single mutation is the N2912D replacement, although we observe additive effects of the two mutations on repeat stability. Based on three-dimensional structures built by homology molecular modeling, we discuss the modifications of the mutation-induced repeat stability. We conclude that the main forces involved in repeat stability are electrostatic inter-helix interactions that are disrupted following mutations. This study represents the first analysis at the protein level of the consequences of missense mutations in the human dystrophin rod domain. Our results suggest that it may participate in mechanical weakening of dystrophin-deficient muscle.

Thiazole-Based γ-Building Blocks as Reverse-Turn Mimetic to Design a Gramicidin S Analogue: Conformational and Biological Evaluation

This paper describes the ability of a new class of heterocyclic γ-amino acids named ATCs (4-amino(methyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acids) to induce turns when included in a tetrapeptide template. Both hybrid Ac-Val-(R or S)-ATC-Ile-Ala-NH2 sequences were synthesized and their conformations were studied by circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, MD simulations, and DFT calculations. It was demonstrated that the ATCs induced highly stable C9 pseudocycles in both compounds promoting a twist turn and a reverse turn conformation depending on their absolute configurations. As a proof of concept, a bioactive analogue of gramicidin S was successfully designed using an ATC building block as a turn inducer. The NMR solution structure of the analogue adopted an antiparallel β-pleated sheet conformation similar to that of the natural compound. The hybrid α,γ-cyclopeptide exhibited significant reduced haemotoxicity compared to gramicidin S, while maintaining strong antibacterial activity.

(S)-ABOC: a rigid bicyclic β-amino acid as turn inducer.

In order to investigate the ability of the (S)-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylic acid 1 (H-(S)-ABOC-OH) to induce reverse turns into peptides, two model tripeptides, in which this bicyclic unit was incorporated into the second position, were synthesized and analyzed by FT-IR, CD, NMR, and X-ray studies.

Computational study of the human dystrophin repeats: interaction properties and molecular dynamics.

Dystrophin is a large protein involved in the rare genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It functions as a mechanical linker between the cytoskeleton and the sarcolemma, and is able to resist shear stresses during muscle activity. In all, 75% of the dystrophin molecule consists of a large central rod domain made up of 24 repeat units that share high structural homology with spectrin-like repeats. However, in the absence of any high-resolution structure of these repeats, the molecular basis of dystrophin central domains functions has not yet been deciphered. In this context, we have performed a computational study of the whole dystrophin central rod domain based on the rational homology modeling of successive and overlapping tandem repeats and the analysis of their surface properties. Each tandem repeat has very specific surface properties that make it unique. However, the repeats share enough electrostatic-surface similarities to be grouped into four separate clusters. Molecular dynamics simulations of four representative tandem repeats reveal specific flexibility or bending properties depending on the repeat sequence. We thus suggest that the dystrophin central rod domain is constituted of seven biologically relevant sub-domains. Our results provide evidence for the role of the dystrophin central rod domain as a scaffold platform with a wide range of surface features and biophysical properties allowing it to interact with its various known partners such as proteins and membrane lipids. This new integrative view is strongly supported by the previous experimental works that investigated the isolated domains and the observed heterogeneity of the severity of dystrophin related pathologies, especially Becker muscular dystrophy.

Spectrin-like repeats 11-15 of human dystrophin show adaptations to a lipidic environment.

Dystrophin is essential to skeletal muscle function and confers resistance to the sarcolemma by interacting with cytoskeleton and membrane. In the present work, we characterized the behavior of dystrophin 11–15 (DYS R11–15), five spectrin-like repeats from the central domain of human dystrophin, with lipids. DYS R11–15 displays an amphiphilic character at the liquid/air interface while maintaining its secondary α-helical structure. The interaction of DYS R11–15 with small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) depends on the lipid nature, which is not the case with large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). In addition, switching from anionic SUVs to anionic LUVs suggests the lipid packing as a crucial factor for the interaction of protein and lipid. The monolayer model and the modulation of surface pressure aim to mimic the muscle at work (i.e. dynamic changes of muscle membrane during contraction and relaxation) (high and low surface pressure). Strikingly, the lateral pressure modifies the protein organization. Increasing the lateral pressure leads the proteins to be organized in a regular network. Nevertheless, a different protein conformation after its binding to monolayer is revealed by trypsin proteolysis. Label-free quantification by nano-LC/MS/MS allowed identification of the helices in repeats 12 and 13 involved in the interaction with anionic SUVs. These results, combined with our previous studies, indicate that DYS R11–15 constitutes the only part of dystrophin that interacts with anionic as well as zwitterionic lipids and adapts its interaction and organization depending on lipid packing and lipid nature. We provide strong experimental evidence for a physiological role of the central domain of dystrophin in sarcolemma scaffolding through modulation of lipid-protein interactions.

From a marine neuropeptide to antimicrobial pseudopeptides containing aza-β(3)-amino acids: structure and activity

Incorporation of aza-β(3)-amino acids into an endogenous neuropeptide from mollusks (ALSGDAFLRF-NH(2)) with weak antimicrobial activity allows the design of new AMPs sequences. Depending on the nature of the substitution, this can render the pseudopeptides inactive or lead to a drastic enhancement of the antimicrobial activity without high cytotoxicity. Structural studies of the pseudopeptides carried out by NMR and circular dichroism show the impact of aza-β(3)-amino acids on peptide structure. The first three-dimensional structures of pseudopeptides containing aza-β(3)-amino acids in aqueous micellar SDS were determined and demonstrate that the hydrazino turn can be formed in aqueous solution. Thus, AMP activity can be modulated through structural modifications induced by the nature and the position of such amino acid analogues in the peptide sequences.

Silaproline Helical Mimetics Selectively Form an All‐trans PPII Helix

The polyproline II helix (PPII) is increasingly recognized as an important element in peptide and protein structures. The discovery of pertinent PPII peptidomimetics is of great interest to tune physical properties of the targeted structure. A series of silaproline oligomers from dimer to pentamer were synthesized. CD studies, NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling revealed that the ribbon preferentially populates the polyproline type II secondary structure in both [D]chloroform and [D4 ]MeOH. The characteristics of this new lipophilic PPII-like helix were determined.

Robust helix formation in a new family of oligoureas based on a constrained bicyclic building block.

BAC for more: a constrained bicyclic building block with urea linkages is an efficient combination for the formation of a highly rigid helical system. This type of bicyclic amino carbamoyl (BAC) foldamer was studied both in solution and in the solid state. A robust H-bond (dotted line) network was found between the carbonyl oxygen atoms (red) and the amino groups (dark blue) within the helix.

Mixed Oligoureas Based on Constrained Bicyclic and Acyclic β‐Amino Acids Derivatives: On the Significance of the Subunit Configuration for Folding

The combination of a non-functionalized constrained bicyclo[2.2.2]octane motif along with urea linkages allowed the formation of a highly rigid 2.5(12/14) helical system both in solution and the solid state. In this work, we aimed at developing stable and functionalized systems as promising materials for biological applications in investigating the impact of this constrained motif and its configuration on homo and heterochiral mixed-oligourea helix formation. Di-, tetra-, hexa-, and octa-oligoureas alternating the highly constrained bicyclic motif of (R) or (S) configuration with acyclic (S)-β(3)-amino acid derivatives were constructed. Circular dichroism (CD), NMR experiments, and the X-ray crystal structure of the octamer unequivocally proved that the alternating heterochiral R/S sequences form a stable left-handed 2.5-helix in contrast to the mixed (S/S)-oligoureas, which did not adopt any defined secondary structure. We observed that the (-)-synclinal conformation around the C(α)-C(β) bond of the acyclic residues, although sterically less favorable than the (+)-synclinal conformation, was imposed by the (R)-bicyclic amino carbamoyl (BAC) residue. This highlighted the strong ability of the BAC residue to drive helical folding in heterochiral compounds. The role of the stereochemistry of the BAC unit was assessed and a model was proposed to explain the misfolding of the S/S sequences.