Rational Design and In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Peptides Binding to Neuroligin-1 for Synaptic Targeting

J Chem Inf Model. 2020 Feb 24;60(2):995-1004. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b01003. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Abstract

Neuroligin-1 (NL1) is a postsynaptic cell adhesion protein that plays a crucial role in synapsis and signaling between neurons. Due to its clustered distribution in synaptic clefts, NL1 appears as a novel potential site for synaptic targeting purposes. In this work, in silico protein topography analysis was employed to identify two prospective binding sites on the NL1 dimer surface in the 2:2 synaptic adhesion complex with β-neurexin (PDB code 3B3Q ). Receptor-based rational design, cell-penetrating capability prediction, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations were used to identify five heptapeptides candidates with favorable predicted profiles as non cell-penetrating NL1-binding agents. Preliminary in vitro colocalization assays with NL1-transfected HEK 293 cells confirmed that peptides remain in the extracellular space without inducing detectable changes in cell morphology. The highest NL1-colocatization capability was attained by the peptide ADEAIVA, which appears as a promising candidate for the future development of specific NL1-targeting systems as part of synapse-directed therapies against central nervous system diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / chemistry
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Design*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Synapses / drug effects*
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Peptides
  • neuroligin 1