Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and xanthine oxidase by amino acids and dipeptides

Xanthine oxidase (XO) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibition by amino acids and dipeptides was studied. Trp and Trp-containing dipeptides (Arg-Trp, Trp-Val, Val-Trp, Lys-Trp and Ile-Trp) inhibited XO. Three amino acids (Met, Leu and Trp) and eight dipeptides (Phe-Leu, Trp-Val, His-Leu, Glu-Lys, Ala-Leu, Val-Ala, Ser-Leu and Gly-Leu) inhibited DPP-IV. Trp and Trp-Val were multifunctional inhibitors of XO and DPP-IV. Lineweaver and Burk analysis showed that Trp was a non-competitive inhibitor of XO and a competitive inhibitor of DPP-IV. Molecular docking with Autodock Vina was used to better understand the interaction of the peptides with the active site of the enzyme. Because of the non-competitive inhibition observed, docking of Trp-Val to the secondary binding sites of XO and DPP-IV is required. Trp-Val was predicted to be intestinally neutral (between 25% and 75% peptide remaining after 60 min simulated intestinal digestion). These results are of significance for the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the increase of the half-life of incretins by food-derived peptides. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Computational and experimental analysis of bioactive peptide linear motifs in the integrin adhesome

Therapeutic modulation of protein interactions is challenging, but short linear motifs (SLiMs) represent potential targets. Focal adhesions play a central role in adhesion by linking cells to the extracellular matrix. Integrins are central to this process, and many other intracellular proteins are components of the integrin adhesome. We applied a peptide network targeting approach to explore the intracellular modulation of integrin function in platelets. Firstly, we computed a platelet-relevant integrin adhesome, inferred via homology of known platelet proteins to adhesome components. We then computationally selected peptides from the set of platelet integrin adhesome cytoplasmic and membrane adjacent protein-protein interfaces. Motifs of interest in the intracellular component of the platelet integrin adhesome were identified using a predictor of SLiMs based on analysis of protein primary amino acid sequences (SLiMPred), a predictor of strongly conserved motifs within disordered protein regions (SLiMPrints), and information from the literature regarding protein interactions in the complex. We then synthesized peptides incorporating these motifs combined with cell penetrating factors (tat peptide and palmitylation for cytoplasmic and membrane proteins respectively). We tested for the platelet activating effects of the peptides, as well as their abilities to inhibit activation. Bioactivity testing revealed a number of peptides that modulated platelet function, including those derived from α-actinin (ACTN1) and syndecan (SDC4), binding to vinculin and syntenin respectively. Both chimeric peptide experiments and peptide combination experiments failed to identify strong effects, perhaps characterizing the adhesome as relatively robust against within-adhesome synergistic perturbation. We investigated in more detail peptides targeting vinculin. Combined experimental and computational evidence suggested a model in which the positively charged tat-derived cell penetrating part of the peptide contributes to bioactivity via stabilizing charge interactions with a region of the ACTN1 negatively charged surface. We conclude that some interactions in the integrin adhesome appear to be capable of modulation by short peptides, and may aid in the identification and characterization of target sites within the complex that may be useful for therapeutic modulation