Ultra-large chemical libraries for the discovery of high-affinity peptide binders

Abstract

High-diversity genetically-encoded combinatorial libraries (108−1013 members) are a rich source of peptide-based binding molecules, identified by affinity selection. Synthetic libraries can access broader chemical space, but typically examine only ~ 106 compounds by screening. Here we show that in-solution affinity selection can be interfaced with nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry peptide sequencing to identify binders from fully randomized synthetic libraries of 108 members—a 100-fold gain in diversity over standard practice. To validate this approach, we show that binders to a monoclonal antibody are identified in proportion to library diversity, as diversity is increased from 106–108. These results are then applied to the discovery of p53-like binders to MDM2, and to a family of 3–19 nM-affinity, α/β-peptide-based binders to 14-3-3. An X-ray structure of one of these binders in complex with 14-3-3σ is determined, illustrating the role of β-amino acids in facilitating a key binding contact.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 23, 2020
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-020-16920-3

Entities

People

  • Anthony James Quartararo
  • Arisa Shimada
  • Bente A Somsen
  • Bradley L. Pentelute
  • Christian Ottmann
  • Nina Hartrampf (Vrielink)
  • Xiyun Ye
  • Yasuhiro Kajihara
  • Zachary P. Gates

Organizations

  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Space