Thesis
Design and synthesis of molecular tools for the ubiquitin proteasome system
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2016
- Thesis identifier
- T14420
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201286014
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become one of the biggest global public health challenges, with 0.5% of the population living with dementia. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), in particular the interaction between a mutant form of ubiquitin, Ubb+1, and the E2-conjugating enzyme E2-25K, has been identified as playing a possible pathophysiological role in the early and late stage progression of AD. The E2-25K/Ubb+1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) is regulated by the α-helix 9 of E2-25K. Creating a short helical peptide analogous to α-9 of E2-25K with the technique of peptide stapling could potentially block the action of Ubb+1 and provide a tool to investigate the role of the UPS in AD.Following synthesis of the requisite alkenyl amino acids for peptide stapling, an initial palette of nine peptides, containing the wild-type E2-25K sequence, and eight stapled analogues, were successfully synthesized and ring-closed on the solid phase. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to analyse secondary structure, revealing the peptides exhibited a range of 16 - 91% helicity. Further NMR studies demonstrated the more precise helical nature of short helical peptides in solution. Preliminary biological assays indicated that the synthesised peptides are capable of inhibiting Ubb+1 incorporation into long polyubiquitin chains. Remarkably, these antagonists proved to be selective towards Ubb+1 over ubiquitin despite the high degree of similarity in the relative binding sites of the two proteins. Further in silico design led to the development of a second generation of six stapled peptides. Further biological evaluation revealed an additional sequence potentially capable of activating E2-25K mediated Ubb+1 capped PolyUb chain formation.Overall, this preliminary study has shown that short helical analogues of E2-25K can be successfully synthesized and used to block or activate the E2-25K/Ubb+1 PPI. Further optimisation of these stapled peptides could provide valuable tool compounds into the investigation of Ubb+1 mediated inhibition of the UPS, and the downstream effects on the pathogenesis of AD.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2016
- Former identifier
- 9912536590302996
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