Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein receptor degradation with a cyclic peptide that disrupts the homodimerization of IDOL E3 ubiquitin ligase†
Eilidh K. Leitch,Nagarajan Elumalai,Maria Fridén-Saxin,Göran Dahl,Paul Wan,Paul Clarkson,Eric Valeur,Garry Pairaudeau,Helen Boyd
Chemical Science Pub Date : 06/26/2018 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C8SC01186A
Abstract

Cellular uptake of circulating cholesterol occurs via the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). The E3 ubiquitin ligase IDOL is a mediator of LDLR degradation, with IDOL homodimerization thought to be required for its activity. To probe the possibility of modulating LDLR levels with an inhibitor of IDOL homodimerization, we screened a SICLOPPS library of 3.2 million cyclic peptides for compounds that disrupt this protein–protein interaction. We identified cyclo-CFFLYT as the lead inhibitor, and improved its activity through the incorporation of non-natural amino acids. The activity of the optimized cyclic peptide was assessed in hepatic cells, with a dose-dependent increase in LDLR levels observed in the presence of our IDOL homodimerization inhibitor.

Graphical abstract: Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein receptor degradation with a cyclic peptide that disrupts the homodimerization of IDOL E3 ubiquitin ligase