Nullomer Derived Anticancer Peptides (NulloPs): Differential Lethal Effects on Normal and Cancer Cells in vitro

Authors

Abdelkrim Alileche, Boise State UniversityFollow
Jayita Goswami, Boise State University
William Bourland, Boise State UniversityFollow
Mike Davis, Boise State University
Greg Hampikian, Boise State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2012

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2012.09.015

Abstract

We demonstrate the first use of the nullomer (absent sequences) approach to drug discovery and development. Nullomers are the shortest absent sequences determined in a species, or group of species. By identifying the shortest absent peptide sequences from the NCBI databases, we screened several potential anti-cancer peptides. In order to improve cell penetration and solubility we added short poly arginine tails (5Rs), and initially solubilized the peptides in1M trehalose. The results for one of the absent sequences 9R (RRRRRNWMWC), and its scrambled version 9S1R (RRRRRWCMNW) are reported here. We refer to these peptides derived from nullomers as PolyArgNulloPs. A control PolyArgNulloP, 124R (RRRRRWFMHW), was also included. The lethal effects of 9R and 9S1R are mediated by mitochondrial impairment as demonstrated by increased ROS production, ATP depletion, cell growth inhibition, and ultimately cell death. These effects increase over time for cancer cells with a concomitant drop in IC-50 for breast and prostate cancer cells. This is in sharp contrast to the effects in normal cells, which show a decreased sensitivity to the NulloPs over time.

Copyright Statement

NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Peptides. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Peptides, 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.09.015

Publication Information

Alileche, Abdelkrim; Goswami, Jayita; Bourland, William; Davis, Mike; and Hampikian, Greg. (2012). "Nullomer Derived Anticancer Peptides (NulloPs): Differential Lethal Effects on Normal and Cancer Cells in vitro". Peptides, 38(2), 302-311.