U.S. patent application number 11/785870 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for method for identifying inhibitors of g protein coupled receptor signaling.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caden Biosciences. Invention is credited to Annette Gilchrist, Heidi M. Hamm.
Application Number | 20070231830 11/785870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26957437 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070231830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gilchrist; Annette ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Method for identifying inhibitors of G protein coupled receptor
signaling
Abstract
This invention relates to methods for identifying peptides and
other compounds which block G protein coupled receptor mediated
signaling with high affinity and specificity. Assays developed in
conjunction with these methods also are disclosed.
Inventors: |
Gilchrist; Annette;
(Barrington, IL) ; Hamm; Heidi M.; (Nashville,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROTHWELL, FIGG, ERNST & MANBECK, P.C.
1425 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Caden Biosciences
Madison
WI
53711
|
Family ID: |
26957437 |
Appl. No.: |
11/785870 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09852910 |
May 11, 2001 |
7208279 |
|
|
11785870 |
Apr 20, 2007 |
|
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60275472 |
Mar 14, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/7.1 ;
435/375; 506/18; 506/9; 530/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 25/24 20180101;
A61P 37/08 20180101; A61P 25/34 20180101; G01N 2500/02 20130101;
A61P 33/00 20180101; A61P 25/20 20180101; G01N 2333/726 20130101;
A61P 25/22 20180101; A61P 3/04 20180101; A61P 25/28 20180101; A61P
1/04 20180101; A61P 31/12 20180101; A61P 11/06 20180101; A61P 35/00
20180101; A61P 9/12 20180101; A61P 31/10 20180101; A61P 31/18
20180101; A61P 9/04 20180101; A61P 25/08 20180101; A61P 29/00
20180101; A61P 25/18 20180101; A61P 43/00 20180101; A61P 15/08
20180101; A61P 31/04 20180101; G01N 33/566 20130101; A61P 13/08
20180101; A61P 9/10 20180101; C07K 1/047 20130101; A61P 19/10
20180101; A61P 25/16 20180101; A61P 13/02 20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/007.1 ;
435/375; 530/300 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/53 20060101
G01N033/53 |
Claims
1. A method of identifying a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR)
signaling inhibitor, which comprises: (a) providing a first library
comprising peptide members, wherein the primary sequences of said
peptide members are based on the primary sequence of the native G
protein peptide that binds to said GPCR on the G protein binding
domain of said GPCR; (b) screening said peptide first library
members for binding to said G protein binding domain of said GPCR
in competition with a native peptide that comprises said primary
sequence of the native G protein of (a), to identify peptide first
library members that bind to said GPCR G protein binding domain
with higher affinity than that of said native peptide; (c)
selecting a high-affinity peptide first library member identified
in (b); (d) providing a second library of member compounds; (e)
screening said second library member compounds for binding to said
GPCR G protein binding domain, wherein said screening is a binding
assay performed in the presence of the peptide selected in (c), to
determine whether a second library member compound binds to said
GPCR G protein binding domain with equal or higher affinity than
that of said second competitive peptide.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said screening of (b) or (e) is
testing for binding to a GPCR molecule that comprises at least the
intracellular fragment of said GPCR.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said native G protein peptide is
selected from the group consisting of a G.alpha. subunit or
carboxyl terminal fragment thereof.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said native G protein peptide is
a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 7 to about
70 amino acids long.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein said native G protein peptide is
a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 9 to about
23 amino acids long.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein said native G protein peptide is
a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 11 amino
acids long.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein said G protein subunit is a
G.beta..gamma. dimer.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first library peptide
members provide signal to detect binding.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first library is a
combinatorial peptide library.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said combinatorial peptide
library is a protein-peptide fusion protein library.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said protein-peptide fusion
protein library is a maltose binding protein-peptide fusion protein
library.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said peptide library is a
peptide display library.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said second library of member
compounds is a small molecule library.
14. A compound identified by a method of claim 1.
15. A method of selecting a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR)
signaling inhibitor peptide, which comprises: (a) providing a
library comprising peptide members, wherein the primary sequences
of said peptide members are based on the primary sequence of the
native G protein peptide that binds to said GPCR on the G protein
binding domain of said GPCR; (b) screening said peptide library
members for binding to said G protein binding domain of said GPCR
in competition with a native peptide that comprises said primary
sequence of the native G protein of (a), to identify peptide first
library members that bind to said GPCR G protein binding domain
with higher affinity than that of said native peptide; (c)
selecting a high-affinity peptide first library member identified
in (b).
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said screening of (b) is
testing for binding to a GPCR molecule that comprises at least the
intracellular fragment of said GPCR.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said native G protein peptide
is selected from the group consisting of a G.alpha. subunit or
carboxyl terminal fragment thereof.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said native G protein peptide
is a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 7 to
about 70 amino acids long.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein said native G protein peptide
is a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 9 to
about 23 amino acids long.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein said native G protein peptide
is a G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminal fragment from about 11
amino acids long.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein said G protein subunit is a
G.beta..gamma. dimer.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein said first library peptide
members provide signal to detect binding.
23. The method of claim 15, wherein said first library is a
combinatorial peptide library.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said combinatorial peptide
library is a protein-peptide fusion protein library.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said protein-peptide fusion
protein library is a maltose binding protein-peptide fusion protein
library.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said peptide library is a
peptide display library.
27. The method of claim 15, wherein said second library of member
compounds is a small molecule library.
28. A compound identified by a method of claim 15.
29. A method of identifying a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR)
signaling inhibitor, which comprises: (a) providing a library of
candidate compounds to screen for binding to said G protein coupled
receptor; (b) providing a peptide that binds to said GPCR G protein
binding domain with higher affinity than that of its native
peptide; (c) screening said library of candidate compounds for
binding to said GPCR G protein binding domain in the presence of
said peptide of (b), to determine whether a candidate compound
binds to said GPCR G protein binding domain with equal or higher
affinity than that of said peptide of (b).
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said screening of (c) is
testing for binding to a GPCR molecule that comprises at least the
intracellular fragment of said GPCR.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein said library of candidate
compounds is a small molecule library.
32. A compound identified by a method of claim 29.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein said library of candidate
compounds is a focused library of candidate compounds based on the
structure of the peptide of (b).
34. The method of claim 31, wherein said library of candidate
compounds of step (a) is a combinatorial library.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein said combinatorial library is a
diverse small molecule library.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein said diverse small molecule
combinational library comprises drug-like molecules.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein said diverse small molecule
combinational library is a focused small molecule library.
38. The method of inhibiting G protein coupled receptor signaling
in a cell having a G protein coupled receptor which comprises
administering to said cell in vitro a compound identified according
to a method of claim 1.
39. The method of inhibiting G protein coupled receptor signaling
in a cell having a G protein coupled receptor which comprises
administering to said cell in vitro a compound identified according
to a method of claim 15.
40. The method of inhibiting G protein coupled receptor signaling
in a cell having a G protein coupled receptor which comprises
administering to said cell in vitro a compound identified according
to a method of claim 29.
41. A compound identified by the method of claim 15, which
comprises a peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID
NOS: 2, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42
and 45-111.
42. A compound selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2,
13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and
45-111.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/852,910, filed
May 11, 2001 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,208,279), the disclosures of which
are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention generally pertains to the field of
modulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and of identifying
and preparing G protein coupled receptor inhibiting compounds.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] A great number of chemical messengers exert their effects on
cells by binding to G protein-coupled receptors. Ligand binding to
those receptors is transduced by heterotrimeric G proteins into
intracellular responses. Four main classes of G proteins are
distinguishable: Gs, Gi, Gq and G12. G protein-coupled receptors
(GPCR) include a wide range of biologically active receptors, such
as hormone receptors, viral receptors, growth factor receptors,
chemokine receptors, sensory receptors and neuroreceptors. These
receptors are activated by the binding of ligand to an
extracellular binding site and mediate their actions through the
various G proteins. The molecular interactions that occur between
the receptor and the G protein are fundamental to the transduction
of environmental signals into specific cellular responses. The G
proteins themselves play important roles in determining the
specificity and temporal characteristics of the cellular response
to the ligand-binding signal.
[0006] In the inactive state, G proteins are heterotrimeric,
consisting of one .alpha., one .beta. and one .gamma. subunit, and
a bound deoxyguanosine diphosphate (GDP). Receptor-catalyzed
guanine nucleotide exchange resulting in deoxyguanosine
triphosphate (GTP) binding to the .alpha. subunit activates the G
protein. G.alpha.-GTP dissociates from the G.beta..gamma. subunits,
allowing the G.beta..gamma. dimer and the G.alpha.-GTP subunit each
to activate downstream effectors. Hydrolysis of GTP to GDP
deactivates the complex and turns off the cellular response.
[0007] G protein-coupled receptors have seven transmembrane helices
which form, on the intracellular side of the membrane, the G
protein binding domain. Experiments have suggested that activation
of the receptor by ligand binding changes conformation of the
receptor, unmasking G protein binding sites on the intracellular
face of the receptor. The heterotrimeric G protein interacts with
GPCR in a multi-site fashion with the major site of contact between
them at the carboxyl terminus of the G.alpha. subunit. Hamm et al.,
Science 241:832-5, 1998; Osawa and Weiss, J. Biol. Chem.
270:31052-8, 1995; Garcia et al., EMBO J. 14:4460-9, 1995; Sullivan
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:21519-21525, 1994; West et al., J. Biol.
Chem. 260:14428-30, 1985.
[0008] The carboxyl terminal 11 amino acids are most important to
receptor interaction and to the specificity of this interaction,
Martin et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:361-366, 1996; Kostenis et al.,
Biochemistry 36:1487-1495, 1997, however other regions on G.alpha.
also are involved in receptor contact. In addition, portions of the
G.beta..gamma. dimer have been implicated in GPCR binding. See
Onrust et al., Science 275:381-384, 1997; Lichtarge et al., Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:7507-7611, 1996; Mazzoni and Hamm, J. Biol.
Chem. 271:30034-30040, 1996; Bae et al., J. Biol. Chem.
272:32071-32077, 1997. The carboxyl terminal amino acid regions of
G.alpha. proteins (and other GPCR binding regions of the
heterotrimeric G protein) not only provide the molecular basis of
receptor-mediated activation of G proteins, but they also play an
important role in determining the fidelity of receptor activation.
Conklin et al., Nature 363:274-276, 1993; Conklin et al., Mol.
Pharmacol. 50:885-890, 1996.
[0009] The G-protein complex thus serves a complex role, as an
intermediate that relays the signal from receptor to one or more
specific effectors, and as a clock that controls the duration of
the signal. Hamm and Gilchrist, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 8:189-196,
1996. Multiple receptors can activate a single G protein subtype,
and in some cases a single receptor can activate more than one G
protein, thereby mediating multiple intracellular signals. In other
cases, however, interaction of a receptor with a G protein is
regulated in a highly selective manner such that only a particular
heterotrimer is bound.
[0010] Because G proteins and their receptors influence a large
number of intracellular signals mediated by a large number of
different chemical ligands, considerable potential for modulation
of disease pathology exists. Many medically significant biological
processes are influenced by G protein signal transduction pathways
and their downstream effector molecules. See Holler et al., Cell.
Mol. Life Sci. 340:1012-20, 1999. Therefore, G protein-coupled
receptors and their ligands are the target for many pharmaceutical
products and are the focus of intense drug discovery efforts. Over
the past 15 years, nearly 350 therapeutic agents targeting GPCRs
have been successfully introduced into the market. Because of the
ubiquitous nature of G protein-mediated signaling systems, and
their influence on a great number of pathologic states, it is
highly desirable to find new methods of modulating these
systems.
[0011] Most currently available drugs affecting GPCRs act by
antagonizing the binding between a G protein-coupled receptor and
its extracellular ligand(s). On the other hand, receptor
subtype-selective drugs have been difficult to obtain. A drawback
to the classical approach of designing drugs to interfere with
ligand binding has been that conventional antagonists are
ineffective for some GPCRs such as proteinase activated receptors
(PAR) due to the unique mechanism of enzymatic cleavage of the
receptor and generation of a tethered ligand. In other cases,
intrinsic or constitutive activity of receptors leads to pathology
directly, thus rendering antagonism of ligand binding moot. For
these reasons, alternative targets for blocking the consequences of
GPCR activation and signaling are highly desirable.
[0012] One potential alternative target for inhibition by new
pharmaceuticals has been the receptor-G protein interface on the
interior of the plasma membrane. Konig et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA 86:6878-82, 1989; Acharya et al., J. Biol. Chem.
272:651924, 1997; Verrall et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:6898-902,
1997. The carboxyl terminus of G.alpha. and other regions of the G
protein heterotrimer conform to a binding site at the cytoplasmic
face of the receptor. Sondek et al., Nature 372:276-9, 1994;
Lambright et al., Nature 369:621-8, 1994; Lambright et al., Nature
379:311-9, 1996; Sondek et al., Nature 379:369-74, 1996; Wall et
al., Science 269:1405-12, 1996; Mixon et al., Science 270:954-960,
1995. Peptides corresponding to these binding regions or mimicking
these regions, can block receptor signaling or stabilize the active
agonist-bound conformation of the receptor. Hamm et al., Science
241:832-5, 1988; Gilchrist et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:14912-9,
1998. For example, in the case of rhodopsin, the rod photoreceptor,
the G.alpha. C-terminal peptide, G.alpha. 340-350, stabilizes the
receptor in its active metarhodopsin II conformation. Hamm et al.,
Science 241-832-5, 1988; Osawa and Weiss, J. Biol. Chem.
270:31052-31058, 1995. Similarly, two carboxyl terminal peptides
from G.alpha.S (354-372 and 384-394), but not the corresponding
peptides from G.alpha.i.sub.2, evoke high affinity agonist binding
to .beta..sub.2-adrenergic receptors and inhibit their ability to
activate G.alpha.s and adenylyl cyclase. Rasenick et al., J. Biol.
Chem. 269:21519-21525, 1994.
[0013] In general, GPCRs require agonist binding for activation.
However, modifications to the receptor amino acid sequence can
stabilize the active state conformation without the requirement for
a ligand. Stabilization by such ligand-independent means is termed
"constitutive receptor activation." Constitutive (or
agonist-independent) signaling activity in mutant receptors has
been well documented, but only a few GPCRs have been shown to
exhibit agonist-independent activity in the wild type (or native)
form. For example, native dopamine D1B and prostaglandin EP1b
receptors possess constitutive activity (Tiberi and Caron, J. Biol.
Chem. 269:27925-27931, 1994; Hasegawa et al., J. Biol. Chem.
271:1857-1860, 1996). A number of GPCRs, for example, receptors for
thyroid-stimulating hormone (Vassart et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.
766:23-30, 1995), causing disease in humans have been found to be
mutated to exhibit agonist-independent activity. Experimentally,
several single amino acid mutations have produced agonist
independent activity. .beta.2 and .alpha.2 adrenergic receptors,
for example, mutated at single sites in the third cytoplasmic loop
show constitutive activity (Ren et al., J. Biol. Chem.
268:16483-16487, 1993; Samama et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 45:390-394,
1994). In some cases, a large deletion mutation in the carboxy tail
or in the intracellular loops of GPCRs has led to constitutive
activity. For example, in the thyrotropin releasing hormone
receptor a truncation deletion of the carboxyl terminus Nussenzveig
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:2389-2392, 1993; Matus-Leibovitch et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:1041-1047, 1995 or a smaller deletion in
the second extracellular loop of the thrombin receptor (Nanevicz et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:21619-21625, 1995) renders the receptor
constitutively active.
[0014] These finding have led to a modification of traditional
receptor theory (Samama et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:4625-4636,
1993). It is now thought that receptors can exist in at least two
conformations, an inactive conformation (R) and an activated
conformation (R*), and that an equilibrium exists between these two
states that markedly favors R over R* in the majority of receptors.
It has been proposed that in some native receptors and in the
mutants described above, there is a shift in equilibrium in the
absence of agonist that allows a sufficient number of receptors to
be in the active R* state to initiate signaling.
[0015] Negative antagonism is demonstrated when a drug binds to a
receptor that exhibits constitutive activity and reduces this
activity. Negative antagonists appear to act by constraining
receptors in an inactive state (Samama et al., Mol. Pharmacol.
45:390-394, 1994). Although first described in other receptor
systems (Schutz and Freissmuth, J. Biol. Chem. 267:8200-8206,
1992), negative antagonism has been shown to occur with GPCRs such
as opioid (Costa and Herz, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:7321-7325,
1989; Costa et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 41:549-560, 1992),
.beta.2-adrenergic (Samama et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 45:390-394,
1994; Pei et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2699-2702, 1994;
Chidiac et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 45:490-499, 1994), serotonin type
2C (Barker et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:11687-11690, 1994),
bradykinin (Leeb-Lundberg et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:25970-25973,
1994), and D1B dopamine (Tiberi and Caron, J. Biol. Chem.
269:27925-27931, 1994) receptors. That being stated, the concept of
a constitutively active receptors offer insights which explain
pathophysiologic conditions. For example, a constitutively active
receptor in a disease process such as hypertension may no longer be
under the influence of the sympathetic nervous system. In
hypertension, a constitutively active GPCR may be expressed in any
number of areas including the brain, kidneys or peripheral blood
vessels. A newly recognized class of drugs (negative antagonists or
inverse agonists) which reduce undesirable constitutive activity
can act as important new therapeutic agents. Thus, a technology for
identifying negative antagonists of both native and mutated GPCRs
has important predictable as well as not yet realized
pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, because constitutively
active GPCRs are tumorigenic, the identification of negative
antagonists for these GPCRs can lead to the development of
anti-tumor and/or anti-cell proliferation drugs.
[0016] Mutagenesis of this same region of G.alpha.t has identified
several specific amino acid residues in this binding region crucial
for G.alpha.t activation by rhodopsin. Martin et al., J. Biol.
Chem. 271:361-6, 1996. Substitution of three to five
carboxyl-terminal amino acids from G.alpha.i with corresponding
residues from G.alpha.i allowed receptors which signal exclusively
through G.alpha.i subunits to activate the chimeric .alpha.
subunits and stimulate the G.alpha.q effector, phospholipase C
.beta.. Conklin et al., Nature 363:274-276, 1993; Conklin et al.,
Mol. Pharmacol. 50:885-890, 1996. All of these studies suggest that
G.alpha. carboxyl peptide sequences are responsible for the
specificity of the signaling responses of the individual G
proteins. There are 16 unique G.alpha. subunits (G.alpha.i.sub.1,
G.alpha.i.sub.2, G.alpha.i.sub.3, G.alpha.O.sub.1, G.alpha.O.sub.2,
G.alpha.Z, G.alpha.t, G.alpha.q, G.alpha.11, G.alpha.14, G.alpha.5,
G.alpha.12, G.alpha.13, G.alpha.15/16, G.alpha.OIF and
G.alpha.gust) thought to mediate specific interaction with
different GPCRs, several hundred of which have been cloned. Thus,
peptides corresponding to G protein regions which bind the GPCR
could be used as competitive inhibitors of receptor-G protein
interactions. Hamm et al., Science 241-832-5, 1988; Gilchrist et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 273-14912-9, 1998. Drug discovery approaches
which take advantage of this opportunity, however, are not
available. Jones et al., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents 9(12): 1641,
1999.
[0017] An important aspect of the modern drug discovery process is
the identification of potent lead compounds for use in modern high
throughput screening assays. One of the major challenges
confronting companies using high throughput screening is the
difficulty of identifying useful lead compounds from very large
combinatorial libraries. When literally hundreds of thousands of
compounds are screened, characterizing the compounds which test
positive (including false positives) is an expensive and
time-consuming process. Hence, a method which can identify potent
lead compounds and reduce the number of false positives in the
screening process would be very desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] This invention provides a method of identifying a G protein
coupled receptor signaling inhibitor, which comprises (a) providing
a peptide library based on a native G protein coupled receptor
binding peptide; (b) screening said peptide library for high
affinity binding to said G protein coupled receptor; (c) selecting
a member of said peptide library having binding to said G protein
coupled receptor of higher affinity than that of the native
peptide; (d) providing a library of candidate compounds to screen
for binding to said G protein coupled receptor; (e) screening said
library of candidate compounds for high affinity binding to said G
protein coupled receptor in competition with a member of said
peptide library selected in step (c); and (f) identifying a member
of said library of candidate compounds having binding to said G
protein coupled receptor of equal or higher affinity than that of
the peptide selected in step (c).
[0019] The invention also provides, in a further embodiment, an
enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay which comprises the steps of (a)
immobilizing a G protein coupled receptor onto a solid support; (b)
providing a protein-peptide fusion protein display library; (c)
incubating members of said protein-peptide fusion protein display
library with said immobilized G protein coupled receptor in the
presence of said G protein coupled receptor binding peptide under
conditions such that members of protein-peptide fusion protein
display library having a binding affinity for said G protein
coupled receptor at least as high as said G protein coupled
receptor binding peptide bind to said immobilized G protein coupled
receptor; (d) removing unbound members of said protein-peptide
fusion protein display library; (e) incubating said bound
protein-peptide fusion protein display library with antibodies
which specifically recognize the protein portion of said
protein-peptide fusion protein display library members under
conditions such that said antibodies specifically bind to said
protein-peptide fusion protein display library members; (f)
removing unbound antibodies; and (g) detecting said bound
antibodies.
[0020] In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides a method
of identifying a G protein coupled receptor signaling inhibiting
peptide, which comprises (a) providing a peptide library based on a
native G protein coupled receptor binding peptide; (b) screening
said peptide library for high affinity binding to said G protein
coupled receptor; and (c) selecting a member of said peptide
library having binding to said G protein coupled receptor of higher
affinity than that of the native peptide.
[0021] In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides a method
of identifying a G protein coupled receptor signaling inhibitor
compound, which comprises (a) providing a library of candidate
compounds to screen for binding to said G protein coupled receptor;
(b) providing a high affinity G protein coupled receptor binding
peptide; (c) screening said library of candidate compounds for high
affinity binding to said G protein coupled receptor in competition
with said high affinity G protein coupled receptor binding peptide;
and (d) identifying a member of said library of candidate compounds
having binding to said G protein coupled receptor of equal or
higher affinity than that of the peptides of step (b).
[0022] In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides a method
of inhibiting G protein coupled receptor signaling which comprises
contacting a compound with said G protein coupled receptor which
interferes with binding of said G protein coupled receptor to its
cognate G proteins.
[0023] The invention provides, in yet a further embodiment a
compound selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:14, 16,
20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 46-105, 115-132 and
147-305.
[0024] In yet a further embodiment, the invention provides a method
for providing a therapeutic G protein coupled receptor signaling
modifier peptide to a mammal which comprises administering to said
mammal an expression construct which expresses a peptide according
to SEQ ID NOS:14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42,
46-105, 115-132 and 147-305.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basis for the
affinity screening method used to separate and identify GPCR
binding peptides.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of vector pJS142.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an ELISA
procedure.
[0028] FIG. 4 provides binding data for LacI peptide fusion
proteins to PAR1 receptor. pELM6 is the MBP vector alone; pELM17 is
the MBP-native Gt340-350 peptide fusion protein.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a bar graph comparing binding of high affinity
clones to the clone of peptide 8.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a bar graph presenting results of a competitive
binding assay identifying high affinity rhodopsin binding
peptides.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing competitive inhibition of high
affinity peptides to rhodopsin by heterotrimeric Gt.
[0032] FIG. 8 presents ELISA results from panning CHO cells
overexpressing human thrombin receptor (PAR1) using purified
MBP-C-terminal fusion proteins. MBP-G11=xxxx (SEQ ID NO: 1)
LQLNLKEYNLV (SEQ ID NO: 2); PAR-13=VRPS (SEQ ID NO: 3) LQLNRNEYYLV
(SEQ ID NO: 4); PAR-23=LSRS (SEQ ID NO: 5) LQQKLKEYSLV (SEQ ID
NO:6); PAR-33=LSTN (SEQ ID NO: 7) LHLNLKEYNLV (SEQ ID NO: 8);
PAR-34=LPQM (SEQ ID NO: 9) QRLNVGEYNLV (SEQ ID NO: 10); PAR-45=SRHT
(SEQ ID NO: 11) LRLNGKELNLV (SEQ ID NO:194).
[0033] FIG. 9 presents a dose-response curve of SF9 membranes (PAR1
receptor) assayed with lacI-Gq lysates.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a concentration response curve demonstrating
binding of native Gq peptide-maltose bindinG protein to PAR1
reconstituted in lipid vesicles.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary cDNA
minigene construct.
[0036] FIG. 12 is an agarose gel of a NcoI digest of minigene
vector. Lane 1 is a 1 kb DNA ladder; lane 2 is pcDNA 3.1; lane 3 is
pcDNA-G.alpha.i; lane 4 is pcDNA-G.alpha.iR; and lane 5 is
pcDNA-G.alpha.q.
[0037] FIG. 13 is an agarose gel of PCR products showing
transcription of peptide minigene RNA in transfected cells. Lane 1
contains size markers, lane 2 contains PCR products from cells
transfected with pcDNA-GiR, lane 3 contains PCR products from cells
transfected with pcDNA-Gi, and lane 4 contains PCR products from
cells transfected with pcDNA3.1, the empty vector.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a bar graph showing the relative [.sup.3H]
inositol phosphate production after thrombin stimulation normalized
against the basal value.
[0039] FIG. 15 presents data showing GPCR binding peptide
inhibition of intracellular calcium concentration increases. FIG.
15A presents fluorescence ([Ca.sup.++]; level) increase 30 seconds
after thrombin addition. FIG. 15B shows the kinetics of [Ca.sup.++]
fluorescence changes after cell stimulation with thrombin.
[0040] FIG. 16 presents data showing GPCR binding peptide
inhibition of thrombin-induced phosphoinositol (P1) hydrolysis.
[0041] FIG. 17 is a bar graph indicating relative thrombin-mediated
fold increases of MAPK activity in cells expressing GPCR-binding
peptides.
[0042] FIG. 18 shows reduction of thrombin-induced transendothelial
electrical resistance in cells expressing G.alpha.q, G.alpha.i,
G.alpha.iR or empty vector.
[0043] FIG. 19 is a series of photographs of cells stained for
F-actin, showing the inhibition of stress fiber formation after
exposure to thrombin in cells expressing pcDNA-G12 or pcDNA-G13
minigene construct.
[0044] FIG. 20 presents data showing blockade of M.sub.2 mAChR
response by G.alpha.i peptide expression.
[0045] FIG. 21 demonstrates selective G protein mediated adenylyl
cyclase inhibition in cells expressing minigene constructs
containing G.alpha. carboxyl terminal peptide inserts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] The present invention involves a method of identifying
compounds which can interfere with binding at the interface between
a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and its cognate G proteins.
These compounds inhibit G protein-mediated signaling and thus can
be used as pharmaceuticals, as lead compounds for identification of
potential useful drugs, and as components of assays which identify
drug candidates. Methods for screening and drug identification use
peptides that mimic the structure of the GPCR binding regions of G
proteins and are able to inhibit receptor-G protein interactions
specifically and with high affinity. These high affinity peptides
can be delivered into cells in the context of an expression
construct to act as blockers of specific receptor-mediated cellular
responses in vitro and in vivo or can be administered directly to a
patient. The peptides also form the basis of a screening,
identification and selection process to provide traditional
pharmaceutical compounds. In particular, the invention allows one
to identify high affinity analog peptides that block the receptor-G
protein interface for a particular G protein and to use these high
affinity analogs in a high throughput screen to identify other
peptides or small molecules that likewise specifically antagonize
GPCR signaling for a G protein or class of G proteins.
[0047] Small molecules can be used in an analogous high throughput
screening process to identify further compounds. "Small molecule"
denotes any non-peptide organic compound which binds or interferes
with binding to the interfacial region of a GPCR or is a candidate
for such action. These peptides or small molecules directed at the
receptor-G protein interface can be designed using the inventive
method to inhibit biological processes that employ signaling
through a GPCR. This approach is useful in targeting G protein-GPCR
interactions for which there are no available antagonist ligands,
orphan receptors the ligands of which are not known, mutant
constitutively activated receptors, antibody-crosslinked
irreversibly activated receptors such as TSH receptors in Graves
Disease, and proteinase activated receptors (PAR). It works equally
well, however, with any GPCR-G protein interaction and more
broadly, with receptor-protein interactions in general.
[0048] Because the method is useful for identifying high affinity
compounds that can antagonize virtually any GPCR, the approach is
useful in identifying compounds which can prevent, ameliorate or
correct dysfunctions or diseases in which a specific class of G
proteins is relevant. Conditions and disease states for which this
method is useful include, but are not limited to: stroke;
myocardial infarction; restenosis; atherosclerosis; hypotension;
hypertension; angina pectoris; acute heart failure; cardiomyocyte
apoptosis; cancers; infections such as bacterial, fungal, protozoan
and viral infections, and particularly infections caused by HIV-1
or HIV-2; septic shock; pain; chronic allergic disorders; asthma;
inflammatory bowel disease; osteoporosis; rheumatoid arthritis;
Graves disease; post-operative ileus; urinary retention;
testotoxicosis; ulcers; obesity; benign prostatic hypertrophy; and
psychotic and neurological disorders including anxiety, epilepsy,
schizophrenia, manic depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's
disease, delirium, dementia, drug addiction, anorexia, bulimia,
mood disorders and sleep disorders; smoking cessation and any other
disease or condition that can be treated by G protein coupled
receptor inhibition. Treatment of this diverse set of disorders is
possible because the receptors to which various G proteins bind
differ enough to allow the creation of a battery of analog peptides
which can specifically interface with different GPCR or different
classes or groups of GPCR.
[0049] With the inventive screening methods, the sequences
identified in a particular screen do not bind to all receptors, but
only to the particular receptor of interest. The interaction
between a G protein and a GPCR is quite specific. For example, a
difference in one amino acid can substantially reduce or eliminate
the ability of the G.alpha.i.sub.1/2 peptide to bind the A1
adenosine G protein coupled receptor-G protein interface. Gilchrist
et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:14912-14919, 1998. Both upstream
regulation of GTP/GDP exchange on G proteins and G protein-mediated
effector activation may be inhibited with interfacial binding
compounds. Thus, high affinity analog peptides can be designed to
specifically interfere with a particular action of one GPCR. These
specifically-acting peptide analogs are useful both as
pharmaceutical compounds per se, and as potent lead compounds in
modern high throughput screens for other peptides and small
molecule binders having the same specific GPCR interaction.
[0050] High throughput screening is a recent technology that has
been developed primarily within the pharmaceutical industry. It has
emerged in response to the profusion of new biological targets and
the need of the pharmaceutical industry to generate novel drugs
rapidly in a changed commercial environment. Its development has
been aided by the invention of new instrumentation, by new assay
procedures, and by the availability of databases that allow huge
numbers of data points to be managed effectively. High throughput
screening combined with combinatorial chemistry, rational design,
and automation of laboratory procedures has led to a significantly
accelerated drug discovery process compared to the traditional
one-compound-at-a-time approach.
[0051] One critical aspect of the drug discovery process is the
identification of potent lead compounds. A purely random selection
of compounds for testing is unlikely to yield many active compounds
against a given receptor. Typically, pharmaceutical companies
screen 100,000 or more compounds per screen to identify
approximately 100 potential lead compounds. On average, only one or
two of these compounds actually produce lead compound series.
Therefore, companies have been assaying larger and larger data sets
in the search for useful compounds. Compound accessibility then
becomes an issue: historical compound collections are limited in
size and availability. In contrast, large combinatorial chemistry
libraries can be synthesized on demand, but at significant
technical difficulty and cost. As the library sizes expand, the
difficulty becomes selecting the desired compounds from these very
large combinatorial libraries. When literally hundred of thousands
of compounds are screened, it makes characterizing the candidate
lead compounds (artificial and real) an expensive and
time-consuming process.
[0052] The multi-step approach to the drug discovery process
described here provides a solution to many of these problems. One
embodiment of this invention takes advantage of the properties of G
protein .alpha. subunit carboxyl termini to identify peptides which
act as high affinity, competitive inhibitors of G protein/GPCR
interactions. The method, however, can be used with any specific
protein-protein, protein-small molecule, protein-nucleic acid
interaction or the like. In addition, peptides based on any region
of a G.alpha. subunit, or any region of a G.alpha. dimer, which is
involved in GPCR binding may be used in the same way. Many such
GPCR binding regions are known in the art. The identification of
high affinity competitors forms a first step in a screening and
selection method which overcomes many of the disadvantages of high
throughput screening by providing specific, high affinity lead
compounds against which to test potentially useful pharmaceuticals.
Because peptides selected by this method have affinity for their
binding partner up to 1,000 times higher or more than the native
protein, this step is one key to successfully screening and
identifying useful pharmaceutical compounds.
[0053] A subsequent step of the process involves high throughput
screening of candidate peptide or small molecule pharmaceutical
compounds against the high affinity lead peptides identified in the
first step. Because the lead peptide compounds are potent and
specific binders to the desired receptor, screening assays testing
for compounds which are competitive inhibitors and thus decrease
binding of the peptide (which interfere with their high-affinity
binding) will facilitate identification of those candidate
compounds which bind with useful affinity. The high throughput
screening step of the drug discovery process is thereby greatly
simplified, because the number of false positive compounds, and
compounds which are identified as binders but which bind only with
low affinity, is reduced or virtually eliminated. Only those
compounds with a high chance of success will be identified by the
screen, therefore there are many fewer compounds which need to be
characterized and further studied to identify useful, specific,
potent pharmaceutical compounds. In addition, the method identifies
a compound through binding directly to the precise site of
interest, so that the mechanism of binding and the mechanism of
action of the newly identified pharmaceutical compound does not
have to be discovered and confirmed later.
[0054] The identified high affinity peptides also may be used to
identify GPCR inverse agonists. The high affinity peptides bind the
receptor and stabilize it in an active or "R*" conformation.
Screens which are used to identify potent agonists seek out
compounds which can compete with this binding and also stabilize
the GPCR in its R* state. Inverse agonists, on the other hand,
stabilize the GPCR in an inactive or "R" state. Therefore, screens
designed to detect dissociation of the high affinity peptide or a
decrease in its affinity for the GPCR are used to identify inverse
agonists.
[0055] Although this description provides examples relative to the
interaction between a G protein coupled receptor and its cognate
G.alpha. protein, the methodology can be used to identify peptide
inhibitors of most protein-protein interactions, specifically
including any interaction between a GPCR and any region of a
G.alpha. or G.beta..gamma. G protein subunit. The high affinity
peptides selected by this method may be used in high throughput
screening to identify small molecules that can be used as
modulators of a variety of specific biological process.
[0056] To produce very high affinity peptide GPCR blockers, the
tertiary structure of a wild-type G.alpha. carboxyl terminal
peptide or any other GPCR binding peptide in its receptor-bound
conformation may be studied, for example, using trNOESY (NMR).
Dratz et al., Nature, 363:276-280, 1993. Structural data derived
from these types of studies of G protein regions are combined with
analysis of activity of substituted peptide analogs to define the
minimal structural requirements for interaction of peptides with
GPCR. The following experimental systems are examples of systems
which can be used to define receptor-G protein interactions: (i)
rhodopsin-transducing (G.alpha.t) in retinal rod cells, (ii)
.beta.-adrenergic receptor-G.alpha.s in C6 glioma cells, (iii)
adenosine A1 receptor-G.alpha.1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells,
(iv) GABA.sub.B receptors-G.alpha.1 in rat hippocampal CA1
pyramidal neurons, (v) muscarinic M2 receptor-G.alpha.1 in human
embryonic kidney cells, and the like. Any GPCR or group of GPCR
which is convenient or desired can be used to define the
interaction requirements, and skilled workers are aware of many
methods to understand structure-activity relationships in receptor
binding of this kind. Any of these methods are contemplated for use
in these methods and may substitute for the particular methods of
the exemplified embodiment.
[0057] The plasmid display method provides an efficient means of
identifying specific and potent peptides that can serve as
competitive inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Using the
information gleaned from structure-activity studies, a library of
variant peptides encoding sequences related to a GPCR-binding
region, for example the G.alpha. subunit carboxyl terminus, for
each of the classes of the G.alpha. subtypes or G.beta..gamma. can
be prepared. Exemplary native sequences upon which libraries may be
based include those listed in Table III, below. This library
advantageously contains peptides with computer-generated random
substitutions within the sequence, and allows one to test a large
number of peptide sequences at one time. Preferably, peptide
sequences in each library are constructed such that approximately
50% of the amino acid residues are identical to the native GPCR
binding region and the remaining amino acid residues are randomly
selected from any amino acid. The peptides may range in size from
about 7 to about 55 amino acid residues or from about 8 to about 50
amino acids long or from about 7 to about 70 amino acid residues or
longer, preferably from about 9 to about 23 amino acid residues.
Undecamer peptides are most preferred. Libraries may be constructed
in which about 10% to about 90% of the amino acid residues
unchanged from the native sequence; however, about 30% to about 70%
unchanged is preferred and about 50% is most preferred.
[0058] Alternatively, a synthetic peptide library can be based on
any protein known to interact with a GPCR, using randomly created
overlapping regions of the protein. The peptides may be about 7-70
amino acids long or about 8-50 amino acids long or preferably about
9 to about 23 amino acids long and most preferably about 11 amino
acids long. Oligonucleotides encoding the peptides advantageously
may be cloned to the 3' end of the LacI gene, with a linker
sequence at the N-terminus of the peptide. The linker sequence is
not mandatory for successful screening, but is generally preferred.
Restriction enzyme sites may be placed at either end of the peptide
coding sequence for cloning purposes. See Table I below for a
schematic representation of a peptide library and an example of one
peptide. Additional peptides which can be used are shown in Tables
II and III, below. The oligonucleotides encoding the actual peptide
sequences are synthesized with 70% of the correct base and 10% each
of the remaining bases, leading to a biased peptide library with an
approximately 50% chance of having the correct amino acid at any
specific position along the peptide sequence. Different ratios of
bases may be used to achieve the desired mutagenesis rate at any
particular position in the sequence. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Example
for Construction of a Synthetic Peptide Library. Q R M H L R Q Y E
L L gaggtggt nnknnknnknnk attcgtgaaaacttaaaagattgtggtcgtttc taa
ctaagtaaagc A B C D E (SEQ ID NO:12) n = any amino acid; k =
guanidine or thymidine; A = restriction enzyme site; B = linker
sequence; C = oligonucleotide encoding peptide sequence (SEQ ID
NO:13); D = stop codon; E = restriction enzyme site.
[0059] TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II G.alpha. Subunit Peptides and
Corresponding DNA Constructs. G.alpha. SEQ Subunit Sequence ID NO:
Gt I K E N L K D C G L F 14 atc aag gag aac ctg aaa gac tgc ggc ctc
ttc 15 Gi1/2 I K N N L K D C G L F 16 ata aaa aat aat cta aaa gat
tgt ggt ctc ttc 17 GRi1/2 N G I K C L F N D K L 18 aac ggc atc aag
tgc ctc ttc aac gac aag ctg 19 Gi3 I K N N L K E C G L Y 20 att aaa
aac aac tta aag gaa tgt gga ctt tat 21 Go2 I A K N L R G C G L Y 22
atc gcc aaa aac ctg cgg ggc tgt gga ctc tac 23 Go1 I A N N L R G C
G L Y 24 att gcc aac aac ctc cgg ggc tgc ggc ttg tac 25 Gz I Q N N
L K Y I G L C 26 ata cag aac aat ctc aag tac att ggc ctt tgc 27 G11
L Q L N L K E Y N L V 28 ctg cag ctg aac ctc aag gag tac aac ctg
gtc 29 Gq L Q L N L K E Y N A V 30 ctc cag ttg aac ctg aag gag tac
aat gca gtc 31 Golf Q R M H L K Q Y E L L 32 cag cgg atg cac ctc
aag cag tat gag ctc ttg 33 G14 L Q L N L R E F N L V 34 cta cag cta
aac cta agg gaa ttc aac ctt gtc 35 G15/16 L A R Y L D E I N L L 36
ctc gcc cgc tac ctg gac gag atc aac ctg ctg 37 G12 L Q E N L K D I
M L Q 38 ctg cag gag aac ctg aag gac atc atg ctg cag 39 G13 L H D N
L K Q L M L Q 40 ctg cat gac aac ctc aag cag ctt atg cta cag 41 Gs
Q R M H L R Q Y E L L 42 cag cgc atg cac ctt cgt cag tac gag ctg
ctc 43 5'-gatccgccgccaccatggga- -tgaa-3' (SEQ ID NOS: 44, 45)
[0060] TABLE-US-00003 TABLE III Exemplary Native G protein
Sequences for Library or Minigene Construction.* Name Sequence SEQ
ID NO: hgt IKENLKDCGLF 46 hGi1/2 IKNNLKDCGLF 47 G05_DRO IKNNLKQIGLF
48 GAF_DRO LSENVSSMGLF 49 Gi-DRO IKNNLKQIGLF 50 hGi3 IKNNLKECGLY 51
hGO-1 IANNLRGCGLY 52 hGO-2 IAKNLRGCGLY 53 GAK_CAV IKNNLKECGLY 54
G0_XEN IAYNLRGCGLY 55 GA3_CAEEL IQANLQGCGLY 56 GA2_CAEEL
IQSNLHKSGLY 57 GA1_CAEEL LSTKLKGCGLY 58 GAK_XEN IKSNLMECGLY 59
GA1_CAN VQQNLKKSGIM 60 hGZ IQNNLKYIGLC 61 hG15 LARYLDEINLL 62
GA2_SCHPO LQHSLKEAGMF 63 hG12 LQENLKDIMLQ 64 hG13 LHDNLKQLMLQ 65
GAL_DRO LQRNLNALMLQ 66 GA2_YST ENTLKDSGVLQ 67 hG14 LQLNLREFNLV 68
hG11 LQLNLKEYNLV 69 hGQ LQLNLKEYNAV 70 GQ_DROME LQSNLKEYNLV 71
G11_XEN LQHNLKEYNLV 72 Gq_SPOSC IQENLRLCGLI 73 GA1_YST IQQNLKKIGII
74 GA1_NEUCR IIQRNLKQLIL 75 CryptoGba1 LQNALRDSGIL 76 GA3_UST
LTNALKDSGIL 77 GA1_KLU IQQNLKKSGIL 78 GA3_UST LTNALKDSGIL 79
GA1_DIC NLTLGEAGMIL 80 GA2_KLU LENSLKDSGVL 81 GA2_UST ILTNNLRDIVL
82 MGs-XL QRMHLPQYELL 83 hGs QRMHLRQYELL 84 hGolf QRMHLKGYELL 85
GA1_COPCO LQLHLRECGLL 86 GA1-SOL RRRNLFEAGLL 87 GA2_SB RRRNLLEAGLL
88 GA1_SB RRRNPLEAGLL 89 GA1_UST IQVNLRDCGLL 90 GA4_UST RENLKLTGLVG
91 GA1_ORYSA DESMRRSREGT 92 GQ1_DROME MQNALKEFNLG 93 GA2_DIC
TQCVMKAGLYS 94 GS-SCH LQHSLKEAGMF 95 GA-SAC ENTLKDSGVLQ 96 GA1-CE
IISASLKMVGV 97 GA2-CE NENLRSAGLHE 98 GA3-CE RLIRYANNIPV 99 GA4-CE
LSTKLKGCGLY 100 GA5-CE IAKNLKSMGLC 101 GA6-CE IGRNLRGTGME 102
GA7-CE IQHTMQKVGIQ 103 GA8-CE IQKNLQKAGMM 104 GA5-DIC LKNIFNTIINY
105 *For production of minigene constructs each nucleotide sequence
should be constructed to encode the amino acids MG at the
N-terminus of the peptide by using 5'-gatccgccgccaccatggga-(SEQ ID
NO: 44) and -tgaa-3' (SEQ ID NO: 45).
[0061] The peptides are advantageously synthesized in a display
system for convenience and efficiency of performing the binding
reactions. For example, plasmid or phage display systems, as are
known in the art, may be employed. While peptide display systems
are preferred, any method which allows efficient contact of the
peptides with a GPCR and determination of binding may be used.
[0062] A peptide display ("peptides on plasmids") library is a
convenient system for use with this invention which exploits the
high affinity bond between LacI and lacO. The "peptides on
plasmids" display is preferred for use with this invention for two
major reasons. The technique is easily set up in the laboratory. In
addition, the fusion of the peptide at the carboxyl terminus of the
presentinG protein mimics the normal presentation for carboxyl
terminal peptides during the screen. If amino terminal or interior
peptides are being tested, the peptide may be cloned at the
appropriate position to mimic native presentation.
[0063] The "peptides on plasmids" method for testing carboxyl
terminal peptides generally works as follows. Persons of skill in
the art will be able to modify these methods as needed to
accommodate different conditions using this general description and
the examples below as a guide. A library of peptides is created by
degenerate PCR based on the native GPCR-binding peptide of interest
and fused to the carboxyl terminus of LacI. The peptide library is
expressed via a plasmid vector carrying the fusion gene. The
plasmid also contains the Lac operon (LacO), and when E. coli
transcribes and translates the Lacl fusion protein, it binds back
as a tetramer to the encoding plasmid through its lacO DNA binding
sequence, displaying the inserted sequences of interest on the
plasmid. Following transcription and translation, variant peptides
encoding different sequences related to the native peptide sequence
therefore are displayed as carboxyl terminal extensions of the lacI
gene. Thus, a stable LacI-peptide-plasmid complex is formed which
can be screened for binding to receptor. Methods described in Gates
et al., J. Mol. Biol. 255:373-386, 1996, the disclosures of which
are hereby incorporated by reference, are suitable. See Examples 7
and 9 for exemplary methods.
[0064] The E. coli strain used to display the peptides was AR1814,
which has the following genotype: .DELTA.(srl-recA) endA1 nupG
lon-11 sulA1 hsdR17.DELTA. (ompT-fepC)266 .DELTA.clpA319::kan
.DELTA.lacI lacZU118. The strain contains the hsdR17 allele that
prevents restriction of unmodified DNA introduced by transformation
or transduction. The ompT-fepC deletion removes the gene encoding
the OmpT protease, which digests peptides between paired basic
residues. the lon-11 and clpA mutations also limit proteolysis by
ATP-dependent, cytoplasmic proteases. The deletion of the lacI gene
prevents expression of the wild-type lac repressor, which would
compete with the fusion constructs for binding to the lacO sites on
the plasmid. The lacZ mutation prevents waste of the cell's
metabolic resources to make .beta.-galactosidase in the absence of
the repressor. The endA1 mutation eliminates a nuclease that has
deleterious effects on affinity purification, and the recA deletion
prevents multimerization of plasmids through RecA-catalyzed
homologous recombination. This strain was selected for its robust
growth properties and high yields of immunocompetent cells.
Transformation efficiencies of 2.times.10.sup.10 colonies per mg
DNA typically were achieved. Although this strain of E. coli is
preferred, those of skill in the art are aware of many alternatives
which are convenient for use with the methods described. Therefore,
any suitable and convenient bacterial strain known in the art is
contemplated for use with this invention.
[0065] The Lacl-peptide fusion protein library may be released from
the bacteria by gentle enzymatic digestion of the cell wall using
lysozyme. After pelleting the cell debris, the lysate then can be
added directly to immobilized receptor for affinity purification or
used without purification. The display library of these peptides is
screened to identify those peptides which bind with high affinity
to a particular GPCR. In this way, it is possible to screen for and
identify high affinity peptides which bind GPCR and can interfere
with activation of the pre-selected specific G protein. The library
can be screened against any desired GPCR. Since the combinatorial
library contains peptides based on a particular G.alpha. or
G.beta..gamma. subunit, any GPCR which binds to or mediates
signaling through that subunit or class of subunits can be used.
Multiple libraries, based on the carboxyl terminal sequences or
other regions of different G protein subunits may be constructed
for screening the same or different GPCR.
[0066] To screen the plasmid display library, a G protein coupled
receptor of interest advantageously may be immobilized on
microtiter plates for screening by ELISA. A plasmid preparation
(bacterial lysate) then may be added to the wells. This screening
procedure, involving allowing the peptides displayed on the library
plasmids to bind receptor, is sometimes referred to as "panning."
Sequences that bind the receptor stick to the well so that
non-binding sequences can be removed by a washing step. The
adherent plasmids then can be expanded and used to transform E.
coli. The "panning" process generally is repeated 2 to 8 times. In
general, however, 3 to 4 sequential screens are sufficient and
preferred. In the later rounds of panning, parent peptide (wild
type sequence) preferably is co-incubated with the plasmid
preparation to bind receptors and serve as a competitive inhibitor.
In this way, only high affinity sequences on the display library
are captured by the immobilized receptor. The same competitive
inhibition may advantageously be performed using a high affinity
peptide or small molecule which has already been identified, rather
than the native peptide. See FIG. 1 for a schematic diagram
generally describing the "panning" procedure and Example 7 for a
specific embodiment. The selection process preferably is carried
out in low salt buffers because high salt concentrations
destabilize the Lacl-lacO complex, and could lead to peptides
becoming associated with the incorrect plasmid. For the same
reason, the panning buffers preferably contain lactose, which
causes the Lacl to bind more tightly to lacO.
[0067] The selection process of this invention allows the
identification of peptide sequences with higher and higher affinity
binding with each round of panning. For example, diversity in an
unpanned library may look like the sequences given in Table IV,
below, i.e. highly randomized. After successive rounds of
selection, the selected adherent peptides would look more like
those given in Table V, below. TABLE-US-00004 TABLE IV Diversity in
Unpanned Gq Library. SEQ. ID NO. Native LQLNLKEYNLV 106 clone #1
LLLQLVEHTLV 107 clone #2 HRLNLLEYCLV 108 clone #3 EQWNMNTFHMI 109
clone #4 SQVKLQKGHLV 110 clone #5 LRLLL*EYNLG 111 clone #6
RRLKVNEYKLL 112 clone #7 LQLRLREHNLV 113 clone #8 HVLNSKEYNQV
114
[0068] TABLE-US-00005 TABLE V Selection in Panned G.alpha.11
Library. SEQ ID NO. Native LQLNLKEYNLV 106 Round 1 1 MKLNVSESNLV
115 2 LQTNQKEYDMD 116 3 LQLNPREDKLW 117 4 RHLDLNACNMG 118 5
LR*NDIEALLV 119 6 LVQDRQESILV 120 Round 2 1 LQLKHKENNLM 121 2
LQVNLEEYHLV 122 3 LQFNLNDCNLV 123 4 MKLKLKEDNLV 124 5 HQLDLLEYNLG
125 6 LRLDFSEKQLV 126 Round 3 1 LQKNLKEYNMV 127 2 LQYNLMEDYLN 128 3
LQMYLRGYNLV 129 4 LPLNPKEYSLV 130 5 MNLTLKECNLV 131 6 LQQSLIEYNLL
132
[0069] Lacl is normally a tetramer and the minimum functional DNA
binding species is a dimer. Thus, the peptides are displayed
multivalently on the fusion protein, leading to binding to the
immobilized receptor in a cooperative fashion. This cooperative
binding permits the detection of binding events of quite low
intrinsic affinity. The sensitivity of the assay is an advantage in
that initial hits of low affinity can be identified, but the
disadvantage is that the signal in the ELISA does not necessarily
correlate with the intrinsic affinity of the bound peptides.
[0070] One preferred ELISA, where signal strength is better
correlated with affinity, involves fusing the sequences of interest
from a population of clones in frame with the gene encoding a
protein, for example maltose bindinG protein (MBP). Once the
sequences have been transferred into the monomeric fusion protein,
they can be overexpressed in E. coli and used as either crude
lysates or purified fusion proteins for assay by an ELISA which
detects the protein bound to receptor or any convenient assay.
Those samples with an absorbence of at least two standard
deviations above background may be considered to contain high
affinity binding peptides. Any desired cut-off point may be used,
however, depending on the assay parameters and the needs of the
operator. The purified fusion proteins can be further tested by
measuring their ability to compete for the site of binding on the
receptor using native peptide, a Lacl-peptide fusion protein, or
heterotrimeric G protein. Use of competitive ELISA allows one to
calculate IC.sub.50 values for the binding of individual fusion
protein to the immobilized receptor.
[0071] Peptide fusion proteins can be analyzed in a competitive
ELISA format using a fusion protein co-incubation to prevent the
binding of lower affinity peptide fusion proteins to the GPCR. Any
convenient protein which does not interfere with peptide binding
may be used, including for example, glutathione-5-transferase,
green fluorescent protein, or ubiquitin, however a maltose binding
protein fusion protein such as MB-G.alpha..sub.t340-350K341R is
preferred.
[0072] Cloning the library into pJS142 creates a BspEI restriction
site near the beginning of the random coding region of the library.
Conveniently, digestion with BspEI and SeaI allows the purification
of a 900 base pair DNA fragment that may be subcloned into pELM3, a
vector that directs the MBP fusion protein to the cytoplasm, a
reducing environment. Alternatively, the fragment can be cloned
into pELM15, a vector which directs the MBP fusion protein to the
periplasm, an oxidizing environment. pELM3 and pELM15 are simple
modifications of the pMALc2 and pMALp2 vectors, respectively,
available commercially (New England Biolabs). Digestion of pELM3
with AgeI and ScaI allows efficient cloning of the BspEI-ScaI
fragment from the pJS142 library. Any suitable method may be used
which is convenient to achieve the desired result. Modifications of
these methods are well known by those of skill in the art of
molecular biology and are contemplated for use here.
[0073] Proof that the high affinity peptides competitively bind to
GPCR and interfere with its recognition of G protein can be
obtained using a competitive binding assay in the presence of a
heterotrimeric G protein. For example, if rhodopsin is the GPCR
used in the screen, heterotrimeric G protein, transducin (Gt) may
be used. Gt binds rhodopsin with multiple epitopes and is
membrane-bound via myristoylation of the .alpha. subunit and
farnesylation of the .gamma. subunit carboxyl terminus. Poor
competition of peptide analog binding by carboxyl terminal native
peptide constructs and/or heterotrimeric Gt indicates high affinity
binding of the peptide analogs. An analogous strategy of panning,
peptide synthesis and binding studies may be employed for
determining high affinity peptides that bind any GPCR, for example
the Thrombin receptors (PAR1, PAR3, PAR4), dopamine receptors (D1,
D2, D3, D4, D5), vasopressin receptors (V1a, V1b, V2) and histamine
receptors (H1, H2, H3), using carboxyl terminal peptide libraries
for any G.alpha. subunit, for example G.alpha.i, G.alpha.s and
G.alpha.q. Once peptide analogs with higher binding affinities have
been elucidated, they can be exploited to inhibit GPCR-G protein
interaction.
[0074] The peptides selected by this method, characterized by high
affinity, specific blockade of a desired GPCR-mediated signaling
event, may be used as therapeutic agents such as traditional
pharmaceuticals or gene therapies to treat disorders which would
benefit by inhibition of GPCR or used to screen additional
libraries of compounds able to compete with the high affinity
peptide analogs. Focused synthesis of new small molecule libraries
can provide a variety of compounds structurally related to the
initial lead compound which may be screened to choose optimal
structures. This multi-step approach which gives high affinity
inhibitory peptides in the first step, and small molecules in a
subsequent step reduces the number of artificial hits by
eliminating the lower affinity small molecules that would be
selected and have to be assayed in a normal high throughput
screening method. In addition, it focuses the search for molecules
that bind to a specific desired site on the receptor, for example,
that of the G protein binding/activation site, rather than
screening for binding to any site on the receptor. Other advantages
of this technology are that it is simple to implement, amenable to
many different classes of receptors, and capable of rapidly
screening very large libraries of compounds.
[0075] Any method known in the art for selecting and synthesizing
small molecule libraries for screening is contemplated for use in
this invention. Small molecules to be screened are advantageously
collected in the form of a combinatorial library. For example,
libraries of drug-like small molecules, such as .beta.-turn mimetic
libraries and the like, may be purchased from for example ChemDiv,
Pharmacopia or Combichem, or synthesized and are described in
Tietze and Lieb, Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol. 2:363-371, 1998; Carrell
et al., Chem. Biol. 2:171-183, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,972, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,087,186 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,223. Any of these
libraries known in the art are suitable for screening, as are
random libraries or individual compounds. In general, hydrophilic
compounds are preferred because they are more easily soluble, more
easily synthesized, and more easily compounded. Compounds having an
average molecular weight of about 500 often are most useful,
however, compounds outside this range, or even far outside this
range also may be used. Generally, compounds having c logP scores
of about 5.0 are preferred, however the methods are useful with all
types of compounds. Simple filters like Lipinski's "rule of five"
have predictive value and may be used to improve the quality of
leads discovered by this inventive strategy by using only those
small molecules which are bioavailable. See Lipinski et al., Adv.
Drug Delivery Rev. 23:3-25, 1997.
[0076] Screening of the peptides or small molecules may be
performed conveniently using receptors from any source. Generally,
it is convenient to purify receptor from cells and reconstitute the
receptor in lipid vesicles or to use membranes isolated from insect
or mammalian cells that overexpress the receptor. PAR1 and
rhodopsin are convenient receptors, however any suitable receptor
is contemplated for use with this invention. The receptors used for
screening may be purified from a natural source or purified from
cells which overexpress the receptor and reconstituted in lipid
vesicles. Alternatively, membranes containing the receptor may be
prepared from cells which natively express the receptor, for
example Sf9 cells which express PAR1, or from cells which have been
genetically engineered to express the receptor, for example
mammalian or insect cells overexpressing PAR1. Initially, it is
advantageous to determine the binding affinity of the peptide
fusion protein or high affinity peptide against which the peptides
or small molecules are screened. This allows the amount of receptor
and peptide MBP peptide fusion protein or small molecule in the
assay to be optimized.
[0077] Generally, it is convenient to test the libraries using a
one well-one compound approach to identify compounds which compete
with the peptide fusion protein or high affinity peptide for
binding to the receptor. A single compound per well generally is
used, at about 10 nM each or at any convenient concentration
depending on the affinity of the receptor for the compounds and the
peptide against which they are being tested. Compounds may be
pooled for testing, however this approach requires deconvalution.
Compounds may be pooled in groups of about 10 to about 50 compounds
per well, or more, at about 10 nM each or at any convenient
concentration depending on the affinity of the receptor for the
compounds being tested. Peptides desirably are screened using a
pooled approach because of the layer members of peptides which are
screened in the first instance. Peptides may be screened
individually as well, but preferably are screened in pools of about
10.sup.4-10.sup.12 peptides per well or about 10.sup.8-10.sup.10
peptide per well or most preferably about 10.sup.9 peptides per
well.
[0078] ELISA, or any other convenient assay, such as fluorescence
assays or radioimmunoassay may be used to determine (1) if one or
more peptides in each well reduce the amount of binding by the high
affinity peptide fusion protein or high affinity peptide, or (2) if
one or more peptides in each well bind to the receptor. Compounds
may be tested at a series of concentrations, as well, and this
generally is preferred if the affinity of the peptide or peptide
fusion protein is not known. In an ELISA, wells in which the
OD.sub.450 is half or less than half than that of control wells (no
tested compounds) generally are considered "positive" and may be
further studied. Any suitable cut-off point may be used, however,
depending on the assay components and the goals of the assay.
[0079] Screening against the high affinity peptide analogs can be
performed using the desired GPCR immobilized onto microtiter wells,
biochips, or any convenient assay surface. Binding assays performed
in solution also are suitable. One, several, or thousands of
candidate small molecule pharmaceutical compounds can be screened
for binding to the receptor in the presence or absence of a high
affinity peptide analog. The assays preferably are performed in the
presence of a high affinity binding peptide to ensure that only
those candidate compounds which can successfully compete for
binding against the high-affinity binding peptide will be captured
by the receptor. Alternatively, organic compounds or small
molecules which have been identified by screening as competitively
binding with a high affinity peptide analog may also be used as
lead compounds in screening for further small molecule candidate
compounds with even higher affinity. In either screening process,
binding may be detected by any convenient method, for example by
ELISA, fluorescence assays or radioimmunoassays.
[0080] By using a two-step protocol to identify compounds which
block G protein signaling, high throughput screening of compounds
and characterization of the selected compounds is significantly
reduced in both time and cost, because only potent and strongly
binding compounds are selected. The first step of identification of
high affinity peptides which strongly compete with G proteins for
their site of binding on G protein-coupled receptors insures this
because the high affinity peptides are designed and tested for the
particular desired binding specificity, ability to inhibit function
within a cellular system and ability to inhibit functions in
vivo.
[0081] Preferably, only the most strongly binding and effective
peptide analogs or small molecules are used in the second or
subsequent screening step. This two or multi-step protocol reduces
the number of false positives and identification of compounds which
bind only weakly by eliminating the lower affinity small molecules
that would be detected and assayed in a conventional high
throughput screening method. This method, therefore, is simple to
implement, inexpensive, composed of only a few components, amenable
to many different classes of receptors, and capable of rapidly
screening large libraries of compounds. This method enables
efficient identification of new classes of small organic
peptidomimetic molecules that function as inhibitors of receptor
action, for example, thrombin receptor inhibitors, dopamine
receptor inhibitors, histamine receptor inhibitors, or vasopressin
receptor inhibitors. These identified compounds can target a single
GPCR, a class of GPCR, or block a single G protein pathway
activated by GPCR.
[0082] Thorough evaluation of the selected compounds (either
peptides or small molecules) for use as therapeutic agents may
proceed according to any known method. Properties of the compounds,
such as pK.sub.a, log P, size, hydrogen bonding and polarity are
useful information. They may be readily measured or calculated, for
example from 2D connection tables. Association/dissociation rate
constants may be determined by appropriate binding experiments.
Parameters such as absorption and toxicity also may be measured, as
well as in vivo confirmation of biological activity.
[0083] Pharmaceutical preparations are prepared by formulating the
peptides or small molecules identified by the inventive screen
according to methods well known in the art, with any suitable
pharmaceutical excipient or combination of pharmaceutical
excipients. Preparations may be made for administration by any
route, such as intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral,
rectal, vaginal, transdermal, transmucosal, sublingual and the
like, however, the intravenous route is generally preferred for
peptide preparations. Any suitable vehicle may be used, for example
saline or lactated Ringer's, for intravenous administration.
[0084] Dosages for treatment of GPCR-related diseases or condition
will depend on many factors such as the nature of the disorder, the
GPCR involved, the route of administration, factors relating to the
general physical condition and health of the patient and the
judgment of the treating physician. Persons of skill in the art are
well aware of these factors and consider manipulation of dosage to
obtain an optimum result to be routine. Generally, dosages for
intravenous administration may vary between about 0.01 mg/kg and
1000 mg/kg, however, this range can be expanded depending on the
patient's needs. Such an expanded range is considered within the
scope of this invention.
[0085] Alternatively, peptides according to this invention may be
provided to cells, in vivo or ex vivo, by delivery of an expression
construct. Gene therapy can be performed in-vivo as a direct
introduction of the genetic material. The in vivo gene transfer
would introduce the oligonucleotides encoding the peptides to cells
at the site they are found in the body, for example to skin cells
on an arm, or to lung epithelial cells following inhalation of the
gene transfer vector. Alternatively, ex-vivo gene transfer, the
transfer of genes into viable cells that have been temporarily
removed from the patient and are then returned following treatment
(e.g. bone marrow cells) could also be employed.
[0086] Gene transfer vectors can be engineered to enter specific
tissues or cells. Transductional targeting allows the gene transfer
vectors to interact with specific cell surface receptors.
Transductional targeting can also take advantage of the rate of
cellular division by using gene transfer vectors that target
rapidly dividing cells such as tumor cells. Transcriptional
targeting recruits distinct cellular promoter and enhancer elements
to influence transcription of the therapeutic gene. Transfection
efficiencies are also enhanced by engineering vectors with
monoclonal antibodies, carbohydrate ligands, and protein ligands
that help deliver genes to specific cells.
[0087] The gene transfer vectors used to produce the high affinity
peptides inside cells could be viral vectors (Retrovirus,
Adenovirus, Adeno-Associated Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, or
Vaccinia Virus). As an alternative, non-viral vectors may also be
used, these include such methods as injection of naked DNA, or
introduction of either DNA or peptides by attachment to positively
charged lipids, or cationic liposomes, electroporation or ballistic
DNA Injection (limited to ex-vivo applications), as well as
introduction of branched peptides.
[0088] Tet-inducible retroviral vectors for the native C-terminal
sequences that co-expresses GFP driven by an internal ribosomal
entry site (IRES) from encephalomyocarditis virus (p-Tet-Ti-GFP)
may be used. These vectors can be modified so that they encode the
high affinity peptide sequences. In addition, the high affinity
peptide can be driven by a sequence allowing for spatial or
temporal expression. For in vitro studies, viral supernatants may
be collected from a pantropic producer line such as GP-293
(Clontech) in serum-free media. Viral supernatants may be
concentrated by ultracentrifugation at 4.degree. C. for 2 hr at
22,000 rpm, and the pellets resuspended in 1/100 the original
volume in serum-free media with a titer of at least 10.sup.8 i.u.
(Infectious units)/ml and stored at -80.degree. C.
[0089] Murine leukemia virus (MLV) derived retroviral vectors are
commonly used vehicles for stable delivery of therapeutic genes
into endothelial cells. For the retrovirus studies in vivo, high
affinity peptides subcloned into a replication-defective murine
Moloney retrovirus vector which is Tet-inducible and co-expresses
GFP driven by an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) from
encephalomyocarditis virus (pTet-GFP). These constructs may then be
transiently transfected into producer line to generate cell-free
titers of 10.sup.6-10.sup.9 i.u/mL. If needed, a pantropic
retroviral expression system (GP-293; Clontech) which utilizes
VSV-G, an envelope glycoprotein from the vesicular stomatitis
virus, may be utilized to overcome low transfection efficiencies.
By using this innovative cell-based gene transfer method one can
obtain stable, long-term, and localized gene expression of the high
affinity C-terminal peptides.
[0090] To conclusively demonstrate that the compounds identified by
this method can modulate G protein signaling events implicated in
disease syndromes in vivo, antagonism of selective G protein signal
transduction events may be confirmed. One method of testing the
ability of compounds to compete with native G protein binding
involves expressing peptides that block the receptor-G protein
interface in cells bearing the receptor. Plasmid constructs that
encode GPCR-binding region peptides, such as carboxyl terminal
peptide sequences from the various G.alpha. subunits (see Table VI)
can be used to express them in cells in vivo, ex vivo or in vitro,
so that the metabolic effects of selective GPCR blockade can be
studied qualitatively and quantitatively. Such studies provide
proof that the binding which the compounds possess is useful in
vivo to modulate selective G protein signals.
[0091] Expression of the peptides is conveniently achieved using
the minigene approach by methods such as those described in Example
23, however any suitable method may be used. Any desired peptide
sequence may be expressed using these methods. Those of skill in
the art are well aware of alternative methods for construction,
transfection and expression of protein and peptide constructs
comprising the high affinity peptide analogs, and such methods are
contemplated for use with them. TABLE-US-00006 TABLE VI Exemplary
Sequences of C-terminal Minigene Peptides. Peptide Name Sequence
SEQ ID NO: G.alpha.i MGIKNNLKDCGLF 133 G.alpha.iR MGNGIKCLFNDKL 134
G.alpha.q MGLQLNLKEYNAV 135 G.alpha.q** MGLQLNLKEYNTL 136
G.alpha.12 MGLQENLKDIMLQ 137 G.alpha.13 MGLHDNLKQLMLQ 138
[0092] As discussed above, many receptors interact with and
activate multiple G proteins. Using the minigene strategy to
introduce the high affinity-binding carboxyl terminal peptides into
cells, it is possible to inhibit specific G protein-coupled
receptor interactions with individual G proteins, thus
demonstrating the feasibility of specific G protein blockade in
vivo with compounds identified by the inventive method. For those
receptors which activate multiple G proteins, each of which
activates a distinct set of signaling pathways mediating a specific
set of responses (for example, the thrombin receptor), one pathway
can be inhibited without substantially affecting the others.
[0093] To selectively antagonize G protein signal transduction
events in vivo by expressing peptides that block the receptor-G
protein interface, minigene plasmid vectors were designed to
express the C-terminal peptide sequence of the various G.alpha.
subunits following their transfection into mammalian cells. A
control minigene vector also was created, encoding the carboxyl
terminus of G.alpha.i.sub.1/2 in random order (G.alpha.iR, see
Table VI). One important element necessary for the minigene
approach to block intracellular signaling pathways effectively in
vivo is expression of adequate amounts of the desired peptides.
Therefore, expression of the minigene should be confirmed by a
convenient method of detecting mRNA, protein or both. Any
convenient method known in the art can be used.
[0094] To determine the cellular efficacy of the minigene approach
for expressing GPCR binding peptides, and to show the specific
inhibition of one G protein pathway in response to a given receptor
activation signal without affecting others, compounds
advantageously may be assayed in a system designed to exhibit a
measurable cellular signaling endpoint. One example of such a
system is the thrombin receptor, PAR1, in endothelial cells. This
receptor activates multiple G proteins. Several signaling
endpoints, including transcription analysis of induced PAR1 gene
expression; biochemical analysis of effector molecules including
[Ca.sup.2+], MAP kinase ("MAPK") activity, adenylyl cyclase
activity, and inositol phosphate accumulation; as well as
functional assays such as cell proliferation and endothelial
permeability are available to measure specific activation or
modulation of activation of different G proteins by ligand binding
at this receptor. Signaling activity may be measured by any
convenient method, including: measuring inositol phosphate
accumulation; measuring intracellular calcium concentration levels;
measuring transendothelial electrical resistance; measuring stress
fiber formation; measuring ligand binding (agonist, antagonist or
inverse agonist); measuring receptor expression; measuring receptor
desensitization; measuring kinase activity; measuring phosphatase
activity; measuring nuclear transcription factors; measuring cell
migration (chemotaxis); measuring superoxide formation; measuring
nitric oxide formation; measuring cell degranulation; measuring
GIRK activity; measuring actin polymerization; measuring
vasoconstriction; measuring cell permeability; measuring apoptosis;
measuring cell differentiation; measuring membrane association of a
protein that translocates upon GPCR activation, such as protein
kinase C; measuring cytosolic accumulation of a protein that
translocates upon GPCR activation, such as protein kinase C;
measuring cytosolic accumulation of a protein that translocates
upon GPCR activation, such as src; and measuring nuclear
association of a protein that translocates upon GPCR activation,
such as Ran. The functional effects of G.alpha. C-terminal
minigenes in the mechanism of thrombin-induced cell retraction, as
measured by the change in transendothelial electrical resistance
(TEER) also can be used to measure G protein inhibition.
[0095] For example, thrombin-mediated PAR1 gene induction was
inhibited in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC)
expressing the G.alpha.i minigene construct. Expression of the
G.alpha.q minigene construct, however, affected thrombin-mediated
inositol phosphate accumulation. Expression of G.alpha.q also
specifically decreased both thrombin-induced intracellular
Ca.sup.++ rise and thrombin-induced MAPK activity.
[0096] Thrombin activation of the G.alpha.i mechanism in HMEC
decreases cAMP levels increased in response to isoproterenol (which
acts through G.alpha.s). Assay for cAMP level increases in response
to isoproterenol alone may be compared to increases after thrombin
pre-incubation in cells expressing G.alpha.i to show that
expression of the GPCR binding peptide blocks G.alpha.i
signaling.
[0097] Recent work by Gohla et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:
17901-17907, 1999, elegantly demonstrated that thrombin receptors
induce stress fiber accumulation via G.alpha.12 in an EGF
receptor-independent manner. The formation of stress fiber
formation appears to be Rho dependent. Both G12 and G13 have been
implicated in the Rho signaling pathway. Therefore, expression of
G.alpha.12 and G.alpha.13 GPCR-binding peptides in HMEC were used
to determine whether these peptides could block the appearance of
stress fibers in response to thrombin.
[0098] The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) subfamily of
mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulates numerous cell
signaling events involved in proliferation and differentiation.
This forms the basis of another assay which can determine whether
GPCR binding peptides can affect a specific G protein mediated
pathway. Transfection of HMEC cells with minigenes encoding GPCR
binding peptides along with HA-MAPK followed by immunoprecipitation
of the HA-MAPK permits measurement of the effects only on cells
expressing GPCR binding peptides.
[0099] Many studies have shown that the M.sub.2 muscarinic receptor
(mAChR) couples exclusively to the Gi/GO family. See Dell'Acqua et
al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:5676-5685, 1993; Lai et al., J. Pharm. Exp.
Ther. 258:938-944, 1991; Offermanns et al., Mol. Pharm. 45:890-898,
1994; Thomas et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther. 271:1042-1050, 1994. The
M.sub.2 mAChR can efficiently couple to mutant G.alpha.q** in which
the last five amino acids are substituted with the corresponding
residues from G.alpha.i or G.alpha.O, suggesting that this receptor
contains domains that are specifically recognized by the carboxyl
terminus of G.alpha.i/O subunits. See Liu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA 92:11642-11646, 1995.
[0100] To test inhibition of G protein-coupled receptor-mediated
cellular responses by carboxyl terminal G.alpha. peptides expressed
using minigene constructs, prototypical directly G.beta..gamma.
activated channels (GIRK channels) regulated by a pertussis
toxin-sensitive M.sub.2 mAChR was chosen as the model. In this
model, the importance of the G.alpha. carboxyl terminus and the
downstream effector system have been well established. See
Krapivinsky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:29059-29062, 1995;
Krapivinsky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 273:16946-16952, 1998; Sowell et
al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:7921-7926, 1997. Inhibition of
M.sub.2mAChR activation of inwardly rectifying potassium currents
can be tested to demonstrate inhibition of a downstream functional
response following agonist stimulation of GPCR on cells transiently
transfected with a G.alpha. carboxyl terminal peptide minigene or
treated with a pharmaceutical compound identified by screening
against high affinity G.alpha. peptides.
[0101] GIRK channels modulate electrical activity in many excitable
cells. See Breitwiese et al., J. Membr. Biol. 152:1-11, 1996; Jan
et al., Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 9:155-160, 1997; Wickman et al.,
Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 5:278-285, 1995. Because the channel opens
as a consequence of a direct interaction with G.beta..gamma., whole
cell patch clamp recording of I.sub.KACh can be used to demonstrate
inhibition of a downstream functional response following agonist
stimulation of GPCR on cells transiently transfected with a
G.alpha. carboxyl terminal peptide minigene or treated with a
pharmaceutical compound identified by screening against high
affinity G.alpha. peptides. Superfusion of cells expressing
GIRK1/GIRK4 with their ligand, acetylcholine (ACh), activates
inwardly rectifying potassium currents.
[0102] Using well-established receptor models accepted to be
indicative of in vivo cellular results, this type of data can show
that the individual G proteins activated via a given GPCR have
specific roles in mediating cellular events and can be modulated in
a specific fashion by ligands mimicking GPCR binding regions of
individual G.alpha. subunits. In particular, for receptors such as
the thrombin receptor, which activate multiple G proteins, each of
which activates a distinct set of signaling pathways mediating a
specific set of responses, it is possible using the inventive
methods to block one pathway while leaving all the others
functional. The high affinity peptide analogs identified in vitro
by consecutive affinity purification and competitive binding, are
capable of specifically inhibiting the downstream consequences of G
protein signaling.
[0103] The assays described above clearly establish the ability of
compounds identified by in vitro competitive binding studies to
interfere with a particular GPCR-G protein interaction selectively,
even when the GPCR regulates multiple G proteins within the cell.
Moreover, the peptides compete very effectively with the native
sequence. In addition, the minigene approach described above and
exemplified in the examples below allows a systematic test of the
roles of other G proteins such as G.alpha.12 and G.alpha.13, which
may be involved in the mechanism of increase of endothelial
permeability, and clearly demonstrates the viability of this
approach to select and identify G.alpha. subunit modulating
compounds. The peptides therefore are suitable for use in treatment
of any disorder or syndrome characterized by G protein signaling
excess.
[0104] In another aspect, the invention relates to methods to
identify the G proteins with which a specific orphan receptor is
coupled, using the materials provided by the invention. For
example, the described methods can be used to test any GPCR with a
battery of G.alpha. subunit peptides to determine which species of
G protein(s) mediates the effects of the receptor. The methods
described in Examples 15-18 are suitable. Those of skill in the art
are capable of designing other assays, or variations and
modifications using these assays as guides.
[0105] The following non-limiting examples are provided to
illustrate certain aspects of this invention.
EXAMPLE 1
Construction of a Peptide Library
[0106] Construction of a biased peptide library has been described
previously. Martin et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:361-366, 1996; Schatz
et al., Meth. Enzymol. 267:171-191, 1996. The vector used for
library construction was pJS142 (see FIG. 2). This vector had a
linker sequence between the LacI and the biased undecamer peptide
coding sequence, as well as restriction sites for cloning the
library oligonucleotide. The oligonucleotide synthesized to encode
the mutagenesis library was synthesized with 70% of the correct
base and 10% of each of the other bases at each position. This
mutagenesis rate leads to a biased library such that there is
approximately a 50% chance that any of the 11 codons will be the
appropriate amino acid and approximately a 50% chance that it will
be another amino acid. In addition, a linker of four random NNK
(where N denotes A, C, G or T and K denotes G or T) codons were
synthesized at the 5' end of the sequence to make a total of 15
randomized codons. Using this method, a library with greater than
10.sup.9 independent clones per microgram of vector used in the
ligation was constructed based on the carboxyl terminal sequence of
G.alpha.t (IKENLKDCGLF; SEQ ID NO:139). The nucleic acid used for
creating this library was
5'-GAGGTGGTNNKNNKNNKNNatcaaggagaacctgaaggactgcggcctcttcTAACTAAGTAAAGC-3',
wherein N=A/C/G/T and K=G/T; SEQ ID NO:140).
EXAMPLE 2
Sequences for the Creation of G.alpha. Subunit Peptide
Libraries
[0107] Libraries were created using the methods of Example 1 and
the sequences listed below in Table VII. TABLE-US-00007 TABLE VI
C-Terminal G.alpha. Subunit Peptide Library Constructs. G.alpha.
Sub- unit RE Linker Peptide Coding Region Stop RE SEQ ID NO: Gs
5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK attcgtgaaaacttaaaagattgtggtcgtttc TAA
CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 141 G11 5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK
ctgcagctgaacctgaaggagtacaatctggtc TAA CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 142 G12
5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK ctgcaggagaacctgaaggacatcatgctgcag TAA
CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 143 G13 5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK
ctgcatgacaacctcaagcagcttatgctacag TAA CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 144 G15
5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK ctcgcccggtacctggacgagattaatctgctg TAA
CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 145 Gz 5-GAGGTGGT NNKNNKNNKNNK
atacagaacaatctcaagtacattggcctttgc TAA CTAAGTAAAGC-3' 146
EXAMPLE 3
Isolation of Membranes from Insect Cells Expressing Thrombin
Receptor
[0108] Sf9 cells (2.times.10.sup.8 cells) were cultured with 200 ml
of Grace's insect cell culture medium (Life Technologies, Inc.,
Grand Island, N.Y.) containing 0.1% Pluronic F-68 (Life
Technologies, Inc., Grand Island, N.Y.)), 10% fetal calf serum, and
20 .mu.g/ml gentamicin in a 1-liter spinner flask at 27.degree. C.
for 25 hours. Sf9 cells were infected with the ThR/pBluebac
recombinant virus at a multiplicity of infection of 3-5, and
cultured at 27.degree. C. for 4 days. The cells were harvested,
washed with phosphate buffered saline, and then resuspended in 10
mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4. Cells were then homogenized with a hand-held
homogenizer set at low speed for 20 seconds. The broken cells were
than sedimented at 17,000 xg for 15 minutes. The supernatant was
discarded, and the pellet resuspended in a buffer consisting of 50
mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 and 10% glycerol. Concentration of receptor in
the membrane preparation ranged from 1-10,000 .mu.M/mg. For
screening, a final concentration of 200 .mu.g/ml was used. The
thrombin receptors were tested for their ability to bind to the
native Gq-C terminal peptide using a MBP-Gq fusion protein. (FIG.
7).
EXAMPLE 4
Isolation of Membranes from Mammalian Cells Overexpressing Thrombin
Receptor
[0109] PAR1 receptor cDNA (2.1 kb insert) was obtained by
polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the mammalian expression
vector pBJ5. The resulting plasmid was transfected into Chinese
hamster ovary cells by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation
method. The PAR1 transfected cells were grown with Dulbecco's
modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, 100
units/mL penicillin and 100 .mu.g/mL streptomycin. The cells were
detached using PBS with 5 mM EDTA and washed twice in PBS. The
pellet was either used immediately for membrane preparation or
stored frozen at -20.degree. C. Pellets were homogenized in 20 mM
Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, with 5 mM EDTA and 0.5 mM PMSF, using a Dounce
homogenizer (10 strokes) and sonicated for 10 seconds. Nuclear
debris and intact cells were removed by centrifugation at 3000 rpm
for 10 minutes. The supernatant was sedimented at 12,000 xg for 30
minutes and the resulting pellet suspended in 25 mM Tris-HCl, pH
7.5, 25 mM MgCl.sub.21 10% sucrose, 0.5 mM PMSF, 50 .mu.g/mL
antipain 1 .mu.g/mL aprotinin, 40 .mu.g/mL bestatin, 100 .mu.g/mL
chymostatin, 0.5 .mu.g/mL leupeptin and 0.7 .mu.g/mL pepstatin. The
membranes were aliquoted and frozen at -80.degree. C.
EXAMPLE 5
Preparation of Rod Outer Segments
[0110] Bovine rod outer segments (rhodopsin-containing membranes)
were prepared from fresh retinas under dim red light as described
by Arsharky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:19882-19887, 1994. The
retinas were placed in a beaker for dissection filled with 200 mL
of 30% (w/v) sucrose in isolation buffer (90 mM KCl, 30 mM NaCl, 2
mM N.sub.gCl.sub.2, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 50 .mu.M
phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 10 mM MOPS, pH 7.5) on ice with
constant moderate stirring of the solution during dissection.
Following dissection, the retina solution was left in the dark for
one hour on ice. The retina-sucrose solution was distributed into
eight 50 mL tubes and sedimented at 3000 xg for four minutes at
4.degree. C. The supernatant was decanted into eight fresh
centrifuge tubes and placed on ice. The volumes of the tubes were
filled to 1.5 cm below top with isolation buffer, then sedimented
at 17,000 xg for 20 minutes ("spin 1").
[0111] The pellets were resuspended in a small volume of 30%
sucrose and consolidated from eight tubes into four tubes. The
tubes were filled to 1.5 cm below top with 30% sucrose, sedimented
at 5000 xg for four minutes at 4.degree. C., and the supernatant
decanted into four clear tubes. These tubes were filled to 1.5 cm
below top with isolation buffer and sedimented at 17,000 xg for 20
minutes at 4.degree. C. ("spin 2").
[0112] A stepwise sucrose gradient was prepared in six gradient
tubes using the solutions in Table VIII, below, with a sequence
from top to bottom of #2, #3, #4. TABLE-US-00008 TABLE VIII Sucrose
Gradient Solutions. Solution #2 (0.84 M) #3 (1.0 M) #4 (1.14 M) 42%
Sucrose 51.30 g 61.05 g 69.75 g 1.0 M MOPS 750 .mu.L 750 .mu.L 750
.mu.L 2.0 M KCl 2250 .mu.L 2250 .mu.L 2250 .mu.L 3.0 M NaCl 750
.mu.L 750 .mu.L 750 .mu.L 2.0 M MgCl.sub.2 75 .mu.L 75 .mu.L 75
.mu.L Total Weight 83.25 g 84.75 g 86.25 g
[0113] The pellets from "spin 1" and "spin 2" were resuspended in
isolation using 1 mL 26% sucrose buffer per tube. After making a
slurry, each tube was homogenized with a 1 mL pipette and the tubes
consolidated. The pellet solution was carefully laid onto the
sucrose gradients and were not allowed to invade the gradient
layers. The gradient tubes were subjected to 24,000 xg for 30
minutes at 4.degree. C. in a swinging bucket rotor, after which the
orange layer containing the membranes was collected, being careful
to avoid the pellet or the dark solution near the pellet. The
membranes were distributed into six 50 mL tubes and placed on ice.
The tubes then were filled to 1.5 cm below top with isolation
buffer and sedimented at 17,000 xg for 20 minutes at 4.degree. C.
The supernatant was discarded and the pellets resuspended in 1 mL
isolation buffer containing 5 .mu.g/mL pepstatin and 10 .mu.g/mL
E-64. This suspension was stored in a foil-wrapped 15 mL conical
tube at -80.degree. C. until needed, then thawed, homogenized in
EDTA buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA 1 mM DTT) and sedimented
at 30,000 xg for 30 minutes. The supernatants were discarded and
the pellets resuspended and sedimented again as described above.
The pellets then were resuspended in urea buffer (10 mM Tris, pH
7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 7 M urea), homogenized and sedimented at
45,000 kg for 40 minutes. These pellets were resuspended and
homogenized in Buffer A (200 mM NaCl, 10 mM MOPS, pH 7.5, 2 mM
MgCl.sub.2, 1 mM DTT, 100 .mu.M PMSF), then sedimented at 30,000 xg
for 30 minutes. The pellets each were resuspended and homogenized
by pipetting in 1 mL buffer A and stored at -80.degree. C. in 100
.mu.L aliquots in foil-covered tubes for use in assays. For
screening, the receptor was added to wells at 10 .mu.g/ml. Binding
assays were performed as in Example 15.
EXAMPLE 6
Purification of PAR1 Thrombin Receptor from Insect Cells and
Reconstitution of Receptors into Lipid Vesicles
[0114] Sf9 cells (2.times.10.sup.8 cells) were cultured in Grace's
insect cell culture medium (Life Technologies, Inc., Grand Island,
N.Y.) containing 0.1% Pluronic F-68 (Life Technologies), 10% fetal
calf serum and 20 .mu.g/mL gentamicin in a 1 L spinner flask at
27.degree. C. for 25 hours. The cells were infected with
ThR/pBluebac (recombinant virus) at a multiplicity of infection of
3-5 and cultured at 27.degree. C. for four days. The cells were
harvested, washed with phosphate buffered saline containing 2.7 mM
EDTA and stored at -70.degree. C. until used. the cells were
resuspended in lysis buffer (2.5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.2, 7.5 mM NaCl,
10 mM EDTA, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 10 mg/mL leupeptin,
10 mg/mL aprotinin, 50 mM NaF) and washed. All subsequent steps
should be done on ice with cold buffers and centrifuge rotors at or
below 4.degree. C. The cells were homogenized for one minute at
maximum speed and sedimented for 45 minutes at 30,000 xg. The
pellet was resuspended in lysis buffer and the homogenation/washing
step repeated three times. The resulting pellet was resuspended in
30 mL solubilization buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 15 mM EGTA, 1
mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 10 mg/mL leupeptin, 10 mg/mL
aprotinin, 50 mM NaF, 0.1% (w/v) digitonin, 0.1% (w/v) Na
deoxychoate) and then homogenized for one minute. The suspension
was stirred for 90 minutes at 4.degree. C. and then sedimented for
60 minutes at 30,000 xg. The supernatant was loaded onto an
anti-PAR1 monoclonal antibody column equilibrated with
solubilization buffer containing 0.2% digitonin. After application
of the supernatant, the column washed with 10 column volumes of 10
mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, containing 0.2% (w/v) Na dodecyl
maltoside. The receptor was eluted using 10 mM triethylamine, pH
11.8. The eluted fractions were neutralized immediately using 1 M
HEPES, pH 6.4. The pooled fractions were dialyzed against 50 mM
HEPES buffer, pH 7.4, containing 50% (v/v) glycerol, 0.1 M NaCl and
0.2% (w/v) Na dodecyl maltoside. Aliquots were stored at
-80.degree. C.
[0115] For preparation of lipid vesicles, 200 .mu.L
phosphatidylserine (50 mg/mL in CHCl.sub.3; Matreya) was dried in a
rotary evaporator for 30 minutes or using a stream of dry N.sub.2.
After addition of 200 .mu.L buffer A (50 mM HEPES, 100 mM NaCl,
0.2% (w/v) Na dodecylmaltoside), the tube was sealed under an
N.sub.2 atmosphere and sonicated in a bath sonicator for 30
minutes. Reconstitution of receptors into lipid vesicles was
performed the same day, using purified receptor prepared as in
Example 5. Purified receptor stocks (200 .mu.g/mL) were thawed on
ice and 50 .mu.L was incubated for 20 minutes at 4.degree. C. with
the appropriate agonist peptide (100 nM final concentration). In
the case of thrombin receptor, the agonist is thrombin receptor
agonist peptide (100 nM final concentration; CalbioChem). After
addition of 80 .mu.L sonicated lipids and 50 .mu.L buffer A, the
samples were mixed using a vortex machine and placed on ice for 10
minutes. The samples then were loaded onto a 1 mL Extracti-gel.TM.
column which had been washed with 0.2% BSA and pre-equilibrated
with 5 mL Buffer A without Na dodecylmaltoside. The reconstituted
vesicles were eluted from the column with 2.5 mL HEK buffer.
[0116] Samples 100-200 .mu.L) were collected for purity analysis by
SDS-PAGE. The concentration for each batch generally was about
10-1000 .mu.g/ml. For use, receptor was placed in microtiter plates
at about 1-100 .mu.g/ml. The purified, reconstituted thrombin
receptors were tested for their ability to bind to the native Gq-C
terminal peptide using a MBP-Gq fusion protein. (FIG. 3). As a
control, empty vesicles were also tested for their ability to bind
to the native Gq-C terminal peptide using a MBP-Gq fusion
protein.
EXAMPLE 7
Identification of GPCR-Binding High Affinity Peptide Analogs
(Panning)
[0117] Electrocompetent cells were produced as follows. A single
colony of AR1814 bacteria was grown overnight at 37.degree. C. in 5
ml sterile SOP (20 g/L Bacto-tryptone; 10 g/L Bacto-yeast extract;
5 g/L NaCl; 2.5 g/L anhydrous K.sub.2HPO.sub.4; 1 g/L
Mg.sub.2SO.sub.4.7H.sub.2O). One milliliter of this overnight
growth was added to 500 ml SOP and the bacteria allowed to grow
with the OD.sub.600 read 0.6-0.8. All further washing steps were
done in the cold. The cells were placed in an ice-water bath for at
least 15 minutes, then subjected to centrifugation at 4000 xg for
15 minutes at 4.degree. C. followed by resuspension in 500 ml 10%
glycerol. After sitting on ice for 30 minutes, the cells were
washed twice more in 500 ml and 20 ml 10% glycerol with
sedimentation as above, and finally sedimented at 5000 xg for 10
minutes at 4.degree. C. and resuspended in 1 mL 10% glycerol. Cells
were quick frozen using dry ice and isopropanol in 100 .mu.L
aliquots for later use.
[0118] To transfect, aliquots (40 .mu.L) of thawed AR1814 cells
were placed into each of three chilled microcentrifuge tubes. A
peptide display library based on the undecamer carboxyl terminal
peptide of G.alpha..sub.t (SEQ ID NO:126) was prepared according to
Example 1. Two microliters of library plasmid were added to the
tubes and mixed. For the first round of "panning," 200 .mu.L of the
plasmid library was added. For subsequent rounds, three sets of
transfections were performed (adherent plasmids from wells
containing receptor (+); adherent plasmids from wells containing no
receptor (-); and the PRE sample which was not incubated). See
below. In each round of panning, less library was used (round 2:100
.mu.L; round 3:50 .mu.L; round 4:10 .mu.L). After the panning was
completed, the DNA for the Lacl fusion protein is eluted. This DNA
(50 .mu.L) is used to transfect E. Coli cells by electroporation,
using cold, sterile 0.1 cm electrode gap cuvettes. The cuvettes
were pulsed one time using a BioRad E. coli Pulsar set to 1.8 kV,
25 .mu.F capacity, time constant 4-5 mseconds, with the Pulser
Controller unit at 200 m.OMEGA.. Immediately, 1 mL of SOC was added
and the mixture transferred to a labeled 17.times.100 mm
polystyrene tube. The tube was shaken for one hour at 37.degree. C.
Aliquots were taken from each set to plate 100 .mu.L undiluted to
10.sup.-6 dilution samples on LB-Amp plates. Counts of the PRE
plates indicated library diversity, while comparison of the (+) and
(-) plates indicated whether specific clones were being enriched by
the panning procedure.
[0119] The remaining .about.900 .mu.L in the +receptor tube was
added to a 1 L flask containing 200 mL LB-AMP media, prewarmed to
37.degree. C., and grown at 37.degree. C., shaking until
OD.sub.600=0.5. The tube of cells then were placed in an ice water
bath for at least 10 minutes, and kept chilled at or below
4.degree. C. during the subsequent washing steps. The cells were
sedimented at 5000 xg for six minutes, resuspended in 100 mL WTEK
buffer, sedimented at 5000 xg for six minutes, resuspended in 50 mL
TEK buffer, resedimented at 5000 xg for six minutes and resuspended
in 4 mL HEK buffer. The cells were divided into the cryovials and
stored at -70.degree. C. One tube was used for the next round of
panning and the other saved as a backup.
[0120] The panning process is illustrated in FIG. 1. For screening
of the library by "panning," rhodopsin receptors prepared according
to Example 5 were immobilized directly on Immulon 4 (Dynatech)
microtiter wells (0.1-1 .mu.g of protein per well) in cold 35 mM
HEPES, pH 7.5, containing 0.1 mM EDTA, 50 mM KCl and 1 mM
dithiothrietol (HEK/DTT). After shaking for one hour at 4.degree.
C., unbound membrane fragments were washed away with HEK/DTT. The
wells were blocked with 100 .mu.L 2% BSA in HEKL (35 mM HEPES; 0.1
mM EDTA; 50 mM KCl; 0.2 M .alpha.-lactose; pH 7.5, with 1 mM DTT).
For rounds 1 and 2, BSA was used for blocking; in later rounds 1%
nonfat dry milk was used. For the first round of panning, about 24
wells of a 96-well plate were used. In subsequent rounds, 8 wells
with receptor and 8 wells without receptor were prepared.
[0121] The Gt library was thawed (2 mL aliquot) and mixed with 6 mL
lysis buffer on ice. Lysis buffer contains 4.25 mL HE (25 mM HEPES:
0.1 mM EDTA; pH 7.5); 1 mL 50% glycerol; 750 .mu.L 10 mg/mL
protease-free BSA in HE; 10 .mu.L 0.5M DTT; and 6.25 .mu.L 0.2M
PMSF. Freshly prepared lysozyme solution (150 .mu.L 10 mg/mL
lysozyme in cold HE) was added and the tube was gently inverted
several times and incubated on ice for no more than two minutes.
The extent of lysis is evidenced by an increase in viscosity that
can be observed by noting the slow migration of bubbles to the top
of the tube after mixing. Lysis was terminated by mixing in 2 mL
20% lactose and 250 .mu.L 2M KCl. The tube was centrifuged
immediately at 13,000 xg for 15 minutes at 4.degree. C. and the
supernatant transferred to a new tube. A small aliquot of 0.1% (the
PRE sample) was saved in a separate, labeled tube. The blocked
rhodopsin receptor-coated plate was rinsed four times with HEKL/1%
BSA and exposed to room light for less than five minutes on ice to
activate the rhodopsin for light-activated rhodopsin (Table IX), or
left in the dark for dark-adapted (inactive) rhodopsin (Table X).
Immediately thereafter, the crude bacterial lysate from the peptide
library (200 .mu.L) was added to each well and allowed to shake
gently for one hour at 4.degree. C. For round 2, this same
procedure was followed. In round 3, the amount of lysate used was
reduced to 100 .mu.L. In subsequent rounds, the lysate was diluted
1:10 in HEKL/BSA. In all rounds, 5-10 .mu.L 200 .mu.M native
peptide was added to the wells to chase off peptides that were
bound with lower affinity.
[0122] After incubation with the bacterial lysate, the wells were
washed four times into cold HEKL/1% BSA. Sonicated salmon sperm DNA
(200 .mu.L 0.1 mg/mL in HEKL/1% BSA was added to each well and
shaken gently for 30 minutes at 4.degree. C. The plates were washed
four times with cold HEKL and twice with cold HEK, then eluted by
adding 50 .mu.L/well 1 mM IPTG/0.2 M KCl in HE with vigorous
shaking at room temperature for 30 minutes. The eluants from each
group of wells (+ or - receptor) were combined in one or more
microcentrifuge tubes as necessary. The volume of the PRE sample
which had been saved previously was brought up to match the volume
of the eluant samples and precipitated in parallel with them. To
precipitate, 1/10 volume of 5M NaCl was mixed with each of the
samples, then 1 .mu.L 20 mg/mL glycogen was mixed with the samples.
An equal volume of RT isopropanol was then added and mixed
thoroughly. The samples were subjected to centrifugation at 13,000
xg for 15 minutes and the supernatant aspirated. The pellet was
washed with 500 .mu.L cold 80% ethanol and again subjected to
centrifugation at 13,000 xg for 10 minutes. The pellets of plasmid
DNA were resuspended in sterile, double-distilled water, 200 .mu.L
for the PRE sample and 4 .mu.L for the + or - receptor samples and
stored at -20.degree. C.
[0123] Both light-activated rhodopsin and dark-adapted rhodopsin
were used to screen the library in this manner. See Tables IX and
X, below. Six of the sequences obtained using light-activated
rhodopsin were 100-1000 times more potent than the native sequence
at binding rhodopsin and are listed in Table IX. When the G.alpha.t
library was used to pan light-activated rhodopsin, residues L344,
C347 and G348 were invariant. Also, in each of the highest affinity
sequences, the basic residue at position 341 (R341) was changed to
a neutral residue. When the G.alpha.t library was used to pan
dark-adapted rhodopsin, the L344, C347 and G348 residues were no
longer invariant (L344 present in 62.5% of sequences, C347 present
in 25% of sequences, G348 present in 75% of sequences) and the
residue at position 341 was usually unchanged. Thus, the
conformation of the receptor in its inactive, dark-adapted state
allows it to bind to a different set of peptide analogs that the
light-activated receptor. In addition, it appears that in the
light-activated receptor, it is the last seven amino acids of the
peptide which are most important (344-350) while the first six
amino acids (340-345) are more important for dark-adapted rhodopsin
binding. TABLE-US-00009 TABLE IX Light-Activated Rhodopsin High
Affinity Sequences. Clone No. SEQ ID NO: Sequence Library Sequence
139 I R E N L K D C G L F 8 147 L L E N L R D C G M F 9 148 I Q G V
L K D C G L L 10 149 I C E N L K E C G L F 18 150 M L E N L K D C G
L F 23 151 V L E D L K S C G L F 24 152 M L K N L K D C G M F 3 153
L L D N I K D C G L F 4 154 I L T K L T D C G L F 6 155 L R E S L K
Q C G L F 11 156 I H A S L R D C G L F 13 157 I R G S L K D C G L F
14 158 I F L N L K D C G L F 15/28 159 I R E N L E D C G L F 16 160
I I D N L K D C G L F 17 161 M R E S L K D C G L F 19 162 I R E T L
K D C G L L 26 163 I L A D V I D C G L F 27 164 M C E S L K E C G L
F
[0124] TABLE-US-00010 TABLE X Dark-Adapted Rhodopsin High Affinity
Sequences. Clone No. SEQ ID NO: Sequence Library Sequence 139 I R E
N L K D C G L F 2 165 I R E K W K D L A L F 3 166 V R D N L K N C F
L F 7 167 I G E Q I E D C G P F 17 168 I R N N L K R Y G M F 21 169
I R E N L K D L G L V 26 170 I R E N F K Y L G L W 33/37 171 S L E
I L K D W G L F 41 172 I R G T L K G W G L F
EXAMPLE 8
Screens of PAR1 with a Gq Peptide Library
[0125] The methods of Example 7 were used to screen different
sources of PAR1 receptor using the Gq library. Purified PAR1,
reconstituted in lipid vesicles (Example 6), membranes prepared
from Sf9 insect cells expressing PAR1 (Example 2) and membranes
prepared from mammalian cells overexpressing PAR1 were used. The
results of the screens are presented in Tables XI, XII and XIII,
respectively. The peptide used as the competitor was LQLNLKEYNLV
(SEQ ID NO:56). TABLE-US-00011 TABLE XI Reconstituted Purified
Recombinant PAR1 Receptor; Screening Results SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO:
Clone LQLNLKEYNLV 69 R2-16 *SWV 319 LQFNLNDCNLV 173 R2-17 FVNC 320
LQRNKKQYNLG 174 R2-18 EVRR 321 MKLKLKEDNLV 175 R2-20 *RVQ 322
HQLDLLEYNLG 176 R2-21 RLTR 323 LQLRYKCYNLV 177 R3-37 SR*K 324
LQQSLIEYNLL 178 R3-38 MTHS 325 VHVKLKEYNLV 179 R3-44 SGPQ 326
LQLNVKEYNLV 180 R3-46 ML*N 327 LRIYLKGYNLV 181
[0126] TABLE-US-00012 TABLE XII PAR1 Receptor Sf9 Insect Cell
Membranes; Screening Results. SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: Clone
LQLNLKEYNLV 2 S1-13 S*IR 328 MKLNVSESNLV 182 S1-18 RWIV 329
LQLNLKVYNLV 183 S1-23 G*GH 330 LELNLKVYNLF 184 S2-26 RSEV 331
LQLKHKENNLM 185 S2-30 CEPG 332 LHLNMAEVSLV 186 S2-36 HQMA 333
LQVNLEEYHLV 187 S3-6 VPSP 334 LQKNLKEYNMV 188 S3-8 QMPN 335
LQMYLRGYNLV 189 S3-10 MWPS 336 LKRYLKESNLV 190 S3-15 C*VE 337
MNLTLKECNLV 191
[0127] TABLE-US-00013 TABLE XIII Mammalian (CHO) Cells
Overexpressing PAR1; Screening Results. SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: Clone
LQLNLKEYNLV 2 C4-5 PRQL 338 LQLKRGEYILV 192 C4-19 VRPS 339
LQLNRNEYYLV 193 C5-10 SRHT 340 LRLNGKELNLV 194 C5-12 FFWV 341
CSLKLKAYNLV 195 C4-16 ORDT 342 LQMNHNEYNLV 196 C7-3 NFRN 343
PQLNLNAYNLV 197 C7-10 LPQM 344 QRLNVGEYNLV 198 C7-13 LSTN 345
LHLNLKEYNLV 199 C7-14 LSRS 346 LQQKLKEYSLV 200
EXAMPLE 9
Identification of GPCR-Binding High Affinity Peptide Analogs
(Panning)
[0128] The methods of Example 7 were repeated using recombinant
reconstituted .beta..sub.2 adrenergic receptor panned with the Gs
Library. Results of the panning screens and ELISA binding affinity
of the selected peptides are shown in Table XIV, below.
TABLE-US-00014 TABLE XIV .beta.2-Adrenergic Receptor screened with
Gs library. SEQ ID NO: Competitor QRMHLRQYELL 84 ELISA AG1
QGMQLRRFKLR 201 .435 AG20 RWLHWQYRGRG 202 .431 AG19 PRPRLLRFKIP 203
.361 AG2 QGEHLRQLQLQ 204 .330 AG4 QRLRLGPDELF 205 .291 BAR1
QRIHRRPFKFF 206 .218 AG3 QRMPLRLFEFL 207 .217 BAR2 QRVHLRQDELL 208
.197 AG11 DRMHLWRFGLL 209 .192 AG9 QRMPLRQYELL 210 .190 BAR3
QWMDLRQHELL 211 .185 AG18 QRMNLGPCGLL 212 .155 BAR20 NCMKFRSCGLF
213 .079 AG13 QRLHLRGYEFL 214 .054 BAR11 HRRHIGPFALL 215 .048 BAR8
ERLHRRLFQLH 216 .047 BAR40 PCIQLGQYESF 217 .028 BAR31 QRLRLRKYRLF
218 .026
EXAMPLE 10
Identification of GPCR-Binding High Affinity Peptide Analogs
(Panning)
[0129] The methods of Example 7 repeated using rhodopsin screening
with a Gt library. Results of the panning screens and ELISA binding
affinity of the selected peptides are shown in Table XV, below.
TABLE-US-00015 TABLE XV Rhodopsin screened with Gt library. SEQ ID
NO: Competitor IRENLKDCGLF 14 ELISA L33 IVEILEDCGLF 219 1.007 L4
MLDNLKACGLF 220 .908 L3 ILENLKDCGLF 221 .839 L14 LRENLKDCGLL 222
.833 L38 LLDILKDCGLF 223 .823 L15 VRDILKDCGLF 224 .621 L34
ILESLNECGLF 225 .603 L17 ILQNLKDCGLF 226 .600 L7 MLDNLKDCGLF 227
.525 L10 IHDRLKDCGLF 228 .506 L20 IRGSLKDCGLF 229 .423 L6
ICENLKDCGLF 230 .342 L8 IVKNLEDCGLF 231 .257 L13 ISKNLRDCGLL 232
.187 L10 IRDNLKDCGLF 233 .162
EXAMPLE 11
Additional Peptide Analogs
[0130] Chinese hamster ovary-expressed PAR1 was screened against
the Gt, G12 and G13 libraries, using the competitor peptide
indicated in Table XVI below. Additional peptide analogs were
identified using the G11 library and LQLNLKEYNLV (SEQ ID NO:243) as
competitor and screened for high affinity binding to PAR1 receptor
obtained from different sources, indicated in Table XVII, below.
TABLE-US-00016 TABLE XVI Peptides Identified with CHO EXPRESSED
PAR1. Gt library G12 library G13 library (IRENLKDCGLF;
(LQENLKDIMLQ; (LQDNLKQLMLQ; SEQ ID NO: 14) SEQ ID NO: 64) SEQ ID
NO: 65) IREFLTDCGLF 234 LQENLKEMMLQ 240 LQDNLRHLMLQ 248 IRLDLKDVSLF
235 LEENLKYRMLD 241 LQDKINHLMLQ 249 ICERLNDCGLC 236 LQEDLKGMTLQ 242
LQANRKLGMLQ 250 PRDNTKVRGLF 237 LQETMKDQSLQ 243 LIVKVKQLIWQ 251
FWGNLQDSGLF 238 PQVNLKSIMRQ 244 MRAKLNNLMLE 252 RRGNGKDCRHF 239
WQHKLSEVMLQ 245 LQDNLRHLIQ 253 LKEHLMERMLQ 246 LQDNRNQLLF 254
LLGMLEPLMEQ 247
[0131] TABLE-US-00017 TABLE XVII PAR1 Binding Peptides Screened
using a G11 Library (LQLNLKEYNLV; SEQ ID NO: 2) CHO Recomb/ SF9
EXPRESSED SEQ ID NO: Reconst SEQ ID NO: EXPRESSED SEQ ID NO:
LQLNVKEYNLV 255 LQLNVKEYNLV 275 LQLNLKVYNLV 289 LQLNRKNYNLV 256
LQLRVKEYKRG 276 LQLKHKENNLM 290 LQLRYKCYNLV 257 LQLRYKCYNLV 277
LQKNLKEYNMV 291 LQLDLKESNMV 258 LQIYLKGYNLV 278 LQVNLEEYHLV 292
LQLNLKKYNRV 259 LQFNLNDCNLV 279 LFLNLKEYSLV 293 LQLRVKEYKRG 260
LQRNKKQYNLG 280 LELNLKVYNLV 294 LQRNKKQYNLG 261 LQRNKNQYNLG 281
LPLNPKEYSLV 295 LQIYLKGYNLV 262 LQQSLIEYNLL 282 LPLNLIDFSLM 296
LQFNLNDCNLV 263 LRLDFSEKQLV 283 LPRNLKEYDLG 297 LQYNLKESFVV 264
LYLDLKEYCLF 284 LRLNDIEALLV 298 LQQSLIEYNLL 265 HQLDLLEYNLG 285
LVLNRIEYNLL 299 LQRDHVEYKLF 266 VQVKLKEYNLV 286 LHLNMAEVSLV 300
LVIKPKEFNLV 267 MKLKLKEDNLV 287 MNLTLKECNLV 301 IQLNLKNYNIV 268
SAKELDQYNLG 288 MKLNVSESNLV 302 HQLDLLEYNLG 269 LKRYLKESNLV 303
MQLNLKEYNLV 270 LKRKLKESNMG 304 VQVKLKEYNLV 271 LKRKVKEYNLG 305
QLLNQYVYNLV 272 MKLKLKEDNLV 273 WRLSLKVYNLV 274
EXAMPLE 12
Preparation of LacI Lysates
[0132] In the last round of panning, several clones were selected
from the (+) receptor plates and grown up overnight in LB-Amp
media. Three hundred microliters of the overnight culture was
diluted in 3 mL in LB-Amp media for "ELISA lysate culture." Another
30 .mu.L was added to an equal volume of 50% glycerol was stored in
labeled microcentrifuge tubes at -70.degree. C. The remaining 4.5
mL was used to make DNA using a standard miniprep protocol (Qiagen
Spinprep.TM. kits) and sequenced using a 19 base pair reverse
primer which is homologous to the vector at a site 56 basepairs
downstream from the TAA stop codon that terminates the random
region of the library (GAAAATCTTCTCTCATCCG; SEQ ID NO:306). The DNA
was stored at -20.degree. C. The ELISA lysate culture was allowed
to shake for one hour at 37.degree. C. Expression was induced by
adding 33 .mu.L 20% arabinose (0.2% final concentration) with
shaking at 37.degree. C. for 2-3 hours. The culture then was
subjected to sedimentation at 4000 xg for five minutes, the pellet
resuspended in 3 mL cold WTEK buffer, resedimented at 4000 xg for
five minutes and the pellet resuspended in 1 mL cold TEK buffer.
After transfer to 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes, the pellet was
sedimented at 13,000 xg for two minutes and the supernatant
aspirated. The cell pellet was resuspended in 1 mL lysis buffer (42
mL HE, 5 mL 50% glycerol, 3 mL 10 mg/mL BSA in HE, 750 .mu.L 10
mg/mL lysozyme in HE and 62.5 .mu.L 0.2 M PMSF) and incubated on
ice for one hour. One hundred ten microliters 2M KCl was added to
the lysis mixture and inverted to mix, then sedimented at 13,000 xg
for 15 minutes at 4.degree. C. The clear crude lysate (about 0.9 mL
supernatant) was transferred to a new tube and stored at
-70.degree. C.
EXAMPLE 13
PAR1 Receptor-Specific Binding of LacI-Peptide Fusion Proteins
[0133] The binding properties of the peptide encoded by individual
clones were assayed as follows. Purified PAR1 receptor prepared
from Sf9 insect cells (1-10,000 pg/mL in 50 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.4,
10% glycerol) was reconstituted in lipid vesicles according to
Example 6. A serial dilution of the membranes containing receptor
ranging from 0.2 to 20,000 .mu.g/mL (+/-receptor) was added to
wells on a microtiter plate and shaken gently for one hour at
4.degree. C. After washing, a 1:1 to 1:10,000 serial dilution of a
LacI-Gq lysate prepared from the LacI-Gq clone according to the
methods described in Example 12 was added to the wells, the plate
was shaken gently for one hour at 4.degree. C., and washed.
Anti-LacI antibodies (Stratagene) were added (1:1000) and the plate
shaken gently for one hour at 4.degree. C. After washing,
HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibodies (Kierkegaard and Perry
Laboratories) were added (1:2500) and the plate shaken gently for
one hour at 4.degree. C. The plate washed, color was developed
using horseradish peroxidase, and then read in an ELISA reader at
OD.sub.450. The general methodology for the ELISA is illustrated in
FIG. 3. The results, see FIG. 4, show that the LacI-Gq fusion
protein binds thrombin receptor in a concentration dependent
manner. The ability of the LacI-Gq fusion protein to bind the empty
vesicles was significantly less than vesicles reconstituted with
thrombin receptor.
EXAMPLE 14
Screening in the Presence of a High Affinity Peptide
[0134] To identify peptides having even higher affinity to
light-activated rhodopsin than those identified by the panning
procedure described in Example 7, a high affinity peptide was
included in the library incubations in rounds three and four.
Peptide 8 (LLENLRDCGMF; SEQ ID NO:147) had been identified in the
first screening as a peptide exhibiting binding to light-activated
rhodopsin 1000-fold higher than the native sequence. Screening of
the G.alpha.t library was performed as in Example 7, except that 10
.mu.L 100 .mu.M (100 nM final concentration) peptide 8 was included
in the wells in rounds three and four. This screen revealed several
clones that both bind rhodopsin with very high affinity and
stabilize it in its active form, metarhodopsin II. See Table XVIII,
below. Comparing Tables IX and XVIII, it is clear that the use of
peptide 8 in the screen resulted in a change at position 341 to a
neutral residue. Residues L344, C347 and G348 remained stable
whether peptide 8 was included in the screen or not. Use of peptide
8 resulted in a higher incidence of isoleucine at position 340 (17%
with native peptide versus 71% with peptide 8) and a lower
incidence of glutamine at position 342 (67% with native peptide
versus 29% with peptide 8) This type of information not only
contributes to the discovery of highly potent analog peptides for
use as drugs or drug screening compounds, but also furthers the
understanding of the structural framework which underlies the sites
of contact between G.alpha. and receptor.
[0135] Binding assays performed on some of the clones identified in
this way are shown in FIG. 5. All peptides identified using peptide
8 in the screening process bound with equal or greater affinity to
light-activated rhodopsin as did peptide 8. Compare the first bar
(HAP=peptide 8) with the remaining bars. TABLE-US-00018 TABLE XVIII
Exemplary Light-Activated Rhodopsin High Affinity Sequences
Identified in Screens with Addition of Peptide 8. Clone No. SEQ ID
NO: Sequence Library Sequence 14 I R E N L K D C G L F Peptide 8
147 L L E N L R D C G M F 3 307 I L E N L K D C G L L 7 308 M L D N
L K D C G L F 8 309 I V K N L E D C G L F 10 310 I R D N L K D C G
L F 13 311 I S K N L R D C G L L 17 312 I L Q N L K D C G L F 19
313 M L D N L K A C G L F
EXAMPLE 15
Subcloning into MBP Vectors and Preparation of MBP Crude
Lysates
[0136] pELM3 was digested at room temperature with AgeI (New
England Biolabs) and the cut vector was separated from uncut vector
on a 0.7% agarose gel. DNA was purified (Qiagen Extract-a-gel kit)
and digested with ScaI (New England Biolabs). The 5.6 kb MBP vector
fragment was separated on a 1% agarose gel and purified as above.
During the final affinity purification round of the peptide
Library, a 20 mL portion of the 200 mL amplification culture was
set aside before harvesting the cells. This 20 mL portion was
allowed to grow to saturation, usually overnight and DNA was
prepared from the cells (Qiagen midi-prep kit). The pJS142 plasmid
DNA was digested with BspEI and ScaI. The 0.9 kb peptide-encoding
fragment was separated from the 3.1 and 1.7 kb vector fragments on
a 1% agarose gel and purified.
[0137] Different ratios of the 5.6 kb MBP vector fragment and the
peptide-encoding 0.9 kb fragment (1:2, 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1) were
ligated in ligase buffer containing 0.4 mM ATP at 14.degree. C.
overnight with T4 DNA ligase. The ligation was terminated by
increasing the temperature to 65.degree. C. for ten minutes. To
lower the background, the ligation mixture was digested with XbaI
before isopropanol precipitation using 1 .mu.L glycogen as a
carrier. After one wash with 80% ethanol, the pellet was
resuspended in 20 .mu.L double-distilled water. AR1814 cells were
transformed as described in Example 7 using 1 .mu.L of the
precipitated XbaI digested ligation mix. After allowing the cells
to shake for one hour at 37.degree. C. in 1 mL SOC, 100 .mu.L of
the suspension was spread on LB-Amp Plates. Crude lysates were
prepared as described for LacI lysates in Example 9.
EXAMPLE 16
MBP--Peptide Fusion Protein Purification
[0138] An overnight culture (1 mL) of a single MBP-peptide fusion
protein clone was inoculated into 200 mL LB-AMP media. The culture
was shaken at 37.degree. C. until OD.sub.600=0.5. Protein
expression was induced by addition of 150 .mu.L 1 M IPTG (final
concentration 0.3 mM), with continued shaking at 37.degree. C. for
two hours. The culture then was sedimented at 5000 xg for 20
minutes and resuspended in 5 mM column buffer (10 mM Tris, pH 7.4;
200 mM NaCl; 1 mM EDTA; 1 mM DTT) and 16.25 .mu.L 0.2 M PMSF was
added. The resuspended cell pellet was then stored at -70.degree.
C. The stored pellet was thawed in cold water and placed in an ice
bath. The pellet was sonicated in short pulses of less than 15
seconds with a Fisher Scientific 55 Sonic Dismembrator (40%
constant time, output 5, repeating five times with a total one
minute duration). The sonicated pellet was subjected to
centrifugation at 9000 xg for 30 minutes, after which the
supernatant was saved and diluted to 100 mL using column buffer.
Usually, the protein concentration was approximately 2.5 mg/mL. A
column was prepared by pouring 7.5 ml amylose resin in a BioRad
disposable column and washing with eight volumes of column buffer.
The diluted crude extract was loaded by gravity flow at about 1
mL/min and the column washed again with eight volumes of column
buffer. The fusion protein was eluted with 10 mL 10 mM maltose in
column buffer and concentrated using Amicon centriplus 30.TM.
columns, then aliquoted and stored at -70.degree. C.
EXAMPLE 17
Method for Screening Library Crude Lysates by ELISA
[0139] Microtiter wells were coated with 0.1-1.0 .mu.g/well
rhodopsin receptor in a final volume of 100 .mu.L HEK containing 1
mM DTT with shaking at 4.degree. C. for one hour. The wells then
were blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by adding 100 .mu.L 2%
BSA in HEK with 1 mM DTT to the wells and continuing shaking at
4.degree. C. for at least 30 minutes, then washed four times with
HEK containing 1 mM DTT. Crude lysates were diluted 1:50 in HEK
containing 1 mM DTT and added to the coated wells (100 .mu.L per
well). The plates were shaken at 4.degree. C. for one hour, washed
four times with PBS/0.05% Tween.TM.20 1 mM maltose and then probed
with 100 .mu.L 1:1000 rabbit anti-MBP antibodies (New England
BioLabs) in PBS containing 0.05% Tween.TM. 20 and 1 mM maltose,
with shaking for 30 minutes at 4.degree. C. After another wash, the
wells were probed with 100 .mu.L 1:7500 goat anti-rabbit secondary
antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase in PBS containing
1% BSA and 1 mM maltose with shaking for 30 minutes at 4.degree. C.
The plate washed four times with PBS containing 0.05% Tween.TM. 20
and 1 mM maltose. Horseradish peroxidase substrate (Bio-Fx; 100
.mu.L) was added and the color developed for 20-30 minutes. The
reaction was stopped by addition of 100 .mu.L 2N sulfuric acid and
the plate read at OD.sub.450. If the color reaction occurred too
quickly (less than 10 minutes) or if the background in negative
control wells was too high (greater than 0.2) the assay was
repeated using 1:100 or 1:200 dilutions of the crude lysates.
EXAMPLE 18
Binding Assay of High Affinity Rhodopsin Binding Peptides
[0140] The entire population of peptide-coding sequences identified
in round 4 of panning (see Example 7) was transferred from pJS142
to pELM3 (New England Biolabs). This plasmid is a pMal-c2
derivative with a modified polylinker, inducible by isopropyl
.beta.-thiogalacto-pyranoside and containing the E. coli malE gene
with a deleted leader sequence and leads to cytoplasmic expression
of MBP fusion proteins. The MBP-carboxyl terminal peptide analog
fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli.
[0141] For the assay, in the dark, 1 .mu.g/well of ROS membranes
(rhodopsin) as described in Example 5 was directly immobilized on
microtiter wells in cold HEK/DTT for one hour at 4.degree. C. The
wells were rinsed, blocked with 1% BSA in HEK/DTT for one hour at
4.degree. C. and rinsed again. Bound rhodopsin was activated by
exposure to light for 5 minutes on ice before addition of the MBP
fusion proteins (crude bacterial lysates were diluted 1:50 in HEK
with 1 .mu.M dithiothreitol; purified proteins were used at 0.2-120
nM). The MBP-G.alpha.t340-350K341R (pELM17) fusion protein and MBP
with linker sequence only (pELM6) were present in control wells at
50 nM final concentration. After 30 minutes, wells were washed and
rabbit anti-MBP antibody (New England Biolabs) was added. The
anti-MBP antibody was used at a 1:1000 dilution for crude lysates
and a 1:3000 dilution for purified proteins. After 30 minutes,
wells were rewashed and goat anti-rabbit antibody conjugated to
horseradish peroxidase (1:7500 dilution for crude lysates; 1:10,000
dilution for purified proteins; Kierkagaard & Perry
Laboratories) was added. After 30 minutes, the plate washed four
times with PBS containing 0.05% Tween.TM.20. Horseradish peroxidase
substrate (100 .mu.L) was added and color was allowed to develop
for about 20 minutes. The reaction was stopped by addition of 100
.mu.L 2N sulfuric acid. The results are presented in FIG. 6. Values
indicate absorbance at OD.sub.450. The controls for the assay was
pELM 17, which encodes the MBP fusion protein
G.alpha..sub.t340-350K341R. pELM6, which expresses MBP protein
fused to a linker sequence only, served as the negative control.
"No lysate" control wells were included to reflect any intrinsic,
non-specific binding within the assay. See FIG. 6.
[0142] The IC.sub.50 values of the high affinity MBP fusion
proteins ranged from 3.8 to 42 nM, up to 3 orders of magnitude more
potent than the 6 .mu.M IC.sub.50 of MBP-G.alpha.t340-350K341R. In
all the highest affinity sequences, position 341, which is a
positively charged residue in the native sequence, was changed to a
neutral residue. Leu344, Cys347, and Gly348 were found to be
invariant and hydrophobic residues were always located at positions
340, 349, and 350, indicating the critical nature of these
residues.
EXAMPLE 19
Binding of High Affinity Peptides to Rhodopsin can be Competitively
Inhibited by Heterotrimeric Gt
[0143] Binding of MBP fusion proteins containing the high affinity
peptide from the library (sequences from clones 8, 9, 10, 18, 23,
24, as well as pELM17 which encodes the wild-type peptide sequence,
and pELM6 which contains on peptide) were assessed for their
ability to bind rhodopsin (0.5 .mu.g rhodopsin/well) in the
presence or absence of heterotrimeric Gt. Lysate (50 .mu.L) from
each clone was added and incubated in the light. After 45 minutes,
1 .mu.M heterotrimeric Gt was added and the solution incubated for
30 minutes. Anti-MBP antibody was added, followed by goat
anti-rabbit alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibody and substrate.
The color was allowed to develop. Absorbence data are presented in
FIG. 7.
EXAMPLE 20
Binding of MBP Clones to PAR1
[0144] To identify high affinity peptides that bind PAR1, membranes
prepared from mammalian cells (Chinese hamster ovary)
overexpressing PAR1 were panned with the G11 peptide library. ELISA
binding affinity results of selected clones are shown in FIG. 8 for
their binding to membranes prepared from SF9 cells expressing
either PAR1 or the Gq-coupled muscarinic M1 receptor. To quantitate
the binding, purified MBP clones were analyzed using ELISA methods
in which the secondary antibody was conjugated to HRP. The binding
for the control MBP-Gq fusion protein is shown. See FIG. 8. The
data are the average of two separate experiments done in duplicate.
MBP clones PAR-13 and PAR-34 both show both high affinity binding
for PAR1 as well as specificity. MBP clones PAR-23 and PAR-33
appear to be both of low affinity and low specificity. See Table
XIII for the sequences.
EXAMPLE 21
Binding Specificity of LacI-Peptide Fusion Proteins
[0145] PAR1 binding clones of LacI-peptide fusion protein selected
from the G11 Library were diluted 1:100 in HEK/DTT and tested for
dose-responsive binding to Sf9 insect cell membranes from cells
expressing no receptor, the M1 receptor (which couples to Gi) or
PAR1 receptor, prepared according to Example 2. Increasing amounts
of membrane as indicated in FIG. 9 were coated in microtiter wells,
incubated and rinsed. LacI-peptide fusion protein lysates were
added, incubated and rinsed, and the receptor-bound LacI-peptide
fusion protein was measured as described above using a LacI
antibody. Results for a single, representative clone are presented
in FIG. 9, and demonstrate the specificity of the selected peptides
for PAR1.
EXAMPLE 22
Binding of Native G.alpha.q-Maltose Binding G Protein-Peptide
Fusion Protein to PAR1
[0146] Microtiter wells were coated with purified, reconstituted
PAR1 in the presence of 100 nmoles thrombin receptor activating
peptide, as described above in Example 6. Purified maltose binding
G protein-G.alpha.q (MBP-G.alpha.q) was added at the concentrations
indicated in FIG. 10 and incubated one hour on a shaker at
4.degree. C. The wells were rinsed and then probed with a rabbit
anti-maltose bindinG protein antibody, followed by alkaline
phosphatase conjugated secondary antibodies, as described above.
Substrate was added and the color was allowed to develop about 20
minutes. Absorbence at 405 nm was measured and dose-response curves
were calculated using GraphPad Prism (version 2.0). See results in
FIG. 10. The calculated IC.sub.50 of G.alpha.q binding to activated
PAR1 was 214 nM.
EXAMPLE 23
Design of Oligonucleotides for G.alpha. Peptide Minigene
Constructs
[0147] cDNA encoding the last 11 amino acids of G.alpha. subunits
was synthesized (Great American Gene Company) with newly engineered
5'- and 3'-ends. The 5'-end contained a BamHI restriction enzyme
site followed by the human ribosome-binding consensus sequence
(5'-GCCGCCACC-3'; SEQ ID NO:314), a methionine codon (ATG) for
translation initiation, and a glycine codon (GGA) to protect the
ribosome binding site during translation and the nascent peptide
against proteolytic degradation. A HindIII restriction enzyme site
was synthesized at the 3' end immediately following the
translational stop codon (TGA). Thus, the full-length 56 bp
oligonucleotide for the Gi.alpha..sub.1/2 carboxyl terminal
sequence was
5'-gatccgccgccaccatgggaatcaagaacaacctgaaggactgcggcctcttctgaa-3'
(SEQ ID NO:315) and the complimentary strand was
5'-agctttcagaagaggccgcagtccttcaggttgttcttgattcccatggtgg cggcg-3'
(SEQ ID NO:316). See FIG. 11. As a control, oligonucleotides
encoding the G.alpha.i.sub.1/2 carboxyl terminus in random order
(G.alpha.iR) with newly engineered 5'- and 3'-ends also were
synthesized. The DNA was diluted in sterile ddH.sub.2O to form a
stock concentration at 100 .mu.M. Complimentary DNA was annealed in
1.times. NEBuffer 3 (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 100 mM NaCl,
1 mM DTT; New England Biolabs) at 85.degree. C. for 10 min then
allowed to cool slowly to room temperature. The DNA then was
subjected to 4% agarose gel electrophoresis and the annealed band
was excised. DNA was purified from the band using a kit, according
to the manufacture's protocol (GeneClean II Kit, Bio101). After
digestion with each restriction enzyme, the pcDNA 3.1(-) plasmid
vector was subjected to 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis, the
appropriate band cut out, and the DNA purified as above (GeneClean
II Kit, Bio101). The annealed/cleaned cDNA was ligated for 1 hour
at room temperature into the cut/cleaned pcDNA 3.1 plasmid vector
(Invitrogen) previously cut with BamHI and HindIII. For the
ligation reaction, several different ratios of insert to vector
cDNA (ranging from 25 .mu.M:25 .mu.M to 250 .mu.M:25 .mu.M annealed
cDNA) were plated. Following the ligation reaction, the samples
were heated to 65.degree. C. for 5 min to deactivate the T4 DNA
ligase. The ligation mixture (1 .mu.L) was electroporated into 50
.mu.L competent cells as described in Example 7 and the cells
immediately placed into 1 mL of SOC (Gibco). After 1 hour shaking
at 37.degree. C., 100 .mu.L of the electroporated cells containing
the minigene plasmid DNA was spread on LB/Amp plates and incubated
at 37.degree. C. for 12-16 hours. To verify that insert was
present, colonies were grown overnight in LB/Amp and their plasmid
DNA purified (Qiagen SpinKit). The plasmid DNA was digested with
Ncol (New England Biolabs, Inc.) for 1 hour at 37.degree. C. and
subjected to 1.5% (3:1) agarose gel electrophoresis. Vector alone
produced 3 bands. When the 56 bp annealed oligonucleotide insert is
present, there is a new NcoI site resulting in a shift in the band
pattern such that the digest pattern goes from three bands (3345
bp, 1352 bp, 735 bp) to four bands (3345 bp, 1011 bp, 735 bp, 380
bp). See FIG. 12. DNA with the correct electrophoresis pattern was
sequenced to confirm the appropriate sequence. This method may be
used to insert any high affinity peptide to create a minigene
constant.
EXAMPLE 24
Expression of Peptides from Minigene Constructs
[0148] Expression of the GPCR binding peptides was achieved using
constructs which included minigene inserts corresponding to the
carboxyl terminal sequences of various G protein .alpha. subunits
(G.alpha.i, G.alpha.o, G.alpha.s, G.alpha.q, G.alpha.11,
G.alpha.12, G.alpha.13, G.alpha.14), as well as a control minigene
containing the G.alpha.i sequence in random order (G.alpha.iR). The
minigene insert DNAs were made by synthesizing short complimentary
oligonucleotides corresponding to the peptide sequences from the
carboxyl terminus of each G.alpha. with BamHI and HindIII
restriction sites at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively.
Complementary oligonucleotides were annealed and ligated into the
mammalian expression vector pcDNBA3.1 according to the methods of
Gilchrist et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:6610-6, 1999, the disclosures
of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0149] Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were transfected
using a standard calcium phosphate procedure according to the
methods of Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,
Cold Spring Harpor Laboratory Press, New York, vol. 1-3 (1989), the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. To
confirm the transcription of minigene constructs in transfected
cells, total RNA was isolated from the cells 48 hours post
transfection with pcDNA-G.alpha.i or pcDNA-G.alpha.iR using methods
known in the art. Reverse transcriptase PCR was used to make cDNA
and PCR analysis was performed using the cDNA as template with
primers specific for the relevant G.alpha. carboxyl terminal
peptide insert (forward: 5'-ATCCGCCGCCACCATGGGA (SEQ ID NO:317);
reverse: 5'-GCGAAAGGAGCGGGGCGCTA (SEQ ID NO:318). These primers for
the G.alpha. minigenes amplify a 434 bp fragment only if the
inserted peptide-encoding oligonucleotides are present; no band is
observed in cells transfected with the empty pcDNA3.1 vector. The
PCR products were separated on 1.5% agarose gels. The presence of a
single 434 bp band indicated that G.alpha. carboxyl terminus
peptide minigene RNA had been transcribed. See FIG. 13. Control
experiments were done using a T7 forward primer with the vector
reverse primer to verify the presence of the pcDNA3.1 vector, and
G3DPH primers (Clonetech) to approximate the amount of total
RNA.
[0150] To verify that the peptide was being produced in the
transfected cells, the cells were lysed and homogenized 48 hours
post transfection according to known methods. Cytosolic extracts
were analyzed by gradient reversed phase HPLC as follows: 100 .mu.L
of cytosolic fraction extract was loaded onto a C4 column (Vydac)
equilibrated with 0.1% TFA in ddH.sub.2O. The peptide was eluted
using 0.1% TFA in an acetonitrile gradient which increased from
0-60% over 45 minutes. Peaks were collected, lyophilized, and
analyzed using ion mass spray analysis (University of
Illinois-Urbana Champagne). Mass spectrometry analysis for peak 1
from G.alpha.i.sub.1/2 peptide vector (pcDNA-G.alpha.i) transfected
cells, and from cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.iR indicated
that a 1450 Dalton peptide (the expected molecular weight for both
13 amino acid peptide sequences) was present in each cytosolic
extract. The minigene-encoded peptides were the major peptides
found in the cytosol, strongly indicating that the vectors produced
the appropriate peptide sequences in large amounts.
EXAMPLE 25
Interfacial G Protein Peptide Inhibition of Thrombin-Mediated
Inositol Phosphate Accumulation
[0151] HMEC were seeded onto 6-well plates 24 hours before
transfection at 1.times.10.sup.5 well. Cells were transiently
transfected with pcDNA3.1, pcDNA-G.alpha.i, pcDNA-G.alpha.iR, or
pcDNA-Gq as described in Example 21. After 24 hours, cells were
incubated in 2 mL culture medium containing 4 .mu.Ci/mL
[.sup.3H]-myoinositol to obtain steady-state labeling of cellular
inositol lipids. Transiently transfected cells were assayed for
inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation 48 hours after transfection.
Two hours prior to stimulation with .alpha.-thrombin, cells were
washed, and medium replaced with medium containing 5 mM LiCl. Cells
were stimulated with 10 nM .alpha.-thrombin for 10 minutes.
Inositol phosphate (IP) formation was stopped by aspiration of the
medium and addition of ice-cold methanol (final concentration
5%).
[0152] Perchloric acid-lysed cells were centrifuged at 2500 rpm,
4.degree. C. for 5 min. The supernatant containing IP was eluted
through a Poly-Prep chromatography column (Bio-Rad) containing 1.6
ml anion exchange resin (DOWEX AG1-X8, formate form, 200-400 mesh).
The perchloric acid-precipitated pellets (containing
phosphatidylinositols and lipids) were resuspended in 1 ml
chloroform-methanol-10 M HCl (200:100:1, v/v/v). These suspensions
were mixed with 350 .mu.L HCl and 350 .mu.L chloroform and
sedimented for 5 min at 2500 rpm to separate the phases. The lower,
hydrophobic phase was recovered and dried in counting vials to
determine the amount of radioactivity in total
phosphatidylinositols. The relative amount of [3H]-IP generated was
calculated as follows: ([.sup.3H]-IP (cpm)/[.sup.3H]-IP
(cpm)+[.sup.3H]-inositol (cpm)). Each value was normalized using
the basal value (no thrombin stimulation) obtained in pcDNA
transfected cells. See FIG. 14. The results presented are the
normalized mean.+-.SEM of at least 3 independent experiments
performed in triplicate. The ** symbol indicated p<0.005.
Results indicate that addition of thrombin increased IP production
in control cells (pcDNA, pcDNA-GiR). Cells transfected with
PcDNA-Gq had no thrombin-mediated IP production increase, while
cells transfected with pcDNA-Gi had a normal response. These
results indicate that the Gq C-terminal peptide can inhibit
thrombin-mediated IP increases in HMEC.
EXAMPLE 26
Interfacial G Protein Peptide Inhibition of Thrombin-Induced P1
Hydrolysis and Intracellular Ca.sup.++ Rise
[0153] To determine whether expression of the G.alpha.q C-terminal
minigene could affect intracellular [Ca.sup.++].sub.i levels, HMEC
were transfected with empty vector (pcDNA), pcDNA-G.alpha.i,
pcDNA-G.alpha.q, or pcDNA-G.alpha.iR minigene DNA (1 .mu.g).
Transfected cells were seeded at a low confluency on coverslips in
a 24-well plate 48 hours post transfection. The cells were allowed
to adhere for two hours. The medium was aspirated and each
coverslip was incubated with 10 .mu.M Oregon Green 488 BAPTA-1
acetoxymethyl ester (a calcium-sensitive dye) and 0.1% (v/v)
Pluronic F-127 and allowed to incubate for 20-30 minutes at
37.degree. C., then rinsed twice with wash buffer. Basal conditions
were established before addition of thrombin (.about.70 mM) in
Ca.sup.++ buffer. Recordings were made every 10 seconds and
continued for 170 seconds after stimulation with thrombin. Images
were quantitated using NIH Image. Data from at least 70
individually recorded cells were used to calculate the changes in
fluorescence (y-axis). See FIG. 15A, which presents fluorescence in
([Ca.sup.++]; level) increase 30 seconds after thrombin addition.
Each bar in FIG. 15A represents the mean
((F.sub.s-F.sub.B/F.sub.B-1).+-.SEM of over 70 individually
recorded cells. The ** symbol indicates p<0.005. FIG. 15B shows
the kinetics of [Ca.sup.++]; fluorescence changes after cell
stimulation with thrombin. Data presented are the mean
((F.sub.s-F.sub.B/F.sub.B-1).+-.SEM at each recording point for
cells transfected with pcDNA or pcDNA-G.alpha.q. The arrow indicate
the time thrombin was added. Each time point represents over 100
individually recorded cells.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 15, following cell activation by addition
of thrombin there was a transient increase in intracellular
[Ca.sup.2+] levels. Thirty seconds after the addition of thrombin,
cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.q had a calcium response that
was 44% decreased as compared to cells transfected with pcDNA (FIG.
15A). pcDNA-G.alpha.q transfected cells had a 45% decrease compared
to those transfected with pcDNA when all time points measured after
thrombin stimulation are averaged (FIG. 15B). This decrease appears
to be specific as cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.i or
pcDNA-G.alpha.ir did not have any effect on thrombin stimulated
intracellular [Ca.sup.2+] levels. Thus, cells expressing the
G.alpha.q C-terminal peptide appear to be inhibited in their
ability to stimulate intracellular [Ca.sup.2+] levels following
activation with thrombin, indicating a specific block of this
downstream mediator by expression of G.alpha.q.
[0155] pcDNA, pcDNA-GiR, pcDNA-Gi, pcDNA-Gq, or pcDNA-Gs minigene
constructs were transfected into HMEC and used to assay inositol
phosphate (IP) accumulation 48 hours later. After 24 hours, cells
were reseeded onto 24-well plates and labeled with
[.sup.3H]-myoinositol (2 .mu.Ci/ml). After 48 hours, cells were
rinsed, and incubated with or without thrombin (10 nM) for 10
minutes. Total IP accumulation was assayed as described above using
DOWEX.TM. columns to separate [.sup.3H] IP. The relative amount of
[.sup.3H] IP generated was calculated as follows: ([.sup.3H] IP
(cpm)/[.sup.3H] IP (cpm)+[.sup.3H] inositol (cpm)). Each value was
normalized by the basal value (no thrombin stimulation) obtained in
pcDNA transfected cells. See FIG. 16. The results presented are the
normalized mean.+-.SEM of at least three independent experiments
performed in triplicate. The ** symbol indicated p<0.005.
EXAMPLE 27
Prevention of Thrombin-Induced MAPK Activity by High Affinity
GPCR-Binding Peptides
[0156] Hemagglutanin (HA)-MAPK (1.times.10.sup.5/mL was
co-transfected into HMEC with the pcDNA, pcDNA-G.alpha.i,
pcDNA-G.alpha.q or pcDNA-G.alpha.iR minigene constructs using the
methods described in Example 21. After 30 hours, cells were
serum-starved for 18 hours and then treated with 10 nM thrombin for
20 minutes. Cells were then lysed with RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris, pH
7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% deoxycholate,
0.1% SDS, 10% glycerol, 10 .mu.g/mL aprotinin and 10 .mu.g/mL
leupeptin) and HA-MAPK protein immunoprecipitated using 12CA5
antibody (Roche Molecular Biochemicals; Indianapolis, Ind.)(one
hour, 4.degree. C.) and Protein A sepharose beads (three hours,
4.degree. C.). Immune complexes were washed three times in RIPA
buffer. Kinase activity in the immunoprecipitates was measured
using maltose bindinG protein (MBP) substrate and a kinase assay
kit (Upstate Biotechnology, Inc., Lake Placid, N.Y.). MAPK activity
(nM/min/mg) was obtained for each, and the relative increase of
MAPK activity (thrombin-mediated fold increase) was calculated as
follows: (stimulated activity (nM/min/mg)-basal activity
(nM/min/mg))/basal activity (nM/min/mg). Results are presented as
the mean.+-.SEM of at least three independent experiments in FIG.
17. A * symbol indicates p<0.05.
[0157] Addition of 10 nM thrombin resulted in a 3.66 fold increase
in HA-MAPK activity in cells transfected with the pcDNA control
vector. Similarly, cells transfected with pcDNA-GiR had an
essentially equivalent increase in thrombin mediated MAPK activity
with (4.46 fold increase). However, endothelial cells transfected
with a minigene construct encoding the G.alpha.i, G.alpha.q,
G.alpha.12 or G.alpha.13 GPCR binding peptides showed a significant
decrease in thrombin-mediated HA-MAPK activity (59%, 57%, 50% and
77%, respectively) compared to cells transfected with pcDNA.
EXAMPLE 28
Reduction of Thrombin-Induced Transendothelial Electrical
Resistance
[0158] Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured
by passing an alternating current (50 .mu.A; 2 pulses every minute)
across monolayers of HMEC expressing G.alpha.q, G.alpha.i,
G.alpha.iR or no minigene construct. Basal TEER did not change
significantly with minigene transfection. Upon addition of 10 nM
thrombin, however, there was a decrease in the TEER of cells
expressing the G.alpha.q minigene compared to non-transfected cells
in the presence of 10 nM thrombin. See FIG. 18 (representative of
multiple experiments). The decrease in transendothelial electrical
resistance in response to thrombin was significantly reduced in
endothelial cells transfected with the minigene for the carboxyl
terminus of G.alpha.q, while there was no effect in cells
transfected with G.alpha.i, G.alpha.iR, or empty vector. These
results suggested that G.alpha.q is partially responsible for the
effects of thrombin on endothelial cell shape changes.
EXAMPLE 29
Inhibition of Thrombin-Mediated Stress Fiber Formation
[0159] HMEC cells were transfected with pcDNA, pcDNA-G.alpha.12 or
pcDNA-G.alpha.13 minigene constructs 1 .mu.g each/100 mm dish. As a
marker for transfected cells, the pGreenLantern-1 plasmid,
containing the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) was
co-transfected together with minigene constructs. After 48 hours,
cells were serum starved for 18 hours and treated with 10 nM
thrombin for 20 minutes. After exposure to thrombin, the cells were
fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with 0.1% Triton
X-100 and stained for F-actin with 1 mM rhodamine-phalloidin for 30
minutes. Cells were extensively washed, mounted using
Vectashield.TM. antifade mounting medium (Vector Laboratories,
Inc.). Cells were observed with an inverted microscope (Diaphot
200, Nikon, Inc.) equipped for both differential interference
contrast microscopy and epifluorescence observation using a
60.times. oil-immersion objective. Fluorescence and DIC images were
recorded for each cell field with a cooled, integrating CCD array
camera (Imagepoint, Photometrix, Ltd.) connected to the microscope.
See FIG. 19 for fluorescence images showing inhibition of
thrombin-mediated stress fiber formation by G.alpha.12 and
G.alpha.13 peptides.
[0160] Serum starved cells transfected with pcDNA exhibited a thin
cortical F-actin rim at their margins, and contained few stress
fibers (FIG. 19, panel A). Those present were inconspicious and in
apparently random orientation. For HMEC transfected with pcDNA
after a 20-minute exposure to thrombin actin had reorganized into
prominent stress fibers, typically arranged in a parallel pattern
along the longitudinal axis of the cell (FIG. 19, panel B). A very
different pattern was observed for cells transfected with
pcDNA-G.alpha.12 (FIG. 19, panel C) or pcDNA-G.alpha.13 (FIG. 19,
panel D) minigenes after exposure to thrombin. In both
pcDNA-G.alpha.12 and pcDNA-G.alpha.13 transfected cells, thrombin
stimulation did not result in the appearance of stress fibers. In
cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.13, the peripheral actin rim
appears thicker and more linear, providing a clear outline of
cell-cell junctions. Thus, in agreement with earlier reports,
thrombin induced rapid stress fiber formation in endothelial cells.
Transfection of either pcDNA-G.alpha.12 or pcDNA-G.alpha.13
minigenes resulted in cells that no longer showed thrombin-induced
stress fiber formation. Given that stress fiber formation is
dependent on the small GTPase Rho, these results concur with other
findings that G.alpha.12 and G.alpha.13 are intimately linked to
Rho signaling and demonstrates the ability of GPCR binding peptides
to specifically block this G protein pathway when expressed
intracellularly.
EXAMPLE 30
Inhibition of G Protein Activity by GPCR Binding Peptides in Single
Intact Cells
[0161] Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, which stably express
the M.sub.2 mACR (.about.400 fmol receptor/mG protein), were grown
in DMEM (Gibco) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Gibco),
streptomycin/penicillin (100 U each; Gibco) and G418 (500 mg/L;
Gibco). Cells were grown under 10% CO.sub.2 at 37.degree. C. In all
transfections for electrophysiological studies, the CD8 reporter
gene system was used to visualize transfected cells using
Dynabeads.TM. coated with anti-CD8-antibodies (Dynal). The
following amounts of cDNA were used to transfect the cells:
pC1-GIRK1 (rat)--1 .mu.g; nH3-CD* (human)--1 .mu.g; pcDNA3.1,
pcDNA-G.alpha.i, pcDNA-G.alpha.iR, pcDNA-G.alpha.q, or
pcDNA-G.alpha.s--4 .mu.g. Thus, typically the total amount of cDNA
used for transfecting one 10 cm disk was 7 .mu.g. The cDNAs for
GIRK1 and GIRK4 were gifts from F. Lesage and M. Lazdunski (Nice,
France). A standard calcium phosphate procedure was used for
transient transfection of HEK cells according to the methods of
Schenborn et al., Meth. Mol. Biol. 130:135-145, 2000. All assays
were performed 48-72 hours post transfection.
[0162] Whole cell currents were recorded from stably M.sub.2
mAChR-expressing HEK 293 cells that had been transiently
transfected with cDNA for GIRK1, GIRK4 and either pcDNA-G.alpha.i,
pcDNA-G.alpha.s, or pcDNA-G.alpha.q. For the measurement of
inwardly rectifying K.sup.+ currents, whole cell currents were
recorded using an extracellular solution contained 120 mM NaCl; 20
mM KCl; 2 mM CaCl.sub.2; 1 mM MgCl.sub.2; and 10 mM Hepes-NaOH, pH
7.4. The solution for filling the patch pipettes was composed of
100 mM potassium glutamate; 40 mM KCl; 5 mM MgATP; 10 mM Hepes-KOH,
pH 7.4; 5 mM NaCl; 2 mM EGTA; 1 mM MgCl.sub.2; and 0.01 mM GTP.
Membrane currents were recorded under voltage clamp, using
conventional whole cell patch techniques. See Bunemann et al., J.
Physiol. 489:701-777, 1995 and Bunemann et al., J. Physiol.
482:81-89, 1995, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated
by reference. To minimize variations due to different transfections
or culture conditions, control experiments (transfection with
pcDNA-G.alpha.iR) were done in parallel. Patch-pipettes were
fabricated from borosilicate glass capillaries, (GF-150-10, Warner
Instrument Corp.) using a horizontal puller (P-95 Fleming &
Poulsen). The DC resistance of the filled pipettes ranged from 3-6
M.OMEGA..
[0163] Membrane currents were recorded using a patch-clamp
amplifier (Axopatch 200, Axon Instruments). Signals are analog
filtered using a lowpass Bessel filter (1-3 kHz corner frequency).
Data were digitally stored using an IBM compatible PC equipped with
a hardware/software package (ISO2 by MFK, Frankfurt/Main, Germany)
for voltage control, data acquisition and data evaluation. To
measure K.sup.+ currents in the inward direction, the potassium
equilibrium potential was set to about -50 mV and the holding
potential was -90 mV. Agonist-induced currents were evoked by
application of acetylcholine (ACh; 1 .mu.M) using a solenoid
operated superfusion device which allowed for solution exchange
within 300 msec. Linear voltage ramps (from -120 mV to +60 mV
within 500 ms) were applied every 10 sec. By subtracting
non-agonist dependent currents, the current voltage properties of
the agonist induced currents could be resolved. To exclude
experiments in which currents were recorded from cells that may not
have expressed the functional channel, only those cells that
exhibited a basal non-agonist dependent Ba.sup.2+ (200 .mu.M)
sensitive inwardly rectifying current were used for analysis. For
analysis of the data, the maximal current density (peak amplitude)
of ACh-induced inwardly rectifying K.sup.+ currents was measured at
-80 mV and compared.
[0164] Superfusion of HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with
GIRK1/GIRK4 and either pcDNA-G.sub.i or pcDNA-G.sub.iR DNA with 1
.mu.M ACh revealed that cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha..sub.i
DNA have a dramatically impaired response to the M.sub.2 mAChR
agonist. See FIG. 20, which summarizes data showing the maximum
amplitude of ACh evoked currents for the different transfection
conditions. The maximum current evoked by ACh was 3.7+/-1.5 pA/pF
(n=14) in cells transfected with pcDNA-G.sub.i, compared to
24.1+/-8.8 pA/pF (n=11) in cells transfected with pcDNA-GiR. This
indicates that the G.alpha.i minigene construct completely blocked
the agonist mediated M.sub.2 mAChR GIRK1/GIRK4 response while the
control minigene construct (pcDNA-GiR) had no effect. Compare FIG.
20A to FIGS. 20B and 20C. Cells transfected with minigene
constructs encoding G.alpha. carboxyl termini for G.alpha.q or
G.alpha.s pcDNA-G.alpha.q or pcDNA-G.alpha.s (FIG. 20) were not
significantly different than those of cells transfected with the
control vectors. These findings confirm the specificity of the
inhibition of M.sub.2 mAChR-activated G protein-coupled inwardly
rectifying K.sup.+ current responses by expression of the G.alpha.i
minigene.
EXAMPLE 31
Selective G Protein Signaling Inhibition in Human Microvascular
Endothelial Cells
[0165] Different measures of G-protein signaling final actions were
assayed in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) which
natively express the thrombin receptor, PAR1. The cells were seeded
onto 6-well plates at 1.times.10.sup.5 cells/well and transiently
transfected after 24 hours with minigene constructs containing
G.alpha. carboxyl terminal peptides (pcDNA, pcDNA-G.alpha.i, or
pcDNA-G.alpha.iR; 1 .mu.g per well) using Effectene (Qiagen)
according to the manufacturer's protocol. After 24 hours, the cells
were labeled with 3 .mu.Ci/ml [.sup.3H]-adenine for 30 minutes at
37.degree. C. After another 24 hours, the cells were washed with
serum-free medium containing 1 mM isobutyl-methyl xanthine. To
stimulate cAMP accumulation, cells were treated with 1 .mu.M
isoproterenol for 30 minutes at 37.degree. C. To see the inhibitory
effects of thrombin on cAMP accumulation, cells were pretreated
with thrombin (50 nM) for 15 minutes prior to addition of
isoproterenol. The reactions were terminated by aspiration of media
followed by addition of ice-cold 5% trichloroacetic acid.
[0166] Results are provided in FIG. 21 as
(cAMP/cAMP+ATP).times.1000. Three separate experiments were done in
duplicate. The ** symbol indicates p<0.005. Basal cAMP levels
were essentially equivalent for all conditions tested. Endothelial
cells stimulated with isoproterenol to activate .beta.-adrenergic
receptors increase their cAMP levels through the Gs pathway. Cells
transfected with pcDNA, pcDNA-G.alpha.i, or pcDNA-G.alpha.iR showed
little difference with 82, 64, and 77 fold increases in
isoproterenol-mediated cAMP accumulation, respectively. When the
endothelial cells were pre-incubated with thrombin prior to
addition of isoproterenol, a decrease in cAMP levels was observed
due to thrombin activation of the Gi pathway. Endothelial cells
transfected with pcDNA and pre-incubated with thrombin showed a 39%
decrease in cAMP level over cells stimulated with only
isoproterenol. Similarly, cells transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.iR
and pre-incubated with thrombin showed had a 43% decrease over
cells stimulated with only isoproterenol. However, cells
transfected with pcDNA-G.alpha.i and pre-incubated with thrombin
had only a 0.1% decrease in cAMP levels as compared to cells
stimulated with only isoproterenol. Thus, cells expressing the
G.alpha.i C-terminal peptide appear to be unable to inhibit adenyl
cyclase following activation with thrombin, indicating that
thrombin-mediated Gi signaling was specifically blocked by
expression of the pcDNA-G.alpha.i minigene.
EXAMPLE 32
Screening Method to Identify Inverse Agonists
[0167] Urea-washed rod outer segment membrane fragments containing
rhodopsin receptor are immobilized onto microtiter wells and
blocked as described in Example 7. The receptor is light-activated.
Labeled native G.alpha.t carboxyl terminal peptide is added to each
well and allowed to shake gently for one hour at 4.degree. C. The
wells are washed to remove unbound peptide. Crude bacterial lysates
(labeled) from a G.alpha.t carboxyl terminal peptide prepared
according to the methods described in Example 7 (200 .mu.L) are
added to each well and incubated with shaking for one hour at
4.degree. C.
[0168] The wells then are washed to remove unbound label. The
supernatants or well-bound labels are quantitated by ELISA to
detect dissociation of labeled native peptide from the receptor
after incubation with library peptides compared to control well
incubated in the absence of library peptides.
EXAMPLE 33
Small Molecule Library Screening Method
[0169] Small molecule libraries are screened for inhibition of
GPCR-mediated G protein signaling as follows. PAR1 thrombin
receptor prepared from insect cells according to Example 2 are
immobilized onto microtiter wells, blocked and washed according to
the methods described in Example 14. A small molecule library
purchased from Chem Div (San Diego, Calif.) are added
simultaneously with MBP-peptide fusion protein (0.1-1000 nM) in a
96- or 384-well plate and allowed to shake for one hour at
4.degree. C. Initial screens are performed with the small molecules
at about 1-1000 .mu.M. The wells are washed four times in cold PBS
containing 0.05% Tween 20.TM. and 1 mM maltose. The amount of
maltose bindinG protein adhering to the wells is quantitated with
anti-MBP antibodies as described in Example 14, versus control
wells incubated without library compounds.
Sequence CWU 1
1
346 1 4 PRT Unknown mammalian misc_feature (1)..(4) Xaa can be any
naturally occurring amino acid 1 Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 1 2 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 2 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 3 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 3 Val Arg Pro Ser 1 4 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 4 Leu Gln Leu Asn Arg Asn Glu Tyr Tyr Leu Val 1 5 10 5 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 5 Leu Ser Arg Ser 1 6 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 6 Leu Gln Gln Lys Leu Lys Glu Tyr Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 7 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 7 Leu Ser Thr Asn 1 8 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 8 Leu His Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 9 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 9 Leu Pro Gln Met 1 10 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 10 Gln Arg Leu Asn Val Gly Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 11
4 PRT Unknown mammalian 11 Ser Arg His Thr 1 12 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 12 Gln Arg Met His Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 13
67 DNA Unknown mammalian misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t
misc_feature (12)..(13) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (15)..(16)
n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 13
gaggtggtnn knnknnknnk attcgtgaaa acttaaaaga ttgtggtcgt ttctaactaa
60 gtaaagc 67 14 11 PRT Homo sapiens 14 Ile Lys Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 33 DNA Homo sapiens 15 atcaaggaga
acctgaaaga ctgcggcctc ttc 33 16 11 PRT Homo sapiens 16 Ile Lys Asn
Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 17 33 DNA Homo sapiens 17
ataaaaaata atctaaaaga ttgtggtctc ttc 33 18 11 PRT Homo sapiens 18
Asn Gly Ile Lys Cys Leu Phe Asn Asp Lys Leu 1 5 10 19 33 DNA Homo
sapiens 19 aacggcatca agtgcctctt caacgacaag ctg 33 20 11 PRT Homo
sapiens 20 Ile Lys Asn Asn Leu Lys Glu Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 21 33
DNA Homo sapiens 21 attaaaaaca acttaaagga atgtggactt tat 33 22 11
PRT Homo sapiens 22 Ile Ala Lys Asn Leu Arg Gly Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5
10 23 33 DNA Homo sapiens 23 atcgccaaaa acctgcgggg ctgtggactc tac
33 24 11 PRT Homo sapiens 24 Ile Ala Asn Asn Leu Arg Gly Cys Gly
Leu Tyr 1 5 10 25 33 DNA Homo sapiens 25 attgccaaca acctccgggg
ctgcggcttg tac 33 26 11 PRT Homo sapiens 26 Ile Gln Asn Asn Leu Lys
Tyr Ile Gly Leu Cys 1 5 10 27 33 DNA Homo sapiens 27 atacagaaca
atctcaagta cattggcctt tgc 33 28 11 PRT Homo sapiens 28 Leu Gln Leu
Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 29 33 DNA Homo sapiens 29
ctgcagctga acctcaagga gtacaacctg gtc 33 30 11 PRT Homo sapiens 30
Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Ala Val 1 5 10 31 33 DNA Homo
sapiens 31 ctccagttga acctgaagga gtacaatgca gtc 33 32 11 PRT Homo
sapiens 32 Gln Arg Met His Leu Lys Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 33 33
DNA Homo sapiens 33 cagcggatgc acctcaagca gtatgagctc ttg 33 34 11
PRT Homo sapiens 34 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Arg Glu Phe Asn Leu Val 1 5
10 35 33 DNA Homo sapiens 35 ctacagctaa acctaaggga attcaacctt gtc
33 36 11 PRT Homo sapiens 36 Leu Ala Arg Tyr Leu Asp Glu Ile Asn
Leu Leu 1 5 10 37 33 DNA Homo sapiens 37 ctcgcccgct acctggacga
gatcaacctg ctg 33 38 11 PRT Homo sapiens 38 Leu Gln Glu Asn Leu Lys
Asp Ile Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 39 33 DNA Homo sapiens 39 ctgcaggaga
acctgaagga catcatgctg cag 33 40 11 PRT Homo sapiens 40 Leu His Asp
Asn Leu Lys Gln Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 41 33 DNA Homo sapiens 41
ctgcatgaca acctcaagca gcttatgcta cag 33 42 11 PRT Homo sapiens 42
Gln Arg Met His Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 43 33 DNA Homo
sapiens 43 cagcgcatgc accttcgtca gtacgagctg ctc 33 44 20 DNA
Unknown mammalian 44 gatccgccgc caccatggga 20 45 4 DNA Unknown
mammalian 45 tgaa 4 46 11 PRT Homo sapiens 46 Ile Lys Glu Asn Leu
Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 47 11 PRT Homo sapiens 47 Ile Lys
Asn Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 48 11 PRT Drosophila
melanogaster 48 Ile Lys Asn Asn Leu Lys Gln Ile Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10
49 11 PRT Drosophila melanogaster 49 Leu Ser Glu Asn Val Ser Ser
Met Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 50 11 PRT Drosophila melanogaster 50 Ile Lys
Asn Asn Leu Lys Gln Ile Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 51 11 PRT Homo sapiens
51 Ile Lys Asn Asn Leu Lys Glu Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 52 11 PRT
Homo sapiens 52 Ile Ala Asn Asn Leu Arg Gly Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10
53 11 PRT Homo sapiens 53 Ile Ala Lys Asn Leu Arg Gly Cys Gly Leu
Tyr 1 5 10 54 11 PRT Unknown prokaryotic or eukaryotic 54 Ile Lys
Asn Asn Leu Lys Glu Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 55 11 PRT Xenopus laevis
55 Ile Ala Tyr Asn Leu Arg Gly Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 56 11 PRT
Caenorhabditis elegans 56 Ile Gln Ala Asn Leu Gln Gly Cys Gly Leu
Tyr 1 5 10 57 11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 57 Ile Gln Ser Asn Leu
His Lys Ser Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 58 11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 58
Leu Ser Thr Lys Leu Lys Gly Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 59 11 PRT
Xenopus laevis 59 Ile Lys Ser Asn Leu Met Glu Cys Gly Leu Tyr 1 5
10 60 11 PRT Canis familiaris 60 Val Gln Gln Asn Leu Lys Lys Ser
Gly Ile Met 1 5 10 61 11 PRT Homo sapiens 61 Ile Gln Asn Asn Leu
Lys Tyr Ile Gly Leu Cys 1 5 10 62 11 PRT Homo sapiens 62 Leu Ala
Arg Tyr Leu Asp Glu Ile Asn Leu Leu 1 5 10 63 11 PRT
Schizosaccharomyces pombe 63 Leu Gln His Ser Leu Lys Glu Ala Gly
Met Phe 1 5 10 64 11 PRT Homo sapiens 64 Leu Gln Glu Asn Leu Lys
Asp Ile Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 65 11 PRT Homo sapiens 65 Leu His Asp
Asn Leu Lys Gln Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 66 11 PRT Drosophila
melanogaster 66 Leu Gln Arg Asn Leu Asn Ala Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10
67 11 PRT Saccharomyces cerevisiae 67 Glu Asn Thr Leu Lys Asp Ser
Gly Val Leu Gln 1 5 10 68 11 PRT Homo sapiens 68 Leu Gln Leu Asn
Leu Arg Glu Phe Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 69 11 PRT Homo sapiens 69 Leu
Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 70 11 PRT Homo
sapiens 70 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Ala Val 1 5 10 71 11
PRT Drosophila melanogaster 71 Leu Gln Ser Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn
Leu Val 1 5 10 72 11 PRT Xenopus laevis 72 Leu Gln His Asn Leu Lys
Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 73 11 PRT Sporothrix schenckii 73 Ile
Gln Glu Asn Leu Arg Leu Cys Gly Leu Ile 1 5 10 74 11 PRT
Saccharomyces cerevisiae 74 Ile Gln Gln Asn Leu Lys Lys Ile Gly Ile
Ile 1 5 10 75 11 PRT Neurospora crassa 75 Ile Ile Gln Arg Asn Leu
Lys Gln Leu Ile Leu 1 5 10 76 11 PRT Filobasidiella neoformans 76
Leu Gln Asn Ala Leu Arg Asp Ser Gly Ile Leu 1 5 10 77 11 PRT
Ustilago maydis 77 Leu Thr Asn Ala Leu Lys Asp Ser Gly Ile Leu 1 5
10 78 11 PRT Kluyveromyces lactis 78 Ile Gln Gln Asn Leu Lys Lys
Ser Gly Ile Leu 1 5 10 79 11 PRT Ustilago maydis 79 Leu Thr Asn Ala
Leu Lys Asp Ser Gly Ile Leu 1 5 10 80 11 PRT Dictyostelium
discoideum 80 Asn Leu Thr Leu Gly Glu Ala Gly Met Ile Leu 1 5 10 81
11 PRT Kluyveromyces lactis 81 Leu Glu Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Ser Gly
Val Leu 1 5 10 82 11 PRT Ustilago maydis 82 Ile Leu Thr Asn Asn Leu
Arg Asp Ile Val Leu 1 5 10 83 11 PRT Mus musculus 83 Gln Arg Met
His Leu Pro Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 84 11 PRT Homo sapiens 84
Gln Arg Met His Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 85 11 PRT Homo
sapiens 85 Gln Arg Met His Leu Lys Gly Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 86 11
PRT Coprinus congregatus 86 Leu Gln Leu His Leu Arg Glu Cys Gly Leu
Leu 1 5 10 87 11 PRT Lycopersicon esculentum 87 Arg Arg Arg Asn Leu
Phe Glu Ala Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 88 11 PRT Glycine max 88 Arg Arg Arg
Asn Leu Leu Glu Ala Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 89 11 PRT Glycine max 89 Arg
Arg Arg Asn Pro Leu Glu Ala Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 90 11 PRT Ustilago
maydis 90 Ile Gln Val Asn Leu Arg Asp Cys Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 91 11
PRT Ustilago maydis 91 Arg Glu Asn Leu Lys Leu Thr Gly Leu Val Gly
1 5 10 92 11 PRT Oryza sativa 92 Asp Glu Ser Met Arg Arg Ser Arg
Glu Gly Thr 1 5 10 93 11 PRT Calliphora vicina 93 Met Gln Asn Ala
Leu Lys Glu Phe Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 94 11 PRT Dictyostelium
discoideum 94 Thr Gln Cys Val Met Lys Ala Gly Leu Tyr Ser 1 5 10 95
11 PRT Unknown prokaryotic or eukaryotic 95 Leu Gln His Ser Leu Lys
Glu Ala Gly Met Phe 1 5 10 96 11 PRT Unknown prokaryotic or
eukaryotic 96 Glu Asn Thr Leu Lys Asp Ser Gly Val Leu Gln 1 5 10 97
11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 97 Ile Ile Ser Ala Ser Leu Lys Met
Val Gly Val 1 5 10 98 11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 98 Asn Glu Asn
Leu Arg Ser Ala Gly Leu His Glu 1 5 10 99 11 PRT Caenorhabditis
elegans 99 Arg Leu Ile Arg Tyr Ala Asn Asn Ile Pro Val 1 5 10 100
11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 100 Leu Ser Thr Lys Leu Lys Gly Cys
Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 101 11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 101 Ile Ala
Lys Asn Leu Lys Ser Met Gly Leu Cys 1 5 10 102 11 PRT
Caenorhabditis elegans 102 Ile Gly Arg Asn Leu Arg Gly Thr Gly Met
Glu 1 5 10 103 11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 103 Ile Gln His Thr
Met Gln Lys Val Gly Ile Gln 1 5 10 104 11 PRT Caenorhabditis
elegans 104 Ile Gln Lys Asn Leu Gln Lys Ala Gly Met Met 1 5 10 105
11 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 105 Leu Lys Asn Ile Phe Asn Thr Ile
Ile Asn Tyr 1 5 10 106 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 106 Leu Gln Leu Asn
Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 107 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 107
Leu Leu Leu Gln Leu Val Glu His Thr Leu Val 1 5 10 108 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 108 His Arg Leu Asn Leu Leu Glu Tyr Cys Leu Val 1
5 10 109 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 109 Glu Gln Trp Asn Met Asn Thr
Phe His Met Ile 1 5 10 110 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 110 Ser Gln Val
Lys Leu Gln Lys Gly His Leu Val 1 5 10 111 10 PRT Unknown mammalian
111 Leu Arg Leu Leu Leu Glu Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 112 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 112 Arg Arg Leu Lys Val Asn Glu Tyr Lys Leu Leu 1
5 10 113 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 113 Leu Gln Leu Arg Leu Arg Glu
His Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 114 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 114 His Val Leu
Asn Ser Lys Glu Tyr Asn Gln Val 1 5 10 115 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
115 Met Lys Leu Asn Val Ser Glu Ser Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 116 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 116 Leu Gln Thr Asn Gln Lys Glu Tyr Asp Met Asp 1
5 10 117 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 117 Leu Gln Leu Asn Pro Arg Glu
Asp Lys Leu Trp 1 5 10 118 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 118 Arg His Leu
Asp Leu Asn Ala Cys Asn Met Gly 1 5 10 119 10 PRT Unknown mammalian
119 Leu Arg Asn Asp Ile Glu Ala Leu Leu Val 1 5 10 120 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 120 Leu Val Gln Asp Arg Gln Glu Ser Ile Leu Val 1
5 10 121 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 121 Leu Gln Leu Lys His Lys Glu
Asn Asn Leu Met 1 5 10 122 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 122 Leu Gln Val
Asn Leu Glu Glu Tyr His Leu Val 1 5 10 123 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
123 Leu Gln Phe Asn Leu Asn Asp Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 124 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 124 Met Lys Leu Lys Leu Lys Glu Asp Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 125 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 125 His Gln Leu Asp Leu Leu Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 126 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 126 Leu Arg Leu
Asp Phe Ser Glu Lys Gln Leu Val 1 5 10 127 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
127 Leu Gln Lys Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Met Val 1 5 10 128 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 128 Leu Gln Tyr Asn Leu Met Glu Asp Tyr Leu Asn 1
5 10 129 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 129 Leu Gln Met Tyr Leu Arg Gly
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 130 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 130 Leu Pro Leu
Asn Pro Lys Glu Tyr Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 131 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
131 Met Asn Leu Thr Leu Lys Glu Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 132 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 132 Leu Gln Gln Ser Leu Ile Glu Tyr Asn Leu Leu 1
5 10 133 13 PRT Unknown mammalian 133 Met Gly Ile Lys Asn Asn Leu
Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 134 13 PRT Unknown mammalian 134 Met
Gly Asn Gly Ile Lys Cys Leu Phe Asn Asp Lys Leu 1 5 10 135 13 PRT
Unknown mammalian 135 Met Gly Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn
Ala Val 1 5 10 136 13 PRT Unknown mammalian 136 Met Gly Leu Gln Leu
Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Thr Leu 1 5 10 137 13 PRT Unknown mammalian
137 Met Gly Leu Gln Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 138
13 PRT Unknown mammalian 138 Met Gly Leu His Asp Asn Leu Lys Gln
Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 139 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 139 Ile Lys Glu
Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 140 67 DNA Unknown mammalian
misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (12)..(13) n
is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (15)..(16) n is a, c, g, or t
misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 140 gaggtggtnn
knnknnknnk atcaaggaga acctgaagga ctgcggcctc ttctaactaa 60 gtaaagc
67 141 67 DNA Unknown mammalian misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c,
g, or t misc_feature (12)..(13) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(15)..(16) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g,
or t 141 gaggtggtnn knnknnknnk attcgtgaaa acttaaaaga ttgtggtcgt
ttctaactaa 60 gtaaagc 67 142 67 DNA Unknown mammalian misc_feature
(9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (12)..(13) n is a, c, g,
or t misc_feature (15)..(16) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 142 gaggtggtnn knnknnknnk ctgcagctga
acctgaagga gtacaatctg gtctaactaa 60 gtaaagc 67 143 67 DNA Unknown
mammalian misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(12)..(13) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (15)..(16) n is a, c, g,
or t misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 143 gaggtggtnn
knnknnknnk ctgcaggaga acctgaagga catcatgctg cagtaactaa 60 gtaaagc
67 144 67 DNA Unknown mammalian misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c,
g, or t misc_feature (12)..(13) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(15)..(16) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g,
or t 144 gaggtggtnn knnknnknnk ctgcatgaca acctcaagca gcttatgcta
cagtaactaa 60 gtaaagc 67 145 67 DNA Unknown mammalian misc_feature
(9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (12)..(13) n is a, c, g,
or t misc_feature (15)..(16) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 145 gaggtggtnn knnknnknnk ctcgcccggt
acctggacga gattaatctg ctgtaactaa 60 gtaaagc 67 146 67 DNA Unknown
mammalian misc_feature (9)..(10) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature
(12)..(13) n is a, c, g, or t misc_feature (15)..(16) n is a, c, g,
or t misc_feature (18)..(19) n is a, c, g, or t 146 gaggtggtnn
knnknnknnk
atacagaaca atctcaagta cattggcctt tgctaactaa 60 gtaaagc 67 147 11
PRT Unknown mammalian 147 Leu Leu Glu Asn Leu Arg Asp Cys Gly Met
Phe 1 5 10 148 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 148 Ile Gln Gly Val Leu Lys
Asp Cys Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 149 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 149 Ile Cys
Glu Asn Leu Lys Glu Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 150 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 150 Met Leu Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10
151 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 151 Val Leu Glu Asp Leu Lys Ser Cys
Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 152 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 152 Met Leu Lys Asn
Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Met Phe 1 5 10 153 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 153
Leu Leu Asp Asn Ile Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 154 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 154 Ile Leu Thr Lys Leu Thr Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 155 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 155 Leu Arg Glu Ser Leu Lys Gln
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 156 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 156 Ile His Ala
Ser Leu Arg Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 157 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
157 Ile Arg Gly Ser Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 158 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 158 Ile Phe Leu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 159 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 159 Ile Arg Glu Asn Leu Glu Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 160 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 160 Ile Ile Asp
Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 161 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
161 Met Arg Glu Ser Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 162 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 162 Ile Arg Glu Thr Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Leu 1
5 10 163 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 163 Ile Leu Ala Asp Val Ile Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 164 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 164 Met Cys Glu
Ser Leu Lys Glu Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 165 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
165 Ile Arg Glu Lys Trp Lys Asp Leu Ala Leu Phe 1 5 10 166 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 166 Val Arg Asp Asn Leu Lys Asn Cys Phe Leu Phe 1
5 10 167 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 167 Ile Gly Glu Gln Ile Glu Asp
Cys Gly Pro Phe 1 5 10 168 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 168 Ile Arg Asn
Asn Leu Lys Arg Tyr Gly Met Phe 1 5 10 169 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
169 Ile Arg Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Leu Gly Leu Val 1 5 10 170 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 170 Ile Arg Glu Asn Phe Lys Tyr Leu Gly Leu Trp 1
5 10 171 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 171 Ser Leu Glu Ile Leu Lys Asp
Trp Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 172 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 172 Ile Arg Gly
Thr Leu Lys Gly Trp Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 173 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
173 Leu Gln Phe Asn Leu Asn Asp Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 174 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 174 Leu Gln Arg Asn Lys Lys Gln Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1
5 10 175 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 175 Met Lys Leu Lys Leu Lys Glu
Asp Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 176 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 176 His Gln Leu
Asp Leu Leu Glu Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 177 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
177 Leu Gln Leu Arg Tyr Lys Cys Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 178 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 178 Leu Gln Gln Ser Leu Ile Glu Tyr Asn Leu Leu 1
5 10 179 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 179 Val His Val Lys Leu Lys Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 180 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 180 Leu Gln Leu
Asn Val Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 181 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
181 Leu Arg Ile Tyr Leu Lys Gly Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 182 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 182 Met Lys Leu Asn Val Ser Glu Ser Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 183 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 183 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Val
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 184 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 184 Leu Glu Leu
Asn Leu Lys Val Tyr Asn Leu Phe 1 5 10 185 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
185 Leu Gln Leu Lys His Lys Glu Asn Asn Leu Met 1 5 10 186 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 186 Leu His Leu Asn Met Ala Glu Val Ser Leu Val 1
5 10 187 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 187 Leu Gln Val Asn Leu Glu Glu
Tyr His Leu Val 1 5 10 188 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 188 Leu Gln Lys
Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Met Val 1 5 10 189 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
189 Leu Gln Met Tyr Leu Arg Gly Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 190 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 190 Leu Lys Arg Tyr Leu Lys Glu Ser Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 191 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 191 Met Asn Leu Thr Leu Lys Glu
Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 192 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 192 Leu Gln Leu
Lys Arg Gly Glu Tyr Ile Leu Val 1 5 10 193 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
193 Leu Gln Leu Asn Arg Asn Glu Tyr Tyr Leu Val 1 5 10 194 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 194 Leu Arg Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Leu Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 195 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 195 Cys Ser Leu Lys Leu Lys Ala
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 196 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 196 Leu Gln Met
Asn His Asn Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 197 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
197 Pro Gln Leu Asn Leu Asn Ala Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 198 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 198 Gln Arg Leu Asn Val Gly Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 199 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 199 Leu His Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 200 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 200 Leu Gln Gln
Lys Leu Lys Glu Tyr Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 201 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
201 Gln Gly Met Gln Leu Arg Arg Phe Lys Leu Arg 1 5 10 202 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 202 Arg Trp Leu His Trp Gln Tyr Arg Gly Arg Gly 1
5 10 203 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 203 Pro Arg Pro Arg Leu Leu Arg
Phe Lys Ile Pro 1 5 10 204 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 204 Gln Gly Glu
His Leu Arg Gln Leu Gln Leu Gln 1 5 10 205 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
205 Gln Arg Leu Arg Leu Gly Pro Asp Glu Leu Phe 1 5 10 206 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 206 Gln Arg Ile His Arg Arg Pro Phe Lys Phe Phe 1
5 10 207 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 207 Gln Arg Met Pro Leu Arg Leu
Phe Glu Phe Leu 1 5 10 208 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 208 Gln Arg Val
His Leu Arg Gln Asp Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 209 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
209 Asp Arg Met His Leu Trp Arg Phe Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 210 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 210 Gln Arg Met Pro Leu Arg Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu 1
5 10 211 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 211 Gln Trp Met Asp Leu Arg Gln
His Glu Leu Leu 1 5 10 212 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 212 Gln Arg Met
Asn Leu Gly Pro Cys Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 213 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
213 Asn Cys Met Lys Phe Arg Ser Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 214 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 214 Gln Arg Leu His Leu Arg Gly Tyr Glu Phe Leu 1
5 10 215 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 215 His Arg Arg His Ile Gly Pro
Phe Ala Leu Leu 1 5 10 216 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 216 Glu Arg Leu
His Arg Arg Leu Phe Gln Leu His 1 5 10 217 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
217 Pro Cys Ile Gln Leu Gly Gln Tyr Glu Ser Phe 1 5 10 218 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 218 Gln Arg Leu Arg Leu Arg Lys Tyr Arg Leu Phe 1
5 10 219 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 219 Ile Val Glu Ile Leu Glu Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 220 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 220 Met Leu Asp
Asn Leu Lys Ala Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 221 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
221 Ile Leu Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 222 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 222 Leu Arg Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Leu 1
5 10 223 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 223 Leu Leu Asp Ile Leu Lys Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 224 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 224 Val Arg Asp
Ile Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 225 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
225 Ile Leu Glu Ser Leu Asn Glu Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 226 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 226 Ile Leu Gln Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 227 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 227 Met Leu Asp Asn Leu Lys Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 228 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 228 Ile His Asp
Arg Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 229 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
229 Ile Arg Gly Ser Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 230 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 230 Ile Cys Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 231 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 231 Ile Val Lys Asn Leu Glu Asp
Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 232 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 232 Ile Ser Lys
Asn Leu Arg Asp Cys Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 233 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
233 Ile Arg Asp Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 234 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 234 Ile Arg Glu Phe Leu Thr Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 235 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 235 Ile Arg Leu Asp Leu Lys Asp
Val Ser Leu Phe 1 5 10 236 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 236 Ile Cys Glu
Arg Leu Asn Asp Cys Gly Leu Cys 1 5 10 237 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
237 Pro Arg Asp Asn Thr Lys Val Arg Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 238 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 238 Phe Trp Gly Asn Leu Gln Asp Ser Gly Leu Phe 1
5 10 239 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 239 Arg Arg Gly Asn Gly Lys Asp
Cys Arg His Phe 1 5 10 240 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 240 Leu Gln Glu
Asn Leu Lys Glu Met Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 241 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
241 Leu Glu Glu Asn Leu Lys Tyr Arg Met Leu Asp 1 5 10 242 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 242 Leu Gln Glu Asp Leu Lys Gly Met Thr Leu Gln 1
5 10 243 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 243 Leu Gln Glu Thr Met Lys Asp
Gln Ser Leu Gln 1 5 10 244 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 244 Pro Gln Val
Asn Leu Lys Ser Ile Met Arg Gln 1 5 10 245 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
245 Trp Gln His Lys Leu Ser Glu Val Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 246 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 246 Leu Lys Glu His Leu Met Glu Arg Met Leu Gln 1
5 10 247 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 247 Leu Leu Gly Met Leu Glu Pro
Leu Met Glu Gln 1 5 10 248 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 248 Leu Gln Asp
Asn Leu Arg His Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 249 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
249 Leu Gln Asp Lys Ile Asn His Leu Met Leu Gln 1 5 10 250 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 250 Leu Gln Ala Asn Arg Lys Leu Gly Met Leu Gln 1
5 10 251 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 251 Leu Ile Val Lys Val Lys Gln
Leu Ile Trp Gln 1 5 10 252 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 252 Met Arg Ala
Lys Leu Asn Asn Leu Met Leu Glu 1 5 10 253 10 PRT Unknown mammalian
253 Leu Gln Asp Asn Leu Arg His Leu Ile Gln 1 5 10 254 10 PRT
Unknown mammalian 254 Leu Gln Asp Asn Arg Asn Gln Leu Leu Phe 1 5
10 255 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 255 Leu Gln Leu Asn Val Lys Glu Tyr
Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 256 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 256 Leu Gln Leu Asn
Arg Lys Asn Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 257 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 257
Leu Gln Leu Arg Tyr Lys Cys Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 258 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 258 Leu Gln Leu Asp Leu Lys Glu Ser Asn Met Val 1
5 10 259 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 259 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Lys
Tyr Asn Arg Val 1 5 10 260 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 260 Leu Gln Leu
Arg Val Lys Glu Tyr Lys Arg Gly 1 5 10 261 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
261 Leu Gln Arg Asn Lys Lys Gln Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 262 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 262 Leu Gln Ile Tyr Leu Lys Gly Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 263 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 263 Leu Gln Phe Asn Leu Asn Asp
Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 264 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 264 Leu Gln Tyr
Asn Leu Lys Glu Ser Phe Val Val 1 5 10 265 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
265 Leu Gln Gln Ser Leu Ile Glu Tyr Asn Leu Leu 1 5 10 266 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 266 Leu Gln Arg Asp His Val Glu Tyr Lys Leu Phe 1
5 10 267 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 267 Leu Val Ile Lys Pro Lys Glu
Phe Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 268 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 268 Ile Gln Leu
Asn Leu Lys Asn Tyr Asn Ile Val 1 5 10 269 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
269 His Gln Leu Asp Leu Leu Glu Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 270 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 270 Met Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 271 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 271 Val Gln Val Lys Leu Lys Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 272 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 272 Gln Leu Leu
Asn Gln Tyr Val Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 273 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
273 Met Lys Leu Lys Leu Lys Glu Asp Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 274 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 274 Trp Arg Leu Ser Leu Lys Val Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 275 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 275 Leu Gln Leu Asn Val Lys Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 276 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 276 Leu Gln Leu
Arg Val Lys Glu Tyr Lys Arg Gly 1 5 10 277 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
277 Leu Gln Leu Arg Tyr Lys Cys Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 278 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 278 Leu Gln Ile Tyr Leu Lys Gly Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 279 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 279 Leu Gln Phe Asn Leu Asn Asp
Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 280 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 280 Leu Gln Arg
Asn Lys Lys Gln Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 281 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
281 Leu Gln Arg Asn Lys Asn Gln Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 282 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 282 Leu Gln Gln Ser Leu Ile Glu Tyr Asn Leu Leu 1
5 10 283 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 283 Leu Arg Leu Asp Phe Ser Glu
Lys Gln Leu Val 1 5 10 284 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 284 Leu Tyr Leu
Asp Leu Lys Glu Tyr Cys Leu Phe 1 5 10 285 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
285 His Gln Leu Asp Leu Leu Glu Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 286 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 286 Val Gln Val Lys Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 287 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 287 Met Lys Leu Lys Leu Lys Glu
Asp Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 288 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 288 Ser Ala Lys
Glu Leu Asp Gln Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 289 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
289 Leu Gln Leu Asn Leu Lys Val Tyr Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 290 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 290 Leu Gln Leu Lys His Lys Glu Asn Asn Leu Met 1
5 10 291 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 291 Leu Gln Lys Asn Leu Lys Glu
Tyr Asn Met Val 1 5 10 292 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 292 Leu Gln Val
Asn Leu Glu Glu Tyr His Leu Val 1 5 10 293 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
293 Leu Phe Leu Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 294 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 294 Leu Glu Leu Asn Leu Lys Val Tyr Asn Leu Val 1
5 10 295 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 295 Leu Pro Leu Asn Pro Lys Glu
Tyr Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 296 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 296 Leu Pro Leu
Asn Leu Ile Asp Phe Ser Leu Met 1 5 10 297 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
297 Leu Pro Arg Asn Leu Lys Glu Tyr Asp Leu Gly 1 5 10 298 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 298 Leu Arg Leu Asn Asp Ile Glu Ala Leu Leu Val 1
5 10 299 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 299 Leu Val Leu Asn Arg Ile Glu
Tyr Asn Leu Leu 1 5 10 300 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 300 Leu His Leu
Asn Met Ala Glu Val Ser Leu Val 1 5 10 301 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
301 Met Asn Leu Thr Leu Lys Glu Cys Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 302 11 PRT
Unknown mammalian 302 Met Lys Leu Asn Val Ser Glu Ser Asn Leu Val
1
5 10 303 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 303 Leu Lys Arg Tyr Leu Lys Glu
Ser Asn Leu Val 1 5 10 304 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 304 Leu Lys Arg
Lys Leu Lys Glu Ser Asn Met Gly 1 5 10 305 11 PRT Unknown mammalian
305 Leu Lys Arg Lys Val Lys Glu Tyr Asn Leu Gly 1 5 10 306 19 DNA
Unknown prokaryotic or eukaryotic 306 gaaaatcttc tctcatccg 19 307
11 PRT Unknown mammalian 307 Ile Leu Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly
Leu Leu 1 5 10 308 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 308 Met Leu Asp Asn Leu
Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 309 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 309 Ile
Val Lys Asn Leu Glu Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 310 11 PRT Unknown
mammalian 310 Ile Arg Asp Asn Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10
311 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 311 Ile Ser Lys Asn Leu Arg Asp Cys
Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 312 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 312 Ile Leu Gln Asn
Leu Lys Asp Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 313 11 PRT Unknown mammalian 313
Met Leu Asp Asn Leu Lys Ala Cys Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 314 9 DNA Homo
sapiens 314 gccgccacc 9 315 57 DNA Unknown mammalian 315 gatccgccgc
caccatggga atcaagaaca acctgaagga ctgcggcctc ttctgaa 57 316 57 DNA
Unknown mammalian 316 agctttcaga agaggccgca gtccttcagg ttgttcttga
ttcccatggt ggcggcg 57 317 19 DNA Unknown mammalian 317 atccgccgcc
accatggga 19 318 20 DNA Unknown mammalian 318 gcgaaaggag cggggcgcta
20 319 3 PRT Unknown mammalian 319 Ser Trp Val 1 320 4 PRT Unknown
mammalian 320 Phe Val Asn Cys 1 321 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 321 Glu
Val Arg Arg 1 322 3 PRT Unknown mammalian 322 Arg Val Gln 1 323 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 323 Arg Leu Thr Arg 1 324 3 PRT Unknown
mammalian 324 Ser Arg Lys 1 325 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 325 Met Thr
His Ser 1 326 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 326 Ser Gly Pro Gln 1 327 3
PRT Unknown mammalian 327 Met Leu Asn 1 328 3 PRT Unknown mammalian
328 Ser Ile Arg 1 329 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 329 Arg Trp Ile Val 1
330 3 PRT Unknown mammalian 330 Gly Gly His 1 331 4 PRT Unknown
mammalian 331 Arg Ser Glu Val 1 332 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 332 Cys
Glu Pro Gly 1 333 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 333 His Gln Met Ala 1 334
4 PRT Unknown mammalian 334 Val Pro Ser Pro 1 335 4 PRT Unknown
mammalian 335 Gln Met Pro Asn 1 336 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 336 Met
Trp Pro Ser 1 337 3 PRT Unknown mammalian 337 Cys Val Glu 1 338 4
PRT Unknown mammalian 338 Pro Arg Gln Leu 1 339 4 PRT Unknown
mammalian 339 Val Arg Pro Ser 1 340 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 340 Ser
Arg His Thr 1 341 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 341 Phe Phe Trp Val 1 342
4 PRT Unknown mammalian 342 Gln Arg Asp Thr 1 343 4 PRT Unknown
mammalian 343 Asn Phe Arg Asn 1 344 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 344 Leu
Pro Gln Met 1 345 4 PRT Unknown mammalian 345 Leu Ser Thr Asn 1 346
4 PRT Unknown mammalian 346 Leu Ser Arg Ser 1
* * * * *