Identification of photocrosslinking peptide ligands by mRNA display

Abstract Photoaffinity labelling is a promising method for studying protein-ligand interactions. However, obtaining a specific, efficient crosslinker can require significant optimisation. We report a modified mRNA display strategy, photocrosslinking-RaPID (XL-RaPID), and exploit its ability to accel...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuteng Wu, M. Teresa Bertran, Dhira Joshi, Sarah L. Maslen, Catherine Hurd, Louise J. Walport
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-05-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00898-2
Description
Summary:Abstract Photoaffinity labelling is a promising method for studying protein-ligand interactions. However, obtaining a specific, efficient crosslinker can require significant optimisation. We report a modified mRNA display strategy, photocrosslinking-RaPID (XL-RaPID), and exploit its ability to accelerate the discovery of cyclic peptides that photocrosslink to a target of interest. As a proof of concept, we generated a benzophenone-containing library and applied XL-RaPID screening against a model target, the second bromodomain of BRD3. This crosslinking screening gave two optimal candidates that selectively labelled the target protein in cell lysate. Overall, this work introduces direct photocrosslinking screening as a versatile technique for identifying covalent peptide ligands from mRNA display libraries incorporating reactive warheads.
ISSN:2399-3669