Proline-locked stapled peptides and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a new type of alpha-helix nucleating cross-link (“staple”) formed by olefin metathesis of a proline derivative with an alkenyl side chain and another amino acid derivative with an alkenyl side chain. The proline derivatives as described herein have been found to be strong nucleators of alpha-helix formation. The invention also provides moieties for shielding the free amide N—H's at the N-terminus of an alpha-helix, thereby further stabilizing the helix. The proline derivatives, precursors prior to cross-linking, and the cross-linked peptides are provided as well as methods of using and preparing these compounds and peptides.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polypeptide of Formula (P-I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a salt or stereoisomer thereof; 
         wherein:
 each instance of K and L, is, independently, a bond or a group consisting of one or more combinations of substituted or unsubstituted alkylene; substituted or unsubstituted alkenylene; substituted or unsubstituted alkynylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkenylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkynylene; substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclene, substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclene, substituted or unsubstituted arylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylene; 
 R a  is hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; a resin; an amino protecting group; a label optionally joined by a linker, wherein the linker is a group consisting of one or more combinations of substituted or unsubstituted alkylene; substituted or unsubstituted alkenylene; substituted or unsubstituted alkynylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkenylene; substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkynylene; substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclene; substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclene; substituted or unsubstituted arylene; or substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylene; 
 R b  is, —R B , —OR B , —N(R B ) 2 , or —SR B , wherein each instance of R B  is, independently, hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; a resin; a suitable hydroxyl, amino or thiol protecting group; or two R B  groups together form a substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic or heteroaromatic ring; 
 each instance of R c , is, independently, hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyl; substituted or unsubstituted thiol; substituted or unsubstituted amino; cyano; isocyano; halo; or nitro; 
 each instance of R d  is, independently, hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; or an amino protecting group; 
 each instance of R e  is, independently, hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyl; substituted or unsubstituted thiol; substituted or unsubstituted amino; cyano; isocyano; halo; or nitro; 
 each instance of G is, independently, a natural or unnatural amino acid or a group of the formula: 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 n is 1, 2, or 3; and 
 each instance of R 1  and R 2  is independently hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted aryl; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; substituted or unsubstituted acyl; substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyl; substituted or unsubstituted thiol; substituted or unsubstituted amino; or halo, or R 1  and R 2  are joined to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; 
 each instance of R 3  and R 4  is, independently, hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic; substituted or unsubstituted heteroaliphatic; a hydroxyl protecting group when attached to an oxygen atom, or an amino protecting group when attached to a nitrogen atom, or two R 3  groups when attached to a nitrogen atom are joined to form a heterocyclic ring; 
 each instance of X AA  is, independently, a natural or unnatural amino acid; 
 j is, independently, an integer between 1 to 10, inclusive; 
 each instance of p is, independently, 1 or 2; 
 each instance of v is, independently, 0 or 1; 
 each instance of w and z is, independently, an integer between 0 and 100, inclusive; 
 each instance of x is, independently, 1, 2, or 3; 
 y is, independently, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and 
    corresponds to a double or triple bond. 
 
       
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1  of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a salt or stereoisomer thereof. 
       
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1  of the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a salt or stereoisomer thereof. 
       
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein p is 1. 
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein each instance of R is, independently, hydrogen, —CH 3 , —CH 2 OH, —COOH, or —CH 2 COOH. 
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein R d  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         7 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein each instance of y is, independently, 2, 3, or 4. 
     
     
         8 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein R a  is substituted or unsubstituted acyl. 
     
     
         9 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein R b  is —OR B . 
     
     
         10 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein each instance of K is, independently, —CH 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 2 —, or —(CH 2 ) 3 —. 
     
     
         11 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein each instance of L is, independently, —CH 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 2 —, or —(CH 2 ) 3 —. 
     
     
         12 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein each 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       is independently  . 
     
     
         13 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein   corresponds to a double bond. 
     
     
         14 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein G is, independently, serine, arginine, aspartic acid, or glutamic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein G is: