Ras genes are frequently activated in human cancers, but the mutant Ras proteins remain largely “undruggable” by the conventional small-molecule approach due to absence of any obvious binding pockets on their surfaces. By screening a combinatorial peptide library followed by structure-activity relationship analysis, we discovered a family of cyclic peptides possessing both Ras-binding and cell-penetrating properties. These cell-permeable cyclic peptides inhibited Ras signaling by binding to Ras-GTP and blocking its interaction with downstream proteins and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of developing cyclic peptides for inhibition of intracellular protein-protein interactions and direct Ras inhibitors as a novel class of anticancer agents.

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death and a major indicator for heart transplant. The disease is frequently caused by mutations of sarcomeric proteins; however, it is not well understood how these molecular mutations lead to alterations in cellular organization and contractility. To address this critical gap in our knowledge, we studied the molecular and cellular consequences of a DCM mutation in troponin-T, ΔK210. We determined the molecular mechanism of ΔK210 and used computational modeling to predict that the mutation should reduce the force per sarcomere. In mutant cardiomyocytes, we found that ΔK210 not only reduces contractility but also causes cellular hypertrophy and impairs cardiomyocytes’ ability to adapt to changes in substrate stiffness (e.g., heart tissue fibrosis that occurs with aging and disease). These results help link the molecular and cellular phenotypes and implicate alterations in mechanosensing as an important factor in the development of DCM.

27Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death and a 28 major indicator for heart transplant. The disease is frequently caused by mutations of 29 sarcomeric proteins; however, it is not well understood how these molecular mutations 30 lead to alterations in cellular organization and contractility. To address this critical gap in 31 our knowledge, we studied the molecular and cellular consequences of a DCM mutation 32 in troponin-T, DK210. We determined the molecular mechanism of DK210 and used 33 computational modeling to predict that the mutation should reduce the force per 34 sarcomere. In mutant cardiomyocytes, we found that DK210 not only reduces contractility, 35 but also causes cellular hypertrophy and impairs cardiomyocytes' ability to adapt to 36 changes in substrate stiffness (e.g., heart tissue fibrosis that occurs with aging and 37 disease). These results link the molecular and cellular phenotypes and implicate 38 alterations in mechanosensing as an important factor in the development of DCM. 39Results 100 DK210 decreases calcium sensitivity in an in vitro motility assay 101We set out to decipher the molecular mechanism of the DK210 mutation in vitro. 102The molecular effects of cardiomyopathy mutations depend on the myosin isoform (7-9, 103 35-37) and therefore, we used porcine cardiac ventricular myosin (38). Porcine ventricular 104 cardiac myosin (MYH7) is 97% identical to human, while murine cardiac myosin (MYH6) 105 is only 92% identical. Porcine cardiac myosin has very similar biophysical properties to 106 human cardiac myosin, including the kinetics of the ATPase cycle, step size, and 107 sensitivity to load (38-41), making it an ideal myosin for biophysical studies. 108Given the role of troponin-T in thin filament regulation, we first determined whether 109 the DK210 mutation affects calcium-based regulation of myosin binding to thin filaments 110 using an in vitro motility assay (42). Reconstituted thin filaments, consisting of porcine 111 cardiac actin and recombinantly expressed human troponin and tropomyosin, were added 112 to a flow cell coated with porcine cardiac myosin in the presence of ATP. The speed of 113 filament translocation was measured as a function of added calcium. As has been 114 reported previously, the speed of regulated thin filament translocation increased 115 sigmoidally with increasing Ca 2+ concentration (43), ( Figure 1B). Data were fit with the Hill 116 equation to obtain the pCa50 (i.e., the concentration of calcium necessary for half-117 maximal activation). Consistent with previous studies using mouse cardiac, rabbit cardiac, 118 and rabbit skeletal muscle fibers (31, 33, 44), DK210 shows a right-shifted curve (pCa50 119 = 5.7 ± 0.1) compared to the WT (pCa50 = 6.1 ± 0.1; p < 0.0001), meaning more calcium 120 is needed for the same level of activation. This suggests that the mutant could show 121 impaired force production during a calcium transient. 122 7 123 Molecular mechanism of DK210-induced changes in thin filament regulat...

Ras genes are frequently activated in human cancers, but the mutant Ras proteins remain largely "undruggable" by the conventional small-molecule approach due to absence of any obvious binding pockets on their surfaces. By screening a combinatorial peptide library followed by structure-activity relationship analysis, we discovered a family of cyclic peptides possessing both Ras-binding and cell-penetrating properties. These cell-permeable cyclic peptides inhibited Ras signaling by binding to Ras-GTP and blocking its interaction with downstream proteins and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of developing cyclic

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a leading cause of sudden cardiac death, is primarily caused by mutations in sarcomeric proteins. The pathogenesis of HCM is complex, with functional changes that span scales, from molecules to tissues. This makes it challenging to deconvolve the biophysical molecular defect that drives the disease pathogenesis from downstream changes in cellular function. In this study, we examine an HCM mutation in troponin T, R92Q, for which several models explaining its effects in disease have been put forward. We demonstrate that the primary molecular insult driving disease pathogenesis is mutation-induced alterations in tropomyosin positioning, which causes increased molecular and cellular force generation during calcium-based activation. Computational modeling shows that the increased cellular force is consistent with the molecular mechanism. These changes in cellular contractility cause downstream alterations in gene expression, calcium handling, and electrophysiology. Taken together, our results demonstrate that molecularly driven changes in mechanical tension drive the early disease pathogenesis of familial HCM, leading to activation of adaptive mechanobiological signaling pathways.