Targeted Polypeptide–Microtubule Aggregation with Cucurbit[8]uril for Enhanced Cell Apoptosis

Abstract

Tunable protein assemblies not only hold adominant position in vital biological events but are also as ignificant theme in supramolecular chemistry.H erein, we demonstrated that the intertubular aggregation of microtubules (MTs) could be efficiently regulated by as ynergistic polypeptide-tubulin interaction and host-guest complexation. The benzylimidazolium-modified antimitotic peptide (BP) could recognizet he MTs and concurrently form stable inclusion complexes with avirulent cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) in different binding stoichiometries.T he self-assembling morphology of MTs was converted from fibrous to nanoparticulate aggregates via extensive BP&CB[8] cross-linkage,l eading to significant cell apoptosis and tumor ablation in vivo.T he targeted (BP&CB[8])@MT ternary assembly provides afacile supramolecular method to enhance the protein-protein interactions,which may be developed as atherapyfor degenerative diseases,such as cancer.Supportinginformation and the ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under: https://doi.

A supramolecular cucurbit[8]uril-based rotaxane chemosensor for the optical tryptophan detection in human serum and urine

“…Unlike its smaller analogs, the macrocyclic cucurbit [8]uril (CB8) can simultaneously bind two aromatic compounds inside its cavity in aqueous media [50][51][52][53][54] . Thus, self-assembled CB8•dye complexes have been used for the complexation and detection of aryl-containing metabolites, taking advantage of optical features in ternary complex formation 17,[53][54][55] .…”

Supramolecular Chemotherapy with Cucurbit[n]urils as Encapsulating Hosts

“…The complexation provided enhanced circulation time to the peptides thus resulting in better anticancer activity with reduced side effects . In another study, Zhang et al demonstrated that enhanced cell apoptosis could be attained by first adding a benzyl imidazolium moiety to an antimitotic peptide . Stable inclusion complexes of the derivative could be formed with CB[7] and CB[8] in different binding stoichiometries.…”

“…75 In another study, Zhang et al demonstrated that enhanced cell apoptosis could be attained by first adding a benzyl imidazolium moiety to an antimitotic peptide. 76 Stable inclusion complexes of the derivative could be formed with CB [7] and CB [8] in different binding stoichiometries. These supramolecular host−guest complexes could bind to the microtubules (MTs) resulting in extensive BP⊂CB [8] cross-linkages which resulted in intertubular aggregates of microtubules (MTs).…”