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Development of a Potent Wound Healing Agent Based on the Liver Fluke Granulin Structural Fold

  • Paramjit S. Bansal
  • , Michael J. Smout
  • , David Wilson
  • , Claudia Cobos Caceres
  • , Mohadeseh Dastpeyman
  • , Javier Sotillo
  • , Julia Seifert
  • , Paul J. Brindley
  • , Alex Loukas
  • , Norelle L. Daly

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Granulins are a family of protein growth factors that are involved in cell proliferation. An orthologue of granulin from the human parasitic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini, known as Ov-GRN-1, induces angiogenesis and accelerates wound repair. Recombinant Ov-GRN-1 production is complex and poses an obstacle for clinical development. To identify the bioactive region(s) of Ov-GRN-1, four truncated N-terminal analogues were synthesized and characterized structurally using NMR spectroscopy. Peptides that contained only two native disulfide bonds lack the characteristic granulin β-hairpin structure. Remarkably, the introduction of a non-native disulfide bond was critical for formation of β-hairpin structure. Despite this structural difference, both two and three disulfide-bonded peptides drove proliferation of a human cholangiocyte cell line and demonstrated potent wound healing in mice. Peptides derived from Ov-GRN-1 are leads for novel wound healing therapeutics, as they are likely less immunogenic than the full-length protein and more convenient to produce.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4258-4266
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume60
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 May 2017
Externally publishedYes

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