Concise solid-phase synthesis enables derivatisation of YEATS domain cyclopeptide inhibitors for improved cellular uptake

YEATS domains, which are newly identified epigenetic readers of histone lysine acetylation and crotonylation, have emerged as promising anti-cancer drug targets. We recently developed AF9 YEATS domain-selective cyclopeptide inhibitors. However, the cumbersome and time-consuming synthesis of the cyclopeptides limited further structural derivatisation and applications. Here, we reported a concise method for the solid-phase synthesis of the cyclopeptides, which substantially reduced the amount of time required for the preparation of the cyclopeptides and led to a higher overall yield. Moreover, this new synthetic route also allowed further derivatisation of the cyclopeptides with various functional modules, including fluorescent dye and cell-penetrating peptide. We demonstrated that the conjugation of the cyclopeptide with cell-penetrating peptide TAT led to a significantly increased cellular uptake.

Automated summary

The new synthesis method significantly reduced the time required for the preparation of YEATS domain-selective cyclopeptide inhibitors and led to a higher overall yield. Furthermore, the new synthetic route allowed further derivatisation of the cyclopeptides with various functional modules, including conjugation with cell-penetrating peptide.