De novo mapping of ?-helix recognition sites on protein surfaces using unbiased libraries

The alpha-helix is one of the most common protein surface recognition motifs found in nature, and its unique amide-cloaking properties also enable alpha-helical polypeptide motifs to exist in membranes. Together, these properties have inspired the development of alpha-helically constrained (Helicon) therapeutics that can enter cells and bind targets that have been considered undruggable, such as protein-protein interactions. To date, no general method for discovering alpha-helical binders to proteins has been reported, limiting Helicon drug discovery to only those proteins with previously characterized alpha-helix recognition sites, and restricting the starting chemical matter to those known alpha-helical binders. Here, we report a general and rapid screening method to empirically map the alpha-helix binding sites on a broad range of target proteins in parallel using large, unbiased Helicon phage display libraries and next-generation sequencing. We apply this method to screen six structurally diverse protein domains, only one of which had been previously reported to bind isolated alpha-helical peptides, discovering 20 families that collectively comprise several hundred individual Helicons. Analysis of 14 X-ray cocrystal structures reveals at least nine distinct alpha-helix recognition sites across these six proteins, and biochemical and biophysical studies show that these Helicons can block protein-protein interactions, inhibit enzymatic activity, induce conformational rearrangements, and cause protein dimerization. We anticipate that this method will prove broadly useful for the study of protein recognition and for the development of both biochemical tools and therapeutics for traditionally challenging protein targets.

Automated summary

The alpha-helix is a common protein surface recognition motif that has potential in drug discovery. This study reports a general and rapid screening method using Helicon phage display libraries and next-generation sequencing to map alpha-helix binding sites on a wide range of proteins. Multiple alpha-helix recognition sites were discovered, and the binding molecules at these sites were shown to inhibit protein-protein interactions, enzymatic activity, and induce conformational rearrangements.