Targeting of a Helix-Loop-Helix Transcriptional Regulator by a Short Helical Peptide

The Id proteins (Id1-4) are cell-cycle regulators that play a key role during development, in cancer and vascular disorders. They contain a conserved helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain that folds into a parallel four-helix bundle upon self- or hetero-association with basic-HLH transcription factors. By using such protein-protein interactions, the Id proteins inhibit cell differentiation and promote cell-cycle progression. Accordingly, their supporting role in cancer has been convincingly demonstrated, which makes these proteins interesting therapeutic targets. Herein we present a short peptide containing an (i,i+4)-lactam bridge and a hydrophobic (Φ) three-residue motif Φ(i)-Φ(i+3)-Φ(i+6), which adopts a helical conformation in water, shows Id protein binding in the low-micromolar range, penetrates into breast (MCF-7 and T47D) and bladder (T24) cancer cells, accumulates in the nucleus, and decreases cell viability to ∼50 %. Thus, this cyclopeptide is a promising scaffold for the development of Id protein binders that impair cancer cell viability.