Selection of peptide ligands binding to the basolateral cell surface of proximal convoluted tubules

Recently, we have reported a novel approach of screening phage-display peptide libraries on microdissected intact renal tubular segments and identified an RGD-containing peptide ligand that specifically binds to the basolateral membrane of cortical collecting ducts (CCD). However, screening phage libraries on proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) did not yield a tubule segment-specific ligand. Here, we describe the successful modification of our previously developed phage-display approach and the identification of two distinct ligands that bind specifically to receptors expressed at the basolateral membrane of PCT.

Ex vivo screening of phage-display peptide libraries for specific ligands was adapted for PCT. The previously developed method was significantly extended by applying it to a distinct tubular segment, varying the number of rounds of biopanning and incubating phage libraries with absorber cells prior to biopanning. Binding specificity and cellular localization of selected peptide-displaying phage or the corresponding synthetic peptide were analyzed using various epithelial cell lines as well as competition assays and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.

Screening phage-display peptide libraries, depleted of ligands binding to ubiquitously expressed receptors by preincubation with HEK-293 cells, led to the identification of two PCT-specific ligands. Phage expressing peptides with the consensus sequence GV(K/R)GX3(T/S) or RDXR mediated 15-fold and 13-fold higher binding to PCT than control phage, and binding to PCT was 13-fold and 21-fold higher than binding to CCD, respectively. Neither phage mediated significant binding to various epithelial cell lines, and binding of both ligands was abolished by the addition of the corresponding synthetic peptide. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed a submembrane localization of both ligands upon incubation with PCT.

Exploiting the versatility of phage-display and biopanning allowed the identification of two distinct peptide ligands that bind specifically to the basolateral membrane of PCT. Tubule segment-specific ligands, such as the described PCT ligands, may be useful for the analysis of cell-extracellular matrix interactions and may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for renal diseases.