Red-light modulated ortho-chloro azobenzene photoswitch for peptide stapling via aromatic substitution

The application of peptide stapling using photoswitchable linkers has gained notable interest for potential therapeutic applications. However, many existing methodologies of photoswitching still rely on the use of tissue-damaging and weakly skin-penetrating UV light. Herein, we describe the development of a tetra-ortho-chloro azobenzene linker that was successfully used for cysteine-selective peptide stapling via S_NAr. This linker facilitates precise photocontrol of peptide structure via trans to cis isomerisation under red light irradiation. As a proof-of-concept, we applied the developed peptide stapling platform to a modified PMI peptide, targeting the inhibition of MDM2/p53 protein-protein interaction (PPI). Biophysical characterisation of the photoswitchable peptide by competitive fluorescence polarisation showed a significant difference in affinity between the trans and cis isomer for the p53-interacting domain of the human MDM2. Remarkably, the cis isomer displayed a >240-fold higher potency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest reported difference in binding affinity between isoforms of a photoswitchable therapeutic peptide. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of this novel photoswitchable peptide stapling system for tuneable, selective modulation of PPIs via visible-light isomerisation with deeply-tissue penetrating red light.