Designed Tetrapeptide Interacts with Tubulin and Microtubule

Microtubules regulate eukaryotic cell functions, which have tremendous implication in tumor progression. Thus, the design of novel approaches for controlling microtubule function is extremely important. In this manuscript, a novel tetrapeptide Ser-Leu-Arg-Pro (SLRP) has been designed and synthesized from a small peptide library consisting of 14 tetrapeptides, which perturbs microtubule function through interaction in the “anchor region”. We have studied the role of peptides on microtubule function on a chemically functionalized 2D platform. Interestingly, we have found that SLRP binds with tubulin and inhibits the kinesin-driven microtubule motility on a kinesin-immobilized chemically functionalized 2D platform. Further, this peptide modulator interacts with intracellular tubulin/microtubule and depolymerizes the microtubule networks. These interesting findings of perturbation of microtubule function both on engineered platforms and inside the cell by this small peptide modulator inspired us to study the ...