Affinity selection–mass spectrometry with linearizable macrocyclic peptide libraries

Despite their potential, the preparation of large synthetic macrocyclic libraries for ligand discovery and development has been limited. Here, we produce 100-million-membered macrocyclic libraries containing natural and nonnatural amino acids. Near-quantitative intramolecular disulfide formation is facilitated by rapid oxidation with iodine in solution. After use in affinity selection, treatment with dithiothreitol enables near-quantitative reduction, rendering linear peptide analogs for standard tandem mass spectrometry. We use these libraries to discover macrocyclic binders to cadherin-2 and anti-hemagglutinin antibody clone 12ca5. Structure-activity relationship studies of an initial cadherin-binding peptide [ CBP ; apparent dissociation constant ( K d ) = 53 nanomolar] reveal residues responsible for driving affinity (hotspots) and mutation-tolerant residues (coldspots). Two original macrocyclic libraries are prepared in which these hotspots and coldspots are derivatized with nonnatural amino acids. Following discovery and validation, high-affinity ligands are discovered from the coldspot library, with NCBP-4 demonstrating improved affinity ( K d = 29 nanomolar). Overall, we expect that this work will improve the use of macrocyclic libraries in therapeutic peptide development.