Mannose–pepstatin conjugates as targeted inhibitors of antigen processing

The molecular details of antigen processing, including the identity of the enzymes involved, their intracellular location and their substrate specificity, are still incompletely understood. Selective inhibition of proteolytic antigen processing enzymes such as cathepsins D and E, using small molecular inhibitors such as pepstatin, has proven to be a valuable tool in investigating these pathways. However, pepstatin is poorly soluble in water and has limited access to the antigen processing compartment in antigen presenting cells. We have synthesised mannose–pepstatin conjugates, and neomannosylated BSA–pepstatin conjugates, as tools for the in vivo study of the antigen processing pathway. Conjugation to mannose and to neomannosylated BSA substantially improved the solubility of the conjugates relative to pepstatin. The mannose–pepstatin conjugates showed no reduction in inhibition of cathepsin E, whereas the neomannosylated BSA–pepstatin conjugates showed some loss of inhibition, probably due to steric factors. However, a neomannosylated BSA–pepstatin conjugate incorporating a cleavable disulfide linkage between the pepstatin and the BSA showed the best uptake to dendritic cells and the best inhibition of antigen processing.