Reticulon RTN1-C(CT) peptide: a potential nuclease and inhibitor of histone deacetylase enzymes

RTN1-C protein is a membrane protein localized in the ER and expressed in the nervous system, and its biological role is not completely clarified. Our previous studies have shown that the C-terminal region of RTN1-C, corresponding to the fragment from residues 186 to 208, was able to bind the nucleic acids and to interact with histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. In the present work the properties of the synthetic RTN1-C(CT) peptide corresponding to this region were studied with relation to its ability to bind the metal ions in its N-terminal region. RTN1-C(CT) peptide is characterized by the presence of high-affinity copper and nickel ion sites. The nuclease activity of the metal-peptide complex was observed due to the presence of an ATCUN-binding motif. Moreover, the effect of the Cu/Ni-RTN1-C(CT) complexes on the HDAC activity was investigated. The histone deacetylase inhibitors are a new class of antineoplastic agents currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Our data show that the acetylated form of the metal-peptide complex is able to inhibit the HDAC activity at micromolar concentrations. These results allow to propose the Cu/Ni-RTN1-C(CT) complexes as models for the design of antitumor agents.