51
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Langeberg CJ, Welch WRW, McGuire JV, Ashby A, Jackson AD, Chapman EG. Biochemical Characterization of Yeast Xrn1. Biochemistry 2020; 59:1493-1507. [PMID: 32251580 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b01035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA degradation is an important component of overall gene expression. During the final step of eukaryotic mRNA degradation, exoribonuclease 1 (Xrn1) carries out 5' → 3' processive, hydrolytic degradation of RNA molecules using divalent metal ion catalysis. To initiate studies of the 5' → 3' RNA decay machinery in our lab, we expressed a C-terminally truncated version of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Xrn1 and explored its enzymology using a second-generation, time-resolved fluorescence RNA degradation assay. Using this system, we quantitatively explored Xrn1's preference for 5'-monophosphorylated RNA substrates, its pH dependence, and the importance of active site mutations in the molecule's conserved catalytic core. Furthermore, we explore Xrn1's preference for RNAs containing a 5' single-stranded region both in an intermolecular hairpin structure and in an RNA-DNA hybrid duplex system. These results both expand and solidify our understanding of Xrn1, a centrally important enzyme whose biochemical properties have implications in numerous RNA degradation and processing pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner J Langeberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - William R W Welch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - John V McGuire
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - Alison Ashby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - Alexander D Jackson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - Erich G Chapman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
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52
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Arencibia JM, Brindani N, Franco-Ulloa S, Nigro M, Kuriappan JA, Ottonello G, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, De Vivo M. Design, Synthesis, Dynamic Docking, Biochemical Characterization, and in Vivo Pharmacokinetics Studies of Novel Topoisomerase II Poisons with Promising Antiproliferative Activity. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3508-3521. [PMID: 32196342 PMCID: PMC7997578 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
![]()
We
previously reported a first set of hybrid topoisomerase II (topoII)
poisons whose chemical core merges key pharmacophoric elements of
etoposide and merbarone, which are two well-known topoII blockers.
Here, we report on the expansion of this hybrid molecular scaffold
and present 16 more hybrid derivatives that have been designed, synthesized,
and characterized for their ability to block topoII and for their
overall drug-like profile. Some of these compounds act as topoII poison
and exhibit good solubility, metabolic (microsomal) stability, and
promising cytotoxicity in three cancer cell lines (DU145, HeLa, A549).
Compound 3f (ARN24139) is the most promising drug-like
candidate, with a good pharmacokinetics profile in vivo. Our results indicate that this hybrid new chemical class of topoII
poisons deserves further exploration and that 3f is a
favorable lead candidate as a topoII poison, meriting future studies
to test its efficacy in in vivo tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Arencibia
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Brindani
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Sebastian Franco-Ulloa
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Michela Nigro
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Giuliana Ottonello
- Analytical Chemistry and in Vivo Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry and in Vivo Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Summa
- Analytical Chemistry and in Vivo Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Rosalia Bertorelli
- Analytical Chemistry and in Vivo Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry and in Vivo Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
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53
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Segreto GE, Alba J, Salvio R, D’Abramo M. DNA cleavage by endonuclease I-DmoI: a QM/MM study and comparison with experimental data provide indications on the environmental effects. Theor Chem Acc 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00214-020-2585-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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54
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Donati E, Genna V, De Vivo M. Recruiting Mechanism and Functional Role of a Third Metal Ion in the Enzymatic Activity of 5' Structure-Specific Nucleases. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:2823-2834. [PMID: 31939291 PMCID: PMC7993637 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b10656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
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Enzymes of the 5′ structure-specific
nuclease family are crucial for DNA repair, replication, and recombination.
One such enzyme is the human exonuclease 1 (hExo1) metalloenzyme,
which cleaves DNA strands, acting primarily as a processive 5′-3′
exonuclease and secondarily as a 5′-flap endonuclease. Recently,
in crystallo reaction intermediates have elucidated how hExo1 exerts
hydrolysis of DNA phosphodiester bonds. These hExo1 structures show
a third metal ion intermittently bound close to the two-metal-ion
active site, to which recessed ends or 5′-flap substrates bind.
Evidence of this third ion has been observed in several nucleic-acid-processing
metalloenzymes. However, there is still debate over what triggers
the (un)binding of this transient third ion during catalysis and whether
this ion has a catalytic function. Using extended molecular dynamics
and enhanced sampling free-energy simulations, we observed that the
carboxyl side chain of Glu89 (located along the arch motif in hExo1)
flips frequently from the reactant state to the product state. The
conformational flipping of Glu89 allows one metal ion to be recruited
from the bulk and promptly positioned near the catalytic center. This
is in line with the structural evidence. Additionally, our simulations
show that the third metal ion assists the departure, through the mobile
arch, of the nucleotide monophosphate product from the catalytic site.
Structural comparisons of nuclease enzymes suggest that this Glu(Asp)-mediated
mechanism for third ion recruitment and nucleic acid hydrolysis may
be shared by other 5′ structure-specific nucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Donati
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genoa , Italy
| | - Vito Genna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genoa , Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modelling & Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genoa , Italy
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55
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Sun C, Lin H, Gong X, Yang Z, Mo Y, Chen X, Gao J. DOTA-Branched Organic Frameworks as Giant and Potent Metal Chelators. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 142:198-206. [PMID: 31823608 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multinuclear complexes as metallo-agents for clinical use have caught extensive attention. In this paper, using 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) as both a functioning unit and a constructing junction, we build a series of DOTA-branched organic frameworks with multiple chelating holes by organizing DOTA layer by layer. These giant chelators are well characterized, which reveals their nanosized and soft structures. Further experiments demonstrate that they could efficiently hold abundant metal ions with much higher kinetic stabilities than the conventional small DOTA chelator. Their corresponding polynuclear complexes containing Gd3+, Tb3+, or both show superior imaging properties, excellent feasibility for peripheral modification, and unusual kinetic stability. This work can be easily extended to the fabrication of diverse homomultinuclear complexes and core/shell heteromultinuclear complexes with multifunctional properties. We expect that this new type of giant molecules and the ligand-branching strategy would open up a new avenue for the design and construction of next-generation polymetallic agents with high performance and stabilities for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
| | - Hongyu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
| | - Xuanqing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
| | - Zhaoxuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
| | - Yan Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Nanomedicine, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering , National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , Maryland 20892 , United States
| | - Jinhao Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, The MOE Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, The Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, and Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005 , China
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56
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NMR and computational methods for molecular resolution of allosteric pathways in enzyme complexes. Biophys Rev 2019; 12:155-174. [PMID: 31838649 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00609-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Allostery is a ubiquitous biological mechanism in which a distant binding site is coupled to and drastically alters the function of a catalytic site in a protein. Allostery provides a high level of spatial and temporal control of the integrity and activity of biomolecular assembles composed of proteins, nucleic acids, or small molecules. Understanding the physical forces that drive allosteric coupling is critical to harnessing this process for use in bioengineering, de novo protein design, and drug discovery. Current microscopic models of allostery highlight the importance of energetics, structural rearrangements, and conformational fluctuations, and in this review, we discuss the synergistic use of solution NMR spectroscopy and computational methods to probe these phenomena in allosteric systems, particularly protein-nucleic acid complexes. This combination of experimental and theoretical techniques facilitates an unparalleled detection of subtle changes to structural and dynamic equilibria in biomolecules with atomic resolution, and we provide a detailed discussion of specialized NMR experiments as well as the complementary methods that provide valuable insight into allosteric pathways in silico. Lastly, we highlight two case studies to demonstrate the adaptability of this approach to enzymes of varying size and mechanistic complexity.
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57
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Study of the role of Mg 2+ in dsRNA processing mechanism by bacterial RNase III through QM/MM simulations. J Biol Inorg Chem 2019; 25:89-98. [PMID: 31754801 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-019-01741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The ribonuclease III (RNase III) cleaves dsRNA in specific positions generating mature RNAs. RNase III enzymes play important roles in RNA processing, post-transcriptional gene expression, and defense against viral infection. The enzyme's active site contains Mg2+ ions bound by a network of acidic residues and water molecules, but there is a lack of information about their specific roles. In this work, multiple steered molecular dynamics simulations at QM/MM level were performed to explore the hydrolysis reaction carried out by the enzyme. Free energy profiles modifying the features of the active site are obtained and the role of Mg2+ ions, the solvent molecules and the residues of the active site are discussed in detail. Our results show that Mg2+ ions carry out different roles in the hydrolysis process positioning the substrate for the attack from a coordinated nucleophile and activating it to perform hydrolysis reaction, cleaving the dsRNA backbone in a SN2 substitution. In addition, water molecules present in the active site lower the energy barrier of the process. RNase III hydrolyzes dsRNA to generate mature RNAs. For this purpose, its active site contains Mg2+ which has an important role during the reaction. Results show that the Mg2+ activates the solvent molecule that produces the nucleophilic attack and the surrounding waters contribute significantly to the hydrolysis process.
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58
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Schiltz CJ, Lee A, Partlow EA, Hosford CJ, Chappie JS. Structural characterization of Class 2 OLD family nucleases supports a two-metal catalysis mechanism for cleavage. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:9448-9463. [PMID: 31400118 PMCID: PMC6755086 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Overcoming lysogenization defect (OLD) proteins constitute a family of uncharacterized nucleases present in bacteria, archaea, and some viruses. These enzymes contain an N-terminal ATPase domain and a C-terminal Toprim domain common amongst replication, recombination, and repair proteins. The in vivo activities of OLD proteins remain poorly understood and no definitive structural information exists. Here we identify and define two classes of OLD proteins based on differences in gene neighborhood and amino acid sequence conservation and present the crystal structures of the catalytic C-terminal regions from the Burkholderia pseudomallei and Xanthamonas campestris p.v. campestris Class 2 OLD proteins at 2.24 Å and 1.86 Å resolution respectively. The structures reveal a two-domain architecture containing a Toprim domain with altered architecture and a unique helical domain. Conserved side chains contributed by both domains coordinate two bound magnesium ions in the active site of B. pseudomallei OLD in a geometry that supports a two-metal catalysis mechanism for cleavage. The spatial organization of these domains additionally suggests a novel mode of DNA binding that is distinct from other Toprim containing proteins. Together, these findings define the fundamental structural properties of the OLD family catalytic core and the underlying mechanism controlling nuclease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl J Schiltz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - April Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Edward A Partlow
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Joshua S Chappie
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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59
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Kuriappan JA, Osheroff N, De Vivo M. Smoothed Potential MD Simulations for Dissociation Kinetics of Etoposide To Unravel Isoform Specificity in Targeting Human Topoisomerase II. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:4007-4017. [PMID: 31449404 PMCID: PMC6800198 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Human
type II topoisomerases (TopoII) are essential for controlling
DNA topology within the cell. For this reason, there are a number
of TopoII-targeted anticancer drugs that act by inducing DNA cleavage
mediated by both TopoII isoforms (TopoIIα and TopoIIβ)
in cells. However, recent studies suggest that specific poisoning
of TopoIIα may be a safer strategy for treating cancer. This
is because poisoning of TopoIIβ appears to be linked to the
generation of secondary leukemia in patients. We recently reported
that enzyme-mediated DNA cleavage complexes (in which TopoII is covalently
linked to the cleaved DNA during catalysis) formed in the presence
of the anticancer drug etoposide persisted approximately 3-fold longer
with TopoIIα than TopoIIβ. Notably, enhanced drug-target
residence time may reduce the adverse effects of specific TopoIIα
poisons. However, it is still not clear how to design drugs that are
specific for the α isoform. In this study, we report the results
of classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to comparatively
analyze the molecular interactions formed within the TopoII/DNA/etoposide
complex with both isoforms. We also used smoothed potential MD to
estimate etoposide dissociation kinetics from the two isoform complexes.
These extensive classical and enhanced sampling simulations revealed
stabilizing interactions of etoposide with two serine residues (Ser763
and Ser800) in TopoIIα. These interactions are missing in TopoIIβ,
where both amino acids are alanine residues. This may explain the
greater persistence of etoposide-stabilized cleavage complexes formed
with Topo TopoIIα. These findings could be useful for the rational
design of specific TopoIIα poisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jissy A Kuriappan
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genova , Italy
| | - Neil Osheroff
- Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232-0146 , United States.,Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology) , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232-6307 , United States.,VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System , Nashville , Tennessee 37212 , United States
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genova , Italy
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60
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Cao N, Tan K, Annamalai T, Joachimiak A, Tse-Dinh YC. Investigating mycobacterial topoisomerase I mechanism from the analysis of metal and DNA substrate interactions at the active site. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:7296-7308. [PMID: 29905859 PMCID: PMC6101483 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We have obtained new crystal structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis topoisomerase I, including structures with ssDNA substrate bound to the active site, with and without Mg2+ ion present. Significant enzyme conformational changes upon DNA binding place the catalytic tyrosine in a pre-transition state position for cleavage of a specific phosphodiester linkage. Meanwhile, the enzyme/DNA complex with bound Mg2+ ion may represent the post-transition state for religation in the enzyme's multiple-step DNA relaxation catalytic cycle. The first observation of Mg2+ ion coordinated with the TOPRIM residues and DNA phosphate in a type IA topoisomerase active site allows assignment of likely catalytic role for the metal and draws a comparison to the proposed mechanism for type IIA topoisomerases. The critical function of a strictly conserved glutamic acid in the DNA cleavage step was assessed through site-directed mutagenesis. The functions assigned to the observed Mg2+ ion can account for the metal requirement for DNA rejoining but not DNA cleavage by type IA topoisomerases. This work provides new structural insights into a more stringent requirement for DNA rejoining versus cleavage in the catalytic cycle of this essential enzyme, and further establishes the potential for selective interference of DNA rejoining by this validated TB drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Cao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.,Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Kemin Tan
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Thirunavukkarasu Annamalai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.,Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Andrzej Joachimiak
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.,Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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61
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Casalino L, Magistrato A. Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Pre-mRNA Splicing From Multi-Scale Simulations. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:62. [PMID: 31448284 PMCID: PMC6691188 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche–Istituto Officina dei Materiali, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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62
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Factors Influencing the Activity of Nanozymes in the Cleavage of an RNA Model Substrate. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24152814. [PMID: 31374998 PMCID: PMC6696475 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of 2-nm gold nanoparticles passivated with different thiols all featuring at least one triazacyclonanone-Zn(II) complex and different flanking units (a second Zn(II) complex, a triethyleneoxymethyl derivative or a guanidinium of arginine of a peptide) were prepared and studied for their efficiency in the cleavage of the RNA-model substrate 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The source of catalysis for each of them was elucidated from the kinetic analysis (Michaelis–Menten profiles, pH dependence and kinetic isotope effect). The data indicated that two different mechanisms were operative: One involving two Zn(II) complexes and the other one involving a single Zn(II) complex and a flanking guanidinium cation. The mechanism based on a dinuclear catalytic site appeared more efficient than the one based on the cooperativity between a metal complex and a guanidinium.
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63
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Hickman AB, Voth AR, Ewis H, Li X, Craig NL, Dyda F. Structural insights into the mechanism of double strand break formation by Hermes, a hAT family eukaryotic DNA transposase. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10286-10301. [PMID: 30239795 PMCID: PMC6212770 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Some DNA transposons relocate from one genomic location to another using a mechanism that involves generating double-strand breaks at their transposon ends by forming hairpins on flanking DNA. The same double-strand break mode is employed by the V(D)J recombinase at signal-end/coding-end junctions during the generation of antibody diversity. How flanking hairpins are formed during DNA transposition has remained elusive. Here, we describe several co-crystal structures of the Hermes transposase bound to DNA that mimics the reaction step immediately prior to hairpin formation. Our results reveal a large DNA conformational change between the initial cleavage step and subsequent hairpin formation that changes which strand is acted upon by a single active site. We observed that two factors affect the conformational change: the complement of divalent metal ions bound by the catalytically essential DDE residues, and the identity of the –2 flanking base pair. Our data also provides a mechanistic link between the efficiency of hairpin formation (an A:T basepair is favored at the –2 position) and Hermes' strong target site preference. Furthermore, we have established that the histidine residue within a conserved C/DxxH motif present in many transposase families interacts directly with the scissile phosphate, suggesting a crucial role in catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison B Hickman
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andrea Regier Voth
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hosam Ewis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xianghong Li
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Nancy L Craig
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Fred Dyda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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64
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Genna V, Marcia M, De Vivo M. A Transient and Flexible Cation-π Interaction Promotes Hydrolysis of Nucleic Acids in DNA and RNA Nucleases. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:10770-10776. [PMID: 31251587 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b03663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Metal-dependent DNA and RNA nucleases are enzymes that cleave nucleic acids with great efficiency and precision. These enzyme-mediated hydrolytic reactions are fundamental for the replication, repair, and storage of genetic information within the cell. Here, extensive classical and quantum-based free-energy molecular simulations show that a cation-π interaction is transiently formed in situ at the metal core of Bacteriophage-λ Exonuclease (Exo-λ), during catalysis. This noncovalent interaction (Lys131-Tyr154) triggers nucleophile activation for nucleotide excision. Then, our simulations also show the oscillatory dynamics and swinging of the newly formed cation-π dyad, whose conformational change may favor proton release from the cationic Lys131 to the bulk solution, thus restoring the precatalytic protonation state in Exo-λ. Altogether, we report on the novel mechanistic character of cation-π interactions for catalysis. Structural and bioinformatic analyses support that flexible orientation and transient formation of mobile cation-π interactions may represent a common catalytic strategy to promote nucleic acid hydrolysis in DNA and RNA nucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Genna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 , Genoa , Italy
| | - Marco Marcia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble , 71 Avenue des Martyrs , Grenoble 38042 , France
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 , Genoa , Italy
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65
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Calixto AR, Moreira C, Pabis A, Kötting C, Gerwert K, Rudack T, Kamerlin SCL. GTP Hydrolysis Without an Active Site Base: A Unifying Mechanism for Ras and Related GTPases. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:10684-10701. [PMID: 31199130 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b03193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
GTP hydrolysis is a biologically crucial reaction, being involved in regulating almost all cellular processes. As a result, the enzymes that catalyze this reaction are among the most important drug targets. Despite their vital importance and decades of substantial research effort, the fundamental mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis by GTPases remains highly controversial. Specifically, how do these regulatory proteins hydrolyze GTP without an obvious general base in the active site to activate the water molecule for nucleophilic attack? To answer this question, we perform empirical valence bond simulations of GTPase-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis, comparing solvent- and substrate-assisted pathways in three distinct GTPases, Ras, Rab, and the Gαi subunit of a heterotrimeric G-protein, both in the presence and in the absence of the corresponding GTPase activating proteins. Our results demonstrate that a general base is not needed in the active site, as the preferred mechanism for GTP hydrolysis is a conserved solvent-assisted pathway. This pathway involves the rate-limiting nucleophilic attack of a water molecule, leading to a short-lived intermediate that tautomerizes to form H2PO4- and GDP as the final products. Our fundamental biochemical insight into the enzymatic regulation of GTP hydrolysis not only resolves a decades-old mechanistic controversy but also has high relevance for drug discovery efforts. That is, revisiting the role of oncogenic mutants with respect to our mechanistic findings would pave the way for a new starting point to discover drugs for (so far) "undruggable" GTPases like Ras.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R Calixto
- Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , Box 576, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Cátia Moreira
- Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , Box 576, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Anna Pabis
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Uppsala University , BMC Box 596, S-751 24 , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Carsten Kötting
- Department of Biophysics , Ruhr University Bochum , 44801 Bochum , Germany
| | - Klaus Gerwert
- Department of Biophysics , Ruhr University Bochum , 44801 Bochum , Germany
| | - Till Rudack
- Department of Biophysics , Ruhr University Bochum , 44801 Bochum , Germany
| | - Shina C L Kamerlin
- Department of Chemistry-BMC , Uppsala University , Box 576, S-751 23 Uppsala , Sweden
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66
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Huang W, Huang Y, Xu J, Liao JL. How Does the Spliceosome Catalyze Intron Lariat Formation? Insights from Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics Free-Energy Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:6049-6055. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b04377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Huang
- Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, JinZhai Rd. 96, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, JinZhai Rd. 96, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jie-Lou Liao
- Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, JinZhai Rd. 96, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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67
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Palermo G, Casalino L, Magistrato A, Andrew McCammon J. Understanding the mechanistic basis of non-coding RNA through molecular dynamics simulations. J Struct Biol 2019; 206:267-279. [PMID: 30880083 PMCID: PMC6637970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) has a key role in regulating gene expression, mediating fundamental processes and diseases via a variety of yet unknown mechanisms. Here, we review recent applications of conventional and enhanced Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations methods to address the mechanistic function of large biomolecular systems that are tightly involved in the ncRNA function and that are of key importance in life sciences. This compendium focuses of three biomolecular systems, namely the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing machinery, group II intron ribozyme and the ribonucleoprotein complex of the spliceosome, which edit and process ncRNA. We show how the application of a novel accelerated MD simulations method has been key in disclosing the conformational transitions underlying RNA binding in the CRISPR-Cas9 complex, suggesting a mechanism for RNA recruitment and clarifying the conformational changes required for attaining genome editing. As well, we discuss the use of mixed quantum-classical MD simulations in deciphering the catalytic mechanism of RNA splicing as operated by group II intron ribozyme, one of the largest ncRNA structures crystallized so far. Finally, we debate the future challenges and opportunities in the field, discussing the recent application of MD simulations for unraveling the functional biophysics of the spliceosome, a multi-mega Dalton complex of proteins and small nuclear RNAs that performs RNA splicing in humans. This showcase of applications highlights the current talent of MD simulations to dissect atomic-level details of complex biomolecular systems instrumental for the design of finely engineered genome editing machines. As well, this review aims at inspiring future investigations of several other ncRNA regulatory systems, such as micro and small interfering RNAs, which achieve their function and specificity using RNA-based recognition and targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, United States.
| | - Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto Officina dei Materiali, Democritos National Simulation Center c/o International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - J Andrew McCammon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States; National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
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68
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Ning J, Furness JW, Zhang Y, Thenuwara AC, Remsing RC, Klein ML, Strongin DR, Sun J. Tunable catalytic activity of cobalt-intercalated layered MnO2 for water oxidation through confinement and local ordering. J Catal 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2019.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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69
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Aboelnga MM, Wetmore SD. Unveiling a Single-Metal-Mediated Phosphodiester Bond Cleavage Mechanism for Nucleic Acids: A Multiscale Computational Investigation of a Human DNA Repair Enzyme. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:8646-8656. [PMID: 31046259 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b03986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M. Aboelnga
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Stacey D. Wetmore
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
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70
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Ricci C, Chen JS, Miao Y, Jinek M, Doudna JA, McCammon JA, Palermo G. Deciphering Off-Target Effects in CRISPR-Cas9 through Accelerated Molecular Dynamics. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2019; 5:651-662. [PMID: 31041385 PMCID: PMC6487449 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is the state-of-the-art technology for editing and manipulating nucleic acids. However, the occurrence of off-target mutations can limit its applicability. Here, all-atom enhanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulations-using Gaussian accelerated MD (GaMD)-are used to decipher the mechanism of off-target binding at the molecular level. GaMD reveals that base pair mismatches in the target DNA at distal sites with respect to the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) can induce an extended opening of the RNA:DNA heteroduplex, which leads to newly formed interactions between the unwound DNA and the L2 loop of the catalytic HNH domain. These conserved interactions constitute a "lock" effectively decreasing the conformational freedom of the HNH domain and hampering its activation for cleavage. Remarkably, depending on their positions at PAM distal sites, DNA mismatches responsible for off-target cleavages are unable to "lock" the HNH domain, thereby leading to the unselective cleavage of DNA sequences. In consistency with the available experimental data, the ability to "lock" the catalytic HNH domain in an inactive "conformational checkpoint" is shown to be a key determinant in the onset of off-target effects. This mechanistic rationale contributes in clarifying a long lasting open issue in the CRISPR-Cas9 function and poses the foundation for designing novel and more specific Cas9 variants, which could be obtained by magnifying the "locking" interactions between HNH and the target DNA in the presence of any incorrect off-target sequence, thus preventing undesired cleavages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarisse
G. Ricci
- Department
of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and National Biomedical
Computation Resource, University of California
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Janice S. Chen
- Department of Molecular
and Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics
Institute, and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University
of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Center
for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Department of Molecular
and Cell Biology, Department of Chemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Innovative Genomics
Institute, and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, University
of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - J. Andrew McCammon
- Department
of Pharmacology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and National Biomedical
Computation Resource, University of California
San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department
of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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71
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Can multiscale simulations unravel the function of metallo-enzymes to improve knowledge-based drug discovery? Future Med Chem 2019; 11:771-791. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallo-enzymes are a large class of biomolecules promoting specialized chemical reactions. Quantum-classical quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics, describing the metal site at quantum mechanics level, while accounting for the rest of system at molecular mechanics level, has an accessible time-scale limited by its computational cost. Hence, it must be integrated with classical molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling simulations to disentangle the functions of metallo-enzymes. In this review, we provide an overview of these computational methods and their capabilities. In particular, we will focus on some systems such as CYP19A1 a Fe-dependent enzyme involved in estrogen biosynthesis, and on Mg2+-dependent DNA/RNA processing enzymes/ribozymes and the spliceosome, a protein-directed ribozyme. This information may guide the discovery of drug-like molecules and genetic manipulation tools.
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72
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Palermo G, Ricci CG, McCammon JA. The invisible dance of CRISPR-Cas9. Simulations unveil the molecular side of the gene-editing revolution. PHYSICS TODAY 2019; 72:30-36. [PMID: 31511751 PMCID: PMC6738945 DOI: 10.1063/pt.3.4182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the DNA double helix, the main molecular repository of genetic information, scientists have been struggling to find ways to efficiently manipulate genes. The ability to mark, modify, or regulate specific sequences of DNA in a controlled fashion is of key importance because of the ways that gene editing could be used to improve human life. For example, genetic therapies are being developed to permanently cure cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
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73
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Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is a bacterial immune system with exciting applications for genome editing. In spite of extensive experimental characterization, the active site chemistry of the RuvC domain-which performs DNA cleavages-has remained elusive. Its knowledge is key for structure-based engineering aimed at improving DNA cleavages. Here, we deliver an in-depth characterization by using quantum-classical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a Gaussian accelerated MD method, coupled with bioinformatics analysis. We disclose a two-metal aided architecture in the RuvC active site, which is poised to operate DNA cleavages, in analogy with other DNA/RNA processing enzymes. The conformational dynamics of the RuvC domain further reveals that an "arginine finger" stably contacts the scissile phosphate, with the function of stabilizing the active complex. Remarkably, the formation of a catalytically competent state of the RuvC domain is only observed upon the conformational activation of the other nuclease domain of CRISPR-Cas9-i.e., the HNH domain-such allowing concerted cleavages of double stranded DNA. This structure is in agreement with the available experimental data and remarkably differs from previous models based on classical mechanics, demonstrating also that only quantum mechanical simulations can accurately describe the metal-aided active site in CRISPR-Cas9. This fully catalytic structure-in which both the HNH and RuvC domains are prone to perform DNA cleavages-constitutes a stepping-stone for understanding DNA cleavage and specificity. It calls for novel experimental verifications and offers the structural foundations for engineering efforts aimed at improving the genome editing capability of CRISPR-Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, Bourns College of Engineering , University of California Riverside , 900 University Avenue , Riverside , California 92521 , United States
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74
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Remsing RC, Klein ML. Exponential Scaling of Water Exchange Rates with Ion Interaction Strength from the Perspective of Dynamic Facilitation Theory. J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:1077-1084. [PMID: 30609371 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.8b09667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard C. Remsing
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science and Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Michael L. Klein
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science and Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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75
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Two symmetric arginine residues play distinct roles in Thermus thermophilus Argonaute DNA guide strand-mediated DNA target cleavage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 116:845-853. [PMID: 30591565 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1817041116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterium Thermus thermophilus Argonaute (Ago; TtAgo) is a prokaryotic Ago (pAgo) that acts as the host defense against the uptake and propagation of foreign DNA by catalyzing the DNA cleavage reaction. The TtAgo active site consists of a plugged-in glutamate finger with two arginine residues (R545 and R486) located symmetrically around it. An interesting challenge is to understand how they can collaboratively facilitate enzymatic catalysis. In Kluyveromyces polysporus Ago, a eukaryotic Ago, the evolutionarily symmetrical residues are arginine and histidine, both of which function to stabilize the plugged-in catalytic tetrad conformation. Surprisingly, our simulation results indicated that, in TtAgo, only R545 is involved in the cleavage reaction by serving as a critical structural anchor to stabilize the catalytic tetrad Asp-Glu-Asp-Asp that is completed by the insertion of the glutamate finger, whereas R486 is not involved in target cleavage. The TtAgo-mediated target DNA cleavage occurs in a substrate-assisted mechanism, in which the pro-Rp (Rp, a tetrahedral phosphorus center with "R-type" chirality) oxygen of scissile phosphate acts as a general base to activate the nucleophilic water. Our unexpected theoretical findings on distinct roles played by R545 and R486 in TtAgo catalysis have been validated by single-point site-mutagenesis experiments, wherein the target cleavage is abolished for all mutants of R545. In sharp contrast, the cleavage activity is maintained for all mutants of R486. Our work provides mechanistic insights on the catalytic specificity of Ago proteins and could facilitate the design of new gene-editing tools in the long term.
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76
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Dynamic coordination of two-metal-ions orchestrates λ-exonuclease catalysis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4404. [PMID: 30353000 PMCID: PMC6199318 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06750-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal ions at the active site of an enzyme act as cofactors, and their dynamic fluctuations can potentially influence enzyme activity. Here, we use λ-exonuclease as a model enzyme with two Mg2+ binding sites and probe activity at various concentrations of magnesium by single-molecule-FRET. We find that while MgA2+ and MgB2+ have similar binding constants, the dissociation rate of MgA2+ is two order of magnitude lower than that of MgB2+ due to a kinetic-barrier-difference. At physiological Mg2+ concentration, the MgB2+ ion near the 5'-terminal side of the scissile phosphate dissociates each-round of degradation, facilitating a series of DNA cleavages via fast product-release concomitant with enzyme-translocation. At a low magnesium concentration, occasional dissociation and slow re-coordination of MgA2+ result in pauses during processive degradation. Our study highlights the importance of metal-ion-coordination dynamics in correlation with the enzymatic reaction-steps, and offers insights into the origin of dynamic heterogeneity in enzymatic catalysis.
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77
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Genna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisa Donati
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
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78
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Palermo G, Chen JS, Ricci CG, Rivalta I, Jinek M, Batista VS, Doudna JA, McCammon JA. Key role of the REC lobe during CRISPR-Cas9 activation by 'sensing', 'regulating', and 'locking' the catalytic HNH domain. Q Rev Biophys 2018; 51:e91. [PMID: 30555184 PMCID: PMC6292676 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583518000070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the conformational dynamics of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)-Cas9 is of the utmost importance for improving its genome editing capability. Here, molecular dynamics simulations performed using Anton-2 - a specialized supercomputer capturing micro-to-millisecond biophysical events in real time and at atomic-level resolution - reveal the activation process of the endonuclease Cas9 toward DNA cleavage. Over the unbiased simulation, we observe that the spontaneous approach of the catalytic domain HNH to the DNA cleavage site is accompanied by a remarkable structural remodeling of the recognition (REC) lobe, which exerts a key role for DNA cleavage. Specifically, the significant conformational changes and the collective conformational dynamics of the REC lobe indicate a mechanism by which the REC1-3 regions 'sense' nucleic acids, 'regulate' the HNH conformational transition, and ultimately 'lock' the HNH domain at the cleavage site, contributing to its catalytic competence. By integrating additional independent simulations and existing experimental data, we provide a solid validation of the activated HNH conformation, which had been so far poorly characterized, and we deliver a comprehensive understanding of the role of REC1-3 in the activation process. Considering the importance of the REC lobe in the specificity of Cas9, this study poses the basis for fully understanding how the REC components control the cleavage of off-target sequences, laying the foundation for future engineering efforts toward improved genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92507
| | - Janice S. Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Clarisse G. Ricci
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ivan Rivalta
- Université de Lyon, École Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon, CNRS, Lyon 1, France
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Victor S. Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - J. Andrew McCammon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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79
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Bencze ES, Zonta C, Mancin F, Prins LJ, Scrimin P. Distance between Metal Centres Affects Catalytic Efficiency of Dinuclear CoIII
Complexes in the Hydrolysis of a Phosphate Diester. European J Org Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201800300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Szusanna Bencze
- Department of Chemical Sciences; University of Padova; Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova Italy
| | - Cristiano Zonta
- Department of Chemical Sciences; University of Padova; Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova Italy
| | - Fabrizio Mancin
- Department of Chemical Sciences; University of Padova; Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova Italy
| | - Leonard J. Prins
- Department of Chemical Sciences; University of Padova; Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova Italy
| | - Paolo Scrimin
- Department of Chemical Sciences; University of Padova; Via Marzolo 1-35131 Padova Italy
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80
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Raper AT, Reed AJ, Suo Z. Kinetic Mechanism of DNA Polymerases: Contributions of Conformational Dynamics and a Third Divalent Metal Ion. Chem Rev 2018; 118:6000-6025. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Austin T. Raper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Andrew J. Reed
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Zucai Suo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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81
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Mikkola S, Lönnberg T, Lönnberg H. Phosphodiester models for cleavage of nucleic acids. Beilstein J Org Chem 2018; 14:803-837. [PMID: 29719577 PMCID: PMC5905247 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.14.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids that store and transfer biological information are polymeric diesters of phosphoric acid. Cleavage of the phosphodiester linkages by protein enzymes, nucleases, is one of the underlying biological processes. The remarkable catalytic efficiency of nucleases, together with the ability of ribonucleic acids to serve sometimes as nucleases, has made the cleavage of phosphodiesters a subject of intensive mechanistic studies. In addition to studies of nucleases by pH-rate dependency, X-ray crystallography, amino acid/nucleotide substitution and computational approaches, experimental and theoretical studies with small molecular model compounds still play a role. With small molecules, the importance of various elementary processes, such as proton transfer and metal ion binding, for stabilization of transition states may be elucidated and systematic variation of the basicity of the entering or departing nucleophile enables determination of the position of the transition state on the reaction coordinate. Such data is important on analyzing enzyme mechanisms based on synergistic participation of several catalytic entities. Many nucleases are metalloenzymes and small molecular models offer an excellent tool to construct models for their catalytic centers. The present review tends to be an up to date summary of what has been achieved by mechanistic studies with small molecular phosphodiesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satu Mikkola
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Tuomas Lönnberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Lönnberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland
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82
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Saez-Ayala M, Yekwa EL, Carcelli M, Canard B, Alvarez K, Ferron F. Crystal structures of Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus endonuclease domain complexed with diketo-acid ligands. IUCRJ 2018; 5:223-235. [PMID: 29765612 PMCID: PMC5947727 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252518001021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Arenaviridae family, together with the Bunyaviridae and Orthomyxoviridae families, is one of the three negative-stranded RNA viral families that encode an endonuclease in their genome. The endonuclease domain is at the N-terminus of the L protein, a multifunctional protein that includes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The synthesis of mRNA in arenaviruses is a process that is primed by capped nucleotides that are 'stolen' from the cellular mRNA by the endonuclease domain in cooperation with other domains of the L protein. This molecular mechanism has been demonstrated previously for the endonuclease of the prototype Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). However, the mode of action of this enzyme is not fully understood as the original structure did not contain catalytic metal ions. The pivotal role played by the cap-snatching process in the life cycle of the virus and the highly conserved nature of the endonuclease domain make it a target of choice for the development of novel antiviral therapies. Here, the binding affinities of two diketo-acid (DKA) compounds (DPBA and L-742,001) for the endonuclease domain of LCMV were evaluated using biophysical methods. X-ray structures of the LCMV endonuclease domain with catalytic ions in complex with these two compounds were determined, and their efficacies were assessed in an in vitro endonuclease-activity assay. Based on these data and computational simulation, two new DKAs were synthesized. The LCMV endonuclease domain exhibits a good affinity for these DKAs, making them a good starting point for the design of arenavirus endonuclease inhibitors. In addition to providing the first example of an X-ray structure of an arenavirus endonuclease incorporating a ligand, this study provides a proof of concept that the design of optimized inhibitors against the arenavirus endonuclease is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elsie Laban Yekwa
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
- CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Mauro Carcelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita, della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università Di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Bruno Canard
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
- CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Karine Alvarez
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
- CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - François Ferron
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
- CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
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83
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Genna V, Carloni P, De Vivo M. A Strategically Located Arg/Lys Residue Promotes Correct Base Paring During Nucleic Acid Biosynthesis in Polymerases. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:3312-3321. [PMID: 29424536 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Polymerases (Pols) synthesize the double-stranded nucleic acids in the Watson-Crick (W-C) conformation, which is critical for DNA and RNA functioning. Yet, the molecular basis to catalyze the W-C base pairing during Pol-mediated nucleic acids biosynthesis remains unclear. Here, through bioinformatics analyses on a large data set of Pol/DNA structures, we first describe the conserved presence of one positively charged residue (Lys or Arg), which is similarly located near the enzymatic two-metal active site, always interacting directly with the incoming substrate (d)NTP. Incidentally, we noted that some Pol/DNA structures showing the alternative Hoogsteen base pairing were often solved with this specific residue either mutated, displaced, or missing. We then used quantum and classical simulations coupled to free-energy calculations to illustrate how, in human DNA Pol-η, the conserved Arg61 favors W-C base pairing through defined interactions with the incoming nucleotide. Taken together, these structural observations and computational results suggest a structural framework in which this specific residue is critical for stabilizing the incoming (d)NTP nucleotide and base pairing during Pol-mediated nucleic acid biosynthesis. These results may benefit enzyme engineering for nucleic acid processing and encourage new drug discovery strategies to modulate Pols function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Genna
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genoa , Italy.,Computational Biophysics, German Research School for Simulation Sciences, and Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9 , Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52425 Jülich , Germany
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Computational Biophysics, German Research School for Simulation Sciences, and Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9 , Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52425 Jülich , Germany
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30 , 16163 Genoa , Italy.,Computational Biophysics, German Research School for Simulation Sciences, and Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9 , Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52425 Jülich , Germany
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84
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Uribe L, Diezemann G, Gauss J, Morth JP, Cascella M. Structural Origin of Metal Specificity in Isatin Hydrolase from Labrenzia aggregata Investigated by Computer Simulations. Chemistry 2018; 24:5074-5077. [PMID: 29243856 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201705159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We performed quantum-chemical calculations, ab initio molecular dynamics, hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and enhanced sampling metadynamics simulations to investigate the origin of metal specificity in isatin hydrolase from Labrenzia aggregata. The peculiar octahedral binding geometry of the Mn2+ ion in the Michaelis complex includes both the isatin substrate and the catalytic water within the first coordination shell of the cation. Our calculations show that the same arrangement of the ligands cannot be efficiently achieved in the presence of other small divalent metal cations such as Zn2+ or Cu2+ . On the contrary, bulkier alkaline-earth cations such as Mg2+ , which allow octahedral coordination, are not able to activate the catalytic water into the stronger OH- nucleophile required to attack the stable N-aryl-amide moiety of isatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Uribe
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany.,Graduate School Materials Science in Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Gregor Diezemann
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gauss
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jens Preben Morth
- Norwegian Centre for Molecular Medicine, Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.,Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, PO Box 4965 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michele Cascella
- Department of Chemistry and Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular, Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033 Blindern, 0315, Oslo, Norway
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85
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Second-Shell Basic Residues Expand the Two-Metal-Ion Architecture of DNA and RNA Processing Enzymes. Structure 2017; 26:40-50.e2. [PMID: 29225080 PMCID: PMC5758106 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis and scission of phosphodiester bonds in DNA and RNA regulate vital processes within the cell. Enzymes that catalyze these reactions operate mostly via the recognized two-metal-ion mechanism. Our analysis reveals that basic amino acids and monovalent cations occupy structurally conserved positions nearby the active site of many two-metal-ion enzymes for which high-resolution (<3 Å) structures are known, including DNA and RNA polymerases, nucleases such as Cas9, and splicing ribozymes. Integrating multiple-sequence and structural alignments with molecular dynamics simulations, electrostatic potential maps, and mutational data, we found that these elements always interact with the substrates, suggesting that they may play an active role for catalysis, in addition to their electrostatic contribution. We discuss possible mechanistic implications of this expanded two-metal-ion architecture, including inferences on medium-resolution cryoelectron microscopy structures. Ultimately, our analysis may inspire future experiments and strategies for enzyme engineering or drug design to modulate nucleic acid processing. Basic residues in the active site of two-metal-ion enzymes are structurally conserved These residues are also conserved in evolution Mutagenesis suggests these residues may exert an effect on DNA- and RNA processing Our work offers insights into CRISPR/Cas9, spliceosome, and DNA/RNA polymerases
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86
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Meanwell NA. Drug-target interactions that involve the replacement or displacement of magnesium ions. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:5355-5372. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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87
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Ortega JA, Riccardi L, Minniti E, Borgogno M, Arencibia JM, Greco ML, Minarini A, Sissi C, De Vivo M. Pharmacophore Hybridization To Discover Novel Topoisomerase II Poisons with Promising Antiproliferative Activity. J Med Chem 2017; 61:1375-1379. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Antonio Ortega
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Riccardi
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Elirosa Minniti
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Borgogno
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Jose M. Arencibia
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria L. Greco
- Department
of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Minarini
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Sissi
- Department
of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory
of Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
- IAS-5/INM-9 Computational Biomedicine Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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88
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Huai C, Li G, Yao R, Zhang Y, Cao M, Kong L, Jia C, Yuan H, Chen H, Lu D, Huang Q. Structural insights into DNA cleavage activation of CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1375. [PMID: 29123204 PMCID: PMC5680257 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been widely used for genome engineering. Its RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9 binds specifically to target DNA and then cleaves the two DNA strands with HNH and RuvC nuclease domains. However, structural information regarding the DNA cleavage-activating state of two nuclease domains remains sparse. Here, we report a 5.2 Å cryo-EM structure of Cas9 in complex with sgRNA and target DNA. This structure reveals a conformational state of Cas9 in which the HNH domain is closest to the DNA cleavage site. Compared with two known HNH states, our structure shows that the HNH active site moves toward the cleavage site by about 25 and 13 Å, respectively. In combination with EM-based molecular dynamics simulations, we show that residues of the nuclease domains in our structure could form cleavage-compatible conformations with the target DNA. Together, these results strongly suggest that our cryo-EM structure resembles a DNA cleavage-activating architecture of Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Huai
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Gan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Ruijie Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- National Center for Protein Science Shanghai, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Mi Cao
- National Center for Protein Science Shanghai, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Liangliang Kong
- National Center for Protein Science Shanghai, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- Shanghai Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Chenqiang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Daru Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Qiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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89
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Novel xanthone-polyamine conjugates as catalytic inhibitors of human topoisomerase IIα. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:4687-4693. [PMID: 28919339 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
It has been proposed that xanthone derivatives with anticancer potential act as topoisomerase II inhibitors because they interfere with the ability of the enzyme to bind its ATP cofactor. In order to further characterize xanthone mechanism and generate compounds with potential as anticancer drugs, we synthesized a series of derivatives in which position 3 was substituted with different polyamine chains. As determined by DNA relaxation and decatenation assays, the resulting compounds are potent topoisomerase IIα inhibitors. Although xanthone derivatives inhibit topoisomerase IIα-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis, mechanistic studies indicate that they do not act at the ATPase site. Rather, they appear to function by blocking the ability of DNA to stimulate ATP hydrolysis. On the basis of activity, competition, and modeling studies, we propose that xanthones interact with the DNA cleavage/ligation active site of topoisomerase IIα and inhibit the catalytic activity of the enzyme by interfering with the DNA strand passage step.
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90
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Palermo G, Ricci CG, Fernando A, Basak R, Jinek M, Rivalta I, Batista VS, McCammon JA. Protospacer Adjacent Motif-Induced Allostery Activates CRISPR-Cas9. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:16028-16031. [PMID: 28764328 PMCID: PMC5905990 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b05313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing technology with major impact in life sciences. In this system, the endonuclease Cas9 generates double strand breaks in DNA upon RNA-guided recognition of a complementary DNA sequence, which strictly requires the presence of a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) next to the target site. Although PAM recognition is essential for cleavage, it is unknown whether and how PAM binding activates Cas9 for DNA cleavage at spatially distant sites. Here, we find evidence of a PAM-induced allosteric mechanism revealed by microsecond molecular dynamics simulations. PAM acts as an allosteric effector and triggers the interdependent conformational dynamics of the Cas9 catalytic domains (HNH and RuvC), responsible for concerted cleavage of the two DNA strands. Targeting such an allosteric mechanism should enable control of CRISPR-Cas9 functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amendra Fernando
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University , P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | - Rajshekhar Basak
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University , P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich , Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Rivalta
- Univ Lyon, Ens de Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, F-69342 Lyon, France
| | - Victor S Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University , P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
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91
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Gaur R, Choubey DK, Usman M, Ward BD, Roy JK, Mishra L. Synthesis, structures, nuclease activity, cytotoxicity, DFT and molecular docking studies of two nitrato bridged homodinuclear (Cu-Cu, Zn-Zn) complexes containing 2,2′-bipyridine and a chalcone derivative. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2017; 173:650-660. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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92
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Yekwa E, Khourieh J, Canard B, Papageorgiou N, Ferron F. Activity inhibition and crystal polymorphism induced by active-site metal swapping. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 73:641-649. [PMID: 28777079 DOI: 10.1107/s205979831700866x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The Arenaviridae family is one of the two RNA viral families that encode a 3'-5' exonuclease in their genome. An exonuclease domain is found in the Arenaviridae nucleoprotein and targets dsRNA specifically. This domain is directly involved in suppression of innate immunity in the host cell. Like most phosphate-processing enzymes, it requires a divalent metal ion such as Mg2+ (or Mn2+) as a cofactor to catalyse nucleotide-cleavage and nucleotide-transfer reactions. On the other hand, calcium (Ca2+) inhibits this enzymatic activity, in spite of the fact that Mg2+ and Ca2+ present comparable binding affinities and biological availabilities. Here, the molecular and structural effects of the replacement of magnesium by calcium and its inhibition mechanism for phosphodiester cleavage, an essential reaction in the viral process of innate immunity suppression, are studied. Biochemical data and high-resolution structures of the Mopeia virus exonuclease domain complexed with each ion are reported for the first time. The consequences of the ion swap for the stability of the protein, the catalytic site and the functional role of a specific metal ion in enabling the catalytic cleavage of a dsRNA substrate are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsie Yekwa
- CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
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93
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Palermo G, Miao Y, Walker RC, Jinek M, McCammon JA. CRISPR-Cas9 conformational activation as elucidated from enhanced molecular simulations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7260-7265. [PMID: 28652374 PMCID: PMC5514767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707645114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 has become a facile genome editing technology, yet the structural and mechanistic features underlying its function are unclear. Here, we perform extensive molecular simulations in an enhanced sampling regime, using a Gaussian-accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) methodology, which probes displacements over hundreds of microseconds to milliseconds, to reveal the conformational dynamics of the endonuclease Cas9 during its activation toward catalysis. We disclose the conformational transition of Cas9 from its apo form to the RNA-bound form, suggesting a mechanism for RNA recruitment in which the domain relocations cause the formation of a positively charged cavity for nucleic acid binding. GaMD also reveals the conformation of a catalytically competent Cas9, which is prone for catalysis and whose experimental characterization is still limited. We show that, upon DNA binding, the conformational dynamics of the HNH domain triggers the formation of the active state, explaining how the HNH domain exerts a conformational control domain over DNA cleavage [Sternberg SH et al. (2015) Nature, 527, 110-113]. These results provide atomic-level information on the molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9 that will inspire future experimental investigations aimed at fully clarifying the biophysics of this unique genome editing machinery and at developing new tools for nucleic acid manipulation based on CRISPR-Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Palermo
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Ross C Walker
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J Andrew McCammon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
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94
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Mlýnský V, Bussi G. Understanding in-line probing experiments by modeling cleavage of nonreactive RNA nucleotides. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:712-720. [PMID: 28202709 PMCID: PMC5393180 DOI: 10.1261/rna.060442.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is involved in many regulatory and catalytic processes in the cell. The function of any RNA molecule is intimately related with its structure. In-line probing experiments provide valuable structural data sets for a variety of RNAs and are used to characterize conformational changes in riboswitches. However, the structural determinants that lead to differential reactivities in unpaired nucleotides have not been investigated yet. In this work, we used a combination of theoretical approaches, i.e., classical molecular dynamics simulations, multiscale quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations, and enhanced sampling techniques in order to compute and interpret the differential reactivity of individual residues in several RNA motifs, including members of the most important GNRA and UNCG tetraloop families. Simulations on the multinanosecond timescale are required to converge the related free-energy landscapes. The results for uGAAAg and cUUCGg tetraloops and double helices are compared with available data from in-line probing experiments and show that the introduced technique is able to distinguish between nucleotides of the uGAAAg tetraloop based on their structural predispositions toward phosphodiester backbone cleavage. For the cUUCGg tetraloop, more advanced ab initio calculations would be required. This study is the first attempt to computationally classify chemical probing experiments and paves the way for an identification of tertiary structures based on the measured reactivity of nonreactive nucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Mlýnský
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bussi
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
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95
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Zhou W, Saran R, Huang PJJ, Ding J, Liu J. An Exceptionally Selective DNA Cooperatively Binding Two Ca2+Ions. Chembiochem 2017; 18:518-522. [PMID: 28087991 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhu Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Central South University; 172 Tongzipo Road Changsha Hunan 410013 China
- Department of Chemistry; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Waterloo; 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Runjhun Saran
- Department of Chemistry; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Waterloo; 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Po-Jung Jimmy Huang
- Department of Chemistry; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Waterloo; 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Jinsong Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Central South University; 172 Tongzipo Road Changsha Hunan 410013 China
| | - Juewen Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Central South University; 172 Tongzipo Road Changsha Hunan 410013 China
- Department of Chemistry; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology; University of Waterloo; 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G1 Canada
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96
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Diez-Castellnou M, Martinez A, Mancin F. Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis: The Path From Mechanistic Investigation to the Realization of Artificial Enzymes. ADVANCES IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.apoc.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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97
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Casalino L, Palermo G, Abdurakhmonova N, Rothlisberger U, Magistrato A. Development of Site-Specific Mg(2+)-RNA Force Field Parameters: A Dream or Reality? Guidelines from Combined Molecular Dynamics and Quantum Mechanics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2016; 13:340-352. [PMID: 28001405 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.6b00905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The vital contribution of Mg2+ ions to RNA biology is challenging to dissect at the experimental level. This calls for the integrative support of atomistic simulations, which at the classical level are plagued by limited accuracy. Indeed, force fields intrinsically neglect nontrivial electronic effects that Mg2+ exerts on its surrounding ligands in varying RNA coordination environments. Here, we present a combined computational study based on classical molecular dynamics (MD) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, aimed at characterizing (i) the performance of five Mg2+ force field (FF) models in RNA systems and (ii) how charge transfer and polarization affect the binding of Mg2+ ions in different coordination motifs. As a result, a total of ∼2.5 μs MD simulations (100/200 ns for each run) for two prototypical Mg2+-dependent ribozymes showed remarkable differences in terms of populations of inner-sphere coordination site types. Most importantly, complementary DFT calculations unveiled that differences in charge transfer and polarization among recurrent Mg2+-RNA coordination motifs are surprisingly small. In particular, the charge of the Mg2+ ions substantially remains constant through different coordination sites, suggesting that the common philosophy of developing site-specific Mg2+ ion parameters is not in line with the physical origin of the Mg2+-RNA MD simulations inaccuracies. Overall, this study constitutes a guideline for an adept use of current Mg2+ models and provides novel insights for the rational development of next-generation Mg2+ FFs to be employed for atomistic simulations of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Casalino
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Laboratory of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nodira Abdurakhmonova
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy.,Università degli Studi di Trieste , Trieste, Italy
| | - Ursula Rothlisberger
- Laboratory of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alessandra Magistrato
- CNR-IOM-Democritos National Simulation Center c/o SISSA , via Bonomea 265, Trieste, Italy
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98
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Tjioe L, Joshi T, Graham B, Spiccia L. Synthesis and phosphate ester cleavage properties of copper(II) complexes of guanidinium-bridged bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononane) ligands. Polyhedron 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2016.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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99
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Zhang S, Gu H, Chen H, Strong E, Ollie EW, Kellerman D, Liang D, Miyagi M, Anderson VE, Piccirilli JA, York DM, Harris ME. Isotope effect analyses provide evidence for an altered transition state for RNA 2'-O-transphosphorylation catalyzed by Zn(2+). Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 52:4462-5. [PMID: 26859380 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc10212j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Solvent D2O and (18)O kinetic isotope effects on RNA 2'-O-transphosphorylation catalyzed by Zn(2+) demonstrate an altered transition state relative to specific base catalysis. A recent model from DFT calculations involving inner sphere coordination to the non-bridging and leaving group oxygens is consistent with the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Hong Gu
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Haoyuan Chen
- Center for Integrative Proteomics Research, BioMaPS Institute for Quantitative Biology and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Emily Strong
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Edward W Ollie
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Daniel Kellerman
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Danni Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Masaru Miyagi
- Case Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Vernon E Anderson
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Joseph A Piccirilli
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Darrin M York
- Center for Integrative Proteomics Research, BioMaPS Institute for Quantitative Biology and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Michael E Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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100
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Batebi H, Imhof P. Phosphodiester hydrolysis computed for cluster models of enzymatic active sites. Theor Chem Acc 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00214-016-2020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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