The mechanism of pentabromopseudilin inhibition of myosin motor activity

The myosin start-of-power stroke state and how actin binding drives the power stroke

We propose that on binding to actin at the start of the power stroke the myosin cross-bridge takes on the rigor configuration at the actin interface. Starting from the prepower stroke state, this can be achieved by a small movement (16° rotation) of the lower 50K domain without twisting the central β-sheet or opening switch-1 or switch-2. The movement of the lower 50K domain puts a strain on the W-helix. This strain tries to twist the β-sheet, which could drive the power stroke. This would provide a coupling between actin binding and the execution of the power stroke. During the power stroke the β-sheet twists, moving the P-loop away from switch-2, which opens the nucleotide binding pocket and separates ADP from Pi . The power stroke is different from the recovery stroke because the upper and lower 50K domains are tethered in the rigor configuration.

Small-molecule inhibitors of myosin proteins

Advances in screening and computational methods have enhanced recent efforts to discover/design small-molecule protein inhibitors. One attractive target for inhibition is the myosin family of motor proteins. Myosins function in a wide variety of cellular processes, from intracellular trafficking to cell motility, and are implicated in several human diseases (e.g., cancer, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, deafness and many neurological disorders). Potent and selective myosin inhibitors are, therefore, not only a tool for understanding myosin function, but are also a resource for developing treatments for diseases involving myosin dysfunction or overactivity. This review will provide a brief overview of the characteristics and scientific/therapeutic applications of the presently identified small-molecule myosin inhibitors before discussing the future of myosin inhibitor and activator design.

Kinetic properties and small-molecule inhibition of human myosin-6

Myosin-6 is an actin-based motor protein that moves its cargo towards the minus-end of actin filaments. Mutations in the gene encoding the myosin-6 heavy chain and changes in the cellular abundance of the protein have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Here, we present a detailed kinetic characterization of the human myosin-6 motor domain, describe the effect of 2,4,6-triiodophenol on the interaction of myosin-6 with F-actin and nucleotides, and show how addition of the drug reduces the number of myosin-6-dependent vesicle fusion events at the plasma membrane during constitutive secretion.

Nonmuscle myosin-2: mix and match

Members of the nonmuscle myosin-2 (NM-2) family of actin-based molecular motors catalyze the conversion of chemical energy into directed movement and force thereby acting as central regulatory components of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. By cyclically interacting with adenosine triphosphate and F-actin, NM-2 isoforms promote cytoskeletal force generation in established cellular processes like cell migration, shape changes, adhesion dynamics, endo- and exo-cytosis, and cytokinesis. Novel functions of the NM-2 family members in autophagy and viral infection are emerging, making NM-2 isoforms regulators of nearly all cellular processes that require the spatiotemporal organization of cytoskeletal scaffolding. Here, we assess current views about the role of NM-2 isoforms in these activities including the tight regulation of NM-2 assembly and activation through phosphorylation and how NM-2-mediated changes in cytoskeletal dynamics and mechanics affect cell physiological functions in health and disease.

Mechanism and specificity of pentachloropseudilin-mediated inhibition of myosin motor activity

Here, we report that the natural compound pentachloropseudilin (PClP) acts as a reversible and allosteric inhibitor of myosin ATPase and motor activity. IC(50) values are in the range from 1 to 5 μm for mammalian class-1 myosins and greater than 90 μm for class-2 and class-5 myosins, and no inhibition was observed with class-6 and class-7 myosins. We show that in mammalian cells, PClP selectively inhibits myosin-1c function. To elucidate the structural basis for PClP-induced allosteric coupling and isoform-specific differences in the inhibitory potency of the compound, we used a multifaceted approach combining direct functional, crystallographic, and in silico modeling studies. Our results indicate that allosteric inhibition by PClP is mediated by the combined effects of global changes in protein dynamics and direct communication between the catalytic and allosteric sites via a cascade of small conformational changes along a conserved communication pathway.

Inhibition of Myosin ATPase activity by halogenated pseudilins: a structure-activity study

Myosin activity is crucial for many biological functions. Strong links have been established between changes in the activity of specific myosin isoforms and diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular failure, and disorders of sensory organs and the central nervous system. The modulation of specific myosin isoforms therefore holds a strong therapeutic potential. In recent work, we identified members of the marine alkaloid family of pseudilins as potent inhibitors of myosin-dependent processes. Here, we report the crystal structure of the complex between the Dictyostelium myosin 2 motor domain and 2,4-dichloro-6-(3,4,5-tribromo-1H-pyrrole-2-yl)phenol (3). Detailed comparison with previously solved structures of the myosin 2 complex with bound pentabromopseudilin (2a) or pentachloropseudilin (4a) provides insights into the molecular basis of the allosteric communication between the catalytic and the allosteric sites. Moreover, we describe the inhibitory potency for a congeneric series of halogenated pseudilins. Insight into their mode of action is gained by applying a combination of experimental and computational approaches.

Highly brominated antimicrobial metabolites from a marine Pseudoalteromonas sp

Extracts of a marine Pseudoalteromonas sp. (CMMED 290) isolated from the surface of a nudibranch collected in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, displayed significant antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the lipophilic extract led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new highly brominated compounds, 2,3,5,7-tetrabromobenzofuro[3,2-b]pyrrole (1) and 4,4',6-tribromo-2,2'-biphenol (2). In addition, we have identified the known compounds pentabromopseudilin and bromophene. We describe the isolation and structure elucidation of the compounds 1 and 2 together with their antimicrobial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Total synthesis of the ammosamides

The ammosamides A-C are chlorinated pyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinoline metabolites isolated from the marine-derived Streptomyces strain CNR-698. The natural products, which possess a dense array of heteroatoms, were synthesized in 17-19 steps from 4-chloroisatin. That the five nitrogen atoms were introduced at the appropriate time and in a suitable oxidation state was key to the success of the total synthesis. Compared to synthetic deschloro ammosamide B, natural ammosamide B is much less susceptible to oxidative degradation.