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Vijay A, Mukherjee A. Unraveling the folding-assisted unbinding mechanism of TCF with its binding partner β-catenin. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:17481-17488. [PMID: 38887991 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01451k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
This study utilizes molecular dynamics simulations aided with multiple walker parallel bias metadynamics to investigate the TCF unbinding mechanism from the β-catenin interface. The results, consistent with experimental binding affinity calculations, unveil a folding-assisted unbinding mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Vijay
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune-411008, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune-411008, Maharashtra, India.
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2
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Dhami LS, Dahal P, Thapa B, Gautam N, Pantha N, Adhikari R, Adhikari NP. Insights from in silico study of receptor energetics of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:8794-8806. [PMID: 38420855 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04997c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of new variants of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 with increased infectivity, superior virulence, high transmissibility, and unmatched immune escape has demonstrated the adaptability and evolutionary fitness of the virus. The subject of relative order of the binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 variants with the human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor is hotly debated and its resolution has implications for drug design and development. In this work, we have investigated the energetics of the binding of receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs): Beta (B.1.351), Delta (B.1.617.2), Omicron (B.1.1.529), variant of interest (VOI): Kappa (B.1.617.1), and Delta Plus (B.1.617.2.1) variant with the human ACE2 receptor by using the umbrella sampling (US) method. Our work indicates that Delta and Delta Plus variants have greater values of the US binding free energy than Wild-type (WT), whereas Beta, Kappa, and Omicron variants have lower values. Further analysis of hydrogen bonding, salt bridges, non-bonded interaction energy, and contact surface area at the RBD-hACE2 interface establish Delta as the variant with the highest binding affinity among these variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokendra Singh Dhami
- Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.
| | - Prabin Dahal
- Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.
| | - Bidhya Thapa
- Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.
- Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bagbazar, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal
| | - Narayan Gautam
- Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.
- Tri-chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal
| | - Nurapati Pantha
- Central Department of Physics, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal.
| | - Rameshwar Adhikari
- Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44613, Nepal
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Vijay A, Sreyas Adury VS, Mukherjee A. Targeting RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 with De Novo Molecule Generation. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:609-616. [PMID: 37566736 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are known for their extremely high mutation rates, allowing them to evade both the human immune system and many forms of standard medicine. Despite this, the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the RNA viruses has been largely conserved, and any significant mutation of this protein is unlikely. The recent COVID-19 pandemic presents a need for therapeutics. We have designed a de novo drug design algorithm that generates strong binding ligands from scratch, based on only the structure of the target protein's receptor. In this paper, we applied our method to target SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and generated several de novo molecules. We then chose some drug molecules based on the structural similarity to some of our strongest binding de novo molecules. Subsequently, we showed, using rigorous all-atom explicit-water free energy calculations in near-microsecond time scales using state-of-the-art well-tempered metadynamics simulations, that some of our de novo generated ligands bind more strongly to RdRp than the recent FDA approved drug remdesivir in its active form, remdesivir triphosphate (RTP). We elucidated the binding mechanism for some of the top binders and compared it with RTP. We believe that this work will be useful both by presenting lead structures for RdRp inhibition and by delivering key insights into the residues of the protein potentially involved in the binding/unbinding of these small molecule drugs, leading to more targeted studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Vijay
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | | | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
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Waheed SO, Varghese A, DiCastri I, Kaski B, LaRouche C, Fields GB, Karabencheva-Christova TG. Mechanism of the Early Catalytic Events in the Collagenolysis by Matrix Metalloproteinase-1. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202200649. [PMID: 36161746 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202200649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) catalyzed collagen degradation is essential for a wide variety of normal physiological processes, while at the same time contributing to several diseases in humans. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of this process is of great importance. Although crystallographic and spectroscopic studies provided fundamental information about the structure and function of MMP-1, the precise mechanism of collagen degradation especially considering the complex and flexible structure of the substrate, remains poorly understood. In addition, how the protein environment dynamically reorganizes at the atomic scale into a catalytically active state capable of collagen hydrolysis remains unknown. In this study, we applied experimentally-guided multiscale molecular modeling methods including classical molecular dynamics (MD), well-tempered (WT) classical metadynamics (MetD), combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) MD and QM/MM MetD simulations to explore and characterize the early catalytic events of MMP-1 collagenolysis. Importantly the study provided a complete atomic and dynamic description of the transition from the open to the closed form of the MMP-1•THP complex. Notably, the formation of catalytically active Michaelis complex competent for collagen cleavage was characterized. The study identified the changes in the coordination state of the catalytic zinc(II) associated with the conformational transformation and the formation of catalytically productive ES complex. Our results confirm the essential role of the MMP-1 catalytic domain's α-helices (hA, hB and hC) and the linker region in the transition to the catalytically competent ES complex. Overall, the results provide unique mechanistic insight into the conformational transformations and associated changes in the coordination state of the catalytic zinc(II) that would be important for the design of effective MMP-1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sodiq O Waheed
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Ann Varghese
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Isabella DiCastri
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Brenden Kaski
- Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Ciara LaRouche
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, 49931, USA
| | - Gregg B Fields
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and I-HEALTH, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, 33458, USA
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Liu XH, Cheng T, Liu BY, Chi J, Shu T, Wang T. Structures of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and applications for novel drug development. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:955648. [PMID: 36016554 PMCID: PMC9395726 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.955648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 has raised a health crisis worldwide. The high morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 and the lack of effective drugs or vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 emphasize the urgent need for standard treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the glycosylated spike protein (S protein) is capable of binding to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and initiating membrane fusion and virus entry. Hence, it is rational to inhibit the RBD activity of the S protein by blocking the RBD interaction with hACE2, which makes the glycosylated S protein a potential target for designing and developing antiviral agents. In this study, the molecular features of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 are highlighted, such as the structures, functions, and interactions of the S protein and ACE2. Additionally, computational tools developed for the treatment of COVID-19 are provided, for example, algorithms, databases, and relevant programs. Finally, recent advances in the novel development of antivirals against the S protein are summarized, including screening of natural products, drug repurposing and rational design. This study is expected to provide novel insights for the efficient discovery of promising drug candidates against the S protein and contribute to the development of broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs to fight against SARS-CoV-2.
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Ray D, Quijano RN, Andricioaei I. Point mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants induce long-range dynamical perturbations in neutralizing antibodies. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7224-7239. [PMID: 35799828 PMCID: PMC9214918 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00534d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are emerging as a viable treatment for the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). However, newly evolved variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can reduce the efficacy of currently available antibodies and can diminish vaccine-induced immunity. Here, we demonstrate that the microscopic dynamics of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies can be profoundly modified by the mutations present in the spike proteins of the SARS-COV-2 variants currently circulating in the world population. The dynamical perturbations within the antibody structure, which alter the thermodynamics of antigen recognition, are diverse and can depend both on the nature of the antibody and on the spatial location of the spike mutation. The correlation between the motion of the antibody and that of the spike receptor binding domain (RBD) can also be changed, modulating binding affinity. Using protein-graph-connectivity networks, we delineated the mutant-induced modifications in the information-flow along allosteric pathway throughout the antibody. Changes in the collective dynamics were spatially distributed both locally and across long-range distances within the antibody. On the receptor side, we identified an anchor-like structural element that prevents the detachment of the antibodies; individual mutations there can significantly affect the antibody binding propensity. Our study provides insight into how virus neutralization by monoclonal antibodies can be impacted by local mutations in the epitope via a change in dynamics. This realization adds a new layer of sophistication to the efforts for rational design of monoclonal antibodies against new variants of SARS-CoV2, taking the allostery in the antibody into consideration. Mutations in the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein modulates the dynamics of the neutralizing antibodies. Capturing such modulations from MD simulations and graph network model identifies the role of mutations in facilitating immune evasion.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiman Ray
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | | | - Ioan Andricioaei
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Irvine Irvine CA 92697 USA .,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine Irvine CA 92697 USA
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Copper(II) import and reduction are dependent on His-Met clusters in the extracellular amino terminus of human copper transporter-1. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101631. [PMID: 35090891 PMCID: PMC8867124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper(I) is an essential metal for all life forms. Though Cu(II) is the most abundant and stable state, its reduction to Cu(I) via an unclear mechanism is prerequisite for its bioutilization. In eukaryotes, the copper transporter-1 (CTR1) is the primary high-affinity copper importer, although its mechanism and role in Cu(II) reduction remain uncharacterized. Here we show that extracellular amino-terminus of human CTR1 contains two methionine-histidine clusters and neighboring aspartates that distinctly bind Cu(I) and Cu(II) preceding its import. We determined that hCTR1 localizes at the basolateral membrane of polarized MDCK-II cells and that its endocytosis to Common-Recycling-Endosomes is regulated by reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) and subsequent Cu(I) coordination by the methionine cluster. We demonstrate the transient binding of both Cu(II) and Cu(I) during the reduction process is facilitated by aspartates that also act as another crucial determinant of hCTR1 endocytosis. Mutating the first Methionine cluster (7Met-Gly-Met9) and Asp13 abrogated copper uptake and endocytosis upon copper treatment. This phenotype could be reverted by treating the cells with reduced and nonreoxidizable Cu(I). We show that histidine clusters, on other hand, bind Cu(II) and are crucial for hCTR1 functioning at limiting copper. Finally, we show that two N-terminal His-Met-Asp clusters exhibit functional complementarity, as the second cluster is sufficient to preserve copper-induced CTR1 endocytosis upon complete deletion of the first cluster. We propose a novel and detailed mechanism by which the two His-Met-Asp residues of hCTR1 amino-terminus not only bind copper, but also maintain its reduced state, crucial for intracellular uptake.
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Distant residues modulate conformational opening in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2100943118. [PMID: 34615730 PMCID: PMC8639331 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100943118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulted in the largest public health crisis in recent times. Significant drug design effort against SARS-CoV-2 is focused on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, although this region is highly prone to mutations causing therapeutic resistance. We applied deep data analysis methods on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to identify key non-RBD residues that play a crucial role in spike−receptor binding and infection. Because the non-RBD residues are typically conserved across multiple coronaviruses, they can be targeted by broad-spectrum antibodies and drugs to treat infections from new strains that might appear during future epidemics. Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) involves the attachment of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of its spike proteins to the ACE2 receptors on the peripheral membrane of host cells. Binding is initiated by a down-to-up conformational change in the spike protein, the change that presents the RBD to the receptor. To date, computational and experimental studies that search for therapeutics have concentrated, for good reason, on the RBD. However, the RBD region is highly prone to mutations, and is therefore a hotspot for drug resistance. In contrast, we here focus on the correlations between the RBD and residues distant to it in the spike protein. This allows for a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular recognition events and prediction of the highest-effect key mutations in distant, allosteric sites, with implications for therapeutics. Also, these sites can appear in emerging mutants with possibly higher transmissibility and virulence, and preidentifying them can give clues for designing pan-coronavirus vaccines against future outbreaks. Our model, based on time-lagged independent component analysis (tICA) and protein graph connectivity network, is able to identify multiple residues that exhibit long-distance coupling with the RBD opening. Residues involved in the most ubiquitous D614G mutation and the A570D mutation of the highly contagious UK SARS-CoV-2 variant are predicted ab initio from our model. Conversely, broad-spectrum therapeutics like drugs and monoclonal antibodies can target these key distant-but-conserved regions of the spike protein.
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Chowdhury R, Sai Sreyas Adury V, Vijay A, Singh RK, Mukherjee A. Atomistic De-novo Inhibitor Generation-Guided Drug Repurposing for SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein with Free-Energy Validation by Well-Tempered Metadynamics. Chem Asian J 2021; 16:1634-1642. [PMID: 33949124 PMCID: PMC8207131 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202100268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Computational drug design is increasingly becoming important with new and unforeseen diseases like COVID-19. In this study, we present a new computational de novo drug design and repurposing method and applied it to find plausible drug candidates for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Our study comprises three steps: atom-by-atom generation of new molecules around a receptor, structural similarity mapping to existing approved and investigational drugs, and validation of their binding strengths to the viral spike proteins based on rigorous all-atom, explicit-water well-tempered metadynamics free energy calculations. By choosing the receptor binding domain of the viral spike protein, we showed that some of our new molecules and some of the repurposable drugs have stronger binding to RBD than hACE2. To validate our approach, we also calculated the free energy of hACE2 and RBD, and found it to be in an excellent agreement with experiments. These pool of drugs will allow strategic repurposing against COVID-19 for a particular prevailing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rituparno Chowdhury
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Science Education and Research PuneMaharashtraIndia
- Department of Chemical SciencesIndian Institute of Science Education and Research KolkataWest BengalIndia
| | | | - Amal Vijay
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Science Education and Research PuneMaharashtraIndia
| | - Reman K. Singh
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Science Education and Research PuneMaharashtraIndia
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of ChemistryIndian Institute of Science Education and Research PuneMaharashtraIndia
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