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Kos J, Jampilek J. Editorial of Special Issue "Current Trends in Chemistry Towards Biology". Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7307. [PMID: 39000415 PMCID: PMC11242065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the definitions of chemical biology is that it is a scientific discipline spanning the fields of chemistry, biology, and physics; it primarily involves the application of chemical techniques, tools, analyses, and often compounds (also known as chemical probes), which are produced through synthetic chemistry, in order to study and manipulate biological systems [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Kos
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Josef Jampilek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University Olomouc, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Solga D, Wieske LHE, Wilcox S, Zeilinger C, Jansen-Olliges L, Cirnski K, Herrmann J, Müller R, Erdelyi M, Kirschning A. Is Simultaneous Binding to DNA and Gyrase Important for the Antibacterial Activity of Cystobactamids? Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303796. [PMID: 38217886 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Cystobactamids are aromatic oligoamides that exert their natural antibacterial properties by inhibition of bacterial gyrases. Such aromatic oligoamides were proposed to inhibit α-helix-mediated protein-protein interactions and may serve for specific recognition of DNA. Based on this suggestion, we designed new derivatives that have duplicated cystobactamid triarene units as model systems to decipher the specific binding mode of cystobactamids to double stranded DNA. Solution NMR analyses revealed that natural cystobactamids as well as their elongated analogues show an overall bent shape at their central aliphatic unit, with an average CX-CY-CZ angle of ~110 degrees. Our finding is corroborated by the target-bound structure of close analogues, as established by cryo-EM very recently. Cystobactamid CN-861-2 binds directly to the bacterial gyrase with an affinity of 9 μM, and also exhibits DNA-binding properties with specificity for AT-rich DNA. Elongation/dimerization of the triarene subunit of native cystobactamids is demonstrated to lead to an increase in DNA binding affinity. This implies that cystobactamids' gyrase inhibitory activity necessitates not just interaction with the gyrase itself, but also with DNA via their triarene unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Solga
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lianne H E Wieske
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-752 37, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Scott Wilcox
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-752 37, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carsten Zeilinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Linda Jansen-Olliges
- Institute of Biophysics and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katarina Cirnski
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Jennifer Herrmann
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mate Erdelyi
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, SE-752 37, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Kirschning
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, 30167, Hannover, Germany
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Mohammed A, Waddell MB, Sutkeviciute I, Danda A, Philips SJ, Lang W, Slavish PJ, Kietlinska SJ, Kaulage M, Sourav D, Ansari AZ. Domain-Selective BET Ligands Yield Next-Generation Synthetic Genome Readers/Regulators with Nonidentical Cellular Functions. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37923569 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
SynTEF1, a prototype synthetic genome reader/regulator (SynGR), was designed to target GAA triplet repeats and restore the expression of frataxin (FXN) in Friedreich's ataxia patients. It achieves this complex task by recruiting BRD4, via a pan-BET ligand (JQ1), to the GAA repeats by using a sequence-selective DNA-binding polyamide. When bound to specific genomic loci in this way, JQ1 functions as a chemical prosthetic for acetyl-lysine residues that are natural targets of the two tandem bromodomains (BD1 and BD2) in bromo- and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins. As next-generation BET ligands were disclosed, we tested a select set with improved physicochemical, pharmacological, and bromodomain-selective properties as substitutes for JQ1 in the SynGR design. Here, we report two unexpected findings: (1) SynGRs bearing pan-BET or BD2-selective ligands license transcription at the FXN locus, whereas those bearing BD1-selective ligands do not, and (2) rather than being neutral or inhibitory, an untethered BD1-selective ligand (GSK778) substantively enhances the activity of all active SynGRs. The failure of BD1-selective SynGRs to recruit BRD4/BET proteins suggests that rather than functioning as "epigenetic/chromatin mimics," active SynGRs mimic the functions of natural transcription factors in engaging BET proteins through BD2 binding. Moreover, the enhanced activity of SynGRs upon cotreatment with the BD1-selective ligand suggests that natural transcription factors compete for a limited pool of nonchromatin-bound BET proteins, and blocking BD1 directs pan-BET ligands to more effectively engage BD2. Taken together, SynGRs as chemical probes provide unique insights into the molecular recognition principles utilized by natural factors to precisely regulate gene expression, and they guide the design of more sophisticated synthetic gene regulators with greater therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf Mohammed
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - M Brett Waddell
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Ieva Sutkeviciute
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Adithi Danda
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Steven J Philips
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Walter Lang
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - P Jake Slavish
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Sandra J Kietlinska
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Mangesh Kaulage
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Das Sourav
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
| | - Aseem Z Ansari
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, United States
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Fantoni NZ, Brown T, Kellett A. DNA-Targeted Metallodrugs: An Untapped Source of Artificial Gene Editing Technology. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2184-2205. [PMID: 33570813 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
DNA binding metal complexes are synonymous with anticancer drug discovery. Given the array of structural and chemical reactivity properties available through careful design, metal complexes have been directed to bind nucleic acid structures through covalent or noncovalent binding modes. Several recognition modes - including crosslinking, intercalation, and oxidation - are central to the clinical success of broad-spectrum anticancer metallodrugs. However, recent progress in nucleic acid click chemistry coupled with advancement in our understanding of metal complex-nucleic acid interactions has opened up new avenues in genetic engineering and targeted therapies. Several of these applications are enabled by the hybridisation of oligonucleotide or polyamine probes to discrete metal complexes, which facilitate site-specific reactivity at the nucleic acid interface under the guidance of the probe. This Review focuses on recent advancements in hybrid design and, by way of an introduction to this topic, we provide a detailed overview of nucleic acid structures and metal complex-nucleic acid interactions. Our aim is to provide readers with an insight on the rational design of metal complexes with DNA recognition properties and an understanding of how the sequence-specific targeting of these interactions can be achieved for gene engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Zuin Fantoni
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Kellett
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for, Cellular Biotechnology and Nano Research Facility, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, 9, Ireland
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Zuin Fantoni N, McGorman B, Molphy Z, Singleton D, Walsh S, El-Sagheer AH, McKee V, Brown T, Kellett A. Development of Gene-Targeted Polypyridyl Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotide Hybrids. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3563-3574. [PMID: 32755000 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In the field of nucleic acid therapy there is major interest in the development of libraries of DNA-reactive small molecules which are tethered to vectors that recognize and bind specific genes. This approach mimics enzymatic gene editors, such as ZFNs, TALENs and CRISPR-Cas, but overcomes the limitations imposed by the delivery of a large protein endonuclease which is required for DNA cleavage. Here, we introduce a chemistry-based DNA-cleavage system comprising an artificial metallo-nuclease (AMN) that oxidatively cuts DNA, and a triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) that sequence-specifically recognises duplex DNA. The AMN-TFO hybrids coordinate CuII ions to form chimeric catalytic complexes that are programmable - based on the TFO sequence employed - to bind and cut specific DNA sequences. Use of the alkyne-azide cycloaddition click reaction allows scalable and high-throughput generation of hybrid libraries that can be tuned for specific reactivity and gene-of-interest knockout. As a first approach, we demonstrate targeted cleavage of purine-rich sequences, optimisation of the hybrid system to enhance stability, and discrimination between target and off-target sequences. Our results highlight the potential of this approach where the cutting unit, which mimics the endonuclease cleavage machinery, is directly bound to a TFO guide by click chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Zuin Fantoni
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Present address: Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Bríonna McGorman
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Zara Molphy
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Synthesis and Solid-State Pharmaceutical Centre, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Daniel Singleton
- ATDBio Ltd., School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Sarah Walsh
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.,ATDBio Ltd., Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, OX4 4GA, UK
| | - Afaf H El-Sagheer
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.,Chemistry Branch, Department of Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez University, Suez, 43721, Egypt
| | - Vickie McKee
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Tom Brown
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Andrew Kellett
- School of Chemical Sciences and National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.,Synthesis and Solid-State Pharmaceutical Centre, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
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