Molecular dynamics and structural analysis of the binding of COP1 E3 ubiquitin ligase to β-catenin and TRIB pseudokinases

Tribbles1 is host protective during in vivo mycobacterial infection

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem and is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. There is a pressing need for new treatments that circumvent emerging antibiotic resistance. Mycobacterium tuberculosis parasitises macrophages, reprogramming them to establish a niche in which to proliferate, therefore macrophage manipulation is a potential host-directed therapy if druggable molecular targets could be identified. The pseudokinase Tribbles1 (Trib1) regulates multiple innate immune processes and inflammatory profiles making it a potential drug target in infections. Trib1 controls macrophage function, cytokine production, and macrophage polarisation. Despite wide-ranging effects on leukocyte biology, data exploring the roles of Tribbles in infection in vivo are limited. Here, we identify that human Tribbles1 is expressed in monocytes and is upregulated at the transcript level after stimulation with mycobacterial antigen. To investigate the mechanistic roles of Tribbles in the host response to mycobacteria in vivo, we used a zebrafish Mycobacterium marinum (Mm) infection tuberculosis model. Zebrafish Tribbles family members were characterised and shown to have substantial mRNA and protein sequence homology to their human orthologues. trib1 overexpression was host-protective against Mm infection, reducing burden by approximately 50%. Conversely, trib1 knockdown/knockout exhibited increased infection. Mechanistically, trib1 overexpression significantly increased the levels of proinflammatory factors il-1β and nitric oxide. The host-protective effect of trib1 was found to be dependent on the E3 ubiquitin kinase Cop1. These findings highlight the importance of Trib1 and Cop1 as immune regulators during infection in vivo and suggest that enhancing macrophage TRIB1 levels may provide a tractable therapeutic intervention to improve bacterial infection outcomes in tuberculosis.

Structural-based design of HD-TAC7 PROteolysis TArgeting chimeras (PROTACs) candidate transformations to abrogate SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for about 672 million infections and 6.85 million deaths worldwide. Upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, Histone deacetylases (HDACs) hyperactivate the pro-inflammatory response resulting in stimulation of Acetyl-Coenzyme A and cholesterol for viral entry. HDAC3 inhibition results in the anti-inflammatory activity and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines that may restrict COVID-19 progression. Here, we have designed 44 conformational ensembles of previously known HD-TAC7 by enumerating torsions of dihedral angles tested for their binding preferences against HDAC3. Through scrutinizing their placements at active site and binding affinities, three hits were isolated. Cereblon (CRBN) is a well-known E3 ligase that facilitates Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) targeting. Three entities, including HDAC3-binding moiety (4-acetamido-N-(2-amino-4 fluorophenyl) benzamide), a 6-carbon linker, and CRBN binding ligand (pomalidomide) were assembled to design 4 PROTACs followed by energy minimization and docking against HDAC3 and CRBN, respectively. Subsequent molecular dynamics (MD) and free energy analyses corroborated similar binding trends and favorable energy values. Among all cases, Met88, GLu106, Pro352, Trp380 and Trp388 residues of CRBN, and Pro23, Arg28, Lys194, Phe199, Leu266, Thr299 and Ile346 residues of HDAC3 were engaged in PROTAC binding. Thus, conformational dynamics of both HDAC3 and CRBN moieties are essential for the placement of PROTAC, resulting in target degradation. Overall, the proposed bifunctional small molecules may effectively target HDAC3, stimulating innate immune response to restrict COVID-19 hyperinflammation. This study supports the basis for designing new PROTACs by limiting the conformational search space that may prove more efficient for targeting the protein of interest.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

E2UbcH5B-derived peptide ligands target HECT E3-E2 binding site and block the Ub-dependent SARS-CoV-2 egression: A computational study

Homologous to E6AP carboxyl-terminus (HECT)-type E3 ligase performs ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasomal protein degradation via forming a complex with E2∼Ub. Enveloped viruses including SARS-CoV-2 escape from the infected cells by harnessing the E-class vacuolar protein-sorting (ESCRT) machinery and mimic the cellular system through PPAY motif-based linking to HECT Ub ligase activity. In the present study, we have characterized the binding pattern of E2^UbcH5B to HECT domains of NEDD4L, WWP1, WWP2, HECW1, and HECW2 through in silico analysis to isolate the E2^UbcH5B-specific peptide inhibitors that may target SARS-CoV-2 viral egression. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed more opening of E2^UbcH5B-binding pocket upon binding to HECT^NEDD4L, HECT^WWP1, HECT^WWP2, HECT^HECW1, and HECT^HECW2. We observed similar binding pattern for E2^UbcH5B and mentioned HECT domains as previously reported for HECT^NEDD4L where Trp762, Trp709, and Trp657 residues of HECT^NEDD4L, HECT^WWP1, and HECT^WWP2 are involved in making contacts with Ser94 residue of E2^UbcH5B. Similarly, corresponding to HECT^NEDD4L Tyr756 residue, HECT^WWP1, HECT^WWP2, HECT^HECW1, and HECT^HECW2-specific Phe703, Phe651, Phe1387, and Phe1353 residues execute interaction with E2^UbcH5B. Our analysis suggests that corresponding to Cys942 of HECT^NEDD4L, Cys890, Cys838, Cys1574, and Cys1540 residues of HECT^WWP1, HECT^WWP2, HECT^HECW1, and HECT^HECW2, respectively are involved in E2-to-E3 Ub transfer. Furthermore, MM-PBSA free energy calculations revealed favorable energy values for E2^UbcH5B-HECT complexes along with the individual residue contributions. Subsequently, two E2^UbcH5B-derived peptides (His55-Phe69 and Asn81-Ala96) were tested for their binding abilities against HECT domains of NEDD4L, WWP1, WWP2, HECW1, and HECW2. Their binding was validated through substitution of Phe62, Pro65, Ile84, and Cys85 residues into Ala, which revealed an impaired binding, suggesting that the proposed peptide ligands may selectively target E2-HECT binding and Ub-transfer. Collectively, we propose that peptide-driven blocking of E2-to-HECT Ub loading may limit SARS-CoV-2 egression and spread in the host cells.