1
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Linsdell P. Role of Hydrophobic Amino-Acid Side-Chains in the Narrow Selectivity Filter of the CFTR Chloride Channel Pore in Conductance and Selectivity. J Membr Biol 2023; 256:433-442. [PMID: 37823914 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-023-00294-w] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel. Structural analysis of CFTR has identified a narrow, hydrophobic region close to the extracellular end of the open channel pore that may function as a selectivity filter. The present study combines comprehensive mutagenesis of hydrophobic amino-acid side-chains within the selectivity filter with functional evaluation of channel Cl- conductance and anion selectivity. Among these hydrophobic amino-acids, one (F337) appears to play a dominant role in determining both conductance and selectivity. Anion selectivity appears to depend on both side-chain size and hydrophobicity at this position. In contrast, conductance is disrupted by all F337 mutations, suggesting that unique interactions between permeating Cl- ions and the native phenylalanine side-chain are important for conductance. Surprisingly, a positively charged lysine side-chain can be substituted for several hydrophobic residues within the selectivity filter (including F337) with only minor changes in pore function, arguing against a crucial role for overall hydrophobicity. These results suggest that localized interactions between permeating anions and amino-acid side-chains within the selectivity filter may be more important in determining pore functional properties than are global features such as overall hydrophobicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Linsdell
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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2
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Zeng ZW, Linsdell P, Pomès R. Molecular dynamics study of Cl - permeation through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:51. [PMID: 36694009 PMCID: PMC9873711 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The recent elucidation of atomistic structures of Cl- channel CFTR provides opportunities for understanding the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis. Despite having been activated through phosphorylation and provided with ATP ligands, several near-atomistic cryo-EM structures of CFTR are in a closed state, as inferred from the lack of a continuous passage through a hydrophobic bottleneck region located in the extracellular portion of the pore. Here, we present repeated, microsecond-long molecular dynamics simulations of human CFTR solvated in a lipid bilayer and aqueous NaCl. At equilibrium, Cl- ions enter the channel through a lateral intracellular portal and bind to two distinct cationic sites inside the channel pore but do not traverse the narrow, de-wetted bottleneck. Simulations conducted in the presence of a strong hyperpolarizing electric field led to spontaneous Cl- translocation events through the bottleneck region of the channel, suggesting that the protein relaxed to a functionally open state. Conformational changes of small magnitude involving transmembrane helices 1 and 6 preceded ion permeation through diverging exit routes at the extracellular end of the pore. The pore bottleneck undergoes wetting prior to Cl- translocation, suggesting that it acts as a hydrophobic gate. Although permeating Cl- ions remain mostly hydrated, partial dehydration occurs at the binding sites and in the bottleneck. The observed Cl- pathway is largely consistent with the loci of mutations that alter channel conductance, anion binding, and ion selectivity, supporting the model of the open state of CFTR obtained in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Wei Zeng
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Paul Linsdell
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 1X5, Canada
| | - Régis Pomès
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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3
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Yang J, Wang MJ, Huang WJ, Zhou Q, Ying X, Tian YH, Zhu YM, Lu YC. High expression of CFTR in cumulus cells from mature oocytes is associated with high-quality of oocyte and subsequent embryonic development. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:2239-2247. [PMID: 36044164 PMCID: PMC9596676 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02599-6] [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: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the association of expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in cumulus cells (CCs) from mature oocytes with oocyte quality and embryonic development. METHODS A total of 338 infertile women who underwent ovarian stimulation cycle of oocyte retrieval in Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The relative mRNA expression levels of CFTR, bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) in CCs were detected by qPCR technology. ROC curve was applied for the diagnosis of oocyte maturation. The serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), E2, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and androstenedione were measured. Oocyte maturation rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high-quality embryo formation rate, and implantation rate after embryo transfer were also determined. RESULTS The mRNA expression levels of CFTR in CCs were significantly increased in metaphase II (MII) oocytes compared to that in metaphase I (MI) or germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. The ROC curve analysis illustrated that CFTR mRNA expression could efficiently discriminate MII oocytes from MI or GV oocytes (AUC = 0.954), and revealed that 0.695 RQU is the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis. So the cut-off value of 2-ΔΔCT = 0.70 was used to divide the patients into two groups: low- (n = 114) and high-CFTR group (n = 224). The mRNA expression of CFTR in CCs was positively correlated with the antral follicular count (AFC), number of oocytes retrieved, number of MII oocytes, serum E2 level on hCG day, and BMP15 and GDF9 expression in CCs. Under continuous stimulation with the same dose of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH), the number of follicles, average recovered oocytes, recovered oocytes, MII oocytes, as well as the oocyte recovery rate, fertilization rate, oocyte cleavage rate, high-quality embryo formation rate, and implantation rate were decreased in patients with lower CFTR. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that CFTR expression in CCs is associated with the developmental potential of human oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Ming-Juan Wang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wen-Jie Huang
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xue Ying
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yong-Hong Tian
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi-Min Zhu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yong-Chao Lu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
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4
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Tordai H, Suhajda E, Sillitoe I, Nair S, Varadi M, Hegedus T. Comprehensive Collection and Prediction of ABC Transmembrane Protein Structures in the AI Era of Structural Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168877. [PMID: 36012140 PMCID: PMC9408558 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of unique transmembrane (TM) protein structures doubled in the last four years, which can be attributed to the revolution of cryo-electron microscopy. In addition, AlphaFold2 (AF2) also provided a large number of predicted structures with high quality. However, if a specific protein family is the subject of a study, collecting the structures of the family members is highly challenging in spite of existing general and protein domain-specific databases. Here, we demonstrate this and assess the applicability and usability of automatic collection and presentation of protein structures via the ABC protein superfamily. Our pipeline identifies and classifies transmembrane ABC protein structures using the PFAM search and also aims to determine their conformational states based on special geometric measures, conftors. Since the AlphaFold database contains structure predictions only for single polypeptide chains, we performed AF2-Multimer predictions for human ABC half transporters functioning as dimers. Our AF2 predictions warn of possibly ambiguous interpretation of some biochemical data regarding interaction partners and call for further experiments and experimental structure determination. We made our predicted ABC protein structures available through a web application, and we joined the 3D-Beacons Network to reach the broader scientific community through platforms such as PDBe-KB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedvig Tordai
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Erzsebet Suhajda
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
- Wigner Research Centre for Physics, 1121 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ian Sillitoe
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sreenath Nair
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Mihaly Varadi
- European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Tamas Hegedus
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-SE Biophysical Virology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1052 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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5
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Molecular mechanisms of Cystic Fibrosis - how mutations lead to misfunction and guide therapy. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:231430. [PMID: 35707985 PMCID: PMC9251585 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20212006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis, the most common autosomal recessive disorder in Caucasians, is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a cAMP-activated chloride and bicarbonate channel that regulates ion and water transport in secretory epithelia. Although all mutations lead to the lack or reduction in channel function, the mechanisms through which this occurs are diverse – ranging from lack of full-length mRNA, reduced mRNA levels, impaired folding and trafficking, targeting to degradation, decreased gating or conductance, and reduced protein levels to decreased half-life at the plasma membrane. Here, we review the different molecular mechanisms that cause cystic fibrosis and detail how these differences identify theratypes that can inform the use of directed therapies aiming at correcting the basic defect. In summary, we travel through CFTR life cycle from the gene to function, identifying what can go wrong and what can be targeted in terms of the different types of therapeutic approaches.
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6
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Ensinck MM, Carlon MS. One Size Does Not Fit All: The Past, Present and Future of Cystic Fibrosis Causal Therapies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121868. [PMID: 35740997 PMCID: PMC9220995 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common monogenic disorder, caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Over the last 30 years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of CF and the development of treatments that target the underlying defects in CF. Currently, a highly effective CFTR modulator treatment (Kalydeco™/Trikafta™) is available for 90% of people with CF. In this review, we will give an extensive overview of past and ongoing efforts in the development of therapies targeting the molecular defects in CF. We will discuss strategies targeting the CFTR protein (i.e., CFTR modulators such as correctors and potentiators), its cellular environment (i.e., proteostasis modulation, stabilization at the plasma membrane), the CFTR mRNA (i.e., amplifiers, nonsense mediated mRNA decay suppressors, translational readthrough inducing drugs) or the CFTR gene (gene therapies). Finally, we will focus on how these efforts can be applied to the 15% of people with CF for whom no causal therapy is available yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein M. Ensinck
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium;
| | - Marianne S. Carlon
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium;
- Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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7
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McDonald EF, Woods H, Smith ST, Kim M, Schoeder CT, Plate L, Meiler J. Structural Comparative Modeling of Multi-Domain F508del CFTR. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030471. [PMID: 35327663 PMCID: PMC8946492 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an epithelial anion channel expressed in several vital organs. Absence of functional CFTR results in imbalanced osmotic equilibrium and subsequent mucus build up in the lungs-which increases the risk of infection and eventually causes death. CFTR is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family protein composed of two transmembrane domains (TMDs), two nucleotide binding domains (NBDs), and an unstructured regulatory domain. The most prevalent patient mutation is the deletion of F508 (F508del), making F508del CFTR the primary target for current FDA approved CF therapies. However, no experimental multi-domain F508del CFTR structure has been determined and few studies have modeled F508del using multi-domain WT CFTR structures. Here, we used cryo-EM density data and Rosetta comparative modeling (RosettaCM) to compare a F508del model with published experimental data on CFTR NBD1 thermodynamics. We then apply this modeling method to generate multi-domain WT and F508del CFTR structural models. These models demonstrate the destabilizing effects of F508del on NBD1 and the NBD1/TMD interface in both the inactive and active conformation of CFTR. Furthermore, we modeled F508del/R1070W and F508del bound to the CFTR corrector VX-809. Our models reveal the stabilizing effects of VX-809 on multi-domain models of F508del CFTR and pave the way for rational design of additional drugs that target F508del CFTR for treatment of CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Fritz McDonald
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (E.F.M.); (C.T.S.); (L.P.)
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (H.W.); (S.T.S.)
| | - Hope Woods
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (H.W.); (S.T.S.)
- Program in Chemical and Physical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Shannon T. Smith
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (H.W.); (S.T.S.)
- Program in Chemical and Physical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Minsoo Kim
- Program in Chemical and Physical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA;
| | - Clara T. Schoeder
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (E.F.M.); (C.T.S.); (L.P.)
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (H.W.); (S.T.S.)
- Leipzig Medical School, Leipzig University, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lars Plate
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (E.F.M.); (C.T.S.); (L.P.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Jens Meiler
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (E.F.M.); (C.T.S.); (L.P.)
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (H.W.); (S.T.S.)
- Leipzig Medical School, Leipzig University, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(615)-936-2211
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8
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Linsdell P, Irving CL, Cowley EA. Functionally Additive Fixed Positive and Negative Charges in the CFTR Channel Pore Control Anion Binding and Conductance. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101659. [PMID: 35101441 PMCID: PMC8881524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels use charged amino-acid residues to attract oppositely charged permeant ions into the channel pore. In the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channel, a number of arginine and lysine residues have been shown to be important for Cl− permeation. Among these, two in close proximity in the pore—Lys95 and Arg134—are indispensable for anion binding and high Cl− conductance, suggesting that high positive charge density is required for pore function. Here we used mutagenesis and functional characterization to show that a nearby pore-lining negatively charged residue (Glu92) plays a functionally additive role with these two positive charges. While neutralization of this negative charge had little effect on anion binding or Cl− conductance, such neutralization was able to reverse the detrimental effects of removing the positive charge at either Lys95 or Arg134, as well as the similar effects of introducing a negative charge at a neighboring residue (Ser1141). Furthermore, neutralization of Glu92 greatly increased the susceptibility of the channel to blockage by divalent S2O32− anions, mimicking the effect of introducing additional positive charge in this region; this effect was reversed by concurrent neutralization of either Lys95 or Arg134. Across a panel of mutant channels that introduced or removed fixed charges at these four positions, we found that many pore properties are dependent on the overall charge or charge density. We propose that the CFTR pore uses a combination of positively and negatively charged residues to optimize the anion binding and Cl− conductance properties of the channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Linsdell
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Christina L Irving
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Cowley
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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9
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Hegedűs T, Geisler M, Lukács GL, Farkas B. Ins and outs of AlphaFold2 transmembrane protein structure predictions. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:73. [PMID: 35034173 PMCID: PMC8761152 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04112-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Transmembrane (TM) proteins are major drug targets, but their structure determination, a prerequisite for rational drug design, remains challenging. Recently, the DeepMind's AlphaFold2 machine learning method greatly expanded the structural coverage of sequences with high accuracy. Since the employed algorithm did not take specific properties of TM proteins into account, the reliability of the generated TM structures should be assessed. Therefore, we quantitatively investigated the quality of structures at genome scales, at the level of ABC protein superfamily folds and for specific membrane proteins (e.g. dimer modeling and stability in molecular dynamics simulations). We tested template-free structure prediction with a challenging TM CASP14 target and several TM protein structures published after AlphaFold2 training. Our results suggest that AlphaFold2 performs well in the case of TM proteins and its neural network is not overfitted. We conclude that cautious applications of AlphaFold2 structural models will advance TM protein-associated studies at an unexpected level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Hegedűs
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- TKI, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Markus Geisler
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | | | - Bianka Farkas
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
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10
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Baatallah N, Elbahnsi A, Mornon JP, Chevalier B, Pranke I, Servel N, Zelli R, Décout JL, Edelman A, Sermet-Gaudelus I, Callebaut I, Hinzpeter A. Pharmacological chaperones improve intra-domain stability and inter-domain assembly via distinct binding sites to rescue misfolded CFTR. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7813-7829. [PMID: 34714360 PMCID: PMC11071985 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03994-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding is involved in a large number of diseases, among which cystic fibrosis. Complex intra- and inter-domain folding defects associated with mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene, among which p.Phe508del (F508del), have recently become a therapeutical target. Clinically approved correctors such as VX-809, VX-661, and VX-445, rescue mutant protein. However, their binding sites and mechanisms of action are still incompletely understood. Blind docking onto the 3D structures of both the first membrane-spanning domain (MSD1) and the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1), followed by molecular dynamics simulations, revealed the presence of two potential VX-809 corrector binding sites which, when mutated, abrogated rescue. Network of amino acids in the lasso helix 2 and the intracellular loops ICL1 and ICL4 allosterically coupled MSD1 and NBD1. Corrector VX-445 also occupied two potential binding sites on MSD1 and NBD1, the latter being shared with VX-809. Binding of both correctors on MSD1 enhanced the allostery between MSD1 and NBD1, hence the increased efficacy of the corrector combination. These correctors improve both intra-domain folding by stabilizing fragile protein-lipid interfaces and inter-domain assembly via distant allosteric couplings. These results provide novel mechanistic insights into the rescue of misfolded proteins by small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Baatallah
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ahmad Elbahnsi
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, 75005, Paris, France
- Department of Applied Physics of Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jean-Paul Mornon
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Chevalier
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Iwona Pranke
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Servel
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Renaud Zelli
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, DPM, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Aleksander Edelman
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Sermet-Gaudelus
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Alexandre Hinzpeter
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, INEM, Paris, France.
- CNRS UMR 8253 - Faculté de Médecine, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
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11
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Linsdell P, Irving CL, Cowley EA, El Hiani Y. Two positively charged amino acid side-chains in the inner vestibule of the CFTR channel pore play analogous roles in controlling anion binding and anion conductance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5213-5223. [PMID: 34023918 PMCID: PMC11073087 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03859-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Positively charged amino acid side-chains play important roles in anion binding and permeation through the CFTR chloride channel. One pore-lining lysine residue in particular (K95) has been shown to be indispensable for anion binding, conductance, and selectivity. Here, we use functional investigation of CFTR to show that a nearby arginine (R134) plays a functionally analogous role. Removal of this positive charge (in the R134Q mutant) drastically reduces single-channel conductance, weakens binding of both permeant and blocking anions, and abolishes the normal anion conductance selectivity pattern. Each of these functional effects was reversed by a second-site mutation (S1141K) that introduces an ectopic positive charge to a nearby pore-lining residue. Substituted cysteine accessibility experiments confirm that R134-but not nearby residues in the same transmembrane helix-is accessible within the pore lumen. These results suggest that K95 and R134, which are very close together within the inner vestibule of the pore, play analogous, important roles, and that both are required for the normal anion binding and anion conductance properties of the pore. Nevertheless, that fact that both positive charges can be "transplanted" to other sites in the inner vestibule with little effect on channel permeation properties indicates that it is the overall number of charges-rather than their exact locations-that controls pore function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Linsdell
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | - Christina L Irving
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Cowley
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Yassine El Hiani
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
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Stockner T, Gradisch R, Schmitt L. The role of the degenerate nucleotide binding site in type I ABC exporters. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3815-3838. [PMID: 33179257 PMCID: PMC7756269 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters are fascinating molecular machines that are capable of transporting a large variety of chemically diverse compounds. The energy required for translocation is derived from binding and hydrolysis of ATP. All ABC transporters share a basic architecture and are composed of two transmembrane domains and two nucleotide binding domains (NBDs). The latter harbor all conserved sequence motifs that hallmark the ABC transporter superfamily. The NBDs form the nucleotide binding sites (NBSs) in their interface. Transporters with two active NBSs are called canonical transporters, while ABC exporters from eukaryotic organisms, including humans, frequently have a degenerate NBS1 containing noncanonical residues that strongly impair ATP hydrolysis. Here, we summarize current knowledge on degenerate ABC transporters. By integrating structural information with biophysical and biochemical evidence of asymmetric function, we develop a model for the transport cycle of degenerate ABC transporters. We will elaborate on the unclear functional advantages of a degenerate NBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stockner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ralph Gradisch
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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