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Benny S, Rajappan Krishnendu P, Kumar S, Bhaskar V, Manisha DS, Abdelgawad MA, Ghoneim MM, Naguib IA, Pappachen LK, Mary Zachariah S, Mathew B, Tp A. A computational investigation of thymidylate synthase inhibitors through a combined approach of 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore modelling. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37870113 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2270752] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a crucial target of cancer drug discovery and is mainly involved in the De novo synthesis of the DNA precursor thymine. In the present study, to generate reliable models and identify a few promising molecules, we combined QSAR modelling with the pharmacophore hypothesis-generating technique. Input molecules were clustered on their similarity, and a cluster of 74 molecules with a pyrimidine moiety was chosen as the set for 3D-QSAR and pharmacophore modelling. Atom-based and field-based 3D-QSAR models were generated and statistically validated with R2 > 0.90 and Q2 > 0.75. The common pharmacophore hypothesis(CPH) generation identified the best six-point model ADHRRR. Using these best models, a library of FDA-approved drugs was screened for activity and filtered via molecular docking, ADME profiling, and molecular dynamics simulations. The top ten promising TS-inhibiting candidates were identified, and their chemical features profitable for TS inhibitors were explored.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Benny
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Prayaga Rajappan Krishnendu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Vaishnav Bhaskar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Deepthi S Manisha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Mohamed A Abdelgawad
- Department of pharmaceutical chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim A Naguib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leena K Pappachen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Subin Mary Zachariah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Aneesh Tp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Sun Y, Liu Y, Ma X, Hu H. The Influence of Cell Cycle Regulation on Chemotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6923. [PMID: 34203270 PMCID: PMC8267727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle regulation is orchestrated by a complex network of interactions between proteins, enzymes, cytokines, and cell cycle signaling pathways, and is vital for cell proliferation, growth, and repair. The occurrence, development, and metastasis of tumors are closely related to the cell cycle. Cell cycle regulation can be synergistic with chemotherapy in two aspects: inhibition or promotion. The sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs can be improved with the cooperation of cell cycle regulation strategies. This review presented the mechanism of the commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs and the effect of the cell cycle on tumorigenesis and development, and the interaction between chemotherapy and cell cycle regulation in cancer treatment was briefly introduced. The current collaborative strategies of chemotherapy and cell cycle regulation are discussed in detail. Finally, we outline the challenges and perspectives about the improvement of combination strategies for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.S.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.S.); (Y.L.)
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- Qingdao Institute of Measurement Technology, Qingdao 266000, China;
| | - Hao Hu
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; (Y.S.); (Y.L.)
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El-Etrawy AAS, Sherbiny FF. Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling investigation of new N'-(2-Thiouracil-5-oyl) hydrazone derivatives as potential anti-breast cancer and anti-bacterial agents. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.129993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Design, synthesis, biological assessment and molecular docking studies of some new 2-Thioxo-2,3-dihydropyrimidin-4(1H)-ones as potential anticancer and antibacterial agents. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.129014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Panchal V, Kumar S, Hossain SN, Vasudevan D. Structure analysis of thymidylate synthase from white spot syndrome virus reveals WSSV-specific structural elements. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 167:1168-1175. [PMID: 33197475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.11.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), the causative agent of white spot disease (WSD) severely affecting crustacean life forms, is highly contagious and forms the principal cause of massive economic losses in the shrimp aquaculture industry. Previous studies have demonstrated thymidylate synthase as a successful anti-cancer therapeutic drug target, leading to various anti-cancer drugs. The differential utilization of nucleotide precursors between white spot syndrome virus and shrimp encouraged us to analyze WSSV-thymidylate synthase (wTS). Here, we report the crystal structures of wTS in its apo-form and as a ternary complex with deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) and methotrexate at a resolution of 2.35 Å and 2.6 Å, respectively. wTS possesses a fold characteristic to known thymidylate synthase (TS) structures. Like other TS structures, the apo-form of wTS displays an open conformation, whereas the wTS ternary complex attains a closed conformation. While the C-terminal loop maintains a typical distance from methotrexate, the Sγ atom of the catalytic Cys is positioned farther from the C6 atom of dUMP. Altogether, we report the first TS structure from a crustacean virus and highlight its distinction from shrimp and other TS structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Panchal
- Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India
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6
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Li XY, Liang JW, Mohamed O K, Zhang TJ, Lu GQ, Meng FH. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of N-phenyl-(2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine-5-sulfonamido)benzoyl hydrazide derivatives as thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors and as potential antitumor drugs. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 154:267-279. [PMID: 29807332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The Inhibition of cellular nucleotide metabolism to promote apoptosis is a key principle of cancer therapy. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the initiation of DNA synthesis in cell. Here, we presented two types of thymidylate synthase inhibitors, and, the key pharmacological properties of these two types of thymidylate synthase inhibitor were extracted and combined to design new compounds with inhibitory activity. Therefore, two series of 42 new compounds with the common biological effect of promoting apoptosis are designed and synthesized by combination principle. Most of the compounds had good anti-proliferative activity on A549, OVCAR-3, SGC7901 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The IC50 of compound 10l on A549 cells was 1.26 μM, which was better than that of pemetrexed (PTX, IC50 = 3.31 μM), furthermore, the selection index of compound 10l was higher than PTX. Flow cytometry analysis showed that compound 10l (the apoptosis rate is 39.4%) could induce A549 cell apoptosis and effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation. Further western blot analysis showed that compound 10l could induce intrinsic apoptosis by activating caspase-3, increasing expression of cleaved caspase-3 and reducing the ratio of bcl-2/bax. All of this makes compound 10l to be a promising compound in future animal tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yang Li
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Jing-Wei Liang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Kamara Mohamed O
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Ting-Jian Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Guo-Qing Lu
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Fan-Hao Meng
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, 77 Puhe Road, North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, China.
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Bacterial versus human thymidylate synthase: Kinetics and functionality. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196506. [PMID: 29715278 PMCID: PMC5929524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymidylate Synthase (TSase) is a highly conserved enzyme that catalyzes the production of the DNA building block thymidylate. Structurally, functionally and mechanistically, bacterial and mammalian TSases share remarkable similarities. Because of this closeness, bacterial enzymes have long been used as model systems for human TSase. Furthermore, while TSase inhibitors have long served as chemotherapeutic drugs, no TSase inhibitor serves as an antibiotic. Despite their high resemblance, the mammalian TSases are distinct in a few known aspects, such as having a N-terminal tail and two insertions in the primary sequence and active/inactive conformations. Here, we aim to comprehensively characterize human (hs) TSase and delineate its contrasts and the similarities to the well-studied Escherichia coli (ec) TSase. We found that, in contrast to ecTSase, Mg2+ does not enhance reaction rates for hsTSase. The temperature dependence of intrinsic kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), on the other hand, suggests that Mg2+ has little or no impact on the transition state of hydride transfer in either enzyme, and that the transition state for the hydride transfer in hsTSase is looser than in ecTSase. Additionally, the substrates’ binding order is strictly ordered for ecTSase but slightly less ordered for hsTSase. The observed kinetic and functional differences between bacterial and human enzymes may aid in the development of antibiotic drugs with reduced toxicity.
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Rasti B, Shahangian SS. Proteochemometric modeling of the origin of thymidylate synthase inhibition. Chem Biol Drug Des 2018; 91:1007-1016. [PMID: 29251822 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Rasti
- Department of Microbiology; Faculty of Basic Sciences; Lahijan Branch; Islamic Azad University (IAU); Lahijan Guilan Iran
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El-Naggar AM, Abou-El-Regal MM, El-Metwally SA, Sherbiny FF, Eissa IH. Synthesis, characterization and molecular docking studies of thiouracil derivatives as potent thymidylate synthase inhibitors and potential anticancer agents. Mol Divers 2017; 21:967-983. [DOI: 10.1007/s11030-017-9776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Jarmuła A, Wilk P, Maj P, Ludwiczak J, Dowierciał A, Banaszak K, Rypniewski W, Cieśla J, Dąbrowska M, Frączyk T, Bronowska AK, Jakowiecki J, Filipek S, Rode W. Crystal structures of nematode (parasitic T. spiralis and free living C. elegans), compared to mammalian, thymidylate synthases (TS). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations in search for nematode-specific inhibitors of TS. J Mol Graph Model 2017; 77:33-50. [PMID: 28826032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Three crystal structures are presented of nematode thymidylate synthases (TS), including Caenorhabditis elegans (Ce) enzyme without ligands and its ternary complex with dUMP and Raltitrexed, and binary complex of Trichinella spiralis (Ts) enzyme with dUMP. In search of differences potentially relevant for the development of species-specific inhibitors of the nematode enzyme, a comparison was made of the present Ce and Ts enzyme structures, as well as binary complex of Ce enzyme with dUMP, with the corresponding mammalian (human, mouse and rat) enzyme crystal structures. To complement the comparison, tCONCOORD computations were performed to evaluate dynamic behaviors of mammalian and nematode TS structures. Finally, comparative molecular docking combined with molecular dynamics and free energy of binding calculations were carried out to search for ligands showing selective affinity to T. spiralis TS. Despite an overall strong similarity in structure and dynamics of nematode vs mammalian TSs, a pool of ligands demonstrating predictively a strong and selective binding to TsTS has been delimited. These compounds, the E63 family, locate in the dimerization interface of TsTS where they exert species-specific interactions with certain non-conserved residues, including hydrogen bonds with Thr174 and hydrophobic contacts with Phe192, Cys191 and Tyr152. The E63 family of ligands opens the possibility of future development of selective inhibitors of TsTS and effective agents against trichinellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Jarmuła
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Piotr Wilk
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland; Macromolecular Crystallography (BESSY-MX), Berlin, Germany
| | - Piotr Maj
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Jan Ludwiczak
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland; Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Anna Dowierciał
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Banaszak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech Rypniewski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Cieśla
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Magdalena Dąbrowska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Tomasz Frączyk
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Wojciech Rode
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
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Hew K, Dahlroth SL, Veerappan S, Pan LX, Cornvik T, Nordlund P. Structure of the Varicella Zoster Virus Thymidylate Synthase Establishes Functional and Structural Similarities as the Human Enzyme and Potentiates Itself as a Target of Brivudine. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143947. [PMID: 26630264 PMCID: PMC4668047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly infectious human herpesvirus that is the causative agent for chicken pox and shingles. VZV encodes a functional thymidylate synthase (TS), which is the sole enzyme that produces dTMP from dUMP de novo. To study substrate binding, the complex structure of TSVZV with dUMP was determined to a resolution of 2.9 Å. In the absence of a folate co-substrate, dUMP binds in the conserved TS active site and is coordinated similarly as in the human encoded TS (TSHS) in an open conformation. The interactions between TSVZV with dUMP and a cofactor analog, raltitrexed, were also studied using differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), suggesting that TSVZV binds dUMP and raltitrexed in a sequential binding mode like other TS. The DSF also revealed interactions between TSVZV and in vitro phosphorylated brivudine (BVDUP), a highly potent anti-herpesvirus drug against VZV infections. The binding of BVDUP to TSVZV was further confirmed by the complex structure of TSVZV and BVDUP solved at a resolution of 2.9 Å. BVDUP binds similarly as dUMP in the TSHS but it induces a closed conformation of the active site. The structure supports that the 5-bromovinyl substituent on BVDUP is likely to inhibit TSVZV by preventing the transfer of a methylene group from its cofactor and the subsequent formation of dTMP. The interactions between TSVZV and BVDUP are consistent with that TSVZV is indeed a target of brivudine in vivo. The work also provided the structural basis for rational design of more specific TSVZV inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Hew
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sue-Li Dahlroth
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Saranya Veerappan
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lucy Xin Pan
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tobias Cornvik
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pär Nordlund
- Division of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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Inside the biochemical pathways of thymidylate synthase perturbed by anticancer drugs: Novel strategies to overcome cancer chemoresistance. Drug Resist Updat 2015; 23:20-54. [PMID: 26690339 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our current understanding of the mechanisms of action of antitumor agents and the precise mechanisms underlying drug resistance is that these two processes are directly linked. Moreover, it is often possible to delineate chemoresistance mechanisms based on the specific mechanism of action of a given anticancer drug. A more holistic approach to the chemoresistance problem suggests that entire metabolic pathways, rather than single enzyme targets may better explain and educate us about the complexity of the cellular responses upon cytotoxic drug administration. Drugs, which target thymidylate synthase and folate-dependent enzymes, represent an important therapeutic arm in the treatment of various human malignancies. However, prolonged patient treatment often provokes drug resistance phenomena that render the chemotherapeutic treatment highly ineffective. Hence, strategies to overcome drug resistance are primarily designed to achieve either enhanced intracellular drug accumulation, to avoid the upregulation of folate-dependent enzymes, and to circumvent the impairment of DNA repair enzymes which are also responsible for cross-resistance to various anticancer drugs. The current clinical practice based on drug combination therapeutic regimens represents the most effective approach to counteract drug resistance. In the current paper, we review the molecular aspects of the activity of TS-targeting drugs and describe how such mechanisms are related to the emergence of clinical drug resistance. We also discuss the current possibilities to overcome drug resistance by using a molecular mechanistic approach based on medicinal chemistry methods focusing on rational structural modifications of novel antitumor agents. This paper also focuses on the importance of the modulation of metabolic pathways upon drug administration, their analysis and the assessment of their putative roles in the networks involved using a meta-analysis approach. The present review describes the main pathways that are modulated by TS-targeting anticancer drugs starting from the description of the normal functioning of the folate metabolic pathway, through the protein modulation occurring upon drug delivery to cultured tumor cells as well as cancer patients, finally describing how the pathways are modulated by drug resistance development. The data collected are then analyzed using network/netwire connecting methods in order to provide a wider view of the pathways involved and of the importance of such information in identifying additional proteins that could serve as novel druggable targets for efficacious cancer therapy.
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Islam Z, Strutzenberg TS, Ghosh AK, Kohen A. Activation of Two Sequential H-transfers in the Thymidylate Synthase Catalyzed Reaction. ACS Catal 2015; 5:6061-6068. [PMID: 26576323 PMCID: PMC4643671 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5b01332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TSase) catalyzes the de novo biosynthesis of thymidylate, a precursor for DNA, and is thus an important target for chemotherapeutics and antibiotics. Two sequential C-H bond cleavages catalyzed by TSase are of particular interest: a reversible proton abstraction from the 2'-deoxy-uridylate substrate, followed by an irreversible hydride transfer forming the thymidylate product. QM/MM calculations of the former predicted a mechanism where the abstraction of the proton leads to formation of a novel nucleotide-folate intermediate that is not covalently bound to the enzyme (Wang, Z.; Ferrer, S.; Moliner, V.; Kohen, A. Biochemistry2013, 52, 2348-2358). Existence of such intermediate would hold promise as a target for a new class of drugs. Calculations of the subsequent hydride transfer predicted a concerted H-transfer and elimination of the enzymatic cysteine (Kanaan, N.; Ferrer, S.; Marti, S.; Garcia-Viloca, M.; Kohen, A.; Moliner, V. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 133, 6692-6702). A key to both C-H activations is a highly conserved arginine (R166) that stabilizes the transition state of both H-transfers. Here we test these predictions by studying the R166 to lysine mutant of E. coli TSase (R166K) using intrinsic kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) and their temperature dependence to assess effects of the mutation on both chemical steps. The findings confirmed the predictions made by the QM/MM calculations, implicate R166 as an integral component of both reaction coordinates, and thus provide critical support to the nucleotide-folate intermediate as a new target for rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahidul Islam
- The Department of Chemistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, U.S.A
| | | | - Ananda K. Ghosh
- The Department of Chemistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, U.S.A
| | - Amnon Kohen
- The Department of Chemistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, U.S.A
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Ferrari S, Calò S, Leone R, Luciani R, Costantino L, Sammak S, Di Pisa F, Pozzi C, Mangani S, Costi MP. 2'-Deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate substrate displacement in thymidylate synthase through 6-hydroxy-2H-naphtho[1,8-bc]furan-2-one derivatives. J Med Chem 2013; 56:9356-60. [PMID: 24147825 DOI: 10.1021/jm4014086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a target for antifolate-based chemotherapies of microbial and human diseases. Here, ligand-based, synthetic, and X-ray crystallography studies led to the discovery of 6-(3-cyanobenzoyloxy)-2-oxo-2H-naphto[1,8-bc]furan, a novel inhibitor with a Ki of 310 nM against Pneumocystis carinii TS. The X-ray ternary complex with Escherichia coli TS revealed, for the first time, displacement of the substrate toward the dimeric protein interface, thus providing new opportunities for further design of specific inhibitors of microbial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ferrari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Via Campi 183, 41125 Modena, Italy
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15
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Sun R, Wang L. Inhibition of Mycoplasma pneumoniae growth by FDA-approved anticancer and antiviral nucleoside and nucleobase analogs. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:184. [PMID: 23919755 PMCID: PMC3750255 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn) is a human pathogen that causes acute and chronic respiratory diseases and has been linked to many extrapulmonary diseases. Due to the lack of cell wall, Mpn is resistant to antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis such as penicillin. During the last 10 years macrolide-resistant Mpn strains have been frequently reported in Asian countries and have been spreading to Europe and the United States. Therefore, new antibiotics are needed. In this study, 30 FDA-approved anticancer or antiviral drugs were screened for inhibitory effects on Mpn growth and selected analogs were further characterized by inhibition of target enzymes and metabolism of radiolabeled substrates. RESULTS Sixteen drugs showed varying inhibitory effects and seven showed strong inhibition of Mpn growth. The anticancer drug 6-thioguanine had a MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration required to cause 90% of growth inhibition) value of 0.20 μg ml(-1), whereas trifluorothymidine, gemcitabine and dipyridamole had MIC values of approximately 2 μg ml(-1). In wild type Mpn culture the presence of 6-thioguanine and dipyridamole strongly inhibited the uptake and metabolism of hypoxanthine and guanine while gemcitabine inhibited the uptake and metabolism of all nucleobases and thymidine. Trifluorothymidine and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine, however, stimulated the uptake and incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine and this stimulation was due to induction of thymidine kinase activity. Furthermore, Mpn hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) was cloned, expressed, and characterized. The 6-thioguanine, but not other purine analogs, strongly inhibited HPRT, which may in part explain the observed growth inhibition. Trifluorothymidine and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine were shown to be good substrates and inhibitors for thymidine kinase from human and Mycoplasma sources. CONCLUSION We have shown that several anticancer and antiviral nucleoside and nucleobase analogs are potent inhibitors of Mpn growth and that the mechanism of inhibition are most likely due to inhibition of enzymes in the nucleotide biosynthesis pathway and nucleoside transporter. Our results suggest that enzymes in Mycoplasma nucleotide biosynthesis are potential targets for future design of antibiotics against Mycoplasma infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, Box 575, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Liya Wang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, Box 575, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Wang Z, Sapienza PJ, Abeysinghe T, Luzum C, Lee AL, Finer-Moore JS, Stroud RM, Kohen A. Mg2+ binds to the surface of thymidylate synthase and affects hydride transfer at the interior active site. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:7583-92. [PMID: 23611499 PMCID: PMC3674108 DOI: 10.1021/ja400761x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Thymidylate synthase (TSase) produces the sole intracellular de novo source of thymidine (i.e., the DNA base T) and thus is a common target for antibiotic and anticancer drugs. Mg(2+) has been reported to affect TSase activity, but the mechanism of this interaction has not been investigated. Here we show that Mg(2+) binds to the surface of Escherichia coli TSase and affects the kinetics of hydride transfer at the interior active site (16 Å away). Examination of the crystal structures identifies a Mg(2+) near the glutamyl moiety of the folate cofactor, providing the first structural evidence for Mg(2+) binding to TSase. The kinetics and NMR relaxation experiments suggest that the weak binding of Mg(2+) to the protein surface stabilizes the closed conformation of the ternary enzyme complex and reduces the entropy of activation on the hydride transfer step. Mg(2+) accelerates the hydride transfer by ~7-fold but does not affect the magnitude or temperature dependence of the intrinsic kinetic isotope effect. These results suggest that Mg(2+) facilitates the protein motions that bring the hydride donor and acceptor together, but it does not change the tunneling ready state of the hydride transfer. These findings highlight how variations in cellular Mg(2+) concentration can modulate enzyme activity through long-range interactions in the protein, rather than binding at the active site. The interaction of Mg(2+) with the glutamyl tail of the folate cofactor and nonconserved residues of bacterial TSase may assist in designing antifolates with polyglutamyl substitutes as species-specific antibiotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Paul J. Sapienza
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thelma Abeysinghe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Calvin Luzum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Andrew L. Lee
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Janet S. Finer-Moore
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Robert M. Stroud
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Amnon Kohen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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17
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Wang Z, Ferrer S, Moliner V, Kohen A. QM/MM calculations suggest a novel intermediate following the proton abstraction catalyzed by thymidylate synthase. Biochemistry 2013; 52:2348-58. [PMID: 23464672 DOI: 10.1021/bi400267q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The cleavage of covalent C-H bonds is one of the most energetically demanding, yet biologically essential, chemical transformations. Two C-H bond cleavages are involved in the reaction catalyzed by thymidylate synthase (TSase), which provides the sole de novo source of thymidylate (i.e., the DNA base T) for most organisms. Our QM/MM free energy calculations show that the C-H → O proton transfer has three transition states that are energetically similar but structurally diverse. These characteristics are different from our previous calculation results on the C-H → C hydride transfer, providing an explanation for differences in temperature dependences of KIEs on these two C-H bond activation steps. The calculations also suggest that the traditionally proposed covalent bond between the protein and substrate (the C6-S bond) is very labile during the multistep catalytic reaction. Collective protein motions not only assist cleavage of the C6-S bond to stabilize the transition state of the proton transfer step but also rearrange the H-bond network at the end of this step to prepare the active site for subsequent chemical steps. These computational results illustrate functionalities of specific protein residues that reconcile many previous experimental observations and provide guidance for future experiments to examine the proposed mechanisms. The synchronized conformational changes in the protein and ligands observed in our simulations demonstrate participation of protein motions in the reaction coordinate of enzymatic reactions. Our computational findings suggest the existence of new reaction intermediates not covalently bound to TSase, which may lead to a new class of drugs targeting DNA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1727, USA
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18
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Biological evaluation of MR36, a novel non-polyglutamatable thymidylate synthase inhibitor that blocks cell cycle progression in melanoma cell lines. Invest New Drugs 2011; 30:1484-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-011-9733-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Wehelie R, Eriksson S, Bölske G, Wang L. Thymidylate synthases of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and Ureaplasma parvum are flavin-dependent. Vet Microbiol 2010; 145:265-72. [PMID: 20413228 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2010] [Revised: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 03/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC) is the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), one of the most serious bacterial diseases in cattle and buffalo. Ureaplasma parvum (U. parvum) colonizes the human urogenital tract, and has been associated with urethritis and premature birth. The de novo synthesis of thymidylate (dTMP) is essential and catalyzed by thymidylate synthase (TS), encoded by either the thyA or the thyX genes. No homologs to either thyA or thyX have been identified in the U. parvum and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC genomes. Here we report the identification, partial purification and characterization of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides and U. parvum TS. Our results showed that the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and U. parvum TS apparently are flavin-dependent, having similar enzymatic activities but no sequence homology to other known ThyX proteins. Up to date there are 11 Mollicutes species lacking both thyA and thyX gene. Therefore, the finding described here most likely constitutes a new enzyme family specific for Mollicutes. These M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and U. parvum TS enzymes could be ideal targets for future development of agents against Myoplasma infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Wehelie
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Section of Veterinary Medical Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Zhang N, Yin Y, Xu SJ, Chen WS. 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of resistance and reversal strategies. Molecules 2008; 13:1551-69. [PMID: 18794772 PMCID: PMC6244944 DOI: 10.3390/molecules13081551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 453] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2008] [Revised: 07/01/2008] [Accepted: 07/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to review the published studies on the mechanisms of action and resistance of 5-fluorouracil. The review is divided into three main sections: mechanisms of anti-tumor action, studies of the resistance to the drug, and procedures for the identification of new genes involved in resistance with microarray techniques. The details of the induction and reversal of the drug resistance are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, P.R. China; E-mail:
| | - Ying Yin
- Institute of Clinical Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China; E-mails: ;
| | - Sheng-Jie Xu
- Institute of Clinical Research, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, P.R. China; E-mails: ;
| | - Wei-Shan Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, #88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, P.R. China; E-mail:
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
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21
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Ferrari S, Losasso V, Costi M. Sequence-Based Identification of Specific Drug Target Regions in the Thymidylate Synthase Enzyme Family. ChemMedChem 2008; 3:392-401. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200700215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan M Kompis
- ARPIDA Ltd, Dammstrasse 36, 4142 Münchenstein, Switzerland
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23
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Jarmuła A, Cieplak P, Montfort WR. 5,10-Methylene-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate conformational transitions upon binding to thymidylate synthase: molecular mechanics and continuum solvent studies. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2005; 19:123-36. [PMID: 16075306 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-005-2998-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2004] [Accepted: 02/24/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We applied the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) approach to evaluate relative stability of the extended (flat) and C-shaped (bent) solution conformational forms of the 5,10-methylene-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (mTHF) molecule in aqueous solution. Calculations indicated that both forms have similar free energies in aqueous solution but detailed energy components are different. The bent solution form has lower intramolecular electrostatic and van der Waals interaction energies. The flat form has more favorable solvation free energy and lower contribution from the bond, angle and torsion angle molecular mechanical internal energies. We exploit these results and combine them with known crystallographic data to provide a model for the progressive binding of the mTHF molecule, a natural cofactor of thymidylate synthase (TS), to the complex forming in the TS-catalyzed reaction. We propose that at the time of initial weak binding in the open enzyme the cofactor molecule remains in a close balance between the flat and bent solution conformations, with neither form clearly favored. Later, thymidylate synthase undergoes conformational change leading to the closure of the active site and the mTHF molecule is withdrawn from the solvent. That effect shifts the thermodynamic equilibrium of the mTHF molecule toward the bent solution form. At the same time, burying the cofactor molecule in the closed active site produces numerous contacts between mTHF and protein that render change in the shape of the mTHF molecule. As a result, the bent solution conformer is converted to more strained L-shaped bent enzyme conformer of the mTHF molecule. The strain in the bent enzyme conformation allows for the tight binding of the cofactor molecule to the productive ternary complex that forms in the closed active site, and facilitates the protonation of the imidazolidine N10 atom, which promotes further reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Jarmuła
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St., Warszawa, 02-093, Poland.
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24
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Abstract
The genomics revolution has provided a deluge of new targets for drug discovery. To facilitate the drug discovery process, many researchers are turning to fragment-based approaches to find lead molecules more efficiently. One such method, Tethering1, allows for the identification of small-molecule fragments that bind to specific regions of a protein target. These fragments can then be elaborated, combined with other molecules, or combined with one another to provide high-affinity drug leads. In this review we describe the background and theory behind Tethering and discuss its use in identifying novel inhibitors for protein targets including interleukin-2 (IL-2), thymidylate synthase (TS), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), and caspases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Erlanson
- Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 341 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, USA.
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25
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Abstract
Structure-based drug design of species-specific inhibitors generally exploits structural differences in proteins from different organisms. Here, we demonstrate how achieving specificity can be aided by targeting differences in the dynamics of proteins. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a good target for anticancer agents and a potential target for antibacterial agents. Most inhibitors are folate-analogs that bind at the folate binding site and are not species specific. In contrast, alpha156 is not a folate-analog and is specific for bacterial TS; it has been shown crystallographically to bind in a nonconserved binding site. Docking calculations and crystal structure-based estimation of the essential dynamics of TSs from five different species show that differences in the dynamics of TSs make the active site more accessible to alpha156 in the prokaryotic than in the eukaryotic TSs and thereby enhance the specificity of alpha156.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 183, 41100 Modena, Italy.
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