1
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Hu Y, Li M, Wang Q. Allosteric pathways of SARS and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified by neural relational inference. Proteins 2024; 92:865-873. [PMID: 38459426 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26678] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein must undergo a crucial conformational transition to invade human cells. It is intriguing that this transition is accompanied by a synchronized movement of the entire spike protein. Therefore, it is possible to design allosteric regulators targeting non-RBD but hindering the conformational transition of RBD. To understand the allosteric mechanism in detail, we establish a computational framework by integrating coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations and a state-of-the-art neural network model called neural relational inference. Leveraging this framework, we have elucidated the allosteric pathway of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at the residue level and identified the molecular mechanisms involved in the transmission of allosteric signals. The movement of D614 is coupled with that of Q321. This interaction subsequently influences the movement of K528/K529, ultimately coupling with the movement of RBD during conformational changes. Mutations that weaken the interactions within this pathway naturally block the allosteric signal transmission, thereby modulating the conformational transitions. This observation also offers a rationale for the distinct allosteric patterns observed in the SARS-CoV spike protein. Our result provides a useful method for analyzing the dynamics of potential viral variants in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Hu
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Mingwei Li
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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2
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Avila YI, Rebolledo LP, Skelly E, de Freitas Saito R, Wei H, Lilley D, Stanley RE, Hou YM, Yang H, Sztuba-Solinska J, Chen SJ, Dokholyan NV, Tan C, Li SK, He X, Zhang X, Miles W, Franco E, Binzel DW, Guo P, Afonin KA. Cracking the Code: Enhancing Molecular Tools for Progress in Nanobiotechnology. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:3587-3604. [PMID: 38833534 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Nature continually refines its processes for optimal efficiency, especially within biological systems. This article explores the collaborative efforts of researchers worldwide, aiming to mimic nature's efficiency by developing smarter and more effective nanoscale technologies and biomaterials. Recent advancements highlight progress and prospects in leveraging engineered nucleic acids and proteins for specific tasks, drawing inspiration from natural functions. The focus is developing improved methods for characterizing, understanding, and reprogramming these materials to perform user-defined functions, including personalized therapeutics, targeted drug delivery approaches, engineered scaffolds, and reconfigurable nanodevices. Contributions from academia, government agencies, biotech, and medical settings offer diverse perspectives, promising a comprehensive approach to broad nanobiotechnology objectives. Encompassing topics from mRNA vaccine design to programmable protein-based nanocomputing agents, this work provides insightful perspectives on the trajectory of nanobiotechnology toward a future of enhanced biomimicry and technological innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelixza I Avila
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Laura P Rebolledo
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Elizabeth Skelly
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Renata de Freitas Saito
- Comprehensive Center for Precision Oncology, Centro de Investigação Translacional em Oncologia (LIM24), Departamento de Radiologia e Oncologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo and Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Hui Wei
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P. R. China
| | - David Lilley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Robin E Stanley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Ya-Ming Hou
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 233 South 10th Street, BLSB 220 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Haoyun Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Joanna Sztuba-Solinska
- Vaccine Research and Development, Early Bioprocess Development, Pfizer Inc., 401 N Middletown Road, Pearl River, New York 10965, United States
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Data Sciences and Informatics, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Penn State College of Medicine; Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
- Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - S Kevin Li
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States
| | - Xiaoming He
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Xiaoting Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Breast Cancer Research Program, and University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Vontz Center for Molecular Studies, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States
| | - Wayne Miles
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Elisa Franco
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024, United States
| | - Daniel W Binzel
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine; College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine; College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
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3
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Yang K, Liu H. Mining the Dynamical Properties of Substrate and FAD Binding Pockets of LSD1: Hints for New Inhibitor Design Direction. J Chem Inf Model 2024. [PMID: 38837697 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), a highly sophisticated epigenetic regulator, orchestrates a range of critical cellular processes, holding promising therapeutic potential for treating diverse diseases. However, the clinical research progress targeting LSD1 is very slow. After 20 years of research, only one small-molecule drug, BEA-17, targeting the degradation of LSD1 and CoREST has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The primary reason for this may be the lack of abundant structural data regarding its intricate functions. To gain a deeper understanding of its conformational dynamics and guide the drug design process, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations to explore the conformational states of LSD1 in the apo state and under the influence of cofactors of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and CoREST. Our results showed that, across all states, the substrate binding pocket exhibited high flexibility, whereas the FAD binding pocket remained more stable. These distinct dynamical properties are essential for LSD1's ability to bind various substrates while maintaining efficient demethylation activity. Both pockets can be enlarged by merging with adjacent pockets, although only the substrate binding pocket can shrink into smaller pockets. These new pocket shapes can inform inhibitor design, particularly for selectively FAD-competitive inhibitors of LSD1, given the presence of numerous FAD-dependent enzymes in the human body. More interestingly, in the absence of FAD binding, the united substrate and FAD binding pocket are partitioned by the conserved residue of Tyr761, offering valuable insights for the design of inhibitors that disrupt the crucial steric role of Tyr761 and the redox role of FAD. Additionally, we identified pockets that positively or negatively correlate with the substrate and FAD binding pockets, which can be exploited for the design of allosteric or concurrent inhibitors. Our results reveal the intricate dynamical properties of LSD1 as well as multiple novel conformational states, which deepen our understanding of its sophisticated functions and aid in the rational design of new inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kecheng Yang
- National Supercomputing Center in Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hongmin Liu
- Key Lab of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
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4
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Liu Z, Gillis TG, Raman S, Cui Q. A parameterized two-domain thermodynamic model explains diverse mutational effects on protein allostery. eLife 2024; 12:RP92262. [PMID: 38836839 PMCID: PMC11152574 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92262] [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] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
New experimental findings continue to challenge our understanding of protein allostery. Recent deep mutational scanning study showed that allosteric hotspots in the tetracycline repressor (TetR) and its homologous transcriptional factors are broadly distributed rather than spanning well-defined structural pathways as often assumed. Moreover, hotspot mutation-induced allostery loss was rescued by distributed additional mutations in a degenerate fashion. Here, we develop a two-domain thermodynamic model for TetR, which readily rationalizes these intriguing observations. The model accurately captures the in vivo activities of various mutants with changes in physically transparent parameters, allowing the data-based quantification of mutational effects using statistical inference. Our analysis reveals the intrinsic connection of intra- and inter-domain properties for allosteric regulation and illustrate epistatic interactions that are consistent with structural features of the protein. The insights gained from this study into the nature of two-domain allostery are expected to have broader implications for other multi-domain allosteric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Liu
- Department of Physics, Boston UniversityBostonUnited States
| | - Thomas G Gillis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of WisconsinMadisonUnited States
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of WisconsinMadisonUnited States
- Department of Chemistry, University of WisconsinMadisonUnited States
- Department of Bacteriology, University of WisconsinMadisonUnited States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Physics, Boston UniversityBostonUnited States
- Department of Chemistry, Boston UniversityBostonUnited States
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5
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Lu Q, Sun Y, Liang Z, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Mei Q. Nano-optogenetics for Disease Therapies. ACS NANO 2024; 18:14123-14144. [PMID: 38768091 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetic, known as the method of 21 centuries, combines optic and genetic engineering to precisely control photosensitive proteins for manipulation of a broad range of cellular functions, such as flux of ions, protein oligomerization and dissociation, cellular intercommunication, and so on. In this technique, light is conventionally delivered to targeted cells through optical fibers or micro light-emitting diodes, always suffering from high invasiveness, wide-field illumination facula, strong absorption, and scattering by nontargeted endogenous substance. Light-transducing nanomaterials with advantages of high spatiotemporal resolution, abundant wireless-excitation manners, and easy functionalization for recognition of specific cells, recently have been widely explored in the field of optogenetics; however, there remain a few challenges to restrain its clinical applications. This review summarized recent progress on light-responsive genetically encoded proteins and the myriad of activation strategies by use of light-transducing nanomaterials and their disease-treatment applications, which is expected for sparking helpful thought to push forward its preclinical and translational uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yaru Sun
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Zhengbing Liang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Zhigang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Qingsong Mei
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
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6
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Tran QH, Eder OM, Winkler A. Dynamics-driven allosteric stimulation of diguanylate cyclase activity in a red light-regulated phytochrome. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107217. [PMID: 38522512 PMCID: PMC11035067 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107217] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensor-effector proteins integrate information from different stimuli and transform this into cellular responses. Some sensory domains, like red-light responsive bacteriophytochromes, show remarkable modularity regulating a variety of effectors. One effector domain is the GGDEF diguanylate cyclase catalyzing the formation of the bacterial second messenger cyclic-dimeric-guanosine monophosphate. While critical signal integration elements have been described for different phytochromes, a generalized understanding of signal processing and communication over large distances, roughly 100 Å in phytochrome diguanylate cyclases, is missing. Here we show that dynamics-driven allostery is key to understanding signal integration on a molecular level. We generated protein variants stabilized in their far-red-absorbing Pfr state and demonstrated by analysis of conformational dynamics using hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry that single amino acid replacements are accompanied by altered dynamics of functional elements throughout the protein. We show that the conformational dynamics correlate with the enzymatic activity of these variants, explaining also the increased activity of a non-photochromic variant. In addition, we demonstrate the functional importance of mixed Pfr/intermediate state dimers using a fast-reverting variant that still enables wild-type-like fold-changes of enzymatic stimulation by red light. This supports the functional role of single protomer activation in phytochromes, a property that might correlate with the non-canonical mixed Pfr/intermediate-state spectra observed for many phytochrome systems. We anticipate our results to stimulate research in the direction of dynamics-driven allosteric regulation of different bacteriophytochrome-based sensor-effectors. This will eventually impact design strategies for the creation of novel sensor-effector systems for enriching the optogenetic toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quang Hieu Tran
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria.
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7
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Erkip A, Erman B. Dynamically driven correlations in elastic net models reveal sequence of events and causality in proteins. Proteins 2024. [PMID: 38687146 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26697] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
An explicit analytic solution is given for the Langevin equation applied to the Gaussian Network Model of a protein subjected to both a random and a deterministic periodic force. Synchronous and asynchronous components of time correlation functions are derived and an expression for phase differences in the time correlations of residue pairs is obtained. The synchronous component enables the determination of dynamic communities within the protein structure. The asynchronous component reveals causality, where the time correlation function between residues i and j differs depending on whether i is observed before j or vice versa, resulting in directional information flow. Driver and driven residues in the allosteric process of cyclophilin A and human NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase are determined by a perturbation-scanning technique. Factors affecting phase differences between fluctuations of residues, such as network topology, connectivity, and residue centrality, are identified. Within the constraints of the isotropic Gaussian Network Model, our results show that asynchronicity increases with viscosity and distance between residues, decreases with increasing connectivity, and decreases with increasing levels of eigenvector centrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Erkip
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burak Erman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koc University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Istanbul, Turkey
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8
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Lu H, Ye H, You L. Photoswitchable Cascades for Allosteric and Bidirectional Control over Covalent Bonds and Assemblies. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38620077 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Studies of complex systems and emerging properties to mimic biosystems are at the forefront of chemical research. Dynamic multistep cascades, especially those exhibiting allosteric regulation, are challenging. Herein, we demonstrate a versatile platform of photoswitchable covalent cascades toward remote and bidirectional control of reversible covalent bonds and ensuing assemblies. The relay of a photochromic switch, keto-enol equilibrium, and ring-chain equilibrium allows light-mediated reversible allosteric structural changes. The accompanying distinct reactivity further enables photoswitchable dynamic covalent bonding and release of substrates bidirectionally through alternating two wavelengths of light, essentially realizing light-mediated signaling cycles. The downfall of energy by covalent bond formation/scission upon photochemical reactions offers the driving force for the controlled direction of the cascade. To show the molecular diversity, photoswitchable on-demand assembly/disassembly of covalent polymers, including structurally reconfigurable polymers, was realized. This work achieves photoswitchable allosteric regulation of covalent architectures within dynamic multistep cascades, which has rarely been reported before. The results resemble allosteric control within biological signaling networks and should set the stage for many endeavors, such as dynamic assemblies, molecular motors, responsive polymers, and intelligent materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hebo Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lei You
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Fujian Science & Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou 350108, China
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9
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Zhang M, Chen T, Lu X, Lan X, Chen Z, Lu S. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): advances in structures, mechanisms, and drug discovery. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:88. [PMID: 38594257 PMCID: PMC11004190 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01803-6] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of human membrane proteins and an important class of drug targets, play a role in maintaining numerous physiological processes. Agonist or antagonist, orthosteric effects or allosteric effects, and biased signaling or balanced signaling, characterize the complexity of GPCR dynamic features. In this study, we first review the structural advancements, activation mechanisms, and functional diversity of GPCRs. We then focus on GPCR drug discovery by revealing the detailed drug-target interactions and the underlying mechanisms of orthosteric drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years. Particularly, an up-to-date analysis is performed on available GPCR structures complexed with synthetic small-molecule allosteric modulators to elucidate key receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Finally, we highlight how the widespread GPCR-druggable allosteric sites can guide structure- or mechanism-based drug design and propose prospects of designing bitopic ligands for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Xun Lu
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Ziqiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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10
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Di Terlizzi I, Gironella M, Herraez-Aguilar D, Betz T, Monroy F, Baiesi M, Ritort F. Variance sum rule for entropy production. Science 2024; 383:971-976. [PMID: 38422150 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh1823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Entropy production is the hallmark of nonequilibrium physics, quantifying irreversibility, dissipation, and the efficiency of energy transduction processes. Despite many efforts, its measurement at the nanoscale remains challenging. We introduce a variance sum rule (VSR) for displacement and force variances that permits us to measure the entropy production rate σ in nonequilibrium steady states. We first illustrate it for directly measurable forces, such as an active Brownian particle in an optical trap. We then apply the VSR to flickering experiments in human red blood cells. We find that σ is spatially heterogeneous with a finite correlation length, and its average value agrees with calorimetry measurements. The VSR paves the way to derive σ using force spectroscopy and time-resolved imaging in living and active matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Di Terlizzi
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - M Gironella
- Small Biosystems Lab, Condensed Matter Physics Department, Universitat de Barcelona, C/ Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - D Herraez-Aguilar
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Ctra. Pozuelo-Majadahonda Km 1,800, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - T Betz
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - F Monroy
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Translational Biophysics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Doce de Octubre (IMAS12), Av. Andalucía, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Baiesi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
- INFN, Sezione di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - F Ritort
- Small Biosystems Lab, Condensed Matter Physics Department, Universitat de Barcelona, C/ Marti i Franques 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Welsh CL, Madan LK. Allostery in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases is Enabled by Divergent Dynamics. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1331-1346. [PMID: 38346324 PMCID: PMC11144062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Dynamics-driven allostery provides important insights into the working mechanics of proteins, especially enzymes. In this study, we employ this paradigm to answer a basic question: in enzyme superfamilies, where the catalytic mechanism, active sites, and protein fold are conserved, what accounts for the difference in the catalytic prowess of the individual members? We show that when subtle changes in sequence do not translate to changes in structure, they do translate to changes in dynamics. We use sequentially diverse PTP1B, TbPTP1, and YopH as representatives of the conserved protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily. Using amino acid network analysis of group behavior (community analysis) and influential node dominance on networks (eigenvector centrality), we explain the dynamic basis of the catalytic variations seen between the three proteins. Importantly, we explain how a dynamics-based blueprint makes PTP1B amenable to allosteric control and how the same is abstracted in TbPTP1 and YopH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin L Welsh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Lalima K Madan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
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12
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Cai R, Ngwadom C, Saxena R, Soman J, Bruggeman C, Hickey DP, Verduzco R, Ajo-Franklin CM. Creation of a point-of-care therapeutics sensor using protein engineering, electrochemical sensing and electronic integration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1689. [PMID: 38402222 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45789-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Point-of-care sensors, which are low-cost and user-friendly, play a crucial role in precision medicine by providing quick results for individuals. Here, we transform the conventional glucometer into a 4-hydroxytamoxifen therapeutic biosensor in which 4-hydroxytamoxifen modulates the electrical signal generated by glucose oxidation. To encode the 4-hydroxytamoxifen signal within glucose oxidation, we introduce the ligand-binding domain of estrogen receptor-alpha into pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase by constructing and screening a comprehensive protein insertion library. In addition to obtaining 4-hydroxytamoxifen regulatable engineered proteins, these results unveil the significance of both secondary and quaternary protein structures in propagation of conformational signals. By constructing an effective bioelectrochemical interface, we detect 4-hydroxytamoxifen in human blood samples as changes in the electrical signal and use this to develop an electrochemical algorithm to decode the 4-hydroxytamoxifen signal from glucose. To meet the miniaturization and signal amplification requirements for point-of-care use, we harness power from glucose oxidation to create a self-powered sensor. We also amplify the 4-hydroxytamoxifen signal using an organic electrochemical transistor, resulting in milliampere-level signals. Our work demonstrates a broad interdisciplinary approach to create a biosensor that capitalizes on recent innovations in protein engineering, electrochemical sensing, and electrical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cai
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | | | - Ravindra Saxena
- Applied Physics Graduate Program, Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jayashree Soman
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chase Bruggeman
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - David P Hickey
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Rafael Verduzco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Caroline M Ajo-Franklin
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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13
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Kannan A, Chaurasiya DK, Naganathan AN. Conflicting Interfacial Electrostatic Interactions as a Design Principle to Modulate Long-Range Interdomain Communication. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2024; 4:53-67. [PMID: 38404745 PMCID: PMC10885104 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.3c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The extent and molecular basis of interdomain communication in multidomain proteins, central to understanding allostery and function, is an open question. One simple evolutionary strategy could involve the selection of either conflicting or favorable electrostatic interactions across the interface of two closely spaced domains to tune the magnitude of interdomain connectivity. Here, we study a bilobed domain FF34 from the eukaryotic p190A RhoGAP protein to explore one such design principle that mediates interdomain communication. We find that while the individual structural units in wild-type FF34 are marginally coupled, they exhibit distinct intrinsic stabilities and low cooperativity, manifesting as slow folding. The FF3-FF4 interface harbors a frustrated network of highly conserved electrostatic interactions-a charge troika-that promotes the population of multiple, decoupled, and non-native structural modes on a rugged native landscape. Perturbing this network via a charge-reversal mutation not only enhances stability and cooperativity but also dampens the fluctuations globally and speeds up the folding rate by at least an order of magnitude. Our work highlights how a conserved but nonoptimal network of interfacial electrostatic interactions shapes the native ensemble of a bilobed protein, a feature that could be exploited in designing molecular systems with long-range connectivity and enhanced cooperativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adithi Kannan
- Department of Biotechnology,
Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Dhruv Kumar Chaurasiya
- Department of Biotechnology,
Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Athi N. Naganathan
- Department of Biotechnology,
Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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14
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Liu Z, Gillis T, Raman S, Cui Q. A parametrized two-domain thermodynamic model explains diverse mutational effects on protein allostery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.06.552196. [PMID: 37662419 PMCID: PMC10473640 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.06.552196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
New experimental findings continue to challenge our understanding of protein allostery. Recent deep mutational scanning study showed that allosteric hotspots in the tetracycline repressor (TetR) and its homologous transcriptional factors are broadly distributed rather than spanning well-defined structural pathways as often assumed. Moreover, hotspot mutation-induced allostery loss was rescued by distributed additional mutations in a degenerate fashion. Here, we develop a two-domain thermodynamic model for TetR, which readily rationalizes these intriguing observations. The model accurately captures the in vivo activities of various mutants with changes in physically transparent parameters, allowing the data-based quantification of mutational effects using statistical inference. Our analysis reveals the intrinsic connection of intra- and inter-domain properties for allosteric regulation and illustrate epistatic interactions that are consistent with structural features of the protein. The insights gained from this study into the nature of two-domain allostery are expected to have broader implications for other multidomain allosteric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Liu
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, United States
| | - Thomas Gillis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, United States
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15
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Deng J, Yuan Y, Cui Q. Modulation of Allostery with Multiple Mechanisms by Hotspot Mutations in TetR. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2757-2768. [PMID: 38231868 PMCID: PMC10843641 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Modulating allosteric coupling offers unique opportunities for biomedical applications. Such efforts can benefit from efficient prediction and evaluation of allostery hotspot residues that dictate the degree of cooperativity between distant sites. We demonstrate that effects of allostery hotspot mutations can be evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively by molecular dynamics simulations in a bacterial tetracycline repressor (TetR). The simulations recapitulate the effects of these mutations on abolishing the induction function of TetR and provide a rationale for the different rescuabilities observed to restore allosteric coupling of the hotspot mutations. We demonstrate that the same noninducible phenotype could be the result of perturbations in distinct structural and energetic properties of TetR. Our work underscores the value of explicitly computing the functional free energy landscapes to effectively evaluate and rank hotspot mutations despite the prevalence of compensatory interactions and therefore provides quantitative guidance to allostery modulation for therapeutic and engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yuchen Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Physics, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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16
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Sinha S, Molina Vargas A, Arantes P, Patel A, O’Connell M, Palermo G. Unveiling the RNA-mediated allosteric activation discloses functional hotspots in CRISPR-Cas13a. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:906-920. [PMID: 38033317 PMCID: PMC10810222 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cas13a is a recent addition to the CRISPR-Cas toolkit that exclusively targets RNA, which makes it a promising tool for RNA detection. It utilizes a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) to target RNA sequences and trigger a composite active site formed by two 'Higher Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes Nucleotide' (HEPN) domains, cleaving any solvent-exposed RNA. In this system, an intriguing form of allosteric communication controls the RNA cleavage activity, yet its molecular details are unknown. Here, multiple-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations are combined with graph theory to decipher this intricate activation mechanism. We show that the binding of a target RNA acts as an allosteric effector, by amplifying the communication signals over the dynamical noise through interactions of the crRNA at the buried HEPN1-2 interface. By introducing a novel Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of communication efficiency, we reveal critical allosteric residues-R377, N378, and R973-that rearrange their interactions upon target RNA binding. Alanine mutation of these residues is shown to select target RNA over an extended complementary sequence beyond guide-target duplex for RNA cleavage, establishing the functional significance of these hotspots. Collectively our findings offer a fundamental understanding of the Cas13a mechanism of action and pave new avenues for the development of highly selective RNA-based cleavage and detection tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Sinha
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA , 92521, USA
| | - Adrian M Molina Vargas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Pablo R Arantes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA , 92521, USA
| | - Amun Patel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA , 92521, USA
| | - Mitchell R O’Connell
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA , 92521, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
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17
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He J, Liu X, Zhu C, Zha J, Li Q, Zhao M, Wei J, Li M, Wu C, Wang J, Jiao Y, Ning S, Zhou J, Hong Y, Liu Y, He H, Zhang M, Chen F, Li Y, He X, Wu J, Lu S, Song K, Lu X, Zhang J. ASD2023: towards the integrating landscapes of allosteric knowledgebase. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D376-D383. [PMID: 37870448 PMCID: PMC10767950 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Allosteric regulation, induced by perturbations at an allosteric site topographically distinct from the orthosteric site, is one of the most direct and efficient ways to fine-tune macromolecular function. The Allosteric Database (ASD; accessible online at http://mdl.shsmu.edu.cn/ASD) has been systematically developed since 2009 to provide comprehensive information on allosteric regulation. In recent years, allostery has seen sustained growth and wide-ranging applications in life sciences, from basic research to new therapeutics development, while also elucidating emerging obstacles across allosteric research stages. To overcome these challenges and maintain high-quality data center services, novel features were curated in the ASD2023 update: (i) 66 589 potential allosteric sites, covering > 80% of the human proteome and constituting the human allosteric pocketome; (ii) 748 allosteric protein-protein interaction (PPI) modulators with clear mechanisms, aiding protein machine studies and PPI-targeted drug discovery; (iii) 'Allosteric Hit-to-Lead,' a pioneering dataset providing panoramic views from 87 well-defined allosteric hits to 6565 leads and (iv) 456 dualsteric modulators for exploring the simultaneous regulation of allosteric and orthosteric sites. Meanwhile, ASD2023 maintains a significant growth of foundational allosteric data. Based on these efforts, the allosteric knowledgebase is progressively evolving towards an integrated landscape, facilitating advancements in allosteric target identification, mechanistic exploration and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chunhao Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Jinyin Zha
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Mingzhu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jiacheng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Mingyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chengwei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Junyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yonglai Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shaobo Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jiamin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yue Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yonghui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongxi He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Mingyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Feiying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yanxiu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xinheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kun Song
- Nutshell Therapeutics, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xuefeng Lu
- Department of Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shengli Street, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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18
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Deng J, Yuan Y, Cui Q. Modulation of Allostery with Multiple Mechanisms by Hotspot Mutations in TetR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.29.555381. [PMID: 37905112 PMCID: PMC10614727 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Modulating allosteric coupling offers unique opportunities for biomedical applications. Such efforts can benefit from efficient prediction and evaluation of allostery hotspot residues that dictate the degree of co-operativity between distant sites. We demonstrate that effects of allostery hotspot mutations can be evaluated qualitatively and semi-quantitatively by molecular dynamics simulations in a bacterial tetracycline repressor (TetR). The simulations recapitulate the effects of these mutations on abolishing the induction function of TetR and provide a rationale for the different degrees of rescuability observed to restore allosteric coupling of the hotspot mutations. We demonstrate that the same non-inducible phenotype could be the result of perturbations in distinct structural and energetic properties of TetR. Our work underscore the value of explicitly computing the functional free energy landscapes to effectively evaluate and rank hotspot mutations despite the prevalence of compensatory interactions, and therefore provide quantitative guidance to allostery modulation for therapeutic and engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yuchen Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Physics, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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19
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Segers M, Voorspoels A, Sakaue T, Carlon E. Mechanisms of DNA-Mediated Allostery. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:238402. [PMID: 38134780 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.238402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Proteins often regulate their activities via allostery-or action at a distance-in which the binding of a ligand at one binding site influences the affinity for another ligand at a distal site. Although less studied than in proteins, allosteric effects have been observed in experiments with DNA as well. In these experiments two or more proteins bind at distinct DNA sites and interact indirectly with each other, via a mechanism mediated by the linker DNA molecule. We develop a mechanical model of DNA/protein interactions which predicts three distinct mechanisms of allostery. Two of these involve an enthalpy-mediated allostery, while a third mechanism is entropy driven. We analyze experiments of DNA allostery and highlight the distinctive signatures allowing one to identify which of the proposed mechanisms best fits the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Midas Segers
- Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aderik Voorspoels
- Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Takahiro Sakaue
- Department of Physical Sciences, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5258, Japan
| | - Enrico Carlon
- Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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20
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Sohmen B, Beck C, Frank V, Seydel T, Hoffmann I, Hermann B, Nüesch M, Grimaldo M, Schreiber F, Wolf S, Roosen‐Runge F, Hugel T. The Onset of Molecule-Spanning Dynamics in Heat Shock Protein Hsp90. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304262. [PMID: 37984887 PMCID: PMC10754087 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Protein dynamics have been investigated on a wide range of time scales. Nano- and picosecond dynamics have been assigned to local fluctuations, while slower dynamics have been attributed to larger conformational changes. However, it is largely unknown how fast (local) fluctuations can lead to slow global (allosteric) changes. Here, fast molecule-spanning dynamics on the 100 to 200 ns time scale in the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) are shown. Global real-space movements are assigned to dynamic modes on this time scale, which is possible by a combination of single-molecule fluorescence, quasi-elastic neutron scattering and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The time scale of these dynamic modes depends on the conformational state of the Hsp90 dimer. In addition, the dynamic modes are affected to various degrees by Sba1, a co-chaperone of Hsp90, depending on the location within Hsp90, which is in very good agreement with MD simulations. Altogether, this data is best described by fast molecule-spanning dynamics, which precede larger conformational changes in Hsp90 and might be the molecular basis for allostery. This integrative approach provides comprehensive insights into molecule-spanning dynamics on the nanosecond time scale for a multi-domain protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Sohmen
- Institute of Physical ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstrasse 2179104FreiburgGermany
| | - Christian Beck
- Institute of Applied PhysicsUniversity of TübingenAuf der Morgenstelle 1072076TübingenGermany
- Science DivisionInstitut Max von Laue ‐ Paul Langevin71 avenue des MartyrsGrenoble38042France
| | - Veronika Frank
- Institute of Physical ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstrasse 2179104FreiburgGermany
| | - Tilo Seydel
- Science DivisionInstitut Max von Laue ‐ Paul Langevin71 avenue des MartyrsGrenoble38042France
| | - Ingo Hoffmann
- Science DivisionInstitut Max von Laue ‐ Paul Langevin71 avenue des MartyrsGrenoble38042France
| | - Bianca Hermann
- Institute of Physical ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstrasse 2179104FreiburgGermany
| | - Mark Nüesch
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of ZurichWinterthurerstrasse 190CH‐8057ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Marco Grimaldo
- Science DivisionInstitut Max von Laue ‐ Paul Langevin71 avenue des MartyrsGrenoble38042France
| | - Frank Schreiber
- Institute of Applied PhysicsUniversity of TübingenAuf der Morgenstelle 1072076TübingenGermany
| | - Steffen Wolf
- Biomolecular Dynamics, Institute of PhysicsUniversity of FreiburgHermann‐Herder‐Strasse 379104FreiburgGermany
| | - Felix Roosen‐Runge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biofilms‐Research Center for Biointerfaces (BRCB)Malmö University20506MalmöSweden
- Division of Physical ChemistryLund UniversityNaturvetarvägen 1422100LundSweden
| | - Thorsten Hugel
- Institute of Physical ChemistryUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstrasse 2179104FreiburgGermany
- Signalling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSSUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestrasse 1879104FreiburgGermany
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21
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Hasan MN, Ray M, Saha A. Landscape of In Silico Tools for Modeling Covalent Modification of Proteins: A Review on Computational Covalent Drug Discovery. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9663-9684. [PMID: 37921534 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Covalent drug discovery has been a challenging research area given the struggle of finding a sweet balance between selectivity and reactivity for these drugs, the lack of which often leads to off-target activities and hence undesirable side effects. However, there has been a resurgence in covalent drug design following the success of several covalent drugs such as boceprevir (2011), ibrutinib (2013), neratinib (2017), dacomitinib (2018), zanubrutinib (2019), and many others. Design of covalent drugs includes many crucial factors, where "evaluation of the binding affinity" and "a detailed mechanistic understanding on covalent inhibition" are at the top of the list. Well-defined experimental techniques are available to elucidate these factors; however, often they are expensive and/or time-consuming and hence not suitable for high throughput screens. Recent developments in in silico methods provide promise in this direction. In this report, we review a set of recent publications that focused on developing and/or implementing novel in silico techniques in "Computational Covalent Drug Discovery (CCDD)". We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches along with what improvements are required to make it a great tool in medicinal chemistry in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nazmul Hasan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin─Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
| | - Manisha Ray
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60660, United States
| | - Arjun Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin─Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, United States
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22
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Godbole SS, Dokholyan NV. Allosteric regulation of kinase activity in living cells. eLife 2023; 12:RP90574. [PMID: 37943025 PMCID: PMC10635643 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90574] [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] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of protein kinases is associated with multiple diseases due to the kinases' involvement in a variety of cell signaling pathways. Manipulating protein kinase function, by controlling the active site, is a promising therapeutic and investigative strategy to mitigate and study diseases. Kinase active sites share structural similarities, making it difficult to specifically target one kinase, and allosteric control allows specific regulation and study of kinase function without directly targeting the active site. Allosteric sites are distal to the active site but coupled via a dynamic network of inter-atomic interactions between residues in the protein. Establishing an allosteric control over a kinase requires understanding the allosteric wiring of the protein. Computational techniques offer effective and inexpensive mapping of the allosteric sites on a protein. Here, we discuss the methods to map and regulate allosteric communications in proteins, and strategies to establish control over kinase functions in live cells and organisms. Protein molecules, or 'sensors,' are engineered to function as tools to control allosteric activity of the protein as these sensors have high spatiotemporal resolution and help in understanding cell phenotypes after immediate activation or inactivation of a kinase. Traditional methods used to study protein functions, such as knockout, knockdown, or mutation, cannot offer a sufficiently high spatiotemporal resolution. We discuss the modern repertoire of tools to regulate protein kinases as we enter a new era in deciphering cellular signaling and developing novel approaches to treat diseases associated with signal dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of MedicineHersheyUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University ParkHersheyUnited States
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State University, University ParkHersheyUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of MedicineHersheyUnited States
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University ParkHersheyUnited States
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23
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Gentili PL, Stano P. Tracing a new path in the field of AI and robotics: mimicking human intelligence through chemistry. Part II: systems chemistry. Front Robot AI 2023; 10:1266011. [PMID: 37915426 PMCID: PMC10616823 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1266011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspired by some traits of human intelligence, it is proposed that wetware approaches based on molecular, supramolecular, and systems chemistry can provide valuable models and tools for novel forms of robotics and AI, being constituted by soft matter and fluid states as the human nervous system and, more generally, life, is. Bottom-up mimicries of intelligence range from the molecular world to the multicellular level, i.e., from the Ångström (10 - 10 meters) to the micrometer scales (10 - 6 meters), and allows the development of unconventional chemical robotics. Whereas conventional robotics lets humans explore and colonise otherwise inaccessible environments, such as the deep oceanic abysses and other solar system planets, chemical robots will permit us to inspect and control the microscopic molecular and cellular worlds. This article suggests that systems made of properly chosen molecular compounds can implement all those modules that are the fundamental ingredients of every living being: sensory, processing, actuating, and metabolic networks. Autonomous chemical robotics will be within reach when such modules are compartmentalised and assembled. The design of a strongly intertwined web of chemical robots, with or without the involvement of living matter, will give rise to collective forms of intelligence that will probably reproduce, on a minimal scale, some sophisticated performances of the human intellect and will implement forms of "general AI." These remarkable achievements will require a productive interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, biotechnologists, computer scientists, engineers, physicists, neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers to be achieved. The principal purpose of this paper is to spark this revolutionary collaborative scientific endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Luigi Gentili
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pasquale Stano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
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24
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Godbole S, Dokholyan NV. Allosteric regulation of kinase activity in living cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549709. [PMID: 37503033 PMCID: PMC10370130 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The dysregulation of protein kinases is associated with multiple diseases due to the kinases' involvement in a variety of cell signaling pathways. Manipulating protein kinase function, by controlling the active site, is a promising therapeutic and investigative strategy to mitigate and study diseases. Kinase active sites share structural similarities making it difficult to specifically target one kinase, allosteric control allows specific regulation and study of kinase function without directly targeting the active site. Allosteric sites are distal to the active site but coupled via a dynamic network of inter-atomic interactions between residues in the protein. Establishing an allosteric control over a kinase requires understanding the allosteric wiring of the protein. Computational techniques offer effective and inexpensive mapping of the allosteric sites on a protein. Here, we discuss methods to map and regulate allosteric communications in proteins, and strategies to establish control over kinase functions in live cells and organisms. Protein molecules, or "sensors" are engineered to function as tools to control allosteric activity of the protein as these sensors have high spatiotemporal resolution and help in understanding cell phenotypes after immediate activation or inactivation of a kinase. Traditional methods used to study protein functions, such as knockout, knockdown, or mutation, cannot offer a sufficiently high spatiotemporal resolution. We discuss the modern repertoire of tools to regulate protein kinases as we enter a new era in deciphering cellular signaling and developing novel approaches to treat diseases associated with signal dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Godbole
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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25
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Esteve F, Rahmatova F, Lehn JM. Supramolecular multivalency effects enhance imine formation in aqueous medium allowing for dynamic modification of enzymatic activity. Chem Sci 2023; 14:10249-10257. [PMID: 37772124 PMCID: PMC10530293 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc04128j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Imine formation under physiological conditions represents a challenging reaction due to the strong propensity of aldimines to be hydrolyzed. Herein we disclose the remarkable effect of supramolecular multivalency on increasing imine stability. A family of reactive aldehydes was synthesized bearing supramolecularly-active sites within their structure. The imine formation activity for such aldehydes was evaluated and compared with model aldehydes. The reaction of the best-performing species - containing two carboxylate groups-with a set of amines showed a significant decrease in imine yields as the degree of supramolecular multivalency between sidechains decreased. The reversible conjugation of amino acid derivatives and small peptides was also assayed, with excellent selectivities for the imine formation at the Nα position even in substrates containing competing sites. Preliminary results on protein bioconjugation revealed that a model enzyme could be dynamically inhibited upon reaction with the aldehyde, with its native activity being recovered by displacing the imine bonds with a suitable chemical effector (i.e., acylhydrazide).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferran Esteve
- Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoléculaire, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg 8 allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Fidan Rahmatova
- Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoléculaire, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg 8 allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Jean-Marie Lehn
- Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoléculaire, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg 8 allée Gaspard Monge 67000 Strasbourg France
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26
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Xie X, Yu T, Li X, Zhang N, Foster LJ, Peng C, Huang W, He G. Recent advances in targeting the "undruggable" proteins: from drug discovery to clinical trials. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:335. [PMID: 37669923 PMCID: PMC10480221 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01589-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Undruggable proteins are a class of proteins that are often characterized by large, complex structures or functions that are difficult to interfere with using conventional drug design strategies. Targeting such undruggable targets has been considered also a great opportunity for treatment of human diseases and has attracted substantial efforts in the field of medicine. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the recent development of drug discovery targeting "undruggable" proteins and their application in clinic. To make this review well organized, we discuss the design strategies targeting the undruggable proteins, including covalent regulation, allosteric inhibition, protein-protein/DNA interaction inhibition, targeted proteins regulation, nucleic acid-based approach, immunotherapy and others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tingting Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China
- Department of Dermatology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Medical Technology and School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 611137, Chengdu, China.
| | - Gu He
- Department of Dermatology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
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27
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Maria-Solano MA, Choi S. Dynamic allosteric networks drive adenosine A 1 receptor activation and G-protein coupling. eLife 2023; 12:RP90773. [PMID: 37656635 PMCID: PMC10473838 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90773] [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] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) present specific activation pathways and signaling among receptor subtypes. Hence, an extensive knowledge of the structural dynamics of the receptor is critical for the development of therapeutics. Here, we target the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R), for which a negligible number of drugs have been approved. We combine molecular dynamics simulations, enhanced sampling techniques, network theory and pocket detection to decipher the activation pathway of A1R, decode the allosteric networks and identify transient pockets. The A1R activation pathway reveal hidden intermediate and pre-active states together with the inactive and fully-active states observed experimentally. The protein energy networks computed throughout these conformational states successfully unravel the extra and intracellular allosteric centers and the communication pathways that couples them. We observe that the allosteric networks are dynamic, being increased along activation and fine-tuned in presence of the trimeric G-proteins. Overlap of transient pockets and energy networks uncover how the allosteric coupling between pockets and distinct functional regions of the receptor is altered along activation. By an in-depth analysis of the bridge between activation pathway, energy networks and transient pockets, we provide a further understanding of A1R. This information can be useful to ease the design of allosteric modulators for A1R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Maria-Solano
- Global AI Drug Discovery Center, College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Sun Choi
- Global AI Drug Discovery Center, College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
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28
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Sinha S, Molina Vargas AM, Arantes PR, Patel A, O'Connell MR, Palermo G. RNA-mediated Allosteric Activation in CRISPR-Cas13a. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.27.550797. [PMID: 37546822 PMCID: PMC10402131 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.27.550797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Cas13a is a recent addition to the CRISPR-Cas toolkit that exclusively targets RNA, which makes it a promising tool for RNA detection. The protein uses a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) to target RNA sequences, which are cleaved by a composite active site formed by two 'Higher Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes Nucleotide' (HEPN) catalytic domains. In this system, an intriguing form of allosteric communication controls RNA cleavage activity, yet its molecular details are unknown. Here, multiple-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations are combined with graph theory and RNA cleavage assays to decipher this activation mechanism. We show that the binding of a target RNA acts as an allosteric effector of the spatially distant HEPN catalytic cleft, by amplifying the allosteric signals over the dynamical noise, that passes through the buried HEPN interface. Critical residues in this region - N378, R973, and R377 - rearrange their interactions upon target RNA binding, and alter allosteric signalling. Alanine mutation of these residues is experimentally shown to select target RNA over an extended complementary sequence beyond guide-target duplex, for RNA cleavage. Altogether, our findings offer a fundamental understanding of the Cas13a mechanism of action and pave new avenues for the development of more selective RNA-based cleavage and detection tools.
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29
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Welsh CL, Madan LK. Allostery in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases is Enabled by Divergent Dynamics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.23.550226. [PMID: 37547015 PMCID: PMC10402003 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.23.550226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Dynamics-driven allostery provides important insights into the working mechanics of proteins, especially enzymes. In this study we employ this paradigm to answer a basic question: in enzyme superfamilies where the catalytic mechanism, active sites and protein fold are conserved, what accounts for the difference in the catalytic prowess of the individual members? We show that when subtle changes in sequence do not translate to changes in structure, they do translate to changes in dynamics. We use sequentially diverse PTP1B, TbPTP1, and YopH as the representatives of the conserved Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP) superfamily. Using amino acid network analysis of group behavior (community analysis) and influential node dominance on networks (eigenvector centrality), we explain the dynamic basis of catalytic variations seen between the three proteins. Importantly, we explain how a dynamics-based blueprint makes PTP1B amenable to allosteric control and how the same is abstracted in TbPTP1 and YopH.
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30
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La Sala G, Pfleger C, Käck H, Wissler L, Nevin P, Böhm K, Janet JP, Schimpl M, Stubbs CJ, De Vivo M, Tyrchan C, Hogner A, Gohlke H, Frolov AI. Combining structural and coevolution information to unveil allosteric sites. Chem Sci 2023; 14:7057-7067. [PMID: 37389247 PMCID: PMC10306073 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06272k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding allosteric regulation in biomolecules is of great interest to pharmaceutical research and computational methods emerged during the last decades to characterize allosteric coupling. However, the prediction of allosteric sites in a protein structure remains a challenging task. Here, we integrate local binding site information, coevolutionary information, and information on dynamic allostery into a structure-based three-parameter model to identify potentially hidden allosteric sites in ensembles of protein structures with orthosteric ligands. When tested on five allosteric proteins (LFA-1, p38-α, GR, MAT2A, and BCKDK), the model successfully ranked all known allosteric pockets in the top three positions. Finally, we identified a novel druggable site in MAT2A confirmed by X-ray crystallography and SPR and a hitherto unknown druggable allosteric site in BCKDK validated by biochemical and X-ray crystallography analyses. Our model can be applied in drug discovery to identify allosteric pockets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina La Sala
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Christopher Pfleger
- Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf 40225 Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Helena Käck
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Lisa Wissler
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Philip Nevin
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Kerstin Böhm
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Jon Paul Janet
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Marianne Schimpl
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Cambridge UK
| | - Christopher J Stubbs
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Cambridge UK
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genoa Italy
| | - Christian Tyrchan
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Anders Hogner
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Holger Gohlke
- Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf 40225 Düsseldorf Germany
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC), Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-4: Bioinformatics) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52425 Jülich Germany
| | - Andrey I Frolov
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg Sweden
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31
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Alao JP, Obaseki I, Amankwah YS, Nguyen Q, Sugoor M, Unruh E, Popoola HO, Tehver R, Kravats AN. Insight into the Nucleotide Based Modulation of the Grp94 Molecular Chaperone Using Multiscale Dynamics. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:5389-5409. [PMID: 37294929 PMCID: PMC10292203 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Grp94, an ER-localized molecular chaperone, is required for the folding and activation of many membrane and secretory proteins. Client activation by Grp94 is mediated by nucleotide and conformational changes. In this work, we aim to understand how microscopic changes from nucleotide hydrolysis can potentiate large-scale conformational changes of Grp94. We performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on the ATP-hydrolysis competent state of the Grp94 dimer in four different nucleotide bound states. We found that Grp94 was the most rigid when ATP was bound. ATP hydrolysis or nucleotide removal enhanced mobility of the N-terminal domain and ATP lid, resulting in suppression of interdomain communication. In an asymmetric conformation with one hydrolyzed nucleotide, we identified a more compact state, similar to experimental observations. We also identified a potential regulatory role of the flexible linker, as it formed electrostatic interactions with the Grp94 M-domain helix near the region where BiP is known to bind. These studies were complemented with normal-mode analysis of an elastic network model to investigate Grp94's large-scale conformational changes. SPM analysis identified residues that are important in signaling conformational change, many of which have known functional relevance in ATP coordination and catalysis, client binding, and BiP binding. Our findings suggest that ATP hydrolysis in Grp94 alters allosteric wiring and facilitates conformational changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Paul Alao
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Ikponwmosa Obaseki
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Yaa Sarfowah Amankwah
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Quinn Nguyen
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California,
Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Meghana Sugoor
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Erin Unruh
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
- Cell,
Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Department of Chemistry
& Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | | | - Riina Tehver
- Department
of Physics, Denison University, Granville, Ohio 43023, United States
| | - Andrea N. Kravats
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
- Cell,
Molecular, and Structural Biology Program, Department of Chemistry
& Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
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32
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Gao B, Zhu S. Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain activity by two microbial defensins. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1195156. [PMID: 37405160 PMCID: PMC10315472 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1195156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide binders are of great interest to both basic and biomedical research due to their unique properties in manipulating protein functions in a precise spatial and temporal manner. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein is a ligand that captures human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to initiate infection. The development of binders of RBDs has value either as antiviral leads or as versatile tools to study the functional properties of RBDs dependent on their binding positions on the RBDs. In this study, we report two microbe-derived antibacterial defensins with RBD-binding activity. These two naturally occurring binders bind wild-type RBD (WT RBD) and RBDs from various variants with moderate-to-high affinity (7.6-1,450 nM) and act as activators that enhance the ACE2-binding activity of RBDs. Using a computational approach, we mapped an allosteric pathway in WT RBD that connects its ACE2-binding sites to other distal regions. The latter is targeted by the defensins, in which a cation-π interaction could trigger the peptide-elicited allostery in RBDs. The discovery of the two positive allosteric peptides of SARS-CoV-2 RBD will promote the development of new molecular tools for investigating the biochemical mechanisms of RBD allostery.
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33
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Chen J, Vishweshwaraiah YL, Mailman RB, Tabdanov ED, Dokholyan NV. A noncommutative combinatorial protein logic circuit controls cell orientation in nanoenvironments. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1062. [PMID: 37235645 PMCID: PMC10219599 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Single-protein-based devices that integrate signal sensing with logical operations to generate functional outputs offer exceptional promise for monitoring and modulating biological systems. Engineering such intelligent nanoscale computing agents is challenging, as it requires the integration of sensor domains into a functional protein via intricate allosteric networks. We incorporate a rapamycin-sensitive sensor (uniRapR) and a blue light-responsive LOV2 domain into human Src kinase, creating a protein device that functions as a noncommutative combinatorial logic circuit. In our design, rapamycin activates Src kinase, causing protein localization to focal adhesions, whereas blue light exerts the reverse effect that inactivates Src translocation. Focal adhesion maturation induced by Src activation reduces cell migration dynamics and shifts cell orientation to align along collagen nanolane fibers. Using this protein device, we reversibly control cell orientation by applying the appropriate input signals, a framework that may be useful in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | | | - Richard B. Mailman
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | - Erdem D. Tabdanov
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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34
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Ge C, Zhu J, Ye H, Wei Y, Lei Y, Zhou R, Song Z, Yin L. Rational Construction of Protein-Mimetic Nano-Switch Systems Based on Secondary Structure Transitions of Synthetic Polypeptides. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:11206-11214. [PMID: 37167602 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The manipulation of the flexibility/rigidity of polymeric chains to control their function is commonly observed in natural macromolecules but largely unexplored in synthetic systems. Herein, we construct a series of protein-mimetic nano-switches consisting of a gold nanoparticle (GNP) core, a synthetic polypeptide linker, and an optically functional molecule (OFM), whose biological function can be dynamically regulated by the flexibility of the polypeptide linker. At the dormant state, the polypeptide adopts a flexible, random-coiled conformation, bringing GNP and OFM in close proximity that leads to the "turn-off" of the OFM. Once treated with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the nano-switches are activated due to the increased separation distance between GNP and OFM driven by the coil-to-helix and flexible-to-rigid transition of the polypeptide linker. The nano-switches therefore enable selective fluorescence imaging or photodynamic therapy in response to ALP overproduced by tumor cells. The control over polymer flexibility represents an effective strategy to manipulate the optical activity of nano-switches, which mimics the delicate structure-property relationship of natural proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Ge
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Junliang Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Huan Ye
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuansong Wei
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuheng Lei
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Renxiang Zhou
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ziyuan Song
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lichen Yin
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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35
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Nagar N, Saxena H, Pathak A, Mishra A, Poluri KM. A review on structural mechanisms of protein-persistent organic pollutant (POP) interactions. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 332:138877. [PMID: 37164191 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of the industrial revolution, the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment has become ubiquitous. POPs are halogen-containing organic molecules that accumulate, and remain in the environment for a long time, thus causing toxic effects in living organisms. POPs exhibit a high affinity towards biological macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, causing genotoxicity and impairment of homeostasis in living organisms. Proteins are essential members of the biological assembly, as they stipulate all necessary processes for the survival of an organism. Owing to their stereochemical features, POPs and their metabolites form energetically favourable complexes with proteins, as supported by biological and dose-dependent toxicological studies. Although individual studies have reported the biological aspects of protein-POP interactions, no comprehensive study summarizing the structural mechanisms, thermodynamics and kinetics of protein-POP complexes is available. The current review identifies and classifies protein-POP interaction according to the structural and functional basis of proteins into five major protein targets, including digestive and other enzymes, serum proteins, transcription factors, transporters, and G-protein coupled receptors. Further, analysis detailing the molecular interactions and structural mechanism evidenced that H-bonds, van der Waals, and hydrophobic interactions essentially mediate the formation of protein-POP complexes. Moreover, interaction of POPs alters the protein conformation through kinetic and thermodynamic processes like competitive inhibition and allostery to modulate the cellular signalling processes, resulting in various pathological conditions such as cancers and inflammations. In summary, the review provides a comprehensive insight into the critical structural/molecular aspects of protein-POP interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nupur Nagar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Harshi Saxena
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Aakanksha Pathak
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Amit Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, 342011, Rajasthan, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
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36
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Alhamwi AB, Atilgan C, Sensoy O. Nonlocal Effects of Antibiotic-Resistance-Causing Mutations Reveal an Alternative Region for Targeting on FtsW-Penicillin-Binding Protein 3 Complex of Haemophilus influenzae. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:3094-3104. [PMID: 37141552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Currently prescribed antibiotics target the catalytic sites of wild-type bacterial proteins; however, bacteria adopt mutations at this site, eventually leading to the emergence of resistance. Therefore, the identification of alternative drug binding sites is crucial, which requires knowledge of the dynamics of the mutant protein. Here, we set out to investigate the impact of a high-resistance-causing triple mutation (S385T + L389F + N526K) on the dynamics of a prioritized resistant pathogen, Haemophilus influenzae, using computational techniques. We studied penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) and its complex with FtsW, which display resistance toward β-lactam antibiotics. We showed that mutations displayed local and nonlocal effects. In terms of the former, the orientation of the β-sheet, which surrounds the active site of PBP3, was impacted and the catalytic site was exposed to the periplasmic region. In addition, the flexibility of the β3-β4 loop, which modulates the catalysis of the enzyme, increased in the mutant FtsW-PBP3 complex. As for nonlocal effects, the dynamics of the pedestal domain (N-terminal periplasmic modulus (N-t)), i.e., the opening of the fork, was different between the wild-type and mutant enzymes. We showed the closed fork caused a greater number of residues to participate in the hypothesized allosteric communication network connecting N-t to the transpeptidase domain in the mutant enzyme. Finally, we demonstrated that the closed fork results in more favorable binding with β-lactam antibiotics, particularly cefixime, suggesting that small therapeutics that can stabilize the closed fork of mutant PBP3 may lead to the development of more effective molecules to combat resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almotasem Belah Alhamwi
- Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, 34810 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Canan Atilgan
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Sensoy
- Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, 34810 Istanbul, Turkey
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, 34810 Istanbul, Turkey
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37
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Reynolds JA, Vishweshwaraiah YL, Chirasani VR, Pritchard JR, Dokholyan NV. An engineered N-acyltransferase-LOV2 domain fusion protein enables light-inducible allosteric control of enzymatic activity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103069. [PMID: 36841477 PMCID: PMC10060751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103069] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Transferases are ubiquitous across all known life. While much work has been done to understand and describe these essential enzymes, there have been minimal efforts to exert tight and reversible control over their activity for various biotechnological applications. Here, we apply a rational, computation-guided methodology to design and test a transferase-class enzyme allosterically regulated by light-oxygen-voltage 2 sensing domain. We utilize computational techniques to determine the intrinsic allosteric networks within N-acyltransferase (Orf11/∗Dbv8) and identify potential allosteric sites on the protein's surface. We insert light-oxygen-voltage 2 sensing domain at the predicted allosteric site, exerting reversible control over enzymatic activity. We demonstrate blue-light regulation of N-acyltransferase (Orf11/∗Dbv8) function. Our study for the first time demonstrates optogenetic regulation of a transferase-class enzyme as a proof-of-concept for controllable transferase design. This successful design opens the door for many future applications in metabolic engineering and cellular programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Y L Vishweshwaraiah
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - V R Chirasani
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - J R Pritchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - N V Dokholyan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
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38
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Kelly MS, Macke AC, Kahawatte S, Stump JE, Miller AR, Dima RI. The quaternary question: Determining allostery in spastin through dynamics classification learning and bioinformatics. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:125102. [PMID: 37003743 DOI: 10.1063/5.0139273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The nanomachine from the ATPases associated with various cellular activities superfamily, called spastin, severs microtubules during cellular processes. To characterize the functionally important allostery in spastin, we employed methods from evolutionary information, to graph-based networks, to machine learning applied to atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of spastin in its monomeric and the functional hexameric forms, in the presence or absence of ligands. Feature selection, using machine learning approaches, for transitions between spastin states recognizes all the regions that have been proposed as allosteric or functional in the literature. The analysis of the composition of the Markov State Model macrostates in the spastin monomer, and the analysis of the direction of change in the top machine learning features for the transitions, indicate that the monomer favors the binding of ATP, which primes the regions involved in the formation of the inter-protomer interfaces for binding to other protomer(s). Allosteric path analysis of graph networks, built based on the cross-correlations between residues in simulations, shows that perturbations to a hub specific for the pre-hydrolysis hexamer propagate throughout the structure by passing through two obligatory regions: the ATP binding pocket, and pore loop 3, which connects the substrate binding site to the ATP binding site. Our findings support a model where the changes in the terminal protomers due to the binding of ligands play an active role in the force generation in spastin. The secondary structures in spastin, which are found to be highly degenerative within the network paths, are also critical for feature transitions of the classification models, which can guide the design of allosteric effectors to enhance or block allosteric signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Amanda C Macke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Shehani Kahawatte
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Jacob E Stump
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Abigail R Miller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
| | - Ruxandra I Dima
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA
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39
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Mathy CJP, Mishra P, Flynn JM, Perica T, Mavor D, Bolon DNA, Kortemme T. A complete allosteric map of a GTPase switch in its native cellular network. Cell Syst 2023; 14:237-246.e7. [PMID: 36801015 PMCID: PMC10173951 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Allosteric regulation is central to protein function in cellular networks. A fundamental open question is whether cellular regulation of allosteric proteins occurs only at a few defined positions or at many sites distributed throughout the structure. Here, we probe the regulation of GTPases-protein switches that control signaling through regulated conformational cycling-at residue-level resolution by deep mutagenesis in the native biological network. For the GTPase Gsp1/Ran, we find that 28% of the 4,315 assayed mutations show pronounced gain-of-function responses. Twenty of the sixty positions enriched for gain-of-function mutations are outside the canonical GTPase active site switch regions. Kinetic analysis shows that these distal sites are allosterically coupled to the active site. We conclude that the GTPase switch mechanism is broadly sensitive to cellular allosteric regulation. Our systematic discovery of new regulatory sites provides a functional map to interrogate and target GTPases controlling many essential biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J P Mathy
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; The UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Parul Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Julia M Flynn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tina Perica
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - David Mavor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Daniel N A Bolon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Tanja Kortemme
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; The UC Berkeley-UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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40
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Xie J, Pan G, Li Y, Lai L. How protein topology controls allosteric regulations. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:105102. [PMID: 36922138 DOI: 10.1063/5.0138279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Allostery is an important regulatory mechanism of protein functions. Among allosteric proteins, certain protein structure types are more observed. However, how allosteric regulation depends on protein topology remains elusive. In this study, we extracted protein topology graphs at the fold level and found that known allosteric proteins mainly contain multiple domains or subunits and allosteric sites reside more often between two or more domains of the same fold type. Only a small fraction of fold-fold combinations are observed in allosteric proteins, and homo-fold-fold combinations dominate. These analyses imply that the locations of allosteric sites including cryptic ones depend on protein topology. We further developed TopoAlloSite, a novel method that uses the kernel support vector machine to predict the location of allosteric sites on the overall protein topology based on the subgraph-matching kernel. TopoAlloSite successfully predicted known cryptic allosteric sites in several allosteric proteins like phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase, spermidine synthase, and sirtuin 6, demonstrating its power in identifying cryptic allosteric sites without performing long molecular dynamics simulations or large-scale experimental screening. Our study demonstrates that protein topology largely determines how its function can be allosterically regulated, which can be used to find new druggable targets and locate potential binding sites for rational allosteric drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xie
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Gaoxiang Pan
- BNLMS, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yibo Li
- Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Luhua Lai
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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41
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Xie J, Zhang W, Zhu X, Deng M, Lai L. Coevolution-based prediction of key allosteric residues for protein function regulation. eLife 2023; 12:81850. [PMID: 36799896 PMCID: PMC9981151 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Allostery is fundamental to many biological processes. Due to the distant regulation nature, how allosteric mutations, modifications, and effector binding impact protein function is difficult to forecast. In protein engineering, remote mutations cannot be rationally designed without large-scale experimental screening. Allosteric drugs have raised much attention due to their high specificity and possibility of overcoming existing drug-resistant mutations. However, optimization of allosteric compounds remains challenging. Here, we developed a novel computational method KeyAlloSite to predict allosteric site and to identify key allosteric residues (allo-residues) based on the evolutionary coupling model. We found that protein allosteric sites are strongly coupled to orthosteric site compared to non-functional sites. We further inferred key allo-residues by pairwise comparing the difference of evolutionary coupling scores of each residue in the allosteric pocket with the functional site. Our predicted key allo-residues are in accordance with previous experimental studies for typical allosteric proteins like BCR-ABL1, Tar, and PDZ3, as well as key cancer mutations. We also showed that KeyAlloSite can be used to predict key allosteric residues distant from the catalytic site that are important for enzyme catalysis. Our study demonstrates that weak coevolutionary couplings contain important information of protein allosteric regulation function. KeyAlloSite can be applied in studying the evolution of protein allosteric regulation, designing and optimizing allosteric drugs, and performing functional protein design and enzyme engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xie
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Weilin Zhang
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaolei Zhu
- School of Sciences, Anhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Minghua Deng
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
- Center for Statistical Science, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Luhua Lai
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
- Research Unit of Drug Design Method, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2021RU014)BeijingChina
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42
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Krishnan K, Tian H, Tao P, Verkhivker GM. Probing conformational landscapes and mechanisms of allosteric communication in the functional states of the ABL kinase domain using multiscale simulations and network-based mutational profiling of allosteric residue potentials. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:245101. [PMID: 36586979 PMCID: PMC11184971 DOI: 10.1063/5.0133826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the current study, multiscale simulation approaches and dynamic network methods are employed to examine the dynamic and energetic details of conformational landscapes and allosteric interactions in the ABL kinase domain that determine the kinase functions. Using a plethora of synergistic computational approaches, we elucidate how conformational transitions between the active and inactive ABL states can employ allosteric regulatory switches to modulate intramolecular communication networks between the ATP site, the substrate binding region, and the allosteric binding pocket. A perturbation-based network approach that implements mutational profiling of allosteric residue propensities and communications in the ABL states is proposed. Consistent with biophysical experiments, the results reveal functionally significant shifts of the allosteric interaction networks in which preferential communication paths between the ATP binding site and substrate regions in the active ABL state become suppressed in the closed inactive ABL form, which in turn features favorable allosteric coupling between the ATP site and the allosteric binding pocket. By integrating the results of atomistic simulations with dimensionality reduction methods and Markov state models, we analyze the mechanistic role of macrostates and characterize kinetic transitions between the ABL conformational states. Using network-based mutational scanning of allosteric residue propensities, this study provides a comprehensive computational analysis of long-range communications in the ABL kinase domain and identifies conserved regulatory hotspots that modulate kinase activity and allosteric crosstalk between the allosteric pocket, ATP binding site, and substrate binding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hao Tian
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75205, USA
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Research Computing, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75205, USA
| | - Gennady M. Verkhivker
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Telephone: 714-516-4586. Fax: 714-532-6048
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43
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Kaczor AA, Wróbel TM, Bartuzi D. Allosteric Modulators of Dopamine D 2 Receptors for Fine-Tuning of Dopaminergic Neurotransmission in CNS Diseases: Overview, Pharmacology, Structural Aspects and Synthesis. Molecules 2022; 28:molecules28010178. [PMID: 36615372 PMCID: PMC9822192 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is nowadays a hot topic in medicinal chemistry. Allosteric modulators, i.e., compounds which bind in a receptor site topologically distinct from orthosteric sites, exhibit a number of advantages. They are more selective, safer and display a ceiling effect which prevents overdosing. Allosteric modulators of dopamine D2 receptor are potential drugs against a number of psychiatric and neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. In this review, an insightful summary of current research on D2 receptor modulators is presented, ranging from their pharmacology and structural aspects of ligand-receptor interactions to their synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka A. Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-448-72-73
| | - Tomasz M. Wróbel
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Damian Bartuzi
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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44
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González-Durruthy M, Rial R, Liu Z, Ruso JM. Lysozyme allosteric interactions with β-blocker drugs. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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45
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Joshi H, Prakash MK. Using Atomistic Simulations to Explore the Role of Methylation and ATP in Chemotaxis Signal Transduction. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:27886-27895. [PMID: 35990422 PMCID: PMC9386827 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A bacterial chemotaxis mechanism is activated when nutrients bind to surface receptors. The sequence of intra- and interprotein events in this signal cascade from the receptors to the eventual molecular motors has been clearly identified. However, the atomistic details remain elusive, as in general may be expected of intraprotein signal transduction pathways, especially when fibrillar proteins are involved. We performed atomistic calculations of the methyl accepting chemoprotein (MCP)-CheA-CheW multidomain complex from Escherichia coli, simulating the methylated and unmethylated conditions in the chemoreceptors and the ATP-bound and apo conditions of the CheA. Our results indicate that these atomistic simulations, especially with one of the two force fields we tried, capture several relevant features of the downstream effects, such as the methylation favoring an intermediate structure that is more toward a dipped state and increases the chance of ATP hydrolysis. The results thus suggest the sensitivity of the model to reflect the nutrient signal response, a nontrivial validation considering the complexity of the system, encouraging even more detailed studies on the thermodynamic quantification of the effects and the identification of the signaling networks.
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46
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Bai F, Puk KM, Liu J, Zhou H, Tao P, Zhou W, Wang S. Sparse group selection and analysis of function-related residue for protein-state recognition. J Comput Chem 2022; 43:1342-1354. [PMID: 35656889 PMCID: PMC9248267 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26937] [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: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Machine learning methods have helped to advance wide range of scientific and technological field in recent years, including computational chemistry. As the chemical systems could become complex with high dimension, feature selection could be critical but challenging to develop reliable machine learning based prediction models, especially for proteins as bio-macromolecules. In this study, we applied sparse group lasso (SGL) method as a general feature selection method to develop classification model for an allosteric protein in different functional states. This results into a much improved model with comparable accuracy (Acc) and only 28 selected features comparing to 289 selected features from a previous study. The Acc achieves 91.50% with 1936 selected feature, which is far higher than that of baseline methods. In addition, grouping protein amino acids into secondary structures provides additional interpretability of the selected features. The selected features are verified as associated with key allosteric residues through comparison with both experimental and computational works about the model protein, and demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of applying rigorous feature selection and evaluation methods on complex chemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyun Bai
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Tongji University. Fangyun Bai and Kin Ming Puk contributed equally to this work
| | | | - Jin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Scientific Computation, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University
| | - Peng Tao
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Scientific Computation, Center for Drug Discovery, Design, and Delivery (CD4), Southern Methodist University
| | - Wenyong Zhou
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Tongji University
| | - Shouyi Wang
- Corresponding author: Shouyi Wang, Department of Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington.
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47
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Wu N, Yaliraki SN, Barahona M. Prediction of Protein Allosteric Signalling Pathways and Functional Residues Through Paths of Optimised Propensity. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167749. [PMID: 35841931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Allostery commonly refers to the mechanism that regulates protein activity through the binding of a molecule at a different, usually distal, site from the orthosteric site. The omnipresence of allosteric regulation in nature and its potential for drug design and screening render the study of allostery invaluable. Nevertheless, challenges remain as few computational methods are available to effectively predict allosteric sites, identify signalling pathways involved in allostery, or to aid with the design of suitable molecules targeting such sites. Recently, bond-to-bond propensity analysis has been shown successful at identifying allosteric sites for a large and diverse group of proteins from knowledge of the orthosteric sites and its ligands alone by using network analysis applied to energy-weighted atomistic protein graphs. To address the identification of signalling pathways, we propose here a method to compute and score paths of optimised propensity that link the orthosteric site with the identified allosteric sites, and identifies crucial residues that contribute to those paths. We showcase the approach with three well-studied allosteric proteins: h-Ras, caspase-1, and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1). Key residues in both orthosteric and allosteric sites were identified and showed agreement with experimental results, and pivotal signalling residues along the pathway were also revealed, thus providing alternative targets for drug design. By using the computed path scores, we were also able to differentiate the activity of different allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wu
- Department of Chemistry Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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48
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Diez G, Nagel D, Stock G. Correlation-Based Feature Selection to Identify Functional Dynamics in Proteins. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:5079-5088. [PMID: 35793551 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To interpret molecular dynamics simulations of biomolecular systems, systematic dimensionality reduction methods are commonly employed. Among others, this includes principal component analysis (PCA) and time-lagged independent component analysis (TICA), which aim to maximize the variance and the time scale of the first components, respectively. A crucial first step of such an analysis is the identification of suitable and relevant input coordinates (the so-called features), such as backbone dihedral angles and interresidue distances. As typically only a small subset of those coordinates is involved in a specific biomolecular process, it is important to discard the remaining uncorrelated motions or weakly correlated noise coordinates. This is because they may exhibit large amplitudes or long time scales and therefore will be erroneously considered important by PCA and TICA, respectively. To discriminate collective motions underlying functional dynamics from uncorrelated motions, the correlation matrix of the input coordinates is block-diagonalized by a clustering method. This strategy avoids possible bias due to presumed functional observables and conformational states or variation principles that maximize variance or time scales. Considering several linear and nonlinear correlation measures and various clustering algorithms, it is shown that the combination of linear correlation and the Leiden community detection algorithm yields excellent results for all considered model systems. These include the functional motion of T4 lysozyme to demonstrate the successful identification of collective motion, as well as the folding of the villin headpiece to highlight the physical interpretation of the correlated motions in terms of a functional mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Diez
- Biomolecular Dynamics, Institute of Physics, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Nagel
- Biomolecular Dynamics, Institute of Physics, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Stock
- Biomolecular Dynamics, Institute of Physics, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Zhu Z, Deng Z, Wang Q, Wang Y, Zhang D, Xu R, Guo L, Wen H. Simulation and Machine Learning Methods for Ion-Channel Structure Determination, Mechanistic Studies and Drug Design. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:939555. [PMID: 35837274 PMCID: PMC9275593 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.939555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are expressed in almost all living cells, controlling the in-and-out communications, making them ideal drug targets, especially for central nervous system diseases. However, owing to their dynamic nature and the presence of a membrane environment, ion channels remain difficult targets for the past decades. Recent advancement in cryo-electron microscopy and computational methods has shed light on this issue. An explosion in high-resolution ion channel structures paved way for structure-based rational drug design and the state-of-the-art simulation and machine learning techniques dramatically improved the efficiency and effectiveness of computer-aided drug design. Here we present an overview of how simulation and machine learning-based methods fundamentally changed the ion channel-related drug design at different levels, as well as the emerging trends in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengdan Zhu
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute of Big Data Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenfeng Deng
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Duo Zhang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihan Xu
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Visual Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Han Wen
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
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Yuan Y, Deng J, Cui Q. Molecular Dynamics Simulations Establish the Molecular Basis for the Broad Allostery Hotspot Distributions in the Tetracycline Repressor. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:10870-10887. [PMID: 35675441 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c03275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It is imperative to identify the network of residues essential to the allosteric coupling for the purpose of rationally engineering allostery in proteins. Deep mutational scanning analysis has emerged as a function-centric approach for identifying such allostery hotspots in a comprehensive and unbiased fashion, leading to observations that challenge our understanding of allostery at the molecular level. Specifically, a recent deep mutational scanning study of the tetracycline repressor (TetR) revealed an unexpectedly broad distribution of allostery hotspots throughout the protein structure. Using extensive molecular dynamics simulations (up to 50 μs) and free energy computations, we establish the molecular and energetic basis for the strong anticooperativity between the ligand and DNA binding sites. The computed free energy landscapes in different ligation states illustrate that allostery in TetR is well described by a conformational selection model, in which the apo state samples a broad set of conformations, and specific ones are selectively stabilized by either ligand or DNA binding. By examining a range of structural and dynamic properties of residues at both local and global scales, we observe that various analyses capture different subsets of experimentally identified hotspots, suggesting that these residues modulate allostery in distinct ways. These results motivate the development of a thermodynamic model that qualitatively explains the broad distribution of hotspot residues and their distinct features in molecular dynamics simulations. The multifaceted strategy that we establish here for hotspot evaluations and our insights into their mechanistic contributions are useful for modulating protein allostery in mechanistic and engineering studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jiahua Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Physics, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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