1
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Pradhan B, Pavan M, Fisher CL, Salmaso V, Wan TC, Keyes RF, Rollison N, Suresh RR, Kumar TS, Gao ZG, Smith BC, Auchampach JA, Jacobson KA. Lipid Trolling to Optimize A 3 Adenosine Receptor-Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs). J Med Chem 2024; 67:12221-12247. [PMID: 38959401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00944] [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: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) (2,4-disubstituted-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amines) allosterically increase the Emax of A3AR agonists, but not potency, due to concurrent orthosteric antagonism. Following mutagenesis/homology modeling of the proposed lipid-exposed allosteric binding site on the cytosolic side, we functionalized the scaffold, including heteroatom substitutions and exocyclic phenylamine extensions, to increase allosteric binding. Strategically appended linear alkyl-alkynyl chains with terminal amino/guanidino groups improved allosteric effects at both human and mouse A3ARs. The chain length, functionality, and attachment position were varied to modulate A3AR PAM activity. For example, 26 (MRS8247, p-alkyne-linked 8 methylenes) and homologues increased agonist Cl-IB-MECA's Emax and potency ([35S]GTPγS binding). The putative mechanism involves a flexible, terminally cationic chain penetrating the lipid environment for stable electrostatic anchoring to cytosolic phospholipid head groups, suggesting "lipid trolling", supported by molecular dynamic simulation of the active-state model. Thus, we have improved A3AR PAM activity through rational design based on an extrahelical, lipidic binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaram Pradhan
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Matteo Pavan
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Courtney L Fisher
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Veronica Salmaso
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Tina C Wan
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Robert F Keyes
- Department of Biochemistry and the Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Noah Rollison
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - R Rama Suresh
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - T Santhosh Kumar
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Zhan-Guo Gao
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Brian C Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and the Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - John A Auchampach
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Kenneth A Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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2
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Bekker GJ, Fukunishi Y, Higo J, Kamiya N. Binding Mechanism of Riboswitch to Natural Ligand Elucidated by McMD-Based Dynamic Docking Simulations. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:3412-3422. [PMID: 38284074 PMCID: PMC10809319 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Flavin mononucleotide riboswitches are common among many pathogenic bacteria and are therefore considered to be an attractive target for antibiotics development. The riboswitch binds riboflavin (RBF, also known as vitamin B2), and although an experimental structure of their complex has been solved with the ligand bound deep inside the RNA molecule in a seemingly unreachable state, the binding mechanism between these molecules is not yet known. We have therefore used our Multicanonical Molecular Dynamics (McMD)-based dynamic docking protocol to analyze their binding mechanism by simulating the binding process between the riboswitch aptamer domain and the RBF, starting from the apo state of the riboswitch. Here, the refinement stage was crucial to identify the native binding configuration, as several other binding configurations were also found by McMD-based docking simulations. RBF initially binds the interface between P4 and P6 including U61 and G62, which forms a gateway where the ligand lingers until this gateway opens sufficiently to allow the ligand to pass through and slip into the hidden binding site including A48, A49, and A85.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert-Jan Bekker
- Institute
for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Fukunishi
- Cellular
and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
(AIST), 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Junichi Higo
- Graduate
School of Information Science, University
of Hyogo, 7-1-28 minatojima
Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
| | - Narutoshi Kamiya
- Graduate
School of Information Science, University
of Hyogo, 7-1-28 minatojima
Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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3
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Yang WC, Gong DH, Hong Wu, Gao YY, Hao GF. Grasping cryptic binding sites to neutralize drug resistance in the field of anticancer. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103705. [PMID: 37453458 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103705] [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] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistance is a significant obstacle to successful cancer treatment. The utilization and development of cryptic binding sites (CBSs) in proteins involved in cancer-related drug-resistance (CRDR) could help to overcome that drug resistance. However, there is no comprehensive review of the successful use of CBSs in addressing CRDR. Here, we have systematically summarized and analyzed the opportunities and challenges of using CBSs in addressing CRDR and revealed the key role that CBSs have in targeting CRDR. First, we have identified the CRDR targets and the corresponding CBSs. Second, we discuss the mechanisms by which CBSs can overcome CRDR. Finally, we have provided examples of successful CBS applications in addressing CRDR. We hope that this approach will provide guidance to biologists and chemists in effectively utilizing CBSs for the development of new drugs to alleviate CRDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Cheng Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Dao-Hong Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Hong Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yang-Yang Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Ge-Fei Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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4
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Bekker GJ, Araki M, Oshima K, Okuno Y, Kamiya N. Mutual induced-fit mechanism drives binding between intrinsically disordered Bim and cryptic binding site of Bcl-xL. Commun Biol 2023; 6:349. [PMID: 36997643 PMCID: PMC10063584 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04720-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of Bim binds to the flexible cryptic site of Bcl-xL, a pro-survival protein involved in cancer progression that plays an important role in initiating apoptosis. However, their binding mechanism has not yet been elucidated. We have applied our dynamic docking protocol, which correctly reproduced both the IDR properties of Bim and the native bound configuration, as well as suggesting other stable/meta-stable binding configurations and revealed the binding pathway. Although the cryptic site of Bcl-xL is predominantly in a closed conformation, initial binding of Bim in an encounter configuration leads to mutual induced-fit binding, where both molecules adapt to each other; Bcl-xL transitions to an open state as Bim folds from a disordered to an α-helical conformation while the two molecules bind each other. Finally, our data provides new avenues to develop novel drugs by targeting newly discovered stable conformations of Bcl-xL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert-Jan Bekker
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Mitsugu Araki
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kanji Oshima
- Bio-Pharma Research Laboratories, KANEKA CORPORATION, 1-8 Miyamae-cho, Takasago-cho, Takasago, Hyogo, 676-8688, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okuno
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Narutoshi Kamiya
- Graduate School of Information Science, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
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5
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Iida S, Tomoshi K. Free energy and kinetic rate calculation via non-equilibrium molecular simulation: application to biomolecules. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:1303-1314. [PMID: 36659997 PMCID: PMC9842846 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-01036-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulation has been recognized as a powerful tool for examining biomolecules and provides fruitful insights into not only non-equilibrium but also equilibrium processes. We review recent advances in NEMD simulation and relevant, fundamental results of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. We first introduce Crooks fluctuation theorem and Jarzynski equality that relate free energy difference to work done on a physical system during a non-equilibrium process. The theorems are beneficial for the analysis of NEMD trajectories. We then describe rate theory, a framework to calculate molecular kinetics from a non-equilibrium process; this theoretical framework enables us to calculate a reaction time-mean-first passage time-from NEMD trajectories. We, in turn, present recent NEMD techniques that apply an external force to a system to enhance molecular dissociation and introduce their application to biomolecules. Lastly, we show the current status of an appropriate selection of reaction coordinates for NEMD simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Iida
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
| | - Kameda Tomoshi
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
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6
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Fukunishi Y, Higo J, Kasahara K. Computer simulation of molecular recognition in biomolecular system: from in silico screening to generalized ensembles. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:1423-1447. [PMID: 36465086 PMCID: PMC9703445 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-01015-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prediction of ligand-receptor complex structure is important in both the basic science and the industry such as drug discovery. We report various computation molecular docking methods: fundamental in silico (virtual) screening, ensemble docking, enhanced sampling (generalized ensemble) methods, and other methods to improve the accuracy of the complex structure. We explain not only the merits of these methods but also their limits of application and discuss some interaction terms which are not considered in the in silico methods. In silico screening and ensemble docking are useful when one focuses on obtaining the native complex structure (the most thermodynamically stable complex). Generalized ensemble method provides a free-energy landscape, which shows the distribution of the most stable complex structure and semi-stable ones in a conformational space. Also, barriers separating those stable structures are identified. A researcher should select one of the methods according to the research aim and depending on complexity of the molecular system to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshifumi Fukunishi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0064 Japan
| | - Junichi Higo
- Graduate School of Information Science, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minamimachi, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 Japan ,Research Organization of Science and Technology, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577 Japan
| | - Kota Kasahara
- College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577 Japan
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7
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Guo W, Zou X, Jiang H, Koebke KJ, Hoarau M, Crisci R, Lu T, Wei T, Marsh ENG, Chen Z. Molecular Structure of the Surface-Immobilized Super Uranyl Binding Protein. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:7706-7716. [PMID: 34254804 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Recently, a super uranyl binding protein (SUP) was developed, which exhibits excellent sensitivity/selectivity to bind uranyl ions. It can be immobilized onto a surface in sensing devices to detect uranyl ions. Here, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was applied to probe the interfacial structures of surface-immobilized SUP. The collected SFG spectra were compared to the calculated orientation-dependent SUP SFG spectra using a one-excitonic Hamiltonian approach based on the SUP crystal structures to deduce the most likely surface-immobilized SUP orientation(s). Furthermore, discrete molecular dynamics (DMD) simulation was applied to refine the surface-immobilized SUP conformations and orientations. The immobilized SUP structures calculated from DMD simulations confirmed the SUP orientations obtained from SFG data analyzed based on the crystal structures and were then used for a new round of SFG orientation analysis to more accurately determine the interfacial orientations and conformations of immobilized SUP before and after uranyl ion binding, providing an in-depth understanding of molecular interactions between SUP and the surface and the effect of uranyl ion binding on the SUP interfacial structures. We believe that the developed method of combining SFG measurements, DMD simulation, and Hamiltonian data analysis approach is widely applicable to study biomolecules at solid/liquid interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Xingquan Zou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Hanjie Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Karl J Koebke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Marie Hoarau
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ralph Crisci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Tieyi Lu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Howard University, 2366 Sixth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20059, United States
| | - E Neil G Marsh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Zhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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8
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Bekker GJ, Fukuda I, Higo J, Fukunishi Y, Kamiya N. Cryptic-site binding mechanism of medium-sized Bcl-xL inhibiting compounds elucidated by McMD-based dynamic docking simulations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5046. [PMID: 33658550 PMCID: PMC7930018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We have performed multicanonical molecular dynamics (McMD) based dynamic docking simulations to study and compare the binding mechanism between two medium-sized inhibitors (ABT-737 and WEHI-539) that bind to the cryptic site of Bcl-xL, by exhaustively sampling the conformational and configurational space. Cryptic sites are binding pockets that are transiently formed in the apo state or are induced upon ligand binding. Bcl-xL, a pro-survival protein involved in cancer progression, is known to have a cryptic site, whereby the shape of the pocket depends on which ligand is bound to it. Starting from the apo-structure, we have performed two independent McMD-based dynamic docking simulations for each ligand, and were able to obtain near-native complex structures in both cases. In addition, we have also studied their interactions along their respective binding pathways by using path sampling simulations, which showed that the ligands form stable binding configurations via predominantly hydrophobic interactions. Although the protein started from the apo state, both ligands modulated the pocket in different ways, shifting the conformational preference of the sub-pockets of Bcl-xL. We demonstrate that McMD-based dynamic docking is a powerful tool that can be effectively used to study binding mechanisms involving a cryptic site, where ligand binding requires a large conformational change in the protein to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert-Jan Bekker
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Ikuo Fukuda
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Junichi Higo
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Fukunishi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0064, Japan
| | - Narutoshi Kamiya
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima Minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
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9
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Smith RD, Carlson HA. Identification of Cryptic Binding Sites Using MixMD with Standard and Accelerated Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:1287-1299. [PMID: 33599485 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Protein dynamics play an important role in small molecule binding and can pose a significant challenge in the identification of potential binding sites. Cryptic binding sites have been defined as sites which require significant rearrangement of the protein structure to become physically accessible to a ligand. Mixed-solvent MD (MixMD) is a computational protocol which maps the surface of the protein using molecular dynamics (MD) of the unbound protein solvated in a 5% box of probe molecules with explicit water. This method has successfully identified known active and allosteric sites which did not require reorganization. In this study, we apply the MixMD protocol to identify known cryptic sites of 12 proteins characterized by a wide range of conformational changes. Of these 12 proteins, three require reorganization of side chains, five require loop movements, and four require movement of more significant structures such as whole helices. In five cases, we find that standard MixMD simulations are able to map the cryptic binding sites with at least one probe type. In two cases (guanylate kinase and TIE-2), accelerated MD, which increases sampling of torsional angles, was necessary to achieve mapping of portions of the cryptic binding site missed by standard MixMD. For more complex systems where movement of a helix or domain is necessary, MixMD was unable to map the binding site even with accelerated dynamics, possibly due to the limited timescale (100 ns for individual simulations). In general, similar conformational dynamics are observed in water-only simulations and those with probe molecules. This could imply that the probes are not driving opening events but rather take advantage of mapping sites that spontaneously open as part of their inherent conformational behavior. Finally, we show that docking to an ensemble of conformations from the standard MixMD simulations performs better than docking the apo crystal structure in nine cases and even better than half of the bound crystal structures. Poorer performance was seen in docking to ensembles of conformations from the accelerated MixMD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Smith
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1056, United States
| | - Heather A Carlson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1056, United States
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10
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Umezawa K, Kii I. Druggable Transient Pockets in Protein Kinases. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26030651. [PMID: 33513739 PMCID: PMC7865889 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug discovery using small molecule inhibitors is reaching a stalemate due to low selectivity, adverse off-target effects and inevitable failures in clinical trials. Conventional chemical screening methods may miss potent small molecules because of their use of simple but outdated kits composed of recombinant enzyme proteins. Non-canonical inhibitors targeting a hidden pocket in a protein have received considerable research attention. Kii and colleagues identified an inhibitor targeting a transient pocket in the kinase DYRK1A during its folding process and termed it FINDY. FINDY exhibits a unique inhibitory profile; that is, FINDY does not inhibit the fully folded form of DYRK1A, indicating that the FINDY-binding pocket is hidden in the folded form. This intriguing pocket opens during the folding process and then closes upon completion of folding. In this review, we discuss previously established kinase inhibitors and their inhibitory mechanisms in comparison with FINDY. We also compare the inhibitory mechanisms with the growing concept of “cryptic inhibitor-binding sites.” These sites are buried on the inhibitor-unbound surface but become apparent when the inhibitor is bound. In addition, an alternative method based on cell-free protein synthesis of protein kinases may allow the discovery of small molecules that occupy these mysterious binding sites. Transitional folding intermediates would become alternative targets in drug discovery, enabling the efficient development of potent kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Umezawa
- Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan;
| | - Isao Kii
- Laboratory for Drug Target Research, Faculty & Graduate School of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minami-Minowa, Kami-ina, Nagano 399-4598, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-265-77-1521
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11
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Iida S, Fukunishi Y. Asymmetric dynamics of dimeric SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV main proteases in an apo form: Molecular dynamics study on fluctuations of active site, catalytic dyad, and hydration water. BBA ADVANCES 2021; 1:100016. [PMID: 34235495 PMCID: PMC8214910 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2021.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been widely spread around the world. It is necessary to examine the viral proteins that play a notorious role in the invasion of our body. The main protease (3CLpro) facilitates the maturation of the coronavirus. It is thought that the dimerization of 3CLpro leads to its catalytic activity; the detailed mechanism has, however, not been suggested. Furthermore, the structural differences between the predecessor SARS-CoV 3CLpro and SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro have not been fully understood. Here, we show the structural and dynamical differences between the two main proteases, and demonstrate the relationship between the dimerization and the activity via atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Simulating monomeric and dimeric 3CLpro systems for each protease, we show that (i) global dynamics between the two different proteases are not conserved, (ii) the dimerization stabilizes the catalytic dyad and hydration water molecules behind the dyad, and (iii) the substrate-binding site (active site) and hydration water molecules in each protomer fluctuate asymmetrically. We then speculate the roles of hydration water molecules in their catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Iida
- Technology Research Association for Next-Generation Natural Products Chemistry, 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0064
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yoshifumi Fukunishi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0064
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