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Ye F, Xia T, Zhao M, Zhao W, Min P, Wang Y, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Du J. PlexinA1 promotes gastric cancer migration through preventing MICAL1 protein ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation in a Rac1-dependent manner. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167124. [PMID: 38508474 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167124] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis promotes the development of tumors and is a significant cause of gastric cancer death. For metastasis to proceed, tumor cells must become mobile by modulating their cytoskeleton. MICAL1 (Molecule Interacting with CasL1) is known as an actin cytoskeleton regulator, but the mechanisms by which it drives gastric cancer cell migration are still unclear. Analysis of gastric cancer tissues revealed that MICAL1 expression is dramatically upregulated in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) samples as compared to noncancerous stomach tissues. Patients with high MICAL1 expression had shorter overall survival (OS), post-progression survival (PPS) and first-progression survival (FPS) compared with patients with low MICAL1 expression. RNAi-mediated silencing of MICAL1 inhibited the expression of Vimentin, a protein involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This effect correlates with a significant reduction in gastric cancer cell migration. MICAL1 overexpression reversed these preventive effects. Immunoprecipitation experiments and immunofluorescence assays revealed that PlexinA1 forms a complex with MICAL1. Importantly, specific inhibition of PlexinA1 blocked the Rac1 activation and ROS production, which, in turn, impaired MICAL1 protein stability by accelerating MICAL1 ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation. Overexpression of PlexinA1 enhanced Rac1 activation, ROS production, MICAL1 and Vimentin expressions, and favored cell migration. In conclusion, this study identified MICAL1 as an important facilitator of gastric cancer cell migration, at least in part, by affecting Vimentin expression and PlexinA1 promotes gastric cancer cell migration by binding to and suppressing MICAL1 degradation in a Rac1/ROS-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengwen Ye
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Tianxiang Xia
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - MingYu Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Weizhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Pengxiang Min
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Yueyuan Wang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Qianwen Wang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China.
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2
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Pshetitsky Y, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Local Structures in Proteins from Microsecond Molecular Dynamics Simulations: 2. The Role of Symmetry in GTPase Binding and Dimer Formation. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:1573-1585. [PMID: 38350435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06745] [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: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The Rho GTPase binding domain of Plexin-B1 (RBD) prevails in solution as dimer. Under appropriate circumstances, it binds the small GTPase Rac1 to yield the complex RBD-Rac1. Here, we study RBD dimerization and complex formation from a symmetry-based perspective using data derived from 1 μs long MD simulations. The quantities investigated are the local potentials, u(MD), prevailing at the N-H sites of the protein. These potentials are statistical in character providing an empirical description of the local structure. To establish more methodical description, a method for approximating them by explicit functions, u(simulated), was developed in the preceding article in this journal issue. These functions are combinations of analytical Wigner functions, DL,K, belonging to the D2h point group. The D2h subgroups Ag and B2u are found to dominate u(simulated); the B1u subgroup contributes in some cases. The Ag (B2u) functions have axial or rhombic symmetry. For the first time, local potentials in proteins can be quantitatively characterized in terms of their strength (rhombicity) evaluated by axial Ag (rhombic Ag and B2u) contributions. Until now, the chain-segment [β3-L3-β4] and to some extent the α2-helix have been associated with GTPase binding. Here, we find that this process causes an increase (decrease) in the potential strength of β3 and β4 (the preceding L2 loop and the remote chain-segment [(α2-helix)-(α2/β5-turn)-(β5-strand)]), suggesting effects of counterbalancing and allostery. There is evidence for the L2 loop being associated with RBD-GTPase binding. Until now only the L4 loop has been associated with RBD dimerization. The latter process is found to cause an increase (decrease) in the potential strength and rhombicity of the L4 loop (the adjacent chain-segment [(α2-helix)-(α2/β5-turn)-(β5-strand)]), suggesting counterbalancing activity. On average, the RBD dimer features stronger local potentials than RBD-Rac1. The novel information inherent in these findings is mesoscopic in character. Prospects of interest include exploring relation to atomistic force-field parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Pshetitsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4970, United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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3
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Pshetitsky Y, Mendelman N, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Local Structures in Proteins from Microsecond Molecular Dynamics Simulations: A Symmetry-Based Perspective. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:1557-1572. [PMID: 38350034 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06741] [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: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
We report on a new method for the characterization of local structures in proteins based on extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, here, 1 μs in length. The N-H bond of the Rho GTPase binding domain of plexin-B1 (RBD) serves as a probe and the potential, u(MD), which restricts its internal motion, as a qualifier of the local dynamic structure. u(MD) is derived from the MD trajectory as a function of the polar angles, (θ, φ), which specify the N-H orientation in the protein. u(MD) is statistical in character yielding empirical descriptions. To establish more insightful methodical descriptions, we develop a comprehensive method which approximates u(MD) by combinations of analytical Wigner functions that belong to the D2h point group. These combinations, called u(simulated), make it possible to gain a new perspective of local dynamic structures in proteins based on explicit potentials/free energy surfaces and associated probability densities, entropy, and ordering. A simpler method was developed previously using 100 ns MD simulations. In that case, the traditional "perpendicular N-H ordering" setting centered at Cα-Cα with (θ, φ) = (90, 90) and generally, featuring positive φ, prevailed. u(MD) derived from 1 μs MD simulations is considerably more complex requiring substantial model enhancement. The enhanced method applies to the well-structured sections of the RBD. It only applies partly to its loops where u(MD) extends into the negative-φ region where we detect nonperpendicular N-H ordering. This arrangement requires devising new reference structures and making substantial algorithmic changes, to be performed in future work. Here, we focus on developing the comprehensive method and using it to investigate perpendicular ordering settings. We find that secondary structures (loops) exhibit varying (virtually invariant) potentials with Ag, B2u, and B1u (Ag and B2u) D2h symmetry. Application to RBD dimerization and RBD binding to the GTPase Rac1 is described in the subsequent article. Applications to other probes, proteins, and biological functions, based on explicit local potentials, probability densities, entropy, and ordering, are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Pshetitsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Netanel Mendelman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4970, United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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4
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Rucker G, Qin H, Zhang L. Structure, dynamics and free energy studies on the effect of point mutations on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with ACE2 receptor. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289432. [PMID: 37796794 PMCID: PMC10553274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect people worldwide, and the virus continues to evolve in significant ways which can pose challenges to the efficiency of available vaccines and therapeutic drugs and cause future pandemic. Therefore, it is important to investigate the binding and interaction of ACE2 with different RBD variants. A comparative study using all-atom MD simulations was conducted on ACE2 binding with 8 different RBD variants, including N501Y, E484K, P479S, T478I, S477N, N439K, K417N and N501Y-E484K-K417N on RBD. Based on the RMSD, RMSF, and DSSP results, overall the binding of RBD variants with ACE2 is stable, and the secondary structure of RBD and ACE2 are consistent after the point mutation. Besides that, a similar buried surface area, a consistent binding interface and a similar amount of hydrogen bonds formed between RBD and ACE2 although the exact residue pairs on the binding interface were modified. The change of binding free energy from point mutation was predicted using the free energy perturbation (FEP) method. It is found that N501Y, N439K, and K417N can strengthen the binding of RBD with ACE2, while E484K and P479S weaken the binding, and S477N and T478I have negligible effect on the binding. Point mutations modified the dynamic correlation of residues in RBD based on the dihedral angle covariance matrix calculation. Doing dynamic network analysis, a common intrinsic network community extending from the tail of RBD to central, then to the binding interface region was found, which could communicate the dynamics in the binding interface region to the tail thus to the other sections of S protein. The result can supply unique methodology and molecular insight on studying the molecular structure and dynamics of possible future pandemics and design novel drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Rucker
- Chemical Engineering Department, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, United States of America
| | - Hong Qin
- Computer Science Department, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States of America
| | - Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States of America
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5
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Li SS, Wu JJ, Xing XX, Li YL, Ma J, Duan YJ, Zhang JP, Shan CL, Hua XY, Zheng MX, Xu JG. Focal ischemic stroke modifies microglia-derived exosomal miRNAs: potential role of mir-212-5p in neuronal protection and functional recovery. Biol Res 2023; 56:52. [PMID: 37789455 PMCID: PMC10548705 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00458-x] [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: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke is a severe type of stroke with high disability and mortality rates. In recent years, microglial exosome-derived miRNAs have been shown to be promising candidates for the treatment of ischemic brain injury and exert neuroprotective effects. Mechanisms underlying miRNA dysregulation in ischemic stroke are still being explored. Here, we aimed to verify whether miRNAs derived from exosomes exert effects on functional recovery. METHODS MiR-212-5p agomir was employed to upregulate miR-212-5p expression in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) as well as an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro. Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining and other methods were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms of action of miR-212-5p. RESULTS The results of our study found that intervention with miR-212-5p agomir effectively decreased infarct volume and restored motor function in MCAO/R rats. Mechanistically, miR-212-5p agomir significantly reduced the expression of PlexinA2 (PLXNA2). Additionally, the results obtained in vitro were similar to those achieved in vivo. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the present study indicated that PLXNA2 may be a target gene of miR-212-5p, and miR-212-5p has great potential as a target for the treatment and diagnosis of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Si Li
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Jia-Jia Wu
- Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Xiang-Xin Xing
- Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Yu-Lin Li
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
| | - Yu-Jie Duan
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Peng Zhang
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Lei Shan
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China
- Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China
- Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu-Yun Hua
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China.
| | - Mou-Xiong Zheng
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China.
| | - Jian-Guang Xu
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, NO. 1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai, 201203, Shanghai, China.
- Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Jain A, Dokholyan NV, Lee AL. Allosteric inactivation of an engineered optogenetic GTPase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219254120. [PMID: 36972433 PMCID: PMC10083549 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219254120] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics is a technique for establishing direct spatiotemporal control over molecular function within living cells using light. Light application induces conformational changes within targeted proteins that produce changes in function. One of the applications of optogenetic tools is an allosteric control of proteins via light-sensing domain (LOV2), which allows direct and robust control of protein function. Computational studies supported by cellular imaging demonstrated that application of light allosterically inhibited signaling proteins Vav2, ITSN, and Rac1, but the structural and dynamic basis of such control has yet to be elucidated by experiment. Here, using NMR spectroscopy, we discover principles of action of allosteric control of cell division control protein 42 (CDC42), a small GTPase involved in cell signaling. Both LOV2 and Cdc42 employ flexibility in their function to switch between "dark"/"lit" or active/inactive states, respectively. By conjoining Cdc42 and phototropin1 LOV2 domains into the bi-switchable fusion Cdc42Lov, application of light-or alternatively, mutation in LOV2 to mimic light absorption-allosterically inhibits Cdc42 downstream signaling. The flow and patterning of allosteric transduction in this flexible system are well suited to observation by NMR. Close monitoring of the structural and dynamic properties of dark versus "lit" states of Cdc42Lov revealed lit-induced allosteric perturbations that extend to Cdc42's downstream effector binding site. Chemical shift perturbations for lit mimic, I539E, have distinct regions of sensitivity, and both the domains are coupled together, leading to bidirectional interdomain signaling. Insights gained from this optoallosteric design will increase our ability to control response sensitivity in future designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abha Jain
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA17033
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA17033
| | - Andrew L. Lee
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC27599
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7
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Gouda AM, Soltan MA, Abd-Elghany K, Sileem AE, Elnahas HM, Ateya MAM, Elbatreek MH, Darwish KM, Bogari HA, Lashkar MO, Aldurdunji MM, Elhady SS, Ahmad TA, Said AM. Integration of immunoinformatics and cheminformatics to design and evaluate a multitope vaccine against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa coinfection. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1123411. [PMID: 36911530 PMCID: PMC9999731 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1123411] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) are the most common Gram-negative bacteria associated with pneumonia and coinfecting the same patient. Despite their high virulence, there is no effective vaccine against them. Methods: In the current study, the screening of several proteins from both pathogens highlighted FepA and OmpK35 for K. pneumonia in addition to HasR and OprF from P. aeruginosa as promising candidates for epitope mapping. Those four proteins were linked to form a multitope vaccine, that was formulated with a suitable adjuvant, and PADRE peptides to finalize the multitope vaccine construct. The final vaccine's physicochemical features, antigenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and solubility were evaluated for use in humans. Results: The output of the computational analysis revealed that the designed multitope construct has passed these assessments with satisfactory scores where, as the last stage, we performed a molecular docking study between the potential vaccine construct and K. pneumonia associated immune receptors, TLR4 and TLR2, showing affinitive to both targets with preferentiality for the TLR4 receptor protein. Validation of the docking studies has proceeded through molecular dynamics simulation, which estimated a strong binding and supported the nomination of the designed vaccine as a putative solution for K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa coinfection. Here, we describe the approach for the design and assessment of our potential vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Gouda
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University-Kantara Branch, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Khalid Abd-Elghany
- Department of Microbiology-Microbial Biotechnology, Egyptian Drug Authority, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ashraf E Sileem
- Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Hanan M Elnahas
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | | | - Mahmoud H Elbatreek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Khaled M Darwish
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Hanin A Bogari
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manar O Lashkar
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed M Aldurdunji
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sameh S Elhady
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Center for Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tarek A Ahmad
- Library Sector, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mohamed Said
- Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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8
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Behairy MY, Soltan MA, Eldeen MA, Abdulhakim JA, Alnoman MM, Abdel-Daim MM, Otifi H, Al-Qahtani SM, Zaki MSA, Alsharif G, Albogami S, Jafri I, Fayad E, Darwish KM, Elhady SS, Eid RA. HBD-2 variants and SARS-CoV-2: New insights into inter-individual susceptibility. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1008463. [PMID: 36569842 PMCID: PMC9780532 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1008463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A deep understanding of the causes of liability to SARS-CoV-2 is essential to develop new diagnostic tests and therapeutics against this serious virus in order to overcome this pandemic completely. In the light of the discovered role of antimicrobial peptides [such as human b-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and cathelicidin LL-37] in the defense against SARS-CoV-2, it became important to identify the damaging missense mutations in the genes of these molecules and study their role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Methods We conducted a comprehensive analysis with multiple in silico approaches to identify the damaging missense SNPs for hBD-2 and LL-37; moreover, we applied docking methods and molecular dynamics analysis to study the impact of the filtered mutations. Results The comprehensive analysis reveals the presence of three damaging SNPs in hBD-2; these SNPs were predicted to decrease the stability of hBD-2 with a damaging impact on hBD-2 structure as well. G51D and C53G mutations were located in highly conserved positions and were associated with differences in the secondary structures of hBD-2. Docking-coupled molecular dynamics simulation analysis revealed compromised binding affinity for hBD-2 SNPs towards the SARS-CoV-2 spike domain. Different protein-protein binding profiles for hBD-2 SNPs, in relation to their native form, were guided through residue-wise levels and differential adopted conformation/orientation. Conclusions The presented model paves the way for identifying patients prone to COVID-19 in a way that would guide the personalization of both the diagnostic and management protocols for this serious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Y. Behairy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt,*Correspondence: Mohamed A Soltan, ; Mohammed Y. Behairy,
| | - Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University – Kantara Branch, Ismailia, Egypt,*Correspondence: Mohamed A Soltan, ; Mohammed Y. Behairy,
| | - Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology & Genetics Division, Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Jawaher A. Abdulhakim
- Medical Laboratory Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam M. Alnoman
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Hassan Otifi
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh M. Al-Qahtani
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Samir A. Zaki
- Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia,Department of Histology and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ghadi Alsharif
- College of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Albogami
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Jafri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman Fayad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled M. Darwish
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Sameh S. Elhady
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Refaat A. Eid
- Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Pshetitsky Y, Mendelman N, Li Z, Zerbetto M, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Microsecond MD Simulations of the Plexin-B1 RBD: N-H Probability Density as Descriptor of Structural Dynamics, Dimerization-Related Conformational Entropy, and Transient Dimer Asymmetry. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:6396-6407. [PMID: 35980340 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c03431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amide-bond equilibrium probability density, Peq = exp(-u) (u, local potential), and associated conformational entropy, Sk = -∫Peq (ln Peq) dΩ ─ln ∫dΩ, are derived for the Rho GTPase binding domain of Plexin-B1 (RBD) as monomer and dimer from 1 μs MD simulations. The objective is to elucidate the effect of dimerization on the dynamic structure of the RBD. Dispersed (peaked) Peq functions indicate "flexibility" ("rigidity"; the respective concepts are used below in this context). The L1 and L3 loops are throughout highly flexible, the L2 loop and the secondary structure elements are generally rigid, and the L4 loop is flexible in the monomer and rigid in the dimer. Overall, many residues are more flexible in the dimer. These features, and their implications, are discussed. Unexpectedly, we find that monomer unit 1 of the dimer (in short, d1) is unusually flexible, whereas monomer unit 2 (in short, d2) is as rigid as the RBD monomer. This is revealed due to their engagement in slow-to-intermediate conformational exchange detected previously by 15N relaxation experiments. Such motions occur with rates on the order of 103-104 s-1; hence, they cannot be completely sampled over the course of 1 μs simulation. However, the extent to which rigid d2 is affected is small enough to enable physically relevant analysis. The entropy difference between d2 and the monomer yields an entropic contribution of -7 ± 0.7 kJ/mol to the free energy of RBD dimerization. In previous work aimed at similar objectives we used 50-100 ns MD simulations. Those results and the present result differ considerably. In summary, bond-vector Peq functions derived directly from long MD simulations are useful descriptors of protein structural dynamics and provide accurate conformational entropy. Within the scope of slow conformational exchange, they can be useful, even in the presence of incomplete sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Pshetitsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Netanel Mendelman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Zhenlu Li
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Mirco Zerbetto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Matthias Buck
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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10
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Mendelman N, Pshetitsky Y, Li Z, Zerbetto M, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Microsecond MD Simulations of the Plexin-B1 RBD: 2. N-H Probability Densities and Conformational Entropy in Ligand-Free, Rac1-Bound, and Dimer RBD. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:6408-6418. [PMID: 35976064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c03435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Orientational probability densities, Peq = exp(-u) (u, local potential), of bond-vectors in proteins provide information on structural flexibility. The related conformational entropy, Sk = -∫Peq(ln Peq)dΩ - ln ∫dΩ, provides the entropic contribution to the free energy of the physical/biological process studied. We have developed a new method for deriving Peq and Sk from MD simulations, using the N-H bond as probe. Recently we used it to study the dimerization of the Rho GTPase binding domain of Plexin-B1 (RBD). Here we use it to study RBD binding to the small GTPase Rac1. In both cases 1 μs MD simulations have been employed. The RBD has the ubiquitin fold with four mostly long loops. L3 is associated with GTPase binding, L4 with RBD dimerization, L2 participates in interdomain interactions, and L1 has not been associated with function. We find that RBD-Rac1 binding renders L1, L3, and L4 more rigid and the turns β2/α1 and α2/β5 more flexible. By comparison, RBD dimerization renders L4 more rigid, and the α-helices, the β-strands, and L2 more flexible. The rigidity of L1 in RBDRAC is consistent with L1-L3 contacts seen in previous MD simulations. The analysis of the L3-loop reveals two states of distinct flexibility which we associate with involvement in slow conformational exchange processes differing in their rates. Overall, the N-H bonds make an unfavorable entropic contribution of (5.9 ± 0.9) kJ/mol to the free energy of RBD-Rac1 binding; they were found to make a favorably contribution of (-7.0 ± 0.7) kJ/mol to the free energy of RBD dimerization. In summary, the present study provides a new perspective on the impact of Rac1 binding and dimerization on the flexibility characteristics of the RBD. Further studies are stimulated by the results of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netanel Mendelman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Yaron Pshetitsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Zhenlu Li
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Mirco Zerbetto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Matthias Buck
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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11
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Li ZL, Mattos C, Buck M. Computational studies of the principle of dynamic-change-driven protein interactions. Structure 2022; 30:909-916.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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12
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Zhang L, Ghosh SK, Basavarajappa SC, Chen Y, Shrestha P, Penfield J, Brewer A, Ramakrishnan P, Buck M, Weinberg A. HBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 RBD and blocks viral entry: Strategy to combat COVID-19. iScience 2022; 25:103856. [PMID: 35128350 PMCID: PMC8808565 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
New approaches to complement vaccination are needed to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and stop COVID-19-related deaths and medical complications. Human beta defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a naturally occurring epithelial cell-derived host defense peptide that has anti-viral properties. Our comprehensive in-silico studies demonstrate that hBD-2 binds the site on the CoV-2-RBD that docks with the ACE2 receptor. Biophysical measurements confirm that hBD-2 indeed binds to the CoV-2-receptor-binding domain (RBD) (KD ∼ 2μM by surface plasmon resonance), preventing it from binding to ACE2-expressing cells. Importantly, hBD-2 shows specificity by blocking CoV-2/spike pseudoviral infection, but not VSVG-mediated infection, of ACE2-expressing human cells with an IC50 of 2.8 ± 0.4 μM. These promising findings offer opportunities to develop hBD-2 and/or its derivatives and mimetics to safely and effectively use as agents to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. HBD-2 binds spike-RBD at the ACE2 interaction site in silico Biophysical and biological assays confirm hBD-2 binding to spike-RBD HBD-2 blocks spike-RBD:ACE2 binding HBD-2 prevents CoV-2/spike pseudovirions from infecting ACE2-expressing human cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Santosh K. Ghosh
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | | | - Yinghua Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Pravesh Shrestha
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jackson Penfield
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Ann Brewer
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Parameswaran Ramakrishnan
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Corresponding author
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13
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Design and structural characterization of autoinhibition-compromised full-length Ran. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:44. [PMID: 33531455 PMCID: PMC7854590 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00398-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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14
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Huang Y, Tejero R, Lee VK, Brusco C, Hannah T, Bertucci TB, Junqueira Alves C, Katsyv I, Kluge M, Foty R, Zhang B, Friedel CC, Dai G, Zou H, Friedel RH. Plexin-B2 facilitates glioblastoma infiltration by modulating cell biomechanics. Commun Biol 2021; 4:145. [PMID: 33514835 PMCID: PMC7846610 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01667-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infiltrative growth is a major cause of high lethality of malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM). We show here that GBM cells upregulate guidance receptor Plexin-B2 to gain invasiveness. Deletion of Plexin-B2 in GBM stem cells limited tumor spread and shifted invasion paths from axon fiber tracts to perivascular routes. On a cellular level, Plexin-B2 adjusts cell adhesiveness, migratory responses to different matrix stiffness, and actomyosin dynamics, thus empowering GBM cells to leave stiff tumor bulk and infiltrate softer brain parenchyma. Correspondingly, gene signatures affected by Plexin-B2 were associated with locomotor regulation, matrix interactions, and cellular biomechanics. On a molecular level, the intracellular Ras-GAP domain contributed to Plexin-B2 function, while the signaling relationship with downstream effectors Rap1/2 appeared variable between GBM stem cell lines, reflecting intertumoral heterogeneity. Our studies establish Plexin-B2 as a modulator of cell biomechanics that is usurped by GBM cells to gain invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Huang
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rut Tejero
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vivian K Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Concetta Brusco
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theodore Hannah
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Taylor B Bertucci
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chrystian Junqueira Alves
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Igor Katsyv
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Kluge
- Institut für Informatik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ramsey Foty
- Department of Surgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caroline C Friedel
- Institut für Informatik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Guohao Dai
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hongyan Zou
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Roland H Friedel
- Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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15
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Zhang L, Ghosh SK, Basavarajappa SC, Muller-Greven J, Penfield J, Brewer A, Ramakrishnan P, Buck M, Weinberg A. Molecular dynamics simulations and functional studies reveal that hBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and blocks viral entry into ACE2 expressing cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.01.07.425621. [PMID: 33442698 PMCID: PMC7805467 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.07.425621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
New approaches to complement vaccination are needed to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and stop COVID-19 related deaths and long-term medical complications. Human beta defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a naturally occurring epithelial cell derived host defense peptide that has antiviral properties. Our comprehensive in-silico studies demonstrate that hBD-2 binds the site on the CoV-2-RBD that docks with the ACE2 receptor. Biophysical and biochemical assays confirm that hBD-2 indeed binds to the CoV-2-receptor binding domain (RBD) (KD ~ 300 nM), preventing it from binding to ACE2 expressing cells. Importantly, hBD-2 shows specificity by blocking CoV-2/spike pseudoviral infection, but not VSV-G mediated infection, of ACE2 expressing human cells with an IC50 of 2.4± 0.1 μM. These promising findings offer opportunities to develop hBD-2 and/or its derivatives and mimetics to safely and effectively use as novel agents to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505
- contributed equally
| | - Santosh K. Ghosh
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44124
- contributed equally
| | - Shrikanth C. Basavarajappa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44124
- contributed equally
| | - Jeannine Muller-Greven
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44124
| | - Jackson Penfield
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505
| | - Ann Brewer
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505
| | | | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44124
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44124
- Lead contact
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16
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Mendelman N, Zerbetto M, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Conformational Entropy from Mobile Bond Vectors in Proteins: A Viewpoint that Unifies NMR Relaxation Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approaches. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:9323-9334. [PMID: 32981310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A new method for determining conformational entropy in proteins is reported. Proteins prevail as conformational ensembles, p ∝ exp(-u). By selecting a bond vector (e.g., N-H) as a conformation representative, molecular dynamics simulations can provide (relative to a reference structure) p as approximate Boltzmann probability density and u as N-H potential of mean force (POMF). The latter is as accurate as implied by the force field but statistical in character; this limits the insights it can provide and its utilization. Conformational entropy is given exclusively by u. Deriving it from POMFs renders it accurate but statistical in character. Previously, we devised explicit (i.e., analytical but not exact) potentials made of Wigner functions, D0KL, with L ≤ 4, which closely resemble the corresponding POMFs in form; hence, they also approach the latter in accuracy. Such potentials can be beneficially characterized/compared in terms of composition, symmetry, and associated order parameters. In this study, we develop a method for deriving conformational entropy from them, which also features the benefits specified above. The method developed is applied to the dimerization of the Rho GTPase-binding domain of plexin-B1. Insights into local ordering, entropy compensation, and features of allostery are gained. In previous work, we developed the slowly relaxing local structure (SRLS) approach for the analysis of NMR relaxation from restricted bond vector motion in proteins. SRLS comprises explicit (restricting) potentials of the kind developed here. It also comprises diffusion tensors describing the local motion and related features of local geometry. The complete model fits experimental data. In future work, the explicit potentials developed here will be inserted unchanged in SRLS-based data fitting, thereby improving the picture of structural dynamics. Given that SRLS is unique in featuring potentials that can closely approach the corresponding POMFs in accuracy, the present study is an important step toward generally improving protein dynamics by NMR relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netanel Mendelman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900 Israel
| | - Mirco Zerbetto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900 Israel
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17
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Jiang R, Wu XF, Wang B, Guan RX, Lv LM, Li AP, Lei L, Ma Y, Li N, Li QF, Ma QH, Zhao J, Li S. Reduction of NgR in perforant path decreases amyloid-β peptide production and ameliorates synaptic and cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2020; 12:47. [PMID: 32331528 PMCID: PMC7181577 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00616-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid beta (Aβ) which is recognized as a main feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been proposed to "spread" through anatomically and functionally connected brain regions. The entorhinal cortex and perforant path are the earliest affected brain regions in AD. The perforant path is the most vulnerable circuit in the cortex with respect to both aging and AD. Previous data show that the origins and terminations of the perforant path are susceptible to amyloid deposition at the younger age in AD. Nogo receptor (NgR) plays an essential role in limiting injury-induced axonal growth and experience-dependent plasticity in the adult brain. It has been suggested that NgR is involved in AD pathological features, but the results have been conflicting and the detailed mechanism needs further investigation. In this study, the effect of NgR in the perforant path on the pathological and functional phenotype of APP/PS1 transgenic mice was studied. METHODS To genetically manipulate NgR expression, adeno-associated virus (AAV) with short hairpin (shRNA) against NgR was injected into the perforant path of APP/PS1 transgenic mice, followed by an assessment of behavioral, synaptic plasticity and neuropathological phenotypes. NgR was overexpressed or knockdown in neuroblastoma N2a cells and APPswe/HEK293 cells to investigate the interaction between NgR and amyloid precursor protein (APP). RESULTS It is shown that reduction of NgR in the perforant path rescued cognitive and synaptic deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Concurrently, Aβ production in the perforant path and levels of soluble Aβ and amyloid plaques in the hippocampus were significantly decreased. There was a positive correlation between the total APP protein level and NgR expression both in transgenic mice and in cultured cells, where the α-secretase and β-secretase cleavage products both changed with APP level in parallel. Finally, NgR might inhibit APP degradation through lysosome by Rho/Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCK) signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that perforant path NgR plays an important role in regulating APP/Aβ level and cognitive functions in AD transgenic mice, which might be related to the suppression of APP degradation by NgR. Our study suggests that NgR in the perforant path could be a potential target for modulating AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Jiang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xue-Fei Wu
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Rong-Xiao Guan
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug Research and Development (R&D) of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lang-Man Lv
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ai-Ping Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lei Lei
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug Research and Development (R&D) of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ye Ma
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Na Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qi-Fa Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Quan-Hong Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug Research and Development (R&D) of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shao Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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18
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Mendelman N, Zerbetto M, Buck M, Meirovitch E. Local Ordering at the N-H Sites of the Rho GTPase Binding Domain of Plexin-B1: Impact of Dimerization. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:8019-8033. [PMID: 31469564 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b05905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have developed a new molecular dynamics (MD) based method for describing analytically local potentials at mobile N-H sites in proteins. Here we apply it to the monomer and dimer of the Rho GTPase binding domain (RBD) of the transmembrane receptor plexin-B1 to gain insight into dimerization, which can compete with Rho GTPase binding. In our method, the local potential is given by linear combinations, u(DL,K), of the real combinations of the Wigner rotation matrix elements, DL,K, with L = 1-4 and appropriate symmetry. The combination that "fits best" the corresponding MD potential of mean force, u(MD), is the potential we are seeking, u(DL,K - BEST). For practical reasons the fitting process involves probability distributions, Peq ∝ exp(-u), instead of potentials, u. The symmetry of the potential, u(DL,K), may be related to the irreducible representations of the D2h point group. The monomer (dimer) potentials have mostly Ag and B2u (B1u and B2u) symmetry. For the monomer, the associated probability distributions are generally dispersed in space, shallow, and centered at the "reference N-H orientation" (defined in section 3.1. below); for the dimer many are more concentrated, deep and centered away from the "reference N-H orientation". The u(DL,K) functions provide a consistent description of the potential energy landscape at protein N-H sites. The L1-loop of the plexin-B1 RBD is not seen in the crystal structure, and many resonances of the L4 loop are missing in the NMR 15N-1H HSQC spectrum of the dimer; we suggest reasons for these features. An allosteric signal transmission pathway was reported previously for the monomer. We find that it has shallow N-H potentials at its ends, which become deeper as one proceeds toward the middle, complementing structurally the previously derived dynamic picture. Prospects of this study include correlating u(DL,K - BEST) with MD force-fields, and using them without further adjustment in NMR relaxation analysis schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netanel Mendelman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences , Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 52900 , Israel
| | - Mirco Zerbetto
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Padova , Padova 35131 , Italy
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - Eva Meirovitch
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences , Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 52900 , Israel
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19
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Li ZL, Buck M. Modified Potential Functions Result in Enhanced Predictions of a Protein Complex by All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Confirming a Stepwise Association Process for Native Protein-Protein Interactions. J Chem Theory Comput 2019; 15:4318-4331. [PMID: 31241940 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The relative prevalence of native protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are the cornerstone for understanding the structure, dynamics and mechanisms of function of protein complexes. In this study, we develop a scheme for scaling the protein-water interaction in the CHARMM36 force field, in order to better fit the solvation free energy of amino acids side-chain analogues. We find that the molecular dynamics simulation with the scaled force field, CHARMM36s, as well as a recently released version, CHARMM36m, effectively improve on the overly sticky association of proteins, such as ubiquitin. We investigate the formation of a heterodimer protein complex between the SAM domains of the EphA2 receptor and the SHIP2 enzyme by performing a combined total of 48 μs simulations with the different potential functions. While the native SAM heterodimer is only predicted at a low rate of 6.7% with the original CHARMM36 force field, the yield is increased to 16.7% with CHARMM36s, and to 18.3% with CHARMM36m. By analyzing the 25 native SAM complexes formed in the simulations, we find that their formation involves a preorientation guided by Coulomb interactions, consistent with an electrostatic steering mechanism. In 12 cases, the complex could directly transform to the native protein interaction surfaces with only small adjustments in domain orientation. In the other 13 cases, orientational and/or translational adjustments are needed to reach the native complex. Although the tendency for non-native complexes to dissociate has nearly doubled with the modified potential functions, a dissociation followed by a reassociation to the correct complex structure is still rare. Instead, the remaining non-native complexes undergo configurational changes/surface searching, which, however, rarely leads to native structures on a time scale of 250 ns. These observations provide a rich picture of the mechanisms of protein-protein complex formation and suggest that computational predictions of native complex PPIs could be improved further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Lu Li
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics , Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine , 10900 Euclid Avenue , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics , Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine , 10900 Euclid Avenue , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States.,Departments of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center , Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine , 10900 Euclid Avenue , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
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