Crystallographic studies of isosteric NAD analogues bound to alcohol dehydrogenase: specificity and substrate binding in two ternary complexes

Redocking the PDB

Molecular docking is a standard technique in structure-based drug design (SBDD). It aims to predict the 3D structure of a small molecule in the binding site of a receptor (often a protein). Despite being a common technique, it often necessitates multiple tools and involves manual steps. Here, we present the JAMDA preprocessing and docking workflow that is easy to use and allows fully automated docking. We evaluate the JAMDA docking workflow on binding sites extracted from the complete PDB and derive key factors determining JAMDA's docking performance. With that, we try to remove most of the bias due to manual intervention and provide a realistic estimate of the redocking performance of our JAMDA preprocessing and docking workflow for any PDB structure. On this large PDBScan22 data set, our JAMDA workflow finds a pose with an RMSD of at most 2 Å to the crystal ligand on the top rank for 30.1% of the structures. When applying objective structure quality filters to the PDBScan22 data set, the success rate increases to 61.8%. Given the prepared structures from the JAMDA preprocessing pipeline, both JAMDA and the widely used AutoDock Vina perform comparably on this filtered data set (the PDBScan22-HQ data set).

Ethanol binding sites on proteins

This study is on the analysis of ethanol binding sites on 3D structures of nonredundant proteins from the Protein Data Bank. The only one amino acid residue that is significantly overrepresented around ethanol molecules is Tyr. There are usually two or more Tyr residues in the same ethanol binding site, while residues of Thr, Asp and Gln are underrepresented around them. Residues of Ala and Pro are significantly underrepresented in ethanol binding surfaces. Several residues (Phe, Val, Pro, Ala, Arg, His, Ser, Asp) bind ethanol significantly more frequent if they are not included in beta strands. Residues of Ala, Ile and Arg preferably bind ethanol when they are included in an alpha helix. Ethanol molecules often make hydrogen bonds with oxygen and nitrogen atoms from the main chain of a protein. Because of this reason, the binding of ethanol may be associated with the decrease of the length of alpha helices and the disappearance of 3/10 helices. Obtained data should be useful for studies on new targets of the direct action of ethanol on enzymes, receptors, and transcription factors.

The neurobiology of alcohol consumption and alcoholism: an integrative history

Studies of the neurobiological predisposition to consume alcohol (ethanol) and to transition to uncontrolled drinking behavior (alcoholism), as well as studies of the effects of alcohol on brain function, started a logarithmic growth phase after the repeal of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Although the early studies were primitive by current technological standards, they clearly demonstrated the effects of alcohol on brain structure and function, and by the end of the 20th century left little doubt that alcoholism is a "disease" of the brain. This review traces the history of developments in the understanding of ethanol's effects on the most prominent inhibitory and excitatory systems of brain (GABA and glutamate neurotransmission). This neurobiological information is integrated with knowledge of ethanol's actions on other neurotransmitter systems to produce an anatomical and functional map of ethanol's properties. Our intent is limited in scope, but is meant to provide context and integration of the actions of ethanol on the major neurobiologic systems which produce reinforcement for alcohol consumption and changes in brain chemistry that lead to addiction. The developmental history of neurobehavioral theories of the transition from alcohol drinking to alcohol addiction is presented and juxtaposed to the neurobiological findings. Depending on one's point of view, we may, at this point in history, know more, or less, than we think we know about the neurobiology of alcoholism.

Structural basis for potentiation by alcohols and anaesthetics in a ligand-gated ion channel

Ethanol alters nerve signalling by interacting with proteins in the central nervous system, particularly pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. A recent series of mutagenesis experiments on Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel, a prokaryotic member of this family, identified a single-site variant that is potentiated by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ethanol. Here we determine crystal structures of the ethanol-sensitized variant in the absence and presence of ethanol and related modulators, which bind in a transmembrane cavity between channel subunits and may stabilize the open form of the channel. Structural and mutagenesis studies defined overlapping mechanisms of potentiation by alcohols and anaesthetics via the inter-subunit cavity. Furthermore, homology modelling show this cavity to be conserved in human ethanol-sensitive glycine and GABA(A) receptors, and to involve residues previously shown to influence alcohol and anaesthetic action on these proteins. These results suggest a common structural basis for ethanol potentiation of an important class of targets for neurological actions of ethanol.

Reinvestigation of the synthesis of 1-deazauridine

A thorough study for the synthesis of 1-deazauridine is described. 3-Bromo-2,6-dimethoxy-5-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyridine, a synthetic precursor for 1-deazauridine, was prepared in seven steps from 2,6-dimethoxypyridine and d-ribose via the ribonolactone approach. Subsequent demethylation was unsuccessful but led to presumable anomerization and isomerization. The effort concluded that the synthesis of 1-deazauridine remained unachieved.

Alcohol binding to the odorant binding protein LUSH: multiple factors affecting binding affinities

Density function theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out to investigate the binding of alcohols to the odorant binding protein LUSH from Drosophila melanogaster. LUSH is one of the few proteins known to bind to ethanol at physiologically relevant concentrations and where high-resolution structural information is available for the protein bound to alcohol at these concentrations. The structures of the LUSH-alcohol complexes identify a set of specific hydrogen-bonding interactions as critical for optimal binding of ethanol. A set of truncated models based on the structure of the LUSH-butanol complex were constructed for the wild-type and mutant (T57S, S52A, and T57A) proteins in complexes with a series of n-alcohols and for the apoprotein bound to water and for the ligand-free protein. Using both gas-phase calculations and continuum solvation model calculations, we found that the widely used DFT model, B3LYP, failed to reproduce the experimentally observed trend of increasing binding affinity with the increasing length of the alkyl chain in the alcohol. In contrast, the recently developed M05-2X DFT model successfully reproduced this subtle trend. Analysis of the results indicated that multiple factors contribute to the differences in alcohol binding affinity: the H-bonding with Thr57 and Ser52 (4-5 kcal/mol per H-bond), the desolvation contribution (4-6 kcal/mol for alcohols and 8-10 kcal/mol for water), and the other noncovalent interaction (1.2 kcal/mol per CH(2) group of the alcohol alkyl chain). These results reveal the outstanding potential for using the M05-2X model in calculations of protein-substrate complexes where noncovalent interactions are important.

Conformational changes and catalysis by alcohol dehydrogenase

As shown by X-ray crystallography, horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase undergoes a global conformational change upon binding of NAD(+) or NADH, involving a rotation of the catalytic domain relative to the coenzyme binding domain and the closing up of the active site to produce a catalytically efficient enzyme. The conformational change requires a complete coenzyme and is affected by various chemical or mutational substitutions that can increase the catalytic turnover by altering the kinetics of the isomerization and rate of dissociation of coenzymes. The binding of NAD(+) is kinetically limited by a unimolecular isomerization (corresponding to the conformational change) that is controlled by deprotonation of the catalytic zinc-water to produce a negatively-charged zinc-hydroxide, which can attract the positively-charged nicotinamide ring. The deprotonation is facilitated by His-51 acting through a hydrogen-bonded network to relay the proton to solvent. Binding of NADH also involves a conformational change, but the rate is very fast. After the enzyme binds NAD(+) and closes up, the substrate displaces the hydroxide bound to the catalytic zinc; this exchange may involve a double displacement reaction where the carboxylate group of a glutamate residue first displaces the hydroxide (inverting the tetrahedral coordination of the zinc), and then the exogenous ligand displaces the glutamate. The resulting enzyme-NAD(+)-alcoholate complex is poised for hydrogen transfer, and small conformational fluctuations may bring the reactants together so that the hydride ion is transferred by quantum mechanical tunneling. In the process, the nicotinamide ring may become puckered, as seen in structures of complexes of the enzyme with NADH. The conformational changes of alcohol dehydrogenase demonstrate the importance of protein dynamics in catalysis.

Selective inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinases by dinucleoside disulfide mimics of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide analogues

Diadenosine disulfide (5) was reported to inhibit NAD kinase from Listeria monocytogenes and the crystal structure of the enzyme-inhibitor complex has been solved. We have synthesized tiazofurin adenosine disulfide (4) and the disulfide 5, and found that these compounds were moderate inhibitors of human NAD kinase (IC(50)=110 microM and IC(50)=87 microM, respectively) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis NAD kinase (IC(50)=80 microM and IC(50)=45 microM, respectively). We also found that NAD mimics with a short disulfide (-S-S-) moiety were able to bind in the folded (compact) conformation but not in the common extended conformation, which requires the presence of a longer pyrophosphate (-O-P-O-P-O-) linkage. Since majority of NAD-dependent enzymes bind NAD in the extended conformation, selective inhibition of NAD kinases by disulfide analogues has been observed. Introduction of bromine at the C8 of the adenine ring restricted the adenosine moiety of diadenosine disulfides to the syn conformation making it even more compact. The 8-bromoadenosine adenosine disulfide (14) and its di(8-bromoadenosine) analogue (15) were found to be the most potent inhibitors of human (IC(50)=6 microM) and mycobacterium NAD kinase (IC(50)=14-19 microM reported so far. None of the disulfide analogues showed inhibition of lactate-, and inosine monophosphate-dehydrogenase (IMPDH), enzymes that bind NAD in the extended conformation.

Nucleoside-5'-phosphoimidazolides: reagents for facile synthesis of dinucleoside pyrophosphates

A facile method is presented for preparation of dinucleoside pyrophosphate derivatives based on reaction of a nucleoside 5'-monophosphate with carbonyldiimidazole followed by treatment of the resulting nucleoside 5'-phosphoimidazolide with a nucleoside 5'-phosphate. This method is suitable for preparation of pyrophosphates analogous to NAD, FAD, and related natural pyrophosphates. The resulting compounds are useful for mechanistic studies of enzymes that use natural pyrophosphates as co-factors or substrates, and in development of inhibitors that have potential applications as therapeutic agents.

Molecular dynamics simulations of NAD+-induced domain closure in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase

Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase is a homodimer, the protomer having a coenzyme-binding domain and a catalytic domain. Using all available x-ray structures and 50 ns of molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the mechanism of NAD+-induced domain closure. When the well-known loop at the domain interface was modeled to its conformation in the closed structure, the NAD+-induced domain closure from the open structure could be simulated with remarkable accuracy. Native interactions in the closed structure between Arg369, Arg47, His51, Ala317, Phe319, and NAD+ were seen to form at different stages during domain closure. Removal of the Arg369 side-chain charge resulted in the loss of the tendency to close, verifying that specific interactions do help drive the domains closed. Further simulations and a careful analysis of x-ray structures suggest that the loop prevents domain closure in the absence of NAD+, and a cooperative mechanism operates between the subunits for domain closure. This cooperative mechanism explains the role of the loop as a block to closure because in the absence of NAD+ it would prevent the occurrence of an unliganded closed subunit when the other subunit closes on NAD+. Simulations that started with one subunit open and one closed supported this.

The Structural Basis of Substrate Promiscuity in Glucose Dehydrogenase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus grows optimally above 80 degrees C and utilizes an unusual, promiscuous, non-phosphorylative Entner-Doudoroff pathway to metabolize both glucose and galactose. The first enzyme in this pathway, glucose dehydrogenase, catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to gluconate, but has been shown to have activity with a broad range of sugar substrates, including glucose, galactose, xylose, and L-arabinose, with a requirement for the glucose stereo configuration at the C2 and C3 positions. Here we report the crystal structure of the apo form of glucose dehydrogenase to a resolution of 1.8 A and a complex with its required cofactor, NADP+, to a resolution of 2.3 A. A T41A mutation was engineered to enable the trapping of substrate in the crystal. Complexes of the enzyme with D-glucose and D-xylose are presented to resolutions of 1.6 and 1.5 A, respectively, that provide evidence of selectivity for the beta-anomeric, pyranose form of the substrate, and indicate that this is the productive substrate form. The nature of the promiscuity of glucose dehydrogenase is also elucidated, and a physiological role for this enzyme in xylose metabolism is suggested. Finally, the structure suggests that the mechanism of sugar oxidation by this enzyme may be similar to that described for human sorbitol dehydrogenase.

Synthesis, molecular modeling, and evaluation of nonphenolic indole analogs of mycophenolic acid

Based on the promising activity of an indole-3-carboxamide derivative, a nonphenolic analog of mycophenolic acid (MPA), we report herein the synthesis of a compound containing two important features for the activity of MPA, the ring methoxy and methyl. The synthesis was accomplished using two strategies; a method dependent on stepwise building of the hexenoate side chain followed by the indolecarboxamide ring system, and a convergent route that depended on 1,3-sigmatropic rearrangement as a key step. Docking experiments on both Chinese Hamster and Human Type-II inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) showed that this compound has potential binding interactions with the NAD site. The analogs showed no activity against MCF7-S, MCF7-R, or IGR-OV1 cancer cells.

Protein Motions Promote Catalysis

A relationship between molecular dynamics motions of noncatalytic residues and enzyme activity has recently been proposed. We present examples where mutations either near or distal from the active site residues modify internal enzyme motion with resulting modification of catalysis. A better understanding of internal protein motions correlated to catalysis will lead to a greater insight into enzyme function.

Identification of Specific Interactions that Drive Ligand-induced Closure in Five Enzymes with Classic Domain Movements

In order to better understand ligand-induced closure in domain enzymes, open unliganded X-ray structures and closed liganded X-ray structures have been studied in five enzymes: adenylate kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, citrate synthase, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. A sequential model of ligand binding and domain closure was used to test the hypothesis that the ligand actively drives closure from an open conformation. The analysis supports the assumption that each enzyme has a dedicated binding domain to which the ligand binds first and a closing domain. In every case, a small number of residues are identified to interact with the ligand to initiate and drive domain closure. In all cases except adenylate kinase, the backbone of residues located in an interdomain-bending region (hinge site) is identified to interact with the ligand to aid in driving closure. In adenylate kinase, the side-chain of a residue located directly adjacent to a bending region drives closure. It is thought that by binding near a hinge site the ligand is able to get within interaction range of residues when the enzyme is in the open conformation. Interdomain bending regions not involved in inducing closure are involved in control, helping to determine the location of the hinge axis. Similarities have been discovered between aspartate aminotransferase and citrate synthase that only come to light in the context of their dynamical behaviour in response to binding their substrate. Similarity also exists between liver alcohol dehydrogenase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase whereby groups on NAD and ATP, respectively, mimic the backbone of a single amino acid residue in a process where a three residue segment located at the terminus of a beta-sheet, moves to form hydrogen bonds with the mimic that resemble those found in a parallel beta-sheet. This interaction helps to drive domain closure in a process that has analogy to protein folding.

Synthesis and properties of new coenzyme mimics based on the artificial coenzyme CL4

We have previously shown that a range of nicotinamide containing 'biomimetic coenzymes' function as active analogues of NAD+ in the oxidation of alcohols by horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH), despite their apparently astonishing lack of structural similarity to the natural coenzyme. The simplest structure as yet shown to exhibit activity is the biomimetic coenzyme CL4. To investigate the effect of the structure of this truncated artificial coenzyme on its activity, a range of close structural analogues of CL4 were designed, synthesized and characterized. The electrochemical reduction potentials of the analogues were strongly influenced by the nature of the groups attached to the pyridine ring. All of the analogues could be chemically reduced using sodium borohydride, to give compounds with altered UV-visible absorption and fluorescence properties. An HPLC-based assay suggested that two of the new analogues were coenzymically active in the oxidation of butan-1-ol by HLADH, with one displaying a significantly higher activity than CL4. The results demonstrate which features of the structures of the coenzymes lead to desirable electrochemical and spectroscopic properties, but suggest that the structural requirements for a functional coenzyme are quite stringent. These observations may be used to design an artificial coenzyme which combines the best features of those studied so far.

Novel nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide analogues as potential anticancer agents: quest for specific inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase

Synthetic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) analogues containing 5-beta-D-ribofuranosylnicotinamide (C-NAD), 6-beta-D-ribofuranosylpicolinamide (C-PAD), 3-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzamide (BAD), and 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (TAD) in place of the nicotinamide riboside moiety are described and evaluated as potential inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). TAD and BAD showed potent inhibitory activity against the enzyme in the form of pyrophosphates, as well as metabolically stable methylene- and difluoromethylenebis(phosphonate)s. Fluorination at the C2' (ribo and arabino configuration) and C3' (ribo) of the adenosine moiety of TAD afforded analogues highly potent against IMPDH, but weakly active against alcohol dehydrogenase. With the exception of the methylenebis(phosphonate) analogue of TAD compounds containing a methylene bridge were poor inhibitors of growth of K562 cells. On the other hand, NAD analogues containing difluoromethylene linkage were highly effective in inhibition of K562 cell growth, as well as potent inducers of K562 cell differentiation. Such compounds, therefore, may be of potential therapeutic interest.

The protein conformation of Cd-substituted horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and its metal-site coordination geometry in binary and ternary inhibitor complexes

The coordination geometry of the metal at the active site in Cd-substituted horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) has been investigated for the binary complexes of LADH with imidazole, isobutyramide, decanoic acid and Cl-, and for the ternary complexes of LADH with NADH and imidazole, NADH and isobutyramide, NAD+ and decanoic acid and NAD+ and Cl-, by using the method of perturbed angular correlation of gamma-rays (PAC). The spectral results are consistent with a flexible structure around the metal for the binary complexes with inhibitors. For ternary complexes, however, a rigid structure is observed. An exception is the ternary complex between LADH, NADH and imidazole, in which the metal site is still flexible. Comparing with available structures determined by X-ray crystallography, we found a correlation between open structures and flexible metal sites, and between closed structures and rigid metal sites. This indicates that the PAC technique can be applied to distinguish the two conformations in solution. The spectral parameters, omega(o) and eta, of the experiments, except for the complexes with imidazole, fall into two groups: one with low omega(o) and one with high omega(o) (eta is relatively constant in all experiments). In this work it is clarified that the low omega(o) values are connected with the presence of a negatively charged solvent ligand. Using an angular-overlap approach to interpret the results, the low omega(o) values are found to be compatible with a coordination geometry where the S-Cd-S (Cys174 and Cys46 coordinate to the metal) angle is about 110 degrees as suggested in [Hemmingsen, L., Bauer, R., Danielsen, E., Bjerrum. M. J., Zeppezauer, M., Adolph, H. W., Formicka, G. & Cedergren-Zeppezauer, E. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 7145-7153], whereas high omega(o) values are compatible with an S-Cd-S angle of 130 degrees. The presence of a negatively charged metal ligand, therefore, might trigger the movement of the sulfur of Cys174. As it is believed that alcohols coordinate to the metal as alcoholate ions this could be important for catalysis.