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Mazmanian K, Chen T, Sargsyan K, Lim C. From quantum-derived principles underlying cysteine reactivity to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022; 12:e1607. [PMID: 35600063 PMCID: PMC9111396 DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The COVID‐19 pandemic poses a challenge in coming up with quick and effective means to counter its cause, the SARS‐CoV‐2. Here, we show how the key factors governing cysteine reactivity in proteins derived from combined quantum mechanical/continuum calculations led to a novel multi‐targeting strategy against SARS‐CoV‐2, in contrast to developing potent drugs/vaccines against a single viral target such as the spike protein. Specifically, they led to the discovery of reactive cysteines in evolutionary conserved Zn2+‐sites in several SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins that are crucial for viral polypeptide proteolysis as well as viral RNA synthesis, proofreading, and modification. These conserved, reactive cysteines, both free and Zn2+‐bound, can be targeted using the same Zn‐ejector drug (disulfiram/ebselen), which enables the use of broad‐spectrum anti‐virals that would otherwise be removed by the virus's proofreading mechanism. Our strategy of targeting multiple, conserved viral proteins that operate at different stages of the virus life cycle using a Zn‐ejector drug combined with other broad‐spectrum anti‐viral drug(s) could enhance the barrier to drug resistance and antiviral effects, as compared to each drug alone. Since these functionally important nonstructural proteins containing reactive cysteines are highly conserved among coronaviruses, our proposed strategy has the potential to tackle future coronaviruses. This article is categorized under:Structure and Mechanism > Reaction Mechanisms and Catalysis Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Karen Sargsyan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan.,Department of Chemistry National Tsing Hua University Hsinchu Taiwan
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Mazmanian K, Sargsyan K, Lim C. How the Local Environment of Functional Sites Regulates Protein Function. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:9861-9871. [PMID: 32407086 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c02430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Proteins form complex biological machineries whose functions in the cell are highly regulated at both the cellular and molecular levels. Cellular regulation of protein functions involves differential gene expressions, post-translation modifications, and signaling cascades. Molecular regulation, on the other hand, involves tuning an optimal local protein environment for the functional site. Precisely how a protein achieves such an optimal environment around a given functional site is not well understood. Herein, by surveying the literature, we first summarize the various reported strategies used by certain proteins to ensure their correct functioning. We then formulate three key physicochemical factors for regulating a protein's functional site, namely, (i) its immediate interactions, (ii) its solvent accessibility, and (iii) its conformational flexibility. We illustrate how these factors are applied to regulate the functions of free/metal-bound Cys and Zn sites in proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Mazmanian
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Karen Sargsyan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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Kilgore HR, Raines RT. n→π* Interactions Modulate the Properties of Cysteine Residues and Disulfide Bonds in Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:17606-17611. [PMID: 30403347 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Noncovalent interactions are ubiquitous in biology, taking on roles that include stabilizing the conformation of and assembling biomolecules, and providing an optimal environment for enzymatic catalysis. Here, we describe a noncovalent interaction that engages the sulfur atoms of cysteine residues and disulfide bonds in proteins-their donation of electron density into an antibonding orbital of proximal amide carbonyl groups. This n→ π* interaction tunes the reactivity of the CXXC motif, which is the critical feature of thioredoxin and other enzymes involved in redox homeostasis. In particular, an n→ π* interaction lowers the p Ka value of the N-terminal cysteine residue of the motif, which is the nucleophile that initiates catalysis. In addition, the interplay between disulfide n→ π* interactions and C5 hydrogen bonds leads to hyperstable β-strands. Finally, n→ π* interactions stabilize vicinal disulfide bonds, which are naturally diverse in function. These previously unappreciated n→ π* interactions are strong and underlie the ability of cysteine residues and disulfide bonds to engage in the structure and function of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry R Kilgore
- Department of Chemistry , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139 , United States
| | - Ronald T Raines
- Department of Chemistry , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139 , United States
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Fowler NJ, Blanford CF, de Visser SP, Warwicker J. Features of reactive cysteines discovered through computation: from kinase inhibition to enrichment around protein degrons. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16338. [PMID: 29180682 PMCID: PMC5703995 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15997-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale characterisation of cysteine modification is enabling study of the physicochemical determinants of reactivity. We find that location of cysteine at the amino terminus of an α-helix, associated with activity in thioredoxins, is under-represented in human protein structures, perhaps indicative of selection against background reactivity. An amino-terminal helix location underpins the covalent linkage for one class of kinase inhibitors. Cysteine targets for S-palmitoylation, S-glutathionylation, and S-nitrosylation show little correlation with pKa values predicted from structures, although flanking sequences of S-palmitoylated sites are enriched in positively-charged amino acids, which could facilitate palmitoyl group transfer to substrate cysteine. A surprisingly large fraction of modified sites, across the three modifications, would be buried in native protein structure. Furthermore, modified cysteines are (on average) closer to lysine ubiquitinations than are unmodified cysteines, indicating that cysteine redox biology could be associated with protein degradation and degron recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Fowler
- The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom.,School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher F Blanford
- The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom.,School of Materials, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Sam P de Visser
- The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom.,School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Jim Warwicker
- The Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom. .,School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom.
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Mazmanian K, Sargsyan K, Grauffel C, Dudev T, Lim C. Preferred Hydrogen-Bonding Partners of Cysteine: Implications for Regulating Cys Functions. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:10288-10296. [PMID: 27635780 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b08109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The hydrogen-bonding interactions of cysteine, which can serve as a hydrogen-bond donor and/or acceptor, play a central role in cysteine's diverse functional roles in proteins. They affect the balance between the neutral thiol (SH) or thiolate (S-) and the charge distribution in the rate-limiting transition state of a reaction. Despite their importance, no study has determined the preferred hydrogen-bonding partners of cysteine serving as a hydrogen-bond donor or acceptor. By computing the free energy for displacing a peptide backbone hydrogen-bonded to cysteine with amino acid side chains in various protein environments, we have evaluated how the strength of the hydrogen bond to the cysteine thiol/thiolate depends on its hydrogen-bonding partner and its local environment. The predicted hydrogen-bonding partners preferred by cysteine are consistent with the hydrogen-bonding interactions made by cysteines in 9138 nonredundant X-ray structures. Our results suggest a mechanism to regulate the reactivity of cysteines and a strategy to design drugs based on the hydrogen-bonding preference of cysteine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Mazmanian
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan.,Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University , Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Karen Sargsyan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Cédric Grauffel
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Todor Dudev
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sofia University , Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529, Taiwan.,Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University , Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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Jilek JL, Sant KE, Cho KH, Reed MS, Pohl J, Hansen JM, Harris C. Ethanol Attenuates Histiotrophic Nutrition Pathways and Alters the Intracellular Redox Environment and Thiol Proteome during Rat Organogenesis. Toxicol Sci 2015; 147:475-89. [PMID: 26185205 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethanol (EtOH) is a reactive oxygen-generating teratogen involved in the etiology of structural and functional developmental defects. Embryonic nutrition, redox environment, and changes in the thiol proteome following EtOH exposures (1.56.0 mg/ml) were studied in rat whole embryo culture. Glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys) concentrations with their respective intracellular redox potentials (Eh) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. EtOH reduced GSH and Cys concentrations in embryo (EMB) and visceral yolk sac (VYS) tissues, and also in yolk sac and amniotic fluids. These changes produced greater oxidation as indicated by increasingly positive Eh values. EtOH reduced histiotrophic nutrition pathway activities as measured by the clearance of fluorescin isothiocyanate (FITC)-albumin from culture media. A significant decrease in total FITC clearance was observed at all concentrations, reaching approximately 50% at the highest dose. EtOH-induced changes to the thiol proteome were measured in EMBs and VYSs using isotope-coded affinity tags. Decreased concentrations for specific proteins from cytoskeletal dynamics and endocytosis pathways (α-actinin, α-tubulin, cubilin, and actin-related protein 2); nuclear translocation (Ran and RanBP1); and maintenance of receptor-mediated endocytosis (cubilin) were observed. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis also identified a decrease in ribosomal proteins in both EMB and VYS. Results show that EtOH interferes with nutrient uptake to reduce availability of amino acids and micronutrients required by the conceptus. Intracellular antioxidants such as GSH and Cys are depleted following EtOH and Eh values increase. Thiol proteome analysis in the EMB and VYS show selectively altered actin/cytoskeleton, endocytosis, ribosome biogenesis and function, nuclear transport, and stress-related responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Jilek
- *Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Karilyn E Sant
- *Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Katherine H Cho
- *Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Matthew S Reed
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333; and
| | - Jan Pohl
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333; and
| | - Jason M Hansen
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602
| | - Craig Harris
- *Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109;
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Petříčková K, Pospíšil S, Kuzma M, Tylová T, Jágr M, Tomek P, Chroňáková A, Brabcová E, Anděra L, Krištůfek V, Petříček M. Biosynthesis of colabomycin E, a new manumycin-family metabolite, involves an unusual chain-length factor. Chembiochem 2014; 15:1334-45. [PMID: 24838618 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201400068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Colabomycin E is a new member of the manumycin-type metabolites produced by the strain Streptomyces aureus SOK1/5-04 and identified by genetic screening from a library of streptomycete strains. The structures of colabomycin E and accompanying congeners were resolved. The entire biosynthetic gene cluster was cloned and expressed in Streptomyces lividans. Bioinformatic analysis and mutagenic studies identified components of the biosynthetic pathway that are involved in the formation of both polyketide chains. Recombinant polyketide synthases (PKSs) assembled from the components of colabomycin E and asukamycin biosynthetic routes catalyzing the biosynthesis of "lower" carbon chains were constructed and expressed in S. aureus SOK1/5-04 ΔcolC11-14 deletion mutant. Analysis of the metabolites produced by recombinant strains provided evidence that in both biosynthetic pathways the length of the lower carbon chain is controlled by an unusual chain-length factor supporting biosynthesis either of a triketide in asukamycin or of a tetraketide in colabomycin E. Biological activity assays indicated that colabomycin E significantly inhibited IL-1β release from THP-1 cells and might thus potentially act as an anti-inflammatory agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Petříčková
- Institute of Microbiology AS CR, v.v.i. Vídeňská 1083, 142 00 Prague 4 (Czech Republic)
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