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Shum MHH, Lee Y, Tam L, Xia H, Chung OLW, Guo Z, Lam TTY. Binding affinity between coronavirus spike protein and human ACE2 receptor. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:759-770. [PMID: 38304547 PMCID: PMC10831124 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) pose a major risk to global public health due to their ability to infect diverse animal species and potential for emergence in humans. The CoV spike protein mediates viral entry into the cell and plays a crucial role in determining the binding affinity to host cell receptors. With particular emphasis on α- and β-coronaviruses that infect humans and domestic animals, current research on CoV receptor use suggests that the exploitation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor poses a significant threat for viral emergence with pandemic potential. This review summarizes the approaches used to study binding interactions between CoV spike proteins and the human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor. Solid-phase enzyme immunoassays and cell binding assays allow qualitative assessment of binding but lack quantitative evaluation of affinity. Surface plasmon resonance, Bio-layer interferometry, and Microscale Thermophoresis on the other hand, provide accurate affinity measurement through equilibrium dissociation constants (KD). In silico modeling predicts affinity through binding structure modeling, protein-protein docking simulations, and binding energy calculations but reveals inconsistent results due to the lack of a standardized approach. Machine learning and deep learning models utilize simulated and experimental protein-protein interaction data to elucidate the critical residues associated with CoV binding affinity to hACE2. Further optimization and standardization of existing approaches for studying binding affinity could aid pandemic preparedness. Specifically, prioritizing surveillance of CoVs that can bind to human receptors stands to mitigate the risk of zoonotic spillover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Ho-Hin Shum
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Lee
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Immunology and Infection (C2i), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leighton Tam
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Xia
- Department of Chemistry, South University of Science and Technology of China, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Oscar Lung-Wa Chung
- Department of Chemistry, South University of Science and Technology of China, China
| | - Zhihong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Immunology and Infection (C2i), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
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2
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Lima AJF, Hajdu KL, Abdo L, Batista-Silva LR, de Oliveira Andrade C, Correia EM, Aragão EAA, Bonamino MH, Lourenzoni MR. In silico and in vivo analysis reveal impact of c-Myc tag in FMC63 scFv-CD19 protein interface and CAR-T cell efficacy. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2375-2387. [PMID: 38873646 PMCID: PMC11170440 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy represents a breakthrough in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, and it is expected that this therapy modality will soon cover a range of solid tumors as well. Therefore, a universal cheap and sensitive method to detect CAR expression is of foremost importance. One possibility is the use of epitope tags such as c-Myc, HA or FLAG tags attached to the CAR extracellular domain, however, it is important to determine whether these tags can influence binding of the CAR with its target molecule. Here, we conducted in-silico structural modelling of an FMC63-based anti-CD19 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with and without a c-Myc peptide tag added to the N-terminus portion and performed molecular dynamics simulation of the scFv with the CD19 target. We show that the c-Myc tag presence in the N-terminus portion does not affect the scFv's structural equilibrium and grants more stability to the scFv. However, intermolecular interaction potential (IIP) analysis reveals that the tag can approximate the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) present in the scFv and cause steric impediment, potentially disturbing interaction with the CD19 protein. We then tested this possibility with CAR-T cells generated from human donors in a Nalm-6 leukemia model, showing that CAR-T cells with the c-Myc tag have overall worse antitumor activity, which was also observed when the tag was added to the C-terminus position. Ultimately, our results suggest that tag addition is an important aspect of CAR design and can influence CAR-T cell function, therefore its use should be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Julia Ferreira Lima
- Research Group on Protein Engineering and Health Solutions (GEPeSS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Ceará (Fiocruz-CE), São José, Precabura, 61773-270 Eusébio, Ceará, Brazil
- Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Pici campus (Building 873), 60440-970 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Karina Lobo Hajdu
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Research coordination - Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiza Abdo
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Research coordination - Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Clara de Oliveira Andrade
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Research coordination - Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Mannarino Correia
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Research coordination - Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Martín Hernán Bonamino
- Cell and Gene Therapy Program, Research coordination - Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Vice - Presidency of Research and Biological Collections (VPPCB), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Roberto Lourenzoni
- Research Group on Protein Engineering and Health Solutions (GEPeSS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Ceará (Fiocruz-CE), São José, Precabura, 61773-270 Eusébio, Ceará, Brazil
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3
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Liang JJ, Pitsillou E, Lau HLY, Mccubbery CP, Gan H, Hung A, Karagiannis TC. Utilization of the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 antivirals: in silico studies targeting the nsp14 ExoN domain and PL pro naphthalene binding site. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 131:108803. [PMID: 38815531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108803] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome encodes 29 proteins including four structural, 16 nonstructural (nsps), and nine accessory proteins (https://epimedlab.org/sars-cov-2-proteome/). Many of these proteins contain potential targetable sites for the development of antivirals. Despite the widespread use of vaccinations, the emergence of variants necessitates the investigation of new therapeutics and antivirals. Here, the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection (https://epimedlab.org/crl/) was utilized to investigate potential antivirals against the nsp14 exoribonuclease (ExoN) domain. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding characteristics of our chemical library against the nsp14 ExoN site. Based on the initial screen, trisjuglone, ararobinol, corilagin, and naphthofluorescein were identified as potential lead compounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were subsequently performed, with the results highlighting the stability of the lead compounds in the nsp14 ExoN site. Protein-RNA docking revealed the potential for the lead compounds to disrupt the interaction with RNA when bound to the ExoN site. Moreover, hypericin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and rutin were previously identified as lead compounds targeting the papain-like protease (PLpro) naphthalene binding site. Through performing MD simulations, the stability and interactions of lead compounds with PLpro were further examined. Overall, given the critical role of the exonuclease activity of nsp14 in ensuring viral fidelity and the multifunctional role of PLpro in viral pathobiology and replication, these nsps represent important targets for antiviral drug development. Our databases can be utilized for in silico studies, such as the ones performed here, and this approach can be applied to other potentially druggable SARS-CoV-2 protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Liang
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Eleni Pitsillou
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Hannah L Y Lau
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cian P Mccubbery
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Hockxuen Gan
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Tom C Karagiannis
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Oduro-Kwateng E, Ali M, Kehinde IO, Zhang Z, Soliman MES. De Novo Rational Design of Peptide-Based Protein-Protein Inhibitors (Pep-PPIs) Approach by Mapping the Interaction Motifs of the PP Interface and Physicochemical Filtration: A Case on p25-Cdk5-Mediated Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Cell Biochem 2024:e30633. [PMID: 39148280 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions, or PPIs, are a part of every biological activity and have been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. As such, targeting PPIs is considered a strategic and vital approach in the development of new medications. Nonetheless, the wide and flat contact interface makes it difficult to find small-molecule PP inhibitors. An alternative strategy would be to use the PPI interaction motifs as building blocks for the design of peptide-based inhibitors. Herein, we designed 12-mer peptide inhibitors to target p25-inducing-cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk5) hyperregulation, a PPI that has been shown to perpetuate neuroinflammation, which is one of the major causal implications of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. We generated a library of 5 062 500 peptide combination sequences (PCS) derived from the interaction motif of Cdk5/p25 PP interface. The 20 amino acids were differentiated into six groups, namely, hydrophobic (aliphatic), aromatic, basic, acidic, unique, and polar uncharged, on the basis of their physiochemical properties. To preserve the interaction motif necessary for ideal binding, de novo modeling of all possible peptide sequence substitutions was considered. A set of filters, backed by the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm, was then used to create a shortlisted custom peptide library that met specific bioavailability, toxicity, and therapeutic relevance, leading to a refined library of 15 PCS. A greedy algorithm and coarse-grained force field were used to predict peptide structure and folding before subsequent modeling studies. Molecular docking was performed to estimate the relative binding affinities, and out of the top hits, Pep15 was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations and binding free-energy calculations in comparison to a known peptide inhibitor with experimental data (template peptide). Interestingly, the identified peptide through our protocol, Pep15, was found to show a significantly higher binding affinity than the reference template peptide (-48.10 ± 0.23 kcal/mol and -17.53 ± 0.27 kcal/mol, respectively). In comparison to the template peptide, Pep15 was found to possess a more compact and buried surface area, tighter binding landscape, and reduced conformational variability, leading to enhanced structural and kinetic stability of the Cdk5/p25 complex. Notably, both peptide inhibitors were found to have a minimal impact on the architectural integrity of the Cdk5/p25 secondary structure. Herein, we propose Pep15 as a novel and potentially disruptive peptide drug for Cdk5/p25-mediated neurodegenerative phenotypes that require further clinical investigation. The systematic protocol and findings of this report would serve as a valuable tool in the identification of critical PPI interface reactive residues, designing of analogs, and identification of more potent peptide-based PPI inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Oduro-Kwateng
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
| | - Musab Ali
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ibrahim Oluwatobi Kehinde
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
| | - Zhichao Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Mahmoud E S Soliman
- Molecular Bio-Computation and Drug Design Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
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5
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Rovers E, Schapira M. Benchmarking Methods for PROTAC Ternary Complex Structure Prediction. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:6162-6173. [PMID: 39087481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00426] [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: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are bifunctional compounds that recruit an E3 ligase to a target protein to induce ubiquitination and degradation of the target. Rational optimization of PROTAC requires a structural model of the ternary complex. In the absence of an experimental structure, computational tools have emerged that attempt to predict PROTAC ternary complexes. Here, we systematically benchmark three commonly used tools: PRosettaC, MOE, and ICM. We find that these PROTAC-focused methods produce an array of ternary complex structures, including some that are observed experimentally, but also many that significantly deviate from the crystal structure. Molecular dynamics simulations show that PROTAC complexes may exist in a multiplicity of configurational states and question the use of experimentally observed structures as a reference for accurate predictions. The pioneering computational tools benchmarked here highlight the promises and challenges in the field and may be more valuable when guided by clear structural and biophysical data. The benchmarking data set that we provide may also be valuable for evaluating other and future computational tools for ternary complex modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evianne Rovers
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Matthieu Schapira
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada
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6
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Nguyen H, Podolnikova NP, Ugarova TP, Wang X. α MI-domain of integrin Mac-1 binds the cytokine pleiotrophin using multiple mechanisms. Structure 2024; 32:1184-1196.e4. [PMID: 38729161 PMCID: PMC11316656 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2, CD11b/CD18, CR3) is an adhesion receptor expressed on macrophages and neutrophils. Mac-1 is also a promiscuous integrin that binds a diverse set of ligands through its αMI-domain. However, the binding mechanism of most ligands remains unclear. We have characterized the interaction of αMI-domain with the cytokine pleiotrophin (PTN), a protein known to bind αMI-domain and induce Mac-1-mediated cell adhesion and migration. Our data show that PTN's N-terminal domain binds a unique site near the N- and C-termini of the αMI-domain using a metal-independent mechanism. However, a stronger interaction is achieved when an acidic amino acid in a zwitterionic motif in PTN's C-terminal domain chelates the divalent cation in the metal ion-dependent adhesion site of active αMI-domain. These results indicate that αMI-domain can bind ligands using multiple mechanisms and that the active αMI-domain has a preference for motifs containing both positively and negatively charged amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Nguyen
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | | | - Tatiana P Ugarova
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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7
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Li T, Liu X, Qian H, Zhang S, Hou Y, Zhang Y, Luo G, Zhu X, Tao Y, Fan M, Wang H, Sha C, Lin A, Qin J, Gu K, Chen W, Fu T, Wang Y, Wei Y, Wu Q, Tan W. Blocker-SELEX: a structure-guided strategy for developing inhibitory aptamers disrupting undruggable transcription factor interactions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6751. [PMID: 39117705 PMCID: PMC11310338 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51197-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the well-established significance of transcription factors (TFs) in pathogenesis, their utilization as pharmacological targets has been limited by the inherent challenges in modulating their protein interactions. The lack of defined small-molecule binding pockets and the nuclear localization of TFs do not favor the use of traditional tools. Aptamers possess large molecular weights, expansive blocking surfaces and efficient cellular internalization, making them compelling tools for modulating TF interactions. Here, we report a structure-guided design strategy called Blocker-SELEX to develop inhibitory aptamers (iAptamers) that selectively block TF interactions. Our approach leads to the discovery of iAptamers that cooperatively disrupt SCAF4/SCAF8-RNAP2 interactions, dysregulating RNAP2-dependent gene expression, which impairs cell proliferation. This approach is further applied to develop iAptamers blocking WDR5-MYC interactions. Overall, our study highlights the potential of iAptamers in disrupting pathogenic TF interactions, implicating their potential utility in studying the biological functions of TF interactions and in nucleic acids drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongqing Li
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueying Liu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Qian
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheyu Zhang
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Hou
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuchao Zhang
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoyan Luo
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xun Zhu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanxin Tao
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Shanghai Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengyang Fan
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chulin Sha
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ailan Lin
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Qin
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kedan Gu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weichang Chen
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ting Fu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Wei
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Qin Wu
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Weihong Tan
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
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Connelly EM, Rintala-Dempsey AC, Gundogdu M, Freeman EA, Koszela J, Aguirre JD, Zhu G, Kämäräinen O, Tadayon R, Walden H, Shaw GS. Capturing the catalytic intermediates of parkin ubiquitination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2403114121. [PMID: 39078678 PMCID: PMC11317638 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403114121] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkin is an E3 ubiquitin ligase implicated in early-onset forms of Parkinson's disease. It catalyzes a transthiolation reaction by accepting ubiquitin (Ub) from an E2 conjugating enzyme, forming a short-lived thioester intermediate, and transfers Ub to mitochondrial membrane substrates to signal mitophagy. A major impediment to the development of Parkinsonism therapeutics is the lack of structural and mechanistic detail for the essential, short-lived transthiolation intermediate. It is not known how Ub is recognized by the catalytic Rcat domain in parkin that enables Ub transfer from an E2~Ub conjugate to the catalytic site and the structure of the transthiolation complex is undetermined. Here, we capture the catalytic intermediate for the Rcat domain of parkin in complex with ubiquitin (Rcat-Ub) and determine its structure using NMR-based chemical shift perturbation experiments. We show that a previously unidentified α-helical region near the Rcat domain is unmasked as a recognition motif for Ub and guides the C-terminus of Ub toward the parkin catalytic site. Further, we apply a combination of guided AlphaFold modeling, chemical cross-linking, and single turnover assays to establish and validate a model of full-length parkin in complex with UbcH7, its donor Ub, and phosphoubiquitin, trapped in the process of transthiolation. Identification of this catalytic intermediate and orientation of Ub with respect to the Rcat domain provides important structural insights into Ub transfer by this E3 ligase and explains how the previously enigmatic Parkinson's pathogenic mutation T415N alters parkin activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Connelly
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
| | | | - Mehmet Gundogdu
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - E. Aisha Freeman
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Joanna Koszela
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jacob D. Aguirre
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Grace Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Outi Kämäräinen
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Roya Tadayon
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Helen Walden
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Gary S. Shaw
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ONN6A 5C1, Canada
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9
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Jenni R, Klaa H, Khamessi O, Chikhaoui A, Najjar D, Ghedira K, Kraoua I, Turki I, Yacoub-Youssef H. Clinical and genetic spectrum of Ataxia Telangiectasia Tunisian patients: Bioinformatic analysis unveil mechanisms of ATM variants pathogenicity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024:134444. [PMID: 39098699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134444] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) is a rare multisystemic neurodegenerative disease caused by biallelic mutations in the ATM gene. Few clinical studies on AT disease have been conducted in Tunisia, however, the mutational landscape is still undefined. Our aim is to determine the clinical and genetic spectrum of AT Tunisian patients and to explore the potential underlying mechanism of variant pathogenicity. Sanger sequencing was performed for nine AT patients. A comprehensive computational analysis was conducted to evaluate the possible pathogenic effect of ATM identified variants. Genetic screening of ATM gene has identified nine different variants from which six have not been previously reported. In silico analysis have predicted a pathogenic effect of identified mutations. This was corroborated by a structural bioinformatics study based on molecular modeling and docking for novel missense mutations. Our findings suggest a profound impact of identified mutations not only on the ATM protein stability, but also on the ATM-ligand interactions. Our study characterizes the mutational landscape of AT Tunisian patients which will allow to set up genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for families at risk and expand the spectrum of ATM variants worldwide. Furthermore, understanding the mechanism that underpin variant pathogenicity could provide further insights into disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rim Jenni
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics (LR16IPT05), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Hedia Klaa
- LR18SP04 and Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, National Institute Mongi Ben Hmida of Neurology, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Oussema Khamessi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (BIMS), Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Institut de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet, Université de la Manouba, Ariana BP-66, Manouba 2010, Tunisia.
| | - Asma Chikhaoui
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics (LR16IPT05), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia.
| | - Dorra Najjar
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics (LR16IPT05), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Kais Ghedira
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (BIMS), Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT), University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Ichraf Kraoua
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics (LR16IPT05), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia; LR18SP04 and Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, National Institute Mongi Ben Hmida of Neurology, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Ilhem Turki
- LR18SP04 and Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, National Institute Mongi Ben Hmida of Neurology, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Houda Yacoub-Youssef
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics (LR16IPT05), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia.
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10
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Xiong W, Cai J, Sun B, Lin H, Wei C, Huang C, Zhu X, Tan H. The association between genetic variations and morphology-based brain networks changes in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2024; 168:1490-1502. [PMID: 36625269 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15761] [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: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly heritable disease. The morphological changes of cortical cortex (such as, cortical thickness and surface area) in AD always accompany by the change of the functional connectivity to other brain regions and influence the short- and long-range brain network connections, causing functional deficits of AD. In this study, the first hypothesis is that genetic variations might affect morphology-based brain networks, leading to functional deficits; the second hypothesis is that protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the candidate proteins and known interacting proteins to AD might exist and influence AD. 600 470 variants and structural magnetic resonance imaging scans from 175 AD patients and 214 healthy controls were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-1 database. A co-sparse reduced-rank regression model was fit to study the relationship between non-synonymous mutations and morphology-based brain networks. After that, PPIs between selected genes and BACE1, an enzyme that was known to be related to AD, are explored by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments. Eight genes affecting morphology-based brain networks were identified. The results of MD simulation showed that the PPI between TGM4 and BACE1 was the strongest among them and its interaction was verified by Co-IP. Hence, gene variations influence morphology-based brain networks in AD, leading to functional deficits. This finding, validated by MD simulation and Co-IP, suggests that the effect is robust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixue Xiong
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jiahui Cai
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Henghui Lin
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Chiyu Wei
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | | | - Xiaohui Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haizhu Tan
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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11
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Verma K, Singh Y, Kamaraj B, Sharma P, Schneider KA, Bharti PK. Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum Kelch13 (PfK13) dysregulates PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in artemisinin resistance. Indian J Med Microbiol 2024; 51:100691. [PMID: 39079616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100691] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND PfK13 protein mutations are associated with the emergence of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. PfK13 protein is essential for mediating ubiquitination and controlling the PI3K/AKT pathway. Mutant PfK13 variations can interfere with substrate binding, especially with PfPI3K, which raises PfPI3K levels. METHODS DUET, DynaMut2, mCSM, iStable 2.0, I-Mutant 2.0, and MuPro were utilized to study the protein stability and protein-substrate binding was studied using HADDOCK 2.4 docking algorithm between Wild-type and mutant PfK13 with the helical and catalytic domain of PfPI3K. RESULTS i-Stable server analysis predicted that seven, out of the nine mutations associated with artemisinin resistance (F446I, Y493H, R539T, I543T, P553L, R561H, C580Y) reduced the protein stability. HADDOCK scores of the catalytic domain underscores the significant impact of the reported mutations on the binding affinity of the PfK13 protein. Further validation through the MM_GBSA technique, the binding free energy (DDG) between the wild-type and the mutant PfK13 protein analysis revealed a loss of interactions resulting from mutations in PfK13. CONCLUSION The study finding suggest that mutations in the PfK13 cause destabilization in the protein structure and affects the binding of PfPI3K. Although the findings remain preliminary and require further validation, it provides the basis for further research considering the importance of the interaction of PfK13 and PfPI3K to overcome the impact of artemisinin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Verma
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Yashika Singh
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Balu Kamaraj
- Department of Dental Education, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka, Delhi, 110077, India
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12
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Negahdari B, Sarkoohi P, Ghasemi Nezhad F, Shahbazi B, Ahmadi K. Design of multi-epitope vaccine candidate based on OmpA, CarO and ZnuD proteins against multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34690. [PMID: 39149030 PMCID: PMC11324976 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii has been identified as a major cause of nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter infections are often difficult to treat with multidrug resistant phenotypes. One of the most effective ways to combat infectious diseases is through vaccination. In this study, an attempt was made to select the most protective and potent immunostimulatory epitopes based on the epitope-rich domains of the ZnuD, OmpA and CarO proteins of Acinetobacter baumannii to design a vaccine that can protect against this infection. After predicting the epitope of B- and T-cells, seven antigenic regions of three proteins CarO, ZnuD and OmpA, were selected. These regions were bound by a GGGS linker. The binding affinity and molecular interactions of the vaccine with the immune receptors TLR2 and TLR4 were studied using molecular docking analysis. This vaccine design was subjected to in silico immune simulations using C-ImmSim. The designed vaccine was highly antigenic, non-allergenic and stable. TLR2 and TLR4 were selected to analyze the ability of the modeled chimeric protein to interact with immune system receptors. The results showed strong interaction between the designed protein vaccine with TLR2 (-18.8 kcal mol-1) and TLR4 (-15.1 kcal mol-1). To verify the stability of the interactions and the structure of the designed protein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for 200 ns. Various analyses using MD showed that the protein structure is stable alone and in interaction with TLR2 and TLR4. The ability of the vaccine candidate protein to stimulate the immune system to produce the necessary cytokines and antibodies against Acinetobacter baumannii was also demonstrated by the ability of the protein designed using the C-ImmSim web server to induce an immune response. Therefore, the designed protein vaccine may be a suitable candidate for in vivo as well as in vitro studies against Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batul Negahdari
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Parisa Sarkoohi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Forozan Ghasemi Nezhad
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Behzad Shahbazi
- School of Pharmacy, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Ahmadi
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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13
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Chiawpanit C, Wathikthinnakorn M, Sawasdee N, Phanthaphol N, Sujjitjoon J, Junking M, Yamabhai M, Panaampon J, Yenchitsomanus PT, Panya A. Precision immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: Pioneering the use of human-derived anti-cMET single chain variable fragment in anti-cMET chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112273. [PMID: 38810311 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112273] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) presents a significant clinical challenge which is often identified in advanced stages, therby restricting the effectiveness of surgical interventions for most patients. The high incidence of cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy further contribute to a bleak prognosis and low survival rates. To address this pressing need for effective therapeutic strategies, our study focuses on the development of an innovative cellular immunotherapy, specifically utilizing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered natural killer (NK) cells designed to target the cMET receptor tyrosine kinase. In this investigation, we initiated the screening of a phage library displaying human single-chain variable fragment (ScFv) to identify novel ScFv molecules with specificity for cMET. Remarkably, ScFv11, ScFv72, and ScFv114 demonstrated exceptional binding affinity, confirmed by molecular docking analysis. These selected ScFvs, in addition to the well-established anti-cMET ScFvA, were integrated into a CAR cassette harboring CD28 transmembrane region-41BB-CD3ζ domains. The resulting anti-cMET CAR constructs were transduced into NK-92 cells, generating potent anti-cMET CAR-NK-92 cells. To assess the specificity and efficacy of these engineered cells, we employed KKU213A cells with high cMET expression and KKU055 cells with low cMET levels. Notably, co-culture of anti-cMET CAR-NK-92 cells with KKU213A cells resulted in significantly increased cell death, whereas no such effect was observed with KKU055 cells. In summary, our study identified cMET as a promising therapeutic target for CCA. The NK-92 cells, armed with the anti-cMET CAR molecule, have shown strong ability to kill cancer cells specifically, indicating their potential as a promising treatment for CCA in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chutipa Chiawpanit
- Cell Engineering for Cancer Therapy Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Methi Wathikthinnakorn
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nunghathai Sawasdee
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattaporn Phanthaphol
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Jatuporn Sujjitjoon
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mutita Junking
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Montarop Yamabhai
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Agriculture Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Jutatip Panaampon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aussara Panya
- Cell Engineering for Cancer Therapy Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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14
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Herrmann A, Sepuru KM, Endo H, Nakagawa A, Kusano S, Bai P, Ziadi A, Kato H, Sato A, Liu J, Shan L, Kimura S, Itami K, Uchida N, Hagihara S, Torii KU. Chemical genetics reveals cross-activation of plant developmental signaling by the immune peptide-receptor pathway. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.29.605519. [PMID: 39131359 PMCID: PMC11312451 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.29.605519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Cells sense and integrate multiple signals to coordinate development and defence. A receptor-kinase signaling pathway for plant stomatal development shares components with the immunity pathway. The mechanism ensuring their signal specificities remains unclear. Using chemical genetics, here we report the identification of a small molecule, kC9, that triggers excessive stomatal differentiation by inhibiting the canonical ERECTA receptor-kinase pathway. kC9 binds to and inhibits the downstream MAP kinase MPK6, perturbing its substrate interaction. Strikingly, activation of immune signaling by a bacterial flagellin peptide nullified kC9's effects on stomatal development. This cross-activation of stomatal development by immune signaling depends on the immune receptor FLS2 and occurs even in the absence of kC9 if the ERECTA-family receptor population becomes suboptimal. Furthermore, proliferating stomatal-lineage cells are vulnerable to the immune signal penetration. Our findings suggest that the signal specificity between development and immunity can be ensured by MAP Kinase homeostasis reflecting the availability of upstream receptors, thereby providing a novel view on signal specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvid Herrmann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Krishna Mohan Sepuru
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Hitoshi Endo
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Ayami Nakagawa
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shuhei Kusano
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Pengfei Bai
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Asraa Ziadi
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Hiroe Kato
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Ayato Sato
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Libo Shan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Seisuke Kimura
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Center for Plant Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo-Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603–8555, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Itami
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Uchida
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shinya Hagihara
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Keiko U. Torii
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan
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15
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Qutub SS, Bhat IA, Maatouk BI, Moosa B, Fakim A, Nawaz K, Diaz-Galicia E, Lin W, Grünberg R, Arold ST, Khashab NM. An Amphiphilic Cell-Penetrating Macrocycle for Efficient Cytosolic Delivery of Proteins, DNA, and CRISPR Cas9. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403647. [PMID: 38752721 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of safe platforms that can circumvent the endocytic pathway is of great significance for biological therapeutics that are usually degraded during endocytosis. Here we show that a self-assembled and dynamic macrocycle can passively diffuse through the cell membrane and deliver a broad range of biologics, including proteins, CRISPR Cas9, and ssDNA, directly to the cytosol while retaining their bioactivity. Cell-penetrating macrocycle CPM can be easily prepared from the room temperature condensation of diketopyrrolopyrrole lactams with diamines. We attribute the high cellular permeability of CPM to its amphiphilic nature and chameleonic properties. It adopts conformations that partially bury polar groups and expose hydrophobic side chains, thus self-assembling into micellar-like structures. Its superior fluorescence makes CPM trackable inside cells where it follows the endomembrane system. CPM outperformed commercial reagents for biologics delivery and showed high RNA knockdown efficiency of CRISPR Cas9. We envisage that this macrocycle will be an ideal starting point to design and synthesize biomimetic macrocyclic tags that can readily facilitate the interaction and uptake of biomolecules and overcome endosomal digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayah S Qutub
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Current Address: Department of Chemistry, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, 192122, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Batoul I Maatouk
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basem Moosa
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aliyah Fakim
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kashif Nawaz
- The Coral Symbiomics Lab, Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Escarlet Diaz-Galicia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Weibin Lin
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raik Grünberg
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan T Arold
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Niveen M Khashab
- Smart Hybrid Materials (SHMs) Laboratory, Chemistry Program, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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16
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Vogel A, Arnese R, Gudino Carrillo RM, Sehr D, Deszcz L, Bylicki A, Meinhart A, Clausen T. UNC-45 assisted myosin folding depends on a conserved FX 3HY motif implicated in Freeman Sheldon Syndrome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6272. [PMID: 39054317 PMCID: PMC11272940 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Myosin motors are critical for diverse motility functions, ranging from cytokinesis and endocytosis to muscle contraction. The UNC-45 chaperone controls myosin function mediating the folding, assembly, and degradation of the muscle protein. Here, we analyze the molecular mechanism of UNC-45 as a hub in myosin quality control. We show that UNC-45 forms discrete complexes with folded and unfolded myosin, forwarding them to downstream chaperones and E3 ligases. Structural analysis of a minimal chaperone:substrate complex reveals that UNC-45 binds to a conserved FX3HY motif in the myosin motor domain. Disrupting the observed interface by mutagenesis prevents myosin maturation leading to protein aggregation in vivo. We also show that a mutation in the FX3HY motif linked to the Freeman Sheldon Syndrome impairs UNC-45 assisted folding, reducing the level of functional myosin. These findings demonstrate that a faulty myosin quality control is a critical yet unexplored cause of human myopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Vogel
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renato Arnese
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ricardo M Gudino Carrillo
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
- Medical University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daria Sehr
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luiza Deszcz
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrzej Bylicki
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Meinhart
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tim Clausen
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Vienna, Austria.
- Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities, Vienna, Austria.
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17
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Yu J, Ramirez LM, Lin Q, Burz DS, Shekhtman A. Ribosome External Electric Field Regulates Metabolic Enzyme Activity: The RAMBO Effect. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:7002-7021. [PMID: 39012038 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Ribosomes bind to many metabolic enzymes and change their activity. A general mechanism for ribosome-mediated amplification of metabolic enzyme activity, RAMBO, was formulated and elucidated for the glycolytic enzyme triosephosphate isomerase, TPI. The RAMBO effect results from a ribosome-dependent electric field-substrate dipole interaction energy that can increase or decrease the ground state of the reactant and product to regulate catalytic rates. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the interaction surface of TPI binding to ribosomes and to measure the corresponding kinetic rates in the absence and presence of intact ribosome particles. Chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry revealed potential ribosomal protein binding partners of TPI. Structural results and related changes in TPI energetics and activity show that the interaction between TPI and ribosomal protein L11 mediate the RAMBO effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Lisa M Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Qishan Lin
- RNA Epitranscriptomics & Proteomics Resource, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - David S Burz
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Alexander Shekhtman
- Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, United States
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18
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Xu X, Closson JD, Marcelino LP, Favaro DC, Silvestrini ML, Solazzo R, Chong LT, Gardner KH. Identification of small-molecule ligand-binding sites on and in the ARNT PAS-B domain. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107606. [PMID: 39059491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107606] [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: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors are challenging to target with small-molecule inhibitors due to their structural plasticity and lack of catalytic sites. Notable exceptions include naturally ligand-regulated transcription factors, including our prior work with the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2 transcription factor, showing that small-molecule binding within an internal pocket of the HIF-2α Per-Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator (ARNT)-Sim (PAS)-B domain can disrupt its interactions with its dimerization partner, ARNT. Here, we explore the feasibility of targeting small molecules to the analogous ARNT PAS-B domain itself, potentially opening a promising route to modulate several ARNT-mediated signaling pathways. Using solution NMR fragment screening, we previously identified several compounds that bind ARNT PAS-B and, in certain cases, antagonize ARNT association with the transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 transcriptional coactivator. However, these ligands have only modest binding affinities, complicating characterization of their binding sites. We address this challenge by combining NMR, molecular dynamics simulations, and ensemble docking to identify ligand-binding "hotspots" on and within the ARNT PAS-B domain. Our data indicate that the two ARNT/transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 inhibitors, KG-548 and KG-655, bind to a β-sheet surface implicated in both HIF-2 dimerization and coactivator recruitment. Furthermore, while KG-548 binds exclusively to the β-sheet surface, KG-655 can additionally bind within a water-accessible internal cavity in ARNT PAS-B. Finally, KG-279, while not a coactivator inhibitor, exemplifies ligands that preferentially bind only to the internal cavity. All three ligands promoted ARNT PAS-B homodimerization, albeit to varying degrees. Taken together, our findings provide a comprehensive overview of ARNT PAS-B ligand-binding sites and may guide the development of more potent coactivator inhibitors for cellular and functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjian Xu
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA; PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph D Closson
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA; PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Denize C Favaro
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marion L Silvestrini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Riccardo Solazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lillian T Chong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin H Gardner
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, New York, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, New York, USA; PhD. Programs in Biochemistry, Chemistry and Biology, The Graduate Center, CUNY, New York, New York, USA.
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19
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Carrasco JL, Ambrós S, Gutiérrez PA, Elena SF. Adaptation of turnip mosaic virus to Arabidopsis thaliana involves rewiring of VPg-host proteome interactions. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae055. [PMID: 39091990 PMCID: PMC11291303 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The outcome of a viral infection depends on a complex interplay between the host physiology and the virus, mediated through numerous protein-protein interactions. In a previous study, we used high-throughput yeast two-hybrid (HT-Y2H) to identify proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana that bind to the proteins encoded by the turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) genome. Furthermore, after experimental evolution of TuMV lineages in plants with mutations in defense-related or proviral genes, most mutations observed in the evolved viruses affected the VPg cistron. Among these mutations, D113G was a convergent mutation selected in many lineages across different plant genotypes, including cpr5-2 with constitutive expression of systemic acquired resistance. In contrast, mutation R118H specifically emerged in the jin1 mutant with affected jasmonate signaling. Using the HT-Y2H system, we analyzed the impact of these two mutations on VPg's interaction with plant proteins. Interestingly, both mutations severely compromised the interaction of VPg with the translation initiation factor eIF(iso)4E, a crucial interactor for potyvirus infection. Moreover, mutation D113G, but not R118H, adversely affected the interaction with RHD1, a zinc-finger homeodomain transcription factor involved in regulating DNA demethylation. Our results suggest that RHD1 enhances plant tolerance to TuMV infection. We also discuss our findings in a broad virus evolution context.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Carrasco
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC—Universitat de València), Catedratico Agustin Escardino 9, Paterna, València 46182, Spain
| | - Silvia Ambrós
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC—Universitat de València), Catedratico Agustin Escardino 9, Paterna, València 46182, Spain
| | - Pablo A Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Industrial, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 Nro. 59A - 110, Medellín, Antioquia 050034, Colombia
| | - Santiago F Elena
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (CSIC—Universitat de València), Catedratico Agustin Escardino 9, Paterna, València 46182, Spain
- The Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501, United States
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20
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Rao SS, Kundapura SV, Dey D, Palaniappan C, Sekar K, Kulal A, Ramagopal UA. Cumulative phylogenetic, sequence and structural analysis of Insulin superfamily proteins provide unique structure-function insights. Mol Inform 2024:e202300160. [PMID: 38973776 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202300160] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The insulin superfamily proteins (ISPs), in particular, insulin, IGFs and relaxin proteins are key modulators of animal physiology. They are known to have evolved from the same ancestral gene and have diverged into proteins with varied sequences and distinct functions, but maintain a similar structural architecture stabilized by highly conserved disulphide bridges. The recent surge of sequence data and the structures of these proteins prompted a need for a comprehensive analysis, which connects the evolution of these sequences (427 sequences) in the light of available functional and structural information including representative complex structures of ISPs with their cognate receptors. This study reveals (a) unusually high sequence conservation of IGFs (>90 % conservation in 184 sequences) and provides a possible structure-based rationale for such high sequence conservation; (b) provides an updated definition of the receptor-binding signature motif of the functionally diverse relaxin family members (c) provides a probable non-canonical C-peptide cleavage site in a few insulin sequences. The high conservation of IGFs appears to represent a classic case of resistance to sequence diversity exerted by physiologically important interactions with multiple partners. We also propose a probable mechanism for C-peptide cleavage in a few distinct insulin sequences and redefine the receptor-binding signature motif of the relaxin family. Lastly, we provide a basis for minimally modified insulin mutants with potential therapeutic application, inspired by concomitant changes observed in other insulin superfamily protein members supported by molecular dynamics simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrilakshmi Sheshagiri Rao
- Division of Biological Sciences, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Poornaprajnapura, 562110, Bidalur (Post), Bengaluru, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Shankar V Kundapura
- Division of Biological Sciences, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Poornaprajnapura, 562110, Bidalur (Post), Bengaluru, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Debayan Dey
- Division of Biological Sciences, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Poornaprajnapura, 562110, Bidalur (Post), Bengaluru, India
- Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, GA 30322, Atlanta, USA
| | - Chandrasekaran Palaniappan
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, 560012, Bangalore, India
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, 560012, Bangalore, India
| | - Kanagaraj Sekar
- Department of Computational and Data Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, 560012, Bangalore, India
| | - Ananda Kulal
- Division of Biological Sciences, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Poornaprajnapura, 562110, Bidalur (Post), Bengaluru, India
| | - Udupi A Ramagopal
- Division of Biological Sciences, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research, Poornaprajnapura, 562110, Bidalur (Post), Bengaluru, India
- Department of Microbiology and FST, School of Science, GITAM University, 530045, Visakhapatnam, India
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21
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Kurata T, Takegawa M, Ohira T, Syroegin EA, Atkinson GC, Johansson MJO, Polikanov YS, Garcia-Pino A, Suzuki T, Hauryliuk V. Toxic Small Alarmone Synthetase FaRel2 inhibits translation by pyrophosphorylating tRNA Gly and tRNA Thr. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602228. [PMID: 39005314 PMCID: PMC11245113 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Translation-targeting toxic Small Alarmone Synthetases (toxSAS) are effectors of bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin systems that pyrophosphorylate the 3'-CCA end of tRNA to prevent aminoacylation. toxSAS are implicated in antiphage immunity: phage detection triggers the toxSAS activity to shut down viral production. We show that the toxSAS FaRel2 inspects the tRNA acceptor stem to specifically select tRNAGly and tRNAThr. The 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th base pairs the stem act as the specificity determinants. We show that the toxSASs PhRel2 and CapRelSJ46 differ in tRNA specificity from FaRel2, and rationalise this through structural modelling: while the universal 3'-CCA end slots into a highly conserved CCA recognition groove, the acceptor stem recognition region is variable across toxSAS diversity. As phages use tRNA isoacceptors to overcome tRNA-targeting defences, we hypothesise that highly evolvable modular tRNA recognition allows for the escape of viral countermeasures through tRNA substrate specificity switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuaki Kurata
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Masaki Takegawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656
| | - Takayuki Ohira
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656
| | - Egor A Syroegin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Gemma C Atkinson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Yury S Polikanov
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Abel Garcia-Pino
- Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe, Building BC, (1C4 203), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- WELBIO, Avenue Hippocrate 75, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tsutomu Suzuki
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656
| | - Vasili Hauryliuk
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Tartu, Estonia
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22
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Zhong Z, Ulmschneider MB, Lorenz CD. Unraveling the Molecular Dance: Insights into TREM2/DAP12 Complex Formation in Alzheimer's Disease through Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:28715-28725. [PMID: 38973875 PMCID: PMC11223195 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative condition affecting millions globally. Recent research has implicated variants of the triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) as risk factors for AD. TREM2, an immunomodulatory receptor on microglial surfaces, plays a pivotal role in regulating microglial activation by association with DNAX-activation protein 12 (DAP12). Despite its significance, the mechanism underlying the formation of the complex between the transmembrane domains (TMDs) of TREM2 and DAP12 remains unclear. This study employs multiscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate three TMD complex models, including two derived from experiments and one generated by AlphaFold2. Conducted within a lipid membrane consisting of an 80:20 mixture of phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and cholesterol, our analysis reveals hydrogen-bonding interactions between K26 of TREM2 and D16 of DAP12 in all three models, consistent with previous experimental findings. Our results elucidate the different spatial conformations observed in the models and offer insights into the structure of the TREM2/DAP12 TMD complex. Furthermore, we elucidate the role of charged residues in the assembly structure of the complex within the lipid membrane. These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism governing TREM2/DAP12 complex formation, providing a foundation for designing novel therapeutic strategies to address AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Zhong
- Biological
Physics and Soft Matter Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, King’s College London, London SE1 1DB, U.K.
| | | | - Christian D. Lorenz
- Biological
Physics and Soft Matter Group, Department of Physics, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, U.K.
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23
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Rajangam SL, Narasimhan MK. Current treatment strategies for targeting virulence factors and biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii. Future Microbiol 2024; 19:941-961. [PMID: 38683166 PMCID: PMC11290764 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0263] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
A higher prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii infections and mortality rate has been reported recently in hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The biofilm-forming capability of A. baumannii makes it an extremely dangerous pathogen, especially in device-associated hospital-acquired infections (DA-HAI), thereby it resists the penetration of antibiotics. Further, the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was exacerbated in DA-HAI during the epidemic. This review specifically examines the complex interconnections between several components and genes that play a role in the biofilm formation and the development of infections. The current review provides insights into innovative treatments and therapeutic approaches to combat A. baumannii biofilm-related infections, thereby ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of HAI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seetha Lakshmi Rajangam
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Narasimhan
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
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24
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Desantis F, Miotto M, Milanetti E, Ruocco G, Di Rienzo L. Computational evidences of a misfolding event in an aggregation-prone light chain preceding the formation of the non-native pathogenic dimer. Proteins 2024; 92:797-807. [PMID: 38314653 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26672] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Antibody light chain amyloidosis is a disorder in which protein aggregates, mainly composed of immunoglobulin light chains, deposit in diverse tissues impairing the correct functioning of organs. Interestingly, due to the high susceptibility of antibodies to mutations, AL amyloidosis appears to be strongly patient-specific. Indeed, every patient will display their own mutations that will make the proteins involved prone to aggregation thus hindering the study of this disease on a wide scale. In this framework, determining the molecular mechanisms that drive the aggregation could pave the way to the development of patient-specific therapeutics. Here, we focus on a particular patient-derived light chain, which has been experimentally characterized. We investigated the early phases of the aggregation pathway through extensive full-atom molecular dynamics simulations, highlighting a structural rearrangement and the exposure of two hydrophobic regions in the aggregation-prone species. Next, we moved to consider the pathological dimerization process through docking and molecular dynamics simulations, proposing a dimeric structure as a candidate pathological first assembly. Overall, our results shed light on the first phases of the aggregation pathway for a light chain at an atomic level detail, offering new structural insights into the corresponding aggregation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausta Desantis
- The Open University Affiliated Research Centre at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Roma, Italy
| | - Mattia Miotto
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Roma, Italy
| | - Edoardo Milanetti
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Roma, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Roma, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Rienzo
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Roma, Italy
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25
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Habjan E, Lepioshkin A, Charitou V, Egorova A, Kazakova E, Ho VQT, Bitter W, Makarov V, Speer A. Modulating mycobacterial envelope integrity for antibiotic synergy with benzothiazoles. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302509. [PMID: 38744470 PMCID: PMC11094368 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing effective tuberculosis drugs is hindered by mycobacteria's intrinsic antibiotic resistance because of their impermeable cell envelope. Using benzothiazole compounds, we aimed to increase mycobacterial cell envelope permeability and weaken the defenses of Mycobacterium marinum, serving as a model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Initial hit, BT-08, significantly boosted ethidium bromide uptake, indicating enhanced membrane permeability. It also demonstrated efficacy in the M. marinum-zebrafish embryo infection model and M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. Notably, BT-08 synergized with established antibiotics, including vancomycin and rifampicin. Subsequent medicinal chemistry optimization led to BT-37, a non-toxic and more potent derivative, also enhancing ethidium bromide uptake and maintaining synergy with rifampicin in infected zebrafish embryos. Mutants of M. marinum resistant to BT-37 revealed that MMAR_0407 (Rv0164) is the molecular target and that this target plays a role in the observed synergy and permeability. This study introduces novel compounds targeting a new mycobacterial vulnerability and highlights their cooperative and synergistic interactions with existing antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Habjan
- https://ror.org/00q6h8f30 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alexander Lepioshkin
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Vicky Charitou
- https://ror.org/00q6h8f30 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anna Egorova
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Kazakova
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Vien QT Ho
- https://ror.org/00q6h8f30 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Bitter
- https://ror.org/00q6h8f30 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vadim Makarov
- Federal Research Centre "Fundamentals of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Research Centre of Biotechnology RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Speer
- https://ror.org/00q6h8f30 Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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26
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Chioti VT, McWhorter KL, Blue TC, Li Y, Xu F, Jeffrey PD, Davis KM, Seyedsayamdost MR. Potent and specific antibiotic combination therapy against Clostridioides difficile. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:924-933. [PMID: 38942968 PMCID: PMC11306116 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01651-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Keratinicyclins and keratinimicins are recently discovered glycopeptide antibiotics. Keratinimicins show broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive bacteria, while keratinicyclins form a new chemotype by virtue of an unusual oxazolidinone moiety and exhibit specific antibiosis against Clostridioides difficile. Here we report the mechanism of action of keratinicyclin B (KCB). We find that steric constraints preclude KCB from binding peptidoglycan termini. Instead, KCB inhibits C. difficile growth by binding wall teichoic acids (WTAs) and interfering with cell wall remodeling. A computational model, guided by biochemical studies, provides an image of the interaction of KCB with C. difficile WTAs and shows that the same H-bonding framework used by glycopeptide antibiotics to bind peptidoglycan termini is used by KCB for interacting with WTAs. Analysis of KCB in combination with vancomycin (VAN) shows highly synergistic and specific antimicrobial activity, and that nanomolar combinations of the two drugs are sufficient for complete growth inhibition of C. difficile, while leaving common commensal strains unaffected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tamra C Blue
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuchen Li
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Fei Xu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Department of Gastroenterology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Philip D Jeffrey
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Mohammad R Seyedsayamdost
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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27
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Farokhi E, Alaofi AL, Prasasty VD, Stephanie F, Laksitorini MD, Kuczera K, Siahaan TJ. Mechanism of the blood-brain barrier modulation by cadherin peptides. EXPLORATION OF DRUG SCIENCE 2024; 2:322-338. [PMID: 39118806 PMCID: PMC11309765 DOI: 10.37349/eds.2024.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Aim This study was aimed at finding the binding site on the human E-cadherin for Ala-Asp-Thr Cyclic 5 (ADTC5), ADTC7, and ADTC9 peptides as blood-brain barrier modulator (BBBM) for determining their mechanism of action in modulating the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Methods ADTC7 and ADTC9 were derivatives of ADTC5 where the Val6 residue in ADTC5 was replaced by Glu6 and Tyr6 residues, respectively. The binding properties of ADTC5, ADTC7, and ADTC9 to the extracellular-1 (EC1) domain of E-cadherin were evaluated using chemical shift perturbation (CSP) method in the two dimensional (2D) 1H-15N-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Molecular docking experiments were used to determine the binding sites of these peptides to the EC1 domain of E-cadherin. Results This study indicates that ADTC5 has the highest binding affinity to the EC1 domain of E-cadherin compared to ADTC7 and ADTC9, suggesting the importance of the Val6 residue as shown in our previous in vitro study. All three peptides have a similar binding site at the hydrophobic binding pocket where the domain swapping occurs. ADTC5 has a higher overlapping binding site with ADTC7 than that of ADTC9. Binding of ADTC5 on the EC1 domain influences the conformation of the EC1 C-terminal tail. Conclusions These peptides bind the domain swapping region of the EC1 domain to inhibit the trans-cadherin interaction that creates intercellular junction modulation to increase the BBB paracellular porosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elinaz Farokhi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Current address: Analytical Department, Johnson & Johnson, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Ahmed L. Alaofi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Current address: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vivitri D. Prasasty
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Current address: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Filia Stephanie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Marlyn D. Laksitorini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Current address: School of Pharmacy, University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Krzysztof Kuczera
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Teruna J. Siahaan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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28
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Gotora PT, Brown K, Martin DR, van der Sluis R, Cloete R, Williams ME. Impact of subtype C-specific amino acid variants on HIV-1 Tat-TAR interaction: insights from molecular modelling and dynamics. Virol J 2024; 21:144. [PMID: 38918875 PMCID: PMC11202254 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02419-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1 produces Tat, a crucial protein for transcription, viral replication, and CNS neurotoxicity. Tat interacts with TAR, enhancing HIV reverse transcription. Subtype C Tat variants (C31S, R57S, Q63E) are associated with reduced transactivation and neurovirulence compared to subtype B. However, their precise impact on Tat-TAR binding is unclear. This study investigates how these substitutions affect Tat-TAR interaction. METHODS We utilized molecular modelling techniques, including MODELLER, to produce precise three-dimensional structures of HIV-1 Tat protein variants. We utilized Tat subtype B as the reference or wild type, and generated Tat variants to mirror those amino acid variants found in Tat subtype C. Subtype C-specific amino acid substitutions were selected based on their role in the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1. Subsequently, we conducted molecular docking of each Tat protein variant to TAR using HDOCK, followed by molecular dynamic simulations. RESULTS Molecular docking results indicated that Tat subtype B (TatWt) showed the highest affinity for the TAR element (-262.07), followed by TatC31S (-261.61), TatQ63E (-256.43), TatC31S/R57S/Q63E (-238.92), and TatR57S (-222.24). However, binding free energy analysis showed higher affinities for single variants TatQ63E (-349.2 ± 10.4 kcal/mol) and TatR57S (-290.0 ± 9.6 kcal/mol) compared to TatWt (-247.9 ± 27.7 kcal/mol), while TatC31S and TatC31S/R57SQ/63E showed lower values. Interactions over the protein trajectory were also higher for TatQ63E and TatR57S compared to TatWt, TatC31S, and TatC31S/R57SQ/63E, suggesting that modifying amino acids within the Arginine/Glutamine-rich region notably affects TAR interaction. Single amino acid mutations TatR57S and TatQ63E had a significant impact, while TatC31S had minimal effect. Introducing single amino acid variants from TatWt to a more representative Tat subtype C (TatC31S/R57SQ/63E) resulted in lower predicted binding affinity, consistent with previous findings. CONCLUSIONS These identified amino acid positions likely contribute significantly to Tat-TAR interaction and the differential pathogenesis and neuropathogenesis observed between subtype B and subtype C. Additional experimental investigations should prioritize exploring the influence of these amino acid signatures on TAR binding to gain a comprehensive understanding of their impact on viral transactivation, potentially identifying them as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piwai T Gotora
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Keaghan Brown
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Darius R Martin
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | | | - Ruben Cloete
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Monray E Williams
- Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
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29
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Karanth MN, Kirkpatrick JP, Krausze J, Schmelz S, Scrima A, Carlomagno T. The specificity of intermodular recognition in a prototypical nonribosomal peptide synthetase depends on an adaptor domain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm9404. [PMID: 38896613 PMCID: PMC11186497 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm9404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
In the quest for new bioactive substances, nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) provide biodiversity by synthesizing nonproteinaceous peptides with high cellular activity. NRPS machinery consists of multiple modules, each catalyzing a unique series of chemical reactions. Incomplete understanding of the biophysical principles orchestrating these reaction arrays limits the exploitation of NRPSs in synthetic biology. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to solve the conundrum of how intermodular recognition is coupled with loaded carrier protein specificity in the tomaymycin NRPS. We discover an adaptor domain that directly recruits the loaded carrier protein from the initiation module to the elongation module and reveal its mechanism of action. The adaptor domain of the type found here has specificity rules that could potentially be exploited in the design of engineered NRPS machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha N. Karanth
- Laboratory of Integrative Structural Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover D-30167, Germany
| | - John P. Kirkpatrick
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover D-30167, Germany
- Laboratory of Integrative Structural Biology, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig D-38124, Germany
| | - Joern Krausze
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover D-30167, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmelz
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig D-38124, Germany
| | - Andrea Scrima
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig D-38124, Germany
| | - Teresa Carlomagno
- Laboratory of Integrative Structural Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover D-30167, Germany
- Laboratory of Integrative Structural Biology, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig D-38124, Germany
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30
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Honorato RV, Trellet ME, Jiménez-García B, Schaarschmidt JJ, Giulini M, Reys V, Koukos PI, Rodrigues JPGLM, Karaca E, van Zundert GCP, Roel-Touris J, van Noort CW, Jandová Z, Melquiond ASJ, Bonvin AMJJ. The HADDOCK2.4 web server for integrative modeling of biomolecular complexes. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-01011-0. [PMID: 38886530 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Interactions between macromolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, are essential for cellular functions. Experimental methods can fail to provide all the information required to fully model biomolecular complexes at atomic resolution, particularly for large and heterogeneous assemblies. Integrative computational approaches have, therefore, gained popularity, complementing traditional experimental methods in structural biology. Here, we introduce HADDOCK2.4, an integrative modeling platform, and its updated web interface ( https://wenmr.science.uu.nl/haddock2.4 ). The platform seamlessly integrates diverse experimental and theoretical data to generate high-quality models of macromolecular complexes. The user-friendly web server offers automated parameter settings, access to distributed computing resources, and pre- and post-processing steps that enhance the user experience. To present the web server's various interfaces and features, we demonstrate two different applications: (i) we predict the structure of an antibody-antigen complex by using NMR data for the antigen and knowledge of the hypervariable loops for the antibody, and (ii) we perform coarse-grained modeling of PRC1 with a nucleosome particle guided by mutagenesis and functional data. The described protocols require some basic familiarity with molecular modeling and the Linux command shell. This new version of our widely used HADDOCK web server allows structural biologists and non-experts to explore intricate macromolecular assemblies encompassing various molecule types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo V Honorato
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mikael E Trellet
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Fluigent, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Brian Jiménez-García
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Zymvol Biomodeling SL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jörg J Schaarschmidt
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Nanotechnology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Marco Giulini
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Reys
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Panagiotis I Koukos
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - João P G L M Rodrigues
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Schrödinger Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Ezgi Karaca
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izimir, Turkey
| | - Gydo C P van Zundert
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Schrödinger Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Jorge Roel-Touris
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Protein Design and Modeling Lab, Department of Structural Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charlotte W van Noort
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Zuzana Jandová
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adrien S J Melquiond
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Utrecht Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandre M J J Bonvin
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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31
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Eshak F, Pion L, Scholler P, Nevoltris D, Chames P, Rondard P, Pin JP, Acher FC, Goupil-Lamy A. Epitope Identification of an mGlu5 Receptor Nanobody Using Physics-Based Molecular Modeling and Deep Learning Techniques. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4436-4461. [PMID: 38423996 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The world has witnessed a revolution in therapeutics with the development of biological medicines such as antibodies and antibody fragments, notably nanobodies. These nanobodies possess unique characteristics including high specificity and modulatory activity, making them promising candidates for therapeutic applications. Identifying their binding mode is essential for their development. Experimental structural techniques are effective to get such information, but they are expensive and time-consuming. Here, we propose a computational approach, aiming to identify the epitope of a nanobody that acts as an agonist and a positive allosteric modulator at the rat metabotropic glutamate receptor 5. We employed multiple structure modeling tools, including various artificial intelligence algorithms for epitope mapping. The computationally identified epitope was experimentally validated, confirming the success of our approach. Additional dynamics studies provided further insights on the modulatory activity of the nanobody. The employed methodologies and approaches initiate a discussion on the efficacy of diverse techniques for epitope mapping and later nanobody engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriane Eshak
- SPPIN CNRS UMR 8003, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Léo Pion
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Pauline Scholler
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Nevoltris
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Patrick Chames
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | | | - Anne Goupil-Lamy
- BIOVIA Science Council, Dassault Systèmes, 78140 Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
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32
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Rehman S, Antonovic AK, McIntire IE, Zheng H, Cleaver L, Baczynska M, Adams CO, Portlock T, Richardson K, Shaw R, Oregioni A, Mastroianni G, Whittaker SBM, Kelly G, Lorenz CD, Fornili A, Cianciotto NP, Garnett JA. The Legionella collagen-like protein employs a distinct binding mechanism for the recognition of host glycosaminoglycans. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4912. [PMID: 38851738 PMCID: PMC11162425 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49255-4] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial adhesion is a fundamental process which enables colonisation of niche environments and is key for infection. However, in Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, these processes are not well understood. The Legionella collagen-like protein (Lcl) is an extracellular peripheral membrane protein that recognises sulphated glycosaminoglycans on the surface of eukaryotic cells, but also stimulates bacterial aggregation in response to divalent cations. Here we report the crystal structure of the Lcl C-terminal domain (Lcl-CTD) and present a model for intact Lcl. Our data reveal that Lcl-CTD forms an unusual trimer arrangement with a positively charged external surface and negatively charged solvent exposed internal cavity. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we show how the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin-4-sulphate associates with the Lcl-CTD surface via distinct binding modes. Our findings show that Lcl homologs are present across both the Pseudomonadota and Fibrobacterota-Chlorobiota-Bacteroidota phyla and suggest that Lcl may represent a versatile carbohydrate-binding mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Rehman
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Katarina Antonovic
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ian E McIntire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Huaixin Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Leanne Cleaver
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Baczynska
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Biological Physics & Soft Matter Research Group, Department of Physics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Carlton O Adams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Theo Portlock
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Katherine Richardson
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Rosie Shaw
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Alain Oregioni
- The Medical Research Council Biomedical NMR Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Giulia Mastroianni
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Sara B-M Whittaker
- School of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Geoff Kelly
- The Medical Research Council Biomedical NMR Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Christian D Lorenz
- Biological Physics & Soft Matter Research Group, Department of Physics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Arianna Fornili
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Nicholas P Cianciotto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - James A Garnett
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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33
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Xu X, Closson J, Marcelino LP, Favaro DC, Silvestrini ML, Solazzo R, Chong LT, Gardner KH. Identification of Small Molecule Ligand Binding Sites On and In the ARNT PAS-B Domain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.03.565595. [PMID: 37961463 PMCID: PMC10635134 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.03.565595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors are generally challenging to target with small molecule inhibitors due to their structural plasticity and lack of catalytic sites. Notable exceptions include several naturally ligand-regulated transcription factors, including our prior work with the heterodimeric HIF-2 transcription factor which showed that small molecule binding within an internal pocket of the HIF-2α PAS-B domain can disrupt its interactions with its dimerization partner, ARNT. Here, we explore the feasibility of similarly targeting small molecules to the analogous ARNT PAS-B domain itself, potentially opening a promising route to simultaneously modulate several ARNT-mediated signaling pathways. Using solution NMR screening of an in-house fragment library, we previously identified several compounds that bind ARNT PAS-B and, in certain cases, antagonize ARNT association with the TACC3 transcriptional coactivator. However, these ligands have only modest binding affinities, complicating characterization of their binding sites. We address this challenge by combining NMR, MD simulations, and ensemble docking to identify ligand-binding 'hotspots' on and within the ARNT PAS-B domain. Our data indicate that the two ARNT/TACC3 inhibitors, KG-548 and KG-655, bind to a β-sheet surface implicated in both HIF-2 dimerization and coactivator recruitment. Furthermore, while KG-548 binds exclusively to the β-sheet surface, KG-655 can additionally bind within a water-accessible internal cavity in ARNT PAS-B. Finally, KG-279, while not a coactivator inhibitor, exemplifies ligands that preferentially bind only to the internal cavity. All three ligands promoted ARNT PAS-B homodimerization, albeit to varying degrees. Taken together, our findings provide a comprehensive overview of ARNT PAS-B ligand-binding sites and may guide the development of more potent coactivator inhibitors for cellular and functional studies.
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Basciu A, Athar M, Kurt H, Neville C, Malloci G, Muredda FC, Bosin A, Ruggerone P, Bonvin AMJJ, Vargiu AV. Predicting binding events in very flexible, allosteric, multi-domain proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.02.597018. [PMID: 38895346 PMCID: PMC11185556 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.02.597018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge of the structures formed by proteins and small ligands is of fundamental importance for understanding molecular principles of chemotherapy and for designing new and more effective drugs. Due to the still high costs and to the several limitations of experimental techniques, it is most often desirable to predict these ligand-protein complexes in silico, particularly when screening for new putative drugs from databases of millions of compounds. While virtual screening based on molecular docking is widely used for this purpose, it generally fails in mimicking binding events associated with large conformational changes in the protein, particularly when the latter involve multiple domains. In this work, we describe a new methodology aimed at generating bound-like conformations of very flexible and allosteric proteins bearing multiple binding sites. Validation was performed on the enzyme adenylate kinase (ADK), a paradigmatic example of proteins that undergo very large conformational changes upon ligand binding. By only exploiting the unbound structure and the putative binding sites of the protein, we generated a significant fraction of bound-like structures, which employed in ensemble-docking calculations allowed to find native-like poses of substrates, inhibitors, and catalytically incompetent binders. Our protocol provides a general framework for the generation of bound-like conformations of flexible proteins that are suitable to host different ligands, demonstrating high sensitivity to the fine chemical details that regulate protein's activity. We foresee applications in virtual screening for difficult targets, prediction of the impact of amino acid mutations on structure and dynamics, and protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Basciu
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Mohd Athar
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Han Kurt
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Christine Neville
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Giuliano Malloci
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Fabrizio C. Muredda
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Andrea Bosin
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Paolo Ruggerone
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Alexandre M. J. J. Bonvin
- Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science - Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Attilio V. Vargiu
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
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Xu X, Li J, Setrerrahmane S, Zhang J, Shi S, Hu Y, Lin D, Xu H. A multifunctional antibody fusion protein 57103 targeting CD24, IL-4R, and α vβ 3 for treating cancer and regulating the tumor microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116714. [PMID: 38761419 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116714] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the top 10 fatal diseases worldwide, among which advanced metastatic carcinoma has the highest mortality rate. Sunitinib and immune checkpoint blockers are commonly used to treat metastatic renal carcinoma with limited efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel targeted therapies for metastatic renal cancer. In this study, we designed an antibody fusion protein, 57103, that simultaneously targeted the cluster of differentiation 24 (CD24), interleukin 4 receptor (IL-4R), and integrin receptors αvβ3 and α5β1. In vitro assays showed that 57103 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, colony formation, and adhesion abilities of renal cancer cells, resulting in a comprehensive and significant antitumor effect. Furthermore, 57103 inhibited angiogenesis, promoted THP1-derived M0-type macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear and NK92MI-CD16a cells. In vivo experiments revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth in ACHN cell xenograft nude mice and an MC38-hCD24 tumor-bearing mouse model. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that 57103 decreased the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of renal cancer cells, while inhibiting angiogenesis. The MC38-hPDL1 and MC38-hCD24-hPDL1 tumor-bearing mouse models further offer the possibility of combining 57103 with the PDL1 antagonist atezolizumab. In conclusion, 57103 is a potential candidate drug for the treatment of metastatic renal carcinoma or PDL1-overexpressing cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Ministry of Education, the Engineering Research Center of Synthetic Polypeptide Drug Discovery and Evaluation of Jiangsu Province, Department of Marine Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jian Li
- Research and Development Center of Biopharmaceuticals, Tasly Academy, Tasly Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tianjin, China
| | | | - Juan Zhang
- Antibody Engineering Laboratory, School of Life Science & Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Suoqin Shi
- Jiangsu Rongtai Biotechnology Co., LTD, Nanjing 210033, China
| | - Yahui Hu
- Jiangsu Rongtai Biotechnology Co., LTD, Nanjing 210033, China
| | - Dong Lin
- Jiangsu Rongtai Biotechnology Co., LTD, Nanjing 210033, China
| | - Hanmei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Ministry of Education, the Engineering Research Center of Synthetic Polypeptide Drug Discovery and Evaluation of Jiangsu Province, Department of Marine Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; The Engineering Research Center of Synthetic Peptide Drug Discovery and Evaluation of Jiangsu Province, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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36
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Wang L, Wen Z, Liu SW, Zhang L, Finley C, Lee HJ, Fan HJS. Overview of AlphaFold2 and breakthroughs in overcoming its limitations. Comput Biol Med 2024; 176:108620. [PMID: 38761500 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108620] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Predicting three-dimensional (3D) protein structures has been challenging for decades. The emergence of AlphaFold2 (AF2), a deep learning-based machine learning method developed by DeepMind, became a game changer in the protein folding community. AF2 can predict a protein's three-dimensional structure with high confidence based on its amino acid sequence. Accurate prediction of protein structures can dramatically accelerate our understanding of biological mechanisms and provide a solid foundation for reliable drug design. Although AF2 breaks through the barriers in predicting protein structures, many rooms remain to be further studied. This review provides a brief historical overview of the development of protein structure prediction, covering template-based, template-free, and machine learning-based methods. In addition to reviewing the potential benefits (Pros) and considerations (Cons) of using AF2, this review summarizes the diverse applications, including protein structure predictions, dynamic changes, point mutation, integration of language model and experimental data, protein complex, and protein-peptide interaction. It underscores recent advancements in efficiency, reliability, and broad application of AF2. This comprehensive review offers valuable insights into the applications of AF2 and AF2-inspired AI methods in structural biology and its potential for clinically significant drug target discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong City, Sichuan Province, 64300, China
| | - Zehua Wen
- College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong City, Sichuan Province, 64300, China
| | - Shi-Wei Liu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong City, Sichuan Province, 64300, China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- Digestive Department, Binhai New Area Hospital of TCM Tianjin, Tianjin, 300451, China
| | - Cierra Finley
- Department of Natural Sciences, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis, TN, 38015, USA
| | - Ho-Jin Lee
- Department of Natural Sciences, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis, TN, 38015, USA; Division of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, LeMoyne-Own College, Memphis, TN, 38126, USA.
| | - Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
- College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong City, Sichuan Province, 64300, China.
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37
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Koçer İ, Çelik E. In silico analysis of the different variable domain oriented single-chain variable fragment antibody-antigen complexes. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:4699-4709. [PMID: 37288797 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2222191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies hold great potential as diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents, especially for tumor cells. Since these applications require their production with improved properties, the design strategy of scFvs is crucial for their active, soluble, and high yield expression with high affinity towards their antigens. The order of VL and VH domains is one of the important parameters that affect the expression and binding affinity properties of scFvs. In addition, the optimum order of VL and VH domains could change for each scFv. In the present study, we used computer simulation tools to evaluate the effect of variable domain orientation on structure, stability, interacting residues of scFvs, and binding free energies of scFv-antigen complexes. We selected anti-HER2 scFv, which is specific for human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressed in breast cancer, and anti-IL-1β scFv against IL-1β which is an important inflammatory biomarker, as model scFvs. Molecular dynamics simulations of the scFv-antigen complexes for 100 ns resulted in stability and compactness for both scFv constructs. Interaction and binding free energies calculated by the Molecular Mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) approach suggested that the relative binding energies of anti-HER2 scFv-VLVH and anti-HER2 scFv-VHVL constructs had similar binding affinity towards HER2, while a relatively more negative binding free energy obtained between anti-IL-1β scFv-VHVL and IL-1β pointed to a higher binding affinity. The in silico approach and the results obtained here could be applied as a guide for future experimental interaction studies for highly specific scFvs used as biotechnological tools.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- İlkay Koçer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Eda Çelik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Science, Division of Bioengineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Yang Q, Jin X, Zhou H, Ying J, Zou J, Liao Y, Lu X, Ge S, Yu H, Min X. SurfPro-NN: A 3D point cloud neural network for the scoring of protein-protein docking models based on surfaces features and protein language models. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 110:108067. [PMID: 38714420 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108067] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPI) play a crucial role in numerous key biological processes, and the structure of protein complexes provides valuable clues for in-depth exploration of molecular-level biological processes. Protein-protein docking technology is widely used to simulate the spatial structure of proteins. However, there are still challenges in selecting candidate decoys that closely resemble the native structure from protein-protein docking simulations. In this study, we introduce a docking evaluation method based on three-dimensional point cloud neural networks named SurfPro-NN, which represents protein structures as point clouds and learns interaction information from protein interfaces by applying a point cloud neural network. With the continuous advancement of deep learning in the field of biology, a series of knowledge-rich pre-trained models have emerged. We incorporate protein surface representation models and language models into our approach, greatly enhancing feature representation capabilities and achieving superior performance in protein docking model scoring tasks. Through comprehensive testing on public datasets, we find that our method outperforms state-of-the-art deep learning approaches in protein-protein docking model scoring. Not only does it significantly improve performance, but it also greatly accelerates training speed. This study demonstrates the potential of our approach in addressing protein interaction assessment problems, providing strong support for future research and applications in the field of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianli Yang
- Institute of Artifical Intelligence, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China.
| | - Xiaocheng Jin
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; School of Public Health, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Haixia Zhou
- School of Public Health, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Junjie Ying
- Institute of Artifical Intelligence, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - JiaJun Zou
- School of Informatics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Yiyang Liao
- School of Informatics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoli Lu
- Information and Networking Center, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Shengxiang Ge
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; School of Public Health, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Hai Yu
- National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; School of Public Health, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China.
| | - Xiaoping Min
- School of Informatics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, XiaMen University, No. 422, Siming South Road, XiaMen, 361005, Fujian, China.
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Bayarsaikhan B, Zsidó BZ, Börzsei R, Hetényi C. Efficient Refinement of Complex Structures of Flexible Histone Peptides Using Post-Docking Molecular Dynamics Protocols. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5945. [PMID: 38892133 PMCID: PMC11172440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115945] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Histones are keys to many epigenetic events and their complexes have therapeutic and diagnostic importance. The determination of the structures of histone complexes is fundamental in the design of new drugs. Computational molecular docking is widely used for the prediction of target-ligand complexes. Large, linear peptides like the tail regions of histones are challenging ligands for docking due to their large conformational flexibility, extensive hydration, and weak interactions with the shallow binding pockets of their reader proteins. Thus, fast docking methods often fail to produce complex structures of such peptide ligands at a level appropriate for drug design. To address this challenge, and improve the structural quality of the docked complexes, post-docking refinement has been applied using various molecular dynamics (MD) approaches. However, a final consensus has not been reached on the desired MD refinement protocol. In this present study, MD refinement strategies were systematically explored on a set of problematic complexes of histone peptide ligands with relatively large errors in their docked geometries. Six protocols were compared that differ in their MD simulation parameters. In all cases, pre-MD hydration of the complex interface regions was applied to avoid the unwanted presence of empty cavities. The best-performing protocol achieved a median of 32% improvement over the docked structures in terms of the change in root mean squared deviations from the experimental references. The influence of structural factors and explicit hydration on the performance of post-docking MD refinements are also discussed to help with their implementation in future methods and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayartsetseg Bayarsaikhan
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.Z.Z.); (R.B.)
| | - Balázs Zoltán Zsidó
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.Z.Z.); (R.B.)
| | - Rita Börzsei
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.Z.Z.); (R.B.)
| | - Csaba Hetényi
- Pharmacoinformatics Unit, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti út 12, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary; (B.B.); (B.Z.Z.); (R.B.)
- National Laboratory for Drug Research and Development, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Hu M, Dong X, Shi Q, Sun Y. Identification of a broad-spectrum high-affinity peptide ligand for the purification of spike proteins. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1723:464912. [PMID: 38643740 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464912] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, the global demand for vaccines has increased rapidly to prevent infection and protect high-risk populations. However, identifying viral mutations poses an additional challenge for chromatographic purification of vaccines and subunit vaccines. In this study, a new affinity peptide model, X1VX2GLNX3WX4RYSK, was established, and a library of 612 peptides was generated for ligand screening. Based on a multistep strategy of ligand screening, 18 candidate peptides were obtained. The top ranking peptide, LP14 (YVYGLNIWLRYSK), and two other representative peptides, LP02 and LP06, with lower rankings were compared via molecular dynamics simulation. The results revealed that peptide binding to the receptor binding domain (RBD) was driven by hydrophobic interactions and the key residues involved in the binding were identified. Surface plasmon resonance analysis further confirmed that LP14 had the highest affinity for the wild RBD (Kd=0.520 μmol/L), and viral mutation had little influence on the affinity of LP14, demonstrating its great potential as a broad-spectrum ligand for RBD purification. Finally, chromatographic performance of LP14-coupled gel-packed column verified that both wild and omicron RBDs could be purified and were eluted by 0.1 mol/L Gly-HCl buffer (pH 3.0). This research identified a broad-spectrum peptide for RBD purification based on rational design and demonstrated its potential application in the purification of RBDs from complex feedstock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Hu
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qinghong Shi
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Zhao H, Petrey D, Murray D, Honig B. ZEPPI: Proteome-scale sequence-based evaluation of protein-protein interaction models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400260121. [PMID: 38743624 PMCID: PMC11127014 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400260121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
We introduce ZEPPI (Z-score Evaluation of Protein-Protein Interfaces), a framework to evaluate structural models of a complex based on sequence coevolution and conservation involving residues in protein-protein interfaces. The ZEPPI score is calculated by comparing metrics for an interface to those obtained from randomly chosen residues. Since contacting residues are defined by the structural model, this obviates the need to account for indirect interactions. Further, although ZEPPI relies on species-paired multiple sequence alignments, its focus on interfacial residues allows it to leverage quite shallow alignments. ZEPPI can be implemented on a proteome-wide scale and is applied here to millions of structural models of dimeric complexes in the Escherichia coli and human interactomes found in the PrePPI database. PrePPI's scoring function is based primarily on the evaluation of protein-protein interfaces, and ZEPPI adds a new feature to this analysis through the incorporation of evolutionary information. ZEPPI performance is evaluated through applications to experimentally determined complexes and to decoys from the CASP-CAPRI experiment. As we discuss, the standard CAPRI scores used to evaluate docking models are based on model quality and not on the ability to give yes/no answers as to whether two proteins interact. ZEPPI is able to detect weak signals from PPI models that the CAPRI scores define as incorrect and, similarly, to identify potential PPIs defined as low confidence by the current PrePPI scoring function. A number of examples that illustrate how the combination of PrePPI and ZEPPI can yield functional hypotheses are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Zhao
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
| | - Donald Petrey
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
| | - Diana Murray
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
| | - Barry Honig
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY10032
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY10027
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Li J, Ge R, Lu G, Cai Y, Teng Y, Fan Z, Liao L, Kong L, Zhang J, Wei T, Li Q, Long T, Yu H, Li J. In silico analysis of the wild-type and mutant-type of BRCA2 gene. J Transl Med 2024; 22:484. [PMID: 38773604 PMCID: PMC11110208 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05200-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to conduct an in silico analysis of a novel compound heterozygous variant in breast cancer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2) to clarify its structure-function relationship and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS A tumor biopsy sample was obtained from a 42-year-old Chinese woman during surgery, and a maxBRCA™ test was conducted using the patient's whole blood. We obtained an experimentally determined 3D structure (1mje.pdb) of the BRCA2 protein from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) as a relatively reliable reference. Subsequently, the wild-type and mutant structures were predicted using SWISS-MODEL and AlphaFold, and the accuracy of these predictions was assessed through the SAVES online server. Furthermore, we utilized a high ambiguity-driven protein-protein docking (HADDOCK) algorithm and protein-ligand interaction profiler (PLIP) to predict the pathogenicity of the mutations and elucidate pathogenic mechanisms that potentially underlies TNBC. RESULTS Histological examination revealed that the tumor biopsy sample exhibited classical pathological characteristics of TNBC. Furthermore, the maxBRCA™ test revealed two compound heterozygous BRCA2 gene mutations (c.7670 C > T.pA2557V and c.8356G > A.pA2786T). Through performing in silico structural analyses and constructing of 3D models of the mutants, we established that the mutant amino acids valine and threonine were located in the helical domain and oligonucleotide binding 1 (OB1), regions that interact with DSS1. CONCLUSION Our analysis revealed that substituting valine and threonine in the helical domain region alters the structure and function of BRCA2 proteins. This mutation potentially affects the binding of proteins and DNA fragments and disrupts interactions between the helical domain region and OB1 with DSS1, potentially leading to the development of TNBC. Our findings suggest that the identified compound heterozygous mutation contributes to the clinical presentation of TNBC, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of TNBC and the influence of compound heterozygous mutations in BRCA2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China
| | - Rui Ge
- Department of General Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, 221 West Yan'an Road Jingan District, Shanghai, 200040, P.R. China
| | - Guanming Lu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, 533000, P.R. China
- Key Laloratory of Molecular Pathology in Tumors of Guangxi, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Yuanxuan Cai
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Teng
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Fan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China
| | - Liangyan Liao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, 533000, P.R. China
- Key Laloratory of Molecular Pathology in Tumors of Guangxi, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, P.R. China
| | - Lingjie Kong
- Guangzhou Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, P.R. China
| | - Jinze Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China
| | - Tianzhu Long
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China.
| | - Hongyan Yu
- Department of Clinical Biological Resource Bank, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China.
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China.
- Institute of Reproductive Health and Perinatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, 510623, P.R. China.
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Blanford J, Zhai Z, Baer MD, Guo G, Liu H, Liu Q, Raugei S, Shanklin J. Molecular mechanism of trehalose 6-phosphate inhibition of the plant metabolic sensor kinase SnRK1. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn0895. [PMID: 38758793 PMCID: PMC11100557 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn0895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
SUCROSE-NON-FERMENTING1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE1 (SnRK1), a central plant metabolic sensor kinase, phosphorylates its target proteins, triggering a global shift from anabolism to catabolism. Molecular modeling revealed that upon binding of KIN10 to GEMINIVIRUS REP-INTERACTING KINASE1 (GRIK1), KIN10's activation T-loop reorients into GRIK1's active site, enabling its phosphorylation and activation. Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is a proxy for cellular sugar status and a potent inhibitor of SnRK1. T6P binds to KIN10, a SnRK1 catalytic subunit, weakening its affinity for GRIK1. Here, we investigate the molecular details of T6P inhibition of KIN10. Molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro phosphorylation assays identified and validated the T6P binding site on KIN10. Under high-sugar conditions, T6P binds to KIN10, blocking the reorientation of its activation loop and preventing its phosphorylation and activation by GRIK1. Under these conditions, SnRK1 maintains only basal activity levels, minimizing phosphorylation of its target proteins, thereby facilitating a general shift from catabolism to anabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jantana Blanford
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Zhiyang Zhai
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Marcel D. Baer
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Gongrui Guo
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Qun Liu
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Simone Raugei
- Physical and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - John Shanklin
- Department of Biology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
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Ropii B, Bethasari M, Anshori I, Koesoema AP, Shalannanda W, Satriawan A, Setianingsih C, Akbar MR, Aditama R, Fahmi F, Sutanto E, Yazid M, Aziz M. The molecular interaction of six single-stranded DNA aptamers to cardiac troponin I revealed by docking and molecular dynamics simulation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302475. [PMID: 38748685 PMCID: PMC11095691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a cardiac biomarker for diagnosing ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. Current biochemical assays use antibodies (Abs) due to their high specificity and sensitivity. However, there are some limitations, such as the high-cost production of Abs due to complex instruments, reagents, and steps; the variability of Abs quality from batch to batch; the low stability at high temperatures; and the difficulty of chemical modification. Aptamer overcomes the limitations of antibodies, such as relatively lower cost, high reproducibility, high stability, and ease of being chemically modified. Aptamers are three-dimensional architectures of single-stranded RNA or DNA that bind to targets such as proteins. Six aptamers (Tro1-Tro6) with higher binding affinity than an antibody have been identified, but the molecular interaction has not been studied. In this study, six DNA aptamers were modeled and docked to cTnI protein. Molecular docking revealed that the interaction between all aptamer and cTnI happened in the similar cTnI region. The interaction between aptamer and cTnI involved hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonds, π-cation interactions, π-stack interactions, and salt-bridge formation. The calculated binding energy of all complexes was negative, which means that the complex formation was thermodynamically favorable. The electrostatic energy term was the main driving force of the interaction between all aptamer and cTnI. This study could be used to predict the behavior of further modified aptamer to improve aptamer performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bejo Ropii
- School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Maulidwina Bethasari
- Department of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Bandung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Isa Anshori
- School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
- Center for Health and Sports Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Allya Paramita Koesoema
- School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Wervyan Shalannanda
- School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Ardianto Satriawan
- School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Casi Setianingsih
- Department of Computer Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering, Telkom University, Bandung Regency, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Mohammad Rizki Akbar
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran and Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Reza Aditama
- Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering Research Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Fahmi Fahmi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
| | - Erwin Sutanto
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Kampus C Unair Mulyorejo, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Yazid
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Aziz
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Simonyan H, Palumbo R, Petrosyan S, Mkrtchyan A, Galstyan A, Saghyan A, Scognamiglio PL, Vicidomini C, Fik-Jaskólka M, Roviello GN. BSA Binding and Aggregate Formation of a Synthetic Amino Acid with Potential for Promoting Fibroblast Proliferation: An In Silico, CD Spectroscopic, DLS, and Cellular Study. Biomolecules 2024; 14:579. [PMID: 38785986 PMCID: PMC11118884 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050579] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study presents the chemical synthesis, purification, and characterization of a novel non-natural synthetic amino acid. The compound was synthesized in solution, purified, and characterized using NMR spectroscopy, polarimetry, and melting point determination. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis demonstrated its ability to form aggregates with an average size of 391 nm, extending to the low micrometric size range. Furthermore, cellular biological assays revealed its ability to enhance fibroblast cell growth, highlighting its potential for tissue regenerative applications. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed the ability of the synthetic amino acid to bind serum albumins (using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model), and CD deconvolution provided insights into the changes in the secondary structures of BSA upon interaction with the amino acid ligand. Additionally, molecular docking using HDOCK software elucidated the most likely binding mode of the ligand inside the BSA structure. We also performed in silico oligomerization of the synthetic compound in order to obtain a model of aggregate to investigate computationally. In more detail, the dimer formation achieved by molecular self-docking showed two distinct poses, corresponding to the lowest and comparable energies, with one pose exhibiting a quasi-coplanar arrangement characterized by a close alignment of two aromatic rings from the synthetic amino acids within the dimer, suggesting the presence of π-π stacking interactions. In contrast, the second pose displayed a non-coplanar configuration, with the aromatic rings oriented in a staggered arrangement, indicating distinct modes of interaction. Both poses were further utilized in the self-docking procedure. Notably, iterative molecular docking of amino acid structures resulted in the formation of higher-order aggregates, with a model of a 512-mer aggregate obtained through self-docking procedures. This model of aggregate presented a cavity capable of hosting therapeutic cargoes and biomolecules, rendering it a potential scaffold for cell adhesion and growth in tissue regenerative applications. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of this synthetic amino acid for tissue regenerative therapeutics and provide valuable insights into its molecular interactions and aggregation behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayarpi Simonyan
- Institute of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Rosanna Palumbo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian National Council for Research (IBB-CNR), Area di Ricerca Site and Headquarters, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Satenik Petrosyan
- Institute of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Anna Mkrtchyan
- Institute of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Armen Galstyan
- Department of Chemistry, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Ashot Saghyan
- Institute of Pharmacy, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | | | - Caterina Vicidomini
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian National Council for Research (IBB-CNR), Area di Ricerca Site and Headquarters, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Marta Fik-Jaskólka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Giovanni N. Roviello
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Italian National Council for Research (IBB-CNR), Area di Ricerca Site and Headquarters, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Zhu Z, Zhong X, Wang B, Lu H, Li L. Probing Protein Structural Changes in Alzheimer's Disease via Quantitative Cross-linking Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:7506-7515. [PMID: 38690851 PMCID: PMC11114074 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder featuring abnormal protein aggregation in the brain, including the pathological hallmarks of amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau. Despite extensive research efforts, understanding the molecular intricacies driving AD development remains a formidable challenge. This study focuses on identifying key protein conformational changes associated with the progression of AD. To achieve this, we employed quantitative cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) to elucidate conformational changes in the protein networks in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). By using isotopically labeled cross-linkers BS3d0 and BS3d4, we reveal a dynamic shift in protein interaction networks during AD progression. Our comprehensive analysis highlights distinct alterations in protein-protein interactions within mild cognitive impairment (MCI) states. This study accentuates the potential of cross-linked peptides as indicators of AD-related conformational changes, including previously unreported site-specific binding between α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) and complement component 3 (CO3). Furthermore, this work enables detailed structural characterization of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and reveals modifications within its helical domains, suggesting their involvement in MCI pathogenesis. The quantitative approach provides insights into site-specific interactions and changes in the abundance of cross-linked peptides, offering an improved understanding of the intricate protein-protein interactions underlying AD progression. These findings lay a foundation for the development of potential diagnostic or therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating the negative impact of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, United States
| | - Xiaofang Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, United States
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, United States
| | - Haiyan Lu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, United States
| | - Lingjun Li
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Chen X, Liu J, Park N, Cheng J. A Survey of Deep Learning Methods for Estimating the Accuracy of Protein Quaternary Structure Models. Biomolecules 2024; 14:574. [PMID: 38785981 PMCID: PMC11117562 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050574] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The quality prediction of quaternary structure models of a protein complex, in the absence of its true structure, is known as the Estimation of Model Accuracy (EMA). EMA is useful for ranking predicted protein complex structures and using them appropriately in biomedical research, such as protein-protein interaction studies, protein design, and drug discovery. With the advent of more accurate protein complex (multimer) prediction tools, such as AlphaFold2-Multimer and ESMFold, the estimation of the accuracy of protein complex structures has attracted increasing attention. Many deep learning methods have been developed to tackle this problem; however, there is a noticeable absence of a comprehensive overview of these methods to facilitate future development. Addressing this gap, we present a review of deep learning EMA methods for protein complex structures developed in the past several years, analyzing their methodologies, data and feature construction. We also provide a prospective summary of some potential new developments for further improving the accuracy of the EMA methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Nolan Park
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jianlin Cheng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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48
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Saini RS, Binduhayyim RIH, Gurumurthy V, Alshadidi AAF, Aldosari LIN, Okshah A, Kuruniyan MS, Dermawan D, Avetisyan A, Mosaddad SA, Heboyan A. Dental biomaterials redefined: molecular docking and dynamics-driven dental resin composite optimization. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:557. [PMID: 38735940 PMCID: PMC11089745 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04343-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dental resin-based composites are widely recognized for their aesthetic appeal and adhesive properties, which make them integral to modern restorative dentistry. Despite their advantages, adhesion and biomechanical performance challenges persist, necessitating innovative strategies for improvement. This study addressed the challenges associated with adhesion and biomechanical properties in dental resin-based composites by employing molecular docking and dynamics simulation. METHODS Molecular docking assesses the binding energies and provides valuable insights into the interactions between monomers, fillers, and coupling agents. This investigation prioritizes SiO2 and TRIS, considering their consistent influence. Molecular dynamics simulations, executed with the Forcite module and COMPASS II force field, extend the analysis to the mechanical properties of dental composite complexes. The simulations encompassed energy minimization, controlled NVT and NPT ensemble simulations, and equilibration stages. Notably, the molecular dynamics simulations spanned a duration of 50 ns. RESULTS SiO2 and TRIS consistently emerged as influential components, showcasing their versatility in promoting solid interactions. A correlation matrix underscores the significant roles of van der Waals and desolvation energies in determining the overall binding energy. Molecular dynamics simulations provide in-depth insights into the mechanical properties of dental composite complexes. HEMA-SiO2-TRIS excelled in stiffness, BisGMA-SiO2-TRIS prevailed in terms of flexural strength, and EBPADMA-SiO2-TRIS offered a balanced combination of mechanical properties. CONCLUSION These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing dental composites tailored to diverse clinical requirements. While EBPADMA-SiO2-TRIS demonstrates distinct strengths, this study emphasizes the need for further research. Future investigations should validate the computational findings experimentally and assess the material's response to dynamic environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder S Saini
- Department of Dental Technology, COAMS, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | - Abdulmajeed Okshah
- Department of Dental Technology, COAMS, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Doni Dermawan
- Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Avetisyan
- Department of Therapeutic Stomatology, Faculty of Stomatology, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Seyed Ali Mosaddad
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.
- Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Qasr-E-Dasht Street, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Artak Heboyan
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Stomatology, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Str. Koryun 2, 0025, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Karegar St, Tehran, Iran.
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Schmidt L, Tüting C, Kyrilis FL, Hamdi F, Semchonok DA, Hause G, Meister A, Ihling C, Stubbs MT, Sinz A, Kastritis PL. Delineating organizational principles of the endogenous L-A virus by cryo-EM and computational analysis of native cell extracts. Commun Biol 2024; 7:557. [PMID: 38730276 PMCID: PMC11087493 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06204-7] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The high abundance of most viruses in infected host cells benefits their structural characterization. However, endogenous viruses are present in low copy numbers and are therefore challenging to investigate. Here, we retrieve cell extracts enriched with an endogenous virus, the yeast L-A virus. The determined cryo-EM structure discloses capsid-stabilizing cation-π stacking, widespread across viruses and within the Totiviridae, and an interplay of non-covalent interactions from ten distinct capsomere interfaces. The capsid-embedded mRNA decapping active site trench is supported by a constricting movement of two flexible opposite-facing loops. tRNA-loaded polysomes and other biomacromolecules, presumably mRNA, are found in virus proximity within the cell extract. Mature viruses participate in larger viral communities resembling their rare in-cell equivalents in terms of size, composition, and inter-virus distances. Our results collectively describe a 3D-architecture of a viral milieu, opening the door to cell-extract-based high-resolution structural virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Schmidt
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Technical Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Tüting
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany.
| | - Fotis L Kyrilis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Farzad Hamdi
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Dmitry A Semchonok
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Gerd Hause
- Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Annette Meister
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christian Ihling
- Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Milton T Stubbs
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Panagiotis L Kastritis
- Interdisciplinary Research Center HALOmem, Charles Tanford Protein Center, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle/Saale, Germany.
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
- Biozentrum, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, Halle/Saale, Germany.
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50
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M L SP, Kumari S, Martinek TA, M ES. De novo design of potential peptide analogs against the main protease of Omicron variant using in silico studies. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:14006-14017. [PMID: 38683190 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01199f] [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: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are crossing the immunity barrier induced through vaccination. Recent Omicron sub-variants are highly transmissible and have a low mortality rate. Despite the low severity of Omicron variants, these new variants are known to cause acute post-infectious syndromes. Nowadays, novel strategies to develop new potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and other Omicron variants have gained prominence. For viral replication and survival the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 plays a vital role. Peptide-like inhibitors that mimic the substrate peptide have already proved to be effective in inhibiting the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our systematic canonical amino acid point mutation analysis on the native peptide has revealed various ways to improve the native peptide of the main protease. Multi mutation analysis has led us to identify and design potent peptide-analog inhibitors that act against the Mpro of the Omicron sub-variants. Our in-depth analysis of all-atom molecular dynamics studies has paved the way to characterize the atomistic behavior of Mpro in Omicron variants. Our goal is to develop potent peptide-analogs that could be therapeutically effective against Omicron and its sub-variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanly Paul M L
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Szeged, Eotvos u. 6, G-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Sonia Kumari
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali 160062, India.
| | - Tamás A Martinek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Elizabeth Sobhia M
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali 160062, India.
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