1
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Duque-Ortiz A, Rivera-Chávez J, Pastor-Palacios G, Lara-González S. The Nicotiana tabacum UGT89A2 enzyme catalyzes the glycosylation of di- and trihydroxylated benzoic acid derivatives. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 226:114203. [PMID: 38969251 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Glycosyltransferases catalyze the transfer of a glycoside group to a wide range of acceptor compounds to produce glycoconjugates with diverse biological and pharmacological activities. The present work reports the identification and biochemical characterization of Nicotiana tabacum UGT89A2 glycosyltransferase (NtUGT89A2). The enzyme is a monomer in solution that catalyzes the O-β-glucosylation of di- and tri-hydroxylated and chlorinated derivatives of benzoic acid. NtUGT89A2 has a preference for 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA) over 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA). Other substrates that can be used by NtUGT89A2 include 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid and chlorinated derivatives such as 2-chloro-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (2-Cl-5-HBA). The substrates of NtUGT89A2 were identified by thermal stability experiments, where we observed a maximum increase of the thermal denaturation midpoint (Tm) of 10 °C in the presence of 2,5-DHBA and UDP-glucose. On the other hand, the highest specific activity was obtained with 2,5-DHBA (225 ± 1.7 nkat/mg). Further characterization revealed that the enzyme has a micromolar affinity for its substrates. Notably, the enzyme retains full activity after incubation at 70 °C for 1 h. These results provide a basis for future functional and structural studies of NtUGT89A2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Duque-Ortiz
- IPICYT, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A. C., 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
| | - José Rivera-Chávez
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Instituto de Química., UNAM, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Guillermo Pastor-Palacios
- Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería, Campus Guanajuato, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 36275, Silao de la Victoria, Guanajuato, Mexico.
| | - Samuel Lara-González
- IPICYT, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A. C., 78216, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico.
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2
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Zhao Z, Zhao L, Kong C, Zhou J, Zhou F. A review of biophysical strategies to investigate protein-ligand binding: What have we employed? Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133973. [PMID: 39032877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133973] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The protein-ligand binding frequently occurs in living organisms and plays a crucial role in the execution of the functions of proteins and drugs. It is also an indispensable part of drug discovery and screening. While the methods for investigating protein-ligand binding are diverse, each has its own objectives, strengths, and limitations, which all influence the choice of method. Many studies concentrate on one or a few specific methods, suggesting that comprehensive summaries are lacking. Therefore in this review, these methods are comprehensively summarized and are discussed in detail: prediction and simulation methods, thermal and thermodynamic methods, spectroscopic methods, methods of determining three-dimensional structures of the complex, mass spectrometry-based methods and others. It is also important to integrate these methods based on the specific objectives of the research. With the aim of advancing pharmaceutical research, this review seeks to deepen the understanding of the protein-ligand binding process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Liang Zhao
- Beijing Engineering and Technology Research Center of Food Additives, School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, 11 Fucheng Road, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Chenxi Kong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jingxuan Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Feng Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 17 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing 100083, China.
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3
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Legare S, Heide F, Gabir H, Rafiei F, Meier M, Padilla-Meier GP, Koch M, Stetefeld J. Identifying the molecular basis of Laminin N-terminal domain Ca 2+ binding using a hybrid approach. Biophys J 2024; 123:2422-2430. [PMID: 38851889 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ is a highly abundant ion involved in numerous biological processes, particularly in multicellular eukaryotic organisms where it exerts many of these functions through interactions with Ca2+ binding proteins. The laminin N-terminal (LN) domain is found in members of the laminin and netrin protein families where it plays a critical role in the function of these proteins. The LN domain of laminins and netrins is a Ca2+ binding domain and in many cases requires Ca2+ to perform its biological function. Here, we conduct a detailed examination of the molecular basis of the LN domain Ca2+ interaction combining structural, computational, bioinformatics, and biophysical techniques. By combining computational and bioinformatic techniques with x-ray crystallography we explore the molecular basis of the LN domain Ca2+ interaction and identify a conserved sequence present in Ca2+ binding LN domains. These findings enable a sequence-based prediction of LN domain Ca2+ binding ability. We use thermal shift assays and isothermal titration calorimetry to explore the biophysical properties of the LN domain Ca2+ interaction. We show that the netrin-1 LN domain exhibits a high affinity and specificity for Ca2+, which structurally stabilizes the LN domain. This study elucidates the molecular foundation of the LN domain Ca2+ binding interaction and provides a detailed functional characterization of this essential interaction, advancing our understanding of protein-Ca2+ dynamics within the context of the LN domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Legare
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Fabian Heide
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Haben Gabir
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Faride Rafiei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Markus Meier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Manuel Koch
- Center for Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Stetefeld
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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4
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Poddar NK, Wijayasinghe YS, Viola RE. Identification of potential pharmacological chaperones that selectively stabilize mutated Aspartoacylases in Canavan disease. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:141043. [PMID: 39128657 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2024.141043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Canavan disease is caused by mutations in the ASPA gene, leading to diminished catalytic activity of aspartoacylase in the brain. Clinical missense mutations are found throughout the enzyme structure, with many of these mutated enzymes having not only decreased activity but also compromised stability. High-throughput screening of a small molecule library has identified several compounds that significantly increase the thermal stability of the E285A mutant enzyme, the most predominant clinical mutation in Canavan disease, while having a negligible effect on the native enzyme. Based on the initial successes, some structural analogs of these initial hits were selected for further examination. Glutathione, NAAG and patulin were each confirmed to be competitive inhibitors, indicating the binding of these compounds at the dimer interface or near the active site of the E285A enzyme. The experimental results were theoretically examined with the help of the docking analysis method. The structure activity-guided optimization of these compounds can potentially lead to potential pharmacological chaperones that could alleviate the detrimental effect of ASPA mutations in Canavan patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitesh Kumar Poddar
- Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur-Ajmer Express Highway, Dehmi Kalan, Near GVK Toll Plaza, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303007, India; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.
| | - Yasanandana S Wijayasinghe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Ronald E Viola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
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5
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Pham C, Nasr MA, Skarina T, Di Leo R, Kwan DH, Martin VJJ, Stogios PJ, Mahadevan R, Savchenko A. Functional and structural characterization of an IclR family transcription factor for the development of dicarboxylic acid biosensors. FEBS J 2024; 291:3481-3498. [PMID: 38696354 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17149] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Prokaryotic transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression in response to small molecules, thus representing promising candidates as versatile small molecule-detecting biosensors valuable for synthetic biology applications. The engineering of such biosensors requires thorough in vitro and in vivo characterization of TF ligand response as well as detailed molecular structure information. In this work, we functionally and structurally characterize the Pca regulon regulatory protein (PcaR) transcription factor belonging to the IclR transcription factor family. Here, we present in vitro functional analysis of the ligand profile of PcaR and the construction of genetic circuits for the characterization of PcaR as an in vivo biosensor in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report the crystal structures of PcaR in the apo state and in complex with one of its ligands, succinate, which suggests the mechanism of dicarboxylic acid recognition by this transcription factor. This work contributes key structural and functional insights enabling the engineering of PcaR for dicarboxylic acid biosensors, in addition to providing more insights into the IclR family of regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chester Pham
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Mohamed A Nasr
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
- PROTEO, Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering, Canada
| | - Tatiana Skarina
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Rosa Di Leo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - David H Kwan
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
- PROTEO, Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vincent J J Martin
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Peter J Stogios
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
- The Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Alexei Savchenko
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Canada
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6
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Du Y, Kobashigawa Y, Okazaki K, Ogawa M, Kawaguchi T, Sato T, Morioka H. Structure-based design, biophysical characterization, and biochemical application of the heterodimeric affinity purification tag based on the Schistosoma japonicum glutathione-S-transferase (SjGST) homodimer. J Biochem 2024; 176:69-80. [PMID: 38471515 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvae028] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma japonicum glutathione-S-transferase (SjGST), the so-called GST-tag, is one of the most widely used protein tags for the purification of recombinant proteins by affinity chromatography. Attachment of SjGST enables the purification of a protein of interest (POI) using commercially available glutathione-immobilizing resins. Here we produced an SjGST mutant pair that forms heterodimers by adjusting the salt bridge pairs in the homodimer interface of SjGST. An MD study confirmed that the SjGST mutant pair did not disrupt the heterodimer formation. The modified SjGST protein pair coexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified by glutathione-immobilized resin. The stability of the heterodimeric form of the SjGST mutant pair was further confirmed by size exclusion chromatography. Surface plasmon resonance measurements unveiled the selective formation of heterodimers within the pair, accompanied by a significant suppression of homodimerization. The heterodimeric SjGST exhibited enzymatic activity in assays employing a commercially available fluorescent substrate. By fusing one member of the heterodimeric SjGST pair with a fluorescent protein and the other with the POI, we were able to conveniently and sensitively detect protein-protein interactions using fluorescence spectroscopy in the pull-down assays. Thus, utilization of the heterodimeric SjGST would be a useful tag for protein science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Du
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kobashigawa
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Kyo Okazaki
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Mizuki Ogawa
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Kawaguchi
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Takashi Sato
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Morioka
- Department of Analytical and Biophysical Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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7
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de Oliveira Viana J, Sena Mendes M, Santos Castilho M, Olímpio de Moura R, Guimarães Barbosa E. Spiro-Acridine Compound as a Pteridine Reductase 1 Inhibitor: in silico Target Fishing and in vitro Studies. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300545. [PMID: 38445815 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300545] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Among the many neglected tropical diseases, leishmaniasis ranks second in mortality rate and prevalence. In a previous study, acridine derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi. The most active compound identified in that study (1) showed a single digit IC50 value against the parasite (1.10 μg/mL), but its macromolecular target remained unknown. Aiming to overcome this limitation, this work exploited inverse virtual screening to identify compound 1's putative molecular mechanism of action. In vitro assays confirmed that compound 1 binds to Leishmania chagasi pteridine reductase 1 (LcPTR1), with moderate affinity (Kd=33,1 μM), according to differential scanning fluorimetry assay. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the stability of LcPTR1-compound 1 complex, supporting a competitive mechanism of action. Therefore, the workflow presented in this work successfully identified PTR1 as a macromolecular target for compound 1, allowing the designing of novel potent antileishmanial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssika de Oliveira Viana
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I-Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59078-970
| | - Marina Sena Mendes
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, University Campus Ondina - Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110
| | - Marcelo Santos Castilho
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, University Campus Ondina - Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110
| | - Ricardo Olímpio de Moura
- Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraíba, University Campus I - Universitário, Campina, Grande - PB, 58429-500
| | - Euzébio Guimarães Barbosa
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I-Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59078-970
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570
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8
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Maruyama T, Takahashi Y, Hiro K, Murase K, Kojima H, Okabe T, Yamauchi Y, Sato R. Discovery of Novel Binders to Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein-1 by High-Throughput Screening. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:667-676. [PMID: 38994455 PMCID: PMC11238716 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00067] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis. Its high expression and activation in obesity and associated metabolic diseases make it a potential therapeutic target. However, the role of SREBP-1 in the development and exacerbation of these diseases remains unclear, partly because of the impossibility of inhibiting its function because of the lack of specific inhibitors. Here, we aimed to identify small-molecule compounds that directly bind to SREBP-1 using the recombinant N-terminal region of SREBP-1a, which is required for its transcriptional activity. A high-throughput screening campaign was conducted using a thermal shift assay and surface plasmon resonance assay to evaluate the compound affinity and specificity, which resulted in the identification of two compounds. Future analysis of their structure-activity relationships may lead to the development of specific SREBP-1 inhibitors, thereby potentially validating SREBP-1 as a therapeutic target for obesity and resultant atherosclerotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Maruyama
- Food
Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry,
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yu Takahashi
- Food
Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry,
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kahori Hiro
- Food
Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry,
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kohji Murase
- The
Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological
Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Hirotatsu Kojima
- Drug
Discovery Initiative, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Okabe
- Drug
Discovery Initiative, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamauchi
- Food
Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry,
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ryuichiro Sato
- Nutri-Life
Science Laboratory, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate
School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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9
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Alesio J, Bothun GD. Differential scanning fluorimetry to assess PFAS binding to bovine serum albumin protein. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6501. [PMID: 38499613 PMCID: PMC10948889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57140-9] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The rapid screening of protein binding affinity for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) benefits risk assessment and fate and transport modelling. PFAS are known to bioaccumulate in livestock through contaminated food and water. One excretion pathway is through milk, which may be facilitated by binding to milk proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). We report a label-free differential scanning fluorimetry approach to determine PFAS-BSA binding over a broad temperature range. This method utilizes the tryptophan residue within the protein binding pocket as an intrinsic fluorophore, eliminating the need for fluorophore labels that may influence binding. BSA association constants were determined by (a) an equilibrium-based model at the melting temperature of BSA and (b) the Hill adsorption model to account for temperature dependent binding and binding cooperativity. Differences in binding between PFAS and fatty acid analogs revealed that a combination of size and hydrophobicity drives PFAS binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alesio
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Geoffrey D Bothun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
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10
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Ranjit P, Varkey D, Shah BS, Paulsen IT. Substrate specificity and ecological significance of PstS homologs in phosphorus uptake in marine Synechococcus sp. WH8102. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0278623. [PMID: 38179917 PMCID: PMC10846223 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02786-23] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphorus, a vital macronutrient, often limits primary productivity in marine environments. Marine Synechococcus strains, including WH8102, rely on high-affinity phosphate-binding proteins (PstS) to scavenge inorganic phosphate in oligotrophic oceans. However, WH8102 possesses three distinct PstS homologs whose substrate specificity and ecological roles are unclear. The three PstS homologs were heterologously expressed and purified to investigate their substrate specificity and binding kinetics. Our study revealed that all three PstS homologs exhibited a high degree of specificity for phosphate but differed in phosphate binding affinities. Notably, PstS1b displayed nearly 10-fold higher binding affinity (KD = 0.44 µM) compared to PstS1a (KD = 3.3 μM) and PstS2 (KD = 4.3 μM). Structural modeling suggested a single amino acid variation in the binding pocket of PstS1b (threonine instead of serine in PstS1a and PstS2) likely contributed to its higher Pi affinity. Genome context data, together with the protein biophysical data, suggest distinct ecological roles for the three PstS homologs. We propose that PstS1b may be involved in scavenging inorganic phosphorus in oligotrophic conditions and that PstS1a may be involved in transporting recycled phosphate derived from organic phosphate cleavage. The role of PstS2 is less clear, but it may be involved in phosphate uptake when environmental phosphate concentrations are transiently higher. The conservation of three distinct PstS homologs in Synechococcus clade III strains likely reflects distinct adaptations for P acquisition under varying oligotrophic conditions.IMPORTANCEPhosphorus is an essential macronutrient that plays a key role in marine primary productivity and biogeochemistry. However, intense competition for bioavailable phosphorus in the marine environment limits growth and productivity of ecologically important cyanobacteria. In oligotrophic oceans, marine Synechococcus strains, like WH8102, utilize high-affinity phosphate-binding proteins (PstS) to scavenge inorganic phosphate. However, WH8102 possesses three distinct PstS homologs, with unclear substrate specificity and ecological roles, creating a knowledge gap in understanding phosphorus acquisition mechanisms in picocyanobacteria. Through genomic, functional, biophysical, and structural analysis, our study unravels the ecological functions of these homologs. Our findings enhance our understanding of cyanobacterial nutritional uptake strategies and shed light on the crucial role of these conserved nutrient uptake systems in adaptation to specific niches, which ultimately underpins the success of marine Synechococcus across a diverse array of marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramita Ranjit
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Deepa Varkey
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bhumika S. Shah
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian T. Paulsen
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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11
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Gooran N, Kopra K. Fluorescence-Based Protein Stability Monitoring-A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1764. [PMID: 38339045 PMCID: PMC10855643 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031764] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteins are large biomolecules with a specific structure that is composed of one or more long amino acid chains. Correct protein structures are directly linked to their correct function, and many environmental factors can have either positive or negative effects on this structure. Thus, there is a clear need for methods enabling the study of proteins, their correct folding, and components affecting protein stability. There is a significant number of label-free methods to study protein stability. In this review, we provide a general overview of these methods, but the main focus is on fluorescence-based low-instrument and -expertise-demand techniques. Different aspects related to thermal shift assays (TSAs), also called differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) or ThermoFluor, are introduced and compared to isothermal chemical denaturation (ICD). Finally, we discuss the challenges and comparative aspects related to these methods, as well as future opportunities and assay development directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kari Kopra
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland;
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12
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Kumar V, Chunchagatta Lakshman PK, Prasad TK, Manjunath K, Bairy S, Vasu AS, Ganavi B, Jasti S, Kamariah N. Target-based drug discovery: Applications of fluorescence techniques in high throughput and fragment-based screening. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23864. [PMID: 38226204 PMCID: PMC10788520 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23864] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Target-based discovery of first-in-class therapeutics demands an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying human diseases. Precise measurements of cellular and biochemical activities are critical to gain mechanistic knowledge of biomolecules and their altered function in disease conditions. Such measurements enable the development of intervention strategies for preventing or treating diseases by modulation of desired molecular processes. Fluorescence-based techniques are routinely employed for accurate and robust measurements of in-vitro activity of molecular targets and for discovering novel chemical molecules that modulate the activity of molecular targets. In the current review, the authors focus on the applications of fluorescence-based high throughput screening (HTS) and fragment-based ligand discovery (FBLD) techniques such as fluorescence polarization (FP), Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence thermal shift assay (FTSA) and microscale thermophoresis (MST) for the discovery of chemical probe to exploring target's role in disease biology and ultimately, serve as a foundation for drug discovery. Some recent advancements in these techniques for compound library screening against important classes of drug targets, such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and GTPases, as well as phosphorylation- and acetylation-mediated protein-protein interactions, are discussed. Overall, this review presents a landscape of how these techniques paved the way for the discovery of small-molecule modulators and biologics against these targets for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thazhe Kootteri Prasad
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Kavyashree Manjunath
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Sneha Bairy
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Akshaya S. Vasu
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - B. Ganavi
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Subbarao Jasti
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Neelagandan Kamariah
- Centre for Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, inStem & NCBS, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560065, India
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13
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Malakoutikhah M, Mahran R, Gooran N, Masoumi A, Lundell K, Liljeblad A, Guiley K, Dai S, Zheng Q, Zhu L, Shokat KM, Kopra K, Härmä H. Nanomolar Protein Thermal Profiling with Modified Cyanine Dyes. Anal Chem 2023; 95:18344-18351. [PMID: 38060502 PMCID: PMC10733900 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Protein properties and interactions have been widely investigated by using external labels. However, the micromolar sensitivity of the current dyes limits their applicability due to the high material consumption and assay cost. In response to this challenge, we synthesized a series of cyanine5 (Cy5) dye-based quencher molecules to develop an external dye technique to probe proteins at the nanomolar protein level in a high-throughput one-step assay format. Several families of Cy5 dye-based quenchers with ring and/or side-chain modifications were designed and synthesized by introducing organic small molecules or peptides. Our results showed that steric hindrance and electrostatic interactions are more important than hydrophobicity in the interaction between the luminescent negatively charged europium-chelate-labeled peptide (Eu-probe) and the quencher molecules. The presence of substituents on the quencher indolenine rings reduces their quenching property, whereas the increased positive charge on the indolenine side chain improved the interaction between the quenchers and the luminescent compound. The designed quencher structures entirely altered the dynamics of the Eu-probe (protein-probe) for studying protein stability and interactions, as we were able to reduce the quencher concentration 100-fold. Moreover, the new quencher molecules allowed us to conduct the experiments using neutral buffer conditions, known as the peptide-probe assay. These improvements enabled us to apply the method in a one-step format for nanomolar protein-ligand interaction and protein profiling studies instead of the previously developed two-step protocol. These improvements provide a faster and simpler method with lower material consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Randa Mahran
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Negin Gooran
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Ahmadreza Masoumi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Katri Lundell
- Laboratory
of Synthetic Drug Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Arto Liljeblad
- Laboratory
of Synthetic Drug Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Keelan Guiley
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Current
address: Rezo Therapeutics, Inc., San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Shizhong Dai
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Current
address: Department of Genetics, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Qinheng Zheng
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Lawrence Zhu
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Kevan M. Shokat
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Kari Kopra
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Harri Härmä
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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14
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Wu T, Hornsby M, Zhu L, Yu JC, Shokat KM, Gestwicki JE. Protocol for performing and optimizing differential scanning fluorimetry experiments. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102688. [PMID: 37943662 PMCID: PMC10663957 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) is a widely used technique for determining the apparent melting temperature (Tma) of a purified protein. Here, we present a protocol for performing and optimizing DSF experiments. We describe steps for designing and performing the experiment, analyzing data, and optimization. We provide benchmarks for typical Tmas and ΔTmas, standard assay conditions, and upper and lower limits of commonly altered experimental variables. We also detail common pitfalls of DSF and ways to avoid, identify, and overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiasean Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael Hornsby
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 941583, USA
| | - Lawrence Zhu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joshua C Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kevan M Shokat
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 941583, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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15
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Xie SC, Griffin MDW, Winzeler EA, Ribas de Pouplana L, Tilley L. Targeting Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases for Antimalarial Drug Development. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:111-129. [PMID: 37018842 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-121210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by malaria parasites place an enormous burden on the world's poorest communities. Breakthrough drugs with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. As an organism that undergoes rapid growth and division, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is highly reliant on protein synthesis, which in turn requires aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) to charge tRNAs with their corresponding amino acid. Protein translation is required at all stages of the parasite life cycle; thus, aaRS inhibitors have the potential for whole-of-life-cycle antimalarial activity. This review focuses on efforts to identify potent plasmodium-specific aaRS inhibitors using phenotypic screening, target validation, and structure-guided drug design. Recent work reveals that aaRSs are susceptible targets for a class of AMP-mimicking nucleoside sulfamates that target the enzymes via a novel reaction hijacking mechanism. This finding opens up the possibility of generating bespoke inhibitors of different aaRSs, providing new drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley C Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Lluis Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
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16
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Kotov V, Killer M, Jungnickel KEJ, Lei J, Finocchio G, Steinke J, Bartels K, Strauss J, Dupeux F, Humm AS, Cornaciu I, Márquez JA, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Löw C. Plasticity of the binding pocket in peptide transporters underpins promiscuous substrate recognition. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112831. [PMID: 37467108 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112831] [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: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Proton-dependent oligopeptide transporters (POTs) are promiscuous transporters of the major facilitator superfamily that constitute the main route of entry for a wide range of dietary peptides and orally administrated peptidomimetic drugs. Given their clinical and pathophysiological relevance, several POT homologs have been studied extensively at the structural and molecular level. However, the molecular basis of recognition and transport of diverse peptide substrates has remained elusive. We present 14 X-ray structures of the bacterial POT DtpB in complex with chemically diverse di- and tripeptides, providing novel insights into the plasticity of the conserved central binding cavity. We analyzed binding affinities for more than 80 peptides and monitored uptake by a fluorescence-based transport assay. To probe whether all 8400 natural di- and tripeptides can bind to DtpB, we employed state-of-the-art molecular docking and machine learning and conclude that peptides with compact hydrophobic residues are the best DtpB binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Kotov
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maxime Killer
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Collaboration for Joint PhD Degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katharina E J Jungnickel
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jian Lei
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Giada Finocchio
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Josi Steinke
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kim Bartels
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Strauss
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florine Dupeux
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Humm
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Irina Cornaciu
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - José A Márquez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christian Löw
- Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
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17
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Kuttruff CA, Fleck M, Carotta S, Arnhof H, Bretschneider T, Dahmann G, Gremel G, Grube A, Handschuh S, Heimann A, Hofmann MH, Impagnatiello MA, Nar H, Rast G, Schaaf O, Schmidt E, Oost T. Discovery of BI 7446: A Potent Cyclic Dinucleotide STING Agonist with Broad-Spectrum Variant Activity for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:9376-9400. [PMID: 37450324 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00510] [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: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway with STING agonists is an attractive immune oncology concept to treat patients with tumors that are refractory to single-agent anti-PD-1 therapy. For best clinical translatability and broad application to cancer patients, STING agonists with potent cellular activation of all STING variants are desired. Novel cyclic dinucleotide (CDN)-based selective STING agonists were designed and synthesized comprising noncanonical nucleobase, ribose, and phosphorothioate moieties. This strategy led to the discovery of 2',3'-CDN 13 (BI 7446), which features unprecedented potency and activates all five STING variants in cellular assays. ADME profiling revealed that CDN 13 has attractive drug-like properties for development as an intratumoral agent. Injection of low doses of CDN 13 into tumors in mice induced long-lasting, tumor-specific immune-mediated tumor rejection. Based on its compelling preclinical profile, BI 7446 has been advanced to clinical trials (monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Fleck
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | | | | | - Tom Bretschneider
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Georg Dahmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | | | - Achim Grube
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Sandra Handschuh
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Annekatrin Heimann
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | | | | | - Herbert Nar
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Georg Rast
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Otmar Schaaf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, 1120 Vienna, Austria
| | - Esther Schmidt
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
| | - Thorsten Oost
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88400 Biberach an der Riss, Germany
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18
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Llowarch P, Usselmann L, Ivanov D, Holdgate GA. Thermal unfolding methods in drug discovery. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:021305. [PMID: 38510342 PMCID: PMC10903397 DOI: 10.1063/5.0144141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Thermal unfolding methods, applied in both isolated protein and cell-based settings, are increasingly used to identify and characterize hits during early drug discovery. Technical developments over recent years have facilitated their application in high-throughput approaches, and they now are used more frequently for primary screening. Widespread access to instrumentation and automation, the ability to miniaturize, as well as the capability and capacity to generate the appropriate scale and quality of protein and cell reagents have all played a part in these advances. As the nature of drug targets and approaches to their modulation have evolved, these methods have broadened our ability to provide useful chemical start points. Target proteins without catalytic function, or those that may be difficult to express and purify, are amenable to these methods. Here, we provide a review of the applications of thermal unfolding methods applied in hit finding during early drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poppy Llowarch
- High Throughput Screening, Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Usselmann
- High Throughput Screening, Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, United Kingdom
| | - Delyan Ivanov
- High Throughput Screening, Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey A. Holdgate
- High Throughput Screening, Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, United Kingdom
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19
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Udompholkul P, Garza-Granados A, Alboreggia G, Baggio C, McGuire J, Pegan SD, Pellecchia M. Characterization of a Potent and Orally Bioavailable Lys-Covalent Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) Antagonist. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37262387 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We have recently reported on the use of aryl-fluorosulfates in designing water- and plasma-stable agents that covalently target Lys, Tyr, or His residues in the BIR3 domain of the inhibitor of the apoptosis protein (IAP) family. Here, we report further structural, cellular, and pharmacological characterizations of this agent, including the high-resolution structure of the complex between the Lys-covalent agent and its target, the BIR3 domain of X-linked IAP (XIAP). We also compared the cellular efficacy of the agent in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, side by side with the clinical candidate reversible IAP inhibitor LCL161. Finally, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies indicated that the agent was long-lived and orally bioavailable. Collectively our data further corroborate that aryl-fluorosulfates, when incorporated correctly in a ligand, can result in Lys-covalent agents with pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties that warrant their use in the design of pharmacological probes or even therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parima Udompholkul
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Ana Garza-Granados
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Giulia Alboreggia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Carlo Baggio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jack McGuire
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Scott D Pegan
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Maurizio Pellecchia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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20
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Shah BS, Ford BA, Varkey D, Mikolajek H, Orr C, Mykhaylyk V, Owens RJ, Paulsen IT. Marine picocyanobacterial PhnD1 shows specificity for various phosphorus sources but likely represents a constitutive inorganic phosphate transporter. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023:10.1038/s41396-023-01417-w. [PMID: 37087502 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite being fundamental to multiple biological processes, phosphorus (P) availability in marine environments is often growth-limiting, with generally low surface concentrations. Picocyanobacteria strains encode a putative ABC-type phosphite/phosphate/phosphonate transporter, phnDCE, thought to provide access to an alternative phosphorus pool. This, however, is paradoxical given most picocyanobacterial strains lack known phosphite degradation or carbon-phosphate lyase pathway to utilise alternate phosphorus pools. To understand the function of the PhnDCE transport system and its ecological consequences, we characterised the PhnD1 binding proteins from four distinct marine Synechococcus isolates (CC9311, CC9605, MITS9220, and WH8102). We show the Synechococcus PhnD1 proteins selectively bind phosphorus compounds with a stronger affinity for phosphite than for phosphate or methyl phosphonate. However, based on our comprehensive ligand screening and growth experiments showing Synechococcus strains WH8102 and MITS9220 cannot utilise phosphite or methylphosphonate as a sole phosphorus source, we hypothesise that the picocyanobacterial PhnDCE transporter is a constitutively expressed, medium-affinity phosphate transporter, and the measured affinity of PhnD1 to phosphite or methyl phosphonate is fortuitous. Our MITS9220_PhnD1 structure explains the comparatively lower affinity of picocyanobacterial PhnD1 for phosphate, resulting from a more limited H-bond network. We propose two possible physiological roles for PhnD1. First, it could function in phospholipid recycling, working together with the predicted phospholipase, TesA, and alkaline phosphatase. Second, by having multiple transporters for P (PhnDCE and Pst), picocyanobacteria could balance the need for rapid transport during transient episodes of higher P availability in the environment, with the need for efficient P utilisation in typical phosphate-deplete conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhumika S Shah
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Benjamin A Ford
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Deepa Varkey
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Halina Mikolajek
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Christian Orr
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Vitaliy Mykhaylyk
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Structural Biology, Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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21
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Nhieu J, Milbauer L, Lerdall T, Najjar F, Wei CW, Ishida R, Ma Y, Kagechika H, Wei LN. Targeting Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 1 with Retinoic Acid-like Compounds to Mitigate Motor Neuron Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4980. [PMID: 36902410 PMCID: PMC10002585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054980] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans-retinoic Acid (atRA) is the principal active metabolite of Vitamin A, essential for various biological processes. The activities of atRA are mediated by nuclear RA receptors (RARs) to alter gene expression (canonical activities) or by cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1) to rapidly (minutes) modulate cytosolic kinase signaling, including calcium calmodulin-activated kinase 2 (CaMKII) (non-canonical activities). Clinically, atRA-like compounds have been extensively studied for therapeutic applications; however, RAR-mediated toxicity severely hindered the progress. It is highly desirable to identify CRABP1-binding ligands that lack RAR activity. Studies of CRABP1 knockout (CKO) mice revealed CRABP1 to be a new therapeutic target, especially for motor neuron (MN) degenerative diseases where CaMKII signaling in MN is critical. This study reports a P19-MN differentiation system, enabling studies of CRABP1 ligands in various stages of MN differentiation, and identifies a new CRABP1-binding ligand C32. Using the P19-MN differentiation system, the study establishes C32 and previously reported C4 as CRABP1 ligands that can modulate CaMKII activation in the P19-MN differentiation process. Further, in committed MN cells, elevating CRABP1 reduces excitotoxicity-triggered MN death, supporting a protective role for CRABP1 signaling in MN survival. C32 and C4 CRABP1 ligands were also protective against excitotoxicity-triggered MN death. The results provide insight into the potential of signaling pathway-selective, CRABP1-binding, atRA-like ligands in mitigating MN degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Nhieu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Liming Milbauer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Thomas Lerdall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Fatimah Najjar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Chin-Wen Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ryosuke Ishida
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Yue Ma
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kagechika
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Li-Na Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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22
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Roy S, Vivoli Vega M, Ames JR, Britten N, Kent A, Evans K, Isupov MN, Harmer NJ. The ROK kinase N-acetylglucosamine kinase uses a sequential random enzyme mechanism with successive conformational changes upon each substrate binding. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103033. [PMID: 36806680 PMCID: PMC10031466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103033] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) is a major component of bacterial cell walls. Many organisms recycle GlcNAc from the cell wall or metabolize environmental GlcNAc. The first step in GlcNAc metabolism is phosphorylation to GlcNAc-6-phosphate. In bacteria, the ROK family kinase N-acetylglucosamine kinase (NagK) performs this activity. Although ROK kinases have been studied extensively, no ternary complex showing the two substrates has yet been observed. Here, we solved the structure of NagK from the human pathogen Plesiomonas shigelloides in complex with GlcNAc and the ATP analog AMP-PNP. Surprisingly, PsNagK showed distinct conformational changes associated with the binding of each substrate. Consistent with this, the enzyme showed a sequential random enzyme mechanism. This indicates that the enzyme acts as a coordinated unit responding to each interaction. Our molecular dynamics modeling of catalytic ion binding confirmed the location of the essential catalytic metal. Additionally, site-directed mutagenesis confirmed the catalytic base and that the metal-coordinating residue is essential. Together, this study provides the most comprehensive insight into the activity of a ROK kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Amy Kent
- Living Systems Institute, Exeter, UK
| | - Kim Evans
- Living Systems Institute, Exeter, UK
| | - Michail N Isupov
- Henry Wellcome Building for Biocatalysis, Biosciences, Exeter, UK
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23
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Engrola FSS, Paquete-Ferreira J, Santos-Silva T, Correia MAS, Leisico F, Santos MFA. Screening of Buffers and Additives for Protein Stabilization by Thermal Shift Assay: A Practical Approach. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2652:199-213. [PMID: 37093477 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Thermal shift assay (TSA), also commonly designed by differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) or ThermoFluor, is a technique relatively easy to implement and perform, useful in a myriad of applications. In addition to versatility, it is also rather inexpensive, making it suitable for high-throughput approaches. TSA uses a fluorescent dye to monitor the thermal denaturation of the protein under study and determine its melting temperature (Tm). One of its main applications is to identify the best buffers and additives that enhance protein stability.Understanding the TSA operating mode and the main methodological steps is a central key to designing effective experiments and retrieving meaningful conclusions. This chapter intends to present a straightforward TSA protocol, with different troubleshooting tips, to screen effective protein stabilizers such as buffers and additives, as well as data treatment and analysis. TSA results provide conditions in which the protein of interest is stable and therefore suitable to carry out further biophysical and structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa S S Engrola
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - João Paquete-Ferreira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Teresa Santos-Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Márcia A S Correia
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Francisco Leisico
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, UMR 5075, University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Grenoble, France.
| | - Marino F A Santos
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
- UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.
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24
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Bragagnolo N, Audette GF. Solution characterization of the dynamic conjugative entry exclusion protein TraG. STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (MELVILLE, N.Y.) 2022; 9:064702. [PMID: 36590369 PMCID: PMC9797247 DOI: 10.1063/4.0000171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The R100 plasmid and the secretion system it encodes are representative of F-like conjugative type IV secretion systems for the transmission of mobile DNA elements in gram-negative bacteria, serving as a major contributor to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. The TraG protein of F-like systems consists of a membrane-bound N-terminal domain and a periplasmic C-terminal domain, denoted TraG*. TraG* is essential in preventing redundant DNA transfer through a process termed entry exclusion. In the donor cell, it interacts with TraN to facilitate mating pair stabilization; however, if a mating pore forms between bacteria with identical plasmids, TraG* interacts with its cognate TraS in the inner membrane of the recipient bacterium to prevent redundant donor-donor conjugation. Structural studies of TraG* from the R100 plasmid have revealed the presence of a dynamic region between the N- and C-terminal domains of TraG. Thermofluor, circular dichroism, collision-induced unfolding-mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography linked to multiangle light scattering and small angle x-ray scattering experiments indicated an N-terminal truncation mutant displayed higher stability and less disordered content relative to full-length TraG*. The 45 N-terminal residues of TraG* are hypothesized to serve as part of a flexible linker between the two independently functioning domains.
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25
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Bostock C, Teal CJ, Dang M, Golinski AW, Hackel BJ, Shoichet MS. Affibody-mediated controlled release of fibroblast growth factor 2. J Control Release 2022; 350:815-828. [PMID: 36087800 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.004] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein therapeutics possess high target affinity and specificity, yet short residence times, which limit their broad utility. To overcome this challenge, we used affinity interactions to modulate protein release from a hydrogel delivery vehicle thereby prolonging therapeutic availability. Specifically, we designed an affibody-modified hyaluronan (HA)-based hydrogel as a delivery platform for fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), a neuroprotective and neuroregenerative factor in the central nervous system (CNS). We identified a highly specific affibody binding partner with moderate affinity for FGF2 using yeast surface display and flow cytometry-based screening. Importantly, we demonstrated controlled release of bioactive FGF2 from the hydrogel by varying the ratio of affibody to protein and showed increased thermal stability of FGF2 in the presence of affibody. This versatile delivery platform will allow the distinct, simultaneous release of multiple proteins based on specific affinity interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bostock
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Carter J Teal
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Mickael Dang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Alex W Golinski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, 356 Amundson Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 421 Washington Avenue Southeast, 356 Amundson Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada.
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26
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Indazole MRL-871 interacts with PPARγ via a binding mode that induces partial agonism. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 68:116877. [PMID: 35714534 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116877] [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: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) plays a central role in metabolic processes. PPARγ full agonists have side effects, arguing for the discovery of PPARγ partial agonists with novel chemotypes. We report the unique binding mode of the known allosteric retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) ligand MRL-871 to PPARγ. MRL-871 binds between PPARγ helices 3, 5, 7 and 11, where it stabilizes the beta-sheet region with a hydrogen bond between its carboxylic acid moiety and PPARγ Ser370. Its unique binding mode differs from that of the benzoyl 2-methyl indoles which are well-studied, structurally similar, PPARγ ligands. MRL-871's high affinity for PPARγ induces only limited coactivator stabilization, highlighting its attractive partial agonistic characteristics. Affinity comparison of MRL-871 and related compounds towards both RORγt and PPARγ indicates the possibility for tuning of selectivity, bringing MRL-871 forward as an interesting starting point for novel PPARγ ligands.
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27
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Orris B, Huynh KW, Ammirati M, Han S, Bolaños B, Carmody J, Petroski MD, Bosbach B, Shields DJ, Stivers JT. Phosphorylation of SAMHD1 Thr592 increases C-terminal domain dynamics, tetramer dissociation and ssDNA binding kinetics. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7545-7559. [PMID: 35801923 PMCID: PMC9303311 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
SAM and HD domain containing deoxynucleoside triphosphate triphosphohydrolase 1 (SAMHD1) is driven into its activated tetramer form by binding of GTP activator and dNTP activators/substrates. In addition, the inactive monomeric and dimeric forms of the enzyme bind to single-stranded (ss) nucleic acids. During DNA replication SAMHD1 can be phosphorylated by CDK1 and CDK2 at its C-terminal threonine 592 (pSAMHD1), localizing the enzyme to stalled replication forks (RFs) to promote their restart. Although phosphorylation has only a small effect on the dNTPase activity and ssDNA binding affinity of SAMHD1, perturbation of the native T592 by phosphorylation decreased the thermal stability of tetrameric SAMHD1 and accelerated tetramer dissociation in the absence and presence of ssDNA (∼15-fold). In addition, we found that ssDNA binds competitively with GTP to the A1 site. A full-length SAMHD1 cryo-EM structure revealed substantial dynamics in the C-terminal domain (which contains T592), which could be modulated by phosphorylation. We propose that T592 phosphorylation increases tetramer dynamics and allows invasion of ssDNA into the A1 site and the previously characterized DNA binding surface at the dimer-dimer interface. These features are consistent with rapid and regiospecific inactivation of pSAMHD1 dNTPase at RFs or other sites of free ssDNA in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Orris
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 725 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | | | - Seungil Han
- Medicine Design, Pfizer, Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - Ben Bolaños
- Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jason Carmody
- Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - Benedikt Bosbach
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Pfizer, NY, NY 10016, USA
| | - David J Shields
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), Pfizer, NY, NY 10016, USA
| | - James T Stivers
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 725 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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28
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Burastero O, Defelipe LA, Gola G, Tateosian NL, Lopez ED, Martinena CB, Arcon JP, Traian MD, Wetzler DE, Bento I, Barril X, Ramirez J, Marti MA, Garcia-Alai MM, Turjanski AG. Cosolvent Sites-Based Discovery of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Protein Kinase G Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:9691-9705. [PMID: 35737472 PMCID: PMC9344462 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Computer-aided
drug discovery methods play a major role in the
development of therapeutically important small molecules, but their
performance needs to be improved. Molecular dynamics simulations in
mixed solvents are useful in understanding protein–ligand recognition
and improving molecular docking predictions. In this work, we used
ethanol as a cosolvent to find relevant interactions for ligands toward
protein kinase G, an essential protein of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (Mtb).
We validated the hot spots by screening a database of fragment-like
compounds and another one of known kinase inhibitors. Next, we performed
a pharmacophore-guided docking simulation and found three low micromolar
inhibitors, including one with a novel chemical scaffold that we expanded
to four derivative compounds. Binding affinities were characterized
by intrinsic fluorescence quenching assays, isothermal titration calorimetry,
and the analysis of melting curves. The predicted binding mode was
confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Finally, the compounds significantly
inhibited the viability of Mtb in infected
THP-1 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo Burastero
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
| | - Lucas A Defelipe
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
| | - Gabriel Gola
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados a Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Nancy L Tateosian
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Elias D Lopez
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Camila Belen Martinena
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Arcon
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Martín Dodes Traian
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Diana E Wetzler
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Isabel Bento
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
| | - Xavier Barril
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Spain.,Faculty of Pharmacy and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av.Joan XXIII 27-31, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Javier Ramirez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos Aplicados a Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires. CONICET, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Marcelo A Marti
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Maria M Garcia-Alai
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
| | - Adrián G Turjanski
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.,Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
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29
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Creutznacher R, Maass T, Dülfer J, Feldmann C, Hartmann V, Lane MS, Knickmann J, Westermann LT, Thiede L, Smith TJ, Uetrecht C, Mallagaray A, Waudby CA, Taube S, Peters T. Distinct dissociation rates of murine and human norovirus P-domain dimers suggest a role of dimer stability in virus-host interactions. Commun Biol 2022; 5:563. [PMID: 35680964 PMCID: PMC9184547 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Norovirus capsids are icosahedral particles composed of 90 dimers of the major capsid protein VP1. The C-terminus of the VP1 proteins forms a protruding (P)-domain, mediating receptor attachment, and providing a target for neutralizing antibodies. NMR and native mass spectrometry directly detect P-domain monomers in solution for murine (MNV) but not for human norovirus (HuNoV). We report that the binding of glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) stabilizes MNV-1 P-domain dimers (P-dimers) and induces long-range NMR chemical shift perturbations (CSPs) within loops involved in antibody and receptor binding, likely reflecting corresponding conformational changes. Global line shape analysis of monomer and dimer cross-peaks in concentration-dependent methyl TROSY NMR spectra yields a dissociation rate constant koff of about 1 s−1 for MNV-1 P-dimers. For structurally closely related HuNoV GII.4 Saga P-dimers a value of about 10−6 s−1 is obtained from ion-exchange chromatography, suggesting essential differences in the role of GCDCA as a cofactor for MNV and HuNoV infection. NMR and native mass spectrometry reveal that the major capsid VP1 protein from murine and human norovirus exhibit distinct behaviors and are differentially regulated by the binding of glycochenodeoxycholic acid.
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30
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Kwan TOC, Kolek SA, Danson AE, Reis RI, Camacho IS, Shaw Stewart PD, Moraes I. Measuring Protein Aggregation and Stability Using High-Throughput Biophysical Approaches. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:890862. [PMID: 35651816 PMCID: PMC9149252 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.890862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure-function relationships of biological macromolecules, in particular proteins, provide crucial insights for fundamental biochemistry, medical research and early drug discovery. However, production of recombinant proteins, either for structure determination, functional studies, or to be used as biopharmaceutical products, is often hampered by their instability and propensity to aggregate in solution in vitro. Protein samples of poor quality are often associated with reduced reproducibility as well as high research and production expenses. Several biophysical methods are available for measuring protein aggregation and stability. Yet, discovering and developing means to improve protein behaviour and structure-function integrity remains a demanding task. Here, we discuss workflows that are made possible by adapting established biophysical methods to high-throughput screening approaches. Rapid identification and optimisation of conditions that promote protein stability and reduce aggregation will support researchers and industry to maximise sample quality, stability and reproducibility, thereby reducing research and development time and costs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy E. Danson
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Rosana I. Reis
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patrick D. Shaw Stewart
- Douglas Instruments Ltd., Hungerford, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Patrick D. Shaw Stewart, ; Isabel Moraes,
| | - Isabel Moraes
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Patrick D. Shaw Stewart, ; Isabel Moraes,
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31
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Bogomolovas J, Gravenhorst P, Mayans O. Production and analysis of titin kinase: Exploiting active/inactive kinase homologs in pseudokinase validation. Methods Enzymol 2022; 667:147-181. [PMID: 35525541 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein pseudokinases are key regulators of the eukaryotic cell. Understanding their unconventional molecular mechanisms relies on deciphering their putative potential to perform phosphotransfer, their scaffolding properties and the nature of their regulation. Titin pseudokinase (TK) is the defining member of a family of poorly characterized muscle-specific kinases thought to act as sensors and transducers of mechanical signals in the sarcomere. The functional mechanisms of TK remain obscure due to the challenges posed by its production and analysis. Here, we provide guidelines and tailored research approaches for the study of TK, including profiting from its close structure-function relationship to the catalytically active homolog twitchin kinase (TwcK) from C. elegans. We describe a methodological pipeline to produce recombinant TK and TwcK samples; design, prioritize and validate mutated and truncated variants; assess sample stability and perform activity assays. The strategy is exportable to other pseudokinase members of the TK-like kinase family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Bogomolovas
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | | | - Olga Mayans
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
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32
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Ewert W, Günther S, Miglioli F, Falke S, Reinke PYA, Niebling S, Günther C, Han H, Srinivasan V, Brognaro H, Lieske J, Lorenzen K, Garcia-Alai MM, Betzel C, Carcelli M, Hinrichs W, Rogolino D, Meents A. Hydrazones and Thiosemicarbazones Targeting Protein-Protein-Interactions of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease. Front Chem 2022; 10:832431. [PMID: 35480391 PMCID: PMC9038201 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.832431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for viral propagation and, additionally, dysregulation of the host innate immune system. Using a library of 40 potential metal-chelating compounds we performed an X-ray crystallographic screening against PLpro. As outcome we identified six compounds binding to the target protein. Here we describe the interaction of one hydrazone (H1) and five thiosemicarbazone (T1-T5) compounds with the two distinct natural substrate binding sites of PLpro for ubiquitin and ISG15. H1 binds to a polar groove at the S1 binding site by forming several hydrogen bonds with PLpro. T1-T5 bind into a deep pocket close to the polyubiquitin and ISG15 binding site S2. Their interactions are mainly mediated by multiple hydrogen bonds and further hydrophobic interactions. In particular compound H1 interferes with natural substrate binding by sterical hindrance and induces conformational changes in protein residues involved in substrate binding, while compounds T1-T5 could have a more indirect effect. Fluorescence based enzyme activity assay and complementary thermal stability analysis reveal only weak inhibition properties in the high micromolar range thereby indicating the need for compound optimization. Nevertheless, the unique binding properties involving strong hydrogen bonding and the various options for structural optimization make the compounds ideal lead structures. In combination with the inexpensive and undemanding synthesis, the reported hydrazone and thiosemicarbazones represent an attractive scaffold for further structure-based development of novel PLpro inhibitors by interrupting protein-protein interactions at the S1 and S2 site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Ewert
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Günther
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Miglioli
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Sven Falke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Y. A. Reinke
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Niebling
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Günther
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Vasundara Srinivasan
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Chemistry, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hévila Brognaro
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Chemistry, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Lieske
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Betzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Chemistry, University Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mauro Carcelli
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Winfried Hinrichs
- Institute of Biochemistry, University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dominga Rogolino
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alke Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
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Thomas PW, Cho EJ, Bethel CR, Smisek T, Ahn YC, Schroeder JM, Thomas CA, Dalby KN, Beckham JT, Crowder MW, Bonomo RA, Fast W. Discovery of an Effective Small-Molecule Allosteric Inhibitor of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM). ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:811-824. [PMID: 35353502 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
To identify novel inhibitors of the carbapenemase New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) as possible therapeutic compounds, we conducted a high-throughput screen of a 43,358-compound library. One of these compounds, a 2-quinazolinone linked through a diacylhydrazine to a phenyl ring (QDP-1) (IC50 = 7.9 ± 0.5 μM), was characterized as a slow-binding reversible inhibitor (Kiapp = 4 ± 2 μM) with a noncompetitive mode of inhibition in which substrate and inhibitor enhance each other's binding affinity. These studies, along with differential scanning fluorimetry, zinc quantitation, and selectivity studies, support an allosteric mechanism of inhibition. Cotreatment with QDP-1 effectively lowers minimum inhibitory concentrations of carbapenems for a panel of resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates expressing NDM-1 but not for those expressing only serine carbapenemases. QDP-1 represents a novel allosteric approach for NDM drug development for potential use alone or with other NDM inhibitors to counter carbapenem resistance in enterobacterales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei W. Thomas
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Eun Jeong Cho
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Targeted Therapeutic Drug Discovery and Development Program, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Christopher R. Bethel
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Thomas Smisek
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Yeong-Chan Ahn
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - John M. Schroeder
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Caitlyn A. Thomas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Kevin N. Dalby
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Targeted Therapeutic Drug Discovery and Development Program, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Josh T. Beckham
- Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Michael W. Crowder
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Robert A. Bonomo
- Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
- Departments of Pharmacology, Molecular Biology & Microbiology, and Proteomics & Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
- CWRU-Cleveland VAMC Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology (Case VA CARES), Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Walter Fast
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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Barthels F, Hammerschmidt SJ, Fischer TR, Zimmer C, Kallert E, Helm M, Kersten C, Schirmeister T. A low-cost 3D-printable differential scanning fluorometer for protein and RNA melting experiments. HARDWAREX 2022; 11:e00256. [PMID: 35509940 PMCID: PMC9058602 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) is a widely used biophysical technique with applications to drug discovery and protein biochemistry. DSF experiments are commonly performed in commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) thermal cyclers or nanoDSF instruments. Here, we report the construction, validation, and example applications of an open-source DSF system for 176 €, which, in addition to protein-DSF experiments, also proved to be a versatile biophysical instrument for less conventional RNA-DSF experiments. Using 3D-printed parts made of polyoxymethylene, we were able to fabricate a thermostable machine chassis for protein-melting experiments. The combination of blue high-power LEDs as the light source and stage light foil as filter components was proven to be a reliable and affordable alternative to conventional optics equipment for the detection of SYPRO Orange or Sybr Gold fluorescence. The ESP32 microcontroller is the core piece of this openDSF instrument, while the in-built I2S interface was found to be a powerful analog-to-digital converter for fast acquisition of fluorescence and temperature data. Airflow heating and inline temperature control by thermistors enabled high-accuracy temperature management in PCR tubes (±0.1 °C) allowing us to perform high-resolution thermal shift assays (TSA) from exemplary biological applications.
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35
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Novel functional insights into a modified sugar-binding protein from Synechococcus MITS9220. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4805. [PMID: 35314715 PMCID: PMC8938411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Paradigms of metabolic strategies employed by photoautotrophic marine picocyanobacteria have been challenged in recent years. Based on genomic annotations, picocyanobacteria are predicted to assimilate organic nutrients via ATP-binding cassette importers, a process mediated by substrate-binding proteins. We report the functional characterisation of a modified sugar-binding protein, MsBP, from a marine Synechococcus strain, MITS9220. Ligand screening of MsBP shows a specific affinity for zinc (KD ~ 1.3 μM) and a preference for phosphate-modified sugars, such as fructose-1,6-biphosphate, in the presence of zinc (KD ~ 5.8 μM). Our crystal structures of apo MsBP (no zinc or substrate-bound) and Zn-MsBP (with zinc-bound) show that the presence of zinc induces structural differences, leading to a partially-closed substrate-binding cavity. The Zn-MsBP structure also sequesters several sulphate ions from the crystallisation condition, including two in the binding cleft, appropriately placed to mimic the orientation of adducts of a biphosphate hexose. Combined with a previously unseen positively charged binding cleft in our two structures and our binding affinity data, these observations highlight novel molecular variations on the sugar-binding SBP scaffold. Our findings lend further evidence to a proposed sugar acquisition mechanism in picocyanobacteria alluding to a mixotrophic strategy within these ubiquitous photosynthetic bacteria.
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Arellano-Saab A, McErlean CSP, Lumba S, Savchenko A, Stogios PJ, McCourt P. A novel strigolactone receptor antagonist provides insights into the structural inhibition, conditioning, and germination of the crop parasite Striga. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101734. [PMID: 35181340 PMCID: PMC9035408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Crop parasites of the Striga genera are a major biological deterrent to food security in Africa and are one of the largest obstacles to poverty alleviation on the continent. Striga seeds germinate by sensing small-molecule hormones, strigolactones (SLs), that emanate from host roots. Although SL receptors (Striga hermonthica HYPOSENSITIVE TO LIGHT [ShHTL]) have been identified, discerning their function has been difficult because these parasites cannot be easily grown under laboratory conditions. Moreover, many Striga species are obligate outcrossers that are not transformable, hence not amenable to genetic analysis. By combining phenotypic screening with ShHTL structural information and hybrid drug discovery methods, we discovered a potent SL perception inhibitor for Striga, dormirazine (DOZ). Structural analysis of this piperazine-based antagonist reveals a novel binding mechanism, distinct from that of known SLs, blocking access of the hormone to its receptor. Furthermore, DOZ reduces the flexibility of protein–protein interaction domains important for receptor signaling to downstream partners. In planta, we show, via temporal additions of DOZ, that SL receptors are required at a specific time during seed conditioning. This conditioning is essential to prime seed germination at the right time; thus, this SL-sensitive stage appears to be critical for adequate receptor signaling. Aside from uncovering a function for ShHTL during seed conditioning, these results suggest that future Ag-Biotech Solutions to Striga infestations will need to carefully time the application of antagonists to exploit receptor availability and outcompete natural SLs, critical elements for successful parasitic plant invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Arellano-Saab
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto. Toronto, ON. M5S 3E5, Canada
| | | | - Shelley Lumba
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Alexei Savchenko
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto. Toronto, ON. M5S 3E5, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter J Stogios
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto. Toronto, ON. M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Peter McCourt
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto M5S 3B2, Canada
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Zarban RA, Hameed UFS, Jamil M, Ota T, Wang JY, Arold ST, Asami T, Al-Babili S. Rational design of Striga hermonthica-specific seed germination inhibitors. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1369-1384. [PMID: 34850204 PMCID: PMC8825254 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The obligate hemiparasitic weed Striga hermonthica grows on cereal roots and presents a severe threat to global food security by causing enormous yield losses, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The rapidly increasing Striga seed bank in infested soils provides a major obstacle in controlling this weed. Striga seeds require host-derived strigolactones (SLs) for germination, and corresponding antagonists could be used as germination inhibitors. Recently, we demonstrated that the common detergent Triton X-100 is a specific inhibitor of Striga seed germination by binding noncovalently to its receptor, S. hermonthica HYPO-SENSITIVE TO LIGHT 7 (ShHTL7), without blocking the rice (Oryza sativa) SL receptor DWARF14 (OsD14). Moreover, triazole ureas, the potent covalently binding antagonists of rice SL perception with much higher activity toward OsD14, showed inhibition of Striga but were less specific. Considering that Triton X-100 is not suitable for field application and by combining structural elements of Triton and triazole urea, we developed two hybrid compounds, KK023-N1 and KK023-N2, as potential Striga-specific germination inhibitors. Both compounds blocked the hydrolysis activity of ShHTL7 but did not affect that of OsD14. Binding of KK023-N1 diminished ShHTL7 interaction with S. hermonthica MORE AXILLARY BRANCHING 2, a major component in SL signal transduction, and increased ShHTL7 thermal specificity. Docking studies indicate that KK023-N1 binding is not covalent but is caused by hydrophobic interactions. Finally, in vitro and greenhouse tests revealed specific inhibition of Striga seed germination, which led to a 38% reduction in Striga infestation in pot experiments. These findings reveal that KK023-N1 is a potential candidate for combating Striga and a promising basis for rational design and development of further Striga-specific herbicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randa A Zarban
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The BioActives Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Umar F Shahul Hameed
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Jamil
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The BioActives Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tsuyoshi Ota
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jian You Wang
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The BioActives Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan T Arold
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Computational Bioscience Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34090 France
| | - Tadao Asami
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34090 France
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The BioActives Lab, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Author for communication:
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Structural insights into how vacuolar sorting receptors recognize the sorting determinants of seed storage proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2111281119. [PMID: 34983843 PMCID: PMC8740768 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2111281119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Seeds such as rice and soybean are major food staples in the human diet. During seed development, storage proteins are deposited in a specialized organelle called the protein storage vacuole and are mobilized to provide nutrients during germination. Storage proteins are transported as cargoes via specific protein–protein interactions with the vacuolar sorting receptors. Supported by structural and mutagenesis studies, our work provides insights into how the sequence-specific information, or the vacuolar sorting determinant, on the storage proteins is recognized by the vacuolar sorting receptors for their targeting to the vacuoles. Insights gained into the rules of receptor–cargo recognition will be useful in engineering recombinant proteins for biotechnological applications of the protein storage vacuoles in seeds. In Arabidopsis, vacuolar sorting receptor isoform 1 (VSR1) sorts 12S globulins to the protein storage vacuoles during seed development. Vacuolar sorting is mediated by specific protein–protein interactions between VSR1 and the vacuolar sorting determinant located at the C terminus (ctVSD) on the cargo proteins. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the protease-associated domain of VSR1 (VSR1-PA) in complex with the C-terminal pentapeptide (468RVAAA472) of cruciferin 1, an isoform of 12S globulins. The 468RVA470 motif forms a parallel β-sheet with the switch III residues (127TMD129) of VSR1-PA, and the 471AA472 motif docks to a cradle formed by the cargo-binding loop (95RGDCYF100), making a hydrophobic interaction with Tyr99. The C-terminal carboxyl group of the ctVSD is recognized by forming salt bridges with Arg95. The C-terminal sequences of cruciferin 1 and vicilin-like storage protein 22 were sufficient to redirect the secretory red fluorescent protein (spRFP) to the vacuoles in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Adding a proline residue to the C terminus of the ctVSD and R95M substitution of VSR1 disrupted receptor–cargo interactions in vitro and led to increased secretion of spRFP in Arabidopsis protoplasts. How VSR1-PA recognizes ctVSDs of other storage proteins was modeled. The last three residues of ctVSD prefer hydrophobic residues because they form a hydrophobic cluster with Tyr99 of VSR1-PA. Due to charge–charge interactions, conserved acidic residues, Asp129 and Glu132, around the cargo-binding site should prefer basic residues over acidic ones in the ctVSD. The structural insights gained may be useful in targeting recombinant proteins to the protein storage vacuoles in seeds.
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Chang de Azevedo E, Nascimento AS. The β-lactam ticarcillin is a Staphylococcus aureus UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase binder. Biochimie 2022; 197:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Pinz S, Doskocil E, Seufert W. Thermofluor-Based Analysis of Protein Integrity and Ligand Interactions. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2533:247-257. [PMID: 35796993 PMCID: PMC9761908 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2501-9_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Thermofluor is a fluorescence-based thermal shift assay, which measures temperature-induced protein unfolding and thereby yields valuable information about the integrity of a purified recombinant protein. Analysis of ligand binding to a protein is another popular application of this assay. Thermofluor requires neither protein labeling nor highly specialized equipment, and can be performed in a regular real-time PCR instrument. Thus, for a typical molecular biology laboratory, Thermofluor is a convenient method for the routine assessment of protein quality. Here, we provide Thermofluor protocols using the example of Cdc123. This ATP-grasp protein is an essential assembly chaperone of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF2. We also report on a destabilized mutant protein version and on the ATP-mediated thermal stabilization of wild-type Cdc123 illustrating protein integrity assessment and ligand binding analysis as two major applications of the Thermofluor assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Pinz
- Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Eva Doskocil
- Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Seufert
- Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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41
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Bhayani JA, Ballicora MA. Determination of dissociation constants of protein ligands by thermal shift assay. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 590:1-6. [PMID: 34959191 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The thermal shift assay (TSA) is a powerful tool used to detect molecular interactions between proteins and ligands. Using temperature as a physical denaturant and an extrinsic fluorescent dye, the TSA tracks protein unfolding. This method precisely determines the midpoint of the unfolding transition (Tm), which can shift upon the addition of a ligand. Though experimental protocols have been well developed, the thermal shift assay data traditionally yielded qualitative results. Quantitative methods for Kd determination relied either on empirical and inaccurate usage of Tm or on isothermal approaches, which do not take full advantage of the melting point precision provided by the TSA. We present a new analysis method based on a model that relies on the equilibrium system between the native and molten globule state of the protein using the van't Hoff equation. We propose the Kd can be determined by plotting Tm values versus the logarithm of ligand concentrations and fitting the data to an equation we derived. After testing this procedure with the monomeric maltose-binding protein and an allosterically regulated homotetrameric enzyme (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase), we observed that binding results correlated very well with previously established parameters. We demonstrate how this method could potentially offer a broad applicability to a wide range of protein classes and the ability to detect both active and allosteric site binding compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaina A Bhayani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Miguel A Ballicora
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA.
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42
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Froes TQ, Chaves BT, Mendes MS, Ximenes RM, da Silva IM, da Silva PBG, de Albuquerque JFC, Castilho MS. Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazolidinedione derivatives with high ligand efficiency to P. aeruginosa PhzS. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:1217-1229. [PMID: 34080514 PMCID: PMC8186431 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1931165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The thiazolidinone ring is found in compounds that have widespan biology activity and there is mechanism-based evidence that compounds bearing this moiety inhibit P. aeruginosa PhzS (PaPzhS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the virulence factor named pyocyanin. Ten novel thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesised and screened against PaPhzS, using two orthogonal assays. The biological results provided by these and 28 other compounds, whose synthesis had been described, suggest that the dihydroquinazoline ring, found in the previous hit (A- Kd = 18 µM and LE = 0.20), is not required for PaPzhS inhibition, but unsubstituted nitrogen at the thiazolidinone ring is. The molecular simplification approach, pursued in this work, afforded an optimised lead compound (13- 5-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione) with 10-fold improvement in affinity (Kd= 1.68 µM) and more than 100% increase in LE (0.45), which follows the same inhibition mode as the original hit compound (competitive to NADH).Executive summaryPhzS is a key enzyme in the pyocyanin biosynthesis pathway in P. aeruginosa.Orthogonal assays (TSA and FITC) show that fragment-like thiazolidinedione derivatives bind to PaPhzS with one-digit micromolar affinity.Fragment-like thiazolidinedione derivatives bind to the cofactor (NADH) binding site in PaPhzS.The molecular simplification optimised the ligand efficiency and affinity of the lead compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamires Quadros Froes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em biotecnologia da, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | | | - Marina Sena Mendes
- Faculdade de Farmácia da, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Rafael Matos Ximenes
- Departamento de Antibióticos da, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, Recife-Pe, Brazil
| | - Ivanildo Mangueira da Silva
- Departamento de Antibióticos da, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, Recife-Pe, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo Santos Castilho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em biotecnologia da, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
- Faculdade de Farmácia da, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmácia da, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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43
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Walport LJ, Low JKK, Matthews JM, Mackay JP. The characterization of protein interactions - what, how and how much? Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:12292-12307. [PMID: 34581717 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00548k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protein interactions underlie most molecular events in biology. Many methods have been developed to identify protein partners, to measure the affinity with which these biomolecules interact and to characterise the structures of the complexes. Each approach has its own advantages and limitations, and it can be difficult for the newcomer to determine which methodology would best suit their system. This review provides an overview of many of the techniques most widely used to identify protein partners, assess stoichiometry and binding affinity, and determine low-resolution models for complexes. Key methods covered include: yeast two-hybrid analysis, affinity purification mass spectrometry and proximity labelling to identify partners; size-exclusion chromatography, scattering methods, native mass spectrometry and analytical ultracentrifugation to estimate stoichiometry; isothermal titration calorimetry, biosensors and fluorometric methods (including microscale thermophoresis, anisotropy/polarisation, resonance energy transfer, AlphaScreen, and differential scanning fluorimetry) to measure binding affinity; and crosslinking and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to probe the structure of complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise J Walport
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Rd, London NW1 1AT, UK.,Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jason K K Low
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Jacqueline M Matthews
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Joel P Mackay
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Thermostability-based binding assays reveal complex interplay of cation, substrate and lipid binding in the bacterial DASS transporter, VcINDY. Biochem J 2021; 478:3847-3867. [PMID: 34643224 PMCID: PMC8652582 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The divalent anion sodium symporter (DASS) family of transporters (SLC13 family in humans) are key regulators of metabolic homeostasis, disruption of which results in protection from diabetes and obesity, and inhibition of liver cancer cell proliferation. Thus, DASS transporter inhibitors are attractive targets in the treatment of chronic, age-related metabolic diseases. The characterisation of several DASS transporters has revealed variation in the substrate selectivity and flexibility in the coupling ion used to power transport. Here, using the model DASS co-transporter, VcINDY from Vibrio cholerae, we have examined the interplay of the three major interactions that occur during transport: the coupling ion, the substrate, and the lipid environment. Using a series of high-throughput thermostability-based interaction assays, we have shown that substrate binding is Na+-dependent; a requirement that is orchestrated through a combination of electrostatic attraction and Na+-induced priming of the binding site architecture. We have identified novel DASS ligands and revealed that ligand binding is dominated by the requirement of two carboxylate groups in the ligand that are precisely distanced to satisfy carboxylate interaction regions of the substrate-binding site. We have also identified a complex relationship between substrate and lipid interactions, which suggests a dynamic, regulatory role for lipids in VcINDY's transport cycle.
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Udompholkul P, Baggio C, Gambini L, Alboreggia G, Pellecchia M. Lysine Covalent Antagonists of Melanoma Inhibitors of Apoptosis Protein. J Med Chem 2021; 64:16147-16158. [PMID: 34705456 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We have recently reported on Lys-covalent agents that, based on aryl-sulfonyl fluorides, were designed to target binding site Lys 311 in the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Similar to XIAP, melanoma-IAP (ML-IAP), a less well-characterized IAP family protein, also presents a lysine residue (Lys 135), which is in a position equivalent to that of Lys 311 of XIAP. On the contrary, two other members of the IAP family, namely, cellular-IAPs (cIAP1 and cIAP2), present a glutamic acid residue in that position. Hence, in the present work, we describe the derivation and characterization of the very first potent ML-IAP Lys-covalent inhibitor with cellular activity. The agent can be used as a pharmacological tool to further validate ML-IAP as a drug target and eventually for the development of ML-IAP-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parima Udompholkul
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Carlo Baggio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Luca Gambini
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Giulia Alboreggia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Maurizio Pellecchia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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Jayaraman S, Kocot J, Esfahani SH, Wangler NJ, Uyar A, Mechref Y, Trippier PC, Abbruscato TJ, Dickson A, Aihara H, Ostrov DA, Karamyan VT. Identification and Characterization of Two Structurally Related Dipeptides that Enhance Catalytic Efficiency of Neurolysin. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 379:191-202. [PMID: 34389655 PMCID: PMC8626779 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurolysin (Nln) is a recently recognized endogenous mechanism functioning to preserve the brain from ischemic injury. To further understand the pathophysiological function of this peptidase in stroke and other neurologic disorders, the present study was designed to identify small molecule activators of Nln. Using a computational approach, the structure of Nln was explored, which was followed by docking and in silico screening of ∼140,000 molecules from the National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Program database. Top ranking compounds were evaluated in an Nln enzymatic assay, and two hit histidine-dipeptides were further studied in detail. The identified dipeptides enhanced the rate of synthetic substrate hydrolysis by recombinant (human and rat) and mouse brain-purified Nln in a concentration-dependent manner (micromolar A50 and Amax ≥ 300%) but had negligible effect on activity of closely related peptidases. Both dipeptides also enhanced hydrolysis of Nln endogenous substrates neurotensin, angiotensin I, and bradykinin and increased efficiency of the synthetic substrate hydrolysis (Vmax/Km ratio) in a concentration-dependent manner. The dipeptides and competitive inhibitor dynorphin A (1-13) did not affect each other's affinity for Nln, suggesting differing nature of their respective binding sites. Lastly, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) assays confirmed concentration-dependent interaction of Nln with the activator molecule. This is the first study demonstrating that Nln activity can be enhanced by small molecules, although the peptidic nature and low potency of the activators limit their application. The identified dipeptides provide a chemical scaffold to develop high-potency, drug-like molecules as research tools and potential drug leads. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study describes discovery of two molecules that selectively enhance activity of peptidase Nln-a newly recognized cerebroprotective mechanism in the poststroke brain. The identified molecules will serve as a chemical scaffold for development of drug-like molecules to further study Nln and may become lead structures for a new class of drugs. In addition, our conceptual and methodological framework and research findings might be used for other peptidases and enzymes, the activation of which bears therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinidhi Jayaraman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Joanna Kocot
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Shiva Hadi Esfahani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Naomi J Wangler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Arzu Uyar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Paul C Trippier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Thomas J Abbruscato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Alex Dickson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Hideki Aihara
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - David A Ostrov
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
| | - Vardan T Karamyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (S.J., J.K., S.H.E., N.J.W., T.J.A., V.T.K.) and Center for Blood Brain Barrier Research (T.J.A., V.T.K.), School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (A.U., A.D.); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas (Y.M.); Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (P.C.T.); Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (H.A.); and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (D.A.O.)
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47
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Martin-Malpartida P, Hausvik E, Underhaug J, Torner C, Martinez A, Macias MJ. HTSDSF Explorer, A Novel Tool to Analyze High-throughput DSF Screenings. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167372. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Burastero O, Niebling S, Defelipe LA, Günther C, Struve A, Garcia Alai MM. eSPC: an online data-analysis platform for molecular biophysics. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1241-1250. [PMID: 34605428 PMCID: PMC8489228 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321008998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
All biological processes rely on the formation of protein-ligand, protein-peptide and protein-protein complexes. Studying the affinity, kinetics and thermodynamics of binding between these pairs is critical for understanding basic cellular mechanisms. Many different technologies have been designed for probing interactions between biomolecules, each based on measuring different signals (fluorescence, heat, thermophoresis, scattering and interference, among others). Evaluation of the data from binding experiments and their fitting is an essential step towards the quantification of binding affinities. Here, user-friendly online tools to analyze biophysical data from steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, microscale thermophoresis and differential scanning fluorimetry experiments are presented. The modules of the data-analysis platform (https://spc.embl-hamburg.de/) contain classical thermodynamic models and clear user guidelines for the determination of equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) and thermal unfolding parameters such as melting temperatures (Tm).
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo Burastero
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2620, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- IQUIBICEN–UBA/CONICET, Intendente Güiraldes 2620, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Stephan Niebling
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lucas A. Defelipe
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Günther
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Angelica Struve
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria M. Garcia Alai
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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49
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Short FL, Liu Q, Shah B, Clift HE, Naidu V, Li L, Prity FT, Mabbutt BC, Hassan KA, Paulsen IT. The Acinetobacter baumannii disinfectant resistance protein, AmvA, is a spermidine and spermine efflux pump. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1114. [PMID: 34552198 PMCID: PMC8458285 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance genes, including multidrug efflux pumps, evolved long before the ubiquitous use of antimicrobials in medicine and infection control. Multidrug efflux pumps often transport metabolites, signals and host-derived molecules in addition to antibiotics or biocides. Understanding their ancestral physiological roles could inform the development of strategies to subvert their activity. In this study, we investigated the response of Acinetobacter baumannii to polyamines, a widespread, abundant class of amino acid-derived metabolites, which led us to identify long-chain polyamines as natural substrates of the disinfectant efflux pump AmvA. Loss of amvA dramatically reduced tolerance to long-chain polyamines, and these molecules induce expression of amvA through binding to its cognate regulator AmvR. A second clinically-important efflux pump, AdeABC, also contributed to polyamine tolerance. Our results suggest that the disinfectant resistance capability that allows A. baumannii to survive in hospitals may have evolutionary origins in the transport of polyamine metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca L. Short
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia
| | - Qi Liu
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Bhumika Shah
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Heather E. Clift
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia ,grid.280427.b0000 0004 0434 015XPresent Address: Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI USA
| | - Varsha Naidu
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Liping Li
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Farzana T. Prity
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Bridget C. Mabbutt
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
| | - Karl A. Hassan
- grid.266842.c0000 0000 8831 109XSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia
| | - Ian T. Paulsen
- grid.1004.50000 0001 2158 5405Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
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50
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Moncrief T, Matheny CJ, Gaziova I, Miller JM, Qadota H, Benian GM, Oberhauser AF. Mutations in conserved residues of the myosin chaperone UNC-45 result in both reduced stability and chaperoning activity. Protein Sci 2021; 30:2221-2232. [PMID: 34515376 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Proper muscle development and function depend on myosin being properly folded and integrated into the thick filament structure. For this to occur the myosin chaperone UNC-45, or UNC-45B, must be present and able to chaperone myosin. Here we use a combination of in vivo C. elegans experiments and in vitro biophysical experiments to analyze the effects of six missense mutations in conserved regions of UNC-45/UNC-45B. We found that the phenotype of paralysis and disorganized thick filaments in 5/6 of the mutant nematode strains can likely be attributed to both reduced steady state UNC-45 protein levels and reduced chaperone activity. Interestingly, the biophysical assays performed on purified proteins show that all of the mutations result in reduced myosin chaperone activity but not overall protein stability. This suggests that these mutations only cause protein instability in the in vivo setting and that these conserved regions may be involved in UNC-45 protein stability/regulation via posttranslational modifications, protein-protein interactions, or some other unknown mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Moncrief
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Ivana Gaziova
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John M Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Hiroshi Qadota
- Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Guy M Benian
- Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Andres F Oberhauser
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
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