1
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Menant S, Tognetti V, Oulyadi H, Guilhaudis L, Ségalas-Milazzo I. A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Structural and Spectroscopic Properties of the Piv-Pro-d-Ser-NHMe Peptide. J Phys Chem B 2024. [PMID: 38967625 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the secondary structure of the Piv-Pro-d-Ser-NHMe peptide by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments, in conjunction with theoretical simulations based on molecular dynamics and time-dependent density functional theory calculations including polarizable embedding to account for solvent effects. The various experimental and theoretical protocols are assessed and validated, and are shown to provide a consistent description of the turn structure adopted by this peptide in solution. In addition, a simple fitting procedure is proposed to make the simulated and experimental ECD almost perfectly match. This full methodology is finally tested on another small peptide, enlightening its efficiency and robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Menant
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, COBRA UMR 6014, INC3M FR 3038, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Vincent Tognetti
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, COBRA UMR 6014, INC3M FR 3038, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Hassan Oulyadi
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, COBRA UMR 6014, INC3M FR 3038, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Laure Guilhaudis
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, COBRA UMR 6014, INC3M FR 3038, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Isabelle Ségalas-Milazzo
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, COBRA UMR 6014, INC3M FR 3038, F-76000 Rouen, France
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2
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Kubyshkin V, Rubini M. Proline Analogues. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 38941181 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Within the canonical repertoire of the amino acid involved in protein biogenesis, proline plays a unique role as an amino acid presenting a modified backbone rather than a side-chain. Chemical structures that mimic proline but introduce changes into its specific molecular features are defined as proline analogues. This review article summarizes the existing chemical, physicochemical, and biochemical knowledge about this peculiar family of structures. We group proline analogues from the following compounds: substituted prolines, unsaturated and fused structures, ring size homologues, heterocyclic, e.g., pseudoproline, and bridged proline-resembling structures. We overview (1) the occurrence of proline analogues in nature and their chemical synthesis, (2) physicochemical properties including ring conformation and cis/trans amide isomerization, (3) use in commercial drugs such as nirmatrelvir recently approved against COVID-19, (4) peptide and protein synthesis involving proline analogues, (5) specific opportunities created in peptide engineering, and (6) cases of protein engineering with the analogues. The review aims to provide a summary to anyone interested in using proline analogues in systems ranging from specific biochemical setups to complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Rubini
- School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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3
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Zou JL, Chen KX, Wang XJ, Lu ZC, Wu XH, Wu YD. Structure-Based Rational and General Strategy for Stabilizing Single-Chain T-Cell Receptors to Enhance Affinity. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38661304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The T-cell receptor (TCR) is a crucial molecule in cellular immunity. The single-chain T-cell receptor (scTCR) is a potential format in TCR therapeutics because it eliminates the possibility of αβ-TCR mispairing. However, its poor stability and solubility impede the in vitro study and manufacturing of therapeutic applications. In this study, some conserved structural motifs are identified in variable domains regardless of germlines and species. Theoretical analysis helps to identify those unfavored factors and leads to a general strategy for stabilizing scTCRs by substituting residues at exact IMGT positions with beneficial propensities on the consensus sequence of germlines. Several representative scTCRs are displayed to achieve stability optimization and retain comparable binding affinities with the corresponding αβ-TCRs in the range of μM to pM. These results demonstrate that our strategies for scTCR engineering are capable of providing the affinity-enhanced and specificity-retained format, which are of great value in facilitating the development of TCR-related therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ling Zou
- Lab of Computational Chemistry and Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | | | | | | | - Xian-Hui Wu
- Tianmu Institute of Health, Changzhou 213399, China
| | - Yun-Dong Wu
- Lab of Computational Chemistry and Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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4
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Limbach M, Lindberg ET, Olivos HJ, van Tetering L, Steren CA, Martens J, Ngo VA, Oomens J, Do TD. Taming Conformational Heterogeneity on Ion Racetrack to Unveil Principles that Drive Membrane Permeation of Cyclosporines. JACS AU 2024; 4:1458-1470. [PMID: 38665661 PMCID: PMC11040698 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Our study reveals the underlying principles governing the passive membrane permeability in three large N-methylated macrocyclic peptides (N-MeMPs): cyclosporine A (CycA), Alisporivir (ALI), and cyclosporine H (CycH). We determine a series of conformers required for robust passive membrane diffusion and those relevant to other functions, such as binding to protein targets or intermediates, in the presence of solvent additives. We investigate the conformational interconversions and establish correlations with the membrane permeability. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and cyclic ion-mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (cIMS-MS) are employed to characterize conformational heterogeneity and identify cis-amides relevant for good membrane permeability. In addition, ion mobility selected cIMS-MS and infrared (IR) multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy experiments are conducted to evaluate the energy barriers between conformations. We observe that CycA and ALI, both cyclosporines with favorable membrane permeabilities, display multiple stable and well-defined conformers. In contrast, CycH, an epimer of CycA with limited permeability, exhibits fewer and fewer stable conformers. We demonstrate the essential role of the conformational shift from the aqueous cis MeVal11-MeBmt1 state (A1) to the closed conformation featuring cis MeLeu9-MeLeu10 (C1) in facilitating membrane permeation. Additionally, we highlight that the transition from A1 to the all-trans open conformation (O1) is specifically triggered by the presence of CaCl2. We also capture a set of conformers with cis Sar3-MeLeu4, MeLeu9-MeLeu10, denoted as I. Conformationally selected cIMS-MS and IRMPD data of [CycA+Ca]2+ show immediate repopulation of the original population distribution, suggesting that CaCl2 smooths out the energy barriers. Finally, our work presents an improved sampling molecular dynamics approach based on a refined force field that not only consistently and accurately captures established conformers of cyclosporines but also exhibits strong predictive capabilities for novel conformers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda
N. Limbach
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Edward T. Lindberg
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | | | - Lara van Tetering
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 7, Nijmegen 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Carlos A. Steren
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jonathan Martens
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 7, Nijmegen 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Van A. Ngo
- Advanced
Computing for Life Sciences and Engineering Group, Science Engagement
Section, National Center for Computational Sciences, Computing and
Computational Sciences Directorate, Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
| | - Jos Oomens
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, FELIX Laboratory, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 7, Nijmegen 6525 ED, The Netherlands
| | - Thanh D. Do
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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5
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Nasralla M, Laurent H, Alderman OLG, Headen TF, Dougan L. Trimethylamine-N-oxide depletes urea in a peptide solvation shell. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317825121. [PMID: 38536756 PMCID: PMC10998561 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317825121] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and urea are metabolites that are used by some marine animals to maintain their cell volume in a saline environment. Urea is a well-known denaturant, and TMAO is a protective osmolyte that counteracts urea-induced protein denaturation. TMAO also has a general protein-protective effect, for example, it counters pressure-induced protein denaturation in deep-sea fish. These opposing effects on protein stability have been linked to the spatial relationship of TMAO, urea, and protein molecules. It is generally accepted that urea-induced denaturation proceeds through the accumulation of urea at the protein surface and their subsequent interaction. In contrast, it has been suggested that TMAO's protein-stabilizing effects stem from its exclusion from the protein surface, and its ability to deplete urea from protein surfaces; however, these spatial relationships are uncertain. We used neutron diffraction, coupled with structural refinement modeling, to study the spatial associations of TMAO and urea with the tripeptide derivative glycine-proline-glycinamide in aqueous urea, aqueous TMAO, and aqueous urea-TMAO (in the mole ratio 1:2 TMAO:urea). We found that TMAO depleted urea from the peptide's surface and that while TMAO was not excluded from the tripeptide's surface, strong atomic interactions between the peptide and TMAO were limited to hydrogen bond donating peptide groups. We found that the repartition of urea, by TMAO, was associated with preferential TMAO-urea bonding and enhanced urea-water hydrogen bonding, thereby anchoring urea in the bulk solution and depleting urea from the peptide surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazin Nasralla
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Harrison Laurent
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver L. G. Alderman
- Disordered Materials Group, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas F. Headen
- Disordered Materials Group, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, DidcotOX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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6
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D'Arminio N, Ruggiero V, Pierri G, Marabotti A, Tedesco C. Emerging role of carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in the classification of beta turns. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4868. [PMID: 38100281 PMCID: PMC10806932 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4868] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in peptides and proteins attracted considerable interest in recent years. Here, we report a survey of carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in cyclic peptides, depsipeptides, peptoids and discuss the relationship between backbone torsion angles and CO∙∙∙CO distances. In general, φ values in the range between -40° and -90° and between 40° and 90° correspond to CO∙∙∙CO distances below 3.22 Å. By extending the analysis of carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in different types of beta turns in proteins, we also highlight the role of direct or reciprocal carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in stabilizing the beta turn conformation for each specific type. We confirmed the new type II beta turn, detected by Dunbrack and coworkers, and named Pa, and detect the presence of a direct carbonyl-carbonyl interaction between the second and third residues of the turn. We also evidenced the existence of another new type II beta turn, named pA (following Dunbrack's notation), which represents the alternative conformation of Pa with opposite φ and ψ values and is characterized by a direct carbonyl-carbonyl interaction between the second and third residues of the turn. Finally, we show that the occurrence of CO∙∙∙CO interactions could be also advocated to explain from a chemical point of view the diversity of turn types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy D'Arminio
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”University of SalernoFiscianoItaly
| | - Valentina Ruggiero
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”University of SalernoFiscianoItaly
- Present address:
Department of PharmacyUniversity of SalernoFiscianoItaly
| | - Giovanni Pierri
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”University of SalernoFiscianoItaly
| | - Anna Marabotti
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”University of SalernoFiscianoItaly
| | - Consiglia Tedesco
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”University of SalernoFiscianoItaly
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7
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Adorinni S, Gentile S, Bellotto O, Kralj S, Parisi E, Cringoli MC, Deganutti C, Malloci G, Piccirilli F, Pengo P, Vaccari L, Geremia S, Vargiu AV, De Zorzi R, Marchesan S. Peptide Stereochemistry Effects from p Ka-Shift to Gold Nanoparticle Templating in a Supramolecular Hydrogel. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3011-3022. [PMID: 38235673 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The divergent supramolecular behavior of a series of tripeptide stereoisomers was elucidated through spectroscopic, microscopic, crystallographic, and computational techniques. Only two epimers were able to effectively self-organize into amphipathic structures, leading to supramolecular hydrogels or crystals, respectively. Despite the similarity between the two peptides' turn conformations, stereoconfiguration led to different abilities to engage in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Self-assembly further shifted the pKa value of the C-terminal side chain. As a result, across the pH range 4-6, only one epimer predominated sufficiently as a zwitterion to reach the critical molar fraction, allowing gelation. By contrast, the differing pKa values and higher dipole moment of the other epimer favored crystallization. The four stereoisomers were further tested for gold nanoparticle (AuNP) formation, with the supramolecular hydrogel being the key to control and stabilize AuNPs, yielding a nanocomposite that catalyzed the photodegradation of a dye. Importantly, the AuNP formation occurred without the use of reductants other than the peptide, and the redox chemistry was investigated by LC-MS, NMR, and infrared scattering-type near field optical microscopy (IR s-SNOM). This study provides important insights for the rational design of simple peptides as minimalistic and green building blocks for functional nanocomposites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Adorinni
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Gentile
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ottavia Bellotto
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Slavko Kralj
- Materials Synthesis Department, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Evelina Parisi
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria C Cringoli
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Caterina Deganutti
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuliano Malloci
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Federica Piccirilli
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
- Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Pengo
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lisa Vaccari
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Silvano Geremia
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Attilio V Vargiu
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rita De Zorzi
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Marchesan
- Chemical Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Unit of Trieste, INSTM, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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8
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Rosenberg AA, Yehishalom N, Marx A, Bronstein AM. An amino-domino model described by a cross-peptide-bond Ramachandran plot defines amino acid pairs as local structural units. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301064120. [PMID: 37878722 PMCID: PMC10623034 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301064120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein structure, both at the global and local level, dictates function. Proteins fold from chains of amino acids, forming secondary structures, α-helices and β-strands, that, at least for globular proteins, subsequently fold into a three-dimensional structure. Here, we show that a Ramachandran-type plot focusing on the two dihedral angles separated by the peptide bond, and entirely contained within an amino acid pair, defines a local structural unit. We further demonstrate the usefulness of this cross-peptide-bond Ramachandran plot by showing that it captures β-turn conformations in coil regions, that traditional Ramachandran plot outliers fall into occupied regions of our plot, and that thermophilic proteins prefer specific amino acid pair conformations. Further, we demonstrate experimentally that the effect of a point mutation on backbone conformation and protein stability depends on the amino acid pair context, i.e., the identity of the adjacent amino acid, in a manner predictable by our method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviv A. Rosenberg
- Department of Computer Science, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa32000, Israel
| | - Nitsan Yehishalom
- Faculty of Biology, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa32000, Israel
| | - Ailie Marx
- Department of Computer Science, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa32000, Israel
| | - Alex M. Bronstein
- Department of Computer Science, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa32000, Israel
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9
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Núñez-Villanueva D, Plata-Ruiz A, Romero-Muñiz I, Martín-Pérez I, Infantes L, González-Muñiz R, Martín-Martínez M. β-Turn Induction by a Diastereopure Azepane-Derived Quaternary Amino Acid. J Org Chem 2023; 88:14688-14696. [PMID: 37774108 PMCID: PMC10594656 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
β-Turns are one of the most common secondary structures found in proteins. In the interest of developing novel β-turn inducers, a diastereopure azepane-derived quaternary amino acid has been incorporated into a library of simplified tetrapeptide models in order to assess the effect of the azepane position and peptide sequence on the stabilization of β-turns. The conformational analysis of these peptides by molecular modeling, NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography showed that this azepane amino acid is an effective β-turn inducer when incorporated at the i + 1 position. Moreover, the analysis of the supramolecular self-assembly of one of the β-turn-containing peptide models in the solid state reveals that it forms a supramolecular helical arrangement while maintaining the β-turn structure. The results here presented provide the basis for the use of this azepane quaternary amino acid as a strong β-turn inducer in the search for novel peptide-based bioactive molecules, catalysts, and biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrián Plata-Ruiz
- Instituto
de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Romero-Muñiz
- Instituto
de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Universidad
Autónoma de Madrid, Química Orgánica, Francisco Tomás y Valiente,
7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Martín-Pérez
- Instituto
de Química Médica (IQM-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lourdes Infantes
- Instituto
de Química Física Rocasolano (IQFR-CSIC), Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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10
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Modena D, Moras ML, Sandrone G, Stevenazzi A, Vergani B, Dasgupta P, Kliever A, Gulde S, Marangelo A, Schillmaier M, Luque RM, Bäuerle S, Pellegata NS, Schulz S, Steinkühler C. Identification of a Novel SSTR3 Full Agonist for the Treatment of Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3453. [PMID: 37444563 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133453] [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] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatostatin receptor (SSTR) agonists have been extensively used for treating neuroendocrine tumors. Synthetic therapeutic agonists showing selectivity for SSTR2 (Octreotide) or for SSTR2 and SSTR5 (Pasireotide) have been approved for the treatment of patients with acromegaly and Cushing's syndrome, as their pituitary tumors highly express SSTR2 or SSTR2/SSTR5, respectively. Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), which express high levels of SSTR3 and show only modest response to currently available SSTR agonists, are often invasive and cannot be completely resected, and therefore easily recur. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of ITF2984, a somatostatin analog and full SSTR3 agonist, as a new potential treatment for NFPAs. ITF2984 shows a 10-fold improved affinity for SSTR3 compared to Octreotide or Pasireotide. Molecular modeling and NMR studies indicated that the higher affinity for SSTR3 correlates with a higher stability of a distorted β-I turn in the cyclic peptide backbone. ITF2984 induces receptor internalization and phosphorylation, and triggers G-protein signaling at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, ITF2984 displays antitumor activity that is dependent on SSTR3 expression levels in the MENX (homozygous mutant) NFPA rat model, which closely recapitulates human disease. Therefore, ITF2984 may represent a novel therapeutic option for patients affected by NFPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Modena
- Preclinical R&D, Italfarmaco Group, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Moras
- Preclinical R&D, Italfarmaco Group, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Sandrone
- Preclinical R&D, Italfarmaco Group, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Stevenazzi
- Preclinical R&D, Italfarmaco Group, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Vergani
- Preclinical R&D, Italfarmaco Group, 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy
| | - Pooja Dasgupta
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Kliever
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gulde
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alessandro Marangelo
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Mathias Schillmaier
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Raul M Luque
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital (HURS), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
- CIBER Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Stephen Bäuerle
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Natalia S Pellegata
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Joint Heidelberg-IDC Translational Diabetes Program, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07747 Jena, Germany
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11
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Athiyarath V, Mathew LA, Zhao Y, Khazeber R, Ramamurty U, Sureshan KM. Rational design and topochemical synthesis of polymorphs of a polymer. Chem Sci 2023; 14:5132-5140. [PMID: 37206383 PMCID: PMC10189859 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00053b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Packing a polymer in different ways can give polymorphs of the polymer having different properties. β-Turn forming peptides such as 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib)-rich peptides adopt several conformations by varying the dihedral angles. Aiming at this, a β-turn-forming peptide monomer would give different polymorphs and these polymorphs upon topochemical polymerization would yield polymorphs of the polymer, we designed an Aib-rich monomer N3-(Aib)3-NHCH2-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH. This monomer crystallizes as two polymorphs and one hydrate. In all forms, the peptide adopts β-turn conformations and arranges in a head-to-tail manner with their azide and alkyne units proximally placed in a ready-to-react alignment. On heating, both the polymorphs undergo topochemical azide-alkyne cycloaddition polymerization. Polymorph I polymerized in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) fashion and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the polymer revealed its screw-sense reversing helical structure. Polymorph II maintains its crystallinity during polymerization but gradually becomes amorphous upon storage. The hydrate III undergoes a dehydrative transition to polymorph II. Nanoindentation studies revealed that different polymorphs of the monomer and the corresponding polymers exhibited different mechanical properties, in accordance with their crystal packing. This work demonstrates the promising future of the marriage of polymorphism and topochemistry for obtaining polymorphs of polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh Athiyarath
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 695551 India
| | - Liby Ann Mathew
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 695551 India
| | - Yakai Zhao
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University 639798 Singapore
| | - Ravichandran Khazeber
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 695551 India
| | - Upadrasta Ramamurty
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University 639798 Singapore
| | - Kana M Sureshan
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 695551 India
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12
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de Brevern AG. An agnostic analysis of the human AlphaFold2 proteome using local protein conformations. Biochimie 2023; 207:11-19. [PMID: 36417962 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of the 3D structure of proteins is a valuable asset for understanding their precise biological mechanisms. However, the cost of production of 3D structures and experimental difficulties limit their obtaining. The proposal of 3D structural models is consequently an appealing alternative. The release of the AlphaFold Deep Learning approach has revolutionized the field. The recent near-complete human proteome proposal makes it possible to analyse large amounts of data and evaluate the results of the approach in greater depth. The 3D human proteome was thus analysed in light of the classic secondary structures, and many less-used protein local conformations (PolyProline II helices, type of γ-turns, of β-turns and of β-bulges, curvature of the helices, and a structural alphabet). Without questioning the global quality of the approach, this analysis highlights certain local conformations, which maybe poorly predicted and they could therefore be better addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre G de Brevern
- Université Paris Cité and Université des Antilles and Université de la Réunion, INSERM UMR_S 1134, BIGR, DSIMB Bioinformatics team, F-75014, Paris, France.
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13
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Chowdhary S, Pelzer T, Saathoff M, Quaas E, Pendl J, Fulde M, Koksch B. Fine‐tuning the antimicrobial activity of β‐hairpin peptides with fluorinated amino acids. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Suvrat Chowdhary
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Tim Pelzer
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Mareike Saathoff
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Centre of Infection Medicine Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Elisa Quaas
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Core Facility SupraFAB Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Johanna Pendl
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Marcus Fulde
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Centre of Infection Medicine Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research (TZR) Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Beate Koksch
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
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14
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Goto M, Yoshino S, Hiroshima K, Kawakami T, Murota K, Shimamoto S, Hidaka Y. The Molecular Basis of Heat-Stable Enterotoxin for Vaccine Development and Cancer Cell Detection. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031128. [PMID: 36770798 PMCID: PMC9920858 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) produced by Enterotoxigenic E. coli is responsible for causing acute diarrhea in infants in developing countries. However, the chemical synthesis of STa peptides with the native conformation and the correct intra-molecular disulfide bonds is a major hurdle for vaccine development. To address this issue, we herein report on the design and preparation of STa analogs and a convenient chemical method for obtaining STa molecules with the correct conformation. To develop an STa vaccine, we focused on a structure in a type II β-turn in the STa molecule and introduced a D-Lys residue as a conjugation site for carrier proteins. In addition, the -Glu-Leu- sequence in the STa molecule was replaced with a -Asp-Val- sequence to decrease the toxic activity of the peptide to make it more amenable for use in vaccinations. To solve several issues associated with the synthesis of STa, such as the formation of non-native disulfide isomers, the native disulfide pairings were regioselectively formed in a stepwise manner. A native form or topological isomer of the designed STa peptide, which possesses a right-handed or a left-handed spiral structure, respectively, were synthesized in high synthetic yields. The conformation of the synthetic STa peptide was also confirmed by CD and NMR spectroscopy. To further utilize the designed STa peptide, it was labeled with fluorescein for fluorescent detection, since recent studies have also focused on the use of STa for detecting cancer cells, such as Caco-2 and T84. The labeled STa peptide was able to specifically and efficiently detect 293T cells expressing the recombinant STa receptor (GC-C) protein and Caco-2 cells. The findings reported here provide an outline of the molecular basis for using STa for vaccine development and in the detection of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Goto
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Shinya Yoshino
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Kyona Hiroshima
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
| | - Toru Kawakami
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kaeko Murota
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane 690-8504, Japan
| | - Shigeru Shimamoto
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (Y.H.); Tel.: +81-6-6721-2332 (S.S.)
| | - Yuji Hidaka
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.S.); (Y.H.); Tel.: +81-6-6721-2332 (S.S.)
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15
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Schuurs ZP, McDonald JP, Croft LV, Richard DJ, Woodgate R, Gandhi NS. Integration of molecular modelling and in vitro studies to inhibit LexA proteolysis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1051602. [PMID: 36936756 PMCID: PMC10020695 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1051602] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As antibiotic resistance has become more prevalent, the social and economic impacts are increasingly pressing. Indeed, bacteria have developed the SOS response which facilitates the evolution of resistance under genotoxic stress. The transcriptional repressor, LexA, plays a key role in this response. Mutation of LexA to a non-cleavable form that prevents the induction of the SOS response sensitizes bacteria to antibiotics. Achieving the same inhibition of proteolysis with small molecules also increases antibiotic susceptibility and reduces drug resistance acquisition. The availability of multiple LexA crystal structures, and the unique Ser-119 and Lys-156 catalytic dyad in the protein enables the rational design of inhibitors. Methods We pursued a binary approach to inhibit proteolysis; we first investigated β-turn mimetics, and in the second approach we tested covalent warheads targeting the Ser-119 residue. We found that the cleavage site region (CSR) of the LexA protein is a classical Type II β-turn, and that published 1,2,3-triazole compounds mimic the β-turn. Generic covalent molecule libraries and a β-turn mimetic library were docked to the LexA C-terminal domain using molecular modelling methods in FlexX and CovDock respectively. The 133 highest-scoring molecules were screened for their ability to inhibit LexA cleavage under alkaline conditions. The top molecules were then tested using a RecA-mediated cleavage assay. Results The β-turn library screen did not produce any hit compounds that inhibited RecA-mediated cleavage. The covalent screen discovered an electrophilic serine warhead that can inhibit LexA proteolysis, reacting with Ser-119 via a nitrile moiety. Discussion This research presents a starting point for hit-to-lead optimisation, which could lead to inhibition of the SOS response and prevent the acquisition of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachariah P. Schuurs
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - John P. McDonald
- Laboratory of Genomic Integrity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Laura V. Croft
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Derek J. Richard
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Roger Woodgate
- Laboratory of Genomic Integrity, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Neha S. Gandhi, ; Roger Woodgate,
| | - Neha S. Gandhi
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Neha S. Gandhi, ; Roger Woodgate,
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16
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Saurabh A, Prabhu NP. Concerted enhanced-sampling simulations to elucidate the helix-fibril transition pathway of intrinsically disordered α-Synuclein. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:1024-1041. [PMID: 36379279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.079] [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: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Fibril formation of α-synuclein is linked with Parkinson's disease. The intrinsically disordered nature of α-syn provides extensive conformational plasticity and becomes difficult to characterize its transition pathway from native monomeric to disease-associated fibril form. We implemented different simulation methods such as steered dynamics-umbrella sampling, and replica-exchange and conventional MD simulations to access various conformational states of α-syn. Nineteen distinct intermediate structures were identified by free energy landscape and cluster analysis. They were then sorted based on secondary structure and solvent exposure of fibril-core residues to illustrate the fibril dissociation pathway. The analysis showed that following the initial dissociation of the polypeptide chain from the fibril, α-syn might form either compact-conformations by long-range interactions or extended-conformations stabilized by local interactions. This leads α-syn to adapt two different pathways. The secondary structure, solvation, contact distance, interaction energies and backbone dihedrals of thirty-two selected residues were analyzed for all the 19 intermediates. The results suggested that formation of β-turns, reorganization of salt bridges, and dihedral changes in the hydrophobic regions are the major driving forces for helix-fibril transition. Structural features of the intermediates also correlated with the earlier experimental and computational studies. The study provides critical information on the fibrillation pathway of α-syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archi Saurabh
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046, India
| | - N Prakash Prabhu
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046, India.
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17
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Lu S, Hu L, Lin H, Judge A, Rivera P, Palaniappan M, Sankaran B, Wang J, Prasad BVV, Palzkill T. An active site loop toggles between conformations to control antibiotic hydrolysis and inhibition potency for CTX-M β-lactamase drug-resistance enzymes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6726. [PMID: 36344533 PMCID: PMC9640584 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34564-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
β-lactamases inactivate β-lactam antibiotics leading to drug resistance. Consequently, inhibitors of β-lactamases can combat this resistance, and the β-lactamase inhibitory protein (BLIP) is a naturally occurring inhibitor. The widespread CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15 β-lactamases have an 83% sequence identity. In this study, we show that BLIP weakly inhibits CTX-M-14 but potently inhibits CTX-M-15. The structure of the BLIP/CTX-M-15 complex reveals that binding is associated with a conformational change of an active site loop of β-lactamase. Surprisingly, the loop structure in the complex is similar to that in a drug-resistant variant (N106S) of CTX-M-14. We hypothesized that the pre-established favorable loop conformation of the N106S mutant would facilitate binding. The N106S substitution results in a ~100- and 10-fold increase in BLIP inhibition potency for CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15, respectively. Thus, this indicates that an active site loop in β-lactamase toggles between conformations that control antibiotic hydrolysis and inhibitor susceptibility. These findings highlight the role of accessible active site conformations in controlling enzyme activity and inhibitor susceptibility as well as the influence of mutations in selectively stabilizing discrete conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Liya Hu
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hanfeng Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Allison Judge
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paola Rivera
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Murugesan Palaniappan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - B V Venkataram Prasad
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timothy Palzkill
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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18
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Kashif Khan R, Meanwell NA, Hager HH. Pseudoprolines as stereoelectronically tunable proline isosteres. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 75:128983. [PMID: 36096342 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The cyclic structure of proline (Pro) confers unique conformational properties on this natural amino acid that influences polypeptide structure and function. Pseudoprolines are a family of Pro isosteres that incorporate a heteroatom, most prominently oxygen or sulfur but also silicon and selenium, to replace the Cβ or Cγ carbon atom of the pyrrolidine ring. These readily synthetically accessible structural motifs can facilitate facile molecular editing in a fashion that allows modulation of the amide bond topology of dipeptide elements and influence over ring pucker. While the properties of pseudoprolines have been exploited most prominently in the design of oligopeptide analogues, they have potential application in the design and optimization of small molecules. In this Digest, we summarize the physicochemical properties of pseudoprolines and illustrate their potential in drug discovery by surveying examples of applications in the design of bioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kashif Khan
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, 100 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Nicholas A Meanwell
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, NJ 08543-4000, USA.
| | - Harry H Hager
- Small Molecule Drug Discovery, Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Early Development, 200 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA.
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19
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Patarroyo ME, Bermudez A, Alba MP, Patarroyo MA, Suarez C, Aza-Conde J, Moreno-Vranich A, Vanegas M. Stereo electronic principles for selecting fully-protective, chemically-synthesised malaria vaccines. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926680. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility class II molecule-peptide-T-cell receptor (MHCII-p-TCR) complex-mediated antigen presentation for a minimal subunit-based, multi-epitope, multistage, chemically-synthesised antimalarial vaccine is essential for inducing an appropriate immune response. Deep understanding of this MHCII-p-TCR complex’s stereo-electronic characteristics is fundamental for vaccine development. This review encapsulates the main principles for achieving such epitopes’ perfect fit into MHC-II human (HLADRβ̞1*) or Aotus (Aona DR) molecules. The enormous relevance of several amino acids’ physico-chemical characteristics is analysed in-depth, as is data regarding a 26.5 ± 2.5Å distance between the farthest atoms fitting into HLA-DRβ1* structures’ Pockets 1 to 9, the role of polyproline II-like (PPIIL) structures having their O and N backbone atoms orientated for establishing H-bonds with specific HLA-DRβ1*-peptide binding region (PBR) residues. The importance of residues having specific charge and orientation towards the TCR for inducing appropriate immune activation, amino acids’ role and that of structures interfering with PPIIL formation and other principles are demonstrated which have to be taken into account when designing immune, protection-inducing peptide structures (IMPIPS) against diseases scourging humankind, malaria being one of them.
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20
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de Brevern AG. A Perspective on the (Rise and Fall of) Protein β-Turns. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12314. [PMID: 36293166 PMCID: PMC9604201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The β-turn is the third defined secondary structure after the α-helix and the β-sheet. The β-turns were described more than 50 years ago and account for more than 20% of protein residues. Nonetheless, they are often overlooked or even misunderstood. This poor knowledge of these local protein conformations is due to various factors, causes that I discuss here. For example, confusion still exists about the assignment of these local protein structures, their overlaps with other structures, the potential absence of a stabilizing hydrogen bond, the numerous types of β-turns and the software's difficulty in assigning or visualizing them. I also propose some ideas to potentially/partially remedy this and present why β-turns can still be helpful, even in the AlphaFold 2 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre G de Brevern
- Université Paris Cité and Université des Antilles and Université de la Réunion, INSERM UMR_S 1134, BIGR, DSIMB Team, F-75014 Paris, France
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21
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Lu H, Batey RA. Total synthesis of chaiyaphumines A-D: A case study comparing macrolactonization and macrolactamization approaches. Tetrahedron Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2022.154138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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22
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Tverdislov VA, Sidorova AE, Bagrova OE, Belova EV, Bystrov VS, Levashova NT, Lutsenko AO, Semenova EV, Shpigun DK. Chirality As a Symmetric Basis of Self-Organization of Biomacromolecules. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350922050190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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23
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Anticancer peptides mechanisms, simple and complex. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 368:110194. [PMID: 36195187 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Peptide therapy has started since 1920s with the advent of insulin application, and now it has emerged as a new approach in treatment of diseases including cancer. Using anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) is a promising way of cancer therapy as ACPs are continuing to be approved and arrived at major pharmaceutical markets. Traditional cancer treatments face different problems like intensive adverse effects to patient's body, cell resistance to conventional chemical drugs and in some worse cases the occurrence of cell multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancerous tissues against chemotherapy. On the other hand, there are some benefits conceived for peptides usage in treatment of diseases specifically cancer, as these compounds present favorable characteristics such as smaller size, high activity, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility in vivo, convenient and rapid way of synthesis, amenable to sequence modification and revision and there is no limitation for the type of cargo they carry. It is possible to achieve an optimum molecular and functional structure of peptides based on previous experience and bank of peptide motif data which may result in novel peptide design. Bioactive peptides are able to form pores in cell membrane and induce necrosis or apoptosis of abnormal cells. Moreover, recent researches have focused on the tumor recognizing peptide motifs with the ability to permeate to cancerous cells with the aim of cancer treatment at earlier stages. In this strategy the most important factors for addressing cancer are choosing peptides with easy accessibility to tumor cell without cytotoxicity effect towards normal cells. The peptides must also meet acceptable pharmacokinetic requirements. In this review, the characteristics of peptides and cancer cells are discussed. The various mechanisms of peptides' action proposed against cancer cells make the next part of discussion. It will be followed by giving information on peptides application, various methods of peptide designing along with introducing various databases. Future aspects of peptides for employing in area of cancer treatment come as conclusion at the end.
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Design, characterization and structure-function analysis of novel antimicrobial peptides based on the N-terminal CATH-2 fragment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12058. [PMID: 35835842 PMCID: PMC9283491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16303-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug resistance coupled with shrinking antibiotic pipelines has increased the demand of antimicrobials with novel mechanisms of action. Therefore, researchers across the globe are striving to develop new antimicrobial substances to alleviate the pressure on conventional antibiotic therapies. Host-Defence Peptides (HDPs) and their derivatives are emerging as effective therapeutic agents against microbial resistance. In this study, five analogs (DP1-5) of the N-terminal (N-15) fragment of CATH-2 were designed based on the delicate balance between various physicochemical properties such as charge, aliphatic character, amphipathicity and hydrophobicity. By means of in-silico and in-vitro studies a novel peptide (DP1) with the sequence “RFGRFLRKILRFLKK” was found to be more effective and less toxic than the N-terminal CATH-2 peptide. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were applied for structural insights. Antimicrobial, haemolytic, and cytotoxic activities were also assessed. The resulting peptide was characterized by low cytotoxicity, low haemolytic activity, and efficient anti-microbial activity. Structurally, it displayed strong helical properties irrespective of the solvent environment and was stable in membrane-mimicking environments. Taken together, the data suggests that DP1 can be explored as a promising therapeutic agent with possible clinical applications.
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25
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D'mello VC, Goldsztejn G, Rao Mundlapati V, Brenner V, Gloaguen E, Charnay‐Pouget F, Aitken DJ, Mons M. Characterization of Asx Turn Types and Their Connate Relationship with β‐Turns. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202104328. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202104328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Viola C. D'mello
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
- Present address: Graphene Research Labs KIADB IT Park Near Airport Bengaluru 562149 India
| | - Gildas Goldsztejn
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
- Present address: Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay (ISMO) 91405 Orsay France
| | - Venkateswara Rao Mundlapati
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
- Present address: Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (IRAP) Université de Toulouse (UPS), CNRS, CNES 9 Avenue du Colonel Roche 31028 Toulouse France
| | - Valérie Brenner
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
| | - Eric Gloaguen
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
| | - Florence Charnay‐Pouget
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay (ICMMO) 91405 Orsay France
- Present address: Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS SIGMA Clermont, ICCF 63000 Clermont-Ferrand France
| | - David J. Aitken
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay (ICMMO) 91405 Orsay France
| | - Michel Mons
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Laboratoire Interactions Dynamiques et Lasers (LIDYL) 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette France
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26
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Cowan AD, Ciulli A. Driving E3 Ligase Substrate Specificity for Targeted Protein Degradation: Lessons from Nature and the Laboratory. Annu Rev Biochem 2022; 91:295-319. [PMID: 35320687 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-032620-104421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Methods to direct the degradation of protein targets with proximity-inducing molecules that coopt the cellular degradation machinery are advancing in leaps and bounds, and diverse modalities are emerging. The most used and well-studied approach is to hijack E3 ligases of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. E3 ligases use specific molecular recognition to determine which proteins in the cell are ubiquitinated and degraded. This review focuses on the structural determinants of E3 ligase recruitment of natural substrates and neo-substrates obtained through monovalent molecular glues and bivalent proteolysis-targeting chimeras. We use structures to illustrate the different types of substrate recognition and assess the basis for neo-protein-protein interactions in ternary complex structures. The emerging structural and mechanistic complexity is reflective of the diverse physiological roles of protein ubiquitination. This molecular insight is also guiding the application of structure-based design approaches to the development of new and existing degraders as chemical tools and therapeutics. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 91 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus D Cowan
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom;
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom;
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27
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Bellotto O, Semeraro S, Bandiera A, Tramer F, Pavan N, Marchesan S. Polymer Conjugates of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) with d-Amino Acids (d-aa): State of the Art and Future Opportunities. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020446. [PMID: 35214178 PMCID: PMC8879212 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have enjoyed a renaissance, as the world is currently facing an emergency in terms of severe infections that evade antibiotics’ treatment. This is due to the increasing emergence and spread of resistance mechanisms. Covalent conjugation with polymers is an interesting strategy to modulate the pharmacokinetic profile of AMPs and enhance their biocompatibility profile. It can also be an effective approach to develop active coatings for medical implants and devices, and to avoid biofilm formation on their surface. In this concise review, we focus on the last 5 years’ progress in this area, pertaining in particular to AMPs that contain d-amino acids, as well as their role, and the advantages that may arise from their introduction into AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottavia Bellotto
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (O.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Sabrina Semeraro
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (O.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Antonella Bandiera
- Life Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.B.); (F.T.)
| | - Federica Tramer
- Life Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.B.); (F.T.)
| | - Nicola Pavan
- Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Silvia Marchesan
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (O.B.); (S.S.)
- Correspondence:
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28
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Lawler JT, Harrilal CP, DeBlase AF, Sibert EL, McLuckey SA, Zwier TS. Single-conformation spectroscopy of cold, protonated DPG-containing peptides: switching β-turn types and formation of a sequential type II/II' double β-turn. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:2095-2109. [PMID: 35019911 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp04852j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
D-Proline (DPro, DP) is widely utilized to form β-hairpin loops in engineered peptides that would otherwise be unstructured, most often as part of a DPG sub-unit that forms a β-turn. To observe whether DPG facilitated this effect in short protonated peptides, conformation specific IR-UV double resonance photofragment spectra of the cold (∼10 K) protonated DP and LP diastereomers of the pentapeptide YAPGA was carried out in the hydride stretch (2800-3700 cm-1) and amide I/II (1400-1800 cm-1) regions. A model localized Hamiltonian was developed to better describe the 1600-1800 cm-1 region commonly associated with the amide I vibrations. The CO stretch fundamentals experience extensive mixing with the N-H bending fundamentals of the NH3+ group in these protonated peptides. The model Hamiltonian accounts for experiment in quantitative detail. In the DP diastereomer, all the population is funneled into a single conformer which presented as a type II β-turn with A and DP in the i + 1 and i + 2 positions, respectively. This structure was not the anticipated type II' β-turn across DPG that we had hypothesized based on solution-phase propensities. Analysis of the conformational energy landscape shows that both steric and charge-induced effects play a role in the preferred formation of the type II β-turn. In contrast, the LP isomer forms three conformations with very different structures, none of which were type II/II' β-turns, confirming that LPG is not a β-turn former. Finally, single-conformation spectroscopy was also carried out on the extended peptide [YAADPGAAA + H]+ to determine whether moving the protonated N-terminus further from DPG would lead to β-hairpin formation. Despite funneling its entire population into a single peptide backbone structure, the assigned structure is not a β-hairpin, but a concatenated type II/type II' double β-turn that displaces the peptide backbone laterally by about 7.5 Å, but leaves the backbone oriented in its original direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Lawler
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, USA.
| | | | - Andrew F DeBlase
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, USA.
| | - Edwin L Sibert
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Scott A McLuckey
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, USA.
| | - Timothy S Zwier
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2084, USA. .,Gas Phase Chemical Physics, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
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29
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Nimer R, Kamel G, Obeidat MA, Dahabiyeh LA. Investigating the molecular structure of plasma in type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy by synchrotron Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 264:120259. [PMID: 34388428 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.120259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality which, in many cases, is derived from the progressive kidney dysfunction due to diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, synchrotron-Fourier-transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to identify molecular changes in the lipid and protein regions in the plasma of patients with different stages of DN (mild, moderate, severe and end-stage), and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without DN. Our results revealed different conformational changes in the proteins secondary structure between DN stages, and between DN and T2DM groups illustrated by peak shifts and intensity alterations. End-stage DN showed the highest CH2/CH3 ratio and intensity of the carbonyl group in protein-carbonyl region compared to other DN stages indicating high level of unsaturation and lipid peroxidation and oxidation conditions. Moreover, end-stage DN group was characterized by a decrease in amide I and amide II absorption signals which reflected a sign of hypoalbuminemia. When compared to T2DM, DN group demonstrated a higher oxidation state as confirmed via the high intensity of the carbonyl group and the high level of malondialdehyde. The current study highlights the promising role of SR-FTIR microspectroscopy as a new sensitive analytical approach that can be used to provide better understanding of the pathophysiology of DN, and guide the development of new preventive therapies and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Refat Nimer
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 22110 Irbid, Jordan.
| | - Gihan Kamel
- SESAME Synchrotron (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East), 19252 Allan, Jordan; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Motaz A Obeidat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology Division, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Lina A Dahabiyeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, 11942 Amman, Jordan.
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30
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Craveur P, Narwani TJ, Srinivasan N, Gelly JC, Rebehmed J, de Brevern AG. Shaking the β-Bulges. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 19:14-18. [PMID: 34115590 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2021.3088444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
β-bulges are irregularities inside the β-sheets. They represent more than 3 percent of the protein residues, i.e., they are as frequent as 3.10 helices. In terms of evolution, β-bulges are not more conserved than any other local protein conformations within homologous protein structures. In a first of its kind study, we have investigated the dynamical behaviour of β-bulges using the largest known set of protein molecular dynamics simulations. We observed that more than 50 percent of the existing β-bulges in protein crystal structures remained stable during dynamics while more than1/6th were not stable at all and disappeared entirely. Surprisingly, 1.1 percent of β-bulges that appeared remained stable. β-bulges have been categorized in different subtypes. The most common β-bulges' types are the smallest insertion in β-strands (namely AC and AG); they are found as stable as the whole β-bulges dataset. Low occurring types (namely PC and AS), that have the largest insertions, are significantly more stable than expected. Thus, this pioneer study allowed to precisely quantify the stability of the β-bulges, demonstrating their structural robustness, with few unexpected cases raising structural questions.
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31
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McTiernan TJ, Diaz DB, Saunders GJ, Sprang F, Yudin AK. Navigating complex peptide structures using macrocycle conformational maps. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:739-747. [PMID: 35755184 PMCID: PMC9175111 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00016d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of turn motifs that are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds can be useful in describing the conformation of peptide systems. However, this approach is somewhat insufficient for cyclic peptides because peptide regions that are not positioned within a hydrogen bond can be left with no description. Furthermore, non-regular secondary structures and other rarely-observed conformations can be left without detailed evaluation. Herein, we describe “higher-order” ϕ/ψ plots termed macrocycle conformational maps (MCMs) as a tool for evaluating and comparing the conformations of a series of structurally related macrocyclic peptides. Identification of turn motifs that are stabilized by hydrogen bonds can be useful in describing the conformation of peptides. Herein, we describe “higher-order” ϕ/ψ plots termed macrocycle conformational maps (MCMs) as a tool to evaluate and compare the conformations of related macrocycles.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J McTiernan
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Diego B Diaz
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - George J Saunders
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Fiona Sprang
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
| | - Andrei K Yudin
- Davenport Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto ON M5S 3H6 Canada
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32
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Sidorova A, Bystrov V, Lutsenko A, Shpigun D, Belova E, Likhachev I. Quantitative Assessment of Chirality of Protein Secondary Structures and Phenylalanine Peptide Nanotubes. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11123299. [PMID: 34947648 PMCID: PMC8707344 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In this study we consider the features of spatial-structure formation in proteins and their application in bioengineering. Methods for the quantitative assessment of the chirality of regular helical and irregular structures of proteins are presented. The features of self-assembly of phenylalanine (F) into peptide nanotubes (PNT), which form helices of different chirality, are also analyzed. A method is proposed for calculating the magnitude and sign of the chirality of helix-like peptide nanotubes using a sequence of vectors for the dipole moments of individual peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alla Sidorova
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (D.S.); (E.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Vladimir Bystrov
- Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology, The Branch of Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Aleksey Lutsenko
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (D.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Denis Shpigun
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (D.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Ekaterina Belova
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (A.L.); (D.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Ilya Likhachev
- Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology, The Branch of Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.B.); (I.L.)
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33
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Patarroyo ME, Patarroyo MA, Alba MP, Pabon L, Rugeles MT, Aguilar-Jimenez W, Florez L, Bermudez A, Rout AK, Griesinger C, Suarez CF, Aza-Conde J, Reyes C, Avendaño C, Samacá J, Camargo A, Silva Y, Forero M, Gonzalez E. The First Chemically-Synthesised, Highly Immunogenic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Peptides in DNA Genotyped Aotus Monkeys for Human Use. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724060. [PMID: 34539660 PMCID: PMC8446425 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-five peptides selected from functionally-relevant SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), membrane (M), and envelope (E) proteins were suitably modified for immunising MHC class II (MHCII) DNA-genotyped Aotus monkeys and matched with HLA-DRβ1* molecules for use in humans. This was aimed at producing the first minimal subunit-based, chemically-synthesised, immunogenic molecules (COLSARSPROT) covering several HLA alleles. They were predicted to cover 48.25% of the world’s population for 6 weeks (short-term) and 33.65% for 15 weeks (long-lasting) as they induced very high immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) and ELISA titres against S, M and E parental native peptides, SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies and host cell infection. The same immunological methods that led to identifying new peptides for inclusion in the COLSARSPROT mixture were used for antigenicity studies. Peptides were analysed with serum samples from patients suffering mild or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, thereby increasing chemically-synthesised peptides’ potential coverage for the world populations up to 62.9%. These peptides’ 3D structural analysis (by 1H-NMR acquired at 600 to 900 MHz) suggested structural-functional immunological association. This first multi-protein, multi-epitope, minimal subunit-based, chemically-synthesised, highly immunogenic peptide mixture highlights such chemical synthesis methodology’s potential for rapidly obtaining very pure, highly reproducible, stable, cheap, easily-modifiable peptides for inducing immune protection against COVID-19, covering a substantial percentage of the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel E Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martha P Alba
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Pabon
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María T Rugeles
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Lizdany Florez
- Grupo Inmunovirología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Adriana Bermudez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ashok K Rout
- Department of NMR Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department of NMR Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carlos F Suarez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Aza-Conde
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - César Reyes
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Catalina Avendaño
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia.,Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jhoan Samacá
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Anny Camargo
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yolanda Silva
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Martha Forero
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Edgardo Gonzalez
- Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
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34
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Utgés JS, Tsenkov MI, Dietrich NJM, MacGowan SA, Barton GJ. Ankyrin repeats in context with human population variation. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009335. [PMID: 34428215 PMCID: PMC8415598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ankyrin protein repeats bind to a wide range of substrates and are one of the most common protein motifs in nature. Here, we collate a high-quality alignment of 7,407 ankyrin repeats and examine for the first time, the distribution of human population variants from large-scale sequencing of healthy individuals across this family. Population variants are not randomly distributed across the genome but are constrained by gene essentiality and function. Accordingly, we interpret the population variants in context with evolutionary constraint and structural features including secondary structure, accessibility and protein-protein interactions across 383 three-dimensional structures of ankyrin repeats. We find five positions that are highly conserved across homologues and also depleted in missense variants within the human population. These positions are significantly enriched in intra-domain contacts and so likely to be key for repeat packing. In contrast, a group of evolutionarily divergent positions are found to be depleted in missense variants in human and significantly enriched in protein-protein interactions. Our analysis also suggests the domain has three, not two surfaces, each with different patterns of enrichment in protein-substrate interactions and missense variants. Our findings will be of interest to those studying or engineering ankyrin-repeat containing proteins as well as those interpreting the significance of disease variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier S. Utgés
- Division of Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maxim I. Tsenkov
- Division of Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Noah J. M. Dietrich
- Division of Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart A. MacGowan
- Division of Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey J. Barton
- Division of Computational Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
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35
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Zhang R, Stahr MC, Kennedy MA. Introduction of a new scheme for classifying β-turns in protein structures. Proteins 2021; 90:110-122. [PMID: 34322903 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Protein β-turn classification remains an area of ongoing development in structural biology research. While the commonly used nomenclature defining type I, type II and type IV β-turns was introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, refinements of β-turn type definitions have been introduced as recently as 2019 by Dunbrack, Jr and co-workers who expanded the number of β-turn types to 18 (Shapovalov et al, PLOS Computat. Biol., 15, e1006844, 2019). Based on their analysis of 13 030 turns from 1074 ultrahigh resolution (≤1.2 Å) protein structures, they used a new clustering algorithm to expand the definitions used to classify protein β-turns and introduced a new nomenclature system. We recently encountered a specific problem when classifying β-turns in crystal structures of pentapeptide repeat proteins (PRPs) determined in our lab that are largely composed of β-turns that often lie close to, but just outside of, canonical β-turn regions. To address this problem, we devised a new scheme that merges the Klyne-Prelog stereochemistry nomenclature and definitions with the Ramachandran plot. The resulting Klyne-Prelog-modified Ramachandran plot scheme defines 1296 distinct potential β-turn classifications that cover all possible protein β-turn space with a nomenclature that indicates the stereochemistry of i + 1 and i + 2 backbone dihedral angles. The utility of the new classification scheme was illustrated by re-classification of the β-turns in all known protein structures in the PRP superfamily and further assessed using a database of 16 657 high-resolution protein structures (≤1.5 Å) from which 522 776 β-turns were identified and classified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruojing Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael C Stahr
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael A Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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36
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Prabakaran P, Chowdhury PS. Landscape of Non-canonical Cysteines in Human V H Repertoire Revealed by Immunogenetic Analysis. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107831. [PMID: 32610132 PMCID: PMC7326410 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human antibody repertoire data captured through next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled deeper insights into B cell immunogenetics and paratope diversity. By analyzing large public NGS datasets, we map the landscape of non-canonical cysteines in human variable heavy-chain domains (VHs) at the repertoire level. We identify remarkable usage of non-canonical cysteines within the heavy-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR-H3) and other CDRs and framework regions. Furthermore, our study reveals the diversity and location of non-canonical cysteines and their associated motifs in human VHs, which are reminiscent of and more complex than those found in other non-human species such as chicken, camel, llama, shark, and cow. These results explain how non-canonical cysteines strategically occur in the human antibodyome to expand its paratope space. This study will guide the design of human antibodies harboring disulfide-stabilized long CDR-H3s to access difficult-to-target epitopes and influence a paradigm shift in developability involving non-canonical cysteines. NGS-based non-canonical cysteine landscape in human VHs 1 to 8 non-canonical cysteines and up to 30% in long CDR-H3s An array of potential disulfide motifs adds paratope diversity Non-canonical cysteines in human VHs are reminiscent of lower animals
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37
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Taylor C, Schönberger N, Laníková A, Patzschke M, Drobot B, Žídek L, Lederer F. Investigation of the structure and dynamics of gallium binding to high-affinity peptides elucidated by multi-scale simulation, quantum chemistry, NMR and ITC. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:8618-8632. [PMID: 33876023 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp00356a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Gallium (as Ga3+) is a Group IIIa metal and its recovery from wastewaters has become increasingly important for its reuse. The use of peptides for recycling offers a low-cost and environmentally-friendly option but the structural characteristics of peptides likely to bind Ga3+ are largely unknown. Multiple computational methods, coupled with experimental verification via NMR and Isothermal Calorimetry (ITC), were used to establish that Ga3+ binds with high affinity to peptide sequences and to elucidate the structural characteristics that contributed. It was demonstrated that peptide pre-organisation is key to Ga3+ binding and that a favourable binding position is necessarily governed by the size and shape of the electrostatic environment as much as individual electrostatic interactions with peptide residues themselves. Given favourable conditions, Ga3+ retrieved plausible binding positions involving both charged and uncharged residues that greatly increases the range of bonding possibilities with other peptide sequences and offers insights for binding other metals. The addition of pH buffer substantially improved the affinity of Ga3+ and a structural role for a buffer component was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Taylor
- Department of Chemistry of the f-elements, Institute of Resource Ecology (IRE), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
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38
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Moritsugu K, Takeuchi K, Kamiya N, Higo J, Yasumatsu I, Fukunishi Y, Fukuda I. Flexibility and Cell Permeability of Cyclic Ras-Inhibitor Peptides Revealed by the Coupled Nosé-Hoover Equation. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:1921-1930. [PMID: 33835817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying the cell permeability of cyclic peptides is crucial for their rational drug design. However, the reasons remain unclear why a minor chemical modification, such as the difference between Ras inhibitors cyclorasin 9A5 and 9A54, can substantially change a peptide's permeability. To address this question, we performed enhanced sampling simulations of these two 11-mer peptides using the coupled Nosé-Hoover equation (cNH) we recently developed. The present cNH simulations realized temperature fluctuations over a wide range (240-600 K) in a dynamic manner, allowing structural samplings that were well validated by nuclear Overhauser effect measurements. The derived structural ensembles were comprehensively analyzed by all-atom structural clustering, mapping the derived clusters onto principal components (PCs) that characterize the cyclic structure, and calculating cluster-dependent geometric and chemical properties. The planar-open conformation was dominant in aqueous solvent, owing to inclusion of the Trp side chain in the main-chain ring, while the compact-closed conformation, which favors cell permeation due to its compactness and high polarity, was also accessible. Conformation-dependent cell permeability was observed in one of the derived PCs, demonstrating that decreased cell permeability in 9A54 is due to the high free energy barrier separating the two conformations. The origin of the change in free energy surface was determined to be loss of flexibility in the modified residues 2-3, resulting from the increased bulkiness of their side chains. The derived molecular mechanism of cell permeability highlights the significance of complete structural dynamics surveys for accelerating drug development with cyclic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Moritsugu
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehirocho, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Koh Takeuchi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Narutoshi Kamiya
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.,Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Junichi Higo
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.,Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Isao Yasumatsu
- Structure-Based Drug Design Group, Organic Synthesis Department, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Fukunishi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Ikuo Fukuda
- Graduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.,Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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39
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Batkhishig D, Enkhbayar P, Kretsinger RH, Matsushima N. A crucial residue in the hydrophobic core of the solenoid structure of leucine rich repeats. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2021; 1869:140631. [PMID: 33631375 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2021.140631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Leucine rich repeats (LRRs) with 20-30 residues form a super helix arrangement. Individual LRRs are separated into a highly conserved segment with a highly conserved (HCS) and a variable segment (VS). In LRRs short β-strands in HCS stack in parallel, while VS adopts various secondary structures. Among eleven classes recognized, only RI-like, Cysteine-containing (CC), and GALA classes adopt an α-helix. However, the repeat unit lengths are usually different from each other. We performed some analyses based on the atomic coordinates in the known LRR structures. In the VS consensuses of the three classes, position 8 in the VS part is, in common, occupied by conserved aliphatic residue adopting an α-helix. This aliphatic residue is near to the two conserved hydrophobic residues at position 4 (in the center of β-strands) in two adjacent HCS parts. The conserved aliphatic residue plays a crucial role to preserve two parallel β-strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashdavaa Batkhishig
- Department of Physics, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Mongolian National University of Education, Ulaanbaatar 210648, Mongolia
| | - Purevjav Enkhbayar
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia.
| | - Robert H Kretsinger
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Norio Matsushima
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Tandem Repeats, Noboribetsu 059-0464, Japan; Center for Medical Education, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan.
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40
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DuPai CD, Davies BW, Wilke CO. A systematic analysis of the beta hairpin motif in the Protein Data Bank. Protein Sci 2021; 30:613-623. [PMID: 33389765 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The beta hairpin motif is a ubiquitous protein structural motif that can be found in molecules across the tree of life. This motif, which is also popular in synthetically designed proteins and peptides, is known for its stability and adaptability to broad functions. Here, we systematically probe all 49,000 unique beta hairpin substructures contained within the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to uncover key characteristics correlated with stable beta hairpin structure, including amino acid biases and enriched interstrand contacts. We find that position specific amino acid preferences, while seen throughout the beta hairpin structure, are most evident within the turn region, where they depend on subtle turn dynamics associated with turn length and secondary structure. We also establish a set of broad design principles, such as the inclusion of aspartic acid residues at a specific position and the careful consideration of desired secondary structure when selecting residues for the turn region, that can be applied to the generation of libraries encoding proteins or peptides containing beta hairpin structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory D DuPai
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan W Davies
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.,Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Claus O Wilke
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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41
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Li L, Belcher AM, Loke DK. Simulating selective binding of a biological template to a nanoscale architecture: a core concept of a clamp-based binding-pocket-favored N-terminal-domain assembly. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:24214-24227. [PMID: 33289758 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07320b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biological template and its mutants have vital significance in next generation remediation, electrochemical, photovoltaic, catalytic, sensing and digital memory devices. However, a microscopic model describing the biotemplating process is generally lacking on account of modelling complexity, which has prevented widespread commercial use of biotemplates. Here, we demonstrate M13-biotemplating kinetics in atomic resolution by leveraging large-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The model reveals the assembly of gold nanoparticles on two experimentally-based M13 phage types using full M13-capsid structural models and with polarizable gold nanoparticles in explicit solvent. Both mechanistic and structural insights into the selective binding affinity of the M13 phage to gold nanoparticles are obtained based on a previously unconsidered clamp-based binding-pocket-favored N-terminal-domain assembly and also on surface-peptide flexibility. These results provide a deeper level of understanding of protein sequence-based affinity and open the route for genetically engineering a wide range of 3D electrodes for high-density low-cost device integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunna Li
- Department of Biological Engineering, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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42
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Mitsikas DA, Glykos NM. A molecular dynamics simulation study on the propensity of Asn-Gly-containing heptapeptides towards β-turn structures: Comparison with ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243429. [PMID: 33270807 PMCID: PMC7714341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Both molecular mechanical and quantum mechanical calculations play an important role in describing the behavior and structure of molecules. In this work, we compare for the same peptide systems the results obtained from folding molecular dynamics simulations with previously reported results from quantum mechanical calculations. More specifically, three molecular dynamics simulations of 5 μs each in explicit water solvent were carried out for three Asn-Gly-containing heptapeptides, in order to study their folding and dynamics. Previous data, based on quantum mechanical calculations within the DFT framework have shown that these peptides adopt β-turn structures in aqueous solution, with type I’ β-turn being the most preferred motif. The results from our analyses indicate that at least for the given systems, force field and simulation protocol, the two methods diverge in their predictions. The possibility of a force field-dependent deficiency is examined as a possible source of the observed discrepancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios A. Mitsikas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, University campus, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Nicholas M. Glykos
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, University campus, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- * E-mail:
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43
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Zhang T, Hansen K, Politis A, Müller MM. An Unusually Rapid Protein Backbone Modification Stabilizes the Essential Bacterial Enzyme MurA. Biochemistry 2020; 59:3683-3695. [PMID: 32930597 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Proteins are subject to spontaneous rearrangements of their backbones. Most prominently, asparagine and aspartate residues isomerize to their β-linked isomer, isoaspartate (isoAsp), on time scales ranging from days to centuries. Such modifications are typically considered "molecular wear-and-tear", destroying protein function. However, the observation that some proteins, including the essential bacterial enzyme MurA, harbor stoichiometric amounts of isoAsp suggests that this modification can confer advantageous properties. Here, we demonstrate that nature exploits an isoAsp residue within a hairpin to stabilize MurA. We found that isoAsp formation in MurA is unusually rapid and critically dependent on folding status. Moreover, perturbation of the isoAsp-containing hairpin via site-directed mutagenesis causes aggregation of MurA variants. Structural mass spectrometry revealed that this effect is caused by local protein unfolding in MurA mutants. Our findings demonstrate that MurA evolved to "mature" via a spontaneous post-translational incorporation of a β-amino acid, which raises the possibility that isoAsp-containing hairpins may serve as a structural motif of biological importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianze Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
| | - Kjetil Hansen
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
| | - Argyris Politis
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel M Müller
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom
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44
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de Brevern AG. Impact of protein dynamics on secondary structure prediction. Biochimie 2020; 179:14-22. [PMID: 32946990 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein 3D structures support their biological functions. As the number of protein structures is negligible in regards to the number of available protein sequences, prediction methodologies relying only on protein sequences are essential tools. In this field, protein secondary structure prediction (PSSPs) is a mature area, and is considered to have reached a plateau. Nonetheless, proteins are highly dynamical macromolecules, a property that could impact the PSSP methods. Indeed, in a previous study, the stability of local protein conformations was evaluated demonstrating that some regions easily changed to another type of secondary structure. The protein sequences of this dataset were used by PSSPs and their results compared to molecular dynamics to investigate their potential impact on the quality of the secondary structure prediction. Interestingly, a direct link is observed between the quality of the prediction and the stability of the assignment to the secondary structure state. The more stable a local protein conformation is, the better the prediction will be. The secondary structure assignment not taken from the crystallized structures but from the conformations observed during the dynamics slightly increase the quality of the secondary structure prediction. These results show that evaluation of PSSPs can be done differently, but also that the notion of dynamics can be included in development of PSSPs and other approaches such as de novo approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre G de Brevern
- Biologie Intégrée Du Globule Rouge UMR_S1134, Inserm, Université de Paris, Univ. de la Réunion, Univ. des Antilles, F-75739, Paris, France; Laboratoire D'Excellence GR-Ex, F-75739, Paris, France; Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine (INTS), F-75739, Paris, France; IBL, F-75015, Paris, France.
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45
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Composition and in silico structural analysis of fibroin from liquid silk of non-mulberry silkworm Antheraea assamensis. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 163:1947-1958. [PMID: 32910960 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.08.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Silk is spun from the liquid precursor known as liquid silk secreted from the posterior part and stored in the silk gland lumen with occurrence of many momentary events. The liquid silk in the silk gland is transformed to the spun silk fibre. In this study the elucidation of the protein components of liquid silk from the posterior part of the silk gland (PSG) of saturniid silkworm Antheraea assamensis along with its structural characterization has been reported. The 3D model of the N-terminal amorphous portion with some repeat crystalline motifs (19-255) of core protein fibroin has also been constructed. 1D and 2D electrophoresis revealed the homo-dimeric structure of the silk protein. Secondary structure analysis by Circular dichroism, FTIR spectroscopy showed α helical structural component as predominant conformation in the liquid silk. The crystalline structure investigated through X ray diffraction (XRD) analysis also revealed the presence of less ordered amorphous α helical conformation in the liquid silk. The 3D structural model proposed of the residues from 19 to 255 has revealed structural stability throughout the molecular dynamics simulation process. This study will provide the detailed structural information and in silico analysis of the core protein present in the liquid silk of PSG.
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46
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Predicting Secondary Structure Propensities in IDPs Using Simple Statistics from Three-Residue Fragments. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:5447-5459. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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47
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Khatri B, Majumder P, Nagesh J, Penmatsa A, Chatterjee J. Increasing protein stability by engineering the n → π* interaction at the β-turn. Chem Sci 2020; 11:9480-9487. [PMID: 34094214 PMCID: PMC8161691 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc03060k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abundant n → π* interactions between adjacent backbone carbonyl groups, identified by statistical analysis of protein structures, are predicted to play an important role in dictating the structure of proteins. However, experimentally testing the prediction in proteins has been challenging due to the weak nature of this interaction. By amplifying the strength of the n → π* interaction via amino acid substitution and thioamide incorporation at a solvent exposed β-turn within the GB1 proteins and Pin 1 WW domain, we demonstrate that an n → π* interaction increases the structural stability of proteins by restricting the ϕ torsion angle. Our results also suggest that amino acid side-chain identity and its rotameric conformation play an important and decisive role in dictating the strength of an n → π* interaction. Amino acid residues adopt a right-handed α-helical conformation with increasing strength of the n → π* interaction. We also demonstrate a direct consequence of n → π* interactions on enhancing the structural stability of proteins.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavesh Khatri
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 India
| | - Puja Majumder
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 India
| | - Jayashree Nagesh
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore India
| | - Aravind Penmatsa
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 India
| | - Jayanta Chatterjee
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560012 India
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48
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Râpă M, Gaidău C, Stefan LM, Matei E, Niculescu M, Berechet MD, Stanca M, Tablet C, Tudorache M, Gavrilă R, Predescu C, Vidu R. New Nanofibers Based on Protein By-Products with Bioactive Potential for Tissue Engineering. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 13:E3149. [PMID: 32679796 PMCID: PMC7412532 DOI: 10.3390/ma13143149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Concentrated collagen hydrolysate (HC10CC), rabbit collagen glue (RCG), and keratin hydrolysate (KH) were investigated in terms of their extraction from mammalian by-products and processing by electrospinning. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and indentation tests. The cytotoxicity of the electrospun nanofibers was conducted on L929 fibroblast cells using MTT and LDH assays and cell morphology observations. The electrospun RCG and KH nanofibers morphology showed an average size of nanofibers ranging between 44 and 410 nm, while the electrospun HC10CC nanofibers exhibited higher sizes. The ATR-FTIR spectra performed both on extracted proteins and electrospun nanofibers showed that the triple helix structure of collagen is partially preserved. The results were in agreement with the circular dichroism analysis for protein extracts. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of electrospun KH nanofibers were superior to those of electrospun RCG nanofibers. Based on both in vitro quantitative and qualitative analysis, the electrospun nanofibers were not cytotoxic, inducing a healthy cellular response. The results of new electrospun protein-based nanofibers may be useful for further research on bioactive properties of these nanofibers for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Râpă
- Faculty of Material Sciences and Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Spl. Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.); (E.M.); (C.P.); (R.V.)
| | - Carmen Gaidău
- National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather- Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 031215 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (M.D.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Laura Mihaela Stefan
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296 Splaiul Independenţei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Ecaterina Matei
- Faculty of Material Sciences and Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Spl. Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.); (E.M.); (C.P.); (R.V.)
| | - Mihaela Niculescu
- National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather- Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 031215 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (M.D.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Mariana Daniela Berechet
- National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather- Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 031215 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (M.D.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Maria Stanca
- National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather- Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 031215 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (M.D.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Cristina Tablet
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 4–12 Blvd. Regina Elisabeta, 030018 Bucharest, Romania; (C.T.); (M.T.)
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Titu Maiorescu University, Gh. Sincai Bd. 16, 040317 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mădălina Tudorache
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 4–12 Blvd. Regina Elisabeta, 030018 Bucharest, Romania; (C.T.); (M.T.)
| | - Raluca Gavrilă
- Nano-scale Structuring and Characterization Laboratory, National Institute for R&D in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, R-077190 Voluntari, Romania;
| | - Cristian Predescu
- Faculty of Material Sciences and Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Spl. Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.); (E.M.); (C.P.); (R.V.)
| | - Ruxandra Vidu
- Faculty of Material Sciences and Engineering, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 313 Spl. Independentei, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (M.R.); (E.M.); (C.P.); (R.V.)
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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49
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Crecente-Garcia S, Neckebroeck A, Clark JS, Smith BO, Thomson AR. β-Turn Mimics by Chemical Ligation. Org Lett 2020; 22:4424-4428. [PMID: 32406695 PMCID: PMC7304061 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c01427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We report a simple reductive amination protocol to ligate two peptides, while simultaneously installing a β-turn mimic at the ligation junction. This strategy uses commercially available materials, mild chemical conditions, and a chemoselective ligation reaction of unprotected peptide substrates accessed through standard solid phase methods. This system was implemented in a designed β-hairpin system, and biophysical analysis demonstrates effective mimicry of the β-turn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Crecente-Garcia
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University
Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Albane Neckebroeck
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University
Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - J. Stephen Clark
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University
Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Brian O. Smith
- Institute
of Molecular Cell & Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Andrew R. Thomson
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Joseph Black Building, University
Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
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50
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D TK, Jain N, Kumar S U, Jena PP, Ramamoorthy S, Priya Doss C G, Zayed H. Molecular dynamics simulations to decipher the structural and functional consequences of pathogenic missense mutations in the galactosylceramidase (GALC) protein causing Krabbe’s disease. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:1795-1810. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1742790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thirumal Kumar D
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nikita Jain
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Udhaya Kumar S
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Prangya Paramita Jena
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Siva Ramamoorthy
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - George Priya Doss C
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Hatem Zayed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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