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Salvatti BA, Chagas MA, Fernandes PO, Ladeira YFX, Bozzi AS, Valadares VS, Valente AP, de Miranda AS, Rocha WR, Maltarollo VG, Moraes AH. Understanding the Enzyme ( S)-Norcoclaurine Synthase Promiscuity to Aldehydes and Ketones. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4462-4474. [PMID: 38776464 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The (S)-norcoclaurine synthase from Thalictrum flavum (TfNCS) stereoselectively catalyzes the Pictet-Spengler reaction between dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde to give (S)-norcoclaurine. TfNCS can catalyze the Pictet-Spengler reaction with various aldehydes and ketones, leading to diverse tetrahydroisoquinolines. This substrate promiscuity positions TfNCS as a highly promising enzyme for synthesizing fine chemicals. Understanding carbonyl-containing substrates' structural and electronic signatures that influence TfNCS activity can help expand its applications in the synthesis of different compounds and aid in protein optimization strategies. In this study, we investigated the influence of the molecular properties of aldehydes and ketones on their reactivity in the TfNCS-catalyzed Pictet-Spengler reaction. Initially, we compiled a library of reactive and unreactive compounds from previous publications. We also performed enzymatic assays using nuclear magnetic resonance to identify some reactive and unreactive carbonyl compounds, which were then included in the library. Subsequently, we employed QSAR and DFT calculations to establish correlations between substrate-candidate structures and reactivity. Our findings highlight correlations of structural and stereoelectronic features, including the electrophilicity of the carbonyl group, to the reactivity of aldehydes and ketones toward the TfNCS-catalyzed Pictet-Spengler reaction. Interestingly, experimental data of seven compounds out of fifty-three did not correlate with the electrophilicity of the carbonyl group. For these seven compounds, we identified unfavorable interactions between them and the TfNCS. Our results demonstrate the applications of in silico techniques in understanding enzyme promiscuity and specificity, with a particular emphasis on machine learning methodologies, DFT electronic structure calculations, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunno A Salvatti
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Chagas
- Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, João Monlevade, Minas Gerais 35930-314, Brazil
| | - Phillipe O Fernandes
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Yan F X Ladeira
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Aline S Bozzi
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Veronica S Valadares
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Valente
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21.941-902, Brazil
| | - Amanda S de Miranda
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Willian R Rocha
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Vinicius G Maltarollo
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Adolfo H Moraes
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
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Li Q, Lenertz M, Armstrong Z, MacRae A, Feng L, Ugrinov A, Yang Z. A Protocol to Depict the Proteolytic Processes Using a Combination of Metal-Organic Materials (MOMs), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Bio Protoc 2024; 14:e4909. [PMID: 38213322 PMCID: PMC10777052 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis is a critical biochemical process yet a challenging field to study experimentally due to the self-degradation of a protease and the complex, dynamic degradation steps of a substrate. Mass spectrometry (MS) is the traditional way for proteolytic studies, yet it is challenging when time-resolved, step-by-step details of the degradation process are needed. We recently found a way to resolve the cleavage site, preference/selectivity of cleavage regions, and proteolytic kinetics by combining site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) of protein substrate, time-resolved two-dimensional (2D) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, protease immobilization via metal-organic materials (MOMs), and MS. The method has been demonstrated on a model substrate and protease, yet there is a lack of details on the practical operations to carry out our strategy. Thus, this protocol summarizes the key steps and considerations when carrying out the EPR/MS study on proteolytic processes, which can be generalized to study other protein/polypeptide substrates in proteolysis. Details for the experimental operation and cautions of each step are reported with figures illustrating the concepts. This protocol provides an effective approach to understanding the proteolytic process with the advantages of offering time-resolved, residue-level resolution of structural basis underlying the process. Such information is important for revealing the cleavage site and proteolytic mechanisms of unknown proteases. The advantage of EPR, probing the target substrate regardless of the complexities caused by the proteases and their self-degradation, offers a practically effective, rapid, and easy-to-operate approach to studying proteolysis. Key features • Combining protease immobilization, EPR, spin labeling, and MS experimental methods allows for the analysis of proteolysis process in real time. • Reveals cleavage site, kinetics of product generation, and preference of cleavage regions via time-resolved SDSL-EPR. • MS confirms EPR findings and helps depict the sequences and populations of the cleaved segments in real time. • The demonstrated method can be generalized to other proteins or polypeptide substrates upon proteolysis by other proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaobin Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Mary Lenertz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Zoe Armstrong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Austin MacRae
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Li Feng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Angel Ugrinov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
| | - Zhongyu Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58102, USA
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Teixeira LC, Coimbra JT, Ramos MJ, Fernandes PA. Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 Proteolytic Cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Mechanistic Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics Study to Inspire the Design of New Drugs To Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:2510-2521. [PMID: 35549216 PMCID: PMC9113003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite the development of vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, there is an urgent need for efficient drugs to treat infected patients. An attractive drug target is the human transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) because of its vital role in the viral infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 by activation of the virus spike protein (S protein). Having in mind that the information derived from quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) studies could be an important tool in the design of transition-state (TS) analogue inhibitors, we resorted to adiabatic QM/MM calculations to determine the mechanism of the first step (acylation) of proteolytic cleavage of the S protein with atomistic details. Acylation occurred in two stages: (i) proton transfer from Ser441 to His296 concerted with the nucleophilic attack of Ser441 to the substrate's P1-Arg and (ii) proton transfer from His296 to the P1'-Ser residue concerted with the cleavage of the ArgP1-SerP1' peptide bond, with a Gibbs activation energy of 17.1 and 15.8 kcal mol-1, relative to the reactant. An oxyanion hole composed of two hydrogen bonds stabilized the rate-limiting TS by 8 kcal mol-1. An analysis of the TMPRSS2 interactions with the high-energy, short-lived tetrahedral intermediate highlighted the limitations of current clinical inhibitors and pointed out specific ways to develop higher-affinity TS analogue inhibitors. The results support the development of more efficient drugs against SARS-CoV-2 using a human target, free from resistance development.
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Zheng C, Schneider M, Marion A, Antes I. The Q41R mutation in the HCV-protease enhances the reactivity towards MAVS by suppressing non-reactive pathways. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:2126-2138. [PMID: 35029245 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05002h] [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
Recent experimental findings pointed out a new mutation in the HCV protease, Q41R, responsible for a significant enhancement of the enzyme's reactivity towards the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS). The Q41R mutation is located rather far from the active site, and its involvement in the overall reaction mechanism is thus unclear. We used classical molecular dynamics and QM/MM to study the acylation reaction of HCV NS3/4A protease variants bound to MAVS and the NS4A/4B substrate and uncovered the indirect mechanism by which the Q41R mutation plays a critical role in the efficient cleavage of the substrate. Our simulations reveal that there are two major conformations of the MAVS H1'(p) residue for the wild type protease and only one conformation for the Q41R mutant. The conformational space of H1'(p) is restricted by the Q41R mutation due to a π-π stacking between H1'(p) and R41 as well as a strong hydrogen bond between the backbone of H57 and the side chain of R41. Further QM/MM calculations indicate that the complex with the conformation ruled out by the Q41R substitution is a non-reactive species due to its higher free energy barrier for the acylation reaction. Based on our calculations, we propose a kinetic mechanism that explains experimental data showing an increase of apparent rate constants for MAVS cleavage in Q41R mutants. Our model predicts that the non-reactive conformation of the enzyme-substrate complex modulates reaction kinetics like an uncompetitive inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zheng
- Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM School of Life Sciences, Freising 85354, Germany. .,Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM Center for Functional Protein Assemblies, Garching 85747, Germany
| | - Markus Schneider
- Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM School of Life Sciences, Freising 85354, Germany. .,Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM Center for Functional Protein Assemblies, Garching 85747, Germany
| | - Antoine Marion
- Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM School of Life Sciences, Freising 85354, Germany. .,Middle East Technical University, Department of Chemistry, Ankara 06800, Turkey.
| | - Iris Antes
- Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM School of Life Sciences, Freising 85354, Germany. .,Technische Universität München (TUM), TUM Center for Functional Protein Assemblies, Garching 85747, Germany
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Elsässer B, Goettig P. Mechanisms of Proteolytic Enzymes and Their Inhibition in QM/MM Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3232. [PMID: 33810118 PMCID: PMC8004986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental evidence for enzymatic mechanisms is often scarce, and in many cases inadvertently biased by the employed methods. Thus, apparently contradictory model mechanisms can result in decade long discussions about the correct interpretation of data and the true theory behind it. However, often such opposing views turn out to be special cases of a more comprehensive and superior concept. Molecular dynamics (MD) and the more advanced molecular mechanical and quantum mechanical approach (QM/MM) provide a relatively consistent framework to treat enzymatic mechanisms, in particular, the activity of proteolytic enzymes. In line with this, computational chemistry based on experimental structures came up with studies on all major protease classes in recent years; examples of aspartic, metallo-, cysteine, serine, and threonine protease mechanisms are well founded on corresponding standards. In addition, experimental evidence from enzyme kinetics, structural research, and various other methods supports the described calculated mechanisms. One step beyond is the application of this information to the design of new and powerful inhibitors of disease-related enzymes, such as the HIV protease. In this overview, a few examples demonstrate the high potential of the QM/MM approach for sophisticated pharmaceutical compound design and supporting functions in the analysis of biomolecular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Goettig
- Structural Biology Group, Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
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Ochoa R, Magnitov M, Laskowski RA, Cossio P, Thornton JM. An automated protocol for modelling peptide substrates to proteases. BMC Bioinformatics 2020; 21:586. [PMID: 33375946 PMCID: PMC7771086 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-03931-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proteases are key drivers in many biological processes, in part due to their specificity towards their substrates. However, depending on the family and molecular function, they can also display substrate promiscuity which can also be essential. Databases compiling specificity matrices derived from experimental assays have provided valuable insights into protease substrate recognition. Despite this, there are still gaps in our knowledge of the structural determinants. Here, we compile a set of protease crystal structures with bound peptide-like ligands to create a protocol for modelling substrates bound to protease structures, and for studying observables associated to the binding recognition. RESULTS As an application, we modelled a subset of protease-peptide complexes for which experimental cleavage data are available to compare with informational entropies obtained from protease-specificity matrices. The modelled complexes were subjected to conformational sampling using the Backrub method in Rosetta, and multiple observables from the simulations were calculated and compared per peptide position. We found that some of the calculated structural observables, such as the relative accessible surface area and the interaction energy, can help characterize a protease's substrate recognition, giving insights for the potential prediction of novel substrates by combining additional approaches. CONCLUSION Overall, our approach provides a repository of protease structures with annotated data, and an open source computational protocol to reproduce the modelling and dynamic analysis of the protease-peptide complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Ochoa
- Biophysics of Tropical Diseases, Max Planck Tandem Group, University of Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Mikhail Magnitov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
- Department of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Russia, 141701
| | - Roman A Laskowski
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Pilar Cossio
- Biophysics of Tropical Diseases, Max Planck Tandem Group, University of Antioquia, 050010, Medellín, Colombia
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Janet M Thornton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
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A De Novo Designed Esterase with p-Nitrophenyl Acetate Hydrolysis Activity. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204658. [PMID: 33066055 PMCID: PMC7587395 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Esterases are a large family of enzymes with wide applications in the industry. However, all esterases originated from natural sources, limiting their use in harsh environments or newly- emerged reactions. In this study, we designed a new esterase to develop a new protocol to satisfy the needs for better biocatalysts. The ideal spatial conformation of the serine catalytic triad and the oxygen anion hole at the substrate-binding site was constructed by quantum mechanical calculation. The catalytic triad and oxygen anion holes were then embedded in the protein scaffold using the new enzyme protocol in Rosetta 3. The design results were subsequently evaluated, and optimized designs were used for expression and purification. The designed esterase had significant lytic activities towards p-nitrophenyl acetate, which was confirmed by point mutations. Thus, this study developed a new protocol to obtain novel enzymes that may be useful in unforgiving environments or novel reactions.
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Chagas M, Rocha W, Moraes A. Dynamics and allostery of Zika virus non-structural protein 5 methyltransferase. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:5526-5538. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1792343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Chagas
- Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Willian Rocha
- Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Adolfo Moraes
- Departamento de Química, ICEx, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
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Valente AP, Moraes AH. Zika virus proteins at an atomic scale: how does structural biology help us to understand and develop vaccines and drugs against Zika virus infection? J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2019; 25:e20190013. [PMID: 31523227 PMCID: PMC6727858 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil and in other tropical areas Zika virus infection was directly associated with clinical complications as microcephaly in newborn children whose mothers were infected during pregnancy and the Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Recently, research has been focused on developing new vaccines and drug candidates against Zika virus infection since none of those are available. In order to contribute to vaccine and drug development efforts, it becomes important the understanding of the molecular basis of the Zika virus recognition, infection and blockade. To this purpose, it is essential the structural determination of the Zika virus proteins. The genome sequencing of the Zika virus identified ten proteins, being three structural (protein E, protein C and protein prM) and seven non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B and NS5). Together, these proteins are the main targets for drugs and antibody recognition. Here we examine new discoveries on high-resolution structural biology of Zika virus, observing the interactions and functions of its proteins identified via state-of-art structural methodologies as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and cryogenic electronic microscopy. The aim of the present study is to contribute to the understanding of the structural basis of Zika virus infection at an atomic level and to point out similarities and differences to others flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Valente
- National Center of Magnetic Resonance, Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adolfo Henrique Moraes
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Nutho B, Mulholland AJ, Rungrotmongkol T. The reaction mechanism of Zika virus NS2B/NS3 serine protease inhibition by dipeptidyl aldehyde: a QM/MM study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:14945-14956. [PMID: 31236554 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp02377a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has become a global public health problem, associated with microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Currently, there are no commercially available anti-ZIKV drugs. The viral protease NS2B/NS3, which is involved in viral replication and maturation, is a potential drug target. Peptidomimetic aldehyde inhibitors bind covalently to the catalytic S135 of the NS3 protease. Here, we apply hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) free-energy simulations at the PDDG-PM3/ff14SB level to investigate the inhibition mechanism of the ZIKV protease by a dipeptidyl aldehyde inhibitor (acyl-KR-aldehyde). The results show that proton transfer from the catalytic S135 to H51 occurs in concert with nucleophilic addition on the aldehyde warhead by S135. The anionic covalent complex between the dipeptidyl aldehyde and the ZIKV protease is analogous to the tetrahedral intermediate for substrate hydrolysis. Spontaneous protonation by H51 forms the hemiacetal. In addition, we use correlated ab initio QM/MM potential energy path calculations at levels up to LCCSD(T)/(aug)-cc-pVTZ to obtain accurate potential energy profiles of the reaction, which also support a concerted mechanism. These results provide detailed insight into the mechanism of ZIKV protease inhibition by a peptidyl aldehyde inhibitor, which will guide in the design of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodee Nutho
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Biocatalyst and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. and Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Nutho B, Mulholland AJ, Rungrotmongkol T. Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) Calculations Support a Concerted Reaction Mechanism for the Zika Virus NS2B/NS3 Serine Protease with Its Substrate. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:2889-2903. [PMID: 30845796 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b02157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is mainly transmitted to humans by Aedes species mosquitoes and is associated with serious pathological disorders including microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Currently, there is no vaccine or anti-ZIKV drug available for preventing or controlling ZIKV infection. An attractive drug target for ZIKV treatment is a two-compartment (NS2B/NS3) serine protease that processes viral polyprotein during infection. Here, conventional molecular dynamics simulations of the ZIKV protease in complex with peptide substrate (TGKRS) sequence at the C-terminus of NS2B show that the substrate is in the active conformation for the cleavage reaction by ZIKV protease. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) umbrella sampling simulations (PM6/ff14SB) of acylation results reveal that proton transfer from S135 to H51 and nucleophilic attack on the substrate by S135 are concerted. The rate-limiting step involves the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. In addition, the single-point energy QM/MM calculations, precisely at the level of coupled cluster theory (LCCSD(T)/(aug)-cc-pVTZ), were performed to correct the potential energy profiles for the first step of the acylation process. The average computed activation barrier at this level of theory is 16.3 kcal mol-1. Therefore, the computational approaches presented here are helpful for further designing of NS2B/NS3 inhibitors based on transition-state analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , U.K
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Wang YH, Zhang F, Diao H, Wu R. Covalent Inhibition Mechanism of Antidiabetic Drugs—Vildagliptin vs Saxagliptin. ACS Catal 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b05051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Heng Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P. R. China
| | - Fan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Hongjuan Diao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Ruibo Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
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13
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Castelli R, Bozza N, Cavazzoni A, Bonelli M, Vacondio F, Ferlenghi F, Callegari D, Silva C, Rivara S, Lodola A, Digiacomo G, Fumarola C, Alfieri R, Petronini PG, Mor M. Balancing reactivity and antitumor activity: heteroarylthioacetamide derivatives as potent and time-dependent inhibitors of EGFR. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 162:507-524. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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