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Giannakopoulos B, Krilis SA. Domain 5 of Beta 2 glycoprotein I: Friend or foe in health? Context matters. Clin Immunol 2024; 265:110282. [PMID: 38917928 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110282] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is the major autoantigen in the antiphospholipid syndrome, an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombotic and obstetric complications. The autoantibodies that target beta 2 glycoprotein I are pathogenic and contribute to disease pathogenesis. The β2GPI molecule is composed of 5 domains that are numbered 1 through to 5. Autoantibodies bind mainly to domain 1 whereas the majority of the biological functions of the β2GPI molecule in diverse processes such as apoptotic cell clearance, complement regulation, lipopolysaccharide clearance and anticoagulation have been localised to domain 5 and its unique biochemistry, reviewed in this article. The role of purified domain 5 peptide as a potential therapeutic agent in APS and ischemia reperfusion injury is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Giannakopoulos
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, St George and Sutherland Campus, Level 2, Pitney Building, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia; Department of Rheumatology, St George Public Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, 2217, Australia.
| | - Steven A Krilis
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, St George and Sutherland Campus, Level 2, Pitney Building, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Immunology, and Sexual Health, St George Public Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney 2217, Australia.
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2
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Pellegrini A, Motta C, Bellan Menegussi E, Pierangelini A, Viglio S, Coppolino F, Beninati C, De Filippis V, Barbieri G, Pietrocola G. The serine-rich repeat glycoprotein Srr2 mediates Streptococcus agalactiae interaction with host fibronectin. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:221. [PMID: 38909237 PMCID: PMC11193222 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03374-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a commensal of healthy adults and an important pathogen in newborns, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. GBS displays several virulence factors that promote colonisation and host infection, including the ST-17 strain-specific adhesin Srr2, previously characterised for its binding to fibrinogen. Another common target for bacterial adhesins and for host colonization is fibronectin, a multi-domain glycoprotein found ubiquitously in body fluids, in the extracellular matrix and on the surface of cells. RESULTS In this study, fibronectin was identified as a novel ligand for the Srr2 adhesin of GBS. A derivative of the ST-17 strain BM110 overexpressing the srr2 gene showed an increased ability to bind fibrinogen and fibronectin, compared to the isogenic wild-type strain. Conversely, the deletion of srr2 impaired bacterial adhesion to both ligands. ELISA assays and surface plasmon resonance studies using the recombinant binding region (BR) form of Srr2 confirmed a direct interaction with fibronectin with an estimated Kd of 92 nM. Srr2-BR variants defective in fibrinogen binding also exhibited no interaction with fibronectin, suggesting that Srr2 binds this ligand through the dock-lock-latch mechanism, previously described for fibrinogen binding. The fibronectin site responsible for recombinant Srr2-BR binding was identified and localised in the central cell-binding domain of the protein. Finally, in the presence of fibronectin, the ability of a Δsrr2 mutant to adhere to human cervico-vaginal epithelial cells was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain. CONCLUSION By combining genetic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate a new role for Srr2, namely interacting with fibronectin. We characterised the molecular mechanism of this interaction and demonstrated that it plays a role in promoting the adhesion of GBS to human cervico-vaginal epithelial cells, further substantiating the role of Srr2 as a factor responsible for the hypervirulence of GBS ST-17 strains. The discovery of the previously undescribed interaction between Srr2 and fibronectin establishes this adhesin as a key factor for GBS colonisation of host tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Motta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Pierangelini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Simona Viglio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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3
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Acquasaliente L, Pierangelini A, Pagotto A, Pozzi N, De Filippis V. From haemadin to haemanorm: Synthesis and characterization of full-length haemadin from the leech Haemadipsa sylvestris and of a novel bivalent, highly potent thrombin inhibitor (haemanorm). Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4825. [PMID: 37924304 PMCID: PMC10683372 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4825] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Hirudin from Hirudo medicinalis is a bivalent α-Thrombin (αT) inhibitor, targeting the enzyme active site and exosite-I, and is currently used in anticoagulant therapy along with its simplified analogue hirulog. Haemadin, a small protein (57 amino acids) isolated from the land-living leech Haemadipsa sylvestris, selectively inhibits αT with a potency identical to that of recombinant hirudin (KI = 0.2 pM), with which it shares a common disulfide topology and overall fold. At variance with hirudin, haemadin targets exosite-II and therefore (besides the free protease) it also blocks thrombomodulin-bound αT without inhibiting the active intermediate meizothrombin, thus offering potential advantages over hirudin. Here, we produced in reasonably high yields and pharmaceutical purity (>98%) wild-type haemadin and the oxidation resistant Met5 → nor-Leucine analogue, both inhibiting αT with a KI of 0.2 pM. Thereafter, we used site-directed mutagenesis, spectroscopic, ligand-displacement, and Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange-Mass Spectrometry techniques to map the αT regions relevant for the interaction with full-length haemadin and with the synthetic N- and C-terminal peptides Haem(1-10) and Haem(45-57). Haem(1-10) competitively binds to/inhibits αT active site (KI = 1.9 μM) and its potency was enhanced by 10-fold after Phe3 → β-Naphthylalanine exchange. Conversely to full-length haemadin, haem(45-57) displays intrinsic affinity for exosite-I (KD = 1.6 μM). Hence, we synthesized a peptide in which the sequences 1-9 and 45-57 were joined together through a 3-Glycine spacer to yield haemanorm, a highly potent (KI = 0.8 nM) inhibitor targeting αT active site and exosite-I. Haemanorm can be regarded as a novel class of hirulog-like αT inhibitors with potential pharmacological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Acquasaliente
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry & Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
| | - Andrea Pierangelini
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry & Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
| | - Anna Pagotto
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry & Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
| | - Nicola Pozzi
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry & Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Edward A. Doisy Research CenterSaint Louis UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry & Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
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4
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Preliminary Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) That Bind to the Extracellular Domain. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153647. [PMID: 35954311 PMCID: PMC9367601 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the protein kinase superfamily. It is composed of an extracellular domain, a transmembrane anchoring region and a cytoplasmic region endowed with tyrosine kinase activity. Genetic mutations of EGFR kinase cause higher activity thereby stimulating downstream signaling pathways that, in turn, impact transcription and cell cycle progression. Due to the involvement of mutant EGFR in tumors and inflammatory diseases, in the past decade, several EGFR inhibitory strategies have been extensively studied, either targeting the extracellular domain (through monoclonal antibodies) or the intracellular kinase domain (through ATP-mimic small molecules). Monoclonal antibodies impair the binding to growth factor, the receptor dimerization, and its activation, whereas small molecules block the intracellular catalytic activity. Herein, we describe the development of a novel small molecule, called DSF-102, that interacts with the extracellular domain of EGFR. When tested in vitro in KRAS mutant A549 cells, it impairs EGFR activity by exerting (i) dose-dependent toxicity effects; (ii) a negative regulation of ERK, MAPK p38 and AKT; and (iii) a modulation of the intracellular trafficking and lysosomal degradation of EGFR. Interestingly, DSF-102 exerts its EGFR inhibitory activity without showing interaction with the intracellular kinase domain. Taken together, these findings suggest that DSF-102 is a promising hit compound for the development of a novel class of anti-EGFR compounds, i.e., small molecules able to interact with the extracellular domain of EGFR and useful for overcoming the KRAS-driven resistance to TKI treatment.
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5
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Acquasaliente L, Pontarollo G, Radu CM, Peterle D, Artusi I, Pagotto A, Uliana F, Negro A, Simioni P, De Filippis V. Exogenous human α-Synuclein acts in vitro as a mild platelet antiaggregant inhibiting α-thrombin-induced platelet activation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9880. [PMID: 35701444 PMCID: PMC9198058 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12886-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αSyn) is a small disordered protein, highly conserved in vertebrates and involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Indeed, αSyn amyloid aggregates are present in the brain of patients with PD. Although the pathogenic role of αSyn is widely accepted, the physiological function of this protein remains elusive. Beyond the central nervous system, αSyn is expressed in hematopoietic tissue and blood, where platelets are a major cellular host of αSyn. Platelets play a key role in hemostasis and are potently activated by thrombin (αT) through the cleavage of protease-activated receptors. Furthermore, both αT and αSyn could be found in the same spatial environment, i.e. the platelet membrane, as αT binds to and activates platelets that can release αSyn from α-granules and microvesicles. Here, we investigated the possibility that exogenous αSyn could interfere with platelet activation induced by different agonists in vitro. Data obtained from distinct experimental techniques (i.e. multiple electrode aggregometry, rotational thromboelastometry, immunofluorescence microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy) on whole blood and platelet-rich plasma indicate that exogenous αSyn has mild platelet antiaggregating properties in vitro, acting as a negative regulator of αT-mediated platelet activation by preferentially inhibiting P-selectin expression on platelet surface. We have also shown that both exogenous and endogenous (i.e. cytoplasmic) αSyn preferentially bind to the outer surface of activated platelets. Starting from these findings, a coherent model of the antiplatelet function of αSyn is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Acquasaliente
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Pontarollo
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH) University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Claudia Maria Radu
- Department of Women's & Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Daniele Peterle
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave. 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ilaria Artusi
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Pagotto
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico Uliana
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, viale G. Colombo 3, 35100, Padua, Italy.
| | - Paolo Simioni
- Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Molecular Hematology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Padua, via Marzolo, 5, 35131, Padua, Italy. .,Biotechnology Center, CRIBI, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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6
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Scapin G, Gasparotto M, Peterle D, Tescari S, Porcellato E, Piovesan A, Righetto I, Acquasaliente L, De Filippis V, Filippini F. A conserved Neurite Outgrowth and Guidance motif with biomimetic potential in neuronal Cell Adhesion Molecules. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:5622-5636. [PMID: 34712402 PMCID: PMC8529090 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of conserved protein motifs can, in turn, unveil important regulatory signals, and when properly designed, synthetic peptides derived from such motifs can be used as biomimetics for biotechnological and therapeutic purposes. We report here that specific Ig-like repeats from the extracellular domains of neuronal Cell Adhesion Molecules share a highly conserved Neurite Outgrowth and Guidance (NOG) motif, which mediates homo- and heterophilic interactions crucial in neural development and repair. Synthetic peptides derived from the NOG motif of such proteins can boost neuritogenesis, and this potential is also retained by peptides with recombinant sequences, when fitting the NOG sequence pattern. The NOG motif discovery not only provides one more tile to the complex puzzle of neuritogenesis, but also opens the route to new neural regeneration strategies via a tunable biomimetic toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Scapin
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Matteo Gasparotto
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Daniele Peterle
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Simone Tescari
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Elena Porcellato
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Alberto Piovesan
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy.,Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Irene Righetto
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
| | - Francesco Filippini
- Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131, Italy
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7
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Buchholz I, McDonnell T, Nestler P, Tharad S, Kulke M, Radziszewska A, Ripoll VM, Schmidt F, Hammer E, Toca-Herrera JL, Rahman A, Delcea M. Specific domain V reduction of beta-2-glycoprotein I induces protein flexibility and alters pathogenic antibody binding. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4542. [PMID: 33633190 PMCID: PMC7907366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84021-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta-2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is a blood protein and the major antigen in the autoimmune disorder antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). β2GPI exists mainly in closed or open conformations and comprises of 11 disulfides distributed across five domains. The terminal Cys288/Cys326 disulfide bond at domain V has been associated with different cysteine redox states. The role of this disulfide bond in conformational dynamics of this protein has not been investigated so far. Here, we report on the enzymatic driven reduction by thioredoxin-1 (recycled by Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine; TCEP) of β2GPI. Specific reduction was demonstrated by Western blot and mass spectrometry analyses confirming majority targeting to the fifth domain of β2GPI. Atomic force microscopy images suggested that reduced β2GPI shows a slightly higher proportion of open conformation and is more flexible compared to the untreated protein as confirmed by modelling studies. We have determined a strong increase in the binding of pathogenic APS autoantibodies to reduced β2GPI as demonstrated by ELISA. Our study is relevant for understanding the effect of β2GPI reduction on the protein structure and its implications for antibody binding in APS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Buchholz
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- ZIK HIKE, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas McDonnell
- Division of Biochemical Engineering, Bernard Katz Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Nestler
- Institute of Physics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sudarat Tharad
- Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Kulke
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anna Radziszewska
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH, GOSH, London, UK
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Vera M Ripoll
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Frank Schmidt
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Proteomics Core, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Elke Hammer
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jose L Toca-Herrera
- Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anisur Rahman
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Mihaela Delcea
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- ZIK HIKE, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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8
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A serine protease secreted from Bacillus subtilis cleaves human plasma transthyretin to generate an amyloidogenic fragment. Commun Biol 2020; 3:764. [PMID: 33311636 PMCID: PMC7733459 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01493-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of human wild-type transthyretin (hTTR), a homo-tetrameric plasma protein, leads to acquired senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA), recently recognised as a major cause of cardiomyopathies in 1-3% older adults. Fragmented hTTR is the standard composition of amyloid deposits in SSA, but the protease(s) responsible for amyloidogenic fragments generation in vivo is(are) still elusive. Here, we show that subtilisin secreted from Bacillus subtilis, a gut microbiota commensal bacterium, translocates across a simulated intestinal epithelium and cleaves hTTR both in solution and human plasma, generating the amyloidogenic fragment hTTR(59-127), which is also found in SSA amyloids in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, these findings highlight a novel pathogenic mechanism for SSA whereby increased permeability of the gut mucosa, as often occurs in elderly people, allows subtilisin (and perhaps other yet unidentified bacterial proteases) to reach the bloodstream and trigger generation of hTTR fragments, acting as seeding nuclei for preferential amyloid fibrils deposition in the heart.
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9
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Ruben E, Planer W, Chinnaraj M, Chen Z, Zuo X, Pengo V, De Filippis V, Alluri RK, McCrae KR, Macor P, Tedesco F, Pozzi N. The J-elongated conformation of β 2-glycoprotein I predominates in solution: implications for our understanding of antiphospholipid syndrome. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:10794-10806. [PMID: 32518155 PMCID: PMC7397106 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
β2-Glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is an abundant plasma protein displaying phospholipid-binding properties. Because it binds phospholipids, it is a target of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a life-threatening autoimmune thrombotic disease. Indeed, aPLs prefer membrane-bound β2GPI to that in solution. β2GPI exists in two almost equally populated redox states: oxidized, in which all the disulfide bonds are formed, and reduced, in which one or more disulfide bonds are broken. Furthermore, β2GPI can adopt multiple conformations (i.e. J-elongated, S-twisted, and O-circular). While strong evidence indicates that the J-form is the structure bound to aPLs, which conformation exists and predominates in solution remains controversial, and so is the conformational pathway leading to the bound state. Here, we report that human recombinant β2GPI purified under native conditions is oxidized. Moreover, under physiological pH and salt concentrations, this oxidized form adopts a J-elongated, flexible conformation, not circular or twisted, in which the N-terminal domain I (DI) and the C-terminal domain V (DV) are exposed to the solvent. Consistent with this model, binding kinetics and mutagenesis experiments revealed that in solution the J-form interacts with negatively charged liposomes and with MBB2, a monoclonal anti-DI antibody that recapitulates most of the features of pathogenic aPLs. We conclude that the preferential binding of aPLs to phospholipid-bound β2GPI arises from the ability of its preexisting J-form to accumulate on the membranes, thereby offering an ideal environment for aPL binding. We propose that targeting the J-form of β2GPI provides a strategy to block pathogenic aPLs in APS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Ruben
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - William Planer
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Mathivanan Chinnaraj
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- X-Ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, USA
| | - Vittorio Pengo
- Thrombosis Research Laboratory, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Arianna Foundation on Anticoagulation, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Ravi K. Alluri
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Keith R. McCrae
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Paolo Macor
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco Tedesco
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Laboratory of Immuno-Rheumatology, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pozzi
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA,For correspondence: Nicola Pozzi,
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10
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Chen F, Jiang H, Chen W, Huang G. Interaction of the synthetic antithrombotic peptide P10 with thrombin: a spectroscopy study. RSC Adv 2019; 9:18498-18505. [PMID: 35515240 PMCID: PMC9064813 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02994j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombin is a critical serine protease in the coagulation system and is widely used as a target protein for antithrombotics. Spectroscopic analysis is a simple and effective method that is used to study the interaction between small molecules and proteins. In this study, the interactions of a potential antithrombotic peptide AGFAGDDAPR (P10) with thrombin were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The results showed that the peptide P10 bonded to thrombin via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, resulting in fluorescence quenching. And, the secondary structure of thrombin changed, the β-sheet decreased, and the random coil increased. The peptide P10 bonded to proline and lysine, and changed the space structure of thrombin, resulting in inhibition of thrombin activity. The results contributed to exploration of the mechanism of this potential antithrombotic drug interaction with thrombin in order to provide a preliminary understanding of the pharmacodynamic properties of P10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Chen
- Key Lab of Marine Food Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University Hangzhou China +86 571 8687 5628
| | - Han Jiang
- Key Lab of Marine Food Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University Hangzhou China +86 571 8687 5628
| | - Wenwei Chen
- Key Lab of Marine Food Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University Hangzhou China +86 571 8687 5628
| | - Guangrong Huang
- Key Lab of Marine Food Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University Hangzhou China +86 571 8687 5628
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11
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Buchholz I, Nestler P, Köppen S, Delcea M. Lysine residues control the conformational dynamics of beta 2-glycoprotein I. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:26819-26829. [PMID: 30176030 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp03234c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One of the major problems in the study of the dynamics of proteins is the visualization of changing conformations that are important for processes ranging from enzyme catalysis to signaling. A protein exhibiting conformational dynamics is the soluble blood protein beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), which exists in two conformations: the closed (circular) form and the open (linear) form. It is hypothesized that an increased proportion of the open conformation leads to the autoimmune disease antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). A characteristic feature of beta2GPI is the high content of lysine residues. However, the potential role of lysine in the conformational dynamics of beta2GPI has been poorly investigated. Here, we report on a strategy to permanently open up the closed protein conformation by chemical acetylation of lysine residues using acetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (NHS-Ac). Specific and complete acetylation was demonstrated by the quantification of primary amino groups with fluoraldehyde o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent, as well as western blot analysis with an anti-acetylated lysine antibody. Our results demonstrate that acetylated beta2GPI preserves its secondary and tertiary structures, as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy. We found that after lysine acetylation, the majority of proteins are in the open conformation as revealed by atomic force microscopy high-resolution images. Using this strategy, we proved that the electrostatic interaction of lysine residues plays a major role in stabilizing the beta2GPI closed conformation, as confirmed by lysine charge distribution calculations. We foresee that our approach will be applied to other lysine-rich proteins (e.g. histones) undergoing conformational transitions. For instance, conformational dynamics can be triggered by environmental conditions (e.g. pH, ion concentration, post-translational modifications, and binding of ligands). Therefore, our study may be relevant for investigating the equilibrium of protein conformations causing diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Buchholz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.
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12
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De Filippis V, Acquasaliente L, Pontarollo G, Peterle D. Noncoded amino acids in protein engineering: Structure-activity relationship studies of hirudin-thrombin interaction. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2018; 65:69-80. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo De Filippis
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry; Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences; University of Padua; Padua Italy
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry; Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences; University of Padua; Padua Italy
| | - Giulia Pontarollo
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry; Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences; University of Padua; Padua Italy
| | - Daniele Peterle
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry; Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences; University of Padua; Padua Italy
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13
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Pontarollo G, Acquasaliente L, Peterle D, Frasson R, Artusi I, De Filippis V. Non-canonical proteolytic activation of human prothrombin by subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis may shift the procoagulant-anticoagulant equilibrium toward thrombosis. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15161-15179. [PMID: 28684417 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.795245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood coagulation is a finely regulated physiological process culminating with the factor Xa (FXa)-mediated conversion of the prothrombin (ProT) zymogen to active α-thrombin (αT). In the prothrombinase complex on the platelet surface, FXa cleaves ProT at Arg-271, generating the inactive precursor prethrombin-2 (Pre2), which is further attacked at Arg-320-Ile-321 to yield mature αT. Whereas the mechanism of physiological ProT activation has been elucidated in great detail, little is known about the role of bacterial proteases, possibly released in the bloodstream during infection, in inducing blood coagulation by direct proteolytic ProT activation. This knowledge gap is particularly concerning, as bacterial infections are frequently complicated by severe coagulopathies. Here, we show that addition of subtilisin (50 nm to 2 μm), a serine protease secreted by the non-pathogenic bacterium Bacillus subtilis, induces plasma clotting by proteolytically converting ProT into active σPre2, a nicked Pre2 derivative with a single cleaved Ala-470-Asn-471 bond. Notably, we found that this non-canonical cleavage at Ala-470-Asn-471 is instrumental for the onset of catalysis in σPre2, which was, however, reduced about 100-200-fold compared with αT. Of note, σPre2 could generate fibrin clots from fibrinogen, either in solution or in blood plasma, and could aggregate human platelets, either isolated or in whole blood. Our findings demonstrate that alternative cleavage of ProT by proteases, even by those secreted by non-virulent bacteria such as B. subtilis, can shift the delicate procoagulant-anticoagulant equilibrium toward thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pontarollo
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Daniele Peterle
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Roberta Frasson
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Ilaria Artusi
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- From the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, via Marzolo 5, Padua 35131, Italy
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14
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Chen K, Stafford AR, Wu C, Yeh CH, Kim PY, Fredenburgh JC, Weitz JI. Exosite 2-Directed Ligands Attenuate Protein C Activation by the Thrombin–Thrombomodulin Complex. Biochemistry 2017; 56:3119-3128. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan R. Stafford
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chengliang Wu
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Calvin H. Yeh
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Y. Kim
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - James C. Fredenburgh
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey I. Weitz
- Department of Medicine, ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Biomedical Sciences, and §Thrombosis and
Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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