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Sananes A, Cohen I, Allon I, Ben‐David O, Abu Shareb R, Yegodayev KM, Stepensky D, Elkabets M, Papo N. Serine protease inhibitors decrease metastasis in prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2337-2355. [PMID: 37609678 PMCID: PMC10620120 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies for prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers are based on their activity against primary tumors rather than their anti-metastatic activity. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new agents targeting the metastatic process. Emerging evidence correlates in vitro and in vivo cancer invasion and metastasis with increased activity of the proteases mesotrypsin (prostate and breast cancer) and kallikrein 6 (KLK6; ovarian cancer). Thus, mesotrypsin and KLK6 are attractive putative targets for therapeutic intervention. As potential therapeutics for advanced metastatic prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, we report novel mesotrypsin- and KLK6-based therapies, based on our previously developed mutants of the human amyloid β-protein precursor Kunitz protease inhibitor domain (APPI). These mutants, designated APPI-3M (prostate and breast cancer) and APPI-4M (ovarian cancer), demonstrated significant accumulation in tumors and therapeutic efficacy in orthotopic preclinical models, with the advantages of long retention times in vivo, high affinity and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. The applicability of the APPIs, as a novel therapy and for imaging purposes, is supported by their good safety profile and their controlled and scalable manufacturability in bioreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amiram Sananes
- Avram and Stella Goldstein‐Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Itay Cohen
- Avram and Stella Goldstein‐Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Irit Allon
- Institute of Pathology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel ad Faculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Oshrit Ben‐David
- Avram and Stella Goldstein‐Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Raghda Abu Shareb
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Ksenia M. Yegodayev
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - David Stepensky
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein‐Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the NegevBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐ShevaIsrael
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2
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David TI, Pestov NB, Korneenko TV, Barlev NA. Non-Immunoglobulin Synthetic Binding Proteins for Oncology. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:1232-1247. [PMID: 37770391 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923090043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Extensive application of technologies like phage display in screening peptide and protein combinatorial libraries has not only facilitated creation of new recombinant antibodies but has also significantly enriched repertoire of the protein binders that have polypeptide scaffolds without homology to immunoglobulins. These innovative synthetic binding protein (SBP) platforms have grown in number and now encompass monobodies/adnectins, DARPins, lipocalins/anticalins, and a variety of miniproteins such as affibodies and knottins, among others. They serve as versatile modules for developing complex affinity tools that hold promise in both diagnostic and therapeutic settings. An optimal scaffold typically has low molecular weight, minimal immunogenicity, and demonstrates resistance against various challenging conditions, including proteolysis - making it potentially suitable for peroral administration. Retaining functionality under reducing intracellular milieu is also advantageous. However, paramount to its functionality is the scaffold's ability to tolerate mutations across numerous positions, allowing for the formation of a sufficiently large target binding region. This is achieved through the library construction, screening, and subsequent expression in an appropriate system. Scaffolds that exhibit high thermodynamic stability are especially coveted by the developers of new SBPs. These are steadily making their way into clinical settings, notably as antagonists of oncoproteins in signaling pathways. This review surveys the diverse landscape of SBPs, placing particular emphasis on the inhibitors targeting the oncoprotein KRAS, and highlights groundbreaking opportunities for SBPs in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope I David
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Nikolay B Pestov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia.
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Tatyana V Korneenko
- Group of Cross-Linking Enzymes, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Nikolai A Barlev
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, 119121, Russia
- Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitides, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Institute of Cytology Russian Academy of Sciences, St.-Petersburg, 194064, Russia
- School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
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3
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Lacham-Hartman S, Shmidov Y, Radisky ES, Bitton R, Lukatsky DB, Papo N. Avidity observed between a bivalent inhibitor and an enzyme monomer with a single active site. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249616. [PMID: 34847142 PMCID: PMC8631645 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although myriad protein–protein interactions in nature use polyvalent binding, in which multiple ligands on one entity bind to multiple receptors on another, to date an affinity advantage of polyvalent binding has been demonstrated experimentally only in cases where the target receptor molecules are clustered prior to complex formation. Here, we demonstrate cooperativity in binding affinity (i.e., avidity) for a protein complex in which an engineered dimer of the amyloid precursor protein inhibitor (APPI), possessing two fully functional inhibitory loops, interacts with mesotrypsin, a soluble monomeric protein that does not self-associate or cluster spontaneously. We found that each inhibitory loop of the purified APPI homodimer was over three-fold more potent than the corresponding loop in the monovalent APPI inhibitor. This observation is consistent with a suggested mechanism whereby the two APPI loops in the homodimer simultaneously and reversibly bind two corresponding mesotrypsin monomers to mediate mesotrypsin dimerization. We propose a simple model for such dimerization that quantitatively explains the observed cooperativity in binding affinity. Binding cooperativity in this system reveals that the valency of ligands may affect avidity in protein–protein interactions including those of targets that are not surface-anchored and do not self-associate spontaneously. In this scenario, avidity may be explained by the enhanced concentration of ligand binding sites in proximity to the monomeric target, which may favor rebinding of the multiple ligand binding sites with the receptor molecules upon dissociation of the protein complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiran Lacham-Hartman
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yulia Shmidov
- Deprtment of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Evette S. Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ronit Bitton
- Deprtment of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - David B. Lukatsky
- Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- * E-mail: (NP); (DBL)
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- * E-mail: (NP); (DBL)
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Ahmed MN, Wahlsten M, Jokela J, Nees M, Stenman UH, Alvarenga DO, Strandin T, Sivonen K, Poso A, Permi P, Metsä-Ketelä M, Koistinen H, Fewer DP. Potent Inhibitor of Human Trypsins from the Aeruginosin Family of Natural Products. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:2537-2546. [PMID: 34661384 PMCID: PMC8609519 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Serine proteases
regulate many physiological processes and play
a key role in a variety of cancers. Aeruginosins are a family of natural
products produced by cyanobacteria that exhibit pronounced structural
diversity and potent serine protease inhibition. Here, we sequenced
the complete genome of Nodularia sphaerocarpa UHCC 0038 and identified the 43.7 kb suomilide biosynthetic gene
cluster. Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that suomilide belongs
to the aeruginosin family of natural products. We identified 103 complete
aeruginosin biosynthetic gene clusters from 12 cyanobacterial genera
and showed that they encode an unexpected chemical diversity. Surprisingly,
purified suomilide inhibited human trypsin-2 and -3, with IC50 values of 4.7 and 11.5 nM, respectively, while trypsin-1 was inhibited
with an IC50 of 104 nM. Molecular dynamics simulations
suggested that suomilide has a long residence time when bound to trypsins.
This was confirmed experimentally for trypsin-1 and -3 (residence
times of 1.5 and 57 min, respectively). Suomilide also inhibited the
invasion of aggressive and metastatic PC-3M prostate cancer cells
without affecting cell proliferation. The potent inhibition of trypsin-3,
together with a long residence time and the ability to inhibit prostate
cancer cell invasion, makes suomilide an attractive drug lead for
targeting cancers that overexpress trypsin-3. These results substantially
broaden the genetic and chemical diversity of the aeruginosin family
and suggest that aeruginosins may be a source of selective inhibitors
of human serine proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad N. Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Matti Wahlsten
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Jouni Jokela
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Matthias Nees
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University in Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, Lublin 20-093, Poland
- Institute of Biomedicine and Western Cancer Centre FICAN West, University of Turku, Turku 20101, Finland
| | - Ulf-Håkan Stenman
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Danillo O. Alvarenga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Tomas Strandin
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, P.O. Box 21, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Kaarina Sivonen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Antti Poso
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FIN-70211, Finland
- Dept. of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 14, Tübingen DE-72076, Germany
| | - Perttu Permi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä FI-40014, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box
35, Jyväskylä FI-40014, Finland
| | - Mikko Metsä-Ketelä
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20014, Finland
| | - Hannu Koistinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - David P. Fewer
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
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5
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Heyne M, Shirian J, Cohen I, Peleg Y, Radisky ES, Papo N, Shifman JM. Climbing Up and Down Binding Landscapes through Deep Mutational Scanning of Three Homologous Protein-Protein Complexes. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:17261-17275. [PMID: 34609866 PMCID: PMC8532158 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c08707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have evolved to display binding affinities that can support their function. As such, cognate and noncognate PPIs could be highly similar structurally but exhibit huge differences in binding affinities. To understand this phenomenon, we study three homologous protease-inhibitor PPIs that span 9 orders of magnitude in binding affinity. Using state-of-the-art methodology that combines protein randomization, affinity sorting, deep sequencing, and data normalization, we report quantitative binding landscapes consisting of ΔΔGbind values for the three PPIs, gleaned from tens of thousands of single and double mutations. We show that binding landscapes of the three complexes are strikingly different and depend on the PPI evolutionary optimality. We observe different patterns of couplings between mutations for the three PPIs with negative and positive epistasis appearing most frequently at hot-spot and cold-spot positions, respectively. The evolutionary trends observed here are likely to be universal to other biological complexes in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Heyne
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel.,Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Jason Shirian
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Itay Cohen
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Yoav Peleg
- Life Sciences Core Facilities (LSCF) Structural Proteomics Unit (SPU), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, United States
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Julia M Shifman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
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6
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Zhang Q, Wang J, Huang D, Liu G. High Expression of PRSS3 Indicates Unfavorable Clinical Outcomes in Colon Adenocarcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2021; 29:564-569. [PMID: 33758142 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Serine proteases have been implicated as key drivers and facilitators of cancer malignancy. Protease, serine, 3 (PRSS3), which belongs to the serine proteases family, is reported to be abundantly expressed in a variety of types of tumor and contributes to the initiation and development of cancers. However, the clinical role of PRSS3 in colon adenocarcinoma (CAC) was not clarified yet. In the present study, we explored the potential effect of PRSS3 in CAC and whether it is related to the poor survival of CAC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mRNA and protein levels of PRSS3 were examined in CAC samples and connective noncancerous colon samples through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and immunohistochemistry staining. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to estimate the prognostic role of PRSS3 in enrolled CAC patients. RESULTS PRSS3 expression in CAC samples was significantly increased compared with connective noncancerous samples. Moreover, a higher level of PRSS3 was found to be correlated with the larger tumor size, advanced T stage, and positive lymph node metastasis. In addition, PRSS3 was also defined as an unfavorable prognosis factor for CAC patients. CONCLUSIONS High expression of PRSS3 was significantly related to the unfavorable clinical features and poor prognosis in CAC patients. It suggested that PRSS3 might serve as a novel prognostic indicator and potential drug target for CAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanyi Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shan Dong Medical College
| | | | - Di Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncological Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin
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7
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Sarfati H, Naftaly S, Papo N, Keasar C. Predicting mutant outcome by combining deep mutational scanning and machine learning. Proteins 2021; 90:45-57. [PMID: 34293212 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Deep mutational scanning provides unprecedented wealth of quantitative data regarding the functional outcome of mutations in proteins. A single experiment may measure properties (eg, structural stability) of numerous protein variants. Leveraging the experimental data to gain insights about unexplored regions of the mutational landscape is a major computational challenge. Such insights may facilitate further experimental work and accelerate the development of novel protein variants with beneficial therapeutic or industrially relevant properties. Here we present a novel, machine learning approach for the prediction of functional mutation outcome in the context of deep mutational screens. Using sequence (one-hot) features of variants with known properties, as well as structural features derived from models thereof, we train predictive statistical models to estimate the unknown properties of other variants. The utility of the new computational scheme is demonstrated using five sets of mutational scanning data, denoted "targets": (a) protease specificity of APPI (amyloid precursor protein inhibitor) variants; (b-d) three stability related properties of IGBPG (immunoglobulin G-binding β1 domain of streptococcal protein G) variants; and (e) fluorescence of GFP (green fluorescent protein) variants. Performance is measured by the overall correlation of the predicted and observed properties, and enrichment-the ability to predict the most potent variants and presumably guide further experiments. Despite the diversity of the targets the statistical models can generalize variant examples thereof and predict the properties of test variants with both single and multiple mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Sarfati
- Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Si Naftaly
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Chen Keasar
- Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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8
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Generating quantitative binding landscapes through fractional binding selections combined with deep sequencing and data normalization. Nat Commun 2020; 11:297. [PMID: 31941882 PMCID: PMC6962383 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13895-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the effects of various mutations on binding free energy is crucial for understanding the evolution of protein-protein interactions and would greatly facilitate protein engineering studies. Yet, measuring changes in binding free energy (ΔΔGbind) remains a tedious task that requires expression of each mutant, its purification, and affinity measurements. We developed an attractive approach that allows us to quantify ΔΔGbind for thousands of protein mutants in one experiment. Our protocol combines protein randomization, Yeast Surface Display technology, deep sequencing, and a few experimental ΔΔGbind data points on purified proteins to generate ΔΔGbind values for the remaining numerous mutants of the same protein complex. Using this methodology, we comprehensively map the single-mutant binding landscape of one of the highest-affinity interaction between BPTI and Bovine Trypsin (BT). We show that ΔΔGbind for this interaction could be quantified with high accuracy over the range of 12 kcal mol−1 displayed by various BPTI single mutants. Quantifying the effect of mutations on binding free energy is important to understand protein-protein interaction (PPI). Here the authors develop a method based on yeast display and next-generation sequencing to generate quantitative binding landscapes for any PPI regardless of their Kd value.
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9
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Goettig P, Brandstetter H, Magdolen V. Surface loops of trypsin-like serine proteases as determinants of function. Biochimie 2019; 166:52-76. [PMID: 31505212 PMCID: PMC7615277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Trypsin and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases from family S1 (clan PA) constitute the largest protease group in humans and more generally in vertebrates. The prototypes chymotrypsin, trypsin and elastase represent simple digestive proteases in the gut, where they cleave nearly any protein. Multidomain trypsin-like proteases are key players in the tightly controlled blood coagulation and complement systems, as well as related proteases that are secreted from diverse immune cells. Some serine proteases are expressed in nearly all tissues and fluids of the human body, such as the human kallikreins and kallikrein-related peptidases with specialization for often unique substrates and accurate timing of activity. HtrA and membrane-anchored serine proteases fulfill important physiological tasks with emerging roles in cancer. The high diversity of all family members, which share the tandem β-barrel architecture of the chymotrypsin-fold in the catalytic domain, is conferred by the large differences of eight surface loops, surrounding the active site. The length of these loops alters with insertions and deletions, resulting in remarkably different three-dimensional arrangements. In addition, metal binding sites for Na+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ serve as regulatory elements, as do N-glycosylation sites. Depending on the individual tasks of the protease, the surface loops determine substrate specificity, control the turnover and allow regulation of activation, activity and degradation by other proteins, which are often serine proteases themselves. Most intriguingly, in some serine proteases, the surface loops interact as allosteric network, partially tuned by protein co-factors. Knowledge of these subtle and complicated molecular motions may allow nowadays for new and specific pharmaceutical or medical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Goettig
- Division of Structural Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Division of Structural Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Viktor Magdolen
- Clinical Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, München, Germany
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Banerjee V, Oren O, Dagan B, Taube R, Engel S, Papo N. An Engineered Variant of the B1 Domain of Protein G Suppresses the Aggregation and Toxicity of Intra- and Extracellular Aβ42. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1488-1496. [PMID: 30428260 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra- and extraneuronal deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides have been linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). While both intra- and extraneuronal Aβ deposits affect neuronal cell viability, the molecular mechanism by which these Aβ structures, especially when intraneuronal, do so is still not entirely understood. This makes the development of inhibitors challenging. To prevent the formation of toxic Aβ structural assemblies so as to prevent neuronal cell death associated with AD, we used a combination of computational and combinatorial-directed evolution approaches to develop a variant of the HTB1 protein (HTB1M2). HTB1M2 inhibits in vitro self-assembly of Aβ42 peptide and shifts the Aβ42 aggregation pathway to the formation of oligomers that are nontoxic to neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing or treated with Aβ42 peptide. This makes HTB1M2 a potential therapeutic lead in the development of AD-targeted drugs and a tool for elucidating conformational changes in the Aβ42 peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Banerjee
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ofek Oren
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Bar Dagan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ran Taube
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Stanislav Engel
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
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11
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PRSS3/Mesotrypsin and kallikrein-related peptidase 5 are associated with poor prognosis and contribute to tumor cell invasion and growth in lung adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1844. [PMID: 30755669 PMCID: PMC6372636 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38362-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine proteases have been implicated as key drivers and facilitators of lung cancer malignancy, and while these proteins represent straightforward targets for therapeutic inhibitors, identification of optimal points for intervention has been complicated by the complex networks in which these enzymes function. Here we implicate a signaling pathway consisting of PRSS3/mesotrypsin and kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) in lung adenocarcinoma malignancy. We show that elevated PRSS3/mesotrypsin expression is prognostic for poor outcome for patients with lung adenocarcinoma, and that genetic or pharmacologic targeting of PRSS3/mesotrypsin reduces lung adenocarcinoma cell invasiveness and proliferation. We further show that genetic targeting of KLK5, a known target of PRSS3/mesotrypsin, phenocopies the effect of PRSS3/mesotrypsin knockdown, and also that elevated expression of KLK5 is similarly prognostic for outcome in lung adenocarcinoma. Finally, we use transcriptional profiling experiments to show that PRSS3/mesotrypsin and KLK5 control a common malignancy-promoting pathway. These experiments implicate a potential PRSS3/mesotrypsin-KLK5 signaling module in lung adenocarcinoma and reveal the potential therapeutic benefit of selectively targeting these pathways.
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12
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Cohen I, Coban M, Shahar A, Sankaran B, Hockla A, Lacham S, Caulfield TR, Radisky ES, Papo N. Disulfide engineering of human Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors enhances proteolytic stability and target affinity toward mesotrypsin. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5105-5120. [PMID: 30700553 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.007292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine protease inhibitors of the Kunitz-bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) family are ubiquitous biological regulators of proteolysis. These small proteins are resistant to proteolysis, but can be slowly cleaved within the protease-binding loop by target proteases, thereby compromising their activity. For the human protease mesotrypsin, this cleavage is especially rapid. Here, we aimed to stabilize the Kunitz domain structure against proteolysis through disulfide engineering. Substitution within the Kunitz inhibitor domain of the amyloid precursor protein (APPI) that incorporated a new disulfide bond between residues 17 and 34 reduced proteolysis by mesotrypsin 74-fold. Similar disulfide engineering of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-1 Kunitz domain 1 (KD1TFPI1) and bikunin Kunitz domain 2 (KD2bikunin) likewise stabilized these inhibitors against mesotrypsin proteolysis 17- and 6.6-fold, respectively. Crystal structures of disulfide-engineered APPI and KD1TFPI1 variants in a complex with mesotrypsin at 1.5 and 2.0 Å resolution, respectively, confirmed the formation of well-ordered disulfide bonds positioned to stabilize the binding loop. Long all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of disulfide-engineered Kunitz domains and their complexes with mesotrypsin revealed conformational stabilization of the primed side of the inhibitor-binding loop by the engineered disulfide, along with global suppression of conformational dynamics in the Kunitz domain. Our findings suggest that the Cys-17-Cys-34 disulfide slows proteolysis by dampening conformational fluctuations in the binding loop and minimizing motion at the enzyme-inhibitor interface. The generalizable approach developed here for the stabilization against proteolysis of Kunitz domains, which can serve as important scaffolds for therapeutics, may thus find applications in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itay Cohen
- From the Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Matt Coban
- the Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Anat Shahar
- the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, and
| | - Alexandra Hockla
- the Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Shiran Lacham
- From the Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Thomas R Caulfield
- the Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Evette S Radisky
- the Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224,
| | - Niv Papo
- From the Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel,
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13
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Abstract
Proteases drive the life cycle of all proteins, ensuring the transportation and activation of newly minted, would-be proteins into their functional form while recycling spent or unneeded proteins. Far from their image as engines of protein digestion, proteases play fundamental roles in basic physiology and regulation at multiple levels of systems biology. Proteases are intimately associated with disease and modulation of proteolytic activity is the presumed target for successful therapeutics. "Proteases: Pivot Points in Functional Proteomics" examines the crucial roles of proteolysis across a wide range of physiological processes and diseases. The existing and potential impacts of proteolysis-related activity on drug and biomarker development are presented in detail. All told the decisive roles of proteases in four major categories comprising 23 separate subcategories are addressed. Within this construct, 15 sets of subject-specific, tabulated data are presented that include identification of proteases, protease inhibitors, substrates, and their actions. Said data are derived from and confirmed by over 300 references. Cross comparison of datasets indicates that proteases, their inhibitors/promoters and substrates intersect over a range of physiological processes and diseases, both chronic and pathogenic. Indeed, "Proteases: Pivot Points …" closes by dramatizing this very point through association of (pro)Thrombin and Fibrin(ogen) with: hemostasis, innate immunity, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and bacterial self-defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid M Verhamme
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Sarah E Leonard
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana School of Chemical Sciences, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Ray C Perkins
- New Liberty Proteomics Corporation, New Liberty, KY, USA.
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14
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Jimenez-Rosales A, Flores-Merino MV. Tailoring Proteins to Re-Evolve Nature: A Short Review. Mol Biotechnol 2018; 60:946-974. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-018-0122-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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15
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Naftaly S, Cohen I, Shahar A, Hockla A, Radisky ES, Papo N. Mapping protein selectivity landscapes using multi-target selective screening and next-generation sequencing of combinatorial libraries. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3935. [PMID: 30258049 PMCID: PMC6158287 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06403-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the binding selectivity landscape of interacting proteins is crucial both for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of their interaction and for developing selective inhibitors. However, current mapping methods are laborious and cannot provide a sufficiently comprehensive description of the landscape. Here, we introduce a novel and efficient strategy for comprehensively mapping the binding landscape of proteins using a combination of experimental multi-target selective library screening and in silico next-generation sequencing analysis. We map the binding landscape of a non-selective trypsin inhibitor, the amyloid protein precursor inhibitor (APPI), to each of the four human serine proteases (kallikrein-6, mesotrypsin, and anionic and cationic trypsins). We then use this map to dissect and improve the affinity and selectivity of APPI variants toward each of the four proteases. Our strategy can be used as a platform for the development of a new generation of target-selective probes and therapeutic agents based on selective protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Naftaly
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Itay Cohen
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Anat Shahar
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alexandra Hockla
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
| | - Niv Papo
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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16
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Lopez T, Chuan C, Ramirez A, Chen KHE, Lorenson MY, Benitez C, Mustafa Z, Pham H, Sanchez R, Walker AM, Ge X. Epitope-specific affinity maturation improved stability of potent protease inhibitory antibodies. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2673-2682. [PMID: 30102763 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Targeting effectual epitopes is essential for therapeutic antibodies to accomplish their desired biological functions. This study developed a competitive dual color fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to maturate a matrix metalloprotease 14 (MMP-14) inhibitory antibody. Epitope-specific screening was achieved by selection on MMP-14 during competition with N-terminal domain of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) (nTIMP-2), a native inhibitor of MMP-14 binding strongly to its catalytic cleft. 3A2 variants with high potency, selectivity, and improved affinity and proteolytic stability were isolated from a random mutagenesis library. Binding kinetics indicated that the affinity improvements were mainly from slower dissociation rates. In vitro degradation tests suggested the isolated variants had half lives 6-11-fold longer than the wt. Inhibition kinetics suggested they were competitive inhibitors which showed excellent selectivity toward MMP-14 over highly homologous MMP-9. Alanine scanning revealed that they bound to the vicinity of MMP-14 catalytic cleft especially residues F204 and F260, suggesting that the desired epitope was maintained during maturation. When converted to immunoglobulin G, B3 showed 5.0 nM binding affinity and 6.5 nM inhibition potency with in vivo half-life of 4.6 days in mice. In addition to protease inhibitory antibodies, the competitive FACS described here can be applied for discovery and engineering biosimilars, and in general for other circumstances where epitope-specific modulation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Lopez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Chen Chuan
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Aaron Ramirez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Kuan-Hui E Chen
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Mary Y Lorenson
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Chris Benitez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Zahid Mustafa
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Henry Pham
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Ramon Sanchez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Ameae M Walker
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Xin Ge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
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17
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Arkadash V, Radisky ES, Papo N. Combinatorial engineering of N-TIMP2 variants that selectively inhibit MMP9 and MMP14 function in the cell. Oncotarget 2018; 9:32036-32053. [PMID: 30174795 PMCID: PMC6112833 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing selective inhibitors for proteolytic enzymes that share high sequence homology and structural similarity is important for achieving high target affinity and functional specificity. Here, we used a combination of yeast surface display and dual-color selective library screening to obtain selective inhibitors for each of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP14 and MMP9 by modifying the non-specific N-terminal domain of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (N-TIMP2). We generated inhibitor variants with 30- to 1175-fold improved specificity to each of the proteases, respectively, relative to wild type N-TIMP2. These biochemical results accurately predicted the selectivity and specificity obtained in cell-based assays. In U87MG cells, the activation of MMP2 by MMP14 was inhibited by MMP14-selective blockers but not MMP9-specific inhibitors. Target specificity was also demonstrated in MCF-7 cells stably expressing either MMP14 or MMP9, with only the MMP14-specific inhibitors preventing the mobility of MMP14-expressing cells. Similarly, the mobility of MMP9-expressing cells was inhibited by the MMP9-specific inhibitors, yet was not altered by the MMP14-specific inhibitors. The strategy developed in this study for improving the specificity of an otherwise broad-spectrum inhibitor will likely enhance our understanding of the basis for target specificity of inhibitors to proteolytic enzymes, in general, and to MMPs, in particular. We, moreover, envision that this study could serve as a platform for the development of next-generation, target-specific therapeutic agents. Finally, our methodology can be extended to other classes of proteolytic enzymes and other important target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Arkadash
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Niv Papo
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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18
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Sananes A, Cohen I, Shahar A, Hockla A, De Vita E, Miller AK, Radisky ES, Papo N. A potent, proteolysis-resistant inhibitor of kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6) for cancer therapy, developed by combinatorial engineering. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:12663-12680. [PMID: 29934309 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human tissue kallikrein (KLK) proteases are hormone-like signaling molecules with important functions in cancer pathophysiology. KLK-related peptidase 6 (KLK6), specifically, is highly up-regulated in several types of cancer, where its increased activity promotes cancer invasion and metastasis. This characteristic suggests KLK6 as an attractive target for therapeutic interventions. However, inhibitors that specifically target KLK6 have not yet been reported, possibly because KLK6 shares a high sequence homology and structural similarity with other serine proteases and resists inhibition by many polypeptide inhibitors. Here, we present an innovative combinatorial approach to engineering KLK6 inhibitors via flow cytometry-based screening of a yeast-displayed mutant library of the human amyloid precursor protein Kunitz protease inhibitor domain (APPI), an inhibitor of other serine proteases, such as anionic and cationic trypsins. On the basis of this screening, we generated APPIM17L,I18F,S19F,F34V (APPI-4M), an APPI variant with a KLK6 inhibition constant (Ki ) of 160 pm and a turnover time of 10 days. To the best of our knowledge, APPI-4M is the most potent KLK6 inhibitor reported to date, displaying 146-fold improved affinity and 13-fold improved proteolytic stability compared with WT APPI (APPIWT). We further demonstrate that APPI-4M acts as a functional inhibitor in a cell-based model of KLK6-dependent breast cancer invasion. Finally, the crystal structures of the APPIWT/KLK6 and APPI-4M/KLK6 complexes revealed the structural and mechanistic bases for the improved KLK6 binding and proteolytic resistance of APPI-4M. We anticipate that APPI-4M will have substantial translational potential as both imaging agent and therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amiram Sananes
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
| | - Itay Cohen
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
| | - Anat Shahar
- The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN), Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel
| | - Alexandra Hockla
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Elena De Vita
- Cancer Drug Development Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aubry K Miller
- Cancer Drug Development Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Niv Papo
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105 Israel.
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19
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de Veer SJ, Li CY, Swedberg JE, Schroeder CI, Craik DJ. Engineering potent mesotrypsin inhibitors based on the plant-derived cyclic peptide, sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 155:695-704. [PMID: 29936356 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Plants produce a diverse range of peptides and proteins that inhibit the activity of different serine proteases. The value of these inhibitors not only stems from their native role(s) in planta, but they are also regarded as promising templates for inhibitor engineering. Interest in this field has grown rapidly in recent years, particularly for therapeutic applications. The serine protease mesotrypsin has been implicated in several cancers, but is a challenging target for inhibitor engineering as a number of serine protease inhibitors that typically display broad-range activity show limited activity against mesotrypsin. In this study, we use a cyclic peptide isolated from sunflower seeds, sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1), as a scaffold for engineering potent mesotrypsin inhibitors. SFTI-1 comprises 14-amino acids and is a potent inhibitor of human cationic trypsin (Ki = 30 ± 0.8 pM) but shows 165,000-fold weaker activity against mesotrypsin (Ki = 4.96 ± 0.2 μM). Using an inhibitor library based on SFTI-1, we show that the inhibitor's P2' residue (Ile) is a key contributor to SFTI-1's limited activity against mesotrypsin. Substituting P2' Ile with chemically diverse amino acids, including non-canonical aromatic residues, produced new inhibitor variants that maintained a similar structure to SFTI-1 and showed marked improvements in activity (exceeding 100-fold). An assessment of the activity of the new inhibitors against closely-related trypsin paralogs revealed that the improved activity against mesotrypsin was accompanied by a loss in activity against off-target proteases, such that several engineered variants showed comparable activity against mesotrypsin and human cationic trypsin. Together, these findings identify potent mesotrypsin inhibitors that are suitable for further optimisation studies and demonstrate the potential gains in activity and selectivity that can be achieved by optimising the P2' residue, particularly for engineered SFTI-based inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Choi Yi Li
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Joakim E Swedberg
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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20
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Pre-equilibrium competitive library screening for tuning inhibitor association rate and specificity toward serine proteases. Biochem J 2018. [PMID: 29535275 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
High structural and sequence similarity within protein families can pose significant challenges to the development of selective inhibitors, especially toward proteolytic enzymes. Such enzymes usually belong to large families of closely similar proteases and may also hydrolyze, with different rates, protein- or peptide-based inhibitors. To address this challenge, we employed a combinatorial yeast surface display library approach complemented with a novel pre-equilibrium, competitive screening strategy for facile assessment of the effects of multiple mutations on inhibitor association rates and binding specificity. As a proof of principle for this combined approach, we utilized this strategy to alter inhibitor/protease association rates and to tailor the selectivity of the amyloid β-protein precursor Kunitz protease inhibitor domain (APPI) for inhibition of the oncogenic protease mesotrypsin, in the presence of three competing serine proteases, anionic trypsin, cationic trypsin and kallikrein-6. We generated a variant, designated APPIP13W/M17G/I18F/F34V, with up to 30-fold greater specificity relative to the parental APPIM17G/I18F/F34V protein, and 6500- to 230 000-fold improved specificity relative to the wild-type APPI protein in the presence of the other proteases tested. A series of molecular docking simulations suggested a mechanism of interaction that supported the biochemical results. These simulations predicted that the selectivity and specificity are affected by the interaction of the mutated APPI residues with nonconserved enzyme residues located in or near the binding site. Our strategy will facilitate a better understanding of the binding landscape of multispecific proteins and will pave the way for design of new drugs and diagnostic tools targeting proteases and other proteins.
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21
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Shirian J, Arkadash V, Cohen I, Sapir T, Radisky ES, Papo N, Shifman JM. Converting a broad matrix metalloproteinase family inhibitor into a specific inhibitor of MMP-9 and MMP-14. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:1122-1134. [PMID: 29473954 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
MMP-14 and MMP-9 are two well-established cancer targets for which no specific clinically relevant inhibitor is available. Using a powerful combination of computational design and yeast surface display technology, we engineered such an inhibitor starting from a nonspecific MMP inhibitor, N-TIMP2. The engineered purified N-TIMP2 variants showed enhanced specificity toward MMP-14 and MMP-9 relative to a panel of off-target MMPs. MMP-specific N-TIMP2 sequence signatures were obtained that could be understood from the structural perspective of MMP/N-TIMP2 interactions. Our MMP-9 inhibitor exhibited 1000-fold preference for MMP-9 vs. MMP-14, which is likely to translate into significant differences under physiological conditions. Our results provide new insights regarding evolution of promiscuous proteins and optimization strategies for design of inhibitors with single-target specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Shirian
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Valeria Arkadash
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Itay Cohen
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Tamila Sapir
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Niv Papo
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Julia M Shifman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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22
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Banerjee V, Oren O, Ben-Zeev E, Taube R, Engel S, Papo N. A computational combinatorial approach identifies a protein inhibitor of superoxide dismutase 1 misfolding, aggregation, and cytotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:15777-15788. [PMID: 28768772 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.789610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular agents that specifically bind and neutralize misfolded and toxic superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutant proteins may find application in attenuating the disease progression of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, high structural similarities between the wild-type and mutant SOD1 proteins limit the utility of this approach. Here we addressed this challenge by converting a promiscuous natural human IgG-binding domain, the hyperthermophilic variant of protein G (HTB1), into a highly specific aggregation inhibitor (designated HTB1M) of two familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked SOD1 mutants, SOD1G93A and SOD1G85R We utilized a computational algorithm for mapping protein surfaces predisposed to HTB1 intermolecular interactions to construct a focused HTB1 library, complemented with an experimental platform based on yeast surface display for affinity and specificity screening. HTB1M displayed high binding specificity toward SOD1 mutants, inhibited their amyloid aggregation in vitro, prevented the accumulation of misfolded proteins in living cells, and reduced the cytotoxicity of SOD1G93A expressed in motor neuron-like cells. Competition assays and molecular docking simulations suggested that HTB1M binds to SOD1 via both its α-helical and β-sheet domains at the native dimer interface that becomes exposed upon mutated SOD1 misfolding and monomerization. Our results demonstrate the utility of computational mapping of the protein-protein interaction potential for designing focused protein libraries to be used in directed evolution. They also provide new insight into the mechanism of conversion of broad-spectrum immunoglobulin-binding proteins, such as HTB1, into target-specific proteins, thereby paving the way for the development of new selective drugs targeting the amyloidogenic proteins implicated in a variety of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Banerjee
- From the Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ofek Oren
- From the Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.,the Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, and
| | - Efrat Ben-Zeev
- the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovoth 76100, Israel
| | - Ran Taube
- the Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, and
| | - Stanislav Engel
- the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Niv Papo
- From the Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel,
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23
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Kayode O, Huang Z, Soares AS, Caulfield TR, Dong Z, Bode AM, Radisky ES. Small molecule inhibitors of mesotrypsin from a structure-based docking screen. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176694. [PMID: 28463992 PMCID: PMC5413004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PRSS3/mesotrypsin is an atypical isoform of trypsin, the upregulation of which has been implicated in promoting tumor progression. To date there are no mesotrypsin-selective pharmacological inhibitors which could serve as tools for deciphering the pathological role of this enzyme, and could potentially form the basis for novel therapeutic strategies targeting mesotrypsin. A virtual screen of the Natural Product Database (NPD) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Drug Database was conducted by high-throughput molecular docking utilizing crystal structures of mesotrypsin. Twelve high-scoring compounds were selected for testing based on lowest free energy docking scores, interaction with key mesotrypsin active site residues, and commercial availability. Diminazene (CID22956468), along with two similar compounds presenting the bis-benzamidine substructure, was validated as a competitive inhibitor of mesotrypsin and other human trypsin isoforms. Diminazene is the most potent small molecule inhibitor of mesotrypsin reported to date with an inhibitory constant (Ki) of 3.6±0.3 μM. Diminazene was subsequently co-crystalized with mesotrypsin and the crystal structure was solved and refined to 1.25 Å resolution. This high resolution crystal structure can now offer a foundation for structure-guided efforts to develop novel and potentially more selective mesotrypsin inhibitors based on similar molecular substructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olumide Kayode
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Zunnan Huang
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Alexei S. Soares
- Photon Sciences Directorate, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Caulfield
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Zigang Dong
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Ann M. Bode
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Evette S. Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Kayode O, Wang R, Pendlebury DF, Cohen I, Henin RD, Hockla A, Soares AS, Papo N, Caulfield TR, Radisky ES. An Acrobatic Substrate Metamorphosis Reveals a Requirement for Substrate Conformational Dynamics in Trypsin Proteolysis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:26304-26319. [PMID: 27810896 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.758417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular basis of enzyme catalytic power and specificity derives from dynamic interactions between enzyme and substrate during catalysis. Although considerable effort has been devoted to understanding how conformational dynamics within enzymes affect catalysis, the role of conformational dynamics within protein substrates has not been addressed. Here, we examine the importance of substrate dynamics in the cleavage of Kunitz-bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor protease inhibitors by mesotrypsin, finding that the varied conformational dynamics of structurally similar substrates can profoundly impact the rate of catalysis. A 1.4-Å crystal structure of a mesotrypsin-product complex formed with a rapidly cleaved substrate reveals a dramatic conformational change in the substrate upon proteolysis. By using long all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of acyl-enzyme intermediates with proteolysis rates spanning 3 orders of magnitude, we identify global and local dynamic features of substrates on the nanosecond-microsecond time scale that correlate with enzymatic rates and explain differential susceptibility to proteolysis. By integrating multiple enhanced sampling methods for molecular dynamics, we model a viable conformational pathway between substrate-like and product-like states, linking substrate dynamics on the nanosecond-microsecond time scale with large collective substrate motions on the much slower time scale of catalysis. Our findings implicate substrate flexibility as a critical determinant of catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Itay Cohen
- the Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, and
| | | | | | - Alexei S Soares
- the Photon Sciences Directorate, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
| | - Niv Papo
- the Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the National Institute of Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel, and
| | - Thomas R Caulfield
- Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida 32224,
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Kromann-Hansen T, Oldenburg E, Yung KWY, Ghassabeh GH, Muyldermans S, Declerck PJ, Huang M, Andreasen PA, Ngo JCK. A Camelid-derived Antibody Fragment Targeting the Active Site of a Serine Protease Balances between Inhibitor and Substrate Behavior. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:15156-68. [PMID: 27226628 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.732503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A peptide segment that binds the active site of a serine protease in a substrate-like manner may behave like an inhibitor or a substrate. However, there is sparse information on which factors determine the behavior a particular peptide segment will exhibit. Here, we describe the first x-ray crystal structure of a nanobody in complex with a serine protease. The nanobody displays a new type of interaction between an antibody and a serine protease as it inserts its complementary determining region-H3 loop into the active site of the protease in a substrate-like manner. The unique binding mechanism causes the nanobody to behave as a strong inhibitor as well as a poor substrate. Intriguingly, its substrate behavior is incomplete, as 30-40% of the nanobody remained intact and inhibitory after prolonged incubation with the protease. Biochemical analysis reveals that an intra-loop interaction network within the complementary determining region-H3 of the nanobody balances its inhibitor versus substrate behavior. Collectively, our results unveil molecular factors, which may be a general mechanism to determine the substrate versus inhibitor behavior of other protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Kromann-Hansen
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark,
| | - Emil Oldenburg
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Kristen Wing Yu Yung
- the School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Gholamreza H Ghassabeh
- the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Nanobody Service Facility, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Serge Muyldermans
- the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul J Declerck
- the Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit, 3000 Leuven, Belgium, and
| | - Mingdong Huang
- the State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Peter A Andreasen
- From the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jacky Chi Ki Ngo
- the School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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