Allosterism in human complement component 5a ((h)C5a): a damper of C5a receptor (C5aR) signaling

Ternary model structural complex of C5a, C5aR2, and β-arrestin1

Complement component fragment 5a (C5a) is one of the potent proinflammatory modulators of the complement system. C5a recruits two genomically related G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), like C5aR1 and C5aR2, constituting a binary complex. The C5a-C5aR1/C5aR2 binary complexes involve other transducer proteins like heterotrimeric G-proteins and β-arrestins to generate the fully active ternary complexes that trigger intracellular signaling through downstream effector molecules in tissues. In the absence of structural data, we had recently developed highly refined model structures of C5aR2 in its inactive (free), meta-active (complexed to the CT-peptide of C5a), and active (complexed to C5a) state embedded to a model palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer. Compared to C5aR1, C5aR2 is established as a noncanonical GPCR, as it recruits and signals through β-arrestins rather than G-proteins. Notably, structural understanding of the ternary complex involving C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin is currently unknown. The current study has attempted to fill the gap by generating a highly refined, fully active ternary model structural complex of the C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin1 embedded in a model POPC bilayer. The computational modeling, 500 ns molecular dynamics (MD) studies, and the principal component analysis (PCA), including the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM PBSA) based data presented in this study, provide an experimentally testable hypothesis about C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin1 extendable to other such ternary systems. The model ternary complex of C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin1 will further enrich the current structural understanding related to the interaction of β-arrestins with the C5a-C5aR2 system.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Structure of Designer Antibody-like Peptides Binding to the Human C5a with Potential to Modulate the C5a Receptor Signaling

C5a is an integral glycoprotein of the complement system that plays an important role in inflammation and immunity. The physiological concentration of C5a is observed to be elevated under various immunoinflammatory pathophysiological conditions in humans. The pathophysiology of C5a is linked to the "two-site" protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with two genomically related receptors, such as C5aR1 and C5aR2. Therefore, pharmacophores that can potentially block the PPIs between C5a-C5aR1 and C5a-C5aR2 have tremendous potential for development as future therapeutics. Notably, the FDA has already approved antibodies that target the precursors of C5a (Eculizumab, 148 kDa) and C5a (Vilobelimab, 149 kDa) for marketing as complement-targeted therapeutics. In this context, the current study reports the structural characterization of a pair of synthetic designer antibody-like peptides (DePA and DePA1; ≤3.8 kDa) that bind to hotspot regions on C5a and also demonstrates potential traits to neutralize the function of C5a under pathophysiological conditions.

A Rationally Designed Synthetic Antiviral Peptide Binder Targeting the Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, is the causative agent responsible for the spread of the COVID19 pandemic across the globe. The global impact of the COVID19 pandemic, the successful approval of vaccines for controlling the pandemic, and the further resurgence of COVID19 necessitate the exploration and validation of alternative therapeutic avenues targeting SARS-CoV-2. The initial entry and further invasion by SARS-CoV-2 require strong protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors expressed on the cell surfaces of various tissues. In principle, disruption of the PPIs between the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and the ACE2 receptor by designer peptides with optimized pharmacology appears to be an ideal choice for potentially preventing viral entry with minimal immunogenicity. In this context, the current study describes a short, synthetic designer peptide (codenamed SR16, ≤18 aa, molecular weight ≤2.5 kDa), which has a few noncoded amino acids, demonstrates a helical conformation in solution, and also engages the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 through a high-affinity interaction, as judged from a battery of biophysical studies. Further, the designer peptide demonstrates resistance to trypsin degradation, appears to be nontoxic to mammalian cells, and also does not induce hemolysis in freshly isolated human erythrocytes. In summary, SR16 appears to be an ideal peptide binder targeting the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, which has the potential for further optimization and development as an antiviral agent targeting SARS-CoV-2.

Rational design of antibody-like peptides for targeting the human complement fragment protein C5a

Human complement fragment 5a (C5a) is one of the most potent glycoproteins generated downstream of C3a and C4a during late-stage activation of the complement signaling cascade. C5a recruits receptors like C5aR1 and C5aR2 and is established to play a critical role in complement-mediated inflammation. Thus, excessive C5a in the plasma due to aberrant activation of the complement contributes to the pathophysiology of several chronic inflammatory diseases. Therefore, restricting the excessive interaction of C5a with its receptors by neutralizing C5a has been one of the most effective therapeutic strategies for the management of inflammatory diseases. Indeed, antibodies targeting C5 (Eculizumab), the precursor of C5a, and C5a (Vilobelimab) have already been approved by the FDA. Still, small designer peptides that work like antibodies and can target and stop C5a from interacting with its receptors seem to be a possible therapeutic alternative to antibodies because they are smaller, cheaper to make, more specific to their target, and can get through membrane barriers. As a proof-of-principle, the current study describes the computational design and evaluation of a pair of peptides that are able to form stable high-affinity complexes with the epitope regions of C5a that are important for the recruitment of C5aR1 and C5aR2. The computational data further supports the potential of designer peptides for mimicking the function of antibodies targeting C5a. However, further experimental studies will be required to establish the structure-function relationship of the designer peptides and also to establish the hypothesis of antibody-like peptides targeting C5a.

Conformational variants of the ternary complex of C5a, C5aR1, and G-protein

The complement component fragment 5a (C5a) binds and activates two complement receptors like C5aR1 and C5aR2, which play a significant role in orchestrating the proinflammatory function of C5a in tissues through the recruitment of heterotrimeric G-proteins and β-arrestins. Dysregulation of the complement induces excessive production of C5a, which triggers aberrant activation of the C5a-C5aR1-G-protein and C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin signalling axes in tissues, contributing to the pathology of numerous immune-inflammatory diseases. Thus, understanding the interaction of C5a with C5aR1 and C5aR2, as well as the interaction of G-protein and β-arrestins, respectively, with C5a-C5aR1 and C5a-C5aR2, holds tremendous therapeutic value. In the absence of structural data, we have previously elaborated the binary complexes of C5a-C5aR1 and C5a-C5aR2, as well as the ternary complex of C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin1, in highly refined model structures. While our ternary model complex of C5a-C5aR1-G-protein was in progress, two cryo-electron microscopy-based ternary structural complexes of C5aR1 were made available by others. However, it is observed that the interaction of the crucial NT-peptide of C5aR1 with C5a, including the portion of the G⍺i-subunit that harbors the switch-I region, is not fully resolved in both complexes. The current study addresses the issues and provides two highly refined alternative model ternary complexes of C5a-C5aR1-G-protein. The study highlights the conformational heterogeneity in C5aR1 by comparing the two conformational variants of the model ternary complex in the context of C5a-C5aR2-β-arrestin1 for further devising methods and molecules targeting both surface and intracellular C5aR1/C5aR2 for effectively mitigating the proinflammatory role of C5a in various disease settings.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The anaphylatoxin C5a: Structure, function, signaling, physiology, disease, and therapeutics

The complement system is one of the oldest known tightly regulated host defense systems evolved for efficiently functioning cell-based immune systems and antibodies. Essentially, the complement system acts as a pivot between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. The complement system collectively represents a cocktail of ∼50 cell-bound/soluble glycoproteins directly involved in controlling infection and inflammation. Activation of the complement cascade generates complement fragments like C3a, C4a, and C5a as anaphylatoxins. C5a is the most potent proinflammatory anaphylatoxin, which is involved in inflammatory signaling in a myriad of tissues. This review provides a comprehensive overview of human C5a in the context of its structure and signaling under several pathophysiological conditions, including the current and future therapeutic applications targeting C5a.

Binding of raloxifene to human complement fragment 5a (hC5a): a perspective on cytokine storm and COVID19

Human C5a (hC5a), one of the pro-inflammatory glycoproteins of the complement system is known to undergo production hyperdrive in response to stress and infection. hC5a has been associated with the pathogenesis of many chronic and acute diseases, due to its proven ability in triggering the 'cytokine storm', by binding to its cognate receptor C5aR, expressed in myriad of tissues. Given the pleiotropic downstream function of hC5a, it is logical to consider the hC5a or its precursors as potential drug targets, and thus, we have been rationally pursuing the idea of neutralizing the harmful effect of excessive hC5a, by implementing the repurposing strategies for FDA-approved drugs. Indeed, the proof of principle biophysical studies published recently is encouraging, which strongly supports the potential of this strategy. Considering BSA-carprofen as a reference model system, the current study further explores the inherent conformational plasticity of hC5a and its effect in accommodating more than one drug molecule cooperatively at multiple sites. The data generated by recruiting a battery of experimental and computational biology techniques strongly suggest that hC5a can sequentially accommodate more than one raloxifene molecule with an estimated Ki ∼ 0.5 µM and Ki ∼ 3.58 µM on its surface at non-analogous sites. The study hints at exploration of polypharmacology approach, as a new avenue for discovering synergistic drug molecule pairs, or drug molecules with 'broad-range' binding affinity for targeting the different 'hot spots' on hC5a, as an alternative combination therapy for possible management of the 'cytokine storm'-related inflammatory diseases, like COVID19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Interaction of Human C5a with the Major Peptide Fragments of C5aR1: Direct Evidence in Support of "Two-Site" Binding Paradigm

The C5a receptor's (C5aR1) physiological function in various tissues depends on its high-affinity binding to the cationic proinflammatory glycoprotein C5a, produced during the activation of the complement system. However, an overstimulated complement can quickly alter the C5a-C5aR1 function from physiological to pathological, as has been noted in the case of several chronic inflammation-induced diseases like asthma, lung injury, multiorgan failure, sepsis, and now COVID-19. In the absence of the structural data, the current study provides the confirmatory biophysical validation of the hypothesized "two-site" binding interactions of C5a, involving (i) the N-terminus (NT) peptide ("Site1") and (ii) the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) peptide of the extracellular surface (ECS) of the C5aR1 ("Site2"), as illustrated earlier in the reported model structural complex of C5a-C5aR1. The biophysical and computational data elaborated in the study provides an improved understanding of the C5a-C5aR1 interaction at an atomistic resolution, highlighting the energetic importance of the aspartic acids on the NT-peptide of C5aR1 toward binding of C5a. The current study can potentially advance the search and optimization of new-generation alternative "antibodies" as well as "neutraligands" targeting the C5a to modulate its interaction with C5aR1.

The Model Structures of the Complement Component 5a Receptor (C5aR) Bound to the Native and Engineered hC5a

The interaction of ^hC5a with C5aR, previously hypothesized to involve a “two-site” binding, (i) recognition of the bulk of ^hC5a by the N-terminus (NT) of C5aR (“site1”), and (ii) recognition of C-terminus (CT) of ^hC5a by the extra cellular surface (ECS) of the C5aR (“site2”). However, the pharmacological landscapes of such recognition sites are yet to be illuminated at atomistic resolution. In the context, unique model complexes of C5aR, harboring pharmacophores of diverse functionality at the “site2” has recently been described. The current study provides a rational illustration of the “two-site” binding paradigm in C5aR, by recruiting the native agonist ^hC5a and engineered antagonist ^hC5a(A8). The ^hC5a-C5aR and ^hC5a(A8)-C5aR complexes studied over 250 ns of molecular dynamics (MD) each in POPC bilayer illuminate the hallmark of activation mechanism in C5aR. The intermolecular interactions in the model complexes are well supported by the molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) based binding free energy calculation, strongly correlating with the reported mutational studies. Exemplified in two unique and contrasting molecular complexes, the study provides an exceptional understanding of the pharmacological divergence observed in C5aR, which will certainly be useful for search and optimization of new generation “neutraligands” targeting the ^hC5a-C5aR interaction.

Structural complexes of the agonist, inverse agonist and antagonist bound C5a receptor: insights into pharmacology and signaling

The C5a receptor (C5aR) is a pharmacologically important G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that interacts with (h)C5a, by recruiting both the "orthosteric" sites (site1 at the N-terminus and site2 at the ECS, extra cellular surface) on C5aR in a two site-binding model. However, the complex pharmacological landscape and the distinguishing chemistry operating either at the "orthosteric" site1 or at the functionally important "orthosteric" site2 of C5aR are still not clear, which greatly limits the understanding of C5aR pharmacology. One of the major bottlenecks is the lack of an experimental structure or a refined model structure of C5aR with appropriately defined active sites. The study attempts to understand the pharmacology at the "orthosteric" site2 of C5aR rationally by generating a highly refined full-blown model structure of C5aR through advanced molecular modeling techniques, and further subjecting it to automated docking and molecular dynamics (MD) studies in the POPC bilayer. The first series of structural complexes of C5aR respectively bound to a linear native peptide agonist ((h)C5a-CT), a small molecule inverse agonist (NDT) and a cyclic peptide antagonist (PMX53) are reported, apparently establishing the unique pharmacological landscape of the "orthosteric" site2, which also illustrates an energetically distinct but coherent competitive chemistry ("cation-π" vs. "π-π" interactions) involved in distinguishing the established ligands known for targeting the "orthosteric" site2 of C5aR. Over a total of 1 μs molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in the POPC bilayer, it is evidenced that while the agonist prefers a "cation-π" interaction, the inverse agonist prefers a "cogwheel/L-shaped" interaction in contrast to the "edge-to-face/T-shaped" type π-π interactions demonstrated by the antagonist by engaging the F275(7.28) of the C5aR. In the absence of a NMR or crystallographically guided model structure of C5aR, the computational model complexes not only provide valuable insights for understanding the C5aR pharmacology, but also emerge as a promising platform for the design and discovery of future potential drug candidates targeting the (h)C5a-C5aR signaling axes.