1
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Wankowicz SA, Ravikumar A, Sharma S, Riley B, Raju A, Hogan DW, Flowers J, van den Bedem H, Keedy DA, Fraser JS. Automated multiconformer model building for X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. eLife 2024; 12:RP90606. [PMID: 38904665 PMCID: PMC11192534 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90606] [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] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In their folded state, biomolecules exchange between multiple conformational states that are crucial for their function. Traditional structural biology methods, such as X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), produce density maps that are ensemble averages, reflecting molecules in various conformations. Yet, most models derived from these maps explicitly represent only a single conformation, overlooking the complexity of biomolecular structures. To accurately reflect the diversity of biomolecular forms, there is a pressing need to shift toward modeling structural ensembles that mirror the experimental data. However, the challenge of distinguishing signal from noise complicates manual efforts to create these models. In response, we introduce the latest enhancements to qFit, an automated computational strategy designed to incorporate protein conformational heterogeneity into models built into density maps. These algorithmic improvements in qFit are substantiated by superior Rfree and geometry metrics across a wide range of proteins. Importantly, unlike more complex multicopy ensemble models, the multiconformer models produced by qFit can be manually modified in most major model building software (e.g., Coot) and fit can be further improved by refinement using standard pipelines (e.g., Phenix, Refmac, Buster). By reducing the barrier of creating multiconformer models, qFit can foster the development of new hypotheses about the relationship between macromolecular conformational dynamics and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Wankowicz
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Ashraya Ravikumar
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Shivani Sharma
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - Blake Riley
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Akshay Raju
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Daniel W Hogan
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Jessica Flowers
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Henry van den Bedem
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Atomwise IncSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Daniel A Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - James S Fraser
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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2
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Wankowicz SA, Ravikumar A, Sharma S, Riley BT, Raju A, Flowers J, Hogan D, van den Bedem H, Keedy DA, Fraser JS. Uncovering Protein Ensembles: Automated Multiconformer Model Building for X-ray Crystallography and Cryo-EM. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.28.546963. [PMID: 37425870 PMCID: PMC10327213 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
In their folded state, biomolecules exchange between multiple conformational states that are crucial for their function. Traditional structural biology methods, such as X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), produce density maps that are ensemble averages, reflecting molecules in various conformations. Yet, most models derived from these maps explicitly represent only a single conformation, overlooking the complexity of biomolecular structures. To accurately reflect the diversity of biomolecular forms, there is a pressing need to shift towards modeling structural ensembles that mirror the experimental data. However, the challenge of distinguishing signal from noise complicates manual efforts to create these models. In response, we introduce the latest enhancements to qFit, an automated computational strategy designed to incorporate protein conformational heterogeneity into models built into density maps. These algorithmic improvements in qFit are substantiated by superior R f r e e and geometry metrics across a wide range of proteins. Importantly, unlike more complex multicopy ensemble models, the multiconformer models produced by qFit can be manually modified in most major model building software (e.g. Coot) and fit can be further improved by refinement using standard pipelines (e.g. Phenix, Refmac, Buster). By reducing the barrier of creating multiconformer models, qFit can foster the development of new hypotheses about the relationship between macromolecular conformational dynamics and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Wankowicz
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ashraya Ravikumar
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shivani Sharma
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center – City University of New York, New York, NY 10016
| | - Blake T. Riley
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
| | - Akshay Raju
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
| | - Jessica Flowers
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Hogan
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henry van den Bedem
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Atomwise, Inc., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Daniel A. Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry, The Graduate Center – City University of New York, New York, NY 10016
| | - James S. Fraser
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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3
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Funk LM, Poschmann G, Rabe von Pappenheim F, Chari A, Stegmann KM, Dickmanns A, Wensien M, Eulig N, Paknia E, Heyne G, Penka E, Pearson AR, Berndt C, Fritz T, Bazzi S, Uranga J, Mata RA, Dobbelstein M, Hilgenfeld R, Curth U, Tittmann K. Multiple redox switches of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease in vitro provide opportunities for drug design. Nat Commun 2024; 15:411. [PMID: 38195625 PMCID: PMC10776599 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44621-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Besides vaccines, the development of antiviral drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 is critical for preventing future COVID outbreaks. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a cysteine protease with essential functions in viral replication, has been validated as an effective drug target. Here, we show that Mpro is subject to redox regulation in vitro and reversibly switches between the enzymatically active dimer and the functionally dormant monomer through redox modifications of cysteine residues. These include a disulfide-dithiol switch between the catalytic cysteine C145 and cysteine C117, and generation of an allosteric cysteine-lysine-cysteine SONOS bridge that is required for structural stability under oxidative stress conditions, such as those exerted by the innate immune system. We identify homo- and heterobifunctional reagents that mimic the redox switching and inhibit Mpro activity. The discovered redox switches are conserved in main proteases from other coronaviruses, e.g. MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, indicating their potential as common druggable sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Funk
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gereon Poschmann
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Proteome Research, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Rabe von Pappenheim
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ashwin Chari
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kim M Stegmann
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Antje Dickmanns
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marie Wensien
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nora Eulig
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elham Paknia
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabi Heyne
- Department of Structural Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elke Penka
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Arwen R Pearson
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid-State Physics, Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Hamburg University, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg, 22761, Germany
| | - Carsten Berndt
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Fritz
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August University Göttingen, Tammannstraße 6, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sophia Bazzi
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August University Göttingen, Tammannstraße 6, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jon Uranga
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August University Göttingen, Tammannstraße 6, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ricardo A Mata
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Georg-August University Göttingen, Tammannstraße 6, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Dobbelstein
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Hilgenfeld
- Institute for Biochemistry, Lübeck University, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg - Lübeck-Borstel-Riems Site, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ute Curth
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kai Tittmann
- Department of Molecular Enzymology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Julia-Lermontowa-Weg 3, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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4
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Mehlman T(S, Ginn HM, Keedy DA. An expanded view of ligandability in the allosteric enzyme PTP1B from computational reanalysis of large-scale crystallographic data. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.05.574428. [PMID: 38260327 PMCID: PMC10802458 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.05.574428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The recent advent of crystallographic small-molecule fragment screening presents the opportunity to obtain unprecedented numbers of ligand-bound protein crystal structures from a single high-throughput experiment, mapping ligandability across protein surfaces and identifying useful chemical footholds for structure-based drug design. However, due to the low binding affinities of most fragments, detecting bound fragments from crystallographic datasets has been a challenge. Here we report a trove of 65 new fragment hits across 59 new liganded crystal structures for PTP1B, an "undruggable" therapeutic target enzyme for diabetes and cancer. These structures were obtained from computational analysis of data from a large crystallographic screen, demonstrating the power of this approach to elucidate many (~50% more) "hidden" ligand-bound states of proteins. Our new structures include a fragment hit found in a novel binding site in PTP1B with a unique location relative to the active site, one that validates another new binding site recently identified by simulations, one that links adjacent allosteric sites, and, perhaps most strikingly, a fragment that induces long-range allosteric protein conformational responses via a previously unreported intramolecular conduit. Altogether, our research highlights the utility of computational analysis of crystallographic data, makes publicly available dozens of new ligand-bound structures of a high-value drug target, and identifies novel aspects of ligandability and allostery in PTP1B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar (Skaist) Mehlman
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY 10016
| | - Helen M. Ginn
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Division of Life Sciences, Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Daniel A. Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
- PhD Programs in Biochemistry, Biology, & Chemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY 10016
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5
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Guerrero L, Ebrahim A, Riley BT, Kim M, Huang Q, Finke AD, Keedy DA. Pushed to extremes: distinct effects of high temperature vs. pressure on the structure of an atypical phosphatase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.02.538097. [PMID: 37205580 PMCID: PMC10187168 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.02.538097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein function hinges on small shifts of three-dimensional structure. Elevating temperature or pressure may provide experimentally accessible insights into such shifts, but the effects of these distinct perturbations on protein structures have not been compared in atomic detail. To quantitatively explore these two axes, we report the first pair of structures at physiological temperature vs. high pressure for the same protein, STEP (PTPN5). We show that these perturbations have distinct and surprising effects on protein volume, patterns of ordered solvent, and local backbone and side-chain conformations. This includes novel interactions between key catalytic loops only at physiological temperature, and a distinct conformational ensemble for another active-site loop only at high pressure. Strikingly, in torsional space, physiological temperature shifts STEP toward previously reported active-like states, while high pressure shifts it toward a previously uncharted region. Together, our work argues that temperature and pressure are complementary, powerful, fundamental macromolecular perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Guerrero
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY 10016
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
| | - Blake T Riley
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
| | - Minyoung Kim
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Qingqiu Huang
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Aaron D Finke
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Daniel A Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, NY 10031
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031
- PhD Programs in Biochemistry, Biology, & Chemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY 10016
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6
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Hough MA, Prischi F, Worrall JAR. Perspective: Structure determination of protein-ligand complexes at room temperature using X-ray diffraction approaches. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1113762. [PMID: 36756363 PMCID: PMC9899996 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1113762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between macromolecular proteins and small molecule ligands is an essential component of cellular function. Such ligands may include enzyme substrates, molecules involved in cellular signalling or pharmaceutical drugs. Together with biophysical techniques used to assess the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of ligand binding to proteins, methodology to determine high-resolution structures that enable atomic level interactions between protein and ligand(s) to be directly visualised is required. Whilst such structural approaches are well established with high throughput X-ray crystallography routinely used in the pharmaceutical sector, they provide only a static view of the complex. Recent advances in X-ray structural biology methods offer several new possibilities that can examine protein-ligand complexes at ambient temperature rather than under cryogenic conditions, enable transient binding sites and interactions to be characterised using time-resolved approaches and combine spectroscopic measurements from the same crystal that the structures themselves are determined. This Perspective reviews several recent developments in these areas and discusses new possibilities for applications of these advanced methodologies to transform our understanding of protein-ligand interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Hough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom,Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Michael A. Hough, ; Jonathan A. R. Worrall,
| | - Filippo Prischi
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan A. R. Worrall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Michael A. Hough, ; Jonathan A. R. Worrall,
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7
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Andi B, Kumaran D, Kreitler DF, Soares AS, Keereetaweep J, Jakoncic J, Lazo EO, Shi W, Fuchs MR, Sweet RM, Shanklin J, Adams PD, Schmidt JG, Head MS, McSweeney S. Hepatitis C virus NS3/4A inhibitors and other drug-like compounds as covalent binders of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12197. [PMID: 35842458 PMCID: PMC9287821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15930-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), threatens global public health. The world needs rapid development of new antivirals and vaccines to control the current pandemic and to control the spread of the variants. Among the proteins synthesized by the SARS-CoV-2 genome, main protease (Mpro also known as 3CLpro) is a primary drug target, due to its essential role in maturation of the viral polyproteins. In this study, we provide crystallographic evidence, along with some binding assay data, that three clinically approved anti hepatitis C virus drugs and two other drug-like compounds covalently bind to the Mpro Cys145 catalytic residue in the active site. Also, molecular docking studies can provide additional insight for the design of new antiviral inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 using these drugs as lead compounds. One might consider derivatives of these lead compounds with higher affinity to the Mpro as potential COVID-19 therapeutics for further testing and possibly clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Andi
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA. .,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Desigan Kumaran
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA. .,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Dale F Kreitler
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Alexei S Soares
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | | | - Jean Jakoncic
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Edwin O Lazo
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Wuxian Shi
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Martin R Fuchs
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Robert M Sweet
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - John Shanklin
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Paul D Adams
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jurgen G Schmidt
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Martha S Head
- Joint Institute for Biological Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sean McSweeney
- Center for BioMolecular Structure, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA. .,Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA. .,National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL), US Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA.
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8
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Shaqra AM, Zvornicanin SN, Huang QYJ, Lockbaum GJ, Knapp M, Tandeske L, Bakan DT, Flynn J, Bolon DNA, Moquin S, Dovala D, Kurt Yilmaz N, Schiffer CA. Defining the substrate envelope of SARS-CoV-2 main protease to predict and avoid drug resistance. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3556. [PMID: 35729165 PMCID: PMC9211792 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31210-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses can evolve and spread rapidly to cause severe disease morbidity and mortality, as exemplified by SARS-CoV-2 variants of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although currently available vaccines remain mostly effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants, additional treatment strategies are needed. Inhibitors that target essential viral enzymes, such as proteases and polymerases, represent key classes of antivirals. However, clinical use of antiviral therapies inevitably leads to emergence of drug resistance. In this study we implemented a strategy to pre-emptively address drug resistance to protease inhibitors targeting the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, an essential enzyme that promotes viral maturation. We solved nine high-resolution cocrystal structures of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro bound to substrate peptides and six structures with cleavage products. These structures enabled us to define the substrate envelope of Mpro, map the critical recognition elements, and identify evolutionarily vulnerable sites that may be susceptible to resistance mutations that would compromise binding of the newly developed Mpro inhibitors. Our results suggest strategies for developing robust inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 that will retain longer-lasting efficacy against this evolving viral pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala M Shaqra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Sarah N Zvornicanin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Qiu Yu J Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Gordon J Lockbaum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Mark Knapp
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Laura Tandeske
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - David T Bakan
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Julia Flynn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Daniel N A Bolon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US
| | - Stephanie Moquin
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Dustin Dovala
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Nese Kurt Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US.
| | - Celia A Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, US.
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9
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Correy GJ, Kneller DW, Phillips G, Pant S, Russi S, Cohen AE, Meigs G, Holton JM, Gahbauer S, Thompson MC, Ashworth A, Coates L, Kovalevsky A, Meilleur F, Fraser JS. The mechanisms of catalysis and ligand binding for the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 macrodomain from neutron and X-ray diffraction at room temperature. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.02.07.479477. [PMID: 35169801 PMCID: PMC8845425 DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.07.479477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The NSP3 macrodomain of SARS CoV 2 (Mac1) removes ADP-ribosylation post-translational modifications, playing a key role in the immune evasion capabilities of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we determined neutron and X-ray crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 macrodomain using multiple crystal forms, temperatures, and pHs, across the apo and ADP-ribose-bound states. We characterize extensive solvation in the Mac1 active site, and visualize how water networks reorganize upon binding of ADP-ribose and non-native ligands, inspiring strategies for displacing waters to increase potency of Mac1 inhibitors. Determining the precise orientations of active site water molecules and the protonation states of key catalytic site residues by neutron crystallography suggests a catalytic mechanism for coronavirus macrodomains distinct from the substrate-assisted mechanism proposed for human MacroD2. These data provoke a re-evaluation of macrodomain catalytic mechanisms and will guide the optimization of Mac1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen J Correy
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Daniel W Kneller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, US Department of Energy, USA
| | - Gwyndalyn Phillips
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, US Department of Energy, USA
| | - Swati Pant
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, US Department of Energy, USA
| | - Silvia Russi
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Aina E Cohen
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - George Meigs
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - James M Holton
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Stefan Gahbauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael C Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Alan Ashworth
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer, University of California San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, US Department of Energy, USA
| | - Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, US Department of Energy, USA
| | - Flora Meilleur
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - James S Fraser
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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10
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Costanzi E, Kuzikov M, Esposito F, Albani S, Demitri N, Giabbai B, Camasta M, Tramontano E, Rossetti G, Zaliani A, Storici P. Structural and Biochemical Analysis of the Dual Inhibition of MG-132 against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro/3CLpro) and Human Cathepsin-L. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11779. [PMID: 34769210 PMCID: PMC8583849 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
After almost two years from its first evidence, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to afflict people worldwide, highlighting the need for multiple antiviral strategies. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro/3CLpro) is a recognized promising target for the development of effective drugs. Because single target inhibition might not be sufficient to block SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, multi enzymatic-based therapies may provide a better strategy. Here we present a structural and biochemical characterization of the binding mode of MG-132 to both the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, and to the human Cathepsin-L, suggesting thus an interesting scaffold for the development of double-inhibitors. X-ray diffraction data show that MG-132 well fits into the Mpro active site, forming a covalent bond with Cys145 independently from reducing agents and crystallization conditions. Docking of MG-132 into Cathepsin-L well-matches with a covalent binding to the catalytic cysteine. Accordingly, MG-132 inhibits Cathepsin-L with nanomolar potency and reversibly inhibits Mpro with micromolar potency, but with a prolonged residency time. We compared the apo and MG-132-inhibited structures of Mpro solved in different space groups and we identified a new apo structure that features several similarities with the inhibited ones, offering interesting perspectives for future drug design and in silico efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Costanzi
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 22525 Hamburg, Germany; (M.K.); (A.Z.)
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Francesca Esposito
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Simone Albani
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5) “Computational Biomedicine”, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.A.); (G.R.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicola Demitri
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Barbara Giabbai
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
| | - Marianna Camasta
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (F.E.); (M.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5) “Computational Biomedicine”, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.A.); (G.R.)
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrea Zaliani
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 22525 Hamburg, Germany; (M.K.); (A.Z.)
| | - Paola Storici
- Elettra—Sincrotrone Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (E.C.); (N.D.); (B.G.)
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