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Fernandes GC, Sierra EGM, Brear P, Pereira MR, Lemos EGM. From Data Mining of Chitinophaga sp. Genome to Enzyme Discovery of a Hyperthermophilic Metallocarboxypeptidase. Microorganisms 2021; 9:393. [PMID: 33673011 PMCID: PMC7918520 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
For several centuries, microorganisms and enzymes have been used for many different applications. Although many enzymes with industrial applications have already been reported, different screening technologies, methods and approaches are constantly being developed in order to allow the identification of enzymes with even more interesting applications. In our work, we have performed data mining on the Chitinophaga sp. genome, a gram-negative bacterium isolated from a bacterial consortium of sugarcane bagasse isolated from an ethanol plant. The analysis of 8 Mb allowed the identification of the chtcp gene, previously annotated as putative Cht4039. The corresponding codified enzyme, denominated as ChtCP, showed the HEXXH conserved motif of family M32 from thermostable carboxypeptidases. After expression in E. coli, the recombinant enzyme was characterized biochemically. ChtCP showed the highest activity versus benziloxicarbonil Ala-Trp at pH 7.5, suggesting a preference for hydrophobic substrates. Surprisingly, the highest activity of ChtCP observed was between 55 °C and 75 °C, and 62% activity was still displayed at 100 °C. We observed that Ca2+, Ba2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+ ions had a positive effect on the activity of ChtCP, and an increase of 30 °C in the melting temperature was observed in the presence of Co2+. These features together with the structure of ChtCP at 1.2 Å highlight the relevance of ChtCP for further biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Cabral Fernandes
- Department of Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo State 14884-900, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (E.G.M.S.)
- Graduate Program in Agricultural and Livestock Microbiology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo State 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Elwi Guillermo Machado Sierra
- Department of Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo State 14884-900, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (E.G.M.S.)
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
| | - Paul Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB21GA, UK;
| | - Mariana Rangel Pereira
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB21GA, UK;
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília-DF 70.040-02, Brazil
| | - Eliana G. M. Lemos
- Department of Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo State 14884-900, Brazil; (G.C.F.); (E.G.M.S.)
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Synthesis of new N,S-acetal analogs derived from juglone with cytotoxic activity against Trypanossoma cruzi. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2020; 52:199-213. [PMID: 32418003 DOI: 10.1007/s10863-020-09834-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A series of 11 new N,S-acetal juglone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against T. cruzi epimastigote forms. These compounds were obtained in good to moderate yields using a microwave irradiation protocol. Among all compounds, two N,S-acetal analogs, showed significant trypanocidal activity. Notably, one compound 11g exhibited selectivity index 10-fold higher than the reference drug benznidazole for epimastigote. The compound 11h was more effective for amastigote forms. Both prototypes exhibited S.I. higher than the benznidazole description. Thus, both compounds proving to be useful candidate molecules to further studies in infected animals.
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Salas-Sarduy E, Landaburu LU, Carmona AK, Cazzulo JJ, Agüero F, Alvarez VE, Niemirowicz GT. Potent and selective inhibitors for M32 metallocarboxypeptidases identified from high-throughput screening of anti-kinetoplastid chemical boxes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007560. [PMID: 31329594 PMCID: PMC6675120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes of the M32 family are Zn-dependent metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs) widely distributed among prokaryotic organisms and just a few eukaryotes including Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, respectively. These enzymes are absent in humans and several functions have been proposed for trypanosomatid M32 MCPs. However, no synthetic inhibitors have been reported so far for these enzymes. Here, we present the identification of a set of inhibitors for TcMCP-1 and TbMCP-1 (two trypanosomatid M32 enzymes sharing 71% protein sequence identity) from the GlaxoSmithKline HAT and CHAGAS chemical boxes; two collections grouping 404 compounds with high antiparasitic potency, drug-likeness, structural diversity and scientific novelty. For this purpose, we adapted continuous fluorescent enzymatic assays to a medium-throughput format and carried out the screening of both collections, followed by the construction of dose-response curves for the most promising hits. As a result, 30 micromolar-range inhibitors were discovered for one or both enzymes. The best hit, TCMDC-143620, showed sub-micromolar affinity for TcMCP-1, inhibited TbMCP-1 in the low micromolar range and was inactive against angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a potential mammalian off-target structurally related to M32 MCPs. This is the first inhibitor reported for this family of MCPs and considering its potency and specificity, TCMDC-143620 seems to be a promissory starting point to develop more specific and potent chemical tools targeting M32 MCPs from trypanosomatid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emir Salas-Sarduy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lionel Urán Landaburu
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana K. Carmona
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juan José Cazzulo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina E. Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela T. Niemirowicz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde”–Universidad Nacional de San Martín–CONICET, San Martín, B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Ogungbe IV, Setzer WN. The Potential of Secondary Metabolites from Plants as Drugs or Leads against Protozoan Neglected Diseases-Part III: In-Silico Molecular Docking Investigations. Molecules 2016; 21:E1389. [PMID: 27775577 PMCID: PMC6274513 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21101389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and human African trypanosomiasis continue to cause considerable suffering and death in developing countries. Current treatment options for these parasitic protozoal diseases generally have severe side effects, may be ineffective or unavailable, and resistance is emerging. There is a constant need to discover new chemotherapeutic agents for these parasitic infections, and natural products continue to serve as a potential source. This review presents molecular docking studies of potential phytochemicals that target key protein targets in Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., and Plasmodium spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifedayo Victor Ogungbe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
| | - William N Setzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA.
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Stura EA, Le Roux L, Guitot K, Garcia S, Bregant S, Beau F, Vera L, Collet G, Ptchelkine D, Bakirci H, Dive V. Structural framework for covalent inhibition of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin A by targeting Cys165. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:33607-14. [PMID: 22869371 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.396697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is one of the most potent toxins for humans and a major biothreat agent. Despite intense chemical efforts over the past 10 years to develop inhibitors of its catalytic domain (catBoNT/A), highly potent and selective inhibitors are still lacking. Recently, small inhibitors were reported to covalently modify catBoNT/A by targeting Cys(165), a residue located in the enzyme active site just above the catalytic zinc ion. However, no direct proof of Cys(165) modification was reported, and the poor accessibility of this residue in the x-ray structure of catBoNT/A raises concerns about this proposal. To clarify this issue, the functional role of Cys(165) was first assessed through a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and structural studies. These data suggested that Cys(165) is more involved in enzyme catalysis rather than in structural property. Then by peptide mass fingerprinting and x-ray crystallography, we demonstrated that a small compound containing a sulfonyl group acts as inhibitor of catBoNT/A through covalent modification of Cys(165). The crystal structure of this covalent complex offers a structural framework for developing more potent covalent inhibitors catBoNT/A. Other zinc metalloproteases can be founded in the protein database with a cysteine at a similar location, some expressed by major human pathogens; thus this work should find broader applications for developing covalent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico A Stura
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTec-S, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, CE-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, Cedex, France
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Frasch AP, Carmona AK, Juliano L, Cazzulo JJ, Niemirowicz GT. Characterization of the M32 metallocarboxypeptidase of Trypanosoma brucei: differences and similarities with its orthologue in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2012; 184:63-70. [PMID: 22575602 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Revised: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Metallocarboxypeptidases (MCP) of the M32 family of peptidases have been identified in a number of prokaryotic organisms but they are absent from eukaryotic genomes with the remarkable exception of those of trypanosomatids. The genome of Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of Sleeping Sickness, encodes one such MCP which displays 72% identity to the characterized TcMCP-1 from Trypanosoma cruzi. As its orthologue, TcMCP-1, Trypanosoma brucei MCP is a cytosolic enzyme expressed in both major stages of the parasite. Purified recombinant TbMCP-1 exhibits a significant hydrolytic activity against the carboxypeptidase B substrate FA (furylacryloil)-Ala-Lys at pH 7.0-7.8 resembling the T. cruzi enzyme. Several divalent cations had little effect on TbMCP-1 activity but increasing amounts of Co(2+) inhibited the enzyme. Despite having similar tertiary structure, both protozoan MCPs display different substrate specificity with respect to P1 position. Thus, TcMCP-1 enzyme cleaved Abz-FVK-(Dnp)-OH substrate (where Abz: o-aminobenzoic acid and Dnp: 2,4-dinitrophenyl) whereas TbMCP-1 had no activity on this substrate. Comparative homology models and sequence alignments using TcMCP-1 as a template led us to map several residues that could explain this difference. To verify this hypothesis, site-directed mutagenesis was undertaken replacing the TbMCP-1 residues by those present in TcMCP-1. We found that the substitution A414M led TbMCP-1 to gain activity on Abz-FVK-(Dnp)-OH, thus showing that this residue is involved in specificity determination, probably being part of the S1 sub-site. Moreover, the activity of both protozoan MCPs was explored on two vasoactive compounds such as bradykinin and angiotensin I resulting in two different hydrolysis patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra P Frasch
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús, UNSAM-CONICET, Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kawasaki A, Nakano H, Hosokawa A, Nakatsu T, Kato H, Watanabe K. The exquisite structure and reaction mechanism of bacterial Pz-peptidase A toward collagenous peptides: X-ray crystallographic structure analysis of PZ-peptidase a reveals differences from mammalian thimet oligopeptidase. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:34972-80. [PMID: 20817732 PMCID: PMC2966111 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.141838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Revised: 06/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Pz-peptidase A, from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus collagenovorans MO-1, hydrolyzes a synthetic peptide substrate, 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-D-Arg (Pz-PLGPR), which contains a collagen-specific tripeptide sequence, -Gly-Pro-X-, but does not act on collagen proteins themselves. The mammalian enzyme, thimet oligopeptidase (TOP), which has comparable functions with bacterial Pz-peptidases but limited identity at the primary sequence level, has recently been subjected to x-ray crystallographic analysis; however, no crystal structure has yet been reported for complexes of TOP with substrate analogues. Here, we report crystallization of recombinant Pz-peptidase A in complex with two phosphinic peptide inhibitors (PPIs) that also function as inhibitors of TOP and determination of the crystal structure of these complexes at 1.80-2.00 Å resolution. The most striking difference between Pz-peptidase A and TOP is that there is no channel running the length of bacterial protein. Whereas the structure of TOP resembles an open bivalve, that of Pz-peptidase A is closed and globular. This suggests that collagenous peptide substrates enter the tunnel at the top gateway of the closed Pz-peptidase A molecule, and reactant peptides are released from the bottom gateway after cleavage at the active site located in the center of the tunnel. One of the two PPIs, PPI-2, which contains the collagen-specific sequence, helped to clarify the exquisite structure and reaction mechanism of Pz-peptidase A toward collagenous peptides. This study describes the mode of substrate binding and its implication for the mammalian enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akio Kawasaki
- From the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nakano
- the Department of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, and
- the Department of Pharmacy, Hyogo University of Health Sciences, 1-3-6 Minatojima, Chuo, Kobe 650-8530, Japan
| | - Allin Hosokawa
- From the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan
| | - Toru Nakatsu
- the Department of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, and
| | - Hiroaki Kato
- the Department of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, 46-29 Yoshida Shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, and
| | - Kunihiko Watanabe
- From the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Shimogamo, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan
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Cerecetto H, González M. Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry in Chagas' Disease: Compounds at The Final Stage of "Hit-To-Lead" Phase. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2010; 3:810-838. [PMID: 27713281 PMCID: PMC4034012 DOI: 10.3390/ph3040810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2010] [Revised: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease, or American trypanosomosiasis, has been the most relevant illness produced by protozoa in Latin America. Synthetic medicinal chemistry efforts have provided an extensive number of chemodiverse hits at the "active-to-hit" stage. However, only a more limited number of these have been studied in vivo in models of Chagas' disease. Herein, we survey some of the cantidates able to surpass the "hit-to-lead" stage discussing their limitations or merit to enter in clinical trials in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cerecetto
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Mercedes González
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Instituto de Química Biológica-Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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