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McCarthy WJ, Thomas SE, Olaleye T, Boland JA, Floto RA, Williams G, Blundell TL, Coyne AG, Abell C. A Fragment-Based Competitive 19F LB-NMR Platform For Hotspot-Directed Ligand Profiling. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202406846. [PMID: 38896426 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202406846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Ligand binding hotspots are regions of protein surfaces that form particularly favourable interactions with small molecule pharmacophores. Targeting interactions with these hotspots maximises the efficiency of ligand binding. Existing methods are capable of identifying hotspots but often lack assays to quantify ligand binding and direct elaboration at these sites. Herein, we describe a fragment-based competitive 19F Ligand Based NMR (LB-NMR) screening platform that enables routine, quantitative ligand profiling focused at ligand-binding hotspots. As a proof of concept, the method was applied to 4'-phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) from Mycobacterium abscessus (Mabs). X-ray crystallographic characterisation of the hits from a 960-member fragment screen identified three ligand-binding hotspots across the PPAT active site. From the fragment hits a collection of 19F reporter candidates were designed and synthesised. By rigorous prioritisation and use of optimisation workflows, a single 19F reporter molecule was generated for each hotspot. Profiling the binding of a set of structurally characterised ligands by competitive 19F LB-NMR with this suite of 19F reporters recapitulated the binding affinity and site ID assignments made by ITC and X-ray crystallography. This quantitative mapping of ligand binding events at hotspot level resolution establishes the utility of the fragment-based competitive 19F LB-NMR screening platform for hotspot-directed ligand profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J McCarthy
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
- Present Address: Molecular Structure of Cell Signalling Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, UK, NW1 1AT
| | - Sherine E Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1GA
- Present Address: Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1PD
| | - Tayo Olaleye
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
| | - Jennifer A Boland
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
| | - R Andres Floto
- University of Cambridge Molecular Immunity Unit, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0QH
- VPD Heart Lung Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0BB
| | - Glyn Williams
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
| | - Tom L Blundell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1GA
- VPD Heart Lung Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, CB2 0BB
| | - Anthony G Coyne
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
| | - Chris Abell
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK, CB2 1EW
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El Bakali J, Blaszczyk M, Evans JC, Boland JA, McCarthy WJ, Fathoni I, Dias MVB, Johnson EO, Coyne AG, Mizrahi V, Blundell TL, Abell C, Spry C. Chemical Validation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase Using Fragment Linking and CRISPR Interference. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 135:e202300221. [PMID: 38515507 PMCID: PMC10952327 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202300221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
The coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathway has attracted attention as a potential target for much-needed novel antimicrobial drugs, including for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), the lethal disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Seeking to identify inhibitors of Mtb phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (MtbPPAT), the enzyme that catalyses the penultimate step in CoA biosynthesis, we performed a fragment screen. In doing so, we discovered three series of fragments that occupy distinct regions of the MtbPPAT active site, presenting a unique opportunity for fragment linking. Here we show how, guided by X-ray crystal structures, we could link weakly-binding fragments to produce an active site binder with a K D <20 μM and on-target anti-Mtb activity, as demonstrated using CRISPR interference. This study represents a big step toward validating MtbPPAT as a potential drug target and designing a MtbPPAT-targeting anti-TB drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal El Bakali
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Present address: Univ. LilleInserm, CHU LilleUMR-S 1172-LiNC-Lille Neuroscience & Cognition59000LilleFrance
| | - Michal Blaszczyk
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
- Present address: Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious DiseaseDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CambridgePuddicombe WayCB2 0AWCambridgeUK
| | - Joanna C. Evans
- MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research UnitDST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research & Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownAnzio RoadCape Town, Observatory7925South Africa
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Jennifer A. Boland
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - William J. McCarthy
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Present address: Molecular Structure of Cell Signaling LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Imam Fathoni
- Research School of BiologyThe Australian National UniversityLinnaeus WayACT2601Australia
| | - Marcio V. B. Dias
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
- Present addresses: Department of MicrobiologyInstitute of Biomedical ScienceUniversity of São Paulo (Brazil) and Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickUK
| | - Eachan O. Johnson
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Anthony G. Coyne
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Valerie Mizrahi
- MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research UnitDST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research & Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownAnzio RoadCape Town, Observatory7925South Africa
| | - Tom L. Blundell
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
| | - Chris Abell
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Christina Spry
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Research School of BiologyThe Australian National UniversityLinnaeus WayACT2601Australia
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El Bakali J, Blaszczyk M, Evans JC, Boland JA, McCarthy WJ, Fathoni I, Dias MVB, Johnson EO, Coyne AG, Mizrahi V, Blundell TL, Abell C, Spry C. Chemical Validation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase Using Fragment Linking and CRISPR Interference. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202300221. [PMID: 36757665 PMCID: PMC10947119 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202300221] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathway has attracted attention as a potential target for much-needed novel antimicrobial drugs, including for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), the lethal disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Seeking to identify inhibitors of Mtb phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (MtbPPAT), the enzyme that catalyses the penultimate step in CoA biosynthesis, we performed a fragment screen. In doing so, we discovered three series of fragments that occupy distinct regions of the MtbPPAT active site, presenting a unique opportunity for fragment linking. Here we show how, guided by X-ray crystal structures, we could link weakly-binding fragments to produce an active site binder with a KD <20 μM and on-target anti-Mtb activity, as demonstrated using CRISPR interference. This study represents a big step toward validating MtbPPAT as a potential drug target and designing a MtbPPAT-targeting anti-TB drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal El Bakali
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Present address: Univ. LilleInserm, CHU LilleUMR-S 1172-LiNC-Lille Neuroscience & Cognition59000LilleFrance
| | - Michal Blaszczyk
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
- Present address: Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious DiseaseDepartment of MedicineUniversity of CambridgePuddicombe WayCB2 0AWCambridgeUK
| | - Joanna C. Evans
- MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research UnitDST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research & Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownAnzio RoadCape Town, Observatory7925South Africa
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Jennifer A. Boland
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - William J. McCarthy
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Present address: Molecular Structure of Cell Signaling LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Imam Fathoni
- Research School of BiologyThe Australian National UniversityLinnaeus WayACT2601Australia
| | - Marcio V. B. Dias
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
- Present addresses: Department of MicrobiologyInstitute of Biomedical ScienceUniversity of São Paulo (Brazil) and Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickUK
| | - Eachan O. Johnson
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance LaboratoryThe Francis Crick Institute1 Midland RoadLondonNW1 1ATUK
| | - Anthony G. Coyne
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Valerie Mizrahi
- MRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research UnitDST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research & Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of PathologyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownAnzio RoadCape Town, Observatory7925South Africa
| | - Tom L. Blundell
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge80 Tennis Court RoadCambridgeCB2 1GAUK
| | - Chris Abell
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
| | - Christina Spry
- Yusuf Hamied Department of ChemistryUniversity of CambridgeLensfield RoadCambridgeCB2 1EWUK
- Research School of BiologyThe Australian National UniversityLinnaeus WayACT2601Australia
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Togre NS, Vargas AM, Bhargavi G, Mallakuntla MK, Tiwari S. Fragment-Based Drug Discovery against Mycobacteria: The Success and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810669. [PMID: 36142582 PMCID: PMC9500838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistant mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), poses an increasing global threat that urgently demands the development of new potent anti-mycobacterial drugs. One of the approaches toward the identification of new drugs is fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), which is the most ingenious among other drug discovery models, such as structure-based drug design (SBDD) and high-throughput screening. Specialized techniques, such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and many others, are part of the drug discovery approach to combat the Mtb and NTM global menaces. Moreover, the primary drawbacks of traditional methods, such as the limited measurement of biomolecular toxicity and uncertain bioavailability evaluation, are successfully overcome by the FBDD approach. The current review focuses on the recognition of fragment-based drug discovery as a popular approach using virtual, computational, and biophysical methods to identify potent fragment molecules. FBDD focuses on designing optimal inhibitors against potential therapeutic targets of NTM and Mtb (PurC, ArgB, MmpL3, and TrmD). Additionally, we have elaborated on the challenges associated with the FBDD approach in the identification and development of novel compounds. Insights into the applications and overcoming the challenges of FBDD approaches will aid in the identification of potential therapeutic compounds to treat drug-sensitive and drug-resistant NTMs and Mtb infections.
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Whole-Genome Sequencing and Drug-Susceptibility Analysis of Serial Mycobacterium abscessus Isolates from Thai Patients. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091319. [PMID: 36138798 PMCID: PMC9495349 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium abscessus is an important pathogen that can cause serious human diseases and is difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. In this study, we analyzed, using whole-genome sequence (WGS) data, M. abscessus strains serially isolated from patients at various time intervals. We undertook genetic diversity analysis between subspecies, mutation-rate estimation and identification of drug-resistant mutations with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis. Clonal isolates of M. abscessus:—subsp. abscessus (MAB) and subsp. massiliense (MMAS)—causing persistent infection through time, differed by 0−7 and 0−14 SNPs, respectively, despite being isolated 1 to 659 days apart. Two cases caused by MMAS differed by ≥102 SNPs at 350 days apart and were regarded as examples of reinfection. Isolates collected ≤7 days apart exhibited a high mutation rate (133.83 ± 0.00 SNPs/genome (5 Mb)/year for MMAS and 127.75 SNPs/genome (5 Mb)/year for MAB). Mutation rates declined in a time-dependent manner in both subspecies. Based on isolates collected > 180 days apart, MMAS had a significantly higher average mutation rate than MAB (2.89 ± 1.02 versus 0.82 ± 0.83 SNPs/genome (5 Mb)/year, (p = 0.01), respectively). All well-known drug-resistance mutations were found to be strongly associated with high MIC levels for clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin. No known mutations were identified for strains resistant to linezolid and amikacin. MAB strains in the study were susceptible to amikacin, while most MMAS strains were susceptible to clarithromycin, amikacin and linezolid. No hetero-resistance was found in the strains analyzed. Our study reports the genetic diversity and mutation rate of M. abscessus between the two major subspecies and confirms the drug resistance-associated mutations. Information about drug-resistance and associated mutations can be applied in diagnosis and patient management.
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