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Werner AD, Krapoth N, Norris MJ, Heine A, Klebe G, Saphire EO, Becker S. Development of a Crystallographic Screening to Identify Sudan Virus VP40 Ligands. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:33193-33203. [PMID: 39100314 PMCID: PMC11292656 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c04829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
The matrix protein VP40 of the highly pathogenic Sudan virus (genus Orthoebolavirus) is a multifunctional protein responsible for the recruitment of viral nucleocapsids to the plasma membrane and the budding of infectious virions. In addition to its role in assembly, VP40 also downregulates viral genome replication and transcription. VP40's existence in various homo-oligomeric states is presumed to underpin its diverse functional capabilities during the viral life cycle. Given the absence of licensed therapeutics targeting the Sudan virus, our study focused on inhibiting VP40 dimers, the structural precursors to critical higher-order oligomers, as a novel antiviral strategy. We have established a crystallographic screening pipeline for the identification of small-molecule fragments capable of binding to VP40. Dimeric VP40 of the Sudan virus was recombinantly expressed in bacteria, purified, crystallized, and soaked in a solution of 96 different preselected fragments. Salicylic acid was identified as a crystallographic hit with clear electron density in the pocket between the N- and the C-termini of the VP40 dimer. The binding interaction is predominantly coordinated by amino acid residues leucine 158 (L158) and arginine 214 (R214), which are key in stabilizing salicylic acid within the binding pocket. While salicylic acid displayed minimal impact on the functional aspects of VP40, we delved deeper into characterizing the druggability of the identified binding pocket. We analyzed the influence of residues L158 and R214 on the formation of virus-like particles and viral RNA synthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis of these residues to alanine markedly affected both VP40's budding activity and its effect on viral RNA synthesis, underscoring the potential of the salicylic acid binding pocket as a drug target. In summary, our findings lay the foundation for structure-guided drug design to provide lead compounds against Sudan virus VP40.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nils Krapoth
- Institute
for Virology, University of Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Hessen, Germany
- Institut
für Molekulare Biologie gGmbH, D-55128 Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Norris
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Hessen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of Marburg, D-35032 Marburg, Hessen, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Becker
- Institute
for Virology, University of Marburg, D-35043 Marburg, Hessen, Germany
- Partnersite
Giessen-Marburg-Langen, German Centre for
Infection Research, D-35043 Marburg, Hessen, Germany
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Karges J, Stokes RW, Cohen SM. Computational Prediction of the Binding Pose of Metal-Binding Pharmacophores. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:428-435. [PMID: 35300086 PMCID: PMC8919381 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Computational modeling of inhibitors for metalloenzymes in virtual drug development campaigns has proven challenging. To overcome this limitation, a technique for predicting the binding pose of metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs) is presented. Using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and docking using a genetic algorithm, inhibitor binding was evaluated in silico and compared with inhibitor-enzyme cocrystal structures. The predicted binding poses were found to be consistent with the cocrystal structures. The computational strategy presented represents a useful tool for predicting metalloenzyme-MBP interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Karges
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Ryjul W Stokes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Seth M Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Khatua S, Taraphder S. In the footsteps of an inhibitor unbinding from the active site of human carbonic anhydrase II. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 41:3187-3204. [PMID: 35257634 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2048075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of human carbonic anhydrase (HCA) II bound to an inhibitor molecule, 6-hydroxy-2-thioxocoumarin (FC5), shows FC5 to be located in a hydrophobic pocket at the active site. The present work employs classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to follow the FC5 molecule for 1 μs as it unbinds from its binding location, adopts the path of substrate/product diffusion (path 1) to leave the active site at around 75 ns. It is then found to undergo repeated binding and unbinding at different locations on the surface of the enzyme in water. Several transient excursions through different regions of the enzyme are also observed prior to its exit from the active site. These transient paths are combined with functionally relevant cavities/channels to enlist five additional pathways (path 2-6). Pathways 1-6 are subsequently explored using steered MD and umbrella sampling simulations. A free energy barrier of 0.969 kcal mol-1 is encountered along path 1, while barriers in the range of 0.57-2.84 kcal mol-1 are obtained along paths 2, 4 and 5. We also analyze in detail the interaction between FC5 and the enzyme along each path as the former leaves the active site of HCA II. Our results indicate path 1 to be the major exit pathway for FC5, although competing contributions may also come from the paths 2, 4 and 5.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyajit Khatua
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Srabani Taraphder
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
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Ginn HM. Pre-clustering data sets using cluster4x improves the signal-to-noise ratio of high-throughput crystallography drug-screening analysis. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:1134-1144. [PMID: 33135684 PMCID: PMC7604910 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320012619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug and fragment screening at X-ray crystallography beamlines has been a huge success. However, it is inevitable that more high-profile biological drug targets will be identified for which high-quality, highly homogenous crystal systems cannot be found. With increasing heterogeneity in crystal systems, the application of current multi-data-set methods becomes ever less sensitive to bound ligands. In order to ease the bottleneck of finding a well behaved crystal system, pre-clustering of data sets can be carried out using cluster4x after data collection to separate data sets into smaller partitions in order to restore the sensitivity of multi-data-set methods. Here, the software cluster4x is introduced for this purpose and validated against published data sets using PanDDA, showing an improved total signal from existing ligands and identifying new hits in both highly heterogenous and less heterogenous multi-data sets. cluster4x provides the researcher with an interactive graphical user interface with which to explore multi-data set experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M. Ginn
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
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Li Q. Application of Fragment-Based Drug Discovery to Versatile Targets. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:180. [PMID: 32850968 PMCID: PMC7419598 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a powerful method to develop potent small-molecule compounds starting from fragments binding weakly to targets. As FBDD exhibits several advantages over high-throughput screening campaigns, it becomes an attractive strategy in target-based drug discovery. Many potent compounds/inhibitors of diverse targets have been developed using this approach. Methods used in fragment screening and understanding fragment-binding modes are critical in FBDD. This review elucidates fragment libraries, methods utilized in fragment identification/confirmation, strategies applied in growing the identified fragments into drug-like lead compounds, and applications of FBDD to different targets. As FBDD can be readily carried out through different biophysical and computer-based methods, it will play more important roles in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Biomass High Value Utilization, Guangdong Provincial Bioengineering Institute, Guangzhou Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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