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Imitating evolution's tinkering by protein engineering reveals extension of human galectin-7 activity. Histochem Cell Biol 2021; 156:253-272. [PMID: 34152508 PMCID: PMC8460509 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-021-02004-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Wild-type lectins have distinct types of modular design. As a step to explain the physiological importance of their special status, hypothesis-driven protein engineering is used to generate variants. Concerning adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins, non-covalently associated homodimers are commonly encountered in vertebrates. The homodimeric galectin-7 (Gal-7) is a multifunctional context-dependent modulator. Since the possibility of conversion from the homodimer to hybrids with other galectin domains, i.e. from Gal-1 and Gal-3, has recently been discovered, we designed Gal-7-based constructs, i.e. stable (covalently linked) homo- and heterodimers. They were produced and purified by affinity chromatography, and the sugar-binding activity of each lectin unit proven by calorimetry. Inspection of profiles of binding of labeled galectins to an array-like platform with various cell types, i.e. sections of murine epididymis and jejunum, and impact on neuroblastoma cell proliferation revealed no major difference between natural and artificial (stable) homodimers. When analyzing heterodimers, acquisition of altered properties was seen. Remarkably, binding properties and activity as effector can depend on the order of arrangement of lectin domains (from N- to C-termini) and on the linker length. After dissociation of the homodimer, the Gal-7 domain can build new functionally active hybrids with other partners. This study provides a clear direction for research on defining the full range of Gal-7 functionality and offers the perspective of testing applications for engineered heterodimers.
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Fuehrer J, Pichler KM, Fischer A, Giurea A, Weinmann D, Altmann F, Windhager R, Gabius H, Toegel S. N-Glycan profiling of chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes: Towards functional glycomics in osteoarthritis. Proteomics Clin Appl 2021; 15:e2000057. [PMID: 33580901 PMCID: PMC8548877 DOI: 10.1002/prca.202000057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE N-Glycan profiling provides an indicator of the cellular potential for functional pairing with tissue lectins. Following the discovery of galectin expression by chondrocytes as a factor in osteoarthritis pathobiology, mapping of N-glycans upon their phenotypic dedifferentiation in culture and in fibroblast-like synoviocytes is a step to better understand glycobiological contributions to disease progression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The profiles of cellular N-glycans of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes were characterized by mass spectrometry. RT-qPCR experiments determined mRNA levels of 16 glycosyltransferases. Responsiveness of cells to galectins was quantified by measuring the mRNA level for interleukin-1β. RESULTS The shift of chondrocytes to a fibroblastic phenotype (dedifferentiation) is associated with changes in N-glycosylation. The N-glycan profile of chondrocytes at passage 4 reflects characteristics of synoviocytes. Galectins-1 and -3 enhance expression of interleukin-1β mRNA in both cell types, most pronounced in primary culture. Presence of interleukin-1β leads to changes in sialylation in synoviocytes that favor galectin binding. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE N-Glycosylation reflects phenotypic changes of osteoarthritic cells in vitro. Like chondrocytes, fibroblast-like synoviocytes express N-glycans that are suited to bind galectins, and these proteins serve as inducers of pro-inflammatory markers in these cells. Synoviocytes can thus contribute to disease progression in osteoarthritis in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Fuehrer
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Katharina M. Pichler
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Anita Fischer
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and RehabilitationViennaAustria
| | - Alexander Giurea
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryDivision of OrthopedicsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Daniela Weinmann
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Friedrich Altmann
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Reinhard Windhager
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryDivision of OrthopedicsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Hans‐Joachim Gabius
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineInstitute of Physiological ChemistryLudwig‐Maximilians University MunichMunichGermany
| | - Stefan Toegel
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic BiologyDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma SurgeryMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and RehabilitationViennaAustria
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Miller MC, Zheng Y, Suylen D, Ippel H, Cañada FJ, Berbís MA, Jiménez-Barbero J, Tai G, Gabius HJ, Mayo KH. Targeting the CRD F-face of Human Galectin-3 and Allosterically Modulating Glycan Binding by Angiostatic PTX008 and a Structurally Optimized Derivative. ChemMedChem 2020; 16:713-723. [PMID: 33156953 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Calix[4]arene PTX008 is an angiostatic agent that inhibits tumor growth in mice by binding to galectin-1, a β-galactoside-binding lectin. To assess the affinity profile of PTX008 for galectins, we used 15 N,1 H HSQC NMR spectroscopy to show that PTX008 also binds to galectin-3 (Gal-3), albeit more weakly. We identified the contact site for PTX008 on the F-face of the Gal-3 carbohydrate recognition domain. STD NMR revealed that the hydrophobic phenyl ring crown of the calixarene is the binding epitope. With this information, we performed molecular modeling of the complex to assist in improving the rather low affinity of PTX008 for Gal-3. By removing the N-dimethyl alkyl chain amide groups, we produced PTX013 whose reduced alkyl chain length and polar character led to an approximately eightfold stronger binding than PTX008. PTX013 also binds Gal-1 more strongly than PTX008, whereas neither interacts strongly, if at all, with Gal-7. In addition, PTX013, like PTX008, is an allosteric inhibitor of galectin binding to the canonical ligand lactose. This study broadens the scope for galectin targeting by calixarene-based compounds and opens the perspective for selective galectin blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C Miller
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, 130024, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Dennis Suylen
- Department of Biochemistry and CARIM, Maastricht University, 6229HX, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Ippel
- Department of Biochemistry and CARIM, Maastricht University, 6229HX, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - F Javier Cañada
- NMR and Molecular Recognition Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), C/Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Alvaro Berbís
- NMR and Molecular Recognition Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), C/Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- NMR and Molecular Recognition Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), C/Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technological Park, Building 801 A, 48160, Derio, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 28009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Guihua Tai
- School of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, 130024, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Hans-Joachim Gabius
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximillians-University, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Kevin H Mayo
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Miller MC, Nesmelova IV, Daragan VA, Ippel H, Michalak M, Dregni A, Kaltner H, Kopitz J, Gabius HJ, Mayo KH. Pro4 prolyl peptide bond isomerization in human galectin-7 modulates the monomer-dimer equilibrum to affect function. Biochem J 2020; 477:3147-3165. [PMID: 32766716 PMCID: PMC7473712 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Human galectin-7 (Gal-7; also termed p53-induced gene 1 product) is a multifunctional effector by productive pairing with distinct glycoconjugates and protein counter-receptors in the cytoplasm and nucleus, as well as on the cell surface. Its structural analysis by NMR spectroscopy detected doubling of a set of particular resonances, an indicator of Gal-7 existing in two conformational states in slow exchange on the chemical shift time scale. Structural positioning of this set of amino acids around the P4 residue and loss of this phenomenon in the bioactive P4L mutant indicated cis-trans isomerization at this site. Respective resonance assignments confirmed our proposal of two Gal-7 conformers. Mapping hydrogen bonds and considering van der Waals interactions in molecular dynamics simulations revealed a structural difference for the N-terminal peptide, with the trans-state being more exposed to solvent and more mobile than the cis-state. Affinity for lactose or glycan-inhibitable neuroblastoma cell surface contact formation was not affected, because both conformers associated with an overall increase in order parameters (S2). At low µM concentrations, homodimer dissociation is more favored for the cis-state of the protein than its trans-state. These findings give direction to mapping binding sites for protein counter-receptors of Gal-7, such as Bcl-2, JNK1, p53 or Smad3, and to run functional assays at low concentration to test the hypothesis that this isomerization process provides a (patho)physiologically important molecular switch for Gal-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle C. Miller
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
| | - Irina V. Nesmelova
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
| | - Vladimir A. Daragan
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
| | - Hans Ippel
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
- Department of Biochemistry, CARIM, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Malwina Michalak
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Medical School of the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aurelio Dregni
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
| | - Herbert Kaltner
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximillians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kopitz
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, Medical School of the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Gabius
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximillians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kevin H. Mayo
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 U.S.A
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García Caballero G, Beckwith D, Shilova NV, Gabba A, Kutzner TJ, Ludwig AK, Manning JC, Kaltner H, Sinowatz F, Cudic M, Bovin NV, Murphy PV, Gabius HJ. Influence of protein (human galectin-3) design on aspects of lectin activity. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 154:135-153. [PMID: 32335744 PMCID: PMC7429544 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01859-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The concept of biomedical significance of the functional pairing between tissue lectins and their glycoconjugate counterreceptors has reached the mainstream of research on the flow of biological information. A major challenge now is to identify the principles of structure–activity relationships that underlie specificity of recognition and the ensuing post-binding processes. Toward this end, we focus on a distinct feature on the side of the lectin, i.e. its architecture to present the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Working with a multifunctional human lectin, i.e. galectin-3, as model, its CRD is used in protein engineering to build variants with different modular assembly. Hereby, it becomes possible to compare activity features of the natural design, i.e. CRD attached to an N-terminal tail, with those of homo- and heterodimers and the tail-free protein. Thermodynamics of binding disaccharides proved full activity of all proteins at very similar affinity. The following glycan array testing revealed maintained preferential contact formation with N-acetyllactosamine oligomers and histo-blood group ABH epitopes irrespective of variant design. The study of carbohydrate-inhibitable binding of the test panel disclosed up to qualitative cell-type-dependent differences in sections of fixed murine epididymis and especially jejunum. By probing topological aspects of binding, the susceptibility to inhibition by a tetravalent glycocluster was markedly different for the wild-type vs the homodimeric variant proteins. The results teach the salient lesson that protein design matters: the type of CRD presentation can have a profound bearing on whether basically suited oligosaccharides, which for example tested positively in an array, will become binding partners in situ. When lectin-glycoconjugate aggregates (lattices) are formed, their structural organization will depend on this parameter. Further testing (ga)lectin variants will thus be instrumental (i) to define the full range of impact of altering protein assembly and (ii) to explain why certain types of design have been favored during the course of evolution, besides opening biomedical perspectives for potential applications of the novel galectin forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel García Caballero
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Donella Beckwith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Nadezhda V Shilova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Carbohydrates, Moscow, Russia, 117997
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named After Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Adele Gabba
- School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Tanja J Kutzner
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Anna-Kristin Ludwig
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Joachim C Manning
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Herbert Kaltner
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Fred Sinowatz
- Institut für Anatomie, Histologie und Embryologie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany
| | - Mare Cudic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - Nicolai V Bovin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Carbohydrates, Moscow, Russia, 117997.
- Centre for Kode Technology Innovation, School of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
| | - Paul V Murphy
- School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Hans-Joachim Gabius
- Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Tierärztliche Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539, München, Germany.
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Metazoan Soluble β-Galactoside-Binding Lectins, Galectins: Methods for Purification, Characterization of Their Carbohydrate-Binding Specificity, and Probing Their Ligands. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2132:39-54. [PMID: 32306313 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0430-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Galectins are a family of soluble β-galactoside-binding proteins that share conserved carbohydrate recognition domain. Galectins are found in most multicellular organisms and exert various biological functions by binding to the surface glycoconjugates as lectins. In this chapter, we describe the general methods of purification of galectins, quality control of purified galectins, some example methods of evaluating their carbohydrate-binding activity, and use of galectin to search or detect galectin ligands as well as a series of precautions for the usage of galectins.
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Romero A, Gabius HJ. Galectin-3: is this member of a large family of multifunctional lectins (already) a therapeutic target? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:819-828. [PMID: 31575307 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1675638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The discoveries that sugars are a highly versatile platform to generate biochemical messages and that glycan-specific receptors (lectins) are a link between these signals and their bioactivity explain the interest in endogenous lectins such as galectins. Their analysis is a highly dynamic field. It is often referred to as being promising for innovative drug design. Area covered: We present a primer to the concept of the sugar code by glycan-(ga)lectin recognition, followed by a survey on galectin-3 (considering common and distinct features within this family of multifunctional proteins expressed at various cellular sites and cell types). Finally, we discuss strategies capable of blocking (ga)lectin activity, with an eye on current challenges and inherent obstacles. Expert opinion: The emerging broad profile of homeostatic and pathophysiological bioactivities stimulates further efforts to explore galectin (Gal-3) functionality, alone and then in mixtures. Like thoroughly assessing the pros and cons of blocking approaches for a multifunctional protein active at different sites, identifying a clinical situation, in which the galectin is essential in the disease process, will be critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Romero
- Structural and Chemistry Department, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), CSIC , Madrid , Spain
| | - Hans-Joachim Gabius
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich , Munich , Germany
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