Crystal structure and mutagenic analysis of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein survivin

The coupling of apoptosis (programmed cell death) to the cell division cycle is essential for homeostasis and genomic integrity. Here, we report the crystal structure of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, which has been implicated in both control of cell death and regulation of cell division. In addition to a conserved N-terminal Zn finger baculovirus IAP repeat, survivin forms a dimer through a symmetric interaction with an intermolecularly bound Zn atom located along the molecular dyad axis. The interaction of the dimer-related C-terminal alpha helices forms an extended surface of approximately 70 A in length. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that survivin dimerization and an extended negatively charged surface surrounding Asp-71 are required to counteract apoptosis and preserve ploidy. These findings may provide a structural basis for a dual role of survivin in inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of cell division.

Crystal structure and mutagenic analysis of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein survivin

The coupling of apoptosis (programmed cell death) to the cell division cycle is essential for homeostasis and genomic integrity. Here, we report the crystal structure of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, which has been implicated in both control of cell death and regulation of cell division. In addition to a conserved N-terminal Zn finger baculovirus IAP repeat, survivin forms a dimer through a symmetric interaction with an intermolecularly bound Zn atom located along the molecular dyad axis. The interaction of the dimer-related C-terminal alpha helices forms an extended surface of approximately 70 A in length. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that survivin dimerization and an extended negatively charged surface surrounding Asp-71 are required to counteract apoptosis and preserve ploidy. These findings may provide a structural basis for a dual role of survivin in inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of cell division.

Crystal structure and mutagenic analysis of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein survivin

The coupling of apoptosis (programmed cell death) to the cell division cycle is essential for homeostasis and genomic integrity. Here, we report the crystal structure of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, which has been implicated in both control of cell death and regulation of cell division. In addition to a conserved N-terminal Zn finger baculovirus IAP repeat, survivin forms a dimer through a symmetric interaction with an intermolecularly bound Zn atom located along the molecular dyad axis. The interaction of the dimer-related C-terminal alpha helices forms an extended surface of approximately 70 A in length. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that survivin dimerization and an extended negatively charged surface surrounding Asp-71 are required to counteract apoptosis and preserve ploidy. These findings may provide a structural basis for a dual role of survivin in inhibition of apoptosis and regulation of cell division.

Molecular basis of clarithromycin activity against Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium smegmatis

Clarithromycin, the 6-O-methyl derivative of erythromycin, is approved for treatment of Mycobacterium avium infections and for prophylaxis in patients at risk. Since clarithromycin is more active against mycobacteria than the parent compound, erythromycin, we evaluated the interaction of erythromycin and clarithromycin with cells and ribosomes isolated from M. avium and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The MIC of clarithromycin was 32 and 64 times lower than that of erythromycin for M. smegmatis and M. avium, respectively. The cellular uptake rate for clarithromycin was two- to five-fold faster than for erythromycin, and cell-associated clarithromycin reached a plateau two-fold higher than that of erythromycin after 3 h. Energy was not required for uptake. Fractionation of cell-associated clarithromycin yielded 12% in the walls, 21% bound to ribosomes, with the remainder being lost during work-up. In addition, three- to six-fold more clarithromycin was associated with the isolated cell integument compared with erythromycin. The Kd for clarithromycin binding to ribosomes was 2.9- and 3.5-fold tighter for M. smegmatis and M. avium, respectively, than for erythromycin, due mainly to a slower off-rate. The log partition coefficients of the non-ionized form (log Pu) for clarithromycin and erythromycin were 3.24 and 2.92, respectively. Thus clarithromycin is more hydrophobic than erythromycin. This would favour more rapid diffusion within and across hydrophobic regions of the cell integument, since once a solute saturates a membrane the net flux across the membrane must equal the net flux within the membrane as dictated by diffusion. We conclude that the lower MIC of clarithromycin for M. avium and M. smegmatis is due to a combination of increased cellular uptake, the major factor, possibly through a peripheral hydrophobic layer, and increased binding affinity to ribosomes.

Cellular accumulation, localization, and activity of a synthetic cyclopeptamine in fungi

A novel synthetic cyclopeptamine, A172013, rapidly accumulated by passive diffusion into Candida albicans CCH442. Drug influx could not be totally facilitated by the membrane-bound target, beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase, since accumulation was unsaturable at drug concentrations up to 10 microg/ml (about 1.6 x 10(-7) molecules/cell), or 25x MIC. About 55 and 23% of the cell-incorporated drug was associated with the cell wall and protoplasts, respectively. Isolated microsomes contained 95% of the protoplast-associated drug, which was fully active against glucan synthesis in vitro. Drug (0.1 microg/ml) accumulation was rapid and complete after 5 min in several fungi tested, including a lipopeptide/cyclopeptamine-resistant strain of C. albicans (LP3-1). The compound penetrated to comparable levels in both yeast and hyphal forms of C. albicans, and accumulation in Aspergillus niger was 20% that in C. albicans. These data indicated that drug-cell interactions were driven by the amphiphilic nature of the compound and that the cell wall served as a major drug reservoir.

Novel antifungal agents which inhibit lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase in Candida albicans CCH442

We have identified four non-azole inhibitors of lanosterol 14a-demethylase in Candida albicans CCH442. The most potent compound, A-39806, had IC50 values for ergosterol inhibition of 0.9 microM (0.3 mg/L) and 1.9 microM (0.6 mg/L) in whole cell and cell-free extract assays, respectively. A-39806 demonstrated broad in-vitro antifungal activity against several Candida species as well as against Cryptococcus albidus and Aspergillus niger. In-vitro antifungal activity was also demonstrated against a fluconazole-resistant clinical isolate of C. albicans.

Inhibition of 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase in Candida albicans by pyridinium ion-based inhibitors

The N-(4E,8E)-5,9,13-trimethyl-4,8,12-tetradecatrien-1- ylpyridinium and N-(4E,8E)-5,9,13-trimethyl-4,8,12-tetradecatrien-1- ylpicolinium cations were evaluated for their ability to inhibit 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase activity in Candida albicans. Both compounds inhibited fungal growth, were fungicidal, and resulted in the accumulation of squalene epoxide concurrent with a decrease in ergosterol, monomethyl sterols, and lanosterol, as was expected for the specific inhibition of 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase activity. These compounds are electron-poor aromatic mimics of a monocyclized transition state or high-energy intermediate formed from oxidosqualene, which may explain their selective action.

Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of pyridinium ion based cyclase inhibitors and antifungal agents

The design, synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of pyridinium ion based inhibitors of oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes are reported. N-Alkyl- and N-prenylpyridinium ions have been found to be potent and specific inhibitors of Candida albicans oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase and to exhibit antifungal activity. The ability of pyridinium ions to inhibit the C. albicans cyclase increases with increasing structural resemblance to a putative monocyclized species formed during the course of the cyclization process. The N-(4E,8E)-5,9,13-trimethyl-4,8,12-tetradecatrien-1- ylpyridinium cation 1 inhibits the C. albicans enzyme at concentrations more than 100-fold lower than does the directly analogous piperidinium derivative 4.

Kinetics of beta-1,3 glucan interaction at the donor and acceptor sites of the fungal glucosyltransferase encoded by the BGL2 gene

Formation of branched glucan, glucan-glucan cross links, and glucan-chitin cross links most likely involves the action of fungal wall glucanases and transglycosylases. We developed an HPLC assay using radiolabeled substrates in order to study the kinetics of interaction of donor and acceptor molecules with a glucosyltransferase present in the cell walls of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. Purified transferase first forms an activated intermediate from a donor beta-1,3 glucan, releasing free disaccharide. The activated intermediate is transferred, in the presence of an appropriate acceptor beta-1,3 glucan, yielding a linear glucan containing a beta-1,6 linkage at the transfer site [Yu, L., Goldman, R., Sullivan, P., Walker, G. & Fesik, S. W. (1993) J. Biomol. NMR 3, 429-441]. An apparent Km of 0.41 mM for the acceptor site was determined using laminaritetraose as the acceptor. An apparent Km of 31 mM for the donor site was determined using increasing concentrations of laminaripentaose, and monitoring formation of laminaribiose. The enzyme functioned as a glucanase at low concentrations of acceptor molecules, with excess H2O competing for reaction at the activated donor site, thus resulting in hydrolysis. However, as the concentration of acceptor increased, the reaction shifted from hydrolysis to glucosyltransfer. The reaction appeared specific for beta-1,3 glucan as acceptor, in as much as no transfer was detected when either hexa-N-acetyl-chitohexaose or maltooligosaccharides were used as acceptors. The roles of such an enzymic activity in cell wall metabolism is discussed in terms of repair, cross linking and incorporation of newly synthesized chains of beta-1,3 glucan into the previously existing cell wall structure.

Tight binding of clarithromycin, its 14-(R)-hydroxy metabolite, and erythromycin to Helicobacter pylori ribosomes

Clarithromycin is a recently approved macrolide with improved pharmacokinetics, antibacterial activity, and efficacy in treating bacterial infections including those caused by Helicobacter pylori, an agent implicated in various forms of gastric disease. We successfully isolated ribosomes from H. pylori and present the results of a study of their interaction with macrolides. Kinetic data were obtained by using 14C-labeled macrolides to probe the ribosomal binding site. Clarithromycin, its parent compound erythromycin, and its 14-(R)-hydroxy metabolite all bound tightly to H. pylori ribosomes. Kd values were in the range of 2 x 10(-10) M, which is the tightest binding interaction observed to date for a macrolide-ribosome complex. This tight binding was due to very slow dissociation rate constants of 7.07 x 10(-4), 6.83 x 10(-4), and 16.6 x 10(-4) min-1 for clarithromycin, erythromycin, and 14-hydroxyclarithromycin, respectively, giving half-times of dissociation ranging from 7 to 16 h, the slowest yet measured for a macrolide-ribosome complex. These dissociation rate constants are 2 orders of magnitude slower than the dissociation rate constants of macrolides from other gram-negative ribosomes. [14C]clarithromycin was bound stoichiometrically to 50S ribosomal subunits following incubation with 70S ribosomes and subsequent separation of the 30S and 50S subunits by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These data predict that the lower MIC of clarithromycin compared with that of erythromycin for H. pylori is likely due to a faster rate of intracellular accumulation, possibly because of increased hydrophobicity.

Anti-Candida activity of cispentacin: the active transport by amino acid permeases and possible mechanisms of action

Cispentacin tranport into Candida albicans CCH442 was via a specific inducible proline permease and other amino acid permeases. Drug entry was also dependent upon the proton motive force. The apparent Km and Vmax for drug uptake under induced conditions were 0.4 mM and 7 nmol/microliter/min, respectively, with cellular accumulation in the mM range. Cispentacin uptake was competitively inhibited by L-proline with an apparent Ki of 75 microM. Cispentacin did not charge to transfer-RNA or incorporate into protein; however, the compound did inhibit in vivo incorporation of [14C]lysine into protein and [3H]adenine into RNA as well as in vitro [14C]proline charging to transfer-RNA. Cispentacin did not inhibit amino acid biosynthesis in vivo but did elevate levels of several amino acids possibly by interfering with self-regulatory mechanisms.