1
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Kamsri B, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Chimprasit A, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Spencer J, Oliveira ASF, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. Signal Propagation in the ATPase Domain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Gyrase from Dynamical-Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Biochemistry 2024. [PMID: 38742407 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
DNA gyrases catalyze negative supercoiling of DNA, are essential for bacterial DNA replication, transcription, and recombination, and are important antibacterial targets in multiple pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which in 2021 caused >1.5 million deaths worldwide. DNA gyrase is a tetrameric (A2B2) protein formed from two subunit types: gyrase A (GyrA) carries the breakage-reunion active site, whereas gyrase B (GyrB) catalyzes ATP hydrolysis required for energy transduction and DNA translocation. The GyrB ATPase domains dimerize in the presence of ATP to trap the translocated DNA (T-DNA) segment as a first step in strand passage, for which hydrolysis of one of the two ATPs and release of the resulting inorganic phosphate is rate-limiting. Here, dynamical-nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations of the dimeric 43 kDa N-terminal fragment of M. tuberculosis GyrB show how events at the ATPase site (dissociation/hydrolysis of bound nucleotides) are propagated through communication pathways to other functionally important regions of the GyrB ATPase domain. Specifically, our simulations identify two distinct pathways that respectively connect the GyrB ATPase site to the corynebacteria-specific C-loop, thought to interact with GyrA prior to DNA capture, and to the C-terminus of the GyrB transduction domain, which in turn contacts the C-terminal GyrB topoisomerase-primase (TOPRIM) domain responsible for interactions with GyrA and the centrally bound G-segment DNA. The connection between the ATPase site and the C-loop of dimeric GyrB is consistent with the unusual properties of M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase relative to those from other bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bundit Kamsri
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Aunlika Chimprasit
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - A Sofia F Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
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2
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Walker EJ, Hamill CJ, Crean R, Connolly MS, Warrender AK, Kraakman KL, Prentice EJ, Steyn-Ross A, Steyn-Ross M, Pudney CR, van der Kamp MW, Schipper LA, Mulholland AJ, Arcus VL. Cooperative Conformational Transitions Underpin the Activation Heat Capacity in the Temperature Dependence of Enzyme Catalysis. ACS Catal 2024; 14:4379-4394. [PMID: 38633402 PMCID: PMC11020164 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c05584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Many enzymes display non-Arrhenius behavior with curved Arrhenius plots in the absence of denaturation. There has been significant debate about the origin of this behavior and recently the role of the activation heat capacity (ΔCP⧧) has been widely discussed. If enzyme-catalyzed reactions occur with appreciable negative values of ΔCP⧧ (arising from narrowing of the conformational space along the reaction coordinate), then curved Arrhenius plots are a consequence. To investigate these phenomena in detail, we have collected high precision temperature-rate data over a wide temperature interval for a model glycosidase enzyme MalL, and a series of mutants that change the temperature-dependence of the enzyme-catalyzed rate. We use these data to test a range of models including macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) and an equilibrium model. In addition, we have performed extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the conformational landscape traversed by MalL in the enzyme-substrate complex and an enzyme-transition state complex. We have crystallized the enzyme in a transition state-like conformation in the absence of a ligand and determined an X-ray crystal structure at very high resolution (1.10 Å). We show (using simulation) that this enzyme-transition state conformation has a more restricted conformational landscape than the wildtype enzyme. We coin the term "transition state-like conformation (TLC)" to apply to this state of the enzyme. Together, these results imply a cooperative conformational transition between an enzyme-substrate conformation (ES) and a transition-state-like conformation (TLC) that precedes the chemical step. We present a two-state model as an extension of MMRT (MMRT-2S) that describes the data along with a convenient approximation with linear temperature dependence of the activation heat capacity (MMRT-1L) that can be used where fewer data points are available. Our model rationalizes disparate behavior seen for MalL and previous results for a thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase and is consistent with a raft of data for other enzymes. Our model can be used to characterize the conformational changes required for enzyme catalysis and provides insights into the role of cooperative conformational changes in transition state stabilization that are accompanied by changes in heat capacity for the system along the reaction coordinate. TLCs are likely to be of wide importance in understanding the temperature dependence of enzyme activity and other aspects of enzyme catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Walker
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Carlin J. Hamill
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Rory Crean
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Michael S. Connolly
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Annmaree K. Warrender
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Kirsty L. Kraakman
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Erica J. Prentice
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | | | - Moira Steyn-Ross
- School
of Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Christopher R. Pudney
- Department
of Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics
and Biodevices, University of Bath, Bath ST16 2TB, U.K.
| | - Marc W. van der Kamp
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
| | - Louis A. Schipper
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry,
University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Vickery L. Arcus
- Te
Aka Ma̅tuatua School of Science, University
of Waikato, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
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3
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Castelli M, Marchetti F, Osuna S, F. Oliveira AS, Mulholland AJ, Serapian SA, Colombo G. Decrypting Allostery in Membrane-Bound K-Ras4B Using Complementary In Silico Approaches Based on Unbiased Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:901-919. [PMID: 38116743 PMCID: PMC10785808 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein functions are dynamically regulated by allostery, which enables conformational communication even between faraway residues, and expresses itself in many forms, akin to different "languages": allosteric control pathways predominating in an unperturbed protein are often unintuitively reshaped whenever biochemical perturbations arise (e.g., mutations). To accurately model allostery, unbiased molecular dynamics (MD) simulations require integration with a reliable method able to, e.g., detect incipient allosteric changes or likely perturbation pathways; this is because allostery can operate at longer time scales than those accessible by plain MD. Such methods are typically applied singularly, but we here argue their joint application─as a "multilingual" approach─could work significantly better. We successfully prove this through unbiased MD simulations (∼100 μs) of the widely studied, allosterically active oncotarget K-Ras4B, solvated and embedded in a phospholipid membrane, from which we decrypt allostery using four showcase "languages": Distance Fluctuation analysis and the Shortest Path Map capture allosteric hotspots at equilibrium; Anisotropic Thermal Diffusion and Dynamical Non-Equilibrium MD simulations assess perturbations upon, respectively, either superheating or hydrolyzing the GTP that oncogenically activates K-Ras4B. Chosen "languages" work synergistically, providing an articulate, mutually coherent, experimentally consistent picture of K-Ras4B allostery, whereby distinct traits emerge at equilibrium and upon GTP cleavage. At equilibrium, combined evidence confirms prominent allosteric communication from the membrane-embedded hypervariable region, through a hub comprising helix α5 and sheet β5, and up to the active site, encompassing allosteric "switches" I and II (marginally), and two proposed pockets. Upon GTP cleavage, allosteric perturbations mostly accumulate on the switches and documented interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Castelli
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, viale T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Filippo Marchetti
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, viale T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- INSTM, via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy
- E4
Computer Engineering, via Martiri delle libertà 66, 42019 Scandiano (RE), Italy
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- Institut
de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament
de Química, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Catalonia E-17071, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Catalonia E-08010, Spain
| | - A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- Centre for
Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for
Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Stefano A. Serapian
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, viale T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, viale T. Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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4
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Crossley-Lewis J, Dunn J, Buda C, Sunley GJ, Elena AM, Todorov IT, Yong CW, Glowacki DR, Mulholland AJ, Allan NL. Interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality for modelling materials and catalysts. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 125:108606. [PMID: 37660615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Interactive molecular dynamics simulation in virtual reality (iMD-VR) is emerging as a promising technique in molecular science. Here, we demonstrate its use in a range of fifteen applications in materials science and heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, the iMD-VR package Narupa is used with the MD package, DL_POLY [1]. We show how iMD-VR can be used to: (i) investigate the mechanism of lithium fast ion conduction by directing the formation of defects showing that vacancy transport is favoured over interstitialcy mechanisms, and (ii) guide a molecule through a zeolite pore to explore diffusion within zeolites, examining in detail the motion of methyl n-hexanoate in H-ZSM-5 zeolite and identifying bottlenecks restricting diffusion. iMD-VR allows users to manipulate these systems intuitively, to drive changes in them and observe the resulting changes in structure and dynamics. We make these simulations available, as a resource for both teaching and research. All simulation files, with videos, can be found online (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8252314) and are provided as open-source material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Crossley-Lewis
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Josh Dunn
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Corneliu Buda
- Applied Sciences, bp Innovation and Engineering, BP plc, 150 West Warrenville Road, Naperville, IL, 60563, USA
| | - Glenn J Sunley
- Applied Sciences, bp Innovation and Engineering, BP plc, Saltend, Hull, HU12 8DS, UK
| | - Alin M Elena
- Scientific Computing Department, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Daresbury, UK
| | - Ilian T Todorov
- Scientific Computing Department, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Daresbury, UK
| | - Chin W Yong
- Scientific Computing Department, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Daresbury, UK
| | - David R Glowacki
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Neil L Allan
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
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5
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Deeks HM, Zinovjev K, Barnoud J, Mulholland AJ, van der Kamp MW, Glowacki DR. Free energy along drug-protein binding pathways interactively sampled in virtual reality. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16665. [PMID: 37794083 PMCID: PMC10551034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43523-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a two-step approach for combining interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality (iMD-VR) with free energy (FE) calculation to explore the dynamics of biological processes at the molecular level. We refer to this combined approach as iMD-VR-FE. Stage one involves using a state-of-the-art 'human-in-the-loop' iMD-VR framework to generate a diverse range of protein-ligand unbinding pathways, benefitting from the sophistication of human spatial and chemical intuition. Stage two involves using the iMD-VR-sampled pathways as initial guesses for defining a path-based reaction coordinate from which we can obtain a corresponding free energy profile using FE methods. To investigate the performance of the method, we apply iMD-VR-FE to investigate the unbinding of a benzamidine ligand from a trypsin protein. The binding free energy calculated using iMD-VR-FE is similar for each pathway, indicating internal consistency. Moreover, the resulting free energy profiles can distinguish energetic differences between pathways corresponding to various protein-ligand conformations (e.g., helping to identify pathways that are more favourable) and enable identification of metastable states along the pathways. The two-step iMD-VR-FE approach offers an intuitive way for researchers to test hypotheses for candidate pathways in biomolecular systems, quickly obtaining both qualitative and quantitative insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Deeks
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jonathan Barnoud
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- CiTIUS | Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC, Rúa de Jenaro de la Fuente, s/n, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Marc W van der Kamp
- Center for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
| | - David R Glowacki
- CiTIUS | Centro Singular de Investigación en Tecnoloxías Intelixentes da USC, Rúa de Jenaro de la Fuente, s/n, 15705, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
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6
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Buzas D, Bunzel AH, Staufer O, Milodowski EJ, Edmunds GL, Bufton JC, Vidana Mateo BV, Yadav SKN, Gupta K, Fletcher C, Williamson MK, Harrison A, Borucu U, Capin J, Francis O, Balchin G, Hall S, Vega MV, Durbesson F, Lingappa S, Vincentelli R, Roe J, Wooldridge L, Burt R, Anderson RJL, Mulholland AJ, Bristol UNCOVER Group, Hare J, Bailey M, Davidson AD, Finn A, Morgan D, Mann J, Spatz J, Garzoni F, Schaffitzel C, Berger I. In vitro generated antibodies guide thermostable ADDomer nanoparticle design for nasal vaccination and passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2. Antib Ther 2023; 6:277-297. [PMID: 38075238 PMCID: PMC10702856 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Due to COVID-19, pandemic preparedness emerges as a key imperative, necessitating new approaches to accelerate development of reagents against infectious pathogens. Methods Here, we developed an integrated approach combining synthetic, computational and structural methods with in vitro antibody selection and in vivo immunization to design, produce and validate nature-inspired nanoparticle-based reagents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Results Our approach resulted in two innovations: (i) a thermostable nasal vaccine called ADDoCoV, displaying multiple copies of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif derived epitope and (ii) a multivalent nanoparticle superbinder, called Gigabody, against SARS-CoV-2 including immune-evasive variants of concern (VOCs). In vitro generated neutralizing nanobodies and electron cryo-microscopy established authenticity and accessibility of epitopes displayed by ADDoCoV. Gigabody comprising multimerized nanobodies prevented SARS-CoV-2 virion attachment with picomolar EC50. Vaccinating mice resulted in antibodies cross-reacting with VOCs including Delta and Omicron. Conclusion Our study elucidates Adenovirus-derived dodecamer (ADDomer)-based nanoparticles for use in active and passive immunization and provides a blueprint for crafting reagents to combat respiratory viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Buzas
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Adrian H Bunzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Oskar Staufer
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Center for Biophysics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | | | - Grace L Edmunds
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Joshua C Bufton
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | | | - Kapil Gupta
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Imophoron Ltd, Science Creates Old Market, Midland Rd, Bristol BS2 0JZ UK
| | | | - Maia K Williamson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | - Ufuk Borucu
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Julien Capin
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ore Francis
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Georgia Balchin
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Sophie Hall
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Mirella V Vega
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Fabien Durbesson
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Renaud Vincentelli
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Joe Roe
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Linda Wooldridge
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Rachel Burt
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | | | | | | | - Jonathan Hare
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Mick Bailey
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- Imophoron Ltd, Science Creates Old Market, Midland Rd, Bristol BS2 0JZ UK
| | - Adam Finn
- Bristol University COVID-19 Emergency Research Group, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
- Children's Vaccine Centre, Bristol Medical School, Bristol BS2 8EF UK
| | - David Morgan
- Imophoron Ltd, Science Creates Old Market, Midland Rd, Bristol BS2 0JZ UK
| | - Jamie Mann
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU UK
| | - Joachim Spatz
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Frederic Garzoni
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Bristol University COVID-19 Emergency Research Group, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- Bristol University COVID-19 Emergency Research Group, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
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7
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Hanpaibool C, Ounjai P, Yotphan S, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J, Ngamwongsatit N, Rungrotmongkol T. Enhancement by pyrazolones of colistin efficacy against mcr-1-expressing E. coli: an in silico and in vitro investigation. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:479-489. [PMID: 37488458 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the polymyxin colistin has been recently revived to treat acute, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Positively charged colistin binds to negatively charged lipids and damages the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. However, the MCR-1 protein, encoded by the mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene, is involved in bacterial colistin resistance by catalysing phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transfer onto lipid A, neutralising its negative charge, and thereby reducing its interaction with colistin. Our preliminary results showed that treatment with a reference pyrazolone compound significantly reduced colistin minimal inhibitory concentrations in Escherichia coli expressing mcr-1 mediated colistin resistance (Hanpaibool et al. in ACS Omega, 2023). A docking-MD combination was used in an ensemble-based docking approach to identify further pyrazolone compounds as candidate MCR-1 inhibitors. Docking simulations revealed that 13/28 of the pyrazolone compounds tested are predicted to have lower binding free energies than the reference compound. Four of these were chosen for in vitro testing, with the results demonstrating that all the compounds tested could lower colistin MICs in an E. coli strain carrying the mcr-1 gene. Docking of pyrazolones into the MCR-1 active site reveals residues that are implicated in ligand-protein interactions, particularly E246, T285, H395, H466, and H478, which are located in the MCR-1 active site and which participate in interactions with MCR-1 in ≥ 8/10 of the lowest energy complexes. This study establishes pyrazolone-induced colistin susceptibility in E. coli carrying the mcr-1 gene, providing a method for the development of novel treatments against colistin-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonnikan Hanpaibool
- Center of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Center of Excellence On Environmental Health and Toxicology, Office of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sirilata Yotphan
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Natharin Ngamwongsatit
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
- Laboratory of Bacteria, Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Center of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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8
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Oliveira ASF, Shoemark DK, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Mulholland AJ. SARS-CoV-2 spike variants differ in their allosteric responses to linoleic acid. J Mol Cell Biol 2023; 15:mjad021. [PMID: 36990513 PMCID: PMC10563148 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains a functionally important fatty acid (FA) binding site, which is also found in some other coronaviruses, e.g. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The occupancy of the FA site by linoleic acid (LA) reduces infectivity by 'locking' the spike in a less infectious conformation. Here, we use dynamical-nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to compare the allosteric responses of spike variants to LA removal. D-NEMD simulations show that the FA site is coupled to other functional regions of the protein, e.g. the receptor-binding motif (RBM), N-terminal domain (NTD), furin cleavage site, and regions surrounding the fusion peptide. D-NEMD simulations also identify the allosteric networks connecting the FA site to these functional regions. The comparison between the wild-type spike and four variants (Alpha, Delta, Delta plus, and Omicron BA.1) shows that the variants differ significantly in their responses to LA removal. The allosteric connections to the FA site on Alpha are generally similar to those on the wild-type protein, with the exception of the RBM and the S71-R78 region, which show a weaker link to the FA site. In contrast, Omicron is the most different variant, exhibiting significant differences in the RBM, NTD, V622-L629, and furin cleavage site. These differences in the allosteric modulation may be of functional relevance, potentially affecting transmissibility and virulence. Experimental comparison of the effects of LA on SARS-CoV-2 variants, including emerging variants, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sofia F Oliveira
- School of Chemistry, Centre for Computational Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | | | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- School of Chemistry, Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Adrian J Mulholland
- School of Chemistry, Centre for Computational Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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9
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Hutchins GH, Noble CEM, Bunzel HA, Williams C, Dubiel P, Yadav SKN, Molinaro PM, Barringer R, Blackburn H, Hardy BJ, Parnell AE, Landau C, Race PR, Oliver TAA, Koder RL, Crump MP, Schaffitzel C, Oliveira ASF, Mulholland AJ, Anderson JLR. An expandable, modular de novo protein platform for precision redox engineering. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306046120. [PMID: 37487099 PMCID: PMC10400981 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306046120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The electron-conducting circuitry of life represents an as-yet untapped resource of exquisite, nanoscale biomolecular engineering. Here, we report the characterization and structure of a de novo diheme "maquette" protein, 4D2, which we subsequently use to create an expanded, modular platform for heme protein design. A well-folded monoheme variant was created by computational redesign, which was then utilized for the experimental validation of continuum electrostatic redox potential calculations. This demonstrates how fundamental biophysical properties can be predicted and fine-tuned. 4D2 was then extended into a tetraheme helical bundle, representing a 7 nm molecular wire. Despite a molecular weight of only 24 kDa, electron cryomicroscopy illustrated a remarkable level of detail, indicating the positioning of the secondary structure and the heme cofactors. This robust, expressible, highly thermostable and readily designable modular platform presents a valuable resource for redox protein design and the future construction of artificial electron-conducting circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- George H. Hutchins
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Claire E. M. Noble
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - H. Adrian Bunzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paulina Dubiel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Sathish K. N. Yadav
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. Molinaro
- Department of Physics, The City College of New York, New York, NY10031
- Graduate Programs of Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY10016
| | - Rob Barringer
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Hector Blackburn
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin J. Hardy
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Alice E. Parnell
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Landau
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Race
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ronald L. Koder
- Department of Physics, The City College of New York, New York, NY10031
- Graduate Programs of Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY10016
| | - Matthew P. Crump
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - J. L. Ross Anderson
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, BristolBS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- BrisSynBio Synthetic Biology Research Centre, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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10
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Freeman SL, Oliveira ASF, Gallio AE, Rosa A, Simitakou MK, Arthur CJ, Mulholland AJ, Cherepanov P, Raven EL. Heme binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105014. [PMID: 37414149 PMCID: PMC10416065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The target for humoral immunity, SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, has become the focus of vaccine research and development. Previous work demonstrated that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike binds biliverdin-a product of heme catabolism-causing a strong allosteric effect on the activity of a subset of neutralizing antibodies. Herein, we show that the spike glycoprotein is also able to bind heme (KD = 0.5 ± 0.2 μM). Molecular modeling indicated that the heme group fits well within the same pocket on the SARS-CoV-2 spike NTD. Lined by aromatic and hydrophobic residues (W104, V126, I129, F192, F194, I203, and L226), the pocket provides a suitable environment to stabilize the hydrophobic heme. Mutagenesis of N121 has a substantive effect on heme binding (KD = 3000 ± 220 μM), confirming the pocket as a major heme binding location of the viral glycoprotein. Coupled oxidation experiments in the presence of ascorbate indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein can catalyze the slow conversion of heme to biliverdin. The heme trapping and oxidation activities of the spike may allow the virus to reduce levels of free heme during infection to facilitate evasion of the adaptive and innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel L Freeman
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - A Sofia F Oliveira
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea E Gallio
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Annachiara Rosa
- Chromatin Structure and Mobile DNA Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria K Simitakou
- Chromatin Structure and Mobile DNA Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Arthur
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Cherepanov
- Chromatin Structure and Mobile DNA Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease, St-Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Emma L Raven
- School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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11
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Chan HT, Oliveira ASF, Schofield CJ, Mulholland AJ, Duarte F. Dynamical Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations Identify Allosteric Sites and Positions Associated with Drug Resistance in the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. JACS Au 2023; 3:1767-1774. [PMID: 37384148 PMCID: PMC10262681 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) plays an essential role in the coronavirus lifecycle by catalyzing hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins at specific sites. Mpro is the target of drugs, such as nirmatrelvir, though resistant mutants have emerged that threaten drug efficacy. Despite its importance, questions remain on the mechanism of how Mpro binds its substrates. Here, we apply dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD) simulations to evaluate structural and dynamical responses of Mpro to the presence and absence of a substrate. The results highlight communication between the Mpro dimer subunits and identify networks, including some far from the active site, that link the active site with a known allosteric inhibition site, or which are associated with nirmatrelvir resistance. They imply that some mutations enable resistance by altering the allosteric behavior of Mpro. More generally, the results show the utility of the D-NEMD technique for identifying functionally relevant allosteric sites and networks including those relevant to resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. T.
Henry Chan
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
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12
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Mulholland AJ, Kamerlin SCL. Science after Brexit: bright spots on the Horizon? EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57409. [PMID: 37272265 PMCID: PMC10240190 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Is scientific partnership between the UK and EU on the Horizon?
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13
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Kamsri B, Pakamwong B, Thongdee P, Phusi N, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Ketrat S, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Sangswan J, Suttisintong K, Sureram S, Kittakoop P, Hongmanee P, Santanirand P, Leanpolchareanchai J, Goudar KE, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. Bioisosteric Design Identifies Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Gyrase ATPase Activity. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:2707-2718. [PMID: 37074047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in DNA gyrase confer resistance to fluoroquinolones, second-line antibiotics for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. Identification of new agents that inhibit M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATPase activity is one strategy to overcome this. Here, bioisosteric designs using known inhibitors as templates were employed to define novel inhibitors of M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATPase activity. This yielded the modified compound R3-13 with improved drug-likeness compared to the template inhibitor that acted as a promising ATPase inhibitor against M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase. Utilization of compound R3-13 as a virtual screening template, supported by subsequent biological assays, identified seven further M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATPase inhibitors with IC50 values in the range of 0.42-3.59 μM. The most active compound 1 showed an IC50 value of 0.42 μM, 3-fold better than the comparator ATPase inhibitor novobiocin (1.27 μM). Compound 1 showed noncytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells at concentrations up to 76-fold higher than its IC50 value. Molecular dynamics simulations followed by decomposition energy calculations identified that compound 1 occupies the binding pocket utilized by the adenosine group of the ATP analogue AMPPNP in the M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase GyrB subunit. The most prominent contribution to the binding of compound 1 to M. tuberculosis GyrB subunit is made by residue Asp79, which forms two hydrogen bonds with the OH group of this compound and also participates in the binding of AMPPNP. Compound 1 represents a potential new scaffold for further exploration and optimization as a M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATPase inhibitor and candidate anti-tuberculosis agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bundit Kamsri
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Bongkochawan Pakamwong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Paptawan Thongdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Naruedon Phusi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Sombat Ketrat
- School of Information Science and Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong 21210, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Jidapa Sangswan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Khomson Suttisintong
- National Nanotechnology Center, NSTDA, 111 Thailand Science Park, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sanya Sureram
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Prasat Kittakoop
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Poonpilas Hongmanee
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Pitak Santanirand
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jiraporn Leanpolchareanchai
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, 447 Sri-Ayuthaya Road,Rajathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Kirsty E Goudar
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
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14
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Tooke C, Hinchliffe P, Beer M, Zinovjev K, Colenso CK, Schofield CJ, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J. Tautomer-Specific Deacylation and Ω-Loop Flexibility Explain the Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Broad-Spectrum Activity of the KPC-2 β-Lactamase. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:7166-7180. [PMID: 36972204 PMCID: PMC10080687 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
KPC-2 (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2) is a globally disseminated serine-β-lactamase (SBL) responsible for extensive β-lactam antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. SBLs inactivate β-lactams via a mechanism involving a hydrolytically labile covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate. Carbapenems, the most potent β-lactams, evade the activity of many SBLs by forming long-lived inhibitory acyl-enzymes; however, carbapenemases such as KPC-2 efficiently deacylate carbapenem acyl-enzymes. We present high-resolution (1.25-1.4 Å) crystal structures of KPC-2 acyl-enzymes with representative penicillins (ampicillin), cephalosporins (cefalothin), and carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem) obtained utilizing an isosteric deacylation-deficient mutant (E166Q). The mobility of the Ω-loop (residues 165-170) negatively correlates with antibiotic turnover rates (kcat), highlighting the role of this region in positioning catalytic residues for efficient hydrolysis of different β-lactams. Carbapenem-derived acyl-enzyme structures reveal the predominance of the Δ1-(2R) imine rather than the Δ2 enamine tautomer. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations of KPC-2:meropenem acyl-enzyme deacylation used an adaptive string method to differentiate the reactivity of the two isomers. These identify the Δ1-(2R) isomer as having a significantly (7 kcal/mol) higher barrier than the Δ2 tautomer for the (rate-determining) formation of the tetrahedral deacylation intermediate. Deacylation is therefore likely to proceed predominantly from the Δ2, rather than the Δ1-(2R) acyl-enzyme, facilitated by tautomer-specific differences in hydrogen-bonding networks involving the carbapenem C-3 carboxylate and the deacylating water and stabilization by protonated N-4, accumulating a negative charge on the Δ2 enamine-derived oxyanion. Taken together, our data show how the flexible Ω-loop helps confer broad-spectrum activity upon KPC-2, while carbapenemase activity stems from efficient deacylation of the Δ2-enamine acyl-enzyme tautomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine
L. Tooke
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences
Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Hinchliffe
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences
Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Beer
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences
Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Cantock’s
Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- School
of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University
Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- Departamento
de Química Física, Universitat
de València, Burjassot 46100, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Charlotte K. Colenso
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences
Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Cantock’s
Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Mansfield Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA United
Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Cantock’s
Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences
Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
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15
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Hanpaibool C, Ngamwongsatit N, Ounjai P, Yotphan S, Wolschann P, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J, Rungrotmongkol T. Pyrazolones Potentiate Colistin Activity against MCR-1-Producing Resistant Bacteria: Computational and Microbiological Study. ACS Omega 2023; 8:8366-8376. [PMID: 36910942 PMCID: PMC9996792 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The polymyxin colistin is a last line antibiotic for extensively resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Colistin binding to lipid A disrupts the Gram-negative outer membrane, but mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene family members confer resistance by catalyzing phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transfer onto lipid A, neutralizing its negative charge to reduce colistin interactions. Multiple mcr isoforms have been identified in clinical and environmental isolates, with mcr-1 being the most widespread and mcr-3 being common in South and East Asia. Preliminary screening revealed that treatment with pyrazolones significantly reduced mcr-1, but not mcr-3, mediated colistin resistance. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the catalytic domains of MCR-1 and a homology model of MCR-3, in different protonation states of active site residues H395/H380 and H478/H463, indicate that the MCR-1 active site has greater water accessibility than MCR-3, but that this is less influenced by changes in protonation. MD-optimized structures of MCR-1 and MCR-3 were used in virtual screening of 20 pyrazolone derivatives. Docking of these into the MCR-1/MCR-3 active sites identifies common residues likely to be involved in protein-ligand interactions, specifically the catalytic threonine (MCR-1 T285, MCR-3 T277) site of PEA addition, as well as differential interactions with adjacent amino acids. Minimal inhibitory concentration assays showed that the pyrazolone with the lowest predicted binding energy (ST3f) restores colistin susceptibility of mcr-1, but not mcr-3, expressing Escherichia coli. Thus, simulations indicate differences in the active site structure between MCR-1 and MCR-3 that may give rise to differences in pyrazolone binding and so relate to differential effects upon producer E. coli. This work identifies pyrazolones as able to restore colistin susceptibility of mcr-1-producing bacteria, laying the foundation for further investigations of their activity as phosphoethanolamine transferase inhibitors as well as of their differential activity toward mcr isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonnikan Hanpaibool
- Center
of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Natharin Ngamwongsatit
- Department
of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
- Laboratory
of Bacteria, Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department
of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol
University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Center
of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, Office of Higher
Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sirilata Yotphan
- Center of
Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Department of
Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Peter Wolschann
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, University of
Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - James Spencer
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Center
of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Program
in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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16
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Dommer A, Casalino L, Kearns F, Rosenfeld M, Wauer N, Ahn SH, Russo J, Oliveira S, Morris C, Bogetti A, Trifan A, Brace A, Sztain T, Clyde A, Ma H, Chennubhotla C, Lee H, Turilli M, Khalid S, Tamayo-Mendoza T, Welborn M, Christensen A, Smith DG, Qiao Z, Sirumalla SK, O'Connor M, Manby F, Anandkumar A, Hardy D, Phillips J, Stern A, Romero J, Clark D, Dorrell M, Maiden T, Huang L, McCalpin J, Woods C, Gray A, Williams M, Barker B, Rajapaksha H, Pitts R, Gibbs T, Stone J, Zuckerman DM, Mulholland AJ, Miller T, Jha S, Ramanathan A, Chong L, Amaro RE. #COVIDisAirborne: AI-enabled multiscale computational microscopy of delta SARS-CoV-2 in a respiratory aerosol. Int J High Perform Comput Appl 2023; 37:28-44. [PMID: 36647365 PMCID: PMC9527558 DOI: 10.1177/10943420221128233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We seek to completely revise current models of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses by providing never-before-seen atomic-level views of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within a respiratory aerosol. Our work dramatically extends the capabilities of multiscale computational microscopy to address the significant gaps that exist in current experimental methods, which are limited in their ability to interrogate aerosols at the atomic/molecular level and thus obscure our understanding of airborne transmission. We demonstrate how our integrated data-driven platform provides a new way of exploring the composition, structure, and dynamics of aerosols and aerosolized viruses, while driving simulation method development along several important axes. We present a series of initial scientific discoveries for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, noting that the full scientific impact of this work has yet to be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John Russo
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anda Trifan
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Alexander Brace
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Terra Sztain
- UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Freie Universitat Berlin
| | - Austin Clyde
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
- University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Heng Ma
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | | | - Hyungro Lee
- Brookhaven National Lab and Rutgers University
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhuoran Qiao
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anima Anandkumar
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- NVIDIA Corp, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | - David Hardy
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - James Phillips
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Tom Maiden
- Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lei Huang
- Texas Advanced Computing Center, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Stone
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- NVIDIA Corp, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas Miller
- Entos, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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17
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Thongdee P, Hanwarinroj C, Pakamwong B, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Leanpolchareanchai J, Ketrat S, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Ariyachaokun K, Suttisintong K, Sureram S, Kittakoop P, Hongmanee P, Santanirand P, Mukamolova GV, Blood RA, Takebayashi Y, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. Virtual Screening Identifies Novel and Potent Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis PknB with Antibacterial Activity. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:6508-6518. [PMID: 35994014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein kinase B (PknB) is essential to mycobacterial growth and has received considerable attention as an attractive target for novel anti-tuberculosis drug development. Here, virtual screening, validated by biological assays, was applied to select candidate inhibitors of M. tuberculosis PknB from the Specs compound library (www.specs.net). Fifteen compounds were identified as hits and selected for in vitro biological assays, of which three indoles (2, AE-848/42799159; 4, AH-262/34335013; 10, AP-124/40904362) inhibited growth of M. tuberculosis H37Rv with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 6.2, 12.5, and 6.2 μg/mL, respectively. Two compounds, 2 and 10, inhibited M. tuberculosis PknB activity in vitro, with IC50 values of 14.4 and 12.1 μM, respectively, suggesting this to be the likely basis of their anti-tubercular activity. In contrast, compound 4 displayed anti-tuberculosis activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv but showed no inhibition of PknB activity (IC50 > 128 μM). We hypothesize that hydrolysis of its ethyl ester to a carboxylate moiety generates an active species that inhibits other M. tuberculosis enzymes. Molecular dynamics simulations of modeled complexes of compounds 2, 4, and 10 bound to M. tuberculosis PknB indicated that compound 4 has a lower affinity for M. tuberculosis PknB than compounds 2 and 10, as evidenced by higher calculated binding free energies, consistent with experiment. Compounds 2 and 10 therefore represent candidate inhibitors of M. tuberculosis PknB that provide attractive starting templates for optimization as anti-tubercular agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paptawan Thongdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Chayanin Hanwarinroj
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Bongkochawan Pakamwong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | | | - Sombat Ketrat
- School of Information Science and Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong, 21210, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Kanchiyaphat Ariyachaokun
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Khomson Suttisintong
- National Nanotechnology Center, NSTDA, 111 Thailand Science Park, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Sanya Sureram
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Prasat Kittakoop
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - Poonpilas Hongmanee
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pitak Santanirand
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Galina V Mukamolova
- Leicester Tuberculosis Research Group, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building, University Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary A Blood
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Yuiko Takebayashi
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
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18
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Chrestia JF, Oliveira AS, Mulholland AJ, Gallagher T, Bermúdez I, Bouzat C. A Functional Interaction Between Y674-R685 Region of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6076-6090. [PMID: 35859025 PMCID: PMC9299415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02947-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and has anti-inflammatory actions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that α7 nAChR interacts with a region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), and a potential contribution of nAChRs to COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed. We applied whole-cell and single-channel recordings to determine whether a peptide corresponding to the Y674-R685 region of the S protein can directly affect α7 nAChR function. The S fragment exerts a dual effect on α7. It activates α7 nAChRs in the presence of positive allosteric modulators, in line with our previous molecular dynamics simulations showing favourable binding of this accessible region of the S protein to the nAChR agonist binding site. The S fragment also exerts a negative modulation of α7, which is evidenced by a profound concentration-dependent decrease in the durations of openings and activation episodes of potentiated channels and in the amplitude of macroscopic responses elicited by ACh. Our study identifies a potential functional interaction between α7 nAChR and a region of the S protein, thus providing molecular foundations for further exploring the involvement of nAChRs in COVID-19 pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Facundo Chrestia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Isabel Bermúdez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Camino La Carrindanga Km 7-8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
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19
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Hanwarinroj C, Thongdee P, Sukchit D, Taveepanich S, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Ketrat S, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Suttisintong K, Kittakoop P, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. In silico design of novel quinazoline-based compounds as potential Mycobacterium tuberculosis PknB inhibitors through 2D and 3D-QSAR, molecular dynamics simulations combined with pharmacokinetic predictions. J Mol Graph Model 2022; 115:108231. [PMID: 35667143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2022.108231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Serine/threonine protein kinase B (PknB) is essential to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) cell division and metabolism and a potential anti-tuberculosis drug target. Here we apply Hologram Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (HQSAR) and three-dimensional QSAR (Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA)) methods to investigate structural requirements for PknB inhibition by a series of previously described quinazoline derivatives. PknB binding of quinazolines was evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the catalytic domain and binding energies calculated by Molecular Mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) methods. Evaluation of a training set against experimental data showed both HQSAR and CoMSIA models to reliably predict quinazoline binding to PknB, and identified the quinazoline core and overall hydrophobicity as the major contributors to affinity. Calculated binding energies also agreed with experiment, and MD simulations identified hydrogen bonds to Glu93 and Val95, and hydrophobic interactions with Gly18, Phe19, Gly20, Val25, Thr99 and Met155, as crucial to PknB binding. Based on these results, additional quinazolines were designed and evaluated in silico, with HQSAR and CoMSIA models identifying sixteen compounds, with predicted PknB binding superior to the template, whose activity spectra and physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and anti-M. tuberculosis properties were assessed. Compound, D060, bearing additional ortho- and meta-methyl groups on its R2 substituent, was superior to template regarding PknB inhibition and % caseum fraction unbound, and equivalent in other aspects, although predictions identified hepatotoxicity as a likely issue with the quinazoline series. These data provide a structural basis for rational design of quinazoline derivatives with more potent PknB inhibitory activity as candidate anti-tuberculosis agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayanin Hanwarinroj
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Paptawan Thongdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Darunee Sukchit
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Somjintana Taveepanich
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | - Sombat Ketrat
- School of Information Science and Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong, 21210, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Prasat Kittakoop
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, 10210, Bangkok, Thailand; Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 10210, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand.
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20
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Chudyk EI, Beer M, Limb MAL, Jones CA, Spencer J, van der Kamp MW, Mulholland AJ. QM/MM Simulations Reveal the Determinants of Carbapenemase Activity in Class A β-Lactamases. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1521-1532. [PMID: 35877936 PMCID: PMC9379904 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
β-lactam antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, primarily caused by β-lactamase enzymes that hydrolyze the β-lactam ring, has become a serious clinical problem. Carbapenems were formerly considered "last resort" antibiotics because they escaped breakdown by most β-lactamases, due to slow deacylation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate. However, an increasing number of Gram-negative bacteria now produce β-lactamases with carbapenemase activity: these efficiently hydrolyze the carbapenem β-lactam ring, severely limiting the treatment of some bacterial infections. Here, we use quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations of the deacylation reactions of acyl-enzyme complexes of eight β-lactamases of class A (the most widely distributed β-lactamase group) with the carbapenem meropenem to investigate differences between those inhibited by carbapenems (TEM-1, SHV-1, BlaC, and CTX-M-16) and those that hydrolyze them (SFC-1, KPC-2, NMC-A, and SME-1). QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations confirm the two enzyme groups to differ in the preferred acyl-enzyme orientation: carbapenem-inhibited enzymes favor hydrogen bonding of the carbapenem hydroxyethyl group to deacylating water (DW). QM/MM simulations of deacylation give activation free energies in good agreement with experimental hydrolysis rates, correctly distinguishing carbapenemases. For the carbapenem-inhibited enzymes, free energies for deacylation are significantly higher than for the carbapenemases, even when the hydroxyethyl group was restrained to prevent interaction with the DW. Analysis of these simulations, and additional simulations of mutant enzymes, shows how factors including the hydroxyethyl orientation, the active site volume, and architecture (conformations of Asn170 and Asn132; organization of the oxyanion hole; and the Cys69-Cys238 disulfide bond) collectively determine catalytic efficiency toward carbapenems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa I. Chudyk
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Beer
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University
of Bristol Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A. L. Limb
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte A. Jones
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University
of Bristol Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Marc W. van der Kamp
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol Medical
Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United
Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
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21
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Douglas-Gallardo OA, Murillo-López JA, Oller J, Mulholland AJ, Vöhringer-Martinez E. Carbon Dioxide Fixation in RuBisCO Is Protonation-State-Dependent and Irreversible. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A. Douglas-Gallardo
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Juliana A. Murillo-López
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Javier Oller
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Esteban Vöhringer-Martinez
- Departamento de Físico-Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
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22
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The potential of virtual reality (VR) to contribute to drug design and development has been recognized for many years. A recent advance is to use VR not only to visualize and interact with molecules, but also to interact with molecular dynamics simulations 'on the fly' (interactive molecular dynamics in VR, IMD-VR), which is useful for flexible docking and examining binding processes and conformational changes. AREAS COVERED The authors use the term 'interactive VR' to refer to software where interactivity is an inherent part of the user VR experience e.g. in making structural modifications or interacting with a physically rigorous molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, as opposed to using VR controllers to rotate and translate the molecule for enhanced visualization. Here, they describe these methods and their application to problems relevant to drug discovery, highlighting the possibilities that they offer in this arena. EXPERT OPINION The ease of viewing and manipulating molecular structures and dynamics, using accessible VR hardware, and the ability to modify structures on the fly (e.g. adding or deleting atoms) - and for groups of researchers to work together in the same virtual environment - makes modern interactive VR a valuable tool to add to the armory of drug design and development methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Walters
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ella M Gale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jonathan Barnoud
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- CiTIUS Intelligent Technologies Research Centre, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - David R Glowacki
- CiTIUS Intelligent Technologies Research Centre, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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23
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Lang EJM, Baker EG, Woolfson DN, Mulholland AJ. Generalized Born Implicit Solvent Models Do Not Reproduce Secondary Structures of De Novo Designed Glu/Lys Peptides. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:4070-4076. [PMID: 35687842 PMCID: PMC9281390 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c01172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
We test a range of
standard generalized Born (GB) models and protein
force fields for a set of five experimentally characterized, designed
peptides comprising alternating blocks of glutamate and lysine, which
have been shown to differ significantly in α-helical content.
Sixty-five combinations of force fields and GB models are evaluated
in >800 μs of molecular dynamics simulations. GB models generally
do not reproduce the experimentally observed α-helical content,
and none perform well for all five peptides. These results illustrate
that these models are not usefully predictive in this context. These
peptides provide a useful test set for simulation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J M Lang
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Emily G Baker
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Derek N Woolfson
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,BrisSynBio, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, U.K.,School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.,School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
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24
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Hanwarinroj C, Phusi N, Kamsri B, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Ketrat S, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Suttisintong K, Kittakoop P, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. Discovery of novel and potent InhA inhibitors by an in silico screening and pharmacokinetic prediction. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:717-729. [PMID: 35485258 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2021-0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: In silico screening approaches were performed to discover novel InhA inhibitors. Methods: Candidate InhA inhibitors were obtained from the combination of virtual screening and pharmacokinetic prediction. In addition, molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area, molecular mechanics Generalized Born surface area and WaterSwap methods were performed to investigate the binding interactions and binding energy of candidate compounds. Results: Four candidate compounds with suitable physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and antibacterial properties are proposed. The crucial interactions of the candidate compounds were H-bond, pi-pi and sigma-pi interactions observed in the InhA binding site. The binding affinity of these compounds was improved by hydrophobic interactions with hydrophobic side chains in the InhA pocket. Conclusion: The four newly identified InhA inhibitors reported in this study could serve as promising hit compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and may be considered for further experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayanin Hanwarinroj
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Nareudon Phusi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Bundit Kamsri
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000, Thailand
| | - Sombat Ketrat
- School of Information Science & Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science & Technology, Rayong, 21210, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Prasat Kittakoop
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health & Toxicology (EHT), CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, 34190, Thailand
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25
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Hirvonen VA, Weizmann TM, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J, van der Kamp MW. Multiscale Simulations Identify Origins of Differential Carbapenem Hydrolysis by the OXA-48 β-Lactamase. ACS Catal 2022; 12:4534-4544. [PMID: 35571461 PMCID: PMC9097296 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c05694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OXA-48 β-lactamases are frequently encountered in bacterial infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Due to the importance of carbapenems in the treatment of healthcare-associated infections and the increasingly wide dissemination of OXA-48-like enzymes on plasmids, these β-lactamases are of high clinical significance. Notably, OXA-48 hydrolyzes imipenem more efficiently than other commonly used carbapenems, such as meropenem. Here, we use extensive multiscale simulations of imipenem and meropenem hydrolysis by OXA-48 to dissect the dynamics and to explore differences in the reactivity of the possible conformational substates of the respective acylenzymes. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations of the deacylation reaction for both substrates demonstrate that deacylation is favored when the 6α-hydroxyethyl group is able to hydrogen bond to the water molecule responsible for deacylation but disfavored by the increasing hydration of either oxygen of the carboxylated Lys73 general base. Differences in free energy barriers calculated from the QM/MM simulations correlate well with the experimentally observed differences in hydrolytic efficiency between meropenem and imipenem. We conclude that the impaired breakdown of meropenem, compared to imipenem, which arises from a subtle change in the hydrogen bonding pattern between the deacylating water molecule and the antibiotic, is most likely induced by the meropenem 1β-methyl group. In addition to increased insights into carbapenem breakdown by OXA β-lactamases, which may aid in future efforts to design antibiotics or inhibitors, our approach exemplifies the combined use of atomistic simulations in determining the possible different enzyme-substrate substates and their influence on enzyme reaction kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viivi
H. A. Hirvonen
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - Tal Moshe Weizmann
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
| | - James Spencer
- School
of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University
of Bristol, University
Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
| | - Marc W. van der Kamp
- School
of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K.
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
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26
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Pakamwong B, Thongdee P, Kamsri B, Phusi N, Kamsri P, Punkvang A, Ketrat S, Saparpakorn P, Hannongbua S, Ariyachaokun K, Suttisintong K, Sureram S, Kittakoop P, Hongmanee P, Santanirand P, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ, Pungpo P. Identification of Potent DNA Gyrase Inhibitors Active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:1680-1690. [PMID: 35347987 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA gyrase manipulates the DNA topology using controlled breakage and religation of DNA driven by ATP hydrolysis. DNA gyrase has been validated as the enzyme target of fluoroquinolones (FQs), second-line antibiotics used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Mutations around the DNA gyrase DNA-binding site result in the emergence of FQ resistance in M. tuberculosis; inhibition of DNA gyrase ATPase activity is one strategy to overcome this. Here, virtual screening, subsequently validated by biological assays, was applied to select candidate inhibitors of the M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATPase activity from the Specs compound library (www.specs.net). Thirty compounds were identified and selected as hits for in vitro biological assays, of which two compounds, G24 and G26, inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis H37Rv with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 12.5 μg/mL. The two compounds inhibited DNA gyrase ATPase activity with IC50 values of 2.69 and 2.46 μM, respectively, suggesting this to be the likely basis of their antitubercular activity. Models of complexes of compounds G24 and G26 bound to the M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase ATP-binding site, generated by molecular dynamics simulations followed by pharmacophore mapping analysis, showed hydrophobic interactions of inhibitor hydrophobic headgroups and electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions of the polar tails, which are likely to be important for their inhibition. Decreasing compound lipophilicity by increasing the polarity of these tails then presents a likely route to improving the solubility and activity. Thus, compounds G24 and G26 provide attractive starting templates for the optimization of antitubercular agents that act by targeting DNA gyrase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bongkochawan Pakamwong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Paptawan Thongdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Bundit Kamsri
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Naruedon Phusi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Pharit Kamsri
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Auradee Punkvang
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
| | - Sombat Ketrat
- School of Information Science and Technology, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong 21210, Thailand
| | | | - Supa Hannongbua
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Kanchiyaphat Ariyachaokun
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
| | - Khomson Suttisintong
- National Nanotechnology Center, NSTDA, 111 Thailand Science Park, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Sanya Sureram
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Prasat Kittakoop
- Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Chemical Biology Program, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
| | - Poonpilas Hongmanee
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Pitak Santanirand
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
| | - Pornpan Pungpo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand
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27
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Gervasoni S, Spencer J, Hinchliffe P, Pedretti A, Vairoletti F, Mahler G, Mulholland AJ. A multiscale approach to predict the binding mode of metallo beta-lactamase inhibitors. Proteins 2022; 90:372-384. [PMID: 34455628 PMCID: PMC8944931 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to global public health. β-lactamases, which catalyze breakdown of β-lactam antibiotics, are a principal cause. Metallo β-lactamases (MBLs) represent a particular challenge because they hydrolyze almost all β-lactams and to date no MBL inhibitor has been approved for clinical use. Molecular simulations can aid drug discovery, for example, predicting inhibitor complexes, but empirical molecular mechanics (MM) methods often perform poorly for metalloproteins. Here we present a multiscale approach to model thiol inhibitor binding to IMP-1, a clinically important MBL containing two catalytic zinc ions, and predict the binding mode of a 2-mercaptomethyl thiazolidine (MMTZ) inhibitor. Inhibitors were first docked into the IMP-1 active site, testing different docking programs and scoring functions on multiple crystal structures. Complexes were then subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and subsequently refined through QM/MM optimization with a density functional theory (DFT) method, B3LYP/6-31G(d), increasing the accuracy of the method with successive steps. This workflow was tested on two IMP-1:MMTZ complexes, for which it reproduced crystallographically observed binding, and applied to predict the binding mode of a third MMTZ inhibitor for which a complex structure was crystallographically intractable. We also tested a 12-6-4 nonbonded interaction model in MD simulations and optimization with a SCC-DFTB QM/MM approach. The results show the limitations of empirical models for treating these systems and indicate the need for higher level calculations, for example, DFT/MM, for reliable structural predictions. This study demonstrates a reliable computational pipeline that can be applied to inhibitor design for MBLs and other zinc-metalloenzyme systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gervasoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Philip Hinchliffe
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Franco Vairoletti
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Avda. General Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Graciela Mahler
- Laboratorio de Química Farmacéutica, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Avda. General Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay
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28
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Lawan N, Tinikul R, Surawatanawong P, Mulholland AJ, Chaiyen P. QM/MM Molecular Modeling Reveals Mechanism Insights into Flavin Peroxide Formation in Bacterial Luciferase. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:399-411. [PMID: 34989561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial luciferase (Lux) catalyzes oxidation of reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and aldehyde to form oxidized FMN and carboxylic acid via molecular oxygen with concomitant light generation. The enzyme is useful for various detection applications in biomedical experiments. Upon reacting with oxygen, the reduced FMN generates C4a-peroxy-FMN (FMNH-C4a-OO-) as a reactive intermediate, which is required for light generation. However, the mechanism and control of FMNH-C4a-OO- formation are not clear. This work investigated the reaction of FMNH-C4a-OO- formation in Lux using QM/MM methods. The B3LYP/6-31G*/CHARMM27 calculations indicate that Lux controls the formation of FMNH-C4a-OO- via the conserved His44 residue. The steps in intermediate formation are found to be as follows: (i) H+ reacts with O2 to generate +OOH. (ii) +OOH attacks C4a of FMNH- to generate FMNH-C4a-OOH. (iii) H+ is transferred from FMNH-C4a-OOH to His44 to generate FMNH-C4a-OO- while His44 stabilizes FMNH-C4a-OO- by forming a hydrogen bond to an oxygen atom. This controlling key mechanism for driving the change from FMNH-C4a-OOH to the FMNH-C4a-OO- adduct is confirmed because FMNH-C4a-OO- is more stable than FMNH-C4a-OOH in the luciferase active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narin Lawan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Ruchanok Tinikul
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Panida Surawatanawong
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Pimchai Chaiyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Wangchan Valley, Rayong 21210, Thailand
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29
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Haldar S, Zhang Y, Xia Y, Islam B, Liu S, Gervasio FL, Mulholland AJ, Waller ZAE, Wei D, Haider S. Mechanistic Insights into the Ligand-Induced Unfolding of an RNA G-Quadruplex. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:935-950. [PMID: 34989224 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cationic porphyrin TMPyP4 is a well-established DNA G-quadruplex (G4) binding ligand that can stabilize different topologies via multiple binding modes. However, TMPyP4 can have both a stabilizing and destabilizing effect on RNA G4 structures. The structural mechanisms that mediate RNA G4 unfolding remain unknown. Here, we report on the TMPyP4-induced RNA G4 unfolding mechanism studied by well-tempered metadynamics (WT-MetaD) with supporting biophysical experiments. The simulations predict a two-state mechanism of TMPyP4 interaction via a groove-bound and a top-face-bound conformation. The dynamics of TMPyP4 stacking on the top tetrad disrupts Hoogsteen H-bonds between guanine bases, resulting in the consecutive TMPyP4 intercalation from top-to-bottom G-tetrads. The results reveal a striking correlation between computational and experimental approaches and validate WT-MetaD simulations as a powerful tool for studying RNA G4-ligand interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanta Haldar
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, U.K
- D.E. Shaw India Private Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana 500096, India
| | - Yashu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Vetrinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ying Xia
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, U.K
| | - Barira Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, U.K
| | - Sisi Liu
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Francesco L Gervasio
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London, WC1H 0AJ, U.K
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva CH-1211, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), Geneva CH-1211, Switzerland
| | | | - Zoë A E Waller
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, U.K
| | - Dengguo Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Vetrinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Interdisciplinary Sciences Institute, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shozeb Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, U.K
- UCL Centre for Advanced Research Computing, University College London, London, WC1H 9RN, U.K
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30
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Martí S, Arafet K, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, Świderek K, Moliner V. Impact of Warhead Modulations on the Covalent Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M pro Explored by QM/MM Simulations. ACS Catal 2022; 12:698-708. [PMID: 35036042 PMCID: PMC8751016 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c04661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, shows the need for effective antiviral treatments. Here, we present a simulation study of the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a cysteine hydrolase essential for the life cycle of the virus. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the inhibition process is explored by QM/MM umbrella sampling and free energy perturbation simulations at the M06-2X/MM level of theory for two proposed peptidyl covalent inhibitors that share the same recognition motif but feature distinct cysteine-targeting warheads. Regardless of the intrinsic reactivity of the modeled inhibitors, namely a Michael acceptor and a hydroxymethyl ketone activated carbonyl, our results confirm that the inhibitory process takes place by means of a two-step mechanism, in which the formation of an ion pair C145/H41 dyad precedes the protein-inhibitor covalent bond formation. The nature of this second step is strongly dependent on the functional groups in the warhead: while the nucleophilic attack of the C145 sulfur atom on the Cα of the double bond of the Michael acceptor takes place concertedly with the proton transfer from H41 to Cβ, in the compound with an activated carbonyl, the sulfur attacks the carbonyl carbon concomitant with a proton transfer from H41 to the carbonyl oxygen via the hydroxyl group. An analysis of the free energy profiles, structures along the reaction path, and interactions between the inhibitors and the different pockets of the active site on the protein shows a measurable effect of the warhead on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the process. These results and QM/MM methods can be used as a guide to select warheads to design efficient irreversible and reversible inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Martí
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Kemel Arafet
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
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31
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Twidale RM, Hinchliffe P, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Crystallography and QM/MM Simulations Identify Preferential Binding of Hydrolyzed Carbapenem and Penem Antibiotics to the L1 Metallo-β-Lactamase in the Imine Form. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:5988-5999. [PMID: 34637298 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Widespread bacterial resistance to carbapenem antibiotics is an increasing global health concern. Resistance has emerged due to carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes, including metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), but despite their prevalence and clinical importance, MβL mechanisms are still not fully understood. Carbapenem hydrolysis by MβLs can yield alternative product tautomers with the potential to access different binding modes. Here, we show that a combined approach employing crystallography and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations allow tautomer assignment in MβL:hydrolyzed antibiotic complexes. Molecular simulations also examine (meta)stable species of alternative protonation and tautomeric states, providing mechanistic insights into β-lactam hydrolysis. We report the crystal structure of the hydrolyzed carbapenem ertapenem bound to the L1 MβL from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and model alternative tautomeric and protonation states of both hydrolyzed ertapenem and faropenem (a related penem antibiotic), which display different binding modes with L1. We show how the structures of both complexed β-lactams are best described as the (2S)-imine tautomer with the carboxylate formed after β-lactam ring cleavage deprotonated. Simulations show that enamine tautomer complexes are significantly less stable (e.g., showing partial loss of interactions with the L1 binuclear zinc center) and not consistent with experimental data. Strong interactions of Tyr32 and one zinc ion (Zn1) with ertapenem prevent a C6 group rotation, explaining the different binding modes of the two β-lactams. Our findings establish the relative stability of different hydrolyzed (carba)penem forms in the L1 active site and identify interactions important to stable complex formation, information that should assist inhibitor design for this important antibiotic resistance determinant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Twidale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
| | - Philip Hinchliffe
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
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32
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Sofia F. Oliveira A, Shoemark DK, Avila Ibarra A, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Mulholland AJ. The fatty acid site is coupled to functional motifs in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and modulates spike allosteric behaviour. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 20:139-147. [PMID: 34934478 PMCID: PMC8670790 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the first contact point between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and host cells and mediates membrane fusion. Recently, a fatty acid binding site was identified in the spike (Toelzer et al. Science 2020). The presence of linoleic acid at this site modulates binding of the spike to the human ACE2 receptor, stabilizing a locked conformation of the protein. Here, dynamical-nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations reveal that this fatty acid site is coupled to functionally relevant regions of the spike, some of them far from the fatty acid binding pocket. Removal of a ligand from the fatty acid binding site significantly affects the dynamics of distant, functionally important regions of the spike, including the receptor-binding motif, furin cleavage site and fusion-peptide-adjacent regions. Simulations of the D614G mutant show differences in behaviour between these clinical variants of the spike: the D614G mutant shows a significantly different conformational response for some structural motifs relevant for binding and fusion. The simulations identify structural networks through which changes at the fatty acid binding site are transmitted within the protein. These communication networks significantly involve positions that are prone to mutation, indicating that observed genetic variation in the spike may alter its response to linoleate binding and associated allosteric communication.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting 2 enzyme
- CD, connector domain
- CH, central helix
- FA, fatty acid
- FP, fusion peptide
- FPPR, fusion-peptide proximal region
- HR1, heptad repeat 1
- LA, Linoleic acid
- MD, Molecular dynamics
- MERS, middle east respiratory syndrome
- NTD, N-terminal domain
- RBD, receptor binding domain
- RBM, receptor-binding motif
- RMB, receptor binding motif
- SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome 2
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Deborah K. Shoemark
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Amaurys Avila Ibarra
- Research Software Engineering, Advanced Computing Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol BS1 5QD, UK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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33
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Yang Z, Twidale RM, Gervasoni S, Suardíaz R, Colenso CK, Lang EJM, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Multiscale Workflow for Modeling Ligand Complexes of Zinc Metalloproteins. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:5658-5672. [PMID: 34748329 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Zinc metalloproteins are ubiquitous, with protein zinc centers of structural and functional importance, involved in interactions with ligands and substrates and often of pharmacological interest. Biomolecular simulations are increasingly prominent in investigations of protein structure, dynamics, ligand interactions, and catalysis, but zinc poses a particular challenge, in part because of its versatile, flexible coordination. A computational workflow generating reliable models of ligand complexes of biological zinc centers would find broad application. Here, we evaluate the ability of alternative treatments, using (nonbonded) molecular mechanics (MM) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) at semiempirical (DFTB3) and density functional theory (DFT) levels of theory, to describe the zinc centers of ligand complexes of six metalloenzyme systems differing in coordination geometries, zinc stoichiometries (mono- and dinuclear), and the nature of interacting groups (specifically the presence of zinc-sulfur interactions). MM molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can overfavor octahedral geometries, introducing additional water molecules to the zinc coordination shell, but this can be rectified by subsequent semiempirical (DFTB3) QM/MM MD simulations. B3LYP/MM geometry optimization further improved the accuracy of the description of coordination distances, with the overall effectiveness of the approach depending upon factors, including the presence of zinc-sulfur interactions that are less well described by semiempirical methods. We describe a workflow comprising QM/MM MD using DFTB3 followed by QM/MM geometry optimization using DFT (e.g., B3LYP) that well describes our set of zinc metalloenzyme complexes and is likely to be suitable for creating accurate models of zinc protein complexes when structural information is more limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongfan Yang
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K.,School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Rebecca M Twidale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K
| | - Silvia Gervasoni
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Reynier Suardíaz
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K
| | - Charlotte K Colenso
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K.,School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Eric J M Lang
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, U.K
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Chan HTH, Moesser MA, Walters RK, Malla TR, Twidale RM, John T, Deeks HM, Johnston-Wood T, Mikhailov V, Sessions RB, Dawson W, Salah E, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Owen CD, Nakajima T, Świderek K, Lodola A, Moliner V, Glowacki DR, Spencer J, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ, Genovese L, Shoemark DK, Mulholland AJ, Duarte F, Morris GM. Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 M pro peptide inhibitors from modelling substrate and ligand binding. Chem Sci 2021; 12:13686-13703. [PMID: 34760153 PMCID: PMC8549791 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03628a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is central to viral maturation and is a promising drug target, but little is known about structural aspects of how it binds to its 11 natural cleavage sites. We used biophysical and crystallographic data and an array of biomolecular simulation techniques, including automated docking, molecular dynamics (MD) and interactive MD in virtual reality, QM/MM, and linear-scaling DFT, to investigate the molecular features underlying recognition of the natural Mpro substrates. We extensively analysed the subsite interactions of modelled 11-residue cleavage site peptides, crystallographic ligands, and docked COVID Moonshot-designed covalent inhibitors. Our modelling studies reveal remarkable consistency in the hydrogen bonding patterns of the natural Mpro substrates, particularly on the N-terminal side of the scissile bond. They highlight the critical role of interactions beyond the immediate active site in recognition and catalysis, in particular plasticity at the S2 site. Building on our initial Mpro-substrate models, we used predictive saturation variation scanning (PreSaVS) to design peptides with improved affinity. Non-denaturing mass spectrometry and other biophysical analyses confirm these new and effective 'peptibitors' inhibit Mpro competitively. Our combined results provide new insights and highlight opportunities for the development of Mpro inhibitors as anti-COVID-19 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- H T Henry Chan
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Marc A Moesser
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford 24-29 St Giles' Oxford OX1 3LB UK
| | - Rebecca K Walters
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tika R Malla
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Rebecca M Twidale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tobias John
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Helen M Deeks
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tristan Johnston-Wood
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Victor Mikhailov
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Richard B Sessions
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - William Dawson
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science 7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku Kobe Hyogo 650-0047 Japan
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - C David Owen
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Takahito Nakajima
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science 7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku Kobe Hyogo 650-0047 Japan
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Biocomp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castello Spain
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma Parco Area delle Scienze, 27/A 43124 Parma Italy
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Biocomp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castello Spain
| | - David R Glowacki
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - James Spencer
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Martin A Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Luigi Genovese
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, IRIG-MEM-L_Sim 38000 Grenoble France
| | - Deborah K Shoemark
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Garrett M Morris
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford 24-29 St Giles' Oxford OX1 3LB UK
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35
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Shannon RJ, Deeks HM, Burfoot E, Clark E, Jones AJ, Mulholland AJ, Glowacki DR. Exploring human-guided strategies for reaction network exploration: Interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality as a tool for citizen scientists. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:154106. [PMID: 34686059 DOI: 10.1063/5.0062517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging fields of citizen science and gamification reformulate scientific problems as games or puzzles to be solved. Through engaging the wider non-scientific community, significant breakthroughs may be made by analyzing citizen-gathered data. In parallel, recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technology are increasingly being used within a scientific context and the burgeoning field of interactive molecular dynamics in VR (iMD-VR) allows users to interact with dynamical chemistry simulations in real time. Here, we demonstrate the utility of iMD-VR as a medium for gamification of chemistry research tasks. An iMD-VR "game" was designed to encourage users to explore the reactivity of a particular chemical system, and a cohort of 18 participants was recruited to playtest this game as part of a user study. The reaction game encouraged users to experiment with making chemical reactions between a propyne molecule and an OH radical, and "molecular snapshots" from each game session were then compiled and used to map out reaction pathways. The reaction network generated by users was compared to existing literature networks demonstrating that users in VR capture almost all the important reaction pathways. Further comparisons between humans and an algorithmic method for guiding molecular dynamics show that through using citizen science to explore these kinds of chemical problems, new approaches and strategies start to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin J Shannon
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Helen M Deeks
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Burfoot
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Clark
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Alex J Jones
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | | | - David R Glowacki
- ArtSci Foundation International, 5th floor Mariner House, Bristol, BS1 4QD, United Kingdom
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36
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Ashraf S, Ranaghan KE, Woods CJ, Mulholland AJ, Ul-Haq Z. Exploration of the structural requirements of Aurora Kinase B inhibitors by a combined QSAR, modelling and molecular simulation approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18707. [PMID: 34548506 PMCID: PMC8455585 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97368-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora kinase B plays an important role in the cell cycle to orchestrate the mitotic process. The amplification and overexpression of this kinase have been implicated in several human malignancies. Therefore, Aurora kinase B is a potential drug target for anticancer therapies. Here, we combine atom-based 3D-QSAR analysis and pharmacophore model generation to identify the principal structural features of acylureidoindolin derivatives that could potentially be responsible for the inhibition of Aurora kinase B. The selected CoMFA and CoMSIA model showed significant results with cross-validation values (q2) of 0.68, 0.641 and linear regression values (r2) of 0.971, 0.933 respectively. These values support the statistical reliability of our model. A pharmacophore model was also generated, incorporating features of reported crystal complex structures of Aurora kinase B. The pharmacophore model was used to screen commercial databases to retrieve potential lead candidates. The resulting hits were analyzed at each stage for diversity based on the pharmacophore model, followed by molecular docking and filtering based on their interaction with active site residues and 3D-QSAR predictions. Subsequently, MD simulations and binding free energy calculations were performed to test the predictions and to characterize interactions at the molecular level. The results suggested that the identified compounds retained the interactions with binding residues. Binding energy decomposition identified residues Glu155, Trp156 and Ala157 of site B and Leu83 and Leu207 of site C as major contributors to binding affinity, complementary to 3D-QSAR results. To best of our knowledge, this is the first comparison of WaterSwap field and 3D-QSAR maps. Overall, this integrated strategy provides a basis for the development of new and potential AK-B inhibitors and is applicable to other protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajda Ashraf
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Kara E Ranaghan
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Christopher J Woods
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Zaheer Ul-Haq
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
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37
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Hindson SA, Bunzel HA, Frank B, Svistunenko DA, Williams C, van der Kamp MW, Mulholland AJ, Pudney CR, Anderson JLR. Rigidifying a De Novo Enzyme Increases Activity and Induces a Negative Activation Heat Capacity. ACS Catal 2021; 11:11532-11541. [PMID: 34557328 PMCID: PMC8453482 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c01776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Conformational sampling
profoundly impacts the overall activity
and temperature dependence of enzymes. Peroxidases have emerged as
versatile platforms for high-value biocatalysis owing to their broad
palette of potential biotransformations. Here, we explore the role
of conformational sampling in mediating activity in the de
novo peroxidase C45. We demonstrate that 2,2,2-triflouoroethanol
(TFE) affects the equilibrium of enzyme conformational states, tending
toward a more globally rigid structure. This is correlated with increases
in both stability and activity. Notably, these effects are concomitant
with the emergence of curvature in the temperature-activity profile,
trading off activity gains at ambient temperature with losses at high
temperatures. We apply macromolecular rate theory (MMRT) to understand
enzyme temperature dependence data. These data point to an increase
in protein rigidity associated with a difference in the distribution
of protein dynamics between the ground and transition states. We compare
the thermodynamics of the de novo enzyme activity
to those of a natural peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase. We find
that the native enzyme resembles the rigidified de novo enzyme in terms of the thermodynamics of enzyme catalysis and the
putative distribution of protein dynamics between the ground and transition
states. The addition of TFE apparently causes C45 to behave more like
the natural enzyme. Our data suggest robust, generic strategies for
improving biocatalytic activity by manipulating protein rigidity;
for functional de novo protein catalysts in particular,
this can provide more enzyme-like catalysts without further rational
engineering, computational redesign, or directed evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Hindson
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | - H. Adrian Bunzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K
| | - Bettina Frank
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, School of Physics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, U.K
| | | | | | | | | | - Christopher R. Pudney
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
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Suardíaz R, Lythell E, Hinchliffe P, van der Kamp M, Spencer J, Fey N, Mulholland AJ. Catalytic mechanism of the colistin resistance protein MCR-1. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:3813-3819. [PMID: 33606866 PMCID: PMC8097703 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob02566f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mcr-1 gene encodes a membrane-bound Zn2+-metalloenzyme, MCR-1, which catalyses phosphoethanolamine transfer onto bacterial lipid A, making bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. Mechanistic understanding of this process remains incomplete. Here, we investigate possible catalytic pathways using DFT and ab initio calculations on cluster models and identify a complete two-step reaction mechanism. The first step, formation of a covalent phosphointermediate via transfer of phosphoethanolamine from a membrane phospholipid donor to the acceptor Thr285, is rate-limiting and proceeds with a single Zn2+ ion. The second step, transfer of the phosphoethanolamine group to lipid A, requires an additional Zn2+. The calculations suggest the involvement of the Zn2+ orbitals directly in the reaction is limited, with the second Zn2+ acting to bind incoming lipid A and direct phosphoethanolamine addition. The new level of mechanistic detail obtained here, which distinguishes these enzymes from other phosphotransferases, will aid in the development of inhibitors specific to MCR-1 and related bacterial phosphoethanolamine transferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reynier Suardíaz
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK. and School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK and Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emily Lythell
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK. and School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Philip Hinchliffe
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Marc van der Kamp
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK. and School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Natalie Fey
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
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Minguez-Viñas T, Nielsen BE, Shoemark DK, Gotti C, Sessions RB, Mulholland AJ, Bouzat C, Wonnacott S, Gallagher T, Bermudez I, Oliveira AS. A conserved arginine with non-conserved function is a key determinant of agonist selectivity in α7 nicotinic ACh receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:1651-1668. [PMID: 33506493 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The α7 and α4β2* ("*" denotes possibly assembly with another subunit) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are the most abundant nAChRs in the mammalian brain. These receptors are the most targeted nAChRs in drug discovery programmes for brain disorders. However, the development of subtype-specific agonists remains challenging due to the high degree of sequence homology and conservation of function in nAChRs. We have developed C(10) variants of cytisine, a partial agonist of α4β2 nAChR that has been used for smoking cessation. The C(10) methyl analogue used in this study displays negligible affinity for α7 nAChR, while retaining high affinity for α4β2 nAChR. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The structural underpinning of the selectivity of 10-methylcytisine for α7 and α4β2 nAChRs was investigated using molecular dynamic simulations, mutagenesis and whole-cell and single-channel current recordings. KEY RESULTS We identified a conserved arginine in the β3 strand that exhibits a non-conserved function in nAChRs. In α4β2 nAChR, the arginine forms a salt bridge with an aspartate residue in loop B that is necessary for receptor expression, whereas in α7 nAChR, this residue is not stabilised by electrostatic interactions, making its side chain highly mobile. This lack of constrain produces steric clashes with agonists and affects the dynamics of residues involved in agonist binding and the coupling network. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We conclude that the high mobility of the β3-strand arginine in the α7 nAChR influences agonist binding and possibly gating network and desensitisation. The findings have implications for rational design of subtype-selective nAChR agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Minguez-Viñas
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz E Nielsen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | | | - Cecilia Gotti
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Biometra Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Susan Wonnacott
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | | | - Isabel Bermudez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Galdadas I, Qu S, Oliveira ASF, Olehnovics E, Mack AR, Mojica MF, Agarwal PK, Tooke CL, Gervasio FL, Spencer J, Bonomo RA, Mulholland AJ, Haider S. Allosteric communication in class A β-lactamases occurs via cooperative coupling of loop dynamics. eLife 2021; 10:e66567. [PMID: 33755013 PMCID: PMC8060031 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding allostery in enzymes and tools to identify it offer promising alternative strategies to inhibitor development. Through a combination of equilibrium and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we identify allosteric effects and communication pathways in two prototypical class A β-lactamases, TEM-1 and KPC-2, which are important determinants of antibiotic resistance. The nonequilibrium simulations reveal pathways of communication operating over distances of 30 Å or more. Propagation of the signal occurs through cooperative coupling of loop dynamics. Notably, 50% or more of clinically relevant amino acid substitutions map onto the identified signal transduction pathways. This suggests that clinically important variation may affect, or be driven by, differences in allosteric behavior, providing a mechanism by which amino acid substitutions may affect the relationship between spectrum of activity, catalytic turnover, and potential allosteric behavior in this clinically important enzyme family. Simulations of the type presented here will help in identifying and analyzing such differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Galdadas
- University College London, Department of ChemistryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Shen Qu
- University College London School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Biological ChemistryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Ana Sofia F Oliveira
- University of Bristol, Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of ChemistryBristolUnited Kingdom
| | - Edgar Olehnovics
- University College London School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Biological ChemistryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Mack
- Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Research ServiceClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Molecular Biology and MicrobiologyClevelandUnited States
| | - Maria F Mojica
- Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Research ServiceClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineClevelandUnited States
| | - Pratul K Agarwal
- Department of Physiological Sciences and High-Performance Computing Center, Oklahoma State UniversityStillwaterUnited States
| | - Catherine L Tooke
- University of Bristol, School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineBristolUnited Kingdom
| | - Francesco Luigi Gervasio
- University College London, Department of ChemistryLondonUnited Kingdom
- University College London, Institute of Structural and Molecular BiologyLondonUnited Kingdom
- University of Geneva, Pharmaceutical SciencesGenevaSwitzerland
| | - James Spencer
- University of Bristol, School of Cellular and Molecular MedicineBristolUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert A Bonomo
- Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Research ServiceClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Molecular Biology and MicrobiologyClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of MedicineClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of BiochemistryClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of PharmacologyClevelandUnited States
- Case Western Reserve University, Department of Proteomics and BioinformaticsClevelandUnited States
- CWRU-Cleveland VAMC Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology (Case VA CARES)ClevelandUnited States
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- University of Bristol, Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of ChemistryBristolUnited Kingdom
| | - Shozeb Haider
- University College London School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Biological ChemistryLondonUnited Kingdom
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41
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Shoemark DK, Colenso CK, Toelzer C, Gupta K, Sessions RB, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Molecular Simulations suggest Vitamins, Retinoids and Steroids as Ligands of the Free Fatty Acid Pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein*. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:7098-7110. [PMID: 33469977 PMCID: PMC8013358 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202015639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We investigate binding of linoleate and other potential ligands to the recently discovered fatty acid binding site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, using docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations suggest that linoleate and dexamethasone stabilize the locked spike conformation, thus reducing the opportunity for ACE2 interaction. In contrast, cholesterol may expose the receptor-binding domain by destabilizing the closed structure, preferentially binding to a different site in the hinge region of the open structure. We docked a library of FDA-approved drugs to the fatty acid site using an approach that reproduces the structure of the linoleate complex. Docking identifies steroids (including dexamethasone and vitamin D); retinoids (some known to be active in vitro, and vitamin A); and vitamin K as potential ligands that may stabilize the closed conformation. The SARS-CoV-2 spike fatty acid site may bind a diverse array of ligands, including dietary components, and therefore provides a promising target for therapeutics or prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K. Shoemark
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Charlotte K. Colenso
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Kapil Gupta
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Richard B. Sessions
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyCantock's CloseBristolBS8 1TSUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TSUK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
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Shoemark DK, Colenso CK, Toelzer C, Gupta K, Sessions RB, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Frontispiece: Molecular Simulations suggest Vitamins, Retinoids and Steroids as Ligands of the Free Fatty Acid Pocket of the SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike Protein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202181362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K. Shoemark
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Charlotte K. Colenso
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Kapil Gupta
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Richard B. Sessions
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
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Shoemark DK, Colenso CK, Toelzer C, Gupta K, Sessions RB, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Frontispiz: Molecular Simulations suggest Vitamins, Retinoids and Steroids as Ligands of the Free Fatty Acid Pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Angew Chem Weinheim Bergstr Ger 2021; 133:ANGE202181362. [PMID: 34230706 PMCID: PMC8251068 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202181362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K. Shoemark
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Charlotte K. Colenso
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Kapil Gupta
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - Richard B. Sessions
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal BiologyCantock's CloseBristolBS8 1TSUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TSUK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of BiochemistryUniversity of Bristol1 Tankard's CloseBristolBS8 1TDUK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio24 Tyndall AveBristolBS8 1TQUK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of BristolBristolBS8 1TDUK
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Oliveira ASF, Ibarra AA, Bermudez I, Casalino L, Gaieb Z, Shoemark DK, Gallagher T, Sessions RB, Amaro RE, Mulholland AJ. A potential interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Biophys J 2021; 120:983-993. [PMID: 33609494 PMCID: PMC7889469 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Changeux et al. (Changeux et al. C. R. Biol. 343:33-39.) recently suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and that such interactions may be involved in pathology and infectivity. This hypothesis is based on the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains a sequence motif similar to known nAChR antagonists. Here, we use molecular simulations of validated atomically detailed structures of nAChRs and of the spike to investigate the possible binding of the Y674-R685 region of the spike to nAChRs. We examine the binding of the Y674-R685 loop to three nAChRs, namely the human α4β2 and α7 subtypes and the muscle-like αβγδ receptor from Tetronarce californica. Our results predict that Y674-R685 has affinity for nAChRs. The region of the spike responsible for binding contains a PRRA motif, a four-residue insertion not found in other SARS-like coronaviruses. The conformational behavior of the bound Y674-R685 is highly dependent on the receptor subtype; it adopts extended conformations in the α4β2 and α7 complexes but is more compact when bound to the muscle-like receptor. In the α4β2 and αβγδ complexes, the interaction of Y674-R685 with the receptors forces the loop C region to adopt an open conformation, similar to other known nAChR antagonists. In contrast, in the α7 complex, Y674-R685 penetrates deeply into the binding pocket in which it forms interactions with the residues lining the aromatic box, namely with TrpB, TyrC1, and TyrC2. Estimates of binding energy suggest that Y674-R685 forms stable complexes with all three nAChR subtypes. Analyses of simulations of the glycosylated spike show that the Y674-R685 region is accessible for binding. We suggest a potential binding orientation of the spike protein with nAChRs, in which they are in a nonparallel arrangement to one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sofia F Oliveira
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, BrisSynBio, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Amaurys Avila Ibarra
- Research Software Engineering, Advanced Computing Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Bermudez
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Casalino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Zied Gaieb
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Deborah K Shoemark
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, BrisSynBio, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Gallagher
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rommie E Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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Shoemark DK, Colenso CK, Toelzer C, Gupta K, Sessions RB, Davidson AD, Berger I, Schaffitzel C, Spencer J, Mulholland AJ. Molecular Simulations suggest Vitamins, Retinoids and Steroids as Ligands of the Free Fatty Acid Pocket of the SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike Protein**. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202015639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K. Shoemark
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Charlotte K. Colenso
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Kapil Gupta
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Richard B. Sessions
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Imre Berger
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- School of Chemistry University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- School of Biochemistry University of Bristol 1 Tankard's Close Bristol BS8 1TD UK
- Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre BrisSynBio 24 Tyndall Ave Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD UK
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Bunzel HA, Anderson JLR, Mulholland AJ. Designing better enzymes: Insights from directed evolution. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 67:212-218. [PMID: 33517098 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
De novo enzymes can be created by computational design and directed evolution. Here, we review recent insights into the origins of catalytic power in evolved designer enzymes to pinpoint opportunities for next-generation designs: Evolution precisely organizes active sites, introduces catalytic H-bonding networks, invokes electrostatic catalysis, and creates dynamical networks embedding the active site in a reactive protein scaffold. Such insights foster our fundamental knowledge of enzyme catalysis and fuel the future design of tailor-made enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Adrian Bunzel
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
| | | | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
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Voice AT, Tresadern G, Twidale RM, van Vlijmen H, Mulholland AJ. Mechanism of covalent binding of ibrutinib to Bruton's tyrosine kinase revealed by QM/MM calculations. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5511-5516. [PMID: 33995994 PMCID: PMC8097726 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06122k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ibrutinib is the first covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) to be used in the treatment of B-cell cancers. Understanding the mechanism of covalent inhibition will aid in the design of safer and more selective covalent inhibitors that target BTK. The mechanism of covalent inhibition in BTK has been uncertain because there is no appropriate residue nearby that can act as a base to deprotonate the cysteine thiol prior to covalent bond formation. We investigate several mechanisms of covalent modification of C481 in BTK by ibrutinib using combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics reaction simulations. The lowest energy pathway involves direct proton transfer from C481 to the acrylamide warhead in ibrutinib, followed by covalent bond formation to form an enol intermediate. There is a subsequent rate-limiting keto-enol tautomerisation step (ΔG ‡ = 10.5 kcal mol-1) to reach the inactivated BTK/ibrutinib complex. Our results represent the first mechanistic study of BTK inactivation by ibrutinib to consider multiple mechanistic pathways. These findings should aid in the design of covalent drugs that target BTK and other similar targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus T Voice
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Gary Tresadern
- Computational Chemistry, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N. V. Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium
| | - Rebecca M Twidale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Herman van Vlijmen
- Computational Chemistry, Janssen Research & Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica N. V. Turnhoutseweg 30 B-2340 Beerse Belgium
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
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Tooke CL, Hinchliffe P, Bonomo RA, Schofield CJ, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J. Natural variants modify Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) acyl-enzyme conformational dynamics to extend antibiotic resistance. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100126. [PMID: 33257320 PMCID: PMC7949053 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.016461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Class A serine β-lactamases (SBLs) are key antibiotic resistance determinants in Gram-negative bacteria. SBLs neutralize β-lactams via a hydrolytically labile covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is a widespread SBL that hydrolyzes carbapenems, the most potent β-lactams; known KPC variants differ in turnover of expanded-spectrum oxyimino-cephalosporins (ESOCs), for example, cefotaxime and ceftazidime. Here, we compare ESOC hydrolysis by the parent enzyme KPC-2 and its clinically observed double variant (P104R/V240G) KPC-4. Kinetic analyses show that KPC-2 hydrolyzes cefotaxime more efficiently than the bulkier ceftazidime, with improved ESOC turnover by KPC-4 resulting from enhanced turnover (kcat), rather than altered KM values. High-resolution crystal structures of ESOC acyl-enzyme complexes with deacylation-deficient (E166Q) KPC-2 and KPC-4 mutants show that ceftazidime acylation causes rearrangement of three loops; the Ω, 240, and 270 loops, which border the active site. However, these rearrangements are less pronounced in the KPC-4 than the KPC-2 ceftazidime acyl-enzyme and are not observed in the KPC-2:cefotaxime acyl-enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations of KPC:ceftazidime acyl-enyzmes reveal that the deacylation general base E166, located on the Ω loop, adopts two distinct conformations in KPC-2, either pointing "in" or "out" of the active site; with only the "in" form compatible with deacylation. The "out" conformation was not sampled in the KPC-4 acyl-enzyme, indicating that efficient ESOC breakdown is dependent upon the ordering and conformation of the KPC Ω loop. The results explain how point mutations expand the activity spectrum of the clinically important KPC SBLs to include ESOCs through their effects on the conformational dynamics of the acyl-enzyme intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine L Tooke
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Hinchliffe
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Bonomo
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Departments of Medicine, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; CWRU-Cleveland VAMC Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Epidemiology (Case VA CARES) Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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Oliveira ASF, Ciccotti G, Haider S, Mulholland AJ. Dynamical nonequilibrium molecular dynamics reveals the structural basis for allostery and signal propagation in biomolecular systems. Eur Phys J B 2021; 94:144. [PMID: 34720710 PMCID: PMC8549953 DOI: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-021-00157-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT A dynamical approach to nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (D-NEMD), proposed in the 1970s by Ciccotti et al., is undergoing a renaissance and is having increasing impact in the study of biological macromolecules. This D-NEMD approach, combining MD simulations in stationary (in particular, equilibrium) and nonequilibrium conditions, allows for the determination of the time-dependent structural response of a system using the Kubo-Onsager relation. Besides providing a detailed picture of the system's dynamic structural response to an external perturbation, this approach also has the advantage that the statistical significance of the response can be assessed. The D-NEMD approach has been used recently to identify a general mechanism of inter-domain signal propagation in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and allosteric effects in β -lactamase enzymes, for example. It complements equilibrium MD and is a very promising approach to identifying and analysing allosteric effects. Here, we review the D-NEMD approach and its application to biomolecular systems, including transporters, receptors, and enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Sofia F. Oliveira
- School of Chemistry, Centre for Computational Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS UK
- BrisSynBio, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Giovanni Ciccotti
- Institute for Applied Computing “Mauro Picone” (IAC), CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy
- School of Physics, University College of Dublin, UCD-Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Università di Roma La Sapienza, Ple. A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Shozeb Haider
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX UK
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- School of Chemistry, Centre for Computational Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS UK
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50
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Deeks HM, Walters RK, Barnoud J, Glowacki DR, Mulholland AJ. Interactive Molecular Dynamics in Virtual Reality Is an Effective Tool for Flexible Substrate and Inhibitor Docking to the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:5803-5814. [PMID: 33174415 PMCID: PMC7671099 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is one focus of drug development efforts for COVID-19. Here, we show that interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality (iMD-VR) is a useful and effective tool for creating Mpro complexes. We make these tools and models freely available. iMD-VR provides an immersive environment in which users can interact with MD simulations and so build protein complexes in a physically rigorous and flexible way. Recently, we have demonstrated that iMD-VR is an effective method for interactive, flexible docking of small molecule drugs into their protein targets (Deeks et al. PLoS One 2020, 15, e0228461). Here, we apply this approach to both an Mpro inhibitor and an oligopeptide substrate, using experimentally determined crystal structures. For the oligopeptide, we test against a crystallographic structure of the original SARS Mpro. Docking with iMD-VR gives models in agreement with experimentally observed (crystal) structures. The docked structures are also tested in MD simulations and found to be stable. Different protocols for iMD-VR docking are explored, e.g., with and without restraints on protein backbone, and we provide recommendations for its use. We find that it is important for the user to focus on forming binding interactions, such as hydrogen bonds, and not to rely on using simple metrics (such as RMSD), in order to create realistic, stable complexes. We also test the use of apo (uncomplexed) crystal structures for docking and find that they can give good results. This is because of the flexibility and dynamic response allowed by the physically rigorous, atomically detailed simulation approach of iMD-VR. We make our models (and interactive simulations) freely available. The software framework that we use, Narupa, is open source, and uses commodity VR hardware, so these tools are readily accessible to the wider research community working on Mpro (and other COVID-19 targets). These should be widely useful in drug development, in education applications, e.g., on viral enzyme structure and function, and in scientific communication more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M. Deeks
- Intangible Realities Laboratory,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Department of Computer Science, Merchant
Venturers Building, University of Bristol,
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United
Kingdom
| | - Rebecca K. Walters
- Intangible Realities Laboratory,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Department of Computer Science, Merchant
Venturers Building, University of Bristol,
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United
Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Barnoud
- Intangible Realities Laboratory,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
| | - David R. Glowacki
- Intangible Realities Laboratory,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
- Department of Computer Science, Merchant
Venturers Building, University of Bristol,
Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UB, United
Kingdom
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,
Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, United
Kingdom
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