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Medrano‐Cerano JL, Cofas‐Vargas LF, Leyva E, Rauda‐Ceja JA, Calderón‐Vargas M, Cano‐Sánchez P, Titaux‐Delgado G, Melchor‐Meneses CM, Hernández‐Arana A, del Río‐Portilla F, García‐Hernández E. Decoding the mechanism governing the structural stability of wheat germ agglutinin and its isolated domains: A combined calorimetric, NMR, and MD simulation study. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5020. [PMID: 38747397 PMCID: PMC11094770 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) demonstrates potential as an oral delivery agent owing to its selective binding to carbohydrates and its capacity to traverse biological membranes. In this study, we employed differential scanning calorimetry and molecular dynamics simulations to comprehensively characterize the thermal unfolding process of both the complete lectin and its four isolated domains. Furthermore, we present the nuclear magnetic resonance structures of three domains that were previously lacking experimental structures in their isolated forms. Our results provide a collective understanding of the energetic and structural factors governing the intricate unfolding mechanism of the complete agglutinin, shedding light on the specific role played by each domain in this process. The analysis revealed negligible interdomain cooperativity, highlighting instead significant coupling between dimer dissociation and the unfolding of the more labile domains. By comparing the dominant interactions, we rationalized the stability differences among the domains. Understanding the structural stability of WGA opens avenues for enhanced drug delivery strategies, underscoring its potential as a promising carrier throughout the gastrointestinal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Luis Medrano‐Cerano
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | | | - Eduardo Leyva
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Jesús Antonio Rauda‐Ceja
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Mateo Calderón‐Vargas
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Patricia Cano‐Sánchez
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Gustavo Titaux‐Delgado
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | | | - Andrés Hernández‐Arana
- Área de Biofisicoquímica, Departamento de QuímicaUniversidad Autónoma Metropolitana IztapalapaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Federico del Río‐Portilla
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
| | - Enrique García‐Hernández
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Química, Ciudad UniversitariaCiudad de MéxicoMexico
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Titaux-Delgado G, Lopez-Giraldo AE, Carrillo E, Cofas-Vargas LF, Carranza LE, López-Vera E, García-Hernández E, Del Rio-Portilla F. Beta-KTx14.3, a scorpion toxin, blocks the human potassium channel KCNQ1. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2023; 1871:140906. [PMID: 36918120 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Potassium channels play a key role in regulating many physiological processes, thus, alterations in their proper functioning can lead to the development of several diseases. Hence, the search for compounds capable of regulating the activity of these channels constitutes an intense field of investigation. Potassium scorpion toxins are grouped into six subfamilies (α, β, γ, κ, δ, and λ). However, experimental structures and functional analyses of the long chain β-KTx subfamily are lacking. In this study, we recombinantly produced the toxins TcoKIK and beta-KTx14.3 present in the venom of Tityus costatus and Lychas mucronatus scorpions, respectively. The 3D structures of these β-KTx toxins were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. In both toxins, the N-terminal region is unstructured, while the C-terminal possesses the classic CSα/β motif. TcoKIK did not show any clear activity against frog Shaker and human KCNQ1 potassium channels; however, beta-KTx14.3 was able to block the KCNQ1 channel. The toxin-channel interaction mode was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that this toxin could form a stable network of polar-to-polar and hydrophobic interactions with KCNQ1, involving key conserved residues in both molecular partners. The discovery and characterization of a toxin capable of inhibiting KCNQ1 pave the way for the future development of novel drugs for the treatment of human diseases caused by the malfunction of this potassium channel. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Scorpion toxins have been shown to rarely block human KCNQ1 channels, which participate in the regulation of cardiac processes. In this study, we obtained recombinant beta-KTx14.3 and TcoKIK toxins and determined their 3D structures by nuclear magnetic resonance. Electrophysiological studies and molecular dynamics models were employed to examine the interactions between these two toxins and the human KCNQ1, which is the major driver channel of cardiac repolarization; beta-KTx14.3 was found to block effectively this channel. Our findings provide insights for the development of novel toxin-based drugs for the treatment of cardiac channelopathies involving KCNQ1-like channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Titaux-Delgado
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Andrea Estefanía Lopez-Giraldo
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Elisa Carrillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luis Fernando Cofas-Vargas
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis Enrique Carranza
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Estuardo López-Vera
- Laboratorio de Toxinología Marina, Unidad Académica de Ecología y Biodiversidad Acuática, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Enrique García-Hernández
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.
| | - Federico Del Rio-Portilla
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.
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Abstract
Wheat germ agglutinin is a hevein class N-Acetylglucosamine–binding protein with specific toxicity and biomedical potential. It is extractable from wheat germ—a low-value byproduct of the wheat industry—using well–established extraction methods based on salt precipitation and affinity chromatography. Due to its N-Acetylglucosamine affinity, wheat germ agglutinin exhibits antifungal properties as well as cytotoxic properties. Its anticancer properties have been demonstrated for various cancer cells, and toxicity mechanisms are well described. Wheat germ agglutinin has been demonstrated as a viable solution for various biomedical and therapeutic applications, such as chemotherapy, targeted drug delivery, antibiotic-resistant bacteria monitoring and elimination. This is performed mostly in conjunction with nanoparticles, liposomes, and other carrier mechanisms via surface functionalization. Combined with abundant wheat byproduct sources, wheat germ agglutinin has the potential to improve the biomedical field considerably.
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Fina Martin J, Palomino MM, Cutine AM, Modenutti CP, Fernández Do Porto DA, Allievi MC, Zanini SH, Mariño KV, Barquero AA, Ruzal SM. Exploring lectin-like activity of the S-layer protein of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:4839-4857. [PMID: 31053916 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09795-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The surface layer (S-layer) protein of Lactobacillus acidophilus is a crystalline array of self-assembling, proteinaceous subunits non-covalently bound to the outmost bacterial cell wall envelope and is involved in the adherence of bacteria to host cells. We have previously described that the S-layer protein of L. acidophilus possesses anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. In this work, we extracted and purified S-layer proteins from L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 cells to study their interaction with cell wall components from prokaryotic (i.e., peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acids) and eukaryotic origin (i.e., mucin and chitin), as well as with viruses, bacteria, yeast, and blood cells. Using chimeric S-layer fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) from different parts of the protein, we analyzed their binding capacity. Our results show that the C-terminal part of the S-layer protein presents lectin-like activity, interacting with different glycoepitopes. We further demonstrate that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) serves as an anchor for the S-layer protein. Finally, a structure for the C-terminal part of S-layer and possible binding sites were predicted by a homology-based model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquina Fina Martin
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Mercedes Palomino
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anabella M Cutine
- Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional y Molecular, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos P Modenutti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dario A Fernández Do Porto
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Cálculo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana C Allievi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofia H Zanini
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karina V Mariño
- Laboratorio de Glicómica Funcional y Molecular, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea A Barquero
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sandra M Ruzal
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cdad. Universitaria, Pabellón II, 4 piso, Lab QB40, C1428EGA, CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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