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Clark LJ, Bu G, Nannenga BL, Gonen T. MicroED for the study of protein–ligand interactions and the potential for drug discovery. Nat Rev Chem 2021; 5:853-858. [PMID: 37117388 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-021-00332-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) is an electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) technique used to determine molecular structures with crystals that are a millionth the size needed for traditional single-crystal X-ray crystallography. An exciting use of MicroED is in drug discovery and development, where it can be applied to the study of proteins and small molecule interactions, and for structure determination of natural products. The structures are then used for rational drug design and optimization. In this Perspective, we discuss the current applications of MicroED for structure determination of protein-ligand complexes and potential future applications in drug discovery.
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Ghosh R, Bu G, Nannenga BL, Sumner LW. Recent Developments Toward Integrated Metabolomics Technologies (UHPLC-MS-SPE-NMR and MicroED) for Higher-Throughput Confident Metabolite Identifications. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:720955. [PMID: 34540897 PMCID: PMC8445028 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.720955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics has emerged as a powerful discipline to study complex biological systems from a small molecule perspective. The success of metabolomics hinges upon reliable annotations of spectral features obtained from MS and/or NMR. In spite of tremendous progress with regards to analytical instrumentation and computational tools, < 20% of spectral features are confidently identified in most untargeted metabolomics experiments. This article explores the integration of multiple analytical instruments such as UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR and the cryo-EM method MicroED to achieve large-scale and confident metabolite identifications in a higher-throughput manner. UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE allows for the simultaneous automated purification of metabolites followed by offline structure elucidation and structure validation by NMR and MicroED. Large-scale study of complex metabolomes such as that of the model plant legume Medicago truncatula can be achieved using an integrated UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR metabolomics platform. Additionally, recent developments in MicroED to study structures of small organic molecules have enabled faster, easier and precise structure determinations of metabolites. A MicroED small molecule structure elucidation workflow (e.g., crystal screening, sample preparation, data collection and data processing/structure determination) has been described. Ongoing MicroED methods development and its future scope related to structure elucidation of specialized metabolites and metabolomics are highlighted. The incorporation of MicroED with a UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR instrumental ensemble offers the potential to accelerate and achieve higher rates of metabolite identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Ghosh
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Guanhong Bu
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Brent L. Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lloyd W. Sumner
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
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