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Khan O, Jones G, Lazou M, Joseph-McCarthy D, Kozakov D, Beglov D, Vajda S. Expanding FTMap for Fragment-Based Identification of Pharmacophore Regions in Ligand Binding Sites. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:2084-2100. [PMID: 38456842 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01969] [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: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The knowledge of ligand binding hot spots and of the important interactions within such hot spots is crucial for the design of lead compounds in the early stages of structure-based drug discovery. The computational solvent mapping server FTMap can reliably identify binding hot spots as consensus clusters, free energy minima that bind a variety of organic probe molecules. However, in its current implementation, FTMap provides limited information on regions within the hot spots that tend to interact with specific pharmacophoric features of potential ligands. E-FTMap is a new server that expands on the original FTMap protocol. E-FTMap uses 119 organic probes, rather than the 16 in the original FTMap, to exhaustively map binding sites, and identifies pharmacophore features as atomic consensus sites where similar chemical groups bind. We validate E-FTMap against a set of 109 experimentally derived structures of fragment-lead pairs, finding that highly ranked pharmacophore features overlap with the corresponding atoms in both fragments and lead compounds. Additionally, comparisons of mapping results to ensembles of bound ligands reveal that pharmacophores generated with E-FTMap tend to sample highly conserved protein-ligand interactions. E-FTMap is available as a web server at https://eftmap.bu.edu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omeir Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - George Jones
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Maria Lazou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Diane Joseph-McCarthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Dmitri Beglov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Acpharis Inc., Holliston, Massachusetts 01746, United States
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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2
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de Souza Neto LR, Montoya BO, Brandão-Neto J, Verma A, Bowyer S, Moreira-Filho JT, Dantas RF, Neves BJ, Andrade CH, von Delft F, Owens RJ, Furnham N, Silva-Jr FP. Fragment library screening by X-ray crystallography and binding site analysis on thioredoxin glutathione reductase of Schistosoma mansoni. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1582. [PMID: 38238498 PMCID: PMC10796382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52018-2] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is caused by parasites of the genus Schistosoma, which infect more than 200 million people. Praziquantel (PZQ) has been the main drug for controlling schistosomiasis for over four decades, but despite that it is ineffective against juvenile worms and size and taste issues with its pharmaceutical forms impose challenges for treating school-aged children. It is also important to note that PZQ resistant strains can be generated in laboratory conditions and observed in the field, hence its extensive use in mass drug administration programs raises concerns about resistance, highlighting the need to search for new schistosomicidal drugs. Schistosomes survival relies on the redox enzyme thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR), a validated target for the development of new anti-schistosomal drugs. Here we report a high-throughput fragment screening campaign of 768 compounds against S. mansoni TGR (SmTGR) using X-ray crystallography. We observed 49 binding events involving 35 distinct molecular fragments which were found to be distributed across 16 binding sites. Most sites are described for the first time within SmTGR, a noteworthy exception being the "doorstop pocket" near the NADPH binding site. We have compared results from hotspots and pocket druggability analysis of SmTGR with the experimental binding sites found in this work, with our results indicating only limited coincidence between experimental and computational results. Finally, we discuss that binding sites at the doorstop/NADPH binding site and in the SmTGR dimer interface, should be prioritized for developing SmTGR inhibitors as new antischistosomal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauro Ribeiro de Souza Neto
- LaBECFar - Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bogar Omar Montoya
- LaBECFar - Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Brandão-Neto
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, UK
| | - Anil Verma
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sebastian Bowyer
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - José Teófilo Moreira-Filho
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rafael Ferreira Dantas
- LaBECFar - Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratory of Cheminformatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- CRAFT - Center for Research and Advancement of Fragments and Molecular Targets, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Frank von Delft
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Harwell, UK
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Structural Biology, Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, UK.
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Floriano Paes Silva-Jr
- LaBECFar - Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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3
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Barrera-Téllez FJ, Prieto-Martínez FD, Hernández-Campos A, Martínez-Mayorga K, Castillo-Bocanegra R. In Silico Exploration of the Trypanothione Reductase (TryR) of L. mexicana. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16046. [PMID: 38003236 PMCID: PMC10671491 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216046] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease which affects nearly 1.5 million people every year, with Mexico being an important endemic region. One of the major defense mechanisms of these parasites is based in the polyamine metabolic pathway, as it provides the necessary compounds for its survival. Among the enzymes in this route, trypanothione reductase (TryR), an oxidoreductase enzyme, is crucial for the Leishmania genus' survival against oxidative stress. Thus, it poses as an attractive drug target, yet due to the size and features of its catalytic pocket, modeling techniques such as molecular docking focusing on that region is not convenient. Herein, we present a computational study using several structure-based approaches to assess the druggability of TryR from L. mexicana, the predominant Leishmania species in Mexico, beyond its catalytic site. Using this consensus methodology, three relevant pockets were found, of which the one we call σ-site promises to be the most favorable one. These findings may help the design of new drugs of trypanothione-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J. Barrera-Téllez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Fernando D. Prieto-Martínez
- Instituto de Química, Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz, Km. 4.5, Ucú 97357, Mexico
| | - Alicia Hernández-Campos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Karina Martínez-Mayorga
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sierra Papacal, Mérida 97302, Mexico
| | - Rafael Castillo-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
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4
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Egbert M, Jones G, Collins MR, Kozakov D, Vajda S. FTMove: A Web Server for Detection and Analysis of Cryptic and Allosteric Binding Sites by Mapping Multiple Protein Structures. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167587. [PMID: 35662465 PMCID: PMC9789685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Protein mapping distributes many copies of different molecular probes on the surface of a target protein in order to determine binding hot spots, regions that are highly preferable for ligand binding. While mapping of X-ray structures by the FTMap server is inherently static, this limitation can be overcome by the simultaneous analysis of multiple structures of the protein. FTMove is an automated web server that implements this approach. From the input of a target protein, by PDB code, the server identifies all structures of the protein available in the PDB, runs mapping on them, and combines the results to form binding hot spots and binding sites. The user may also upload their own protein structures, bypassing the PDB search for similar structures. Output of the server consists of the consensus binding sites and the individual mapping results for each structure - including the number of probes located in each binding site, for each structure. This level of detail allows the users to investigate how the strength of a binding site relates to the protein conformation, other binding sites, and the presence of ligands or mutations. In addition, the structures are clustered on the basis of their binding properties. The use of FTMove is demonstrated by application to 22 proteins with known allosteric binding sites; the orthosteric and allosteric binding sites were identified in all but one case, and the sites were typically ranked among the top five. The FTMove server is publicly available at https://ftmove.bu.edu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Egbert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - George Jones
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Matthew R Collins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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5
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Iacono R, Minopoli N, Ferrara MC, Tarallo A, Damiano C, Porto C, Strollo S, Roig-Zamboni V, Peluso G, Sulzenbacher G, Cobucci-Ponzano B, Parenti G, Moracci M. Carnitine is a pharmacological allosteric chaperone of the human lysosomal α-glucosidase. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:2068-2079. [PMID: 34565280 PMCID: PMC8477953 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1975694] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pompe disease is an inherited metabolic disorder due to the deficiency of the lysosomal acid α-glucosidase (GAA). The only approved treatment is enzyme replacement therapy with the recombinant enzyme (rhGAA). Further approaches like pharmacological chaperone therapy, based on the stabilising effect induced by small molecules on the target enzyme, could be a promising strategy. However, most known chaperones could be limited by their potential inhibitory effects on patient’s enzymes. Here we report on the discovery of novel chaperones for rhGAA, L- and D-carnitine, and the related compound acetyl-D-carnitine. These drugs stabilise the enzyme at pH and temperature without inhibiting the activity and acted synergistically with active-site directed pharmacological chaperones. Remarkably, they enhanced by 4-fold the acid α-glucosidase activity in fibroblasts from three Pompe patients with added rhGAA. This synergistic effect of L-carnitine and rhGAA has the potential to be translated into improved therapeutic efficacy of ERT in Pompe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Iacono
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources - CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Nadia Minopoli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Carla Damiano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Caterina Porto
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Sandra Strollo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Véronique Roig-Zamboni
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University, AFMB, Marseille, France
| | - Gianfranco Peluso
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, UOS Naples-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerlind Sulzenbacher
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille University, AFMB, Marseille, France
| | | | - Giancarlo Parenti
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Moracci
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources - CNR, Naples, Italy
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6
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Egbert M, Porter KA, Ghani U, Kotelnikov S, Nguyen T, Ashizawa R, Kozakov D, Vajda S. Conservation of binding properties in protein models. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2549-2566. [PMID: 34025942 PMCID: PMC8114079 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We study the models submitted to round 12 of the Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction (CASP) experiment to assess how well the binding properties are conserved when the X-ray structures of the target proteins are replaced by their models. To explore small molecule binding we generate distributions of molecular probes - which are fragment-sized organic molecules of varying size, shape, and polarity - around the protein, and count the number of interactions between each residue and the probes, resulting in a vector of interactions we call a binding fingerprint. The similarity between two fingerprints, one for the X-ray structure and the other for a model of the protein, is determined by calculating the correlation coefficient between the two vectors. The resulting correlation coefficients are shown to correlate with global measures of accuracy established in CASP, and the relationship yields an accuracy threshold that has to be reached for meaningful binding surface conservation. The clusters formed by the probe molecules reliably predict binding hot spots and ligand binding sites in both X-ray structures and reasonably accurate models of the target, but ensembles of models may be needed for assessing the availability of proper binding pockets. We explored ligand docking to the few targets that had bound ligands in the X-ray structure. More targets were available to assess the ability of the models to reproduce protein-protein interactions by docking both the X-ray structures and models to their interaction partners in complexes. It was shown that this application is more difficult than finding small ligand binding sites, and the success rates heavily depend on the local structure in the potential interface. In particular, predicted conformations of flexible loops are frequently incorrect in otherwise highly accurate models, and may prevent predicting correct protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Egbert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Porter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Usman Ghani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Sergei Kotelnikov
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Thu Nguyen
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Ryota Ashizawa
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
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7
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Alves QL, Moraes RDA, Froes TQ, Castilho MS, Aquino de Araújo RS, Barbosa-Filho JM, Meira CS, Pereira Soares MB, Silva DF. Inhibition of intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization and potassium channels activation are involved in the vasorelaxation induced by 7-hydroxycoumarin. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 887:173525. [PMID: 32889064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coumarins exhibit a wide variety of biological effects, including activities in the cardiovascular system and the aim of this study was to evaluate the vascular therapeutic potential of 7-Hydroxicoumarin (7-HC). The vascular effects induced by 7-HC (0.001 μM-300 μM), were investigated by in vitro approaches using isometric tension measurements in rat superior mesenteric arteries and by in silico assays using Ligand-based analysis. Our results suggest that the vasorelaxant effect of 7-HC seems to rely on potassium channels, notably through large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels activation. In fact, 7-HC (300 μM) significantly reduced CaCl2-induced contraction as well as the reduction of intracellular calcium mobilization. However, the relaxation induced by 7-HC was independent of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Moreover, in silico analysis suggests that potassium channels have a common binding pocket, where 7-HC may bind and hint that its binding profile is more similar to quinine's than verapamil's. These results are compatible with the inhibition of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, which is prompted by phenylephrine and caffeine. Taken together, these results demonstrate a therapeutic potential of 7-HC on the cardiovascular system, making it a promising lead compound for the development of drugs useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quiara Lovatti Alves
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, 40110-902, Brazil; Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Raiana Dos Anjos Moraes
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, 40110-902, Brazil; Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Thamires Quadros Froes
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Santos Castilho
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Modeling, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Santos Aquino de Araújo
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Physiology and Pathology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-970, Brazil
| | - José Maria Barbosa-Filho
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Physiology and Pathology, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-970, Brazil
| | | | | | - Darízy Flávia Silva
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, 40110-902, Brazil; Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Bahia, Brazil.
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8
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Campbell AC, Stiers KM, Martin Del Campo JS, Mehra-Chaudhary R, Sobrado P, Tanner JJ. Trapping conformational states of a flavin-dependent N-monooxygenase in crystallo reveals protein and flavin dynamics. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13239-13249. [PMID: 32723870 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The siderophore biosynthetic enzyme A (SidA) ornithine hydroxylase from Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal disease drug target involved in the production of hydroxamate-containing siderophores, which are used by the pathogen to sequester iron. SidA is an N-monooxygenase that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent hydroxylation of l-ornithine through a multistep oxidative mechanism, utilizing a C4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate. Here we present four new crystal structures of SidA in various redox and ligation states, including the first structure of oxidized SidA without NADP(H) or l-ornithine bound (resting state). The resting state structure reveals a new out active site conformation characterized by large rotations of the FAD isoalloxazine around the C1-'C2' and N10-C1' bonds, coupled to a 10-Å movement of the Tyr-loop. Additional structures show that either flavin reduction or the binding of NADP(H) is sufficient to drive the FAD to the in conformation. The structures also reveal protein conformational changes associated with the binding of NADP(H) and l-ornithine. Some of these residues were probed using site-directed mutagenesis. Docking was used to explore the active site of the out conformation. These calculations identified two potential ligand-binding sites. Altogether, our results provide new information about conformational dynamics in flavin-dependent monooxygenases. Understanding the different active site conformations that appear during the catalytic cycle may allow fine-tuning of inhibitor discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Kyle M Stiers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | | | | | - Pablo Sobrado
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
| | - John J Tanner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
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9
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Bilsland AE, Liu Y, Turnbull A, Sumpton D, Stevenson K, Cairney CJ, Boyd SM, Roffey J, Jenkinson D, Keith WN. A Novel Pyrazolopyrimidine Ligand of Human PGK1 and Stress Sensor DJ1 Modulates the Shelterin Complex and Telomere Length Regulation. Neoplasia 2019; 21:893-907. [PMID: 31401411 PMCID: PMC6700475 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere signaling and metabolic dysfunction are hallmarks of cell aging. New agents targeting these processes might provide therapeutic opportunities, including chemoprevention strategies against cancer predisposition. We report identification and characterization of a pyrazolopyrimidine compound series identified from screens focused on cell immortality and whose targets are glycolytic kinase PGK1 and oxidative stress sensor DJ1. We performed structure–activity studies on the series to develop a photoaffinity probe to deconvolute the cellular targets. In vitro binding and structural analyses confirmed these targets, suggesting that PGK1/DJ1 interact, which we confirmed by immunoprecipitation. Glucose homeostasis and oxidative stress are linked to telomere signaling and exemplar compound CRT0063465 blocked hypoglycemic telomere shortening. Intriguingly, PGK1 and DJ1 bind to TRF2 and telomeric DNA. Compound treatment modulates these interactions and also affects Shelterin complex composition, while conferring cellular protection from cytotoxicity due to bleomycin and desferroxamine. These results demonstrate therapeutic potential of the compound series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Yu Liu
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Andrew Turnbull
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David Sumpton
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Katrina Stevenson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Claire J Cairney
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Susan M Boyd
- CompChem Solutions Ltd, St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, UK
| | - Jon Roffey
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David Jenkinson
- Cancer Research Technology Ltd., Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, The Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
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10
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Abstract
Beyond rule-of-five (bRo5) compounds are increasingly used in drug discovery. Here we analyze 37 target proteins that have bRo5 drugs or clinical candidates. Targets can benefit from bRo5 drugs if they have "complex" hot spot structure with four or more hots spots, including some strong ones. Complex I targets show positive correlation between binding affinity and molecular weight. These targets are conventionally druggable, but reaching additional hot spots enables improved pharmaceutical properties. Complex II targets, mostly protein kinases, also have strong hot spots but show no correlation between affinity and ligand molecular weight, and the primary motivation for creating larger drugs is to increase selectivity. Each target considered as complex III has some specific reason for requiring bRo5 drugs. Finally, targets with "simple" hot spot structure, i.e., three or fewer weak hot spots, must use larger compounds that interact with surfaces beyond the hot spot region to achieve acceptable affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Egbert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , United States
| | - Adrian Whitty
- Department of Chemistry , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , United States
| | - György M Keserű
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group , Research Center for Natural Sciences , Magyar Tudósok krt. 2 , H-1117 Budapest , Hungary
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , United States
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11
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Wakefield AE, Mason JS, Vajda S, Keserű GM. Analysis of tractable allosteric sites in G protein-coupled receptors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6180. [PMID: 30992500 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors represent a promising mechanism of pharmacological intervention. Dramatic developments witnessed in the structural biology of membrane proteins continue to reveal that the binding sites of allosteric modulators are widely distributed, including along protein surfaces. Here we restrict consideration to intrahelical and intracellular sites together with allosteric conformational locks, and show that the protein mapping tools FTMap and FTSite identify 83% and 88% of such experimentally confirmed allosteric sites within the three strongest sites found. The methods were also able to find partially hidden allosteric sites that were not fully formed in X-ray structures crystallized in the absence of allosteric ligands. These results confirm that the intrahelical sites capable of binding druglike allosteric modulators are among the strongest ligand recognition sites in a large fraction of GPCRs and suggest that both FTMap and FTSite are useful tools for identifying allosteric sites and to aid in the design of such compounds in a range of GPCR targets.
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12
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Makhouri FR, Ghasemi JB. In Silico Studies in Drug Research Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:664-725. [PMID: 28831921 PMCID: PMC6080098 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170823095628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease (PD), spinal cerebellar ataxias, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy are described by slow and selective degeneration of neurons and axons in the central nervous system (CNS) and constitute one of the major challenges of modern medicine. Computer-aided or in silico drug design methods have matured into powerful tools for reducing the number of ligands that should be screened in experimental assays. Methods In the present review, the authors provide a basic background about neurodegenerative diseases and in silico techniques in the drug research. Furthermore, they review the various in silico studies reported against various targets in neurodegenerative diseases, including homology modeling, molecular docking, virtual high-throughput screening, quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR), hologram quantitative structure activity relationship (HQSAR), 3D pharmacophore mapping, proteochemometrics modeling (PCM), fingerprints, fragment-based drug discovery, Monte Carlo simulation, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, quantum-mechanical methods for drug design, support vector machines, and machine learning approaches. Results Detailed analysis of the recently reported case studies revealed that the majority of them use a sequential combination of ligand and structure-based virtual screening techniques, with particular focus on pharmacophore models and the docking approach. Conclusion Neurodegenerative diseases have a multifactorial pathoetiological origin, so scientists have become persuaded that a multi-target therapeutic strategy aimed at the simultaneous targeting of multiple proteins (and therefore etiologies) involved in the development of a disease is recommended in future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jahan B Ghasemi
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Tashiro S, Caaveiro JMM, Nakakido M, Tanabe A, Nagatoishi S, Tamura Y, Matsuda N, Liu D, Hoang QQ, Tsumoto K. Discovery and Optimization of Inhibitors of the Parkinson's Disease Associated Protein DJ-1. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2783-2793. [PMID: 30063823 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
DJ-1 is a Parkinson's disease associated protein endowed with enzymatic, redox sensing, regulatory, chaperoning, and neuroprotective activities. Although DJ-1 has been vigorously studied for the past decade and a half, its exact role in the progression of the disease remains uncertain. In addition, little is known about the spatiotemporal regulation of DJ-1, or the biochemical basis explaining its numerous biological functions. Progress has been hampered by the lack of inhibitors with precisely known mechanisms of action. Herein, we have employed biophysical methodologies and X-ray crystallography to identify and to optimize a family of compounds inactivating the critical Cys106 residue of human DJ-1. We demonstrate these compounds are potent inhibitors of various activities of DJ-1 in vitro and in cell-based assays. This study reports a new family of DJ-1 inhibitors with a defined mechanism of action, and contributes toward the understanding of the biological function of DJ-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Tashiro
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Jose M. M. Caaveiro
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Laboratory of Global Healthcare, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Makoto Nakakido
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Aki Tanabe
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Satoru Nagatoishi
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Yasushi Tamura
- Department of Material and Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Matsuda
- Ubiquitin Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Dali Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60660, United States
| | | | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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14
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Stauffert F, Serra-Vinardell J, Gómez-Grau M, Michelakakis H, Mavridou I, Grinberg D, Vilageliu L, Casas J, Bodlenner A, Delgado A, Compain P. Stereodivergent synthesis of right- and left-handed iminoxylitol heterodimers and monomers. Study of their impact on β-glucocerebrosidase activity. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 15:3681-3705. [PMID: 28401966 DOI: 10.1039/c7ob00443e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A library of dimers and heterodimers of both enantiomers of 2-O-alkylated iminoxylitol derivatives has been synthesised and evaluated on β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), the enzyme responsible for Gaucher disease (GD). Although the objective was to target simultaneously the active site and a secondary binding site of the glucosidase, the (-)-2-iminoxylitol moiety seemed detrimental for imiglucerase inhibition and no significant enhancement was obtained in G202R, N370S and L444P fibroblasts. However, all compounds having at least one (+)-2-O-alkyl iminoxylitol are GCase inhibitors in the nano molar range and are significant GCase activity enhancers in G202R fibroblats, as confirmed by a decrease of glucosylceramide levels and by co-localization studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Stauffert
- Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique et Molécules Bioactives (SYBIO), Université de Strasbourg/CNRS (UMR 7509), Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg, France.
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15
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Abstract
The DJ-1 (also called the DJ-1/PfpI, ThiJ/PfpI, or DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI) superfamily is a structural and functional diverse group of proteins that are present in most organisms. Many of these proteins remain poorly characterized at the biochemical level, but include some known chaperones, proteases, and various stress response proteins that remain mechanistically mysterious. This chapter outlines what is known from a structural perspective about the cellular and biochemical functions of many of these proteins from distinct clades of the superfamily in several organisms. In humans, DJ-1 appears to function primarily as a redox-responsive protein that may act as a sensor for imbalances in cellular redox state. Because mutations in human DJ-1 cause certain types of heritable Parkinson's disease, the role of oxidative posttranslational modifications and pathogenic mutations in human DJ-1 is emphasized in the latter sections of this chapter.
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16
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Abstract
DJ-1 is a gene involved in various cellular processes, including transcriptional regulation, oxidative stress response, fertilization, mitochondrial regulation, inflammatory and fibrogenic niche formation, and glycation damage prevention. Although a disease-associated genetic study within the past decade has demonstrated that the mutation of DJ-1 is associated with autosomal early-onset Parkinson's disease, increasing evidence suggests that DJ-1 also plays a critical role in tumor development and progression. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge concerning the role and the mechanism of DJ-1 in cancer and also discuss the possibility of DJ-1 as a therapeutic target against cancer.
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17
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Beglov D, Hall DR, Wakefield AE, Luo L, Allen KN, Kozakov D, Whitty A, Vajda S. Exploring the structural origins of cryptic sites on proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E3416-25. [PMID: 29581267 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711490115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of proteins reveal the existence of many transient surface pockets; however, the factors determining what small subset of these represent druggable or functionally relevant ligand binding sites, called "cryptic sites," are not understood. Here, we examine multiple X-ray structures for a set of proteins with validated cryptic sites, using the computational hot spot identification tool FTMap. The results show that cryptic sites in ligand-free structures generally have a strong binding energy hot spot very close by. As expected, regions around cryptic sites exhibit above-average flexibility, and close to 50% of the proteins studied here have unbound structures that could accommodate the ligand without clashes. Nevertheless, the strong hot spot neighboring each cryptic site is almost always exploited by the bound ligand, suggesting that binding may frequently involve an induced fit component. We additionally evaluated the structural basis for cryptic site formation, by comparing unbound to bound structures. Cryptic sites are most frequently occluded in the unbound structure by intrusion of loops (22.5%), side chains (19.4%), or in some cases entire helices (5.4%), but motions that create sites that are too open can also eliminate pockets (19.4%). The flexibility of cryptic sites frequently leads to missing side chains or loops (12%) that are particularly evident in low resolution crystal structures. An interesting observation is that cryptic sites formed solely by the movement of side chains, or of backbone segments with fewer than five residues, result only in low affinity binding sites with limited use for drug discovery.
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18
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Balius TE, Fischer M, Stein RM, Adler TB, Nguyen CN, Cruz A, Gilson MK, Kurtzman T, Shoichet BK. Testing inhomogeneous solvation theory in structure-based ligand discovery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E6839-46. [PMID: 28760952 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1703287114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Binding-site water is often displaced upon ligand recognition, but is commonly neglected in structure-based ligand discovery. Inhomogeneous solvation theory (IST) has become popular for treating this effect, but it has not been tested in controlled experiments at atomic resolution. To do so, we turned to a grid-based version of this method, GIST, readily implemented in molecular docking. Whereas the term only improves docking modestly in retrospective ligand enrichment, it could be added without disrupting performance. We thus turned to prospective docking of large libraries to investigate GIST's impact on ligand discovery, geometry, and water structure in a model cavity site well-suited to exploring these terms. Although top-ranked docked molecules with and without the GIST term often overlapped, many ligands were meaningfully prioritized or deprioritized; some of these were selected for testing. Experimentally, 13/14 molecules prioritized by GIST did bind, whereas none of the molecules that it deprioritized were observed to bind. Nine crystal complexes were determined. In six, the ligand geometry corresponded to that predicted by GIST, for one of these the pose without the GIST term was wrong, and three crystallographic poses differed from both predictions. Notably, in one structure, an ordered water molecule with a high GIST displacement penalty was observed to stay in place. Inclusion of this water-displacement term can substantially improve the hit rates and ligand geometries from docking screens, although the magnitude of its effects can be small and its impact in drug binding sites merits further controlled studies.
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19
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Drwal MN, Jacquemard C, Perez C, Desaphy J, Kellenberger E. Do Fragments and Crystallization Additives Bind Similarly to Drug-like Ligands? J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:1197-1209. [PMID: 28414463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The success of fragment-based drug design (FBDD) hinges upon the optimization of low-molecular-weight compounds (MW < 300 Da) with weak binding affinities to lead compounds with high affinity and selectivity. Usually, structural information from fragment-protein complexes is used to develop ideas about the binding mode of similar but drug-like molecules. In this regard, crystallization additives such as cryoprotectants or buffer components, which are highly abundant in crystal structures, are frequently ignored. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the information present in protein complexes with fragments as well as those with additives and how they relate to the binding modes of their drug-like counterparts. We present a thorough analysis of the binding modes of crystallographic additives, fragments, and drug-like ligands bound to four diverse targets of wide interest in drug discovery and highly represented in the Protein Data Bank: cyclin-dependent kinase 2, β-secretase 1, carbonic anhydrase 2, and trypsin. We identified a total of 630 unique molecules bound to the catalytic binding sites, among them 31 additives, 222 fragments, and 377 drug-like ligands. In general, we observed that, independent of the target, protein-fragment interaction patterns are highly similar to those of drug-like ligands and mostly cover the residues crucial for binding. Crystallographic additives are also able to show conserved binding modes and recover the residues important for binding in some of the cases. Moreover, we show evidence that the information from fragments and drug-like ligands can be applied to rescore docking poses in order to improve the prediction of binding modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata N Drwal
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
| | - Célien Jacquemard
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
| | - Carlos Perez
- Eli Lilly Research Laboratories , Avenida de la Industria 30, 28108 Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jérémy Desaphy
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Esther Kellenberger
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
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20
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Niccolai N, Morandi E, Gardini S, Costabile V, Spadaccini R, Crescenzi O, Picone D, Spiga O, Bernini A. Hot spot mapping of protein surfaces with TEMPOL: Bovine pancreatic RNase A as a model system. Biochim Biophys Acta Proteins Proteom 2016; 1865:201-207. [PMID: 27890678 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
TEMPOL spin-label has been used to identify surface exposure of protein nuclei from NMR analysis of the induced paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (PRE). The absence of linear dependence between atom depths and observed PRE reveals that specific mechanisms drive the approach of the paramagnet to the protein surface. RNase A represents a unique protein system to explore the fine details of the information offered by TEMPOL induced PRE, due to the abundance of previous results, obtained in solution and in the crystal, dealing with surface dynamics behavior of this protein. MD simulations in explicit solvent have been performed, also in the presence of TEMPOL, in order to delineate the role of intermolecular hydrogen bonds (HB) on PRE extents. Comparison of our results with the ones obtained from multiple solvent crystal structure (MSCS) studies yields information on the specificities that these two techniques have for characterizing protein-ligand interactions, a fundamental step in the development of reliable surface druggability predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neri Niccolai
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Morandi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Simone Gardini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Valentino Costabile
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Roberta Spadaccini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università del Sannio, Via Port'Arsa 11, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
| | - Orlando Crescenzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Delia Picone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Ottavia Spiga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Andrea Bernini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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21
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Horowitz M, Elstein D, Zimran A, Goker-Alpan O. New Directions in Gaucher Disease. Hum Mutat 2016; 37:1121-1136. [DOI: 10.1002/humu.23056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mia Horowitz
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, Faculty of Life Sciences; Tel Aviv University; Ramat Aviv Israel
| | - Deborah Elstein
- Gaucher Clinic; Shaare Zedek Medical Center; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Ari Zimran
- Gaucher Clinic; Shaare Zedek Medical Center; Jerusalem Israel
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22
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Abstract
Identifying binding hotspots on protein surfaces is of prime interest in structure-based drug discovery, either to assess the tractability of pursuing a protein target or to drive improved potency of lead compounds. Computational approaches to detect such regions have traditionally relied on energy minimization of probe molecules onto static protein conformations in the absence of the natural aqueous environment. Advances in high performance computing now allow us to assess hotspots using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations integrate protein flexibility and the complicated role of water, thereby providing a more realistic assessment of the complex kinetics and thermodynamics at play. In this review, we describe the evolution of various cosolvent-based MD techniques and highlight a myriad of potential applications for such technologies in computational drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phani Ghanakota
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan , 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1065, United States
| | - Heather A Carlson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan , 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1065, United States
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Saida Ortolano
- Group of Neonatal Pathology, Pediatrics and Rare Diseases, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
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24
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Abstract
At the SSIEM Symposium in Istanbul 2010, I presented an overview of protein structural approaches in the study of inborn errors of metabolism (Yue and Oppermann 2011). Five years on, the field is going strong with new protein structures, uncovered catalytic functions and novel chemical matters for metabolic enzymes, setting the stage for the next generation of drug discovery. This article aims to update on recent advances and lessons learnt on inborn errors of metabolism via the protein-centric approach, citing examples of work from my group, collaborators and co-workers that cover diverse pathways of transsulfuration, cobalamin and glycogen metabolism. Taking into consideration that many inborn errors of metabolism result in the loss of enzyme function, this presentation aims to outline three key principles that guide the design of small molecule therapy in this technically challenging field: (1) integrating structural, biochemical and cell-based data to evaluate the wide spectrum of mutation-driven enzyme defects in stability, catalysis and protein-protein interaction; (2) studying multi-domain proteins and multi-protein complexes as examples from nature, to learn how enzymes are activated by small molecules; (3) surveying different regions of the enzyme, away from its active site, that can be targeted for the design of allosteric activators and inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wyatt W Yue
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK.
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25
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Convertino M, Das J, Dokholyan NV. Pharmacological Chaperones: Design and Development of New Therapeutic Strategies for the Treatment of Conformational Diseases. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:1471-89. [PMID: 27097127 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Errors in protein folding may result in premature clearance of structurally aberrant proteins, or in the accumulation of toxic misfolded species or protein aggregates. These pathological events lead to a large range of conditions known as conformational diseases. Several research groups have presented possible therapeutic solutions for their treatment by developing novel compounds, known as pharmacological chaperones. These cell-permeable molecules selectively provide a molecular scaffold around which misfolded proteins can recover their native folding and, thus, their biological activities. Here, we review therapeutic strategies, clinical potentials, and cost-benefit impacts of several classes of pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of a series of conformational diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marino Convertino
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jhuma Das
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Biochemistry
and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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26
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Mamonov AB, Moghadasi M, Mirzaei H, Zarbafian S, Grove LE, Bohnuud T, Vakili P, Paschalidis IC, Vajda S, Kozakov D. Focused grid-based resampling for protein docking and mapping. J Comput Chem 2016; 37:961-70. [PMID: 26837000 PMCID: PMC4814242 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.24273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 03/29/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The fast Fourier transform (FFT) sampling algorithm has been used with success in application to protein-protein docking and for protein mapping, the latter docking a variety of small organic molecules for the identification of binding hot spots on the target protein. Here we explore the local rather than global usage of the FFT sampling approach in docking applications. If the global FFT based search yields a near-native cluster of docked structures for a protein complex, then focused resampling of the cluster generally leads to a substantial increase in the number of conformations close to the native structure. In protein mapping, focused resampling of the selected hot spot regions generally reveals further hot spots that, while not as strong as the primary hot spots, also contribute to ligand binding. The detection of additional ligand binding regions is shown by the improved overlap between hot spots and bound ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem B. Mamonov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Mohammad Moghadasi
- Center for Information and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Hanieh Mirzaei
- Center for Information and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Shahrooz Zarbafian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Laurie E. Grove
- Department of Sciences, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tanggis Bohnuud
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Pirooz Vakili
- Center for Information and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis
- Center for Information and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
- Center for Information and Systems Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston MA 02215
- Departemnt of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790
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27
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Hall DR, Kozakov D, Whitty A, Vajda S. Lessons from Hot Spot Analysis for Fragment-Based Drug Discovery. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2015; 36:724-736. [PMID: 26538314 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of binding energy hot spots at protein surfaces can provide crucial insights into the prospects for successful application of fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), and whether a fragment hit can be advanced into a high-affinity, drug-like ligand. The key factor is the strength of the top ranking hot spot, and how well a given fragment complements it. We show that published data are sufficient to provide a sophisticated and quantitative understanding of how hot spots derive from a protein 3D structure, and how their strength, number, and spatial arrangement govern the potential for a surface site to bind to fragment-sized and larger ligands. This improved understanding provides important guidance for the effective application of FBDD in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Hall
- Acpharis Inc., 160 North Mill Street, Holliston, MA 01746, USA
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Adrian Whitty
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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28
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Abstract
A powerful early approach to evaluating the druggability of proteins involved determining the hit rate in NMR-based screening of a library of small compounds. Here, we show that a computational analog of this method, based on mapping proteins using small molecules as probes, can reliably reproduce druggability results from NMR-based screening and can provide a more meaningful assessment in cases where the two approaches disagree. We apply the method to a large set of proteins. The results show that, because the method is based on the biophysics of binding rather than on empirical parametrization, meaningful information can be gained about classes of proteins and classes of compounds beyond those resembling validated targets and conventionally druglike ligands. In particular, the method identifies targets that, while not druggable by druglike compounds, may become druggable using compound classes such as macrocycles or other large molecules beyond the rule-of-five limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dima Kozakov
- Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Stony Brook University , Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - David R Hall
- Acpharis Inc. , Holliston, Massachusetts 01746, United States
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Kozakov D, Hall DR, Jehle S, Luo L, Ochiana SO, Jones EV, Pollastri M, Allen KN, Whitty A, Vajda S. Ligand deconstruction: Why some fragment binding positions are conserved and others are not. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:E2585-94. [PMID: 25918377 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501567112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) relies on the premise that the fragment binding mode will be conserved on subsequent expansion to a larger ligand. However, no general condition has been established to explain when fragment binding modes will be conserved. We show that a remarkably simple condition can be developed in terms of how fragments coincide with binding energy hot spots--regions of the protein where interactions with a ligand contribute substantial binding free energy--the locations of which can easily be determined computationally. Because a substantial fraction of the free energy of ligand binding comes from interacting with the residues in the energetically most important hot spot, a ligand moiety that sufficiently overlaps with this region will retain its location even when other parts of the ligand are removed. This hypothesis is supported by eight case studies. The condition helps identify whether a protein is suitable for FBDD, predicts the size of fragments required for screening, and determines whether a fragment hit can be extended into a higher affinity ligand. Our results show that ligand binding sites can usefully be thought of in terms of an anchor site, which is the top-ranked hot spot and dominates the free energy of binding, surrounded by a number of weaker satellite sites that confer improved affinity and selectivity for a particular ligand and that it is the intrinsic binding potential of the protein surface that determines whether it can serve as a robust binding site for a suitably optimized ligand.
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Parenti G, Andria G, Valenzano KJ. Pharmacological Chaperone Therapy: Preclinical Development, Clinical Translation, and Prospects for the Treatment of Lysosomal Storage Disorders. Mol Ther 2015; 23:1138-1148. [PMID: 25881001 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of inborn metabolic diseases caused by mutations in genes that encode proteins involved in different lysosomal functions, in most instances acidic hydrolases. Different therapeutic approaches have been developed to treat these disorders. Pharmacological chaperone therapy (PCT) is an emerging approach based on small-molecule ligands that selectively bind and stabilize mutant enzymes, increase their cellular levels, and improve lysosomal trafficking and activity. Compared to other approaches, PCT shows advantages, particularly in terms of oral administration, broad biodistribution, and positive impact on patients' quality of life. After preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies, PCT is now being translated in the first clinical trials, either as monotherapy or in combination with enzyme replacement therapy, for some of the most prevalent LSDs. For some LSDs, the results of the first clinical trials are encouraging and warrant further development. Future research in the field of PCT will be directed toward the identification of novel chaperones, including new allosteric drugs, and the exploitation of synergies between chaperone treatment and other therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Parenti
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy.
| | - Generoso Andria
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
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31
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Kozakov D, Grove LE, Hall DR, Bohnuud T, Mottarella SE, Luo L, Xia B, Beglov D, Vajda S. The FTMap family of web servers for determining and characterizing ligand-binding hot spots of proteins. Nat Protoc 2015; 10:733-55. [PMID: 25855957 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2015.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 404] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
FTMap is a computational mapping server that identifies binding hot spots of macromolecules-i.e., regions of the surface with major contributions to the ligand-binding free energy. To use FTMap, users submit a protein, DNA or RNA structure in PDB (Protein Data Bank) format. FTMap samples billions of positions of small organic molecules used as probes, and it scores the probe poses using a detailed energy expression. Regions that bind clusters of multiple probe types identify the binding hot spots in good agreement with experimental data. FTMap serves as the basis for other servers, namely FTSite, which is used to predict ligand-binding sites, FTFlex, which is used to account for side chain flexibility, FTMap/param, used to parameterize additional probes and FTDyn, for mapping ensembles of protein structures. Applications include determining the druggability of proteins, identifying ligand moieties that are most important for binding, finding the most bound-like conformation in ensembles of unliganded protein structures and providing input for fragment-based drug design. FTMap is more accurate than classical mapping methods such as GRID and MCSS, and it is much faster than the more-recent approaches to protein mapping based on mixed molecular dynamics. By using 16 probe molecules, the FTMap server finds the hot spots of an average-size protein in <1 h. As FTFlex performs mapping for all low-energy conformers of side chains in the binding site, its completion time is proportionately longer.
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Abstract
Pharmacological chaperone therapy is an emerging approach to treat lysosomal storage diseases. Small-molecule chaperones interact with mutant enzymes, favor their correct conformation and enhance their stability. This approach shows significant advantages when compared with existing therapies, particularly in terms of the bioavailability of drugs, oral administration and positive impact on the quality of patients' lives. On the other hand, future research in this field must confront important challenges. The identification of novel chaperones is indispensable to expanding the number of patients amenable to this treatment and to optimize therapeutic efficacy. It is important to develop new allosteric drugs, to address the risk of inhibiting target enzymes. Future research must also be directed towards the exploitation of synergies between chaperone treatment and other therapeutic approaches.
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Cao J, Lou S, Ying M, Yang B. DJ-1 as a human oncogene and potential therapeutic target. Biochem Pharmacol 2014; 93:241-50. [PMID: 25498803 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
DJ-1 is a cancer- and Parkinson's disease-associated protein that participates in different intracellular signaling pathways to protect cells from toxic stresses. DJ-1 expression, oxidation, localization, and phosphorylation are often altered in human tumors, and DJ-1 has been implicated in various aspects of transformation, including uncontrolled proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and apoptosis. Despite the strong relationship between DJ-1 and cancer, which made it a particularly attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment, the detailed mechanisms of how this oncogene coordinates altered signaling with cell survival remains elusive. In this commentary, we discuss the role of DJ-1 in transformation, highlight some of the significant aspects of and prospects for therapeutically targeting the DJ-1 signaling in cancer, and describe what the future may hold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Cao
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Siyue Lou
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Meidan Ying
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Oh M, Lee JH, Wang W, Lee HS, Lee WS, Burlak C, Im W, Hoang QQ, Lim HS. Potential pharmacological chaperones targeting cancer-associated MCL-1 and Parkinson disease-associated α-synuclein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:11007-12. [PMID: 25024216 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1320556111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological chaperones are small molecules that bind to proteins and stabilize them against thermal denaturation or proteolytic degradation, as well as assist or prevent certain protein-protein assemblies. These activities are being exploited for the development of treatments for diseases caused by protein instability and/or aberrant protein-protein interactions, such as those found in certain forms of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. However, designing or discovering pharmacological chaperones for specific targets is challenging because of the relatively featureless protein target surfaces, the lack of suitable chemical libraries, and the shortage of efficient high-throughput screening methods. In this study, we attempted to address all these challenges by synthesizing a diverse library of small molecules that mimic protein α-helical secondary structures commonly found in protein-protein interaction surfaces. This was accompanied by establishing a facile "on-bead" high-throughput screening method that allows for rapid and efficient discovery of potential pharmacological chaperones and for identifying novel chaperones/inhibitors against a cancer-associated protein, myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), and a Parkinson disease-associated protein, α-synuclein. Our data suggest that the compounds and methods described here will be useful tools for the development of pharmaceuticals for complex-disease targets that are traditionally deemed "undruggable."
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Hayes
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62034, United States
| | - Daniel Ansbro
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62034, United States
| | - Maria Kontoyianni
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois 62034, United States
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36
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Joseph-McCarthy
- Infection Innovative Medicines Unit, AstraZeneca, R&D Boston, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Arthur J. Campbell
- Infection Innovative Medicines Unit, AstraZeneca, R&D Boston, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Gunther Kern
- Infection Innovative Medicines Unit, AstraZeneca, R&D Boston, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Demetri Moustakas
- Infection Innovative Medicines Unit, AstraZeneca, R&D Boston, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
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Grøftehauge MK, Therkelsen MØ, Taaning R, Skrydstrup T, Morth JP, Nissen P. Identifying ligand-binding hot spots in proteins using brominated fragments. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:1060-5. [PMID: 23989163 PMCID: PMC3758163 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113018551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
High-quality crystals of Thermus thermophilus EF-Tu in the GTP-bound conformation at 1.7-2.7 Å resolution were used to test 18 small organic molecules, all brominated for confident identification in the anomalous difference maps. From this relatively small collection, it was possible to identify a small molecule bound in the functionally important tRNA CCA-end binding pocket. The antibiotic GE2270 A is known to interact with the same pocket in EF-Tu and to disrupt the association with tRNA. Bromide could be located from peaks in the anomalous map in data truncated to very low resolution without refining the structure. Considering the speed with which diffraction data can be collected today, it is proposed that it is worthwhile to collect the extra data from fragment screens while crystals are at hand to increase the knowledge of biological function and drug binding in an experimental structural context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Ø. Therkelsen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rolf Taaning
- Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN), Department of Chemistry and the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Troels Skrydstrup
- Center for Insoluble Protein Structures (inSPIN), Department of Chemistry and the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - J. Preben Morth
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Forskningsparken, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Poul Nissen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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38
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Golden MS, Cote SM, Sayeg M, Zerbe BS, Villar EA, Beglov D, Sazinsky SL, Georgiadis RM, Vajda S, Kozakov D, Whitty A. Comprehensive experimental and computational analysis of binding energy hot spots at the NF-κB essential modulator/IKKβ protein-protein interface. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:6242-56. [PMID: 23506214 PMCID: PMC3680600 DOI: 10.1021/ja400914z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We report a comprehensive analysis of binding energy hot spots at the protein-protein interaction (PPI) interface between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) essential modulator (NEMO) and IκB kinase subunit β (IKKβ), an interaction that is critical for NF-κB pathway signaling, using experimental alanine scanning mutagenesis and also the FTMap method for computational fragment screening. The experimental results confirm that the previously identified NEMO binding domain (NBD) region of IKKβ contains the highest concentration of hot-spot residues, the strongest of which are W739, W741, and L742 (ΔΔG = 4.3, 3.5, and 3.2 kcal/mol, respectively). The region occupied by these residues defines a potentially druggable binding site on NEMO that extends for ~16 Å to additionally include the regions that bind IKKβ L737 and F734. NBD residues D738 and S740 are also important for binding but do not make direct contact with NEMO, instead likely acting to stabilize the active conformation of surrounding residues. We additionally found two previously unknown hot-spot regions centered on IKKβ residues L708/V709 and L719/I723. The computational approach successfully identified all three hot-spot regions on IKKβ. Moreover, the method was able to accurately quantify the energetic importance of all hot-spot residues involving direct contact with NEMO. Our results provide new information to guide the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors that target the NEMO/IKKβ interaction. They additionally clarify the structural and energetic complementarity between "pocket-forming" and "pocket-occupying" hot-spot residues, and further validate computational fragment mapping as a method for identifying hot spots at PPI interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary S. Golden
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Shaun M. Cote
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Marianna Sayeg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Brandon S. Zerbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Villar
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Dmitri Beglov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Stephen L. Sazinsky
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Rosina M. Georgiadis
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Sandor Vajda
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Dima Kozakov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Adrian Whitty
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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McCorvie TJ, Gleason TJ, Fridovich-Keil JL, Timson DJ. Misfolding of galactose 1-phosphate uridylyltransferase can result in type I galactosemia. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1279-93. [PMID: 23583749 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Type I galactosemia is a genetic disorder that is caused by the impairment of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT; EC 2.7.7.12). Although a large number of mutations have been detected through genetic screening of the human GALT (hGALT) locus, for many it is not known how they cause their effects. The majority of these mutations are missense, with predicted substitutions scattered throughout the enzyme structure and thus causing impairment by other means rather than direct alterations to the active site. To clarify the fundamental, molecular basis of hGALT impairment we studied five disease-associated variants p.D28Y, p.L74P, p.F171S, p.F194L and p.R333G using both a yeast model and purified, recombinant proteins. In a yeast expression system there was a correlation between lysate activity and the ability to rescue growth in the presence of galactose, except for p.R333G. Kinetic analysis of the purified proteins quantified each variant's level of enzymatic impairment and demonstrated that this was largely due to altered substrate binding. Increased surface hydrophobicity, altered thermal stability and changes in proteolytic sensitivity were also detected. Our results demonstrate that hGALT requires a level of flexibility to function optimally and that altered folding is the underlying reason of impairment in all the variants tested here. This indicates that misfolding is a common, molecular basis of hGALT deficiency and suggests the potential of pharmacological chaperones and proteostasis regulators as novel therapeutic approaches for type I galactosemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J McCorvie
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
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40
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Eidam O, Romagnoli C, Dalmasso G, Barelier S, Caselli E, Bonnet R, Shoichet BK, Prati F. Fragment-guided design of subnanomolar β-lactamase inhibitors active in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:17448-53. [PMID: 23043117 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208337109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based design was used to guide derivatization of a lead series of β-lactamase inhibitors that had heretofore resisted optimization for in vivo activity. X-ray structures of fragments overlaid with the lead suggested new, unanticipated functionality and points of attachment. Synthesis of three derivatives improved affinity over 20-fold and improved efficacy in cell culture. Crystal structures were consistent with the fragment-based design, enabling further optimization to a K(i) of 50 pM, a 500-fold improvement that required the synthesis of only six derivatives. One of these, compound 5, was tested in mice. Whereas cefotaxime alone failed to cure mice infected with β-lactamase-expressing Escherichia coli, 65% were cleared of infection when treated with a cefotaxime:5 combination. Fragment complexes offer a path around design hurdles, even for advanced molecules; the series described here may provide leads to overcome β-lactamase-based resistance, a key clinical challenge.
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Shanmuganathan M, Britz-McKibbin P. Functional Screening of Pharmacological Chaperones via Restoration of Enzyme Activity upon Denaturation. Biochemistry 2012; 51:7651-3. [PMID: 22970758 DOI: 10.1021/bi301223f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Meera Shanmuganathan
- Department of Chemistry
and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton,
ON, Canada L8S 4M1
| | - Philip Britz-McKibbin
- Department of Chemistry
and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton,
ON, Canada L8S 4M1
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42
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Abstract
Background Virtual Screening (VS) methods can considerably aid clinical research, predicting how ligands interact with drug targets. Most VS methods suppose a unique binding site for the target, usually derived from the interpretation of the protein crystal structure. However, it has been demonstrated that in many cases, diverse ligands interact with unrelated parts of the target and many VS methods do not take into account this relevant fact. Results We present BINDSURF, a novel VS methodology that scans the whole protein surface in order to find new hotspots, where ligands might potentially interact with, and which is implemented in last generation massively parallel GPU hardware, allowing fast processing of large ligand databases. Conclusions BINDSURF is an efficient and fast blind methodology for the determination of protein binding sites depending on the ligand, that uses the massively parallel architecture of GPUs for fast pre-screening of large ligand databases. Its results can also guide posterior application of more detailed VS methods in concrete binding sites of proteins, and its utilization can aid in drug discovery, design, repurposing and therefore help considerably in clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sánchez-Linares
- Computer Engineering Department, School of Computer Science, University of Murcia, Spain
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43
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Zerbe BS, Hall DR, Vajda S, Whitty A, Kozakov D. Relationship between hot spot residues and ligand binding hot spots in protein-protein interfaces. J Chem Inf Model 2012; 52:2236-44. [PMID: 22770357 DOI: 10.1021/ci300175u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In the context of protein-protein interactions, the term "hot spot" refers to a residue or cluster of residues that makes a major contribution to the binding free energy, as determined by alanine scanning mutagenesis. In contrast, in pharmaceutical research, a hot spot is a site on a target protein that has high propensity for ligand binding and hence is potentially important for drug discovery. Here we examine the relationship between these two hot spot concepts by comparing alanine scanning data for a set of 15 proteins with results from mapping the protein surfaces for sites that can bind fragment-sized small molecules. We find the two types of hot spots are largely complementary; the residues protruding into hot spot regions identified by computational mapping or experimental fragment screening are almost always themselves hot spot residues as defined by alanine scanning experiments. Conversely, a residue that is found by alanine scanning to contribute little to binding rarely interacts with hot spot regions on the partner protein identified by fragment mapping. In spite of the strong correlation between the two hot spot concepts, they fundamentally differ, however. In particular, while identification of a hot spot by alanine scanning establishes the potential to generate substantial interaction energy with a binding partner, there are additional topological requirements to be a hot spot for small molecule binding. Hence, only a minority of hot spots identified by alanine scanning represent sites that are potentially useful for small inhibitor binding, and it is this subset that is identified by experimental or computational fragment screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon S Zerbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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44
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Votapka L, Demir Ö, Swift RV, Walker RC, Amaro RE. Variable ligand- and receptor-binding hot spots in key strains of influenza neuraminidase. J Mol Genet Med 2012; 6:293-300. [PMID: 22872804 PMCID: PMC3410406 DOI: 10.4172/1747-0862.1000052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 11/04/2011] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A continues to be a major public health concern due to its ability to cause epidemic and pandemic disease outbreaks in humans. Computational investigations of structural dynamics of the major influenza glycoproteins, especially the neuraminidase (NA) enzyme, are able to provide key insights beyond what is currently accessible with standard experimental techniques. In particular, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations reveal the varying degrees of flexibility for such enzymes. Here we present an analysis of the relative flexibility of the ligand- and receptor-binding area of three key strains of influenza A: highly pathogenic H5N1, the 2009 pandemic H1N1, and a human N2 strain. Through computational solvent mapping, we investigate the various ligand- and receptor-binding “hot spots” that exist on the surface of NA which interacts with both sialic acid receptors on the host cells and antiviral drugs. This analysis suggests that the variable cavities found in the different strains and their corresponding capacities to bind ligand functional groups may play an important role in the ability of NA to form competent reaction encounter complexes with other species of interest, including antiviral drugs, sialic acid receptors on the host cell surface, and the hemagglutinin protein. Such considerations may be especially useful for the prediction of how such complexes form and with what binding capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lane Votapka
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Özlem Demir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert V Swift
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ross C Walker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rommie E Amaro
- San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Correspondence to: Rommie Amaro, , Tel: +1 858 534-4466
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45
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Abstract
The causative agent of African sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei , undergoes an unusual mitochondrial RNA editing process that is essential for its survival. RNA editing terminal uridylyl transferase 2 of T. brucei (TbRET2) is an indispensable component of the editosome machinery that performs this editing. TbRET2 is required to maintain the vitality of both the insect and bloodstream forms of the parasite, and with its high-resolution crystal structure, it poses as a promising pharmaceutical target. Neither the exclusive requirement of uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) for catalysis, nor the RNA primer preference of TbRET2 is well-understood. Using all-atom explicitly solvated molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we investigated the effect of UTP binding on TbRET2 structure and dynamics, as well as the determinants governing TbRET2's exclusive UTP preference. Through our investigations of various nucleoside triphosphate substrates (NTPs), we show that UTP preorganizes the binding site through an extensive water-mediated H-bonding network, bringing Glu424 and Arg144 side chains to an optimum position for RNA primer binding. In contrast, cytosine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) cannot achieve this preorganization and thus preclude productive RNA primer binding. Additionally, we have located ligand-binding "hot spots" of TbRET2 based on the MD conformational ensembles and computational fragment mapping. TbRET2 reveals different binding pockets in the apo and UTP-bound MD simulations, which could be targeted for inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Demir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , San Diego, 3234 Urey Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC-0340 La Jolla, California 92093-0332, USA
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46
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Abstract
Macroscopic characterizations of hydrophobicity (e.g., contact angle measurements) do not extend to the surfaces of proteins and nanoparticles. Molecular measures of hydrophobicity of such surfaces need to account for the behavior of hydration water. Theory and state-of-the-art simulations suggest that water density fluctuations provide such a measure; fluctuations are enhanced near hydrophobic surfaces and quenched with increasing surface hydrophilicity. Fluctuations affect conformational equilibria and dynamics of molecules at interfaces. Enhanced fluctuations are reflected in enhanced cavity formation, more favorable binding of hydrophobic solutes, increased compressibility of hydration water, and enhanced water-water correlations at hydrophobic surfaces. These density fluctuation-based measures can be used to develop practical methods to map the hydrophobicity/philicity of heterogeneous surfaces including those of proteins. They highlight that the hydrophobicity of a group is context dependent and is significantly affected by its environment (e.g., chemistry and topography) and especially by confinement. The ability to include information about hydration water in mapping hydrophobicity is expected to significantly impact our understanding of protein-protein interactions as well as improve drug design and discovery methods and bioseparation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanth N Jamadagni
- The Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
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47
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunquan Sheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry; School of Pharmacy; Second Military Medical University; 325 Guohe Road Shanghai 200433 People's Republic of China
| | - Wannian Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry; School of Pharmacy; Second Military Medical University; 325 Guohe Road Shanghai 200433 People's Republic of China
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48
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Abstract
An expanding repertoire of "allosteric" drugs is revealing that structure-based drug design (SBDD) is not restricted to the "active site" of the target protein. Such compounds have been shown to bind distant regions of the protein topography, potentially providing higher levels of target specificity, reduced toxicity and access to new regions of chemical space. Unfortunately, the location of such allosteric pockets is not obvious in the absence of a bound crystal structure and the ability to predict their presence would be useful in the discovery of novel therapies. Here, we describe a method for the prediction of "druggable" binding sites that takes protein flexibility into account through the use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. By using a dynamic representation of the target, we are able to sample multiple protein conformations that may expose new drug-binding surfaces. We perform a fragment-based mapping analysis of individual structures in the MD ensemble using the FTMAP algorithm and then rank the most prolific probe-binding protein residues to determine potential "hot-spots" for further examination. This approach has recently been applied to a pair of human G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), resulting in the detection of five potential allosteric sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Ivetac
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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49
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Abstract
Computational solvent mapping globally samples the surface of target proteins using molecular probes-small molecules or functional groups-to identify potentially favorable binding positions. The method is based on X-ray and NMR screening studies showing that the binding sites of proteins also bind a large variety of fragment-sized molecules. We have developed the multistage mapping algorithm FTMap (available as a server at http://ftmap.bu.edu/ ) based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) correlation approach. Identifying regions of low free energy rather than individual low energy conformations, FTMap reproduces the available experimental mapping results. Applications to a variety of proteins show that the probes always cluster in important subsites of the binding site, and the amino acid residues that interact with many probes also bind the specific ligands of the protein. The "consensus" sites at which a number of different probes cluster are likely to be "druggable" sites, capable of binding drug-size ligands with high affinity. Due to its sensitivity to conformational changes, the method can also be used for comparing the binding sites in different structures of a protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Hall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering Research Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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50
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Abstract
An advantage of studying allosteric regulation over covalent modification is that allostery allows the experimentalist to vary the concentration of effector, thereby allowing independent quantification of effector binding and allosteric coupling. In turn, this capacity allows the use of effector analogues to determine which regions of the effector contribute to effector binding and which contribute to allosteric regulation. Like many other proteins, human liver pyruvate kinase (hL-PYK) is regulated by phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of hL-PYK occurs on Ser12 of the N-terminus. Phosphorylation appears to interrupt an interaction (distant from the active site) between the N-terminus and the main body of the protein. Since this interaction increases the affinity of hL-PYK for the substrate (phosphoenolpyruvate, PEP), phosphorylation-dependent interruption of the N-terminus/main-body interaction results in an antagonism of PEP binding. Due to the advantages of studying an allosteric system, we detail a protocol to express and purify N-terminal peptides of hL-PYK using a SUMO-fusion system. We further demonstrate that these peptides act as allosteric regulators that modulate the affinity of hL-PYK for PEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charulata B. Prasannan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160
| | - Qingling Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160
| | - Aron W. Fenton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160
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