1
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Ju D, Wu S, Li L, Xie Y. Ubiquitylation-independent cotranslational degradation of dihydrofolate reductase and ubiquitin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 702:149651. [PMID: 38350414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Nascent proteins are degraded during or immediately after synthesis, a process called cotranslational protein degradation (CTPD). Although CTPD was observed decades ago, it has never been fully explored mechanistically and functionally. We show here that dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and ubiquitin (Ub), two stable proteins widely used in protein degradation studies, are actually subject to CTPD. Unlike canonical posttranslational protein degradation, CTPD of DHFR and Ub does not require prior ubiquitylation. Our data also suggest that protein expression level and N-terminal folding pattern may be two critical determinants for CTPD. Thus, this study reveals that CTPD plays a role in regulating the homeostasis of long-lived proteins and provides insights into the mechanism of CTPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghong Ju
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Shichao Wu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Youming Xie
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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2
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Smith N, Horswill AR, Wilson MA. X-ray-driven chemistry and conformational heterogeneity in atomic resolution crystal structures of bacterial dihydrofolate reductases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.07.566054. [PMID: 37986818 PMCID: PMC10659368 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.07.566054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. Bacterial DHFRs are targets of several important antibiotics as well as model enzymes for the role of protein conformational dynamics in enzyme catalysis. We collected 0.93 Å resolution X-ray diffraction data from both Bacillus subtilis (Bs) and E. coli (Ec) DHFRs bound to folate and NADP+. These oxidized ternary complexes should not be able to perform chemistry, however electron density maps suggest hydride transfer is occurring in both enzymes. Comparison of low- and high-dose EcDHFR datasets show that X-rays drive partial production of tetrahydrofolate. Hydride transfer causes the nicotinamide moiety of NADP+ to move towards the folate as well as correlated shifts in nearby residues. Higher radiation dose also changes the conformational heterogeneity of Met20 in EcDHFR, supporting a solvent gating role during catalysis. BsDHFR has a different pattern of conformational heterogeneity and an unexpected disulfide bond, illustrating important differences between bacterial DHFRs. This work demonstrates that X-rays can drive hydride transfer similar to the native DHFR reaction and that X-ray photoreduction can be used to interrogate catalytically relevant enzyme dynamics in favorable cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588
| | - Alexander R. Horswill
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Mark A. Wilson
- Department of Biochemistry and Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588
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3
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Soofi A, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Safari-Alighiarloo N. In silico screening of inhibitors against human dihydrofolate reductase to identify potential anticancer compounds. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14497-14509. [PMID: 36883866 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2183038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
In all species, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an essential enzyme that regulates the cellular amount of tetrahydrofolate. Human DHFR (hDHFR) activity inhibition results in tetrahydrofolate depletion and cell death. This property has made hDHFR a therapeutic target for cancer. Methotrexate is a well-known hDHFR inhibitor, but its administration has shown some light to severe adverse effects. Therefore, we aimed to find new potential hDHFR inhibitors using structure-based virtual screening, ADMET prediction, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we used the PubChem database to find all compounds with at least 90% structural similarity to known natural DHFR inhibitors. To explore their interaction pattern and estimate their binding affinities, the screened compounds (2023) were subjected to structure-based molecular docking against hDHFR. The fifteen compounds that showed higher binding affinity to the hDHFR than the reference compound (methotrexate) displayed important molecular orientation and interactions with key residues in the enzyme's active site. These compounds were subjected to Lipinski and ADMET prediction. PubChem CIDs: 46886812 and 638190 were identified as putative inhibitors. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the binding of compounds (CIDs: 46886812 and 63819) stabilized the hDHFR structure and caused minor conformational changes. Our findings suggest that two compounds (CIDs: 46886812 and 63819) could be promising potential inhibitors of hDHFR in cancer therapy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Soofi
- Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Rezaei-Tavirani
- Proteomics Research Center, Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nahid Safari-Alighiarloo
- Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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4
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Brown JI, Wang P, Wong AYL, Petrova B, Persaud R, Soukhtehzari S, Lopez McDonald M, Hanke D, Christensen J, Iliev P, Wang W, Everton DK, Williams KC, Frank DA, Kanarek N, Page BDG. Cycloguanil and Analogues Potently Target DHFR in Cancer Cells to Elicit Anti-Cancer Activity. Metabolites 2023; 13:151. [PMID: 36837770 PMCID: PMC9961069 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an established anti-cancer drug target whose inhibition disrupts folate metabolism and STAT3-dependent gene expression. Cycloguanil was proposed as a DHFR inhibitor in the 1950s and is the active metabolite of clinically approved plasmodium DHFR inhibitor Proguanil. The Cycloguanil scaffold was explored to generate potential cancer therapies in the 1970s. Herein, current computational and chemical biology techniques were employed to re-investigate the anti-cancer activity of Cycloguanil and related compounds. In silico modeling was employed to identify promising Cycloguanil analogues from NCI databases, which were cross-referenced with NCI-60 Human Tumor Cell Line Screening data. Using target engagement assays, it was found that these compounds engage DHFR in cells at sub-nanomolar concentrations; however, growth impairments were not observed until higher concentrations. Folinic acid treatment rescues the viability impairments induced by some, but not all, Cycloguanil analogues, suggesting these compounds may have additional targets. Cycloguanil and its most promising analogue, NSC127159, induced similar metabolite profiles compared to established DHFR inhibitors Methotrexate and Pyrimethamine while also blocking downstream signaling, including STAT3 transcriptional activity. These data confirm that Cycloguanil and its analogues are potent inhibitors of human DHFR, and their anti-cancer activity may be worth further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer I. Brown
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alan Y. L. Wong
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Boryana Petrova
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rosanne Persaud
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sepideh Soukhtehzari
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | | | - Danielle Hanke
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Josephine Christensen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Petar Iliev
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Weiyuan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Daniel K. Everton
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Karla C. Williams
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - David A. Frank
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Naama Kanarek
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Brent D. G. Page
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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5
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Samanta A, Banerjee S, Maity TR, Jahnavi J, Datta S. Towards establishment of a plant-based model to assess the novel anti-cancerous lead molecule(s): An in silico, in vivo and in vitro assessment of some potential anti-cancerous drugs on Lathyrus sativus L. PROTOPLASMA 2022; 259:1455-1466. [PMID: 35195768 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01745-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The drug development process is one of the important aspects of medical biology. The classical lead identification strategy in the way of drug development based on animal cell is time-consuming, expensive and involving ethical issues. The following study aims to develop a novel plant-based screening of drugs. Study shows the efficacy of certain anti-cancerous drugs (Pemetrexed, 5-Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Topotecan and Etoposide) on a plant-based (Lathyrus sativus L.) system. Two important characteristics of cancer cells were observed in the colchicine-treated polyploid cell and the callus, where the chromosome numbers were unusual and the division of cells were uncontrolled respectively. With increasing concentration, the drugs significantly reduced the mitotic index, ploidy level and callus growth. Increasing Pemetrexed concentration decreased the plant DHFR activity. A decrease in total RNA content was observed in 5-FU and Methotrexate with increasing concentrations of the drugs. Etoposide and Topotecan inhibited plant topoisomerase II and topoisomerase I activities, which was justified through plasmid nicking and comet assay, respectively. Molecular and biochemical study revealed similar results to the animal system. The in silico study had been done, and the structural similarity of drug binding domains of L. sativus and human beings had also been established. The binding site of the selected drugs to the domains of plant target proteins was also determined. Experimental results are significant in terms of the efficacy of known anti-cancerous drugs on the plant-based system. The proposed assay system is a cost-effective, convenient and less time-consuming process for primary screening of anti-cancerous lead molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aveek Samanta
- Department of Botany, Prabhat Kumar College, Purba Medinipur, Contai, 721401, West Bengal, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Purba Medinipur, Haldia, 721657, West Bengal, India
| | - Saptadipa Banerjee
- Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Purba Medinipur, Haldia, 721657, West Bengal, India
| | - Tilak Raj Maity
- Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Purba Medinipur, Haldia, 721657, West Bengal, India
| | - Jangala Jahnavi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Siraj Datta
- Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Purba Medinipur, Haldia, 721657, West Bengal, India.
- Subarnarekha Mahavidyalaya, Gopiballavpur, Jhargram, 721506, West Bengal, India.
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6
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Abdolmaleki B, Maddah M. Screening of indole derivatives as the potent anticancer agents on dihydrofolate reductase: pharmaco-informatics and molecular dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 41:3667-3679. [PMID: 35318890 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2053745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a ubiquitous cellular enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of nucleotide and protein precursors, thus, the inhibition of human DHFR can be a promising strategy in cancer treatment. The design of effective anticancer drugs is an urgent need today according to the high spread of cancer. The indole molecule with diverse mechanisms of action and anticancer properties is one of the efficient pharmacophores in drug design. Hence, a virtual library of indole derivatives as a scaffold was selected for designing safer and more effective anticancer drugs against DHFR in this work. All indole derivatives utilized in the library design were selected regarding appreciable tumor growth inhibition. Structure-activity relationship (SAR), docking energy, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) parameters, and effective non-covalent interactions were used to identify potential anticancer with indole scaffold. Results showed a higher number of indole moieties provide a strong attachment to the DHFR binding pocket and therefore more effective anticancer activity. The indole scaffold in combination with dichlorobenzene improves DHFR inhibition whereas barbituric acid weakens inhibition activity. In the following to validate the docking results, Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics generalized-Born surface area (MM-GBSA) indicated the permanent stability of the selected ligands into the DHFR binding pocket and the key amino acids. Therefore, promising pharmacophores based on indole-DHFR interactions were discovered, and the outcome could be useful in guiding future in vitro and in vivo drug discovery in cancer medicine.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Abdolmaleki
- Department of Chemistry, K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Maddah
- Department of Chemistry, K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.,Super Computing Institute, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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7
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Spizzichino S, Boi D, Boumis G, Lucchi R, Liberati FR, Capelli D, Montanari R, Pochetti G, Piacentini R, Parisi G, Paone A, Rinaldo S, Contestabile R, Tramonti A, Paiardini A, Giardina G, Cutruzzolà F. Cytosolic localization and in vitro assembly of human de novo thymidylate synthesis complex. FEBS J 2021; 289:1625-1649. [PMID: 34694685 PMCID: PMC9299187 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
De novo thymidylate synthesis is a crucial pathway for normal and cancer cells. Deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) is synthesized by the combined action of three enzymes: serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TYMS), with the latter two being targets of widely used chemotherapeutics such as antifolates and 5‐fluorouracil. These proteins translocate to the nucleus after SUMOylation and are suggested to assemble in this compartment into the thymidylate synthesis complex. We report the intracellular dynamics of the complex in cancer cells by an in situ proximity ligation assay, showing that it is also detected in the cytoplasm. This result indicates that the role of the thymidylate synthesis complex assembly may go beyond dTMP synthesis. We have successfully assembled the dTMP synthesis complex in vitro, employing tetrameric SHMT1 and a bifunctional chimeric enzyme comprising human thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase. We show that the SHMT1 tetrameric state is required for efficient complex assembly, indicating that this aggregation state is evolutionarily selected in eukaryotes to optimize protein–protein interactions. Lastly, our results regarding the activity of the complete thymidylate cycle in vitro may provide a useful tool with respect to developing drugs targeting the entire complex instead of the individual components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Spizzichino
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dalila Boi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Boumis
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Lucchi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Davide Capelli
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Montanari
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Pochetti
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Piacentini
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Parisi
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Paone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Rinaldo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Angela Tramonti
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Giardina
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cutruzzolà
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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8
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Structural Insights of Three 2,4-Disubstituted Dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitriles as Potential Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113286. [PMID: 34072467 PMCID: PMC8198998 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this report, we describe the structural characterization of three 2,4-disubstituted-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives, namely 2-{[(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]sulfanyl}-6-oxo-4-propyl-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 1, 4-(2-methylpropyl)-2-{[(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]sulfanyl}-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile 2, and 2-[(2-ethoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-6-oxo-4-phenyl-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-5-carbonitrile monohydrate 3. An X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that these compounds were crystallized in the centrosymmetric space groups and adopt an L-shaped conformation. One of the compounds (3) crystallized with a water molecule. A cyclic motif (R22(8)) mediated by N–H···O hydrogen bond was formed in compounds 1 and 2, whereas the corresponding motif was not favorable, due to the water molecule, in compound 3. The crystal packing of these compounds was analyzed based on energy frameworks performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. Various inter-contacts were characterized using the Hirshfeld surface and its associated 2D-fingerprint plots. Furthermore, a molecular docking simulation was carried out to assess the inhibitory potential of the title compounds against the human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme.
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9
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Goldstein M, Goodey NM. Distal Regions Regulate Dihydrofolate Reductase-Ligand Interactions. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2021; 2253:185-219. [PMID: 33315225 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1154-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protein motions play a fundamental role in enzyme catalysis and ligand binding. The relationship between protein motion and function has been extensively investigated in the model enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR is an essential enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate. Numerous experimental and computational methods have been used to probe the motions of DHFR through the catalytic cycle and to investigate the effect of distal mutations on DHFR motions and ligand binding. These experimental investigations have pushed forward the study of protein motions and their role in protein-ligand interactions. The introduction of mutations distal to the active site has been shown to have profound effects on ligand binding, hydride transfer rates and catalytic efficacy and these changes are captured by enzyme kinetics measurements. Distal mutations have been shown to exert their effects through a network of correlated amino acids and these effects have been investigated by NMR, protein dynamics, and analysis of coupled amino acids. The experimental methods and the findings that are reviewed here have broad implications for our understanding of enzyme mechanisms, ligand binding and for the future design and discovery of enzyme inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Goldstein
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - Nina M Goodey
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA.
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10
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Wróbel A, Baradyn M, Ratkiewicz A, Drozdowska D. Synthesis, Biological Activity, and Molecular Dynamics Study of Novel Series of a Trimethoprim Analogs as Multi-Targeted Compounds: Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR) Inhibitors and DNA-Binding Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3685. [PMID: 33916202 PMCID: PMC8037161 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eighteen previously undescribed trimethoprim (TMP) analogs containing amide bonds (1-18) were synthesized and compared with TMP, methotrexate (MTX), and netropsin (NT). These compounds were designed as potential minor groove binding agents (MGBAs) and inhibitors of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR). The all-new derivatives were obtained via solid phase synthesis using 4-nitrophenyl Wang resin. Data from the ethidium displacement test confirmed their DNA-binding capacity. Compounds 13-14 (49.89% and 43.85%) and 17-18 (41.68% and 42.99%) showed a higher binding affinity to pBR322 plasmid than NT. The possibility of binding in a minor groove as well as determination of association constants were performed using calf thymus DNA, T4 coliphage DNA, poly (dA-dT)2, and poly (dG-dC)2. With the exception of compounds 9 (IC50 = 56.05 µM) and 11 (IC50 = 55.32 µM), all of the compounds showed better inhibitory properties against hDHFR than standard, which confirms that the addition of the amide bond into the TMP structures increases affinity towards hDHFR. Derivatives 2, 6, 13, 14, and 16 were found to be the most potent hDHFR inhibitors. This molecular modelling study shows that they interact strongly with a catalytically important residue Glu-30.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Wróbel
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Maciej Baradyn
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland; (M.B.); (A.R.)
| | - Artur Ratkiewicz
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland; (M.B.); (A.R.)
| | - Danuta Drozdowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland;
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11
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Rana RM, Rampogu S, Abid NB, Zeb A, Parate S, Lee G, Yoon S, Kim Y, Kim D, Lee KW. In Silico Study Identified Methotrexate Analog as Potential Inhibitor of Drug Resistant Human Dihydrofolate Reductase for Cancer Therapeutics. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153510. [PMID: 32752079 PMCID: PMC7435474 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a core issue in cancer chemotherapy. A known folate antagonist, methotrexate (MTX) inhibits human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR), the enzyme responsible for the catalysis of 7,8-dihydrofolate reduction to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate, in biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Structural change in the DHFR enzyme is a significant cause of resistance and the subsequent loss of MTX. In the current study, wild type hDHFR and double mutant (engineered variant) F31R/Q35E (PDB ID: 3EIG) were subject to computational study. Structure-based pharmacophore modeling was carried out for wild type (WT) and mutant (MT) (variant F31R/Q35E) hDHFR structures by generating ten models for each. Two pharmacophore models, WT-pharma and MT-pharma, were selected for further computations, and showed excellent ROC curve quality. Additionally, the selected pharmacophore models were validated by the Guner-Henry decoy test method, which yielded high goodness of fit for WT-hDHFR and MT-hDHFR. Using a SMILES string of MTX in ZINC15 with the selections of 'clean', in vitro and in vivo options, 32 MTX-analogs were obtained. Eight analogs were filtered out due to their drug-like properties by applying absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) assessment tests and Lipinski's Rule of five. WT-pharma and MT-pharma were further employed as a 3D query in virtual screening with drug-like MTX analogs. Subsequently, seven screening hits along with a reference compound (MTX) were subjected to molecular docking in the active site of WT- and MT-hDHFR. Through a clustering analysis and examination of protein-ligand interactions, one compound was found with a ChemPLP fitness score greater than that of MTX (reference compound). Finally, a simulation of molecular dynamics (MD) identified an MTX analog which exhibited strong affinity for WT- and MT-hDHFR, with stable RMSD, hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) in the binding site and the lowest MM/PBSA binding free energy. In conclusion, we report on an MTX analog which is capable of inhibiting hDHFR in wild type form, as well as in cases where the enzyme acquires resistance to drugs during chemotherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Mukhtar Rana
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Shailima Rampogu
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Noman Bin Abid
- Division of Life Science and Applied Life Science (BK 21), College of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Amir Zeb
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Shraddha Parate
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Gihwan Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Sanghwa Yoon
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Yumi Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Donghwan Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
| | - Keun Woo Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (R.M.R.); (S.R.); (A.Z.); (S.P.); (G.L.); (S.Y.); (Y.K.); (D.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-55-772-1360
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12
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Wang T, Yang N, Liang C, Xu H, An Y, Xiao S, Zheng M, Liu L, Wang G, Nie L. Detecting Protein-Protein Interaction Based on Protein Fragment Complementation Assay. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2020; 21:598-610. [PMID: 32053071 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721666200213102829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Proteins are the most critical executive molecules by responding to the instructions stored in the genetic materials in any form of life. More frequently, proteins do their jobs by acting as a roleplayer that interacts with other protein(s), which is more evident when the function of a protein is examined in the real context of a cell. Identifying the interactions between (or amongst) proteins is very crucial for the biochemistry investigation of an individual protein and for the attempts aiming to draw a holo-picture for the interacting members at the scale of proteomics (or protein-protein interactions mapping). Here, we introduced the currently available reporting systems that can be used to probe the interaction between candidate protein pairs based on the fragment complementation of some particular proteins. Emphasis was put on the principles and details of experimental design. These systems are dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), β-lactamase, tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease, luciferase, β- galactosidase, GAL4, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), green fluorescent protein (GFP), and ubiquitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwen Wang
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Ningning Yang
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Chen Liang
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Hongjv Xu
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Yafei An
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Sha Xiao
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Mengyuan Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Lu Liu
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Gaozhan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Lei Nie
- College of Life Sciences, and Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
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13
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Hajian B, Scocchera E, Shoen C, Krucinska J, Viswanathan K, G-Dayanandan N, Erlandsen H, Estrada A, Mikušová K, Korduláková J, Cynamon M, Wright D. Drugging the Folate Pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The Role of Multi-targeting Agents. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:781-791.e6. [PMID: 30930162 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The folate biosynthetic pathway offers many druggable targets that have yet to be exploited in tuberculosis therapy. Herein, we have identified a series of small molecules that interrupt Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) folate metabolism by dual targeting of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a key enzyme in the folate pathway, and its functional analog, Rv2671. We have also compared the antifolate activity of these compounds with that of para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS). We found that the bioactive metabolite of PAS, in addition to previously reported activity against DHFR, inhibits flavin-dependent thymidylate synthase in Mtb, suggesting a multi-targeted mechanism of action for this drug. Finally, we have shown that antifolate treatment in Mtb decreases the production of mycolic acids, most likely due to perturbation of the activated methyl cycle. We conclude that multi-targeting of the folate pathway in Mtb is associated with highly potent anti-mycobacterial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnoush Hajian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Eric Scocchera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Jolanta Krucinska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Kishore Viswanathan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Heidi Erlandsen
- Center for Open Research Resources and Equipment, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Alexavier Estrada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Katarína Mikušová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská Dolina CH-1, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Korduláková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská Dolina CH-1, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Dennis Wright
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
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14
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Rana RM, Rampogu S, Zeb A, Son M, Park C, Lee G, Yoon S, Baek A, Parameswaran S, Park SJ, Lee KW. In Silico Study Probes Potential Inhibitors of Human Dihydrofolate Reductase for Cancer Therapeutics. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8020233. [PMID: 30754680 PMCID: PMC6406960 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8020233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an essential cellular enzyme and thereby catalyzes thereduction of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate (THF). In cancer medication, inhibition of humanDHFR (hDHFR) remains a promising strategy, as it depletes THF and slows DNA synthesis and cellproliferation. In the current study, ligand-based pharmacophore modeling identified and evaluatedthe critical chemical features of hDHFR inhibitors. A pharmacophore model (Hypo1) was generatedfrom known inhibitors of DHFR with a correlation coefficient (0.94), root mean square (RMS)deviation (0.99), and total cost value (125.28). Hypo1 was comprised of four chemical features,including two hydrogen bond donors (HDB), one hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), and onehydrophobic (HYP). Hypo1 was validated using Fischer's randomization, test set, and decoy setvalidations, employed as a 3D query in a virtual screening at Maybridge, Chembridge, Asinex,National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Zinc databases. Hypo1-retrieved compounds were filtered byan absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) assessment test andLipinski's rule of five, where the drug-like hit compounds were identified. The hit compounds weredocked in the active site of hDHFR and compounds with Goldfitness score was greater than 44.67(docking score for the reference compound), clustering analysis, and hydrogen bond interactionswere identified. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation identified three compounds asthe best inhibitors of hDHFR with the lowest root mean square deviation (1.2 Å to 1.8 Å), hydrogenbond interactions with hDHFR, and low binding free energy (-127 kJ/mol to -178 kJ/mol). Finally,the toxicity prediction by computer (TOPKAT) affirmed the safety of the novel inhibitors of hDHFRin human body. Overall, we recommend novel hit compounds of hDHFR for cancer and rheumatoidarthritis chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Mukhtar Rana
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Shailima Rampogu
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Amir Zeb
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Minky Son
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Chanin Park
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Gihwan Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Sanghwa Yoon
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Ayoung Baek
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Sarvanan Parameswaran
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
| | - Seok Ju Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University,Busan 47392, Korea.
| | - Keun Woo Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Research Institute of NaturalScience (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea.
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15
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Arodola OA, Soliman MES. Quantum mechanics implementation in drug-design workflows: does it really help? Drug Des Devel Ther 2017; 11:2551-2564. [PMID: 28919707 PMCID: PMC5587087 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s126344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry is progressively operating in an era where development costs are constantly under pressure, higher percentages of drugs are demanded, and the drug-discovery process is a trial-and-error run. The profit that flows in with the discovery of new drugs has always been the motivation for the industry to keep up the pace and keep abreast with the endless demand for medicines. The process of finding a molecule that binds to the target protein using in silico tools has made computational chemistry a valuable tool in drug discovery in both academic research and pharmaceutical industry. However, the complexity of many protein-ligand interactions challenges the accuracy and efficiency of the commonly used empirical methods. The usefulness of quantum mechanics (QM) in drug-protein interaction cannot be overemphasized; however, this approach has little significance in some empirical methods. In this review, we discuss recent developments in, and application of, QM to medically relevant biomolecules. We critically discuss the different types of QM-based methods and their proposed application to incorporating them into drug-design and -discovery workflows while trying to answer a critical question: are QM-based methods of real help in drug-design and -discovery research and industry?
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Affiliation(s)
- Olayide A Arodola
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud ES Soliman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt
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16
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Sharma VK, Abbat S, Bharatam PV. Pharmacoinformatic Study on the Selective Inhibition of the Protozoan Dihydrofolate Reductase Enzymes. Mol Inform 2017; 36. [PMID: 28605138 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201600156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an essential enzyme of the folate metabolic pathway in protozoa and it is a validated, potential drug target in many infectious diseases. Information about unique conserved residues of the DHFR enzyme is required to understand residual selectivity of the protozoan DHFR enzyme. The three dimensional crystal structures are not available for all the protozoan DHFR enzymes. Enzyme-substrate/inhibitor interaction information is required for the binding mode characterization in protozoan DHFR for selective inhibitor design. In this work, multiple sequence analysis was carried out in all the studied species. Homology models were built for protozoan DHFR enzymes, for which 3D structures are not available in PDB. The molecular docking and Prime-MMGBSA calculations of the natural substrate (dihydrofolate, DHF) and classical DHFR inhibitor (methotrexate, MTX) were performed in protozoan DHFR enzymes. Comparative sequence analysis showed that an overall sequence identity between the studied species ranging from 22.94 % (CfDHFR-BgDHFR) to 94.61 % (LdDHFR-LmDHFR). Interestingly, it was observed that most of the active site residues were conserved in all the cases and all the enzymes exhibit similar key binding interactions with DHF and MTX in molecular docking analysis, but there are a few key binding residues which differ in protozoan species that makes it suitable for target selectivity. This information can be used to design selective and potent protozoan DHFR enzyme inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnu K Sharma
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S Nagar-, 160 062, Punjab, India
| | - Sheenu Abbat
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S Nagar-, 160 062, Punjab, India
| | - P V Bharatam
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S Nagar-160 062, Punjab, India
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17
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Hobani Y, Jerah A, Bidwai A. A comparative molecular docking study of curcumin and methotrexate to dihydrofolate reductase. Bioinformation 2017; 13:63-66. [PMID: 28584445 PMCID: PMC5450246 DOI: 10.6026/97320630013063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction of curcumin (CUR) with the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was studied by molecular docking using AutoDock 4.2 as the docking software application. AutoDock 4.2 software serves as a valid and acceptable docking application to study the interactions of small compounds with proteins. Interactions of curcumin with DHFR were compared to those of methotrexate (MTX), a known inhibitor of the enzyme. The calculated free energy of binding (ΔG binding) shows that curcumin (ΔG = -9.02 kcal/mol; Ki = 243 nM) binds with affinity comparable to or better than MTX (ΔG = -8.78 kcal/mol; Ki = 363 nM). Binding interactions of curcumin with active site residues of the enzyme are also predicted. Curcumin appears to bind in a bent conformation making extensive VDW contacts in the active site of the enzyme. Hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interaction with key active site residues are also observed. Thus, curcumin can be considered as a good lead compound in the development of new inhibitors of DHFR, which is a potential target of anti-cancer drugs. The results of these studies can serve as a starting point for further computational and experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Hobani
- College of Applied Medical Sciences Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Jerah
- College of Applied Medical Sciences Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Anil Bidwai
- College of Applied Medical Sciences Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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18
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Shionyu-Mitsuyama C, Hijikata A, Tsuji T, Shirai T. Classification of ligand molecules in PDB with graph match-based structural superposition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 17:135-146. [PMID: 28012138 DOI: 10.1007/s10969-016-9209-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The fast heuristic graph match algorithm for small molecules, COMPLIG, was improved by adding a structural superposition process to verify the atom-atom matching. The modified method was used to classify the small molecule ligands in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) by their three-dimensional structures, and 16,660 types of ligands in the PDB were classified into 7561 clusters. In contrast, a classification by a previous method (without structure superposition) generated 3371 clusters from the same ligand set. The characteristic feature in the current classification system is the increased number of singleton clusters, which contained only one ligand molecule in a cluster. Inspections of the singletons in the current classification system but not in the previous one implied that the major factors for the isolation were differences in chirality, cyclic conformations, separation of substructures, and bond length. Comparisons between current and previous classification systems revealed that the superposition-based classification was effective in clustering functionally related ligands, such as drugs targeted to specific biological processes, owing to the strictness of the atom-atom matching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Shionyu-Mitsuyama
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hijikata
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Tsuji
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, 526-0829, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Shirai
- Department of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-science and Technology, 1266 Tamura, Nagahama, 526-0829, Japan.
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19
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Allen TEH, Liggi S, Goodman JM, Gutsell S, Russell PJ. Using Molecular Initiating Events To Generate 2D Structure–Activity Relationships for Toxicity Screening. Chem Res Toxicol 2016; 29:1611-1627. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E. H. Allen
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Liggi
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M. Goodman
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Gutsell
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Russell
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- P.G. Hartman
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pharma Division, Preclinical Research, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Arrested Hematopoiesis and Vascular Relaxation Defects in Mice with a Mutation in Dhfr. Mol Cell Biol 2016; 36:1222-36. [PMID: 26830229 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01035-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a critical enzyme in the folate metabolism pathway and also plays a role in regulating nitric oxide (NO) signaling in endothelial cells. Although both coding and noncoding mutations with phenotypic effects have been identified in the human DHFR gene, no mouse model is currently available to study the consequences of perturbing DHFR in vivo In order to identify genes involved in definitive hematopoiesis, we performed a forward genetic screen and produced a mouse line, here referred to as Orana, with a point mutation in the Dhfr locus leading to a Thr136Ala substitution in the DHFR protein. Homozygote Orana mice initiate definitive hematopoiesis, but expansion of progenitors in the fetal liver is compromised, and the animals die between embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) and E14.5. Heterozygote Orana mice survive to adulthood but have tissue-specific alterations in folate abundance and distribution, perturbed stress erythropoiesis, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta consistent with the role of DHFR in regulating NO signaling. Orana mice provide insight into the dual roles of DHFR and are a useful model for investigating the role of environmental and dietary factors in the context of vascular defects caused by altered NO signaling.
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22
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Bhosle A, Chandra N. Structural analysis of dihydrofolate reductases enables rationalization of antifolate binding affinities and suggests repurposing possibilities. FEBS J 2016; 283:1139-67. [PMID: 26797763 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antifolates are competitive inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a conserved enzyme that is central to metabolism and widely targeted in pathogenic diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Although most clinically used antifolates are known to be target specific, some display a fair degree of cross-reactivity with DHFRs from other species. A method that enables identification of determinants of affinity and specificity in target DHFRs from different species and provides guidelines for the design of antifolates is currently lacking. To address this, we first captured the potential druggable space of a DHFR in a substructure called the 'supersite' and classified supersites of DHFRs from 56 species into 16 'site-types' based on pairwise structural similarity. Analysis of supersites across these site-types revealed that DHFRs exhibit varying extents of dissimilarity at structurally equivalent positions in and around the binding site. We were able to explain the pattern of affinities towards chemically diverse antifolates exhibited by DHFRs of different site-types based on these structural differences. We then generated an antifolate-DHFR network by mapping known high-affinity antifolates to their respective supersites and used this to identify antifolates that can be repurposed based on similarity between supersites or antifolates. Thus, we identified 177 human-specific and 458 pathogen-specific antifolates, a large number of which are supported by available experimental data. Thus, in the light of the clinical importance of DHFR, we present a novel approach to identifying differences in the druggable space of DHFRs that can be utilized for rational design of antifolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrisha Bhosle
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Nagasuma Chandra
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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23
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Gladysz R, Lambeir AM, Joossens J, Augustyns K, Van der Veken P. Substrate Activity Screening (SAS) and Related Approaches in Medicinal Chemistry. ChemMedChem 2016; 11:467-76. [PMID: 26845065 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201500569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Substrate activity screening (SAS) was presented a decade ago by Ellman and co-workers as a straightforward methodology for the identification of fragment-sized building blocks for enzyme inhibitors. Ever since, SAS and variations derived from it have been successfully applied to the discovery of inhibitors of various families of enzymatically active drug targets. This review covers key achievements and challenges of SAS and related methodologies, including the modified substrate activity screening (MSAS) approach. Special attention is given to the kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of these methodologies, as a thorough understanding thereof is crucial for successfully transforming the identified fragment-sized hits into potent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Gladysz
- Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anne-Marie Lambeir
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jurgen Joossens
- Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Koen Augustyns
- Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van der Veken
- Medicinal Chemistry (UAMC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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24
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Bastos LDC, de Souza FR, Guimarães AP, Sirouspour M, Cuya Guizado TR, Forgione P, Ramalho TC, França TCC. Virtual screening, docking, and dynamics of potential new inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase from Yersinia pestis. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 34:2184-98. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2015.1110832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo da Costa Bastos
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-270, Brazil
| | - Felipe Rodrigues de Souza
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-270, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Guimarães
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-270, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000 Brazil
| | - Mehdi Sirouspour
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Teobaldo Ricardo Cuya Guizado
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-270, Brazil
- Faculty of Technology, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Resende, RJ 27.537-000, Brazil
| | - Pat Forgione
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Teodorico Castro Ramalho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil
- Faculty of Informatics and Management, Center for Basic and Applied Research, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Tanos Celmar Costa França
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Applied to the Chemical and Biological Defense (LMCBD), Military Institute of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-270, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Faculty of Informatics and Management, Center for Basic and Applied Research, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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25
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Franklin MC, Cheung J, Rudolph MJ, Burshteyn F, Cassidy M, Gary E, Hillerich B, Yao ZK, Carlier PR, Totrov M, Love JD. Structural genomics for drug design against the pathogen Coxiella burnetii. Proteins 2015; 83:2124-36. [PMID: 26033498 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is a highly infectious bacterium and potential agent of bioterrorism. However, it has not been studied as extensively as other biological agents, and very few of its proteins have been structurally characterized. To address this situation, we undertook a study of critical metabolic enzymes in C. burnetii that have great potential as drug targets. We used high-throughput techniques to produce novel crystal structures of 48 of these proteins. We selected one protein, C. burnetii dihydrofolate reductase (CbDHFR), for additional work to demonstrate the value of these structures for structure-based drug design. This enzyme's structure reveals a feature in the substrate binding groove that is different between CbDHFR and human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR). We then identified a compound by in silico screening that exploits this binding groove difference, and demonstrated that this compound inhibits CbDHFR with at least 25-fold greater potency than hDHFR. Since this binding groove feature is shared by many other prokaryotes, the compound identified could form the basis of a novel antibacterial agent effective against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonah Cheung
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Michael J Rudolph
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Fiana Burshteyn
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Michael Cassidy
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Ebony Gary
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Brandan Hillerich
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
| | - Zhong-Ke Yao
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Paul R Carlier
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | | | - James D Love
- Special Projects Division, New York Structural Biology Center, New York
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26
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Abstract
In order to elucidate the molecular adaptation mechanisms of enzymes to the high hydrostatic pressure of the deep sea, we cloned, purified, and characterized more than ten dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs) from bacteria living in deep-sea and ambient atmospheric pressure environments. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these DHFRs indicate the deep-sea bacteria are adapted to their environments after the differentiation of their genus from ancestors inhabiting atmospheric pressure environments. In particular, the backbone structure of the deep-sea DHFR from Moritella profunda (mpDHFR) almost overlapped with the normal homolog from Escherichia coli (ecDHFR). Thus, those of other DHFRs would also overlap on the basis of their sequence similarities. However, the structural stability of both DHFRs was quite different: compared to ecDHFR, mpDHFR was more thermally stable but less stable against urea and pressure unfolding. The smaller volume changes due to unfolding suggest that the native structure of mpDHFR has a smaller cavity and/or enhanced hydration compared to ecDHFR. High hydrostatic pressure reduced the enzymatic activity of many DHFRs, but three deep-sea DHFRs and the D27E mutant of ecDHFR exhibited pressure-dependent activation. The inverted activation volumes from positive to negative values indicate the modification of their structural dynamics, conversion of the rate-determining step of the enzymatic reaction, and different contributions of the cavity and hydration to the transition-state structure. Since the cavity and hydration depend on amino acid side chains, DHFRs would adapt to the deep-sea environment by regulating the cavity and hydration by substituting their amino acid side chains without altering their backbone structure. The results of this study clearly indicate that the cavity and hydration play important roles in the adaptation of enzymes to the deep-sea environment.
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27
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Al-Rashood ST, Hassan GS, El-Messery SM, Nagi MN, Habib ESE, Al-Omary FA, El-Subbagh HI. Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling study of 2-(1,3,4-thiadiazolyl-thio and 4-methyl-thiazolyl-thio)-quinazolin-4-ones as a new class of DHFR inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:4557-4567. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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28
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Nonclassical antifolates, part 5. Benzodiazepine analogs as a new class of DHFR inhibitors: Synthesis, antitumor testing and molecular modeling study. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 74:234-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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29
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Samanta A, Datta AK, Datta S. Study on Folate Binding Domain of Dihydrofolate Reductase in Different Plant species and Human beings. Bioinformation 2014; 10:101-4. [PMID: 24616563 PMCID: PMC3937584 DOI: 10.6026/97320630010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Data base (NCBI and TIGR) searches are made to retrieve protein sequences of different plant species namely Medicago truncatula, Pisum sativum, Ricinus communis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Vitis vinifera, Glycine max, Daucus carota, Oryza sativa Japonica Group, Arabidopsis lyrata subsp. lyrata, Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa Indica Group, Zea mays and careful alignment of derived sequences shows 95% or higher identity. Similarly, DHFR sequence of human being is also retrieved from NCBI. A phylogenetic tree is constructed from different plant and human DHFR domain using the Neighbour - Joining method in MEGA 5.05. Conservation score is performed by using PARALINE. Result suggests that folate binding domain of dihydrofolare reductase is conserved (score 8.06) and excepting some minor variations the basic structure of the domain in both plant species and human being is rather similar. Human DHFR domain contains PEKN sequence near active site, though proline is common for all the selected organisms but the other sequences are different in plants. The plant domain is always associated with TS (Thymidylate synthase). Plant based system is predicted to be an effective model for assessment of MTX (Methotrexate) and other antifolate drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aveek Samanta
- Department of Botany, Cytogenetics, Genetics and Plant Breeding Section, Kalyani University, Kalyani-741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Animesh Kumar Datta
- Department of Botany, Cytogenetics, Genetics and Plant Breeding Section, Kalyani University, Kalyani-741235, West Bengal, India
| | - Siraj Datta
- Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia-721657, West Bengal, India
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30
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Ubhi D, Kago G, Monzingo AF, Robertus JD. Structural analysis of a fungal methionine synthase with substrates and inhibitors. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:1839-47. [PMID: 24524835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The cobalamin-independent methionine synthase from Candida albicans, known as Met6p, is a 90-kDa enzyme that consists of two (βα)8 barrels. The active site is located between the two domains and has binding sites for a zinc ion and substrates L-homocysteine and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate-glutamate3. Met6p catalyzes transfer of the methyl group of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate-glutamate3 to the L-homocysteine thiolate to generate methionine. Met6p is essential for fungal growth, and we currently pursue it as an antifungal drug design target. Here we report the binding of L-homocysteine, methionine, and several folate analogs. We show that binding of L-homocysteine or methionine results in conformational rearrangements at the amino acid binding pocket, moving the catalytic zinc into position to activate the thiol group. We also map the folate binding pocket and identify specific binding residues, like Asn126, whose mutation eliminates catalytic activity. We also report the development of a robust fluorescence-based activity assay suitable for high-throughput screening. We use this assay and an X-ray structure to characterize methotrexate as a weak inhibitor of fungal Met6p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devinder Ubhi
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Grace Kago
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Arthur F Monzingo
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jon D Robertus
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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31
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Insight into the molecular mechanism about lowered dihydrofolate binding affinity to dihydrofolate reductase-like 1 (DHFRL1). J Mol Model 2013; 19:5187-98. [PMID: 24122410 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-013-2018-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Human dihydrofolate reductase-like 1 (DHFRL1) has been identified as a second human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme. Although DHFRL1 have high sequence homology with human DHFR, dihydrofolate (DHF) exhibits a lowered binding affinity to DHFRL1 and the corresponding molecular mechanism is still unknown. To address this question, we studied the binding of DHF to DHFRL1 and DHFR by using molecular dynamics simulation. Moreover, to investigate the role the 24th residue of DHFR/DHFRL1 plays in DHF binding, R24W DHFRL1 mutant was also studied. The van der Waals interaction are more crucial for the total DHF binding energies, while the difference between the DHF binding energies of human DHFR and DHFRL1 can be attributed to the electrostatic interaction and the polar desolvation free energy.More specifically, lower DHF affinity to DHFRL1 can be mainly attributed to the reduction of net electrostatic interactions of residues Arg32 and Gln35 of DHFRL1 with DHF as being affected by Arg24. The side chain of Arg24 in DHFRL1 can extend deeply into the binding sites of DHF and NADPH, and disturb the DHF binding by steric effect, which rarely happens in human DHFR and R24W DHFRL1 mutant. Additionally, the conformation of loop I in DHFRL1 was also studied in this work. Interestingly, the loop conformation resemble to normal closed state of Escherichia coli DHFR other than the closed state of human DHFR. We hope this work will be useful to understand the general characteristics of DHFRL1.
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32
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In silico screening of chalcone derivatives as potential inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase: Assessment using molecular docking, paired potential and molecular hydrophobic potential studies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dit.2013.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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33
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Tosso RD, Andujar SA, Gutierrez L, Angelina E, Rodríguez R, Nogueras M, Baldoni H, Suvire FD, Cobo J, Enriz RD. Molecular modeling study of dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanical calculations, and experimental corroboration. J Chem Inf Model 2013; 53:2018-32. [PMID: 23834278 DOI: 10.1021/ci400178h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A molecular modeling study on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors was carried out. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with semiempirical (PM6), ab initio, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a simple and generally applicable procedure to evaluate the binding energies of DHFR inhibitors interacting with the human enzyme is reported here, providing a clear picture of the binding interactions of these ligands from both structural and energetic viewpoints. A reduced model for the binding pocket was used. This approach allows us to perform more accurate quantum mechanical calculations as well as to obtain a detailed electronic analysis using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) technique. Thus, molecular aspects of the binding interactions between inhibitors and the DHFR are discussed in detail. A significant correlation between binding energies obtained from DFT calculations and experimental IC₅₀ values was obtained, predicting with an acceptable qualitative accuracy the potential inhibitor effect of nonsynthesized compounds. Such correlation was experimentally corroborated synthesizing and testing two new inhibitors reported in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo D Tosso
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco 917, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
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34
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Connelly S, DeMartino JK, Boger DL, Wilson IA. Biological and structural evaluation of 10R- and 10S-methylthio-DDACTHF reveals a new role for sulfur in inhibition of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase. Biochemistry 2013; 52:5133-44. [PMID: 23869564 DOI: 10.1021/bi4005182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase) is a folate-dependent enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway, which has long been considered a potential target for development of anti-neoplastic therapeutics. Here we report the biological and X-ray crystallographic evaluations of both independent C10 diastereomers, 10S- and 10R-methylthio-DDACTHF, bound to human GAR Tfase, including the highest-resolution apo GAR Tfase structure to date (1.52 Å). Both diastereomers are potent inhibitors (Ki = 210 nM for 10R, and Ki = 180 nM for 10S) of GAR Tfase and exhibit effective inhibition of human leukemia cell growth (IC₅₀ = 80 and 50 nM, respectively). Their inhibitory activity was surprisingly high, and these lipophilic C10-substituted analogues show distinct advantages over their hydrophilic counterparts, most strikingly in retaining potency in mutant human leukemia cell lines that lack reduced folate carrier protein activity (IC₅₀ = 70 and 60 nM, respectively). Structural characterization reveals a new binding mode for these diastereoisomers, in which the lipophilic thiomethyl groups penetrate deeper into a hydrophobic pocket within the folate-binding site. In silico docking simulations of three other sulfur-containing folate analogues also indicate that this hydrophobic cleft represents a favorable region for binding lipophilic substituents. Overall, these results suggest sulfur and its substitutions play an important role in not only the binding of anti-folates to GAR Tfase but also the selectivity and cellular activity (growth inhibition), thereby presenting new possibilities for the future design of potent and selective anti-folate drugs that target GAR Tfase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Connelly
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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35
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Hassan GS, El-Messery SM, Al-Omary FAM, Al-Rashood ST, Shabayek MI, Abulfadl YS, Habib ESE, El-Hallouty SM, Fayad W, Mohamed KM, El-Menshawi BS, El-Subbagh HI. Nonclassical antifolates, part 4. 5-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols as a new class of DHFR inhibitors: synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling study. Eur J Med Chem 2013; 66:135-45. [PMID: 23792351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Revised: 05/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A new series of compounds possessing 5-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol skeleton was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro DHFR inhibition, antimicrobial, antitumor and schistosomicidal activities. Four active compounds were allocated, the antibacterial 22 (comparable to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin), the schistosomicidal 29 (comparable to praziquantel), the DHFR inhibitor 34 (IC₅₀ 0.03 μM, 2.7 fold more active than MTX), and the antitumor 36 (comparable to doxorubicin). Molecular modeling studies concluded that recognition with key amino acid Leu4 and Val1 is essential for DHFR binding. Flexible alignment and surface mapping revealed that the obtained model could be useful for the development of new class of DHFR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada S Hassan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, PO Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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36
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Bastien D, Ebert MCCJC, Forge D, Toulouse J, Kadnikova N, Perron F, Mayence A, Huang TL, Vanden Eynde JJ, Pelletier JN. Fragment-Based Design of Symmetrical Bis-benzimidazoles as Selective Inhibitors of the Trimethoprim-Resistant, Type II R67 Dihydrofolate Reductase. J Med Chem 2012; 55:3182-92. [DOI: 10.1021/jm201645r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Bastien
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ.
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Maximilian C. C. J. C. Ebert
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ.
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Delphine Forge
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique, Université de Mons-UMONS, 20 Place du Parc,
B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Jacynthe Toulouse
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ.
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Natalia Kadnikova
- Département
de Chimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Florent Perron
- Laboratoire de Chimie Organique, Université de Mons-UMONS, 20 Place du Parc,
B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Annie Mayence
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125, United States
| | - Tien L. Huang
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125, United States
| | | | - Joelle N. Pelletier
- Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succ.
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
- Département
de Chimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale
Centre-ville Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada
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37
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Prediction of residues involved in inhibitor specificity in the dihydrofolate reductase family. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2011; 1814:1870-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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38
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Oliveira AA, Rennó MN, de Matos CAS, Bertuzzi MD, Ramalho TC, Fraga CA, França TCC. Molecular Modeling Studies ofYersinia pestisDihydrofolate Reductase. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2011; 29:351-67. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2011.10507390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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39
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Cody V, Piraino J, Pace J, Li W, Gangjee A. Preferential selection of isomer binding from chiral mixtures: alternate binding modes observed for the E and Z isomers of a series of 5-substituted 2,4-diaminofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidines as ternary complexes with NADPH and human dihydrofolate reductase. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA. SECTION D, BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2010; 66:1271-7. [PMID: 21123866 PMCID: PMC2995722 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444910035808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structures of six human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) ternary complexes with NADPH and a series of mixed E/Z isomers of 5-substituted 5-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-prop-1-en-1-yl]furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamines substituted at the C9 position with propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, butyl, isobutyl and sec-butyl (E2-E7, Z3) were determined and the results were compared with the resolved E and Z isomers of the C9-methyl parent compound. The configuration of all of the inhibitors, save one, was observed as the E isomer, in which the binding of the furopyrimidine ring is flipped such that the 4-amino group binds in the 4-oxo site of folate. The Z3 isomer of the C9-isopropyl analog has the normal 2,4-diaminopyrimidine ring binding geometry, with the furo oxygen near Glu30 and the 4-amino group interacting near the cofactor nicotinamide ring. Electron-density maps for these structures revealed the binding of only one isomer to hDHFR, despite the fact that chiral mixtures (E:Z ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 3:2) of the inhibitors were incubated with hDHFR prior to crystallization. Superposition of the hDHFR complexes with E2 and Z3 shows that the 2'-methoxyphenyl ring of E2 is perpendicular to that of Z3. The most potent inhibitor in this series is the isopropyl analog Z3 and the least potent is the isobutyl analog E6, consistent with data that show that the Z isomer makes the most favorable interactions with the active-site residues. The isobutyl moiety of E6 is observed in two orientations and the resultant steric crowding of the E6 analog is consistent with its weaker activity. The alternative binding modes observed for the furopyrimidine ring in these E/Z isomers suggest that new templates can be designed to probe these binding regions of the DHFR active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Cody
- Structural Biology Department, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, 700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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40
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Gangjee A, Zaware N, Raghavan S, Ihnat M, Shenoy S, Kisliuk RL. Single agents with designed combination chemotherapy potential: synthesis and evaluation of substituted pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles as receptor tyrosine kinase and thymidylate synthase inhibitors and as antitumor agents. J Med Chem 2010; 53:1563-78. [PMID: 20092323 DOI: 10.1021/jm9011142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Combinations of antiangiogenic agents (AAs) with cytotoxic agents have shown significant promise in cancer treatment, and several such clinical trials are currently underway. We have designed, synthesized, and evaluated two compounds that each inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) for antiangiogenic effects and also inhibit human thymidylate synthase (hTS) for cytotoxic effects in single agents. The synthesis of these compounds involved the nucleophilic displacement of the common intermediate 5-chloro-9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole-2,4-diamine with appropriate benzenethiols. The inhibitory potency of both these single agents against VEGFR-2, PDGFR-beta, and hTS is better than or close to standards. In a COLO-205 xenograft mouse model, one of the analogs significantly decreased tumor growth (tumor growth inhibition (TGI) = 76% at 35 mg/kg), liver metastases, and tumor blood vessels compared with a standard drug and with control and thus demonstrated potent tumor growth inhibition, inhibition of metastasis, and antiangiogenic effects in vivo. These compounds afford combination chemotherapeutic potential in single agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, USA.
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Spowage BM, Bruce CL, Hirst JD. Interpretable correlation descriptors for quantitative structure-activity relationships. J Cheminform 2009; 1:22. [PMID: 20151000 PMCID: PMC2820500 DOI: 10.1186/1758-2946-1-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2009] [Accepted: 12/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The topological maximum cross correlation (TMACC) descriptors are alignment-independent 2D descriptors for the derivation of QSARs. TMACC descriptors are generated using atomic properties determined by molecular topology. Previous validation (J Chem Inf Model 2007, 47: 626-634) of the TMACC descriptor suggests it is competitive with the current state of the art. RESULTS Here, we illustrate the interpretability of the TMACC descriptors, through the analysis of the QSARs of inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). In the case of the ACE inhibitors, the TMACC interpretation shows features specific to C-domain inhibition, which have not been explicitly identified in previous QSAR studies. CONCLUSIONS The TMACC interpretation can provide new insight into the structure-activity relationships studied. Freely available, open source software for generating the TMACC descriptors can be downloaded from http://comp.chem.nottingham.ac.uk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benson M Spowage
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - Craig L Bruce
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4TG UK
| | - Jonathan D Hirst
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
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42
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Lee MN, Takawira D, Nikolova AP, Ballou DP, Furtado VC, Phung NL, Still BR, Thorstad MK, Tanner JJ, Trimmer EE. Functional role for the conformationally mobile phenylalanine 223 in the reaction of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli. Biochemistry 2009; 48:7673-85. [PMID: 19610625 DOI: 10.1021/bi9007325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The flavoprotein methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH(2)-H(4)folate) by NADH via a ping-pong reaction mechanism. Structures of the reduced enzyme in complex with NADH and of the oxidized Glu28Gln enzyme in complex with CH(3)-H(4)folate [Pejchal, R., Sargeant, R., and Ludwig, M. L. (2005) Biochemistry 44, 11447-11457] have revealed Phe223 as a conformationally mobile active site residue. In the NADH complex, the NADH adopts an unusual hairpin conformation and is wedged between the isoalloxazine ring of the FAD and the side chain of Phe223. In the folate complex, Phe223 swings out from its position in the NADH complex to stack against the p-aminobenzoate ring of the folate. Although Phe223 contacts each substrate in E. coli MTHFR, this residue is not invariant; for example, a leucine occurs at this site in the human enzyme. To examine the role of Phe223 in substrate binding and catalysis, we have constructed mutants Phe223Ala and Phe223Leu. As predicted, our results indicate that Phe223 participates in the binding of both substrates. The Phe223Ala mutation impairs NADH and CH(2)-H(4)folate binding each 40-fold yet slows catalysis of both half-reactions less than 2-fold. Affinity for CH(2)-H(4)folate is unaffected by the Phe223Leu mutation, and the variant catalyzes the oxidative half-reaction 3-fold faster than the wild-type enzyme. Structures of ligand-free Phe223Leu and Phe223Leu/Glu28Gln MTHFR in complex with CH(3)-H(4)folate have been determined at 1.65 and 1.70 A resolution, respectively. The structures show that the folate is bound in a catalytically competent conformation, and Leu223 undergoes a conformational change similar to that observed for Phe223 in the Glu28Gln-CH(3)-H(4)folate structure. Taken together, our results suggest that Leu may be a suitable replacement for Phe223 in the oxidative half-reaction of E. coli MTHFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon N Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 50112, USA
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43
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Volpato JP, Yachnin BJ, Blanchet J, Guerrero V, Poulin L, Fossati E, Berghuis AM, Pelletier JN. Multiple conformers in active site of human dihydrofolate reductase F31R/Q35E double mutant suggest structural basis for methotrexate resistance. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:20079-89. [PMID: 19478082 PMCID: PMC2740434 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.018010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2009] [Revised: 05/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Methotrexate is a slow, tight-binding, competitive inhibitor of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR), an enzyme that provides key metabolites for nucleotide biosynthesis. In an effort to better characterize ligand binding in drug resistance, we have previously engineered hDHFR variant F31R/Q35E. This variant displays a >650-fold decrease in methotrexate affinity, while maintaining catalytic activity comparable to the native enzyme. To elucidate the molecular basis of decreased methotrexate affinity in the doubly substituted variant, we determined kinetic and inhibitory parameters for the simple variants F31R and Q35E. This demonstrated that the important decrease of methotrexate affinity in variant F31R/Q35E is a result of synergistic effects of the combined substitutions. To better understand the structural cause of this synergy, we obtained the crystal structure of hDHFR variant F31R/Q35E complexed with methotrexate at 1.7-A resolution. The mutated residue Arg-31 was observed in multiple conformers. In addition, seven native active-site residues were observed in more than one conformation, which is not characteristic of the wild-type enzyme. This suggests that increased residue disorder underlies the observed methotrexate resistance. We observe a considerable loss of van der Waals and polar contacts with the p-aminobenzoic acid and glutamate moieties. The multiple conformers of Arg-31 further suggest that the amino acid substitutions may decrease the isomerization step required for tight binding of methotrexate. Molecular docking with folate corroborates this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jonathan Blanchet
- the Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7 and
| | - Vanessa Guerrero
- the Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7 and
| | - Lucie Poulin
- the Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7 and
| | | | - Albert M. Berghuis
- the Departments of Biochemistry and
- Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Joelle N. Pelletier
- From the Département de Biochimie and
- the Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7 and
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44
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Mutational 'hot-spots' in mammalian, bacterial and protozoal dihydrofolate reductases associated with antifolate resistance: sequence and structural comparison. Drug Resist Updat 2009; 12:28-41. [PMID: 19272832 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2009.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2008] [Revised: 12/24/2008] [Accepted: 02/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a primary target for antifolate drugs in cancer treatment, while DHFRs from Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and various bacterial species are primary targets in the treatment of malaria and bacterial infections. Mutations in each of these DHFRs can result in resistance towards clinically relevant antifolates. We review the structural and functional impact of active-site mutations with respect to enzyme activity and antifolate resistance of DHFRs from mammals, protozoa and bacteria. The high structural homology between DHFRs results in a number of cross-species, active-site 'hot-spots' for broad-based antifolate resistance. In addition, we identify mutations that confer species-specific resistance, or antifolate-specific resistance. This comparative review of antifolate binding in diverse species provides new insights into the relationship between antifolate design and the development of mutational resistance. It also presents avenues for designing antifolate-resistant mammalian DHFRs as chemoprotective agents.
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45
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Meriläinen G, Schmitz W, Wierenga RK, Kursula P. The sulfur atoms of the substrate CoA and the catalytic cysteine are required for a productive mode of substrate binding in bacterial biosynthetic thiolase, a thioester-dependent enzyme. FEBS J 2008; 275:6136-48. [PMID: 19016856 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06737.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Thioesters are more reactive than oxoesters, and thioester chemistry is important for the reaction mechanisms of many enzymes, including the members of the thiolase superfamily, which play roles in both degradative and biosynthetic pathways. In the reaction mechanism of the biosynthetic thiolase, the thioester moieties of acetyl-CoA and the acetylated catalytic cysteine react with each other, forming the product acetoacetyl-CoA. Although a number of studies have been carried out to elucidate the thiolase reaction mechanism at the atomic level, relatively little is known about the factors determining the affinity of thiolases towards their substrates. We have carried out crystallographic studies on the biosynthetic thiolase from Zoogloea ramigera complexed with CoA and three of its synthetic analogues to compare the binding modes of these related compounds. The results show that both the CoA terminal SH group and the side chain SH group of the catalytic Cys89 are crucial for the correct positioning of substrate in the thiolase catalytic pocket. Furthermore, calorimetric assays indicate that the mutation of Cys89 into an alanine significantly decreases the affinity of thiolase towards CoA. Thus, although the sulfur atom of the thioester moiety is important for the reaction mechanism of thioester-dependent enzymes, its specific properties can also affect the affinity and competent mode of binding of the thioester substrates to these enzymes.
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46
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Renner S, Derksen S, Radestock S, Mörchen F. Maximum Common Binding Modes (MCBM): Consensus Docking Scoring Using Multiple Ligand Information and Interaction Fingerprints. J Chem Inf Model 2008; 48:319-32. [DOI: 10.1021/ci7003626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Renner
- Chemical R&D, Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Eckenheimer Landstrasse 100, D-60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Institut für Organische Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
| | - Swetlana Derksen
- Chemical R&D, Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Eckenheimer Landstrasse 100, D-60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Institut für Organische Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
| | - Sebastian Radestock
- Chemical R&D, Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Eckenheimer Landstrasse 100, D-60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Institut für Organische Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
| | - Fabian Mörchen
- Chemical R&D, Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Eckenheimer Landstrasse 100, D-60318 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Institut für Organische Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and Siemens Corporate Research, 755 College Road East, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
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47
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Horst R, Fenton WA, Englander SW, Wüthrich K, Horwich AL. Folding trajectories of human dihydrofolate reductase inside the GroEL GroES chaperonin cavity and free in solution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:20788-92. [PMID: 18093916 PMCID: PMC2410080 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0710042105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The chaperonin GroEL binds non-native polypeptides in an open ring via hydrophobic contacts and then, after ATP and GroES binding to the same ring as polypeptide, mediates productive folding in the now hydrophilic, encapsulated cis chamber. The nature of the folding reaction in the cis cavity remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear whether polypeptides take the same route to the native state in this cavity as they do when folding spontaneously free in solution. Here, we have addressed this question by using NMR measurements of the time course of acquisition of amide proton exchange protection of human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) during folding in the presence of methotrexate and ATP either free in solution or inside the stable cavity formed between a single ring variant of GroEL, SR1, and GroES. Recovery of DHFR refolded by the SR1/GroES-mediated reaction is 2-fold higher than in the spontaneous reaction. Nevertheless, DHFR folding was found to proceed by the same trajectories inside the cis folding chamber and free in solution. These observations are consistent with the description of the chaperonin chamber as an "Anfinsen cage" where polypeptide folding is determined solely by the amino acid sequence, as it is in solution. However, if misfolding occurs in the confinement of the chaperonin cavity, the polypeptide chain cannot undergo aggregation but rather finds its way back to a productive pathway in a manner that cannot be accomplished in solution, resulting in the observed high overall recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wayne A. Fenton
- Department of Molecular Biology and
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - S. Walter Englander
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and
| | - Kurt Wüthrich
- Department of Molecular Biology and
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Arthur L. Horwich
- Department of Molecular Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510
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48
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Volpato JP, Fossati E, Pelletier JN. Increasing methotrexate resistance by combination of active-site mutations in human dihydrofolate reductase. J Mol Biol 2007; 373:599-611. [PMID: 17868689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2007.07.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2007] [Revised: 07/27/2007] [Accepted: 07/30/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Methotrexate-resistant forms of human dihydrofolate reductase have the potential to protect healthy cells from the toxicity of methotrexate (MTX), to improve prognosis during cancer therapy. It has been shown that synergistic MTX-resistance can be obtained by combining two active-site mutations that independently confer weak MTX-resistance. In order to obtain more highly MTX-resistant human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) variants for this application, we used a semi-rational approach to obtain combinatorial active-site mutants of hDHFR that are highly resistant towards MTX. We created a combinatorial mutant library encoding various amino acids at residues Phe31, Phe34 and Gln35. In vivo library selection was achieved in a bacterial system on medium containing high concentrations of MTX. We characterized ten novel MTX-resistant mutants with different amino acid combinations at residues 31, 34 and 35. Kinetic and inhibition parameters of the purified mutants revealed that higher MTX-resistance roughly correlated with a greater number of mutations, the most highly-resistant mutants containing three active site mutations (Ki(MTX)=59-180 nM; wild-type Ki(MTX)<0.03 nM). An inverse correlation was observed between resistance and catalytic efficiency, which decreased mostly as a result of increased KM toward the substrate dihydrofolate. We verified that the MTX-resistant hDHFRs can protect eukaryotic cells from MTX toxicity by transfecting the most resistant mutants into DHFR-knock-out CHO cells. The transfected variants conferred survival at concentrations of MTX between 100-fold and >4000-fold higher than the wild-type enzyme, the most resistant triple mutant offering protection beyond the maximal concentration of MTX that could be included in the medium. These highly resistant variants of hDHFR offer potential for myeloprotection during administration of MTX in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan P Volpato
- Département de biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7
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49
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Free Energy Calculations: Use and Limitations in Predicting Ligand Binding Affinities. REVIEWS IN COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 2007. [DOI: 10.1002/9780470125939.ch4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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50
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Blakley RL. Eukaryotic dihydrofolate reductase. ADVANCES IN ENZYMOLOGY AND RELATED AREAS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 70:23-102. [PMID: 8638484 DOI: 10.1002/9780470123164.ch2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R L Blakley
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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