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Andersen JF, Lei H, Strayer EC, Kanai T, Pham V, Pan XZ, Alvarenga PH, Gerber GF, Asojo OA, Francischetti IMB, Brodsky RA, Valenzuela JG, Ribeiro JMC. A bispecific inhibitor of complement and coagulation blocks activation in complementopathy models via a novel mechanism. Blood 2023; 141:3109-3121. [PMID: 36947859 PMCID: PMC10356578 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022019359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of complement and coagulation are present in the saliva of a variety of blood-feeding arthropods that transmit parasitic and viral pathogens. Here, we describe the structure and mechanism of action of the sand fly salivary protein lufaxin, which inhibits the formation of the central alternative C3 convertase (C3bBb) and inhibits coagulation factor Xa (fXa). Surface plasmon resonance experiments show that lufaxin stabilizes the binding of serine protease factor B (FB) to C3b but does not detectably bind either C3b or FB alone. The crystal structure of the inhibitor reveals a novel all β-sheet fold containing 2 domains. A structure of the lufaxin-C3bB complex obtained via cryo-electron microscopy (EM) shows that lufaxin binds via its N-terminal domain at an interface containing elements of both C3b and FB. By occupying this spot, the inhibitor locks FB into a closed conformation in which proteolytic activation of FB by FD cannot occur. C3bB-bound lufaxin binds fXa at a separate site in its C-terminal domain. In the cryo-EM structure of a C3bB-lufaxin-fXa complex, the inhibitor binds to both targets simultaneously, and lufaxin inhibits fXa through substrate-like binding of a C-terminal peptide at the active site as well as other interactions in this region. Lufaxin inhibits complement activation in ex vivo models of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) as well as thrombin generation in plasma, providing a rationale for the development of a bispecific inhibitor to treat complement-related diseases in which thrombosis is a prominent manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Andersen
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Haotian Lei
- Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ethan C. Strayer
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Tapan Kanai
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD
| | - Van Pham
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Xiang-Zuo Pan
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Patricia Hessab Alvarenga
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Gloria F. Gerber
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | - Robert A. Brodsky
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jesus G. Valenzuela
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
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Brooks L, Subramanian S, Dranow DM, Mayclin SJ, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structures of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase from Elizabethkingia anopheles and E. meningosepticum. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:306-312. [PMID: 35924598 PMCID: PMC9350836 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22007555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Elizabethkingia bacteria cause opportunistic infections in neonates, the elderly and the immunocompromised with mortality rates of up to 40%. The high-resolution structures of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) from E. meningosepticum and E. anopheles reveal similarities to bacterial GluRSs that can be exploited to accelerate rational drug discovery for these globally important emerging infectious Gram-negative bacteria. Elizabethkingia bacteria are globally emerging pathogens that cause opportunistic and nosocomial infections, with up to 40% mortality among the immunocompromised. Elizabethkingia species are in the pipeline of organisms for high-throughput structural analysis at the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID). These efforts include the structure–function analysis of potential therapeutic targets. Glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) is essential for tRNA aminoacylation and is under investigation as a bacterial drug target. The SSGCID produced, crystallized and determined high-resolution structures of GluRS from E. meningosepticum (EmGluRS) and E. anopheles (EaGluRS). EmGluRS was co-crystallized with glutamate, while EaGluRS is an apo structure. EmGluRS shares ∼97% sequence identity with EaGluRS but less than 39% sequence identity with any other structure in the Protein Data Bank. EmGluRS and EaGluRS have the prototypical bacterial GluRS topology. EmGluRS and EaGluRS have similar binding sites and tertiary structures to other bacterial GluRSs that are promising drug targets. These structural similarities can be exploited for drug discovery.
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Beard DK, Bristol S, Cosby K, Davis A, Manning C, Perry L, Snapp L, Toy A, Wheeler K, Young J, Staker B, Arakaki TL, Abendroth J, Subramanian S, Edwards TE, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of a hypothetical protein from Giardia lamblia. Corrigendum. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:143. [PMID: 35234140 PMCID: PMC8900735 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22001704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The article by Beard et al. [(2022), Acta Cryst. F78, 59–65] is corrected. The name of one of the authors in Beard et al. [(2022), Acta Cryst. F78, 59–65] is corrected.
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Maddy J, Staker BL, Subramanian S, Abendroth J, Edwards TE, Myler PJ, Hybiske K, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of an inorganic pyrophosphatase from Chlamydia trachomatis D/UW-3/Cx. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:135-142. [PMID: 35234139 PMCID: PMC8900733 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22002138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections globally and is one of the most commonly reported infections in the United States. There is a need to develop new therapeutics due to drug resistance and the failure of current treatments to clear persistent infections. Structures of potential C. trachomatis rational drug-discovery targets, including C. trachomatis inorganic pyrophosphatase (CtPPase), have been determined by the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease. Inorganic pyrophosphatase hydrolyzes inorganic pyrophosphate during metabolism. Furthermore, bacterial inorganic pyrophosphatases have shown promise for therapeutic discovery. Here, a 2.2 Å resolution X-ray structure of CtPPase is reported. The crystal structure of CtPPase reveals shared structural features that may facilitate the repurposing of inhibitors identified for bacterial inorganic pyrophosphatases as starting points for new therapeutics for C. trachomatis.
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Beard DK, Bristol S, Cosby K, Davis A, Manning C, Perry L, Snapp L, Toy A, Wheeler K, Young J, Staker B, Arakaki TL, Abendroth J, Subrahamanian S, Edwards TE, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of a hypothetical protein from Giardia lamblia. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:59-65. [PMID: 35102894 PMCID: PMC8805217 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21013595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis is the most prevalent diarrheal disease globally and affects humans and animals. It is a significant problem in developing countries, the number one cause of travelers' diarrhea and affects children and immunocompromised individuals, especially HIV-infected individuals. Giardiasis is treated with antibiotics (tinidazole and metronidazole) that are also used for other infections such as trichomoniasis. The ongoing search for new therapeutics for giardiasis includes characterizing the structure and function of proteins from the causative protozoan Giardia lamblia. These proteins include hypothetical proteins that share 30% sequence identity or less with proteins of known structure. Here, the atomic resolution structure of a 15.6 kDa protein was determined by molecular replacement. The structure has the two-layer αβ-sandwich topology observed in the prototypical endoribonucleases L-PSPs (liver perchloric acid-soluble proteins) with conserved allosteric active sites containing small molecules from the crystallization solution. This article is an educational collaboration between Hampton University and the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan K. Beard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Seonna Bristol
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Kayla Cosby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Amber Davis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Courtney Manning
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Lionel Perry
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Lauren Snapp
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Arian Toy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Kayla Wheeler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Jeremy Young
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Bart Staker
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Jan Abendroth
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandhya Subrahamanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Thomas E. Edwards
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
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Alenazi J, Mayclin S, Subramanian S, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Burkholderia phymatum in complex with NAD. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:52-58. [PMID: 35102893 PMCID: PMC8805215 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22000218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia phymatum is an important symbiotic nitrogen-fixing betaproteobacterium. B. phymatum is beneficial, unlike other Burkholderia species, which cause disease or are potential bioagents. Structural genomics studies at the SSGCID include characterization of the structures of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) from multiple Burkholderia species. The crystal structure of a short-chain dehydrogenase from B. phymatum (BpSDR) was determined in space group C2221 at a resolution of 1.80 Å. BpSDR shares less than 38% sequence identity with any known structure. The monomer is a prototypical SDR with a well conserved cofactor-binding domain despite its low sequence identity. The substrate-binding cavity is unique and offers insights into possible functions and likely inhibitors of the enzymatic functions of BpSDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawaher Alenazi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Stephen Mayclin
- UCB Pharma, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
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Beard DK, Subramanian S, Abendroth J, Dranow DM, Edwards TE, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from Burkholderia pseudomallei. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:45-51. [PMID: 35102892 PMCID: PMC8805214 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21013455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia pseudomallei infection causes melioidosis, which is often fatal if untreated. There is a need to develop new and more effective treatments for melioidosis. This study reports apo and cofactor-bound crystal structures of the potential drug target betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) from B. pseudomallei. A structural comparison identified similarities to BADH from Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is inhibited by the drug disulfiram. This preliminary analysis could facilitate drug-repurposing studies for B. pseudomallei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan K Beard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jan Abendroth
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Thomas E Edwards
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
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Ghebreyessus K, Ndip EM, Waddell MK, Asojo OA, Njoki PN. Cultivating Success through Undergraduate Research Experience in a Historically Black College and University. J Chem Educ 2022; 99:307-316. [PMID: 35979036 PMCID: PMC9378306 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This reflective overview describes the benefits of participation in authentic undergraduate research for students at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The department of chemistry and biochemistry at Hampton University has an undergraduate research environment that empowers and fosters a success-oriented research experience for our diverse students. By engaging undergraduate students in research early in their careers, we successfully motivate students to make informed decisions about pursuing STEM careers and entering graduate schools with high confidence. Our structured undergraduate research experiences are created within an inclusive environment that instills a sense of belonging and recognizes the talent all our students bring to STEM. We reflect on our experiences using faculty-student research collaborations within nurturing support systems that leverage African American culture while setting high expectations to improve scientific skills and retain our HBCU students in STEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kesete Ghebreyessus
- Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
| | - Edmund M Ndip
- Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
| | - Michelle K Waddell
- Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
| | - Peter N Njoki
- Hampton University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
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El Atab O, Ekim Kocabey A, Asojo OA, Schneiter R. Prostate secretory protein 94 (PSP94) inhibits sterol-binding and export by the mammalian CAP protein CRISP2 in a calcium-sensitive manner. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101600. [PMID: 35063506 PMCID: PMC8857485 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the CAP protein superfamily are present in all kingdoms of life and have been implicated in many different processes, including pathogen defense, immune evasion, sperm maturation, and cancer progression. Most CAP proteins are secreted glycoproteins and share a unique conserved αβα sandwich fold. The precise mode of action of this class of proteins, however, has remained elusive. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has three CAP family members, termed pathogen related in yeast (Pry). We have previously shown that Pry1 and Pry2 export sterols in vivo and that they bind sterols in vitro. This sterol binding and export function of yeast Pry proteins is conserved in the mammalian CRISP proteins and other CAP superfamily members. CRISP3 is an abundant protein of the human seminal plasma and interacts with prostate secretory protein of 94 amino acids (PSP94), another major protein component in the seminal plasma. Here we examine whether the interaction between CRISP proteins and PSP94 affects the sterol binding function of CAP family members. We show that coexpression of PSP94 with CAP proteins in yeast abolished their sterol export function and the interaction between PSP94 and CAP proteins inhibits sterol binding in vitro. In addition, mutations that affect the formation of the PSP94–CRISP2 heteromeric complex restore sterol binding. Of interest, we found the interaction of PSP94 with CRISP2 is sensitive to high calcium concentrations. The observation that PSP94 modulates the sterol binding function of CRISP2 in a calcium-dependent manner has potential implications for the role of PSP94 and CRISP2 in prostate physiology and progression of prostate cancer.
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Davidson J, Nicholas K, Young J, Conrady DG, Mayclin S, Subramanian S, Staker BL, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of a putative short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase from Paraburkholderia xenovorans. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:25-30. [PMID: 34981772 PMCID: PMC8725002 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21012632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Paraburkholderia xenovorans degrades organic wastes, including polychlorinated biphenyls. The atomic structure of a putative dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) from P. xenovorans (PxSDR) was determined in space group P21 at a resolution of 1.45 Å. PxSDR shares less than 37% sequence identity with any known structure and assembles as a prototypical SDR tetramer. As expected, there is some conformational flexibility and difference in the substrate-binding cavity, which explains the substrate specificity. Uniquely, the cofactor-binding cavity of PxSDR is not well conserved and differs from those of other SDRs. PxSDR has an additional seven amino acids that form an additional unique loop within the cofactor-binding cavity. Further studies are required to determine how these differences affect the enzymatic functions of the SDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaysón Davidson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Kyndall Nicholas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Jeremy Young
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Deborah G. Conrady
- UCB Pharma, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen Mayclin
- UCB Pharma, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Bart L. Staker
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
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Porter I, Neal T, Walker Z, Hayes D, Fowler K, Billups N, Rhoades A, Smith C, Smith K, Staker BL, Dranow DM, Mayclin SJ, Subramanian S, Edwards TE, Myler PJ, Asojo OA. Crystal structures of FolM alternative dihydrofolate reductase 1 from Brucella suis and Brucella canis. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:31-38. [PMID: 34981773 PMCID: PMC8725004 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21013078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the bacterial genus Brucella cause brucellosis, a zoonotic disease that affects both livestock and wildlife. Brucella are category B infectious agents that can be aerosolized for biological warfare. As part of the structural genomics studies at the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), FolM alternative dihydrofolate reductases 1 from Brucella suis and Brucella canis were produced and their structures are reported. The enzymes share ∼95% sequence identity but have less than 33% sequence identity to other homologues with known structure. The structures are prototypical NADPH-dependent short-chain reductases that share their highest tertiary-structural similarity with protozoan pteridine reductases, which are being investigated for rational therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imani Porter
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Trinity Neal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Zion Walker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Dylan Hayes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Kayla Fowler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Nyah Billups
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Anais Rhoades
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Christian Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Kaelyn Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
| | - Bart L Staker
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David M Dranow
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen J Mayclin
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas E Edwards
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 100 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, VA 23668, USA
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El Atab O, Darwiche R, Truax NJ, Schneiter R, Hull KG, Romo D, Asojo OA. Necator americanus Ancylostoma Secreted Protein-2 ( Na-ASP-2) Binds an Ascaroside (ascr#3) in Its Fatty Acid Binding Site. Front Chem 2020; 8:608296. [PMID: 33392151 PMCID: PMC7773830 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.608296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During their infective stages, hookworms release excretory-secretory (E-S) products, small molecules, and proteins to help evade and suppress the host's immune system. Small molecules found in E-S products of mammalian hookworms include nematode derived metabolites like ascarosides, which are composed of the sugar ascarylose linked to a fatty acid side chain. The most abundant proteins found in hookworm E-S products are members of the protein family known as Ancylostoma secreted protein (ASP). In this study, two ascarosides and their fatty acid moieties were synthesized and tested for in vitro binding to Na-ASP-2 using both a ligand competition assay and microscale thermophoresis. The fatty acid moieties of both ascarosides tested and ascr#3, an ascaroside found in rat hookworm E-S products, bind to Na-ASP-2's palmitate binding cavity. These molecules were confirmed to bind to the palmitate but not the sterol binding sites. An ascaroside, oscr#10, which is not found in hookworm E-S products, does not bind to Na-ASP-2. More studies are required to determine the structural basis of ascarosides binding by Na-ASP-2 and to understand the physiological significance of these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola El Atab
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nathanyal J. Truax
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & The CPRIT Synthesis and Drug-Lead Discovery Laboratory, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth G. Hull
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & The CPRIT Synthesis and Drug-Lead Discovery Laboratory, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Daniel Romo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry & The CPRIT Synthesis and Drug-Lead Discovery Laboratory, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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13
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Cirillo PF, Asojo OA, Khire U, Lee Y, Mootien S, Hegan P, Sutherland AG, Peterson-Roth E, Ledizet M, Koski RA, Anthony KG. Inhibition of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor by a Chimera of Two Allosteric Binders. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:1843-1847. [PMID: 33062162 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a trimeric cytokine implicated in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. We previously reported that the dye p425 (Chicago Sky Blue), which bound MIF at the interface of two MIF trimers covering the tautomerase and allosteric pockets, revealed a unique strategy to block MIF's pro-inflammatory activities. Structural liabilities, including the large size, precluded p425 as a medicinal chemistry lead for drug development. We report here a rational design strategy linking only the fragment of p425 that binds over the tautomerase pocket to the core of ibudilast, a known MIF allosteric site-specific inhibitor. The chimeric compound, termed L2-4048, was shown by X-ray crystallography to bind at the allosteric and tautomerase sites as anticipated. L2-4048 retained target binding and blocked MIF's tautomerase CD74 receptor binding, and pro-inflammatory activities. Our studies lay the foundation for the design and synthesis of smaller and more drug-like compounds that retain the MIF inhibitory properties of this chimera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier F. Cirillo
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, 200 William R. Harvey Way, Hampton, Virginia 23668, United States
| | - Uday Khire
- CheminPharma, LLC, 4 Research Drive, Woodbridge, Connecticut 06525, United States
| | - Yashang Lee
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Sara Mootien
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Peter Hegan
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Alan G. Sutherland
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | | | - Michel Ledizet
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Raymond A. Koski
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Karen G. Anthony
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
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14
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Lobo-Silva J, Cabral FJ, Amaral MS, Miyasato PA, de Freitas RP, Pereira ASA, Khouri MI, Barbosa MMF, Ramos PIP, Leite LCC, Asojo OA, Nakano E, Verjovski-Almeida S, Farias LP. The antischistosomal potential of GSK-J4, an H3K27 demethylase inhibitor: insights from molecular modeling, transcriptomics and in vitro assays. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:140. [PMID: 32178714 PMCID: PMC7077139 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-4000-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis chemotherapy is largely based on praziquantel (PZQ). Although PZQ is very safe and tolerable, it does not prevent reinfection and emerging resistance is a primary concern. Recent studies have shown that the targeting of epigenetic machinery in Schistosoma mansoni may result in severe alterations in parasite development, leading to death. This new route for drug discovery in schistosomiasis has focused on classes of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyltransferases (HATs) as epigenetic drug targets. Schistosoma histone demethylases also seem to be important in the transition of cercariae into schistosomula, as well as sexual differentiation in adult worms. Methods The Target-Pathogen database and molecular docking assays were used to prioritize the druggability of S. mansoni histone demethylases. The transcription profile of Smp_03400 was re-analyzed using available databases. The effect of GSK-J4 inhibitor in schistosomula and adult worms’ motility/viability/oviposition was assessed by in vitro assays. Ultrastructural analysis was performed on adult worms exposed to GSK-J4 by scanning electron microscopy, while internal structures and muscle fiber integrity was investigated by confocal microscopy after Langeronʼs carmine or phalloidin staining. Results The present evaluation of the potential druggability of 14 annotated S. mansoni demethylase enzymes identified the S. mansoni ortholog of human KDM6A/UTX (Smp_034000) as the most suitable druggable target. In silico analysis and molecular modeling indicated the potential for cofactor displacement by the chemical probe GSK-J4. Our re-analysis of transcriptomic data revealed that Smp_034000 expression peaks at 24 h in newly transformed schistosomula and 5-week-old adult worms. Moreover, this gene was highly expressed in the testes of mature male worms compared to the rest of the parasite body. In in vitro schistosome cultures, treatment with GSK-J4 produced striking effects on schistosomula mortality and adult worm motility and mortality, as well as egg oviposition, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, western blot assays did not demonstrate overall modulation of H3K27me3 levels in response to GSK-J4. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy revealed the loss of original features in muscle fibers and alterations in cell-cell contact following GSK-J4 treatment. Conclusions GSK-J4 presents promising potential for antischistosomal control; however, the underlying mechanisms warrant further investigation.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Lobo-Silva
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores e Inflamação, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Fernanda J Cabral
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratório de Expressão Gênica em Eucariotos, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Adriana S A Pereira
- Laboratório de Expressão Gênica em Eucariotos, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana I Khouri
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores e Inflamação, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mayra M F Barbosa
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pablo I P Ramos
- Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimentos para Saúde (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luciana C C Leite
- Laboratório Especial de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA
| | - Eliana Nakano
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Expressão Gênica em Eucariotos, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo P Farias
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores e Inflamação, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
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15
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Asojo OA. Engaging diverse students with crystallography research. Acta Crystallogr A Found Adv 2019. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767319099240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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16
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Zhan B, Arumugam S, Kennedy MW, Tricoche N, Lian LY, Asojo OA, Bennuru S, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Lustigman S, Klei TR. Ligand binding properties of two Brugia malayi fatty acid and retinol (FAR) binding proteins and their vaccine efficacies against challenge infection in gerbils. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006772. [PMID: 30296268 PMCID: PMC6193737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes produce an unusual class of fatty acid and retinol (FAR)-binding proteins that may scavenge host fatty acids and retinoids. Two FARs from Brugia malayi (Bm-FAR-1 and Bm-FAR-2) were expressed as recombinant proteins, and their ligand binding, structural characteristics, and immunogenicities examined. Circular dichroism showed that rBm-FAR-1 and rBm-FAR-2 are similarly rich in α-helix structure. Unexpectedly, however, their lipid binding activities were found to be readily differentiated. Both FARs bound retinol and cis-parinaric acid similarly, but, while rBm-FAR-1 induced a dramatic increase in fluorescence emission and blue shift in peak emission by the fluorophore-tagged fatty acid (dansyl-undecanoic acid), rBm-FAR-2 did not. Recombinant forms of the related proteins from Onchocerca volvulus, rOv-FAR-1 and rOv-FAR-2, were found to be similarly distinguishable. This is the first FAR-2 protein from parasitic nematodes that is being characterized. The relative protein abundance of Bm-FAR-1 was higher than Bm-FAR-2 in the lysates of different developmental stages of B. malayi. Both FAR proteins were targets of strong IgG1, IgG3 and IgE antibody in infected individuals and individuals who were classified as endemic normal or putatively immune. In a B. malayi infection model in gerbils, immunization with rBm-FAR-1 and rBm-FAR-2 formulated in a water-in-oil-emulsion (®Montanide-720) or alum elicited high titers of antigen-specific IgG, but only gerbils immunized with rBm-FAR-1 formulated with the former produced a statistically significant reduction in adult worms (68%) following challenge with B. malayi infective larvae. These results suggest that FAR proteins may play important roles in the survival of filarial nematodes in the host, and represent potential candidates for vaccine development against lymphatic filariasis and related filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatric Tropical Medicine and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Sridhar Arumugam
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Malcolm W. Kennedy
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Nancy Tricoche
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Lu-Yun Lian
- NMR Centre for Structural Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatric Tropical Medicine and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Sasisekhar Bennuru
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States of America
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatric Tropical Medicine and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatric Tropical Medicine and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Klei
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
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17
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Asojo OA, Dranow DM, Serbzhinskiy D, Subramanian S, Staker B, Edwards TE, Myler PJ. Crystal structure of chorismate mutase from Burkholderia thailandensis. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2018; 74:294-299. [PMID: 29717997 PMCID: PMC5931142 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1800506x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia thailandensis is often used as a model for more virulent members of this genus of proteobacteria that are highly antibiotic-resistant and are potential agents of biological warfare that are infective by inhalation. As part of ongoing efforts to identify potential targets for the development of rational therapeutics, the structures of enzymes that are absent in humans, including that of chorismate mutase from B. thailandensis, have been determined by the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease. The high-resolution structure of chorismate mutase from B. thailandensis was determined in the monoclinic space group P21 with three homodimers per asymmetric unit. The overall structure of each protomer has the prototypical AroQγ topology and shares conserved binding-cavity residues with other chorismate mutases, including those with which it has no appreciable sequence identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - David M. Dranow
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dmitry Serbzhinskiy
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Bart Staker
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Thomas E. Edwards
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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18
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Asojo OA, Subramanian S, Abendroth J, Exley I, Lorimer DD, Edwards TE, Myler PJ. Crystal structure of chorismate mutase from Burkholderia phymatum. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2018; 74:187-192. [PMID: 29633965 PMCID: PMC5894103 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x18002868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Burkholderia phymatum is a promiscuous symbiotic nitrogen-fixating bacterium that belongs to one of the largest groups of Betaproteobacteria. Other Burkholderia species are known to cause disease in plants and animals, and some are potential agents for biological warfare. Structural genomics efforts include characterizing the structures of enzymes from pathways that can be targeted for drug development. As part of these efforts, chorismate mutase from B. phymatum was produced and crystallized, and a 1.95 Å resolution structure is reported. This enzyme shares less than 33% sequence identity with other homologs of known structure. There are two classes of chorismate mutase: AroQ and AroH. The bacterial subclass AroQγ has reported roles in virulence. Chorismate mutase from B. phymatum has the prototypical AroQγ topology and retains the characteristic chorismate mutase active site. This suggests that substrate-based chorismate mutase inhibitors will not be specific and are likely to affect beneficial bacteria such as B. phymatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jan Abendroth
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
| | - Ilyssa Exley
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Donald D. Lorimer
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
| | - Thomas E. Edwards
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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19
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Darwiche R, Lugo F, Drurey C, Varossieau K, Smant G, Wilbers RHP, Maizels RM, Schneiter R, Asojo OA. Crystal structure of Brugia malayi venom allergen-like protein-1 (BmVAL-1), a vaccine candidate for lymphatic filariasis. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:371-378. [PMID: 29501266 PMCID: PMC5893361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The vaccine candidate Brugia malayi venom allergen-like 1 protein (BmVAL-1) has three distinct binding cavities. The cavities are the central cavity; the sterol-binding caveolin-binding motif (CBM); and the palmitate-binding cavity. These cavities are connected by channels, which can accommodate water molecules, ions and small ligands. The channels explain how blocking divalent ions in the central cavity affects sterol binding in the distinct CBM cavity. BmVAL-1 has a glycosylated CBM, is an effective sterol transporter in vivo and binds cholesterol and palmitate in vitro.
Brugia malayi is a causative agent of lymphatic filariasis, a major tropical disease. The infective L3 parasite stage releases immunomodulatory proteins including the venom allergen-like proteins (VALs), which are members of the SCP/TAPS (Sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7) superfamily. BmVAL-1 is a major target of host immunity with >90% of infected B. malayi microfilaraemic cases being seropositive for antibodies to BmVAL-1. This study is part of ongoing efforts to characterize the structures and functions of important B. malayi proteins. Recombinant BmVAL-1 was produced using a plant expression system, crystallized and the structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined to 2.1 Å, revealing the characteristic alpha/beta/alpha sandwich topology of eukaryotic SCP/TAPS proteins. The protein has more than 45% loop regions and these flexible loops connect the helices and strands, which are longer than predicted based on other parasite SCP/TAPS protein structures. The large central cavity of BmVAL-1 is a prototypical CRISP cavity with two histidines required to bind divalent cations. The caveolin-binding motif (CBM) that mediates sterol binding in SCP/TAPS proteins is large and open in BmVAL-1 and is N-glycosylated. N-glycosylation of the CBM does not affect the ability of BmVAL-1 to bind sterol in vitro. BmVAL-1 complements the in vivo sterol export phenotype of yeast mutants lacking their endogenous SCP/TAPS proteins. The in vitro sterol-binding affinity of BmVAL-1 is comparable with Pry1, a yeast sterol transporting SCP/TAPS protein. Sterol binding of BmVAL-1 is dependent on divalent cations. BmVAL-1 also has a large open palmitate-binding cavity, which binds palmitate comparably to tablysin-15, a lipid-binding SCP/TAPS protein. The central cavity, CBM and palmitate-binding cavity of BmVAL-1 are interconnected within the monomer with channels that can serve as pathways for water molecules, cations and small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Fernanda Lugo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Claire Drurey
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Koen Varossieau
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Smant
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud H P Wilbers
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Asojo OA, Darwiche R, Gebremedhin S, Smant G, Lozano-Torres JL, Drurey C, Pollet J, Maizels RM, Schneiter R, Wilbers RHP. Heligmosomoides polygyrus Venom Allergen-like Protein-4 (HpVAL-4) is a sterol binding protein. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:359-369. [PMID: 29505764 PMCID: PMC5893428 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Heligmosomoides polygyrus Venom Allergen-like Protein-4 (HpVAL-4) was produced in plants as a glycosylated protein. The crystal structure of HpVAL-4 was solved and reveals three distinct cavities. These cavities are the central cavity; the sterol-binding caveolin-binding motif (CBM); and the palmitate-binding cavity. The central cavity of Hp-VAL-4 lacks the characteristic histidines that coordinate divalent cations. Hp-VAL-4 binds sterol in vivo and in vitro.
Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri is a model parasitic hookworm used to study animal and human helminth diseases. During infection, the parasite releases excretory/secretory products that modulate the immune system of the host. The most abundant protein family in excretory/secretory products comprises the venom allergen-like proteins (VALs), which are members of the SCP/TAPS (sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7) superfamily. There are >30 secreted Heligmosomoides polygyrus VAL proteins (HpVALs) and these proteins are characterised by having either one or two 15 kDa CAP (cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP)/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1) domains. The first known HpVAL structure, HpVAL-4, refined to 1.9 Å is reported. HpVAL-4 was produced as a homogeneously glycosylated protein in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana infiltrated with recombinant plasmids, making this plant expression platform amenable for the production of biological products. The overall topology of HpVAL-4 is a three layered αβα sandwich between a short N-terminal loop and a C-terminal cysteine rich extension. The C-terminal cysteine rich extension has two strands stabilized by two disulfide bonds and superposes well with the previously reported extension from the human hookworm Necator americanus Ancylostoma secreted protein-2 (Na-ASP-2). The N-terminal loop is connected to alpha helix 2 via a disulfide bond previously observed in Na-ASP-2. HpVAL-4 has a central cavity that is more similar to the N-terminal CAP domain of the two CAP Na-ASP-1 from Necator americanus. Unlike Na-ASP-2, mammalian CRISP, and the C-terminal CAP domain of Na-ASP-1, the large central cavity of HpVAL-4 lacks the two histidines required to coordinate divalent cations. HpVAL-4 has both palmitate-binding and sterol-binding cavities and is able to complement the in vivo sterol export phenotype of yeast mutants lacking their endogenous CAP proteins. More studies are required to determine endogenous binding partners of HpVAL-4 and unravel the possible impact of sterol binding on immune-modulatory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Selam Gebremedhin
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Geert Smant
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jose L Lozano-Torres
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Claire Drurey
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Ruud H P Wilbers
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Luo Z, Kelleher AJ, Darwiche R, Hudspeth EM, Shittu OK, Krishnavajhala A, Schneiter R, Lopez JE, Asojo OA. Crystal Structure of Borrelia turicatae protein, BTA121, a differentially regulated gene in the tick-mammalian transmission cycle of relapsing fever spirochetes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15310. [PMID: 29127407 PMCID: PMC5681642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis is a neglected disease that is often misdiagnosed. RF species circulating in the United States include Borrelia turicatae, which is transmitted by argasid ticks. Environmental adaptation by RF Borrelia is poorly understood, however our previous studies indicated differential regulation of B. turicatae genes localized on the 150 kb linear megaplasmid during the tick-mammalian transmission cycle, including bta121. This gene is up-regulated by B. turicatae in the tick versus the mammal, and the encoded protein (BTA121) is predicted to be surface localized. The structure of BTA121 was solved by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) using selenomethionine-derivative protein. The topology of BTA121 is unique with four helical domains organized into two helical bundles. Due to the sequence similarity of several genes on the megaplasmid, BTA121 can serve as a model for their tertiary structures. BTA121 has large interconnected tunnels and cavities that can accommodate ligands, notably long parallel helices, which have a large hydrophobic central pocket. Preliminary in-vitro studies suggest that BTA121 binds lipids, notably palmitate with a similar order of binding affinity as tablysin-15, a known palmitate-binding protein. The reported data will guide mechanistic studies to determine the role of BTA121 in the tick-mammalian transmission cycle of B. turicatae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipu Luo
- Synchrotron Radiation Research Section, Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Argonne, Illinois, 60439, USA
| | - Alan J Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Elissa M Hudspeth
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Oluwatosin K Shittu
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Aparna Krishnavajhala
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Job E Lopez
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America.
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, United States of America.
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Baroni RM, Luo Z, Darwiche R, Hudspeth EM, Schneiter R, Pereira GAG, Mondego JMC, Asojo OA. Crystal Structure of MpPR-1i, a SCP/TAPS protein from Moniliophthora perniciosa, the fungus that causes Witches' Broom Disease of Cacao. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7818. [PMID: 28798297 PMCID: PMC5552782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07887-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic fungi Moniliophthora perniciosa causes Witches’ Broom Disease (WBD) of cacao. The structure of MpPR-1i, a protein expressed by M. perniciosa when it infects cacao, are presented. This is the first reported de novo structure determined by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing upon soaking with selenourea. Each monomer has flexible loop regions linking the core alpha-beta-alpha sandwich topology that comprise ~50% of the structure, making it difficult to generate an accurate homology model of the protein. MpPR-1i is monomeric in solution but is packed as a high ~70% solvent content, crystallographic heptamer. The greatest conformational flexibility between monomers is found in loops exposed to the solvent channel that connect the two longest strands. MpPR-1i lacks the conserved CAP tetrad and is incapable of binding divalent cations. MpPR-1i has the ability to bind lipids, which may have roles in its infection of cacao. These lipids likely bind in the palmitate binding cavity as observed in tablysin-15, since MpPR-1i binds palmitate with comparable affinity as tablysin-15. Further studies are required to clarify the possible roles and underlying mechanisms of neutral lipid binding, as well as their effects on the pathogenesis of M. perniciosa so as to develop new interventions for WBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata M Baroni
- Genomics and Expression Laboratory (LGE), Institute of Biology, CP 6109, 13083-862 UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.,Agronomic Institute (IAC), CP 28, CEP 13012-970, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Zhipu Luo
- Synchrotron Radiation Research Section, Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Argonne, Illinois, 60439, USA
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Museé 10, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Elissa M Hudspeth
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Museé 10, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gonçalo A G Pereira
- Genomics and Expression Laboratory (LGE), Institute of Biology, CP 6109, 13083-862 UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Asojo OA. Strategies for developing successful crystallography research programs with diverse students. Acta Crystallogr A Found Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767317096957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Darwiche R, Mène-Saffrané L, Gfeller D, Asojo OA, Schneiter R. The pathogen-related yeast protein Pry1, a member of the CAP protein superfamily, is a fatty acid-binding protein. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:8304-8314. [PMID: 28365570 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.781880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the CAP superfamily (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins), also known as SCP superfamily (sperm-coating proteins), have been implicated in many physiological processes, including immune defenses, venom toxicity, and sperm maturation. Their mode of action, however, remains poorly understood. Three proteins of the CAP superfamily, Pry1, -2, and -3 (pathogen related in yeast), are encoded in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. We have shown previously that Pry1 binds cholesterol in vitro and that Pry function is required for sterol secretion in yeast cells, indicating that members of this superfamily may generally bind sterols or related small hydrophobic compounds. On the other hand, tablysin-15, a CAP protein from the horsefly Tabanus yao, has been shown to bind leukotrienes and free fatty acids in vitro Therefore, here we assessed whether the yeast Pry1 protein binds fatty acids. Computational modeling and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the mode of fatty acid binding is conserved between tablysin-15 and Pry1. Pry1 bound fatty acids with micromolar affinity in vitro, and its function was essential for fatty acid export in cells lacking the acyl-CoA synthetases Faa1 and Faa4. Fatty acid binding of Pry1 is independent of its capacity to bind sterols, and the two sterol- and fatty acid-binding sites are nonoverlapping. These results indicate that some CAP family members, such as Pry1, can bind different lipids, particularly sterols and fatty acids, at distinct binding sites, suggesting that the CAP domain may serve as a stable, secreted protein domain that can accommodate multiple ligand-binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabih Darwiche
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Mène-Saffrané
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - David Gfeller
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Biopole III, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Roger Schneiter
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Hudspeth EM, Wang Q, Seid CA, Hammond M, Wei J, Liu Z, Zhan B, Pollet J, Heffernan MJ, McAtee CP, Engler DA, Matsunami RK, Strych U, Asojo OA, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME. Expression and purification of an engineered, yeast-expressed Leishmania donovani nucleoside hydrolase with immunogenic properties. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:1707-20. [PMID: 26839079 PMCID: PMC4964838 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1139254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania donovani is the major cause of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), now recognized as the parasitic disease with the highest level of mortality second only to malaria. No human vaccine is currently available. A 36 kDa L. donovani nucleoside hydrolase (LdNH36) surface protein has been previously identified as a potential vaccine candidate antigen. Here we present data on the expression of LdNH36 in Pichia pastoris and its purification at the 20 L scale to establish suitability for future pilot scale manufacturing. To improve efficiency of process development and ensure reproducibility, 4 N-linked glycosylation sites shown to contribute to heterogeneous high-mannose glycosylation were mutated to glutamine residues. The mutant LdNH36 (LdNH36-dg2) was expressed and purified to homogeneity. Size exclusion chromatography and light scattering demonstrated that LdNH36-dg2 existed as a tetramer in solution, similar to the wild-type recombinant L. major nucleoside hydrolase. The amino acid mutations do not affect the tetrameric interface as confirmed by theoretical modeling, and the mutated amino acids are located outside the major immunogenic domain. Immunogenic properties of the LdNH36-dg2 recombinant protein were evaluated in BALB/c mice using formulations that included a synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, together with a microparticle delivery platform (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). Mice exhibited high levels of IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies that were reactive to both LdNH36-dg2 and LdNH36 wild-type. While the point mutations did affect the hydrolase activity of the enzyme, the IgG antibodies elicited by LdNH36-dg2 were shown to inhibit the hydrolase activity of the wild-type LdNH36. The results indicate that LdNH36-dg2 as expressed in and purified from P. pastoris is suitable for further scale-up, manufacturing, and testing in support of future first-in-humans phase 1 clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa M Hudspeth
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Qian Wang
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Christopher A Seid
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Molly Hammond
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Junfei Wei
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Michael J Heffernan
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - C Patrick McAtee
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - David A Engler
- c Proteomics Programmatic Core Laboratory, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Risë K Matsunami
- c Proteomics Programmatic Core Laboratory, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
- d Department of Biology , Baylor University , Waco , TX , USA
- e James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- a Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine) , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
- b Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
- d Department of Biology , Baylor University , Waco , TX , USA
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Kelleher A, Liu Z, Seid CA, Zhan B, Asojo OA. Expression, purification, crystallization and crystallographic study of Lutzomyia longipalpis LJL143. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:925-8. [PMID: 26144240 PMCID: PMC4498716 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15009486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected vector-borne disease with a global prevalence of over 12 million cases and 59,000 annual deaths. Transmission of the parasite requires salivary proteins, including LJL143 from the New World sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis. LJL143 is a known marker of sandfly exposure in zoonotic hosts. LJL143 was crystallized from soluble protein expressed using Pichia pastoris. X-ray data were collected to 2.6 Å resolution from orthorhombic crystals belonging to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with average unit-cell parameters a = 57.39, b = 70.24, c = 79.58 Å. The crystals are predicted to have a monomer in the asymmetric unit, with an estimated solvent content of 48.5%. LJL143 has negligible homology to any reported structures, so the phases could not be determined by molecular replacement. All attempts at S-SAD failed and future studies include experimental phase determination using heavy-atom derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - Christopher A. Seid
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 550, Mail Stop BCM320, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA
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Kelleher A, Darwiche R, Rezende WC, Farias LP, Leite LCC, Schneiter R, Asojo OA. Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like protein 4 (SmVAL4) is a novel lipid-binding SCP/TAPS protein that lacks the prototypical CAP motifs. Corrigendum. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 71:1022. [PMID: 25849410 PMCID: PMC4388274 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004715003132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A correction is made to the article by Kelleher et al. [(2014), Acta Cryst. D70, 2186–2196]. Figure 6(a) of the article by Kelleher et al. [(2014), Acta Cryst. D70, 2186–2196] is corrected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Wanderson C Rezende
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Reiling S, Kelleher A, Matsumoto MM, Robinson G, Asojo OA. Structure of type II dehydroquinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2014; 70:1485-91. [PMID: 25372814 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x14020214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes opportunistic infections and is resistant to most antibiotics. Ongoing efforts to generate much-needed new antibiotics include targeting enzymes that are vital for P. aeruginosa but are absent in mammals. One such enzyme, type II dehydroquinase (DHQase), catalyzes the interconversion of 3-dehydroquinate and 3-dehydroshikimate, a necessary step in the shikimate pathway. This step is vital for the proper synthesis of phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine and other aromatic metabolites. The recombinant expression, purification and crystal structure of catalytically active DHQase from P. aeruginosa (PaDHQase) are presented. Cubic crystals belonging to space group F23, with unit-cell parameters a=b=c=125.39 Å, were obtained by vapor diffusion in sitting drops and the structure was refined to an R factor of 16% at 1.74 Å resolution. PaDHQase is a prototypical type II DHQase with the classical flavodoxin-like α/β topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Reiling
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Alan Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Monica M Matsumoto
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gonteria Robinson
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Asojo OA, Asuzu MC, Adebiyi AO. Ibarapa programme: half a century of rural health service, training, and international cooperation in Nigeria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3201. [PMID: 25275326 PMCID: PMC4183452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (OAA); (MCA); (AOA)
| | - Micheal C. Asuzu
- Ibarapa Programme, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- * E-mail: (OAA); (MCA); (AOA)
| | - Akindele O. Adebiyi
- Ibarapa Programme, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- * E-mail: (OAA); (MCA); (AOA)
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Asojo OA, Ceccarelli C. Structure of glutathione S-transferase 1 from the major human hookworm parasite Necator americanus (Na-GST-1) in complex with glutathione. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2014; 70:1162-6. [PMID: 25195885 PMCID: PMC4157412 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1401646x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione S-transferase 1 from Necator americanus (Na-GST-1) is a vaccine candidate for hookworm infection that has a high affinity for heme and metal porphyrins. As part of attempts to clarify the mechanism of heme detoxification by hookworm GSTs, co-crystallization and soaking studies of Na-GST-1 with the heme-like molecules protoporphyrin IX disodium salt, hematin and zinc protoporphyrin were undertaken. While these studies did not yield the structure of the complex of Na-GST-1 with any of these molecules, co-crystallization experiments resulted in the first structures of the complex of Na-GST-1 with the substrate glutathione. The structures of the complex of Na-GST-1 with glutathione were solved from pathological crystalline aggregates comprising more than one crystal form. These first structures of the complex of Na-GST-1 with the substrate glutathione were solved by molecular replacement from data collected with a sealed-tube home source using the previously reported apo structure as the search model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christopher Ceccarelli
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Kelleher A, Darwiche R, Rezende WC, Farias LP, Leite LCC, Schneiter R, Asojo OA. Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like protein 4 (SmVAL4) is a novel lipid-binding SCP/TAPS protein that lacks the prototypical CAP motifs. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2014; 70:2186-96. [PMID: 25084337 PMCID: PMC4118828 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004714013315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects over 200 million people. Vaccine candidates have been identified, including Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like proteins (SmVALs) from the SCP/TAPS (sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7) superfamily. The first SmVAL structure, SmVAL4, was refined to a resolution limit of 2.16 Å. SmVAL4 has a unique structure that could not be predicted from homologous structures, with longer loops and an unusual C-terminal extension. SmVAL4 has the characteristic α/β-sandwich and central SCP/TAPS cavity. Furthermore, SmVAL4 has only one of the signature CAP cavity tetrad amino-acid residues and is missing the histidines that coordinate divalent cations such as Zn(2+) in other SCP/TAPS proteins. SmVAL4 has a cavity between α-helices 1 and 4 that was observed to bind lipids in tablysin-15, suggesting the ability to bind lipids. Subsequently, SmVAL4 was shown to bind cholesterol in vitro. Additionally, SmVAL4 was shown to complement the in vivo sterol-export phenotype of yeast mutants lacking their endogenous CAP proteins. Expression of SmVAL4 in yeast cells lacking endogenous CAP function restores the block in sterol export. These studies suggest an evolutionarily conserved lipid-binding function shared by CAP proteins such as SmVAL4 and yeast CAP proteins such as Pry1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rabih Darwiche
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Wanderson C. Rezende
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | | - Roger Schneiter
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Asojo OA, Nelson SK, Mootien S, Lee Y, Rezende WC, Hyman DA, Matsumoto MM, Reiling S, Kelleher A, Ledizet M, Koski RA, Anthony KG. Structural and biochemical analyses of alanine racemase from the multidrug-resistant Clostridium difficile strain 630. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2014; 70:1922-33. [PMID: 25004969 PMCID: PMC4089486 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004714009419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/26/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium, is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea among hospitalized patients. C. difficile is frequently associated with antibiotic treatment, and causes diseases ranging from antibiotic-associated diarrhea to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. The severity of C. difficile infections is exacerbated by the emergence of hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant strains, which are difficult to treat and are often associated with increased mortality rates. Alanine racemase (Alr) is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reversible racemization of L- and D-alanine. Since D-alanine is an essential component of the bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan, and there are no known Alr homologs in humans, this enzyme is being tested as an antibiotic target. Cycloserine is an antibiotic that inhibits Alr. In this study, the catalytic properties and crystal structures of recombinant Alr from the virulent and multidrug-resistant C. difficile strain 630 are presented. Three crystal structures of C. difficile Alr (CdAlr), corresponding to the complex with PLP, the complex with cycloserine and a K271T mutant form of the enzyme with bound PLP, are presented. The structures are prototypical Alr homodimers with two active sites in which the cofactor PLP and cycloserine are localized. Kinetic analyses reveal that the K271T mutant CdAlr has the highest catalytic constants reported to date for any Alr. Additional studies are needed to identify the basis for the high catalytic activity. The structural and activity data presented are first steps towards using CdAlr for the development of structure-based therapeutics for C. difficile infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sarah K. Nelson
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sara Mootien
- L Diagnostics LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Yashang Lee
- L Diagnostics LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Wanderson C. Rezende
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Daniel A. Hyman
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Monica M. Matsumoto
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Scott Reiling
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Alan Kelleher
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michel Ledizet
- L Diagnostics LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Nelson SK, Kelleher A, Robinson G, Reiling S, Asojo OA. Structure of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate-8-phosphate synthase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:1084-8. [PMID: 24100553 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113023993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of opportunistic infection and is resistant to most antibiotics. As part of efforts to generate much-needed new antibiotics, structural studies of enzymes that are critical for the virulence of P. aeruginosa but are absent in mammals have been initiated. 2-Keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate-8-phosphate synthase (KDO8Ps), also known as 2-dehydro-3-deoxyphosphooctonate aldolase, is vital for the survival and virulence of P. aeruginosa. This enzyme catalyzes a key step in the synthesis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of most Gram-negative bacteria: the condensation reaction between phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and arabinose 5-phosphate to produce 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate-8-phosphate (KDO8P). This step is vital for the proper synthesis and assembly of LPS and the survival of P. aeruginosa. Here, the recombinant expression, purification and crystal structure of KDO8Ps from P. aeruginosa are presented. Orthorhombic crystals were obtained by vapor diffusion in sitting drops in the presence of 1 mM phosphoenlpyruvate. The structure reveals the prototypical α/β TIM-barrel structure expected from this family of enzymes and contains a tetramer in the asymmetric unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Nelson
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Kelleher A, Zhan B, Asojo OA. Structure of monomeric Na-GST-3, a glutathione S-transferase from the major human hookworm parasite Necator americanus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:839-43. [PMID: 23908024 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113017661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Necator americanus is the major cause of human hookworm infection, which is a global cause of anemia in the developing world. Ongoing efforts to control hookworm infection include the identification of candidate vaccine antigens as well as potential therapeutic targets from the infective L3 larval stages and adult stages of the parasite. One promising family of proteins are the adult-stage-secreted cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Nematode GSTs facilitate the inactivation and degradation of a variety of electrophilic substrates (drugs) via the nucleophilic addition of reduced glutathione. Parasite GSTs also play significant roles in multi-drug resistance and the modulation of host immune defense mechanisms. Here, the structure of Na-GST-3, one of three GSTs secreted by adult-stage N. americanus, is reported. Unlike most GST structures, the Na-GST-3 crystal contains a monomer in the asymmetric unit. However, the monomer forms a prototypical GST dimer across the crystallographic twofold. A glutathione from the fermentation process is bound to the monomer. The overall binding cavity of Na-GST-3 is reminiscent of that of other N. americanus GSTs and is larger and capable of binding a wider array of ligands than GSTs from organisms that have other major detoxifying mechanisms. Furthermore, despite having low sequence identity to the host GST, Na-GST-3 has a greater tertiary-structure similarity to human sigma-class GST than was observed for the other N. americanus GSTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kelleher
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue BCM 320, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Lee Y, Mootien S, Shoen C, Destefano M, Cirillo P, Asojo OA, Yeung KR, Ledizet M, Cynamon MH, Aristoff PA, Koski RA, Kaplan PA, Anthony KG. Inhibition of mycobacterial alanine racemase activity and growth by thiadiazolidinones. Biochem Pharmacol 2013; 86:222-30. [PMID: 23680030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The genus Mycobacterium includes non-pathogenic species such as M. smegmatis, and pathogenic species such as M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). Treatment of TB requires a lengthy regimen of several antibiotics, whose effectiveness has been compromised by the emergence of resistant strains. New antibiotics that can shorten the treatment course and those that have not been compromised by bacterial resistance are needed. In this study, we report that thiadiazolidinones, a relatively little-studied heterocyclic class, inhibit the activity of mycobacterial alanine racemase, an essential enzyme that converts l-alanine to d-alanine for peptidoglycan synthesis. Twelve members of the thiadiazolidinone family were evaluated for inhibition of M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis alanine racemase activity and bacterial growth. Thiadiazolidinones inhibited M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis alanine racemases to different extents with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from <0.03 to 28μM and 23 to >150μM, respectively. The compounds also inhibited the growth of these bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for drug-susceptible M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis ranged from 6.25μg/ml to 100μg/ml, and from 1.56 to 6.25μg/ml for drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. The in vitro activities of thiadiazolidinones suggest that this family of compounds might represent starting points for medicinal chemistry efforts aimed at developing novel antimycobacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashang Lee
- L2 Diagnostics LLC, 300 George St., New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Hotez
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics (Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine) and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Adekunle M. Adesina
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Bai F, Asojo OA, Cirillo P, Ciustea M, Ledizet M, Aristoff PA, Leng L, Koski RA, Powell TJ, Bucala R, Anthony KG. A novel allosteric inhibitor of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). J Biol Chem 2012; 287:30653-63. [PMID: 22782901 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.385583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a catalytic cytokine and an upstream mediator of the inflammatory pathway. MIF has broad regulatory properties, dysregulation of which has been implicated in the pathology of multiple immunological diseases. Inhibition of MIF activity with small molecules has proven beneficial in a number of disease models. Known small molecule MIF inhibitors typically bind in the tautomerase site of the MIF trimer, often covalently modifying the catalytic proline. Allosteric MIF inhibitors, particularly those that associate with the protein by noncovalent interactions, could reveal novel ways to block MIF activity for therapeutic benefit and serve as chemical probes to elucidate the structural basis for the diverse regulatory properties of MIF. In this study, we report the identification and functional characterization of a novel allosteric MIF inhibitor. Identified from a high throughput screening effort, this sulfonated azo compound termed p425 strongly inhibited the ability of MIF to tautomerize 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate. Furthermore, p425 blocked the interaction of MIF with its receptor, CD74, and interfered with the pro-inflammatory activities of the cytokine. Structural studies revealed a unique mode of binding for p425, with a single molecule of the inhibitor occupying the interface of two MIF trimers. The inhibitor binds MIF mainly on the protein surface through hydrophobic interactions that are stabilized by hydrogen bonding with four highly specific residues from three different monomers. The mode of p425 binding reveals a unique way to block the activity of the cytokine for potential therapeutic benefit in MIF-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengwei Bai
- L2 Diagnostics, LLC, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Asojo OA, Koski RA, Bonafé N. Abstract 4746: Structural studies of human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1(GLIPR1). Cancer Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2012-4746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1 (GLIPR1) is a membrane protein that is highly upregulated in brain cancers but barely detectable in normal brain tissue. GLIPR1 is composed of a signal peptide, to direct its secretion, a conserved cysteine-rich CAP (cysteine-rich secretory protein, antigen 5, pathogenesis related-1) domain, and a transmembrane domain. Phase I/II clinical trial involving direct injection of neoadjuvant GLIPR1 prior to radical prostatectomy are underway (IND #13033). GLIPR1 gene therapy has been shown to be anti-metastatic in an orthotopic mouse model of prostate cancer. GLIPR1 is also currently being investigated for glioblastoma targeted therapy. We present here crystal structures of a truncated soluble domain of the human GLIPR1 protein, sGLIPR1, solved by molecular replacement (MR) using a truncated polyalanine model of the CAP domain of stecrisp, a snake venom CRISP (cysteine-rich secretory protein), in PHASER. The correct MR solution could only be obtained by removing all loops in the search model. While, the native structure was refined to 1.85 Å, that of the Zn2+ complex was refined to 2.2 Å. The latter structure reveals that the putative binding cavity coordinates Zn2+ similarly to snake venom CRISPs which are involved in Zn2+-dependent mechanisms of inflammatory modulation. Both sGLIPR1 structures have extensive flexible loop / turn regions and unique charge distributions that were not observed in any of the previously reported CAP protein structures. We also propose a model for the structure of the full-length, membrane-bound GLIPR1.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4746. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4746
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Massilamany C, Asojo OA, Gangaplara A, Steffen D, Reddy J. Identification of a second mimicry epitope from Acanthamoeba castellanii that induces CNS autoimmunity by generating cross-reactive T cells for MBP 89-101 in SJL mice. Int Immunol 2011; 23:729-39. [PMID: 22058327 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxr084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We had previously reported that Acanthamoeba castellanii (ACA) contains a mimicry epitope for proteolipid protein 139-151 capable of inducing central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity in SJL/J mice. We now present evidence that ACA also contains a mimicry epitope for myelin basic protein (MBP) 89-101, a derivative from amoebic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 2 (NAD). The epitope, NAD 108-120, contains a discontinuous stretch of six amino acids in the core region (VVFFKNIILIGFL) sharing 46% identity with MBP 89-101 (VHFFKNIVTPRTP; identical residues are underlined). SJL mice immunized with NAD 108-120 develop encephalomyelitis similar to the disease induced by the cognate peptide. We demonstrate that NAD 108-120 induces T cells that cross-react with MBP 89-101; the antigen-sensitized T cells, which produce predominantly T helper (T(h)) 1 and T(h)17 cytokines, transfer disease in naive SJL recipients reminiscent of the disease induced with MBP 89-101. This is the first report to demonstrate that a solitary microbe can induce CNS autoimmunity by generating cross-reactive T cells for multiple myelin antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandirasegaran Massilamany
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
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Asojo OA, Koski RA, Bonafé N. Structural studies of human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2011; 67:847-55. [PMID: 21931216 PMCID: PMC3176621 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444911028198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1 (GLIPR1) is a membrane protein that is highly upregulated in brain cancers but is barely detectable in normal brain tissue. GLIPR1 is composed of a signal peptide that directs its secretion, a conserved cysteine-rich CAP (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins) domain and a transmembrane domain. GLIPR1 is currently being investigated as a candidate for prostate cancer gene therapy and for glioblastoma targeted therapy. Crystal structures of a truncated soluble domain of the human GLIPR1 protein (sGLIPR1) solved by molecular replacement using a truncated polyalanine search model of the CAP domain of stecrisp, a snake-venom cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP), are presented. The correct molecular-replacement solution could only be obtained by removing all loops from the search model. The native structure was refined to 1.85 Å resolution and that of a Zn2+ complex was refined to 2.2 Å resolution. The latter structure revealed that the putative binding cavity coordinates Zn2+ similarly to snake-venom CRISPs, which are involved in Zn2+-dependent mechanisms of inflammatory modulation. Both sGLIPR1 structures have extensive flexible loop/turn regions and unique charge distributions that were not observed in any of the previously reported CAP protein structures. A model is also proposed for the structure of full-length membrane-bound GLIPR1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA.
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Asojo OA. Structure of a two-CAP-domain protein from the human hookworm parasite Necator americanus. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 2011; 67:455-62. [PMID: 21543848 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444911008560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Major proteins secreted by the infective larval stage hookworms upon host entry include Ancylostoma secreted proteins (ASPs), which are characterized by one or two CAP (cysteine-rich secretory protein/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1) domains. The CAP domain has been reported in diverse phylogenetically unrelated proteins, but has no confirmed function. The first structure of a two-CAP-domain protein, Na-ASP-1, from the major human hookworm parasite Necator americanus was refined to a resolution limit of 2.2 Å. The structure was solved by molecular replacement (MR) using Na-ASP-2, a one-CAP-domain ASP, as the search model. The correct MR solution could only be obtained by truncating the polyalanine model of Na-ASP-2 and removing several loops. The structure reveals two CAP domains linked by an extended loop. Overall, the carboxyl-terminal CAP domain is more similar to Na-ASP-2 than to the amino-terminal CAP domain. A large central cavity extends from the amino-terminal CAP domain to the carboxyl-terminal CAP domain, encompassing the putative CAP-binding cavity. The putative CAP-binding cavity is a characteristic cavity in the carboxyl-terminal CAP domain that contains a His and Glu pair. These residues are conserved in all single-CAP-domain proteins, but are absent in the amino-terminal CAP domain. The conserved His residues are oriented such that they appear to be capable of directly coordinating a zinc ion as observed for CAP proteins from reptile venoms. This first structure of a two-CAP-domain ASP can serve as a template for homology modeling of other two-CAP-domain proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA.
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Olson PD, Kuechenmeister LJ, Anderson KL, Daily S, Beenken KE, Roux CM, Reniere ML, Lewis TL, Weiss WJ, Pulse M, Nguyen P, Simecka JW, Morrison JM, Sayood K, Asojo OA, Smeltzer MS, Skaar EP, Dunman PM. Small molecule inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus RnpA alter cellular mRNA turnover, exhibit antimicrobial activity, and attenuate pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1001287. [PMID: 21347352 PMCID: PMC3037362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is estimated to cause more U.S. deaths annually than HIV/AIDS. The emergence of hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant strains has further amplified public health concern and accentuated the need for new classes of antibiotics. RNA degradation is a required cellular process that could be exploited for novel antimicrobial drug development. However, such discovery efforts have been hindered because components of the Gram-positive RNA turnover machinery are incompletely defined. In the current study we found that the essential S. aureus protein, RnpA, catalyzes rRNA and mRNA digestion in vitro. Exploiting this activity, high through-put and secondary screening assays identified a small molecule inhibitor of RnpA-mediated in vitro RNA degradation. This agent was shown to limit cellular mRNA degradation and exhibited antimicrobial activity against predominant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) lineages circulating throughout the U.S., vancomycin intermediate susceptible S. aureus (VISA), vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and other Gram-positive bacterial pathogens with high RnpA amino acid conservation. We also found that this RnpA-inhibitor ameliorates disease in a systemic mouse infection model and has antimicrobial activity against biofilm-associated S. aureus. Taken together, these findings indicate that RnpA, either alone, as a component of the RNase P holoenzyme, and/or as a member of a more elaborate complex, may play a role in S. aureus RNA degradation and provide proof of principle for RNA catabolism-based antimicrobial therapy. The last decade has witnessed a mass downsizing in pharmaceutical antibiotic drug discovery initiatives. This has posed a major healthcare issue that will likely worsen with time; antibiotic resistant bacteria continue to emerge while advances in new therapeutic options languish. In the current body of work, we show that agents that limit bacterial RNA turnover have potential as a new class of antibiotics. More specifically, our findings indicate the essential bacterial protein, RnpA, exhibits in vitro ribonuclease activity and either alone and/or as a member of the RNase P holoenzyme, may contribute to the RNA degradation properties of Staphylococcus aureus, a predominant cause of hospital and community bacterial infections. Accordingly, using high throughput screening we identified small molecule inhibitors of RnpA's in vitro RNA degradation activity. One of these agents, RNPA1000, was shown to limit S. aureus mRNA turnover and growth. RNPA1000 also limited growth of other important Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, exhibited antimicrobial efficacy against biofilm associated S. aureus and protected against the S. aureus pathogenesis in an animal model of infection. When taken together, our results illustrate that components of the bacterial RNA degradation machinery have utility as antibiotic drug-discovery targets and that RNPA1000 may represent a progenitor of this new class of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D. Olson
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Lisa J. Kuechenmeister
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Kelsi L. Anderson
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Sonja Daily
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Karen E. Beenken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Christelle M. Roux
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Michelle L. Reniere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tami L. Lewis
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - William J. Weiss
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mark Pulse
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
| | - Phung Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jerry W. Simecka
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
| | - John M. Morrison
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Khalid Sayood
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Mark S. Smeltzer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Eric P. Skaar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Dunman
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Reiling SA, Homma K, Asojo OA. Purification and crystallization of RNase HIII from Staphylococcus aureus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 67:79-82. [PMID: 21206030 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110045616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2010] [Accepted: 11/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
As part of collaborative efforts to characterize virulence factors from Staphylococcus aureus, methods for the large-scale recombinant production of RNase HIII from S. aureus subspecies MRSA252 (Sa-RNase HIII) have been developed. RNase HIII-type ribonucleases are poorly characterized members of the RNase H group of endonucleases which hydrolyze RNA from RNA/DNA hybrids and are thought to be involved in DNA replication and repair. They are characterized by N-terminal extensions of unknown function that do not share sequence homology with the N-terminal extensions of bacterial RNases HI and RNases HII. Sa-RNase HIII was crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=48.9, b=74.2, c=127.5 Å, and diffracted to 2.6 Å resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Reiling
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA
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Asojo OA, Loukas A, Inan M, Barent R, Huang J, Plantz B, Swanson A, Gouthro M, Meagher MM, Hotez PJ. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Na-ASP-1, a multi-domain pathogenesis-related-1 protein from the human hookworm parasite Necator americanus. Corrigendum. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010. [PMCID: PMC3001672 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110040972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A correction to the paper by Asojo et al. [(2005), Acta Cryst. F61, 391–394]. Data collection and instrument information reported in the article by Asojo et al. [(2005), Acta Cryst. F61, 391–394] are corrected.
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Bonafé N, Zhan B, Bottazzi ME, Perez OA, Koski RA, Asojo OA. Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a truncated soluble domain of human glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:1487-9. [PMID: 21045302 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110035669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Accepted: 09/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Glioma pathogenesis-related protein 1 (GLIPR1) is a member of the CAP superfamily that includes proteins from a wide range of eukaryotic organisms. The biological functions of most CAP proteins, including GLIPR1, are unclear. GLIPR1 is up-regulated in aggressive glioblastomas and contributes to the invasiveness of cultured glioblastoma cells. In contrast, decreased GLIPR1 expression is associated with advanced prostate cancer. Forced GLIPR1 overexpression is pro-apoptotic in prostate cancer cells and is being tested in clinical trials as an experimental prostate-cancer therapy. Human GLIPR1 was expressed as a truncated soluble protein (sGLIPR1), purified and crystallized. Useful X-ray data have been collected to beyond 1.9 Å resolution from a crystal that belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with average unit-cell parameters a = 85.1, b = 79.5, c = 38.9 Å and either a monomer or dimer in the asymmetric unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Bonafé
- L2 Diagnostics LLC, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Asojo OA, Goud GN, Zhan B, Ordonez K, Sedlacek M, Homma K, Deumic V, Gupta R, Brelsford J, Price MK, Ngamelue MN, Hotez PJ. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of Na-SAA-2 from the human hookworm parasite Necator americanus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:172-6. [PMID: 20124715 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309109051616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Human hookworms are among the most pathogenic soil-transmitted helminths. These parasitic nematodes have co-evolved with the host and are able to maintain a high worm burden for decades without killing the human host. However, it is possible to develop vaccines against laboratory-challenge hookworm infections using either irradiated third-state infective larvae (L3) or enzymes from the adult parasites. In an effort to control hookworm infection globally, the Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative, a product-development partnership with the Sabin Vaccine Institute to develop new control tools including vaccines, has identified a battery of protein antigens, including surface-associated antigens (SAAs) from L3. SAA proteins are characterized by a 13 kDa conserved domain of unknown function. SAA proteins are found on the surface of infective L3 stages (and some adult stages) of different nematode parasites, suggesting that they may play important roles in these organisms. The atomic structures and function of SAA proteins remain undetermined and in an effort to remedy this situation recombinant Na-SAA-2 from the most prevalent human hookworm parasite Necator americanus has been expressed, purified and crystallized. Useful X-ray data have been collected to 2.3 A resolution from a crystal that belonged to the monoclinic space group C2 with unit-cell parameters a = 73.88, b = 35.58, c = 42.75 A, beta = 116.1 degrees .
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA.
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Ngamelue MN, Homma K, Lockridge O, Asojo OA. Crystallization and X-ray structure of full-length recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2007; 63:723-7. [PMID: 17768338 PMCID: PMC2376307 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309107037335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2007] [Accepted: 07/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has been shown to function as an endogenous scavenger of diverse poisons. BChE is a 340 kDa tetrameric glycoprotein that is present in human serum at a concentration of 5 mg l(-1). The well documented therapeutic effects of BChE on cocaine toxicity and organophosphorus agent poisoning has increased the need for effective methods of producing recombinant therapeutic BChE. In order to be therapeutically useful, BChE must have a long circulatory residence time or associate as tetramers. Full-length recombinant BChE produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or human embryonic kidney cells has been shown to associate as monomers, with a shorter circulatory residence time than the naturally occurring tetrameric serum protein. Based on the preceding observation as well as the need to develop novel methodologies to facilitate the mass production of therapeutic recombinant BChE, studies have been initiated to determine the structural basis of tetramer formation. Towards these ends, full-length monomeric recombinant BChE has been crystallized for the first time. A 2.8 A X-ray structure was solved in space group P42(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 156, c = 146 A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle N. Ngamelue
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Kohei Homma
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Oksana Lockridge
- Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6805, USA
| | - Oluwatoyin A. Asojo
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA
- Correspondence e-mail:
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Asojo OA, Homma K, Sedlacek M, Ngamelue M, Goud GN, Zhan B, Deumic V, Asojo O, Hotez PJ. X-ray structures of Na-GST-1 and Na-GST-2 two glutathione S-transferase from the human hookworm Necator americanus. BMC Struct Biol 2007; 7:42. [PMID: 17594497 PMCID: PMC1924862 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6807-7-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2007] [Accepted: 06/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human hookworm infection is a major cause of anemia and malnutrition of adults and children in the developing world. As part of on-going efforts to control hookworm infection, The Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative has identified candidate vaccine antigens from the infective L3 larval stages and adult stages of the parasite. Adult stage antigens include the cytosolic glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs). Nematode GSTs facilitate the inactivation and degradation of a variety of electrophilic substrates (drugs) via the nucleophilic addition of reduced glutathione. Parasite GSTs also play significant roles in multi-drug resistance and the modulation of host-immune defense mechanisms. RESULTS The crystal structures of Na-GST-1 and Na-GST-2, two major GSTs from Necator americanus the main human hookworm parasite, have been solved at the resolution limits of 2.4 A and 1.9 A respectively. The structure of Na-GST-1 was refined to R-factor 18.9% (R-free 28.3%) while that of Na-GST-2 was refined to R-factor 17.1% (R-free 21.7%). Glutathione usurped during the fermentation process in bound in the glutathione binding site (G-site) of each monomer of Na-GST-2. Na-GST-1 is uncomplexed and its G-site is abrogated by Gln 50. These first structures of human hookworm parasite GSTs could aid the design of novel hookworm drugs. CONCLUSION The 3-dimensional structures of Na-GST-1 and Na-GST-2 show two views of human hookworm GSTs. While the GST-complex structure of Na-GST-2 reveals a typical GST G-site that of Na-GST-1 suggests that there is some conformational flexibility required in order to bind the substrate GST. In addition, the overall binding cavities for both are larger, more open, as well as more accessible to diverse ligands than those of GSTs from organisms that have other major detoxifying mechanisms. The results from this study could aid in the design of novel drugs and vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Kohei Homma
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Meghan Sedlacek
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Michelle Ngamelue
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Gaddam N Goud
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Vehid Deumic
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Oluyomi Asojo
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-6495, USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington DC, 20037, USA
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Asojo OA, Schott EJ, Vasta GR, Silva AM. Structures of PmSOD1 and PmSOD2, two superoxide dismutases from the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2006; 62:1072-5. [PMID: 17077482 PMCID: PMC2225229 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309106040425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2006] [Accepted: 10/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Perkinsus marinus, a facultative intracellular parasite of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica, is responsible for mass mortalities of oyster populations. P. marinus trophozoites survive and proliferate within oyster hemocytes, invading most tissues and fluids, thus causing a systemic infection that eventually kills the host. The phagocytosis of P. marinus trophozoites lacks a respiratory burst, suggesting that the parasite has mechanisms that actively abrogate the host's oxidative defense responses. One mechanism and the first line of defense against oxidative damage is the dismutation of superoxide radical to molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide by superoxide dismutases (SODs). P. marinus possesses two iron-cofactored SODs, PmSOD1 and PmSOD2. Here, the crystallization and X-ray structures of both PmSOD1 and PmSOD2 are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatoyin A Asojo
- Pathology and Microbiology Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986495 Nebraska Med Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6495, USA.
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- F Nachon
- CRSSA, Department Toxicologie, 38702 La Tronche, France
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