Amino acid substitutions in human growth hormone affect secondary structure and receptor binding

The interaction between human Growth Hormone (hGH) and hGH Receptor (hGHR) has basic relevance to cancer and growth disorders, and hGH is the scaffold for Pegvisomant, an anti-acromegaly therapeutic. For the latter reason, hGH has been extensively engineered by early workers to improve binding and other properties. We are particularly interested in E174 which belongs to the hGH zinc-binding triad; the substitution E174A is known to significantly increase binding, but to now no explanation has been offered. We generated this and several computationally-selected single-residue substitutions at the hGHR-binding site of hGH. We find that, while many successfully slow down dissociation of the hGH-hGHR complex once bound, they also slow down the association of hGH to hGHR. The E174A substitution induces a change in the Circular Dichroism spectrum that suggests the appearance of coiled-coiling. Here we show that E174A increases affinity of hGH against hGHR because the off-rate is slowed down more than the on-rate. For E174Y (and certain mutations at other sites) the slowdown in on-rate was greater than that of the off-rate, leading to decreased affinity. The results point to a link between structure, zinc binding, and hGHR-binding affinity in hGH.

Monitoring drug-target interactions through target engagement-mediated amplification on arrays and in situ

Drugs are designed to bind their target proteins in physiologically relevant tissues and organs to modulate biological functions and elicit desirable clinical outcomes. Information about target engagement at cellular and subcellular resolution is therefore critical for guiding compound optimization in drug discovery, and for probing resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies in clinical samples. We describe a target engagement-mediated amplification (TEMA) technology, where oligonucleotide-conjugated drugs are used to visualize and measure target engagement in situ, amplified via rolling-circle replication of circularized oligonucleotide probes. We illustrate the TEMA technique using dasatinib and gefitinib, two kinase inhibitors with distinct selectivity profiles. In vitro binding by the dasatinib probe to arrays of displayed proteins accurately reproduced known selectivity profiles, while their differential binding to fixed adherent cells agreed with expectations from expression profiles of the cells. We also introduce a proximity ligation variant of TEMA to selectively investigate binding to specific target proteins of interest. This form of the assay serves to improve resolution of binding to on- and off-target proteins. In conclusion, TEMA has the potential to aid in drug development and clinical routine by conferring valuable insights in drug-target interactions at spatial resolution in protein arrays, cells and in tissues.

Sensitive Protein Detection Using Site-Specifically Oligonucleotide-Conjugated Nanobodies

High-quality affinity probes are critical for sensitive and specific protein detection, in particular for detection of protein biomarkers in the early phases of disease development. Proximity extension assays (PEAs) have been used for high-throughput multiplexed protein detection of up to a few thousand different proteins in one or a few microliters of plasma. Clonal affinity reagents can offer advantages over the commonly used polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) in terms of reproducibility and standardization of such assays. Here, we explore nanobodies (Nbs) as an alternative to pAbs as affinity reagents for PEA. We describe an efficient site-specific approach for preparing high-quality oligo-conjugated Nb probes via enzyme coupling using Sortase A (SrtA). The procedure allows convenient removal of unconjugated affinity reagents after conjugation. The purified high-grade Nb probes were used in PEA, and the reactions provided an efficient means to select optimal pairs of binding reagents from a group of affinity reagents. We demonstrate that Nb-based PEA (nano-PEA) for interleukin-6 (IL6) detection can augment assay performance, compared to the use of pAb probes. We identify and validate Nb combinations capable of binding in pairs without competition for IL6 antigen detection by PEA.

Ultralarge Virtual Screening Identifies SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors with Broad-Spectrum Activity against Coronaviruses

Drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 could have saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now crucial to develop inhibitors of coronavirus replication in preparation for future outbreaks. We explored two virtual screening strategies to find inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease in ultralarge chemical libraries. First, structure-based docking was used to screen a diverse library of 235 million virtual compounds against the active site. One hundred top-ranked compounds were tested in binding and enzymatic assays. Second, a fragment discovered by crystallographic screening was optimized guided by docking of millions of elaborated molecules and experimental testing of 93 compounds. Three inhibitors were identified in the first library screen, and five of the selected fragment elaborations showed inhibitory effects. Crystal structures of target-inhibitor complexes confirmed docking predictions and guided hit-to-lead optimization, resulting in a noncovalent main protease inhibitor with nanomolar affinity, a promising in vitro pharmacokinetic profile, and broad-spectrum antiviral effect in infected cells.

Pharmacological targeting of MTHFD2 suppresses acute myeloid leukemia by inducing thymidine depletion and replication stress

The folate metabolism enzyme MTHFD2 (methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase) is consistently overexpressed in cancer but its roles are not fully characterized, and current candidate inhibitors have limited potency for clinical development. In the present study, we demonstrate a role for MTHFD2 in DNA replication and genomic stability in cancer cells, and perform a drug screen to identify potent and selective nanomolar MTHFD2 inhibitors; protein cocrystal structures demonstrated binding to the active site of MTHFD2 and target engagement. MTHFD2 inhibitors reduced replication fork speed and induced replication stress followed by S-phase arrest and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo, with a therapeutic window spanning four orders of magnitude compared with nontumorigenic cells. Mechanistically, MTHFD2 inhibitors prevented thymidine production leading to misincorporation of uracil into DNA and replication stress. Overall, these results demonstrate a functional link between MTHFD2-dependent cancer metabolism and replication stress that can be exploited therapeutically with this new class of inhibitors.

Sequence specificity in DNA binding is mainly governed by association

Sequence-specific binding of proteins to DNA is essential for accessing genetic information. We derive a model that predicts an anticorrelation between the macroscopic association and dissociation rates of DNA binding proteins. We tested the model for thousands of different lac operator sequences with a protein binding microarray and by observing kinetics for individual lac repressor molecules in single-molecule experiments. We found that sequence specificity is mainly governed by the efficiency with which the protein recognizes different targets. The variation in probability of recognizing different targets is at least 1.7 times as large as the variation in microscopic dissociation rates. Modulating the rate of binding instead of the rate of dissociation effectively reduces the risk of the protein being retained on nontarget sequences while searching.

Estimating Detection Limits of Potentiometric DNA Sensors Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Analyses

As the signals of potentiometric-based DNA ion-selective field effect transistor (ISFET) sensors differ largely from report to report, a systematic revisit to this method is needed. Herein, the hybridization of the target and the probe DNA on the sensor surface and its dependence on the surface probe DNA coverage and the ionic strength were systematically investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The maximum potentiometric DNA hybridization signal that could be registered by an ISFET sensor was estimated based on the SPR measurements, without considering buffering effects from any side interaction on the sensing electrode. We found that under physiological solutions (200 to 300 mM ionic strength), the ISFET sensor could not register the DNA hybridization events on the sensor surface due to Debye screening. Lowering the salt concentration to enlarge the Debye length would at the same time reduce the surface hybridization efficiency, thus suppressing the signal. This adverse effect of low salt concentration on the hybridization efficiency was also found to be more significant on the surface with higher probe coverage due to steric hindrance. With the method of diluting buffer, the maximum potentiometric signal generated by the DNA hybridization was estimated to be only around 120 mV with the lowest detection limit of 30 nM, occurring on a surface with optimized probe coverage and in the tris buffer with 10 mM NaCl. An alternative method would be to achieve high-efficiency hybridization in the buffer with high salt concentration (1 M NaCl) and then to perform potentiometric measurements in the buffer with low salt concentration (1 mM NaCl). Based on the characterization of the stability of the hybridized DNA duplexes on the sensor surface in low salt concentration buffer solutions, the estimated maximum potentiometric signal could be significantly higher using the alternative method. The lowest detection limit for this alternative method was estimated to be around 0.6 nM. This work can serve as an important quantitative reference for potentiometric DNA sensors.

Structural Changes of Mercaptohexanol Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold and Their Influence on Impedimetric Aptamer Sensors

Despite a large number of publications describing biosensors based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), little attention has been paid to the stability and reproducibility issues of the sensor interfaces. In this work, the stability and reproducibility of faradaic EIS analyses on the aptamer/mercaptohexanol (MCH) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-functionalized gold surfaces in ferri- and ferrocyanide solution were systematically evaluated prior to and after the aptamer-probe DNA hybridization. It is shown that the EIS data exhibited significant drift, and this significantly affected the reproducibility of the EIS signal of the hybridization. As a result, no significant difference between the charge transfer resistance (R_CT) changes induced by the aptamer-target DNA hybridization and that caused by the drift could be identified. A conditioning of the electrode in the measurement solution for more than 12 h was required to reach a stable R_CT baseline prior to the aptamer-probe DNA hybridization. The monitored drift in R_CT and double layer capacitance during the conditioning suggests that the MCH SAM on the gold surface reorganized to a thinner but more closely packed layer. We also observed that the hot binding buffer used in the following aptamer-probe DNA hybridization process could induce additional MCH and aptamer reorganization, and thus further drift in R_CT. As a result, the R_CT change caused by the aptamer-probe DNA hybridization was less than that caused by the hot binding buffer (blank control experiment). Therefore, it is suggested that the use of high temperature in the EIS measurement should be carefully evaluated or avoided. This work provides practical guidelines for the EIS measurements. Moreover, because SAM-functionalized gold electrodes are widely used in biosensors, for example, DNA sensors, an improved understanding of the origin of the observed drift is very important for the development of well-functioning and reproducible biosensors.

Characterization of interactions between hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase, annexin A2 and RNA - effects on NS5B catalysis and allosteric inhibition

Background

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) provide efficient hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy and clearance for a majority of patients, but are not available or effective for all patients. They risk developing HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), for which the mechanism remains obscure and therapy is missing. Annexin A2 (AnxA2) has been reported to co-precipitate with the non-structural (NS) HCV proteins NS5B and NS3/NS4A, indicating a role in HCC tumorigenesis and effect on DAA therapy.

Methods

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor technology was used to characterize direct interactions between AnxA2 and HCV NS5B, NS3/NS4 and RNA, and the subsequent effects on catalysis and inhibition.

Results

No direct interaction between AnxA2 and NS3/NS4A was detected, while AnxA2 formed a slowly dissociating, high affinity (K_D = 30 nM), complex with NS5B, decreasing its catalytic activity and affinity for the allosteric inhibitor filibuvir. The RNA binding of the two proteins was independent and AnxA2 and NS5B interacted with different RNAs in ternary complexes of AnxA2:NS5B:RNA, indicating specific preferences.

Conclusions

The complex interplay revealed between NS5B, AnxA2, RNA and filibuvir, suggests that AnxA2 may have an important role for the progression and treatment of HCV infections and the development of HCC, which should be considered also when designing new allosteric inhibitors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12985-017-0904-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Discovery of pyrazinone based compounds that potently inhibit the drug-resistant enzyme variant R155K of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease

Herein, we present the design and synthesis of 2(1H)-pyrazinone based HCV NS3 protease inhibitors with variations in the C-terminus. Biochemical evaluation was performed using genotype 1a, both the wild-type and the drug resistant enzyme variant, R155K. Surprisingly, compounds without an acidic sulfonamide retained good inhibition, challenging our previous molecular docking model. Moreover, selected compounds in this series showed nanomolar potency against R155K NS3 protease; which generally confer resistance to all HCV NS3 protease inhibitors approved or in clinical trials. These results further strengthen the potential of this novel substance class, being very different to the approved drugs and clinical candidates, in the development of inhibitors less sensitive to drug resistance.