Analogues of the pan-selectin antagonist rivipansel (GMI-1070)

The selectin family consisting of E-, P- and L-selectin plays dominant roles in atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammatory diseases, and metastatic spreading of some cancers. An early goal in selectin-targeted drug discovery campaigns was to identify ligands binding to all three selectins, so-called pan-selectin antagonists. The physiological epitope, tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewisx (sLex, 1) binds to all selectins, albeit with very different affinities. Whereas P- and L-selectin require additional interactions contributed by sulfate groups for high binding affinity, E-selectin can functionally bind sLex-modified glycolipids and glycoproteins. Rivipansel (3) marked the first pan-selectin antagonist, which simultaneously interacted with both the sLex and the sulfate binding site. The aim of this contribution was to improve the pan-selectin affinity of rivipansel (3) by leveraging a new class of sLex mimetics in combination with an optimized linker length to the sulfate bearing group. As a result, the pan-selectin antagonist 11b exhibits an approximatively 5-fold improved affinity for E-, as well as P-selectin.

Thermodynamics-Guided Design Reveals a Cooperative Hydrogen Bond in DC-SIGN-targeted Glycomimetics

Due to the shallow and hydrophilic binding sites of carbohydrate-binding proteins, the design of glycomimetics is often complicated by high desolvation costs as well as competition with solvent. Therefore, a careful optimization of interaction vectors and ligand properties is required in the design and optimization of glycomimetics. Here, we employ thermodynamics-guided design to optimize mannose-based glycomimetics targeting the human C-type lectin receptor dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), a pathogenic host factor in viral infections. By exploring ligand rigidification and hydrogen bond engineering, a monovalent glycomimetic with an unprecedented affinity for DC-SIGN in the low μM range was discovered. A matched molecular pair analysis based on microcalorimetric data revealed a stereospecific hydrogen bond interaction with Glu358/Ser360 as the origin of this cooperative and enthalpically dominated interaction. This detailed insight into the binding mechanism paves the way for an improvement of monovalent glycomimetics targeting DC-SIGN.

Bacterial Chaperone Domain Insertions Convert Human FKBP12 into an Excellent Protein-Folding Catalyst-A Structural and Functional Analysis

Many folding enzymes use separate domains for the binding of substrate proteins and for the catalysis of slow folding reactions such as prolyl isomerization. FKBP12 is a small prolyl isomerase without a chaperone domain. Its folding activity is low, but it could be increased by inserting the chaperone domain from the homolog SlyD of E. coli near the prolyl isomerase active site. We inserted two other chaperone domains into human FKBP12: the chaperone domain of SlpA from E. coli, and the chaperone domain of SlyD from Thermococcus sp. Both stabilized FKBP12 and greatly increased its folding activity. The insertion of these chaperone domains had no influence on the FKBP12 and the chaperone domain structure, as revealed by two crystal structures of the chimeric proteins. The relative domain orientations differ in the two crystal structures, presumably representing snapshots of a more open and a more closed conformation. Together with crystal structures from SlyD-like proteins, they suggest a path for how substrate proteins might be transferred from the chaperone domain to the prolyl isomerase domain.

An artificial nickel chlorinase based on the biotin-streptavidin technology

Herein, we report on an artificial nickel chlorinase (ANCase) resulting from anchoring a biotinylated nickel-based cofactor within streptavidin (Sav). The resulting ANCase was efficient for the chlorination of diverse C(sp3)-H bonds. Guided by the X-ray analysis of the ANCase, the activity of the artificial chlorinase could be significantly improved. This approach opens interesting perspectives for late-stage functionalization of organic intermediates as it complements biocatalytic chlorination strategies.

Positive outcomes following Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) in the treatment of retropatellar chondral lesions: a retrospective analysis of a patient registry

BACKGROUND

The patellofemoral joint is a challenging environment for treating chondral defects. Among the surgical options for the treatment of chondral defects, the single-stage Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) procedure uses a porcine collagen I/III membrane to enhance bone-marrow stimulation. However, longer term outcomes data are rare for this specific indication. In order to provide real-world information, an ongoing registry has been established to record patient data and outcomes when AMIC is used to treat chondral and osteochondral lesions.

METHODS

Patient data were retrieved from an ongoing, prospective, multisite registry of patients who had undergone AMIC treatment of chondral defects. We identified 64 patients who had undergone AMIC for patellofemoral chondral defects and for whom pre-operative and at least 1 post-operative score were available were included in this retrospective data analysis. Outcomes were assessed via the KOOS, VAS pain, and the Lysholm scores. Outcomes at the post-operative time-points were analysed using a factorial ANOVA with post-hoc testing while linear regression was used to assess associations between the change in the Lysholm score and lesion size.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in Lysholm, VAS pain, and KOOS scores from pre-operative to the 1st year post-operative (p < 0.001), and this was maintained during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The forces exerted on the patellofemoral joint make this a challenging scenario for chondral repair. Our data demonstrates that the AMIC procedure with a collagen I/III membrane is an effective treatment for retropatellar cartilage lesions, and provides reliable results, with decreased pain and improved function. Importantly, these improvements were maintained through the follow-up period.

A key GPCR phosphorylation motif discovered in arrestin2⋅CCR5 phosphopeptide complexes

The two non-visual arrestins, arrestin2 and arrestin3, bind hundreds of GPCRs with different phosphorylation patterns, leading to distinct functional outcomes. Structural information on these interactions is available only for very few GPCRs. Here, we have characterized the interactions between the phosphorylated human CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) and arrestin2. We identified several new CCR5 phosphorylation sites necessary for stable arrestin2 complex formation. Structures of arrestin2 in the apo form and complexes with CCR5 C-terminal phosphopeptides, together with NMR, biochemical, and functional assays, revealed three phosphoresidues in a pXpp motif that are essential for arrestin2 binding and activation. The identified motif appears responsible for robust arrestin2 recruitment in many other GPCRs. An analysis of receptor sequences and available structural and functional information provides hints on the molecular basis of arrestin2/arrestin3 isoform specificity. Our findings demonstrate how multi-site phosphorylation controls GPCR⋅arrestin interactions and provide a framework to probe the intricate details of arrestin signaling.

Computational identification of a systemic antibiotic for gram-negative bacteria

Discovery of antibiotics acting against Gram-negative species is uniquely challenging due to their restrictive penetration barrier. BamA, which inserts proteins into the outer membrane, is an attractive target due to its surface location. Darobactins produced by Photorhabdus, a nematode gut microbiome symbiont, target BamA. We reasoned that a computational search for genes only distantly related to the darobactin operon may lead to novel compounds. Following this clue, we identified dynobactin A, a novel peptide antibiotic from Photorhabdus australis containing two unlinked rings. Dynobactin is structurally unrelated to darobactins, but also targets BamA. Based on a BamA-dynobactin co-crystal structure and a BAM-complex-dynobactin cryo-EM structure, we show that dynobactin binds to the BamA lateral gate, uniquely protruding into its β-barrel lumen. Dynobactin showed efficacy in a mouse systemic Escherichia coli infection. This study demonstrates the utility of computational approaches to antibiotic discovery and suggests that dynobactin is a promising lead for drug development.

The structure of a polyketide synthase bimodule core

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are predominantly microbial biosynthetic enzymes. They assemble highly potent bioactive natural products from simple carboxylic acid precursors. The most versatile families of PKSs are organized as assembly lines of functional modules. Each module performs one round of precursor extension and optional modification, followed by directed transfer of the intermediate to the next module. While enzymatic domains and even modules of PKSs are well understood, the higher-order modular architecture of PKS assembly lines remains elusive. Here, we visualize a PKS bimodule core using cryo-electron microscopy and resolve a two-dimensional meshwork of the bimodule core formed by homotypic interactions between modules. The sheet-like organization provides the framework for efficient substrate transfer and for sequestration of trans-acting enzymes required for polyketide production.

Mutasynthetic Production and Antimicrobial Characterization of Darobactin Analogs

There is great need for therapeutics against multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Recently, darobactin A, a novel bicyclic heptapeptide that selectively kills Gram-negative bacteria by targeting the outer membrane protein BamA, was discovered. Its efficacy was proven in animal infection models of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, thus promoting darobactin A as a promising lead compound. Originally discovered from members of the nematode-symbiotic genus Photorhabdus, the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) encoding the synthesis of darobactin A can also be found in other members of the class Gammaproteobacteria. Therein, the precursor peptides DarB to -F, which differ in their core sequence from darobactin A, were identified in silico. Even though production of these analogs was not observed in the putative producer strains, we were able to generate them by mutasynthetic derivatization of a heterologous expression system. The analogs generated were isolated and tested for their bioactivity. The most potent compound, darobactin B, was used for cocrystallization with the target BamA, revealing a binding site identical to that of darobactin A. Despite its potency, darobactin B did not exhibit cytotoxicity, and it was slightly more active against Acinetobacter baumannii isolates than darobactin A. Furthermore, we evaluated the plasma protein binding of darobactin A and B, indicating their different pharmacokinetic properties. This is the first report on new members of this new antibiotic class, which is likely to expand to several promising therapeutic candidates. IMPORTANCE Therapeutic options to combat Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are dwindling with increasing antibiotic resistance. This study presents a proof of concept for the heterologous-expression approach to expand on the novel antibiotic class of darobactins and to generate analogs with different activities and pharmacokinetic properties. In combination with the structural data of the target BamA, this approach may contribute to structure-activity relationship (SAR) data to optimize inhibitors of this essential outer membrane protein of Gram-negative pathogens.

Sweet Drugs for Bad Bugs: A Glycomimetic Strategy against the DC-SIGN-Mediated Dissemination of SARS-CoV-2

The C-type lectin receptor DC-SIGN is a pattern recognition receptor expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells. It has been identified as a promiscuous entry receptor for many pathogens, including epidemic and pandemic viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola virus, and HIV-1. In the context of the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, DC-SIGN-mediated virus dissemination and stimulation of innate immune responses has been implicated as a potential factor in the development of severe COVID-19. Inhibition of virus binding to DC-SIGN, thus, represents an attractive host-directed strategy to attenuate overshooting innate immune responses and prevent the progression of the disease. In this study, we report on the discovery of a new class of potent glycomimetic DC-SIGN antagonists from a focused library of triazole-based mannose analogues. Structure-based optimization of an initial screening hit yielded a glycomimetic ligand with a more than 100-fold improved binding affinity compared to methyl α-d-mannopyranoside. Analysis of binding thermodynamics revealed an enthalpy-driven improvement of binding affinity that was enabled by hydrophobic interactions with a loop region adjacent to the binding site and displacement of a conserved water molecule. The identified ligand was employed for the synthesis of multivalent glycopolymers that were able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein binding to DC-SIGN-expressing cells, as well as DC-SIGN-mediated trans-infection of ACE2⁺ cells by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-expressing viruses, in nanomolar concentrations. The identified glycomimetic ligands reported here open promising perspectives for the development of highly potent and fully selective DC-SIGN-targeted therapeutics for a broad spectrum of viral infections.

The dynamic mechanism of 4E-BP1 recognition and phosphorylation by mTORC1

The activation of cap-dependent translation in eukaryotes requires multisite, hierarchical phosphorylation of 4E-BP by the 1 MDa kinase mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). To resolve the mechanism of this hierarchical phosphorylation at the atomic level, we monitored by NMR spectroscopy the interaction of intrinsically disordered 4E binding protein isoform 1 (4E-BP1) with the mTORC1 subunit regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor). The N-terminal RAIP motif and the C-terminal TOR signaling (TOS) motif of 4E-BP1 bind separate sites in Raptor, resulting in avidity-based tethering of 4E-BP1. This tethering orients the flexible central region of 4E-BP1 toward the mTORC1 kinase site for phosphorylation. The structural constraints imposed by the two tethering interactions, combined with phosphorylation-induced conformational switching of 4E-BP1, explain the hierarchy of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation by mTORC1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mTORC1 recognizes both free and eIF4E-bound 4E-BP1, allowing rapid phosphorylation of the entire 4E-BP1 pool and efficient activation of translation. Finally, our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the differential rapamycin sensitivity of the 4E-BP1 phosphorylation sites.

Identification of a Dps contamination in Mitomycin-C-induced expression of Colicin Ia

Colicins are bacterial toxins targeting Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli and related Enterobacteriaceae strains. Some colicins form ion-gated pores in the inner membrane of attacked bacteria that are lethal to their target. Colicin Ia was the first pore-forming E. coli toxin, for which a high-resolution structure of the monomeric full-length protein was determined. It is so far also the only colicin, for which a low-resolution structure of its membrane-inserted pore was reported by negative-stain electron microscopy. Resolving this structure at the atomic level would allow an understanding of the mechanism of toxin pore formation. Here, we report an observation that we made during an attempt to determine the Colicin Ia pore structure at atomic resolution. Colicin Ia was natively expressed by mitomycin-C induction under a native SOS promotor and purified following published protocols. The visual appearance in the electron microscope of negatively stained preparations and the lattice parameters of 2D crystals obtained from the material were highly similar to those reported earlier resulting from the same purification protocol. However, a higher-resolution structural analysis revealed that the protein is Dps (DNA-binding protein from starved cells), a dodecameric E. coli protein. This finding suggests that the previously reported low-resolution structure of a "Colicin Ia oligomeric pore" actually shows Dps.

Long-lived T follicular helper cells retain plasticity and help sustain humoral immunity

CD4⁺ memory T cells play an important role in protective immunity and are a key target in vaccine development. Many studies have focused on T central memory (T_cm) cells, whereas the existence and functional significance of long-lived T follicular helper (T_fh) cells are controversial. Here, we show that T_fh cells are highly susceptible to NAD-induced cell death (NICD) during isolation from tissues, leading to their underrepresentation in prior studies. NICD blockade reveals the persistence of abundant T_fh cells with high expression of hallmark T_fh markers to at least 400 days after infection, by which time T_cm cells are no longer found. Using single-cell RNA-seq, we demonstrate that long-lived T_fh cells are transcriptionally distinct from T_cm cells, maintain stemness and self-renewal gene expression, and, in contrast to T_cm cells, are multipotent after recall. At the protein level, we show that folate receptor 4 (FR4) robustly discriminates long-lived T_fh cells from T_cm cells. Unexpectedly, long-lived T_fh cells concurrently express a distinct glycolytic signature similar to trained immune cells, including elevated expression of mTOR-, HIF-1-, and cAMP-regulated genes. Late disruption of glycolysis/ICOS signaling leads to T_fh cell depletion concomitant with decreased splenic plasma cells and circulating antibody titers, demonstrating both unique homeostatic regulation of T_fh and their sustained function during the memory phase of the immune response. These results highlight the metabolic heterogeneity underlying distinct long-lived T cell subsets and establish T_fh cells as an attractive target for the induction of durable adaptive immunity.

High-resolution cryo-EM structure of urease from the pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica

Urease converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide and makes urea available as a nitrogen source for all forms of life except animals. In human bacterial pathogens, ureases also aid in the invasion of acidic environments such as the stomach by raising the surrounding pH. Here, we report the structure of urease from the pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica at 2 Å resolution from cryo-electron microscopy. Y. enterocolitica urease is a dodecameric assembly of a trimer of three protein chains, ureA, ureB and ureC. The high data quality enables detailed visualization of the urease bimetal active site and of the impact of radiation damage. The obtained structure is of sufficient quality to support drug development efforts.

Urease is a nickel enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Here the authors report a high resolution cryo-EM structure of urease from the bacterial pathogen Yersinia enterocolitica, providing a detailed visualization of the urease bimetal active site and a basis for drug development.

Structural basis for ion selectivity in TMEM175 K+ channels

The TMEM175 family constitutes recently discovered K+channels that are important for autophagosome turnover and lysosomal pH regulation and are associated with the early onset of Parkinson Disease. TMEM175 channels lack a P-loop selectivity filter, a hallmark of all known K+ channels, raising the question how selectivity is achieved. Here, we report the X-ray structure of a closed bacterial TMEM175 channel in complex with a nanobody fusion-protein disclosing bound K+ ions. Our analysis revealed that a highly conserved layer of threonine residues in the pore conveys a basal K+ selectivity. An additional layer comprising two serines in human TMEM175 increases selectivity further and renders this channel sensitive to 4-aminopyridine and Zn2+. Our findings suggest that large hydrophobic side chains occlude the pore, forming a physical gate, and that channel opening by iris-like motions simultaneously relocates the gate and exposes the otherwise concealed selectivity filter to the pore lumen.

Identification of conformation-selective nanobodies against the membrane protein insertase BamA by an integrated structural biology approach

The insertase BamA is an essential protein of the bacterial outer membrane. Its 16-stranded transmembrane β-barrel contains a lateral gate as a key functional element. This gate is formed by the C-terminal half of the last β-strand. The BamA barrel was previously found to sample different conformations in aqueous solution, as well as different gate-open, gate-closed, and collapsed conformations in X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy structures. Here, we report the successful identification of conformation-selective nanobodies that stabilize BamA in specific conformations. While the initial candidate generation and selection protocol was based on established alpaca immunization and phage display selection procedures, the final selection of nanobodies was enhanced by a solution NMR-based screening step to shortlist the targets for crystallization. In this way, three crystal structures of BamA-nanobody complexes were efficiently obtained, showing two types of nanobodies that indeed stabilized BamA in two different conformations, i.e., with open and closed lateral gate, respectively. Then, by correlating the structural data with high resolution NMR spectra, we could for the first time assign the BamA conformational solution ensemble to defined structural states. The new nanobodies will be valuable tools towards understanding the client insertion mechanism of BamA and towards developing improved antibiotics.

Improvement of Aglycone π-Stacking Yields Nanomolar to Sub-nanomolar FimH Antagonists

Antimicrobial resistance has become a serious concern for the treatment of urinary tract infections. In this context, an anti-adhesive approach targeting FimH, a bacterial lectin enabling the attachment of E. coli to host cells, has attracted considerable interest. FimH can adopt a low/medium-affinity state in the absence and a high-affinity state in the presence of shear forces. Until recently, mostly the high-affinity state has been investigated, despite the fact that a therapeutic antagonist should bind predominantly to the low-affinity state. In this communication, we demonstrate that fluorination of biphenyl α-d-mannosides leads to compounds with perfect π-π stacking interactions with the tyrosine gate of FimH, yielding low nanomolar to sub-nanomolar K_D values for the low- and high-affinity states, respectively. The face-to-face alignment of the perfluorinated biphenyl group of FimH ligands and Tyr48 was confirmed by crystal structures as well as ¹ H,¹⁵ N-HSQC NMR analysis. Finally, fluorination improves pharmacokinetic parameters predictive for oral availability.

Binding of the Bacterial Adhesin FimH to Its Natural, Multivalent High-Mannose Type Glycan Targets

Multivalent carbohydrate-lectin interactions at host-pathogen interfaces play a crucial role in the establishment of infections. Although competitive antagonists that prevent pathogen adhesion are promising antimicrobial drugs, the molecular mechanisms underlying these complex adhesion processes are still poorly understood. Here, we characterize the interactions between the fimbrial adhesin FimH from uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains and its natural high-mannose type N-glycan binding epitopes on uroepithelial glycoproteins. Crystal structures and a detailed kinetic characterization of ligand-binding and dissociation revealed that the binding pocket of FimH evolved such that it recognizes the terminal α(1-2)-, α(1-3)-, and α(1-6)-linked mannosides of natural high-mannose type N-glycans with similar affinity. We demonstrate that the 2000-fold higher affinity of the domain-separated state of FimH compared to its domain-associated state is ligand-independent and consistent with a thermodynamic cycle in which ligand-binding shifts the association equilibrium between the FimH lectin and the FimH pilin domain. Moreover, we show that a single N-glycan can bind up to three molecules of FimH, albeit with negative cooperativity, so that a molar excess of accessible N-glycans over FimH on the cell surface favors monovalent FimH binding. Our data provide pivotal insights into the adhesion properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to their target receptors and a solid basis for the development of effective FimH antagonists.

DARPins recognizing mTFP1 as novel reagents for in vitro and in vivo protein manipulations

Over the last few years, protein-based affinity reagents have proven very helpful in cell and developmental biology. While many of these versatile small proteins can be expressed both in the intracellular and extracellular milieu in cultured cells and in living organisms, they can also be functionalized by fusing them to different protein domains in order to regulate or modulate their target proteins in diverse manners. For example, protein binders have been employed to degrade, trap, localize or enzymatically modify specific target proteins. Whereas binders to many endogenous proteins or small protein tags have been generated, several affinity reagents against fluorescent proteins have also been created and used to manipulate target proteins tagged with the corresponding fluorescent protein. Both of these approaches have resulted in improved methods for cell biological and developmental studies. While binders against GFP and mCherry have been previously isolated and validated, we now report the generation and utilization of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) against the monomeric teal fluorescent protein 1 (mTFP1). Here we use the generated DARPins to delocalize Rab proteins to the nuclear compartment, in which they cannot fulfil their regular functions anymore. In the future, such manipulations might enable the production of acute loss-of-function phenotypes in different cell types or in living organisms based on direct protein manipulation rather than on genetic loss-of-function analyses.

Summary: Structural characterization of two novel DARPins (designed ankyrin repeat proteins) recognizing the monomeric teal fluorescent protein 1 (mTFP1) and their functionalization for protein manipulation strategies in cultured cells and potentially in living organisms.

KinITC-One Method Supports both Thermodynamic and Kinetic SARs as Exemplified on FimH Antagonists

Affinity data, such as dissociation constants (K_D ) or inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀ ), are widely used in drug discovery. However, these parameters describe an equilibrium state, which is often not established in vivo due to pharmacokinetic effects and they are therefore not necessarily sufficient for evaluating drug efficacy. More accurate indicators for pharmacological activity are the kinetics of binding processes, as they shed light on the rate of formation of protein-ligand complexes and their half-life. Nonetheless, although highly desirable for medicinal chemistry programs, studies on structure-kinetic relationships (SKR) are still rare. With the recently introduced analytical tool kinITC this situation may change, since not only thermodynamic but also kinetic information of the binding process can be deduced from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments. Using kinITC, ITC data of 29 mannosides binding to the bacterial adhesin FimH were re-analyzed to make their binding kinetics accessible. To validate these kinetic data, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments were conducted. The kinetic analysis by kinITC revealed that the nanomolar affinities of the FimH antagonists arise from both (i) an optimized interaction between protein and ligand in the bound state (reduced off-rate constant k_off ) and (ii) a stabilization of the transition state or a destabilization of the unbound state (increased on-rate constant k_on ). Based on congeneric ligand modifications and structural input from co-crystal structures, a strong relationship between the formed hydrogen-bond network and k_off could be concluded, whereas electrostatic interactions and conformational restrictions upon binding were found to have mainly an impact on k_on .

The structural organization of substrate loading in iterative polyketide synthases

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are microbial multienzymes for the biosynthesis of biologically potent secondary metabolites. Polyketide production is initiated by the loading of a starter unit onto an integral acyl carrier protein (ACP) and its subsequent transfer to the ketosynthase (KS). Initial substrate loading is achieved either by multidomain loading modules or by the integration of designated loading domains, such as starter unit acyltransferases (SAT), whose structural integration into PKS remains unresolved. A crystal structure of the loading/condensing region of the nonreducing PKS CTB1 demonstrates the ordered insertion of a pseudodimeric SAT into the condensing region, which is aided by the SAT-KS linker. Cryo-electron microscopy of the post-loading state trapped by mechanism-based crosslinking of ACP to KS reveals asymmetry across the CTB1 loading/-condensing region, in accord with preferential 1:2 binding stoichiometry. These results are critical for re-engineering the loading step in polyketide biosynthesis and support functional relevance of asymmetric conformations of PKSs.

The price of flexibility - a case study on septanoses as pyranose mimetics

Seven-membered ring mimetics of mannose were studied as ligands for the mannose-specific bacterial lectin FimH, which plays an essential role in the first step of urinary tract infections (UTI). A competitive binding assay and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments indicated an approximately ten-fold lower affinity for the seven-membered ring mannose mimetic 2-O-n-heptyl-1,6-anhydro-d-glycero-d-galactitol (7) compared to n-heptyl α-d-mannopyranoside (2), resulting exclusively from a loss of conformational entropy. Investigations by solution NMR, X-ray crystallography, and molecular modeling revealed that 7 establishes a superimposable H-bond network compared to mannoside 2, but at the price of a high entropic penalty due to the loss of its pronounced conformational flexibility. These results underscore the importance of having access to the complete thermodynamic profile of a molecular interaction to "rescue" ligands from entropic penalties with an otherwise perfect fit to the protein binding site.

Carbohydrate-Lectin Interactions: An Unexpected Contribution to Affinity

Uropathogenic E. coli exploit PapG-II adhesin for infecting host cells of the kidney; the expression of PapG-II at the tip of bacterial pili correlates with the onset of pyelonephritis in humans, a potentially life-threatening condition. It was envisaged that blocking PapG-II (and thus bacterial adhesion) would provide a viable therapeutic alternative to conventional antibiotic treatment. In our search for potent PapG-II antagonists, we observed an increase in affinity when tetrasaccharide 1, the natural ligand of PapG-II in human kidneys, was elongated to hexasaccharide 2, even though the additional Siaα(2-3)Gal extension is not in direct contact with the lectin. ITC studies suggest that the increased affinity results from partial desolvation of nonbinding regions of the hexasaccharide; this is ultimately responsible for perturbation of the outer hydration layers. Our results are in agreement with previous observations and suggest a general mechanism for modulating carbohydrate-protein interactions based on nonbinding regions of the ligand.

Catch-bond mechanism of the bacterial adhesin FimH

Ligand–receptor interactions that are reinforced by mechanical stress, so-called catch-bonds, play a major role in cell–cell adhesion. They critically contribute to widespread urinary tract infections by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These pathogens attach to host epithelia via the adhesin FimH, a two-domain protein at the tip of type I pili recognizing terminal mannoses on epithelial glycoproteins. Here we establish peptide-complemented FimH as a model system for fimbrial FimH function. We reveal a three-state mechanism of FimH catch-bond formation based on crystal structures of all states, kinetic analysis of ligand interaction and molecular dynamics simulations. In the absence of tensile force, the FimH pilin domain allosterically accelerates spontaneous ligand dissociation from the FimH lectin domain by 100,000-fold, resulting in weak affinity. Separation of the FimH domains under stress abolishes allosteric interplay and increases the affinity of the lectin domain. Cell tracking demonstrates that rapid ligand dissociation from FimH supports motility of piliated E. coli on mannosylated surfaces in the absence of shear force.

Catch bonds have a role in bacterial adhesion and infection by uropathogenic E. coli. Here, the authors report crystal structures, molecular dynamics simulations, ligand binding analysis and cell tracking to characterise the catch bond interaction between the adhesin FimH and carbohydrate receptors.

E-selectin ligand complexes adopt an extended high-affinity conformation

E-selectin is a cell-adhesion molecule of the vascular endothelium that promotes essential leukocyte rolling in the early inflammatory response by binding to glycoproteins containing the tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)). Efficient leukocyte recruitment under vascular flow conditions depends on an increased lifetime of E-selectin/ligand complexes under tensile force in a so-called catch-bond binding mode. Co-crystal structures of a representative fragment of the extracellular E-selectin region with sLe(x) and a glycomimetic antagonist thereof reveal an extended E-selectin conformation, which is identified as a high-affinity binding state of E-selectin by molecular dynamics simulations. Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments demonstrate a direct link between ligand binding and E-selectin conformational transition under static conditions in solution. This permits tracing a series of concerted structural changes connecting ligand binding to conformational stretching as the structural basis of E-selectin catch-bond-mediated leukocyte recruitment. The detailed molecular view of the binding site paves the way for the design of a new generation of selectin antagonists. This is of special interest, since their therapeutic potential was recently demonstrated with the pan-selectin antagonists GMI-1070 (Rivipansel).

The tyrosine gate of the bacterial lectin FimH: a conformational analysis by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography

Urinary tract infections caused by uropathogenic E. coli are among the most prevalent infectious diseases. The mannose-specific lectin FimH mediates the adhesion of the bacteria to the urothelium, thus enabling host cell invasion and recurrent infections. An attractive alternative to antibiotic treatment is the development of FimH antagonists that mimic the physiological ligand. A large variety of candidate drugs have been developed and characterized by means of in vitro studies and animal models. Here we present the X-ray co-crystal structures of FimH with members of four antagonist classes. In three of these cases no structural data had previously been available. We used NMR spectroscopy to characterize FimH-antagonist interactions further by chemical shift perturbation. The analysis allowed a clear determination of the conformation of the tyrosine gate motif that is crucial for the interaction with aglycone moieties and was not obvious from X-ray structural data alone. Finally, ITC experiments provided insight into the thermodynamics of antagonist binding. In conjunction with the structural information from X-ray and NMR experiments the results provide a mechanism for the often-observed enthalpy-entropy compensation of FimH antagonists that plays a role in fine-tuning of the interaction.

FimH antagonists: bioisosteres to improve the in vitro and in vivo PK/PD profile

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), belong to the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. The attachment of UPEC to host cells is mediated by FimH, a mannose-binding adhesin at the tip of bacterial type 1 pili. To date, UTIs are mainly treated with antibiotics, leading to the ubiquitous problem of increasing resistance against most of the currently available antimicrobials. Therefore, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. Here, we describe the development of an orally available FimH antagonist. Starting from the carboxylate substituted biphenyl α-d-mannoside 9, affinity and the relevant pharmacokinetic parameters (solubility, permeability, renal excretion) were substantially improved by a bioisosteric approach. With 3'-chloro-4'-(α-d-mannopyranosyloxy)biphenyl-4-carbonitrile (10j) a FimH antagonist with an optimal in vitro PK/PD profile was identified. Orally applied, 10j was effective in a mouse model of UTI by reducing the bacterial load in the bladder by about 1000-fold.

Dimeric Structure of the Bacterial Extracellular Foldase PrsA

Secretion of proteins into the membrane-cell wall space is essential for cell wall biosynthesis and pathogenicity in Gram-positive bacteria. Folding and maturation of many secreted proteins depend on a single extracellular foldase, the PrsA protein. PrsA is a 30-kDa protein, lipid anchored to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. The crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis PrsA reveals a central catalytic parvulin-type prolyl isomerase domain, which is inserted into a larger composite NC domain formed by the N- and C-terminal regions. This domain architecture resembles, despite a lack of sequence conservation, both trigger factor, a ribosome-binding bacterial chaperone, and SurA, a periplasmic chaperone in Gram-negative bacteria. Two main structural differences are observed in that the N-terminal arm of PrsA is substantially shortened relative to the trigger factor and SurA and in that PrsA is found to dimerize in a unique fashion via its NC domain. Dimerization leads to a large, bowl-shaped crevice, which might be involved in vivo in protecting substrate proteins from aggregation. NMR experiments reveal a direct, dynamic interaction of both the parvulin and the NC domain with secretion propeptides, which have been implicated in substrate targeting to PrsA.

Evolutionary origins of the multienzyme architecture of giant fungal fatty acid synthase

Fungal fatty acid synthase (fFAS) is a key paradigm for the evolution of complex multienzymes. Its 48 functional domains are embedded in a matrix of scaffolding elements, which comprises almost 50% of the total sequence and determines the emergent multienzymes properties of fFAS. Catalytic domains of fFAS are derived from monofunctional bacterial enzymes, but the evolutionary origin of the scaffolding elements remains enigmatic. Here, we identify two bacterial protein families of noncanonical fatty acid biosynthesis starter enzymes and trans-acting polyketide enoyl reductases (ERs) as potential ancestors of scaffolding regions in fFAS. The architectures of both protein families are revealed by representative crystal structures of the starter enzyme FabY and DfnA-ER. In both families, a striking structural conservation of insertions to scaffolding elements in fFAS is observed, despite marginal sequence identity. The combined phylogenetic and structural data provide insights into the evolutionary origins of the complex multienzyme architecture of fFAS.

Initiation of phage infection by partial unfolding and prolyl isomerization

Infection of Escherichia coli by the filamentous phage fd starts with the binding of the N2 domain of the phage gene-3-protein to an F pilus. This interaction triggers partial unfolding of the gene-3-protein, cis → trans isomerization at Pro-213, and domain disassembly, thereby exposing its binding site for the ultimate receptor TolA. The trans-proline sets a molecular timer to maintain the binding-active state long enough for the phage to interact with TolA. We elucidated the changes in structure and local stability that lead to partial unfolding and thus to the activation of the gene-3-protein for phage infection. Protein folding and TolA binding experiments were combined with real-time NMR spectroscopy, amide hydrogen exchange measurements, and phage infectivity assays. In combination, the results provide a molecular picture of how a local unfolding reaction couples with prolyl isomerization not only to generate the activated state of a protein but also to maintain it for an extended time.

Structural and energetic basis of infection by the filamentous bacteriophage IKe

Filamentous phage use the two N-terminal domains of their gene-3-proteins to initiate infection of Escherichia coli. One domain interacts with a pilus, and then the other domain binds to TolA at the cell surface. In phage fd, these two domains are tightly associated with each other, which renders the phage robust but non-infectious, because the TolA binding site is inaccessible. Activation for infection requires partial unfolding, domain disassembly and prolyl isomerization. Phage IKe infects E. coli less efficiently than phage fd. Unlike in phage fd, the pilus- and TolA-binding domains of phage IKe are independent of each other in stability and folding. The site for TolA binding is thus always accessible, but the affinity is very low. The structures of the two domains, analysed by X-ray crystallography and by NMR spectroscopy, revealed a unique fold for the N-pilus-binding domain and a conserved fold for the TolA-binding domain. The absence of an activation mechanism as in phage fd and the low affinity for TolA probably explain the low infectivity of phage IKe. They also explain why, in a previous co-evolution experiment with a mixture of phage fd and phage IKe, all hybrid phage adopted the superior infection mechanism of phage fd.

Acute isolated injury of the posterior cruciate ligament treated by a dynamic anterior drawer brace: a preliminary report

We investigated the role of a functional brace worn for four months in the treatment of patients with an acute isolated tear of the posterior cruciate ligament to determine whether reduction of the posterior tibial translation during the healing period would give an improved final position of the tibia. The initial and follow-up stability was tested by Rolimeter arthrometry and radiography. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the Lysholm score, the Tegner score and the International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system at follow-up at one and two years. In all, 21 patients were studied, 21 of whom had completed one-year and 17 a two-year follow-up. The initial mean posterior sag (Rolimeter measurement) of 7.1 mm (5 to 10) was significantly reduced after 12 months to a mean of 2.3 mm (0 to 6, p < 0.001) and to a mean of 3.2 mm (2 to 7, p = 0.001) after 24 months. Radiological measurement gave similar results. The mean pre-injury Lysholm score was normal at 98 (95 to 100). At follow-up, a slight decrease in the mean values was observed to 94.0 (79 to 100, p = 0.001) at one year and 94.0 (88 to 100, p = 0.027, at two years). We concluded that the posterior cruciate ligament has an intrinsic healing capacity and, if the posteriorly translated tibia is reduced to a physiological position, it can heal with less attentuation. The applied treatment produces a good to excellent functional result.

The filamentous phages fd and IF1 use different mechanisms to infect Escherichia coli

The filamentous phage fd uses its gene 3 protein (G3P) to target Escherichia coli cells in a two-step process. First, the N2 domain of G3P attaches to an F pilus, and then the N1 domain binds to TolA-C. N1 and N2 are tightly associated, rendering the phage robust but noninfectious because the binding site for TolA-C is buried at the domain interface. Binding of N2 to the F pilus initiates partial unfolding, domain disassembly, and prolyl cis-to-trans isomerization in the hinge between N1 and N2. This activates the phage, and trans-Pro213 maintains this state long enough for N1 to reach TolA-C. Phage IF1 targets I pili, and its G3P contains also an N1 domain and an N2 domain. The pilus-binding N2 domains of the phages IF1 and fd are unrelated, and the N1 domains share a 31% sequence identity. We show that N2 of phage IF1 mediates binding to the I pilus, and that N1 targets TolA. Crystallographic and NMR analyses of the complex between N1 and TolA-C indicate that phage IF1 interacts with the same site on TolA-C as phage fd. In IF1-G3P, N1 and N2 are independently folding units, however, and the TolA binding site on N1 is permanently accessible. Activation by unfolding and prolyl isomerization, as in the case of phage fd, is not observed. In IF1-G3P, the absence of stabilizing domain interactions is compensated for by a strong increase in the stabilities of the individual domains. Apparently, these closely related filamentous phages evolved different mechanisms to reconcile robustness with high infectivity.

The prolyl isomerase domain of PpiD from Escherichia coli shows a parvulin fold but is devoid of catalytic activity

PpiD is a periplasmic folding helper protein of Escherichia coli. It consists of an N-terminal helix that anchors PpiD in the inner membrane near the SecYEG translocon, followed by three periplasmic domains. The second domain (residues 264-357) shows homology to parvulin-like prolyl isomerases. This domain is a well folded, stable protein and follows a simple two-state folding mechanism. In its solution structure, as determined by NMR spectroscopy, it resembles most closely the first parvulin domain of the SurA protein, which resides in the periplasm of E. coli as well. A previously reported prolyl isomerase activity of PpiD could not be reproduced when using improved protease-free peptide assays or assays with refolding proteins as substrates. The parvulin domain of PpiD interacts, however, with a proline-containing tetrapeptide, and the binding site, as identified by NMR resonance shift analysis, colocalized with the catalytic sites of other parvulins. In its structure, the parvulin domain of PpiD resembles most closely the inactive first parvulin domain of SurA, which is part of the chaperone unit of this protein and presumably involved in substrate recognition.

Low reoperation rate with the Medoff sliding plate: 1 technical failure in 63 trochanteric hip fractures

The Medoff sliding plate was designed to treat unstable intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. This plate has a dual sliding capability along both the femoral shaft and neck in order to improve bone coaptation, interfragment compression and hence load-sharing between bone and implant in hip fractures. In a retrospective study of 63 patients (mean age 82 (51-98) years) with intertrochanteric (n 44) and high subtrochanteric fractures (n 19), we assessed the results with the Medoff sliding plate. All patients, except 1 lost to follow-up, were examined clinically and radiographically. 14 patients died within 1 year, and in the other, the mean follow-up was 15 (6-30) months. 1 technical failure occurred, leading to a single reoperation. The low technical failure rate suggests that the Medoff sliding plate with combined compression modus is suitable for treating intertrochanteric and high subtrochanteric fractures.

Molecular determinants of a native-state prolyl isomerization

Prolyl cis/trans isomerizations determine the rates of many protein-folding reactions, and they can serve as molecular switches and timers. The energy required to shift the prolyl cis/trans equilibrium during these processes originates from conformational reactions that are linked structurally and energetically with prolyl isomerization. We used the N2 domain of the gene-3-protein of phage fd to elucidate how such an energetic linkage develops in the course of folding. The Asp160-Pro161 bond at the tip of a beta hairpin of N2 is cis in the crystal structure, but in fact, it exists as a mixture of conformers in folded N2. During refolding, about 10 kJ mol(-1) of conformational energy becomes available for a 75-fold shift of the cis/trans equilibrium constant at Pro161, from 7/93 in the unfolded to 90/10 in the folded form. We combined single- and double-mixing kinetic experiments with a mutational analysis to identify the structural origin of this proline shift energy and to elucidate the molecular path for the transfer of this energy to Pro161. It originates largely, if not entirely, from the two-stranded beta sheet at the base of the Pro161 hairpin. The two strands improve their stabilizing interactions when Pro161 is cis, and this stabilization is propagated to Pro161, because the connector peptides between the beta strands and Pro161 are native-like folded when Pro161 is cis. In the presence of a trans-Pro161, the connector peptides are locally unfolded, and thus, Pro161 is structurally and energetically uncoupled from the beta sheet. Such interrelations between local folding and prolyl isomerization and the potential modulation by prolyl isomerases might also be used to break and reestablish slow communication pathways in proteins.

Increased folding stability of TEM-1 beta-lactamase by in vitro selection

In vitro selections of stabilized proteins lead to more robust enzymes and, at the same time, yield novel insights into the principles of protein stability. We employed Proside, a method of in vitro selection, to find stabilized variants of TEM-1 beta-lactamase from Escherichia coli. Proside links the increased protease resistance of stabilized proteins to the infectivity of a filamentous phage. Several libraries of TEM-1 beta-lactamase variants were generated by error-prone PCR, and variants with increased protease resistance were obtained by raising temperature or guanidinium chloride concentration during proteolytic selections. Despite the small size of phage libraries, several strongly stabilizing mutations could be obtained, and a manual combination of the best shifted the profiles for thermal unfolding and temperature-dependent inactivation of beta-lactamase by almost 20 degrees C to a higher temperature. The wild-type protein unfolds in two stages: from the native state via an intermediate of the molten-globule type to the unfolded form. In the course of the selections, the native protein was stabilized by 27 kJ mol(-1) relative to the intermediate and the cooperativity of unfolding was strongly increased. Three of our stabilizing replacements (M182T, A224V, and R275L) had been identified independently in naturally occurring beta-lactamase variants with extended substrate spectrum. In these variants, they acted as global suppressors of destabilizations caused by the mutations in the active site. The comparison between the crystal structure of our best variant and the crystal structure of the wild-type protein indicates that most of the selected mutations optimize helices and their packing. The stabilization by the E147G substitution is remarkable. It removes steric strain that originates from an overly tight packing of two helices in the wild-type protein. Such unfavorable van der Waals repulsions are not easily identified in crystal structures or by computational approaches, but they strongly reduce the conformational stability of a protein.

Repair of superficial osteochondral defects with an autologous scaffold-free cartilage construct in a caprine model: implantation method and short-term results

OBJECTIVE

To compare four different implantation modalities for the repair of superficial osteochondral defects in a caprine model using autologous, scaffold-free, engineered cartilage constructs, and to describe the short-term outcome of successfully implanted constructs.

METHODS

Scaffold-free, autologous cartilage constructs were implanted within superficial osteochondral defects created in the stifle joints of nine adult goats. The implants were distributed between four 6-mm-diameter superficial osteochondral defects created in the trochlea femoris and secured in the defect using a covering periosteal flap (PF) alone or in combination with adhesives (platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or fibrin), or using PRP alone. Eight weeks after implantation surgery, the animals were killed. The defect sites were excised and subjected to macroscopic and histopathologic analyses.

RESULTS

At 8 weeks, implants that had been held in place exclusively with a PF were well integrated both laterally and basally. The repair tissue manifested an architecture similar to that of hyaline articular cartilage. However, most of the implants that had been glued in place in the absence of a PF were lost during the initial 4-week phase of restricted joint movement. The use of human fibrin glue (FG) led to massive cell infiltration of the subchondral bone.

CONCLUSIONS

The implantation of autologous, scaffold-free, engineered cartilage constructs might best be performed beneath a PF without the use of tissue adhesives. Successfully implanted constructs showed hyaline-like characteristics in adult goats within 2 months. Long-term animal studies and pilot clinical trials are now needed to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment strategy.

Xenobiotic reductase A in the degradation of quinoline by Pseudomonas putida 86: physiological function, structure and mechanism of 8-hydroxycoumarin reduction

A continuous evolutionary pressure of the biotic and abiotic world has led to the development of a diversity of microbial pathways to degrade and biomineralize aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds. The heterogeneity of compounds metabolized by bacteria like Pseudomonas putida indicates the large variety of enzymes necessary to catalyse the required reactions. Quinoline, a N-heterocyclic aromatic compound, can be degraded by microbes along different pathways. For P. putida 86 quinoline degradation by the 8-hydroxycoumarin pathway has been described and several intermediates were identified. To select enzymes catalysing the later stages of the 8-hydroxycoumarin pathway P. putida 86 was grown with quinoline. The FMN-containing enzyme xenobiotic reductase A (XenA) was isolated and analysed for its reactivity with intermediates of the 8-hydroxycoumarin pathway. XenA catalyses the NADPH-dependent reduction of 8-hydroxycoumarin and coumarin to produce 8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocoumarin and 3,4-dihydrocoumarin, respectively. Crystallographic analysis of XenA alone and in complex with the two substrates revealed insights into the mechanism. XenA shows a dimeric arrangement of two (beta/alpha)(8) barrel domains each binding one FMN cofactor. High resolution crystal structures of complexes with 8-hydroxycoumarin and coumarin show different modes of binding for these molecules in the active site. While coumarin is ideally positioned for hydride transfer from N-5 of the isoalloxazine ring to C-4 of coumarin, 8-hydroxycoumarin forms a non-productive complex with oxidised XenA. Orientation of 8-hydroxycoumarin in the active site appears to be dependent on the electronic state of the flavin. We postulate that XenA catalyses the last step of the 8-hydroxycoumarin pathway before the heterocyclic ring is hydrolysed to yield 3-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid. As XenA is also found in P. putida strains unable to degrade quinoline, it appears to have more than one physiological function and is an example of how enzymes with low substrate specificity can help to explain the variety of degradation pathways possible.

Impact loading of articular cartilage during transplantation of osteochondral autograft

Surgical reconstruction of articular surfaces by transplantation of osteochondral autografts has shown considerable promise in the treatment of focal articular lesions. During mosaicplasty, each cylindrical osteochondral graft is centred over the recipient hole and delivered by impacting the articular surface. Impact loading of articular cartilage has been associated with structural damage, loss of the viability of chondrocytes and subsequent degeneration of the articular cartilage. We have examined the relationship between single-impact loading and chondrocyte death for the specific confined-compression boundary conditions of mosaicplasty and the effect of repetitive impact loading which occurs during implantation of the graft on the resulting viability of the chondrocytes.

Fresh bovine and porcine femoral condyles were used in this experiment. The percentage of chondrocyte death was found to vary logarithmically with single-impact energy and was predicted more strongly by the mean force of the impact rather than by the number of impacts required during placement of the graft. The significance of these results in regard to the surgical technique and design features of instruments for osteochondral transplantation is discussed.

[Closing wedge osteotomy of the tibial head in treatment of single compartment arthrosis]

Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy is an efficient method for the treatment of medial osteoarthritis of the knee. Prerequisites of successful surgery are proper indication and planning as well as the understanding of biomechanics and pathophysiology. The technique of osteotomy to choose (opening or closing wedge) depends on the type of malalignment and on additional pathologies. The surgical technique demands high precision to realize the planned correction and to avoid complications. Implants with angular stability provide advantages compared to traditional implants. Correct indication and surgical technique results in a desirable follow-up, which often lasts for at least 10 years. The effect on the prognosis of the young patient with cartilage damage is still unclear.