scholarly journals Cryo-EM structures of the SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease Nsp15 reveal insight into nuclease specificity and dynamics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica C. Pillon ◽  
Meredith N. Frazier ◽  
Lucas B. Dillard ◽  
Jason G. Williams ◽  
Seda Kocaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Crystal Structures ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Nuclease Activity ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Phosphodiester Bond ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Cyclic Phosphate

AbstractNsp15, a uridine specific endoribonuclease conserved across coronaviruses, processes viral RNA to evade detection by host defense systems. Crystal structures of Nsp15 from different coronaviruses have shown a common hexameric assembly, yet how the enzyme recognizes and processes RNA remains poorly understood. Here we report a series of cryo-EM reconstructions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15, in both apo and UTP-bound states. The cryo-EM reconstructions, combined with biochemistry, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics, expose molecular details of how critical active site residues recognize uridine and facilitate catalysis of the phosphodiester bond. Mass spectrometry revealed the accumulation of cyclic phosphate cleavage products, while analysis of the apo and UTP-bound datasets revealed conformational dynamics not observed by crystal structures that are likely important to facilitate substrate recognition and regulate nuclease activity. Collectively, these findings advance understanding of how Nsp15 processes viral RNA and provide a structural framework for the development of new therapeutics.

scholarly journals Cryo-EM Structures of the SARS-CoV-2 Endoribonuclease Nsp15

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica C. Pillon ◽  
Meredith N. Frazier ◽  
Lucas B. Dillard ◽  
Jason G. Williams ◽  
Seda Kocaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Defense ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Nuclease Activity ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Conformational Heterogeneity ◽  
Phosphodiester Bond ◽  
Defense Systems ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Critical Residues

AbstractNew therapeutics are urgently needed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. Nsp15, a uridine-specific endoribonuclease found in all coronaviruses, processes viral RNA to evade detection by RNA-activated host defense systems, making it a promising drug target. Previous work with SARS-CoV-1 established that Nsp15 is active as a hexamer, yet how Nsp15 recognizes and processes viral RNA remains unknown. Here we report a series of cryo-EM reconstructions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15. The UTP-bound cryo-EM reconstruction at 3.36 Å resolution provides molecular details into how critical residues within the Nsp15 active site recognize uridine and facilitate catalysis of the phosphodiester bond, whereas the apo-states reveal active site conformational heterogeneity. We further demonstrate the specificity and mechanism of nuclease activity by analyzing Nsp15 products using mass spectrometry. Collectively, these findings advance understanding of how Nsp15 processes viral RNA and provide a structural framework for the development of new therapeutics.

scholarly journals Atlas der SARS-CoV-2-RNA-Protein-Interaktionen in infizierten Zellen

BIOspektrum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-379
Author(s):  
Nora Schmidt ◽  
Mathias Munschauer
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Defense Strategies ◽  
Pharmacological Inhibition ◽  
Novel Therapeutics ◽  
Contact Sites ◽  
Human Proteins ◽  
Infected Cells

AbstractUsing RNA antisense purification and mass spectrometry, we identified more than 100 human proteins that directly and specifically bind SARS-CoV-2 RNA in infected cells. To gain insights into the functions of selected RNA interactors, we applied genetic perturbation and pharmacological inhibition experiments, and mapped the contact sites on the viral RNA. This led to the identification of host dependency factors and defense strategies, which can guide the design of novel therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals New crystal structures of adenylate kinase fromStreptococcus pneumoniaeD39 in two conformations

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 1468-1471
Author(s):  
Trung Thanh Thach ◽  
Sangho Lee
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structures ◽  
Adenylate Kinase ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Unit Cell Parameters ◽  
Space Group ◽  
Cell Parameters ◽  
Ligand Free ◽  
Adenylate Kinases

Adenylate kinases (AdKs; EC 2.7.3.4) play a critical role in intercellular homeostasis by the interconversion of ATP and AMP to two ADP molecules. Crystal structures of adenylate kinase fromStreptococcus pneumoniaeD39 (SpAdK) have recently been determined using ligand-free and inhibitor-bound crystals belonging to space groupsP21andP1, respectively. Here, new crystal structures of SpAdK in ligand-free and inhibitor-bound states determined at 1.96 and 1.65 Å resolution, respectively, are reported. The new ligand-free crystal belonged to space groupC2, with unit-cell parametersa= 73.5,b= 54.3,c= 62.7 Å, β = 118.8°. The new ligand-free structure revealed an open conformation that differed from the previously determined conformation, with an r.m.s.d on Cαatoms of 1.4 Å. The new crystal of the complex with the two-substrate-mimicking inhibitorP1,P5-bis(adenosine-5′-)pentaphosphate (Ap5A) belonged to space groupP1, with unit-cell parametersa= 53.9,b= 62.3,c= 63.0 Å, α = 101.9, β = 112.6, γ = 89.9°. Despite belonging to the same space group as the previously reported crystal, the new Ap5A-bound crystal contains four molecules in the asymmetric unit, compared with two in the previous crystal, and shows slightly different lattice contacts. These results demonstrate that SpAdK can crystallize promiscuously in different forms and that the open structure is flexible in conformation.

Conformational dynamics and thermodynamics of protein–ligand binding studied by NMR relaxation

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Akke
Keyword(s):  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Conformational Dynamics ◽  
Nmr Relaxation ◽  
Titration Calorimetry ◽  
Conformational Entropy ◽  
Chain Order ◽  
Ligand Interactions ◽  
Galectin 3 ◽  
Relaxation Experiments

Protein conformational dynamics can be critical for ligand binding in two ways that relate to kinetics and thermodynamics respectively. First, conformational transitions between different substates can control access to the binding site (kinetics). Secondly, differences between free and ligand-bound states in their conformational fluctuations contribute to the entropy of ligand binding (thermodynamics). In the present paper, I focus on the second topic, summarizing our recent results on the role of conformational entropy in ligand binding to Gal3C (the carbohydrate-recognition domain of galectin-3). NMR relaxation experiments provide a unique probe of conformational entropy by characterizing bond-vector fluctuations at atomic resolution. By monitoring differences between the free and ligand-bound states in their backbone and side chain order parameters, we have estimated the contributions from conformational entropy to the free energy of binding. Overall, the conformational entropy of Gal3C increases upon ligand binding, thereby contributing favourably to the binding affinity. Comparisons with the results from isothermal titration calorimetry indicate that the conformational entropy is comparable in magnitude to the enthalpy of binding. Furthermore, there are significant differences in the dynamic response to binding of different ligands, despite the fact that the protein structure is virtually identical in the different protein–ligand complexes. Thus both affinity and specificity of ligand binding to Gal3C appear to depend in part on subtle differences in the conformational fluctuations that reflect the complex interplay between structure, dynamics and ligand interactions.

scholarly journals Structural basis of adhesive binding by desmocollins and desmogleins

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (26) ◽  
pp. 7160-7165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver J. Harrison ◽  
Julia Brasch ◽  
Gorka Lasso ◽  
Phinikoula S. Katsamba ◽  
Goran Ahlsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Crystal Structures ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cellular Interactions ◽  
Opposite Charge ◽  
Charged Amino Acids ◽  
Structural Framework ◽  
Classical Cadherins ◽  
Coated Bead

Desmosomes are intercellular adhesive junctions that impart strength to vertebrate tissues. Their dense, ordered intercellular attachments are formed by desmogleins (Dsgs) and desmocollins (Dscs), but the nature of trans-cellular interactions between these specialized cadherins is unclear. Here, using solution biophysics and coated-bead aggregation experiments, we demonstrate family-wise heterophilic specificity: All Dsgs form adhesive dimers with all Dscs, with affinities characteristic of each Dsg:Dsc pair. Crystal structures of ectodomains from Dsg2 and Dsg3 and from Dsc1 and Dsc2 show binding through a strand-swap mechanism similar to that of homophilic classical cadherins. However, conserved charged amino acids inhibit Dsg:Dsg and Dsc:Dsc interactions by same-charge repulsion and promote heterophilic Dsg:Dsc interactions through opposite-charge attraction. These findings show that Dsg:Dsc heterodimers represent the fundamental adhesive unit of desmosomes and provide a structural framework for understanding desmosome assembly.

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