Probing the druggability of protein–protein interactions: targeting the Notch1 receptor ankyrin domain using a fragment-based approach

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1327-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noha Abdel-Rahman ◽  
Alfonso Martinez-Arias ◽  
Tom L. Blundell

In order to achieve greater selectivity in drug discovery, researchers in both academia and industry are targeting cell regulatory systems. This often involves targeting the protein–protein interactions of regulatory multiprotein assemblies. Protein–protein interfaces are widely recognized to be challenging targets as they tend to be large and relatively flat, and therefore usually do not have the concave binding sites that characterize the so-called ‘druggable genome’. One such prototypic multiprotein target is the Notch transcription complex, where an extensive network of protein–protein interactions stabilize the ternary complex comprising the ankyrin domain, CSL (CBF1/suppressor of Hairless/Lag-1) and MAML (Mastermind-like). Enhanced Notch activity is implicated in the development of T-ALL (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) and selective inhibitors of Notch would be useful cancer medicines. In the present paper, we describe a fragment-based approach to explore the druggability of the ankyrin domain. Using biophysical methods and X-ray crystal structure analyses, we demonstrate that molecules can bind to the surface of the ankyrin domain at the interface region with CSL and MAML. We show that they probably represent starting points for designing larger compounds that can inhibit important protein–protein interactions that stabilize the Notch complex. Given the relatively featureless topography of the ankyrin domain, this unexpected development should encourage others to explore the druggability of such challenging multiprotein systems using fragment-based approaches.

Genetics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-484
Author(s):  
W F Wu ◽  
S Christiansen ◽  
M Feiss

Abstract The large subunit of phage lambda terminase, gpA, the gene product of the phage A gene, interacts with the small subunit, gpNul, to form functional terminase. Terminase binds to lambda DNA at cosB to form a binary complex. The terminase:DNA complex binds a prohead to form a ternary complex. Ternary complex formation involves an interaction of the prohead with gpA. The amino terminus of gpA contains a functional domain for interaction with gpNul, and the carboxy-terminal 38 amino acids of gpA contain a functional domain for prohead binding. This information about the structure of gpA was obtained through the use of hybrid phages resulting from recombination between lambda and the related phage 21. lambda and 21 encode terminases that are analogous in structural organization and have ca. 60% sequence identity. In spite of these similarities, lambda and 21 terminases differ in specificity for DNA binding, subunit assembly, and prohead binding. A lambda-21 hybrid phage produces a terminase in which one of the subunits is chimeric and had recombinant specificities. In the work reported here; a new hybrid, lambda-21 hybrid 67, is characterized. lambda-21 hybrid 67 is the result of a crossover between lambda and 21 in the large subunit genes, such that the DNA from the left chromosome end is from 21, including cosB phi 21, the 1 gene, and the first 48 codons for the 2 gene. The rest of the hybrid 67 chromosome is lambda DNA, including 593 codons of the A gene. The chimeric gp2/A of hybrid 67 binds gp1 to form functional terminase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxing Song ◽  
Feng Ni

Using the design of bivalent and bridge-binding inhibitors of thrombin as an example, we review an NMR-based experimental approach for the design of functional mimetics of protein-protein interactions. The strategy includes: (i) identification of binding residues in peptide ligands by differential resonance perturbation, (ii) determination of protein-bound structures of peptide ligands by use of transferred NOEs, (iii) minimization of larger protein and peptide ligands on the basis of NMR structural information, and (iv) linkage of two weakly binding mimetics to produce an inhibitor with enhanced affinity and specificity. This approach can be especially effective for the design of potent and selective functional mimetics of protein-protein interactions because it is less likely that the surfaces of two related proteins or enzymes share two identical binding sites or regions.Key words: NMR, protein-protein interactions, functional mimetics, bridge-binding inhibitors, thrombin.


2009 ◽  
Vol 390 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhard Krämer ◽  
Christine Ziegler

Abstract Activation of the osmoregulated trimeric betaine transporter BetP from Corynebacterium glutamicum was shown to depend mainly on the correct folding and integrity of its 55 amino acid long, partly α-helical C-terminal domain. Reorientation of the three C-terminal domains in the BetP trimer indicates different lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions of the C-terminal domain during osmoregulation. A regulation mechanism is suggested where this domain switches the transporter from the inactive to the active state. Interpretation of recently obtained electron and X-ray crystallography data of BetP led to a structure-function based model of C-terminal molecular switching involved in osmoregulation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (50) ◽  
pp. E8051-E8058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Bai ◽  
Faruck Morcos ◽  
Ryan R. Cheng ◽  
Hualiang Jiang ◽  
José N. Onuchic

Protein−protein interactions play a central role in cellular function. Improving the understanding of complex formation has many practical applications, including the rational design of new therapeutic agents and the mechanisms governing signal transduction networks. The generally large, flat, and relatively featureless binding sites of protein complexes pose many challenges for drug design. Fragment docking and direct coupling analysis are used in an integrated computational method to estimate druggable protein−protein interfaces. (i) This method explores the binding of fragment-sized molecular probes on the protein surface using a molecular docking-based screen. (ii) The energetically favorable binding sites of the probes, called hot spots, are spatially clustered to map out candidate binding sites on the protein surface. (iii) A coevolution-based interface interaction score is used to discriminate between different candidate binding sites, yielding potential interfacial targets for therapeutic drug design. This approach is validated for important, well-studied disease-related proteins with known pharmaceutical targets, and also identifies targets that have yet to be studied. Moreover, therapeutic agents are proposed by chemically connecting the fragments that are strongly bound to the hot spots.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Rimbault ◽  
Kashyap Maruthi ◽  
Christelle Breillat ◽  
Camille Genuer ◽  
Sara Crespillo ◽  
...  

Abstract Designing highly specific modulators of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is especially challenging in the context of multiple paralogs and conserved interaction surfaces. In this case, direct generation of selective and competitive inhibitors is hindered by high similarity within the evolutionary-related protein interfaces. We report here a strategy that uses a semi-rational approach to separate the modulator design into two functional parts. We first achieve specificity toward a region outside of the interface by using phage display selection coupled with molecular and cellular validation. Highly selective competition is then generated by appending the more degenerate interaction peptide to contact the target interface. We apply this approach to specifically bind a single PDZ domain within the postsynaptic protein PSD-95 over highly similar PDZ domains in PSD-93, SAP-97 and SAP-102. Our work provides a paralog-selective and domain specific inhibitor of PSD-95, and describes a method to efficiently target other conserved PPI modules.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 774-774
Author(s):  
P.A Mcewan ◽  
Robert K Andrews ◽  
Jonas Emsley

Abstract Abstract 774 Introduction: The platelet Glycoprotein Ib/V/IX (GpIb/V/IX) complex is considered a major target for anticoagulant therapy. The primary function of the receptor is to mediate platelet adhesion to von Willebrand factor (VWF) bound to damaged sub-endothelium. This represents the first critical step for platelet adhesion under conditions of high fluid shear stress. GpIb/V/IX is implicated in a number of thrombotic pathological processes such as stroke or myocardial infarction and the bleeding disorders Bernard-Soulier syndrome, platelet type von Willebrand disease (Pt-VWD) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. We have successfully determined the structure of the GpIbalpha N-terminal domain in complex with a potent (sub nM) 11meric peptide inhibitor (OS1) of the interaction with VWF. Methods: We have determined the crystal structure to 1.8Å resolution using molecular replacement. Results. The peptide sequence CTERMALHNLC was readily identifiable bound to GpIbalpha between the extended regulatory (R) loop and the concave surface of the leucine rich repeats. The peptide adopts one and a half turns of an alpha-helix and contacts three subsites (S1, S2 and S3). S1 and S2 reside within the leucine rich repeats and S3 has a unique feature as this subsite involves contact with the regulatory R-loop stabilizing it in a well defined conformation with helical character. This loop alters conformation between an extended beta-hairpin in the VWF-A1 bound structure and a more compact largely disordered structure in the unliganded structure. In this regard, the Pt-VWD mutations of GpIbalpha, G233V and M239V, which reside in the R-loop act by inducing a beta-conformation and thus result in a high affinity form of the receptor. Conclusions: These studies provide a strategy for targeting the GpIbalpha-VWF interaction using small molecules or alpha-helical peptides exploiting the GpIbalpha subsites described here and acting allosterically to stabilise a low affinity conformation of the receptor with an alpha helical R-loop. Ligand mimetic peptide complex crystal structures for the platelet receptors integrin aIIbb3 with RGD, and alpha2beta1 with a collagen peptide have been described and the former are currently in therapeutic use for treatment of thromboemboletic disorders. Targeting the GpIbalpha-VWF interaction may provide anti-thrombotic drugs which affect platelet adhesion under high shear stress without compromising normal processes of platelet adhesion and aggregation which may be required for normal hemostasis to function. Targeting protein-protein interactions is considered one of the great contemporary challenges in drug discovery. The understanding of how the S1S2S3 subsites provide very effective inhibition of a large protein-protein interaction has wide applicability. LRR proteins are an extended family mediating protein-protein interactions involved in a variety of disease processes such as sepsis, asthma, immunodeficiencies, atherosclerosis, alzheimers (leucine rich repeat kinase) and leukaemia (leucine rich repeat phosphatase). The structural fit of the helical curvature of the peptide with the arc of the leucine rich repeats may provide a basis for further development of alpha-helical peptide mimetics targeting other members of the LRR family which utilize the concave face. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (44) ◽  
pp. 16618-16624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Cornell ◽  
Jing Fu ◽  
Stephanie H. Newland ◽  
Brendan P. Orner

2010 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 630a ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro R.S. Barbosa ◽  
Maria Grazia Ortore ◽  
Francesco Spinozzi ◽  
Paolo Mariani ◽  
Sigrid Bernstorff ◽  
...  

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