The story of the fibrin(ogen) αC-domains: evolution of our view on their structure and interactions

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/a-1719-5584 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Leonid Medved ◽

John W Weisel

Keyword(s):

Binding Sites ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Optical Trap ◽

Cell Types ◽

Ordered Structures ◽

Multiple Binding Sites ◽

New Information ◽

Multiple Binding ◽

And Function ◽

Fibrinogen Molecule

Although much has been established concerning the overall structure and function of fibrinogen, much less has been known about its two αC regions, each consisting of an αC-connector and αC-domain, but new information has been accumulating. This review summarizes the state of our current knowledge of the structure and interactions of fibrinogen’s αC regions. A series of studies with isolated αC regions and their fragments demonstrated that the αC-domain forms compact ordered structures consisting of N- and C-terminal sub-domains including β sheets and suggested that the αC-connector has a poly(L-proline) type II structure. Functionally, the αC-domains interact intramolecularly with each other and with the central region of the molecule, first demonstrated by electron microscopy and then quantified by optical trap force spectroscopy. Upon conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin, the αC-domains switch from intra- to intermolecular interactions to form ordered αC polymers. The formation of αC polymers occurs mainly through the homophilic interaction between the N-terminal sub-domains; interaction between the C-terminal sub-domains and the αC-connectors also contributes to this process. Considerable evidence supports the idea that the αC-regions accelerate fibrin polymerization and affect the final structure of fibrin clots. The interactions between αC-regions are important for the mechanical properties of clots, increasing their stiffness and extensibility. Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin results in exposure of multiple binding sites in its αC regions, providing interaction of fibrin with different proteins and cell types during hemostasis and wound healing. This heretofore mysterious part of the fibrinogen molecule is finally giving up its secrets.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Multiple binding sites for the general anesthetic isoflurane identified in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor transmembrane domain.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.5804956.5786054 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Edward Bertaccini

Keyword(s):

Acetylcholine Receptor ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Transmembrane Domain ◽

General Anesthetic ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Multiple Binding Sites ◽

Multiple Binding

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NMDAR PAMs: Multiple Chemotypes for Multiple Binding Sites

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026619666191011095341 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (24) ◽

pp. 2239-2253 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paul J. Goldsmith

Keyword(s):

Binding Sites ◽

Receptor Activation ◽

Research Area ◽

Allosteric Modulators ◽

Nonselective Cation Channels ◽

Multiple Binding Sites ◽

Multiple Binding ◽

Excitatory Neurotransmission ◽

Psychiatric Conditions ◽

High Level

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a member of the ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) family that plays a crucial role in brain signalling and development. NMDARs are nonselective cation channels that are involved with the propagation of excitatory neurotransmission signals with important effects on synaptic plasticity. NMDARs are functionally and structurally complex receptors, they exist as a family of subtypes each with its own unique pharmacological properties. Their implication in a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions means they have been a focus of research for many decades. Disruption of NMDAR-related signalling is known to adversely affect higherorder cognitive functions (e.g. learning and memory) and the search for molecules that can recover (or even enhance) receptor output is a current strategy for CNS drug discovery. A number of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that specifically attempt to overcome NMDAR hypofunction have been discovered. They include various chemotypes that have been found to bind to several different binding sites within the receptor. The heterogeneity of chemotype, binding site and NMDAR subtype provide a broad landscape of ongoing opportunities to uncover new features of NMDAR pharmacology. Research on NMDARs continues to provide novel mechanistic insights into receptor activation and this review will provide a high-level overview of the research area and discuss the various chemical classes of PAMs discovered so far.

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Effects of Multiple Binding Sites on Studies of Hydrogen Bonding between Nitroxide Radicals and Solvent Molecules

Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications ◽

10.1135/cccc19930047 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 47-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Imad Al-Bala'a ◽

Richard D. Bates

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Bonding ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Binding Site ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Hyperfine Coupling Constant ◽

Hydrogen Donor ◽

Complex Formation Constants ◽

Multiple Binding Sites ◽

Multiple Binding ◽

Solvent Molecules

The role of more than one binding site on a nitroxide free radical in magnetic resonance determinations of the properties of the complex formed with a hydrogen donor is examined. The expression that relates observed hyperfine couplings in EPR spectra to complex formation constants and concentrations of each species in solution becomes much more complex when multiple binding sites are present, but reduces to a simpler form when binding at the two sites occurs independently and the binding at the non-nitroxide site does not produce significant differences in the hyperfine coupling constant in the complexed radical. Effects on studies of hydrogen bonding between multiple binding site nitroxides and hydrogen donor solvent molecules by other magnetic resonance methods are potentially more extreme.

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