scholarly journals Cevipabulin-tubulin complex reveals a novel agent binding site on α-tubulin and provides insights into microtubule dynamic instability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhong Yang ◽  
Yamei Yu ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Haoyu Ye ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
...  

AbstractMicrotubule, composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, remains as one of the most popular anticancer targets for decades. To date, anti-microtubule drugs mainly target β-tubulin to inhibit microtubule dynamic instability (MDI) while agents binding to α-tubulin are less well characterized and also the molecular mechanism of MDI is far from being articulated. Cevipabulin, an oral microtubule-active antitumor clinical candidate, is widely accepted as a microtubule stabilizing agent (MSA) but binds to the microtubule-destabilization vinblastine site on β-tubulin and this unusual phenomenon has so far failed to be explained. Our X-ray crystallography study reveals that, in addition binding to the vinblastine site, cevipabulin also binds to a novel site on α-tubulin (named the seventh site) which located at the region spatially corresponding to the vinblastine site on β-tubulin. Interestingly, cevipabulin exhibits two unique site-dependent functions. Cevipabulin binding to the seventh site promotes tubulin degradation through interaction of the non-exchengeable GTP to reduce tubulin stability. Cevipabulin binding to the vinblastine site enhances longitudinal interactions but inhibits lateral interactions of tubulins, thus inducing tubulin protofilament polymerization (but not microtubule polymerization like MSAs), and then tangling into irregular tubulin aggregates. Importantly, the tubulin-cevipabulin structure is an intermediate between “bent” and “straight” tubulins and the involved bent-to-straight conformation change will be helpful to fully understand the molecular mechanism of tubulin assembly. Our findings confirm cevipabulin is not an MSA and shed light on the development of a new generation of anti-microtubule drugs targeting the novel site on α-tubulin and also provide new insights into MDI.

2016 ◽  
Vol 213 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa C. Pamula ◽  
Shih-Chieh Ti ◽  
Tarun M. Kapoor

Diversity in cytoskeleton organization and function may be achieved through variations in primary sequence of tubulin isotypes. Recently, isotype functional diversity has been linked to a “tubulin code” in which the C-terminal tail, a region of substantial sequence divergence between isotypes, specifies interactions with microtubule-associated proteins. However, it is not known whether residue changes in this region alter microtubule dynamic instability. Here, we examine recombinant tubulin with human β isotype IIB and characterize polymerization dynamics. Microtubules with βIIB have catastrophe frequencies approximately threefold lower than those with isotype βIII, a suppression similar to that achieved by regulatory proteins. Further, we generate chimeric β tubulins with native tail sequences swapped between isotypes. These chimeras have catastrophe frequencies similar to that of the corresponding full-length construct with the same core sequence. Together, our data indicate that residue changes within the conserved β tubulin core are largely responsible for the observed isotype-specific changes in dynamic instability parameters and tune tubulin’s polymerization properties across a wide range.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (21) ◽  
pp. eabg4168
Author(s):  
Jianhong Yang ◽  
Yamei Yu ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Haoyu Ye ◽  
...  

Microtubules, composed of αβ-tubulin heterodimers, have remained popular anticancer targets for decades. Six known binding sites on tubulin dimers have been identified thus far, with five sites on β-tubulin and only one site on α-tubulin, hinting that compounds binding to α-tubulin are less well characterized. Cevipabulin, a microtubule-active antitumor clinical candidate, is widely accepted as a microtubule-stabilizing agent by binding to the vinblastine site. Our x-ray crystallography study reveals that, in addition to binding to the vinblastine site, cevipabulin also binds to a new site on α-tubulin. We find that cevipabulin at this site pushes the αT5 loop outward, making the nonexchangeable GTP exchangeable, which reduces the stability of tubulin, leading to its destabilization and degradation. Our results confirm the existence of a new agent binding site on α-tubulin and shed light on the development of tubulin degraders as a new generation of antimicrotubule drugs targeting this novel site.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S26-S26
Author(s):  
Alena Korshunova

Background: Eukaryotic end binding proteins (EBs) can follow the growing microtubule end. EBs play a crucial role in microtubule dynamic instability and promote simultaneously growth rate and catastrophe frequency. It makes EB-like proteins perspective drag targets for a wide number of diseases. But the molecular mechanism of tip tracking by EB-like proteins remains unknown. Studies of mutants have revealed that the conservative amino acid Q102 (numbering relative to the human EB1 protein) plays a key role in the recognition of the growing microtubule end. However, the 3D structure studies revealed that this amino acid has no bonds with tubulin. In this work, we performed structural and phylogenetic analysis of EBs proteins to identify a possible molecular mechanism behind the plus end tracking. Methods: UCSF Chimera10 was used for structural analysis. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with MEGA X software. 3D structures of EBs and microtubules with different states of GTP hydrolysis were used (pdb 3JAK, 3JAS, 3JAT, 3JAW, 3JAL, 3JAR, 6DPU, 6DPV, 6DPW). Results: We have shown that two conservative amino acids (K100, E106) should play an important role in the recognition of the microtubule plus end in addition to Q102. It was concluded that these amino acids together form the plus-end «navigation site» of EBs. Analysis of possible interaction of the «navigation site» amino acids with microtubules in different conformational states suggested that the main mechanism of growing microtubule end recognition is not due to an affinity increase for a certain state of tubulin in microtubules at their end, but it due to a significant affinity decrease in other parts of the microtubule as a result of steric clashes. Conclusion: Thus, the results of the analysis suggested the possible molecular mechanism that provides the tip tracking by EB-like proteins and allowed us to identify the key amino acids of this mechanism.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Wen Chu ◽  
Fajian Hou ◽  
Junmei Zhang ◽  
Lilian Phu ◽  
Alex V. Loktev ◽  
...  

Dynamic instability is a critical property of microtubules (MTs). By regulating the rate of tubulin polymerization and depolymerization, cells organize the MT cytoskeleton to accommodate their specific functions. Among many processes, posttranslational modifications of tubulin are implicated in regulating MT functions. Here we report a novel tubulin acetylation catalyzed by acetyltransferase San at lysine 252 (K252) of β-tubulin. This acetylation, which is also detected in vivo, is added to soluble tubulin heterodimers but not tubulins in MTs. The acetylation-mimicking K252A/Q mutants were incorporated into the MT cytoskeleton in HeLa cells without causing any obvious MT defect. However, after cold-induced catastrophe, MT regrowth is accelerated in San-siRNA cells while the incorporation of acetylation-mimicking mutant tubulins is severely impeded. K252 of β-tubulin localizes at the interface of α-/β-tubulins and interacts with the phosphate group of the α-tubulin-bound GTP. We propose that the acetylation slows down tubulin incorporation into MTs by neutralizing the positive charge on K252 and allowing tubulin heterodimers to adopt a conformation that disfavors tubulin incorporation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. e201800054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colby P Fees ◽  
Jeffrey K Moore

Dynamic instability is an intrinsic property of microtubules; however, we do not understand what domains of αβ-tubulins regulate this activity or how these regulate microtubule networks in cells. Here, we define a role for the negatively charged carboxy-terminal tail (CTT) domain of β-tubulin in regulating dynamic instability. By combining in vitro studies with purified mammalian tubulin and in vivo studies with tubulin mutants in budding yeast, we demonstrate that β-tubulin CTT inhibits microtubule stability and regulates the structure and stability of microtubule plus ends. Tubulin that lacks β-tubulin CTT polymerizes faster and depolymerizes slower in vitro and forms microtubules that are more prone to catastrophe. The ends of these microtubules exhibit a more blunted morphology and rapidly switch to disassembly after tubulin depletion. In addition, we show that β-tubulin CTT is required for magnesium cations to promote depolymerization. We propose that β-tubulin CTT regulates the assembly of stable microtubule ends and provides a tunable mechanism to coordinate dynamic instability with ionic strength in the cell.


Author(s):  
R.A Walker ◽  
S. Inoue ◽  
E.D. Salmon

Microtubules polymerized in vitro from tubulin purified free of microtubule-associated proteins exhibit dynamic instability (1,2,3). Free microtubule ends exist in persistent phases of elongation or rapid shortening with infrequent, but, abrupt transitions between these phases. The abrupt transition from elongation to rapid shortening is termed catastrophe and the abrupt transition from rapid shortening to elongation is termed rescue. A microtubule is an asymmetrical structure. The plus end grows faster than the minus end. The frequency of catastrophe of the plus end is somewhat greater than the minus end, while the frequency of rescue of the plus end in much lower than for the minus end (4).The mechanism of catastrophe is controversial, but for both the plus and minus microtubule ends, catastrophe is thought to be dependent on GTP hydrolysis. Microtubule elongation occurs by the association of tubulin-GTP subunits to the growing end. Sometime after incorporation into an elongating microtubule end, the GTP is hydrolyzed to GDP, yielding a core of tubulin-GDP capped by tubulin-GTP (“GTP-cap”).


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6850
Author(s):  
Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi ◽  
Seyyed Alireza Hashemi ◽  
Sonia Bahrani ◽  
Khadije Yousefi ◽  
Gity Behbudi ◽  
...  

In this review, the unique properties of intrinsically conducting polymer (ICP) in biomedical engineering fields are summarized. Polythiophene and its valuable derivatives are known as potent materials that can broadly be applied in biosensors, DNA, and gene delivery applications. Moreover, this material plays a basic role in curing and promoting anti-HIV drugs. Some of the thiophene’s derivatives were chosen for different experiments and investigations to study their behavior and effects while binding with different materials and establishing new compounds. Many methods were considered for electrode coating and the conversion of thiophene to different monomers to improve their functions and to use them for a new generation of novel medical usages. It is believed that polythiophenes and their derivatives can be used in the future as a substitute for many old-fashioned ways of creating chemical biosensors polymeric materials and also drugs with lower side effects yet having a more effective response. It can be noted that syncing biochemistry with biomedical engineering will lead to a new generation of science, especially one that involves high-efficiency polymers. Therefore, since polythiophene can be customized with many derivatives, some of the novel combinations are covered in this review.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Abdellatif Bouazzaoui ◽  
Ahmed A. H. Abdellatif ◽  
Faisal A. Al-Allaf ◽  
Neda M. Bogari ◽  
Saied Al-Dehlawi ◽  
...  

The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has raised significant economic, social, and psychological concerns. The rapid spread of the virus, coupled with the absence of vaccines and antiviral treatments for SARS-CoV-2, has galvanized a major global endeavor to develop effective vaccines. Within a matter of just a few months of the initial outbreak, research teams worldwide, adopting a range of different strategies, embarked on a quest to develop effective vaccine that could be effectively used to suppress this virulent pathogen. In this review, we describe conventional approaches to vaccine development, including strategies employing proteins, peptides, and attenuated or inactivated pathogens in combination with adjuvants (including genetic adjuvants). We also present details of the novel strategies that were adopted by different research groups to successfully transfer recombinantly expressed antigens while using viral vectors (adenoviral and retroviral) and non-viral delivery systems, and how recently developed methods have been applied in order to produce vaccines that are based on mRNA, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), and trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA). Moreover, we discuss the methods that are being used to enhance mRNA stability and protein production, the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, and the challenges that are encountered during the development of effective vaccines.


1988 ◽  
Vol 263 (21) ◽  
pp. 10344-10352
Author(s):  
M Caplow ◽  
J Shanks ◽  
R L Ruhlen

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