scholarly journals Amphotericin B Assembles into Seven-Molecule Ion Channels in Membrane Domain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Umegawa ◽  
Tomoya Yamamoto ◽  
Mayank Dixit ◽  
Kosuke Funahashi ◽  
Sangjae Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Selective Toxicity ◽  
Drug Molecules ◽  
Conductive Channel ◽  
High Resolution Structure ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Resolution Structure

Amphotericin B, a long-used antifungal drug, forms fungicidal ion-permeable channels across cell membranes. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, we experimentally elucidated the three-dimensional structure of the molecular assemblies formed by this drug in membranes in the presence of the fungal sterol, ergosterol. A stable assembly of seven drug molecules was observed to form an ion conductive channel. The structure somewhat resembled the upper half of the barrel-stave model proposed in the 1970s but different substantially in the number of molecules and their arrangement. Based on the structure obtained, the aggregation of the channel assemblies in membranes was investigated and a mechanism was proposed in which complexation with ergosterol stabilizes the drug’s assemblies, leading to their aggregation, and in turn enhancing channel activity. The high-resolution structure is consistent with many previous findings, including structure-activity relationships of the drug, and the channel aggregation provides a more reasonable explanation for the selective toxicity of this drug to fungi.

scholarly journals Amphotericin B Assembles into Seven-Molecule Ion Channels: An NMR and Molecular Dynamics Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Umegawa ◽  
Tomoya Yamamoto ◽  
Mayank Dixit ◽  
Kosuke Funahashi ◽  
Sangjae Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Drug Molecules ◽  
High Resolution Structure ◽  
History Of Use ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Amphotericin B, an antifungal drug with a long history of use, forms fungicidal ion-permeable channels across cell membranes. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, we experimentally elucidated the three-dimensional structure of the molecular assemblies formed by this drug in membranes in the presence of fungal sterol, ergosterol. A stable assembly consisting of seven drug molecules was observed to form an ion conductive channel. The structure is somewhat similar to the upper half of the barrel-stave model proposed in the 1970s but substantially different in the number of molecules and in their arrangement. The high-resolution structure explains many previous findings, including structure-activity relationships of the drug, which will be useful for improving drug efficacy and reducing adverse effects.

scholarly journals High Resolution Crystal Structure of the Catalytic Domain of ADAMTS-5 (Aggrecanase-2)

2007 ◽  
Vol 283 (3) ◽  
pp. 1501-1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huey-Sheng Shieh ◽  
Karl J. Mathis ◽  
Jennifer M. Williams ◽  
Robert L. Hills ◽  
Joe F. Wiese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
High Resolution Structure ◽  
A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase ◽  
Resolution Structure

Aggrecanase-2 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMTS-5)), a member of the ADAMTS protein family, is critically involved in arthritic diseases because of its direct role in cleaving the cartilage component aggrecan. The catalytic domain of aggrecanase-2 has been refolded, purified, and crystallized, and its three-dimensional structure determined to 1.4Å resolution in the presence of an inhibitor. A high resolution structure of an ADAMTS/aggrecanase protein provides an opportunity for the development of therapeutics to treat osteoarthritis.

scholarly journals Online biophysical predictions for SARS-CoV-2 proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Kagami ◽  
Joel Roca-Martínez ◽  
Jose Gavaldá-García ◽  
Pathmanaban Ramasamy ◽  
K. Anton Feenstra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Sequence ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Static Structure ◽  
Homologous Proteins ◽  
Structure Based Drug Design ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Β Sheet

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, consists of an assembly of proteins that determine its infectious and immunological behavior, as well as its response to therapeutics. Major structural biology efforts on these proteins have already provided essential insights into the mode of action of the virus, as well as avenues for structure-based drug design. However, not all of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins, or regions thereof, have a well-defined three-dimensional structure, and as such might exhibit ambiguous, dynamic behaviour that is not evident from static structure representations, nor from molecular dynamics simulations using these structures. Main We present a website (https://bio2byte.be/sars2/) that provides protein sequence-based predictions of the backbone and side-chain dynamics and conformational propensities of these proteins, as well as derived early folding, disorder, β-sheet aggregation, protein-protein interaction and epitope propensities. These predictions attempt to capture the inherent biophysical propensities encoded in the sequence, rather than context-dependent behaviour such as the final folded state. In addition, we provide the biophysical variation that is observed in homologous proteins, which gives an indication of the limits of their functionally relevant biophysical behaviour. Conclusion The https://bio2byte.be/sars2/ website provides a range of protein sequence-based predictions for 27 SARS-CoV-2 proteins, enabling researchers to form hypotheses about their possible functional modes of action.

scholarly journals Mixed-polarity random-dot stereograms alter GABA and Glx concentration in the early visual cortex

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Rideaux ◽  
Nuno Goncalves ◽  
Andrew E Welchman
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Gaba Concentration ◽  
Recent Theoretical Work ◽  
Random Dot Stereograms ◽  
Mixed Polarity ◽  
Early Visual Cortex

ABSTRACTThe offset between images projected onto the left and right retinae (binocular disparity) provides a powerful cue to the three-dimensional structure of the environment. It was previously shown that depth judgements are better when images comprise both light and dark features, rather than only dark or only light elements. Since Harris and Parker (1995) discovered the “mixed-polarity benefit”, there has been limited evidence supporting their hypothesis that the benefit is due to separate bright and dark channels. Goncalves and Welchman (2017) observed that single- and mixed-polarity stereograms evoke different levels of positive and negative activity in a deep neural network trained on natural images to make depth judgements, which also showed the mixed-polarity benefit. Motivated by this discovery, here we seek to test the potential for changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition that are produced by viewing these stimuli. In particular, we use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure Glx and GABA concentration in the early visual cortex of adult humans while viewing single- and mixed-polarity random-dot stereograms (RDS). We find that observers’ Glx concentration is significantly higher while GABA concentration is significantly lower when viewing mixed-polarity RDS than when viewing single-polarity RDS. These results indicate that excitation and inhibition facilitate processing of single- and mixed-polarity stereograms in the early visual cortex to different extents, consistent with recent theoretical work (Goncalves & Welchman, 2017).

scholarly journals Structural characterization of a Thorarchaeota profilin indicates eukaryotic-like features but with an extended N-terminus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestine N Chi ◽  
Ravi Teja Inturi ◽  
Sandra Martinez Lara ◽  
Mahmoud Darweesh
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor ◽  
Rigid Core ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Metagenomics Analysis

The emergence of the first eukaryotic cell was preceded by evolutionary events which are still highly debatable. Recently, comprehensive metagenomics analysis has uncovered that the Asgard super-phylum is the closest yet known archaea host of eukaryotes. However, it remains to be established if a large number of eukaryotic signature proteins predicated to be encoded by the Asgard super-phylum are functional at least, in the context of a eukaryotic cell. Here, we determined the three-dimensional structure of profilin from Thorarchaeota by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and show that this profilin has a rigid core with a flexible N-terminus which was previously implicated in polyproline binding. In addition, we also show that thorProfilin co-localizes with eukaryotic actin in cultured HeLa cells. This finding reaffirm the notion that Asgardean encoded proteins possess eukaryotic-like characteristics and strengthen likely existence of a complex cytoskeleton already in a last eukaryotic common ancestor

scholarly journals Characterization of the structure and redox behaviour of cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio baculatus by 1H-nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy

1993 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. 899-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
I B Coutinho ◽  
D L Turner ◽  
J LeGall ◽  
A V Xavier
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Shifts ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Cytochrome C3 ◽  
X Ray ◽  
1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Proton Resonances ◽  
Nuclear Overhauser

Complete assignment of the aromatic and haem proton resonances in the cytochromes c3 isolated from Desulfovibrio baculatus strains (Norway 4, DSM 1741) and (DSM 1743) was achieved using one- and two-dimensional 1H n.m.r. Nuclear Overhauser enhancements observed between haem and aromatic resonances and between resonances due to different haems, together with the ring-current contributions to the chemical shifts of haem resonances, support the argument that the haem core architecture is conserved in the various cytochromes c3, and that the X-ray structure of the D. baculatus cytochrome c3 is erroneous. The relative orientation of the haems for both cytochromes was determined directly from n.m.r. data. The n.m.r. structures have a resolution of approximately 0.25 nm and are found to be in close agreement with the X-ray structure from D. vulgaris cytochrome c3. The proton assignments were used to relate the highest potential to a specific haem in the three-dimensional structure by monitoring the chemical-shift variation of several haem resonances throughout redox titrations followed by 1H n.m.r. The haem with highest redox potential is not the same as that in other cytochromes c3.

scholarly journals Prediction of fluorophore brightness in designed mini fluorescence activating proteins

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma R. Hostetter ◽  
Jeffrey R. Keyes ◽  
Ivy Poon ◽  
Justin P. Nguyen ◽  
Jacob Nite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Energy Landscape ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Computational Design ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Bond Rotation ◽  
Beta Barrel ◽  
Angle Rotation ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

The de novo computational design of proteins with predefined three-dimensional structure is becoming much more routine due to advancements both in force fields and algorithms. However, creating designs with functions beyond folding is more challenging. In that regard, the recent design of small beta barrel proteins that activate the fluorescence of an exogenous small molecule chromophore (DFHBI) is noteworthy. These proteins, termed mini Fluorescence Activating Proteins (mFAPs), have been shown increase the brightness of the chromophore more than 100-fold upon binding to the designed ligand pocket. The design process created a large library of variants with different brightness levels but gave no rational explanation for why one variant was brighter than another. Here we use quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate how molecular flexibility in the ground and excited states influences brightness. We show that the ability of the protein to resist dihedral angle rotation of the chromophore is critical for predicting brightness. Our simulations suggest that the mFAP/DFHBI complex has a rough energy landscape, requiring extensive ground-state sampling to achieve converged predictions of excited-state kinetics. While computationally demanding, this roughness suggests that mFAP protein function can be enhanced by reshaping the energy landscape towards states that better resist DFHBI bond rotation.

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