scholarly journals Mechanisms Applied by Protein Inhibitors to Inhibit Cysteine Proteases

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 997
Author(s):  
Livija Tušar ◽  
Aleksandra Usenik ◽  
Boris Turk ◽  
Dušan Turk

Protein inhibitors of proteases are an important tool of nature to regulate and control proteolysis in living organisms under physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we analyzed the mechanisms of inhibition of cysteine proteases on the basis of structural information and compiled kinetic data. The gathered structural data indicate that the protein fold is not a major obstacle for the evolution of a protease inhibitor. It appears that nature can convert almost any starting fold into an inhibitor of a protease. In addition, there appears to be no general rule governing the inhibitory mechanism. The structural data make it clear that the “lock and key” mechanism is a historical concept with limited validity. However, the analysis suggests that the shape of the active site cleft of proteases imposes some restraints. When the S1 binding site is shaped as a pocket buried in the structure of protease, inhibitors can apply substrate-like binding mechanisms. In contrast, when the S1 binding site is in part exposed to solvent, the substrate-like inhibition cannot be employed. It appears that all proteases, with the exception of papain-like proteases, belong to the first group of proteases. Finally, we show a number of examples and provide hints on how to engineer protein inhibitors.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Adams ◽  
Lorna E. Wilkinson-White ◽  
Menachem J. Gunzburg ◽  
Stephen J. Headey ◽  
Martin J. Scanlon ◽  
...  

The development of low-affinity fragment hits into higher affinity leads is a major hurdle in fragment-based drug design. Here we demonstrate an approach for the Rapid Elaboration of Fragments into Leads (REFiL) applying an integrated workflow that provides a systematic approach to generate higher-affinity binders without the need for structural information. The workflow involves the selection of commercial analogues of fragment hits to generate preliminary structure-activity relationships. This is followed by parallel microscale chemistry using chemoinformatically designed reagent libraries to rapidly explore chemical diversity. Upon completion of a fragment screen against Bromodomain-3 extra terminal (BRD3-ET) domain we applied the REFiL workflow, which allowed us to develop a series of tetrahydrocarbazole ligands that bind to the peptide binding site of BRD3-ET. With REFiL we were able to rapidly improve binding affinity >30-fold. The REFiL workflow can be applied readily to a broad range of protein targets without the need of a structure, allowing the efficient evolution of low-affinity fragments into higher affinity leads and chemical probes.<br>


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1059-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raju Dash ◽  
Md. Arifuzzaman ◽  
Sarmistha Mitra ◽  
Md. Abdul Hannan ◽  
Nurul Absar ◽  
...  

Background: Although protein kinase D1 (PKD1) has been proved to be an efficient target for anticancer drug development, lack of structural details and substrate binding mechanisms are the main obstacles for the development of selective inhibitors with therapeutic benefits. Objective: The present study described the in silico dynamics behaviors of PKD1 in binding with selective and non-selective inhibitors and revealed the critical binding site residues for the selective kinase inhibition. Methods: Here, the three dimensional model of PKD1 was initially constructed by homology modeling along with binding site characterization to explore the non-conserved residues. Subsequently, two known inhibitors were docked to the catalytic site and the detailed ligand binding mechanisms and post binding dyanmics were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculations. Results: According to the binding site analysis, PKD1 serves several non-conserved residues in the G-loop, hinge and catalytic subunits. Among them, the residues including Leu662, His663, and Asp665 from hinge region made polar interactions with selective PKD1 inhibitor in docking simulation, which were further validated by the molecular dynamics simulation. Both inhibitors strongly influenced the structural dynamics of PKD1 and their computed binding free energies were in accordance with experimental bioactivity data. Conclusion: The identified non-conserved residues likely to play critical role on molecular reorganization and inhibitor selectivity. Taken together, this study explained the molecular basis of PKD1 specific inhibition, which may help to design new selective inhibitors for better therapies to overcome cancer and PKD1 dysregulated disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (22) ◽  
pp. 12604-12617
Author(s):  
Pengpeng Long ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Bin Huang ◽  
Quan Chen ◽  
Haiyan Liu

Abstract We report an approach to predict DNA specificity of the tetracycline repressor (TetR) family transcription regulators (TFRs). First, a genome sequence-based method was streamlined with quantitative P-values defined to filter out reliable predictions. Then, a framework was introduced to incorporate structural data and to train a statistical energy function to score the pairing between TFR and TFR binding site (TFBS) based on sequences. The predictions benchmarked against experiments, TFBSs for 29 out of 30 TFRs were correctly predicted by either the genome sequence-based or the statistical energy-based method. Using P-values or Z-scores as indicators, we estimate that 59.6% of TFRs are covered with relatively reliable predictions by at least one of the two methods, while only 28.7% are covered by the genome sequence-based method alone. Our approach predicts a large number of new TFBs which cannot be correctly retrieved from public databases such as FootprintDB. High-throughput experimental assays suggest that the statistical energy can model the TFBSs of a significant number of TFRs reliably. Thus the energy function may be applied to explore for new TFBSs in respective genomes. It is possible to extend our approach to other transcriptional factor families with sufficient structural information.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Campeotto ◽  
Francis Galaway ◽  
Shahid Mehmood ◽  
Lea K. Barfod ◽  
Doris Quinkert ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Plasmodium falciparum RH5 is a secreted parasite ligand that is essential for erythrocyte invasion through direct interaction with the host erythrocyte receptor basigin. RH5 forms a tripartite complex with two other secreted parasite proteins, CyRPA and RIPR, and is tethered to the surface of the parasite through membrane-anchored P113. Antibodies against RH5, CyRPA, and RIPR can inhibit parasite invasion, suggesting that vaccines containing these three components have the potential to prevent blood-stage malaria. To further explore the role of the P113-RH5 interaction, we selected monoclonal antibodies against P113 that were either inhibitory or noninhibitory for RH5 binding. Using a Fab fragment as a crystallization chaperone, we determined the crystal structure of the RH5 binding region of P113 and showed that it is composed of two domains with structural similarities to rhamnose-binding lectins. We identified the RH5 binding site on P113 by using a combination of hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis. We found that a monoclonal antibody to P113 that bound to this interface and inhibited the RH5-P113 interaction did not inhibit parasite blood-stage growth. These findings provide further structural information on the protein interactions of RH5 and will be helpful in guiding the development of blood-stage malaria vaccines that target RH5. IMPORTANCE Malaria is a deadly infectious disease primarily caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It remains a major global health problem, and there is no highly effective vaccine. A parasite protein called RH5 is centrally involved in the invasion of host red blood cells, making it—and the other parasite proteins it interacts with—promising vaccine targets. We recently identified a protein called P113 that binds RH5, suggesting that it anchors RH5 to the parasite surface. In this paper, we use structural biology to locate and characterize the RH5 binding region on P113. These findings will be important to guide the development of new antimalarial vaccines to ultimately prevent this disease, which affects some of the poorest people on the planet.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedat Yüksel ◽  
◽  
Mestan Boyaci ◽  

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not animation applications affect student achievement in science and technology course. For this purpose, effect of constructive approach supported by animations in the instruction of the unit “Living Organisms and Energy” to the 8th grade students on their academic achievement was investigated. This unit was taught to the experimental group using a constructivist approach supported by animations and to the control group using a constructivist approach without animations. For data collection, an achievement was developed and administered to experimental and control groups as pre-tests and post-tests. Collected data was analyzed using t-test and MANOVA. As a result of the research, it was revealed that supporting the constructivist approach with animations was more effective in increasing academic achievement. Key wordThe aim of this study was to determine whether or not animation applications affect student achievement in science and technology course. For this purpose, effect of constructive approach supported by animations in the instruction of the unit “Living Organisms and Energy” to the 8th grade students on their academic achievement was investigated. This unit was taught to the experimental group using a constructivist approach supported by animations and to the control group using a constructivist approach without animations. For data collection, an achievement was developed and administered to experimental and control groups as pre-tests and post-tests. Collected data was analyzed using t-test and MANOVA. As a result of the research, it was revealed that supporting the constructivist approach with animations was more effective in increasing academic achievement. Key words: animation, constructivist science education, teaching supported by computer. s: animation, constructivist science education, teaching supported by computer.


2010 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 1079-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayati Sengupta ◽  
Cyril Bussiere ◽  
Jesper Pallesen ◽  
Matthew West ◽  
Arlen W. Johnson ◽  
...  

The nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein Nmd3 is an adaptor for export of the 60S ribosomal subunit from the nucleus. Nmd3 binds to nascent 60S subunits in the nucleus and recruits the export receptor Crm1 to facilitate passage through the nuclear pore complex. In this study, we present a cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstruction of the 60S subunit in complex with Nmd3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The density corresponding to Nmd3 is directly visible in the cryo-EM map and is attached to the regions around helices 38, 69, and 95 of the 25S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the helix 95 region being adjacent to the protein Rpl10. We identify the intersubunit side of the large subunit as the binding site for Nmd3. rRNA protection experiments corroborate the structural data. Furthermore, Nmd3 binding to 60S subunits is blocked in 80S ribosomes, which is consistent with the assigned binding site on the subunit joining face. This cryo-EM map is a first step toward a molecular understanding of the functional role and release mechanism of Nmd3.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Wolf ◽  
Benedikt Sohmen ◽  
Björn Hellenkamp ◽  
Johann Thurn ◽  
Gerhard Stock ◽  
...  

I.ABSTRACTSeveral indicators for a signal propagation from a binding site to a distant functional site have been found in the Hsp90 dimer. Here we determined a time-resolved pathway from ATP hydrolysis to changes in a distant folding substrate binding site. This was possible by combining single-molecule fluorescence-based methods with extensive atomistic nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We find that hydrolysis of one ATP effects a structural asymmetry in the full Hsp90 dimer that leads to the collapse of a central folding substrate binding site. Arg380 is the major mediator in transferring structural information from the nucleotide to the substrate binding site. This allosteric process occurs via hierarchical dynamics that involve timescales from picoto milliseconds and length scales from Ångstroms to several nanometers. We presume that similar hierarchical mechanisms are fundamental for information transfer through many other proteins.


1996 ◽  
Vol 317 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. SALHANY ◽  
Renee L. SLOAN ◽  
Lawrence M. SCHOPFER

Band 3 Memphis variant II is a mutant anion-exchange protein associated with the Diego a+ blood group antigen. There are two mutations in this transporter: Lys-56 → Glu within the cytoplasmic domain, and Pro-854 → Leu within the membrane-bound domain. The Pro-854 mutation, which is thought to give rise to the antigenicity, is located within the C-terminal subdomain of the membrane-bound domain. Yet, there is an apparent enhancement in the rate of covalent binding of H2DIDS (4,4´-di-isothiocyanatodihydro-2,2´-stilbenedisulphonate) to ‘lysine A’ (Lys-539) in the N-terminal subdomain, suggesting widespread conformational changes. In this report, we have used various kinetic assays which differentiate between conformational changes in the two subdomains, to characterize the stilbenedisulphonate site on band 3 Memphis variant II. We have found a significantly higher H2DIDS (a C-terminal-sensitive inhibitor) affinity for band 3 Memphis variant II, due to a lower H2DIDS ‘off’ rate constant, but no difference was found between mutant and control when DBDS (4,4´-dibenzamido-2,2´-stilbenedisulphonate) (a C-terminal-insensitive inhibitor) ‘off’ rates were measured. Furthermore, there were no differences in the rates of covalent binding to lysine A, for either DIDS (4,4´-di-isothiocyanato-2,2´-stilbenedisulphonate) or H2DIDS. However, the rate of covalent intrasubunit cross-linking of Lys-539 and Lys-851 by H2DIDS was abnormally low for band 3 Memphis variant II. These results suggest that the Pro-854 → Leu mutation causes a localized conformational change in the C-terminal subdomain of band 3.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
William V. Nicholson ◽  
Robert C. Ford ◽  
Andreas Holzenburg

This review covers the recent progress in the elucidation of the structure of photosystem II (PSII). Because much of the structural information for this membrane protein complex has been revealed by electron microscopy (EM), the review will also consider the specific technical and interpretation problems that arise with EM where they are of particular relevance to the structural data. Most recent reviews of photosystem II structure have concentrated on molecular studies of the PSII genes and on the likely roles of the subunits that they encode or they were mainly concerned with the biophysical data and fast absorption spectroscopy largely relating to electron transfer in various purified PSII preparations. In this review, we will focus on the approaches to the three-dimensional architecture of the complex and the lipid bilayer in which it is located (the thylakoid membrane) with special emphasis placed upon electron microscopical studies of PSII-containing thylakoid membranes. There are a few reports of 3D crystals of PSII and of associated X-ray diffraction measurements and although little structural information has so far been obtained from such studies (because of the lack of 3D crystals of sufficient quality), the prospects for such studies are also assessed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Jessell

&lt;p&gt;In geological settings characterised by folded and faulted strata, and where good field data exist, we have been able to automate a large part of the 3D modelling process directly from the raw geological database (maps, bedding orientations and drillhole data). The automation is based upon the deconstruction of the geological maps and databases into positional, gradient and spatial and temporal topology information, and the combination of deconstructed data into augmented inputs for 3D geological modelling systems, notably LoopStructural and GemPy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;When we try to apply this approach to more complex terranes, such as greenstone belts, we come across two types of problem:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;1) Insufficient structural data, since the more complexly deformed the geology, the more we need to rely on secondary structural information, such as fold axial traces and vergence to &amp;#8216;solve&amp;#8217; the structures. Unfortunately these types of data are not always stored in national geological databases. One approach to overcoming this is to analyse the simpler (i.e. bedding) data to try and estimate the secondary information automatically.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;2) The available information is unsuited to the logic of the modelling system. Most modern modelling platforms assume the knowledge of a chronostratigraphic hierarchy, however, especially in more complexly deformed regions, a lithostratigraphy may be all that is available. Again a pre-processing of the map and stratigraphic information may be possible to overcome this problem.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;This presentation will highlight the progress that has been made, as well as the road-blocks to universal automated 3D geological model construction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We acknowledge the support of the MinEx CRC and the Loop: Enabling Stochastic 3D Geological Modelling (LP170100985) consortia. The work has been supported by the Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre whose activities are funded by the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre Programme. This is MinEx CRC Document 2020/xxx.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;


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