High Affinity Tamoxifen Analogues Retain Extensive Positional Disorder when Bound to Calmodulin

Using a combination of NMR and fluorescence measurements we have investigated the structure and dynamics of the complexes formed between calcium loaded calmodulin (CaM) and the potent breast cancer inhibitor idoxifene, a derivative of tamoxifen. High affinity binding (Kd ~ 300 nM) saturates with a 2:1 idoxifene:CaM complex. The complex is an ensemble where each idoxifene molecule is predominantly in the vicinity of one of the two hydrophobic patches of CaM but, in contrast with the lower affinity antagonists TFP, J-8 and W-7, does not substantially occupy the hydrophobic pocket. At least four idoxifene orientations per domain of CaM are necessary to satisfy the intermolecular NOE restraints, and this requires that the idoxifene molecules switch rapidly between positions. The CaM molecule is predominantly in the form where the N and C-terminal domains are in close proximity allowing for the idoxifene molecules to contact both domains simultaneously. Hence, the 2:1 idoxifene:CaM complex illustrates how high affinity binding occurs without the loss of extensive positional dynamics.

Potentially Mistaking Enantiomers for Different Compounds Due to the Self-Induced Diastereomeric Anisochronism (SIDA) Phenomenon

The NMR phenomenon of self-induced diastereomeric anisochronism (SIDA) was observed with an alcohol and an ester. The alcohol exhibited large concentration-dependent chemical shifts (δ’s), which initially led us to erroneously consider whether two enantiomers were in fact atropisomers. This highlights a potential complication for the analysis of chiral compounds due to SIDA, namely the misidentification of enantiomers. A heterochiral association preference for the alcohol in CDCl3 was determined by the intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and diffusion measurements, the same preference as found in the solid state. The ester revealed more subtle effects, but concentration-dependent δ’s, observation of intermolecular NOE’s, as well as distinct signals for the two enantiomers in a scalemic sample all indicated the formation of associates. Intermolecular NOE and diffusion measurements indicated that homochiral association is slightly preferred over heterochiral association in CDCl3, thus masking association for enantiopure and racemic samples of equal concentration. As observed with the alcohol, heterochiral association was preferred for the ester in the solid state. The potential problems that SIDA can cause are highlighted and constitute a warning: Due care should be taken with respect to conditions, particularly the concentration, when measuring NMR spectra of chiral compounds. Scalemic samples of both the alcohol and the ester were found to exhibit the self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) phenomenon by preparative TLC, the first report of SDE by preparative TLC.

Changes in protein hydration dynamics by encapsulation or crowding of ubiquitin: strong correlation between time-dependent Stokes shift and intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effect

Changes in local protein hydration dynamics caused by encapsulation or crowding are reflected in the TDSS and the intermolecular NOE alike.

The intermolecular NOE is strongly influenced by dynamics

New fundamental insights in NOE theory concerning the significance of dynamics and range are presented, using coarse-grained MD simulations.