Catalytic Domain Of Factor XIa Research Articles

Sulfonated non-saccharide molecules and human factor XIa: Enzyme inhibition and computational studies.

Human factor XIa (FXIa) is a serine protease in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. FXIa has been actively targeted to develop new anticoagulants that are associated with a reduced risk of bleeding. Thousands of FXIa inhibitors have been reported, yet none has reached the clinic thus far. We describe here a novel class of sulfonated molecules that allosterically inhibit FXIa with moderate potency. A library of 18 sulfonated molecules was evaluated for the inhibition of FXIa using a chromogenic substrate hydrolysis assay. Only six molecules inhibited FXIa with IC50 values of 4.6-29.5μM. Michaelis-Menten kinetics indicated that sulfonated molecules are allosteric inhibitors of FXIa. Inhibition of FXIa by these molecules was reversed by protamine. The molecules also showed moderate anticoagulant effects in human plasma with preference to prolong activated partial thromboplastin time. Their binding to an allosteric site in the catalytic domain of FXIa was modeled to illustrate potential binding mode and potential important Arg/Lys residues. Particularly, inhibitor 16 (IC50 =4.6µM) demonstrated good selectivity over a panel of serine proteases including those in the coagulation process. Inhibitor 16 did not significantly compromise the viability of three cell lines. Overall, the reported sulfonated molecules serve as a new platform to design selective, potent, and allosteric inhibitors of FXIa for therapeutic applications.

Discovery of Benzyl Tetraphosphonate Derivative as Inhibitor of Human Factor Xia.

The inhibition of factor XIa (FXIa) is a trending paradigm for the development of new generations of anticoagulants without a substantial risk of bleeding. In this report, we present the discovery of a benzyl tetra‐phosphonate derivative as a potent and selective inhibitor of human FXIa. Biochemical screening of four phosphonate/phosphate derivatives has led to the identification of the molecule that inhibited human FXIa with an IC50 value of ∼7.4 μM and a submaximal efficacy of ∼68 %. The inhibitor was at least 14‐fold more selective to FXIa over thrombin, factor IXa, factor Xa, and factor XIIIa. It also inhibited FXIa‐mediated activation of factor IX and prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time of human plasma. In Michaelis‐Menten kinetics experiment, inhibitor 1 reduced the VMAX of FXIa hydrolysis of a chromogenic substrate without significantly affecting its KM suggesting an allosteric mechanism of inhibition. The inhibitor also disrupted the formation of FXIa – antithrombin complex and inhibited thrombin‐mediated and factor XIIa‐mediated formation of FXIa from its zymogen factor XI. Inhibitor 1 has been proposed to bind to or near the heparin/polyphosphate‐binding site in the catalytic domain of FXIa. Overall, inhibitor 1 is the first benzyl tetraphosphonate small molecule that allosterically inhibits human FXIa, blocks its physiological function, and prevents its zymogen activation by other clotting factors under in vitro conditions. Thus, we put forward benzyl tetra‐phosphonate 1 as a novel lead inhibitor of human FXIa to guide future efforts in the development of allosteric anticoagulants.

The Role of Factor XIa (FXIa) Catalytic Domain Exosite Residues in Substrate Catalysis and Inhibition by the Kunitz Protease Inhibitor Domain of Protease Nexin 2

To select residues in coagulation factor XIa (FXIa) potentially important for substrate and inhibitor interactions, we examined the crystal structure of the complex between the catalytic domain of FXIa and the Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain of a physiologically relevant FXIa inhibitor, protease nexin 2 (PN2). Six FXIa catalytic domain residues (Glu(98), Tyr(143), Ile(151), Arg(3704), Lys(192), and Tyr(5901)) were subjected to mutational analysis to investigate the molecular interactions between FXIa and the small synthetic substrate (S-2366), the macromolecular substrate (factor IX (FIX)) and inhibitor PN2KPI. Analysis of all six Ala mutants demonstrated normal K(m) values for S-2366 hydrolysis, indicating normal substrate binding compared with plasma FXIa; however, all except E98A and K192A had impaired values of k(cat) for S-2366 hydrolysis. All six Ala mutants displayed deficient k(cat) values for FIX hydrolysis, and all were inhibited by PN2KPI with normal values of K(i) except for K192A, and Y5901A, which displayed increased values of K(i). The integrity of the S1 binding site residue, Asp(189), utilizing p-aminobenzamidine, was intact for all FXIa mutants. Thus, whereas all six residues are essential for catalysis of the macromolecular substrate (FIX), only four (Tyr(143), Ile(151), Arg(3704), and Tyr(5901)) are important for S-2366 hydrolysis; Glu(98) and Lys(192) are essential for FIX but not S-2366 hydrolysis; and Lys(192) and Tyr(5901) are required for both inhibitor and macromolecular substrate interactions.

Localization of Ligand-Binding Exosites In the Catalytic Domain of Factor XIa.

AbstractAbstract 1148Coagulation factor XI (FXI) is a plasma zymogen that is activated to FXIa, the catalytic domain of which contains exosites that interact with its normal macromolecular substrate (FIX), and its major regulatory inhibitor (protease nexin-2 kunitz protease inhibitor, PN2KPI). To localize the catalytic domain residues involved in active site architecture and in various ligand-binding exosites, we aligned the sequence of the FXI catalytic domain with that of the prekallikrein (PK) catalytic domain which is highly homologous (64% identity) in sequence, but functionally very different from FXI. Six distinct regions (R1-R6) of dissimilarity between the two proteins were identified as possible candidates for FXIa-specific ligand binding exosites. FXI/PK chimeric proteins (FXI-R1, FXI-R2, FXI-R3, FXI-R4, FXI-R5, and FXI-R6) containing substitutions with PK residues within the six regions were prepared and characterized. FXIa-R1, R2, R3 displayed enhanced proteolysis after activation suggesting that the residues within R1, R2 and R3 regions may be important to maintain proper folding of the enzyme. Comparisons of amidolytic assays vs. activated partial thromboplastin time assays showed similar activities for all chimeras except FXI-R6, which displayed 60% of the normal amidolytic activity but only 28% of clotting activity suggesting the possibility that the R6 region (autolysis loop) of FXIa may comprise an exosite involved in the interaction with its macromolecular substrate FIX. This hypothesis was further confirmed experiments showing that the proteolytic activation of FIX by FXIa-R6 was significantly impaired compared with that achieved by FXIawt. Although FXIa-R5 and FXIa-R6 were defective (50-60%) in amidolytic assays, these chimeras were very similar to FXIawt in heparin and high molecular weight kininogen binding assays, suggesting that residues within the R5 and R6 regions are involved in active-site architecture. These chimeras were further investigated to determine whether any of them had acquired kallikrein activity. After activation all except FXIa-R4 showed insignificant activity using a kallikrein-specific substrate. FXIa-R4 displayed 87% of the activity of kallikrein using the kallikrein-specific substrate but only 3% of the activity of FXIawt using the FXIa chromogenic substrate. Moreover the cleavage pattern and cleavage rate of high molecular weight kininogen by FXIa-R4 were similar to those achieved by kallikrein but not by FXIawt. Therefore substitutions in the R4 region of FXI with the corresponding residues of PK resulted in loss of activity for the FXIa substrates and gain of activity for the kallikrein substrates suggesting that the R4 region (99-loop) of FXIa plays a role in determining the substrate specificity. From the co-crystal structure of the FXIa catalytic domain with PN2KPI, the residues R3704, Y5901, E98, Y143, I151, and K192 (chymotrypsin numbering) in the FXIa catalytic domain have been identified to be possibly involved in the interactions with its inhibitors. A single mutation comprising Y5901A in the R2 region of FXIa does not affect folding however this mutant displayed resistance to inhibition by PN2KPI indicating that Y5901 is involved in the interaction of FXIa with PN2KPI. In conclusion, these studies of FXI/PK chimeric and mutant proteins implicate residues within the R4 region (99-loop) of FXIa in the determination of amidolytic substrate specificity; residues within the R6 region (autolysis loop) of FXIa in the interaction with the macromolecular substrate, FIX; and the residue Y5901 in the R2 region of FXIa in the interaction of FXIa with PN2KPI. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Characterization of a Heparin-Binding Site on the Catalytic Domain of Factor XIa: Mechanism of Heparin Acceleration of Factor XIa Inhibition by the Serpins Antithrombin and C1-Inhibitor

Heparin accelerates inhibition of factor XIa (fXIa) by the serpins antithrombin (AT) and C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The mechanism of the heparin-mediated acceleration of fXIa inhibition by these serpins is incompletely understood, as heparin appears to interact with both the catalytic and noncatalytic domains of the protease. We replaced the basic residues of the fXIa 170 loop (Lys-170, Arg-171, Arg-173, Lys-175, and Lys-179; chymotrypsin numbering) with Ala, using an expression system that allows separation of the fXIa catalytic domain (CD) from noncatalytic domains. Heparin-mediated inhibition of 170 loop CD variants with AT was impaired 3-10-fold relative to that of the wild-type (CD-WT). In reactions with C1-INH, Arg-171 was the most critical residue contributing approximately 2-3-fold to heparin-mediated inhibition of CD-WT. A template mechanism did not fully account for the effect of heparin with either serpin, as the second-order inhibition rate constants did not exhibit a characteristic bell-shaped dependence on heparin concentration. Further studies revealed that the C1-INH inhibition of full-length fXIa containing Ala substitutions for basic residues of the 148 loop is not enhanced by heparin. Inhibition by AT of a full-length fXIa variant containing an Ala substitution for Arg-37 in the fXIa CD was approximately 5-fold greater than for wild-type fXIa in the absence of heparin. These results suggest that basic residues of the fXIa 170 loop form a heparin-binding site and that the accelerating effect of heparin on inhibition of fXIa by AT or C1-INH may be mediated by charge neutralization and/or allosteric mechanisms that overcome the repulsive inhibitory interactions of serpins with basic residues on the fXIa 148 and 37 loops.

Characterization of Heparin Binding Site Residues on the Catalytic Domain of Factor XIa

The basic residues of the 170-helix (chymotrypsinogen numbering) in the catalytic domain of the procoagulant serine proteases are known to interact with heparin and facilitate their rapid inhibition by specific plasma serpins. The homologous loop of factor XIa possesses three basic residues (Lys-170, Arg-171 and Arg-173). To investigate the role of these residues in the heparin-mediated inhibition of fXIa by C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) and antithrombin (AT), we expressed the monomeric light chain fragment of fXIa containing only the catalytic domain of the protease in wild-type and mutant forms in which the three basic residues of the 170-helix have been substituted individually, or in combinations, with Ala. The catalytic properties of fXIa derivatives were compared to wild-type fXIa (fXIa-WT) with respect to their ability to hydrolyze the chromogenic substrate S2366 and to undergo inhibition by C1-INH and AT in the absence and presence of heparin. All mutants exhibited normal amidolytic activity, hydrolyzing S2366 with catalytic efficiencies similar to fXIa-WT. All mutants were also inhibited by both C1-INH and AT with normal rate constants in the absence of heparin. However, the heparincatalyzed inhibition of mutants by both serpins differed to varying degrees relative to fXIa-WT, with the Arg-171 to Ala substitution mutant exhibiting ~3-fold lower rate of inhibition by C1-INH and requiring ~3-fold higher concentration of heparin for observing optimal inhibitory effect. In reactions with AT, all three basic residues appeared to make similar contributions to the heparin-catalyzed inhibition of fXIa by the serpin as evidenced by all three mutants exhibiting dramatically lower inhibition rate constants in the presence of heparin. A bell-shaped heparin concentration dependence for the fXIa inhibition by both serpins suggested that the template effect of heparin primarily accounts for the acceleration mechanism. However, a comparison of the heparin bell-shaped dependence inhibition of the dimeric plasma-derived wild-type fXIa with that of the isolated single chain catalytic domain suggested that the optimal concentration of heparin for the acceleration of the protease has been increased from ~50 nM for the dimeric protease to ~250 nM for the isolated catalytic domain, possibly suggesting further contribution to affinity of the fXIaheparin interaction from the Apple-3 domain of the non-catalytic domain on which a binding-site for heparin has been reported.

A Catalytic Domain Exosite (Cys527−Cys542) in Factor XIa Mediates Binding to a Site on Activated Platelets

The zymogen, factor XI, and the enzyme, factor XIa, interact specifically with functional receptors on the surface of activated platelets. These studies were initiated to identify the molecular subdomain within factor XIa that binds to activated platelets. Both factor XIa (Ki approximately 1.4 nM) and a chimeric factor XIa containing the Apple 3 domain of prekallikrein (Ki approximately 2.7 nM) competed with [125I]factor XIa for binding sites on activated platelets, suggesting that the factor XIa binding site for platelets is not located in the Apple 3 domain which mediates factor XI binding to platelets. The recombinant catalytic domain (Ile370-Val607) inhibited the binding of [125I]factor XIa to the platelets (Ki approximately 3.5 nM), whereas the recombinant factor XI heavy chain did not, demonstrating that the platelet binding site is located in the light chain of factor XIa. A conformationally constrained cyclic peptide (Cys527-Cys542) containing a high-affinity (KD approximately 86 nM) heparin-binding site within the catalytic domain of factor XIa also displaced [125I]factor XIa from the surface of activated platelets (Ki approximately 5.8 nM), whereas a scrambled peptide of identical composition was without effect, suggesting that the binding site in factor XIa that interacts with the platelet surface resides in the catalytic domain near the heparin binding site of factor XIa. These data support the conclusion that a conformational transition accompanies conversion of factor XI to factor XIa that conceals the Apple 3 domain factor XI (zymogen) platelet binding site and exposes the factor XIa (enzyme) platelet binding site within the catalytic domain possibly comprising residues Cys527-Cys542.

Structural and Mutational Analyses of the Molecular Interactions between the Catalytic Domain of Factor XIa and the Kunitz Protease Inhibitor Domain of Protease Nexin 2

Factor XIa (FXIa) is a serine protease important for initiating the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation. Protease nexin 2 (PN2) is a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor secreted by activated platelets and a physiologically important inhibitor of FXIa. Inhibition of FXIa by PN2 requires interactions between the two proteins that are confined to the catalytic domain of the enzyme and the Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain of PN2. Recombinant PN2KPI and a mutant form of the FXI catalytic domain (FXIac) were expressed in yeast, purified to homogeneity, co-crystallized, and the structure of the complex was solved at 2.6 angstroms (Protein Data Bank code 1ZJD). In this complex, PN2KPI has a characteristic, disulfide-stabilized double loop structure that fits into the FXIac active site. To determine the contributions of residues within PN2KPI to its inhibitory activity, selected point mutations in PN2KPI loop 1 11TGPCRAMISR20 and loop 2 34FYGGC38 were tested for their ability to inhibit FXIa. The P1 site mutation R15A completely abolished its ability to inhibit FXIa. IC50 values for the wild type protein and the remaining mutants were as follows: PN2KPI WT, 1.28 nM; P13A, 5.92 nM; M17A, 1.62 nM; S19A, 1.86 nM; R20A, 5.67 nM; F34A, 9.85 nM. The IC50 values for the M17A and S19A mutants were not significantly different from those obtained with wild type PN2KPI. These functional studies and activated partial thromboplastin time analysis validate predictions made from the PN2KPI-FXIac co-crystal structure and implicate PN2KPI residues, in descending order of importance, Arg15, Phe34, Pro13, and Arg20 in FXIa inhibition by PN2KPI.

Localization of a heparin binding site in the catalytic domain of factor XIa.

Inhibition of factor XIa by protease nexin II (K(i) approximately 450 pM) is potentiated by heparin (K(I) approximately 30 pM). The inhibition of the isolated catalytic domain of factor XIa demonstrates a similar potentiation by heparin (K(i) decreasing from 436 +/- 62 to 88 +/- 10 pM) and also binds to heparin on surface plasmon resonance (K(d) 11.2 +/- 3.2 nM vs K(d) 8.63 +/- 1.06 nM for factor XIa). The factor XIa catalytic domain contains a cysteine-constrained alpha-helix-containing loop: (527)CQKRYRGHKITHKMIC(542), identified as a heparin-binding region in other coagulation proteins. Heparin-binding studies of coagulation proteases allowed a grouping of these proteins into three categories: group A (binding within a cysteine-constrained loop or a C-terminal heparin-binding region), factors XIa, IXa, Xa, and thrombin; group B (binding by a different mechanism), factor XIIa and activated protein C; and group C (no binding), factor VIIa and kallikrein. Synthesized peptides representative of the factor XIa catalytic domain loop were used as competitors in factor XIa binding and inhibition studies. A native sequence peptide binds to heparin with a K(d) = 86 +/- 15 nM and competes with factor XIa in binding to heparin, K(i) = 241 +/- 37 nM. A peptide with alanine substitutions at (534)H, (535)K, (538)H, and (539)K binds and competes with factor XIa for heparin-binding in a manner nearly identical to that of the native peptide, whereas a scrambled peptide is approximately 10-fold less effective, and alanine substitutions at residues (529)K, (530)R, and (532)R result in loss of virtually all activity. We conclude that residues (529)K, (530)R, and (532)R comprise a high-affinity heparin-binding site in the factor XIa catalytic domain.