Wild-type Domain Research Articles

Direct Evidence That Mutations within Dysferlin's C2A Domain Inhibit Lipid Clustering.

Mechanical stress on sarcolemma can create small tears in the muscle cell membrane. Within the sarcolemma resides the multidomain dysferlin protein. Mutations in this protein render it unable to repair the sarcolemma and have been linked to muscular dystrophy. A key step in dysferlin-regulated repair is the binding of the C2A domain to the lipid membrane upon increased intracellular calcium. Mutations mapped to this domain cause loss of binding ability of the C2A domain. There is a crucial need to understand the geometry of dysferlin C2A at a membrane interface as well as cell membrane lipid reorientation when compared to that of a mutant. Here, we describe a comparison between the wild-type dysferlin C2A and a mutation to the conserved aspartic acids in the domain binding loops. To identify both the geometry and the cell membrane lipid reorientation, we applied sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and coupled it with simulated SFG spectra to observe and quantify the interaction with a model cell membrane composed of phosphotidylserine and phosphotidylcholine. Observed changes in surface pressure demonstrate that calcium-bridged electrostatic interactions govern the initial interaction of the C2A domains docking with a lipid membrane. SFG spectra taken from the amide-I region for the wild type and variant contain features near 1642, 1663, and 1675 cm-1 related to the C2A domain β-sandwich secondary structure, indicating that the domain binds in a specific orientation. Mapping simulated SFG spectra to the experimentally collected spectra indicated that both wild-type and variant domains have nearly the same orientation to the membrane surface. However, examining the ordering of the lipids that make up a model membrane using SFG, we find that the wild type clusters the lipids as seen by the increase in the ratio of the CD3 and CD2 symmetric intensities by 170% for the wild type and by 120% for the variant. This study highlights the capabilities of SFG to probe with great detail biological mutations in proteins at cell membrane interfaces.

Using yeast surface display to engineer a soluble and crystallizable construct of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1).

Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is an intracellular kinase that plays an important role in modulating tumor immune response and thus is an attractive target for drug discovery. Crystallization of the wild-type HPK1 kinase domain has been hampered by poor expression in recombinant systems and poor solubility. In this study, yeast surface display was applied to a library of HPK1 kinase-domain variants in order to select variants with an improved expression level and solubility. The HPK1 variant with the most improved properties contained two mutations, crystallized readily in complex with several small-molecule inhibitors and provided valuable insight to guide structure-based drug design. This work exemplifies the benefit of yeast surface display towards engineering crystallizable proteins and thus enabling structure-based drug discovery.

Two new missense mutations in the protein interaction ASH domain of OCRL1 identified in patients with Lowe syndrome.

The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe is a rare X-linked disease characterized by congenital cataracts, proximal renal tubulopathy, muscular hypotonia and mental impairment. This disease is caused by mutations in the OCRL gene encoding membrane bound inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase OCRL1. Here, we examined the OCRL gene of two Lowe syndrome patients and report two new missense mutations that affect the ASH domain involved in protein-protein interactions. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of two non-related patients and their relatives. Exons and flanking intronic regions of OCRL were analyzed by direct sequencing. Several bioinformatics tools were used to assess the pathogenicity of the variants. The three-dimensional structure of wild-type and mutant ASH domains was modeled using the online server SWISS-MODEL. Clinical features suggesting the diagnosis of Lowe syndrome were observed in both patients. Genetic analysis revealed two novel missense variants, c.1907T>A (p.V636E) and c.1979A>C (p.H660P) in exon 18 of the OCRL gene confirming the clinical diagnosis in both cases. Variant c.1907T>A (p.V636E) was inherited from the patient's mother, while variant c.1979A>C (p.H660P) seems to have originated de novo. Analysis with bioinformatics tools indicated that both variants are pathogenic. Both amino acid changes affect the structure of the OCRL1 ASH domain. In conclusion, the identification of two novel missense mutations located in the OCRL1 ASH domain may shed more light on the functional importance of this domain. We suggest that p.V636E and p.H660P cause Lowe syndrome by disrupting the interaction of OCRL1 with other proteins or by impairing protein stability.

Biophysical Characterization of Cancer-Related Carbonic Anhydrase IX.

Upregulation of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is associated with several aggressive forms of cancer and promotes metastasis. CA IX is normally constitutively expressed at low levels in selective tissues associated with the gastrointestinal tract, but is significantly upregulated upon hypoxia in cancer. CA IX is a multi-domain protein, consisting of a cytoplasmic region, a single-spanning transmembrane helix, an extracellular CA catalytic domain, and a proteoglycan-like (PG) domain. Considering the important role of CA IX in cancer progression and the presence of the unique PG domain, little information about the PG domain is known. Here, we report biophysical characterization studies to further our knowledge of CA IX. We report the 1.5 Å resolution crystal structure of the wild-type catalytic domain of CA IX as well as small angle X-ray scattering and mass spectrometry of the entire extracellular region. We used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry to characterize the spontaneous degradation of the CA IX PG domain and confirm that it is only the CA IX catalytic domain that forms crystals. Small angle X-ray scattering analysis of the intact protein indicates that the PG domain is not randomly distributed and adopts a compact distribution of shapes in solution. The observed dynamics of the extracellular domain of CA IX could have physiological relevance, including observed cleavage and shedding of the PG domain.

Lrrk2 modulation of Wnt signaling during zebrafish development.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (lrrk2) are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease. Difficulty in elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms resulting from disease-associated Lrrk2 variants stems from the complexity of Lrrk2 function and activities. Lrrk2 contains multiple protein-protein interacting domains, a GTPase domain, and a kinase domain. Lrrk2 is implicated in many cellular processes including vesicular trafficking, autophagy, cytoskeleton dynamics, and Wnt signaling. Here, we generated a zebrafish lrrk2 allelic series to study the requirements for Lrrk2 during development and to dissect the importance of its various domains. The alleles are predicted to encode proteins that either lack all functional domains (lrrk2sbu304 ), the GTPase, and kinase domains (lrrk2sbu71 ) or the kinase domain (lrrk2sbu96 ). All three lrrk2 mutants are viable, morphologically normal, and display wild-type-like locomotion. Because Lrrk2 modulates Wnt signaling in some contexts, we assessed Wnt signaling in all three mutant lines. Analysis of Wnt signaling by studying the expression of target genes using whole mount RNA in situ hybridization and a transgenic Wnt reporter revealed wild-type domains of Wnt activity in each of the mutants. However, we found that Wnt pathway activation is attenuated in lrrk2sbu304/sbu304 , which lacks both scaffolding and catalytic domains, but not in the other alleles during late embryogenesis. This supports a model in which Lrrk2 scaffolding functions are key to a context-dependent role in promoting canonical Wnt signaling.

Revealing Acquired Resistance Mechanisms of Kinase-Targeted Drugs Using an on-the-Fly, Function-Site Interaction Fingerprint Approach.

Although kinase-targeted drugs have achieved significant clinical success, they are frequently subject to the limitations of drug resistance, which has become a primary vulnerability to targeted drug therapy. Therefore, deciphering resistance mechanisms is an important step in designing more efficacious, antiresistant drugs. Here we studied two FDA-approved kinase drugs: Crizotinib and Ceritinib, which are first- and second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) targeted inhibitors, to unravel drug-resistance mechanisms. We used an on-the-fly, function-site interaction fingerprint (on-the-fly Fs-IFP) approach, combining binding free-energy surface calculations with the Fs-IFPs. Establishing the potentials of mean force and monitoring the atomic-scale protein-ligand interactions, before and after L1196M-induced drug resistance, revealed insights into drug-resistance/antiresistant mechanisms. Crizotinib prefers to bind the wild-type ALK kinase domain, whereas Ceritinib binds more favorably to the mutated ALK kinase domain, in agreement with experimental results. We determined that ALK kinase-drug interactions in the region of the front pocket are associated with drug resistance. Additionally, we find that the L1196M mutation does not simply alter the binding modes of inhibitors but also affects the flexibility of the entire ALK kinase domain. Our work provides an understanding of the mechanisms of ALK drug resistance, confirms the usefulness of the on-the-fly Fs-IFP approach, and provides a practical paradigm to study drug-resistance mechanisms in prospective drug discovery.

Engineered Anti-GPC3 Immunotoxin, HN3-ABD-T20, Produces Regression in Mouse Liver Cancer Xenografts Through Prolonged Serum Retention.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas using our glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeting human nanobody (HN3) immunotoxins causes potent tumor regression by blocking protein synthesis and down-regulating the Wnt signaling pathway. However, immunogenicity and a short serum half-life may limit the ability of immunotoxins to transition to the clinic. To address these concerns, we engineered HN3-based immunotoxins to contain various deimmunized Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) domains. This included HN3-T20, which was modified to remove T-cell epitopes and contains a PE domain II truncation. We compared them to our previously reported B-cell deimmunized immunotoxin (HN3-mPE24) and our original HN3-immunotoxin with a wild-type PE domain (HN3-PE38). All of our immunotoxins displayed high affinity to human GPC3, with HN3-T20 having a KD value of 7.4nM. HN3-T20 retained 73% enzymatic activity when compared with the wild-type immunotoxin in an adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation assay. Interestingly, a real-time cell growth inhibition assay demonstrated that a single dose of HN3-T20 at 62.5ng/mL (1.6nM) was capable of inhibiting nearly all cell proliferation during the 10-day experiment. To enhance HN3-T20's serum retention, we tested the effect of adding a streptococcal albumin-binding domain (ABD) and a llama single-domain antibody fragment specific for mouse and human serum albumin. For the detection of immunotoxin in mouse serum, we developed a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and found that HN3-ABD-T20 had a 45-fold higher serum half-life than HN3-T20 (326 minutes vs. 7.3minutes); consequently, addition of an ABD resulted in HN3-ABD-T20-mediated tumor regression at 1mg/kg. These data indicate that ABD-containing deimmunized HN3-T20 immunotoxins are high-potency therapeutics ready to be evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of liver cancer.

A Novel Heterozygous Missense Variant (c.667G>T;p.Gly223Cys) in USH1C That Interferes With Cadherin-Related 23 and Harmonin Interaction Causes Autosomal Dominant Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

BackgroundPathogenic variants of USH1C, encoding a PDZ-domain-containing protein called harmonin, have been known to cause autosomal recessive syndromic or nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL). We identified a causative gene in a large Korean family with NSHL showing a typical pattern of autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance.MethodsExome sequencing was performed for five affected and three unaffected individuals in this family. Following identification of a candidate gene variant, segregation analysis and functional studies, including circular dichroism and biolayer interferometry experiments, were performed.ResultsA novel USH1C heterozygous missense variant (c.667G>T;p.Gly223Cys) was shown to segregate with the NSHL phenotype in this family. This variant affects an amino acid residue located in the highly conserved carboxylate-binding loop of the harmonin PDZ2 domain and is predicted to disturb the interaction with cadherin-related 23 (cdh23). The affinity of the variant PDZ2 domain for a biotinylated synthetic peptide containing the PDZ-binding motif of cdh23 was approximately 16-fold lower than that of the wild-type PDZ2 domain and that this inaccessibility of the binding site was caused by a conformational change in the variant PDZ2 domain.ConclusionsA heterozygous variant of USH1C that interferes with the interaction between cdh23 and harmonin causes novel AD-NSHL.

Structural consequences of BMPR2 kinase domain mutations causing pulmonary arterial hypertension

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted ligands of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family that control embryonic patterning, as well as tissue development and homeostasis. Loss of function mutations in the type II BMP receptor BMPR2 are the leading cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare disease of vascular occlusion that leads to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. To understand the structural consequences of these mutations, we determined the crystal structure of the human wild-type BMPR2 kinase domain at 2.35 Å resolution. The structure revealed an active conformation of the catalytic domain that formed canonical interactions with the bound ligand Mg-ADP. Disease-associated missense mutations were mapped throughout the protein structure, but clustered predominantly in the larger kinase C-lobe. Modelling revealed that the mutations will destabilize the protein structure by varying extents consistent with their previously reported functional heterogeneity. The most severe mutations introduced steric clashes in the hydrophobic protein core, whereas those found on the protein surface were less destabilizing and potentially most favorable for therapeutic rescue strategies currently under clinical investigation.

NMR assignments of a dynamically perturbed and dimerization inhibited N-terminal domain variant of a spider silk protein from E. australis.

Web spiders use specialized glands to produce silk proteins, so-called spidroins, which assemble into extraordinarily tough silk fibers through tightly regulated phase and structural transitions. A crucial step in the polymerization of spidroins is the pH-triggered assembly of their N-terminal domains (NTDs) into tight dimers. Major ampullate spidroin NTDs contain an unusually high content of the amino acid methionine. We previously showed that the simultaneous mutation of the six hydrophobic core methionine residues to leucine in the NTD of the major ampullate spidroin 1 from Euprosthenops australis, a nursery web spider, yields a protein (L6-NTD) retaining a three-dimensional fold identical to the wildtype (WT) domain, yet with a significantly increased stability. Further, the dynamics of the L6-NTD are significantly reduced and the ability to dimerize is severely impaired compared to the WT domain. These properties lead to significant changes in the NMR spectra between WT and L6-NTD so that the previously available WT-NTD assignments cannot be transferred to the mutant protein. Here, we thus report the de novo NMR backbone and side chain assignments of the major ampullate spidroin 1 L6-NTD variant from E. australis as a prerequisite for obtaining further insights into protein structure and dynamics.

A Microphysiological System for Studying Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which to date has no approved drug treatments. There is an urgent need for better understanding of the genetic and molecular pathways that underlie NAFLD/NASH, and currently available preclinical models, be they in vivo or in vitro, do not fully represent key aspects of the human disease state. We have developed a human in vitro co‐culture NASH model using primary human hepatocytes, Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells, which are cultured together as microtissues in a perfused three‐dimensional microphysiological system (MPS). The microtissues were cultured in medium containing free fatty acids for at least 2 weeks, to induce a NASH‐like phenotype. The co‐culture microtissues within the MPS display a NASH‐like phenotype, showing key features of the disease including hepatic fat accumulation, the production of an inflammatory milieu, and the expression of profibrotic markers. Addition of lipopolysaccharide resulted in a more pro‐inflammatory milieu. In the model, obeticholic acid ameliorated the NASH phenotype. Microtissues were formed from both wild‐type and patatin‐like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) I148M mutant hepatic stellate cells. Stellate cells carrying the mutation enhanced the overall disease state of the model and in particular produced a more pro‐inflammatory milieu. Conclusion: The MPS model displays a phenotype akin to advanced NAFLD or NASH and has utility as a tool for exploring mechanisms underlying the disease. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in co‐culture the PNPLA3 I148M mutation alone can cause hepatic stellate cells to enhance the overall NASH disease phenotype.

Structural analysis of the effects of mutations in Ubl domain of Parkin leading to Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by progressive death of dopamine producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the mid brain. Dysfunction of an E3 ligase protein, Parkin, encoded by PARK2 gene, results in accumulation of misfolded proteins in brain cells which lead to the onset of PD. Parkin is a multi-domain protein consisting of N-terminal ubiquitin-like domain (Ubl) followed by RING0, RING1, In Between Ring (IBR) domain and RING2 domain which is present at the C-terminal end of Parkin protein. Ubl domain is the smallest domain of Parkin and is involved in the binding of Parkin with E2 protein molecule required for proper Ubiquitination and functioning of proteins in the brain. Mutations in the Parkin protein are known to be associated with protein dysfunction leading to PD. This study aims to decipher the characteristics and effects of the different mutations in the Ubl domain by an in-silico analysis. The mutations were collected from PDmutDB and COSMIC databases. The pathogenic impacts of amino-acid mutations on Ubl structure and function were analysed by using various computational tools. Due to lack of proper full-chain structure of the Ubl domain, a homology model of the domain was reconstructed using Discovery Studio 2.5 (DS 2.5) software suite. We found that the mutations A31D, A46P, C59F, A46T, E28K, E49K, R42P, R42S, and Q63K were the most deleterious ones which might be associated with the onset of PD. In order to study the dynamic behaviour of the Parkin Ubl domain in cellular environment, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out using the wild-type and mutant Ubl domains. Our analyses could predict the cellular dynamics of the mutations and therefore might help in predicting the hitherto unknown molecular mechanism of the disease onset and designing precision medicine for the treatment of PD.

Crystal structure of diamondback moth ryanodine receptor Repeat34 domain reveals insect-specific phosphorylation sites

BackgroundRyanodine receptor (RyR), a calcium-release channel located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane of muscles, is the target of insecticides used against a wide range of agricultural pests. Mammalian RyRs have been shown to be under the regulatory control of several kinases and phosphatases, but little is known about the regulation of insect RyRs by phosphorylation.ResultsHere we present the crystal structures of wild-type and phospho-mimetic RyR Repeat34 domain containing PKA phosphorylation sites from diamondback moth (DBM), a major lepidopteran pest of cruciferous vegetables. The structure has unique features, not seen in mammalian RyRs, including an additional α-helix near the phosphorylation loop. Using tandem mass spectrometry, we identify several PKA sites clustering in the phosphorylation loop and the newly identified α-helix. Bioinformatics analysis shows that this α-helix is only present in Lepidoptera, suggesting an insect-specific regulation. Interestingly, the specific phosphorylation pattern is temperature-dependent. The thermal stability of the DBM Repeat34 domain is significantly lower than that of the analogous domain in the three mammalian RyR isoforms, indicating a more dynamic domain structure that can be partially unfolded to facilitate the temperature-dependent phosphorylation. Docking the structure into the cryo-electron microscopy model of full-length RyR reveals that the interface between the Repeat34 and neighboring HD1 domain is more conserved than that of the phosphorylation loop region that might be involved in the interaction with SPRY3 domain. We also identify an insect-specific glycerol-binding pocket that could be potentially targeted by novel insecticides to fight the current resistance crisis.ConclusionsThe crystal structures of the DBM Repeat34 domain reveals insect-specific temperature-dependent phosphorylation sites that may regulate insect ryanodine receptor function. It also reveals insect-specific structural features and a potential ligand-binding site that could be targeted in an effort to develop green pesticides with high species-specificity.

SLMP53-1 interacts with wild-type and mutant p53 DNA-binding domain and reactivates multiple hotspot mutations

BackgroundHalf of human cancers harbour TP53 mutations that render p53 inactive as a tumor suppressor. As such, reactivation of mutant (mut)p53 through restoration of wild-type (wt)-like function represents one of the most promising therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. Recently, we have reported the (S)-tryptophanol-derived oxazoloisoindolinone SLMP53-1 as a new reactivator of wt and mutp53 R280K with in vitro and in vivo p53-dependent antitumor activity. The present work aimed a mechanistic elucidation of mutp53 reactivation by SLMP53-1. Methods and resultsBy cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), it is shown that SLMP53-1 induces wt and mutp53 R280K thermal stabilization, which is indicative of intermolecular interactions with these proteins. Accordingly, in silico studies of wt and mutp53 R280K DNA-binding domain with SLMP53-1 unveiled that the compound binds at the interface of the p53 homodimer with the DNA minor groove. Additionally, using yeast and p53-null tumor cells ectopically expressing distinct highly prevalent mutp53, the ability of SLMP53-1 to reactivate multiple mutp53 is evidenced. ConclusionsSLMP53-1 is a p53-activating agent with the ability to directly target wt and a set of hotspot mutp53. General SignificanceThis work reinforces the encouraging application of SLMP53-1 in the personalized treatment of cancer patients harboring distinct p53 status.

Avidity and Cell Uptake of Integrin-Targeting Polypeptide Micelles is Strongly Shape-Dependent.

We describe a genetically encoded micelle for targeted delivery consisting of a diblock polypeptide with segments derived from repetitive protein motifs inspired by Drosophila melanogaster Rec-1 resilin and human tropoelastin with a C-terminal fusion of an integrin-targeting fibronectin type III domain. By systematically varying the weight fraction of the hydrophilic elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) block and molecular weight of the diblock polypeptide, we designed micelles of different morphologies that modulate the binding avidity of the human wild-type 10th fibronectin domain (Fn3) as a function of shape. We show that wormlike micelles that present the Fn3 domain have a 1000-fold greater avidity for the αvβ3 receptor compared to the monomer ligand and an avidity that is greater than a clinically relevant antibody that is driven by their multivalency. The amplified avidity of these micelles leads to significantly increased cellular internalization, a feature that may have utility for the intracellular delivery of drugs that are loaded into the core of these micelles.

A thermostable flavin-based fluorescent protein from Chloroflexus aggregans: a framework for ultra-high resolution structural studies.

Light-Oxygen-Voltage (LOV) domains are conserved parts of photoreceptors in plants, bacteria and fungi that bind flavins as chromophores and detect blue light. In the past, LOV domain variants have been developed as fluorescent reporter proteins (called flavin-based fluorescent proteins; FbFPs), which due to their ability to fluoresce under anaerobic conditions, fast folding kinetics and a small size of ∼12-16 kDa are a promising reporter system for quantitative real-time analysis of biological processes. Here, we present a small thermostable flavin-based fluorescent protein CagFbFP derived from a soluble LOV domain-containing histidine kinase from the thermophilic bacterium Chloroflexus aggregans. CagFbFP is composed of 107 amino acids with a molecular weight of 11.6 kDa and consists only of the conserved LOV core domain. The protein is thermostable with a melting point of about 68 °C. It crystallizes easily and its crystals diffract to 1.07 Å. Both the crystal structure and small angle scattering data show that the protein is a dimer. Unexpectedly, glutamine 148, which in LOV photoreceptor proteins is the key residue responsible for signal transduction, occupies two conformations. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the two conformations interconvert rapidly. The crystal structure of the wild-type Chloroflexus aggregans LOV domain determined at 1.22 Å resolution confirmed the presence of two alternative conformations of the glutamine 148 side chain. Overall, this protein, due to its stability and ease of crystallization, appears to be a promising model for ultra-high resolution structural studies of LOV domains and for application as a fluorescent reporter.

Abstract 2982: Monomerization of ALK fusion proteins as a therapeutic strategy in ALK rearranged cancers

Abstract Introduction: Since the discovery of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like-4 (EML4) fusion protein, ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been shown to have great anti-tumor activities against ALK rearranged non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). As previously reported, the EML4-ALK fusion proteins induce constitutive phosphorylation of ALK via the trimeric coiled-coil domain within EML4. ALK F1174L mutations known in neuroblastoma, can induce autophosphorylation without dimerization. We hypothesize that monomerization of ALK fusion proteins decreased tumorigenesis via competitive dissociation of the trimeric coiled-coil domain of EML4. Methods: We established Ba/F3 cells stably expressing wild-type (wt) ALK intracellular domain or F1174L mutant (mu) with using iDimerize system (Takara Bio). Using this system, monomer or dimer of ALK fusion proteins were controlled by adding AP20187 (Takara Bio). These Ba/F3 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB nu/nu mice followed by intraperitoneal administration of AP20187 or Mock intermittently. A chemically synthesized peptide composed of amino acid sequences of coiled-coil domain within EML4, was administered for H3122 (EML4-ALK) or A549 (KRAS) cells and the viabilities were analyzed after 24 hours. In order to demonstrate the specificity of the peptide, a synthesized peptide in which two amino acids were substituted was also used as a control. Each peptide was solubilized in DMSO and the peptide concentration was optimized. Results: We successfully established the Ba/F3 stably expressing fusion-ALKwt, fusion-ALKmu under continuous administration of AP20187. Subsequently, ALK proteins were depolymerized by withdrawal of AP20187. The number of cells expressing ALKwt were decreased while the same of ALKmu were increased. The protein expression of phosphorylation of ALK or downstream survival signaling proteins were weakened after 24hours from AP20187 withdrawal. In fusion-ALKwt cells, tumor xenograft was developed in every mice with AP20187 (n=6) administration, while tumor was not developed in Mock controls (n=6). In fusion-ALKmu cells, tumor xenograft was developed in all mice with or without AP20187 administration (n=12). In vitro assay, cell growth of H3122 was 40% decreased by adding coiled-coil peptides, while increased cell growth was observed in control peptide groups and A549 cells. Conclusion: Monomerization of ALK intracellular domain induced cell death and suppressed tumorigenesis. The coiled-coil peptide specifically suppressed the activity of EML4-ALK cell line. Monomerization of ALK fusion proteins via coiled-coil peptide is a promising therapeutic strategy for ALK rearranged NSCLC. Citation Format: Noriko Hirai, Takaaki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Ohsaki. Monomerization of ALK fusion proteins as a therapeutic strategy in ALK rearranged cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2982.

Abstract 4774: Engineering an oncolytic adenovirus to target CEA in colorectal cancer

Abstract Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer overall. Screening methods can identify precancerous polyps before they progress, leading to five-year survival rates of 92%. However, if diagnosed in later stages the survival rates decrease to 12%. While treatment options are available for advanced stages, they remain inadequate to affect overall survival. Thus, new therapies are needed to improve treatment outcomes. Oncolytic virotherapy is a unique therapeutic approach in which a virus is genetically modified to target cancer cells while sparing normal tissue. Oncolytic virotherapy takes advantage of the lytic properties of the viral life cycle. These viruses are used replicate inside cancer cells, lyse them and spread to adjacent cells throughout the tumor. The adenovirus is a well-characterized vector that is easily manipulated and produced and is capable of infecting a wide range of cells. However, the endogenous receptor for adenovirus, the Coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), is often downregulated in cancers, thus decreasing the ability to selectively infect cancer cells. In this study, an adenovirus was genetically engineered to present the single variable domain (VHH) derived from a camelid heavy chain antibody B2. The B2 antibody recognizes the human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is often overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including colorectal cancer. Here, the wild-type fiber and knob domain of the adenovirus fiber gene was replaced with a modified T4 fibritin fiber linked to the B2 VHH. To provide for visual tracking of adenovirus infection and biodistribution, a red fluorescent protein (RFP) marker gene was also fused to the capsid protein IX (pIX). This virus was rescued and amplified in the HEK293 F28 packaging cell line with a final round of amplification in HEK293 cells. The virus was purified by CsCl ultracentrifugation and dialysis. The resulting viral stock was titered and characterized for the presence of the modified fiber and knob. Subsequently, the vector was modified to express the human sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) transgene, to allow for noninvasive imaging of the adenovirus uptake and replication as well as radiotherapy using 131I. Further experiments will be completed to confirm viral selectivity for CEA and subsequent lysis of colorectal cancer cells. The results of this study will advance targeting oncolytic adenoviruses to metastatic colorectal cancer. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Jessica C. Schaumburg. Engineering an oncolytic adenovirus to target CEA in colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4774.

Structural Insights into the Substrate Specificity of Acyltransferases from Salinomycin Polyketide Synthase.

Salinomycin with antibacterial and anticoccidial activities is a commercial polyether polyketide widely used in animal husbandry as a food additive. Malonyl-CoA (MCoA), methylmalonyl-CoA (MMCoA), and ethylmalonyl-CoA (EMCoA) are used as extension units in its biosynthesis. To understand how the salinomycin modular polyketide synthase (PKS) strictly discriminates among these extension units, the acyltransferase (AT) domains selecting MCoA, MMCoA, and EMCoA were structurally characterized. Molecular dynamics simulations of the AT structures helped to reveal the key interactions involved in enzyme-substrate recognitions, which enabled the engineering of AT mutants with switched specificity. The catalytic efficiencies ( kcat/ Km) of these AT mutants are comparable with those of the wild-type AT domains. These results set the stage for engineering the AT substrate specificity of modular PKSs.

In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from the China-Myanmar border area to artemisinins and correlation with K13 mutations

Mutations in the Kelch domain of the K13 gene (PF3D7_1343700) were previously associated with artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. This study followed the dynamics of the K13 polymorphisms in P. falciparum parasites from the China-Myanmar border area obtained in 2007–2016, and their in vitro sensitivities to artesunate (AS) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA). The 50% effective concentration (EC5072h) values of 133 culture-adapted field isolates to AS and DHA, measured by the conventional 72 h SYBR Green I-based assay, varied significantly among the parasites from different years; all were significantly higher than that of the reference strain 3D7. Compared with parasites from 2007 to 2008, ring survival rates almost doubled in parasites obtained in later years. Sequencing the full-length K13 genes identified 11 point mutations present in 85 (63.9%) parasite isolates. F446I was the predominant (55/133) variant, and its frequency was increased from 17.6% (3/17) in 2007 to 55.9% (19/34) in 2014–2016. No wild-type (WT) Kelch domain sequences were found in the 34 samples obtained from 2014 to 2016. In the 2014–2016 samples, a new mutation (G533S) appeared and reached 44.1% (15/34). Collectively, parasites with the Kelch domain mutations (after amino acid 440) had significantly higher ring survival rates than the WT parasites. Individually, F446I, G533S and A676D showed significantly higher ring survival rates than the WT. Although the drug sensitivity phenotypes measured by the RSA6h and EC5072h assays may be intrinsically linked to the in vivo clinical efficacy data, the values determined by these two assays were not significantly correlated. This study identified the trend of K13 mutations in parasite populations from the China-Myanmar border area, confirmed an overall correlation of Kelch domain mutations with elevated ring-stage survival rates, and emphasized the importance of monitoring the evolution and spread of parasites with reduced artemisinin sensitivity along the malaria elimination course.