Multiple Binding Modes Research Articles

Cover Picture: Dynamics and Multiple Stable Binding Modes of DNA Intercalators Revealed by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 8/2012)

Intercalation of YOYO a bisintercalating DNA dye, was studied by using single-molecule force spectroscopy. In their Communication on page 1811 ff., D. H. Paik and T. T. Perkins show that force-enhanced intercalation, traditionally ascribed to the dye in solution binding to the DNA, can occur from a reservoir of bound dye that remained out of equilibrium with the free dye for long periods of time (>2 hours). Hence, binding/unbinding and intercalation/de-intercalation are distinct processes that can occur on very different time scales.

New perspectives of zinc coordination environments in proteins

Zinc is more widely used as a cofactor in proteins than any other transition metal ion. In addition to catalytic and structural functions, zinc(II) ions have a role in information transfer and cellular control. They bind transiently when proteins regulate zinc concentrations and re-distribute zinc and when proteins are regulated by zinc. Transient zinc-binding sites employ the same donors of amino acid side chains as catalytic and structural sites but differ in their coordination chemistry that can modulate zinc affinities over at least ten orders of magnitude. Redox activity of the cysteine ligands, multiple binding modes of the oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen donors, and protein conformational changes induce coordination dynamics in zinc sites and zinc ion mobility. Functional annotations of the remarkable variation of coordination environments in zinc proteomes need to consider how the primary coordination spheres interact with protein structure and dynamics, and the adaptation of coordination properties to the biological context in extracellular, cellular, or subcellular locations.

Computational Study of the Binding Modes of Caffeine to the Adenosine A2AReceptor

Using the recently solved crystal structure of the human adenosine A(2A) receptor, we applied MM/PBSA to compare the binding modes of caffeine with those of the high-affinity selective antagonist ZM241385. MD simulations were performed in the environment of the lipid membrane bilayer. Four low-energy binding modes of caffeine-A(2A) were found, all of which had similar energies. Assuming an equal contribution of each binding mode of caffeine, the computed binding free energy difference between caffeine and ZM241385 is -2.4 kcal/mol, which compares favorably with the experimental value, -3.6 kcal/mol. The configurational entropy contribution of -0.9 kcal/mol from multiple binding modes of caffeine helps explain how a small molecule like caffeine can compete with a significantly larger molecule, ZM241385, which can form many more interactions with the receptor. We also performed residue-wise energy decomposition and found that Phe168, Leu249, and Ile274 contribute most significantly to the binding modes of caffeine and ZM241385.

Drug discovery targeting human 5-HT 2C receptors: Residues S3.36 and Y7.43 impact ligand—Binding pocket structure via hydrogen bond formation

Specific activation of serotonin (5-HT) 5-HT 2C G protein-coupled receptors may be therapeutic for obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders. Mutagenesis coupled with computational and molecular modeling experiments based on the human β 2 adrenergic receptor structure was employed to delineate the interactions of different ligands at human 5-HT 2C residues D3.32, S3.36 and Y7.43. No binding of the tertiary amine radioligand ([ 3H]-mesulergine) could be detected when the 5-HT 2C D3.32 residue was mutated to alanine (D3.32A). The S3.36A point-mutation greatly reduced affinity of primary amine ligands, modestly reduced affinity of a secondary amine, and except for the 5-HT 2C-specific agonist N(CH 3) 2-PAT, affinity of tertiary amines was unaffected. Molecular modeling results indicated that the primary amines form hydrogen bonds with the S3.36 residue, whereas, with the exception of N(CH 3) 2-PAT, tertiary amines do not interact considerably with this residue. The Y7.43A point-mutation greatly reduced affinity of 5-HT, yet reduced to a lesser extent the affinity of tryptamine that lacks the 5-hydroxy moiety present in 5-HT; modeling results indicated that the 5-HT 5-hydroxy moiety hydrogen bonds with Y7.43 at the 5-HT 2C receptor. Additional modeling results showed that 5-HT induced a hydrogen bond between Y7.43 and D3.32. Finally, modeling results revealed two low-energy binding modes for 5-HT in the 5-HT 2C binding pocket, supporting the concept that multiple agonist binding modes may stabilize different receptor active conformations to influence signaling. Ligand potencies for modulating WT and point-mutated 5-HT 2C receptor-mediated phospholipase C activity were in accordance with the affinity data. Ligand efficacies, however, were altered considerably by the S3.36A mutation only.

Phospholamban Binds with Differential Affinity to Calcium Pump Conformers

To investigate the mechanism of regulation of sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) by phospholamban (PLB), we expressed Cerulean-SERCA and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-PLB in adult rabbit ventricular myocytes using adenovirus vectors. SERCA and PLB were localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and were mobile over multiple sarcomeres on a timescale of tens of seconds. We also observed robust fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from Cerulean-SERCA to YFP-PLB. Electrical pacing of cardiac myocytes elicited cytoplasmic Ca(2+) elevations, but these increases in Ca(2+) produced only modest changes in SERCA-PLB FRET. The data suggest that the regulatory complex is not disrupted by elevations of cytosolic calcium during cardiac contraction (systole). This conclusion was also supported by parallel experiments in heterologous cells, which showed that FRET was reduced but not abolished by calcium. Thapsigargin also elicited a small decrease in PLB-SERCA binding affinity. We propose that PLB is not displaced from SERCA by high calcium during systole, and relief of functional inhibition does not require dissociation of the regulatory complex. The observed modest reduction in the affinity of the PLB-SERCA complex with Ca(2+) or thapsigargin suggests that the binding interface is altered by SERCA conformational changes. The results are consistent with multiple modes of PLB binding or alternative binding sites.

Interaction of a goose-type lysozyme with chitin oligosaccharides as determined by NMR spectroscopy

The interaction between a goose-type lysozyme from ostrich egg white (OEL) and chitin oligosaccharides [(GlcNAc)(n) (n = 2, 4 and 6)] was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A stable isotope-labelled OEL was produced in Pichia pastoris, and backbone resonance assignments for the wild-type and an inactive mutant (E73A OEL) were achieved using modern multi-dimensional NMR techniques. NMR titration was performed with (GlcNAc)(n) for mapping the interaction sites of the individual oligosaccharides based on the shifts in the two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) resonances. In wild-type OEL, the interaction sites for (GlcNAc)(n) were basically similar to those determined by X-ray crystallography. In E73A OEL, however, the interaction sites were spread more widely over the substrate-binding cleft than expected, due to the multiple modes of binding. The association constant for E73A OEL and (GlcNAc)(6) calculated from the shifts in the Asp97 resonance (7.2 × 10(3) M(-1)) was comparable with that obtained by isothermal titration calorimetry (5.3 × 10(3) M(-1)). The interaction was enthalpy-driven as judged from the thermodynamic parameters (ΔH = -6.1 kcal/mol and TΔS = -1.0 kcal/mol). This study provided novel insights into the oligosaccharide binding mechanism and the catalytic residues of the enzymes belonging to family GH-23.

The Rev1 translesion synthesis polymerase has multiple distinct DNA binding modes

Rev1 is a eukaryotic DNA polymerase of the Y family involved in translesion synthesis (TLS), a major damage tolerance pathway that allows DNA replication at damaged templates. Uniquely amongst the Y family polymerases, the N-terminal part of Rev1, dubbed the BRCA1 C- terminal homology (BRCT) region, includes a BRCT domain. While most BRCT domains mediate protein–protein interactions, Rev1 contains a predicted α-helix N-terminal to the BRCT domain and in human Replication Factor C (RFC) such a BRCT region endows the protein with DNA binding capacity. Here, we studied the DNA binding properties of yeast and mouse Rev1. Our results show that the BRCT region of Rev1 specifically binds to a 5′ phosphorylated, recessed, primer–template junction. This DNA binding depends on the extra α-helix, N-terminal to the BRCT domain. Surprisingly, a stretch of 20 amino acids N-terminal to the predicted α-helix is also critical for high-affinity DNA binding. In addition to 5′ primer–template junction binding, Rev1 efficiently binds to a recessed 3′ primer–template junction. These dual DNA binding characteristics are discussed in view of the proposed recruitment of Rev1 by 5′ primer–template junctions, downstream of stalled replication forks.

Identification of the Binding Modes of N-Phenylphthalimides Inhibiting Bacterial Thymidylate Synthase through X-Ray Crystallography Screening

To identify specific bacterial thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors, we exploited phenolphthalein (PTH), which inhibits both bacterial and human enzymes. The X-ray crystal structure of Lactobacillus casei TS (LcTS) that binds PTH showed multiple binding modes of the inhibitor, which prevented a classical structure-based drug design approach. To overcome this issue, we synthesized two phthalimidic libraries that were tested against TS enzymes and then we performed X-ray crystallographic screening of the active compounds. Compounds 6A, 8A, and 12A showed 40-fold higher affinity for bacterial TS than human TS. The X-ray crystallographic screening characterized the binding mode of six inhibitors in complexes with LcTS. Of these, 20A, 23A, and 24A showed a common unique binding mode, whereas 8A showed a different, unique binding mode. A comparative analysis of the LcTS X-ray complexes that were obtained with the pathogenic TS enabled the selection of compounds 8A and 23A as specific compounds and starting points to be exploited for the specific inhibition of pathogen enzymes.

Understanding Molecular Recognition by G protein βγ Subunits on the Path to Pharmacological Targeting

Heterotrimeric G proteins, composed of Gα and Gβγ subunits, transduce extracellular signals via G-protein-coupled receptors to modulate many important intracellular responses. The Gβγ subunits hold a central position in this signaling system and have been implicated in multiple aspects of physiology and the pathophysiology of disease. The Gβ subunit belongs to a large family of WD40 repeat proteins with a circular β-bladed propeller structure. This structure allows Gβγ to interact with a broad range of proteins to play diverse roles. How Gβγ interacts with and regulates such a wide variety of partners yet maintains specificity is an interesting problem in protein-protein molecular recognition in signal transduction, where signal transfer by proteins is often driven by modular conserved recognition motifs. Evidence has accumulated that one mechanism for Gβγ multitarget recognition is through an intrinsically flexible protein surface or "hot spot" that accommodates multiple modes of binding. Because each target has a unique recognition mode for Gβγ subunits, it suggests that these interactions could be selectively manipulated with small molecules, which could have significant therapeutic potential.

Two Solutions for the Same Problem: Multiple Binding Modes of Pyrrolidine-Based HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors

Structure-based drug design is an integral part of industrial and academic drug discovery projects. Initial lead structures are, in general, optimized in terms of affinity using iterative cycles comprising synthesis, biological evaluation, computational methods, and structural analysis. X-ray crystallography commonly suggests the existence of a single well-defined state, termed binding mode, which is generally assumed to be consistent in a series of similar ligands and therefore used for the following optimization process. During the further development of symmetrically disubstituted 3,4-amino-pyrrolidines as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease inhibitors, we discovered that, by modification of the P1/P1′ moieties of our lead structure, the activity of the inhibitors towards the active-site mutation Ile84Val was altered, however, not being explainable with the initial underlying structure–activity relationship. The cocrystallization of the most potent derivative in complex with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease surprisingly led to two different crystal forms ( P2 12 12 1 and P6 122). Structural analysis revealed two completely different binding modes; the interaction of the pyrrolidine nitrogen atom with the catalytic aspartates remains as the only similarity. The study presented clearly demonstrates that structural biology has to escort the entire lead optimization process not to fail by an initially observed binding orientation.

Synthesis, DNA Binding, and Cleavage Studies of Novel PNA Binding Cyclen Complexes

A novel coumarin-appended PNA binding cyclen derivative ligand, C1, and its copper(II) complex, C2, have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of these compounds with DNA was systematically investigated by absorption, fluorescence, and viscometric titration, and DNA-melting and gel-electrophoresis experiments. DNA Melting and viscometric titration experiments indicate that the binding mode of C1 is a groove binding, and C2 is a multiple binding mode that involves groove binding and electrostatic binding. From the absorption-titration data, we can state that the primary interaction between CT DNA and the two compounds may be H-bonds between nucleobases. Fluorescence studies indicate that the binding ability of C1 to d(A)(9) is as twice or thrice as that of other oligodeoxynucleotides. Agarose gel-electrophoresis experiments demonstrate that C2 is an excellent chemical nuclease, which can cleave plasmid DNA completely within 24 h.

Rigorous Treatment of Multispecies Multimode Ligand−Receptor Interactions in 3D-QSAR: CoMFA Analysis of Thyroxine Analogs Binding to Transthyretin

For a rigorous analysis of the receptor-ligand binding, speciation of the ligands caused by ionization, tautomerism, covalent hydration, and dynamic stereoisomerism needs to be considered. Each species may bind in several orientations or conformations (modes), especially for flexible ligands and receptors. A thermodynamic description of the multispecies (MS), multimode (MM) binding events shows that the overall association constant is equal to the weighted sum of the sums of microscopic association constants of individual modes for each species, with the weights given by the unbound fractions of individual species. This expression is a prerequisite for a precise quantitative characterization of the ligand-receptor interactions in both structure-based and ligand-based structure-activity analyses. We have implemented the MS-MM correlation expression into the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), which deduces a map of the binding site from structures and binding affinities of a ligand set, in the absence of experimental structural information on the receptor. The MS-MM CoMFA approach was applied to published data for binding to transthyretin of 28 thyroxine analogs, each forming up to four ionization species under physiological conditions. The published X-ray structures of several analogs, exhibiting multiple binding modes, served as templates for the MS-MM superposition of thyroxine analogs. Additional modes were generated for compounds with flexible alkyl substituents, to identify bound conformations. The results demonstrate that the MS-MM modification improved predictive abilities of the CoMFA models, even for the standard procedure with MS-MM selected species and modes. The predicted prevalences of individual modes and the generated receptor site model are in reasonable agreement with the available X-ray data. The calibrated model can help in the design of inhibitors of transthyretin amyloid fibril formation.

Regioselective Glucuronidation of Flavonols by Six Human UGT1A Isoforms

Glucuronidation is a major barrier to flavonoid bioavailability; understanding its regiospecificity and reaction kinetics would greatly enhance our ability to model and predict flavonoid disposition. We aimed to determine the regioselective glucuronidation of four model flavonols using six expressed human UGT1A isoforms (UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10). In vitro reaction kinetic profiles of six UGT1A-mediated metabolism of four flavonols (all with 7-OH group) were characterized; kinetic parameters (K(m), V(max) and CL(int) = V(max)/K(m)) were determined. UGT1A1 and 1A3 regioselectively metabolized the 7-OH group, whereas UGT1A7, 1A8, 1A9 and 1A10 preferred to glucuronidate the 3-OH group. UGT1A1 and 1A9 were the most efficient conjugating enzymes with K(m) values of ≤1μM and relative catalytic efficiency ratios of ≥5.5. Glucuronidation by UGT1As displayed surprisingly strong substrate inhibition. In particular, K(si) values (substrate inhibition constant) were less than 5.4μM for UGT1A1-mediated metabolism. UGT1A isoforms displayed distinct positional preferences between 3-OH and 7-OH of flavonols. Differentiated kinetic properties between 3-O- and 7-O- glucuronidation suggested that (at least) two distinct binding modes within the catalytic domain were possible. The existence of multiple binding modes should provide better "expert" knowledge to model and predict UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation.

High-resolution genome-wide in vivo footprinting of diverse transcription factors in human cells

Regulation of gene transcription in diverse cell types is determined largely by varied sets of cis-elements where transcription factors bind. Here we demonstrate that data from a single high-throughput DNase I hypersensitivity assay can delineate hundreds of thousands of base-pair resolution in vivo footprints in human cells that precisely mark individual transcription factor-DNA interactions. These annotations provide a unique resource for the investigation of cis-regulatory elements. We find that footprints for specific transcription factors correlate with ChIP-seq enrichment and can accurately identify functional versus nonfunctional transcription factor motifs. We also find that footprints reveal a unique evolutionary conservation pattern that differentiates functional footprinted bases from surrounding DNA. Finally, detailed analysis of CTCF footprints suggests multiple modes of binding and a novel DNA binding motif upstream of the primary binding site.

VASP is a processive actin polymerase that requires monomeric actin for barbed end association

Ena/VASP proteins regulate the actin cytoskeleton during cell migration and morphogenesis and promote assembly of both filopodial and lamellipodial actin networks. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying their cellular functions we used total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to visualize VASP tetramers interacting with static and growing actin filaments in vitro. We observed multiple filament binding modes: (1) static side binding, (2) side binding with one-dimensional diffusion, and (3) processive barbed end tracking. Actin monomers antagonize side binding but promote high affinity (K(d) = 9 nM) barbed end attachment. In low ionic strength buffers, VASP tetramers are weakly processive (K(off) = 0.69 s(-1)) polymerases that deliver multiple actin monomers per barbed end-binding event and effectively antagonize filament capping. In higher ionic strength buffers, VASP requires profilin for effective polymerase and anti-capping activity. Based on our observations, we propose a mechanism that accounts for all three binding modes and provides a model for how VASP promotes actin filament assembly.

Transformation of a series of saturated isomeric steroidal diols by Aspergillus tamarii KITA reveals a precise stereochemical requirement for entrance into the lactonization pathway

Four isomers of 5α-androstan-3,17-diol have been transformed by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus tamarii, an organism which has the ability to convert progesterone to testololactone in high yield through an endogenous four step enzymatic pathway. The only diol handled within the lactonization pathway was 5α-androstan-3α,17β-diol which, uniquely underwent oxidation of the 17β-alcohol to the 17-ketone prior to its Baeyer–Villiger oxidation and the subsequent production of 3α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one. This demonstrated highly specific stereochemical requirements of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for oxidation of this specific steroidal diol to occur. In contrast, the other three diols were transformed within the hydroxylation pathway resulting in functionalization at C-11β. Only 5α-androstan-3β,17α-diol could bind to the hydroxylase in multiple binding modes undergoing monohydroxylation in 6β and 7β positions. Evidence from this study has indicated that hydroxylation of saturated steroidal lactones may occur following binding of ring-D in its open form in which an α-alcohol is generated with close spatial parity to the C-17α hydroxyl position. All metabolites were isolated by column chromatography and were identified by 1H, 13C NMR and DEPT analysis and further characterized using infra-red, elemental analysis and accurate mass measurement.

Improved Ligand-Protein Binding Affinity Predictions Using Multiple Binding Modes

Accurate ligand-protein binding affinity prediction, for a set of similar binders, is a major challenge in the lead optimization stage in drug development. In general, docking and scoring functions perform unsatisfactorily in this application. Docking calculations, followed by molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations can be applied to improve the predictions. However, for targets with large, flexible binding sites, with no experimentally determined binding modes for a set of ligands, insufficient sampling can decrease the accuracy of the free energy calculations. Cytochrome P450s, a protein family of major importance for drug metabolism, is an example of a challenging target for binding affinity predictions. As a result, the choice of starting structure from the docking solutions becomes crucial. In this study, an iterative scheme is introduced that includes multiple independent molecular dynamics simulations to obtain weighted ensemble averages to be used in the linear interaction energy method. The proposed scheme makes the initial pose selection less crucial for further simulation, as it automatically calculates the relative weights of the various poses. It also properly takes into account the possibility that multiple binding modes contribute similarly to the overall affinity, or of similar compounds occupying very different poses. The method was applied to a set of 12 compounds binding to cytochrome P450 2C9 and it displayed a root mean-square error of 2.9 kJ/mol.

Crystal structures of aprotinin and its complex with sucrose octasulfate reveal multiple modes of interactions with implications for heparin binding

The crystal structures of aprotinin and its complex with sucrose octasulfate (SOS), a polysulfated heparin analog, were determined at 1.7–2.6 Å resolutions. Aprotinin is monomeric in solution, which associates into a decamer at high salt concentrations. Sulfate ions serve to neutralize the basic amino acid residues of aprotinin to stabilize the decameric aprotinin. Whereas SOS interacts with heparin binding proteins at 1:1 molar ratio, SOS was surprisingly found to induce strong agglutination of aprotinins. Five molecules of aprotinin interact with one molecule of the sulfated sugar, which is stabilized by electrostatic interactions between the positively charged residues of aprotinin and sulfate groups of SOS. The multiple binding modes of SOS with five individual aprotinin molecules may represent the diverse patterns of potential heparin binding to aprotinin, reflecting the interactions of densely packed protein molecules along the heparin polymer.

Crystal structure of the neutralizing Llama V(HH) D7 and its mode of HIV-1 gp120 interaction.

HIV-1 entry into host cells is mediated by the sequential binding of the envelope glycoprotein gp120 to CD4 and a chemokine receptor. Antibodies binding to epitopes overlapping the CD4-binding site on gp120 are potent inhibitors of HIV entry, such as the llama heavy chain antibody fragment VHH D7, which has cross-clade neutralizing properties and competes with CD4 and mAb b12 for high affinity binding to gp120. We report the crystal structure of the D7 VHH at 1.5 Å resolution, which reveals the molecular details of the complementarity determining regions (CDR) and substantial flexibility of CDR3 that could facilitate an induced fit interaction with gp120. Structural comparison of CDRs from other CD4 binding site antibodies suggests diverse modes of interaction. Mutational analysis identified CDR3 as a key component of gp120 interaction as determined by surface plasmon resonance. A decrease in affinity is directly coupled to the neutralization efficiency since mutations that decrease gp120 interaction increase the IC50 required for HIV-1 IIIB neutralization. Thus the structural study identifies the long CDR3 of D7 as the key determinant of interaction and HIV-1 neutralization. Furthermore, our data confirm that the structural plasticity of gp120 can accommodate multiple modes of antibody binding within the CD4 binding site.

Kinetic Isotope Effects on the Noncovalent Flavin Mutant Protein of Pyranose 2-Oxidase Reveal Insights into the Flavin Reduction Mechanism

Pyranose 2-oxidase (P2O) from Trametes multicolor contains a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor covalently linked to the N(3) atom of His167. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of aldopyranoses by molecular oxygen to generate 2-keto-aldoses and H(2)O(2) as products. In this study, the transient kinetics and primary and solvent kinetic isotope effects of the mutant in which His167 has been replaced with Ala (H167A) were investigated, to elucidate the functional role of the 8a-N(3)-histidyl FAD linkage and to gain insights into the reaction mechanism of P2O. The results indicate that the covalent linkage is mainly important for a reductive half-reaction in which the FAD cofactor is reduced by d-glucose, while it is not important for an oxidative half-reaction in which oxygen reacts with the reduced FAD to generate H(2)O(2). d-Glucose binds to H167A via multiple binding modes before the formation of the active Michaelis complex, and the rate constant of flavin reduction decreases approximately 22-fold compared to that of the wild-type enzyme. The reduction of H167A using d-glucose isotopes (2-d-d-glucose, 3-d-d-glucose, and 1,2,3,4,5,6,6-d(7)-d-glucose) as substrates indicates that the primary isotope effect results only from substitution at the C2 position, implying that H167A catalyzes the oxidation of d-glucose regiospecifically at this position. No solvent kinetic isotope effect was detected during the reductive half-reaction of the wild-type or H167A enzyme, implying that the deprotonation of the d-glucose C2-OH group may occur readily upon the binding to P2O and is not synchronized with the cleavage of the d-glucose C2-H bond. The mutation has no drastic effect on the oxidative half-reaction of P2O, as H167A is very similar to the wild-type enzyme with respect to the kinetic constants and the formation of the C4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate. Kinetic mechanisms for both half-reactions of H167A were proposed on the basis of transient kinetic data and were verified by kinetic simulations and steady-state kinetic parameters.