A combination of spin diffusion methods for the determination of protein-ligand complex structural ensembles.

Structure-based drug design (SBDD) is a powerful and widely used approach to optimize affinity of drug candidates. With the recently introduced INPHARMA method, the binding mode of small molecules to their protein target can be characterized even if no spectroscopic information about the protein is known. Here, we show that the combination of the spin-diffusion-based NMR methods INPHARMA, trNOE, and STD results in an accurate scoring function for docking modes and therefore determination of protein-ligand complex structures. Applications are shown on the model system protein kinase A and the drug targets glycogen phosphorylase and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Multiplexing of several ligands improves the reliability of the scoring function further. The new score allows in the case of sEH detecting two binding modes of the ligand in its binding site, which was corroborated by X-ray analysis.

End-organ protection in hypertension by the novel and selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, SAR407899.

AIM: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of SAR407899 with the current standard treatment for hypertension [an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker] and compare the frequency and severity of the hypertension-related end-organ damage. METHODS: Long-term pharmacological characte-rization of SAR407899 has been performed in two animal models of hypertension, of which one is sensitive to ACE-inhibition (LNAME) and the other is insensitive [deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)]. SAR407899 efficiently lowered high blood pressure and significantly reduced late-stage end organ damage as indicated by improved heart, kidney and endothelial function and reduced heart and kidney fibrosis in both models of chronic hypertension. RESULTS: Long term treatment with SAR407899 has been well tolerated and dose-dependently reduced elevated blood pressure in both models with no signs of tachyphylaxia. Blood pressure lowering effects and protective effects on hypertension related end organ damage of SAR407899 were superior to ramipril and amlodipine in the DOCA rat. Typical end-organ damage was significantly reduced in the SAR407899-treated animals. Chronic administration of SAR407899 significantly reduced albuminuria in both models. The beneficial effect of SAR407899 was associated with a reduction in leukocyte/macrophage tissue infiltration. The overall protective effect of SAR407899 was superior or comparable to that of ACE-inhibition or calcium channel blockade. Chronic application of SAR407899 protects against hypertension and hypertension-induced end organ damage, regardless of the pathophysiological mechanism of hypertension. CONCLUSION: Rho-kinases-inhibition by the SAR407899 represents a new therapeutic option for the treatment of hypertension and its complications.

Discovery and pharmacological characterization of a novel small molecule inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase, type II, beta.

Phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase, type II, beta (PIP5K2B) is linked to the pathogenesis of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. Here, we describe the identification of a novel pyrimidine-2,4-diamine PIP5K2B inhibitor, designated SAR088. The compound was identified by high-throughput screening and subsequently characterized in vitro and in vivo. SAR088 showed reasonable potency, selectivity and physicochemical properties in enzymatic and cellular assays. In vivo, SAR088 lowered blood glucose levels of obese and hyperglycemic male Zucker diabetic fatty rats treated for 3 weeks. Thus, SAR088 represents the first orally available and in vivo active PIP5K2B inhibitor and provides an excellent starting point for the development of potent and selective PIP5K2B inhibitors for the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Structure of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

Conservation of energy based on the reduction of sulfate is of fundamental importance for the biogeochemical sulfur cycle. A key enzyme of this ancient anaerobic process is the dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dSir), which catalyzes the six-electron reduction of sulfite to hydrogen sulfide under participation of a unique magnetically coupled siroheme-[4Fe-4S] center. We determined the crystal structure of the enzyme from the sulfate-reducing archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus at 2-A resolution and compared it with that of the phylogenetically related assimilatory Sir (aSir). dSir is organized as a heterotetrameric (alphabeta)(2) complex composed of two catalytically independent alphabeta heterodimers. In contrast, aSir is a monomeric protein built of two fused modules that are structurally related to subunits alpha and beta except for a ferredoxin domain inserted only into the subunits of dSir. The [4Fe-4S] cluster of this ferredoxin domain is considered as the terminal redox site of the electron transfer pathway to the siroheme-[4Fe-4S] center in dSir. While aSir binds one siroheme-[4Fe-4S] center, dSir harbors two of them within each alphabeta heterodimer. Surprisingly, only one siroheme-[4Fe-4S] center in each alphabeta heterodimer is catalytically active, whereas access to the second one is blocked by a tryptophan residue. The spatial proximity of the functional and structural siroheme-[4Fe-4S] centers suggests that the catalytic activity at one active site was optimized during evolution at the expense of the enzymatic competence of the other. The sulfite binding mode and presumably the mechanism of sulfite reduction appear to be largely conserved between dSir and aSir. In addition, a scenario for the evolution of Sirs is proposed.

Reaction mechanism of the iron-sulfur flavoenzyme adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate reductase based on the structural characterization of different enzymatic states.

The iron-sulfur flavoenzyme adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) reductase catalyzes a key reaction of the global sulfur cycle by reversibly transforming APS to sulfite and AMP. The structures of the dissimilatory enzyme from Archaeoglobus fulgidus in the reduced state (FAD(red)) and in the sulfite adduct state (FAD-sulfite-AMP) have been recently elucidated at 1.6 and 2.5 A resolution, respectively. Here we present new structural features of the enzyme trapped in four different catalytically relevant states that provide us with a detailed picture of its reaction cycle. In the oxidized state (FAD(ox)), the isoalloxazine moiety of the FAD cofactor exhibits a similarly bent conformation as observed in the structure of the reduced enzyme. In the APS-bound state (FAD(ox)-APS), the substrate APS is embedded into a 17 A long substrate channel in such a way that the isoalloxazine ring is pushed toward the channel bottom, thereby producing a compressed enzyme-substrate complex. A clamp formed by residues ArgA317 and LeuA278 to fix the adenine ring and the curved APS conformation appear to be key factors to hold APS in a strained conformation. This energy-rich state is relaxed during the attack of APS on the reduced FAD. A relaxed FAD-sulfite adduct is observed in the structure of the FAD-sulfite state. Finally, a FAD-sulfite-AMP1 state with AMP within van der Waals distance of the sulfite adduct could be characterized. This structure documents how adjacent negative charges are stabilized by the protein matrix which is crucial for forming APS from AMP and sulfite in the reverse reaction.

Structure of adenylylsulfate reductase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus fulgidus at 1.6-A resolution.

The iron-sulfur flavoenzyme adenylylsulfate (adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate, APS) reductase catalyzes reversibly the reduction of APS to sulfite and AMP. The structures of APS reductase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobus fulgidus in the two-electron reduced state and with sulfite bound to FAD are reported at 1.6- and 2.5- resolution, respectively. The FAD-sulfite adduct was detected after soaking the crystals with APS. This finding and the architecture of the active site strongly suggest that catalysis involves a nucleophilic attack of the N5 atom of reduced FAD on the sulfur atom of APS. In view of the high degree of similarity between APS reductase and fumarate reductase especially with regard to the FAD-binding alpha-subunit, it is proposed that both subunits originate from a common ancestor resembling archaeal APS reductase. The two electrons required for APS reduction are transferred via two [4Fe-4S] clusters from the surface of the protein to FAD. The exceptionally large difference in reduction potential of these clusters (-60 and -500 mV) can be explained by interactions of the clusters with the protein matrix.