Achieving High Affinity for a Bacterial Lectin with Reversible Covalent Ligands.

High-affinity monovalent ligands for lectins are challenging to develop due to weak binding interactions. This study investigates the potential of rationally designed covalent ligands targeting the N-terminal domain of BC2L-C lectin from Burkholderia cenocepacia, a pathogen causing severe respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. Antiadhesion therapy is emerging as a complementary approach against such infections, and bacterial lectins are suitable targets. The fucose-specific BC2L-C-Nt recognizes blood group oligosaccharides on host cells. Using a computational approach, we designed reversible covalent competitive ligands that include a fucoside anchor and a salicylaldehyde warhead targeting Lys108 near the fucose-binding site. Several candidates were synthesized and tested using competition experiments. The most effective ligand improved the IC50 of methyl-fucoside by 2 orders of magnitude, matching the affinity of the native H-type 1 trisaccharide. Control experiments confirmed the importance of both fucose anchor and salicylaldehyde moiety in the ligand's affinity. Mass analysis confirmed the covalent interaction with Lys108.

Glycomimetic antagonists of BC2L-C lectin: insights from molecular dynamics simulations.

Opportunistic infections from multidrug-resistant pathogens such as Burkholderia cenocepacia are a threatening risk for hospital-bound patients suffering from immunocompromised conditions or cystic fibrosis. B. cenocepacia BC2L-C lectin has been linked to bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, thus hindering its activity is seen as a promising strategy to reduce the severity of the infection. We recently described the first bifunctional ligands of the trimeric N-terminal domain of BC2L-C (BC2L-C-Nt), capable of simultaneously engaging its fucose-specific sugar binding site and a vicinal region at the interface between two monomers. Here, we report a computational workflow for the study of these glycomimetic bifunctional ligands in complex with BC2L-C-Nt, aimed at investigating the molecular basis of ligand binding and the dynamics of glycomimetic/lectin interactions. In particular, we evaluated the use of molecular docking in the protein trimer, followed by refinement using MM-GBSA re-scoring and MD simulations in explicit water. Computational results were compared to experimental data derived from X-ray crystallography and isothermal titration calorimetry. The computational protocol proved suitable to provide a reliable description of the interactions between the ligands and BC2L-C-Nt, highlighting the contribution of MD simulations in explicit solvent for a good fit with the experimental observations. The information achieved in the study and the whole workflow appear promising for the structure-based design of improved BC2L-C-Nt ligands as novel antimicrobials with antiadhesive properties.

GM1 oligosaccharide efficacy against α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in vitro.

Fibrillary aggregated α-synuclein represents the neurologic hallmark of Parkinson's disease and is considered to play a causative role in the disease. Although the causes leading to α-synuclein aggregation are not clear, the GM1 ganglioside interaction is recognized to prevent this process. How GM1 exerts these functions is not completely clear, although a primary role of its soluble oligosaccharide (GM1-OS) is emerging. Indeed, we recently identified GM1-OS as the bioactive moiety responsible for GM1 neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties, specifically reverting the parkinsonian phenotype both in in vitro and in vivo models. Here, we report on GM1-OS efficacy against the α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in vitro. By amyloid seeding aggregation assay and NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrated that GM1-OS was able to prevent both the spontaneous and the prion-like α-synuclein aggregation. Additionally, circular dichroism spectroscopy of recombinant monomeric α-synuclein showed that GM1-OS did not induce any change in α-synuclein secondary structure. Importantly, GM1-OS significantly increased neuronal survival and preserved neurite networks of dopaminergic neurons affected by α-synuclein oligomers, together with a reduction of microglia activation. These data further demonstrate that the ganglioside GM1 acts through its oligosaccharide also in preventing the α-synuclein pathogenic aggregation in Parkinson's disease, opening a perspective window for GM1-OS as drug candidate.

A combined fragment-based virtual screening and STD-NMR approach for the identification of E-cadherin ligands.

Cadherins promote cell-cell adhesion by forming homophilic interactions via their N-terminal extracellular domains. Hence, they have broad-ranging physiological effects on tissue organization and homeostasis. When dysregulated, cadherins contribute to different aspects of cancer progression and metastasis; therefore, targeting the cadherin adhesive interface with small-molecule antagonists is expected to have potential therapeutic and diagnostic value. Here, we used molecular docking simulations to evaluate the propensity of three different libraries of commercially available drug-like fragments (nearly 18,000 compounds) to accommodate into the Trp2 binding pocket of E-cadherin, a crucial site for the orchestration of the protein's dimerization mechanism. Top-ranked fragments featuring five different aromatic chemotypes were expanded by means of a similarity search on the PubChem database (Tanimoto index >90%). Of this set, seven fragments containing an aromatic scaffold linked to an aliphatic chain bearing at least one amine group were finally selected for further analysis. Ligand-based NMR data (Saturation Transfer Difference, STD) and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that these fragments can bind E-cadherin mostly through their aromatic moiety, while their aliphatic portions may also diversely engage with the mobile regions of the binding site. A tetrahydro-ß-carboline scaffold functionalized with an ethylamine emerged as the most promising fragment.

New Chemotypes for the Inhibition of (p)ppGpp Synthesis in the Quest for New Antimicrobial Compounds.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to our society from both the medical and economic point of view, while the antibiotic discovery pipeline has been dwindling over the last decades. Targeting non-essential bacterial pathways, such as those leading to antibiotic persistence, a bacterial bet-hedging strategy, will lead to new molecular entities displaying low selective pressure, thereby reducing the insurgence of AMR. Here, we describe a way to target (p)ppGpp (guanosine tetra- or penta-phosphate) signaling, a non-essential pathway involved in the formation of persisters, with a structure-based approach. A superfamily of enzymes called RSH (RelA/SpoT Homolog) regulates the intracellular levels of this alarmone. We virtually screened several fragment libraries against the (p)ppGpp synthetase domain of our RSH chosen model RelSeq, selected three main chemotypes, and measured their interaction with RelSeq by thermal shift assay and STD-NMR. Most of the tested fragments are selective for the synthetase domain, allowing us to select the aminobenzoic acid scaffold as a hit for lead development.

Conformationally Constrained Sialyl Analogues as New Potential Binders of h-CD22.

Here, two conformationally constrained sialyl analogues were synthesized and characterized in their interaction with the inhibitory Siglec, human CD22 (h-CD22). An orthogonal approach, including biophysical assays (SPR and fluorescence), ligand-based NMR techniques, and molecular modelling, was employed to disentangle the interaction mechanisms at a molecular level. The results showed that the Sialyl-TnThr antigen analogue represents a promising scaffold for the design of novel h-CD22 inhibitors. Our findings also suggest that the introduction of a biphenyl moiety at position 9 of the sialic acid hampers canonical accommodation of the ligand in the protein binding pocket, even though the affinity with respect to the natural ligand is increased. Our results address the search for novel modifications of the Neu5Ac-α(2-6)-Gal epitope, outline new insights for the design and synthesis of high-affinity h-CD22 ligands, and offer novel prospects for therapeutic intervention to prevent autoimmune diseases and B-cell malignancies.

Homology Model of a Catalytically Competent Bifunctional Rel Protein.

Bacteria have developed different bet hedging strategies to survive hostile environments and stressful conditions with persistency being maybe the most elegant yet still poorly understood one. Persisters' temporary tolerance to antibiotic treatment hints at their role not only in chronic and recurrent infections but also in the insurgence of resistant strains. Therefore, hampering persisters formation might represent an innovative strategy in the quest for new effective antimicrobial compounds. Among the molecular mechanisms postulated for the persister phenotypic switch, we decided to focus our attention on the stringent response and, in particular, on the upstream triggering step that is the accumulation of guanosine tetra- and pentaphosphate, collectivity called (p)ppGpp. Intracellular levels of (p)ppGpp are regulated by a superfamily of enzymes called RSH (RelA/SpoT homologue) that are able to promote its synthesis via pyrophosphate transfer from an ATP molecule to the 3' position of either GDP or GTP. These enzymes are classified based on the structural domain(s) present (only synthetase, only hydrolase, or both). Here we present our work on Rel Seq (from S. equisimilis), still the only bifunctional Rel protein for which a GDP-bound "synthetase-ON" structure is available. Analysis of the synthetase site, occupied only by GDP, revealed a partially active state, where the supposed ATP binding region is not conformationally apt to accommodate it. In order to achieve a protein model that gets closer to a fully active state, we generated a chimera structure of Rel Seq by homology modeling, starting from the crystal structure of the catalytically competent state of RelP, a smaller, single-domain, Rel protein from S. aureus. Molecular dynamics simulations allowed verifying the stability of the generated chimera model. Virtual screening and ligand design studies are underway.

Behavior of glycolylated sialoglycans in the binding pockets of murine and human CD22.

Siglecs (sialic acid binding immunoglobulin (Ig)-like lectins) constitute a group of 15 human and 9 murine cell-surface transmembrane receptors belonging to the I-type lectin family, mostly expressed on innate immune cells and characterized by broadly similar structural features. Here, the prominent inhibitory CD22 (Siglec-2), well known in maintaining tolerance and preventing autoimmune responses on B cells, is studied in its human and murine forms in complex with sialoglycans. In detail, the role of the N-glycolyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) moiety in the interaction with both orthologues was explored. The analysis of the binding mode was carried out by the combination of NMR spectroscopy, computational approaches, and CORCEMA-ST calculations. Our findings provide a first model of Neu5Gc recognition by h-CD22 and show a comparable molecular recognition profile by h- and m-CD22. These data open the way to innovative diagnostic and/or therapeutic methodologies to be used in the modulation of the immune responses.

Cyclic RGD and isoDGR Integrin Ligands Containing cis-2-amino-1-cyclopentanecarboxylic (cis-ß-ACPC) Scaffolds.

Integrin ligands containing the tripeptide sequences Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and iso-Asp-Gly- Arg (isoDGR) were actively investigated as inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis and directing unit in tumor-targeting drug conjugates. Reported herein is the synthesis, of two RGD and one isoDGR cyclic peptidomimetics containing (1S,2R) and (1R,2S) cis-2-amino-1-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (cis-ß-ACPC), using a mixed solid phase/solution phase synthetic protocol. The three ligands were examined in vitro in competitive binding assays to the purified αvß3 and α5ß1 receptors using biotinylated vitronectin (αvß3) and fibronectin (α5ß1) as natural displaced ligands. The IC50 values of the ligands ranged from nanomolar (the two RGD ligands) to micromolar (the isoDGR ligand) with a pronounced selectivity for αvß3 over α5ß1. In vitro cell adhesion assays were also performed using the human skin melanoma cell line WM115 (rich in integrin αvß3). The two RGD ligands showed IC50 values in the same micromolar range as the reference compound (cyclo[RGDfV]), while for the isoDGR derivative an IC50 value could not be measured for the cell adhesion assay. A conformational analysis of the free RGD and isoDGR ligands by NMR (VT-NMR and NOESY experiments) and computational studies (MC/EM and MD), followed by docking simulations performed in the αVß3 integrin active site, provided a rationale for the behavior of these ligands toward the receptor.

Side chain effect in the modulation of αvß3/α5ß1 integrin activity via clickable isoxazoline-RGD-mimetics: development of molecular delivery systems.

Construction of small molecule ligand (SML) based delivery systems has been performed starting from a polyfunctionalized isoxazoline scaffold, whose αvß3 and α5ß1 integrins' potency has been already established. The synthesis of this novel class of ligands was obtained by conjugation of linkers to the heterocyclic core via Huisgen-click reaction, with the aim to use them as "shuttles" for selective delivery of diagnostic agents to cancer cells, exploring the effects of the side chains in the interaction with the target. Compounds 17b and 24 showed excellent potency towards α5ß1 integrin acting as selective antagonist and agonist respectively. Further investigations confirmed their effects on target receptor through the analysis of fibronectin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, confocal microscopy analysis allowed us to follow the fate of EGFP conjugated α5ß1 integrin and 17b FITC-conjugated (compound 31) inside the cells. Moreover, the stability in water solution at different values of pH and in bovine serum confirmed the possible exploitation of these peptidomimetic molecules for pharmaceutical application.

Bromine-Promoted Glycosidation of Conformationally Superarmed Thioglycosides.

Presented herein is a study of the conformation and reactivity of highly reactive thioglycoside donors. The structural studies have been conducted using NMR spectroscopy and computational methods. The reactivity of these donors has been investigated in bromine-promoted glycosylations of aliphatic and sugar alcohols. Swift reaction times, high yields, and respectable 1,2-cis stereoselectivity were observed in a majority of these glycosylations.

Exploring E-cadherin-peptidomimetics interaction using NMR and computational studies.

Cadherins are homophilic cell-cell adhesion molecules whose aberrant expression has often been shown to correlate with different stages of tumor progression. In this work, we investigate the interaction of two peptidomimetic ligands with the extracellular portion of human E-cadherin using a combination of NMR and computational techniques. Both ligands have been previously developed as mimics of the tetrapeptide sequence Asp1-Trp2-Val3-Ile4 of the cadherin adhesion arm, and have been shown to inhibit E-cadherin-mediated adhesion in epithelial ovarian cancer cells with millimolar potency. To sample a set of possible interactions of these ligands with the E-cadherin extracellular portion, STD-NMR experiments in the presence of two slightly different constructs, the wild type E-cadherin-EC1-EC2 fragment and the truncated E-cadherin-(Val3)-EC1-EC2 fragment, were carried out at three temperatures. Depending on the protein construct, a different binding epitope of the ligand and also a different temperature effect on STD signals were observed, both suggesting an involvement of the Asp1-Trp2 protein sequence among all the possible binding events. To interpret the experimental results at the atomic level and to probe the role of the cadherin adhesion arm in the dynamic interaction with the peptidomimetic ligand, a computational protocol based on docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations was applied. In agreement with NMR data, the simulations at different temperatures unveil high variability/dynamism in ligand-cadherin binding, thus explaining the differences in ligand binding epitopes. In particular, the modulation of the signals seems to be dependent on the protein flexibility, especially at the level of the adhesive arm, which appears to participate in the interaction with the ligand. Overall, these results will help the design of novel cadherin inhibitors that might prevent the swap dimer formation by targeting both the Trp2 binding pocket and the adhesive arm residues.

The Importance of Detail: How Differences in Ligand Structures Determine Distinct Functional Responses in Integrin αv ß3.

Ligand-based control of protein functional motions can provide novel opportunities in the study of fundamental biological mechanisms and in the development of novel therapeutics. In this work we addressed the ligand-based modulation of integrin functions. Inhibitors of integrin αv ß3 are interesting anticancer agents but their molecular mechanisms are still unclear: Peptides and peptidomimetics characterized by the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) or isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR) binding motifs have shown controversial agonist/antagonist effects. We have investigated the differential mechanisms of integrin activation/deactivation by three distinct ligands (cyclo-RGDf(NMe)V (Cilengitide), cyclo[DKP3-RGD], cyclo[DKP3-isoDGR]; DKP=diketopiperazine) through a comparative analysis of ligand-controlled protein internal dynamics: Although RGD facilitates the onset of dynamic states leading to activation, isoDGR induces a diffuse rigidification of the complex consistent with antagonist activities. Computational predictions have been experimentally probed by showing that the antibody AP5, which is capable of recognizing the active form of integrin, binds specifically to the RGD complexes and not to the isoDGR complex, which supports opposite functional roles of the two motifs targeting the same binding site.

On-Chip Screening of a Glycomimetic Library with C-Type Lectins Reveals Structural Features Responsible for Preferential Binding of Dectin-2 over DC-SIGN/R and Langerin.

A library of mannose- and fucose-based glycomimetics was synthesized and screened in a microarray format against a set of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) that included DC-SIGN, DC-SIGNR, langerin, and dectin-2. Glycomimetic ligands able to interact with dectin-2 were identified for the first time. Comparative analysis of binding profiles allowed their selectivity against other CLRs to be probed.

Investigating the Interaction of Cyclic RGD Peptidomimetics with αVß6 Integrin by Biochemical and Molecular Docking Studies.

The interaction of a small library of cyclic RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptidomimetics with αVß6 integrin has been investigated by means of competitive solid phase binding assays to the isolated receptor and docking calculations in the crystal structure of the αVß6 binding site. To this aim, a rigid receptor-flexible ligand docking protocol has been set up and then applied to predict the binding mode of the cyclic RGD peptidomimetics to αVß6 integrin. Although the RGD interaction with αVß6 recapitulates the RGD binding mode observed in αVß3, differences between the integrin binding pockets can strongly affect the ligand binding ability. In general, the peptidomimetics exhibited IC50 values for integrin αVß6 (i.e., the concentration of compound required for 50% inhibition of biotinylated fibronectin binding to isolated αVß6 integrin) in the nanomolar range (77-345 nM), about 10-100 times higher than those for the related αVß3 receptor, with a single notable ligand displaying a low nanomolar IC50 value (2.3 nM). Insights from the properties of the binding pocket combined with the analysis of the docking poses provided a rationale for ligand recognition and selectivity.

Insights into the Binding of Cyclic RGD Peptidomimetics to α5ß1 Integrin by using Live-Cell NMR And Computational Studies.

The interaction of a small library of cyclic DKP-RGD peptidomimetics with α5ß1 integrin has been investigated by means of an integrated experimental and computational approach. Bioaffinity NMR techniques, including saturation transfer difference (STD) and transferred NOESY, were applied to the ligands in a suspension of intact MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, in which integrin α5ß1 is highly expressed. The NMR data were compared with the docking calculations of the RGD ligands in the crystal structure of the α5ß1 binding site, and were integrated with competitive binding assays to the purified α5ß1 integrin. Ligand binding epitopes involve protons of both the RGD moiety and the DKP scaffold, although the stereochemistry and the functionalization of the DKP scaffold as well as the macrocycle conformation determine a great variability in the interaction. The ligand showing the highest number of STD signals is also the most potent α5ß1 ligand of the series, displaying a nanomolar IC50 value.

High Affinity vs. Native Fibronectin in the Modulation of αvß3 Integrin Conformational Dynamics: Insights from Computational Analyses and Implications for Molecular Design.

Understanding how binding events modulate functional motions of multidomain proteins is a major issue in chemical biology. We address several aspects of this problem by analyzing the differential dynamics of αvß3 integrin bound to wild type (wtFN10, agonist) or high affinity (hFN10, antagonist) mutants of fibronectin. We compare the dynamics of complexes from large-scale domain motions to inter-residue coordinated fluctuations to characterize the distinctive traits of conformational evolution and shed light on the determinants of differential αvß3 activation induced by different FN sequences. We propose an allosteric model for ligand-based integrin modulation: the conserved integrin binding pocket anchors the ligand, while different residues on the two FN10's act as the drivers that reorganize relevant interaction networks, guiding the shift towards inactive (hFN10-bound) or active states (wtFN10-bound). We discuss the implications of results for the design of integrin inhibitors.

New ß-Lactam Derivatives Modulate Cell Adhesion and Signaling Mediated by RGD-Binding and Leukocyte Integrins.

A novel series of ß-lactam derivatives that was designed and synthesized to target RGD-binding and leukocyte integrins is reported. The compound library was evaluated by investigating the effects on integrin-mediated cell adhesion and cell signaling in cell lines expressing αvß3, αvß5, αvß6, α5ß1, αIIbß3, α4ß1, and αLß2 integrins. SAR analysis of the new series of azetidinones enabled the recognition of structural elements associated with integrin selectivity. We obtained selective and potent agonists that could induce cell adhesion and promote cell signaling mediated by αvß3, αvß5, α5ß1, or α4ß1 integrin, and antagonists for the integrins αvß3 and α5ß1, as well as α4ß1 and αLß2, preventing the effects elicited by the respective endogenous agonists.

Crystal Structure of Human E-Cadherin-EC1EC2 in Complex with a Peptidomimetic Competitive Inhibitor of Cadherin Homophilic Interaction.

Cadherins are transmembrane cell adhesion proteins whose aberrant expression often correlates with cancer development and proliferation. We report the crystal structure of an E-cadherin extracellular fragment in complex with a peptidomimetic compound that was previously shown to partially inhibit cadherin homophilic adhesion. The structure reveals an unexpected binding mode and allows the identification of a druggable cadherin interface, thus paving the way to a future structure-guided design of cell adhesion inhibitors against cadherin-expressing solid tumors.

New Insights into the Molecular Mechanism of E-Cadherin-Mediated Cell Adhesion by Free Energy Calculations.

Three-dimensional domain swapping is an important mode of protein association leading to the formation of stable dimers. Monomers associating via this mechanism mutually exchange a domain to form a homodimer. Classical cadherins, an increasingly important target for anticancer therapy, use domain swapping to mediate cell adhesion. However, despite its importance, the molecular mechanism of domain swapping is still debated. Here, we study the conformational changes that lead to activation and dimerization via domain swapping of E-cadherin. Using state-of-the-art enhanced sampling atomistic simulations, we reconstruct its conformational free energy landscape, obtaining the free energy profile connecting the inactive and active form. Our simulations predict that the E-cadherin monomer populates the open and closed forms almost equally, which is in agreement with the proposed "selected fit" mechanism in which monomers in an active conformational state bind to form a homodimer, analogous to the conformational selection mechanism often observed in ligand-target binding. Moreover, we find that the open state population is increased in the presence of calcium ions at the extracellular boundary, suggesting their possible role as allosteric activators of the conformational change.