Novel pseudopeptides incorporating a benzodiazepine-based turn mimetic--targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribonucleotide reductase.

Peptides mimicking the C-terminus of the small subunit (R2) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) can compete for binding to the large subunit (R1) and thus inhibit RNR activity. Moreover, it has been suggested that the binding of the R2 C-terminus is very similar in M. tuberculosis and Salmonella typhimurium. Based on modeling studies of a crystal structure of the holocomplex of the S. typhimurium enzyme, a benzodiazepine-based turn mimetic was identified and a set of novel compounds incorporating the benzodiazepine scaffold was synthesized. The compounds were evaluated in a competitive fluorescence polarization assay and in an RNR activity assay. These studies revealed that the compounds incorporating the benzodiazepine scaffold have the ability to compete for the M. tuberculosis R2 binding site with low-micromolar affinity.

Structural studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis DXR in complex with the antibiotic FR-900098.

A number of pathogens, including the causative agents of tuberculosis and malaria, synthesize the essential isoprenoid precursor isopentenyl diphosphate via the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway rather than the classical mevalonate pathway that is found in humans. As part of a structure-based drug-discovery program against tuberculosis, DXR, the enzyme that carries out the second step in the MEP pathway, has been investigated. This enzyme is the target for the antibiotic fosmidomycin and its active acetyl derivative FR-900098. The structure of DXR from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in complex with FR-900098, manganese and the NADPH cofactor has been solved and refined. This is a new crystal form that diffracts to a higher resolution than any other DXR complex reported to date. Comparisons with other ternary complexes show that the conformation is that of the enzyme in an active state: the active-site flap is well defined and the cofactor-binding domain has a conformation that brings the NADPH into the active site in a manner suitable for catalysis. The substrate-binding site is highly conserved in a number of pathogens that use this pathway, so any new inhibitor that is designed for the M. tuberculosis enzyme is likely to exhibit broad-spectrum activity.

Structural and functional studies of mycobacterial IspD enzymes.

A number of pathogens, including the causative agents of tuberculosis and malaria, synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate via the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway rather than the classical mevalonate pathway found in humans. As part of a structure-based drug-discovery program against tuberculosis, IspD, the enzyme that carries out the third step in the MEP pathway, was targeted. Constructs of both the Mycobacterium smegmatis and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzymes that were suitable for structural and inhibitor-screening studies were engineered. Two crystal structures of the M. smegmatis enzyme were produced, one in complex with CTP and the other in complex with CMP. In addition, the M. tuberculosis enzyme was crystallized in complex with CTP. Here, the structure determination and crystallographic refinement of these crystal forms and the enzymatic characterization of the M. tuberculosis enzyme construct are reported. A comparison with known IspD structures allowed the definition of the structurally conserved core of the enzyme. It indicates potential flexibility in the enzyme and in particular in areas close to the active site. These well behaved constructs provide tools for future target-based screening of potential inhibitors. The conserved nature of the extended active site suggests that any new inhibitor will potentially exhibit broad-spectrum activity.

Structural analysis of mycobacterial branched-chain aminotransferase: implications for inhibitor design.

The branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been characterized as being essential to the survival of the bacterium. The enzyme is pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent and belongs to the aminotransferase IIIa subfamily, to which the human BCATs also belong. The overall sequence similarity is high within the subfamily and the sequence identity among the active-site residues is high. In order to identify structurally unique features of M. tuberculosis BCAT, X-ray structural and functional analyses of the closely related BCAT from M. smegmatis were carried out. The crystal structures include the apo form at 2.2 A resolution and a 1.9 A structure of the holo form cocrystallized with the inhibitor O-benzylhydroxylamine (Obe). The analyses highlighted the active-site residues Tyr209 and Gly243 as being structurally unique characteristics of the mycobacterial BCATs relative to the human BCATs. The inhibitory activities of Obe and ammonium sulfate were verified in an inhibition assay. Modelling of the inhibitor Obe in the substrate pocket indicated potential for the design of a mycobacterial-specific inhibitor.

Identification of small peptides mimicking the R2 C-terminus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribonucleotide reductase.

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is a viable target for new drugs against the causative agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Previous work has shown that an N-acetylated heptapeptide based on the C-terminal sequence of the smaller RNR subunit can disrupt the formation of the holoenzyme sufficiently to inhibit its function. Here the synthesis and binding affinity, evaluated by competitive fluorescence polarization, of several truncated and N-protected peptides are described. The protected single-amino acid Fmoc-Trp shows binding affinity comparable to the N-acetylated heptapeptide, making it an attractive candidate for further development of non-peptidic RNR inhibitors.

Structure of the methyltransferase domain from the Modoc virus, a flavivirus with no known vector.

The Modoc virus (MODV) is a flavivirus with no known vector (NKV). Evolutionary studies have shown that the viruses in the MODV group have evolved in association with mammals (bats, rodents) without transmission by an arthropod vector. MODV methyltransferase is the first enzyme from this evolutionary branch to be structurally characterized. The high-resolution structure of the methyltransferase domain of the MODV NS5 protein (MTase(MODV)) was determined. The protein structure was solved in the apo form and in complex with its cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). Although it belongs to a separate evolutionary branch, MTase(MODV) shares structural characteristics with flaviviral MTases from the other branches. Its capping machinery is a relatively new target in flaviviral drug development and the observed structural conservation between the three flaviviral branches indicates that it may be possible to identify a drug that targets a range of flaviviruses. The structural conservation also supports the choice of MODV as a possible model for flavivirus studies.

Crystallization of Mycobacterium smegmatis methionyl-tRNA synthetase in the presence of methionine and adenosine.

Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) from Mycobacterium smegmatis was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni(2+)-affinity and size-exclusion chromatography. Crystals formed readily in the presence of the ligands methionine and adenosine. These two ligands are components of an intermediate in the two-step catalytic mechanism of MetRS. The crystals were produced using the vapour-diffusion method and a full data set to 2.1 A resolution was collected from a single crystal. The crystal belonged to the monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 155.9, b = 138.9, c = 123.3 A, beta = 124.8 degrees . The presence of three molecules in the asymmetric unit corresponded to a solvent content of 60% and a Matthews coefficient of 3.1 A(3) Da(-1). Structure determination is in progress.

Crystal structures of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complexes with thiocarbamate non-nucleoside inhibitors.

O-Phthalimidoethyl-N-arylthiocarbamates (TCs) have been recently identified as a new class of potent HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNRTIs), by means of computer-aided drug design techniques [Ranise A. Spallarossa, S. Cesarini, F. Bondavalli, S. Schenone, O. Bruno, G. Menozzi, P. Fossa, L. Mosti, M. La Colla, et al., Structure-based design, parallel synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and molecular modeling studies of thiocarbamates, new potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor isosteres of phenethylthiazolylthiourea derivatives, J. Med. Chem. 48 (2005) 3858-3873]. To elucidate the atomic details of RT/TC interaction and validate an earlier TC docking model, the structures of three RT/TC complexes were determined at 2.8-3.0A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The conformations adopted by the enzyme-bound TCs were analyzed and compared with those of bioisosterically related NNRTIs.

Two-carbon-elongated HIV-1 protease inhibitors with a tertiary-alcohol-containing transition-state mimic.

A new generation of HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary-alcohol-based transition-state mimic has been developed. By elongation of the core structure of recently reported inhibitors with two carbon atoms and by varying the P1' group of the compounds, efficient inhibitors were obtained with Ki down to 2.3 nM and EC50 down to 0.17 microM. Two inhibitor-enzyme X-ray structures are reported.

Structure of an atypical epoxide hydrolase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis gives insights into its function.

Epoxide hydrolases are vital to many organisms by virtue of their roles in detoxification, metabolism and processing of signaling molecules. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome encodes an unusually large number of epoxide hydrolases, suggesting that they might be of particular importance to these bacteria. We report here the first structure of an epoxide hydrolase from M.tuberculosis, solved to a resolution of 2.5 A using single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) from a selenomethionine-substituted protein. The enzyme features a deep active-site pocket created by the packing of three helices onto a curved six-stranded beta-sheet. This structure is similar to a previously described limonene-1,2-epoxide hydrolase from Rhodococcus erythropolis and unlike the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold typical of mammalian epoxide hydrolases (EH). A number of changes in the mycobacterial enzyme create a wider and deeper substrate-binding pocket than is found in its Rhodococcus homologue. Interestingly, each structure contains a different type of endogenous ligand of unknown origin bound in its active site. As a consequence of its wider substrate-binding pocket, the mycobacterial EH is capable of hydrolyzing long or bulky lipophilic epoxides such as 10,11-epoxystearic acid and cholesterol 5,6-oxide at appreciable rates, suggesting that similar compound(s) will serve as its physiological substrate(s).

Biosensor-based kinetic characterization of the interaction between HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and non-nucleoside inhibitors.

Details of the interaction between HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNRTIs) have been elucidated using a biosensor-based approach. This initial study was performed with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase mutant K103N, the phenethylthioazolylthiourea compound (PETT) MIV-150, and the three NNRTIs licensed for clinical use: nevirapine, delavirdine, and efavirenz. Mathematical evaluation of the experimental data with several interaction models revealed that the four inhibitors interacted with HIV-1 RT with varying degrees of complexity. The simplest adequate model accounted for two different conformations of the free enzyme, of which only one can bind the inhibitor, consistent with a previously hypothesized population-shift model including a preformation of the NNRTI binding site. In addition, a heterogeneous binding was observed for delavirdine, efavirenz, and MIV-150, indicating that two noncompetitive and kinetically distinct enzyme-inhibitor complexes could be formed. Furthermore, for these compounds, there were indications for ligand-induced conformational changes.

Interaction kinetic characterization of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase non-nucleoside inhibitor resistance.

To decipher the mechanism for non-nucleoside inhibitor resistance of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, the kinetics of the interaction between wild type and drug-resistant variants of the enzyme and structurally diverse inhibitors were determined. Substitution of amino acid residues in the inhibitor binding site resulted in altered rate constants for the pre-equilibrium between two unliganded forms of the enzyme, and for the association and dissociation of the inhibitor-enzyme interaction. The Y181C, V108I, and P225H substitutions affected primarily the association and dissociation rate constants, while the K103N and the L100I substitutions also influenced the equilibrium between the two forms of the free enzyme. The K103N and the L100I substitutions were found to facilitate both the entry of the inhibitor into the binding pocket as well as its exit, in contrast to what has been reported elsewhere. Interaction kinetic-based resistance profiles showed that phenethylthiazolylthiourea compounds were relatively insensitive to the studied substitutions.

Microwave-accelerated synthesis of P1'-extended HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimicking scaffold.

Two series of P1'-extended HIV-1 protease inhibitors comprising a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimic exhibiting Ki values ranging from 2.1 to 93 nM have been synthesized. Microwave-accelerated palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings were utilized to rapidly optimize the P1' side chain. High cellular antiviral potencies were encountered when the P1' benzyl group was elongated with a 3- or 4-pyridyl substituent (EC50 = 0.18-0.22 microM). X-ray crystallographic data were obtained for three inhibitors cocrystallized with the enzyme.

Rv0216, a conserved hypothetical protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is essential for bacterial survival during infection, has a double hotdog fold.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome contains about 4000 genes, of which approximately a third code for proteins of unknown function or are classified as conserved hypothetical proteins. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of one of these, the rv0216 gene product, which has been shown to be essential for M. tuberculosis growth in vivo. The structure exhibits the greatest similarity to bacterial and eukaryotic hydratases that catalyse the R-specific hydration of 2-enoyl coenzyme A. However, only part of the catalytic machinery is conserved in Rv0216 and it showed no activity for the substrate crotonyl-CoA. The structure of Rv0216 allows us to assign new functional annotations to a family of seven other M. tuberculosis proteins, a number if which are essential for bacterial survival during infection and growth.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis ribose-5-phosphate isomerase has a known fold, but a novel active site.

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerases (EC 5.3.1.6) inter-convert ribose-5-phosphate and ribulose-5-phosphate. This reaction allows the synthesis of ribose from other sugars, as well a means for salvage of carbohydrates after nucleotide breakdown. Two unrelated types of enzyme are known to catalyze the isomerization. The most common one, RpiA, is present in almost all organisms. The second type, RpiB, is found in many bacterial species.Here, we demonstrate that the RpiB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Rv2465c) has catalytic properties very similar to those previously reported for the Escherichia coli RpiB enzyme. Further, we report the structure of the mycobacterial enzyme, solved by molecular replacement and refined to 1.88A resolution. Comparison with the E.coli structure shows that there are important differences in the two active sites, including a change in the position and nature of the catalytic base. Sequence comparisons reveal that the M.tuberculosis and E.coli RpiB enzymes are in fact representative of two distinct sub-families. The mycobacterial enzyme represents a type found only in actinobacteria, while the enzyme from E.coli is typical of that seen in many other bacterial proteomes. Both RpiBs are very different from RpiA in structure as well as in the construction of the active site. Docking studies allow additional insights into the reactions of all three enzymes, and show that many features of the mechanism are preserved despite the different catalytic components.

A new class of HIV-1 protease inhibitors containing a tertiary alcohol in the transition-state mimicking scaffold.

Novel HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary alcohol as part of the transition-state mimicking unit have been synthesized. Variation of the P1'-P3' residues and alteration of the tertiary alcohol absolute stereochemistry afforded 10 inhibitors. High potencies for the compounds with (S)-configuration at the carbon carrying the tertiary hydroxyl group were achieved with Ki values down to 2.4 nM. X-ray crystallographic data for a representative compound in complex with HIV-1 protease are presented.

Use of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase recovered from human plasma for phenotypic drug susceptibility testing.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the use of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) recovered directly from plasma for phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. METHODS: Plasma from HIV-1 infected individuals with and without drug resistance-associated mutations were selected for the study. The blind coded plasmas were treated to inactivate cellular enzymes. The virions were immobilized on a gel and washed to remove antiretroviral drugs and RT activity blocking antibodies. The immobilized virions were lysed; the viral RT eluted and quantified, all according to the ExaVir Load procedure. The drug sensitivity profiles of each RT were determined using serially diluted drugs and modified Cavidi HS Lenti RT kits. RESULTS: The phenotypic drug sensitivity profiles of the RT and the patterns of drug resistance mutations were highly concordant. Plasma RT from virions devoid of mutations associated with drug resistance had average 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of 1.5 +/- 0.93 microM for nevirapine, 0.21 +/- 0.099 microM for efavirenz, 7.1 +/- 3.2 microM for delavirdine, 0.42 +/- 0.15 microM for azidothymidine triphosphate and 0.059 +/- 0.018 microM for didehydrothymidine triphosphate. The increase in IC(50) value for RT with drug resistance associated substitutions was from 3- to more than 65-fold for non-nucleoside inhibitors and between 2- and 30-fold for thymidine analogue drugs. CONCLUSION: RT derived from virions recovered from the plasma of HIV infected individuals can be used for analysis of phenotypic drug susceptibility. The methods presented provide rapid alternatives for analysing phenotypic drug susceptibility especially when the therapy is based on non-nucleoside RT inhibitors and thymidine-analogue drugs.

Design, synthesis, and X-ray crystallographic studies of α-aryl substituted fosmidomycin analogues as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase.

The natural antibiotic fosmidomycin acts via inhibition of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), an essential enzyme in the non-mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Fosmidomycin is active on Mycobacterium tuberculosis DXR (MtDXR), but it lacks antibacterial activity probably because of poor uptake. α-Aryl substituted fosmidomycin analogues have more favorable physicochemical properties and are also more active in inhibiting malaria parasite growth. We have solved crystal structures of MtDXR in complex with 3,4-dichlorophenyl substituted fosmidomycin analogues; these show important differences compared to our previously described forsmidomycin-DXR complex. Our best inhibitor has an IC(50) = 0.15 µM on MtDXR but still lacked activity in a mycobacterial growth assay (MIC > 32 µg/mL). The combined results, however, provide insights into how DXR accommodates the new inhibitors and serve as an excellent starting point for the design of other novel and more potent inhibitors, particularly against pathogens where uptake is less of a problem, such as the malaria parasite.

Flexibility and communication within the structure of the Mycobacterium smegmatis methionyl-tRNA synthetase.

Two structures of monomeric methionyl-tRNA synthetase, from Mycobacterium smegmatis, in complex with the ligands methionine/adenosine and methionine, were analyzed by X-ray crystallography at 2.3 Å and at 2.8 Å, respectively. The structures demonstrated the flexibility of the multidomain enzyme. A new conformation of the structure was identified in which the connective peptide domain bound more closely to the catalytic domain than described previously. The KMSKS(301-305) loop in our structures was in an open and inactive conformation that differed from previous structures by a rotation of the loop of about 90° around hinges located at Asn297 and Val310. The binding of adenosine to the methionyl-tRNA synthetase methionine complex caused a shift in the KMSKS domain that brought it closer to the catalytic domain. The potential use of the adenosine-binding site for inhibitor binding was evaluated and a potential binding site for a specific allosteric inhibitor was identified.

Antiviral strategies to control calicivirus infections.

Caliciviridae are human or non-human pathogenic viruses with a high diversity. Some members of the Caliciviridae, i.e. human pathogenic norovirus or rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), are worldwide emerging pathogens. The norovirus is the major cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide, accounting for about 85% of the outbreaks in Europe between 1995 and 2000. In the United States, 25 million cases of infection are reported each year. Since its emergence in 1984 as an agent of fatal hemorrhagic diseases in rabbits, RHDV has killed millions of rabbits and has been dispersed to all of the inhabitable continents. In view of their successful and apparently increasing emergence, the development of antiviral strategies to control infections due to these viral pathogens has now become an important issue in medicine and veterinary medicine. Antiviral strategies have to be based on an understanding of the epidemiology, transmission, clinical symptoms, viral replication and immunity to infection resulting from infection by these viruses. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms underlying calicivirus infection, focusing on the molecular aspects of replication in the host cell. Recent experimental data generated through an international collaboration on structural biology, virology and drug design within the European consortium VIZIER is also presented. Based on this analysis, we propose antiviral strategies that may significantly impact on the epidemiological characteristics of these highly successful viral pathogens.