Evidence for distinct mechanisms of small molecule inhibitors of filovirus entry.

Many small molecules have been identified as entry inhibitors of filoviruses. However, a lack of understanding of the mechanism of action for these molecules limits further their development as anti-filoviral agents. Here we provide evidence that toremifene and other small molecule entry inhibitors have at least three distinctive mechanisms of action and lay the groundwork for future development of anti-filoviral agents. The three mechanisms identified here include: (1) direct binding to the internal fusion loop region of Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP); (2) the HR2 domain is likely the main binding site for Marburg virus GP inhibitors and a secondary binding site for some EBOV GP inhibitors; (3) lysosome trapping of GP inhibitors increases drug exposure in the lysosome and further improves the viral inhibition. Importantly, small molecules targeting different domains on GP are synergistic in inhibiting EBOV entry suggesting these two mechanisms of action are distinct. Our findings provide important mechanistic insights into filovirus entry and rational drug design for future antiviral development.

Dynamical crossover and its connection to the Widom line in supercooled TIP4P/Ice water.

We perform molecular dynamics simulations with the TIP4P/Ice water model to characterize the relationship between dynamics and thermodynamics of liquid water in the supercooled region. We calculate the relevant properties of the phase diagram, and we find that TIP4P/Ice presents a retracing line of density maxima, similar to what was previously found for atomistic water models and models of other tetrahedral liquids. For this model, a liquid-liquid critical point between a high-density liquid and a low-density liquid was recently found. We compute the lines of the maxima of isothermal compressibility and the minima of the coefficient of thermal expansion in the one phase region, and we show that these lines point to the liquid-liquid critical point while collapsing on the Widom line. This line is the line of the maxima of correlation length that emanates from a second order critical point in the one phase region. Supercooled water was found to follow mode coupling theory and to undergo a transition from a fragile to a strong behavior right at the crossing of the Widom line. We find here that this phenomenology also happens for TIP4P/Ice. Our results appear, therefore, to be a general characteristic of supercooled water, which does not depend on the interaction potential used, and they reinforce the idea that the dynamical crossover from a region where the relaxation mechanism is dominated by cage relaxation to a region where cages are frozen and hopping dominates is correlated in water to a phase transition between a high-density liquid and a low-density liquid.

Crystal structure of a C-type lysozyme from Litopenaeus vanamei exhibiting a high binding constant to its chitotriose inhibitor.

Although information about invertebrate lysozymes is scarce, these enzymes have been described as components of the innate immune system, functioning as antibacterial proteins. Here we describe the first thermodynamic and structural study of a new C-type lysozyme from a Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (LvL), which has shown high activity against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria including Vibrio sp. that is one of the most severe pathogens in penaeid shrimp aquaculture. Compared with hen egg-white lysozyme, its sequence harbors a seven-residue insertion from amino acid 97 to 103, and a nine-residue extension at the C-terminus only found in penaeid crustaceans, making this enzyme one of the longest lysozyme reported to date. LvL was crystallized in the presence and absence of chitotriose. The former crystallized as a monomer in space group P61 and the latter in P212121 with two monomers in the asymmetric unit. Since the enzyme crystallized at a pH where lysozyme activity is deficient, the ligand could not be observed in the P61 structure; therefore, we performed a docking simulation with chitotriose to compare with the hen egg lysozyme crystallized in the presence of the ligand. Remarkably, additional amino acids in LvL caused an increase in the length of α-helix H4 (residues 97-103) that is directly related to ligand recognition. The Ka for chitotriose (4.1 × 105 M-1), as determined by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, was one order of magnitude higher than those for lysozymes from hen and duck eggs. Our results revealed new interactions of chitiotriose with residues in helix H4.

Interplay of actin, ADP and Mg2+ interactions with striated muscle myosin: Implications of their roles in ATPase.

The effects of Mg2+ on the interaction between ADP, a product of the ATPase reaction, and striated muscle myosin-subfragment 1 (S1) were investigated with both functional and spectroscopic methods. Mg2+ inhibited striated muscle myosin ATPase in the presence of F-actin. Significant effects of Mg2+ were observed in both rate constants of NOE build-up and maximal intensities in WaterLOGSY NMR experiments as F-actin concentration increased. In the absence of F-actin, myosin S1 with Mg2+ bound to a fluorescent ADP analog about five-times tighter than without Mg2+. In the presence of F-actin, the affinity of myosin S1 toward the ADP analog significantly decreased both with and without Mg2+. The equilibrium titration of myosin-S1 into F-actin revealed that in the presence of ADP the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) without Mg2+ was more than five-fold smaller than with Mg2+. Further, we examined effects of F-actin, ADP and Mg2+ binding to myosin on the tertiary structure of myosin-S1 using near UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Both in the presence and absence of ADP, there was a Mg2+-dependent difference in the near UV CD spectra of actomyosin. Our results show that Mg2+ affects myosin-ADP and actin-myosin interactions which may be reflected in myosin ATPase activity.

Probing the metastable state of influenza hemagglutinin.

Viral entry into host cells is mediated by membrane proteins in a metastable state that transition to a more stable state upon a stimulus. For example, in the influenza envelope protein hemagglutinin (HA), the low pH in the endosome triggers a transition from the metastable prefusion conformation to the stable fusion conformation. To identify probes that interfere with HA function, here we screened a library of H7 HA peptides for inhibition of H7 HA-mediated entry. We discovered a peptide, PEP87 (WSYNAELLVAMENQHTI), that inhibited H7 and H5 HA-mediated entry. PEP87 corresponds to a highly conserved helical region of the HA2 subunit of HA that self-interacts in the neutral pH conformation. Mutagenesis experiments indicated that PEP87 binds to its native region in the HA trimer. We also found that PEP87 is unstructured in isolation but tends to form a helix as evidenced by CD and NMR studies. Fluorescence, chemical cross-linking, and saturation transfer difference NMR data suggested that PEP87 binds to the neutral pH conformation of HA and disrupts the HA structure without affecting its oligomerization state. Together, this work provides support for a model in which PEP87 disrupts HA function by displacing native interactions of the neutral pH conformation. Moreover, our observations indicate that the HA prefusion structure (and perhaps the metastable states of other viral entry proteins) is more dynamic with transient motions being larger than generally appreciated. These findings also suggest that the ensemble of prefusion structures presents many potential sites for targeting in therapeutic interventions.

The Polybasic Region of the Polysialyltransferase ST8Sia-IV Binds Directly to the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule, NCAM.

Polysialic acid (polySia) is a unique post-translational modification found on a small set of mammalian glycoproteins. Composed of long chains of α2,8-linked sialic acid, this large, negatively charged polymer attenuates protein and cell adhesion and modulates signaling mediated by its carriers and proteins that interact with these carriers. PolySia is crucial for the proper development of the nervous system and is upregulated during tissue regeneration and in highly invasive cancers. Our laboratory has previously shown that the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, has an acidic surface patch in its first fibronectin type III repeat (FN1) that is critical for the polysialylation of N-glycans on the adjacent immunoglobulin domain (Ig5). We have also identified a polysialyltransferase (polyST) polybasic region (PBR) that may mediate substrate recognition. However, a direct interaction between the NCAM FN1 acidic patch and the polyST PBR has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we have probed this interaction using isothermal titration calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We observe direct and specific binding between FN1 and the PBR peptide that is dependent upon acidic residues in FN1 and basic residues of the PBR. NMR titration experiments verified the role of the FN1 acidic patch in the recognition of the PBR and suggest a conformational change of the Ig5-FN1 linker region following binding of the PBR to the acidic patch. Finally, mutation of residues identified by NMR titration experiments impacts NCAM polysialylation, supporting their mechanistic role in protein-specific polysialylation.

Subtle Chemical Shifts Explain the NMR Fingerprints of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins with High Dentin Biomodification Potency.

The ability of certain oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPACs) to enhance the biomechanical properties of dentin involves collagen cross-linking of the 1.3-4.5 nm wide space via protein-polyphenol interactions. A systematic interdisciplinary search for the bioactive principles of pine bark has yielded the trimeric PAC, ent-epicatechin-(4ß→8)-epicatechin-(2ß→O→7,4ß→8)-catechin (3), representing the hitherto most potent single chemical entity capable of enhancing dentin stiffness. Building the case from two congeneric PAC dimers, a detailed structural analysis decoded the stereochemistry, spatial arrangement, and chemical properties of three dentin biomodifiers. Quantum-mechanics-driven (1)H iterative full spin analysis (QM-HiFSA) of NMR spectra distinguished previously unrecognized details such as higher order J coupling and provided valuable information about 3D structure. Detection and quantification of H/D-exchange effects by QM-HiFSA identified C-8 and C-6 as (re)active sites, explain preferences in biosynthetic linkage, and suggest their involvement in dentin cross-linking activity. Mapping of these molecular properties underscored the significance of high δ precision in both (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Occurring at low- to subppb levels, these newly characterized chemical shift differences in ppb are small but diagnostic measures of dynamic processes inherent to the OPAC pharmacophores and can help augment our understanding of nanometer-scale intermolecular interactions in biomodified dentin macromolecules.

Comparison of the sensitivities of WaterLOGSY and saturation transfer difference NMR experiments.

The WaterLOGSY (WL) and saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR experiments have proven to be extremely useful techniques to characterize interactions between small molecules and large biomolecules. In this work we compare the relative sensitivities of WL and STD NMR using 3 experimental systems: ketoprofen (KET)-bovine serum albumin (BSA), tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)-hemagglutinin (HA), and chloramphenicol (CAM)-ribosome (70S). In all cases we find that WL is more sensitive than STD for a given experimental time with the ratios ranging from 3.2 for KET-BSA to 16 for TBHQ-HA and CAM-70S. We attribute the increased sensitivity of WL to be due to simultaneous saturation of multiple sources of cross correlation, including direct NOEs of 1H of water and exchangeable groups and indirect NOEs of 1H-C groups. We suggest that the outstanding sensitivity of WL make it ideally suited for drug screening efforts targeting very large biomolecules at relatively low concentrations.

Distinguishing Vaccinium species by chemical fingerprinting based on NMR spectra, validated with spectra collected in different laboratories.

A method was developed to distinguish Vaccinium species based on leaf extracts using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Reference spectra were measured on leaf extracts from several species, including lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), oval leaf huckleberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium), and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). Using principal component analysis, these leaf extracts were resolved in the scores plot. Analysis of variance statistical tests demonstrated that the three groups differ significantly on PC2, establishing that the three species can be distinguished by nuclear magnetic resonance. Soft independent modeling of class analogies models for each species also showed discrimination between species. To demonstrate the robustness of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for botanical identification, spectra of a sample of lowbush blueberry leaf extract were measured at five different sites, with different field strengths (600 versus 700 MHz), different probe types (cryogenic versus room temperature probes), different sample diameters (1.7 mm versus 5 mm), and different consoles (Avance I versus Avance III). Each laboratory independently demonstrated the linearity of their NMR measurements by acquiring a standard curve for chlorogenic acid (R(2) = 0.9782 to 0.9998). Spectra acquired on different spectrometers at different sites classifed into the expected group for the Vaccinium spp., confirming the utility of the method to distinguish Vaccinium species and demonstrating nuclear magnetic resonance fingerprinting for material validation of a natural health product.

Longitudinal multiomics analysis of aggressive pituitary neuroendocrine tumors: comparing primary and recurrent tumors from the same patient, reveals genomic stability and heterogeneous transcriptomic profiles with alterations in metabolic pathways.

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNET) represent the vast majority of sellar masses. Some behave aggressively, growing rapidly and invading surrounding tissues, with high rates of recurrence and resistance to therapy. Our aim was to establish patterns of genomic, transcriptomic and methylomic evolution throughout time in primary and recurrent tumors from the same patient. Therefore, we performed transcriptome- and exome-sequencing and methylome microarrays of aggressive, primary, and recurrent PitNET from the same patient. Primary and recurrent tumors showed a similar exome profile, potentially indicating a stable genome over time. In contrast, the transcriptome of primary and recurrent PitNET was dissimilar. Gonadotroph, silent corticotroph, as well as metastatic corticotroph and a somatotroph PitNET expressed genes related to fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signaling, glycerophospholipid and phospholipase D signaling, respectively. Diacylglycerol kinase gamma (DGKG), a key enzyme in glycerophospholipid metabolism and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathways, was differentially expressed between primary and recurrent PitNET. These alterations did not seem to be regulated by DNA methylation, but rather by several transcription factors. Molecular docking showed that dasatinib, a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, could target DGKG. Dasatinib induced apoptosis and decreased proliferation in GH3 cells. Our data indicate that pituitary tumorigenesis could be driven by transcriptomically heterogeneous clones, and we describe alternative pharmacological therapies for aggressive and recurrent PitNET.

Molecular Basis of Plant Profilins' Cross-Reactivity.

Profilins are ubiquitous allergens with conserved structural elements. Exposure to profilins from different sources leads to IgE-cross-reactivity and the pollen-latex-food syndrome. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that cross-react with plant profilins and block IgE-profilin interactions are relevant for diagnosis, epitope mapping, and specific immunotherapy. We generated IgGs mAbs, 1B4, and 2D10, against latex profilin (anti-rHev b 8) that inhibit the interaction of IgE and IgG4 antibodies from sera of latex- and maize-allergic patients by 90% and 40%, respectively. In this study, we evaluated 1B4 and 2D10 recognition towards different plant profilins, and mAbs recognition of rZea m 12 mutants by ELISAs. Interestingly, 2D10 highly recognized rArt v 4.0101 and rAmb a 8.0101, and to a lesser extent rBet v 2.0101, and rFra e 2.2, while 1B4 showed recognition for rPhl p 12.0101 and rAmb a 8.0101. We demonstrated that residue D130 at the α-helix 3 in profilins, which is part of the Hev b 8 IgE epitope, is essential for the 2D10 recognition. The structural analysis suggests that the profilins containing E130 (rPhl p 12.0101, rFra e 2.2, and rZea m 12.0105) show less binding with 2D10. The distribution of negative charges on the profilins' surfaces at the α-helices 1 and 3 is relevant for the 2D10 recognition, and that may be relevant to explain profilins' IgE cross-reactivity.

Probing the HIV gp120 envelope glycoprotein conformation by NMR.

The HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 plays a critical role in virus entry, and thus, its structure is of extreme interest for the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines. To date, high resolution structural information about gp120 in complex with gp41 has proven intractable. In this study, we characterize the structural properties of gp120 in the presence and absence of gp41 domains by NMR. Using the peptide probe 12p1 (sequence, RINNIPWSEAMM), which was identified previously as an entry inhibitor that binds to gp120, we identify atoms of 12p1 in close contact with gp120 in the monomeric and trimeric states. Interestingly, the binding mode of 12p1 with gp120 is similar for clades B and C. In addition, we show a subtle difference in the binding mode of 12p1 in the presence of gp41 domains, i.e. the trimeric state, which we interpret as small differences in the gp120 structure in the presence of gp41.

Safety, efficacy and delivery of multiple nucleoside analogs via drug encapsulated carbon (DECON) based sustained drug release platform.

Acyclovir and similar nucleoside analogs form an essential frontline treatment for various herpesvirus infections of the eye. However, these drugs have low ocular retention when delivered topically and need to be administered several times every day. We have previously demonstrated that acyclovir loaded into activated carbon can be used to significantly decrease dosage frequency in a murine model of ocular infection. In this study, we demonstrate that other nucleoside analogs such as ganciclovir, penciclovir and famciclovir have excellent loading and release profile similar to acyclovir. Similarly we also demonstrate that nucleoside analog loaded carbons termed DECON are effective at very low concentrations in treating active viral infection of human corneal epithelial cells. In this study, using a variety of techniques to evaluate corneal dryness, nerve sensitivity, intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, and somatic inflammation, we report that DECON is well tolerated after administration three times daily over the course of four weeks.

A native IgE in complex with profilin provides insights into allergen recognition and cross-reactivity.

Allergies have become a rising health problem, where plentiful substances can trigger IgE-mediated allergies in humans. While profilins are considered minor allergens, these ubiquitous proteins are primary molecules involved in cross-reactivity and pollen-food allergy syndrome. Here we report the first crystal structures of murine Fab/IgE, with its chains naturally paired, in complex with the allergen profilin from Hevea brasiliensis (Hev b 8). The crystallographic models revealed that the IgE's six complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) interact with the allergen, comprising a rigid paratope-epitope surface of 926 Å2, which includes an extensive network of interactions. Interestingly, we also observed previously unreported flexibility at Fab/IgE's elbow angle, which did not influence the shape of the paratope. The Fab/IgE exhibits a high affinity for Hev b 8, even when using 1 M NaCl in BLI experiments. Finally, based on the encouraging cross-reactivity assays using two mutants of the maize profilin (Zea m 12), this antibody could be a promising tool in IgE engineering for diagnosis and research applications.

Novel murine mAbs define specific and cross-reactive epitopes on the latex profilin panallergen Hev b 8.

The production of specific antibodies able to recognize allergens from different sources or block interactions between allergens and antibodies mediating allergic reactions is crucial for developing successful tools for diagnostics and therapeutics. Panallergens are highly conserved proteins present in widely different species, implicated in relevant cross-reactions. The panallergen latex profilin (Hev b 8) has been associated with the latex-food-pollen syndrome. We generated five monoclonal IgGs and one IgE from murine hybridomas against recombinant Hev b 8 and evaluated their interaction with this allergen using ELISA and biolayer interferometry (BLI). Affinity purified mAbs exhibited high binding affinities towards rHev b 8, with KD1 values ranging from 10-10 M to 10-11 M. Some of these antibodies also recognized the recombinant profilins from maize and tomato (Zea m 12 and Sola l 1), and the ash tree pollen (Fra e 2). Competition ELISA demonstrated that some mAb pairs could bind simultaneously to rHev b 8. Using BLI, we detected competitive, non-competitive, and partial-competition interactions between pairs of mAbs with rHev b 8, suggesting the existence of at least two non-overlapping epitopes on the surface of this allergen. Three-dimensional models of the Fv of 1B4 and 2D10 IgGs and docking simulations of these Fvs with rHev b 8 revealed these epitopes. Furthermore, these two mAbs inhibited the interaction of polyclonal IgE and IgG4 antibodies from profilin-allergic patients with rHev b 8, indicating that the mAbs and the antibodies present in sera from allergic patients bind to overlapping epitopes on the allergen. These mAbs can be useful tools for immune-localization studies, immunoassay development, or standardization of allergenic products.

NMR-based metabolite studies with 15N amino acids.

15N labeled amino acids are routinely used to label proteins or nucleic acids for study by NMR. However, NMR studies of 15N labeled amino acids in metabolite studies have not been pursued extensively, presumably due to line broadening present under standard experimental conditions. In this work, we show that lowering the temperature to -5 °C allows facile characterization of 15N-labeled amino acids. Further, we show that this technique can be exploited to measure 15NH3 produced in an enzyme catalyzed reaction and the transport and metabolism of individual amino acids in mammalian cell culture. With respect to 13C-labeled amino acids, 15N-labeled amino acids are less costly and enable direct characterization of nitrogen metabolism in complex biological systems by NMR. In summary, the present work significantly expands the metabolite pools and their reactions for study by NMR.

Diversity of mtDNA in Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax) from Argentinean Patagonia.

Lontra provocax is an endemic species from Patagonia that has been categorized as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In this study, noninvasive molecular methods were used to investigate the genetic diversity and haplotype distribution of L. provocax in Argentinean Patagonia. We analyzed 150 scat samples collected from 1995 to 2006 and obtained 13 sequences of control region with 1 haplotype and 34 sequences of cytochrome b with 4 haplotypes. The population of the south of Patagonia (Tierra del Fuego and De los Estados Island) showed a relatively high haplotype diversity (h = 0.71) and was statistically different to the population of the north (analysis of molecular variance, F(ST) = 0.15, P = 0.018). We concluded that there are 2 different subpopulations of L. provocax that deserve conservation attention and that the southern population appears not to have suffered a human-induced population bottleneck of the sort typically experienced by various otter species around the world.

Mechanism of Action of G-Quadruplex-Forming Oligonucleotide Homologous to the Telomere Overhang in Melanoma.

T-oligo, a guanine-rich oligonucleotide homologous to the 3'-telomeric overhang of telomeres, elicits potent DNA-damage responses in melanoma cells; however, its mechanism of action is largely unknown. Guanine-rich oligonucleotides can form G-quadruplexes (G4), which are stabilized by the hydrogen bonding of guanine residues. In this study, we confirmed the G4-forming capabilities of T-oligo using nondenaturing PAGE, nuclear magnetic resonance, and immunofluorescence. Using an anti-G-quadruplex antibody, we showed that T-oligo can form G4 in the nuclei of melanoma cells. Furthermore, using DNase I in a nuclease degradation assay, G4-T-oligo was found to be more stable than single-stranded T-oligo. G4-T-oligo had decreased antiproliferative effects compared with single-stranded T-oligo. However, G4-T-oligo has similar cellular uptake as single-stranded T-oligo, as shown by FACS analysis. Inhibition of JNK, which causes DNA damage-induced apoptosis, partially reversed the antiproliferative activity of T-oligo. T-oligo also inhibited mRNA expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase, a catalytic subunit of telomerase that was reversed by JNK inhibition. Furthermore, two shelterin complex proteins TRF2/POT1 were found to be up-regulated and bound by T-oligo, suggesting that T-oligo may mediate dissociation of these proteins from the telomere overhang. These studies show that T-oligo can form a G-quadruplex and that the antitumor effects of T-oligo may be mediated through POT1/TRF2 and via human telomerase reverse transcriptase inhibition through JNK activation.

Structure-Function Analysis of the Non-Muscle Myosin Light Chain Kinase (nmMLCK) Isoform by NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling: Influence of MYLK Variants.

The MYLK gene encodes the multifunctional enzyme, myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), involved in isoform-specific non-muscle and smooth muscle contraction and regulation of vascular permeability during inflammation. Three MYLK SNPs (P21H, S147P, V261A) alter the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the non-muscle isoform of MLCK (nmMLCK) and are highly associated with susceptibility to acute lung injury (ALI) and asthma, especially in individuals of African descent. To understand the functional effects of SNP associations, we examined the N-terminal segments of nmMLCK by 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) spectroscopy, a 2-D NMR technique, and by in silico molecular modeling. Both NMR analysis and molecular modeling indicated SNP localization to loops that connect the immunoglobulin-like domains of nmMLCK, consistent with minimal structural changes evoked by these SNPs. Molecular modeling analysis identified protein-protein interaction motifs adversely affected by these MYLK SNPs including binding by the scaffold protein 14-3-3, results confirmed by immunoprecipitation and western blot studies. These structure-function studies suggest novel mechanisms for nmMLCK regulation, which may confirm MYLK as a candidate gene in inflammatory lung disease and advance knowledge of the genetic underpinning of lung-related health disparities.

Ligand screening using NMR.

NMR has proven to be an invaluable technique for identifying and characterizing ligand interactions with biomolecules. NMR-based detection of ligand binding to protein targets is described. Specifically, the use of the WaterLOGSY NMR experiment to screen mixtures of compounds from a fragment library for binding to influenza H5 hemagglutinin is detailed.