Thermodynamic and circular dichroism studies differentiate inhibitor interactions with the stromelysin S(1)-S(3) and S(')(1)-S(')(3) subsites.

Interactions of stromelysin with a series of inhibitors representative of three chemical templates with distinct binding modes were examined. Unfolding temperatures for inhibitor complexes were 10 degrees C to 15 degrees C greater than for apo stromelysin. Minor changes in ellipticity in the far-UV CD spectra of complexes indicated that ligand-induced conformational changes were localized to the binding site and did not involve gross changes in protein folding. Isothermal titrating calorimetry of thiadiazole-containing inhibitors, which bind in the S(1)-S(3) subsites of stromelysin, indicated that the binding interaction was exothermic and only slightly favorable entropically. Near-UV CD spectra showed large positive ellipticity increases from 250 to 300 nm, consistent with an interaction between the benzene ring of the inhibitor and stromelysin residues Tyr155 and Tyr168. Interactions between stromelysin and amide-hydroxamate ligands, which bind in the S(')(1)-S(')(3) subsites, were found to be both enthalpically and entropically driven. Binding of this class of ligands resulted in modest negative ellipticity changes at 260-285 nm and positive increases at 292 nm. Stromelysin complexed to a lactam-hydroxamate inhibitor with structure extending into both the S(1)-S(3) and S(')(1)-S(')(3) subsites showed increased ellipticity at 245 nm and negative changes at 260-285 and 295 nm.

Structure of the oxidized long-chain flavodoxin from Anabaena 7120 at 2 A resolution.

The structure of the long-chain flavodoxin from the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Anabaena 7120 has been determined at 2 A resolution by the molecular replacement method using the atomic coordinates of the long-chain flavodoxin from Anacystis nidulans. The structure of a third long-chain flavodoxin from Chondrus crispus has recently been reported. Crystals of oxidized A. 7120 flavodoxin belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1) with a = 48.0, b = 32.0, c = 51.6 A, and beta = 92 degrees, and one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The 2 A intensity data were collected with oscillation films at the CHESS synchrotron source and processed to yield 9,795 independent intensities with Rmerg of 0.07. Of these, 8,493 reflections had I > 2 sigma and were used in the analysis. The model obtained by molecular replacement was initially refined by simulated annealing using the XPLOR program. Repeated refitting into omit maps and several rounds of conjugate gradient refinement led to an R-value of 0.185 for a model containing atoms for protein residues 2-169, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and 104 solvent molecules. The FMN shows many interactions with the protein with the isoalloxazine ring, ribityl sugar, and the 5'-phosphate. The flavin ring has its pyrimidine end buried into the protein, and the functional dimethyl benzene edge is accessible to solvent. The FMN interactions in all three long-chain structures are similar except for the O4' of the ribityl chain, which interacts with the hydroxyl group of Thr 88 side chain in A. 7120, while with a water molecule in the other two. The phosphate group interacts with the atoms of the 9-15 loop as well as with NE1 of Trp 57. The N5 atom of flavin interacts with the amide NH of Ile 59 in A. 7120, whereas in A. nidulans it interacts with the amide NH of Val 59 in a similar manner. In C. crispus flavodoxin, N5 forms a hydrogen bond with the side chain hydroxyl group of the equivalent Thr 58. The hydrogen bond distances to the backbone NH groups in the first two flavodoxins are 3.6 A and 3.5 A, respectively, whereas in the third flavodoxin the distance is 3.1 A, close to the normal value. Even though the hydrogen bond distances are long in the first two cases, still they might have significant energy because their microenvironment in the protein is not accessible to solvent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Solution structures of stromelysin complexed to thiadiazole inhibitors.

Unregulated or overexpressed matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including stromelysin, collagenase, and gelatinase. have been implicated in several pathological conditions including arthritis and cancer. Small-molecule MMP inhibitors may have therapeutic value in the treatment of these diseases. In this regard, the solution structures of two stromelysin/ inhibitor complexes have been investigated using 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy. Both-inhibitors are members of a novel class of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor that contain a thiadiazole group and that interact with stromelysin in a manner distinct from other classes of inhibitors. The inhibitors coordinate the catalytic zinc atom through their exocyclic sulfur atom, with the remainder of the ligand extending into the S1-S3 side of the active site. The binding of inhibitor containing a protonated or fluorinated aromatic ring was investigated using 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The fluorinated ring was found to have a reduced ring-flip rate compared to the protonated version. A strong, coplanar interaction between the fluorinated ring of the inhibitor and the aromatic ring of Tyr155 is proposed to account for the reduced ring-flip rate and for the increase in binding affinity observed for the fluorinated inhibitor compared to the protonated inhibitor. Binding interactions observed for the thiadiazole class of ligands have implications for the design of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

Solution structure of human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) is a naturally occurring inhibitor of the interleukin-1 receptor. In contrast to IL-1 beta, IRAP binds to the IL-1 receptor but does not elicit a physiological response. We have determined the solution structure of IRAP using NMR spectroscopy. While the overall topology of the two 153-residue proteins is quite similar, functionally critical differences exist concerning the residues of the linear amino acid sequence that constitute structurally homologous regions in the two proteins. Structurally homologous residues important for IL-1 receptor binding are conserved between IRAP and IL-1 beta. By contrast, structurally homologous residues critical for receptor activation are not conserved between the two proteins.

Methotrexate binds in a non-productive orientation to human dihydrofolate reductase in solution, based on NMR spectroscopy.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an intracellular target enzyme for folate antagonist drugs, including methotrexate. In order to compare the binding of methotrexate to human DHFR in solution with that observed in the crystalline state, NMR spectroscopy has been used to determine the conformation of the drug bound to human DHFR in solution. In agreement with what has been observed in the crystalline state, NOE's identified protein and methotrexate protons indicate that methotrexate binds in a non-productive orientation. In contrast to what has been reported for E. coli DHFR in solution, only one bound conformation of methotrexate is observed.

Purification and structural characterization of the CD11b/CD18 integrin alpha subunit I domain reveals a folded conformation in solution.

The alpha subunits of the leukocyte CD11/CD18 integrins contain an approximately 200 amino acid 'inserted' or I domain. The I domain of the cell-surface Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) integrin has been shown to be the major recognition site for several adhesion ligands, including iC3b, fibrinogen, factor X, and ICAM-1. The I domain from the Mac-1 alpha subunit has been expressed in Escherichia coli as a soluble GST-fusion protein containing a factor Xa sensitive cleavage site. Analytical characterization of the purified I domain reveals that it is obtained in very high quality at high yields. CD and NMR spectra indicate that I domain adopts a predominantly folded structure in solution, independent of the remainder of the alpha subunit. Addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ did not significantly perturb the structural conformation.

Flow NMR spectroscopy in drug discovery.

Flow NMR spectroscopy techniques are becoming increasingly utilized in drug discovery and development. LC-NMR has become a routine method to resolve and identify mixture components. It has broad applications in natural products biochemistry, and drug metabolism and toxicology studies. The rapid throughput of direct-injection NMR of biofluids, combinatorial chemistry samples and protein/small molecule mixtures positions NMR spectroscopy to impact metabonomics, medicinal chemistry and protein screening. The concomitant development of robust automated data analysis tools has facilitated interpretation of the vast amount of NMR data generated.

Structural changes caused by site-directed mutagenesis of tyrosine-98 in Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin delineated by 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy: implications for redox potential modulation.

Flavodoxins mediate electron transfer at low redox potential between the prosthetic groups of other proteins. Interactions between the protein and the flavin mononucleotide cofactor shift both the oxidized/semiquinone and semiquinone/hydroquinone redox potentials significantly from their free-in-solution values. In order to investigate the possible role that the tyrosine at position 98 plays in this process, we have used heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy to determine the solution conformation of wild-type and four position-98 mutants, Y98W, Y98H, Y98A, and Y98R, of Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin. Assigned 1H and 15N resonances indicate that the secondary structure and topology of the proteins are identical. However, residues that undergo substantial mutation-induced changes in chemical shift are spread throughout the flavin cofactor binding site. Distance and dihedral angle constraints were used to generate solution structures for the wild-type and mutant proteins. Collectively, the mutant proteins have no gross conformational changes in the flavin binding site. The changes that do occur are minor and result from the different packing interactions required to accommodate the new side chain at position-98. The solvent accessibility and electrostatic nature of the flavin binding site in the mutant proteins are compared to those of the wild-type structure. The structural data support the hypothesis that the very low midpoint of the semiquinone/hydroquinone couple in the wild-type protein is modulated to a large extent by the energetically unfavorable formation of the flavin hydroquinone anion in the apolar environment of the flavin binding site.

Heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy of a partially denatured protein: the A-state of human ubiquitin.

Human ubiquitin is a 76-residue protein that serves as a protein degradation signal when conjugated to another protein. Ubiquitin has been shown to exist in at least three states: native (N-state), unfolded (U-state), and, when dissolved in 60% methanol:40% water at pH 2.0, partially folded (A-state). If the A-state represents an intermediate in the folding pathway of ubiquitin, comparison of the known structure of the N-state with that of the A-state may lead to an understanding of the folding pathway. Insights into the structural basis for ubiquitin's role in protein degradation may also be obtained. To this end we determined the secondary structure of the A-state using heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy of uniformly 15N-enriched ubiquitin. Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments were made for more than 90% of the residues in the A-state. The assignments were made by concerted analysis of three-dimensional 1H-15N NOESY-HMQC and TOCSY-HMQC data sets. Because of 1H chemical shift degeneracies, the increased resolution provided by the 15N dimension was critical. Analysis of short- and long-range NOEs indicated that only the first two strands of beta-sheet, comprising residues 2-17, remain in the A-state, compared to five strands in the N-state. NOEs indicative of an alpha-helix, comprising residues 25-33, were also identified. These residues were also helical in the N-state. In the N-state, residues in this helix were in contact with residues from the first two strands of beta-sheet. It is likely, therefore, that residues 1-33 comprise a folded domain in the A-state of ubiquitin. On the basis of 1H alpha chemical shifts and weak short-range NOEs, residues 34-76 do not adopt a rigid secondary structure but favor a helical conformation. This observation may be related to the helix-inducing effects of the methanol present. The secondary structure presented here differs from and is more thorough than that determined previously by two-dimensional 1H methods [Harding et al. (1991) Biochemistry, 30, 3120-3128].

1H and 15N NMR resonance assignments and solution secondary structure of oxidized Desulfovibrio desulfuricans flavodoxin.

Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments have been made for 137 of the 146 nonprolyl residues in oxidized Desulfovibrio desulfuricans [Essex 6] flavodoxin. Assignments were obtained by a concerted analysis of the heteronuclear three-dimensional 1H-15N NOESY-HMQC and TOCSY-HMQC data sets, recorded on uniformly 15N-enriched protein at 300 K. Numerous side-chain resonances have been partially or fully assigned. Residues with overlapping 1HN chemical shifts were resolved by a three-dimensional 1H-15N HMQC-NOESY-HMQC spectrum. Medium- and long-range NOEs, 3JNH alpha coupling constants, and 1HN exchange data indicate a secondary structure consisting of five parallel beta-strands and four alpha-helices with a topology similar to that of Desulfovibrio vulgaris [Hildenborough] flavodoxin. Prolines at positions 106 and 134, which are not conserved in D. vulgaris flavodoxin, contort the two C-terminal alpha-helices.

1H and 15N resonance assignments and solution secondary structure of oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin determined by heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments have been made for all 145 non-prolyl residues and for the flavin cofactor in oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin. Assignments were obtained by recording and analyzing 1H-15N heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR experiments on uniformly 15N-enriched protein, pH 6.5, at 300 K. Many of the side-chain resonances have also been assigned. Observed medium-and long-range NOEs, in combination with 3JNH alpha coupling constants and 1HN exchange data, indicate that the secondary structure consists of a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet and four alpha-helices, with a topology identical to that determined previously by X-ray crystallographic methods. One helix, which is distorted in the X-ray structure, is non-regular in solution as well. Several protein-flavin NOEs, which serve to dock the flavin ligand to its binding site, have also been identified. Based on fast-exchange into 2H2O, the 1HN3 proton of the isoalloxazine ring is solvent accessible and not strongly hydrogen-bonded in the flavin binding site, in contrast to what has been observed in several other flavodoxins. The resonance assignments presented here can form the basis for assigning single-site mutant flavodoxins and for correlating structural differences between wild-type and mutant flavodoxins with altered redox potentials.

Flavodoxin from Anabaena 7120: uniform nitrogen-15 enrichment and hydrogen-1, nitrogen-15, and phosphorus-31 NMR investigations of the flavin mononucleotide binding site in the reduced and oxidized states.

Interactions between flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and apoprotein have been investigated in the reduced and oxidized states of the flavodoxin isolated from Anabaena 7120 (Mr approximately 21,000). 1H, 15N, and 31P NMR have been used to characterize the FMN-protein interactions in both redox states. These are compared with those seen in other flavodoxins. Uniformly enriched [15N]flavodoxin (greater than 95% isotopic purity) was isolated from Anabaena 7120 grown on K15NO3 as the sole nitrogen source. 15N insensitive nucleus enhanced by polarization transfer (INEPT) and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) studies of this sample provided information regarding protein structure and dynamics. A 1H-detected 15N experiment allowed the correlation of nitrogen resonances to those of their attached protons. Over 90% of the expected N-H cross peaks could be resolved in this experiment.

Dynamics of stromelysin/inhibitor interactions studied by 15N NMR relaxation measurements: comparison of ligand binding to the S1-S3 and S'1-S'3 subsites.

This report describes the backbone amide dynamics of the uniformly 15N labeled catalytic domain of human stromelysin complexed to PNU-99533, a hydroxamate-containing ligand that binds to the S'1-S'3 region (right side) of the stromelysin active site, and to PNU-107859 and PNU-142372, both thiadiazole-containing ligands that bind to the S1-S3 region (left side) of the stromelysin active site. 15N R1, R2 and NOE NMR relaxation measurements were recorded and analyzed for each complex. Different dynamic behaviors were observed for stromelysin complexed to the two classes of ligands, indicating that it may be possible to use protein dynamics to distinguish between different binding orientations. In the absence of bound ligand at the S1-S3 subsites, the S1-S3 residues were found to be relatively rigid. In contrast, the S'1-S'3 subsites were found to be flexible in the absence of interactions with ligand. The relative rigidness of the S1-S3 subsites may be responsible for MMP binding specificity by discriminating between ligands of different shapes. By contrast, the inherent flexibility of the S'1-S'3 subsites allows structural rearrangement to accommodate a broad range of incoming substrates or inhibitors. Similarities and differences in dynamics observed for each complex provide insights into the interactions responsible for protein-ligand recognition. The relevance of protein dynamics to structure-based drug design is discussed.

L-1-N-methyl-4-mercaptohistidine disulfide, a potential endogenous regulator in the redox control of chloroplast coupling factor 1 in Dunaliella.

A water-soluble, highly polar, heat-stable, small molecule has been isolated from cell-free extracts of the halotolerant green alga Dunaliella salina. This compound, soluble inhibitory factor (SIF), when added to in vivo light-activated, thylakoid membrane-bound preparations of the D. salina coupling factor 1 (CF1), causes a rapid inactivation of the ATPase activity. SIF must be in its oxidized form to inactivate the CF1 ATPase and probably functions by oxidizing the reduced form of the light-activated enzyme. SIF has been purified to homogeneity and characterized by UV-visible and IR absorption spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. SIF has five different kinds of nonexchangeable protons and seven different kinds of carbon atoms. Three of the carbon atoms and one proton are part of a heterocyclic (imidazole) ring. One carbon atom is a carbonyl (carboxylic acid). One carbon atom and three protons form a methyl group attached to the aromatic ring. One carbon atom and two protons are a methylene group, and one carbon atom (an alpha-amino carbon) is attached to a single proton. In addition, in its reduced form, SIF contains a thiol group attached to the heterocyclic ring. From high resolution mass spectrometry, the molecular weight of SIF was determined to be 401 (M + H+) and is consistent with the composition being C14H21N6O4S2. The UV absorption of SIF shows a large increase at 240 nm upon reduction. An effective difference extinction coefficient for this absorbance change has been calculated to be 6.84 meq/cm. A comparison of SIF with the oxidized form of ovothiol A (1-N-methyl-4-mercaptohistidine disulfide) shows the two compounds to be identical in all respects. In addition, ovothiol A disulfide is as effective as SIF in inhibiting the light-triggered, CF1 ATPase activity. It is concluded, therefore, that SIF and L-1-N-methyl-4-mercaptohistidine disulfide are identical.

Redox and spectral properties of flavodoxin from Anabaena 7120.

We report here on the spectrophotometric and electrochemical properties of the flavodoxin from Anabaena 7120 and compare these properties with those of flavodoxins that have been studied previously. Molar absorption coefficients have been determined for all three oxidation states of this protein, at various wavelengths. For oxidized flavodoxin, molar absorption coefficients for the absorption maxima at 464 and 373 nm were 9200 and 8500 M-1 cm-1, respectively. Reduction by the first electron produced a neutral blue semiquinone which exhibited an absorption maximum at 575 nm. The molar absorption coefficients at 575 nm were 200 M-1 cm-1 for the oxidized form, 5100 M-1 cm-1 for the semiquinone form, and 250 M-1 cm-1 for the hydroquinone form. Redox potentials have been determined, in the pH range of 6.0 to 8.5, for both electron transfers. At pH 7.0, the midpoint potential values for the first and second electron transfers were -0.196 and -0.425 V, respectively. We determined that the first electron transfer is pH dependent and that a proton transfer accompanies this one electron transfer. It was also determined that the second electron transfer is pH independent in the pH range of 6.0 to 8.5.

Chemical shift differences between free and Fab-bound peptide correlate with a two-stage selection of peptide sequences from a random phage display library to delineate critical and non-critical residues for antibody recognition.

Epitope libraries provide a method to identify peptide ligands for antibodies, receptors or other binding proteins. As such, they provide a powerful tool to rapidly identify lead ligands in the drug discovery process. In an attempt to correlate structural information with the results from peptide screening, we have used NMR spectroscopy of peptide/antibody complexes to demonstrate that core residues identified through a two-stage selection process undergo a larger structural change upon binding antibody than do positions in the peptide amenable to a variety of side chains. The model system used was the M2 monoclonal antibody/Flag octapeptide epitope system. We have analyzed two peptides: Ac-Asp-Tyr-Lys-Leu-Gly-Asp-Asp-Leu-NH2 (peptide 1), which contains several non-core positions randomized, and Ac-Asp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Leu-NH2 (peptide 2), which closely corresponds to the original Flag sequence. Enrichment of the peptides with 15N facilitated the investigation by permitting spectral editing of the peptide resonances in the presence of antibody. For peptide 1 the absolute shifts for the free vs. Fab-bound peptide were found to be largest for the amide groups of Asp-1 and Asp-6, in agreement with classification of these residues as critical by the phage display library selection process. For peptide 2 the largest absolute shifts were observed for Asp-1 and Asp-4, with the other aspartic acid residues also showing significant but smaller changes.

Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments for human dihydrofolate reductase in solution.

Dihydrofolate reductase is an intracellular target enzyme for folate antagonists, including the anticancer drug methotrexate. In order to design novel drugs with altered binding properties, a detailed description of protein-drug interactions in solution is desirable to understand the specificity of drug binding. As a first step in this process, heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy has been used to make sequential resonance assignments for more than 90% of the residues in human dihydrofolate reductase complexed with methotrexate. Uniform enrichment of the 21.5-kDa protein with 15N was required to obtain the resonance assignments via heteronuclear 3D NMR spectroscopy since homonuclear 2D spectra did not provide sufficient 1H resonance dispersion. Medium- and long-range NOE's have been used to characterize the secondary structure of the binary ligand-enzyme complex in solution.

Proton, carbon, and nitrogen chemical shifts accurately delineate differences and similarities in secondary structure between the homologous proteins IRAP and IL-1 beta.

1H alpha, 13C alpha, and 15N alpha secondary shifts, defined as the difference between the observed value and the random coil value, have been calculated for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein and interleukin-1 beta. Averaging of the secondary chemical shifts with those of adjacent residues was used to smooth out local effects and to obtain a correlation dependent on secondary structure. Differences and similarities in the placement of secondary structure elements in the primary sequences of these structurally homologous proteins are manifested in the smoothed secondary chemical shifts of all three types of nuclei. The close correlation observed between the secondary chemical shifts and the previously defined locations of secondary structure, as defined by traditional methods, exemplifies the advantage of chemical shifts to delineate regions of secondary structure.

Concerted two-dimensional NMR approaches to hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 resonance assignments in proteins.

When used in concert, one-bond carbon-carbon correlations, one-bond and multiple-bond proton-carbon correlations, and multiple-bond proton-nitrogen correlations, derived from two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectra of isotopically enriched proteins, provide a reliable method of assigning proton, carbon, and nitrogen resonances. In contrast to procedures that simply extend proton assignments to carbon or nitrogen resonances, this technique assigns proton, carbon, and nitrogen resonances coordinately on the basis of their integrated coupling networks. Redundant spin coupling pathways provide ways of resolving overlaps frequently encountered in homonuclear 1H 2D NMR spectra and facilitate the elucidation of complex proton spin systems. Carbon-carbon and proton-carbon couplings can be used to bridge the aromatic and aliphatic parts of proton spin systems; this avoids possible ambiguities that may result from the use of nuclear Overhauser effects to assign aromatic amino acid signals. The technique is illustrated for Anabaena 7120 flavodoxin and cytochrome c-553, both uniformly enriched with carbon-13 (26%) or nitrogen-15 (98%).