Large library docking for novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease non-covalent and covalent inhibitors.

Antiviral therapeutics to treat SARS-CoV-2 are needed to diminish the morbidity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A well-precedented drug target is the main viral protease (MPro ), which is targeted by an approved drug and by several investigational drugs. Emerging viral resistance has made new inhibitor chemotypes more pressing. Adopting a structure-based approach, we docked 1.2 billion non-covalent lead-like molecules and a new library of 6.5 million electrophiles against the enzyme structure. From these, 29 non-covalent and 11 covalent inhibitors were identified in 37 series, the most potent having an IC50 of 29 and 20 µM, respectively. Several series were optimized, resulting in low micromolar inhibitors. Subsequent crystallography confirmed the docking predicted binding modes and may template further optimization. While the new chemotypes may aid further optimization of MPro inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2, the modest success rate also reveals weaknesses in our approach for challenging targets like MPro versus other targets where it has been more successful, and versus other structure-based techniques against MPro itself.

Camonsertib in DNA damage response-deficient advanced solid tumors: phase 1 trial results.

Predictive biomarkers of response are essential to effectively guide targeted cancer treatment. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase inhibitors (ATRi) have been shown to be synthetic lethal with loss of function (LOF) of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) kinase, and preclinical studies have identified ATRi-sensitizing alterations in other DNA damage response (DDR) genes. Here we report the results from module 1 of an ongoing phase 1 trial of the ATRi camonsertib (RP-3500) in 120 patients with advanced solid tumors harboring LOF alterations in DDR genes, predicted by chemogenomic CRISPR screens to sensitize tumors to ATRi. Primary objectives were to determine safety and propose a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives were to assess preliminary anti-tumor activity, to characterize camonsertib pharmacokinetics and relationship with pharmacodynamic biomarkers and to evaluate methods for detecting ATRi-sensitizing biomarkers. Camonsertib was well tolerated; anemia was the most common drug-related toxicity (32% grade 3). Preliminary RP2D was 160 mg weekly on days 1-3. Overall clinical response, clinical benefit and molecular response rates across tumor and molecular subtypes in patients who received biologically effective doses of camonsertib (>100 mg d-1) were 13% (13/99), 43% (43/99) and 43% (27/63), respectively. Clinical benefit was highest in ovarian cancer, in tumors with biallelic LOF alterations and in patients with molecular responses. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04497116 .

The Bidirectional, Absorbable, No-Drain Abdominoplasty.

This article outlines the author's technique, and the concepts of Bidirectional, Absorbable, No-Drain Abdominoplasty (BAND-Abdominoplasty). The attendant advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in the context of a retrospective, 5-year, single surgeon series. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Impact of a planned dose interruption of dacomitinib in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (ARCHER 1042).

OBJECTIVES: Dacomitinib is a pan-HER inhibitor for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We explored the impact of a planned 4-day dacomitinib dose interruption on plasma exposure of dacomitinib and adverse events (AEs) of interest in Cohort III of the ARCHER 1042 study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients, treatment-naïve for advanced NSCLC with EGFR activating mutations, received oral dacomitinib 45mg QD (once daily). A planned dose interruption occurred in Cycle 1 from Days 11 through 14. The primary endpoint was the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of dacomitinib in Cycle 1Day 10 and during dose interruption. Secondary endpoints included safety and concomitant medications used to treat AEs of interest. RESULTS: Cohort III enrolled 25 patients. Median plasma Cmax of dacomitinib in Cycle 1 Day 10 was 83.40ng/mL. Average median plasma dacomitinib concentration during the 4-day dose interruption was 42.63ng/mL. In the first 8 weeks of treatment 1) 80% of patients used concomitant medications for dermatologic AEs, 76% for diarrhea, and 44% for stomatitis, and 2) all patients experienced treatment-emergent AEs and 28% had all-causality Grade 3 AEs. CONCLUSION: At 45mg QD dosing, PK parameters of plasma dacomitinib in Cycle 1 Day 10 were comparable to that obtained in Cycle 1 Day 14 from other dacomitinib studies. Average median plasma dacomitinib concentration during the 4-day dose interruption was approximately half of the median plasma Cmax of dacomitinib observed prior to dose interruption. The toxicity profile was consistent with that from other studies of dacomitinib.

Intubating extremely premature newborns: a randomised crossover simulation study.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether tracheal intubation of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) neonates is more successful with a size-0 or size-00 Miller laryngoscope blade. DESIGN: Randomised crossover simulation study. SETTING: Simulated neonatal intensive care unit environment. STUDY SUBJECTS: Neonatology physicians and nurse practitioners (n=55). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects performed four intubations in succession on a high-fidelity ELBW manikin with size-0 Miller and size-00 Miller blades from two different manufacturers. The intubation sequence was randomised. Intubations were recorded and scored for time analysis. Subjects completed surveys about blade preferences before and after completing the series of intubations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total laryngoscopy time and first attempt success in less than 30 s. RESULTS: There was no difference in total laryngoscopy time (median 23.7 vs 20.6 s) or first attempt success in <30 s (67.3% vs 69.1%) between the size-0 and size-00 blades. Differences were noted between the same size blades made by different manufacturers. Among subjects expressing a prestudy blade size preference, there was no difference in laryngoscopy time or first attempt success between blades. Regardless of blade size, subjects were less successful with the first blade in the randomised sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the Neonatal Resuscitation Program recommendation identifying the size-00 blade as optional equipment. Operators need to be aware of design variations between manufacturers and they may benefit from 'just-in-time' training with a manikin prior to intubating a live patient.

A Phase I Clinical Trial and Independent Patient-Derived Xenograft Study of Combined Targeted Treatment with Dacomitinib and Figitumumab in Advanced Solid Tumors.

Purpose: This phase I, open-label, single-arm trial assessed the safety and tolerability of dacomitinib-figitumumab combination therapy in patients with advanced solid tumors.Experimental Design: A standard 3 + 3 dose escalation/de-escalation design was utilized. Starting doses were figitumumab 20 mg/kg administered intravenously once every 3 weeks and dacomitinib 30 mg administered orally once daily. We also performed an independent study of the combination in patient-derived xenograft (avatar mouse) models of adenoid cystic carcinoma.Results: Of the 74 patients enrolled, the most common malignancies were non-small cell lung cancer (24.3%) and colorectal cancer (14.9%). The most common treatment-related adverse events in the 71 patients who received treatment across five dose levels were diarrhea (59.2%), mucosal inflammation (47.9%), and fatigue and acneiform dermatitis (45.1% each). The most common dose-limiting toxicity was mucosal inflammation. Dosing schedules of dacomitinib 10 or 15 mg daily plus figitumumab 20 mg/kg every 3 weeks after a figitumumab loading dose were tolerated by patients over multiple cycles and considered recommended doses for further evaluation. Objective responses were seen in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and salivary gland cancer. Pharmacokinetic analysis did not show any significant drug-drug interaction. In the adenoid cystic carcinoma xenograft model, figitumumab exerted significant antitumor activity, whereas dacomitinib did not. Figitumumab-sensitive tumors showed downregulation of genes in the insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 pathway.Conclusions: Dacomitinib-figitumumab combination therapy was tolerable with significant dose reductions of both agents to less than the recommended single-agent phase II dose of each drug. Preliminary clinical activity was demonstrated in the potential target tumor adenoid cystic carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(5); 1177-85. ©2016 AACRSee related commentary by Sundar et al., p. 1123.

Crystal Structure of the Human tRNA m(1)A58 Methyltransferase-tRNA(3)(Lys) Complex: Refolding of Substrate tRNA Allows Access to the Methylation Target.

Human tRNA3(Lys) is the primer for reverse transcription of HIV; the 3' end is complementary to the primer-binding site on HIV RNA. The complementarity ends at the 18th base, A58, which in tRNA3(Lys) is modified to remove Watson-Crick pairing. Motivated to test the role of the modification in terminating the primer-binding sequence and thus limiting run-on transcription, we asked how the modification of RNA could be accomplished. tRNA m(1)A58 methyltransferase (m(1)A58 MTase) methylates N1 of A58, which is buried in the TΨC-loop of tRNA, from cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine. This conserved tRNA modification is essential for stability of initiator tRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Reported here, three structures of human tRNA m(1)A58 MTase in complex with human tRNA3(Lys) and the product S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine show a dimer of heterodimers in which each heterodimer comprises a catalytic chain, Trm61, and a homologous but noncatalytic chain, Trm6, repurposed as a tRNA-binding subunit that acts in trans; tRNAs bind across the dimer interface such that Trm6 from the opposing heterodimer brings A58 into the active site of Trm61. T-loop and D-loop are splayed apart showing how A58, normally buried in tRNA, becomes accessible for modification. This result has broad impact on our understanding of the mechanisms of modifying internal sites in folded tRNA. The structures serve as templates for design of inhibitors that could be used to test tRNA m(1)A58 MTase's impact on retroviral priming and transcription.

Rhytidectomy Utilizing Bidirectional Self-Retaining Sutures: The Bidirectional Lift and the Extended Bidirectional Lift.

This article outlines a new rhytidectomy technique, developed by the author, that utilizes bidirectional self-retaining (barbed) sutures for superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) plication and, in some instances, skin closures. Short-scar and traditional versions of the procedure are presented, and the history of purse-string SMAS plication and the advantages for using self-retaining sutures in this application are discussed.

Investigation of the impact of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of dacomitinib.

Dacomitinib (PF-00299804) is a small-molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases human epidermal growth factor receptor-1 (HER1; epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR), HER2, and HER4 currently being developed for the treatment of lung cancer with sensitizing mutations in EGFR or refractory to EGFR-directed treatment. Dacomitinib is largely metabolized by the liver through oxidative and conjugative metabolism; therefore, determination of the impact of varying degrees of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of dacomitinib was warranted to ensure patient safety. In this phase I, open-label, parallel-group study, a single dose of dacomitinib was administered to healthy volunteers and to subjects with mild or moderate liver dysfunction, as determined by Child-Pugh classification. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of mild and moderate hepatic impairment on the single-dose PK profile of dacomitinib, as well as to assess the safety and tolerability in these subjects. Plasma protein binding and impact of hepatic function on the PK of the active metabolite PF-05199265 was also investigated. Twenty-five male subjects received dacomitinib 30 mg, with 8 subjects in the healthy- and mild-impairment cohorts and 9 subjects in the moderate-impairment cohort. Compared with healthy volunteers, there was no significant change in dacomitinib exposure in subjects with mild or moderate liver dysfunction and no observed alteration in plasma protein binding. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported in any group, and dacomitinib was well tolerated. A dose adjustment does not appear necessary when administering dacomitinib to patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.

Dacomitinib versus erlotinib in patients with advanced-stage, previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (ARCHER 1009): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Dacomitinib is an irreversible pan-EGFR family tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Findings from a phase 2 study in non-small cell lung cancer showed favourable efficacy for dacomitinib compared with erlotinib. We aimed to compare dacomitinib with erlotinib in a phase 3 study. METHODS: In a randomised, multicentre, double-blind phase 3 trial in 134 centres in 23 countries, we enrolled patients who had locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, progression after one or two previous regimens of chemotherapy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2, and presence of measurable disease. We randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to dacomitinib (45 mg/day) or erlotinib (150 mg/day) with matching placebo. Treatment allocation was masked to the investigator, patient, and study funder. Randomisation was stratified by histology (adenocarcinoma vs non-adenocarcinoma), ethnic origin (Asian vs non-Asian and Indian sub-continent), performance status (0-1 vs 2), and smoking status (never-smoker vs ever-smoker). The coprimary endpoints were progression-free survival per independent review for all randomly assigned patients, and for all randomly assigned patients with KRAS wild-type tumours. The study has completed accrual and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01360554. FINDINGS: Between June 22, 2011, and March 12, 2013, we enrolled 878 patients and randomly assigned 439 to dacomitinib (256 KRAS wild type) and 439 (263 KRAS wild type) to erlotinib. Median progression-free survival was 2·6 months (95% CI 1·9-2·8) in both the dacomitinib group and the erlotinib group (stratified hazard ratio [HR] 0·941, 95% CI 0·802-1·104, one-sided log-rank p=0·229). For patients with wild-type KRAS, median progression-free survival was 2·6 months for dacomitinib (95% CI 1·9-2·9) and erlotinib (95% CI 1·9-3·0; stratified HR 1·022, 95% CI 0·834-1·253, one-sided p=0·587). In patients who received at least one dose of study drug, the most frequent grade 3-4 adverse events were diarrhoea (47 [11%] patients in the dacomitinib group vs ten [2%] patients in the erlotinib group), rash (29 [7%] vs 12 [3%]), and stomatitis (15 [3%] vs two [<1%]). Serious adverse events were reported in 52 (12%) patients receiving dacomitinib and 40 (9%) patients receiving erlotinib. INTERPRETATION: Irreversible EGFR inhibition with dacomitinib was not superior to erlotinib in an unselected patient population with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer or in patients with KRAS wild-type tumours. Further study of irreversible EGFR inhibitors should be restricted to patients with activating EGFR mutations. FUNDING: Pfizer.

Safety and efficacy of dacomitinib in korean patients with KRAS wild-type advanced non-small-cell lung cancer refractory to chemotherapy and erlotinib or gefitinib: a phase I/II trial.

INTRODUCTION: Dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor ([HER]-1/EGFR, HER-2, and HER-4) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrated antitumor activity in Western patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at a dose of 45 mg once daily. We report data from a phase I/II, multicenter, open-label study of Korean patients with refractory KRAS wild-type adenocarcinoma NSCLC (defined as patients with evidence of disease progression during or within 6 months of treatment with chemotherapy and gefitinib or erlotinib). METHODS: The phase I dose-finding portion identified the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) in Korean patients, evaluated safety, and characterized the pharmacokinetics of dacomitinib. In the phase II portion, patients received dacomitinib at the RP2D. The primary end point was progression-free survival at 4 months (PFS4m). RESULTS: Twelve patients enrolled in phase I, and 43 patients enrolled in phase II at the RP2D of 45 mg once daily. In phase II, PFS4m was 47.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.6-61.3; one-sided p-value = 0.0007). Median PFS was 15.4 weeks (95% CI, 9.7-17.6); median overall survival was 46.3 weeks (95% CI, 32.7-not reached); and the objective response rate was 17.1% (95% CI, 7.2-32.1). Common treatment-related adverse events were dermatitis acneiform, diarrhea, and paronychia; there were no treatment-related grade 4 or 5 adverse events. Pharmacokinetic parameters of dacomitinib in Korean patients were similar to those reported in Western patients. By patient report, NSCLC symptoms "cough" and "pain" showed improvement within 3 weeks of initiating treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dacomitinib was well tolerated and had antitumor activity in Korean patients with NSCLC who had previously progressed on chemotherapy and an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Dacomitinib as first-line treatment in patients with clinically or molecularly selected advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer generally have a progression-free survival of 9-13 months while being treated with the EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors gefitinib or erlotinib. However, resistance inevitably develops, and more effective EGFR inhibitors are needed. Dacomitinib is a covalent pan-HER inhibitor that has shown clinical activity in patients previously treated with gefitinib or erlotinib. We did a trial of dacomitinib as initial systemic therapy in clinically and molecularly selected patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. METHODS: In this open-label, multicentre, phase 2 trial, we enrolled treatment-naive patients with advanced lung cancer who had clinical (never-smokers [<100 cigarettes per lifetime] or former light smokers [<10 pack-years per lifetime] and ≥15 years since last cigarette) or molecular (EGFR mutation, regardless of smoking status) characteristics associated with response to EGFR inhibitors. We gave dacomitinib orally once daily (45 mg or 30 mg) until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. We used Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria (version 1.0) to investigate the activity of dacomitinib in all patients with a baseline scan and at least one post-treatment scan, with investigator assessment of response and progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 4 months in the as-enrolled population, with a null hypothesis of progression-free survival at 4 months of 50% or less. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00818441, and is no longer accruing patients. FINDINGS: Between March 11, 2009, and April 1, 2011, we enrolled 89 patients from 25 centres, including 45 (51%) with EGFR-activating mutations in exon 19 (n=25) or exon 21 (n=20). Progression-free survival at 4 months was 76·8% (95% CI 66·4-84·4) in the as-enrolled population, and was 95·5% (95% CI 83·2-98·9) in the EGFR-mutant population. The most common all-grade treatment-related adverse events were diarrhoea in 83 (93%) patients, dermatitis acneiform in 69 (78%) patients, dry skin in 39 (44%) patients, and stomatitis in 36 (40%) patients. Two patients (2%) had grade 4 treatment-related events (one with hypokalaemia and one with dyspnoea). No grade 5 toxicities were recorded. INTERPRETATION: Dacomitinib had encouraging clinical activity as initial systemic treatment in clinically or molecularly selected patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. FUNDING: Pfizer.

Architecture of a single membrane spanning cytochrome P450 suggests constraints that orient the catalytic domain relative to a bilayer.

Bitopic integral membrane proteins with a single transmembrane helix play diverse roles in catalysis, cell signaling, and morphogenesis. Complete monospanning protein structures are needed to show how interaction between the transmembrane helix and catalytic domain might influence association with the membrane and function. We report crystal structures of full-length Saccharomyces cerevisiae lanosterol 14α-demethylase, a membrane monospanning cytochrome P450 of the CYP51 family that catalyzes the first postcyclization step in ergosterol biosynthesis and is inhibited by triazole drugs. The structures reveal a well-ordered N-terminal amphipathic helix preceding a putative transmembrane helix that would constrain the catalytic domain orientation to lie partly in the lipid bilayer. The structures locate the substrate lanosterol, identify putative substrate and product channels, and reveal constrained interactions with triazole antifungal drugs that are important for drug design and understanding drug resistance.

A phase 2 trial of dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an oral, irreversible pan-HER (human epidermal growth factor receptor) inhibitor, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy and erlotinib.

BACKGROUND: This phase 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00548093) assessed the efficacy, safety, and impact on health-related quality of life of dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of human epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR)/HER1, HER2, and HER4, in patients with KRAS wild-type non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Patients with advanced NSCLC, progression on 1 or 2 regimens of chemotherapy and erlotinib, KRAS wild-type or known EGFR-sensitizing mutant tumor, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2 received 45 mg of dacomitinib once daily continuously in 21-day cycles. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients enrolled (adenocarcinoma, n = 50; those without adenocarcinoma [nonadenocarcinoma], n = 16). The objective response rate (ORR) for patients with adenocarcinoma (primary endpoint) was 5% (2 partial responses; 1-sided P = .372 for null hypothesis [H0 ]: ORR ≤ 5%) and 6% (1 partial response) for patients with nonadenocarcinoma. Responders included: 2 of 25 EGFR mutation-positive tumors; 1 of 3 EGFR wild-type with HER2 amplification. Median progression-free survival was 12 weeks overall (n = 66) and 18 weeks (n = 26) for patients with EGFR mutation-positive tumors. Common treatment-related adverse events were of grade 1 or 2 severity, manageable with standard supportive care, and included diarrhea (grade 3 [G3], 12%), acneiform dermatitis (G3, 6%), exfoliative rash (G3, 3%), dry skin (G3, 0%), fatigue (G3, 3%), and stomatitis (G3, 2%). Six patients (9%) discontinued due to treatment-related adverse events. By patient report, NSCLC symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and pain (chest, arm/shoulder) showed improvement first observed after 3 weeks on therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Dacomitinib demonstrated preliminary activity and acceptable tolerability in heavily pretreated patients, and may offer benefit in molecularly defined patient subsets.

Structures of intermediate transport states of ZneA, a Zn(II)/proton antiporter.

Efflux pumps belonging to the ubiquitous resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily transport substrates out of cells by coupling proton conduction across the membrane to a conformationally driven pumping cycle. The heavy metal-resistant bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 relies notably on as many as 12 heavy metal efflux pumps of the RND superfamily. Here we show that C. metallidurans CH34 ZneA is a proton driven efflux pump specific for Zn(II), and that transport of substrates through the transmembrane domain may be electrogenic. We report two X-ray crystal structures of ZneA in intermediate transport conformations, at 3.0 and 3.7 Å resolution. The trimeric ZneA structures capture protomer conformations that differ in the spatial arrangement and Zn(II) occupancies at a proximal and a distal substrate binding site. Structural comparison shows that transport of substrates through a tunnel that links the two binding sites, toward an exit portal, is mediated by the conformation of a short 14-aa loop. Taken together, the ZneA structures presented here provide mechanistic insights into the conformational changes required for substrate efflux by RND superfamily transporters.

Development and binding mode assessment of N-[4-[2-propyn-1-yl[(6S)-4,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxo-3H-cyclopenta[g]quinazolin-6-yl]amino]benzoyl]-l-γ-glutamyl-D-glutamic acid (BGC 945), a novel thymidylate synthase inhibitor that targets tumor cells.

N-[4-[2-Propyn-1-yl[(6S)-4,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxo-3H-cyclopenta[g]quinazolin-6-yl]amino]benzoyl]-l-γ-glutamyl-d-glutamic acid 1 (BGC 945, now known as ONX 0801), is a small molecule thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor discovered at the Institute of Cancer Research in London. It is licensed by Onyx Pharmaceuticals and is in phase 1 clinical studies. It is a novel antifolate drug resembling TS inhibitors plevitrexed and raltitrexed that combines enzymatic inhibition of thymidylate synthase with α-folate receptor-mediated targeting of tumor cells. Thus, it has potential for efficacy with lower toxicity due to selective intracellular accumulation through α-folate receptor (α-FR) transport. The α-FR, a cell-surface receptor glycoprotein, which is overexpressed mainly in ovarian and lung cancer tumors, has an affinity for 1 similar to that for its natural ligand, folic acid. This study describes a novel synthesis of 1, an X-ray crystal structure of its complex with Escherichia coli TS and 2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate, and a model for a similar complex with human TS.

Randomized phase II study of dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, versus erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This randomized, open-label trial compared dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR)/HER1, HER2, and HER4, with erlotinib, a reversible EGFR inhibitor, in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2, no prior HER-directed therapy, and one/two prior chemotherapy regimens received dacomitinib 45 mg or erlotinib 150 mg once daily. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-eight patients were randomly assigned. Treatment arms were balanced for most clinical and molecular characteristics. Median progression-free survival (PFS; primary end point) was 2.86 months for patients treated with dacomitinib and 1.91 months for patients treated with erlotinib (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.91; two-sided P = .012); in patients with KRAS wild-type tumors, median PFS was 3.71 months for patients treated with dacomitinib and 1.91 months for patients treated with erlotinib (HR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.85; two-sided P = .006); and in patients with KRAS wild-type/EGFR wild-type tumors, median PFS was 2.21 months for patients treated with dacomitinib and 1.84 months for patients treated with erlotinib (HR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.99; two-sided P = .043). Median overall survival was 9.53 months for patients treated with dacomitinib and 7.44 months for patients treated with erlotinib (HR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.13; two-sided P = .205). Adverse event-related discontinuations were uncommon in both arms. Common treatment-related adverse events were dermatologic and gastrointestinal, predominantly grade 1 to 2, and more frequent with dacomitinib. CONCLUSION: Dacomitinib demonstrated significantly improved PFS versus erlotinib, with acceptable toxicity. PFS benefit was observed in most clinical and molecular subsets, notably KRAS wild-type/EGFR any status, KRAS wild-type/EGFR wild-type, and EGFR mutants.

Structural context shapes the aquaporin selectivity filter.

Aquaporins are transmembrane channels that facilitate the permeation of water and small, uncharged amphipathic molecules across cellular membranes. One distinct aquaporin subfamily contains pure water channels, whereas a second subfamily contains channels that conduct small alditols such as glycerol, in addition to water. Distinction between these substrates is central to aquaporin function, though the contributions of protein structural motifs required for selectivity are not yet fully characterized. To address this question, we sequentially engineered three signature amino acids of the glycerol-conducting subfamily into the Escherichia coli water channel aquaporin Z (AqpZ). Functional analysis of these mutant channels showed a decrease in water permeability but not the expected increase in glycerol conduction. Using X-ray crystallography, we determined the atomic resolution structures of the mutant channels. The structures revealed a channel surprisingly similar in size to the wild-type AqpZ pore. Comparison with measured rates of transport showed that, as the size of the selectivity filter region of the channel approaches that of water, channel hydrophilicity dominated water conduction energetics. In contrast, the major determinant of selectivity for larger amphipathic molecules such as glycerol was channel cross-section size. Finally, we find that, although the selectivity filter region is indeed central to substrate transport, other structural elements that do not directly interact with the substrates, such as the loop connecting helices M6 and M7, and the C loop between helices C4 and C5, play an essential role in facilitating selectivity.

Metal-induced conformational changes in ZneB suggest an active role of membrane fusion proteins in efflux resistance systems.

Resistance nodulation cell division (RND)-based efflux complexes mediate multidrug and heavy-metal resistance in many Gram-negative bacteria. Efflux of toxic compounds is driven by membrane proton/substrate antiporters (RND protein) in the plasma membrane, linked by a membrane fusion protein (MFP) to an outer-membrane protein. The three-component complex forms an efflux system that spans the entire cell envelope. The MFP is required for the assembly of this complex and is proposed to play an important active role in substrate efflux. To better understand the role of MFPs in RND-driven efflux systems, we chose ZneB, the MFP component of the ZneCAB heavy-metal efflux system from Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34. ZneB is shown to be highly specific for Zn(2+) alone. The crystal structure of ZneB to 2.8 A resolution defines the basis for metal ion binding in the coordination site at a flexible interface between the beta-barrel and membrane proximal domains. The conformational differences observed between the crystal structures of metal-bound and apo forms are monitored in solution by spectroscopy and chromatography. The structural rearrangements between the two states suggest an active role in substrate efflux through metal binding and release.