PLEKHA7 signaling is necessary for the growth of mutant KRAS driven colorectal cancer.

Plekha7 (Pleckstrin homology [PH] domain containing, family A member 7) regulates the assembly of proteins of the cytoplasmic apical zonula adherens junction (AJ), thus ensuring cell-cell adhesion and tight-junction barrier integrity. Little is known of Plekha7 function in cancer. In colorectal cancer (CRC) Plekha7 expression is elevated compared to adjacent normal tissue levels, increasing with clinical stage. Plekha7 was present at plasma membrane AJ with wild-type KRas (wt-KRas) but was dispersed in cells expressing mutant KRas (mut-KRas). Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) indicated a direct Plekha7 interaction with wt-KRas but scantily with mut-KRas. Inhibiting Plekha7 specifically decreased mut-KRas cell signaling, proliferation, attachment, migration, and retarded mut-KRAS CRC tumor growth. Binding of diC8-phosphoinositides (PI) to the PH domain of Plekha7 was relatively low affinity. This may be because a D175 amino acid residue plays a "sentry" role preventing PI(3,4)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 binding. Molecular or pharmacological inhibition of the Plekha7 PH domain prevented the growth of mut-KRas but not wt-KRas cells. Taken together the studies suggest that Plekha7, in addition to maintaining AJ structure plays a role in mut-KRas signaling and phenotype through interaction of its PH domain with membrane mut-KRas, but not wt-KRas, to increase the efficiency of mut-KRas downstream signaling.

A Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor purified, cloned, sequenced and characterized from the seeds of Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid.

MAIN CONCLUSION: A new BBI-type protease inhibitor with remarkable structural characteristics was purified, cloned, and sequenced from seeds of Maclura pomifera , a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the Moraceae family. In this work, we report a Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) isolated, purified, cloned, and characterized from Maclura pomifera seeds (MpBBI), the first of this type from a species belonging to Moraceae family. MpBBI was purified to homogeneity by RP-HPLC, total RNA was extracted from seeds of M. pomifera, and the 3'RACE-PCR method was applied to obtain the cDNA, which was cloned and sequenced. Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) analysis showed correspondence between the in silico-translated protein and MpBBI, confirming that it corresponds to a new plant protease inhibitor. The obtained cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 65 residues and possesses 10 cysteine residues, with molecular mass of 7379.27, pI 6.10, and extinction molar coefficient of 9105 M-1 cm-1. MpBBI inhibits strongly trypsin with K i in the 10-10 M range and was stable in a wide array of pH and extreme temperatures. MpBBI comparative modeling was applied to gain insight into its 3D structure and highlighted some distinguishing features: (1) two non-identical loops, (2) loop 1 (CEEESRC) is completely different from any known BBI, and (3) the amount of disulphide bonds is also different from any reported BBI from dicot plants.

Pleckstrin Homology [PH] domain, structure, mechanism, and contribution to human disease.

The pleckstrin homology [PH] domain is a structural fold found in more than 250 proteins making it the 11th most common domain in the human proteome. 25% of family members have more than one PH domain and some PH domains are split by one, or several other, protein domains although still folding to give functioning PH domains. We review mechanisms of PH domain activity, the role PH domain mutation plays in human disease including cancer, hyperproliferation, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and infection, and discuss pharmacotherapeutic approaches to regulate PH domain activity for the treatment of human disease. Almost half PH domain family members bind phosphatidylinositols [PIs] that attach the host protein to cell membranes where they interact with other membrane proteins to give signaling complexes or cytoskeleton scaffold platforms. A PH domain in its native state may fold over other protein domains thereby preventing substrate access to a catalytic site or binding with other proteins. The resulting autoinhibition can be released by PI binding to the PH domain, or by protein phosphorylation thus providing fine tuning of the cellular control of PH domain protein activity. For many years the PH domain was thought to be undruggable until high-resolution structures of human PH domains allowed structure-based design of novel inhibitors that selectively bind the PH domain. Allosteric inhibitors of the Akt1 PH domain have already been tested in cancer patients and for proteus syndrome, with several other PH domain inhibitors in preclinical development for treatment of other human diseases.

Molecular dynamics of leucine and dopamine transporter proteins in a model cell membrane lipid bilayer.

The dopamine transporter (DAT) operates via facilitated diffusion, harnessing an inward Na(+) gradient to drive dopamine from the extracellular synaptic cleft to the neuron interior. The DAT is relevant to central nervous system disorders such as Parkinson disease and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and is the primary site of action for the abused psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamines. Crystallization of a DAT homolog, the bacterial leucine transporter LeuT, provided the first reliable 3-D DAT template. Here, the LeuT crystal structure and the DAT molecular model have been combined with their respective substrates, leucine and dopamine, in lipid bilayer molecular dynamics simulations toward tracking substrate movement along the protein's substrate/ion permeation pathway. Specifically, movement of residue pairs that comprise the "external gate" was followed as a function of substrate presence. The transmembrane (TM) 1 arginine-TM 10 aspartate strut formed less readily in DAT compared with LeuT, with or without substrate present. For LeuT but not DAT, the addition of substrate enhanced the chances of forming the TM 1-10 bridge. Also, movement of the fourth extracellular loop EL-4 in the presence of substrate was more pronounced for DAT, the EL-4 unwinding to a degree. The overall similarity between the LeuT and DAT molecular dynamics simulations indicated that LeuT was a legitimate model to guide DAT structure-function predictions. There were, nevertheless, differences significant enough to allow for DAT-unique insights, which may include how cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, NIDA Drug Supply, Rockville, MD), and other DAT blockers are not recognized as substrates even though they can access the primary substrate binding pocket. Proteins 2010. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An Inhibitor of the Pleckstrin Homology Domain of CNK1 Selectively Blocks the Growth of Mutant KRAS Cells and Tumors.

Cnk1 (connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 1) is a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-containing scaffold protein that increases the efficiency of Ras signaling pathways, imparting efficiency and specificity to the response of cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Mutated KRAS (mut-KRAS) is the most common proto-oncogenic event, occurring in approximately 25% of human cancers and has no effective treatment. In this study, we show that selective inhibition of Cnk1 blocks growth and Raf/Mek/Erk, Rho and RalA/B signaling in mut-KRAS lung and colon cancer cells with little effect on wild-type (wt)-KRAS cells. Cnk1 inhibition decreased anchorage-independent mut-KRas cell growth more so than growth on plastic, without the partial "addiction" to mut-KRAS seen on plastic. The PH domain of Cnk1 bound with greater affinity to PtdIns(4,5)P2 than PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, and Cnk1 localized to areas of the plasma membranes rich in PtdIns, suggesting a role for the PH domain in the biological activity of Cnk1. Through molecular modeling and structural modification, we identified a compound PHT-7.3 that bound selectively to the PH domain of Cnk1, preventing plasma membrane colocalization with mut-KRas. PHT-7.3 inhibited mut-KRas, but not wild-type KRas cancer cell and tumor growth and signaling. Thus, the PH domain of Cnk1 is a druggable target whose inhibition selectively blocks mutant KRas activation, making Cnk1 an attractive therapeutic target in patients with mut-KRAS-driven cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings identify a therapeutic strategy to selectively block oncogenic KRas activity through the PH domain of Cnk1, which reduces its cell membrane binding, decreasing the efficiency of Ras signaling and tumor growth.

Dopamine transporter comparative molecular modeling and binding site prediction using the LeuT(Aa) leucine transporter as a template.

Pharmacological and behavioral studies indicate that binding of cocaine and the amphetamines by the dopamine transporter (DAT) protein is principally responsible for initiating the euphoria and addiction associated with these drugs. The lack of an X-ray crystal structure for the DAT or any other member of the neurotransmitter:sodium symporter (NSS) family has hindered understanding of psychostimulant recognition at the atomic level; structural information has been obtained largely from mutagenesis and biophysical studies. The recent publication of a crystal structure for the bacterial leucine transporter LeuT(Aa), a distantly related NSS family homolog, provides for the first time a template for three-dimensional comparative modeling of NSS proteins. A novel computational modeling approach using the capabilities of the Molecular Operating Environment program MOE 2005.06 in conjunction with other comparative modeling servers generated the LeuT(Aa)-directed DAT model. Probable dopamine and amphetamine binding sites were identified within the DAT model using multiple docking approaches. Binding sites for the substrate ligands (dopamine and amphetamine) overlapped substantially with the analogous region of the LeuT(Aa) crystal structure for the substrate leucine. The docking predictions implicated DAT side chains known to be critical for high affinity ligand binding and suggest novel mutagenesis targets in elucidating discrete substrate and inhibitor binding sites. The DAT model may guide DAT ligand QSAR studies, and rational design of novel DAT-binding therapeutics.

Rapid and sustained antidepressant properties of an NMDA antagonist/monoamine reuptake inhibitor identified via transporter-based virtual screening.

Rational design of lead compounds targeting monoamine transporters (MATs) is critical to developing novel therapeutics to treat psychiatric disorders including depression and substance abuse. A 3-D dopamine transporter (DAT) computer model was used to virtually screen a commercially available small molecule library for high DAT affinity drug-like compounds. One hit, coded "MI-4", inhibited human dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters in vitro. In vivo administration in mice induced robust, dose-dependent antidepressant-like behaviors in learned helplessness models (tail suspension and forced swim tests). Moreover, chronic administration (21day, 10mg/kg, bid) reduced drinking latencies comparable to fluoxetine (10mg/kg, bid) in the novelty-induced hypophagia test, which requires chronic treatment to produce antidepressant-like effects. MI-4 (10mg/kg, bid) produced rapid (three-day) antidepressant-like effects in the social avoidance test following 10days of social defeat stress. Unlike ketamine, chronic administration of MI-4 increased social interaction scores while improving resiliency to the mood-altering effects of stress to over 70%. Importantly, MI-4 exhibited minimal abuse liability in behavioral and neurological models (conditioned place preference and dopamine in vivo microdialysis). MI-4 was found to be Ro-25-6981, an ifenprodil analog and reputed NMDA antagonist. The data suggest that Ro-25-6981, previously known for rapid-acting glutamatergic antidepressant actions, may also functionally inhibit monoamine reuptake and produces sustained antidepressant effects in vivo. This demonstrates, as proof of principle, the viability of combining these mechanisms to produce rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects. Overall, these findings suggest MAT computational model-based virtual screening is a viable method for identifying antidepressant lead compounds of unique scaffold.

Identification of a novel selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor by coupling monoamine transporter-based virtual screening and rational molecular hybridization.

Ligand virtual screening (VS) using the vestibular binding pocket of a 3-D monoamine transporter (MAT) computational model followed by in vitro pharmacology led to the identification of a human serotonin transporter (hSERT) inhibitor with modest affinity (hSERT K(i) = 284 nM). Structural comparison of this VS-elucidated compound, denoted MI-17, to known SERT ligands led to the rational design and synthesis of DJLDU-3-79, a molecular hybrid of MI-17 and dual SERT/5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist SSA-426. Relative to MI-17, DJLDU-3-79 displayed 7-fold improvement in hSERT binding affinity and a 3-fold increase in [(3)H]-serotonin uptake inhibition potency at hSERT/HEK cells. This hybrid compound displayed a hSERT:hDAT selectivity ratio of 50:1, and a hSERT:hNET (human norepinephrine transporter) ratio of >200:1. In mice, DJLDU-3-79 decreased immobility in the tail suspension test comparable to the SSRI fluvoxamine, suggesting that DJLDU-3-79 may possess antidepressant properties. This proof of concept study highlights MAT virtual screening as a powerful tool for identifying novel inhibitor chemotypes and chemical fragments for rational inhibitor design.

Receptor-Based Discovery of a Plasmalemmal Monoamine Transporter Inhibitor via High Throughput Docking and Pharmacophore Modeling.

Recognition of psychostimulants such as cocaine and the amphetamines by the dopamine transporter (DAT) protein is principally responsible for the euphoria and addiction associated with these drugs. Using as a template the crystal structure of a distantly related bacterial leucine transporter, 3-D DAT computer molecular models have been generated. Ligand docking to such models has revealed potential substrate and inhibitor binding pockets, subsequently confirmed by in vitro pharmacology. An inhibitor pocket defined by the DAT model to be within the "extracellular vestibule", just to the extracellular side of the external gate of the primary substrate pocket, was used for virtual screening of a structural library of compounds. High-throughput docking and application of pharmacophore constraints within this vestibular inhibitor pocket identified a compound structurally dissimilar to the classic monoamine (dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin) transporter (MAT) inhibitors. The compound displaced binding of radiolabeled cocaine analogs at all three MATs, usually with nanomolar K(i) values and within two fold of cocaine's affinity at the norepinephrine transporter. Although a very weak dopamine uptake inhibitor itself, this compound reduced by three fold the potency of cocaine in inhibiting DAT-mediated cellular uptake of dopamine. To our knowledge, the present findings are the first to successfully employ "receptor-based" computer modeling to identify moderate-to-high affinity MAT ligands. In silico ligand screening using MAT models provides a rapid, low cost discovery process that should accelerate identification of novel ligand scaffolds and provide lead compounds in combating psychostimulant addiction and in treating other monoamine-related CNS diseases.