Time-Resolved Analysis Reveals Rapid Dynamics and Broad Scope of the CBP/p300 Acetylome.

The acetyltransferases CBP and p300 are multifunctional transcriptional co-activators. Here, we combined quantitative proteomics with CBP/p300-specific catalytic inhibitors, bromodomain inhibitor, and gene knockout to reveal a comprehensive map of regulated acetylation sites and their dynamic turnover rates. CBP/p300 acetylates thousands of sites, including signature histone sites and a multitude of sites on signaling effectors and enhancer-associated transcriptional regulators. Time-resolved acetylome analyses identified a subset of CBP/p300-regulated sites with very rapid (<30 min) acetylation turnover, revealing a dynamic balance between acetylation and deacetylation. Quantification of acetylation, mRNA, and protein abundance after CBP/p300 inhibition reveals a kinetically competent network of gene expression that strictly depends on CBP/p300-catalyzed rapid acetylation. Collectively, our in-depth acetylome analyses reveal systems attributes of CBP/p300 targets, and the resource dataset provides a framework for investigating CBP/p300 functions and for understanding the impact of small-molecule inhibitors targeting its catalytic and bromodomain activities.

BRD4354 Is a Potent Covalent Inhibitor against the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease.

Numerous organic molecules are known to inhibit the main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Guided by previous research on zinc-ligand inhibitors of MPro and zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs), we identified BRD4354 as a potent inhibitor of MPro. The in vitro protease activity assays show that BRD4354 displays time-dependent inhibition against MPro with an IC50 (concentration that inhibits activity by 50%) of 0.72 ± 0.04 µM after 60 min of incubation. Inactivation follows a two-step process with an initial rapid binding step with a KI of 1.9 ± 0.5 µM followed by a second slow inactivation step, kinact,max of 0.040 ± 0.002 min-1. Native mass spectrometry studies indicate that a covalent intermediate is formed where the ortho-quinone methide fragment of BRD4354 forms a covalent bond with the catalytic cysteine C145 of MPro. Based on these data, a Michael-addition reaction mechanism between MPro C145 and BRD4354 was proposed. These results suggest that both preclinical testing of BRD4354 and structure-activity relationship studies based on BRD4354 are warranted to develop more effective anti-COVID therapeutics.

Stepwise Assembly of Turn-on Fluorescence Sensors in Multicomponent Metal-Organic Frameworks for in†Vitro Cyanide Detection.

The controlled synthesis of multicomponent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) allows for the precise placement of multiple cooperative functional groups within a framework, leading to emergent synergistic effects. Herein, we demonstrate that turn-on fluorescence sensors can be assembled by combining a fluorophore and a recognition moiety within a complex cavity of a multicomponent MOF. An anthracene-based fluorescent linker and a hemicyanine-containing CN- -responsive linker were sequentially installed into the lattice of PCN-700. The selective binding of CN- to hemicyanine inhibited the energy transfer between the two moieties, resulting in a fluorescence turn-on effect. Taking advantage of the high tunability of the MOF platform, the ratio between anthracene and the hemicyanine moiety could be fine-tuned in order to maximize the sensitivity of the overall framework. The optimized MOF-sensor had a CN- -detection limit of 0.05 µm, which is much lower than traditional CN- fluorescent sensors (about 0.2 µm).

Evolving the N-Terminal Domain of Pyrrolysyl-tRNA Synthetase for Improved Incorporation of Noncanonical Amino Acids.

By evolving the N-terminal domain of Methanosarcina mazei pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) that directly interacts with tRNAPyl , a mutant clone displaying improved amber-suppression efficiency for the genetic incorporation of Nϵ -(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-lysine threefold more than the wild type was identified. The identified mutations were R19H/H29R/T122S. Direct transfer of these mutations to two other PylRS mutants that were previously evolved for the genetic incorporation of Nϵ -acetyl-l-lysine and Nϵ -(4-azidobenzoxycarbonyl)-l-δ,ϵ-dehydrolysine also improved the incorporation efficiency of these two noncanonical amino acids. As the three identified mutations were found in the N-terminal domain of PylRS that was separated from its catalytic domain for charging tRNAPyl with a noncanonical amino acid, they could potentially be introduced to all other PylRS mutants to improve the incorporation efficiency of their corresponding noncanonical amino acids. Therefore, it represents a general strategy to optimize the pyrrolysine incorporation system-based noncanonical amino-acid mutagenesis.

tRNAPyl: Structure, function, and applications.

Pyrrolysine is the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid encoded into proteins in response to amber (TAG) codons in a small number of archaea and bacteria. The incorporation of pyrrolysine is facilitated by a specialized aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) and its cognate tRNA (tRNAPyl). The secondary structure of tRNAPyl contains several unique features not found in canonical tRNAs. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the PylRS/tRNAPyl pair from archaea is orthogonal in E. coli and eukaryotic hosts, which has led to the widespread use of this pair for the genetic incorporation of non-canonical amino acids. In this brief review we examine the work that has been done to elucidate the structure of tRNAPyl, its interaction with PylRS, and survey recent progress on the use of tRNAPyl as a tool for genetic code expansion.

Genetically Encoded 2-Aryl-5-carboxytetrazoles for Site-Selective Protein Photo-Cross-Linking.

The genetically encoded photo-cross-linkers promise to offer a temporally controlled tool to map transient and dynamic protein-protein interaction complexes in living cells. Here we report the synthesis of a panel of 2-aryl-5-carboxytetrazole-lysine analogs (ACTKs) and their site-specific incorporation into proteins via amber codon suppression in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells. Among five ACTKs investigated, N-methylpyrroletetrazole-lysine (mPyTK) was found to give robust and site-selective photo-cross-linking reactivity in E. coli when placed at an appropriate site at the protein interaction interface. A comparison study indicated that mPyTK exhibits higher photo-cross-linking efficiency than a diazirine-based photo-cross-linker, AbK, when placed at the same location of the interaction interface in vitro. When mPyTK was introduced into the adapter protein Grb2, it enabled the photocapture of EGFR in a stimulus-dependent manner. The design of mPyTK along with the identification of its cognate aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase makes it possible to map transient protein-protein interactions and their interfaces in living cells.

Proteins with Site-Specific Lysine Methylation.

As an important epigenetic mark, lysine methylations play critical roles in the regulation of both chromatin and non-chromatin proteins. There are three levels of lysine methylation, mono-, di-, and trimethylation. Each one has turned out to be biologically distinctive. For the biochemical characterization of proteins with lysine methylation, multiple chemical biology methods have been developed. This concept article will highlight these developments and their applications in epigenetic investigation of protein functions.

A strategy for dual inhibition of the proteasome and fatty acid synthase with belactosin C-orlistat hybrids.

The proteasome, a validated cellular target for cancer, is central for maintaining cellular homeostasis, while fatty acid synthase (FAS), a novel target for numerous cancers, is responsible for palmitic acid biosynthesis. Perturbation of either enzymatic machine results in decreased proliferation and ultimately cellular apoptosis. Based on structural similarities, we hypothesized that hybrid molecules of belactosin C, a known proteasome inhibitor, and orlistat, a known inhibitor of the thioesterase domain of FAS, could inhibit both enzymes. Herein, we describe proof-of-principle studies leading to the design, synthesis and enzymatic activity of several novel, ß-lactone-based, dual inhibitors of these two enzymes. Validation of dual enzyme targeting through activity-based proteome profiling with an alkyne probe modeled after the most potent inhibitor, and preliminary serum stability studies of selected derivatives are also described. These results provide proof of concept for dual targeting of the proteasome and fatty acid synthase-thioesterase (FAS-TE) enabling a new approach for the development of drug-candidates with potential to overcome resistance.

A Versatile Approach for Site-Specific Lysine Acylation in Proteins.

Using amber suppression in coordination with a mutant pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNAPyl pair, azidonorleucine is genetically encoded in E. coli. Its genetic incorporation followed by traceless Staudinger ligation with a phosphinothioester allows the convenient synthesis of a protein with a site-specifically installed lysine acylation. By simply changing the phosphinothioester identity, any lysine acylation type could be introduced. Using this approach, we demonstrated that both lysine acetylation and lysine succinylation can be installed selectively in ubiquitin and synthesized histone H3 with succinylation at its K4 position (H3K4su). Using an H3K4su-H4 tetramer as a substrate, we further confirmed that Sirt5 is an active histone desuccinylase. Lysine succinylation is a recently identified post-translational modification. The reported technique makes it possible to explicate regulatory functions of this modification in proteins.

A Genetically Encoded Allysine for the Synthesis of Proteins with Site-Specific Lysine Dimethylation.

Using the amber suppression approach, Nϵ -(4-azidobenzoxycarbonyl)-δ,ϵ-dehydrolysine, an allysine precursor is genetically encoded in E. coli. Its genetic incorporation followed by two sequential biocompatible reactions allows convenient synthesis of proteins with site-specific lysine dimethylation. Using this approach, dimethyl-histone H3 and p53 proteins have been synthesized and used to probe functions of epigenetic enzymes including histone demethylase LSD1 and histone acetyltransferase Tip60. We confirmed that LSD1 is catalytically active toward H3K4me2 and H3K9me2 but inert toward H3K36me2, and methylation at p53 K372 directly activates Tip60 for its catalyzed acetylation at p53 K120.

Fluorinated Aromatic Amino Acids Distinguish Cation-π Interactions from Membrane Insertion.

Cation-π interactions, where protein aromatic residues supply π systems while a positive-charged portion of phospholipid head groups are the cations, have been suggested as important binding modes for peripheral membrane proteins. However, aromatic amino acids can also insert into membranes and hydrophobically interact with lipid tails. Heretofore there has been no facile way to differentiate these two types of interactions. We show that specific incorporation of fluorinated amino acids into proteins can experimentally distinguish cation-π interactions from membrane insertion of the aromatic side chains. Fluorinated aromatic amino acids destabilize the cation-π interactions by altering electrostatics of the aromatic ring, whereas their increased hydrophobicity enhances membrane insertion. Incorporation of pentafluorophenylalanine or difluorotyrosine into a Staphylococcus aureus phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C variant engineered to contain a specific PC-binding site demonstrates the effectiveness of this methodology. Applying this methodology to the plethora of tyrosine residues in Bacillus thuringiensis phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C definitively identifies those involved in cation-π interactions with phosphatidylcholine. This powerful method can easily be used to determine the roles of aromatic residues in other peripheral membrane proteins and in integral membrane proteins.

The "π-Clamp" Offers a New Strategy for Site-Selective Protein Modification.

Pentelute and co-workers have identified a small encodable cysteine-containing peptide sequence that allows selective modification with perfluoroaryl probes. This π-clamp requires no external catalyst and is not limited to certain positions within a protein.

Phospha-Michael Addition as a New Click Reaction for Protein Functionalization.

A new type of click reaction between an alkyl phosphine and acrylamide was developed and applied for site-specific protein labeling in vitro and in live cells. Acrylamide is a small electrophilic olefin that readily undergoes phospha-Michael addition with an alkyl phosphine. Our kinetic study indicated a second-order rate constant of 0.07 m(-1) s(-1) for the reaction between tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine and acrylamide at pH 7.4. To demonstrate its application in protein functionalization, we used a dansyl-phosphine conjugate to successfully label proteins that were site-specifically installed with N(ɛ) -acryloyl-l-lysine and employed a biotin-phosphine conjugate to selectively probe human proteins that were metabolically labeled with N-acryloyl-galactosamine.

Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase: an ordinary enzyme but an outstanding genetic code expansion tool.

The genetic incorporation of the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid, pyrrolysine (Pyl) at amber codon is achieved by the action of pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) together with its cognate tRNA(Pyl). Unlike most aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, PylRS displays high substrate side chain promiscuity, low selectivity toward its substrate α-amine, and low selectivity toward the anticodon of tRNA(Pyl). These unique but ordinary features of PylRS as an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase allow the Pyl incorporation machinery to be easily engineered for the genetic incorporation of more than 100 non-canonical amino acids (NCAAs) or α-hydroxy acids into proteins at amber codon and the reassignment of other codons such as ochre UAA, opal UGA, and four-base AGGA codons to code NCAAs.

Facile Removal of Leader Peptides from Lanthipeptides by Incorporation of a Hydroxy Acid.

The biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products typically involves a precursor peptide which contains a leader peptide that is important for the modification process, and that is removed in the final step by a protease. Genome mining efforts for new RiPPs are often hampered by the lack of a general method to remove the leader peptides. We describe here the incorporation of hydroxy acids into the precursor peptides in E. coli which results in connection of the leader peptide via an ester linkage that is readily cleaved by simple hydrolysis. We demonstrate the method for two lantibiotics, lacticin 481 and nukacin ISK-1.

Towards reassigning the rare AGG codon in Escherichia coli.

The rare AGG codon in Escherichia coli has been reassigned to code non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) by using the PylRS-tRNA(Pyl)(CCU) pair. When N(ε) -alloc-lysine was used as a PylRS substrate, almost quantitative occupancy of N(ε) -alloc-lysine at an AGG codon site was achieved in minimal medium. ncAAs can be potentially incorporated at the AGG codon with varying efficiencies, depending on their activities towards corresponding enzymes. As AGG is a sense codon, the approach reported here resolves the typical low ncAA incorporation issue that has been associated with ncAA mutagenesis and therefore allows bulk preparation of proteins with site-selectively incorporated ncAAs for applications such as therapeutic protein production.

E1-catalyzed ubiquitin C-terminal amidation for the facile synthesis of deubiquitinase substrates.

Will Ub my partner? The ubiquitin (Ub)-activating enzyme (E1) was used to catalyze an amidation reaction to functionalize the C terminus of Ub with unique functional groups, such as thiol, azide, alkyne, and alkene groups, with high efficiency and yield (>90 %). These groups were then applied for the facile synthesis of fluorophore-conjugated ubiquitin and specifically conjugated diubiquitin substrates for deubiquitinases.

Two rapid catalyst-free click reactions for in vivo protein labeling of genetically encoded strained alkene/alkyne functionalities.

Detailed kinetic analyses of inverse electron-demand Diels­Alder cycloaddition and nitrilimine-alkene/alkyne 1,3-diploar cycloaddition reactions were conducted and the reactions were applied for rapid protein bioconjugation. When reacted with a tetrazine or a diaryl nitrilimine, strained alkene/alkyne entities including norbornene, trans-cyclooctene, and cyclooctyne displayed rapid kinetics. To apply these "click" reactions for site-specific protein labeling, five tyrosine derivatives that contain a norbornene, trans-cyclooctene, or cyclooctyne entity were genetically encoded into proteins in Escherichia coli using an engineered pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA(CUA)(Pyl) pair. Proteins bearing these noncanonical amino acids were successively labeled with a fluorescein tetrazine dye and a diaryl nitrilimine both in vitro and in living cells.

A facile method to synthesize histones with posttranslational modification mimics.

Using an evolved pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNA(Pyl) pair, a Se-alkylselenocysteine was genetically incorporated into histone H3 with a high protein expression yield. Quantitative oxidative elimination of Se-alkylselenocysteine followed by Michael addition reactions with various thiol nucleophiles generated biologically active mimics of H3 with posttranslational modifications including lysine methylation, lysine acetylation, and serine phosphorylation.