Structural Basis of the Human Endoglin-BMP9 Interaction: Insights into BMP Signaling and HHT1.

Endoglin (ENG)/CD105 is an essential endothelial cell co-receptor of the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) superfamily, mutated in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) and involved in tumor angiogenesis and preeclampsia. Here, we present crystal structures of the ectodomain of human ENG and its complex with the ligand bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9). BMP9 interacts with a hydrophobic surface of the N-terminal orphan domain of ENG, which adopts a new duplicated fold generated by circular permutation. The interface involves residues mutated in HHT1 and overlaps with the epitope of tumor-suppressing anti-ENG monoclonal TRC105. The structure of the C-terminal zona pellucida module suggests how two copies of ENG embrace homodimeric BMP9, whose binding is compatible with ligand recognition by type I but not type II receptors. These findings shed light on the molecular basis of the BMP signaling cascade, with implications for future therapeutic interventions in this fundamental pathway.

Targeting flavivirus RNA dependent RNA polymerase through a pyridobenzothiazole inhibitor.

RNA dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) are essential enzymes for flavivirus replication. Starting from an in silico docking analysis we identified a pyridobenzothiazole compound, HeE1-2Tyr, able to inhibit West Nile and Dengue RdRps activity in vitro, which proved effective against different flaviviruses in cell culture. Crystallographic data show that HeE1-2Tyr binds between the fingers domain and the priming loop of Dengue virus RdRp (Site 1). Conversely, enzyme kinetics, binding studies and mutational analyses suggest that, during the catalytic cycle and assembly of the RdRp-RNA complex, HeE1-2Tyr might be hosted in a distinct binding site (Site 2). RdRp mutational studies, driven by in silico docking analysis, allowed us to locate the inhibition Site 2 in the thumb domain. Taken together, our results provide innovative concepts for optimization of a new class of anti-flavivirus compounds.

Liposomal Systems as Nanocarriers for the Antiviral Agent Ivermectin.

RNA virus infections can lead to the onset of severe diseases such as fever with haemorrhage, multiorgan failure, and mortality. The emergence and reemergence of RNA viruses continue to pose a significant public health threat worldwide with particular attention to the increasing incidence of flaviviruses, among others Dengue, West Nile Virus, and Yellow Fever viruses. Development of new and potent antivirals is thus urgently needed. Ivermectin, an already known antihelminthic drug, has shown potent effects in vitro on Flavivirus helicase, with EC50 values in the subnanomolar range for Yellow Fever and submicromolar EC50 for Dengue Fever, Japanese encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. However ivermectin is hampered in its application by pharmacokinetic problems (little solubility and high cytotoxicity). To overcome such problems we engineered different compositions of liposomes as ivermectin carriers characterizing and testing them on several cell lines for cytotoxicity. The engineered liposomes were less cytotoxic than ivermectin alone and they showed a significant increase of the antiviral activity in all the Dengue stains tested (1, 2, and S221). In the current study ivermectin is confirmed to be an effective potential antiviral and liposomes, as drug carriers, are shown to modulate the drug activity. All together the results represent a promising starting point for future improvement of ivermectin as antiviral and its delivery.

Structural bases of norovirus RNA dependent RNA polymerase inhibition by novel suramin-related compounds.

Noroviruses (NV) are +ssRNA viruses responsible for severe gastroenteritis; no effective vaccines/antivirals are currently available. We previously identified Suramin (9) as a potent inhibitor of NV-RNA dependent RNA polymerase (NV-RdRp). Despite significant in vitro activities versus several pharmacological targets, Suramin clinical use is hampered by pharmacokinetics/toxicity problems. To improve Suramin access to NV-RdRp in vivo, a Suramin-derivative, 8, devoid of two sulphonate groups, was synthesized, achieving significant anti-human-NV-RdRp activity (IC50 = 28 nM); the compound inhibits also murine NV (mNV) RdRp. The synthesis process led to the isolation/characterization of lower molecular weight intermediates (3-7) hosting only one sulphonate head. The crystal structures of both hNV/mNV-RdRps in complex with 6, were analyzed, providing new knowledge on the interactions that a small fragment can establish with NV-RdRps, and establishing a platform for structure-guided optimization of potency, selectivity and drugability.

PPNDS inhibits murine Norovirus RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase mimicking two RNA stacking bases.

Norovirus (NV) is a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Antivirals against such important pathogens are on demand. Among the viral proteins that orchestrate viral replication, RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) is a promising drug development target. From an in silico-docking search focused on the RdRp active site, we selected the compound PPNDS, which showed low micromolar IC50vs. murine NV-RdRp in vitro. We report the crystal structure of the murine NV-RdRp/PPNDS complex showing that two molecules of the inhibitor bind in antiparallel stacking interaction, properly oriented to block exit of the newly synthesized RNA. Such inhibitor-binding mode mimics two stacked nucleotide-bases of the RdRp/ssRNA complex.

Naphthalene-sulfonate inhibitors of human norovirus RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase.

Noroviruses are members of the Caliciviridae family of positive sense RNA viruses. In humans Noroviruses cause rapid onset diarrhea and vomiting. Currently Norovirus infection is responsible for 21 million gastroenteritis yearly cases in the USA. Nevertheless, despite the obvious public health and socio-economic relevance, no effective vaccines/antivirals are yet available to treat Norovirus infection. Since the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) plays a key role in genome replication and in the synthesis/amplification of subgenomic RNA, the enzyme is considered a promising target for antiviral drug development. In this context, following the identification of suramin and NF023 as Norovirus RdRp inhibitors, we analyzed the potential inhibitory role of naphthalene di-sulfonate (NAF2), a fragment derived from these two molecules. Although NAF2, tested in enzymatic polymerase inhibition assays, displayed low activity against RdRp (IC50=14µM), the crystal structure of human Norovirus RdRp revealed a thumb domain NAF2 binding site that differs from that characterized for NF023/suramin. To further map the new potential inhibitory site, we focused on the structurally related molecule pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-6-(2'-naphthylazo-6'-nitro-4',8'-disulfonate) tetrasodium salt (PPNDS). PPNDS displayed below-micromolar inhibitory activity versus human Norovirus RdRp (IC50=0.45µM), similarly to suramin and NF023. Inspection of the crystal structure of the RdRp/PPNDS complex showed that the inhibitor bound to the NAF2 thumb domain site, highlighting the relevance of such new binding site for exploiting Norovirus RdRp inhibitors.