RESUMO
The insulin receptor is a dimeric protein that has a crucial role in controlling glucose homeostasis, regulating lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and modulating brain neurotransmitter levels. Insulin receptor dysfunction has been associated with many diseases, including diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The primary sequence of the receptor has been known since the 1980s, and is composed of an extracellular portion (the ectodomain, ECD), a single transmembrane helix and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. Binding of insulin to the dimeric ECD triggers auto-phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase domain and subsequent activation of downstream signalling molecules. Biochemical and mutagenesis data have identified two putative insulin-binding sites, S1 and S2. The structures of insulin bound to an ECD fragment containing S1 and of the apo ectodomain have previously been reported, but details of insulin binding to the full receptor and the signal propagation mechanism are still not understood. Here we report single-particle cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of the 1:2 (4.3 Å) and 1:1 (7.4 Å) complexes of the insulin receptor ECD dimer with insulin. The symmetrical 4.3 Å structure shows two insulin molecules per dimer, each bound between the leucine-rich subdomain L1 of one monomer and the first fibronectin-like domain (FnIII-1) of the other monomer, and making extensive interactions with the α-subunit C-terminal helix (α-CT helix). The 7.4 Å structure has only one similarly bound insulin per receptor dimer. The structures confirm the binding interactions at S1 and define the full S2 binding site. These insulin receptor states suggest that recruitment of the α-CT helix upon binding of the first insulin changes the relative subdomain orientations and triggers downstream signal propagation.
Assuntos
Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Insulina/química , Insulina/metabolismo , Multimerização Proteica , Receptor de Insulina/química , Receptor de Insulina/ultraestrutura , Apoproteínas/química , Apoproteínas/metabolismo , Cristalografia por Raios X , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Receptor de Insulina/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Imagem Individual de MoléculaRESUMO
Riboswitches are non-coding RNA structures located in messenger RNAs that bind endogenous ligands, such as a specific metabolite or ion, to regulate gene expression. As such, riboswitches serve as a novel, yet largely unexploited, class of emerging drug targets. Demonstrating this potential, however, has proven difficult and is restricted to structurally similar antimetabolites and semi-synthetic analogues of their cognate ligand, thus greatly restricting the chemical space and selectivity sought for such inhibitors. Here we report the discovery and characterization of ribocil, a highly selective chemical modulator of bacterial riboflavin riboswitches, which was identified in a phenotypic screen and acts as a structurally distinct synthetic mimic of the natural ligand, flavin mononucleotide, to repress riboswitch-mediated ribB gene expression and inhibit bacterial cell growth. Our findings indicate that non-coding RNA structural elements may be more broadly targeted by synthetic small molecules than previously expected.
Assuntos
Pirimidinas/química , Pirimidinas/farmacologia , RNA Bacteriano/química , RNA Bacteriano/efeitos dos fármacos , Riboswitch/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos/química , Bactérias/citologia , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , Bactérias/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sequência de Bases , Cristalografia por Raios X , Infecções por Escherichia coli/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Feminino , Mononucleotídeo de Flavina/metabolismo , Regulação Bacteriana da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas de Choque Térmico/genética , Transferases Intramoleculares/genética , Ligantes , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos DBA , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Pirimidinas/isolamento & purificação , Pirimidinas/uso terapêutico , RNA Bacteriano/genética , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Riboflavina/biossíntese , Riboswitch/genética , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
Here we describe a chemical biology strategy performed in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis to identify MnaA, a 2-epimerase that we demonstrate interconverts UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-ManNAc to modulate substrate levels of TarO and TarA wall teichoic acid (WTA) biosynthesis enzymes. Genetic inactivation of mnaA results in complete loss of WTA and dramatic in vitro ß-lactam hypersensitivity in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. epidermidis (MRSE). Likewise, the ß-lactam antibiotic imipenem exhibits restored bactericidal activity against mnaA mutants in vitro and concomitant efficacy against 2-epimerase defective strains in a mouse thigh model of MRSA and MRSE infection. Interestingly, whereas MnaA serves as the sole 2-epimerase required for WTA biosynthesis in S. epidermidis, MnaA and Cap5P provide compensatory WTA functional roles in S. aureus. We also demonstrate that MnaA and other enzymes of WTA biosynthesis are required for biofilm formation in MRSA and MRSE. We further determine the 1.9Å crystal structure of S. aureus MnaA and identify critical residues for enzymatic dimerization, stability, and substrate binding. Finally, the natural product antibiotic tunicamycin is shown to physically bind MnaA and Cap5P and inhibit 2-epimerase activity, demonstrating that it inhibits a previously unanticipated step in WTA biosynthesis. In summary, MnaA serves as a new Staphylococcal antibiotic target with cognate inhibitors predicted to possess dual therapeutic benefit: as combination agents to restore ß-lactam efficacy against MRSA and MRSE and as non-bioactive prophylactic agents to prevent Staphylococcal biofilm formation.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Racemases e Epimerases/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus/metabolismo , Staphylococcus epidermidis/metabolismo , Ácidos Teicoicos/biossíntese , Animais , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Biofilmes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Parede Celular/metabolismo , Cristalografia por Raios X , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Camundongos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Biomolecular , Racemases e Epimerases/química , Infecções Estafilocócicas/metabolismoRESUMO
A series of benzimidazole analogs have been synthesized to improve the profile of the previous lead compounds tarocin B and 1. The syntheses, structure-activity relationships, and selected biochemical data of these analogs are described. The optimization efforts allowed the identification of 21, a fluoro-substituted benzimidazole, exhibiting potent TarO inhibitory activity and typical profile for a wall teichoic acid (WTA) biosynthesis inhibitor. Compound 21 displayed a potent synergistic and bactericidal effect in combination with imipenem against diverse methicillin-resistant Staphylococci.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Benzimidazóis/farmacologia , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácidos Teicoicos/antagonistas & inibidores , Animais , Antibacterianos/química , Benzimidazóis/química , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Ratos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Ácidos Teicoicos/biossínteseRESUMO
The symptoms of Clostridium difficile infections are caused by two exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB, which target host colonocytes by binding to unknown cell surface receptors, at least in part via their combined repetitive oligopeptide (CROP) domains. A combination of the anti-TcdA antibody actoxumab and the anti-TcdB antibody bezlotoxumab is currently under development for the prevention of recurrent C. difficile infections. We demonstrate here through various biophysical approaches that bezlotoxumab binds to specific regions within the N-terminal half of the TcdB CROP domain. Based on this information, we solved the x-ray structure of the N-terminal half of the TcdB CROP domain bound to Fab fragments of bezlotoxumab. The structure reveals that the TcdB CROP domain adopts a ß-solenoid fold consisting of long and short repeats and that bezlotoxumab binds to two homologous sites within the CROP domain, partially occluding two of the four putative carbohydrate binding pockets located in TcdB. We also show that bezlotoxumab neutralizes TcdB by blocking binding of TcdB to mammalian cells. Overall, our data are consistent with a model wherein a single molecule of bezlotoxumab neutralizes TcdB by binding via its two Fab regions to two epitopes within the N-terminal half of the TcdB CROP domain, partially blocking the carbohydrate binding pockets of the toxin and preventing toxin binding to host cells.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/imunologia , Toxinas Bacterianas/química , Toxinas Bacterianas/imunologia , Clostridioides difficile/imunologia , Epitopos/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/química , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Toxinas Bacterianas/genética , Sítios de Ligação , Anticorpos Amplamente Neutralizantes , Clostridioides difficile/química , Clostridioides difficile/genética , Cristalografia por Raios X , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Epitopos/química , Epitopos/genética , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Estrutura Terciária de ProteínaRESUMO
A new class of quinoline-based kinase inhibitors has been discovered that both disrupt cyclin dependent 2 (CDK2) interaction with its cyclin A subunit and act as ATP competitive inhibitors. The key strategy for discovering this class of protein-protein disrupter compounds was to screen the monomer CDK2 in an affinity-selection/mass spectrometry-based technique and to perform secondary assays that identified compounds that bound only to the inactive CDK2 monomer and not the active CDK2/cyclin A heterodimer. Through a series of chemical modifications the affinity (Kd) of the original hit improved from 1 to 0.005µM.
Assuntos
Ciclina A/antagonistas & inibidores , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Quinolinas/farmacologia , Cristalografia por Raios X , Ciclina A/química , Ciclina A/metabolismo , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina/química , Quinase 2 Dependente de Ciclina/metabolismo , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Estrutura Molecular , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/química , Quinolinas/química , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to be a global threat due to its ability to evolve and generate new subvariants, leading to new waves of infection. Additionally, other coronaviruses like Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV, formerly known as hCoV-EMC), which first emerged in 2012, persist and continue to present a threat of severe illness to humans. The continued identification of novel coronaviruses, coupled with the potential for genetic recombination between different strains, raises the possibility of new coronavirus clades of global concern emerging. As a result, there is a pressing need for pan-CoV therapeutic drugs and vaccines. After the extensive optimization of an HCV protease inhibitor screening hit, a novel 3CLPro inhibitor (MK-7845) was discovered and subsequently profiled. MK-7845 exhibited nanomolar in vitro potency with broad spectrum activity against a panel of clinical SARS-CoV-2 subvariants and MERS-CoV. Furthermore, when administered orally, MK-7845 demonstrated a notable reduction in viral burdens by >6 log orders in the lungs of transgenic mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 (K18-hACE2 mice) and MERS-CoV (K18-hDDP4 mice).
Assuntos
Antivirais , SARS-CoV-2 , Animais , Camundongos , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Antivirais/farmacologia , Proteases 3C de Coronavírus/antagonistas & inibidores , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/efeitos dos fármacos , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/genética , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , COVID-19/virologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologiaRESUMO
As SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate, antiviral treatments are needed to complement vaccines. The virus's main protease, 3CLPro, is an attractive drug target in part because it recognizes a unique cleavage site, which features a glutamine residue at the P1 position and is not utilized by human proteases. Herein, we report the invention of MK-7845, a novel reversible covalent 3CLPro inhibitor. While most covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLPro reported to date contain an amide as a Gln mimic at P1, MK-7845 bears a difluorobutyl substituent at this position. SAR analysis and X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that this group interacts with His163, the same residue that forms a hydrogen bond with the amide substituents typically found at P1. In addition to promising in vivo efficacy and an acceptable projected human dose with unboosted pharmacokinetics, MK-7845 exhibits favorable properties for both solubility and absorption that may be attributable to the unusual difluorobutyl substituent.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Glutamina , Humanos , Glutamina/química , SARS-CoV-2 , Cisteína Endopeptidases/química , Invenções , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Amidas , Antivirais/farmacologia , Antivirais/químicaRESUMO
The use of ß-lactam (BL) and ß-lactamase inhibitor combination to overcome BL antibiotic resistance has been validated through clinically approved drug products. However, unmet medical needs still exist for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative (GN) bacteria expressing metallo-ß-lactamases. Previously, we reported our effort to discover pan inhibitors of three main families in this class: IMP, VIM, and NDM. Herein, we describe our work to improve the GN coverage spectrum in combination with imipenem and relebactam. This was achieved through structure- and property-based optimization to tackle the GN cell penetration and efflux challenges. A significant discovery was made that inhibition of both VIM alleles, VIM-1 and VIM-2, is essential for broad GN coverage, especially against VIM-producing P. aeruginosa. In addition, pharmacokinetics and nonclinical safety profiles were investigated for select compounds. Key findings from this drug discovery campaign laid the foundation for further lead optimization toward identification of preclinical candidates.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases , Humanos , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/farmacologia , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/química , Antibacterianos/química , Imipenem/farmacologia , beta-Lactamases , Bactérias Gram-Negativas , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are related RNA viruses responsible for severe respiratory infections and resulting disease in infants, elderly, and immunocompromised adults1-3. Therapeutic small molecule inhibitors that bind to the RSV polymerase and inhibit viral replication are being developed, but their binding sites and molecular mechanisms of action remain largely unknown4. Here we report a conserved allosteric inhibitory site identified on the L polymerase proteins of RSV and HMPV that can be targeted by a dual-specificity, non-nucleoside inhibitor, termed MRK-1. Cryo-EM structures of the inhibitor in complexes with truncated RSV and full-length HMPV polymerase proteins provide a structural understanding of how MRK-1 is active against both viruses. Functional analyses indicate that MRK-1 inhibits conformational changes necessary for the polymerase to engage in RNA synthesis initiation and to transition into an elongation mode. Competition studies reveal that the MRK-1 binding pocket is distinct from that of a capping inhibitor with an overlapping resistance profile, suggesting that the polymerase conformation bound by MRK-1 may be distinct from that involved in mRNA capping. These findings should facilitate optimization of dual RSV and HMPV replication inhibitors and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying their polymerase activities.
Assuntos
Metapneumovirus , Vírus Sincicial Respiratório Humano , Infecções Respiratórias , Lactente , Adulto , Humanos , Idoso , Metapneumovirus/genética , Metapneumovirus/metabolismo , RNA Polimerase Dependente de RNA/genética , RNA Polimerase Dependente de RNA/metabolismo , RNA MensageiroRESUMO
Coronaviruses have been the causative agent of three epidemics and pandemics in the past two decades, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A broadly-neutralizing coronavirus therapeutic is desirable not only to prevent and treat COVID-19, but also to provide protection for high-risk populations against future emergent coronaviruses. As all coronaviruses use spike proteins on the viral surface to enter the host cells, and these spike proteins share sequence and structural homology, we set out to discover cross-reactive biologic agents targeting the spike protein to block viral entry. Through llama immunization campaigns, we have identified single domain antibodies (VHHs) that are cross-reactive against multiple emergent coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS). Importantly, a number of these antibodies show sub-nanomolar potency towards all SARS-like viruses including emergent CoV-2 variants. We identified nine distinct epitopes on the spike protein targeted by these VHHs. Further, by engineering VHHs targeting distinct, conserved epitopes into multi-valent formats, we significantly enhanced their neutralization potencies compared to the corresponding VHH cocktails. We believe this approach is ideally suited to address both emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants during the current pandemic as well as potential future pandemics caused by SARS-like coronaviruses.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Camelídeos Americanos , Anticorpos de Domínio Único , Humanos , Animais , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Pandemias , EpitoposRESUMO
With the emergence and rapid spreading of NDM-1 and existence of clinically relevant VIM-1 and IMP-1, discovery of pan inhibitors targeting metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) became critical in our battle against bacterial infection. Concurrent with our fragment and high-throughput screenings, we performed a knowledge-based search of known metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors (MBLIs) to identify starting points for early engagement of medicinal chemistry. A class of compounds exemplified by 11, discovered earlier as B. fragilis metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors, was selected for in silico virtual screening. From these efforts, compound 12 was identified with activity against NDM-1 only. Initial exploration on metal binding design followed by structure-guided optimization led to the discovery of a series of compounds represented by 23 with a pan MBL inhibition profile. In in vivo studies, compound 23 in combination with imipenem (IPM) robustly lowered the bacterial burden in a murine infection model and became the lead for the invention of MBLI clinical candidates.
Assuntos
Infecções Bacterianas , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases , Animais , Camundongos , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/farmacologia , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de beta-Lactamases/química , Imipenem/farmacologia , Imipenem/uso terapêutico , beta-Lactamases/metabolismo , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Antibacterianos/química , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Kinases catalyze the transfer of γ-phosphate from ATP to substrate protein residues triggering signaling pathways responsible for a plethora of cellular events. Isolation and production of homogeneous preparations of kinases in their fully active forms is important for accurate in vitro measurements of activity, stability, and ligand binding properties of these proteins. Previous studies have shown that MEK1 can be produced in its active phosphorylated form by coexpression with RAF1 in insect cells. In this study, using activated MEK1 produced by in vitro activation by RAF1 (pMEK1(in vitro)), we demonstrate that the simultaneous expression of RAF1 for production of activated MEK1 does not result in stoichiometric phosphorylation of MEK1. The pMEK1(in vitro) showed higher specific activity toward ERK2 protein substrate compared to the pMEK1 that was activated via coexpression with RAF1 (pMEK1(in situ)). The two pMEK1 preparations showed quantitative differences in the phosphorylation of T-loop residue serine 222 by Western blotting and mass spectrometry. Finally, pMEK1(in vitro) showed marked differences in the ligand binding properties compared to pMEK1(in situ). Contrary to previous findings, pMEK1(in vitro) bound allosteric inhibitors U0126 and PD0325901 with a significantly lower affinity than pMEK1(in situ) as well as its unphosphorylated counterpart (npMEK1) as demonstrated by thermal-shift, AS-MS, and calorimetric studies. The differences in inhibitor binding affinity provide direct evidence that unphosphorylated and RAF1-phosphorylated MEK1 form distinct inhibitor sites.
Assuntos
Benzamidas/metabolismo , Butadienos/metabolismo , Difenilamina/análogos & derivados , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Nitrilas/metabolismo , Regulação Alostérica/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação Alostérica/fisiologia , Animais , Benzamidas/farmacologia , Butadienos/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular , Difenilamina/metabolismo , Difenilamina/farmacologia , Ativação Enzimática/efeitos dos fármacos , Ativação Enzimática/fisiologia , Insetos , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/antagonistas & inibidores , Nitrilas/farmacologia , Ligação Proteica/efeitos dos fármacos , Ligação Proteica/fisiologia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologiaRESUMO
Pathway activating mutations of the transcription factor NRF2 and its negative regulator KEAP1 are strongly correlative with poor clinical outcome with pemetrexed/carbo(cis)platin/pembrolizumab (PCP) chemo-immunotherapy in lung cancer. Despite the strong genetic support and therapeutic potential for a NRF2 transcriptional inhibitor, currently there are no known direct inhibitors of the NRF2 protein or its complexes with MAF and/or DNA. Herein we describe the design of a novel and high-confidence homology model to guide a medicinal chemistry effort that resulted in the discovery of a series of peptides that demonstrate high affinity, selective binding to the Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) DNA and thereby displace NRF2-MAFG from its promoter, which is an inhibitory mechanism that to our knowledge has not been previously described. In addition to their activity in electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA) and TR-FRET-based assays, we show significant dose-dependent ternary complex disruption of NRF2-MAFG binding to DNA by SPR, as well as cellular target engagement by thermal destabilization of HiBiT-tagged NRF2 in the NCI-H1944 NSCLC cell line upon digitonin permeabilization, and SAR studies leading to improved cellular stability. We report the characterization and unique profile of lead peptide 18, which we believe to be a useful in vitro tool to probe NRF2 biology in cancer cell lines and models, while also serving as an excellent starting point for additional in vivo optimization toward inhibition of NRF2-driven transcription to address a significant unmet medical need in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Assuntos
DNA/química , Fator de Transcrição MafG/antagonistas & inibidores , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2/antagonistas & inibidores , Peptídeos/química , Elementos de Resposta Antioxidante/efeitos dos fármacos , DNA/metabolismo , Desenho de Fármacos , Estabilidade de Medicamentos , Ensaio de Desvio de Mobilidade Eletroforética , Meia-Vida , Células HeLa , Humanos , Fator de Transcrição MafG/metabolismo , Fator 2 Relacionado a NF-E2/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/patologia , Peptídeos/metabolismo , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Peptídeos/uso terapêutico , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
MEK1 is a member of the MAPK signal transduction pathway that responds to growth factors and cytokines. We have determined that the kinase domain spans residues 35-382 by proteolytic cleavage. The complete kinase domain has been crystallized and its X-ray crystal structure as a complex with magnesium and ATP-gammaS determined at 2.1 A. Unlike crystals of a truncated kinase domain previously published, the crystals of the intact domain can be grown either as a binary complex with a nucleotide or as a ternary complex with a nucleotide and one of a multitude of allosteric inhibitors. Further, the crystals allow for the determination of costructures with ATP competitive inhibitors. We describe the structures of nonphosphorylated MEK1 (npMEK1) binary complexes with ADP and K252a, an ATP-competitive inhibitor (see Table 1), at 1.9 and 2.7 A resolution, respectively. Ternary complexes have also been solved between npMEK1, a nucleotide, and an allosteric non-ATP competitive inhibitor: ATP-gammaS with compound 1 and ADP with either U0126 or the MEK1 clinical candidate PD325089 at 1.8, 2.0, and 2.5 A, respectively. Compound 1 is structurally similar to PD325901. These structures illustrate fundamental differences among various mechanisms of inhibition at the molecular level. Residues 44-51 have previously been shown to play a negative regulatory role in MEK1 activity. The crystal structure of the integral kinase domain provides a structural rationale for the role of these residues. They form helix A and repress enzymatic activity by stabilizing an inactive conformation in which helix C is displaced from its active state position. Finally, the structure provides for the first time a molecular rationale that explains how mutations in MEK may lead to the cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome.
Assuntos
Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , MAP Quinase Quinase 1/química , Nucleotídeos/química , Difosfato de Adenosina/química , Difosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Regulação Alostérica , Sítios de Ligação , Carbazóis/química , Carbazóis/metabolismo , Cristalografia por Raios X , Inibidores Enzimáticos/metabolismo , Alcaloides Indólicos/química , Alcaloides Indólicos/metabolismo , MAP Quinase Quinase 1/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Nucleotídeos/metabolismo , Conformação Proteica , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Especificidade por SubstratoRESUMO
The exotoxins toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) are produced by the bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile and are responsible for the pathology associated with C. difficile infection (CDI). The antitoxin antibodies actoxumab and bezlotoxumab bind to and neutralize TcdA and TcdB, respectively. Bezlotoxumab was recently approved by the FDA for reducing the recurrence of CDI. We have previously shown that a single molecule of bezlotoxumab binds to two distinct epitopes within the TcdB combined repetitive oligopeptide (CROP) domain, preventing toxin binding to host cells. In this study, we characterize the binding of actoxumab to TcdA and examine its mechanism of toxin neutralization. Using a combination of approaches including a number of biophysical techniques, we show that there are two distinct actoxumab binding sites within the CROP domain of TcdA centered on identical amino acid sequences at residues 2162-2189 and 2410-2437. Actoxumab binding caused the aggregation of TcdA especially at higher antibody:toxin concentration ratios. Actoxumab prevented the association of TcdA with target cells demonstrating that actoxumab neutralizes toxin activity by inhibiting the first step of the intoxication cascade. This mechanism of neutralization is similar to that observed with bezlotoxumab and TcdB. Comparisons of the putative TcdA epitope sequences across several C. difficile ribotypes and homologous repeat sequences within TcdA suggest a structural basis for observed differences in actoxumab binding and/or neutralization potency. These data provide a mechanistic basis for the protective effects of the antibody in vitro and in vivo, including in various preclinical models of CDI.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/metabolismo , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/metabolismo , Toxinas Bacterianas/antagonistas & inibidores , Enterotoxinas/antagonistas & inibidores , Epitopos/metabolismo , Sítios de Ligação , Anticorpos Amplamente Neutralizantes , Agregados Proteicos , Ligação ProteicaRESUMO
Riboswitches are bacterial-specific, broadly conserved, non-coding RNA structural elements that control gene expression of numerous metabolic pathways and transport functions essential for cell growth. As such, riboswitch inhibitors represent a new class of potential antibacterial agents. Recently, we identified ribocil-C, a highly selective inhibitor of the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitch that controls expression of de novo riboflavin (RF, vitamin B2) biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Here, we provide a mechanistic characterization of the antibacterial effects of ribocil-C as well as of roseoflavin (RoF), an antimetabolite analog of RF, among medically significant Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecalis. We provide genetic, biophysical, computational, biochemical, and pharmacological evidence that ribocil-C and RoF specifically inhibit dual FMN riboswitches, separately controlling RF biosynthesis and uptake processes essential for MRSA growth and pathogenesis. Such a dual-targeting mechanism is specifically required to develop broad-spectrum Gram-positive antibacterial agents targeting RF metabolism.
Assuntos
Mononucleotídeo de Flavina/genética , Homeostase/efeitos dos fármacos , Pirimidinas/farmacologia , Riboflavina/análogos & derivados , Riboflavina/metabolismo , Riboswitch/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Sequência de Bases , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/genética , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/fisiologia , Camundongos , Modelos Moleculares , Terapia de Alvo Molecular , Conformação Proteica , Riboflavina/farmacologia , Staphylococcus aureus/genética , Staphylococcus aureus/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus/fisiologiaRESUMO
We describe our optimization efforts to improve the physicochemical properties, solubility, and off-target profile of 1, an inhibitor of TarO, an early stage enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for wall teichoic acid (WTA) synthesis. Compound 1 displayed a TarO IC50 of 125 nM in an enzyme assay and possessed very high lipophilicity (clogP = 7.1) with no measurable solubility in PBS buffer. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies resulted in a series of compounds with improved lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE) consistent with the reduction of clogP. From these efforts, analog 9 was selected for our initial in vivo study, which in combination with subefficacious dose of imipenem (IPM) robustly lowered the bacterial burden in a neutropenic Staphylococci murine infection model. Concurrent with our in vivo optimization effort using 9, we further improved LLE as exemplified by a much more druglike analog 26.
Assuntos
Lipídeos/química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas , Animais , Feminino , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/efeitos dos fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Solubilidade , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Nonessential enzymes in the staphylococcal wall teichoic acid (WTA) pathway serve as highly validated ß-lactam potentiation targets. MnaA (UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase) plays an important role in an early step of WTA biosynthesis by providing an activated form of ManNAc. Identification of a selective MnaA inhibitor would provide a tool to interrogate the contribution of the MnaA enzyme in the WTA pathway as well as serve as an adjuvant to restore ß-lactam activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, development of an epimerase functional assay can be challenging since both MnaA substrate and product (UDP-GlcNAc/UDP-ManNAc) share an identical molecular weight. Herein, we developed a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) functional assay that can be combined with other NMR approaches to triage putative MnaA inhibitors from phenotypic cell-based screening campaigns. In addition, we determined that tunicamycin, a potent WTA pathway inhibitor, inhibits both S. aureus MnaA and a functionally redundant epimerase, Cap5P.
Assuntos
Parede Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/efeitos dos fármacos , Carboidratos Epimerases/antagonistas & inibidores , Carboidratos Epimerases/química , Parede Celular/química , Humanos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina/patogenicidade , Ácidos Teicoicos/química , Ácidos Teicoicos/metabolismo , Açúcares de Uridina Difosfato/química , Açúcares de Uridina Difosfato/metabolismo , Resistência beta-Lactâmica/efeitos dos fármacos , beta-Lactamases/química , beta-Lactamases/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
The widespread emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has dramatically eroded the efficacy of current ß-lactam antibiotics and created an urgent need for new treatment options. We report an S. aureus phenotypic screening strategy involving chemical suppression of the growth inhibitory consequences of depleting late-stage wall teichoic acid biosynthesis. This enabled us to identify early-stage pathway-specific inhibitors of wall teichoic acid biosynthesis predicted to be chemically synergistic with ß-lactams. We demonstrated by genetic and biochemical means that each of the new chemical series discovered, herein named tarocin A and tarocin B, inhibited the first step in wall teichoic acid biosynthesis (TarO). Tarocins do not have intrinsic bioactivity but rather demonstrated potent bactericidal synergy in combination with broad-spectrum ß-lactam antibiotics against diverse clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci as well as robust efficacy in a murine infection model of MRSA. Tarocins and other inhibitors of wall teichoic acid biosynthesis may provide a rational strategy to develop Gram-positive bactericidal ß-lactam combination agents active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.