Andrea Spitaleri

The solution structure of the first PHD finger of autoimmune regulator in complex with non-modified histone H3 tail reveals the antagonistic role of H3R2 methylation

Plant homeodomain (PHD) fingers are often present in chromatin-binding proteins and have been shown to bind histone H3 N-terminal tails. Mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein, which harbours two PHD fingers, cause a rare monogenic disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED). AIRE activates the expression of tissue-specific antigens by directly binding through its first PHD finger (AIRE-PHD1) to histone H3 tails non-methylated at K4 (H3K4me0). Here, we present the solution structure of AIRE-PHD1 in complex with H3K4me0 peptide and show that AIRE-PHD1 is a highly specialized non-modified histone H3 tail reader, as post-translational modifications of the first 10 histone H3 residues reduce binding affinity. In particular, H3R2 dimethylation abrogates AIRE-PHD1 binding in vitro and reduces the in vivo activation of AIRE target genes in HEK293 cells. The observed antagonism by R2 methylation on AIRE-PHD1 binding is unique among the H3K4me0 histone readers and represents the first case of epigenetic negative cross-talk between non-methylated H3K4 and methylated H3R2. Collectively, our results point to a very specific histone code responsible for non-modified H3 tail recognition by AIRE-PHD1 and describe at atomic level one crucial step in the molecular mechanism responsible for antigen expression in the thymus.

Exploring PHD Fingers and H3K4me0 Interactions with Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Binding Free Energy Calculations: AIRE-PHD1, a Comparative Study

PHD fingers represent one of the largest families of epigenetic readers capable of decoding post-translationally modified or unmodified histone H3 tails. Because of their direct involvement in human pathologies they are increasingly considered as a potential therapeutic target. Several PHD/histone-peptide structures have been determined, however relatively little information is available on their dynamics. Studies aiming to characterize the dynamic and energetic determinants driving histone peptide recognition by epigenetic readers would strongly benefit from computational studies. Herein we focus on the dynamic and energetic characterization of the PHD finger subclass specialized in the recognition of histone H3 peptides unmodified in position K4 (H3K4me0). As a case study we focused on the first PHD finger of autoimmune regulator protein (AIRE-PHD1) in complex with H3K4me0. PCA analysis of the covariance matrix of free AIRE-PHD1 highlights the presence of a “flapping” movement, which is blocked in an open conformation upon binding to H3K4me0. Moreover, binding free energy calculations obtained through Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) methodology are in good qualitative agreement with experiments and allow dissection of the energetic terms associated with native and alanine mutants of AIRE-PHD1/H3K4me0 complexes. MM/PBSA calculations have also been applied to the energetic analysis of other PHD fingers recognizing H3K4me0. In this case we observe excellent correlation between computed and experimental binding free energies. Overall calculations show that H3K4me0 recognition by PHD fingers relies on compensation of the electrostatic and polar solvation energy terms and is stabilized by non-polar interactions.

Investigating Drug–Target Association and Dissociation Mechanisms Using Metadynamics-Based Algorithms

CONSPECTUS: This Account highlights recent advances and discusses major challenges in the field of drug-target recognition, binding, and unbinding studied using metadynamics-based approaches, with particular emphasis on their role in structure-based design. Computational chemistry has significantly contributed to drug design and optimization in an extremely broad range of areas, including prediction of target druggability and drug likeness, de novo design, fragment screening, ligand docking, estimation of binding affinity, and modulation of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity) properties. Computationally driven drug discovery must continuously adapt to keep pace with the evolving knowledge of the factors that modulate the pharmacological action of drugs. There is thus an urgent need for novel computational approaches that integrate the vast amount of complex information currently available for small (bio)organic compounds, biologically relevant targets and their complexes, while also accounting accurately for the thermodynamics and kinetics of drug-target association, the intrinsic dynamical behavior of biomolecular systems, and the complexity of protein-protein networks. Understanding the mechanism of drug binding to and unbinding from biological targets is fundamental for optimizing lead compounds and designing novel biologically active ones. One major challenge is the accurate description of the conformational complexity prior to and upon formation of drug-target complexes. Recently, enhanced sampling methods, including metadynamics and related approaches, have been successfully applied to investigate complex mechanisms of drugs binding to flexible targets. Metadynamics is a family of enhanced sampling techniques aimed at enhancing the rare events and reconstructing the underlying free energy landscape as a function of a set of order parameters, usually referred to as collective variables. Studies of drug binding mechanisms have predicted the most probable association and dissociation pathways and the related binding free energy profile. In addition, the availability of an efficient open-source implementation, running on cost-effective GPU (i.e., graphical processor unit) architectures, has considerably decreased the learning curve and the computational costs of the methods, and increased their adoption by the community. Here, we review the recent contributions of metadynamics and other enhanced sampling methods to the field of drug-target recognition and binding. We discuss how metadynamics has been used to search for transition states, to predict binding and unbinding paths, to treat conformational flexibility, and to compute free energy profiles. We highlight the importance of such predictions in drug discovery. Major challenges in the field and possible solutions will finally be discussed.

Supported ruthenium nanoparticles on polyorganophosphazenes: preparation, structural and catalytic studies

Abstract Supported Ru nanoparticles on a number of polyorganophosphazenes were prepared and tested for the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds. The complex Ru(η6-cycloocta-1,3,5-triene)(η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene) was found to be a suitable precursor to deposit metallic nanoparticles on polyorganophosphazenes; upon the removal of cycloolefin ligands under hydrogen atmosphere, highly dispersed metal particles on the polymeric support can be obtained. Ru on polydimethylphosphazene was found to be an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of a wide range of unsaturated substrates (olefins, carbonyl compounds and aromatic compounds) under mild conditions. Polyorganophosphazenes are interesting in their ability to act as either soluble or insoluble catalyst supports, depending upon the dispersing liquid; thus, it is possible to operate in heterogeneous phase as well as in homogeneous phase. The reaction in homogeneous phase can be performed in environmental-friendly solvents such as alcohols and water. The catalyst exhibits high stability towards agglomeration. No significant change in the ruthenium nanoparticles surface as well as catalyst activity was observed.

Solvent effects of the structures of prenucleation aggregates of carbamazepine

Solution phase NMR structures of carbamazepine dimers have been determined in CD3OH and in CDCl3. Dimerization is mediated by aromatic interactions in CD3OH and by H-bonding in CDCl3. Comparison of the two solution phase structures with dimer motifs found the X-ray crystal structure reveals remarkable similarities. The results suggest that the solution dimers represent first steps on the pathway to crystal nucleation and show that the structures of these prenucleation aggregates depend strongly on solvent.

Determination of Protein–Ligand Binding Modes Using Complexation-Induced Changes in 1H NMR Chemical Shift

A new method for determining three-dimensional solution structures of protein-ligand complexes using experimentally determined complexation-induced changes in (1)H NMR chemical shift (CIS) is introduced. The method has been validated using the complex formed between the protein antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin (NCS) and a synthetic chromophore analogue. The X-ray crystal structure of the unbound protein and the backbone amide proton CIS were the input data used in the determination of the three-dimensional structure of the complex. The experimental CIS values were used in a continuous direct structure refinement process based on genetic algorithms to sample conformational space. The calculated structure of the complex agrees well with the NMR solution structure, indicating the potential of this approach for structure determination.

Fluorophenols and (Trifluoromethyl)phenols as Substrates of Site-Selective Metalation Reactions: To Protect or not To Protect

O-Methoxymethyl (MOM) protected fluorophenols can be cleanly metalated and subsequently be submitted to site-selective electrophilic substitution. The 2- and 4-isomers exhibit ambivalent reactivity: deprotonation occurs at the position adjacent to the O when butyllithium is employed whereas the position adjacent to the F is attacked by the superbasic mixt. of butyllithium and K tert-butoxide (LIC-KOR). The MOM-protected (trifluoromethyl)phenols react exclusively at O-neighboring positions. The meta isomer provides another example of optional site selectivity, undergoing H/metal exchange at the 2-position with the LIC-KOR reagent and at the 6-position with sec-butyllithium. Unprotected (trifluoromethyl)phenols can also be ortho-metalated after O-deprotonation, although the products are formed in only moderate yields. [on SciFinder (R)]

Use of Metadynamics in the Design of isoDGR‐Based αvβ3 Antagonists To Fine‐Tune the Conformational Ensemble

The integrin family of cell-adhesion receptors regulates cellular functions crucial to the initiation, progression, and metastasis of solid tumors. In particular, integrin avb3 plays a key role in endothelial cell survival and migration during tumor angiogenesis. It is therefore gaining increasing importance as a drug target in antiangiogenic cancer therapy. The sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), which is contained in natural avb3 interactors, such as vitronectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, osteopontin, and tenascin, is by far the most prominent ligand to promote specific cell adhesion through stimulation. This sequence is therefore attractive as a lead for the development of different integrin antagonists. Recent biochemical studies showed that deamidation of the NGR sequence gives rise to isoDGR, a new avb3-binding motif. This sequence constitutes a novel class of peptidic integrin ligands and paves the way to drug-design studies with a focus on the synthesis and characterization of a new generation of isoDGR-based macrocycles. For the design of low-molecular-mass isoDGR-containing molecules, an accurate determination of their biologically active conformation is a prerequisite. The presence of the b bond induces high flexibility in isoDGR-containing macrocycles and thus augments the range of accessible interconverting conformations. However, the identification of relevant conformations that might affect binding affinity is challenging for standard spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Atomistic simulations, such as molecular dynamics (MD), replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD), and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, can complement experimental data. However, they often fail to generate reliable equilibrium conformations because of the rugged and complex nature of the free-energy surface (FES) that is accessible to the system. As a consequence, computational sampling is often relegated to some local, unrealistic minima, which compromise subsequent docking studies. As computational drug design becomes increasingly reliant on virtual screening and on high-throughput 3D modeling, the need for fast and accurate computational methods for sampling of the ensemble of energetically accessible conformations is warranted. In this context, several techniques, including the local-elevation method, taboo search, the Wang–Landau method, adaptive force bias, conformational flooding, umbrella sampling, weighted histogram techniques, transitionstate theory, and path sampling, have been developed to address the sampling problem, through either reconstruction of the free energy or the direct acceleration of events that might happen on a long timescale (“rare events”). Related to these methods, metadynamics (MetaD) has emerged as a powerful coarse-grained non-Markovian molecular-dynamics approach for the acceleration of rare events and the efficient and rapid computation of multidimensional free-energy surfaces as a function of a restricted number of degrees of freedom, named collective variables (CVs). If the CVs are appropriately chosen for the system under investigation, MetaD directly provides a good estimate of the free energy of the system projected into the CVs (see the Supporting Information for details). Notably, the free energy is not immediately deducible by other sampling methods, such as umbrella sampling, in which the free-energy profile is not obtained directly from the simulations and requires an additional computational step, such as the weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM). In this study, we developed a protocol based on the combination of MetaD and docking simulations to analyze the conformations and the avb3-binding properties of isoDGR-containing cyclopeptides and to predict the conformational effects of chemical modifications and discriminate binders from nonbinders in silico. To investigate the conformational equilibrium of RGD-, DGR-, and isoDGRcontaining cyclopeptides (cyclization mode involving cysteine side chains) and to exhaustively explore their FESs, we performed well-temperedMetaD simulations, for which we chose Gly f and y angles as CVs (Figure 1; for simulation details, see the Supporting Information). As it lacks a side chain, Gly has large conformational freedom around its backbone dihedral angles. Therefore, Gly can explore a considerably larger area in the Ramachandran energy diagram than any other amino acid, and occupies five [*] Dr. A. Spitaleri, Dr. M. Ghitti, Dr. S. Mari, Dr. G. Musco Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Biomolecular NMR Laboratory c/o Center of Genomic and Bioinformatics S. Raffaele Scientific Institute via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan (Italy) Fax: (+39)02-2643-4153 E-mail: giovanna.musco@hsr.it

Nephrocystin-1 Forms a Complex with Polycystin-1 via a Polyproline Motif/SH3 Domain Interaction and Regulates the Apoptotic Response in Mammals

Mutations in PKD1, the gene encoding for the receptor Polycystin-1 (PC-1), cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The cytoplasmic C-terminus of PC-1 contains a coiled-coil domain that mediates an interaction with the PKD2 gene product, Polycystin-2 (PC-2). Here we identify a novel domain in the PC-1 C-terminal tail, a polyproline motif mediating an interaction with Src homology domain 3 (SH3). A screen for interactions using the PC-1 C-terminal tail identified the SH3 domain of nephrocystin-1 (NPHP1) as a potential binding partner of PC-1. NPHP1 is the product of a gene that is mutated in a different form of renal cystic disease, nephronophthisis (NPHP). We show that in vitro pull-down assays and NMR structural studies confirmed the interaction between the PC-1 polyproline motif and the NPHP1 SH3 domain. Furthermore, the two full-length proteins interact through these domains; using a recently generated model system allowing us to track endogenous PC-1, we confirm the interaction between the endogenous proteins. Finally, we show that NPHP1 trafficking to cilia does not require PC-1 and that PC-1 may require NPHP1 to regulate resistance to apoptosis, but not to regulate cell cycle progression. In line with this, we find high levels of apoptosis in renal specimens of NPHP patients. Our data uncover a link between two different ciliopathies, ADPKD and NPHP, supporting the notion that common pathogenetic defects, possibly involving de-regulated apoptosis, underlie renal cyst formation.

Oxidation-induced Structural Changes of Ceruloplasmin Foster NGR Motif Deamidation That Promotes Integrin Binding and Signaling

Background: Asparagine deamidation at Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) sites leads to the isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR) integrin-binding motif formation. Results: Ceruloplasmin (Cp), which contains two NGR sites and is oxidized in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in neurodegenerative diseases, can, undergo oxidation-induced structural changes fostering NGR deamidation with gain of integrin binding and signaling properties, in vitro and ex vivo in pathological CSF. Conclusion: Cp NGR motifs can deamidate acquiring integrin-binding functions. Significance: Cp structural changes favor NGR deamidation. Asparagine deamidation occurs spontaneously in proteins during aging; deamidation of Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) sites can lead to the formation of isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR), a motif that can recognize the RGD-binding site of integrins. Ceruloplasmin (Cp), a ferroxidase present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), contains two NGR sites in its sequence: one exposed on the protein surface (568NGR) and the other buried in the tertiary structure (962NGR). Considering that Cp can undergo oxidative modifications in the CSF of neurodegenerative diseases, we investigated the effect of oxidation on the deamidation of both NGR motifs and, consequently, on the acquisition of integrin binding properties. We observed that the exposed 568NGR site can deamidate under conditions mimicking accelerated Asn aging. In contrast, the hidden 962NGR site can deamidate exclusively when aging occurs under oxidative conditions, suggesting that oxidation-induced structural changes foster deamidation at this site. NGR deamidation in Cp was associated with gain of integrin-binding function, intracellular signaling, and cell pro-adhesive activity. Finally, Cp aging in the CSF from Alzheimer disease patients, but not in control CSF, causes Cp deamidation with gain of integrin-binding function, suggesting that this transition might also occur in pathological conditions. In conclusion, both Cp NGR sites can deamidate during aging under oxidative conditions, likely as a consequence of oxidative-induced structural changes, thereby promoting a gain of function in integrin binding, signaling, and cell adhesion.