G. C. K. Roberts

Binding of flexible ligands to macromolecules

MANY of the small molecules, such as enzyme substrates and inhibitors, hormones and neurotransmitters, the interactions of which with macromolecules are of fundamental importance in biology, may exist in solution in a number of conformations in equilibrium with one another. On the other hand, evidence from crystallographic studies suggests that when bound to a macromolecule these small flexible ligands have a single, well defined, conformation. The formation of such a ligand–macromolecule complex must therefore involve a process of conformational selection, which will influence the binding constant and the kinetics of complex formation. The apparent binding constant will simply be the product of the binding constant for the ‘correct’ conformation of the ligand and the mole fraction of this conformation in solution. The kinetic effects of conformational selection will depend on the mechanism of the binding process, and two contrasting models for this may be considered1,2.

Determination of the solution structures of domains II and III of protein G from Streptococcus by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance

We have used 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the solution structures of two small (61 and 64 residue) immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding domains from protein G, a cell-surface protein from Streptococcus strain G148. The two domains differ in sequence by four amino acid substitutions, and differ in their affinity for some subclasses of IgG. The structure of domain II was determined using a total of 478 distance restraints, 31 phi and 9 chi 1 dihedral angle restraints; that of domain III was determined using a total of 445 distance restraints, 31 phi and 9 chi 1 dihedral angle restraints. A protocol which involved distance geometry, simulated annealing and restrained molecular dynamics was used to determine ensembles of 40 structures consistent with these restraints. The structures are found to consist of an alpha-helix packed against a four-stranded antiparallel-parallel-antiparallel beta-sheet. The structures of the two domains are compared to each other and to the reported structure of a similar domain from a protein G from a different strain of Streptococcus. We conclude that the difference in affinity of domains II and III for IgG is due to local changes in amino acid side-chains, rather than a more extensive change in conformation, suggesting that one or more of the residues which differ between them are directly involved in interaction with IgG.

Protein-ligand interactions: Exchange processes and determination of ligand conformation and protein-ligand contacts

Publisher Summary This chapter describes exchange processes and determination of ligand conformation and protein-ligand contacts. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can provide information on many different aspects of protein-ligand interactions, ranging from the determination of the complete structure of a protein-ligand complex to focusing on selected features of the interactions between the ligand and protein by using reporter groups on the ligand or the protein. In addition to the structural information, dynamic, kinetic, and thermodynamic aspects of ligand binding are presented. Early analysis of ligand binding focused on measurements of relaxation times, chemical shifts, and coupling constants, which gave relatively limited, though valuable, structural information. The first step in any study of protein-ligand interactions by NMR is to establish to which region of exchange the spectrum corresponds (or, more correctly, the resonances of interest, because different resonances can show different exchange behavior).

Electron transfer in human cytochrome P450 reductase

Cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) is a diflavin enzyme responsible for electron donation to mammalian cytochrome P450 enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum. Dissection of the enzyme into functional domains and studies by site-directed mutagenesis have enabled detailed characterization of the mechanism of electron transfer using stopped-flow and equilibrium-perturbation methods, and redox potentiometry. These studies and the mechanism of electron transfer in CPR are reported herein.

Insights into drug metabolism by cytochromes P450 from modelling studies of CYP2D6-drug interactions.

The cytochromes P450 (CYPs) comprise a vast superfamily of enzymes found in virtually all life forms. In mammals, xenobiotic metabolizing CYPs provide crucial protection from the effects of exposure to a wide variety of chemicals, including environmental toxins and therapeutic drugs. Ideally, the information on the possible metabolism by CYPs required during drug development would be obtained from crystal structures of all the CYPs of interest. For some years only crystal structures of distantly related bacterial CYPs were available and homology modelling techniques were used to bridge the gap and produce structural models of human CYPs, and thereby obtain useful functional information. A significant step forward in the reliability of these models came seven years ago with the first crystal structure of a mammalian CYP, rabbit CYP2C5, followed by the structures of six human enzymes, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, and a second rabbit enzyme, CYP2B4. In this review we describe as a case study the evolution of a CYP2D6 model, leading to the validation of the model as an in silico tool for predicting binding and metabolism. This work has led directly to the successful design of CYP2D6 mutants with novel activity—including creating a testosterone hydroxylase, converting quinidine from inhibitor to substrate, creating a diclofenac hydroxylase and creating a dextromethorphan O‐demethylase. Our modelling‐derived hypothesis‐driven integrated interdisciplinary studies have given key insight into the molecular determinants of CYP2D6 and other important drug metabolizing enzymes.

1H, 15N and 13C NMR resonance assignment, secondary structure and global fold of the FMN-binding domain of human cytochrome P450 reductase.

The FMN-binding domain of human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase,corresponding to exons 3-;7, has been expressed at high level in anactive form and labelled with 13C and 15N. Mostof the backbone and aliphatic side-chain 1H, 15Nand 13C resonances have been assigned using heteronucleardouble- and triple-resonance methods, together with a semiautomaticassignment strategy. The secondary structure as estimated from the chemicalshift index and NOE connectivities consists of six α-helices and fiveβ-strands. The global fold was deduced from the long-range NOEsunambiguously assigned in a 4D 13C-resolved HMQC-NOESY-HMQCspectrum. The fold is of the alternating α/β type, with the fiveβ-strands arranged into a parallel β-sheet. The secondarystructure and global fold are very similar to those of the bacterialflavodoxins, but the FMN-binding domain has an extra short helix in place ofa loop, and an extra helix at the N-terminus (leading to the membrane anchordomain in the intact P450 reductase). The experimental constraints werecombined with homology modelling to obtain a structure of the FMN-bindingdomain satisfying the observed NOE constraints. Chemical shift comparisonsshowed that the effects of FMN binding and of FMN reduction are largelylocalised at the binding site.

An unusual matrix of stereocomplementarity in the hydroxylation of monohydroxy fatty acids catalysed by cytochrome P-450 from Bacillus megaterium with potential application in biotransformations

Cytochrome P450 from Bacillus megaterium catalyses the diastereoselective hydroxylations of 13-hydroxymyristic acid, to predominantly erythro-12,13-dihydroxymyristic acid, and of 12-hydroxymyristic acid to give predominantly threo-12,13-dihydroxymyristic acid, in reactions that are stereocomplementary and with considerable potential application in biotransformations.

Folding and unfolding for binding: Large-scale protein dynamics in protein-protein interactions

The role of dynamics in the function of proteins, from enzymes to signalling proteins, is widely recognized. In many cases, the dynamic process is a relatively localized one, involving motion of a limited number of key residues, while in others large-scale domain movements may be involved. These motions all take place within the context of a folded protein; however, there is increasing evidence for the existence of some proteins where a transition between folded and unfolded structures is required for function.

Identification of the C2-1H histidine NMR resonances in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by a 13C-1H heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence method.

Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) was used to assess the feasibility of study of specific proton resonances in an enzyme of overall molecular mass 75000. [ring2‐13C]Histidine was selectively incorporated into the type III chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CATIII) using a histidine auxotroph of E. coli. Heteronuclear multiple and single quantum experiments were used to select the C2 protons in the histidyl imidazole ring. One‐ and two‐dimensional spectra revealed six signals out of a total of seven histidine residues in CATIII. pH titration, chemical modification and ligand binding were used to demonstrate that the signal from H195, the histidine at the active site, is not among those observed. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates that selective isotopic enrichment and multiple quantum coherence techniques can be used to distinguish proton resonances in a protein of high molecular mass.

In silico prediction of drug binding to CYP2D6: identification of a new metabolite of metoclopramide

Patients with cancer often take many different classes of drugs to treat the effects of their malignancy and the side effects of treatment, as well as their comorbidities. The potential for drug-drug interactions that may affect the efficacy of anticancer treatment is high, and a major source of such interactions is competition for the drug-metabolizing enzymes, cytochromes P450 (P450s). We have examined a series of 20 drugs commonly prescribed to cancer patients to look for potential interactions via CYP2D6. We used a homology model of CYP2D6, together with molecular docking techniques, to perform an in silico screen for binding to CYP2D6. Experimental IC50 values were determined for these compounds and compared with the model predictions to reveal a correlation with a regression coefficient of r2 = 0.61. Importantly, the docked conformation of the commonly prescribed antiemetic metoclopramide predicted a new site of metabolism that was further investigated through in vitro analysis with recombinant CYP2D6. An aromatic N-hydroxy metabolite of metoclopramide, consistent with predictions from our modeling studies, was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. This metabolite was found to represent a major product of metabolism in human liver microsomes, and CYP2D6 was identified as the main P450 isoform responsible for catalyzing its formation. In view of the prevalence of interindividual variation in the CYP2D6 genotype and phenotype, we suggest that those experiencing adverse reactions with metoclopramide, e.g., extrapyramidal syndrome, are likely to have a particular CYP2D6 genotype/phenotype. This warrants further investigation.