Pawel Grochulski

Structural insights into mechanisms of catalysis and inhibition in norwalk virus polymerase.

Crystal structures of Norwalk virus polymerase bound to an RNA primer-template duplex and either the natural substrate CTP or the inhibitor 5-nitrocytidine triphosphate have been determined to 1.8Å resolution. These structures reveal a closed conformation of the polymerase that differs significantly from previously determined open structures of calicivirus and picornavirus polymerases. These closed complexes are trapped immediately prior to the nucleotidyl transfer reaction, with the triphosphate group of the nucleotide bound to two manganese ions at the active site, poised for reaction to the 3′-hydroxyl group of the RNA primer. The positioning of the 5-nitrocytidine triphosphate nitro group between the α-phosphate and the 3′-hydroxyl group of the primer suggests a novel, general approach for the design of antiviral compounds mimicking natural nucleosides and nucleotides.

Calcium Stiffens Archaeal Rad51 Recombinase from Methanococcus voltae for Homologous Recombination.

Archaeal RadA or Rad51 recombinases are close homologues of eukaryal Rad51 and DMC1. These and bacterial RecA orthologues play a key role in DNA repair by forming helical nucleoprotein filaments in which a hallmark strand exchange reaction between homologous DNA substrates occurs. Recent studies have discovered the stimulatory role by calcium on human and yeast recombinases. Here we report that the strand exchange activity but not the ATPase activity of an archaeal RadA/Rad51 recombinase from Methanococcus voltae (MvRadA) is also subject to calcium stimulation. Crystallized MvRadA filaments in the presence of CaCl2 resemble that of the recently reported ATPase active form in the presence of an activating dose of KCl. At the ATPase center, one Ca2+ ion takes the place of two K+ ions in the K+-bound form. The terminal phosphate of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue is in a staggered conformation in the Ca2+-bound form. In comparison, an eclipsed conformation was seen in the K+-bound form. Despite the changes in the ATPase center, both forms harbor largely ordered L2 regions in essentially identical conformations. These data suggest a unified stimulation mechanism by potassium and calcium because of the existence of a conserved ATPase center promiscuous in binding cations.

08B1-1: an automated beamline for macromolecular crystallography experiments at the Canadian Light Source

Beamline 08B1-1 is a recently commissioned bending-magnet beamline at the Canadian Light Source. The beamline is designed for automation and remote access. Together with the undulator-based beamline 08ID-1, they constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility. This paper describes the design, specifications, hardware and software of beamline 08B1-1. A few scientific results using data obtained at the beamline will be highlighted.

MxDC and MxLIVE: software for data acquisition, information management and remote access to macromolecular crystallography beamlines.

An integrated computer software system for on-site and remote collection of macromolecular crystallography (MX) data at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) is described. The system consists of an integrated graphical user interface for data collection and beamline control [MX Data Collector (MxDC)] which provides experiment-focused control of beamline devices, and a laboratory information management system [MX Laboratory Information Virtual Environment (MxLIVE)] for managing sample and experiment information through a web browser. The system allows remote planning and transmission of sample and experiment parameters to the beamline through MxLIVE, on-site or remote data collection through MxDC guided by information from MxLIVE, and remote monitoring and download of experimental results through MxLIVE. The system is deployed and in use on both MX beamlines at the CLS which constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility.

characterization of the host-guest complex of a curcumin analog with β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin-gemini surfactant and evaluation of its anticancer activity

Background Curcumin analogs, including the novel compound NC 2067, are potent cytotoxic agents that suffer from poor solubility, and hence, low bioavailability. Cyclodextrin-based carriers can be used to encapsulate such agents. In order to understand the interaction between the two molecules, the physicochemical properties of the host–guest complexes of NC 2067 with β-cyclodextrin (CD) or β-cyclodextrin–gemini surfactant (CDgemini surfactant) were investigated for the first time. Moreover, possible supramolecular structures were examined in order to aid the development of new drug delivery systems. Furthermore, the in vitro anticancer activity of the complex of NC 2067 with CDgemini surfactant nanoparticles was demonstrated in the A375 melanoma cell line. Methods Physicochemical properties of the complexes formed of NC 2067 with CD or CDgemini surfactant were investigated by synchrotron-based powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Synchrotron-based small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and size measurements were employed to assess the supramolecular morphology of the complex formed by NC 2067 with CDgemini surfactant. Lastly, the in vitro cell toxicity of the formulations toward A375 melanoma cells at various drug-to-carrier mole ratios were measured by cell viability assay. Results Physical mixtures of NC 2067 and CD or CDgemini surfactant showed characteristics of the individual components, whereas the complex of NC 2067 and CD or CDgemini surfactant presented new structural features, supporting the formation of the host–guest complexes. Complexes of NC 2067 with CDgemini surfactants formed nanoparticles having sizes of 100–200 nm. NC 2067 retained its anticancer activity in the complex with CDgemini surfactant for different drug-to-carrier mole ratios, with an IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value comparable to that for NC 2067 without the carrier. Conclusion The formation of host–guest complexes of NC 2067 with CD or CDgemini surfactant has been confirmed and hence the CDgemini surfactant shows good potential to be used as a delivery system for anticancer agents.

Cyclo-linopeptide K butanol disolvate monohydrate.

The title compound, C56H83N9O11S·2C4H10O·H2O, is a butanol–water solvate of the cyclolinopeptide cyclo(Metsulfone1-Leu2–Ile3–Pro4–Pro5–Phe6–Phe7–Val8–Ile9) (henceforth referred to as CLP-K) which was isolated from flax oil. All the amino acid residues are in an l configuration based on the CORN rule. The cyclic nonapeptide exhibits eight trans peptide bonds and one cis peptide bond observed between the two proline residues. The conformation is stabilized by an α- and a β-turn, each containing an N—H⋯O hydrogen bond between the carbonyl group O atom of the first residue and the amide group H atom of the fourth (α-turn) and the third residue (β-turn), repectively. In the crystal, the components of the structure are linked by intermolecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network parallel to (001). The –C(H2)OH group of one of the butanol solvent molecules is disordered over two sets of sites with refined occupancies of 0.863 (4) and 0.137 (4).

Di-Peptide-Modified Gemini Surfactants as Gene Delivery Vectors: Exploring the Role of the Alkyl Tail in Their Physicochemical Behavior and Biological Activity

The aim of this work was to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of new peptide-modified gemini surfactant-based carriers. Glycyl-lysine modified gemini surfactants that differ in the length and degree of unsaturation of their alkyl tail were used to engineer DNA nano-assemblies. To probe the optimal nitrogen to phosphate (N/P) ratio in the presence of helper lipid, in vitro gene expression and cell toxicity measurements were carried out. Characterization of the nano-assemblies was accomplished by measuring the particle size and surface charge. Morphological characteristics and lipid organization were studied by small angle X-ray scattering technique. Lipid monolayers were studied using a Langmuir-Blodgett trough. The highest activity of glycyl-lysine modified gemini surfactants was observed with the 16-carbon tail compound at 2.5 N/P ratio, showing a 5- to 10-fold increase in the level of reporter protein compared to the 12 and 18:1 carbon tail compounds. This ratio is significantly lower compared to the previously studied gemini surfactants with alkyl or amino- spacers. In addition, the 16-carbon tail compound exhibited the highest cell viability (85%). This high efficiency is attributed to the lowest critical micelle concentration of the 16-tail gemini surfactant and a balanced packing of the nanoparticles by mixing a saturated and unsaturated lipid together. At the optimal N/P ratio, all nanoparticles exhibited an inverted hexagonal lipid assembly. The results show that the length and nature of the tail of the gemini surfactants play an important role in determining the transgene efficiency of the delivery system. We demonstrated here that the interplay between the headgroup and the nature of tail is specific to each series, thus in the process of rational design, the contribution of the latter should be assessed in the appropriate context.

A 1H NMR Study of Host/Guest Supramolecular Complexes of a Curcumin Analogue with β-Cyclodextrin and a β-Cyclodextrin-Conjugated Gemini Surfactant

Host systems based on β-cyclodextrin (βCD) were employed as pharmaceutical carriers to encapsulate a poorly soluble drug, curcumin analogue (NC 2067), in order to increase its water solubility. βCD was chemically conjugated with an amphiphilic gemini surfactant with the ability to self-assemble and to form nanoscale supramolecular structures. The conjugated molecule, βCDgemini surfactant (βCDg), was shown to be a promising drug delivery agent. In this report, its physicochemical properties were assessed in aqueous solution using 1D and 2D 1H NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that the apolar hydrocarbon domain of the gemini surfactant was self-included within the βCD internal cavity. The host/guest complexes composed of native βCD or βCDg with NC 2067 were examined using 1D/2D ROESY NMR methods. The stoichiometry of βCD/NC 2067 complex was estimated using Jobs method via 1H NMR spectroscopy. The binding geometry of NC 2067 within βCD was proposed using molecular docking and further supported by 1D and 2D ROESY NMR results. Addition of NC 2067 to βCDg revealed minimal changes to the overall structure of the βCDg system, in agreement with the formation of a βCDg/NC 2067 ternary complex.

Assembly of the Type Two Secretion System in Aeromonas hydrophila Involves Direct Interaction between the Periplasmic Domains of the Assembly Factor ExeB and the Secretin ExeD

The type two secretion system is a large, trans-envelope apparatus that secretes toxins across the outer membrane of many Gram-negative bacteria. In Aeromonas hydrophila, ExeA interacts with peptidoglycan and forms a heteromultimeric complex with ExeB that is required for assembly of the ExeD secretin of the secretion system in the outer membrane. While the peptidoglycan-ExeAB (PG-AB) complex is required for ExeD assembly, the assembly mechanism remains unresolved. We analyzed protein-protein interactions to address the hypothesis that ExeD assembly in the outer membrane requires direct interaction with the PG-AB complex. Yeast and bacterial two hybrid analyses demonstrated an interaction between the periplasmic domains of ExeB and ExeD. Two-codon insertion mutagenesis of exeD disrupted lipase secretion, and immunoblotting of whole cells demonstrated significantly reduced secretin in mutant cells. Mapping of the two-codon insertions and deletion analysis showed that the ExeB-ExeD interaction involves the N0 and N1 subdomains of ExeD. Rotational anisotropy using the purified periplasmic domains of ExeB and ExeD determined that the apparent dissociation constant of the interaction is 1.19±0.16 µM. These results contribute important support for a putative mechanism by which the PG-AB complex facilitates assembly of ExeD through direct interaction between ExeB and ExeD. Furthermore, our results provide novel insight into the assembly function of ExeB that may contribute to elucidating the role of homologous proteins in secretion of toxins from other Gram negative pathogens.

Cyclo­linopeptide B methanol tris­olvate

The title compound, C56H83N9O9S·3CH3OH, is a methanol trisolvate of the cyclolinopeptide cyclo(Met1—Leu2—Ile3—Pro4—Pro5—Phe6—Phe7—Val8—Ile9) (henceforth referred to as CLP-B), which was isolated from flaxseed oil. All the amino acid residues are in an l-configuration based on the CORN rule. The cyclic nonapeptide exhibits eight trans peptide bonds and one cis peptide bond observed between the two proline residues. The conformation is stabilized by an α-turn and two consecutive β-turns each containing a N—H⋯O hydrogen bond between the carbonyl group O atom of the first residue and the amide group H atom of the fourth (α-turn) or the third residue (β-turns), repectively. In the crystal, the components of the structure are linked by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains parallel to the a axis.