SangYoun Park

Discovery and the structural basis of a novel p21-activated kinase 4 inhibitor.

Functional versatility and elevated expression in cancers have endowed p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as one of the first-in-class anti-cancer drug target. In this study, a novel PAK4 inhibitor, KY-04031 (N(2)-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-N(4)-(1H-indazol-5-yl)-6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), was discovered using a high-throughput screening. Analysis of the complex crystal structure illustrated that both indole and indazole of KY-04031 are responsible for PAK4 hinge interaction. Moreover, the molecules triazine core was found to mimic the ribose of the natural ATP substrate. The cell-based anti-cancer potency of KY-04031 was less effective than the pyrroloaminopyrazoles; however, the unique molecular feature of KY-04031 can be exploited in designing new PAK4 inhibitors.

Structural Changes during Cysteine Desulfurase CsdA and Sulfur Acceptor CsdE Interactions Provide Insight into the trans-Persulfuration

Background: Cysteine desulfurases deliver sulfur from cysteine to sulfur acceptors for sulfur utilization in various biological processes. Results: The crystal structure of CsdA-CsdE invokes a unique binding mode compared with other cysteine desulfurase and sulfur acceptor complexes. Conclusion: Conformational flexibility is pronounced only in the region of CsdE during the sulfur transfer interaction. Significance: This structure marks the first complex structure between CsdA/SufS-type cysteine desulfurase and the sulfur acceptor. In Escherichia coli, three cysteine desulfurases (IscS, SufS, and CsdA) initiate the delivery of sulfur for various biological processes such as the biogenesis of Fe-S clusters. The sulfur generated as persulfide on a cysteine residue of cysteine desulfurases is further transferred to Fe-S scaffolds (e.g. IscU) or to intermediate cysteine-containing sulfur acceptors (e.g. TusA, SufE, and CsdE) prior to its utilization. Here, we report the structures of CsdA and the CsdA-CsdE complex, which provide insight into the sulfur transfer mediated by the trans-persulfuration reaction. Analysis of the structures indicates that the conformational flexibility of the active cysteine loop in CsdE is essential for accepting the persulfide from the cysteine of CsdA. Additionally, CsdA and CsdE invoke a different binding mode than those of previously reported cysteine desulfurase (IscS) and sulfur acceptors (TusA and IscU). Moreover, the conservation of interaction-mediating residues between CsdA/SufS and CsdE/SufE further suggests that the SufS-SufE interface likely resembles that of CsdA and CsdE.

Crystal Structures of Human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 (AS160) RabGTPase-activating Protein (RabGAP) Domains Reveal Critical Elements for GLUT4 Translocation

We have solved the x-ray crystal structures of the RabGAP domains of human TBC1D1 and human TBC1D4 (AS160), at 2.2 and 3.5 Å resolution, respectively. Like the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP domain, whose structure was solved previously in complex with mouse Rab33B, the human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 domains both have 16 α-helices and no β-sheet elements. We expected the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure to predict the corresponding interfaces between cognate mammalian RabGAPs and Rabs, but found that residues were poorly conserved. We further tested the relevance of this model by Ala-scanning mutagenesis, but only one of five substitutions within the inferred binding site of the TBC1D1 RabGAP significantly perturbed catalytic efficiency. In addition, substitution of TBC1D1 residues with corresponding residues from Gyp1p did not enhance catalytic efficiency. We hypothesized that biologically relevant RabGAP/Rab partners utilize additional contacts not described in the yeast Gyp1p/mouse Rab33B structure, which we predicted using our two new human TBC1D1 and TBC1D4 structures. Ala substitution of TBC1D1 Met930, corresponding to a residue outside of the Gyp1p/Rab33B contact, substantially reduced catalytic activity. GLUT4 translocation assays confirmed the biological relevance of our findings. Substitutions with lowest RabGAP activity, including catalytically dead RK and Met930 and Leu1019 predicted to perturb Rab binding, confirmed that biological activity requires contacts between cognate RabGAPs and Rabs beyond those in the yeast Gyp1p RabGAP/mouse Rab33B structure.

Two porous metal–organic frameworks containing zinc–calcium clusters and calcium cluster chains

A two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) containing both Zn(II) and Ca(II) centres and a three-dimensional MOF containing only Ca(II) centres have the largest surface areas (BET 1560 and 914 m2 g−1, respectively) among the reported Ca-based MOFs and also exhibit high gas uptake up to 1 bar for H2 at 77 K and CO2 at 298 K.

Tracking solvent and protein movement during CO2 release in carbonic anhydrase II crystals

Significance Carbonic anhydrases catalyze the fast interconversion of carbon dioxide and water into bicarbonate and proton. In this study, we use the method of high-pressure cryocooling to capture the gaseous carbon dioxide in crystals of carbonic anhydrase and follow the sequential structure changes as the carbon dioxide is released. These “snapshots” enable us to “slow down” and visualize the water and protein motions that form a “proton wire” as the carbon dioxide exits the enzyme’s active site. This study provides an understanding of the importance of water rearrangements within an enzyme-active site and further suggests that such a method could be generally applied to other protein-mediated reactions that use gaseous molecules. Carbonic anhydrases are mostly zinc metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration/dehydration of CO2/HCO3−. Previously, the X-ray crystal structures of CO2-bound holo (zinc-bound) and apo (zinc-free) human carbonic anhydrase IIs (hCA IIs) were captured at high resolution. Here, we present sequential timeframe structures of holo- [T = 0 s (CO2-bound), 50 s, 3 min, 10 min, 25 min, and 1 h] and apo-hCA IIs [T = 0 s, 50 s, 3 min, and 10 min] during the “slow” release of CO2. Two active site waters, WDW (deep water) and WDW′ (this study), replace the vacated space created on CO2 release, and another water, WI (intermediate water), is seen to translocate to the proton wire position W1. In addition, on the rim of the active site pocket, a water W2′ (this study), in close proximity to residue His64 and W2, gradually exits the active site, whereas His64 concurrently rotates from pointing away (“out”) to pointing toward (“in”) active site rotameric conformation. This study provides for the first time, to our knowledge, structural “snapshots” of hCA II intermediate states during the formation of the His64-mediated proton wire that is induced as CO2 is released. Comparison of the holo- and apo-hCA II structures shows that the solvent network rearrangements require the presence of the zinc ion.

The crystal structure of an activated Thermotoga maritima CheY with N-terminal region of FliM

In bacterial chemotaxis, the levels of phosphorylated CheY in association with FliM determine the sense of the flagella rotation, which in turn controls the bacterial swimming behavior. We report the 1.7Å resolution crystallographic structure of the Thermotoga maritima BeF(3)(-)-activated CheY in complex with the CheY-binding N-terminal region of FliM. Analysis of the structure in comparison to the previously reported Escherichia coli counterpart reveals that similar regions of H4-β5-H5 in CheY and the helix in FliM are used for the complex interfaces. Our structure also indicates that the correlated movement of Phe101 and Ser82 (F-S coupling) in T. maritima CheY upon phosphorylation and FliM binding, parallels that of Tyr106 and Thr87 (Y-T coupling) demonstrated in E. coli CheY. Furthermore, significant displacements of the β4-H4 loop in both CheYs impose a crucial role of this loop, which can be related to flagellar switch component binding or to propagating changes that is necessary during the CheY-mediated reversal of the motor.

The Structure of Escherichia coli TcdA (Also Known As CsdL) Reveals a Novel Topology and Provides Insight into the tRNA Binding Surface Required for N(6)-Threonylcarbamoyladenosine Dehydratase Activity.

Escherichia coli TcdA (also known as CsdL) was previously shown to catalyze the ATP-dependent dehydration/cyclization of hypermodified tRNA N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine into further cyclic N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine. In this study, we report the X-ray crystal structures of E. coli TcdA with either AMP or ATP bound. The AMP/ATP-bound N-terminal sub-domain of TcdA resembles the ATP-binding Rossmann fold of E. coli ThiF and MoeB that are enzymes respectively taking part in the biosynthesis of thiamine and molybdopterin; however, the remaining C-terminal sub-domain of TcdA adopts a structure unrelated to any other known folds. In TcdA, the ATP-utilizing adenylation of tRNA N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine and a subsequent thioester formation via an active cysteine, similar to the mechanisms in ThiF and MoeB, could take place for the dehydratase function. Analysis of the structure with sequence alignment suggests the disordered Cys234 of TcdA as the most likely catalytic residue. The structure further indicates that the C-terminal sub-domain can provide a binding interface for the tRNA substrate. Binding study using the surface mutants of TcdA and tRNA reveals that the positively charged regions of mainly the C-terminal sub-domain are important for the tRNA recognition.

The discovery and the structural basis of an imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-based p21-activated kinase 4 inhibitor

p21-Activated kinases (PAKs) which belong to the family of ste20 serine/threonine protein kinases regulate cytoskeletal reorganization, cell motility, cell proliferation, and oncogenic transformation which are all related to the cellular functions during cancer induction and metastasis. The fact that PAK mutations are detected in multiple tumor tissues makes PAKs a novel therapeutic drug target. In this study, an imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-based PAK4 inhibitor, KY-04045 (6-Bromo-2-(3-isopropyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine), was discovered using a virtual site-directed fragment-based drug design and was validated using an inhibition assay. Although PAK4 affinity to KY-04045 seems much weaker than that of the reported PAK4 inhibitors, the location of KY-04045 is clearly defined in the structure of PAK4 co-crystallized with KY-04045. The crystal structure illustrates that the pyrazole and imidazopyridine rings of KY-04045 are sufficient for mediating PAK4 hinge loop interaction. Hence, we believe that KY-04045 can be exploited as a basic building block in designing novel imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-based PAK4 inhibitors.

Overproduction, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of Escherichia coli tRNA N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine dehydratase.

Escherichia coli tRNA N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine dehydratase (TcdA), previously called CsdL or YgdL, was overproduced and purified from E. coli and crystallized using polyethylene glycol 3350 as a crystallizing agent. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.70 Å resolution under cryoconditions using synchrotron X-rays. The crystals belonged to space group P2₁, with unit-cell parameters a=65.4, b=96.8, c=83.3 Å, β=111.7°. According to the Matthews coefficient, the asymmetric unit may contain up to four subunits of the monomeric protein, with a crystal volume per protein mass (VM) of 2.12 Å3 Da(-1) and 42.1% solvent content.

Biophysical characterization of soluble Pseudomonas syringae ice nucleation protein InaZ fragments

Ice nucleation protein (INP) with its functional domain consisting of multiple 48-residue repeat units effectively induces super-cooled water into ice. Circular dichroism and infrared deconvolution analyses on a soluble 240-residue fragment of Pseudomonas syringae InaZ (InaZ240) containing five 48-residue repeat units indicated that it is mostly composed of β-sheet and random coil. Analytical ultracentrifugation suggested that InaZ240 behaves as a monomer of an elongated ellipsoid. However, InaZ240 showed only minimum ice binding compared to anti-freeze proteins. Other P. syringae InaZ proteins with more 48-residue repeat units were made, in which the largest soluble fragment obtainable was an InaZ with twelve 48-residue repeat units. Size-exclusion chromatography analyses further suggested that the overall shape of the expressed InaZ fragments is pH-dependent, which becomes compact as the numbers of 48-residue repeat unit increase.