The design, synthesis and characterization of a phosphonate inhibitor of N-acetylneuraminate-9-phosphate phosphatase (HDHD4) is described. Compound 3, where the substrate C-9 oxygen was replaced with a nonlabile CH2 group, inhibits HDHD4 with a binding affinity (IC50 11 μM) in the range of the native substrate Neu5Ac-9-P (compound 1, Km 47 μM). Combined SAR, modeling and NMR studies are consistent with the phosphonate group in inhibitor 3 forming a stable complex with native Mg2+. In addition to this key interaction, the C-1 carboxylate of the sugar interacts with a cluster of basic residues, K141, R104 and R72. Comparative NMR studies of compounds 3 and 1 with Ca2+ and Mg2+ are indicative of a highly dynamic process in the active site for the HDHD4/Mg2+/3 complex. Possible explanations for this observation are discussed.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a 30 or 31 amino acid peptide hormone that contributes to the physiological regulation of glucose homeostasis and food intake. Herein, we report the discovery of a novel class of 11 amino acid GLP-1 receptor agonists. These peptides consist of a structurally optimized 9-mer, which is closely related to the N-terminal 9 amino acids of GLP-1, linked to a substituted C-terminal biphenylalanine (BIP) dipeptide. SAR studies resulted in 11-mer GLP-1R agonists with similar in vitro potency to the native 30-mer. Peptides 21 and 22 acutely reduced plasma glucose excursions and increased plasma insulin concentrations in a Mouse model of diabetes. These peptides also showed sustained exposures over several hours in mouse and dog models. The described 11-mer GLP-1 receptor agonists represent a new tool in further understanding GLP-1 receptor pharmacology that may lead to novel antidiabetic agents.

Fragment-like inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) include 5-hydroxyisoquinoline (IC50 approximately 85 microM). Modeling studies identified four possible binding modes for this compound. Two-dimensional (1)H-(1)H NOESY data obtained with selectively protonated samples of MK2 in complex with 5-hydroxyisoquinoline demonstrated that two of the four predicted binding modes are well populated. A second small isoquinoline was subsequently shown to bind in a single mode. NMR and modeling studies using this general approach are expected to facilitate "scaffold hopping" and structure-guided elaborations of fragment-like kinase inhibitor cores.

We report here the observation of OH…N hydrogen‐bond 1hJN, OH scalar coupling in a biologically active natural product. The intramolecular hydrogen bond between the threonine hydroxyl (Thr‐OH) group and the thiazolyl nitrogen at the second thiazole ring (Thz‐2) in nocathiacin I was directly detected by a 1H15N HMBC NMR experiment. The magnitude of the scalar coupling constant 1hJN, OH was accurately measured to be 1.8 ± 0.1 Hz by a J‐resolved 1H15N HMBC experiment. By adding the OH…N distance restraint, the 3D solution structure of nocathiacin I was refined. The structure refinement indicated that the distance between the Thr‐3 hydroxyl hydrogen and the Thz‐2 nitrogen is ⩽2.50 Å in all the refined structures, and there are no NOE restraint violations ≥ 0.23 Å. The presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond in nocathiacin I is further supported by a number of NMR parameters and additional NMR experiments. This observation provides valuable information for characterizing molecular conformations, and for studying structure‐activity relationships. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Given the three-dimensional ( 3D) structure of a protein, the binding pose of a ligand can be determined using distance restraints derived from assigned intra-ligand and protein-ligand nuclear Overhauser effects ( NOEs). A primary limitation of this approach is the need for resonance assignments of the ligand-bound protein. We have developed an approach that utilizes data from 3D C-13-edited, C-13/N-15-filtered HSQC-NOESY spectra for evaluating ligand binding poses without requiring protein NMR resonance assignments. Only the H-1 NMR assignments of the bound ligand are essential. Trial ligand binding poses are generated by any suitable method ( e. g., computational docking). For each trial binding pose, the 3D C-13-edited, C-13/N-15-filtered HSQC-NOESY spectrum is predicted, and the predicted and observed patterns of protein-ligand NOEs are matched and scored using a fast, deterministic bipartite graph matching algorithm. The best scoring ( lowest "cost") poses are identified. Our method can incorporate any explicit restraints or protein assignment data that are available, and many extensions of the basic procedure are feasible. Only a single sample is required, and the method can be applied to both slowly and rapidly exchanging ligands. The method was applied to three test cases: one complex involving muscle fatty acid-binding protein ( mFABP) and two complexes involving the leukocyte function-associated antigen 1 ( LFA-1) I-domain. Without using experimental protein NMR assignments, the method identified the known binding poses with good accuracy. The addition of experimental protein NMR assignments improves the results. Our "NOE matching" approach is expected to be widely applicable; i.e., it does not appear to depend on a fortuitous distribution of binding pocket residues.

The NMR structure is presented for compound 1 (BMS-480404) (Ki = 33 (+/-2) nM) bound to keratinocyte fatty acid-binding protein. This article describes interactions between a high affinity drug-like compound and a member of the fatty acid-binding protein family. A benzyl group ortho to the mandelic acid in 1 occupies an area of the protein that fatty acids do not normally contact. Similar to that in the kFABP-palmitic acid structure, the acid moiety in 1 is proximal to R129 and Y131. Computational modeling indicates that the acid moiety in 1 interacts indirectly via a modeled water molecule to R109.

CFE88 is a conserved essential gene product from Streptococcus pneumoniae. This 227-residue protein has minimal sequence similarity to proteins of known 3D structure. Sequence alignment models and computational protein threading studies suggest that CFE88 is a methyltransferase. Characterization of the conformation and function of CFE88 has been performed by using several techniques. Backbone atom and limited side-chain atom NMR resonance assignments have been obtained. The data indicate that CFE88 has two domains: an N-terminal domain with 163 residues and a C-terminal domain with 64 residues. The C-terminal domain is primarily helical, while the N-terminal domain has a mixed helical/extended (Rossmann) fold. By aligning the experimentally observed elements of secondary structure, an initial unrefined model of CFE88 has been constructed based on the X-ray structure of ErmC' methyltransferase (Protein Data Bank entry 1QAN). NMR and biophysical studies demonstrate binding of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) to CFE88; these interactions have been localized by NMR to the predicted active site in the N-terminal domain. Mutants that target this predicted active site (H26W, E46R, and E46W) have been constructed and characterized. Overall, our results both indicate that CFE88 is a methyltransferase and further suggest that the methyltransferase activity is essential for bacterial survival.

Nocathiacin I (BMS-249524) is a highly cross-linked thiazolyl peptide that displays potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including a number of antibiotic-resistant strains. This natural product contains 10 chiral centers. NMR studies have been performed to characterize the solution structure of nocathiacin I. A uniformly 13C,15N-labeled sample was used to obtain NMR assignments. Restrained simulated annealing calculations were performed by using accurately determined NOE distance restraints. All of the chiral centers were allowed to float during the simulated annealing protocol. Two clusters of structures were obtained that satisfy the NOE restraints very well and that are reasonably consistent with vicinal J-coupling constants. Within each cluster, all 10 chiral centers are uniquely defined. The two clusters are effectively mirror images of each other: all chiral centers that have the R(S) configuration in one cluster have the S(R) configuration in the other. The single threonine residue in nocathiacin I was subsequently determined to be l-threonine by chiral capillary electrophoresis, allowing the absolute configurations of all 10 chiral centers to be defined.

Simulation studies have been performed to evaluate the utility of site-directed spin labeling for determining the structures of protein-ligand complexes, given a known protein structure. Two protein-ligand complexes were used as model systems for these studies: a 1.9-Å-resolution x-ray structure of a dihydrofolate reductase mutant complexed with methotrexate, and a 1.5-Å-resolution x-ray structure of the V-Src tyrosine kinase SH2 domain complexed with a five-residue phosphopeptide. Nitroxide spin labels were modeled at five dihydrofolate reductase residue positions and at four SH2 domain residue positions. For both systems, after energy minimization, conformational ensembles of the spin-labeled residues were generated by simulated annealing while holding the remainder of the protein-ligand complex fixed. Effective distances, simulating those that could be obtained from 1H-NMR relaxation measurements, were calculated between ligand protons and the spin labels. These were converted to restraints with several different levels of precision. Restrained simulated annealing calculations were then performed with the aim of reproducing target ligand-binding modes. The effects of incorporating a few supplementary short-range (≤5.0 Å) distance restraints were also examined. For the dihydrofolate reductase-methotrexate complex, the ligand-binding mode was reproduced reasonably well using relatively tight spin-label restraints, but methotrexate was poorly localized using loose spin-label restraints. Short-range and spin-label restraints proved to be complementary. For the SH2 domain-phosphopeptide complex without the short-range restraints, the peptide did not localize to the correct depth in the binding groove; nevertheless, the orientation and internal conformation of the peptide was reproduced moderately well. Use of the spin-label restraints in conjunction with the short-range restraints resulted in relatively well defined structural ensembles. These results indicate that restraints derived from site-directed spin labeling can contribute significantly to defining the orientations and conformations of bound ligands. Accurate ligand localization appears to require either a few supplementary short-range distance restraints, or relatively tight spin-label restraints, with at least one spin label positioned so that some of the restraints draw the ligand into the binding pocket in the latter case.

Adipocyte lipid-binding protein (A-LBP) and muscle fatty acid-binding protein (M-FABP) are members of a family of small ( approximately 15 kDa) cytosolic proteins that are involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and other lipid-soluble molecules. Although highly homologous (65%) and structurally very similar, A-LBP and M-FABP display distinct ligand binding characteristics. Since ligand binding may be influenced by intrinsic protein dynamical properties, we have characterized the backbone and side chain dynamics of uncomplexed (apo) human A-LBP and M-FABP. Backbone dynamics were characterized by measurements of 15N T1 and T2 values and ¿1H¿-15N NOEs. These data were analyzed using model-free spectral density functions and reduced spectral density mapping. The dynamics of methyl-containing side chains were charaterized by measurements of 2H T1 and T1rho relaxation times of 13C1H22H groups. The 2H relaxation data were analyzed using the model-free approach. For A-LBP, 15N relaxation data were obtained for 111 residues and 2H relaxation data were obtained for 42 methyl groups. For M-FABP, 15N relaxation data were obtained for 111 residues and 2H relaxation data were obtained for 53 methyl groups. The intrinsic flexibilities of these two proteins are compared, with particular emphasis placed on binding pocket residues. There are a number of distinct dynamical differences among corresponding residues between the two proteins. In particular, many residues display greater backbone picosecond to nanosecond and/or microsecond to millisecond time scale mobility in A-LBP relative to M-FABP, including F57, K58, and most residues in alpha-helix 2 (residues 28-35). Variations in the dynamics of this region may play a role in ligand selectivity. The side chains lining the fatty acid binding pocket display a wide range of motional restriction in both proteins. Side chains showing distinct dynamical differences between the two proteins include those of residues 20, 29, and 51. This information provides a necessary benchmark for determining dynamical changes induced by ligand binding and may ultimately lead to an enhanced understanding of ligand affinity and selectivity among fatty acid-binding proteins.

Backbone-atom resonances have been assigned for both the substrate-free and the NADP+-complexed forms of UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine reductase (MurB), a monomeric, 347-residue (38.5 kDa) flavoenzyme essential for bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis. NMR studies were performed using perdeuterated, uniformly 13C/15N-labeled samples of MurB. In the case of substrate-free MurB, one or more backbone atoms have been assigned for 334 residues (96%). The assigned backbone atoms include 309 1HN and 15N atoms (94%), 315 13CO atoms (91%), 331 13Cα atoms (95%), and 297 13Cβ atoms (93%). For NADP+-complexed MurB, one or more backbone atoms have been assigned for 313 residues (90%); these include 283 1HN and 15N atoms (86%), 305 13CO atoms (88%), 310 13Cα atoms (89%), and 269 13Cβ atoms (84%). The strategies used for obtaining resonance assignments are described in detail. Information on the secondary structure in solution for both the substrate-free and NADP+-complexed forms of the enzyme has been derived both from 13Cα and 13Cβ chemical-shift deviations from random-coil values and from 1HN-1HN NOEs. These data are compared to X-ray crystallographic structures of substrate-free MurB and MurB complexed with the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvate (UNAGEP) substrate. NADP+ binding induces significant chemical-shift changes in residues both within the known UNAGEP and FAD binding pockets and within regions known to undergo conformational changes upon UNAGEP binding. The NMR data indicate that NADP+ and UNAGEP utilize the same binding pocket and, furthermore, that the binding of NADP+ induces structural changes in MurB. Finally, many of the residues within the UNAGEP/NADP+ binding pocket were difficult to assign due to dynamic processes which weaken and/or broaden the respective resonances. Overall, our results are consistent with MurB having a flexible active site.

The structure of human CTLA-4 reveals that residues Met 99, Tyr 100 and Tyr 104 of the M99YPPPY104 motif are adjacent to a patch of charged surface residues on the A'GFCC' face of the protein. Mutation of these residues, which are conserved in the CTLA-4/CD28 family, significantly reduces binding to CD80 and/or CD86, implicating this patch as a ligand binding site.

Molecular dynamics simulations of the water-solvated, beta-hairpin-forming linear peptide Y-Q-N-P-D-G-S-Q-A (one-letter amino acid code) [F. J. Blanco et al. (1993) J. Am. Chem. Sec. 115, 5887-5888] were performed at simulation temperatures of 278 K and 270 K. At 278 K, the overall beta-hairpin state remained stable for approximately 2.06 ns, after which it underwent an unfolding transition to a more disordered, random coil-like state that was maintained for the remainder of the 3.50-ns simulation. A comparison of experimental H-alpha-C-alpha order parameters determined at 278 K with order parameters derived from the simulation revealed that the beta-hairpin state is consistent with the experimental results, whereas the random coil-like state yields order parameters that are all much lower than the experimental values. This indicates that the random coil-like state is not highly populated in the experimental system. An examination of the dynamic behavior of the simulated peptide/solvent system indicated that a lower temperature may yield a more stable trajectory. At 270 K, the beta-hairpin conformation remained stable for approximately 2.32 ns, after which the peptide again unfolded and maintained a less-ordered state for the remainder of the 3.50-ns simulation. The less-ordered state observed at 270 K is more compact than the disordered state observed at 278 K; the former may represent a folding intermediate. The folded state is stabilized primarily by a number of transient hydrogen bonding interactions, including hydrogen bonds between Tyr-1 O and Ala-9 HN, between Asn-3 HN and Ser-7 O, and between the side chain of Asn-3 and backbone groups of Asp-5, Gly-6, and Ser-7. The 270 K simulation was restarted at 2.10 ns, with a single loose nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) upper-bound distance restraint of 5.5 Angstrom added between Gln-2 H-alpha and Gln-8 H-alpha. This single restraint maintained folded conformations for the remaining 10.50 ns of the trajectory. The restraint was frequently violated (i.e., the restraint potential frequently took on nonzero values) during the period between about 0.24 and 6.51 ns of the restrained trajectory. Between about 6.51 and 8.04 ns of the restrained trajectory, the restraint remained well-satisfied, demonstrating a transiently stable, alternate-folded conformational state during this period. These results indicate that even long (by today's standards), similar to 1 ns timescale trajectories may not always be sufficient to prove the long-term stability of the native state in simulations of biomolecules, and that apparently converged states may only be metastable. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The X-ray structures of a lysozyme-complexed camel VH domain and an antigen-free llama VH domain reveal novel features that open up new possibilities for generating and engineering minimal antigen recognition units.

Profilin is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that binds to both cytosolic actin and the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. These dual competitive binding capabilities of profilin suggest that profilin serves as a link between the phosphatidyl inositol cycle and actin polymerization, and thus profilin may be an essential component in the signaling pathway leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement. The refined three-dimensional solution structure of human profilin I has been determined using multidimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Twenty structures were selected to represent the solution conformational ensemble. This ensemble of structures has root-mean-square distance deviations from the mean structure of 0.58 A for the backbone atoms and 0.98 A for all non-hydrogen atoms. Comparison of the solution structure of human profilin to the crystal structure of bovine profilin reveals that, although profilin adopts essentially identical conformations in both states, the solution structure is more compact than the crystal structure. Interestingly, the regions that show the most structural diversity are located at or near the actin-binding site of profilin. We suggest that structural differences are reflective of dynamical properties of profilin that facilitate favorable interactions with actin. The global folding pattern of human profilin also closely resembles that of Acanthamoeba profilin I, reflective of the 22% sequence identity and approximately 45% sequence similarity between these two proteins.