| 1. |
- Vovusha, Hakkim, et al.
(författare)
-
Binding Characteristics of Anticancer Drug Doxorubicin with Two-Dimensional Graphene and Graphene Oxide : Insights from Density Functional Theory Calculations and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
- 2018
-
Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 122:36, s. 21031-21038
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There has been a perpetual interest in identifying suitable nano-carriers for drug delivery. In this regard, graphene-based two-dimensional materials have been proposed and demonstrated as drug carriers. In this paper, we have investigated the adsorption characteristics of a widely used anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), on graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) by density functional theory calculations and fluorescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. From the calculated structural and electronic properties, we have concluded that G is a better binder of DOX compared to GO, which is also supported by our fluorescence measurements. The binding of DOX to G is mainly based on strong pi-pi stacking interactions. Consistent with this result, we also found that the sp(2) regions of GO interact with DOX stronger than the sp(3) regions attached with the functional groups; the binding is characterized by pi-pi and hydrogen-bonding interactions, respectively.
|
|
| 2. |
- Vovusha, Hakkim, et al.
(författare)
-
Electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of 6-aminophenanthridine and its derivatives : Insights from density functional theory
- 2015
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Quantum Chemistry. - : Wiley. - 0020-7608 .- 1097-461X. ; 115:13, s. 846-852
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- 6-Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and its derivatives show important biological activities as antiprion compounds and inhibitors of the protein folding activity of the ribosome. Both of these activities depend on the RNA binding property of these compounds, which has been recently characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy. Hence, fundamental insights into the photophysical properties of 6AP compounds are highly important to understand their biological activities. In this work, we have calculated electronic structures and optical properties of 6AP and its three derivatives 6AP8CF(3), 6AP8Cl, and 6APi by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Our calculated spectra show a good agreement with the experimental absorption and fluorescence spectra, and thus, provide deep insights into the optical properties of the compounds. Furthermore, comparing the results obtained with four different hybrid functionals, we demonstrate that the accuracy of the functionals varies in the order B3LYP>PBE0>M062X>M06HF.
|
|
| 3. |
- Borg, Anneli, et al.
(författare)
-
Fusidic Acid Targets Elongation Factor G in Several Stages of Translocation on the Bacterial Ribosome
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 290:6, s. 3440-3454
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The antibiotic fusidic acid (FA) targets elongation factor G (EF-G) and inhibits ribosomal peptide elongation and ribosome recycling, but deeper mechanistic aspects of FA action have remained unknown. Using quench flow and stopped flow experiments in a biochemical system for protein synthesis and taking advantage of separate time scales for inhibited (10 s) and uninhibited (100 ms) elongation cycles, a detailed kinetic model of FA action was obtained. FA targets EF-G at an early stage in the translocation process (I), which proceeds unhindered by the presence of the drug to a later stage (II), where the ribosome stalls. Stalling may also occur at a third stage of translocation(III), just before release of EF-G from the post-translocation ribosome. We show that FA is a strong elongation inhibitor (K-50% approximate to 1 mu M), discuss the identity of the FA targeted states, and place existing cryo-EM and crystal structures in their functional context.
|
|
| 4. |
- Chan, Sherwin, et al.
(författare)
-
Regulation of PfEMP1-VAR2CSA translation by a Plasmodium translation-enhancing factor
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Nature Microbiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2058-5276. ; 2:7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pregnancy-associated malaria commonly involves the binding of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to placental chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) through the PfEMP1-VAR2CSA protein. VAR2CSA is translationally repressed by an upstream open reading frame. In this study, we report that the P. falciparum translation enhancing factor (PTEF) relieves upstream open reading frame repression and thereby facilitates VAR2CSA translation. VAR2CSA protein levels in var2csa-transcribing parasites are dependent on the expression level of PTEF, and the alleviation of upstream open reading frame repression requires the proteolytic processing of PTEF by PfCalpain. Cleavage generates a C-terminal domain that contains a sterile-alpha-motif-like domain. The C-terminal domain is permissive to cytoplasmic shuttling and interacts with ribosomes to facilitate translational derepression of the var2csa coding sequence. It also enhances translation in a heterologous translation system and thus represents the first non-canonical translation enhancing factor to be found in a protozoan. Our results implicate PTEF in regulating placental CSA binding of infected erythrocytes.
|
|
| 5. |
- Cordeiro, Yraima, et al.
(författare)
-
Modulation of p53 and prion protein aggregation by RNA
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1570-9639 .- 1878-1454. ; 1867:10, s. 933-940
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several RNA-binding proteins undergo reversible liquid-liquid phase transitions, which, in pathological conditions, might evolve into transitions to solid-state phases, giving rise to amyloid structures. Amyloidogenic and prion-like proteins, such as the tumor suppressor protein p53 and the mammalian prion protein (PrP), bind RNAs specifically or nonspecifically, resulting in changes in their propensity to undergo aggregation. Mutant p53 aggregation seems to play a crucial role in cancer through loss of function, negative dominance and gain of function. PrP conversion modulated by RNA results in highly toxic aggregates. Here, we review data on the modulatory action of RNAs on the aggregation of both proteins.
|
|
| 6. |
- Degiacomi, Giulia, et al.
(författare)
-
Micrococcin P1-A bactericidal thiopeptide active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Tuberculosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1472-9792 .- 1873-281X. ; 100, s. 95-101
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The lack of proper treatment for serious infectious diseases due to the emergence of multidrug resistance reinforces the need for the discovery of novel antibiotics. This is particularly true for tuberculosis (TB) for which 3.7% of new cases and 20% of previously treated cases are estimated to be caused by multi-drug resistant strains. In addition, in the case of TB, which claimed 1.5 million lives in 2014, the treatment of the least complicated, drug sensitive cases is lengthy and disagreeable. Therefore, new drugs with novel targets are urgently needed to control resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In this manuscript we report the characterization of the thiopeptide micrococcin P1 as an anti-tubercular agent. Our biochemical experiments show that this antibiotic inhibits the elongation step of protein synthesis in mycobacteria. We have further identified micrococcin resistant mutations in the ribosomal protein L11 (RplK); the mutations were located in the proline loop at the N-terminus. Reintroduction of the mutations into a clean genetic background, confirmed that they conferred resistance, while introduction of the wild type RplK allele into resistant strains re-established sensitivity. We also identified a mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. These data, in good agreement with previous structural studies suggest that also in M. tuberculosis micrococcin P1 functions by binding to the cleft between the 23S rRNA and the L11 protein loop, thus interfering with the binding of elongation factors Tu and G (EF-Tu and EF-G) and inhibiting protein translocation.
|
|
| 7. |
- Fislage, Marcus, et al.
(författare)
-
Cryo-EM shows stages of initial codon selection on the ribosome by aa-tRNA in ternary complex with GTP and the GTPase-deficient EF-Tu(H84A)
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 46:11, s. 5861-5874
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The GTPase EF-Tu in ternary complex with GTP and aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) promotes rapid and accurate delivery of cognate aa-tRNAs to the ribosomal A site. Here we used cryo-EM to study the molecular origins of the accuracy of ribosome-aided recognition of a cognate ternary complex and the accuracy-amplifying role of themonitoring bases A1492, A1493 and G530 of the 16S rRNA. We used the GTPase-deficient EF-Tu variant H84A with native GTP, rather than non-cleavable GTP analogues, to trap a near-cognate ternary complex in high-resolution ribosomal complexes of varying codon-recognition accuracy. We found that ribosome complexes trapped by GTPase-deficicent ternary complex due to the presence of EF-TuH84A or non-cleavable GTP analogues have very similar structures. We further discuss speed and accuracy of initial aa-tRNA selection in terms of conformational changes of aa-tRNA and stepwise activation of the monitoring bases at the decoding center of the ribosome.
|
|
| 8. |
- Ge, Xueliang, et al.
(författare)
-
Complementary charge-based interaction between the ribosomal-stalk protein L7/12 and IF2 is the key to rapid subunit association
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 115:18, s. 4649-4654
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interaction between the ribosomal-stalk protein L7/12 (L12) and initiation factor 2 (IF2) is essential for rapid subunit association, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we have characterized the L12–IF2 interaction on Escherichia coli ribosomes using site-directed mutagenesis, fast kinetics, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Fifteen individual point mutations were introduced into the C-terminal domain of L12 (L12-CTD) at helices 4 and 5, which constitute the common interaction site for translational GTPases. In parallel, 15 point mutations were also introduced into IF2 between the G4 and G5 motifs, which we hypothesized as the potential L12 interaction sites. The L12 and IF2 mutants were tested in ribosomal subunit association assay in a stopped-flow instrument. Those amino acids that caused defective subunit association upon substitution were identified as the molecular determinants of L12–IF2 interaction. Further, MD simulations of IF2 docked onto the L12-CTD pinpointed the exact interacting partners—all of which were positively charged on L12 and negatively charged on IF2, connected by salt bridges. Lastly, we tested two pairs of charge-reversed mutants of L12 and IF2, which significantly restored the yield and the rate of formation of the 70S initiation complex. We conclude that complementary charge-based interaction between L12-CTD and IF2 is the key for fast subunit association. Considering the homology of the G domain, similar mechanisms may apply for L12 interactions with other translational GTPases.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ge, Xueliang, et al.
(författare)
-
Inhibition of translation termination by small molecules targeting ribosomal release factors
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The bacterial ribosome is an important drug target for antibiotics that can inhibit different stages of protein synthesis. Among the various classes of compounds that impair translation there are, however, no known small-molecule inhibitors that specifically target ribosomal release factors (RFs). The class I RFs are essential for correct termination of translation and they differ considerably between bacteria and eukaryotes, making them potential targets for inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. We carried out virtual screening of a large compound library against 3D structures of free and ribosome-bound RFs in order to search for small molecules that could potentially inhibit termination by binding to the RFs. Here, we report identification of two such compounds which are found both to bind free RFs in solution and to inhibit peptide release on the ribosome, without affecting peptide bond formation.
|
|
| 10. |
- Holm, Mikael, 1984-
(författare)
-
A tale of two antibiotics : Fusidic acid and Viomycin
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Antibiotics that target the bacterial ribosome make up about half of all clinically used antibiotics. We have studied two ribosome targeting drugs: Fusidic acid and Viomycin. Fusidic acid inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to elongation factor G (EF-G) on the ribosome, thereby inhibiting translocation of the bacterial ribosome. Viomycin binds directly to the ribosome and inhibits both the fidelity of mRNA decoding and translocation. We found that the mechanisms of inhibition of these two antibiotics were unexpectedly complex. Fusidic acid can bind to EF-G on the ribosome during three separate stages of translocation. Binding of the drug to the first and most sensitive state does not lead to stalling of the ribosome. Rather the ribosome continues unhindered to a downstream state where it stalls for around 8 seconds. Dissociation of fusidic acid from this state allows the ribosome to continue translocating but it soon reaches yet another fusidic acid sensitive state where it can be stalled again, this time for 6 seconds. Viomycin inhibits translocation by binding to the pre-translocation ribosome in competition with EF-G. If viomycin binds before EF-G it stalls the ribosome for 44 seconds, much longer than a normal elongation cycle. Both viomycin and fusidic acid probably cause long queues of ribosomes to build up on the mRNA when they bind. Viomycin inhibits translational fidelity by binding to the ribosome during initial selection. We found that the concentration of viomycin required to bind to the ribosome with a given probability during decoding is proportional to the accuracy of the codon∙anticodon pair being decoded. This demonstrated that long standing models about ribosomal accuracy cannot be correct. Finally, we demonstrated that a common viomycin resistance mutation increases the drug binding rate and decreases its dissociation rate. Our results demonstrate that ribosome targeting drugs have unexpectedly complex mechanisms of action. Both fusidic acid and viomycin preferentially bind to conformations of the ribosome other than those that they stabilize. This suggests that determining the structures of stable drug-bound states may not give sufficient information for drug design.
|
|
