Controlling allostery using redox chemistry

The binding of a hydrogen-bonding receptor to its substrate is reversibly regulated by varying the oxidation state of a copper allosteric cofactor.     

Mapping allostery through equilibrium perturbation NMR spectroscopy

The understanding of allostery relies on the comparative analysis of macromolecules in their free and bound states. However, the direct free versus bound comparison is often challenging due to the instability of one of the two forms. This problem is effectively circumvented by using minor free/bound equilibrium perturbations which are tolerated without compromising sample stability. The subtle equilibrium perturbations are still able to reveal significant apo/holo differences if monitored by NMR experiments that are sensitive to minor populations within dynamic equilibria, such as NMR relaxation dispersion (NMRD) and hydrogen exchange (H/D and H/H) rates. These measurements are complementary to each other as they unmask how a ligand affects both the stable and the excited states of the free energy landscape for its protein receptor. The proposed equilibrium perturbation approach therefore significantly expands the scope of applicability of NMRD and hydrogen exchange experiments to the investigation of ligand-protein interactions, in general, unveiling allosteric "hot spot" maps for systems that have been traditionally elusive to direct free/bound comparisons.     

Die Trennung des (durch Thrombin) aktivierten fibrinstabilisierenden Faktors von Thrombin

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Atomistic kinetic model for population shift and allostery in biomolecules

Allosteric signaling in biomolecules is a key mechanism for a myriad of cellular processes. We present a general yet compact model for protein allostery at atomic detail to quantitatively explain and predict structural-dynamics properties of allosteric signal propagation. The master equation-based approach for allostery by population shift (MAPS) is introduced that derives the time scales, amplitudes, and pathways of signal transmission in peptides and proteins from dihedral angle dynamics observed in extended molecular dynamics simulations. The MAPS approach is first applied to the alanine-pentapeptide, and the results are tested against an explicit simulation in the presence of local conformational constraints, confirming the validity and accuracy of the model. We then apply the approach to a larger Markovian system based on a millisecond all-atom protein molecular dynamics trajectory of BPTI (Shaw et al. Science 2010, 330, 341-346). We use MAPS to illustrate in silico the propagation of a local perturbation over medium- to long-range distances across a disulfide bridge linking loops L1 and L2, which constitute the binding interface of BPTI.     

凝血酶抑制剂的结构与活性的关系

应用了一种新的预测酶－配体复合物亲和性的方法来研究凝血酶抑制剂的结构－活性关系．凝血酶－抑制剂复合物的三维结构根据模板化合物的晶体结构进行搭建，然后使用程序SCORE计算复合物的亲和性．共分析了3个系列34个抑制剂分子．计算所得的复合物的解离常数与实验值吻合得很好，大大优于用分子力学所给出的结果．通过比较其中两个抑制剂分子的结构和活性，说明了此方法能够定量给出配体分子中每个原子对结合过程的贡献大小，给出十分直接的结构－活性关系．     

凝血酶抑制剂的结构与活性的关系

应用了一种新的预测酶－配体复合物亲和性的方法来研究凝血酶抑制的结构－活性关系。凝血酶－抑制剂复合物的三维结构模板化合物的晶体结构进行搭建，然后使用程序ＳＣＯＲＥ计算复合物的亲和性。共分析了３个系列３４个抑制剂分子。计算所得的复合物的解离常数与实验值吻合得很好，大大优于用分子力学所给出的结果。通过比较其中两个抑制分子的结构和活性，说明了此方法能够定量给出配体分子中每个原子对结合过程的贡献大小，给出十     

基于无标记的核酸适配体荧光生物传感器检测凝血酶

设计了一个简单、通用、基于核酸适配体无标记的高敏感、高专一检测凝血酶的荧光方法。以无标记凝血酶核酸适配体单链DNA为识别元素,Pico Green染料传导互补双链的荧光信号。Pico Green是一种不对称菁,当其单独存在时不产生荧光信号,而当其被吸附到互补的双链DNA上时,可产生很强的荧光信号,但被吸附到单链DNA上时,却无明显的信号改变。基于该性质,将其用于凝血酶的检测。该方法对凝血酶的响应线性范围为1.0×10~(-14)~1.0×10~(-7)mol/L,相关系数(r~2)为0.99,检出限为1.0×10~(-14)mol/L。1.0×10~(-8)mol/L两种干扰物质(牛血清蛋白和细胞色素C)的存在不影响凝血酶的检测,表明该方法对凝血酶具有非常好的专一性。该方法成功应用于对人血清样品的检测,其平均回收率为97%~102%。方法可简单、灵敏、特异性地检测凝血酶,有望用于医学临床诊断等领域。     

Thrombin Inhibitory Constituents from Duranta repens

The C‐alkylated flavonoids 3,7,4′‐trihydroxy‐3′‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyl)‐5,6‐dimethoxyflavone ( 1 ), 3,7‐dihydroxy‐3′‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutyl)‐5,6,4′‐trimethoxyflavone ( 2 ) and the trans‐clerodane diterpenoids 6β‐hydroxy‐15,16‐epoxy‐5β,8β,9β,10α‐cleroda‐3,13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ) and 2β‐hydroxy‐15,16‐epoxy‐5β,8β,9β,10α‐cleroda‐3,13(16),14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 4 ) were isolated from Duranta repens. Their structures and the relative configuration of 3 and 4 were determined by spectroscopic methods (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, IR, and MS) and 2D‐NMR experiments. The known flavonoid 5 is also reported for the first time from this species. The compounds 1 , 3 , and 5 showed significant enzyme‐inhibitory activity against thrombin.     

Synthesis of Novel Nonpeptidic Thrombin Inhibitors

A novel class of nonpeptidic, active, and selective thrombin inhibitors has resulted from X‐ray‐structure‐based design and subsequent improvement of the initial lead molecules. These inhibitors possess a bi‐ or tricyclic central core structure with attached side chains to reach the three binding pockets (selectivity S1 pocket, distal D pocket, and proximal P pocket) present in the active site of the enzyme. The key step in the preparation of these compounds is the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between an azomethine ylide, prepared in situ by the decarboxylative method from an aromatic aldehyde and an α‐amino acid, with an N‐substituted maleimide (e.g., see Schemes 1 and 2). All potent inhibitors contain an amidinium residue in the side chain for incorporation into the S1 pocket, which was introduced in the last step of the synthesis by a Pinner reaction. The compounds were tested in biological assays for activity against thrombin and the related serine protease trypsin. The first‐generation lead compounds (±)‐ 11 and (±)‐ 19 (Scheme 1) with a bicyclic central scaffold showed K_i values for thrombin inhibition of 18 μM and 0.67 μM , respectively. Conformationally more restricted second‐generation analogs (Scheme 2) were more active ((±)‐ 22i : K_i=90 nM (Table 1)); yet the selectivity for thrombin over trypsin remained weak. In the third‐generation compounds, a small lipophilic side chain for incorporation into the hydrophobic P pocket was introduced (Schemes 7 and 8). Since this pocket is present in thrombin but not in trypsin, an increase in binding affinity was accompanied by an increase in selectivity for thrombin over trypsin. The most selective inhibitor (K_i=13 nM , 760‐fold selectivity for thrombin over trypsin; Table 2) was (±)‐ 1 with an i‐Pr group for incorporation into the P pocket. Optical resolution of (±)‐ 1 (Scheme 9) provided (+)‐ 1 with a K_i value of 7 nM and a 740‐fold selectivity, whereas (−)‐ 1 was 800‐fold less active (K_i=5.6 μM , 21‐fold selectivity). The absolute configuration of the stronger‐binding enantiomer was assigned based on the X‐ray crystal structure of the complex formed between thrombin and this inhibitor. Compound (+)‐ 1 mimics the natural thrombin substrate, fibrinogen, which binds to the enzyme with the Ph group of a phenylalanine (piperonyl in (+)‐ 1 ) in the distal D pocket, with the i‐Pr group of a valine (i‐Pr in (+)‐ 1 ) in the proximal P pocket, and with a guanidinium side chain of an arginine residue (phenylamidinium group in (+)‐ 1 ) in the selectivity S1 pocket of thrombin. A series of analogs of (±)‐ 1 with the phenylamidinium group replaced by aromatic and aliphatic rings bearing OH or NH₂ groups (Schemes 10 – 14) were not effectively bound by thrombin. A number of X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses of free inhibitors confirmed the high degree of preorganization of these compounds in the unbound state. Since all inhibitors prefer similar modes of association with thrombin, detailed information on the strength of individual intermolecular bonding interactions and their incremental contribution to the overall free energy of complexation was generated in correlative binding and X‐ray studies. The present study demonstrates that defined mutations in highly preorganized inhibitors provide an attractive alternative to site‐directed mutagenesis in exploring molecular‐recognition phenomena at enzyme active sites.     

非标记凝血酶阵列电化学适体传感器的研究

基于自制的集成化三阵列金膜电极,构建了一个简单、灵敏、非标记的凝血酶阵列电化学适体传感器。以聚乙烯不干胶掩膜版法结合金属溅射沉积技术,在FR-4玻璃纤维板上制作了由3个金膜工作电极、1个大面积金膜对电极和1个厚膜Ag/AgCl参比电极构成的集成化金膜阵列电极系统。以集成化金膜阵列电极作为基础电极,采用巯基自组装技术将带巯基的凝血酶适体固定在3个金工作电极表面,巯基己醇封闭后获得三阵列凝血酶适体传感器,以电活性物质铁氰化钾作为电化学探针,基于凝血酶适体和凝血酶结合前后铁氰化钾在电极表面传质的不同导致电流变化进行凝血酶的测定。采用方波脉冲伏安法,铁氰化钾氧化峰电流的变化值与凝血酶浓度在 1.52~63 nmol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为0.92 nmol/L。     

Enzyme-free Recycling Amplification-based Sensitive Electrochemical Thrombin Aptasensor

In this work, an enzyme-free recycling amplification-based sensitive electrochemical thrombin aptasensor using catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and bisferrocene was proposed for electrochemical beacon. Thrombin triggered the CHA reaction that in turn formed a number of double-stranded complexes,which are fixed on the surface of the gold electrode through potential-assisted Au−S deposition, and a large number of labeled bisferrocene are placed close to the gold electrode to generate electrochemical signal. The linear range of the electrochemical sensor was 0.25 pM-2.5 nM for thrombin with detection limit of 0.18 pM. This sensor can be employed to monitor the thrombin in human serum samples.     

基于双重猝灭原理的分子信标定量检测凝血酶

利用G碱基和有机猝灭基团对荧光基团的双重猝灭作用构建了分子信标,建立了一种基于双重猝灭原理的检测凝血酶的简单方法.此分子信标中荧光基团设计为羧基荧光素(FAM),有机猝灭基团设计为Black Hole Quencher 1(BHQ-1),BHQ-1连接3个含有G碱基的核苷酸,分子信标的环设计为凝血酶的核酸适配体.体系中没有凝血酶时,分子信标呈茎环结构,荧光基团FAM与有机猝灭基团BHQ-1及G碱基相互靠近,FAM的荧光在BHQ-1及G碱基的双重猝灭下,其荧光信号很弱;当体系中有凝血酶存在时,分子信标与凝血酶特异性结合,形成G-四联体结构,茎-环结构被破坏,FAM远离猝灭基团BHQ-1及G碱基,其荧光得到恢复.在最适条件下,体系的荧光强度(△I)与凝血酶的浓度(C)在0.4~40 nmol/L范围内具有良好的线性关系,线性回归方程为△I=24.63C(nmol/L)+13.06(R2=0.9972),检出限为0.18 nmol/L(3σ,n=9).实际血样加标回收率为96.3%~98.7%.     

Statistical mechanics of protein allostery: roles of backbone and side-chain structural fluctuations

A statistical mechanical model of allosteric transition of proteins is developed by extending the structure-based model of protein folding to cases that a protein has two different native conformations. Partition function is calculated exactly within the model and free-energy surfaces associated with allostery are derived. In this paper, the model of allosteric transition proposed in a previous paper [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 134, 7775 (2010)] is reformulated to describe both fluctuation in side-chain configurations and that in backbone structures in a balanced way. The model is applied to example proteins, Ras, calmodulin, and CheY: Ras undergoes the allosteric transition between guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound and guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound forms, and the model results show that the GDP-bound form is stabilized enough to prevent unnecessary signal transmission, but the conformation in the GTP-bound state bears large fluctuation in side-chain configurations, which may help to bind multiple target proteins for multiple pathways of signaling. The calculated results of calmodulin show the scenario of sequential ordering in Ca(2+) binding and the associated allosteric conformational change, which are realized though the sequential appearing of pre-existing structural fluctuations, i.e., fluctuations to show structures suitable to bind Ca(2+) before its binding. Here, the pre-existing fluctuations to accept the second and third Ca(2+) ions are dominated by the side-chain fluctuation. In CheY, the calculated side-chain fluctuation of Tyr106 is coordinated with the backbone structural change in the β4-α4 loop, which explains the pre-existing Y-T coupling process in this protein. Ability of the model to explain allosteric transitions of example proteins supports the view that the large entropic effects lower the free-energy barrier of allosteric transition.     

Supramolecular interactions between ethylene-bridged oligoureas: nanorings and chains formed by cooperative positive allostery

Ethylene-bridged oligoureas are dynamic foldamers in which the polarity of a coherent chain of intramolecular hydrogen bonds may be controlled by intra- or intermolecular interactions with hydrogen-bond donors or acceptors. In this paper, we describe the way that supramolecular interactions between ethylene-bridged oligoureas bearing a 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylurea (BTMP) terminus leads to higher-order structures both in the crystalline state and in solution. The oligoureas self-assemble by head-to-tail hydrogen bonding interactions to form either supramolecular ‘nanorings’ with cyclic hydrogen bond chain directionality, or supramolecular helical chains of hydrogen bonds. The self-assembly process features a cascade of cooperative positive allostery, in which each intermolecular hydrogen bond formation at the BTMP terminus switches the native hydrogen bond chain directionality of monomers, favouring further assembly. Monomers with a benzyl urea terminus self-assemble into nanorings, whereas monomers with a N-ethyl urea terminus form helical chains. In the crystal state, parallel helices have identical handedness and polarity, whereas antiparallel helices have opposite handedness. The overall dipole moment of crystals is zero due to the antiparallel arrangements of local dipoles in the crystal packing. Supramolecular interactions in solution were also examined by VT and DOSY NMR spectroscopy, up to the point of crystal formation. The size of higher aggregates in dichloromethane was estimated by their hydrodynamic radius. The relative orientation of the monomers within the aggregates, determined by 2D ROESY NMR, was the same as in the crystals, where syn-orientations lead to the formation of rings and anti-orientations result in chains. Overall, the switch of hydrogen bond polarity propagates intermolecularly in crystal and solution states, constituting an example of intermolecular communication within supramolecular polymers.

Hydrogen-bonded urea oligomers form supramolecular aggregates in the crystalline state. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding generates nano-rings or chains, according to the length and substitution pattern of the oligomers.     

单分子荧光成像研究凝血酶核酸适体的折叠

通过对固定在表面的TMR标记凝血酶核酸适体进行单分子荧光成像, 在单分子水平上研究了凝血酶核酸适体的折叠. 在有K+存在的条件下, 核酸适体分子与K+结合后发生折叠, 形成G四分体结构, 使得TMR靠近富含鸟嘌呤的G四分体, 并与鸟嘌呤发生电子转移, 从而导致TMR荧光强度降低. 根据TMR的单分子荧光强度观察到不同K+浓度下核酸适体在折叠和无规卷曲两种状态下的分布. 结果表明, 可利用电子转移引起的荧光强度变化在单分子水平上研究核酸适体构象变化, 这一新方法的建立是对常用的单分子荧光共振能量转移(FRET)法的重要补充.     

采用纳米金和荧光标记的适配体检测凝血酶

将荧光染料分子标记的含29个碱基的可识别凝血酶的DNA适配体非特异吸附到纳米金表面,荧光发生猝灭,加入凝血酶后,凝血酶与适配体特异性结合,使适配体空间结构发生改变,荧光染料分子远离纳米金表面,荧光恢复,因此可以实现对凝血酶的检测。实验结果表明,这种检测方法简便、快速、特异性强,检出限为0.54 nmol/L(对应样品体积为200μL)。     

Impedimetric Aptasensor for Thrombin Recognition Based on CD Support

We report an aptamer biosensing array for thrombin detection by measuring the electrochemical impedance upon aptamer‐protein formation at the surface of CD‐trodes (GCDTs) in the presence of the redox couple [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4?. GCDTs are fabricated from recordable compact discs that contain a fine gold layer. The biosensor is constructed by self‐assembling of a thiol‐modified thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) onto a GCDT surface. The sensor reveals good ligand specificity, recognition in a wide range of thrombin concentrations from 20 nM to 1 µM with a limit of detection of 5 nM.