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The anticancer agent indisulam inhibits cell proliferation by causing degradation of RBM39, an essential mRNA splicing factor. Indisulam promotes an interaction between RBM39 and the DCAF15 E3 ligase substrate receptor, leading to RBM39 ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. To delineate the precise mechanism by which indisulam mediates the DCAF15–RBM39 interaction, we solved the DCAF15–DDB1–DDA1–indisulam–RBM39(RRM2) complex structure to a resolution of 2.3 Å. DCAF15 has a distinct topology that embraces the RBM39(RRM2) domain largely via non-polar interactions, and indisulam binds between DCAF15 and RBM39(RRM2), coordinating additional interactions between the two proteins. Studies with RBM39 point mutants and indisulam analogs validated the structural model and defined the RBM39 α-helical degron motif. The degron is found only in RBM23 and RBM39, and only these proteins were detectably downregulated in indisulam-treated HCT116 cells. This work further explains how indisulam induces RBM39 degradation and defines the challenge of harnessing DCAF15 to degrade additional targets. The crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structure analysis of the DCAF15–DDB1–DDA1–indisulam–RBM39 complex revealed the detailed mechanism of action of indisulam-induced RBM39 degradation and defined an α-helical degron motif in RBM39.

The complement pathway is an important part of the immune system, and uncontrolled activation is implicated in many diseases. The human complement component 5 protein (C5) is a validated drug target within the complement pathway, as an anti-C5 antibody (Soliris) is an approved therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Here, we report the identification, optimization and mechanism of action for the first small-molecule inhibitor of C5 complement protein. An inhibitor of the complement pathway of the innate immune system targets the human complement component 5 protein (C5) by binding to an interfacial pocket to prevent its proteolytic cleavage by the last enzyme of the complement pathway, C5 convertase.

Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase (LTA4H) is a bifunctional zinc metalloenzyme that comprises both epoxide hydrolase and aminopeptidase activity, exerted by two overlapping catalytic sites. The epoxide hydrolase function of the enzyme catalyzes the biosynthesis of the pro-inflammatory lipid mediator leukotriene (LT) B4. Recent literature suggests that the aminopeptidase function of LTA4H is responsible for degradation of the tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) for which neutrophil chemotactic activity has been postulated. It has been speculated that the design of epoxide hydrolase selective LTA4H inhibitors that spare the aminopeptidase pocket may therefore lead to more efficacious anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, we conducted a high throughput screen (HTS) for LTA4H inhibitors and attempted to rationally design compounds that would spare the PGP degrading function. While we were able to identify compounds with preference for the epoxide hydrolase function, absolute selectivity was not achievable for highly potent compounds. In order to assess the relevance of designing such aminopeptidase-sparing LTA4H inhibitors, we studied the role of PGP in inducing inflammation in different settings in wild type and LTA4H deficient (LTA4H KO) animals but could not confirm its chemotactic potential.  Attempting to design highly potent epoxide hydrolase selective LTA4H inhibitors, therefore seems to be neither feasible nor relevant.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The pathogenicity of mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis is closely associated with their capacity to survive within host macrophages. A crucial virulence factor for intracellular mycobacterial survival is protein kinase G (PknG), a eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinase expressed by pathogenic mycobacteria that blocks the intracellular degradation of mycobacteria in lysosomes. Inhibition of PknG with the highly selective low-molecular-weight inhibitor AX20017 results in mycobacterial transfer to lysosomes and killing of the mycobacteria. Here, we report the 2.4 Å x-ray crystal structure of PknG in complex with AX20017. The unique multidomain topology of PknG reveals a central kinase domain that is flanked by N- and C-terminal rubredoxin and tetratrico-peptide repeat domains, respectively. Directed mutagenesis suggests that the rubredoxin domain functions as a regulator of PknG kinase activity. The structure of PknG-AX20017 further reveals that the inhibitor is buried deep within the adenosine-binding site, targeting an active conformation of the kinase domain. Remarkably, although the topology of the kinase domain is reminiscent of eukaryotic kinases, the AX20017-binding pocket is shaped by a unique set of amino acid side chains that are not found in any human kinase. Directed mutagenesis of the unique set of residues resulted in a drastic loss of the compound's inhibitory potency. Our results explain the specific mode of action of AX20017 and demonstrate that virulence factors highly homologous to host molecules can be successfully targeted to block the proliferation of M. tuberculosis.

In all eukaryotes, CAP-Gly proteins control important cellular processes. The molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of CAP-Gly domains, however, are still poorly understood. Here we use the complex formed between the CAP-Gly domain of p150 glued and the C-terminal zinc knuckle of CLIP170 as a model system to explore the structure-function relationship of CAP-Gly–mediated protein interactions. We demonstrate that the conserved GKNDG motif of CAP-Gly domains is responsible for targeting to the C-terminal EEY/F sequence motifs of CLIP170, EB proteins and microtubules. The CAP-Gly–EEY/F interaction is essential for the recruitment of the dynactin complex by CLIP170 and for activation of CLIP170. Our findings define the molecular basis of CAP-Gly domain function, including the tubulin detyrosination-tyrosination cycle. They further establish fundamental roles for the interaction between CAP-Gly proteins and C-terminal EEY/F sequence motifs in regulating complex and dynamic cellular processes.

Coiled coils are extensively and successfully used nowadays to rationally design multistranded structures for applications, including basic research, biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials science, and medicine. The wide range of applications as well as the important functions these structures play in almost all biological processes highlight the need for a detailed understanding of the factors that control coiled-coil folding and oligomerization. Here, we address the important and unresolved question why the presence of particular oligomerization-state determinants within a coiled coil does frequently not correlate with its topology. We found an unexpected, general link between coiled-coil oligomerization-state specificity and trigger sequences, elements that are indispensable for coiled-coil formation. By using the archetype coiled-coil domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 as a model system, we show that well-established trimer-specific oligomerization-state determinants switch the peptide’s topology from a dimer to a trimer only when inserted into the trigger sequence. We successfully confirmed our results in two other, unrelated coiled-coil dimers, ATF1 and cortexillin-1. We furthermore show that multiple topology determinants can coexist in the same trigger sequence, revealing a delicate balance of the resulting oligomerization state by position-dependent forces. Our experimental results should significantly improve the prediction of the oligomerization state of coiled coils. They therefore should have major implications for the rational design of coiled coils and consequently many applications using these popular oligomerization domains.

Coiled coils have attracted considerable interest as design templates in a wide range of applications. Successful coiled-coil design strategies therefore require a detailed understanding of coiled-coil folding. One common feature shared by coiled coils is the presence of a short autonomous helical folding unit, termed \"trigger sequence,\" that is indispensable for folding. Detailed knowledge of trigger sequences at the molecular level is thus key to a general understanding of coiled-coil formation. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we identify and characterize here the molecular determinants that specify the helical conformation of the monomeric early folding intermediate of the GCN4 coiled coil. We demonstrate that a network of hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions stabilize the trigger-sequence helix. This network is rearranged in the final dimeric coiled-coil structure, and its destabilization significantly slows down GCN4 leucine zipper folding. Our findings provide a general explanation for the molecular mechanism of coiled-coil formation.

In recent years, short coiled coils have been used for applications ranging from biomaterial to medical sciences. For many of these applications knowledge of the factors that control the topology of the engineered protein systems is essential. Here, we demonstrate that trimerization of short coiled coils is determined by a distinct structural motif that encompasses specific networks of surface salt bridges and optimal hydrophobic packing interactions. The motif is conserved among intracellular, extracellular, viral, and synthetic proteins and defines a universal molecular determinant for trimer formation of short coiled coils. In addition to being of particular interest for the biotechnological production of candidate therapeutic proteins, these findings may be of interest for viral drug development strategies.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has demonstrated multi-serotonin receptor dependent pathologies, characterized by increased tone (5-HT receptor) and complex lesions (SERT, 5-HT , 5-HT receptors) of the pulmonary vasculature together with right ventricular hypertrophy, ischemia and fibrosis (5-HT receptor). Selective inhibitors of individual signaling elements - SERT, 5-HT , 5HT , and combined 5-HT2 receptors, have all been tested clinically and failed. Thus, inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), the rate limiting step in 5-HT synthesis, has been suggested as a more broad, and thereby more effective, mode of 5-HT inhibition. However, selectivity over non-pathogenic enzyme family members, TPH2, phenylalanine hydroxylase, and tyrosine hydroxylase has hampered therapeutic development. Here we describe the site/sequence, biochemical, and biophysical characterization of a novel allosteric site on TPH1 through which selectivity over TPH2 and related aromatic amino acid hydroxylases is achieved. We demonstrate the mechanism of action by which novel compounds selectively inhibit TPH1 using surface plasma resonance and enzyme competition assays with both tryptophan ligand and BH4 co-factor. We demonstrate 15-fold greater potency within a human carcinoid cell line versus the most potent known TPH1/2 non-specific inhibitor. Lastly, we detail a novel canine system utilized to determine effective biologic inhibition of newly synthesized 5-HT. These findings are the first to demonstrate TPH1-selective inhibition and may pave the way to a truly effective means to reduce pathologic 5-HT and thereby treat complex remodeling diseases such as PAH.