Snapshots of actin and tubulin folding inside the TRiC chaperonin.

The integrity of a cell's proteome depends on correct folding of polypeptides by chaperonins. The chaperonin TCP-1 ring complex (TRiC) acts as obligate folder for >10% of cytosolic proteins, including he cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin. Although its architecture and how it recognizes folding substrates are emerging from structural studies, the subsequent fate of substrates inside the TRiC chamber is not defined.

PF-07059013: A Noncovalent Modulator of Hemoglobin for Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder caused by a single point mutation (β6 Glu → Val) on the β-chain of adult hemoglobin (HbA) that results in sickled hemoglobin (HbS). In the deoxygenated state, polymerization of HbS leads to sickling of red blood cells (RBC). Several downstream consequences of polymerization and RBC sickling include vaso-occlusion, hemolytic anemia, and stroke.

Development and characterization of pepducins as Gs-biased allosteric agonists.

The β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor that mediates many hormonal responses, including cardiovascular and pulmonary function. β-Agonists used to combat hypercontractility in airway smooth muscle stimulate β2AR-dependent cAMP production that ultimately promotes airway relaxation. Chronic stimulation of the β2AR by long acting β-agonists used in the treatment of asthma can promote attenuated responsiveness to agonists and an increased frequency of fatal asthmatic attacks.

Inter-domain communication of human cystathionine β-synthase: structural basis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine activation.

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is a key enzyme in sulfur metabolism, and its inherited deficiency causes homocystinuria. Mammalian CBS is modulated by the binding of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) to its regulatory domain, which activates its catalytic domain. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we performed x-ray crystallography, mutagenesis, and mass spectrometry (MS) on human CBS.

Pepducin targeting the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 acts as a biased agonist favoring activation of the inhibitory G protein.

Short lipidated peptide sequences derived from various intracellular loop regions of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are named pepducins and act as allosteric modulators of a number of GPCRs. Recently, a pepducin selectively targeting the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) was found to be an allosteric agonist, active in both cell-based assays and in vivo. However, the precise mechanism of action of this class of ligands remains poorly understood.

Direct interaction between an allosteric agonist pepducin and the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Cell surface heptahelical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate critical cellular signaling pathways and are important pharmaceutical drug targets. (1) In addition to traditional small-molecule approaches, lipopeptide-based GPCR-derived pepducins have emerged as a new class of pharmaceutical agents. (2, 3) To better understand how pepducins interact with targeted receptors, we developed a cell-based photo-cross-linking approach to study the interaction between the pepducin agonist ATI-2341 and its target receptor, chemokine C-X-C-type receptor 4 (CXCR4).

G protein-coupled receptor modulation with pepducins: moving closer to the clinic.

At the 2nd Pepducin Science Symposium held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on November 4-5, 2010, investigators working in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) research convened to discuss progress since last year's inaugural conference. This year's symposium focused on increasing knowledge of the structure and function of this ubiquitous superfamily of membrane receptors and their potential modulation for disease treatment. Presentations also focused on how GPCR mechanisms might be exploited to treat diseases with pepducins, novel synthetic lipopeptide pharmacophores that modulate heptahelical GPCR activity.

Discovery of a CXCR4 agonist pepducin that mobilizes bone marrow hematopoietic cells.

The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), chemokine CXC-type receptor 4 (CXCR4), and its ligand, CXCL12, mediate the retention of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in the bone marrow. Agents that disrupt CXCL12-mediated chemoattraction of CXCR4-expressing cells mobilize PMNs and HSPCs into the peripheral circulation and are therapeutically useful for HSPC collection before autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Our aim was to develop unique CXCR4-targeted therapeutics using lipopeptide GPCR modulators called pepducins.

A novel interaction between atrophin-interacting protein 4 and beta-p21-activated kinase-interactive exchange factor is mediated by an SH3 domain.

Cross-talk between G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways is crucial to the efficient relay and integration of cellular information. Here we identify and define the novel binding interaction of the E3 ubiquitin ligase atrophin-interacting protein 4 (AIP4) with the GTP exchange factor beta-p21-activated kinase-interactive exchange factor (beta PIX). We demonstrate that this interaction is mediated in part by the beta PIX-SH3 domain binding to a proline-rich stretch of AIP4.

Crystal structure of the SH3 domain of betaPIX in complex with a high affinity peptide from PAK2.

The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are important effector proteins of the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac and control cytoskeletal rearrangements and cell proliferation. The direct interaction of PAKs with guanine nucleotide exchange factors from the PIX/Cool family, which is responsible for the localization of PAK kinases to focal complexes in the cell, is mediated by a 24-residue peptide segment in PAKs and an N-terminal src homology 3 (SH3) domain in PIX/Cool. The SH3-binding segment of PAK contains the atypical consensus-binding motif PxxxPR, which is required for unusually high affinity binding.

Role of the retinal hydrogen bond network in rhodopsin Schiff base stability and hydrolysis.

Little is known about the molecular mechanism of Schiff base hydrolysis in rhodopsin. We report here our investigation into this process focusing on the role of amino acids involved in a hydrogen bond network around the retinal Schiff base. We find conservative mutations in this network (T94I, E113Q, S186A, E181Q, Y192F, and Y268F) increase the activation energy (E(a)) and abolish the concave Arrhenius plot normally seen for Schiff base hydrolysis in dark state rhodopsin.

Rhodopsin activation exposes a key hydrophobic binding site for the transducin alpha-subunit C terminus.

Conformational changes enable the photoreceptor rhodopsin to couple with and activate the G-protein transducin. Here we demonstrate a key interaction between these proteins occurs between the C terminus of the transducin alpha-subunit (G(Talpha)) and a hydrophobic cleft in the rhodopsin cytoplasmic face exposed during receptor activation. We mapped this interaction by labeling rhodopsin mutants with the fluorescent probe bimane and then assessed how binding of a peptide analogue of the G(Talpha) C terminus (containing a tryptophan quenching group) affected their fluorescence.

Assessing structural elements that influence Schiff base stability: mutants E113Q and D190N destabilize rhodopsin through different mechanisms.

The stability of the retinal chromophore attachment varies between different visual pigments and may factor in some retinal disease states. Opsin appears to stabilize this Schiff base linkage by: (i) affecting the hydrolysis chemistry, (ii) shielding the retinal linkage from solvent, or (iii) acting as a kinetic trap to slow retinal release. Here we describe methods to determine Schiff base stability in rhodopsin, present examples of dark state and MII rhodopsin stability differences, and show that studies of mutants E113Q and D190N demonstrate different parts of rhodopsin influence Schiff base stability in different ways.

Stability of dark state rhodopsin is mediated by a conserved ion pair in intradiscal loop E-2.

The rhodopsin crystal structure reveals that intradiscal loop E-2 covers the 11-cis-retinal, creating a "retinal plug." Recently, we noticed the ends of loop E-2 are linked by an ion pair between residues Arg-177 and Asp-190, near the highly conserved disulfide bond. This ion pair appears biologically significant; it is conserved in almost all vertebrate opsins and may occur in other G-protein-coupled receptors.