Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol
January 2023
Proteins often assemble into functional complexes, the structures of which are more difficult to obtain than those of the individual protein molecules. Given the structures of the subunits, it is possible to predict plausible complex models via computational methods such as molecular docking. Assessing the quality of the predicted models is crucial to obtain correct complex structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFirst-principles determination of free energy profiles for condensed-phase chemical reactions is hampered by the daunting costs associated with configurational sampling on ab initio quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (AI/MM) potential energy surfaces. Here, we report a new method that enables efficient AI/MM free energy simulations through mean force fitting. In this method, a free energy path in collective variables (CVs) is first determined on an efficient reactive aiding potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHlyB functions as an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that enables bacteria to secrete toxins at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Our previous work, based on potential energy profiles from combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations, has suggested that the highly conserved H-loop His residue H662 in the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) of HlyB may catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP through proton relay. To further test this hypothesis when entropic contributions are taken into account, we obtained QM/MM minimum free energy paths (MFEPs) for the HlyB reaction, making use of the string method in collective variables.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis article describes the mechanisms underlying electronic interactions between surface passivating ligands and (CdSe) semiconductor cluster molecules (SCMs) that facilitate band-gap engineering through the delocalization of hole wave functions without altering their inorganic core. We show here both experimentally and through density functional theory calculations that the expansion of the hole wave function beyond the SCM boundary into the ligand monolayer depends not only on the pre-binding energetic alignment of interfacial orbitals between the SCM and surface passivating ligands but is also strongly influenced by definable ligand structural parameters such as the extent of their π-conjugation [π-delocalization energy; pyrene (Py), anthracene (Anth), naphthalene (Naph), and phenyl (Ph)], binding mode [dithiocarbamate (DTC, -NH-CS), carboxylate (-COO), and amine (-NH)], and binding head group [-SH, -SeH, and -TeH]. We observe an unprecedentedly large ∼650 meV red-shift in the lowest energy optical absorption band of (CdSe) SCMs upon passivating their surface with Py-DTC ligands and the trend is found to be Ph- < Naph- < Anth- < Py-DTC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper reports large bathochromic shifts of up to 260 meV in both the excitonic absorption and emission peaks of oleylamine (OLA)-passivated molecule-like (CdSe) nanocrystals caused by postsynthetic treatment with the electron accepting Cd(OCPh) complex at room temperature. These shifts are found to be reversible upon removal of Cd(OCPh) by N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene-1,2-diamine. H NMR and FTIR characterizations of the nanocrystals demonstrate that the OLA remained attached to the surface of the nanocrystals during the reversible removal of Cd(OCPh).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNoscapine is an opium-derived kinder-gentler microtubule-modulating drug, currently in Phase I/II clinical trials for cancer chemotherapy. Here, we report the synthesis of four more potent di-substituted brominated derivatives of noscapine, 9-Br-7-OH-NOS (2), 9-Br-7-OCONHEt-NOS (3), 9-Br-7-OCONHBn-NOS (4), and 9-Br-7-OAc-NOS (5) and their chemotherapeutic efficacy on PC-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The four derivatives were observed to have higher tubulin binding activity than noscapine and significantly affect tubulin polymerization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CaSR) regulates Ca(2+) homeostasis in the body by monitoring extracellular levels of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]o) and amino acids. Mutations at the hinge region of the N-terminal Venus flytrap domain (VFTD) produce either receptor inactivation (L173P, P221Q) or activation (L173F, P221L) related to hypercalcemic or hypocalcemic disorders. In this paper, we report that both L173P and P221Q markedly impair the functional positive cooperativity of the CaSR as reflected by [Ca(2+)]o-induced [Ca(2+)]i oscillations, inositol-1-phosphate (IP1) accumulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHere, we report improved solubility and enhanced colonic delivery of reduced bromonoscapine (Red-Br-Nos), a cyclic ether brominated analogue of noscapine, upon encapsulation of its cyclodextrin (CD) complexes in bioresponsive guar gum microspheres (GGM). Phase-solubility analysis suggested that Red-Br-Nos complexed with β-CD and methyl-β-CD in a 1:1 stoichiometry, with a stability constant (Kc) of 2.29 × 10(3) M(-1) and 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNoscapine, an opium-derived 'kinder-gentler' microtubule-modulating drug is in Phase I/II clinical trials for cancer chemotherapy. However, its limited water solubility encumbers its development into an oral anticancer drug with clinical promise. Here we report the synthesis of 9 third-generation, water-soluble noscapine analogs with negatively charged sulfonato and positively charged quaternary ammonium groups using noscapine, 9-bromonoscapine and 9-aminonoscapine as scaffolds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFunctional positive cooperative activation of the extracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]o)-sensing receptor (CaSR), a member of the family C G protein-coupled receptors, by [Ca(2+)]o or amino acids elicits intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) oscillations. Here, we report the central role of predicted Ca(2+)-binding site 1 within the hinge region of the extracellular domain (ECD) of CaSR and its interaction with other Ca(2+)-binding sites within the ECD in tuning functional positive homotropic cooperativity caused by changes in [Ca(2+)]o. Next, we identify an adjacent L-Phe-binding pocket that is responsible for positive heterotropic cooperativity between [Ca(2+)]o and L-Phe in eliciting CaSR-mediated [Ca(2+)]i oscillations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabotropic glutamate receptor 1α (mGluR1α), a member of the family C G protein-coupled receptors, is emerging as a potential drug target for various disorders, including chronic neuronal degenerative diseases. In addition to being activated by glutamate, mGluR1α is also modulated by extracellular Ca(2+). However, the underlying mechanism is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman Cyclophilin A (CypA) catalyzes cis-trans isomerization of the prolyl peptide ω-bond in proteins and is involved in many subcellular processes. CypA has, therefore, been identified as a potential drug target in many diseases, and the development of potent inhibitors with high selectivity is a key objective. In computer-aided drug design, selectivity is improved by taking into account the inherent flexibility of the receptor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have previously shown that a novel microtubule-modulating noscapinoid, EM011 (9-Br-Nos), displays potent anticancer activity by inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells and preclinical mice models. However, physicochemical and cellular barriers encumber the development of viable formulations for future clinical translation. To circumvent these limitations, we have synthesized EM011-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes to improve solubility and enhance therapeutic index of EM011.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEthylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and ethylene glycol methacrylate 4-vinyl benzoate (EGMAVB) were shown to form 1:1 inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin and were characterized by instrumental techniques. Computational analysis showed that the bent conformation of the included divinyl monomer was more stable than its linear conformation. Complexation of the divinyl monomer with the first CD molecule offered substantial stabilization than with the second CD molecule.
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