Selective binding of imatinib to the genetic variants of human alpha1-acid glycoprotein

Imatinib is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, successfully used for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. Its strong plasma protein binding referred to alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) component was found to inhibit the pharmacological activity. AGP shows genetic polymorphism and the two main genetic variants have different drug binding properties. The binding characteristics of imatinib to AGP genetic variants and the possibility of its binding interactions were investigated by various methods. The results proved that binding of imatinib to the two main genetic variants is very different, the high affinity binding belongs dominantly to the F1-S variant. This interaction is accompanied with specific spectral changes (induced circular dichroism, UV change, intrinsic fluorescence quenching), suggesting that the bound ligand has chiral conformation that would largely overlap with other ligands inside the protein cavity. Binding parameters of Ka=1.7(+/-0.2)x10(6)M(-1) and n=0.94 could be determined for the binding on the F1-S variant at 37 degrees . Imatinib binding on the A variant is weaker and less specific. The binding affinity of imatinib to human serum albumin (nKa approximately 3 x 10(4)M(-1)) is low. Pharmacologically relevant binding interactions with other drugs can be expected on the F1-S variant of AGP.     

Selective binding of coumarin enantiomers to human alpha1-acid glycoprotein genetic variants

Coumarin-type anticoagulants, warfarin, phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol, were tested for their stereoselective binding to the human orosomucoid (ORM; AGP) genetic variants ORM 1 and ORM 2. Direct binding studies with racemic ligands were carried out by the ultrafiltration method; the concentrations of free enantiomers were determined by capillary electrophoresis. The binding of pure enantiomers was investigated with quinaldine red fluorescence displacement measurements. Our results demonstrated that all investigated compounds bind stronger to ORM 1 variant than to ORM 2. ORM 1 and human native AGP preferred the binding of (S)-enantiomers of warfarin and acenocoumarol, while no enantioselectivity was observed in phenprocoumon binding. Acenocoumarol possessed the highest enantioselectivity in AGP binding due to the weak binding of its (R)-enantiomer. Furthermore, a new homology model of AGP was built and the models of ORM 1 and ORM 2 suggested that difference in binding to AGP genetic variants is caused by steric factors.     

A three-step purification of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) was purified to homogeneity by a 3-step procedure using pseudo-ligand affinity chromatography on immobilized Cibacron blue F3GA, Procion red HE3B, and preparative column isoelectric focusing. The overall yield of the combined techniques was 88%. Analysis of the purified AGP by lectin affinity chromatography on immobilized Con A and immunoaffino-electrophoresis indicated that the most acidic form did not interact with the lectin, while the two more basic fractions possessed different affinities for Con A. In addition, 3 different populations of AGP were clearly separated by Con A affinity chromatography.     

Topography of human plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein.

Human plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein, whose linear amino acid sequence has recently been elucidated (Schmid et al. (1973), Biochemistry 12, 2711), was further investigated with regard to its topography. Nitration of this protein and subsequent elucidation of the structures of the peptides containing modified tyrosine indicated that residues 27, 37, 78, 115, 127, and 157 are free, 50 and 91 are in an intermediate state, and 65, 74, 110, and 142 are buried. CD measurements between pH 10 and 12 demonstrated that the buried tyrosines are strongly hydrogen bonded and are probably responsible to a considerable extent for the stability of this protein. Of the three tryptophans of this protein, residue 122 proved to be partially reactive with Koshland reagent while the other two (25 and 160) were found to be unreactive. The state of the two disulfide bonds, established by differential reduction and alkylation with specific reagents, was shown to be of an intermediate type. Using carboxymethylation with bromoacetate at pH 7.0 for 8 days, the three histidines (97, 100, and 171) and methionine 111 could be shown to be in intermediate states. All lysines were treated with trinitrobenzenesulfonate and thus were assumed to be free. Of the 40 carboxylic groups, which were amidated with glycine methyl ester, 32 including the 14 sialyl residues were found to be free, six in an intermediate and the remaining two in a buried state. The present study describes the states of almost half of the amino acid residues of alpha1-acid glycoprotein, a knowledge important for the construction of a preliminary three-dimensional model of this conjugated protein.     

Induction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by recombinant human interleukin-1 in rat hepatoma cells

The induction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA by recombinant murine interleukin-1, recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha, and recombinant human interleukin-1 beta has been studied in the rat hepatoma cell line Fao. Whereas the stimulatory capacities of recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha and recombinant murine interleukin-1 were almost identical, the concentrations of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta needed for half-maximal induction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA were lower by three orders of magnitude. A 60-fold increase in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA levels was observed 18 h after the addition of recombinant interleukin-1 beta. In parallel albumin mRNA levels decreased to about 30%. The alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA induction was strictly dependent on the presence of dexamethasone. For a full stimulation dexamethasone concentrations of greater than 10(-7) M were needed, whereas concentrations of less than 10(-12) M were ineffective. The increase in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA after recombinant human interleukin-1 beta was followed by a 36-fold stimulation in alpha 1-acid glycoprotein synthesis and secretion. When protein synthesis was blocked by either cycloheximide, puromycin, or emetine, the induction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA by recombinant human interleukin-1 beta was impaired suggesting the involvement of a short-lived protein in the induction of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein mRNA.     

Glycosylation of site-specific glycans of alpha1-acid glycoprotein and alterations in acute and chronic inflammation

BACKGROUND: alpha(1)-Acid glycoprotein (AGP), an acute phase reactant, is extensively glycosylated at five Asn-linked glycosylation sites. In a number of pathophysiological states, including inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, alterations of Asn-linked glycans (N-glycans) have been reported. We investigated alteration of N-glycans at each of glycosylation sites of AGP in the sera of patients with acute and chronic inflammation. METHODS: AGP purified from sera was digested with Glu-C and the liberated glycopeptides were isolated by reverse phase HPLC. N-glycans released with peptide N-glycosidase F and followed by neuraminidase treatment were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Site-specific differences in branching structures were observed among N-glycosylation sites 1, 3, 4 and 5. Within the sera of patients with acute inflammation, increases in bi-antennary and decreases in tri- and tetra-antennary structures were observed, as well as increases in alpha1,3-fucosylation, at most glycosylation sites. In the sera of patients with chronic inflammation, increased rates of tri-antennary alpha1,3-fucosylation at sites 3 and 4 and tetra-antennary alpha1,3-fucosylation at sites 3, 4 and 5 were detected. Although there were no significant differences between acute and chronic sera in site directed branching structures, significant differences of alpha1,3-fucosylation were detected in tri-antennary at sites 2, 4 and 5 and in tetra-antennary at sites 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: Little variation in the N-glycan composition of the glycosylation sites of AGP was observed among healthy individuals, while the sera of patients with acute inflammation demonstrated increased numbers of bi-antennary and alpha1,3-fucosylated N-glycan structures at each glycosylation site.     

Crystallization of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

A possible link between cellular cyclic AMP content and Na+K+ATPase activity was investigated in homogenates of rat kidney. Enzyme kinetics of Mg2+ and Na+K+ATPase were run in the presence of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl cAMP and compounds expected to elevate cyclic AMP levels such as forskolin, a potent adenylate cyclase activator, IBMX, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases, and the beta-agonist isoproterenol. Medullary Na+K+ATPase is strongly inhibited by cyclic AMP whereas cortical Na+K+ATPase was stimulated in the same conditions. The correlation between ATPase activity and cellular cyclic AMP content supports the concept of a possible regulation of the enzyme by cyclic AMP.     

Nucleotide sequence of rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein messenger RNA

The complete nucleotide sequence of rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP) mRNA has been determined from cloned double-stranded cDNA. The coding portion of the mRNA was bounded at the ends by a 5'-untranslated region of 35 nucleotides in length and a 3'-untranslated region of 119 nucleotides in length. The 3'-untranslated region contains the characteristic AAUAAA sequence ending 18 nucleotides from the 3'-terminal poly(A) segment. The 5'-region of the mRNA contains two in-phase AUG codons separated by 12 nucleotides. Comparison with the known NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of serum rat alpha 1-AGP suggests that the primary translation product of the mRNA contains an additional 14 or 18 amino acids that are not present in the mature form of the protein, which contains 187 amino acids. The inferred amino acid sequence of rat alpha 1-AGP and the known amino acid sequence of human alpha 1-AGP have several regions of identity clustered in the NH2-terminal portion of the proteins. The carboxyl-terminal regions show significantly less homology. Six potential asparagine glycosylation sites are found in the rat sequence, and four of these sites are in positions similar to known glycosylation sites in the human protein. Furthermore, three of these potential glycosylation sites are in a region that exhibits extensive amino acid sequence conservation, suggesting that this region may be important for the biological function of alpha 1-AGP.     

Sequence comparison of human plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein and the immunoglobulins

The amino acid sequence of human plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein, upon comparison with the sequences of other blood proteins, was shown to possess significant similarity with the immunoglobulins. Employing direct and corrected sequence identity, the average mutation value and two different computer comparisons for the evaluation of sequence similarity, the following two regions of this alpha-globulin, which account for approximately half of the total amino acid sequence of the protein, were found to possess sequence similarity with the immunoglobulins. a) The region from residues 77 through 125 proved to be related to the variable region of several human H and L chains, and b) the region from residues 136 through 166 was found to be related not only to the constant region of a human and a mouse L chain but also to the third and fourth constant region of a rabbit and a human H chain, respectively. These results suggest that alpha1-acid glycoprotein is probably related to the immunoglobulins and further suggest that it possibly diverged from the immunoglobulin evolutionary tree prior to the formation of the primitive L chain.     

Interaction of propafenone enantiomers with human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

The interaction of propafenone enantiomers with human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography. Each of the two optical antipodes interacted with one class of high-affinity binding sites characterized by Ka(R) = (6.18 +/- 0.93) x 10(5) M-1, n(R) = 1.34 +/- 0.09 for the (R)-isomer and Ka(S) = (8.93 +/- 1.82) x 10(5) M-1, n(S) = 0.99 +/- 0.08 for the (S)-isomer. Nonspecific binding to secondary low-affinity high-capacity binding site(s) was only slightly greater in the case of the (S)-enantiomer (n'k'(S) = (1.06 +/- 0.09) x 10(4) M-1) compared to the (R)-enantiomer (n'k'(R) = (6.87 +/- 0.72) x 10(3) M-1). It was concluded that both enantiomers interact with common single class of high-affinity binding sites on AAG (along with nonspecific binding) exhibiting only slight stereoselectivity for propafenone.     

Biliverdin is the endogenous ligand of human serum alpha1-acid glycoprotein

α₁-Acid glycoprotein (AAG), an acute phase component of the human serum, is a prominent member of the lipocalin family of proteins showing inflammatory/immunomodulatory activities and promiscuous drug binding properties. Both three-dimensional structure of AAG and its precise biological function are still unknown and only a few endogenous AAG ligands have been described to date. CD spectroscopic studies performed with commercial AAG and the separated genetic variants revealed high-affinity binding of biliverdin (BV) and biliverdin dimethyl ester to the ‘F1/S’ fraction of the protein. The preferential accommodation of the right-handed, P-helicity conformers of the pigments by the protein matrix resulted in strong induced CD activity, which was utilized for estimation of the binding parameters and to locate the binding site. It was concluded that both pigments are bound in the central β-barrel cavity of AAG, held principally by hydrophobic interactions. Possible biological implications of the BV binding ability of AAG with special emphasis on the heme oxygenase-1 pathway are discussed.     

Structural insights into differences in drug-binding selectivity between two forms of human alpha1-acid glycoprotein genetic variants, the A and F1*S forms

Human α(1)-acid glycoprotein (hAGP) in serum functions as a carrier of basic drugs. In most individuals, hAGP exists as a mixture of two genetic variants, the F1*S and A variants, which bind drugs with different selectivities. We prepared a mutant of the A variant, C149R, and showed that its drug-binding properties were indistinguishable from those of the wild type. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of this mutant hAGP alone and complexed with disopyramide (DSP), amitriptyline (AMT), and the nonspecific drug chlorpromazine (CPZ). The crystal structures revealed that the drug-binding pocket on the A variant is located within an eight-stranded β-barrel, similar to that found in the F1*S variant and other lipocalin family proteins. However, the binding region of the A variant is narrower than that of the F1*S variant. In the crystal structures of complexes with DSP and AMT, the two aromatic rings of each drug interact with Phe-49 and Phe-112 at the bottom of the binding pocket. Although the structure of CPZ is similar to those of DSP and AMT, its fused aromatic ring system, which is extended in length by the addition of a chlorine atom, appears to dictate an alternative mode of binding, which explains its nonselective binding to the F1*S and A variant hAGPs. Modeling experiments based on the co-crystal structures suggest that, in complexes of DSP, AMT, or CPZ with the F1*S variant, Phe-114 sterically hinders interactions with DSP and AMT, but not CPZ.     

Progesterone binding to the tryptophan residues of human alpha1-acid glycoprotein

Binding studies between progesterone and alpha1-acid glycoprotein allowed us to demonstrate that the binding site of progesterone contains one hydrophobic tryptophan residue and that the structure of the protein is not altered upon binding. The data obtained at saturated concentrations of progesterone clearly reveal the type of interaction at physiological levels.     

Structure of human alpha1-acid glycoprotein and its high-affinity binding site

Secondary and tertiary structures of human blood alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, a member of the lipocalin family, have been studied for the first time by infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Vibrational spectroscopy confirmed details of the secondary structure and the structure content predicted by homology modeling of the protein moiety, i.e., 15% alpha-helices, 41% beta-sheets, 12% beta-turns, 8% bands, and 24% unordered structure at pH 7.4. Our model shows that the protein folds as a highly symmetrical all-beta protein dominated by a single eight-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet. Thermal dynamics in the range 20-70 degrees C followed by Raman spectroscopy and analyzed by principle component analysis revealed full reversibility of the protein motion upon heating dominated by decreasing of beta-sheets. Raman difference spectroscopy confirmed the proximity of Trp(122) to progesterone binding.     

Temperature-induced molten globule-like state in human alpha1-acid glycoprotein: an infrared spectroscopic study

Despite extensive investigations on thermal denaturation of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) using a variety of techniques, structural features of the folded-unfolded state in terms of residual secondary structures and the structural transitions involved in this process have not been fully characterized. In this study we employed FT-IR spectroscopy to investigate the thermal unfolding and reversibility of temperature-induced changes in AGP. The data revealed a fully reversible beta-sheet-rich protein which exhibits a molten globule-like state, an important protein folding intermediate. 2D-IR COS revealed the sequence of the conformational changes occurring before denaturation and confirmed the formation of this intermediate which was further supported by CD spectroscopy. On account of the similarities in the FT-IR spectra of AGP with those of porcine odorant-binding protein (OBP), homology modeling of AGP using OBP as template was performed. The resemblance of AGP and OBP 3D structures confirmed the similarities of data obtained using FT-IR spectroscopy. Overall, FT-IR spectroscopy appears to be useful for investigating the structural characteristics and stability of proteins whose 3D structures are unavailable and for assessing the molten globule-like state in small beta-sheet-rich proteins.     

Evolution of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein genes and surrounding Alu repeats

There is a mosaic pattern of variation between the two tandemly arranged human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein genes. Both the synonymous and the nonsynonymous sites of exons 3 and 4 are more divergent than the rest of the gene, suggesting that they have had a different evolutionary history. Comparisons of the two gene sequences with rat AGP indicate that exons 3 and 4 of AGP2 have been evolving without functional constraint since their divergence from AGP1. It is proposed that the conserved region of the gene has been homogenized recently by gene conversion with the homologous regions of AGP1. The Alu sequences surrounding the genes appear to have been involved in both the gene duplication and the gene conversion events.     

One-step isolation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein.

alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein could be isolated by a one-step extraction method from human sera and plasma. Protein recovered in the water phase after extraction with phenol at 70 degrees C for 20 min was verified as human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein when it was compared with the reference standard human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion, sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and periodic acid-Schiff stain. The present isolation procedure is simple and fast, and can extract about 81% of the total alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in the sera and plasma, as determined by radial immunodiffusion.