Structural basis for the functional differences between type I and type II human methionine aminopeptidases

Determination of the crystal structure of human MetAP1 makes it possible, for the first time, to compare the structures of a Type I and a Type II methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP) from the same organism. Comparison of the Type I enzyme with the previously reported complex of ovalicin with Type II MetAP shows that the active site of the former is reduced in size and would incur steric clashes with the bound inhibitor. This explains why ovalicin and related anti-angiogenesis inhibitors target Type II human MetAP but not Type I. The differences in both size and shape of the active sites between MetAP1 and MetAP2 also help to explain their different substrate specificity. In the presence of excess Co(2+), a third cobalt ion binds in the active site region, explaining why metal ions in excess can be inhibitory. Also, the N-terminal region of the protein contains three distinct Pro-x-x-Pro motifs, supporting the prior suggestion that this region of the protein may participate in binding to the ribosome.     

Structural analysis and comparison of light-harvesting complexes I and II

Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process involving the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. The initial photochemical and photophysical events of photosynthesis are mediated by photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI). Both PSII and PSI are multi-subunit supramolecular machineries composed of a core complex and a peripheral antenna system. The antenna system serves to capture light energy and transfer it to the core efficiently. Both PSII and PSI in the green lineage (plants and green algae) and PSI in red algae have an antenna system comprising a series of chlorophyll- and carotenoid-binding membrane proteins belonging to the light-harvesting complex (LHC) superfamily, including LHCII and LHCI. However, the antenna size and subunit composition vary considerably in the two photosystems from diverse organisms. On the basis of the plant and algal LHCII and LHCI structures that have been solved by X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy we review the detailed structural features and characteristic pigment properties of these LHCs in PSII and PSI. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Light harvesting, edited by Dr. Roberta Croce.     

Towards non-peptide ANG II AT1 receptor antagonists based on urocanic acid: rational design,synthesis and biological evaluation

A series of o-, m- and p-benzyl tetrazole derivatives 11a–c has been designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential Angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists, based on urocanic acid. Compound 11b with tetrazole moiety at the m-position showed moderate, however, higher activity compared to the o- and p-counterpart analogues. Molecular modelling techniques were performed in order to extract their putative bioactive conformations and explore their binding modes.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of cyclic angiotensin II analogues with 3,5 side-chain bridges. Role of C-terminal aromatic residue and ring cluster for activity and implications in the drug design of AT1 non-peptide antagonists

The novel amide linked angiotensin II (ANG II) cyclic analogues: gamma, epsilon -cyclo(3, 5)-[Sar(1)-Glu(3)-Lys(5)-Ile(8)] ANG II (I) and gamma, epsilon -cyclo(3, 5)-[Sar(1)-Glu(3)-Lys(5)-Phe(8)] ANG II (II) have been designed, synthesized and bioassayed in anesthetized rabbits in order to unravel structural ring cluster characteristics important for receptor activation. Analogue I with Ile at position 8 was an inhibitor of Angiotensin II while analogue II with Phe at position 8 was found to be an agonist. Similar results were reported for cyclic compounds that have reversed the linking between positions 3 and 5. The overall results show that positions 3 and 5 do not govern the biological activity of the synthetic analogues. It also appears that the aromatic ring cluster (Tyr-His-Phe) in agonist peptides is an essential stereo-electronic feature for Angiotensin II to exert its biological activity. A non-peptide mimetic of ANG II, 1-[2'-[(N-benzyl)tetrazol-5-yl]biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-2-hydroxymethylbenzimidazole (BZI8) has been designed and synthesized. This molecule is more rigid and much less active than AT(1) non-peptide mimetic losartan probably because it lacks to mimic the orientation of tetrazole and the pharmacophore segments of butyl chain and imidazole ring.     

Superimposition of potent non-peptide AT1 receptor antagonists with angiotensin II

Summary The model of angiotensin II (ANG II) developed in our laboratory using a combination of NMR, fluorescence data and molecular graphics [Matsoukas, J.M. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269 (1994) 5303] served as a template for a systematic superimposition of potent AT₁ receptor antagonists with ANG II. The key amino acids in this model, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine, form a charge-relay system. The studied ANG II AT₁ receptor antagonists were found to accommodate this relay system. The proposed model offers a motivation to synthetic chemists to develop ANG II antagonists that differ from the losartan prototype structure but possess an enhanced biological profile.     

Anti-stress and anti-anxiety effects of centrally acting angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonists

The brain and the peripheral (hormonal) angiotensin II systems are stimulated during stress. Activation of brain angiotensin II AT(1) receptors is required for the stress-induced hormone secretion, including CRH, ACTH, corticoids and vasopressin, and for stimulation of the central sympathetic activity. Long-term peripheral administration of the angiotensin II AT(1) antagonist candesartan blocks not only peripheral but also brain AT(1) receptors, prevents the hormonal and sympathoadrenal response to isolation stress and prevents the formation of stress-induced gastric ulcers. The mechanisms responsible for the prevention of stress-induced ulcers by the AT(1) receptor antagonist include protection from the stress-induced ischemia and inflammation (neutrophil infiltration and increase in ICAM-1 and TNF-alpha) in the gastric mucosa and a partial blockade of the stress-induced sympathoadrenal stimulation, while the protective effect of the glucocorticoid release during stress is maintained. AT(1) receptor antagonism prevents the stress-induced decrease in cortical CRH(1) and benzodiazepine binding and is anxiolytic. Blockade of brain angiotensin II AT(1) receptors offers a novel therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of anxiety and other stress-related disorders.     

Angiotensin II receptors in the human placenta are type AT1

Membrane angiotensin II receptors were measured in human placenta by means of 125I [Sar1 Ile8] All (angiotensin II antagonist) and characterized by using 2 other antagonists of angiotensin II: Dup 753 and CGP 42112A. These are specific and selective ligands which enable identification of AT1 and AT2 receptor subtypes respectively. The [Sar1 Ile8] All affinity is similar (Kd approximately 1 nmol.l-1) in the 3 different placental structures examined. However, the Bmax of villous tissues is approximately 9 times higher than that observed in chorionic plate but remains near that found in basal plate. In the central area of the placenta, mean values of 125I [Sar1 Ile8] All binding observed at a single concentration of 0.15 nmol.l-1 are 242 +/- 31 fmol/mg proteins in basal plate, 300 +/- 35 in villous tissues and 36 +/- 8 in chorionic plate. The umbilical vein and arteries respectively have 8.8 +/- 4.8 and 4.0 +/- 1.7 fmol/mg protein. The subtype analysis shows that only AT1 receptor is present in placental tissues. The Bmax values as well as those obtained by the relative measurement performed at a fixed 125I [Sar1 Ile8] All concentration of 0.15 nmol.l-1 indicate that the highest concentrations of angiotensin II receptors are found in placental villous tissues.     

Cerebroprotective effects of angiotensin II (AT 1) receptor antagonists?

The results of the Acute Candesartan Cilexetil Therapy in Stroke Survivors (ACCESS) study show that treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in the acute phase of a stroke improves mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. In addition, direct comparative antihypertensive trials have demonstrated beneficial effects of ARBs in preventing stroke. These possible cerebro-protective effects of ARBs are supported by animal studies, demonstrating that stimulation of the AT2 receptor was related to a reduction in both cerebral infarct size and mortality. In the present report, we review both pathophysiological and clinical evidence for possible cerebroprotective effects of ARBs, independent of their effect on blood pressure.     

Structural basis for non-competitive product inhibition in human thymidine phosphorylase: implications for drug design

HTP (human thymidine phosphorylase), also known as PD-ECGF (platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor) or gliostatin, has an important role in nucleoside metabolism. HTP is implicated in angiogenesis and apoptosis and therefore is a prime target for drug design, including antitumour therapies. An HTP structure in a closed conformation complexed with an inhibitor has previously been solved. Earlier kinetic studies revealed an ordered release of thymine followed by ribose phosphate and product inhibition by both ligands. We have determined the structure of HTP from crystals grown in the presence of thymidine, which, surprisingly, resulted in bound thymine with HTP in a closed dead-end complex. Thus thymine appears to be able to reassociate with HTP after its initial ordered release before ribose phosphate and induces the closed conformation, hence explaining the mechanism of non-competitive product inhibition. In the active site in one of the four HTP molecules within the crystal asymmetric unit, additional electron density is present. This density has not been previously seen in any pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase and it defines a subsite that may be exploitable in drug design. Finally, because our crystals did not require proteolysed HTP to grow, the structure reveals a loop (residues 406-415), disordered in the previous HTP structure. This loop extends across the active-site cleft and appears to stabilize the dimer interface and the closed conformation by hydrogen-bonding. The present study will assist in the design of HTP inhibitors that could lead to drugs for anti-angiogenesis as well as for the potentiation of other nucleoside drugs.     

Structural similarity between binding sites in influenza sialidase and isocitrate dehydrogenase: implications for an alternative approach to rational drug design.

Using searching techniques based on algorithms derived from graph theory, we have established a similarity between a 3-dimensional cluster of side chains implicated in drug binding in influenza sialidase and side chains involved in isocitrate binding in Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase. The possible implications of the use of such comparative methods in drug design are discussed.     

Structural comparison of promoter and coding sequence of type I collagen alpha 1 chain gene duplicates between zebrafish and flounder/fugu lineages

Alpha 1 chain (Colα1(I)) and alpha 2 chain (Colα2(I)) are universal components of type I collagen in tetrapods, but rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) have a third: alpha 3 chain (Colα3(I)). This study tests whether Colα3(I) is a duplicate of Colα1(I) by whole-genome duplication (WGD) that occurred early in the ray-fin fish lineage. We also examine how their promoter sequence was modified after WGD. We cloned Colα1(I), Colα2(I) and Colα3(I) cDNAs and their promoters from flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and obtained corresponding sequences from the genome databanks of two pufferfishes Takifugu rubripes and Tetraodon nigroviridis, by BLAST-Search using flounder sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of N-terminal sequences of ca. 100 amino acids, including signal peptide and N-propeptide sequences before short triple helical domain, indicates that Colα3(I), found only in teleosts, is a duplicate of Colα1(1) by WGD. Colα1(I) and Colα3(I) genes begin to be transcribed at different stages of Takifugu embryogenesis, suggesting that their structure of promoter is modified differently after WGD. In flounder, Takifugu and Tetraodon, the structure of proximal region of promoter is highly conserved within Colα1(I) and within Colα3(I); no homology is apparent except for the TATA element motif between Colα1(I) and Colα3(I) of each species. Unexpectedly, zebrafish Colα1(I) promoter is more homologous to Colα3(I) of flounder and fugu than Colα1(I) is. These results suggest that each duplicated Colα1(I) gene promoter inherited a unique structure after WGD, but the manner of modification differed between the phylogenetically separated zebrafish and flounder/pufferfish lineages.     

Determination of peptide contact points in the human angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1) with photosensitive analogs of angiotensin II

To identify ligand-binding domains of Angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1), two different radiolabeled photoreactive AngII analogs were prepared by replacing either the first or the last amino acid of the octapeptide by p-benzoyl-L-phenylalanine (Bpa). High yield, specific labeling of the AT1 receptor was obtained with the 125I-[Sar1,Bpa8]AngII analog. Digestion of the covalent 125I-[Sar1,Bpa8]AngII-AT1 complex with V8 protease generated two major fragments of 15.8 kDa and 17.8 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE. Treatment of the [Sar1,Bpa8]AngII-AT1 complex with cyanogen bromide produced a major fragment of 7.5 kDa which, upon further digestion with endoproteinase Lys-C, generated a fragment of 3.6 kDa. Since the 7.5-kDa fragment was sensitive to hydrolysis by 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid, we circumscribed the labeling site of 125I-[Sar1,Bpa8]AngII within amino acids 285 and 295 of the AT1 receptor. When the AT1 receptor was photolabeled with 125I-[Bpa1]AngII, a poor incorporation yield was obtained. Cleavage of the labeled receptor with endoproteinase Lys-C produced a glycopeptide of 31 kDa, which upon deglycosylation showed an apparent molecular mass of 7.5 kDa, delimiting the labeling site of 125I-[Bpa1]AngII within amino acids 147 and 199 of the AT1 receptor. CNBr digestion of the hAT1 I165M mutant receptor narrowed down the labeling site to the fragment 166-199. Taken together, these results indicate that the seventh transmembrane domain of the AT1 receptor interacts strongly with the C-terminal amino acid of [Sar1, Bpa8]AngII interacts with the second extracellular loop of the AT1 receptor.     

A comparison between the conformation of dexclamol and the tricyclic and butyrophenone type dopamine antagonists.

In comparison with many other dopamine antagonists butaclamol and related compounds are rather rigid molecules. Owing to the observed stereospecificity in both $\text{in vitro}$ and $\text{in vivo}$ experiments, these drugs offer a unique opportunity to gauge the known conformational characteristics of the conformationally more mobile antagonists. Taking dexclamol (3S, 4aS, 13bS) as a probe ligand to the receptor, the conformation of compounds covering several structurally different classes were compared with that of dexclamol. With the given assumption, it enables one to confine the conformational space of the structurally flexible dopamine antagonists to a much more narrow domain than was hitherto possible.     

Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AT1-blockers,ARBs, sartans): similarities and differences

A survey is presented of the registered non-peptidergic angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AT₁ blockers, ARBs, sartans) and their general properties and similarities. Accordingly, their receptor profile, pharmacokinetic and therapeutic applications are discussed. In addition, attention is paid to the individual characteristics of the AT₁ blockers now available. A few components of this category offer additional potentially beneficial properties, owing to their pharmacological or metabolic characteristics. Such additional properties are critically discussed for eprosartan, losartan, telmisartan and valsartan.     

Functional antagonism between type I and type II interferons on human macrophages

A three-day treatment with IFN-gamma enhanced up to 300% the capacity of human monocytes and macrophages to produce H2O2 during the respiratory burst. IFN-alpha or -beta (type I IFNs), which did not by themselves influence the burst, were found to antagonize the enhancing effect of IFN-gamma (type II IFN). The antagonism was concentration-dependent and required the presence of type I IFNs during the whole period of IFN-gamma pretreatment. These results suggest that the host defense function of mononuclear phagocytes may be controlled by the relative local concentrations of type I and type II IFNs.     

Effects of angiotensin II antagonists on the contractile and hydrosmotic effect of AT II and AT III in the toad (Bufo arenarum)

The effects of peptide and non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists on the responses to angiotensin II were examined using aortic rings and skin isolated from the toad. The contractile responses of aortic rings to (Ala-Pro-Gly) angiotensin II were inhibited by the angiotensin II analogue Leu⁸ angiotensin II, with a pA₂ value of 7.6. Similarly, the concentration response curve for (Ala-Pro-Gly) angiotensin II was displaced to the right by the specific angiotensin receptor subtype antagonist DuP 753, with a pA₂ value of 6.0. In contrast, the angiotensin receptor subtype 2 antagonists PD 123177 and CGP 42112A did not modify the contractile response to (Ala-Pro-Gly) angiotensin II. None of the antagonists was able to alter the contractile response to norepinephrine. Both Leu⁸ angiotensin II (10^-8 mol·l^-1) and DuP 753 (10^-6 mol·l^-1) partially inhibited angiotensin III-induced contractions in toad aorta. Angiotensin III, in turn, exhibited lower activity than [Asn¹-Val⁵] angiotensin II in this preparation, its molar potency ratio being 0.293. Previous work from this laboratory reported that osmotic water permeability in the skin of the toad Bufo arenarum was increased by angiotensin II, the effect being blocked by the peptide antagonist Leu⁸ angiotensin II. The hydrosmotic response to [Asn¹-Val⁵] angiotensin II (10^-7 mol·l^-1) was significantly inhibited by DuP 753 (10^-6 and 5×10^-6 mol·l^-1), whereas the response was not inhibited by a tenfold higher concentration of either PD 123177 or CGP 42112A. DuP 753 (10^-6 mol·l^-1) also inhibited the hydrosmotic response to angiotensin III (10^-7 mol·l^-1). These results suggest that receptors for angiotensin II present in isolated toad aorta and skin exhibit pharmacological features similar to those characterized as angiotensin subtype 1 in mammalian tissues.Abbreviations AT ₁ angiotensin receptor subtype 1 - AT ₂ angiotensin receptor subtype 2 - AT II angiotensin II - AT III angiotensin III - CDRC cumulative doseresponse curve(s) - NE norepinephrine - SCC short-circuit current     

A comparison of the immunohistochemical localization of type I and type II collagens in craniofacial cartilages of the rat.

The immunohistochemical localization of types I and II collagen was examined in the following 4 cartilaginous tissues of the rat craniofacial region: the nasal septal cartilage and the spheno-occipital synchondrosis (primary cartilages), and the mandibular condylar cartilage and the cartilage at the intermaxillary suture (secondary cartilages). In both primary cartilages, type II collagen was present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the whole cartilaginous area, but type I collagen was completely absent from the ECM. In the secondary cartilages, type I collagen was present throughout the cartilaginous cell layers, and type II collagen was restricted to the ECM of the mature and hypertrophic cell layers. These observations indicate differences in the ECM components between primary and secondary craniofacial cartilages, and that these differences may contribute to their modes of chondrogenesis.     

ACE2, B0AT1, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: Structural and functional implications

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a public health crisis and led to tremendous economic devastation. The spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 hijacks the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for virus entry, representing the initial step of viral infection. S is one of the major targets for development of the antiviral drugs, antibodies, and vaccines. ACE2 is a peptidase that plays a physiologically important role in the renin–angiotensin system. Concurrently, it also forms dimer of heterodimer with the neutral amino acid transporter B⁰AT1 to regulate intestinal amino acid metabolism. The symptoms of COVID-19 are closely correlated with the physiological functions of ACE2. In this review, we summarize the functional and structural studies on ACE2, B⁰AT1, and their complex with S of SARS-CoV-2, providing insights into the various symptoms caused by viral infection and the development of therapeutic strategies.