Metal compounds for the treatment of parasitic diseases

The cysteine proteases of the trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa have been validated as targets for chemotherapy of Chagas’ disease and leishmaniasis. Metal complexes of gold, platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium and osmium have been reported to have activity against a variety of trypanosomatids, but the molecular target of these compounds has not been defined. The activity of gold(III) and palladium(II) cyclometallated complexes, and oxorhenium(V) complexes against mammalian and parasitic cysteine proteases was investigated. All gold(III) complexes (1-6) inhibited cathepsin B with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.2-1.4 μM. Of the six palladium compounds, aceto[2,6-bis[(butylthio-κS)methyl]phenyl-κC]-, (SP-4-3)-palladium(II) (11) was the most potent inhibitor of cathepsin B with an IC₅₀ of 0.4 μM. A clear structure-activity relationship was observed with the oxorhenium(V) complexes with chloro[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium(V) (16) being the most potent inhibitor of cathepsin B with an IC₅₀ of 0.009 μM. Six complexes were further tested against the parasite cysteine proteases, cruzain from T. cruzi, and cpB from L. major; the most potent inhibitors were the two rhenium complexes (2(1H)-pyridinethionato-κS²)[2,6-bis[(mercapto-κS)methyl]pyridine-κN¹] oxorhenium(V) (15) and chloro[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium(V) (16). The compounds were also evaluated in assays for parasite growth. Two oxorhenium(V) compounds ((p-methoxyphenylthiolato-S)[2,6-bis[(mercapto-κS)methyl]pyridine-κN¹] oxorhenium(V) (14) and (methanethiolato)[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium (V) (18)) and the palladium compound 11 inhibited T. cruzi intracellular growth, and compound 11 inhibited promastigote growth in three Leishmania species. In conclusion this preliminary data indicates that metal complexes targeted at parasite cysteine proteases show promise for the treatment of both Chagas’ disease and leishmaniasis.     

Dermal mesenchymal stem cells promoted adhesion and migration of endothelial cells by integrin in psoriasis

The unusual dilatation of dermal capillaries and angiogenesis played important roles in psoriasis. Some genes and proteins of dermal mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) from psoriasis are abnormal and related to the function of endothelial cells (ECs). The present study was aimed to evaluate whether psoriatic DMSCs could affect adhesion and migration of ECs through neovascularization-related integrins in psoriasis. Human DMSCs, collected from psoriasis lesions and healthy skin, respectively, were cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression levels of three integrins, that is, αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1 in HUVECs were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The adhesion and migration of HUVECs were detected by adhesion assay and migration assay. The results showed that in psoriasis group, the expression of αVβ3 and α5β1 of HUVECs markedly increased 2.50- and 3.71-fold in messenger RNA levels, and significantly increased 1.63- and 1.92-fold in protein levels, comparing to healthy control group (all p < .05). But β5 was not significantly different between the two groups (p > .05). In addition, compared with control, psoriatic DMSCs promoted HUVECs adhesion by 1.62-fold and migration by 2.91-fold (all p < .05). In conclusion, psoriatic DMSCs impact HUVECs adhesion and migration by upregulating the expression of integrins αVβ3 and α5β1.     

Integrins and chondrocyte–matrix interactions in articular cartilage

The integrin family of cell adhesion receptors plays a major role in mediating interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. Normal adult articular chondrocytes express α1β1, α3β1, α5β1, α10β1, αVβ1, αVβ3, and αVβ5 integrins, while chondrocytes from osteoarthritic tissue also express α2β1, α4β1, α6β1. These integrins bind a host of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, most notably fibronectin and collagen types II and VI, which provide signals that regulate cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, and matrix remodeling. By initiating signals in response to mechanical forces, chondrocyte integrins also serve as mechanotransducers. When the cartilage matrix is damaged in osteoarthritis, fragments of fibronectin are generated that signal through the α5β1 integrin to activate a pro-inflammatory and pro-catabolic response which, if left unchecked, could contribute to progressive matrix degradation. The cell signaling pathways activated in response to excessive mechanical signals and to fibronectin fragments are being unraveled and may represent useful therapeutic targets for slowing or stopping progressive matrix destruction in arthritis.     

Engineered Cystine-Knot Peptides that Bind αvβ3 Integrin with Antibody-Like Affinities

The α_vβ₃ integrin receptor is an important cancer target due to its overexpression on many solid tumors and the tumor neovasculature and its role in metastasis and angiogenesis. We used a truncated form of the Agouti-related protein (AgRP), a 4-kDa cystine-knot peptide with four disulfide bonds and four solvent-exposed loops, as a scaffold for engineering peptides that bound to α_vβ₃ integrins with high affinity and specificity. A yeast-displayed cystine-knot peptide library was generated by substituting a six amino acid loop of AgRP with a nine amino acid loop containing the Arg-Gly-Asp integrin recognition motif and randomized flanking residues. Mutant cystine-knot peptides were screened in a high-throughput manner by fluorescence-activated cell sorting to identify clones with high affinity to detergent-solubilized α_vβ₃ integrin receptor. Select integrin-binding peptides were expressed recombinantly in Pichia pastoris and were tested for their ability to bind to human cancer cells expressing various integrin receptors. These studies showed that the engineered AgRP peptides bound to cells expressing α_vβ₃ integrins with affinities ranging from 15 nM to 780 pM. Furthermore, the engineered peptides were shown to bind specifically to α_vβ₃ integrins and had only minimal or no binding to α_vβ₅, α₅β₁, and α_iibβ₃ integrins. The engineered AgRP peptides were also shown to inhibit cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin, which is a naturally occurring ligand for α_vβ₃ and other integrins. Next, to evaluate whether the other three loops of AgRP could modulate integrin specificity, we made second-generation libraries by individually randomizing these loops in one of the high-affinity integrin-binding variants. Screening of these loop-randomized libraries against α_vβ₃ integrins resulted in peptides that retained high affinities for α_vβ₃ and had increased specificities for α_vβ₃ over α_iibβ₃ integrins. Collectively, these data validate AgRP as a scaffold for protein engineering and demonstrate that modification of a single loop can lead to AgRP-based peptides with antibody-like affinities for their target.     

Irisin supports integrin-mediated cell adhesion of lymphocytes

Irisin, a myokine released from skeletal muscle, has recently been found to act as a ligand for the integrins αVβ5, αVβ1, and α5β1 expressed on mesenchymal cells, thereby playing an important role in the metabolic remodeling of the bone, skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. Although the immune-modulatory effects of irisin in chronic inflammation have been documented, its interactions with lymphocytic integrins have yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that irisin supports the cell adhesion of human and mouse lymphocytes. Cell adhesion assays using a panel of inhibitory antibodies to integrins have shown that irisin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion involves multiple integrins including not only α4β1 and α5β1, but also leukocyte-specific αLβ2 and α4β7. Importantly, mouse lymphocytic TK-1 cells that lack the expression of β1 integrins have exhibited αLβ2- and α4β7-mediated cell adhesion to irisin. Irisin has also been demonstrated to bind to purified recombinant integrin αLβ2 and α4β7 proteins. Thus, irisin represents a novel ligand for integrin αLβ2 and α4β7, capable of supporting lymphocyte cell adhesion independently of β1 integrins. These results suggest that irisin may play an important role in regulating lymphocyte adhesion and migration in the inflamed vasculature.     

Ameliorating Effect of Osteopontin on H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Induced Apoptosis of Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells

Recently our group used oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) as appropriate model cells to pinpoint the mechanism of the progress of neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we focused on the therapeutic role of osteopontin (OPN), a secreted glycosylated phosphoprotein, involved in a number of physiological events including bone formation and remodeling, immune responses, and tumor progression. Protective role of OPN, as a negative regulator of tumorigenesis, has already been clarified. Human embryonic stem cell-derived OPCs were pretreated with OPN before induction of apoptosis by H₂O₂. Data indicated that OPN prohibited cell death and enhanced OPC viability. This effect is achieved through reduction of apoptosis and induction of anti-apoptosis markers. In addition OPN induces expression of several integrin subunits, responsible for OPN interaction. Notably, our findings showed that expression of αV β1/β3/β5 and β8 integrins increased in response to OPN, while treatment with H₂O₂ down-regulated αV β1/β5 and β8 integrins expression significantly. In conclusion, OPN may act via αV integrin signaling and trigger suppression of P53-dependent apoptotic cascades. Therefore OPN therapy may be considered as a feasible process to prevent progress of neurodegenerative diseases in human.     

Molecular structures and redox properties of oxorhenium(V) ‘3+1’ mixed ligand complexes with heterocyclic thiolates containing nitrogen

Reactions of chloro(3-thiapentane-1,5-dithiolato)oxorhenium(V) [ReO(SSS)Cl] with N-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-thiol (HL¹) and 2-pyrimidinethiol (HL²) have been studied to form ‘3+1’ oxorhenium(V) complexes. In the absence of triethylamine, [Re(SSS)(HL¹)]Cl (1a) was formed, while in the presence of triethylamine [Re(SSS)L¹] (1b) and [Re(SSS)L²] (2) were produced. Molecular structures of complexes 1a and 2 were determined to be distorted square pyramidal by single crystal X-ray analytical method. From cyclic voltammetric studies, furthermore, it was proposed that complexes 1b and 2 are irreversibly oxidized to Re(VI) at around 0.84 and 1.01 V versus Ag/AgNO₃, respectively, and are reduced to Re(IV) at −1.55 and −1.51 V with the dissociation of L¹ or L², followed by the quasi-reversible reductions to Re(III) at around −1.69 V, respectively.     

Substrate complexation and aggregation influence the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) catalyzed synthesis of alkyl glycosides

Bacillus macerans cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) was used to convert dodecyl-β-maltoside (DDM) to dodecyl-β-maltooctaoside (DDMO) using α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) or starch as glycosyl donors. At 300 mM α-CD, varied DDM concentration and 60 °C, the reaction obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K_m value of 18 mM and a V_max value of 100 U/mg enzyme. However, at 25 mM α-CD the reaction rate decreased with increasing DDM concentration (5-50 mM), and when the α-CD concentration was varied at fixed DDM concentration an S shaped curve was obtained. The deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics were interpreted as being caused by formation of inclusion complexes between α-CD and DDM and by micellation of DDM. To achieve a high reaction rate, a high concentration of free α-CD is necessary, since α-CD in the form of a complex has low reactivity. When starch is used as glycosyl donor in the CGTase catalyzed alkyl glycoside elongation reaction, it is thus important to choose reaction conditions under which the cyclization of starch to α-CD is efficient.     

Alteration of integrin-dependent adhesion and signaling in EMT-like MDCK cells established through overexpression of calreticulin

Calreticulin (CRT) is a multi-functional Ca(2+) -binding molecular chaperone in the endoplasmic reticulum. We previously reported that kidney epithelial cell-derived Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells were transformed into mesenchymal-like cells by gene transfection of CRT. In this study, we investigated the altered characteristics of cell adhesion in these epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like cells. Several extracellular matrix substrata were tested, and cell adhesion to fibronectin was found to be specifically increased in the CRT-overexpressing cells compared to controls. The expression of integrins was significantly up-regulated in subunits α5 and αV, resulting in an increase in the formation of complexes such as α5β1 and αVβ3. These integrins also contributed to the enhanced binding of fibronectin. In the CRT-overexpressing cells, the phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream target of integrin-linked kinase (ILK), was up-regulated on attachment to fibronectin or collagen IV. Integrin-associated signaling through ILK was also promoted on attachment to fibronectin, suggesting some of the correlation between ILK and Akt in the CRT-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, on treatment with 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra (acetoxymethyl) ester, a membrane-permeable Ca(2+) chelator, the enhanced Akt signaling was suppressed with a concomitant decrease in the formation of complexes between integrins and ILK in the CRT-overexpressing cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that CRT regulates cell-substratum adhesion by modulating integrin-associated signaling through altered Ca(2+) homeostasis in the CRT-overexpressing EMT-like cells, suggesting a novel regulatory role for CRT in EMT.     

Integrin alphavbeta3 regulates microfibril assembly in human periodontal ligament cells

Fibrillin-1 is the major structural component of extracellular microfibrils. However, the mechanism by which extracellular fibrillin-1 assembles into microfibrils is not fully understood. Fibrillin-1 contains the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, which may allow binding to RGD-recognizing integrins. We hypothesized that integrin αvβ3 on the cell surface of human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts may influence fibrillin-1 assembly into cell/matrix layers. We treated PDL fibroblasts with an integrin αvβ3-specific antagonist to examine fibrillin-1 assembly. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis showed that treatment with the integrin αvβ3 antagonist at 5 μM clearly abolished fibrillin-1 deposition. These results provide for the first time evidence that integrin αvβ3 regulates extracellular assembly of fibrillin-1, thereby modulating cell-mediated homeostasis of microfibrils.     

Anesthetic effects on the structure and dynamics of the second transmembrane domains of nAChR α4β2

Channel functions of the neuronal α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), one of the most widely expressed subtypes in the brain, can be inhibited by volatile anesthetics. Our Na⁺ flux experiments confirmed that the second transmembrane domains (TM2) of α4 and β2 in 2:3 stoichiometry, (α4)₂(β2)₃, could form pentameric channels, whereas the α4 TM2 alone could not. The structure, topology, and dynamics of the α4 TM2 and (α4)₂(β2)₃ TM2 in magnetically aligned phospholipid bicelles were investigated using solid-state NMR spectroscopy in the absence and presence of halothane and isoflurane, two clinically used volatile anesthetics. ²H NMR demonstrated that anesthetics increased lipid conformational heterogeneity. Such anesthetic effects on lipids became more profound in the presence of transmembrane proteins. PISEMA experiments on the selectively ¹⁵N-labeled α4 TM2 showed that the TM2 formed transmembrane helices with tilt angles of 12° ± 1° and 16° ± 1° relative to the bicelle normal for the α4 and (α4)₂(β2)₃ samples, respectively. Anesthetics changed the tilt angle of the α4 TM2 from 12° ± 1° to 14° ± 1°, but had only a subtle effect on the tilt angle of the (α4)₂(β2)₃ TM2. A small degree of wobbling motion of the helix axis occurred in the (α4)₂(β2)₃ TM2. In addition, a subset of the (α4)₂(β2)₃ TM2 exhibited counterclockwise rotational motion around the helix axis on a time scale slower than 10^- 4 s in the presence of anesthetics. Both helical tilting and rotational motions have been identified computationally as critical elements for ion channel functions. This study suggested that anesthetics could alter these motions to modulate channel functions.     

The effect of halogen atom on the molecular quadratic nonlinearity of half sandwich complexes in the presence of an acceptor

Half sandwich complexes of the type [CpM(CO)_nX] {X = Cl, Br, I; If, M = Fe, Ru; n = 2 and if M = Mo; n = 3} and [CpNiPPh₃X] {X = Cl, Br, I} have been synthesized and their second order molecular nonlinearity (β) measured at 1064 nm in CHCl₃ by the hyper-Rayleigh scattering technique. Iron complexes consistently display larger β values than ruthenium complexes while nickel complexes have marginally larger β values than iron complexes. In the presence of an acceptor ligand such as CO or PPh₃, the role of the halogen atom is that of a π donor. The better overlap of Cl orbitals with Fe and Ni metal centres make Cl a better π donor than Br or I in the respective complexes. Consequently, M-π interaction is stronger in Fe/Ni-Cl complexes. The value of β decreases as one goes down the halogen group. For the complexes of 4d metal ions where the metal-ligand distance is larger, the influence of π orbital overlap appears to be less important, resulting in moderate changes in β as a function of halogen substitution.     

Rare earth complexation with 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxybenzyl)amino-cis-inositol

The protonation constants of 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyl-benzyl)amino-cis-inositol (thci) in I = 1 M (NaClO₄) were determined to be: pK_a1 5.96 ± 0.03, pK_a2 7.21 ± 0.01, pK_a3 8.32 ± 0.07, pK_a4 8.95 ± 0.06. The solvent extraction studies were consistent with the formation of the Ln(thci)³⁺ and complexes. The log of the stability constants (log β₁ and log β₂) at 25 °C in 1 M (NaClO₄) at pH 4 for formation of these complexes are reported. Laser luminescence measurements of the ⁷F₀-⁵D₀ transition of Eu(III) complexed by thci indicated two species. The shifts in the peaks relative to that of Eu(aq)³⁺ were comparable to the values reported for other complexes of Eu(III) with organic ligands, but the intensities were greater. Luminescence lifetime measurements of the fluorescence spectra indicated that the complex has 5 inner sphere water molecules bound to the Eu(III) cation at pH 6.71-8.52. This was consistent with bidentate chelation of Eu(III) with each thci molecule. gaussian view energy calculations indicated bonding for M(III) to the amino and hydroxyl groups of the cyclohexanetriol and (2-hydroxybenzyl)amino moieties in the Ln(thci)³⁺ complex.     

A novel integrin alpha5beta1 antagonistic peptide, A5-1, screened by Protein Chip system as a potent angiogenesis inhibitor

Integrin α5β1 immobilized on a ProteoChip was used to screen new antagonistic peptides from multiple hexapeptide sub-libraries of the positional scanning synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SPCL). The integrin α5β1-Fibronectin interaction was demonstrated on the chip. A novel peptide ligand, A5-1 (VILVLF), with high affinity to integrin α5β1 was identified from the hexapeptide libraries with this chip-based screening method on the basis of a competitive inhibition assay. A5-1 inhibits the integrin-fibronectin interaction in a dose-dependent manner (IC₅₀; 1.56 ± 0.28 μM. In addition, it inhibits human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, tubular network formation, and bFGF-induced neovascularization in a chick chorioallantoic membrane. These results suggest that A5-1 will be a potent inhibitor of neovascularization.     

Vitamin B1 thiazole derivative reduces transmembrane current through ionic channels formed by toxins from black widow spider venom and sea anemone in planar phospholipid membranes

The vitamin B₁ (thiamine) structural analogue 3-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl) thiazole chloride (DMHT) (0.1 mM) reversibly reduced transmembrane currents in CaCl₂ and KCl solutions via ionic channels produced by latrotoxins (α-latrotoxin (α-LT) and α-latroinsectotoxin (α-LIT)) from black widow spider venom and sea anemone toxin (RTX) in the bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). Introduction of DMHT from the cis-side of BLM bathed in 10 mM CaCl₂ inhibited transmembrane current by 31.6 ± 3% and by 61.8 ± 3% from the trans-side of BLM for α-LT channels. Application of DMHT in the solution of 10 mM CaCl₂ to the cis-side of BLM decreased the current through the α-LIT and RTX channels by 52 ± 4% and 50 ± 5%, respectively. Addition of Cd²⁺ (1 mM) to the cis- or trans-side of the membrane after the DMHT-induced depression of Ca²⁺-current across the α-LT channels caused its further decrease by 85 ± 5% that coincides favorably with the intensity of Cd²⁺ blocking in control experiments without DMHT. These data suggest that DMHT inhibiting is not specific for latrotoxin channels only and DMHT may exert its action on α-LT channels without considerable influence on the ionogenic groups of Ca²⁺-selective site inside the channel cavity. The binding kinetics of DMHT with the α-LT channel shows no cooperativity and allows to expect that the DMHT binding site of the toxin is formed by one ionogenic group as the slopes of inhibition rate determined in log-log coordinates are 1.25 on the trans-side and 0.68 on the cis-side. Similar pK of binding (5.4 on the trans-side and 5.7 on the cis-side) also suggest that DMHT may interact with the same high affinity site of α-LT channel on either side of the BLM. The comparative analysis of effective radii measured for α-LT, α-LIT and RTX channels on the cis-side (0.9 nm, 0.53 nm and 0.55 nm, correspondingly) and for α-LT channel on the trans-side (0.28 ± 0.18 nm) with the intensity of DMHT inhibitory action obtained on these channels allowed to conclude that the potency of DMHT inhibition increased on toxin pores of smaller lumen.     

Modulation of α5β1 and αVβ3 integrins on the cell surface during mitosis

One of the hallmarks of cells undergoing mitotic division is their rounded morphology and reduced adhesion to the substratum. We have studied and compared the attachment of interphase and mitotic cells to substrata coated with fibronectin and vitronectin. We have found that adhesion of mitotic cells, as compared to interphase cells, is significantly reduced to fibronectin, but is higher to vitronectin. These results correlate well with the expression of α5β1 and αVβ3 integrins, the respective receptors for fibronectin and vitronectin, on the cell surface. Mitotic cells show higher levels of αVβ3 and very low levels of α5β1 proteins on the cell surface as compared to interphase cells. This difference in the levels of these integrins also reflects in the total amounts of fibronectin and vitronectin present on the cell surface of these cells. We have further shown, by flow cytometry, that binding of vitronectin, or the synthetic peptide-GRGDSP-, causes an increase in the intracellular levels of Ca²⁻ in mitotic cells, but no change is seen in the interphase cells. Binding of fibronectin to either of these cells fails to elicit any response. One interesting feature of our results is that the levels of total, i.e., cytoplasmic plus membrane bound, α5β1 and αVβ3 integrins of mitotic and interphase cells remain the same, thus implying an alteration in the distribution of integrin chains between the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm during the conversion of interphase cells into the mitotic phase. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Complex formation between protactinium(V) and sulfate ions at 10 and 60 °C

Protactinium complexation with sulfate ions was studied with the element at tracer scale (C_Pa ∼ 10⁻¹² M) by solvent extraction method. The involved aqueous system was Pa(V)/H₂O/HClO₄/Na₂SO₄/NaClO₄ at 10 and 60 °C. The extraction experiments were conducted using the chelating agent thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) in toluene. For both values of temperature, a systematic study was performed in order to determine the formation constants (β₁, β₂ and β₃) of sulfate complexes of Pa(V) at different ionic strength. For each temperature, the extrapolation of these constants to zero ionic strength was performed using the Specific Interaction Theory, leading to values of 2.8 ± 0.5, 6.5 ± 0.5, 7.8 ± 0.5 at 10 °C and 4.3 ± 0.3, 8.4 ± 1.3, 9.6 ± 0.4 at 60 °C. Interaction coefficients involving the sulfate complexes of protactinium(V) were also derived.     

Aminocarboxylate complexes of vanadium(III): Electronic structure investigation by high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Aminocarboxylate complexes of vanadium(III) are of interest as models for biologically and medicinally relevant forms of this interesting and somewhat neglected ion. The V(III) ion is paramagnetic, but not readily suited to conventional EPR, due to its integer-spin ground state (S = 1) and associated large zero-field splitting (zfs). High-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR), however, has the ability to study such systems effectively. Three complexes, all previously structurally characterized: Na[V(trdta)] · 3H₂O, Na[V(edta)(H₂O)] · 3H₂O, and [V(nta)(H₂O)₃] · 4H₂O (where trdta stands for trimethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate and nta stands for nitrilotriacetate) were studied by HFEPR. All the investigated complexes produced HFEPR responses both in the solid state, and in aqueous solution, but those of [V(nta)(H₂O)₃] · 4H₂O were poorly interpretable. Analysis of multi-frequency HFEPR spectra yielded a set of spin Hamiltonian parameters (including axial and rhombic zfs parameters: D and E, respectively) for these first two complexes as solids: Na[V(trdta)] · 3H₂O: D = 5.60 cm⁻¹, E = 0.85 cm⁻¹, g = 1.95; Na[V(edta)(H₂O)] · 3H₂O: D = 1.4 cm⁻¹, E = 0.14 cm⁻¹, g = 1.97. Spectra in frozen solution yielded similar parameters and showed multiple species in the case of the trdta complex, which are the consequence of the flexibility of this ligand. The EPR spectra obtained in frozen aqueous solution are the first, to our knowledge, of V(III) in solution in general and show the applicability of HFEPR to these systems. In combination with very insightful previous studies of the electronic absorption of these complexes which provided ligand-field parameters, it has been possible to describe the electronic structure of V(III) in [V(trdta)]⁻ and [V(edta)(H₂O)]⁻; the quality of data for [V(nta)(H₂O)₃] does not permit analysis. Qualitatively, six-coordinate V(III) complexes with O,N donor atoms show no electronic absorption band in the NIR region, and exhibit relatively large magnitude zfs (D ? 5 cm⁻¹), while analogous seven-coordinate complexes do have a NIR absorption band and show relatively small magnitude zfs (D < 2 cm⁻¹).     

Cystine-knot peptides engineered with specificities for α(IIb)β(3) or α(IIb)β(3) and α(v)β(3) integrins are potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation

A truncated form of the Agouti‐related protein (AgRP), a member of the cystine‐knot family, has shown promise as a scaffold for engineering novel peptides with new molecular recognition properties. In this study, we replaced a constrained six amino acid loop in AgRP with a nine amino acid loop containing an Arg–Gly–Asp integrin recognition motif, and randomized the neighboring residues to create a library of ～20 million AgRP variants. We displayed the AgRP mutants as fusions on the surface of yeast and used high‐throughput fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate peptides that bound specifically to the platelet integrin α_IIbβ₃, a clinically important target for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. These AgRP peptides had equilibrium dissociation (K_D) constants for α_IIbβ₃ integrin ranging from 60 to 90 nM, and did not bind to α_vβ₃, α_vβ₅, or α₅β₁ integrins. Using an alternate library screening strategy, we identified AgRP peptides that bound to both α_IIbβ₃ and α_vβ₃ integrins with K_D values ranging from 40 to 70 nM and 20 to 30 nM, respectively, and did not bind to α_vβ₅ or α₅β₁ integrins. Unique consensus sequences were identified within both series of AgRP peptides suggesting alternative molecular recognition events that dictate different integrin binding specificities. In addition, the engineered AgRP peptides prevented platelet aggregation as well as or slightly better than the FDA‐approved cyclic peptide eptifibatide. Collectively, these data demonstrate that cystine‐knot peptides can be generated with high affinity and specificity to closely‐related integrins, and provide insights into molecular interactions between small, structured peptide ligands and their receptors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mapping of heparin/heparan sulfate binding sites on αvβ3 integrin by molecular docking

Heparin/heparan sulfate interact with growth factors, chemokines, extracellular proteins, and receptors. Integrins are αβ heterodimers that serve as receptors for extracellular proteins, regulate cell behavior, and participate in extracellular matrix assembly. Heparin binds to RGD‐dependent integrins (αIIbβ3, α5β1, αvβ3, and αvβ5) and to RGD‐independent integrins (α4β1, αXβ2, and αMβ2), but their binding sites have not been located on integrins. We report the mapping of heparin binding sites on the ectodomain of αvβ3 integrin by molecular modeling. The surface of the ectodomain was scanned with small rigid probes mimicking the sulfated domains of heparan sulfate. Docking results were clustered into binding spots. The best results were selected for further docking simulations with heparin hexasaccharide. Six potential binding spots containing lysine and/or arginine residues were identified on the ectodomain of αvβ3 integrin. Heparin would mostly bind to the top of the genu domain, the Calf‐I domain of the α subunit, and the top of the β subunit of RGD‐dependent integrins. Three spots were close enough from each other on the integrin surface to form an extended binding site that could interact with heparin/heparan sulfate chains. Because heparin does not bind to the same integrin site as protein ligands, no steric hindrance prevents the formation of ternary complexes comprising the integrin, its protein ligand, and heparin/heparan sulfate. The basic amino acid residues predicted to interact with heparin are conserved in the sequences of RGD‐dependent but not of RGD‐independent integrins suggesting that heparin/heparan sulfate could bind to different sites on these two integrin subfamilies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.