I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
Krios II-Titan Krios II at Diamond
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James
Hillier
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Yuguang
Zhao
,
Loic
Carrique
,
Tomas
Malinauskas
,
Reinis R.
Ruza
,
Tao-Hsin
Chang
,
Gangshun
Yi
,
Helen M. E.
Duyvesteyn
,
Jing
Yu
,
Weixian
Lu
,
Els
Pardon
,
Jan
Steyaert
,
Yanan
Zhu
,
Tao
Ni
,
E. Yvonne
Jones
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19946, 28713]
Open Access
Abstract: The Wnt receptor Frizzled3 (FZD3) is important for brain axonal development and cancer progression. We report structures of FZD3 in complex with extracellular and intracellular binding nanobodies (Nb). The crystal structure of Nb8 in complex with the FZD3 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals that the nanobody binds at the base of the lipid-binding groove and can compete with Wnt5a. Nb8 fused with the Dickkopf-1 C-terminal domain behaves as a FZD3-specific Wnt surrogate, activating β-catenin signalling. The cryo-EM structure of FZD3 in complex with Nb9 reveals partially resolved density for the CRD, which exhibits positional flexibility, and a transmembrane conformation that resembles active GPCRs. Nb9 binds to the cytoplasmic region of FZD3 at the putative Dishevelled (DVL) or G protein-binding site, competes with DVL binding, and inhibits GαS coupling. In combination, our FZD3 structures with nanobody modulators map extracellular and intracellular interaction surfaces of functional, and potentially therapeutic, relevance.
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Aug 2024
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Gareth T.
Powell
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Ana
Faro
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Yuguang
Zhao
,
Heather
Stickney
,
Laura
Novellasdemunt
,
Pedro
Henriques
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Gaia
Gestri
,
Esther
Redhouse White
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Jingshan
Ren
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Weixian
Lu
,
Rodrigo M.
Young
,
Thomas A.
Hawkins
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Florencia
Cavodeassi
,
Quenten
Schwarz
,
Elena
Dreosti
,
David W.
Raible
,
Vivian S. W.
Li
,
Gavin J.
Wright
,
E. Yvonne
Jones
,
Stephen W.
Wilson
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19946]
Abstract: Neurons on the left and right sides of the nervous system often show asymmetric properties, but how such differences arise is poorly understood. Genetic screening in zebrafish revealed that loss of function of the transmembrane protein Cachd1 resulted in right-sided habenula neurons adopting left-sided identity. Cachd1 is expressed in neuronal progenitors, functions downstream of asymmetric environmental signals, and influences timing of the normally asymmetric patterns of neurogenesis. Biochemical and structural analyses demonstrated that Cachd1 can bind simultaneously to Lrp6 and Frizzled family Wnt co-receptors. Consistent with this, lrp6 mutant zebrafish lose asymmetry in the habenulae, and epistasis experiments support a role for Cachd1 in modulating Wnt pathway activity in the brain. These studies identify Cachd1 as a conserved Wnt receptor–interacting protein that regulates lateralized neuronal identity in the zebrafish brain.
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May 2024
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[28534]
Open Access
Abstract: N-Acyl indolines 4 are potent, non-covalent Notum inhibitors developed from a covalent virtual screening hit 2a. The lead compounds were simple to synthesise, achieved excellent potency in a biochemical Notum-OPTS assay and restored Wnt signalling in a cell-based TCF/LEF reporter assay. Multiple high resolution X-ray structures established a common binding mode of these inhibitors with the indoline bound centred in the palmiteolate pocket with key interactions being aromatic stacking and a water mediated hydrogen bond to the oxyanion hole. These N-acyl indolines 4 will be useful tools for use in vitro studies to investigate the role of Notum in disease models, especially when paired with a structurally related covalent inhibitor (e.g. 4w and 2a). Overall, this study highlights the designed switch from covalent to non-covalent Notum inhibitors and so illustrates a complementary approach for hit generation and target inhibition.
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Jan 2023
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Open Access
Abstract: Echoviruses, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or drugs, are responsible for a range of human diseases, for example echovirus 11 (E11) is a major cause of serious neonatal morbidity and mortality. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, also known as CD55) is an attachment receptor for E11. Here, we report the structure of the complex of E11 and the full-length ectodomain of DAF (short consensus repeats, SCRs, 1–4) at 3.1 Å determined by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). SCRs 3 and 4 of DAF interact with E11 at the southern rim of the canyon via the VP2 EF and VP3 BC loops. We also observe an unexpected interaction between the N-linked glycan (residue 95 of DAF) and the VP2 BC loop of E11. DAF is a receptor for at least 20 enteroviruses and we classify its binding patterns from reported DAF/virus complexes into two distinct positions and orientations, named as E6 and E11 poses. Whilst 60 DAF molecules can attach to the virion in the E6 pose, no more than 30 can attach to E11 due to steric restrictions. Analysis of the distinct modes of interaction and structure and sequence-based phylogenies suggests that the two modes evolved independently, with the E6 mode likely found earlier.
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Nov 2022
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B21-High Throughput SAXS
I02-Macromolecular Crystallography
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[8423]
Open Access
Abstract: Sizzled (Szl) is both a secreted frizzled related protein (sFRP) and a naturally occurring inhibitor of the zinc metalloproteinase bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1), a key regulator of extracellular matrix assembly and growth factor activation. Here we present a new crystal structure for Szl which differs from that previously reported by a large scale (90°) hinge rotation between its cysteine-rich and netrin-like domains. We also present results of a molecular docking analysis showing interactions likely to be involved in the inhibition of BMP-1 activity by Szl. When compared with known structures of BMP-1 in complex with small molecule inhibitors, this reveals features that may be helpful in the design of new inhibitors to prevent the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix that is the hallmark of fibrotic diseases.
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Sep 2022
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B21-High Throughput SAXS
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Jan
Bláha
,
Tereza
Skálová
,
Barbora
Kalousková
,
Ondřej
Skořepa
,
Denis
Cmunt
,
Valéria
Grobárová
,
Samuel
Pazicky
,
Edita
Poláchová
,
Celeste
Abreu
,
Jan
Stransky
,
Tomas
Koval
,
Jarmila
Duskova
,
Yuguang
Zhao
,
Karl
Harlos
,
Jindřich
Hašek
,
Jan
Dohnalek
,
Ondřej
Vaněk
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[10627]
Open Access
Abstract: Signaling by the human C-type lectin-like receptor, natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory receptor NKR-P1, has a critical role in many immune-related diseases and cancer. C-type lectin-like receptors have weak affinities to their ligands; therefore, setting up a comprehensive model of NKR-P1-LLT1 interactions that considers the natural state of the receptor on the cell surface is necessary to understand its functions. Here we report the crystal structures of the NKR-P1 and NKR-P1:LLT1 complexes, which provides evidence that NKR-P1 forms homodimers in an unexpected arrangement to enable LLT1 binding in two modes, bridging two LLT1 molecules. These interaction clusters are suggestive of an inhibitory immune synapse. By observing the formation of these clusters in solution using SEC-SAXS analysis, by dSTORM super-resolution microscopy on the cell surface, and by following their role in receptor signaling with freshly isolated NK cells, we show that only the ligation of both LLT1 binding interfaces leads to effective NKR-P1 inhibitory signaling. In summary, our findings collectively support a model of NKR-P1:LLT1 clustering, which allows the interacting proteins to overcome weak ligand-receptor affinity and to trigger signal transduction upon cellular contact in the immune synapse.
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Aug 2022
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Yuguang
Zhao
,
William
Mahy
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Nicky J.
Willis
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Hannah L.
Woodward
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David
Steadman
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Elliott D.
Bayle
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Benjamin N.
Atkinson
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James
Sipthorp
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Luca
Vecchia
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Reinis R.
Ruza
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Karl
Harlos
,
Fiona
Jeganathan
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Stefan
Constantinou
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Artur
Costa
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Svend
Kjær
,
Magda
Bictash
,
Patricia C.
Salinas
,
Paul
Whiting
,
Jean-Paul
Vincent
,
Paul V.
Fish
,
E. Yvonne
Jones
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[16814]
Open Access
Abstract: The Wnt signaling suppressor Notum is a promising target for osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and colorectal cancers. To develop novel Notum inhibitors, we used an X-ray crystallographic fragment screen with the Diamond-SGC Poised Library (DSPL) and identified 59 fragment hits from the analysis of 768 data sets. Fifty-eight of the hits were found bound at the enzyme catalytic pocket with potencies ranging from 0.5 to >1000 μM. Analysis of the fragments’ diverse binding modes, enzymatic inhibitory activities, and chemical properties led to the selection of six hits for optimization, and five of these resulted in improved Notum inhibitory potencies. One hit, 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole 7, and its related cluster members, have shown promising lead-like properties. These became the focus of our fragment development activities, resulting in compound 7d with IC50 0.0067 μM. The large number of Notum fragment structures and their initial optimization provided an important basis for further Notum inhibitor development.
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Jun 2022
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Nicky J.
Willis
,
William
Mahy
,
James
Sipthorp
,
Yuguang
Zhao
,
Hannah L.
Woodward
,
Benjamin N.
Atkinson
,
Elliott D.
Bayle
,
Fredrik
Svensson
,
Sarah
Frew
,
Fiona
Jeganathan
,
Amy
Monaghan
,
Stefano
Benvegnù
,
Sarah
Jolly
,
Luca
Vecchia
,
Reinis R.
Ruza
,
Svend
Kjær
,
Steven
Howell
,
Ambrosius P.
Snijders
,
Magda
Bictash
,
Patricia C.
Salinas
,
Jean-Paul
Vincent
,
E. Yvonne
Jones
,
Paul
Whiting
,
Paul V.
Fish
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[16814, 19446]
Open Access
Abstract: Notum is a carboxylesterase that suppresses Wnt signaling through deacylation of an essential palmitoleate group on Wnt proteins. There is a growing understanding of the role Notum plays in human diseases such as colorectal cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, supporting the need to discover improved inhibitors, especially for use in models of neurodegeneration. Here, we have described the discovery and profile of 8l (ARUK3001185) as a potent, selective, and brain-penetrant inhibitor of Notum activity suitable for oral dosing in rodent models of disease. Crystallographic fragment screening of the Diamond-SGC Poised Library for binding to Notum, supported by a biochemical enzyme assay to rank inhibition activity, identified 6a and 6b as a pair of outstanding hits. Fragment development of 6 delivered 8l that restored Wnt signaling in the presence of Notum in a cell-based reporter assay. Assessment in pharmacology screens showed 8l to be selective against serine hydrolases, kinases, and drug targets.
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May 2022
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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David
Steadman
,
Benjamin N.
Atkinson
,
Yuguang
Zhao
,
Nicky J.
Willis
,
Sarah
Frew
,
Amy
Monaghan
,
Chandni
Patel
,
Emma
Armstrong
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Kathryn
Costelloe
,
Lorenza
Magno
,
Magda
Bictash
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E. Yvonne
Jones
,
Paul V.
Fish
,
Fredrik
Svensson
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19946]
Abstract: Notum is a negative regulator of Wnt signaling acting through the hydrolysis of a palmitoleoylate ester, which is required for Wnt activity. Inhibitors of Notum could be of use in diseases where dysfunctional Notum activity is an underlying cause. A docking-based virtual screen (VS) of a large commercial library was used to shortlist 952 compounds for experimental validation as inhibitors of Notum. The VS was successful with 31 compounds having an IC50 < 500 nM. A critical selection process was then applied with two clusters and two singletons (1–4d) selected for hit validation. Optimization of 4d guided by structural biology identified potent inhibitors of Notum activity that restored Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cell-based models. The [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b]pyradizin-3(2H)-one series 4 represent a new chemical class of Notum inhibitors and the first to be discovered by a VS campaign. These results demonstrate the value of VS with well-designed docking models based on X-ray structures.
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Jan 2022
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Kuan-Ying A.
Huang
,
Daming
Zhou
,
Tiong Kit
Tan
,
Charles
Chen
,
Helen M. E.
Duyvesteyn
,
Yuguang
Zhao
,
Helen M.
Ginn
,
Ling
Qin
,
Pramila
Rijal
,
Lisa
Schimanski
,
Robert
Donat
,
Adam
Harding
,
Javier
Gilbert-Jaramillo
,
William
James
,
Julia A.
Tree
,
Karen
Buttigieg
,
Miles
Carroll
,
Sue
Charlton
,
Chia-En
Lien
,
Meei-Yun
Lin
,
Cheng-Pin
Chen
,
Shu-Hsing
Cheng
,
Xiaorui
Chen
,
Tzou-Yien
Lin
,
Elizabeth E.
Fry
,
Jingshan
Ren
,
Che
Ma
,
Alain R.
Townsend
,
David I.
Stuart
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[27009]
Open Access
Abstract: Background: Administration of potent anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) monoclonal antibodies has been shown to curtail viral shedding and reduce hospitalization in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the structure-function analysis of potent human anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies and its links to the formulation of antibody cocktails remains largely elusive.
Methods: Previously, we isolated a panel of neutralizing anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies from convalescent patients and showed their neutralization efficacy in vitro. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of action of antibodies and dissect antibodies at the epitope level, which leads to a formation of a potent antibody cocktail.
Results: We found that representative antibodies which target non-overlapping epitopes are effective against wild type virus and recently emerging variants of concern, whilst being encoded by antibody genes with few somatic mutations. Neutralization is associated with the inhibition of binding of viral RBD to ACE2 and possibly of the subsequent fusion process. Structural analysis of representative antibodies, by cryo-electron microscopy and crystallography, reveals that they have some unique aspects that are of potential value while sharing some features in common with previously reported neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. For instance, one has a common VH 3-53 public variable region yet is unusually resilient to mutation at residue 501 of the RBD. We evaluate the in vivo efficacy of an antibody cocktail consisting of two potent non-competing anti-RBD antibodies in a Syrian hamster model. We demonstrate that the cocktail prevents weight loss, reduces lung viral load and attenuates pulmonary inflammation in hamsters in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings. Although neutralization of one of these antibodies is abrogated by the mutations of variant B.1.351, it is also possible to produce a bi-valent cocktail of antibodies both of which are resilient to variants B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and B.1.617.2.
Conclusions: These findings support the up-to-date and rational design of an anti-RBD antibody cocktail as a therapeutic candidate against COVID-19.
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Nov 2021
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