Search Results

You searched for all publications:

with publication states 'Published (Approved)'

Search Again...

These results only include publications that have been reviewed and processed by Diamond Light Source. To also view papers that have not yet been processed click here.

You can use the folder icon under Actions to collate papers as required. You can then click on View Folder in the left-hand navigation to review and/or download your folder.

Exact matches
Related results

50 items found (0 items not approved), displaying 1 to 10.[First/Prev] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 [Next/Last]

Instruments / Technical Area	Publication Details	Published
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)	Water networks as hydrophobic recognition motifs in proteins Serena G. Piticchio , Miriam Martinez-Cartro , Salvatore Scaffidi , Sergio Rodríguez-Arévalo , Andrea Bagán , Ainoa Sánchez-Arfelis , Sarah Picaud , Tobias Krojer , Panagis Filippakopoulos , Carmen Escolano , Xavier Barril , Frank Von Delft Angewandte Chemie International Edition DOI: 10.1002/anie.202521138 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [19301] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: The hydrophobic effect is a central force in molecular recognition, typically attributed to the ordering of water molecules around apolar groups. Hydrophobic interaction sites on proteins are therefore readily predicted based on surface polarity. Yet, in the bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a well-known hydrophobic hot spot is paradoxically lined by a network of water molecules. Here we combine binding assays, structural data, molecular dynamics, and free-energy calculations to resolve this apparent contradiction. We show that the water network functions as a hydrophobic recognition motif that cannot accommodate polar groups without disruption. Instead, as the protein pre-organizes the water network, apolar groups can bind with minimal entropic cost. In turn, they reinforce the surrounding hydrogen-bond network, limiting the mobility of the entire protein–water assembly. With this perspective, we identify water networks potentially functioning as hydrophobic motifs in other pharmacological targets, revealing a general but overlooked recognition element with broad implications in drug discovery and protein design.	Nov 2025
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)	Binding‐site purification of actives (B‐SPA) enables efficient large‐scale progression of fragment hits by combining multi‐step array synthesis with HT crystallography Harold Grosjean , Anthony Aimon , Storm Hassell-Hart , Warren Thompson , Lizbe Koekemoer , James Bennett , Anthony Bradley , Cameron Anderson , Conor Wild , William J. Bradshaw , Edward A. Fitzgerald , Tobias Krojer , Oleg Fedorov , Philip C. Biggin , John Spencer , Frank Von Delft Angewandte Chemie International Edition DOI: 10.1002/anie.202424373 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [19301] Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Fragment approaches are long-established in target-based ligand discovery yet their full transformative potential lies dormant, because progressing hits to potency remains underserved by methodological work. The only credible progression paradigm is multiple cycles of costly conventional design-make-test-analyse (DMTA) medicinal chemistry, necessitating picking winners early and discarding others. It is effective to cheaply parallelize large numbers of non-uniform multi-step reactions, because, even without compound purification, a high-quality readout of binding is available, viz. crystallography. This can detect low-level binding of slightly active compounds, which the targeted binding site extracts directly from crude reaction mixtures (CRMs). In this proof-of-concept study, we expand a fragment hit from a crystal-based screen of the bromodomain PHIP2, using array synthesis on low-cost robotics to implement 6 independent multi-step reaction routes of up to 5 steps, attempting the synthesis of 1876 diverse expansions, designs entirely driven by synthetic tractability. The expected product was present in 1108 (59%) CRMs, detected by automated mass spectrometry, 22 individual products were resolved in crystal structures of CRMs added to crystals, providing an initial SAR map, pose stability in 19 and instability in 3 products and resolved stereochemical preference. One compound showed biochemical potency (IC50=34 μM) and affinity (Kd=50 μM) after resynthesis.	Feb 2025
	Accelerating drug discovery with high-throughput crystallographic fragment screening and structural enablement Daren Fearon , Ailsa Powell , Alice Douangamath , Alexandre Dias , Charles W. E. Tomlinson , Blake H. Balcomb , Jasmin C. Aschenbrenner , Anthony Aimon , Isabel A. Barker , Jose Brandao-Neto , Patrick Collins , Louise E. Dunnett , Michael Fairhead , Richard J. Gildea , Mathew Golding , Tyler Gorrie-Stone , Paul V. Hathaway , Lizbe Koekemoer , Tobias Krojer , Ryan Lithgo , Elizabeth M. Maclean , Peter G. Marples , Xiaomin Ni , Rachael Skyner , Romain Talon , Warren Thompson , Conor F. Wild , Max Winokan , Nathan D. Wright , Graeme Winter , Elizabeth J. Shotton , Frank Von Delft Applied Research DOI: 10.1002/appl.202400192 Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Fragment-based drug discovery is a well-established method for the identification of chemical starting points for development into clinical candidates. Historically, crystallographic fragment screening was perceived to be low-throughput and time consuming. However, thanks to advances in synchrotron capabilities and the introduction of dedicated facilities, such as the XChem platform at Diamond Light Source, there have been substantial improvements in throughput and integration between sample preparation, data collection and hit identification. Herein we share our experiences of establishing a crystallographic fragment screening facility, our learnings from operating a user programme for ten years and our perspective on applying structural enablement to rapidly progress initial fragment hits to lead-like molecules.	Nov 2024
I02-Macromolecular Crystallography I03-Macromolecular Crystallography I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength) I04-Macromolecular Crystallography	5-Carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline is a broad spectrum 2-oxoglutarate oxygenase inhibitor which causes iron translocation Richard J. Hopkinson , Anthony Tumber , Clarence Yapp , Rasheduzzaman Chowdhury , Weishen Aik , Ka Hing Che , Xuan Shirley Li , Jan B. L. Kristensen , Oliver N. F. King , Mun Chiang Chan , Kar Kheng Yeoh , Hwanho Choi , Louise Walport , Cyrille C. Thinnes , Jacob T. Bush , Clarisse Lejeune , Anna M. Rydzik , Nathan R. Rose , Eleanor A. Bagg , Michael A. Mcdonough , Tobias J. Krojer , Wyatt W. Yue , Stanley S. Ng , Lars Olsen , Paul E. Brennan , Udo Oppermann , Susanne Müller , Robert J. Klose , Peter J. Ratcliffe , Christopher J. Schofield , Akane Kawamura Chemical Science 4 DOI: 10.1039/c3sc51122g Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: 2-Oxoglutarate and iron dependent oxygenases are therapeutic targets for human diseases. Using a representative 2OG oxygenase panel, we compare the inhibitory activities of 5-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline (IOX1) and 4-carboxy-8-hydroxyquinoline (4C8HQ) with that of two other commonly used 2OG oxygenase inhibitors, N-oxalylglycine (NOG) and 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA). The results reveal that IOX1 has a broad spectrum of activity, as demonstrated by the inhibition of transcription factor hydroxylases, representatives of all 2OG dependent histone demethylase subfamilies, nucleic acid demethylases and γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase. Cellular assays show that, unlike NOG and 2,4-PDCA, IOX1 is active against both cytosolic and nuclear 2OG oxygenases without ester derivatisation. Unexpectedly, crystallographic studies on these oxygenases demonstrate that IOX1, but not 4C8HQ, can cause translocation of the active site metal, revealing a rare example of protein ligand-induced metal movement.	Jun 2023
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength) Krios II-Titan Krios II at Diamond	Allosteric regulation and crystallographic fragment screening of SARS-CoV-2 NSP15 endoribonuclease Andre Schutzer Godoy , Aline Minalli Nakamura , Alice Douangamath , Yun Song , Gabriela Dias Noske , Victor Oliveira Gawriljuk , Rafaela Sachetto Fernandes , Humberto D'Muniz Pereira , Ketllyn irene Zagato Oliveira , Daren Fearon , Alexandre Dias , Tobias Krojer , Michael Fairhead , Alisa Powell , Louise Dunnett , Jose Brandao-Neto , Rachael Skyner , Rod Chalk , Dávid Bajusz , Miklós Bege , Anikó Borbás , György Miklós Keserű , Frank Von Delft , Glaucius Oliva Nucleic Acids Research 579 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad314 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [27083, 27023] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The NSP15 endoribonuclease enzyme, known as NendoU, is highly conserved and plays a critical role in the ability of the virus to evade the immune system. NendoU is a promising target for the development of new antiviral drugs. However, the complexity of the enzyme's structure and kinetics, along with the broad range of recognition sequences and lack of structural complexes, hampers the development of inhibitors. Here, we performed enzymatic characterization of NendoU in its monomeric and hexameric form, showing that hexamers are allosteric enzymes with a positive cooperative index, and with no influence of manganese on enzymatic activity. Through combining cryo-electron microscopy at different pHs, X-ray crystallography and biochemical and structural analysis, we showed that NendoU can shift between open and closed forms, which probably correspond to active and inactive states, respectively. We also explored the possibility of NendoU assembling into larger supramolecular structures and proposed a mechanism for allosteric regulation. In addition, we conducted a large fragment screening campaign against NendoU and identified several new allosteric sites that could be targeted for the development of new inhibitors. Overall, our findings provide insights into the complex structure and function of NendoU and offer new opportunities for the development of inhibitors.	Apr 2023
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)	Novel starting points for human glycolate oxidase inhibitors, revealed by crystallography-based fragment screening Sabrina R. Mackinnon , Gustavo A. Bezerra , Tobias Krojer , Tamas Szommer , Frank Von Delft , Paul E. Brennan , Wyatt W. Yue Frontiers In Chemistry 10 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.844598 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [18145] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Primary hyperoxaluria type I (PH1) is caused by AGXT gene mutations that decrease the functional activity of alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase. A build-up of the enzyme’s substrate, glyoxylate, results in excessive deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the renal tract, leading to debilitating renal failure. Oxidation of glycolate by glycolate oxidase (or hydroxy acid oxidase 1, HAO1) is a major cellular source of glyoxylate, and siRNA studies have shown phenotypic rescue of PH1 by the knockdown of HAO1, representing a promising inhibitor target. Here, we report the discovery and optimization of six low-molecular-weight fragments, identified by crystallography-based fragment screening, that bind to two different sites on the HAO1 structure: at the active site and an allosteric pocket above the active site. The active site fragments expand known scaffolds for substrate-mimetic inhibitors to include more chemically attractive molecules. The allosteric fragments represent the first report of non-orthosteric inhibition of any hydroxy acid oxidase and hold significant promise for improving inhibitor selectivity. The fragment hits were verified to bind and inhibit HAO1 in solution by fluorescence-based activity assay and surface plasmon resonance. Further optimization cycle by crystallography and biophysical assays have generated two hit compounds of micromolar (44 and 158 µM) potency that do not compete with the substrate and provide attractive starting points for the development of potent and selective HAO1 inhibitors.	May 2022
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)	Discovery of novel BRD4 ligand scaffolds by automated navigation of the fragment chemical space Serena G. Piticchio , Miriam Martinez-Cartro , Salvatore Scaffidi , Moira Rachman , Sergio Rodriguez-Arevalo , Ainoa Sanchez-Arfelis , Carmen Escolano , Sarah Picaud , Tobias Krojer , Panagis Filippakopoulos , Frank Von Delft , Carles Galdeano , Xavier Barril Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01108 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [15433, 19301] Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a very effective hit identification method. However, the evolution of fragment hits into suitable leads remains challenging and largely artisanal. Fragment evolution is often scaffold-centric, meaning that its outcome depends crucially on the chemical structure of the starting fragment. Considering that fragment screening libraries cover only a small proportion of the corresponding chemical space, hits should be seen as probes highlighting privileged areas of the chemical space rather than actual starting points. We have developed an automated computational pipeline to mine the chemical space around any specific fragment hit, rapidly finding analogues that share a common interaction motif but are structurally novel and diverse. On a prospective application on the bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), starting from a known fragment, the platform yields active molecules with nonobvious scaffold changes. The procedure is fast and inexpensive and has the potential to uncover many hidden opportunities in FBDD.	Dec 2021
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography	Structure and activation mechanism of the human liver-type glutaminase GLS2 Igor M. Ferreira , José Edwin N. Quesñay , Alliny C. S. Bastos , Camila T. Rodrigues , Melanie Vollmar , Tobias Krojer , Claire Strain-Damerell , Nicola A. Burgess-Brown , Frank Von Delft , Wyatt W. Yue , Sandra M G. Dias , Andre L. B. Ambrosio Biochimie 185, 96 - 104 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.03.009 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [8421] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Cancer cells exhibit an altered metabolic phenotype, consuming higher levels of the amino acid glutamine. This metabolic reprogramming depends on increased mitochondrial glutaminase activity to convert glutamine to glutamate, an essential precursor for bioenergetic and biosynthetic processes in cells. Mammals encode the kidney-type (GLS) and liver-type (GLS2) glutaminase isozymes. GLS is overexpressed in cancer and associated with enhanced malignancy. On the other hand, GLS2 is either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene, depending on the tumor type. The GLS structure and activation mechanism are well known, while the structural determinants for GLS2 activation remain elusive. Here, we describe the structure of the human glutaminase domain of GLS2, followed by the functional characterization of the residues critical for its activity. Increasing concentrations of GLS2 lead to tetramer stabilization, a process enhanced by phosphate. In GLS2, the so-called “lid loop” is in a rigid open conformation, which may be related to its higher affinity for phosphate and lower affinity for glutamine; hence, it has lower glutaminase activity than GLS. The lower affinity of GLS2 for glutamine is also related to its less electropositive catalytic site than GLS, as indicated by a Thr225Lys substitution within the catalytic site decreasing the GLS2 glutamine concentration corresponding to half-maximal velocity (K0.5). Finally, we show that the Lys253Ala substitution (corresponding to the Lys320Ala in the GLS “activation” loop, formerly known as the “gating” loop) renders a highly active protein in stable tetrameric form. We conclude that the “activation” loop, a known target for GLS inhibition, may also be a drug target for GLS2.	Jun 2021
NONE-No attached Diamond beamline	Achieving efficient fragment screening at XChem facility at Diamond Light Source Alice Douangamath , Alisa Powell , Daren Fearon , Patrick M. Collins , Romain Talon , Tobias Krojer , Rachael Skyner , Jose Brandao-Neto , Louise Dunnett , Alexandre Dias , Anthony Aimon , Nicholas M. Pearce , Conor Wild , Tyler J. Gorrie-Stone , Frank Von Delft Journal Of Visualized Experiments DOI: 10.3791/62414 Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: In fragment-based drug discovery, hundreds or often thousands of compounds smaller than ~300 Da are tested against the protein of interest to identify chemical entities that can be developed into potent drug candidates. Since the compounds are small, interactions are weak, and the screening method must therefore be highly sensitive; moreover, structural information tends to be crucial for elaborating these hits into lead-like compounds. Therefore, protein crystallography has always been a gold-standard technique, yet historically too challenging to find widespread use as a primary screen. Initial XChem experiments were demonstrated in 2014 and then trialed with academic and industrial collaborators to validate the process. Since then, a large research effort and significant beamtime have streamlined sample preparation, developed a fragment library with rapid follow-up possibilities, automated and improved the capability of I04-1 beamline for unattended data collection, and implemented new tools for data management, analysis and hit identification. XChem is now a facility for large-scale crystallographic fragment screening, supporting the entire crystals-to-deposition process, and accessible to academic and industrial users worldwide. The peer-reviewed academic user program has been actively developed since 2016, to accommodate projects from as broad a scientific scope as possible, including well-validated as well as exploratory projects. Academic access is allocated through biannual calls for peer-reviewed proposals, and proprietary work is arranged by Diamond's Industrial Liaison group. This workflow has already been routinely applied to over a hundred targets from diverse therapeutic areas, and effectively identifies weak binders (1%-30% hit rate), which both serve as high-quality starting points for compound design and provide extensive structural information on binding sites. The resilience of the process was demonstrated by continued screening of SARS-CoV-2 targets during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a 3-week turn-around for the main protease.	May 2021
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)	Fragment binding to the Nsp3 macrodomain of SARS-CoV-2 identified through crystallographic screening and computational docking Marion Schuller , Galen J. Correy , Stefan Gahbauer , Daren Fearon , Taiasean Wu , Roberto Efraín Díaz , Iris D. Young , Luan Carvalho Martins , Dominique H. Smith , Ursula Schulze-Gahmen , Tristan W. Owens , Ishan Deshpande , Gregory E. Merz , Aye C. Thwin , Justin T. Biel , Jessica K. Peters , Michelle Moritz , Nadia Herrera , Huong T. Kratochvil , Anthony Aimon , James Bennett , Jose Brandao Neto , Aina E. Cohen , Alexandre Dias , Alice Douangamath , Louise Dunnett , Oleg Fedorov , Matteo P. Ferla , Martin R. Fuchs , Tyler J. Gorrie-Stone , James M. Holton , Michael G. Johnson , Tobias Krojer , George Meigs , Alisa J. Powell , Johannes Gregor Matthias Rack , Victor Rangel , Silvia Russi , Rachael E. Skyner , Clyde A. Smith , Alexei S. Soares , Jennifer L. Wierman , Kang Zhu , Peter O’brien , Natalia Jura , Alan Ashworth , John J. Irwin , Michael C. Thompson , Jason E. Gestwicki , Frank Von Delft , Brian K. Shoichet , James S. Fraser , Ivan Ahel Science Advances 7 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf8711 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [27001] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) macrodomain within the nonstructural protein 3 counteracts host-mediated antiviral adenosine diphosphate–ribosylation signaling. This enzyme is a promising antiviral target because catalytic mutations render viruses nonpathogenic. Here, we report a massive crystallographic screening and computational docking effort, identifying new chemical matter primarily targeting the active site of the macrodomain. Crystallographic screening of 2533 diverse fragments resulted in 214 unique macrodomain-binders. An additional 60 molecules were selected from docking more than 20 million fragments, of which 20 were crystallographically confirmed. X-ray data collection to ultra-high resolution and at physiological temperature enabled assessment of the conformational heterogeneity around the active site. Several fragment hits were confirmed by solution binding using three biophysical techniques (differential scanning fluorimetry, homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence, and isothermal titration calorimetry). The 234 fragment structures explore a wide range of chemotypes and provide starting points for development of potent SARS-CoV-2 macrodomain inhibitors.	Apr 2021

Publications Database

Search Results

You searched for all publications:

Search Again...

Subject Areas (check all that apply) select all

Instruments used to collect data (check all that apply) select all

Collaborations involved (check all that apply) select all

Diamond Offline Facilities used

Relevant Technical Areas (check all that apply) select all

Menu for Anonymous User