I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[12633]
Abstract: We report an engineered panel of ene-reductases (ERs) from Thermus scotoductus SA-01 (TsER) that combines control over facial selectivity in the reduction of electron deficient Cdouble bondC double bonds with thermostability (up to 70 °C), organic solvent tolerance (up to 40 % v/v) and a broad substrate scope (23 compounds, three new to literature). Substrate acceptance and facial selectivity of 3-methylcyclohexenone was rationalized by crystallisation of TsER C25D/I67T and in silico docking. The TsER variant panel shows excellent enantiomeric excess (ee) and yields during bi-phasic preparative scale synthesis, with isolated yield of up to 93 % for 2R,5S-dihydrocarvone (3.6 g). Turnover frequencies (TOF) of approximately 40 000 h−1 were achieved, which are comparable to rates in hetero- and homogeneous metal catalysed hydrogenations. Preliminary batch reactions also demonstrated the reusability of the reaction system by consecutively removing the organic phase (n-pentane) for product removal and replacing with fresh substrate. Four consecutive batches yielded ca. 27 g L−1 R-levodione from a 45 mL aqueous reaction, containing less than 17 mg (10 μM) enzyme and the reaction only stopping because of acidification. The TsER variant panel provides a robust, highly active and stereocomplementary base for further exploitation as a tool in preparative organic synthesis.
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Feb 2021
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[12788]
Abstract: Monoterpenoids offer potential as bio-derived monomer feedstocks for high performance renewable polymers. We describe a biocatalytic route to lactone monomers menthide and dihydrocarvide employing Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) from Pseudomonas sp. HI-70 (CPDMO) and Rhodococcus sp. Phi1 (CHMOPhi1) as an alternative to organic synthesis. The regio-selectivity of dihydrocarvide isomer formation was controlled by site-directed mutagenesis of three key active site residues in CHMOPhi1. A combination of crystal structure determination, molecular dynamics simulations and mechanistic modeling using density functional theory (DFT) on a range of models provides insight into the origins of discrimination of wild type (WT) and a variant CHMOPhi1 for producing different regio-isomers of the lactone product. Ring-opening polymerizations of the resultant lactones using mild metal-organic catalysts demonstrate their utility in polymer production. This semi-synthetic approach utilizing a biocatalytic step, non-petroleum feedstocks and mild polymerization catalysts, allows access to known and also to previously unreported and potentially novel lactone monomers and polymers.
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Mar 2018
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Alistair J.
Scott
,
Ai
Niitsu
,
Huong T.
Kratochvil
,
Eric J. M.
Lang
,
Jason T.
Sengel
,
William M.
Dawson
,
Kozhinjampara R.
Mahendran
,
Marco
Mravic
,
Andrew
Thomson
,
R. Leo
Brady
,
Lijun
Liu
,
Adrian J.
Mulholland
,
Hagan
Bayley
,
William F.
Degrado
,
Mark I.
Wallace
,
Derek N.
Woolfson
Abstract: The design of peptides that assemble in membranes to form functional ion channels is challenging. Specifically, hydrophobic interactions must be designed between the peptides and at the peptide–lipid interfaces simultaneously. Here, we take a multi-step approach towards this problem. First, we use rational de novo design to generate water-soluble α-helical barrels with polar interiors, and confirm their structures using high-resolution X-ray crystallography. These α-helical barrels have water-filled lumens like those of transmembrane channels. Next, we modify the sequences to facilitate their insertion into lipid bilayers. Single-channel electrical recordings and fluorescent imaging of the peptides in membranes show monodisperse, cation-selective channels of unitary conductance. Surprisingly, however, an X-ray structure solved from the lipidic cubic phase for one peptide reveals an alternative state with tightly packed helices and a constricted channel. To reconcile these observations, we perform computational analyses to compare the properties of possible different states of the peptide.
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May 2021
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I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17212]
Abstract: Widespread bacterial resistance to carbapenem antibiotics is an increasing global health concern. Resistance has emerged due to carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes, including metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs), but despite their prevalence and clinical importance, MβL mechanisms are still not fully understood. Carbapenem hydrolysis by MβLs can yield alternative product tautomers with the potential to access different binding modes. Here, we show that a combined approach employing crystallography and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations allow tautomer assignment in MβL:hydrolyzed antibiotic complexes. Molecular simulations also examine (meta)stable species of alternative protonation and tautomeric states, providing mechanistic insights into β-lactam hydrolysis. We report the crystal structure of the hydrolyzed carbapenem ertapenem bound to the L1 MβL from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and model alternative tautomeric and protonation states of both hydrolyzed ertapenem and faropenem (a related penem antibiotic), which display different binding modes with L1. We show how the structures of both complexed β-lactams are best described as the (2S)-imine tautomer with the carboxylate formed after β-lactam ring cleavage deprotonated. Simulations show that enamine tautomer complexes are significantly less stable (e.g., showing partial loss of interactions with the L1 binuclear zinc center) and not consistent with experimental data. Strong interactions of Tyr32 and one zinc ion (Zn1) with ertapenem prevent a C6 group rotation, explaining the different binding modes of the two β-lactams. Our findings establish the relative stability of different hydrolyzed (carba)penem forms in the L1 active site and identify interactions important to stable complex formation, information that should assist inhibitor design for this important antibiotic resistance determinant.
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Oct 2021
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Abstract: We describe de novo-designed α-helical barrels (αHBs) that bind and discriminate between lipophilic biologically active molecules. αHBs have five or more α-helices arranged around central hydrophobic channels the diameters of which scale with oligomer state. We show that pentameric, hexameric, and heptameric αHBs bind the environmentally sensitive dye 1,6-diphenylhexatriene (DPH) in the micromolar range and fluoresce. Displacement of the dye is used to report the binding of nonfluorescent molecules: palmitic acid and retinol bind to all three αHBs with submicromolar inhibitor constants; farnesol binds the hexamer and heptamer; but β-carotene binds only the heptamer. A co-crystal structure of the hexamer with farnesol reveals oriented binding in the center of the hydrophobic channel. Charged side chains engineered into the lumen of the heptamer facilitate binding of polar ligands: a glutamate variant binds a cationic variant of DPH, and introducing lysine allows binding of the biosynthetically important farnesol diphosphate.
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Jul 2018
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NONE-No attached Diamond beamline
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H. T. Henry
Chan
,
Marc A.
Moesser
,
Rebecca K.
Walters
,
Tika R.
Malla
,
Rebecca M.
Twidale
,
Tobias
John
,
Helen M.
Deeks
,
Tristan
Johnston-Wood
,
Victor
Mikhailov
,
Richard B.
Sessions
,
William
Dawson
,
Eidarus
Salah
,
Petra
Lukacik
,
Claire
Strain-Damerell
,
C. David
Owen
,
Takahito
Nakajima
,
Katarzyna
Świderek
,
Alessio
Lodola
,
Vicent
Moliner
,
David R.
Glowacki
,
James
Spencer
,
Martin A.
Walsh
,
Christopher J.
Schofield
,
Luigi
Genovese
,
Deborah K.
Shoemark
,
Adrian J.
Mulholland
,
Fernanda
Duarte
,
Garrett M.
Morris
Open Access
Abstract: The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is central to viral maturation and is a promising drug target, but little is known about structural aspects of how it binds to its 11 natural cleavage sites. We used biophysical and crystallographic data and an array of biomolecular simulation techniques, including automated docking, molecular dynamics (MD) and interactive MD in virtual reality, QM/MM, and linear-scaling DFT, to investigate the molecular features underlying recognition of the natural Mpro substrates. We extensively analysed the subsite interactions of modelled 11-residue cleavage site peptides, crystallographic ligands, and docked COVID Moonshot-designed covalent inhibitors. Our modelling studies reveal remarkable consistency in the hydrogen bonding patterns of the natural Mpro substrates, particularly on the N-terminal side of the scissile bond. They highlight the critical role of interactions beyond the immediate active site in recognition and catalysis, in particular plasticity at the S2 site. Building on our initial Mpro-substrate models, we used predictive saturation variation scanning (PreSaVS) to design peptides with improved affinity. Non-denaturing mass spectrometry and other biophysical analyses confirm these new and effective ‘peptibitors’ inhibit Mpro competitively. Our combined results provide new insights and highlight opportunities for the development of Mpro inhibitors as anti-COVID-19 drugs.
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Oct 2021
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Pharit
Kamsri
,
Chayanin
Hanwarinroj
,
Naruedon
Phusi
,
Thimpika
Pornprom
,
Kampanart
Chayajarus
,
Auradee
Punkvang
,
Nitima
Suttipanta
,
Potjanee
Srimanote
,
Khomson
Suttisintong
,
Chomphunuch
Songsiriritthigul
,
Patchreenart
Saparpakorn
,
Supa
Hannongbua
,
Siriluk
Rattanabunyong
,
Supaporn
Seetaha
,
Kiattawee
Choowongkomon
,
Sanya
Sureram
,
Prasat
Kittakoop
,
Poonpilas
Hongmanee
,
Pitak
Santanirand
,
Zhaoqiang
Chen
,
Weiliang
Zhu
,
Rosemary A
Blood
,
Yuiko
Takebayashi
,
Philip
Hinchliffe
,
Adrian J.
Mulholland
,
James
Spencer
,
Pornpan
Pungpo
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17212]
Abstract: The enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase InhA of M. tuberculosis is an attractive, validated target for anti-tuberculosis drug development. Moreover, direct inhibitors of InhA remain effective against InhA variants with mutations associated with isoniazid resistance, offering the potential for activity against MDR isolates. Here, structure based virtual screening supported by biological assays was applied to identify novel InhA inhibitors as potential anti-tuberculosis agents. High-speed Glide SP docking was initially performed against two conformations of InhA differing in the orientation of the active site Tyr158. The resulting hits were filtered for drug-likeness based on Lipinski's rule and avoidance of PAINS-like properties, and finally subjected to Glide XP docking to improve accuracy. Sixteen compounds were identified and selected for in vitro biological assays, of which two (compounds 1 and 7) showed MIC of 12.5 and 25 µg/ml against M. tuberculosis H37Rv, respectively. Inhibition assays against purified recombinant InhA determined IC50 values for these compounds of 0.38 and 0.22 µM, respectively. A crystal structure of the most potent compound, compound 7, bound to InhA revealed the inhibitor to occupy a hydrophobic pocket implicated in binding the aliphatic portions of InhA substrates but distant from the NADH cofactor, i.e. in a site distinct from those occupied by the great majority of known InhA inhibitors. This compound provides an attractive starting template for ligand optimization aimed at discovery of new and effective compounds against M. tuberculosis that act by targeting InhA.
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Dec 2019
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I02-Macromolecular Crystallography
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Philip
Hinchliffe
,
Qiu E.
Yang
,
Edward
Portal
,
Tom
Young
,
Hui
Li
,
Catherine L.
Tooke
,
Maria J.
Carvalho
,
Neil G.
Paterson
,
Jurgen
Brem
,
Pannika R.
Niumsup
,
Uttapoln
Tansawai
,
Lei
Lei
,
Mei
Li
,
Zhangqi
Shen
,
Yang
Wang
,
Christopher J.
Schofield
,
Adrian J
Mulholland
,
Jianzhong
Shen
,
Natalie
Fey
,
Timothy R.
Walsh
,
James
Spencer
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[12342]
Open Access
Abstract: The polymixin colistin is a “last line” antibiotic against extensively-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, the mcr-1 gene was identified as a plasmid-mediated resistance mechanism in human and animal Enterobacteriaceae, with a wide geographical distribution and many producer strains resistant to multiple other antibiotics. mcr-1 encodes a membrane-bound enzyme catalysing phosphoethanolamine transfer onto bacterial lipid A. Here we present crystal structures revealing the MCR-1 periplasmic, catalytic domain to be a zinc metalloprotein with an alkaline phosphatase/sulphatase fold containing three disulphide bonds. One structure captures a phosphorylated form representing the first intermediate in the transfer reaction. Mutation of residues implicated in zinc or phosphoethanolamine binding, or catalytic activity, restores colistin susceptibility of recombinant E. coli. Zinc deprivation reduces colistin MICs in MCR-1-producing laboratory, environmental, animal and human E. coli. Conversely, over-expression of the disulphide isomerase DsbA increases the colistin MIC of laboratory E. coli. Preliminary density functional theory calculations on cluster models suggest a single zinc ion may be sufficient to support phosphoethanolamine transfer. These data demonstrate the importance of zinc and disulphide bonds to MCR-1 activity, suggest that assays under zinc-limiting conditions represent a route to phenotypic identification of MCR-1 producing E. coli, and identify key features of the likely catalytic mechanism.
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Jan 2017
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I02-Macromolecular Crystallography
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[8922, 12342]
Open Access
Abstract: In coiled-coil (CC) protein structures α-helices wrap around one another to form rope-like assemblies. Most natural and designed CCs have two–four helices and cyclic (Cn) or dihedral (Dn) symmetry. Increasingly, CCs with five or more helices are being reported. A subset of these higher-order CCs is of interest as they have accessible central channels that can be functionalised; they are α-helical barrels. These extended cavities are surprising given the drive to maximise buried hydrophobic surfaces during protein folding and assembly in water. Here, we show that α-helical barrels can be maintained by the strategic placement of β-branched aliphatic residues lining the lumen. Otherwise, the structures collapse or adjust to give more-complex multi-helix assemblies without Cn or Dn symmetry. Nonetheless, the structural hallmark of CCs—namely, knobs-into-holes packing of side chains between helices—is maintained leading to classes of CCs hitherto unobserved in nature or accessed by design.
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Oct 2018
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17212]
Open Access
Abstract: β-Lactamase production is the major β-lactam resistance mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria. β-Lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) efficacious against serine β-lactamase (SBL) producers, especially strains carrying the widely disseminated class A enzymes, are required. Relebactam, a diazabicyclooctane (DBO) BLI is in phase-3 clinical trials in combination with imipenem, for treatment of infections by multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. We show that relebactam inhibits five clinically-important class A SBLs (despite their differing spectra of activity), representing both chromosomal and plasmid-borne enzymes, i.e. the extended spectrum β-lactamases L2 (inhibition constant 3 μM) and CTX-M-15 (21 μM); and the carbapenemases, KPC-2, -3 and -4 (1 - 5 μM). Against purified class A SBLs, relebactam is an inferior inhibitor compared to the clinically approved DBO avibactam, (9 to 120-fold differences in IC50). Minimum inhibitory concentration assays indicate relebactam potentiates β-lactam (imipenem) activity against KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae with similar potency to avibactam (with ceftazidime). Relebactam is less effective than avibactam in combination with aztreonam against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia K279a. X-ray crystal structures of relebactam bound to CTX-M-15, L2, KPC-2, KPC-3 and KPC-4 reveal its C2 linked piperidine ring can sterically clash with Asn104 (CTX-M-15) or His/Trp105 (L2 and KPCs), rationalizing its poorer inhibition activity compared to avibactam, which has a smaller C2 carboxyamide group. Mass spectrometry and crystallographic data show slow, pH-dependent relebactam desulfation by KPC-2, -3 and -4. This comprehensive comparison of relebactam binding across five clinically-important class A SBLs will inform the design of future DBOs with the aim of improving clinical efficacy of BLI:β-lactam combinations.
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Aug 2019
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