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Molecular docking and 3-D-QSAR studies on the possible antimalarial mechanism of artemisinin analogues.

Artemisinin (Qinghaosu) is a natural constituent found in Artemisia annua L, which is an effective drug against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains and cerebral malaria. The antimalarial activities of artemisinin and its analogues appear to be mediated by the interactions of the drugs with hemin. In order to understand the antimalarial mechanism and the relationship between the physicochemical properties and the antimalarial activities of artemisinin analogues, we performed molecular docking simulations to probe the interactions of these analogues with hemin, and then performed three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3-D-QSAR) studies on the basis of the docking models employing comparative molecular force fields analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). Molecular docking simulations generated probable 'bioactive' conformations of artemisinin analogues and provided a new insight into the antimalarial mechanism. The subsequent partial least squares (PLS) analysis indicates that the calculate binding energies correlate well with the experimental activity values. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models based on the bioactive conformations proved to have good predictive ability and in turn match well with the docking result, which further testified the reliability of the docking model. Combining these results, that is molecular docking and 3-D-QSAR, together, the binding model and activity of new synthesized artemisinin derivatives were well explained.

Antimalarials↗

A base change in the catalytic core of the hairpin ribozyme perturbs function but not domain docking.

The hairpin ribozyme is a small endonucleolytic RNA motif with potential for targeted RNA inactivation. It optimally cleaves substrates containing the sequence 5'-GU-3' immediately 5' of G. Previously, we have shown that tertiary structure docking of its two domains is an essential step in the reaction pathway of the hairpin ribozyme. Here we show, combining biochemical and fluorescence structure and function probing techniques, that any mutation of the substrate base U leads to a docked RNA fold, yet decreases cleavage activity. The docked mutant complex shares with the wild-type complex a common interdomain distance as measured by time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) as well as the same solvent-inaccessible core as detected by hydroxyl-radical protection; hence, the mutant complex appears nativelike. FRET experiments also indicate that mutant docking is kinetically more complex, yet with an equilibrium shifted toward the docked conformation. Using 2-aminopurine as a site-specific fluorescent probe in place of the wild-type U, a local structural rearrangement in the substrate is observed. This substrate straining accompanies global domain docking and involves unstacking of the base and restriction of its conformational dynamics, as detected by time-resolved 2-aminopurine fluorescence spectroscopy. These data appear to invoke a mechanism of functional interference by a single base mutation, in which the ribozyme-substrate complex becomes trapped in a nativelike fold preceding the chemical transition state.

2-Aminopurine↗

Identification of the basic residues of cytochrome f responsible for electrostatic docking interactions with plastocyanin in vitro: relevance to the electron transfer reaction in vivo.

The prominent basic patch seen in the atomic structure of the lumen-side domain of turnip cytochrome f, consisting of Arg209 and Lys187, 58, 65, and 66, was proposed to be an electrostatically complementary docking site for its physiological electron acceptor, plastocyanin [Martinez, S. E., Huang, D., Szczepaniak, A., Cramer, W. A., and Smith, J. L. (1994) Structure 2, 95-105]. This proposal agrees with solution studies on the cytochrome f/plastocyanin electron-transfer reaction that showed a major contribution of electrostatic interactions to the docking, but not with studies on the oxidation rate of cyt f in vivo using mutants in which the basic patch of cyt f was neutralized. The apparent contradiction might be explained by an unknown electron acceptor protein for cyt f. However, (i) flash-induced oxidation of cyt f is absent in a PC-deficient mutant. (ii) Lys58, 65, and 66 in the large domain and Lys188 and 189 in the small domain are major contributors to the ionic strength dependence of the electron-transfer reaction in solution. Replacement of Lys58 and 65 by neutral residues and of Lys66 by the acidic residue Glu66 resulted in a >10-fold decrease in the rate of electron transfer in solution and complete loss of its ionic strength dependence. Replacement of Lys188 and Lys189 in the small domain of cyt f resulted in a 3-4-fold decrease in the second-order rate constant and a smaller dependence of the overall rate of electron transfer on ionic strength, corresponding to a loss of two positive charges. (iii) Acidification of the thylakoid lumen cannot explain the absence of electrostatic interactions. (iv) Changing the five lysines to acidic residues did not result in any significant retardation of the rate of cyt f oxidation in vivo. If the docking of cyt f and plastocyanin in vivo is mediated by basic residues of cyt f, they are different from those that mediate electron transfer in vitro or that are implicated by simulations of electrostatic interactions of the docking. Alternatively, docking of cyt f/PC in vivo is limited by spatial constraints or release of PC from P700 that precludes a rate-limiting mediation of the cyt f/PC reaction by specific electrostatic interactions. The cyt f/PC system in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is the first electron-transfer couple for which the role of electrostatics in mediating the docking reaction has been studied both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗

Studying enzyme binding specificity in acetylcholinesterase using a combined molecular dynamics and multiple docking approach.

A combined molecular dynamics simulation and multiple ligand docking approach is applied to study the binding specificity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with its natural substrate acetylcholine (ACh), a family of substrate analogues, and choline. Calculated docking energies are well correlated to experimental k(cat)/K(M) values, as well as to experimental binding affinities of a related series of TMTFA inhibitors. The "esteratic" and "anionic" subsites are found to act together to achieve substrate binding specificity. We find that the presence of ACh in the active site of AChE not only stabilizes the setup of the catalytic triad but also tightens both subsites to achieve better binding. The docking energy gained from this induced fit is 0.7 kcal/mol for ACh. For the binding of the substrate tailgroup to the anionic subsite, both the size and the positive charge of the tailgroup are important. The removal of the positive charge leads to a weaker binding of 1 kcal/mol loss in docking energy. Substituting each tail methyl group with hydrogen results in both an incremental loss in docking energy and also a decrease in the percentage of structures docked in the active site correctly set up for catalysis.

Acetophenones↗

A new role for a SNARE protein as a regulator of the Ypt7/Rab-dependent stage of docking.

The homotypic fusion of yeast vacuoles occurs in an ordered cascade of priming, docking, and fusion. The linkage between these steps has so far remained unclear. We now report that Vam7p (the vacuolar SNAP-23/25 homolog) signals from the cis-SNARE complex to Ypt7p (the vacuolar Rab/Ypt) to initiate the docking process. After Vam7p has been released from the cis-SNARE complex by Sec18p-mediated priming, it is still required for Ypt7p-dependent docking and it needs Ypt7p to remain on the vacuole. Thus, after priming, Vam7p is released from the vacuole altogether if Ypt7p has been extracted by Gdi1p or inactivated by antibody but is not released if docking is blocked simply by vacuole dilution; it is therefore Ypt7p function, and not docking per se, that retains Vam7p. In accord with this finding, cells deleted for the gene encoding Ypt7 have normal amounts of Vam7p but have little Vam7p on their isolated vacuoles. Interaction of Vam7p and Ypt7p is further indicated by two-hybrid analysis [Uetz, P., Giot, L., Cagney, G., Mansfield, T. A., Judson, R. S., Knight, J. R., Lockshon, D., Narayan, V., Srinivasan, M., Pochart, P., et al. (2000) Nature (London) 403, 623-627] and by the effect of Vam7p on the association of the Rab/Ypt-effector HOPS complex (homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting; Vam2p and Vam6p plus four vacuole protein sorting class C proteins) with Ypt7p. Vam7p provides a functional link between the priming step, which releases it from the cis-SNARE complex, and docking.

Membrane Proteins↗

Previously identified protein of uncertain function is karyopherin alpha and together with karyopherin beta docks import substrate at nuclear pore complexes.

Previously, we had purified a cytosolic protein complex, termed karyopherin, that functions in docking import substrate at the nuclear envelope in digitonin-permeabilized cells and also had molecularly cloned and sequenced its 97-kDa beta subunit. We now report that the karyopherin alpha subunit is the previously identified protein NPI-1/SRP-1 of hitherto uncertain function. Using purified recombinant karyopherin alpha or beta subunit, we showed that neither karyopherin alpha nor karyopherin beta alone was sufficient for docking of import substrate at the nuclear envelope. Docking occurred only when both subunits were present. Moreover, docking of import substrate by the two recombinant karyopherin subunits was productive, as it led to nuclear internalization of the docked substrate in the presence of additional, previously characterized cytosolic factors. In a binding assay using immobilized karyopherin alpha and beta subunits and import substrate as a ligand, we found that only karyopherin alpha bound ligand. We suggest that karyopherin beta functions as an adaptor that binds both to karyopherin alpha and to any of a large number of docking sites that are represented by a repetitive peptide motif containing nucleoporins on both the cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic side of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), bidirectionally ferrying a complex of karyopherin alpha-substrate across the NPC.

Animals↗

A method for biomolecular structural recognition and docking allowing conformational flexibility.

In this work, we present an algorithm developed to handle biomolecular structural recognition problems, as part of an interdisciplinary research endeavor of the Computer Vision and Molecular Biology fields. A key problem in rational drug design and in biomolecular structural recognition is the generation of binding modes between two molecules, also known as molecular docking. Geometrical fitness is a necessary condition for molecular interaction. Hence, docking a ligand (e.g., a drug molecule or a protein molecule), to a protein receptor (e.g., enzyme), involves recognition of molecular surfaces. Conformational transitions by "hinge-bending" involves rotational movements of relatively rigid parts with respect to each other. The generation of docked binding modes between two associating molecules depends on their three dimensional structures (3-D) and their conformational flexibility. In comparison to the particular case of rigid-body docking, the computational difficulty grows considerably when taking into account the additional degrees of freedom intrinsic to the flexible molecular docking problem. Previous docking techniques have enabled hinge movements only within small ligands. Partial flexibility in the receptor molecule is enabled by a few techniques. Hinge-bending motions of protein receptors domains are not addressed by these methods, although these types of transitions are significant, e.g., in enzymes activity. Our approach allows hinge induced motions to exist in either the receptor or the ligand molecules of diverse sizes. We allow domains/subdomains/group of atoms movements in either of the associating molecules. We achieve this by adapting a technique developed in Computer Vision and Robotics for the efficient recognition of partially occluded articulated objects. These types of objects consist of rigid parts which are connected by rotary joints (hinges). Our method is based on an extension and generalization of the Hough transform and the Geometric Hashing paradigms for rigid object recognition. We show experimental results obtained by the successful application of the algorithm to cases of bound and unbound molecular complexes, yielding fast matching times. While the "correct" molecular conformations of the known complexes are obtained with small RMS distances, additional, predictive good-fitting binding modes are generated as well. We conclude by discussing the algorithm's implications and extensions, as well as its application to investigations of protein structures in Molecular Biology and recognition problems in Computer Vision.

Algorithms↗

Initial docking of ER-derived vesicles requires Uso1p and Ypt1p but is independent of SNARE proteins.

ER-to-Golgi transport in yeast may be reproduced in vitro with washed membranes, purified proteins (COPII, Uso1p and LMA1) and energy. COPII coated vesicles that have budded from the ER are freely diffusible but then dock to Golgi membranes upon the addition of Uso1p. LMA1 and Sec18p are required for vesicle fusion after Uso1p function. Here, we report that the docking reaction is sensitive to excess levels of Sec19p (GDI), a treatment that removes the GTPase, Ypt1p. Once docked, however, vesicle fusion is no longer sensitive to GDI. In vitro binding experiments demonstrate that the amount of Uso1p associated with membranes is reduced when incubated with GDI and correlates with the level of membrane-bound Ypt1p, suggesting that this GTPase regulates Uso1p binding to membranes. To determine the influence of SNARE proteins on the vesicle docking step, thermosensitive mutations in Sed5p, Bet1p, Bos1p and Sly1p that prevent ER-to-Golgi transport in vitro at restrictive temperatures were employed. These mutations do not interfere with Uso1p-mediated docking, but block membrane fusion. We propose that an initial vesicle docking event of ER-derived vesicles, termed tethering, depends on Uso1p and Ypt1p but is independent of SNARE proteins.

Animals↗

An ERK2 docking site in the Pointed domain distinguishes a subset of ETS transcription factors.

The ETS transcription factors perform distinct biological functions despite conserving a highly similar DNA-binding domain. One distinguishing property of a subset of ETS proteins is a conserved region of 80 amino acids termed the Pointed (PNT) domain. Using enzyme kinetics we determined that the Ets-1 PNT domain contains an ERK2 docking site. The docking site enhances the efficiency of phosphorylation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) site N-terminal to the PNT domain. The site enhances ERK2 binding rather than catalysis. Three hydrophobic residues are involved in docking, and the previously determined NMR structure indicates that these residues are clustered on the surface of the Ets-1 PNT domain. The docking site function is conserved in the PNT domain of the highly related Ets-2 but not in the ets family member GABPalpha. Ablation of the docking site in Ets-1 and Ets-2 prevented Ras pathway-mediated enhancement of the transactivation function of these proteins. This study provides structural insight into the function of a MAPK docking site and describes a unique activity for the PNT domain among a subset of ets family members.

3T3 Cells↗

Docking structures of domains into maps from cryo-electron microscopy using local correlation.

Accurate maps of large macromolecular complexes can be calculated from cryo-electron micrographs of non-crystalline specimens to resolutions of about 10 A. A method to dock the atomic structures of domains solved by X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance into cryo-EM maps is presented. Domains can be docked independently into large complexes without prior definition of the boundaries. No special symmetry is assumed and the procedure is suitable for general application to almost any system where a cryo-EM map (at 15 A resolution or better) of a complex has been obtained and the atomic structures of the components are available. This is achieved through use of a real-space density-matching procedure based on local correlation. A complete asymmetric unit search correlating a density object derived from the atomic coordinates and the density of the EM map is performed. The correlation coefficient is calculated locally in real space using only values of the search object and corresponding samples extracted from the EM map which are under the 'footprint' of the positioned search object. The procedure has been demonstrated by docking the domains of GroEL from the crystal structure into a cryo-EM map Fourier filtered to 12 or 15 A resolution. The correct positions were found without applying any additional constraints. A model of the oligomer built from the docked domains compared favourably with the known crystal structure, confirming the validity of the approach. The procedure is designed to facilitate the incorporation of additional constraints on the docking solutions, which could help to dock using lower resolution maps.

Algorithms↗

Acute cortisol responses of lambs castrated and docked using rubber rings with or without a castration clamp.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma cortisol response in lambs castrated and docked by three different methods (ring castration and tail docking, ring and clamp castration and tail docking; ring and clamp castration and ring tail docking) for 4 h after treatment. DESIGN: A physiological study with controls. PROCEDURE: A rubber ring was applied to the scrotum. Then the castration clamp was placed, distal to the ring, on each spermatic cord such that there was no overlap of the crush lines. RESULTS: There were no differences in the cortisol secretion of the lambs castrated and tail docked by the ring only and by the ring plus castration clamp methods. Using the castration clamp in addition to the ring on the tail had no effect on cortisol secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Using the castration clamp did not appear to reduce the cortisol response to ring castration and docking, as demonstrated elsewhere, because the areas of uncrushed tissue between the two castration clamp crush lines allowed nociception from ischemic scrotal tissue to be transmitted cranially via undamaged nerve fibers.

Analysis of Variance↗

Lamb tail docking: a controlled field study of the effects of tail amputation on health and productivity.

A detailed study of the effects of tail docking on lamb health and productivity was prompted by current concern about the welfare aspects of lamb tail amputation. Using a controlled field trial, comparing over 3000 docked and undocked lambs on seven farms, the effects of tail docking on mortality, blowfly strike and production variables were examined. The incidence of blowfly strike was strongly and consistently higher in undocked than docked lambs (rate ratio 6.03, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 2.99 to 12.19 for male lambs and 4.25, 95 per cent CI 2.25 to 8.01 for female lambs). The incidence of faecal soiling of the breech was slightly higher in undocked lambs and was identified as an important independent risk factor for blowfly strike. Both the mortality and production parameters were similar for docked and undocked lambs. It was concluded that tail docking protected against blowfly strike, with little evidence of any detrimental effect on lamb mortality and production.

Amputation, Surgical↗

Acid prohormone sequence determines size, shape, and docking of secretory vesicles in atrial myocytes.

How vesicles are born in the trans-Golgi network and reach their docking sites at the plasma membrane is still largely unknown and is investigated in the present study on live, primary cultured atrial cardiomyocytes. Secretory vesicles (n=422) are visualized by expressing fusion proteins of proatrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) and green fluorescent protein. Myocytes expressing fusion proteins with intact proANP display two populations of fluorescent vesicles with apparent diameters of 120 and 175 nm, moving at a top velocity of 0.3 microm/s. The number of docked vesicles is significantly correlated with the number of mobile vesicles (r=0.71, P<0.0005). The deletion of the acidic N-terminal proANP[1-44] or point mutations (glu(23,24)-->gln(23,24)) change size and shape-but not velocity-of the vesicles, and, strikingly, abolish their docking at the plasma membrane. The shapes thus change from spheres to larger, irregular floppy bags or vesicle trains. Deletion of the C-terminal proANP[45-127], where the ANP and its disulfide bond reside, does not change size, shape, docking, or velocity of the mobile vesicles. The N-terminal acid calcium-binding sequence of proANP is known to cause protein aggregation at the high calcium concentration prevailing in the trans-Golgi network. Therefore, these results indicate that amino acid residues favoring cargo aggregation are critically important in shaping the secretory vesicles and determining their fate-docking or not docking-at the plasma membrane. The full text of this article is available at http://www.circresaha.org.

Animals↗

Flexible ligand docking: a multistep strategy approach.

A flexible ligand docking protocol based on a divide-and-conquer strategy is investigated. This approach first separates total search space into conformation and orientation space. It uses a grid-based method to sample the conformation of an unbound ligand and to select the low-energy conformers. Rigid docking is then carried out to locate the low-energy binding orientations for these conformers. These docking structures are subsequently subjected to structure refinement including molecular mechanics minimization, conformational scanning at the binding site and a short period of molecular dynamics-based simulated annealing. This approach has been applied to twelve ligand-protein complexes with three to sixteen rotatable bonds. The docked lowest-energy structures have root mean square deviations ranging from 0.64 A to 2.01 A with respect to the corresponding crystal structures. The effect of atomic charges and van der Waals parameters on the docking results, and the role of the dielectric constant in the conformation sampling are discussed in detail. A fragment-based docking approach that takes advantages of the divide-and-conquer strategy has also been explored and the results are compared with those produced by a whole molecule-based approach.

Hydrogen Bonding↗

A structural and functional analysis of the docking protein. Characterization of active domains by proteolysis and specific antibodies.

Docking protein is a 73-kDa integral membrane protein of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. It is essential for translocation of nascent secretory proteins into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies have been generated which, in conjunction with limited proteolysis, have been used to characterize several subspecies of docking protein. These proteolytic fragments have been analyzed with respect to the various functions ascribed to docking protein which can be assayed in vitro. Proteolytic digestion of membrane-associated or of affinity-purified intact docking protein showed that: elastase cleavage generates a 59-kDa soluble fragment and one of 14 kDa which contains the membrane anchoring domain; trypsin as well as endogenous proteolysis generates a 46-kDa fragment, leaving a 27-kDa domain containing the membrane anchor. This 27-kDa fragment can be reduced to a 13- and a 14-kDa piece by elastase digestion. The characteristics of these various subspecies were examined. The 59-kDa soluble fragment, which can reconstitute full translocation activity to docking protein-depleted microsomes (Meyer, D. I., and Dobberstein, B. (1980) J. Cell Biol. 87, 503-508) was capable of releasing a signal recognition particle-mediated translation arrest. The 46-kDa fragment was neither able to reassociate with nor to reconstitute the activity of docking protein-depleted microsomes. Moreover this fragment was unable to release a signal recognition particle-mediated arrest. This suggests that the 13-kDa fragment (the difference between 46 and 59 kDa) is both essential for association with the membrane, and for the release of translation arrests.

Animals↗

Surface solid angle-based site points for molecular docking.

We are developing a new site descriptor for the DOCK molecular modeling program suite. Sphgen, the current site description program for the DOCK suite, describes the pockets of a macromolecule by filling a volume with intersecting spheres. DOCK then identifies possible ligand orientations in the pocket by overlapping the atoms of proposed ligands with the sphere centers. Sphgen limits use of the DOCK program to concave binding regions, but macromolecular binding regions can be solvent-exposed rather than buried pockets. We present a more general site descriptor, based on the surface solid angle, which generates site points by determining the solid angle of exposure for points on the surface of the molecule, then identifying patches of surface with similar solid angle values which are then built into site points. We find possible ligand orientations by matching shape-based site points on the ligand and protein and demanding complementary solid angle values. Orientations are evaluated using the DOCK's force field-based score, which evaluates the Coulombic and van der Waals energy. The surface solid angle descriptor displays the complementary characteristics of the interfaces of our test systems: trypsin/trypsin inhibitor, chymotrypsin/turkey ovomucoid third domain, and subtilisin/chymotrypsin inhibitor. The solid angle site points can be used by DOCK to generate orientations within 1.5 A r.m.s.d. of the crystal structure orientation.

Algorithms↗

Flexible docking allowing induced fit in proteins: insights from an open to closed conformational isomers.

Here we dock a ligand onto a receptor surface allowing hinge-bending domain/substructural movements. Our approach mimics and manifests induced fit in molecular recognition. All angular rotations are allowed on the one hand, while a conformational space search is avoided on the other. Rather than dock each of the molecular parts separately with subsequent reconstruction of the consistently docked molecules, all parts are docked simultaneously while still utilizing the position of the hinge from the start. Like pliers closing on a screw, the receptor automatically closes on its ligand in the best surface-matching way. Movements are allowed either in the ligand or in the larger receptor, hence reproducing induced molecular fit. Hinge bending movements are frequently observed when molecules associate. There are numerous examples of open versus closed conformations taking place upon binding. Such movements are observed when the substrate binds to its respective enzyme. In particular, such movements are of interest in allosteric enzymes. The movements can involve entire domains, subdomains, loops, (other) secondary structure elements, or between any groups of atoms connected by flexible joints. We have implemented the hinges at points and at bonds. By allowing 3-dimensional (3-D) rotation at the hinge, several rotations about (consecutive or nearby) bonds are implicitly taken into account. Alternatively, if required, the point rotation can be restricted to bond rotation. Here we illustrate this hinge-bending docking approach and the insight into flexibility it provides on a complex of the calmodulin with its M13 ligand, positioning the hinges either in the ligand or in the larger receptor. This automated and efficient method is adapted from computer vision and robotics. It enables utilizing entire molecular surfaces rather than focusing a priori on active sites. Hence, allows attaining the overall optimally matching surfaces, the extent and type of motions which are involved. Here we do not treat the conformational flexibility of side-chains or of very small pieces of the molecules. Therefore, currently available methods addressing these issues and the method presented here, are complementary to each other, expanding the repertoire of computational docking tools foreseen to aid in studies of recognition, conformational flexibility and drug design.

Algorithms↗

Flexible docking using Tabu search and an empirical estimate of binding affinity.

This article describes the implementation of a new docking approach. The method uses a Tabu search methodology to dock flexibly ligand molecules into rigid receptor structures. It uses an empirical objective function with a small number of physically based terms derived from fitting experimental binding affinities for crystallographic complexes. This means that docking energies produced by the searching algorithm provide direct estimates of the binding affinities of the ligands. The method has been tested on 50 ligand-receptor complexes for which the experimental binding affinity and binding geometry are known. All water molecules are removed from the structures and ligand molecules are minimized in vacuo before docking. The lowest energy geometry produced by the docking protocol is within 1.5 A root-mean square of the experimental binding mode for 86% of the complexes. The lowest energies produced by the docking are in fair agreement with the known free energies of binding for the ligands.

Algorithms↗