Showing papers by "Robert McKenna published in 2006"

Structurally mapping the diverse phenotype of adeno-associated virus serotype 4

Abstract: The adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) can package and deliver foreign DNA into cells for corrective gene delivery applications. The AAV serotypes have distinct cell binding, transduction, and antigenic characteristics that have been shown to be dictated by the capsid viral protein (VP) sequence. To understand the contribution of capsid structure to these properties, we have determined the crystal structure of AAV serotype 4 (AAV4), one of the most diverse serotypes with respect to capsid protein sequence and antigenic reactivity. Structural comparison of AAV4 to AAV2 shows conservation of the core beta strands (betaB to betaI) and helical (alphaA) secondary structure elements, which also exist in all other known parvovirus structures. However, surface loop variations (I to IX), some containing compensating structural insertions and deletions in adjacent regions, result in local topological differences on the capsid surface. These include AAV4 having a deeper twofold depression, wider and rounder protrusions surrounding the threefold axes, and a different topology at the top of the fivefold channel from that of AAV2. Also, the previously observed "valleys" between the threefold protrusions, containing AAV2's heparin binding residues, are narrower in AAV4. The observed differences in loop topologies at subunit interfaces are consistent with the inability of AAV2 and AAV4 VPs to combine for mosaic capsid formation in efforts to engineer novel tropisms. Significantly, all of the surface loop variations are associated with amino acids reported to affect receptor recognition, transduction, and anticapsid antibody reactivity for AAV2. This observation suggests that these capsid regions may also play similar roles in the other AAV serotypes.

Original Contribution Crystal structure of nitrated human manganese superoxide dismutase: Mechanism of inactivation

Abstract: A cellular consequence of the reaction of superoxide and nitric oxide is enhanced peroxynitrite levels. Reaction of peroxynitrite with manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) causes nitration of the active-site residue Tyr34 and nearly complete inhibition of catalysis. We report the crystal structures at 2.4 Aresolution of human MnSOD nitrated by peroxynitrite and the unmodified MnSOD. A comparison of these structures showed no significant conformational changes of active-site residues or solvent displacement. The side chain of 3-nitrotyrosine 34 had a single conformation that extended toward the manganese with O1 of the nitro group within hydrogen-bonding distance (3.1 A˚ )o f N(2 of the second-shell ligand Gln143. Also, nitration of Tyr34 caused a weakening, as evidenced by the lengthening, of a hydrogen bond between its phenolic OH and Gln143, part of an extensive hydrogen-bond network in the active site. Inhibition of catalysis can be attributed to a steric effect of 3-nitrotyrosine 34 that impedes substrate access and binding, and alteration of the hydrogen-bond network that supports proton transfer in catalysis. It is also possible that an electrostatic effect of the nitro group has altered the finely tuned redox potential necessary for efficient catalysis, although the redox potential of nitrated MnSOD has not been measured.

Host-Selected Amino Acid Changes at the Sialic Acid Binding Pocket of the Parvovirus Capsid Modulate Cell Binding Affinity and Determine Virulence

Abstract: The role of receptor recognition in the emergence of virulent viruses was investigated in the infection of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice by the apathogenic prototype strain of the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVMp). Genetic analysis of isolated MVMp viral clones (n = 48) emerging in mice, including lethal variants, showed only one of three single changes (V325M, I362S, or K368R) in the common sequence of the two capsid proteins. As was found for the parental isolates, the constructed recombinant viruses harboring the I362S or the K368R single substitutions in the capsid sequence, or mutations at both sites, showed a large-plaque phenotype and lower avidity than the wild type for cells in the cytotoxic interaction with two permissive fibroblast cell lines in vitro and caused a lethal disease in SCID mice when inoculated by the natural oronasal route. Significantly, the productive adsorption of MVMp variants carrying any of the three mutations selected through parallel evolution in mice showed higher sensitivity to the treatment of cells by neuraminidase than that of the wild type, indicating a lower affinity of the viral particle for the sialic acid component of the receptor. Consistent with this, the X-ray crystal structure of the MVMp capsids soaked with sialic acid (N-acetyl neuraminic acid) showed the sugar allocated in the depression at the twofold axis of symmetry (termed the dimple), immediately adjacent to residues I362 and K368, which are located on the wall of the dimple, and approximately 22 A away from V325 in a threefold-related monomer. This is the first reported crystal structure identifying an infectious receptor attachment site on a parvovirus capsid. We conclude that the affinity of the interactions of sialic-acid-containing receptors with residues at or surrounding the dimple can evolutionarily regulate parvovirus pathogenicity and adaptation to new hosts.

Production, purification and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of adeno-associated virus serotype 1.

Abstract: Crystals of baculovirus-expressed adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) capsids have been grown in the rhombohedral space group R32 (unit-cell parameters a = 254.7 A, α = 62.3°) and shown to diffract X-rays to at least 2.5 A resolution. The diffraction data were subsequently processed and reduced with an overall R sym of 12.3% and a completeness of 89.0%. Based on the unit-cell volume, rotation-function and translation-function results and packing considerations, there is one virus capsid (60 viral proteins) per unit cell and there are ten viral proteins per crystallographic asymmetric unit. The AAV1 capsid shares both the twofold and threefold crystallographic symmetry operators. The AAV1 data have been initially phased using a polyalanine model (based on the crystal structure of AAV4) to 4.0 A resolution and the structure determination and refinement is in progress using tenfold noncrystallographic symmetry electron-density averaging.

Structure of the aspartic protease plasmepsin 4 from the malarial parasite Plasmodium malariae bound to an allophenylnorstatine-based inhibitor.

Abstract: The malarial parasite continues to be one of the leading causes of death in many developing countries. With the development of resistance to the currently available treatments, the discovery of new therapeutics is imperative. Currently, the plasmepsin enzymes found in the food vacuole of the parasite are a chief target for drug development. Allophenylnor­statine-based compounds originally designed to inhibit HIV-1 protease have shown efficacy against all four plasmepsin enzymes found in the food vacuole of Plasmodium falciparum. In this study, the first crystal structure of P. malariae plasmepsin 4 (PmPM4) bound to the allophenylnorstatine-based compound KNI-764 is described at 3.3 A resolution. The PmPM4–inhibitor complex crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P21212, with unit-cell parameters a = 95.9, b = 112.6, c = 90.4 A, with two molecules in the asymmetric unit related by a non-crystallographic symmetry operator. The structure was refined to a final R factor of 24.7%. The complex showed the inhibitor in an unexpected binding orientation with allophenylnorstatine occupying the S1′ pocket. The P2 group was found outside the S2 pocket, wedged between the flap and a juxtaposed loop. Inhibition analysis of PmPM4 also suggests the potential for allophenylnorstatine-based compounds to be effective against all species of malaria infecting humans and for the future development of a broad-based inhibitor.

Structure of human salivary α‐amylase crystallized in a C‐centered monoclinic space group

Abstract: Human salivary α-amylase (HSA) is a major secretory protein component of saliva and has important biological functions, including the initial digestion of starch. HSA acts as a monomer and mediates the hydrolysis of α-1,4-glucosidic linkages in oligosaccharides. To date, all published crystal structures of HSA have been crystallized as monomers in space group P212121. Here, the serendipitous purification, crystallization and ultimate structure determination of a HSA non-crystallographic symmetry (NCS) dimer, while attempting to purify human carbonic anhydrase VI (HCA VI) from saliva using an affinity resin for α-class carbonic anhydrases, is presented. On further investigation, it was shown that HSA could only be copurified using the affinity resin in the presence of HCA VI which is glycosylated and not the non-glycosylated HCA II. The identification of the HSA crystals was carried out by peptide mapping and mass spectrometry. HSA was shown to have crystallized as an NCS dimer in space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 150.9, b = 72.3, c = 91.3 A, β = 102.8°. The NCS dimer crystal structure is reported to 3.0 A resolution, with a refined R cryst of 0.228. The structure is compared with the previously reported P212121 monomer structures and the crystal packing and dimer interface are discussed.

Production and X-ray crystallographic analysis of fully deuterated human carbonic anhydrase II.

Abstract: Human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II) is a zinc metalloenzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration and dehydration of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate, respectively. The rate-limiting step in catalysis is the intramolecular transfer of a proton between the zinc-bound solvent (H2O/OH−) and the proton-shuttling residue His64. This distance (∼7.5 A) is spanned by a well defined active-site solvent network stabilized by amino-acid side chains (Tyr7, Asn62, Asn67, Thr199 and Thr200). Despite the availability of high-resolution (∼1.0 A) X-ray crystal structures of HCA II, there is currently no definitive information available on the positions and orientations of the H atoms of the solvent network or active-site amino acids and their ionization states. In preparation for neutron diffraction studies to elucidate this hydrogen-bonding network, perdeuterated HCA II has been expressed, purified, crystallized and its X-ray structure determined to 1.5 A resolution. The refined structure is highly isomorphous with hydrogenated HCA II, especially with regard to the active-site architecture and solvent network. This work demonstrates the suitability of these crystals for neutron macromolecular crystallography.

X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that the incorporation of spacer groups in carbonic anhydrase inhibitors causes alternate binding modes.

Abstract: Human carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are well studied targets for the development of inhibitors for pharmaceutical applications. The crystal structure of human CA II has been determined in complex with two CA inhibitors (CAIs) containing conventional sulfonamide and thiadiazole moieties separated by a —CF2— or —­CHNH2— spacer group. The structures presented here reveal that these spacer groups allow novel binding modes for the thiadiazole moiety compared with conventional CAIs.

Carbonic Anhydrases (α‐Class)

Abstract: Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc metalloenzymes that catalyze the hydration of carbon dioxide and the dehydration of bicarbonate: , a process that has physiological importance in respiration, acid–base homeostasis, photosynthesis, and biosynthetic pathways. The α-class of CA (and the CA domains in more complex isoforms) is monomeric with a molecular weight of approximately 30 kDa. At present, 14 isoforms of the α-class are known with varying tissue distributions and catalytic activity. The catalytic turnover number of CAs varies from the maximal rate of 106 s−1 for isozyme II to 103 s−1 for isozyme III. The central structural motif of the α-CAs can be described as a 10-stranded twisted β-sheet, which is flanked by seven α-helices. The active-site cavity consists of a single zinc ion tetrahedrally coordinated by three histidine residues (His94, 96, and 119) and a bound water molecule. In most of the α-CAs, the resultant proton formed by the dehydration reaction of bicarbonate is transferred to bulk solution through the formation of a proton wire, mediated by residue His64, that lies at the mouth of the active site. Known inhibitors of CAs have been shown to bind to the metal ion and displace the zinc-bound water, whereas activators have been shown to bind at the entrance of the active site and mimic the characteristics of the proton-shuttling residue His64. 3D Structure Keywords: carbonic anhydrase; zinc metalloenzyme; enzyme structure; proton shuttling; proton wire; dehydration of bicarbonate; hydration of carbon dioxide