The Sam domain of the lipid phosphatase Ship2 adopts a common model to interact with Arap3-Sam and EphA2-Sam

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sterile alpha motif (Sam) domains are small protein modules that can be involved in homotypic or heterotypic associations and exhibit different functions. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Sam domain of the lipid phosphatase Ship2 can hetero-dimerize with the Sam domain of the PI3K effector protein Arap3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we determine the NMR solution structure of Arap3-Sam and implement a multidisciplinary approach consisting of NMR spectroscopy, ITC (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry), mutagenesis and molecular modeling studies to analyze the interaction between Ship2-Sam and Arap3-Sam. This work reveals that Arap3-Sam may associate with Ship2-Sam by adopting a binding mode common to other Sam domains. This binding mode is identical to what we have very recently observed for the association between Ship2-Sam and the Sam domain from the Ephrin A2 receptor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our studies further clarify the structural features that are relevant for Sam-Sam interactions involving Ship2 and give additional hints that could be used for the identification of new molecules able to selectively inhibit Sam-Sam associations.</p

Screening multicomponent reactions for X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis-baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis protein repeats domain binder

We report a second example of a general reaction screening approach to discover low molecular weight inhibitors of protein protein interactions. On the basis of the known pharmacophore model of SMAC mimetics, we predicted several inhibitors based on four different multicomponent reactions. The predicted inhibitors were subsequently synthesized, tested, and found to bind to the antiapoptotic protein X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and showed cellular activity. Also the compounds are currently not highly potent. They could form a starting point for future medicinal chemistry optimization

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Apogossypolone Derivatives as Pan-active Inhibitors of Antiapoptotic B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) Family Proteins

Overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins is commonly related with tumor maintenance, progression, and chemoresistance. Inhibition of these anti-apoptotic proteins is an attractive approach for cancer therapy. Guided by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) binding assays, a series of 5, 5′ substituted compound 6a (Apogossypolone) derivatives was synthesized and identified pan-active antagonists of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, with binding potency in the low micromolar to nanomolar range. Compound 6f inhibits the binding of BH3 peptides to Bcl-X(L), Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 with IC(50) values of 3.10, 3.12 and 2.05 μM, respectively. In a cellular assay, 6f potently inhibits cell growth in several human cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 6f further displays in vivo efficacy in transgenic mice and demonstrated superior single-agent antitumor efficacy in a PPC-1 mouse xenograft model. Together with its negligible toxicity, compound 6f represents a promising drug lead for the development of novel apoptosis-based therapies for cancer

Apogossypol Derivatives as Pan-Active Inhibitors of Antiapoptotic B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) Family Proteins

Guided by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) binding assays and computational docking studies, a series of 5, 5′ substituted Apogossypol derivatives was synthesized that resulted in potent pan-active inhibitors of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. Compound 8r inhibits the binding of BH3 peptides to Bcl-X(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Bfl-1 with IC(50) values of 0.76, 0.32, 0.28 and 0.73 μM, respectively. The compound also potently inhibits cell growth of human lung cancer and BP3 human B-cell lymphoma cell lines with EC(50) values of 0.33 and 0.66 μM, respectively. Compound 8r shows little cytotoxicity against bax(−/−)bak(−/−) cells, indicating that it kills cancers cells via the intented mechanism. The compound also displays in vivo efficacy in transgenic mice in which Bcl-2 is overexpressed in splenic B-cells. Together with its improved chemical, plasma and microsomal stability relative to compound 2 (Apogossypol), compound 8r represents a promising drug lead for the development of novel apoptosis-based therapies for cancer

BI-97C1, an Optically Pure Apogossypol Derivative as Pan-Active Inhibitor of Antiapoptotic B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) Family Proteins

In our continued attempts to identify novel and effective pan-Bcl-2 antagonists, we have recently reported a series of compound 2 (Apogossypol) derivatives, resulting in the chiral compound 4 (8r). We report here on synthesis and evaluation on its optically pure individual isomers. Compound 11 (BI-97C1), the most potent diastereoisomer of compound 4, inhibits the binding of BH3 peptides to Bcl-X(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and Bfl-1 with IC(50) values of 0.31, 0.32, 0.20 and 0.62 μM, respectively. The compound also potently inhibits cell growth of human prostate cancer, lung cancer and lymphoma cell lines with EC(50) values of 0.13, 0.56 and 0.049 μM, respectively and shows little cytotoxicity against bax(−/−)bak(−/−) cells. Compound 11 displays in vivo efficacy in transgenic mice models and also demonstrated superior single-agent antitumor efficacy in a prostate cancer mouse xenograft model. Therefore, compound 11 represents a potential drug lead for the development of novel apoptosis-based therapies against cancer

Exploring subdomain cooperativity in T4 lysozyme II: Uncovering the C-terminal subdomain as a hidden intermediate in the kinetic folding pathway

Intermediates along a protein's folding pathway can play an important role in its biology. Previous kinetics studies have revealed an early folding intermediate for T4 lysozyme, a small, well-characterized protein composed of an N-terminal and a C-terminal subdomain. Pulse-labeling hydrogen exchange studies suggest that residues from both subdomains contribute to the structure of this intermediate. On the other hand, equilibrium native state hydrogen experiments have revealed a high-energy, partially unfolded form of the protein that has an unstructured N-terminal subdomain and a structured C-terminal subdomain. To resolve this discrepancy between kinetics and equilibrium data, we performed detailed kinetics analyses of the folding and unfolding pathways of T4 lysozyme, as well as several point mutants and large-scale variants. The data support the argument for the presence of two distinct intermediates, one present on each side of the rate-limiting transition state barrier. The effects of circular permutation and site-specific mutations in the wild-type and circular permutant background, as well as a fragment containing just the C-terminal subdomain, support a model for the unfolding intermediate with an unfolded N-terminal and a folded C-terminal subdomain. Our results suggest that the partially unfolded form identified by native state hydrogen exchange resides on the folded side of the rate-limiting transition state and is, therefore, under most conditions, a “hidden” intermediate