Uneven HAK/KUP/KT Protein Diversity Among Angiosperms: Species Distribution and Perspectives

HAK/KUP/KT K+ transporters have been widely associated with K+ transport across membranes in bacteria, fungi, and plants. Indeed some members of the plant HAK/KUP/KT family contribute to root K+ uptake, notably at low external concentrations. Besides such role in acquisition, several studies carried out in Arabidopsis have shown that other members are also involved in developmental processes. With the publication of new plant genomes, a growing interest on plant species other than Arabidopsis has become evident. In order to understand HAK/KUP/KT diversity in these new plant genomes, we discuss the evolutionary trends of 913 HAK/KUP/KT sequences identified in 46 genomes revealing five major groups with an uneven distribution among angiosperms, notably between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous species. This information evidenced the richness of crop genomes in HAK/KUP/KT transporters and supports their study for unraveling novel physiological roles of such transporters in plants.This work was funded by grant AGL2012-33504 from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain. RR is recipient of an FPU predoctoral contract from Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Spain.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the cathelicidin motif of the protegrin-3 precursor

International audienc

Developments in SPR Fragment Screening

International audienceINTRODUCTION:Fragment-based approaches have played an increasing role alongside high-throughput screening in drug discovery for 15 years. The label-free biosensor technology based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is now sensitive and informative enough to serve during primary screens and validation steps.AREAS COVERED:In this review, the authors discuss the role of SPR in fragment screening. After a brief description of the underlying principles of the technique and main device developments, they evaluate the advantages and adaptations of SPR for fragment-based drug discovery. SPR can also be applied to challenging targets such as membrane receptors and enzymes.EXPERT OPINION:The high-level of immobilization of the protein target and its stability are key points for a relevant screening that can be optimized using oriented immobilized proteins and regenerable sensors. Furthermore, to decrease the rate of false negatives, a selectivity test may be performed in parallel on the main target bearing the binding site mutated or blocked with a low-off-rate ligand. Fragment-based drug design, integrated in a rational workflow led by SPR, will thus have a predominant role for the next wave of drug discovery which could be greatly enhanced by new improvements in SPR devices

Conception de modulateurs des interactions protéine-protéine (Application à la famille des petites protéines G de la famille Arf et leurs facteurs d'échange)

Les petites molécules qui induisent des complexes protéine-protéine non fonctionnels sont une alternative peu explorée par rapport aux inhiniteurs compétitifs pour l'inhibition de la fonction des protéines. Dans cette thèse, nous avons ciblé l'activation de la petite protéine G Arf1, par le domaine catalytique Sec7 de son facteur d'échange ARNO. Nous avons utilisé la structure cristallographique d'un complexe transitoire Arf1-GDP/ARNO, pour cribler par amarrage moléculaire quelques milliers de molécules. A l'issue des tests d'activité, nous avons identifié une molécule, appelée LM11, qui inhibe l'activation de Arf1 par ARNO. A l'aide de techniques de biophysiques et de biochimie, nous avons montré que LM11 agit selon un mécanisme non compétitif dans lequel l'inhibiteur vise la protéine Arf1-GDP et le complexe Arf1-GDP/ARNO en produisant un complexe non fonctionnel. D'autre part, nous avons montré que LM11 est actif au niveau cellulaire.MONTPELLIER-BU Pharmacie (341722105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Etude et modulation des interactions protéine-protéine (l'activation de la petite protéine G Arf1 par son facteur d'échange Arno)

Arf1 est une petite protéine G (pG), essentiellement impliquée dans le trafic vésiculaire. Arf1 oscille entre deux conformations, l'une active liée au GTP et l'autre inactive associée au GDP. Arno est un des facteurs d'échange (GEF) capable d'activer Arf1 en stimulant l'échange GDP/GTP. Suractivée dans les cellules invasives du cancer du sein, Arf1 joue un rôle important dans la migration et la prolifération des cellules cancéreuses.Le but de ma thèse s'inscrit dans l'étude et la modulation de l'interaction pG-GEF, et plus spécifiquement, le couple Arf1-Arno. Mon travail a été planifié autour de deux axes: (1) L'étude fine de l'interaction entre Arf1 et Arno, et sa modulation avec un inhibiteur connu la Bréféldine A (BFA). (2) La mise en place d'une stratégie de conception d'inhibiteurs de l'interaction protéine-protéine du couple Arf1-Arno.Dans un premier temps, nous avons mis en place une méthode basée sur la résonance plasmonique de surface (SPR) permettant la détermination des paramètres cinétiques de l'interaction entre Arf1 et Arno. Nous avons précisé aussi les conséquences des partenaires allostériques (GDP, GTP, et Mg2+) et de la BFA sur les paramètres cinétiques de l'interaction. Ceci a permis une analyse fine de la régulation allostérique et du mode d'action de la BFA. Appliquée à d'autres inhibiteurs, cette méthode permettra d'examiner leur mécanisme d'inhibition.Dans la deuxième partie j'expose, la stratégie que nous avons utilisé pour la conception rationnelle d'inhibiteur de l'interaction entre Arf1 et Arno. Elle est basée sur le criblage virtuel de fragments au niveau des résidus clé hotspots de l'interaction, la validation des molécules-touches par des techniques biophysiques, et l'élimination de molécules artefacts. Les structures des complexes fragments-Arno ont été résolues, ce qui confirme la validité de cette stratégie ouvrant la voie vers l'optimisation moléculaire pour obtenir des inhibiteurs plus efficaces.Arf1 is a small GTPases, essentially involved in the vesicular traffic. Arf1 switch between two conformations, an active form bound to GTP and an inactive form bound to GDP. Arno is one of the exchange factors (GEF) that can activate Arf1, through its catalytic Sec7 domain, promoting the exchange of GDP by GTP. Activated in breast cancer cells, Arf1 plays an important role in the migration and proliferation of cancer cells.The aim of my thesis was the study and the modulation of the interaction between small G proteins and their GEFs, more precisely the Arf1-Arno interaction. My work has been planned around two axes: (1) the study of the interaction between Arf1 and Arno, and its modulation with a known inhibitor Brefeldin A (BFA). (2) The development of a rational strategy for designing inhibitors of protein-protein interaction for the Arf1-Arno complex.In the first part of my PhD work, we set up a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) method allowing to determine the kinetic parameters of the interaction between Arf1 and Arno. We also studied the effects of allosteric partners such as GDP, GTP and Mg2+ as well as the known uncompetitive inhibitor (Brefeldin A). This SPR approach allowed a very informative analysis at qualitative and quantitative levels of the various complexes taking place during the exchange reaction that should help to solve the inhibitory mechanism for the known inhibitors reported in the literature. In the second part of my thesis, we propose a strategy for targeting the interaction between Arf1and Arno. This approach is based on virtual screening of fragments at hotspot regions. Using biophysical techniques such fluorescence techniques, SPR, NMR and X-Ray crystallography, we identified and validated Hits, showing by crystallographic structural data their modes of interaction with the target protein Arno. A fluorescence polarization test was also developed to identify false positive fragments to eliminate promiscuous aggregators. Taken together, our work proposes a method based on SPR allowing the study of known inhibitors of GEFs, understanding at molecular level their mode of action. We also propose a general strategy for finding Hit fragments that designing competitive inhibitor of the interaction small G protein with its GEFs, that can be the scaffold for designing more powerful inhibitors.MONTPELLIER-BU Pharmacie (341722105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Amino-acid changes acquired during evolution by olfactory receptor 912-93 modify the specificity of odorant recognition

The sense of smell in mammals can perceive and discriminate a wide variety of volatile odorants. Odorants bind to specific olfactory receptors (ORs) to initiate an action potential that transduces olfactory information to the olfactory cortex. We previously identified the structural motifs of odorant molecules (aliphatic 2- or 3-ketones) required to activate mouse OR912-93 by detection of the odorant response using calcium measurement in transfected cells. In order to study changes in the specificity of this receptor that might have occurred during evolution, we cloned the orthologous genes from six primate species and pig and assayed the encoded receptors for responses to odorants. Primate OR912-93 orthologs share 88-97% sequence identity. All the receptors responded to 2- and 3-heptanone except the squirrel-monkey OR, which responded only to 3-heptanone, and the human and orangutan ORs, which were not functional. Directed mutagenesis allowed us to convert the squirrel-monkey response to that of the other functional 912-93 ORs by substituting three amino acids in the second extracellular loop. Orangutan and human 912-93 ORs regained function after restoration of the arginine residue in the DRY motif required for G-protein activation. However, the human receptor was constitutively activated in the absence of ligand stimulation. Using natural mutants of the OR912-93 receptor, we provide evidence that squirrel-monkeys evolved towards a restriction of the specificity of this receptor and therefore that slight alterations in the sequence of a receptor can induce subtle changes in recognition specificit

Uneven HAK/KUP/KT Protein Diversity Among Angiosperms: Species Distribution and Perspectives.

HAK/KUP/KT K(+) transporters have been widely associated with K(+) transport across membranes in bacteria, fungi, and plants. Indeed some members of the plant HAK/KUP/KT family contribute to root K(+) uptake, notably at low external concentrations. Besides such role in acquisition, several studies carried out in Arabidopsis have shown that other members are also involved in developmental processes. With the publication of new plant genomes, a growing interest on plant species other than Arabidopsis has become evident. In order to understand HAK/KUP/KT diversity in these new plant genomes, we discuss the evolutionary trends of 913 HAK/KUP/KT sequences identified in 46 genomes revealing five major groups with an uneven distribution among angiosperms, notably between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous species. This information evidenced the richness of crop genomes in HAK/KUP/KT transporters and supports their study for unraveling novel physiological roles of such transporters in plants

Control of K+ channel activity and transport in plants: the C-linker of Arabidopsis Shaker inward channels plays a crucial role in both surface expression and channel activity

Control of K+ channel activity and transport in plants: the C-linker of Arabidopsis Shaker inward channels plays a crucial role in both surface expression and channel activity. Gordon Research Conferences - Salt & Water Stress in Plant