Influence of the π–π interaction on the hydrogen bonding capacity of stacked DNA/RNA bases

The interplay between aromatic stacking and hydrogen bonding in nucleobases has been investigated via high-level quantum chemical calculations. The experimentally observed stacking arrangement between consecutive bases in DNA and RNA/DNA double helices is shown to enhance their hydrogen bonding ability as opposed to gas phase optimized complexes. This phenomenon results from more repulsive electrostatic interactions as is demonstrated in a model system of cytosine stacked offset-parallel with substituted benzenes. Therefore, the H-bonding capacity of the N3 and O2 atoms of cytosine increases linearly with the electrostatic repulsion between the stacked rings. The local hardness, a density functional theory-based reactivity descriptor, appears to be a key index associated with the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) minima around H-bond accepting atoms, and is inversely proportional to the electrostatic interaction between stacked molecules. Finally, the MEP minima on surfaces around the bases in experimental structures of DNA and RNA–DNA double helices show that their hydrogen bonding capacity increases when taking more neighboring (intra-strand) stacking partners into account

Structural basis of IL-23 antagonism by an Alphabody protein scaffold

Protein scaffolds can provide a promising alternative to antibodies for various biomedical and biotechnological applications, including therapeutics. Here we describe the design and development of the Alphabody, a protein scaffold featuring a single-chain antiparallel triple-helix coiled-coil fold. We report affinity-matured Alphabodies with favourable physicochemical properties that can specifically neutralize human interleukin (IL)-23, a pivotal therapeutic target in autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. The crystal structure of human IL-23 in complex with an affinity-matured Alphabody reveals how the variable interhelical groove of the scaffold uniquely targets a large epitope on the p19 subunit of IL-23 to harness fully the hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding potential of tryptophan and tyrosine residues contributed by p19 and the Alphabody, respectively. Thus, Alphabodies are suitable for targeting protein-protein interfaces of therapeutic importance and can be tailored to interrogate desired design and binding-mode principles via efficient selection and affinity-maturation strategies

Cell-penetrating Alphabody protein scaffolds for intracellular drug targeting

The therapeutic scope of antibody and nonantibody protein scaffolds is still prohibitively limited against intracellular drug targets. Here, we demonstrate that the Alphabody scaffold can be engineered into a cell-penetrating protein antagonist against induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein MCL-1, an intracellular target in cancer, by grafting the critical B-cell lymphoma 2 homology 3 helix of MCL-1 onto the Alphabody and tagging the scaffold’s termini with designed cell-penetration polypeptides. Introduction of an albumin-binding moiety extended the serum half-life of the engineered Alphabody to therapeutically relevant levels, and administration thereof in mouse tumor xenografts based on myeloma cell lines reduced tumor burden. Crystal structures of such a designed Alphabody in complex with MCL-1 and serum albumin provided the structural blueprint of the applied design principles. Collectively, we provide proof of concept for the use of Alphabodies against intracellular disease mediators, which, to date, have remained in the realm of small-molecule therapeutics

CCNE1 and survival of patients with tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma: An Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium study

BACKGROUND: Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) is a potential predictive marker and therapeutic target in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Smaller studies have revealed unfavorable associations for CCNE1 amplification and CCNE1 overexpression with survival, but to date no large-scale, histotype-specific validation has been performed. The hypothesis was that high-level amplification of CCNE1 and CCNE1 overexpression, as well as a combination of the two, are linked to shorter overall survival in HGSC. METHODS: Within the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium, amplification status and protein level in 3029 HGSC cases and mRNA expression in 2419 samples were investigated. RESULTS: High-level amplification (>8 copies by chromogenic in situ hybridization) was found in 8.6% of HGSC and overexpression (>60% with at least 5% demonstrating strong intensity by immunohistochemistry) was found in 22.4%. CCNE1 high-level amplification and overexpression both were linked to shorter overall survival in multivariate survival analysis adjusted for age and stage, with hazard stratification by study (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.47, p = .034, and HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32, p = .015, respectively). This was also true for cases with combined high-level amplification/overexpression (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.47, p = .033). CCNE1 mRNA expression was not associated with overall survival (HR, 1.00 per 1-SD increase; 95% CI, 0.94-1.06; p = .58). CCNE1 high-level amplification is mutually exclusive with the presence of germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and shows an inverse association to RB1 loss. CONCLUSION: This study provides large-scale validation that CCNE1 high-level amplification is associated with shorter survival, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker in HGSC

Mechanism of RNase T1: concerted triester-like phosphoryl transfer via a catalytic three-centered hydrogen bond

AbstractBackground: The microscopic events of ribonuclease (RNase) catalyzed phosphoryl transfer reactions are still a matter of debate in which the contenders adhere to either the classical concerted acid–base mechanism or a more sequential triester-like mechanism. In the case of RNase A, small thio-effects of the nonbridging oxygens have been invoked in favor of the classical mechanism. However, the RNase T1 catalyzed transphosphorylation of phosphorothioate RNA is highly stereoselective. RP thio-substituted RNA is depolymerized 60 000 times faster than SP thio-substituted RNA by this enzyme, whereas the uncatalyzed cleavage of both substrates occurs at comparable rates. We combined site-directed mutagenesis in the RNase active site and stereospecific thio-substitution of an RNA substrate to probe the intermolecular interactions of the enzyme with the nonbridging pro-SP oxygen that bring about this stereoselectivity of RNase T1.Results: Thio-substitution of the nonbridging pro-SP oxygen in the substrate afflicts chemical turnover but not ground state binding whereas thio-substitution of the nonbridging pro-RP oxygen does not affect the kinetics of RNase T1. Site-directed mutagenesis of the catalytic base Glu58 impairs the enzyme’s ability to discriminate both phosphorothioate diastereomers. Glu58Ala RNase T1 cleaves RP and SP phosphorothioate RNA with similar rates. The dependence of the pro-SP thio-effect on the presence of the Glu58 carboxylate evidences a strong rate-limiting interaction between the nonbridging pro-SP oxygen and the catalytic base Glu58 in the wild type enzyme.Conclusions: Based on these results, we put forward a new triester-like mechanism for the RNase T1 catalyzed reaction that involves a three-centered hydrogen bond between the 2′-OH group, the nonbridging pro-SP oxygen and one of the carboxylate oxygens of Glu58. This interaction allows nucleophilic attack on an activated phosphate to occur simultaneously with general base catalysis, ensuring concerted phosphoryl transfer via a triester-like mechanism

Correlation part of the interaction energy (Δ) computed for the 10 stacked DNA/RNA base dimers (kcal/mol) versus the product of the polarizabilities of each base over (see ) (a

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Influence of the π–π interaction on the hydrogen bonding capacity of stacked DNA/RNA bases"</p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(6):1779-1789.</p><p>Published online 23 Mar 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1069514.</p><p>© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved</p>u.)

() Electrostatic interaction energy (Δ) between cytosine and the substituted benzenes Ph-X (kcal/mol) versus the local hardness η()

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Influence of the π–π interaction on the hydrogen bonding capacity of stacked DNA/RNA bases"</p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(6):1779-1789.</p><p>Published online 23 Mar 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1069514.</p><p>© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved</p> () Correlation part of the interaction energy (Δ) between cytosine and the substituted benzenes Ph-X (kcal/mol) versus the benzene ring polarizability divided by (see ) (a.u.)

Η() can be used for the estimation of the electrostatic interaction and the hydrogen bonding ability

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Influence of the π–π interaction on the hydrogen bonding capacity of stacked DNA/RNA bases"</p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2005;33(6):1779-1789.</p><p>Published online 23 Mar 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1069514.</p><p>© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved</p