Exploring Covalent Allosteric Inhibition of Antigen 85C from Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Ebselen Derivatives

Journal Article · Mon Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · ACS Infectious Diseases

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00003· OSTI ID:1349618

Goins, Christopher M. ^[1]; Dajnowicz, Steven ^[2]; Thanna, Sandeep ^[1]; Sucheck, Steven J.  ^[1]; Parks, Jerry M. ^[3]; Ronning, Donald R.  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biology and Soft Matter Division
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Biosciences Division. UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics

Previous studies identified ebselen as a potent in vitro and in vivo inhibitor of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen 85 (Ag85) complex, comprising three homologous enzymes required for the biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell wall. In this study, the Mtb Ag85C enzyme was cocrystallized with azido and adamantyl ebselen derivatives, resulting in two crystallographic structures of 2.01 and 1.30 Å resolution, respectively. Both structures displayed the anticipated covalent modification of the solvent accessible, noncatalytic Cys209 residue forming a selenenylsulfide bond. Continuous difference density for both thiol modifiers allowed for the assessment of interactions that influence ebselen binding and inhibitor orientation that were unobserved in previous Ag85C ebselen structures. The k_inact/K_I values for ebselen, adamantyl ebselen, and azido ebselen support the importance of observed constructive chemical interactions with Arg239 for increased in vitro efficacy toward Ag85C. To better understand the in vitro kinetic properties of these ebselen derivatives, the energetics of specific protein–inhibitor interactions and relative reaction free energies were calculated for ebselen and both derivatives using density functional theory. These studies further support the different in vitro properties of ebselen and two select ebselen derivatives from our previously published ebselen library with respect to kinetics and protein–inhibitor interactions. In both structures, the α9 helix was displaced farther from the enzyme active site than the previous Ag85C ebselen structure, resulting in the restructuring of a connecting loop and imparting a conformational change to residues believed to play a role in substrate binding specific to Ag85C. These notable structural changes directly affect protein stability, reducing the overall melting temperature by up to 14.5 °C, resulting in the unfolding of protein at physiological temperatures. Additionally, this structural rearrangement due to covalent allosteric modification creates a sizable solvent network that encompasses the active site and extends to the modified Cys209 residue. In all, this study outlines factors that influence enzyme inhibition by ebselen and its derivatives while further highlighting the effects of the covalent modification of Cys209 by said inhibitors on the structure and stability of Ag85C. Moreover, the results suggest a strategy for developing new classes of Ag85 inhibitors with increased specificity and potency.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Inst. of Health (NIH) (United States)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725; AC02-06CH11357; AI105084
• OSTI ID: 1349618
• Journal Information: ACS Infectious Diseases, Vol. 3, Issue 5; ISSN 2373-8227
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CADES
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
antigen 85 complex
allosteric covalent inhibition
ebselen