The SHAPES strategy: an NMR-based approach for lead generation in drug discovery.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been shown that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) may be used to identify ligands that bind to low molecular weight protein drug targets. Recognizing the utility of NMR as a very sensitive method for detecting binding, we have focused on developing alternative approaches that are applicable to larger molecular weight drug targets and do not require isotopic labeling. RESULTS: A new method for lead generation (SHAPES) is described that uses NMR to detect binding of a limited but diverse library of small molecules to a potential drug target. The compound scaffolds are derived from shapes most commonly found in known therapeutic agents. NMR detection of low (microM-mM) affinity binding is achieved using either differential line broadening or transferred NOE (nuclear Overhauser effect) NMR techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The SHAPES method for lead generation by NMR is useful for identifying potential lead classes of drugs early in a drug design program, and is easily integrated with other discovery tools such as virtual screening, high-throughput screening and combinatorial chemistry.

Dynamic NMR studies of ligand-receptor interactions: design and analysis of a rapidly exchanging complex of FKBP-12/FK506 with a 24 kDa calcineurin fragment.

Dynamic NMR methods, such as differential line broadening and transferred NOE spectroscopy, are normally reserved for the study of small molecule ligand interactions with large protein receptors. Using a combination of isotope labeling and isotope edited NMR, we have extended these techniques to characterize interactions of a much larger protein/drug complex, FKBP-12/ FK506 with its receptor protein, calcineurin. In order to examine this multicomponent system by dynamic NMR methods, the 93 kDa, tightly bound FKBP-12/FK506/Cn complex was replaced with a lower affinity, rapidly exchanging system consisting of FKBP-12/FK506 (13 kDa), recombinant calcineurin subunit B (CnB) (20 kDa), and a synthetic peptide (4 kDa) corresponding to the B binding domain (BBD) of calcineurin catalytic subunit A (CnA). Analysis of 1H-13C HSQC data acquired for the FKBP-12/ 13C-FK506 and FKBP-12/13C-FK506/CnB/BBD complexes indicates that FKBP-12/FK506 and CnB/BBD are in fast exchange in the quaternary complex. Comparison of proton line widths shows significant broadening of resonances along the macrocycle backbone at 13-CH, 13-OMe, 15-OMe, 18-CH2, 20-CH, 21-CH, and 25-Me, as well as moderate broadening on the macrocycle backbone at 17-Me, 24-CH, and the pyranose 12-CH2 protons. The tri-substituted olefin and cyclohexyl groups also show moderate broadening at the 27-Me, 28-CH, and 30-CH2 positions, respectively. Unexpectedly, little line broadening was observed for the allyl resonances of FK506 in the quaternary complex, although 13C longitudinal relaxation measurements suggest this group also makes contacts with calcineurin. In addition, intermolecular transfer NOE peaks were observed for the allyl 37-CH2, 21-CH, 30-CH2, 13-OMe, 15-OMe, 17-Me, 25-Me, and 27-Me groups, indicating that these are potential sites on the FK506 molecule that interact with calcineurin.

Solution structure of turkey ovomucoid third domain as determined from nuclear magnetic resonance data.

The solution structure of the 56 amino acid residue turkey ovomucoid third domain was determined by n.m.r. methods. Of the 661 distance constraints used in the calculations, 120 were determined by quadratic approximation of the cross-relaxation rates. The remaining constraints were crudely estimated from a more standard analysis of NOESY spectra. Additionally, 29 torsion angle constraints, 17 hydrogen bonds, and three disulfide bridges were used in the structure calculations. Stereospecific assignments were accomplished for 24 beta-methylene groups and six isopropyl methyl groups (43% chiral assignments). The addition of more accurate distance constraints to the distance geometry/simulated annealing approach resulted in a significant reduction in the dispersion of calculated backbone torsion angles and root-mean-square deviations between structures. Detailed comparisons have been made between the n.m.r. structures of OMTKY3 and published X-ray structures of the same protein and of closely related avian ovomucoid third domains. The refinement with more accurate distance constraints reduced differences between families of the n.m.r. and the X-ray structures.

The mutant Escherichia coli F112W cyclophilin binds cyclosporin A in nearly identical conformation as human cyclophilin.

The periplasmic Escherichia coli cyclophilin is distantly related to human cyclophilin (34% sequence identity). Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity, cyclosporin A binding, and inhibition of the calcium-dependent phosphatase calcineurin are compared for human and E. coli wild-type and mutant proteins. Like human cyclophilin, the E. coli protein is a cis-trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerase. However, while the human protein binds cyclosporin A tightly (Kd = 17 nM), the E. coli protein does not (Kd = 3.4 microM). The mutant F112W E. coli cyclophilin has enhanced cyclosporin binding (Kd = 170 nM). As for the human protein, the complex of the E. coli mutant with cyclosporin A inhibits calcineurin. Here we describe the structure at pH 6.2 of cyclosporin A bound to the mutant E. coli cyclophilin as solved with solution NMR methods. Despite the low overall sequence identity, the structure of the bound cyclosporin A is virtually identical in both proteins. To assess differences of the cyclosporin binding site, the solution structure of wild-type E. coli cyclophilin was compared with structures of uncomplexed human cyclophilin A and with cyclosporin bound. Despite the structural similarity of bound cyclosporin A, the architecture of the binding site in the E. coli protein is substantially different at the site most distant to tryptophan 121 (human sequence). This site is constructed by a five-residue insertion in a loop of the E. coli protein, replacing another loop in the human protein.

Secondary structure and backbone resonance assignments of the periplasmic cyclophilin type peptidyl-prolyl isomerase from Escherichia coli.

Proton, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 sequence-specific backbone assignments have been obtained for the periplasmic cyclophilin type cis-trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerase from Escherichia coli (167 residues, M(r) = 18,244). Assignments were obtained using both 1H, 13C, and 15N triple-resonance and 1H and 15N double-resonance three-dimensional (3D) NMR spectroscopy at pH 6.2, 25 degrees C. Complete or partial residue-specific assignments have been obtained for 165 of the 167 residues. The secondary structure has been characterized using long- and medium-range NOEs. The protein consists of an eight-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet and two helices. The overall topology of E. coli cyclophilin is similar to that of human T-cell cyclophilin. Sequence alignment with human T-cell cyclophilin based on secondary structure homology implicates several residues in E. coli cyclophilin that may be crucial for binding the peptide substrate AC-A-A-P-A-AMC and the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A.

Refinement of the NMR solution structure of a protein to remove distortions arising from neglect of internal motion.

The effect of internal motion on the quality of a protein structure derived from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) cross relaxation has been investigated experimentally. Internal rotation of the tyrosine-31 ring of turkey ovomucoid third domain was found to mediate magnetization transfer; the effect led to underestimation of proton-proton distances in its immediate neighborhood. Experimental methods that distinguish pure cross relaxation from chemical exchange mediated cross relaxation were used to separate true distances from distorted ones. Uncorrected and corrected sets of distances, where the corrections took internal motion into account, each were used as input to a distance geometry program for structural modeling. Each set of distances yielded a family of similar (converged) structures. The two families of structures differed considerably (2 A) in the region of tyrosine-31. In addition, differences as large as 1 A were observed at other positions throughout the structure. These results emphasize the importance of analyzing the effects of internal motions in order to obtain more accurate NMR solution structures.