Crystal structure of SPSB2 in complex with a rational designed RGD-containing cyclic peptide inhibitor of SPSB2-iNOS interaction
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: You, Tingting; Wang, Yuhui; Li, Kefa; Zhang, Danting; Wei, Huan; Luo, Yanhong; Li, Hua; Lu, Yongzhi; Su, Xunchen; Kuang, Zhihe
Abstract
SPRY domain-containing SOCS box protein 2 (SPSB2) is a negative regulator of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that modulates the lifetime of iNOS and thus the levels of nitric oxide (NO) production. Inhibitors that can disrupt the endogenous SPSB2-iNOS interaction and augment NO production have potential as novel antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. In this study, we have designed a cyclic peptide (cR8), containing an RGD motif and the SPSB2 binding motif (DINNNV). ITC and chemical shift perturbation showed that cR8 binds to the iNOS binding site on SPSB2 with a K-d of 671 nM, and saturation transfer difference NMR showed that cR8 binds to alpha(v)beta(3) integrin-expressing cells. Moreover, we determined the crystal structure of SPSB2 in complex with cR8, at a resolution of 1.34 (A) over circle. cR8 forms extensive hydrogen bonding with SPSB2 residues, but loss of an intramolecular hydrogen bond that is present in SPSB2-bound iNOS peptide may destabilize the bound conformation of cR8 and lead to a gentle reduction in SPSB2 binding affinity. These results serve as a useful basis for designing site-directed SPSB2 inhibitors in the future. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
cDNA Cloning and Expression Analysis of Gustavus Gene in the Oriental River Prawn Macrobrachium nipponense
PLOS ONE
Authors: Zhang, Fengying; Chen, Liqiao; Qin, Jianguang; Zhao, Weihong; Wu, Ping; Yu, Na; Ma, Lingbo
Abstract
The gustavus gene is required for localizing pole plasm and specifying germ cells. Research on gustavus gene expression will advance our understanding of the biological function of gustavus in animals. A cDNA encoding gustavus protein was identified and termed MnGus in the oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense. Bioinformatic analyses showed that this gene encoded a protein of 262 amino acids and the protein belongs to the Spsb1 family. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses revealed that the expression level of MnGus in prawn embryos was slightly higher at the cleavage stage than at the blastula stage, and reached the maximum level during the zoea stage of embryos. The minimum level of MnGus expression occurred during the perinucleolus stage in the ovary, while the maximum was at the oil globule stage, and then the level of MnGus expression gradually decreased with the advancement of ovarian development. The expression level of MnGus in muscle was much higher than that in other tissues in mature prawn. The gustavus cDNA sequence was firstly cloned from the oriental river prawn and the pattern of gene expression was described during oocyte maturation, embryonic development, and in other tissues. The differential expression patterns of MnGus in the embryo, ovary and other somatic tissues suggest that the gustavus gene performs multiple physiological functions in the oriental river prawn.