<p>The HIV-1 virus encodes a protease essential for the processing of polyprotein precursors into mature viral proteins. This enzyme is a primary target for drug design against AIDS. Concurrent effects of inhibitors targeted to defined regions of the extended active site were investigated using Yonetani-Theorell kinetics to understand its complex specificity requirements. Kinetic data revealed that the simultaneous presence of two specific inhibitors may increase their binding affinity for the enzyme. A 100-fold enhancement in binding affinity was observed in certain instances. Results from this work showed a correlation between inhibitor synergism and substrate specificity thus implicating subsite interactions in enzyme catalysis.</p> <p>To facilitate the analysis of enzyme-inhibitor interactions an improved graphical method, the combination plot, was developed as an alternative to the Yonetani-Theorell plot. The method generates a single straight line rather than a family of lines which is the traditional approach in such kinetic studies. The slope of the plot, 1/α, quantitatively measures the extent and nature of interaction between two inhibitors on their target enzyme. The approach was easily extended to analyze, for the first time, the interaction between three competitive inhibitors on an enzyme. The combination approach potentially has broad applications for kinetic analysis.</p> <p>Combination plots were used in the discovery of gem-dialkyl succinic acid derivatives as a new class of unusually potent reversible inhibitors of carboxypeptidases A and B. 2-Ethyl-2-methylsuccinic acid binds to carboxypeptidases A and B with dissociation constants of 1.1 X 10ˉ⁷ M and 3.4 X 10ˉ⁶ M respectively. The low dissociation constants of the inhibitors for the zinc proteases can be attributed primarily to the gem-dialkyl groups which presumably make very important hydrophobic contacts within the active site. The inhibitors may also act as zinc ligands while possessing sufficient affinity for the carboxyl-recognition site in the enzymes.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The tunneling fold (T-Fold) superfamily is a small superfamily of enzymes found in organisms encompassing all kingdoms of life. Seven members have been identified thus far. Despite sharing a common three-dimensional structure these enzymes perform very diverse chemistries. QueF is a bacterial NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes the reduction of the nitrile group of 7-cyano-7-deazaguanine (preQ0) to a primary amine (preQ1) in the queuosine biosynthetic pathway. Previous work on this enzyme has revealed the mechanism of reaction but the cofactor binding residues remain unknown. The experiments discussed herein aim to elucidate the role of residues lysine 80, lysine 83, and arginine 125 (B. subtilis numbering) in NADPH binding. The biological role of the disulfide bond between the conserved residues cysteine 55 and cysteine 99 observed in several crystal structures is also examined. Characterization of QueF mutants K80A, K83, R125A and R125K revealed lysine 80, lysine 83 and arginine 125 are required for turnover. Further analysis of turnover rates for R125K are consistent with this residue and both lysines being involved in cofactor binding presumably by interacting with the negatively charged phosphate tail of NADPH and are therefore involved in cofactor binding. Based on bond angles and energies, the disulfide bond between Cys55 and Cys99 was characterized as non-structural. Enzyme oxidation assays were consistent with the bond serving to protect QueF against irreversible oxidation of Cys55, which would render the enzyme inactive. This is the only known example of a stress protective mechanism in the Tunneling-fold superfamily. QueF-like is an amidinotransferase found in some species of Crenarchaeota and involved in the biosynthesis of archaeosine-tRNA. The work presented here is focused on the preliminary characterization of this enzyme, including the elucidation of the natural substrate as well as the source of ammonia. The structure of the enzyme was solved and is also discussed. Substrate analysis for QueF-like indicated this enzyme is capable of binding both preQ0 and preQ0-tRNA and reacting to form a thioimide intermediate analogous to QueF but only the latter serves as a substrate for the reaction. This makes QueF-like the first example of a nucleic acid binding enzyme in the Tunneling-fold superfamily. Ammonia, glutamine and asparagine were tested as nitrogen sources and unlike most known amidotransferases, QueF-like can only use free ammonia to produce the archaeosine-tRNA product. The crystal structure of P. calidifontis QueF-like indicates the functional enzyme is a dimer of pentamers pinned together by a large number of salt bridges. The structure presents a high degree of similarity to that of QueF albeit the higher twist of the QueF-like pentamers with respect to QueF results in a more compact structure.

<p>The 20^th century introduction of antibiotics made once fatal infectious diseases readily treatable. This taken-for-granted therapy is now threatened by rising antibiotic resistance. The ability of pathogens to acquire numerous simultaneous resistance mechanisms has given rise to an alarming number of increasingly difficult to treat multi-drug resistant infections. When coupled with a sharp decline in development of novel antibiotic therapies, health practitioners today are left with limited therapeutic options. Several alternative methodologies have been employed to find novel therapeutics, including new techniques in natural product isolation and the production of semi-synthetic and synthetic antibiotics; however, there has been limited focus on targeting antibiotic resistance mechanisms directly to create synergistic therapies. We demonstrate the potential in using small molecules to target antibiotic kinases, thereby rescuing the antibiotic action of aminoglycosides and macrolides when used in combination. We conducted a thorough examination of these enzymes including: kinetic analysis; an assessment of phosphate donor specificity; and in-depth structural comparison, including a case study on the structure-function relationship of APH(4)-Ia. This analysis culminated in an intensive screening initiative of fourteen antibiotic kinases against a set of well defined protein kinase inhibitors. From this work, we have identified several inhibitors that have the potential for use in future combination therapeutics. This study illustrates the benefit of a structure-activity based approach to drug discovery, an important tool at a time when novel therapeutic strategies are required.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>The current rise in multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is of particularconcern. Gram-negative pathogens are difficult to treat due to their intrinsic resistome.The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria serves as a permeability barrier tomany antibiotics, due in large part to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component that isunique to these organisms, and in addition to, the OM is lined with a number of multidrugresistant efflux pumps. As the clinical effectiveness of first line therapies declines inthe face of this resistance, novel strategies to discover new antibiotics are required. Theidentification of new antibiotic targets is one method currently being applied to meet thischallenge. This work examines the permeability barrier of Escherichia coli as a possibletarget for antibiotic adjuvants. A structure-function analysis of GmhA and GmhB, whichcatalyze the first and third conserved steps in LPS ADP-heptose biosynthesis, wasperformed. The active site residues of each of these enzymes were identified viacrystallographic, mutagenic, and kinetic analyses. Potential mechanisms have beenproposed, offering insight into the function of these potential adjuvant targets. In addition,a whole screen of E. coli was performed to identify compounds that potentiatenovobiocin, an antibiotic with limited activity against Gram-negative pathogens due toOM permeability. Four small molecules were found that were able to synergize withnovobiocin. One of these, A22, is known to alter bacterial cell shape, suggesting a newpathway for antibiotic adjuvants to combat Gram-negative infection. Together, thesestudies highlight the varied targets available for novel therapeutic strategies.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis is divided into three parts, united by the theme of the development of selective inhibitors of mammalian cell DNA polymerase delta (pol δ). The first part consists of an investigation of the cytotoxic mechanism(s) of certain 2-substituted adenine analogs, selected on the basis of their inhibitory properties towards DNA polymerase alpha (pol α) and mammalian cell DNA synthesis. The second is a direct search for inhibitors of isolated pol δ, and an investigation of inhibitory mechanisms. The third consists of measurement of the effects of a selective pol δ inhibitor on cellular DNA synthesis. Mechanism of Cytotoxicity of 2-substituted adenine analoqs. The mechanism of inhibition by 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-2'-deoxyadenosine (BuAdA), and related compounds, of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell ([3H]thymidine [3H]TdR) incorporation, was investigated. The potency of the compound could largely be explained by its potency (IC50 = 23 μM) as an inhibitor of CHO cell [3H]TdR uptake. BuAdA inhibited incorporation by CHO cells of [32p]phosphate into DNA relatively weakly, displaying an IC50value of 80 μM. Differential inhibition of DNA polymerases alpha and delta. Known DNA polymerase inhibitors of a structurally wide range were screened for their ability to inhibit pol δ derived from calf thymus selectively with respect to pol α derived from the same tissue. Pyrophosphate (PPi) and difluoromethanediphosphonate each inhibited pol δ weakly, but with greater potency than pol α. Based on this lead, an expanded series of PPi analogs was screened. Carbonyldiphosphonate (COMDP) inhibited pol δ with a potency (Ki = 1.8 μM) twenty-two times greater than that displayed for pol α. Kinetic studies indicated that COMDP inhibited pol δ competitively with the dNTP specified by the template, but not competitively with the template:primer. Analogous experiments with pol α showed that the compound inhibited that enzyme uncompetitively with the dNTP, and not competitively with the template:primer. COMDP was a weak inhibitor of the 3' → 5' exonuclease activity of pol δ, displaying an IC50value greater than 1 mM. Inhibition of permeabilized cell DNA synthesis bv a selective pol δ inhibitor. The potency of COMDP as an inhibitor of permeabilized CHO cell DNA synthesis (IC50= 200 μM) did not clearly indicate the participation of pol δ in cellular DNA replication. Prospectus. The thesis concludes with a prospectus for the development of pol δ inhibitors with improved properties compared to COMDP.

While protein α-N-terminal methylation has been known for nearly four decades since it was first uncovered on bacteria ribosomal proteins L33, the function of this modification is still not entirely understood. Recent discoveries have demonstrated α-N-terminal methylation is essential to stabilize the interactions between regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) and chromatin during mitosis, to localize and enhance the interaction of centromere proteins (CENPs) with chromatin, and to facilitate the recruitment of DNA damage-binding protein 2 (DDB2) to DNA damage foci. Identification of N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) unveiled the eukaryotic methylation writer for protein α-N-termini. In addition, NTMT2 that shares over 50% sequence similarity, has been identified as another mammalian protein α-N-terminal methylation writer. Knockdown of NTMT1 results in mitotic defects and sensitizes chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer cell lines, while NTMT1 knockout mice showed premature aging. Additionally, NTMT1 has been shown to be overexpressed in a colorectal and melanoma tumor tissues, and in lung and liver cancer cell lines. Given the vast array of clinical relevance, chemical probes and inhibitors for NTMT1 are vital to elucidate information about the function and downstream process of protein α-N-terminal methylation. Therefore, 47 peptidomimetic compounds have been synthesized that target NTMT1. These peptide-based compounds range from three to six amino acids in length and the top 5 compounds have 3- to 300- fold selectivity for NTMT1 compared to other methyltransferases. An inhibition mechanism study has also been performed to verify the inhibitors are targeting the NTMT1 peptide binding site. Seven compounds have an IC50 of less than 5 µM and our top inhibitor, BM-47, has an IC50 of 0.32 µM ± 0.06 for NTMT1. To further elucidate information about the NTMTs and their downstream effects, we utilized photoaffinity probes to target these enzymes. Our 6 photoaffinity probes exhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Probe labeling has been shown to be driven by recognition and selectively and competitively label the NTMT writers in a complex cellular mixture. Our results also provided the first indication of substrate preferences among NTMT1/2. Methylated photoaffinity probes were also synthesized to identify novel proteins that recognize a methylated N-terminus and shed light on the function of α-N-terminal methylation.

Nucleases are enzymes that can specifically recognize nucleic acids and hydrolyze their phosphodiester bonds effectively. As is the case with many hydrolases, nucleases often carry one or more metal centers. Cooperation between such metal centers and other interactions involving general acid-base activities are believed to be essential in multifunctional catalyses. Combination of such interactions in model compounds often resulted in larger than additive effects. This work is aimed at synthesizing nuclease models that combine the ability to recognize phosphate groups and/or nitrogen bases of DNA together with the ability to catalyze phosphodiester hydrolysis. These models were designed to achieve optimum interaction between the recognition and the catalytic functionalities. Towards this goal, we chose phenonthiazonium ions (methylene blue analogues) and anthracene as spacers.

Human mast cells have been associated with wound healing, allergies, inflammation, and defense against pathogens and have been detected in tissues close to blood vessels especially in the areas between the inside of the body and the external environment, such as the skin, lungs, digestive tract, mouth, and nose. Previous studies have shown that mast cells contain large granules filled with histamine, heparin, cytokines, eicosanoids, and the serine proteases, tryptase, Chymase, and cathepsin G (CatG). These proteases are stored and released from mast-cell granules upon activation by antigen binding to IgE immunoglobulins on the cell surface or by direct injury. In this study, chymase and CatG were expressed as active enzymes in the yeast Pichia pastoris by homologous recombination of the cDNA coding for the mature active proteases into the Pichia genome. Methanol induction resulted in the secretion of active enzyme into the Pichia growth media and increasing levels of enzyme were detected in the media for 5 days. Cells that secreted the highest levels of activity were selected by kinetic assay. Active chymase was purified from the culture media with a 22% yield of activity by a simple two-step procedure that involved hydrophobic-interaction chromatography followed by affinity chromatography on immobilized heparin. The major peak from the heparin column contained a single band of 30.6 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The purified recombinant human chymase was 96% active and the yield was 2.2 mg/l of growth media. Active CatG was partially purified from culture media using an ultrafiltration. Mass Spectroscopy (Maldi-Tof) data confirmed that the major protein band was CatG, resulting in the first active human CatG to be produced recombinantly. Additionally, the partially purified enzyme was active against both chymotrypsin and trypsin substrates, and its reaction with inhibitors was consistent with CatG. Although the protein yields were low, these results confirm that CatG was recombinantly expressed.

Chemotherapy is the first line of treatment used in cancer. Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are used in treatment. Cisplatin enters the cell through copper transporter CTR1 by passive diffusion and bind to DNA and proteins. Cisplatin is found to inhibit several enzymes targeting cysteine, histidine and methionine residues, which are expected to be responsible for its anticancer activity. A better understanding of how the size and shape and leaving ligands of platinum complexes affect cysteine protease, papain enzyme are studied. This could give new ways to optimize anticancer activity. The activity of papain enzyme was measured on UV-Visible spectroscopy. The inhibition profile of papain with different platinum (II) complexes, and with different combinations was studied.

Type II polyketide synthase (PKS) produced natural products have proven to be an excellent source of pharmacologically relevant molecules due to their rich biological activities and chemical scaffolds. Type II-PKS manufactured polyketides share similar polycyclic aromatic backbones leaving their diversity to stem from various chemical additions and alterations facilitated by post-PKS tailoring enzymes. Evidence suggests that post-PKS tailoring enzymes form complexes in order to facilitate the highly orchestrated process of biosynthesis. Thus, protein-protein interactions between these enzymes must play crucial roles in their structures and functions. Despite the importance of these interactions little has been done to study them. In the mithramycin (MTM) biosynthetic pathway the Baeyer−Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO) MtmOIV and the ketoreductase MtmW form one such enzyme pair that catalyze the final two steps en route to the final product. MtmOIV oxidatively cleaves the fourth ring of the mithramycin intermediate premithramycin B (PreB) via a Baeyer−Villiger reaction, generating MTM’s characteristic tricyclic aglycone core and highly functionalized pentyl side chain at position 3. This Baeyer−Villiger reaction precedes spontaneous lactone ring opening, decarboxylation, and the final step of MTM biosynthesis, a reduction of the 4′- keto group catalyzed by the ketoreductase MtmW. Another example of co-dependent post-PKS tailoring enzymes from the gilvocarcin biosynthetic pathway is composed of GilM and GilR. These two enzymes form an unusual synergistic tailoring enzyme pair that does not function sequentially. GilM exhibits dual functionality by catalyzing the reduction of a quinone intermediate to a hydroquinone and stabilizes O-methylation and hemiacetal formation. GilM mediates its reductive catalysis through the aid of GilR that provides its covalently bound FADH(2) for the GilM reaction, through which FAD is regenerated for the next catalytic cycle. A few steps later, following glycosylation related events unique to each gilvocarcin derivative, GilR dehydrogenates the hemiacetal moiety created by GilM to establish the formation of a lactone and the final gilvocarcin chromophore. To achieve a better understanding of post-type II PKS tailoring enzymes and their protein-proteininteractions for the benefit of future combinatorial biosynthetic efforts two specific aims were devised. Specific aim 1 was to investigate the structure of MtmOIV and the role of active site residues in its catalytic mechanism. Specific aim 2 was to integrate the function of GilM and its protein-protein interactionswith GilR that lead to their synergistic activity and sharing of GilR’s bicovalently bound FAD moiety.