Publications (16) View all
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Article: Structure-based development of novel sirtuin inhibitors.
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ABSTRACT: Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases regulating metabolism, stress responses, and aging processes. Mammalia possess seven Sirtuin isoforms, Sirt1-7, which differ in their subcellular localization and in the substrate proteins they deacetylate. The physiological roles of Sirtuins and their potential use as therapeutic targets for metabolic and aging-related diseases have spurred interest in the development of small-molecule Sirtuin modulators. Here, we describe an approach exploiting the structures available for four human Sirtuins for the development of isoform-specific inhibitors. Virtual docking of a compound library into the peptide binding pockets of crystal structures of Sirt2, 3, 5 and 6 yielded compounds potentially discriminating between these isoforms. Further characterization in activity assays revealed several inhibitory compounds with little isoform specificity, but also two compounds with micromolar potency and high specificity for Sirt2. Structure comparison and the predicted, shared binding mode of the Sirt2-specific compounds indicate a pocket extending from the peptide-binding groove as target side enabling isoform specificity. Our family-wide structure-based approach thus identified potent, Sirt2-specific inhibitors as well as lead structures and a target site for the development of compounds specific for other Sirtuin isoform, constituting an important step toward the identification of a complete panel of isoform-specific Sirtuin inhibitors.Aging 09/2011; 3(9):852-72. · 5.13 Impact Factor -
Article: Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the DNA-binding domain of Rhodobacter capsulatus MopB.
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ABSTRACT: The LysR-type regulator MopB represses transcription of several target genes (including the nitrogen-fixation gene anfA) in Rhodobacter capsulatus at high molybdenum concentrations. In this study, the isolated DNA-binding domain of MopB (MopBHTH) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Purified MopBHTH bound the anfA promoter as shown by DNA mobility-shift assays, demonstrating the function of the isolated regulator domain. MopBHTH was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of 0.2 M lithium sulfate, 0.1 M phosphate/citrate pH 4.2, 20%(w/v) PEG 1000 at 291 K. The crystal belonged to space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a=b=61.84, c=139.64 Å, α=β=90, γ=120°, and diffracted to 3.3 Å resolution at a synchrotron source.Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications 03/2011; 67(Pt 3):377-9. · 0.51 Impact Factor -
Article: A third metal is required for catalytic activity of the signal-transducing protein phosphatase M tPphA.
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ABSTRACT: Protein phosphatase M (PPM) regulates key signaling pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Novel structures of bacterial PPM members revealed three divalent metal ions in their catalytic centers. The function of metal 3 (M3) remained unclear. To reveal its function, we created variants of tPphA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus in all metal-coordinating residues, and multiple variants were created for the M3 coordinating Asp-119 residue. The structures of variants D119A and D193A were resolved, showing loss of M3 binding but unaffected binding of M1 and M2 in the catalytic center of D119A, with the nucleophilic water molecule in the correct place. The catalytic activity of this variant was highly impaired. This and further structure-function analyses showed that M3 is required for catalysis by providing a water molecule as a proton donor during catalysis. Mutation of the homologue Asp residue in human PP2Cα also caused loss of function, suggesting a general requirement of M3 in PPM-catalyzed reactions.Journal of Biological Chemistry 02/2011; 286(15):13481-8. · 4.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Crystal structure of the GAF-B domain from human phosphodiesterase 5.
Proteins Structure Function and Bioinformatics 01/2011; 79(5):1682-7. · 3.39 Impact Factor -
Chapter: Crystallographic Studies on Carbonic Anhydrases from Fungal Pathogens for Structure‐Assisted Drug Development
11/2009: pages 323 - 333; , ISBN: 9780470508169
