Non-destructive inhibition of metallofullerenol Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) on WW domain: implication on signal transduction pathway

Sci Rep. 2012:2:957. doi: 10.1038/srep00957. Epub 2012 Dec 11.

Abstract

Endohedral metallofullerenol Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) has recently been shown to effectively inhibit tumor growth; however, its potential adverse bioeffects remain to be understood before its wider applications. Here, we present our study on the interaction between Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) and WW domain, a representative protein domain involved in signaling and regulatory pathway, using all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. We find that Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) has an intrinsic binding preference to the binding groove, particularly the key signature residues Y28 and W39. In its binding competition with the native ligand PRM, Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) is shown to easily win the competition over PRM in occupying the active site, implying that Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) can impose a potential inhibitory effect on the WW domain. Further analyses with binding free energy landscapes reveal that Gd@C(82)(OH)(22) can not only directly block the binding site of the WW domain, but also effectively distract the PRM from its native binding pocket.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Binding Sites
  • Contrast Media
  • Down-Regulation
  • Extracellular Matrix / drug effects
  • Fullerenes / chemistry
  • Fullerenes / metabolism
  • Fullerenes / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / biosynthesis
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / biosynthesis
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Proline-Rich Protein Domains
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Contrast Media
  • Fullerenes
  • Ligands
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes
  • YES1 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9