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Steroid bile acid fused tetrazoles were screened for ability to inhibit aldo–keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), a target for cancer treatment. The X-ray structure of AKR1C3 in complex with a bile acid tetrazole inhibitor is presented.

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are second messengers that activate stimulator of interferon genes (STING). The cGAS-STING pathway plays a promising role in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe the synthesis of CDNs containing 7-substituted 7-deazapurine moiety. We used mouse cyclic GMP-AMP synthase and bacterial dinucleotide synthases for the enzymatic synthesis of CDNs. Alternatively, 7-(het)aryl 7-deazapurine CDNs were prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings. New CDNs were tested in biochemical and cell-based assays for their affinity to human STING. Eight CDNs showed better activity than 2'3'

Emissions of toxic heavy metals (HMs), as Hg, As, Cd, Pb, etc., and some harmful compounds of F, Se, and B are related to waste streams from coal-fired power plants (CFPP). Coal/lignite combustion, due to relatively high content of ash, sulfur, and chlorine, generates in flue gas cleaning processes tremendous amount of fly ash, CaSO4 and CaCl2. Measures for minimization of Hg- and NOx-emissions (e.g. addition of bromides and NH3) change properties of fly ash, wastewater and speciation/partition of HMs. Wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) consumes high amount of fresh water and generates harmful wastewater with water soluble salts. The planned, more stringent limits on emissions of dust, Hg, HCl, HF, SO2, etc. in CFPP will increase contents of polluting compounds in solid and liquid waste streams. We critically assess possibilities, measures and obstacles for higher efficiency of Hg and HMs removal from flue gas in CFPP, together with efficient removal of other pollutants including mutual influences and interrelations. The fates of mercury, selected harmful HMs, and some other pollutants in waste streams from wet FGD are critically analyzed and discussed. Non-toxic, stable forms of mercury (e.g. HgS) and other HMs in solid waste should be preferred. Schemes and measures for minimization of emissions and hazardous waste streams from air pollution control (APC) are compared and discussed for three selected technologies of coal combustion with different methods of gas cleaning.

Among non-covalent interactions, B-H⋯π and C-H⋯π hydrogen bonding is rather weak and less studied. Nevertheless, since both can affect the energetics of protein-ligand binding, their understanding is an important prerequisite for reliable predictions of affinities. Through a combination of high-resolution X-ray crystallography and quantum-chemical calculations on carbonic anhydrase II/carborane-based inhibitor systems, this paper provides the first example of B-H⋯π hydrogen bonding in a protein-ligand complex. It shows that the B-H⋯π interaction is stabilized by dispersion, followed by electrostatics. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the similar C-H⋯π interaction is twice as strong, with a slightly smaller contribution of dispersion and a slightly higher contribution of electrostatics. Such a detailed insight will facilitate the rational design of future protein ligands, controlling these types of non-covalent interactions.

The SorC/DeoR family is a large family of bacterial transcription regulators that are involved in the control of carbohydrate metabolism and quorum sensing. To understand the structural basis of DNA recognition, structural studies of two functionally characterized SorC/DeoR family members from Bacillus subtilis were performed: the deoxyribonucleoside regulator bsDeoR and the central glycolytic genes regulator bsCggR. Each selected protein represents one of the subgroups that are recognized within the family. Crystal structures were determined of the N-terminal DNA-binding domains of bsDeoR and bsCggR in complex with DNA duplexes representing the minimal operator sequence at resolutions of 2.3 and 2.1 Å, respectively. While bsDeoRDBD contains a homeodomain-like HTH-type domain, bsCggRDBD contains a winged helix–turn–helix-type motif. Both proteins form C2-symmetric dimers that recognize two consecutive major grooves, and the protein–DNA interactions have been analyzed in detail. The crystal structures were used to model the interactions of the proteins with the full DNA operators, and a common mode of DNA recognition is proposed that is most likely to be shared by other members of the SorC/DeoR family.

Cryptococcosis is an invasive infection that accounts for 15% of AIDS-related fatalities. Still, treating cryptococcosis remains a significant challenge due to the poor availability of effective antifungal therapies and emergence of drug resistance. Interestingly, protease inhibitor components of antiretroviral therapy regimens have shown some clinical benefits in these opportunistic infections. We investigated Major aspartyl peptidase 1 (May1), a secreted Cryptococcus neoformans protease, as a possible target for the development of drugs that act against both fungal and retroviral aspartyl proteases. Here, we describe the biochemical characterization of May1, present its high-resolution X-ray structure, and provide its substrate specificity analysis. Through combinatorial screening of 11,520 compounds, we identified a potent inhibitor of May1 and HIV protease. This dual-specificity inhibitor exhibits antifungal activity in yeast culture, low cytotoxicity, and low off-target activity against host proteases and could thus serve as a lead compound for further development of May1 and HIV protease inhibitors.

The paper focuses on the competitive influence of SO₂ and HCl during their removal from flue gas by sodium bicarbonate. The experimental investigation was conducted at a unique combination of conditions: the experiments were conducted on a large scale, with real flue gas, and the removal of SO₂ and HCl was studied simultaneously. The aim was to ensure that experimental conditions are reasonably realistic and therefore transferable to practice. The results from experiments at various temperatures within the range from 170 to 255 °C did not indicate a significant influence of temperature. The sorbent conversion varied significantly with the lowest achieved conversion of 26% and the highest conversion of 85%. There was a clear trend showing that higher concentrations of HCl make it more difficult to achieve the selected target concentration of SO₂ in clean flue gas, suggesting the preferred reaction of formed sodium carbonate with HCl. The influence of HCl on the removal of SO₂ was quantified and is presented in the form of regression models. The found regressors were the initial concentrations of HCl and SO₂ in raw flue gas and the target concentration of SO₂ in the clean flue gas. The regression models are in good agreement with the experimental data and can be used for the prediction of the behavior of a flue gas treatment system or its optimization.

Fluorescent molecules are like antennas: The rate at which they absorb light depends on their orientation with respect to the incoming light wave, and the apparent intensity of their emission depends on their orientation with respect to the observer. However, the directions along which the most important fluorescent molecules in biology, fluorescent proteins (FPs), absorb and emit light are generally not known. Our optical and X-ray investigations of FP crystals have now allowed us to determine the molecular orientations of the excitation and emission transition dipole moments in the FPs mTurquoise2, eGFP, and mCherry, and the photoconvertible FP mEos4b. Our results will allow using FP directionality in studies of molecular and biological processes, but also in development of novel bioengineering and bioelectronics applications.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), a tumor-associated metalloenzyme, represents a validated target for cancer therapy and diagnostics. Herein, we report the inhibition properties of isomeric families of sulfonamidopropyl-dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes group(s) prepared using a new direct five-step synthesis from the corresponding parent cages. The protocol offers a reliable solution for synthesis of singly and doubly substituted dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes with a different geometric position of carbon atoms. The closo-compounds from the ortho- and meta-series were then degraded to corresponding 11-vertex dicarba-nido-undecaborate(1-) anions. All compounds show in vitro enzymatic activity against CA IX in the low nanomolar or subnanomolar range. This is accompanied by clear isomer dependence of the inhibition constant (Ki ) and selectivity towards CA IX. Decreasing trends in Ki and selectivity index (SI ) values are observed with increasing separation of the cage carbon atoms. Interactions of compounds with the active sites of CA IX were explored with X-ray crystallography, and eight high-resolution crystal structures uncovered the structural basis of inhibition potency and selectivity.

The DNA-linked inhibitor antibody assay (DIANA) has been recently validated for ultrasensitive enzyme detection and for quantitative evaluation of enzyme inhibitor potency. Here we present its adaptation for high-throughput screening of human carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a promising drug and diagnostic target. We tested DIANA's performance by screening a unique compound collection of 2816 compounds consisting of lead-like small molecules synthesized at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) Prague ("IOCB library"). Additionally, to test the robustness of the assay and its potential for upscaling, we screened a pooled version of the IOCB library. The results from the pooled screening were in agreement with the initial nonpooled screen with no lost hits and no false positives, which shows DIANA's potential to screen more than 100,000 compounds per day.All DIANA screens showed a high signal-to-noise ratio with a Z' factor of0.89. The DIANA screen identified 13 compounds with

Cathepsin K (CatK) is a target for the treatment of osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone metastasis. Peptidomimetics with a cyanohydrazide warhead represent a new class of highly potent CatK inhibitors; however, their binding mechanism is unknown. We investigated two model cyanohydrazide inhibitors with differently positioned warheads: an azadipeptide nitrile G��1303 and a 3-cyano-3-aza-��-amino acid G��2602. Crystal structures of their covalent complexes were determined with mature CatK as well as a zymogen-like activation intermediate of CatK. Binding mode analysis, together with quantum chemical calculations, revealed that the extraordinary picomolar potency of G��2602 is entropically favoured by its conformational flexibility at the nonprimed-primed subsites boundary. Furthermore, we demonstrated by live cell imaging that cyanohydrazides effectively target mature CatK in osteosarcoma cells. Cyanohydrazides also suppressed the maturation of CatK by inhibiting the autoactivation of the CatK zymogen. Our results provide structural insights for the rational design of cyanohydrazide inhibitors of CatK as potential drugs.

Influenza virus causes severe respiratory infection in humans. Current antivirotics target three key proteins in the viral life cycle: neuraminidase, the M2 channel and the endonuclease domain of RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase. Due to the development of novel pandemic strains, additional antiviral drugs targetting different viral proteins are still needed. The protein-protein interaction between polymerase subunits PA and PB1 is one such possible target. We recently identified a modified decapeptide derived from the N-terminus of the PB1 subunit with high affinity for the C-terminal part of the PA subunit. Here, we optimized its amino acid hotspots to maintain the inhibitory potency and greatly increase peptide solubility. This allowed thermodynamic characterization of peptide binding to PA. Solving the X-ray structure of the peptide-PA complex provided structural insights into the interaction. Additionally, we optimized intracellular delivery of the peptide using a bicyclic strategy that led to improved inhibition in cell-based assays.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a transmembrane enzyme that regulates pH in hypoxic tumors and promotes tumor cell survival. Its expression is associated with the occurrence of metastases and poor prognosis. Here, we present nine derivatives of the cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) anion substituted at the boron or carbon sites by alkysulfamide group(s) as highly specific and selective inhibitors of CAIX. Interactions of these compounds with the active site of CAIX were explored on the atomic level using protein crystallography. Two selected derivatives display subnanomolar or picomolar inhibition constants and high selectivity for the tumor-specific CAIX over cytosolic isoform CAII. Both derivatives had a time-dependent effect on the growth of multicellular spheroids of HT-29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, facilitated penetration and/or accumulation of doxorubicin into spheroids, and displayed low toxicity and showed promising pharmacokinetics and a significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth in syngenic breast 4T1 and colorectal HT-29 cancer xenotransplants.

Transient and fuzzy intermolecular interactions are fundamental to many biological processes. Despite their importance, they are notoriously challenging to characterize. Effects induced by paramagnetic ligands in the NMR spectra of interacting biomolecules provide an opportunity to amplify subtle manifestations of weak intermolecular interactions observed for diamagnetic ligands. Here, we present an approach to characterizing dynamic interactions between a partially flexible dimeric protein, HIV-1 protease, and a metallacarborane-based ligand, a system for which data obtained by standard NMR approaches do not enable detailed structural interpretation. We show that for the case where the experimental data are significantly averaged to values close to zero the standard fitting of pseudocontact shifts cannot provide reliable structural information. We based our approach on generating a large ensemble of full atomic models, for which the experimental data can be predicted, ensemble averaged and finally compared to the experiment. We demonstrate that a combination of paramagnetic NMR experiments, quantum chemical calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations offers a route towards structural characterization of dynamic protein-ligand complexes.

This review describes recent progress in the design and development of inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) based on space-filling carborane and cobalt bis(dicarbollide) clusters. CA IX enzyme is known to play a crucial role in cancer cell proliferation and metastases. The new class of potent and selective CA IX inhibitors combines the structural motif of a bulky inorganic cluster with an alkylsulfamido or alkylsulfonamido anchor group for Zn2+ ion in the enzyme active site. Detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of a large series containing 50 compounds uncovered structural features of the cluster-containing inhibitors that are important for efficient and selective inhibition of CA IX activity. Preclinical evaluation of selected compounds revealed low toxicity, favorable pharmacokinetics and ability to reduce tumor growth. Cluster-containing inhibitors of CA IX can thus be considered as promising candidates for drug development and/or for combination therapy in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).

Pathogenic Candida albicans yeasts frequently cause infections in hospitals. Antifungal drugs lose effectiveness due to other Candida species and resistance. New medications are thus required. Secreted aspartic protease of C. parapsilosis (Sapp1p) is a promising target. We have thus solved the crystal structures of Sapp1p complexed to four peptidomimetic inhibitors. Three potent inhibitors (Ki: 0.1, 0.4, 6.6 nM) resembled pepstatin A (Ki: 0.3 nM), a general aspartic protease inhibitor, in terms of their interactions with Sapp1p. However, the weaker inhibitor (Ki: 14.6 nM) formed fewer nonpolar contacts with Sapp1p, similarly to the smaller HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir (Ki: 1.9 µM), which, moreover, formed fewer H-bonds. The analyses have revealed the structural determinants of the subnanomolar inhibition of C. parapsilosis aspartic protease. Because of the high similarity between Saps from different Candida species, these results can further be used for the design of potent and specific Sap inhibitor-based antimycotic drugs.

Peptidomimetic inhibitors of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) are regarded as promising tools for tumor targeting in vivo. Even though several peptidomimetic compounds with nanomolar potency have been described, broad chemical space for further modification remained unexplored. Therefore, we set to analyze the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of pseudopeptide compound series with α-ketoamide warheads in order to explore the contributions of the P1′ and P2′ moieties to the inhibitory potency. A series of novel inhibitors bearing varied P1′ and/or P2’ moieties was synthesized by combining a Passerini reaction-Amine Deprotection-Acyl Migration (PADAM) approach with peptide coupling and subsequent oxidation. The resulting compounds inhibited FAP and the related prolyl endopeptidase (PREP) with potencies in the nanomolar to sub-nanomolar range. The most potent FAP inhibitor IOCB22-AP446 (6d, IC50 = 89 pM) had about 36 -fold higher inhibition potency than the most potent inhibitor published to date. The compounds were selective over FAP's closest homolog DPP-IV, were stable in human and mouse plasma and in mouse microsomes, and displayed minimal cytotoxicity in tissue cultures.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been applied for determination of the thermodynamic acidity constants (pKa ) of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups, the actual and limiting ionic mobilities and hydrodynamic radii of important compounds, eight carborane-based inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases, which are potential new anticancer drugs. Two types of carboranes were investigated, (i) icosahedral cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) ion with sulfamidoalkyl moieties, and (ii) 7,8-nido-dicarbaundecaborate with sulfonamidoalkyl side chains. First, the mixed acidity constants, pKamix , of the sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups of the above carboranes and their actual ionic mobilities were determined by nonlinear regression analysis of the pH dependences of their effective electrophoretic mobility measured by capillary electrophoresis in the pH range 8.00-12.25, at constant ionic strength (25 mM), and constant temperature (25°C). Second, the pKamix were recalculated to the thermodynamic pKa s using the Debye-Huckel theory. The sulfamidoalkyl and sulfonamidoalkyl groups were found to be very weakly acidic with the pKa s in the range 10.78-11.45 depending on the type of carborane cluster and on the position and length of the alkyl chain on the carborane scaffold. These pKa s were in a good agreement with the pKa s (10.67-11.27) obtained by new program AnglerFish (freeware at https://echmet.natur.cuni.cz), which provides thermodynamic pKa s and limiting ionic mobilities directly from the raw CE data. The absolute values of the limiting ionic mobilities of univalent and divalent carborane anions were in the range 18.3-27.8 TU (Tiselius unit, 1 × 10-9 m2 /Vs), and 36.4-45.9 TU, respectively. The Stokes hydrodynamic radii of univalent and divalent carborane anions varied in the range 0.34-0.52 and 0.42-0.52 nm, respectively.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a global health problem with over 200 million people infected. Treatment relies on just one drug, and new chemotherapies are needed. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a critical peptidase for the digestion of host blood proteins and a validated drug target. We screened a library of peptidomimetic vinyl sulfones against SmCB1 and identified the most potent SmCB1 inhibitors reported to date that are active in the subnanomolar range with second order rate constants (k2nd) of ∼2 × 105 M-1 s-1. High resolution crystal structures of the two best inhibitors in complex with SmCB1 were determined. Quantum chemical calculations of their respective binding modes identified critical hot spot interactions in the S1' and S2 subsites. The most potent inhibitor targets the S1' subsite with an N-hydroxysulfonic amide moiety and displays favorable functional properties, including bioactivity against the pathogen, selectivity for SmCB1 over human cathepsin B, and reasonable metabolic stability. Our results provide structural insights for the rational design of next-generation SmCB1 inhibitors as potential drugs to treat schistosomiasis.

Human carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), a protein specifically expressed on the surface of solid tumour cells, represents a validated target both for anticancer therapy and diagnostics. We recently identified sulfonamide dicarbaboranes as promising inhibitors of CA IX with favourable activities both in vitro and in vivo. To explain their selectivity and potency, we performed detailed X-ray structural analysis of their interactions within the active sites of CA IX and CA II. Series of compounds bearing various aliphatic linkers between the dicarbaborane cluster and sulfonamide group were examined. Preferential binding towards the hydrophobic part of the active site cavity was observed. Selectivity towards CA IX lies in the shape complementarity of the dicarbaborane cluster with a specific CA IX hydrophobic patch containing V131 residue. The bulky side chain of F131 residue in CA II alters the shape of the catalytic cavity, disrupting favourable interactions of the spherical dicarbaborane cluster.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is an enzyme expressed on the surface of cells in hypoxic tumors. It plays a role in regulation of tumor pH and promotes thus tumor cell survival and occurrence of metastases. Here, derivatives of the cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1-) anion are reported that are based on substitution at the carbon sites of the polyhedra by two alkylsulfonamide groups differing in the length of the aliphatic connector (from C1 to C4, n=1-4), which were prepared by cobalt insertion into the 7-sulfonamidoalkyl-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate ions. Pure meso- and rac-diastereoisomeric forms were isolated. The series is complemented with monosubstituted species (n=2). Synthesis by a direct method furnished similar derivatives (n=2, 3), which are chlorinated at the B(8,8') boron sites. All compounds inhibited CAIX with subnanomolar inhibition constants and showed high selectivity for CAIX. The best inhibitory properties were observed for the compound with n= 3 and two substituents present in rac-arrangement with K

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is a transmembrane enzyme overexpressed in hypoxic tumors, where it plays an important role in tumor progression. Specific CA IX inhibitors potentially could serve as anti-cancer drugs. We designed a series of sulfonamide inhibitors containing carborane clusters based on prior structural knowledge of carborane binding into the enzyme active site. Two types of carborane clusters, 12-vertex dicarba-closo-dodecaborane and 11-vertex 7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate (dicarbollide), were connected to a sulfonamide moiety via aliphatic linkers of varying lengths (1–4 carbon atoms; n = 1–4). In vitro testing of CA inhibitory potencies revealed that the optimal linker length for selective inhibition of CA IX was n = 3. A 1-sulfamidopropyl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane (3) emerged as the strongest CA IX inhibitor from this series, with a Ki value of 0.5 nM and roughly 1230-fold selectivity towards CA IX over CA II. X-ray studies of 3 yielded structural insights into their binding modes within the CA IX active site. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines and primary cell lines in 2D cultures. Cytotoxicity towards multicellular spheroids was also observed. Moreover, 3 significantly lowered the amount of CA IX on the cell surface both in 2D cultures and spheroids and facilitated penetration of doxorubicin. Although 3 had only a moderate effect on tumor size in mice, we observed favorable ADME properties and pharmacokinetics in mice, and preferential presence in brain over serum.

Supplemental material, DISC918836-Supplement for Identification of Novel Carbonic Anhydrase IX Inhibitors Using High-Throughput Screening of Pooled Compound Libraries by DNA-Linked Inhibitor Antibody Assay (DIANA) by Jan Tykvart, Václav Navrátil, Michael Kugler, Pavel Šácha, Jiří Schimer, Anna Hlaváčková, Lukáš Tenora, Jitka Zemanová, Milan Dejmek, Vlastimil Král, Milan Potáček, Pavel Majer, Ullrich Jahn, Jiří Brynda, Pavlína Řezáčová and Jan Konvalinka in SLAS Discovery

α-L-Rhamnosidases cleave terminal nonreducing α-L-rhamnosyl residues from many natural rhamnoglycosides. This makes them catalysts of interest for various biotechnological applications. The X-ray structure of the GH78 family α-L-rhamnosidase from Aspergillus terreus has been determined at 1.38 Å resolution using the sulfur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing method. The protein was isolated from its natural source in the native glycosylated form, and the active site contained a glucose molecule, probably from the growth medium. In addition to its catalytic domain, the α-L-rhamnosidase from A. terreus contains four accessory domains of unknown function. The structural data suggest that two of these accessory domains, E and F, might play a role in stabilizing the aglycon portion of the bound substrate.

Cyclic dinucleotides are second messengers in the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which plays an important role in recognizing tumor cells and viral or bacterial infections. They bind to the STING adaptor protein and trigger expression of cytokines via TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB) kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling cascades. In this work, we describe an enzymatic preparation of 2'-5',3'-5'-cyclic dinucleotides (2'3'CDNs) with use of cyclic GMP-AMP synthases (cGAS) from human, mouse, and chicken. We profile substrate specificity of these enzymes by employing a small library of nucleotide-5'-triphosphate (NTP) analogues and use them to prepare 33 2'3'CDNs. We also determine affinity of these CDNs to five different STING haplotypes in cell-based and biochemical assays and describe properties needed for their optimal activity toward all STING haplotypes. Next, we study their effect on cytokine and chemokine induction by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and evaluate their cytotoxic effect on monocytes. Additionally, we report X-ray crystal structures of two new CDNs bound to STING protein and discuss structure-activity relationship by using quantum and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) computational modeling.

Accurate prediction of protein-ligand binding affinities is essential for hit-to-lead optimization and virtual screening. The reliability of scoring functions can be improved by including quantum effects. Here, we demonstrate the ranking power of the semiempirical quantum mechanics (SQM)/implicit solvent (COSMO) scoring function by using a challenging set of 10 inhibitors binding to carbonic anhydrase II through Zn

Sewage sludge incineration in a fluidized bed is considered to be one of the most suitable ways of sewage sludge disposal. This process reduces the volume of the waste and causes the destruction of organic contaminants such as POPs, pharmaceuticals and other compounds with endocrine-disrupting potential. Oxygen-enriched air combustion and oxy-fuel combustion can increase the combustion efficiency, reduce the amount of flue gas and make possible CO2 capture more effective. However, the influence of incineration medium composition has not yet been thoroughly investigated in case of sewage sludge incineration. In this paper, the incineration of sewage sludge in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor was studied at oxygen-enriched air conditions, oxy-fuel conditions and oxy-fuel conditions with zero and non-zero concentrations of steam, CO, NO, N2O and SO2 in the inlet combustion medium. Consequently, the effects of various operating parameters on pollutants formation were comprehensively described with emphasis on...

The thermodynamic analyses are focused on the determination of theoretical equilibrium concentrations of H2S, HCl and HF for La2O3, La2O2CO3 and CexOy-based sulfur compounds sorbents, on possible interferences of hydrogen halides in H2S removal in the temperature range 600–1100 K and on upstream selective deep removal of HCl and HF in producer gas. Minimization of Gibbs energy for the system was used in more complicated situations. The lowest H2S concentration (

Rutinosidases (α-l-rhamnosyl-β-d-glucosidases) catalyze the cleavage of the glycosidic bond between the aglycone and the disaccharide rutinose (α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranose) of specific flavonoid glycosides such as rutin (quercetin 3-O-rutinoside). Microbial rutinosidases are part of the rutin catabolic pathway, enabling the microorganism to utilize rutin and related plant phenolic glycosides. Here, we report the first three-dimensional structure of a rutinosidase determined at 1.27-A resolution. The rutinosidase from Aspergillus niger K2 (AnRut), a member of glycoside hydrolase family GH-5, subfamily 23, was heterologously produced in Pichia pastoris. The X-ray structure of AnRut is represented by a distorted (β/α)8 barrel fold with its closest structural homologue being an exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase from Candida albicans (CaExg). The catalytic site is located in a deep pocket with a striking structural similarity to CaExg. However, the entrance to the active site of AnRut has been found to be different from that of CaExg - a mostly unstructured section of ~ 40 residues present in CaExg is missing in AnRut, whereas an additional loop of 13 amino acids partially covers the active site of AnRut. NMR analysis of reaction products provided clear evidence for a retaining reaction mechanism of AnRut. Unexpectedly, quercetin 3-O-glucoside was found to be a better substrate than rutin, and thus, AnRut cannot be considered a typical diglycosidase. Mutational analysis of conserved active site residues in combination with in silico modeling allowed identification of essential interactions for enzyme activity and helped to reveal further details of substrate binding. The protein sequence of AnRut has been revised. DATABASES: The nucleotide sequence of the rutinosidase-encoding gene is available in the GenBank database under the accession number MN393234. Structural data are available in the PDB database under the accession number 6I1A. ENZYME: α-l-Rhamnosyl-β-d-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.168).

The biological effects of flavonoids on mammal cells are diverse, ranging from scavenging free radicals and anti-cancer activity to anti-influenza activity. Despite appreciable effort to understand the anti-influenza activity of flavonoids, there is no clear consensus about their precise mode-of-action at a cellular level. Here, we report the development and validation of a screening assay based on AlphaScreen technology and illustrate its application for determination of the inhibitory potency of a large set of polyols against PA N-terminal domain (PA-Nter) of influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase featuring endonuclease activity. The most potent inhibitors we identified were luteolin with an IC50 of 72 ± 2 nM and its 8-C-glucoside orientin with an IC50 of 43 ± 2 nM. Submicromolar inhibitors were also evaluated by an in vitro endonuclease activity assay using single-stranded DNA, and the results were in full agreement with data from the competitive AlphaScreen assay. Using X-ray crystallography, we analyzed structures of the PA-Nter in complex with luteolin at 2.0 A resolution and quambalarine B at 2.5 A resolution, which clearly revealed the binding pose of these polyols coordinated to two manganese ions in the endonuclease active site. Using two distinct assays along with the structural work, we have presumably identified and characterized the molecular mode-of-action of flavonoids in influenza-infected cells.

Gasification of woody biomass coupled with combined heat and power (CHP) production is an effective way to produce renewable energy from woody biomass. The tar content of the producer gas is considered to be the most problematic aspect of a biomass gasification for CHP production. Staged gasification allows the minimization of the tar production by the optimization of individual thermochemical subprocesses. This paper presents the operational results from a newly developed type of fixed-bed multi-stage gasifier GP750, which combines the principles of both twin-fire and two-stage gasification. This unique construction enables the production of a low-tar producer gas even by units with a power output as high as 0.7 MW. Here, we present the data measured during stable operation of the gasifier in a CHP plant operated by BOR Biotechnology company, including the composition of permanent gases measured on-line and the comprehensive gas and tar composition from the long-term operation, measured off-line. The measurements proved that the gasifier can produce a gas with low tar content (5–50 mg/m3), which is well beyond the limits for internal combustion engines. The energetic balance showed that the gross efficiency of the production of electricity of the whole power plant was as high as 32.9%. The gasifier also produced 36 kg of char per tonne of dry fuel on average. This char had a surface area in the range of 350–700 m2/g and very low content of both volatile matter and PAHs. Therefore, the char produced could potentially be sold as biochar.

Quantum mechanical calculations using the Marcus equation are applied to compare the electron-transfer probability for two distinct crystal structures of the Escherichia coli protein WrbA, an FMN-dependent NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, with the bound substrate benzoquinone. The calculations indicate that the position of benzoquinone in a new structure reported here and solved at 1.33 A resolution is more likely to be relevant for the physiological reaction of WrbA than a previously reported crystal structure in which benzoquinone is shifted by ∼5 A. Because the true electron-acceptor substrate for WrbA is not yet known, the present results can serve to constrain computational docking attempts with potential substrates that may aid in identifying the natural substrate(s) and physiological role(s) of this enzyme. The approach used here highlights a role for quantum mechanical calculations in the interpretation of protein crystal structures.

Cellular 5′-nucleotidases regulating nucleotide/nucleoside pools are capable of dephosphorylating phosphomonoesters of important nucleoside analogue drugs, thus decreasing their therapeutic efficacy. Based on previously known inhibitor–enzyme complex structures, we developed a promising inhibitor by mimicking the phosphate ion and achieved 50- and 100-fold increases in the inhibitory potency towards cdN and mdN, respectively. Crystal structures of both complexes showed major differences in the inhibitor binding mode towards both enzymes.

Summary Pepsin-family aspartic peptidases are biosynthesized as inactive zymogens in which the propeptide blocks the active site until its proteolytic removal upon enzyme activation. Here, we describe a novel dual regulatory function for the propeptide using a set of crystal structures of the parasite cathepsin D IrCD1. In the IrCD1 zymogen, intramolecular autoinhibition by the intact propeptide is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved exosite on the enzyme core. After activation, the mature enzyme employs the same exosite to rebind a small fragment derived from the cleaved propeptide. This fragment functions as an effective natural inhibitor of mature IrCD1 that operates in a pH-dependent manner through a unique allosteric inhibition mechanism. The study uncovers the propeptide-binding exosite as a target for the regulation of pepsin-family aspartic peptidases and defines the structural requirements for exosite inhibition.

β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae is a secreted extracellular enzyme that cleaves chitobiose into constituent monosaccharides. It belongs to the GH 20 glycoside hydrolase family and consists of two N-glycosylated catalytic cores noncovalently associated with two 10-kDa O-glycosylated propeptides. We used X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry to determine the structure of A. oryzae β-N-acetylhexosaminidase isolated from its natural source. The three-dimensional structure determined and refined to a resolution of 2.3 A revealed that this enzyme is active as a uniquely tight dimeric assembly further stabilized by N- and O-glycosylation. The propeptide from one subunit forms extensive noncovalent interactions with the catalytic core of the second subunit in the dimer, and this chain swap suggests the distinctive structural mechanism of the enzyme's activation. Unique structural features of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from A. oryzae define a very stable and robust framework suitable for biotechnological applications. The crystal structure reported here provides structural insights into the enzyme architecture as well as the detailed configuration of the active site. These insights can be applied to rational enzyme engineering. DATABASE Structural data are available in the PDB database under the accession number 5OAR. ENZYME β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52).

Adenosine kinase (ADK) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) was selected as a target for design of antimycobacterial nucleosides. Screening of 7-(het)aryl-7-deazaadenine ribonucleosides with Mtb and human (h) ADKs and testing with wild-type and drug-resistant Mtb strains identified specific inhibitors of Mtb ADK with micromolar antimycobacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. X-ray structures of complexes of Mtb and hADKs with 7-ethynyl-7-deazaadenosine showed differences in inhibitor interactions in the adenosine binding sites. 1D (1)H STD NMR experiments revealed that these inhibitors are readily accommodated into the ATP and adenosine binding sites of Mtb ADK, whereas they bind preferentially into the adenosine site of hADK. Occupation of the Mtb ADK ATP site with inhibitors and formation of catalytically less competent semiopen conformation of MtbADK after inhibitor binding in the adenosine site explain the lack of phosphorylation of 7-substituted-7-deazaadenosines. Semiempirical quantum mechanical analysis confirmed different affinity of nucleosides for the Mtb ADK adenosine and ATP sites.

Insertions in the protease (PR) region of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent an interesting mechanism of antiviral resistance against HIV PR inhibitors (PIs). Here, we demonstrate the improved ability of a phosphonate-containing experimental HIV PI, GS-8374, relative to that of other PIs, to effectively inhibit patient-derived recombinant HIV strains bearing PR insertions and numerous other mutations. We correlate enzyme inhibition with the catalytic activities of corresponding recombinant PRs in vitro and provide a biochemical and structural analysis of the PR-inhibitor complex.

We report enzymologic, thermodynamic and structural analyses of a series of six clinically derived mutant HIV proteases (PR) resistant to darunavir. As many as 20 mutations in the resistant PRs decreased the binding affinity of darunavir by up to 13 000-fold, mostly because of a less favorable enthalpy of binding that was only partially compensated by the entropic contribution. X-ray structure analysis suggested that the drop in enthalpy of darunavir binding to resistant PR species was mostly the result of a decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds and a loosening of the fit between the inhibitor and the mutated enzymes. The favorable entropic contribution to darunavir binding to mutated PR variants correlated with a larger burial of the nonpolar solvent-accessible surface area upon inhibitor binding. We show that even very dramatic changes in the PR sequence leading to the loss of hydrogen bonds with the inhibitor could be partially compensated by the entropy contribution as a result of the burial of the larger nonpolar surface area of the mutated HIV PRs. Database Atomic coordinates and structure factors for the crystal structures PRwt–DRV and PRDRV2–DRV complex have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank under accession codes 4LL3 and 3TTP, respectively. Structured digital abstract • PR and PR bind by x-ray crystallography (View interaction)

The human 5′(3′)-deoxyribonucleotidases catalyze the dephosphorylation of deoxyribonucleoside monophosphates to the corresponding deoxyribonucleosides and thus help to maintain the balance between pools of nucleosides and nucleotides. Here, the structures of human cytosolic deoxyribonucleotidase (cdN) at atomic resolution (1.08 Å) and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleotidase (mdN) at near-atomic resolution (1.4 Å) are reported. The attainment of an atomic resolution structure allowed interatomic distances to be used to assess the probable protonation state of the phosphate anion and the side chains in the enzyme active site. A detailed comparison of the cdN and mdN active sites allowed the design of a cdN-specific inhibitor.

Cytosolic dNT-1 nucleotidase plays a key role in the homeostasis of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotides in mammalian cells. The enzyme is responsible for the dephosphorylation of physiological substrates as well as nucleoside analogues that are used in antiviral and anticancer therapies, therefore selective inhibition of the dNT-1 nucleotidase activity may lead to an increase in efficacy of this type of therapeutic compounds. Here, we report the backbone ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N assignments for the 47 kDa dNT-1 dimer, which will be used for structural characterisation of dNT-1 complexes with small molecule inhibitors obtained through modification of pyrimidine nucleotide scaffolds or optimisation of successful binders obtained from the screening of fragment libraries.

CA inhibitors: Human carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Various carborane cages are shown to act as active-site-directed inhibitors, and substitution with a sulfamide group and other substituents leads to compounds with high selectivity towards the cancer-specific isozyme IX. Crystal structures of the carboranes in the active site provide information that can be applied to the structure-based design of specific inhibitors.

A series of 2,9-substituted 6-guanidinopurines, structurally related to the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors olomoucine and roscovitine, has been synthesized and characterized. A new copper-catalyzed method for the synthesis of 2-substituted 6-guanidino-9-isopropylpurines under mild reaction conditions has been developed. All prepared compounds were screened for their CDK1 and CDK2 inhibitory activities, cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects in the breast cancer-derived cell line MCF7. The most active derivative 16g possessed an identical side chain in the C2 position to roscovitine; this compound displayed approximately five fold higher inhibitory activity towards CDK2/cyclin E and more than ten fold increase in cytotoxicity in MCF7 cells. Interestingly and in contrast to previously described findings, (S)-6-guanidinopurine derivatives were generally more active than their (R)-counterparts. Kinase selectivity profiling of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers 16e and 16g, respectively, revealed that introduction of a guanidino group at the C6 position of the purine moiety decreased selectivity towards protein kinases compared to roscovitine. Nevertheless, increased inhibitory activity and decreased selectivity offer a good starting point for further development of new protein kinase inhibitors.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. MS MALDI TOF/TOF analysis of myristoylated, myr(+), and nonmyristoylated, myr(−), MMTV MA. (A) The sample of myristoylated MA contained myr(+) MA (m/z = 13006). The sample of nonmyristoylated MA contained myr(−) MA (m/z = 12795) and MA with uncleaved initial methionine (m/z = 12927). (B) To approximately determine the minimal detectable amount of myr(−) MA in the sample of myr(+) MA, the sample of myr(+) MA was mixed with the sample of myr(−) in the ratio 1000:1 (2:0.002 mg/mL). This amount of myr(−) MA was detectable whereas the sample of myr(+) contained no detectable amount of myr(−) MA.

Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) are extracellular proteolytic enzymes that enhance the virulence of Candida pathogens. These enzymes therefore represent possible targets for therapeutic drug design. Saps are inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of the classical inhibitor of aspartic proteases pepstatin A and also by the inhibitors of the HIV protease, but with the K(i) of micromolar values or higher. To contribute to the discussion regarding whether HIV protease inhibitors can act against opportunistic mycoses by the inhibition of Saps, we determined the structure of Sapp1p from Candida parapsilosis in complex with ritonavir (RTV), a clinically used inhibitor of the HIV protease. The crystal structure refined at resolution 2.4 Å proved binding of RTV into the active site of Sapp1p and provided the structural information necessary to evaluate the stability and specificity of the protein-inhibitor interaction.

Schistosomiasis caused by a parasitic blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma afflicts over 200 million people worldwide. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a gut-associated peptidase that digests host blood proteins as a source of nutrients. It is under investigation as a drug target. To further this goal, we report three crystal structures of SmCB1 complexed with peptidomimetic inhibitors as follows: the epoxide CA074 at 1.3 Å resolution and the vinyl sulfones K11017 and K11777 at 1.8 and 2.5 Å resolutions, respectively. Interactions of the inhibitors with the subsites of the active-site cleft were evaluated by quantum chemical calculations. These data and inhibition profiling with a panel of vinyl sulfone derivatives identify key binding interactions and provide insight into the specificity of SmCB1 inhibition. Furthermore, hydrolysis profiling of SmCB1 using synthetic peptides and the natural substrate hemoglobin revealed that carboxydipeptidase activity predominates over endopeptidolysis, thereby demonstrating the contribution of the occluding loop that restricts access to the active-site cleft. Critically, the severity of phenotypes induced in the parasite by vinyl sulfone inhibitors correlated with enzyme inhibition, providing support that SmCB1 is a valuable drug target. The present structure and inhibitor interaction data provide a footing for the rational design of anti-schistosomal inhibitors.