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The characterization of low-affinity protein complexes is challenging due to their dynamic nature. Here, we present a method to stabilize transient protein complexes in vivo by generating a covalent and conformationally flexible bridge between the interaction partners. A highly active pyrrolysyl tRNA synthetase mutant directs the incorporation of unnatural amino acids bearing bromoalkyl moieties (BrCnK) into proteins. We demonstrate for the first time that low-affinity protein complexes between BrCnK-containing proteins and their binding partners can be stabilized in vivo in bacterial and mammalian cells. Using this approach, we determined the crystal structure of a transient GDP-bound complex between a small G-protein and its nucleotide exchange factor. We envision that this approach will prove valuable as a general tool for validating and characterizing protein-protein interactions in vitro and in vivo.

We have discovered the sirtuin‐rearranging ligands (SirReals) to be highly potent and selective inhibitors of the NAD+‐dependent lysine deacetylase Sirt2. Using a biotinylated SirReal in combination with biolayer interferometry, we previously observed a slow dissociation rate of the inhibitor–enzyme complex; this had been postulated to be the key to the high affinity and selectivity of SirReals. However, to attach biotin to the SirReal core, we introduced a triazole as a linking moiety; this was shown by X‐ray co‐crystallography to interact with Arg97 of the cofactor binding loop. Herein, we aim to elucidate whether the observed long residence time of the SirReals is induced mainly by triazole incorporation or is an inherent characteristic of the SirReal inhibitor core. We used the novel label‐free switchSENSE® technology, which is based on electrically switchable DNA nanolevers, to prove that the long residence time of the SirReals is indeed caused by the core scaffold., Take your time choosing: Using the novel label‐free switchSENSE® technology, we were able to validate the long residence time of the sirtuin‐rearranging ligands (SirReals) selectively binding to Sirt2. We found that a long residence time as a consequence of an induced‐fit mechanism can be an important driver of pharmacological selectivity.

Wir prasentieren eine neue Methode zur Proteinmarkierung, die auf der kovalenten enzymatischen Phosphocholinierung einer spezifischen Octapeptidsequenz intakter Proteine beruht. Das Enzym AnkX aus Legionellen wurde etabliert, um funktionalisierte Phosphocholingruppen aus synthetischen CDP-Cholin-Derivaten auf N- und C-Termini, sowie interne Schleifenregionen zu ubertragen. Zudem kann die kovalente Modifikation durch das Legionellen-Enzym Lem3 hydrolytisch entfernt werden. Lediglich eine 8 Aminosauren kurze Peptidsequenz und eine kleine Verbindungsgruppe (PEG-Phosphocholin) sind fur die effiziente Proteinmarkierung erforderlich.

Editing the translations: Adenylylation and phosphocholination have recently been found as important post-translational modifications used by pathogenic bacteria during the infection process. This review discusses the combined use of chemical handles and specific antibodies for the identification of previously unknown substrates of these post-translational modifications in infected host cells.

The Legionella pneumophila protein AnkX that is injected into infected cells by a Type IV secretion system transfers a phosphocholine group from CDP-choline to a serine in the Rab1 and Rab35 GTPase Switch II regions. We show here that the consequences of phosphocholination on the interaction of Rab1/Rab35 with various partner proteins are quite distinct. Activation of phosphocholinated Rabs by GTP/GDP exchange factors (GEFs) and binding to the GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) are strongly inhibited, whereas deactivation by GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) and interactions with Rab-effector proteins (such as LidA and MICAL-3) are only slightly inhibited. We show that the Legionella protein lpg0696 has the ability to remove the phosphocholine group from Rab1. We present a model in which the action of AnkX occurs as an alternative to GTP/GDP exchange, stabilizing phosphocholinated Rabs in membranes in the GDP form because of loss of GDI binding ability, preventing interactions with cellular GTPase effectors, which require the GTP-bound form. Generation of the GTP form of phosphocholinated Rab proteins cannot occur due to loss of interaction with cellular GEFs.

During infections, bacterial microorganisms initiate profound interactions with mammalian host cells. Usually defense mechanisms of the host destroy intruding bacteria in rapid manner. However, many bacterial pathogens have evolved in a way to avoid these mechanisms. By use of effector molecules, which can be small organic molecules or proteins with enzymatic activity, the host is manipulated on a molecular level. Effectors mediating post-translational modifications (PTMs) are employed by many pathogens to influence the biological activity of host proteins. In the presented thesis, two related PTMs are investigated in detail: Adenylylation, the covalent transfer of an adenosine monophosphate group from adenosine triphosphate onto proteins, and phosphocholination, the covalent transfer of a phosphocholine moiety onto proteins. Over the past years, enzymes mediating these modifications have been discovered in several pathogens, especially as a mechanism to influence the signaling of eukaryotic cells by adenylylating or phosphocholinating small GTPases. However, the development of reliable methods for the isolation and identification of adenylylated and phosphocholinated proteins remains a vehement challenge in this field of research. This thesis presents general procedures for the synthesis of peptides carrying adenylylated or phosphocholinated tyrosine, threonine and serine residues. From the resulting peptides, mono-selective polyclonal antibodies against adenylylated tyrosine and threonine have been raised. The antibodies were used as tools for proteomic research to isolate unknown substrates of adenylyl transferases from eukaryotic cells. Mass spectrometric fragmentation techniques have been investigated to ease the identification of adenylylated proteins. Furthermore, this work presents a new strategy to identify adenylylated proteins. Additionally, small effector molecules are involved in the regulation of infection mechanisms. In this work, the small molecule LAI-1 (Legionella autoinducer 1) from the pathogen Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of the Legionnaire’s disease, was synthesised together with its amino-derivatives. LAI-1 showed are a clear pharmacological effect on the regulation of the life cycle of L. pneumophila, initiating transmissive traits like motility and virulence. Furthermore, LAI-1 was shown to have an effect on eukaryotic cells as well. Directed motility of the eukaryotic cells was significantly reduced and the cytoskeletal architecture was reorganised, probably by interfering with the small GTPase Cdc42.

Copper(II) complexes (1–4) of tri- or tetradentate bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)amine ligands (L1–L4) have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods in solution, as well as in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The ligands act as tridentate donors towards the cupric ions through one central amine and two benzimidazole N atoms in the solid state; a water ligand and a bridging perchlorate group define the distorted octahedral environments of 2 and 3. Complex 4 has square-pyramidal coordination geometry, with an additional thioether donor attached to the central N atom in the axial position. Electrospray mass spectrometry characterized the complexes as monomeric in acetonitrile solution. Cyclic voltammetry studies established that amine N benzyl-containing 3 has the highest half-wave redox potential of all of these complexes at –0.08 V (vs. Fc+/Fc) for the Cu2+/Cu+ couple. The complexes display dose-dependent cytotoxicity against one human and four murine cancer cell lines. Complexes 3 and 4 have good antiproliferative activity against the human chronic leukemia cell line K562. Moreover, for 3 the proliferation of all malignant cell lines decreases at concentrations lower than the IC50 for healthy bone marrow cells.

The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL), also called Lowe syndrome, is characterized by defects of the nervous system, the eye and the kidney. Lowe syndrome is a monogenetic X-linked disease caused by mutations of the inositol-5-phosphatase OCRL1. OCRL1 is a membrane-bound protein recruited to membranes via interaction with a variety of Rab proteins. The structural and kinetic basis of OCRL1 for the recognition of several Rab proteins is unknown. In this study, we report the crystal structure of the Rab-binding domain (RBD) of OCRL1 in complex with Rab8a and the kinetic binding analysis of OCRL1 with several Rab GTPases (Rab1b, Rab5a, Rab6a and Rab8a). In contrast to other effectors that bind their respective Rab predominantly via α-helical structure elements, the Rab-binding interface of OCRL1 consists mainly of the IgG-like β-strand structure of the ASPM-SPD-2-Hydin domain as well as one α-helix. Our results give a deeper structural understanding of disease-causing mutations of OCRL1 affecting Rab binding.