Ribonuclease inhibitor

From Proteopedia

Revision as of 07:15, 9 November 2011

Ribonuclease inhibitors (RI) are a family of large (~450 residues, ~49 kDa), acidic (pI ~4.7), proteins that catalyze the degradation of ribonucleases. Human RI(hRI) is a major cellular protein, comprising ~0.1% of all cellular protein by weight. ^[1]

Ribonucleases (RNase) are enzymes that degrade RNA and are often cytotoxic which gives them chemotherapeutic properties. However, when bound to an RI they are no longer functional. Understanding the mechanism through which RI identifies and binds to RNases will allow scientists to design/modify RNases to evade hRI. In fact, one drug, Onconase (ONC), a ribonuclease from the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens), is now in Phase III clinical trials as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent ^[2].

spinqualitylabelsall models hRI(blue) complexed with RNase 1(green), 1z7x Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image Structural Motifs RI features 15 leucine-rich-repeats (LRR) alternating 28 and 29 residues. make up the outer circumference with on the inner circumference. There are no disulfide bonds in the While RI undergoes a conformation change upon binding of a substrate, there is no hinge. The lack of long-range stabilization allows for structural flexibility especially between the two ends of the molecule. Interactions between hRI and RNase 1 The interaction between hRI and RNase 1 is one of the stronger known protein-protein interactions with a disassociation constant(Kd) of 10^-15 M [3]. hRI + RNase 1 ←→ hRI·RNase 1 Arg39 and Arg91 of RNase 1 are proposed to be “electrostatic targeting residues” a term used by Johnson et. al to define residues that push the formation of protein complexes[4] As shown, and form multiple hydrogen bonds to hRI, keeping the RNase in place, allowing the formation of salt bridges that further lock hRI and RNase together. The targeting residues hold the complex together while a total of nineteen intermolecular hydrogen bonds form[5]. Mechanism of Inhibition One remarkable property of RI is the ability to recognize and bind to different RNases that don't share common sequences or active sites. This next section will outline the mechanism by which RI inhibits the catalytic properties of RNase 1. First, examine the of RNase 1. His12, Lys41, and His119 are three key catalytic residues to take note of. They have been colored dark green and represented in wireframe.[6] hRI is represented in blue and citrate in CPK colors. the citrate forms hydrogen bonds with His12, Lys41, and His119 of RNase 1. The binding of citrate interferes with the substrate-binding pocket of RNase 1 severely affecting its enzymatic ability. [7]

Medical Implications

As mentioned earlier in the introduction, ribonucleases are cytotoxic. They bind to and chop up RNA. RNase is an endonuclease and is diffusion limited, meaning it acts as fast as susbstrates arrive. RNases exhibit great stability and are often purified by sulfuric acid treatment and then boiling until it is the only surviving macromolecule. RI’s exist to protect cells from rogue RNases. ^[8]

As mentioned earlier the amphibian RNase ONC is currently in clinical trials. Human ribonucleases possess advantages over amphibian, namely increased catalytic ability, decreased renal toxicity, and decreased immunogenicity. The RI evasion of an RNase is critical to its chemotherapeutic effectiveness. Genetic engineers have been working on site-specific mutations that either decrease the association constant or increase the disassociation constant. However, altering residues in exchange for RI evasion is a double-edged sword because cytotoxicity must be preserved. One particular species, “R39D/N67D/N88A/ G89D/R91D RNase 1" has a 5×10^9-fold decrease in affinity for RI, while maintaing nearly wild-type ribonucleolytic activity, conformational stability, and cytotoxicity. ^[9] The R39D and R91D substitutions sever the hydrogen bonds formed by and that served as electrostatic targeting regions. The aspartates create negative/negative repulsion. This modified RNase provides an interesting example of the future direction and potential of biochemistry and medicine.

3d structures

References

1. ↑ Shapiro R. Cytoplasmic ribonuclease inhibitor. Methods Enzymol. 2001;341:611-28. PMID:11582809
2. ↑ Zwolinska M, Smolewski P. [Onconase: a ribonuclease with antitumor activity]. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2010 Feb 19;64:58-66. PMID:20173221
3. ↑ Johnson RJ, McCoy JG, Bingman CA, Phillips GN Jr, Raines RT. Inhibition of human pancreatic ribonuclease by the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein. J Mol Biol. 2007 Apr 27;368(2):434-49. Epub 2007 Feb 9. PMID:17350650 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.005
4. ↑ Johnson RJ, McCoy JG, Bingman CA, Phillips GN Jr, Raines RT. Inhibition of human pancreatic ribonuclease by the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein. J Mol Biol. 2007 Apr 27;368(2):434-49. Epub 2007 Feb 9. PMID:17350650 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.005
5. ↑ Johnson RJ, McCoy JG, Bingman CA, Phillips GN Jr, Raines RT. Inhibition of human pancreatic ribonuclease by the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein. J Mol Biol. 2007 Apr 27;368(2):434-49. Epub 2007 Feb 9. PMID:17350650 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.005
6. ↑ Kobe B, Deisenhofer J. Mechanism of ribonuclease inhibition by ribonuclease inhibitor protein based on the crystal structure of its complex with ribonuclease A. J Mol Biol. 1996 Dec 20;264(5):1028-43. PMID:9000628 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1996.0694
7. ↑ Kobe B, Deisenhofer J. Mechanism of ribonuclease inhibition by ribonuclease inhibitor protein based on the crystal structure of its complex with ribonuclease A. J Mol Biol. 1996 Dec 20;264(5):1028-43. PMID:9000628 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1996.0694
8. ↑ http://www.pdb.org/pdb/101/motm.do?momID=105
9. ↑ Johnson RJ, McCoy JG, Bingman CA, Phillips GN Jr, Raines RT. Inhibition of human pancreatic ribonuclease by the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein. J Mol Biol. 2007 Apr 27;368(2):434-49. Epub 2007 Feb 9. PMID:17350650 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.005