Understanding microscopic binding of human microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) trimer with substrate PGH2 and cofactor GSH: insights from computational alanine scanning and site-directed mutagenesis

J Phys Chem B. 2010 Apr 29;114(16):5605-16. doi: 10.1021/jp100668y.

Abstract

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an essential enzyme involved in a variety of diseases and is the most promising target for the design of next-generation anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to establish a solid structural base, we recently developed a model of mPGES-1 trimer structure by using available crystal structures of both microsomal glutathione transferase-1 (MGST1) and ba3-cytochrome c oxidase as templates. The mPGES-1 trimer model has been used in the present study to examine the detailed binding of mPGES-1 trimer with substrate PGH(2) and cofactor GSH. Results obtained from the computational alanine scanning reveal the contribution of each residue at the protein-ligand interaction interface to the binding affinity, and the computational predictions are supported by the data obtained from the corresponding wet experimental tests. We have also compared our mPGES-1 trimer model with other available 3D models, including an alternative homology model and a low-resolution crystal structure, and found that our mPGES-1 trimer model based on the crystal structures of both MGST1 and ba3-cytochrome c oxidase is more reasonable than the other homology model of mPGES-1 trimer constructed by simply using a low-resolution crystal structure of MGST1 trimer alone as a template. The available low-resolution crystal structure of mPGES-1 trimer represents a closed conformation of the enzyme and thus is not suitable for studying mPGES-1 binding with ligands. Our mPGES-1 trimer model represents a reasonable open conformation of the enzyme and is therefore promising for studying mPGES-1 binding with ligands in future structure-based drug design targeting mPGES-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alanine*
  • Biocatalysis
  • Coenzymes / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Glutathione / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / chemistry*
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Point Mutation
  • Prostaglandin H2 / metabolism*
  • Prostaglandin-E Synthases
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Prostaglandin H2
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases
  • PTGES protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-E Synthases
  • Glutathione
  • Alanine