Xiong, J.-P. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2019

Structural basis of the differential binding of engineered knottins 2.5F and 2.5D to integrins αVβ3 and α5β1

Integrins V{beta}3 and 5{beta}1 play critical roles in tumor survival, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis and are validated targets for cancer therapy and molecular imaging. Increasing evidence suggests that targeting both integrins simultaneously with antagonists is more effective in cancer therapy because of concerns about resistance and paradoxical promotion of tumor growth with use of agents highly selective for a single integrin. Engineered Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing 3.5 kDa cysteine-knot proteins (knottins 2.5F and 2.5D) are attractive drug candidates due to their exceptional structural stability and high affinity binding to certain integrins. 2.5F binds both V{beta}3 and 5{beta}1, whereas 2.5D is V{beta}3-selective. To elucidate the structural basis of integrin selection, we determined the structures of 2.5F and 2.5D both as apo-proteins and in complex with V{beta}3. These data, combined with MD simulations and mutational studies, revealed a critical role of two V{beta}3-specific residues in the vicinity of the metal ion dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) in promoting an V{beta}3-induced fit of 2.5D. In contrast, conformational selection accounted for the specificity of 2.5F to both integrins. These data provide new insights into the structural basis of integrin-ligand binding specificity, and could help in development of integrin-targeted therapeutics.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Structure-guided design of a pure orthosteric antagonist of integrin αIIbβ3 that inhibits thrombosis but not clot retraction

Platelet integrin lIb{beta}3 plays a critical role in both hemostasis and thrombosis. Current IIb{beta}3 antagonists are potent anti-thrombotic drugs, but also cause adverse outcomes, which limited their clinical use. Drug-induced serious bleeding, thrombocytopenia and paradoxical thrombosis have been linked to impaired clot retraction and to conformational changes in IIb{beta}3 that promote binding of preformed antibodies, natural ligands or both to IIb{beta}3. We have used structure-guided design to generate the orthosteric inhibitor Hr10 that acts as a pure IIb{beta}3 antagonist, i.e. it does not induce the conformational changes in IIb{beta}3. Hr10 is as effective as the partial agonist drug eptifibatide in blocking platelet aggregation and arteriolar thrombosis in mice. In contrast to eptifibatide, however, Hr10 preserved thrombin-induced clot retraction, suggesting that it may not perturb hemostasis. Our structure-based approach can find general utility in designing pure orthosteric inhibitors for other integrins, in providing vital tools for dissecting structure-activity relationships in IIb{beta}3, and potentially in offering safer alternatives for human therapy.

cell biology↗