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Fernandes, AR, Mendonça-Martins I, Santos MFA, Raposo LR, Mendes R, Marques J, Romão CC, Romão MJ, Santos-Silva T, Baptista PV.  2020.  Improving the Anti-inflammatory Response via Gold Nanoparticle Vectorization of CO-Releasing Molecules, 2020. ACS Biomaterials Science & EngineeringACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering. 6(2):1090-1101.: American Chemical Society AbstractWebsite

CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) have been widely studied for their anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiproliferative effects. CORM-3 is a water-soluble Ru-based metal carbonyl complex, which metallates serum proteins and readily releases CO in biological media. In this work, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects of gold nanoparticles–CORM-3 conjugates, AuNPs@PEG@BSA·Ru(CO)x, exploring its use as an efficient CO carrier. Our results suggest that the nanoformulation was capable of inducing a more pronounced cell effect, at the anti-inflammatory level and a faster tissue repair, probably derived from a rapid cell uptake of the nanoformulation that results in the increase of CO inside the cell.CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) have been widely studied for their anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antiproliferative effects. CORM-3 is a water-soluble Ru-based metal carbonyl complex, which metallates serum proteins and readily releases CO in biological media. In this work, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects of gold nanoparticles–CORM-3 conjugates, AuNPs@PEG@BSA·Ru(CO)x, exploring its use as an efficient CO carrier. Our results suggest that the nanoformulation was capable of inducing a more pronounced cell effect, at the anti-inflammatory level and a faster tissue repair, probably derived from a rapid cell uptake of the nanoformulation that results in the increase of CO inside the cell.

Ferreira, P, Cerqueira NSMFA, Fernandes PA, Romão MJ, Ramos MJ.  2020.  Catalytic Mechanism of Human Aldehyde Oxidase, 2020. ACS CatalysisACS Catalysis. 10(16):9276-9286.: American Chemical Society AbstractWebsite

The mechanism of oxidation of N-heterocycle phthalazine to phthalazin-1(2H)-one and its associated free energy profile, catalyzed by human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1), was studied in atomistic detail using QM/MM methodologies. The studied reaction was found to involve three sequential steps: (i) protonation of the substrate’s N2 atom by Lys893, (ii) nucleophilic attack of the hydroxyl group of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) to the substrate, and (iii) hydride transfer from the substrate to the sulfur atom of the Moco. The free energy profile that was calculated revealed that the rate-limiting step corresponds to hydride transfer. It was also found that Lys893 plays a relevant role in the reaction, being important not only for the anchorage of the substrate close to the Moco, but also in the catalytic reaction. The variations of the oxidation state of the molybdenum ion throughout the catalytic cycle were examined too. We found out that during the displacement of the products away from the Moco, the transfer of electrons from the catalytic site to the FAD site was proton-coupled. As a consequence, the most favorable and fastest pathway for the enzyme to complete its catalytic cycle was that with MoV and a deprotonated SH ligand of the Moco with the FAD molecule converted to its semiquinone form, FADH•.The mechanism of oxidation of N-heterocycle phthalazine to phthalazin-1(2H)-one and its associated free energy profile, catalyzed by human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1), was studied in atomistic detail using QM/MM methodologies. The studied reaction was found to involve three sequential steps: (i) protonation of the substrate’s N2 atom by Lys893, (ii) nucleophilic attack of the hydroxyl group of the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) to the substrate, and (iii) hydride transfer from the substrate to the sulfur atom of the Moco. The free energy profile that was calculated revealed that the rate-limiting step corresponds to hydride transfer. It was also found that Lys893 plays a relevant role in the reaction, being important not only for the anchorage of the substrate close to the Moco, but also in the catalytic reaction. The variations of the oxidation state of the molybdenum ion throughout the catalytic cycle were examined too. We found out that during the displacement of the products away from the Moco, the transfer of electrons from the catalytic site to the FAD site was proton-coupled. As a consequence, the most favorable and fastest pathway for the enzyme to complete its catalytic cycle was that with MoV and a deprotonated SH ligand of the Moco with the FAD molecule converted to its semiquinone form, FADH•.

Ferreira, P, Cerqueira NMFSA, Coelho C, Fernandes PA, Romão MJ, Ramos MJ.  2019.  New insights about the monomer and homodimer structures of the human AOX1, 2019. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 21(25):13545-13554.: The Royal Society of Chemistry AbstractWebsite

Human aldehyde oxidase (hAOX1) is a molybdenum dependent enzyme that plays an important role in the metabolism of various compounds either endogenous or xenobiotics. Due to its promiscuity, hAOX1 plays a major role in the pharmacokinetics of many drugs and therefore has gathered a lot of attention from the scientific community and, particularly, from the pharmaceutical industry. In this work, homology modelling, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the structure of the monomer and dimer of human AOX. The results with the monomer of hAOX1 allowed to shed some light on the role played by thioridazine and two malonate ions that are co-crystalized in the recent X-ray structure of hAOX1. The results show that these molecules endorse several conformational rearrangements in the binding pocket of the enzyme and these changes have an impact in the active site topology as well as in the stability of the substrate (phthalazine). The results show that the presence of both molecules open two gates located at the entrance of the binding pocket, from which results the flooding of the active site. They also endorse several modifications in the shape of the binding pocket (namely the position of Lys893) that, together with the presence of the solvent molecules, favour the release of the substrate to the solvent. Further insights were also obtained with the assembled homodimer of hAOX1. The allosteric inhibitor (THI) binds closely to the region where the dimerization of both monomers occur. These findings suggest that THI can interfere with protein dimerization.

Foti, A, Hartmann T, Coelho C, Santos-Silva T, Romão MJ, Leimkühler S.  2016.  Optimization of the Expression of Human Aldehyde Oxidase for Investigations of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Drug Metabolism and Disposition. 44:1277–1285., Number 8: American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics AbstractWebsite

Aldehyde oxidase (AOX1) is an enzyme with broad substrate specificity, catalyzing the oxidation of a wide range of endogenous and exogenous aldehydes as well as N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds. In humans, the enzyme’s role in phase I drug metabolism has been established and its importance is now emerging. However, the true physiologic function of AOX1 in mammals is still unknown. Further, numerous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in human AOX1. SNPs are a major source of interindividual variability in the human population, and SNP-based amino acid exchanges in AOX1 reportedly modulate the catalytic function of the enzyme in either a positive or negative fashion. For the reliable analysis of the effect of amino acid exchanges in human proteins, the existence of reproducible expression systems for the production of active protein in ample amounts for kinetic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic studies is required. In our study we report an optimized expression system for hAOX1 in Escherichia coli using a codon-optimized construct. The codon-optimization resulted in an up to 15-fold increase of protein production and a simplified purification procedure. The optimized expression system was used to study three SNPs that result in amino acid changes C44W, G1269R, and S1271L. In addition, the crystal structure of the S1271L SNP was solved. We demonstrate that the recombinant enzyme can be used for future studies to exploit the role of AOX in drug metabolism, and for the identification and synthesis of new drugs targeting AOX when combined with crystallographic and modeling studies.

Frazao, C, Dias JM, Matias PM, Romao MJ, Carrondo MA, Hervas M, Navarro JA, Delarosa M, Sheldrick GM.  1995.  CYTOCHROME-C(6) FROM THE GREEN-ALGA MONORAPHIDIUM-BRAUNII - CRYSTALLIZATION AND PRELIMINARY DIFFRACTION STUDIES. Acta Crystallographica Section D-Biological Crystallography. 51:232-234. AbstractWebsite
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Freire, F, Macedo AL, Aveiro SS, Romao MJ, Carvalho AL, Goodfellow BJ.  2009.  Structural and dynamic characterization of hSOUL, a heme-binding protein. Febs Journal. 276:139-140. AbstractWebsite
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Freire, F, Romao MJ, Macedo AL, Aveiro SS, Goodfellow BJ, Carvalho AL.  2009.  Preliminary structural characterization of human SOUL, a haem-binding protein. Acta Crystallographica Section F-Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications. 65:723-726. AbstractWebsite
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Fv, V, Violante S, Gomes C, Carvalho AL, Romao MJ, Gaspar MM, Cruz MEM, Soveral G, Wanders RJ, Leandro P, de Almeida TV.  2007.  The human carnitine acylcarnitine translocase (hCACT): Strategies for its heterologous expression, purification and crystallization. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease. 30:53-53. AbstractWebsite
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