Int J Mol Sci, 2022, 23(9)

Molecular Dynamics of DHHC20 Acyltransferase Suggests Principles of Lipid and Protein Substrate Selectivity

Lipid modification of viral proteins with fatty acids of different lengths (S-acylation) is crucial for virus pathogenesis. The reaction is catalyzed by members of the DHHC family and proceeds in two steps: the autoacylation is followed by the acyl chain transfer onto protein substrates. The crystal structure of human DHHC20 (hDHHC20), an enzyme involved in the acylation of S-protein of SARS-CoV-2, revealed that the acyl chain may be inserted into a hydrophobic cavity formed by four transmembrane (TM) α-helices. To test this model, we used molecular dynamics of membrane-embedded hDHHC20 and its mutants either in the absence or presence of various acyl-CoAs. We found that among a range of acyl chain lengths probed only C16 adopts a conformation suitable for hDHHC20 autoacylation. This specificity is altered if the small or bulky residues at the cavity’s ceiling are exchanged, e.g., the V185G mutant obtains strong preferences for binding C18. Surprisingly, an unusual hydrophilic ridge was found in TM helix 4 of hDHHC20, and the responsive hydrophilic patch supposedly involved in association was found in the 3D model of the S-protein TM-domain trimer. Finally, the exchange of critical Thr and Ser residues in the spike led to a significant decrease in its S-acylation. Our data allow further development of peptide/lipid-based inhibitors of hDHHC20 that might impede replication of Corona-and other enveloped viruses.

Panina I, Krylov N, Gadalla MR, Aliper E, Kordyukova L, Veit M, Chugunov A, Efremov R

IBCH: 10042
Ссылка на статью в журнале: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/9/5091
Кол-во цитирований на 01.2024: 4
Данные статьи проверены модераторами 2022-06-02

Список научных проектов, где отмечена публикация

  1. 20-54-12007. . Внебюджетное финансирование.
  2. Ve 141/18-1. . Внебюджетное финансирование.
  3. Структурная биология мембранных белков для создания новых лекарственных и диагностических средств (1 Июня 2019 года — 31 Декабря 2022 года). Арсеньев А.С., Бочаров Э.В., Минеев К.С., Шенкарёв З.О., Артемьева Л.Е., Бершацкий Я.В., Волынский П.Е., Гончарук М.В., Гончарук С.А., Гороховатский А.Ю., Ефремов Р.Г., Заняткин И.А., Игнатова А.А., Коваленко В.Р., Кот Э.Ф., Кочаровская М.В., Крылов Н.А., Кузнецов А.С., Лесовой Д.М., Лушпа В.А., Мышкин М.Ю., Некрасова О.В., Панина И.С., Урбан А.С., Шломина А.И., Шулепко М.А.. Грант, РНФ.