Structural studies of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and of proteins from the Zika virus by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy in solution

• Grant number: 16/07490-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Kopke Salinas
• Grantee: Roberto Kopke Salinas
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Simona Tomaselli

Abstract

The aim of this proposal is to study structural and mechanistic aspects of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) by solution NMR spectroscopy. The NCX is one of the main mechanisms for the extrusion of intracellular Ca2+ in cardiac cells. Besides transporting Na+ and Ca2+, the NCX is regulated by these ions. The NCX is a large protein (950 amino acids), consisted of transmembrane and cytosolic domains connected by disordered regions. This multifaceted character makes the structural characterization of the NCX a difficult task. Thus, it is not surprising that the mechanism of the NCX allosteric regulation remains unclear. Based on NMR studies of the cytosolic domains of the exchanger from Drosophila melanogaster, CALX, we have recently proposed a mechanistic model for the allosteric regulation of the NCX and the CALX (Abiko et al., 2016). Here we plan to continue these studies in order to test different aspects of our model, and to tackle the transmembrane domain of the exchanger. In addition, this proposal focuses on structural studies of proteins from the Zika virus. Of particular interest are the envelope glycoprotein E, the NS2B-NS3pro protease and the intriguing NS1. These proteins play pivotal roles in the mechanisms of virus entry and replication. For this reason they are important targets for the development of antiviral compounds. We expect to produce samples in order to carry out fragment screening using saturation transfer NMR techniques (STD). It is expected that these studies will contribute to a better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of this virus, and hence, to the development of antiviral compounds in the future. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANZ, MIRIAM; SALINAS, ROBERTO KOPKE; PINTO, ERNANI. Namalides B and C and Spumigins K-N from the Cultured Freshwater Cyanobacterium Sphaerospermopsis torques-reginae. Journal of Natural Products, v. 80, n. 9, p. 2492-2501, SEP 2017. (14/50420-9, 12/25272-0, 16/07490-1)

SARAIVA, G. K. V.; DE SOUZA, V. V.; COUTINHO DE OLIVEIRA, L.; NORONHA, M. L. C.; MASINI, J. C.; CHAIMOVICH, H.; SALINAS, R. K.; FLORENZANO, F. H.; CUCCOVIA, I. M.. Characterization of PMMA-b-PDMAEMA aggregates in aqueous solutions. COLLOID AND POLYMER SCIENCE, v. 297, n. 4, p. 557-569, APR 2019. (13/08166-5, 16/07490-1)

CARDOSO, MARCUS V. C.; RIVERA, JOSE D.; VITALE, PHELIPE A. M.; DEGENHARDT, MAXIMILIA F. S.; ABIKO, LAYARA A.; OLIVEIRA, CRISTIANO L. P.; SALINAS, ROBERTO K.. CALX-CBD1 Ca2+-Binding Cooperativity Studied by NMR Spectroscopy and ITC with Bayesian Statistics. BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, v. 119, n. 2, p. 337-348, JUL 21 2020. (09/53989-4, 18/21450-8, 17/05614-8, 16/17375-5, 16/07490-1, 17/06394-1)

V.V. DE SOUZA; P.A.M. VITALE; F.H. FLORENZANO; R.K. SALINAS; I.M. CUCCOVIA. A novel method for DNA delivery into bacteria using cationic copolymers. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 54, n. 5, 2021-04-02. (17/05614-8, 16/07490-1, 13/08166-5)

DE SOUZA DEGENHARDT, MAXIMILIA F.; VITALE, PHELIPE A. M.; ABIKO, LAYARA A.; ZACHARIAS, MARTIN; SATTLER, MICHAEL; OLIVEIRA, CRISTIANO L. P.; SALINAS, ROBERTO K.. Molecular insights on CALX-CBD12 interdomain dynamics from MD simulations, RDCs, and SAXS. BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, v. 120, n. 17, p. 3664-3675, SEP 7 2021. (18/16092-5, 16/24531-3, 19/19968-1, 17/05614-8, 16/07490-1)

DAMASCENO, TICIANE F.; DIAS, RENATA O.; DE OLIVEIRA, JULIANA R.; SALINAS, ROBERTO K.; JULIANO, MARIA A.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Active subsite properties, subsite residues and targeting to lysosomes or midgut lumen of cathepsins L from the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, v. 89, p. 17-30, OCT 2017. (15/19541-7, 16/07490-1, 11/51685-8)