Khoa N. Pham

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) on intact histones play a major role in regulating chromatin dynamics and influence biological processes such as DNA transcription, replication, and repair. The nature and position of each histone PTM is crucial to decipher how this information is translated into biological response. In the present work, the potential of a novel tandem top-“double-down” approach─ultraviolet photodissociation followed by mobility and mass-selected electron capture dissociation and mass spectrometry (UVPD-TIMS-q-ECD-ToF MS/MS)─is illustrated for the characterization of HeLa derived intact histone H4 proteoforms. The comparison between q-ECD-ToF MS/MS spectra and traditional Fourier-transform-ion cyclotron resonance-ECD MS/MS spectra of a H4 standard showed a similar sequence coverage (∼75%) with significant faster data acquisition in the ToF MS/MS platform (∼3 vs ∼15 min). Multiple mass shifts (e.g., 14 and 42 Da) were observed for the HeLa derived H4 proteoforms for which the top-down UVPD and ECD fragmentation analysis were consistent in detecting the presence of acetylated PTMs at the N-terminus and Lys5, Lys8, Lys12, and Lys16 residues, as well as methylated, dimethylated, and trimethylated PTMs at the Lys20 residue with a high sequence coverage (∼90%). The presented top-down results are in good agreement with bottom-up TIMS ToF MS/MS experiments and allowed for additional description of PTMs at the N-terminus. The integration of a 213 nm UV laser in the present platform allowed for UVPD events prior to the ion mobility-mass precursor separation for collision-induced dissociation (CID)/ECD-ToF MS. Selected c₃₀⁵⁺ UVPD fragments, from different H4 proteoforms (e.g., Ac + Me₂, 2Ac + Me₂ and 3Ac + Me₂), exhibited multiple IMS bands for which similar CID/ECD fragmentation patterns per IMS band pointed toward the presence of conformers, adopting the same PTM distribution, with a clear assignment of the PTM localization for each of the c₃₀⁵⁺ UVPD fragment H4 proteoforms. These results were consistent with the biological “zip” model, where acetylation proceeds in the Lys16 to Lys5 direction. This novel platform further enhances the structural toolbox with alternative fragmentation mechanisms (UVPD, CID, and ECD) in tandem with fast, high-resolution mobility separations and shows great promise for global proteoform analysis.

Histones are highly basic chromatin proteins that tightly package and order eukaryotic DNA into nucleosomes. While the atomic structure of the nucleosomes has been determined, the three-dimensional structure of DNA-free histones remains unresolved. Here, we combine tandem nonlinear and linear ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS-TIMS) coupled to mass spectrometry in parallel with molecular modeling to study the conformational space of a DNA-free histone H2A type 1 (H2A.1). Experimental results showed the dependence of the gas-phase structures on the starting solution conditions, characterized by charge state distributions, mobility distributions, and collision-induced-unfolding pathways. The measured H2A.1 gas-phase structures showed a high diversity of structural features ranging from compact (C) to partially folded (P) and then highly elongated (E) conformations. Molecular dynamics simulations provided candidate structures for the solution H2A.1 native conformation with folded N- and C-terminal tails, as well as gas-phase candidate structures associated with the mobility trends. Complementary collision cross section and dipole calculations showed that the charge distribution in the case of elongated gas-phase structures, where basic and acidic residues are mostly exposed (e.g., z > 15+), is sufficient to induce differences in the dipole alignment at high electric fields, in good agreement with the trends observed during the FAIMS-TIMS experiments.

Human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (hIDO1) and human tryptophan dioxygenase (hTDO) are two important heme proteins that degrade the essential amino acid, l-tryptophan (Trp), along the kynurenine pathway. The two enzymes share a similar active site structure and an analogous catalytic mechanism, but they exhibit a variety of distinct functional properties. Here we used carbon monoxide (CO) as a structural probe to interrogate how the functionalities of the two enzymes are encoded in their structures. With X-ray crystallography, we detected an unexpected photochemical intermediate trapped in a crystal of the hIDO1-CO-Trp complex, where CO is photolyzed from the heme iron by X-rays at cryogenic temperatures (100 K). The CO photolysis triggers a large-scale migration of the substrate Trp, as well as the photolyzed CO, from the active site to a temporary binding site, Sa*. It is accompanied by a large conformational change to an active site loop, JK-Loop^C, despite the severely restricted protein motion under the frozen conditions, which highlights the remarkable conformational plasticity of the hIDO1 protein. Comparative studies of a crystal of the hTDO-CO-Trp complex show that CO and Trp remain bound in the active site under comparable X-ray illumination, indicating a much more rigid protein architecture. The data offer important new insights into the structure and function relationships of the heme-based dioxygenases and provide new guidelines for structure-based design of inhibitors targeting them.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (hIDO1) and tryptophan dioxygenase (hTDO) are two of the only three heme-based dioxygenases in humans. They have recently been identified as key cancer immunotherapeutic drug targets. While structures of hIDO1 in complex with inhibitors have been documented, so far there are no structures of hTDO-inhibitor complexes available. Here we use PF-06840003 (IPD), a hIDO1-selective inhibitor in clinical trials, as a structural probe to elucidate inhibitor-selectivity in hIDO1 versus hTDO. Spectroscopic studies show that IPD exhibits 400-fold higher inhibition activity toward hIDO1 with respect to hTDO. Crystallographic structures reveal that the binding pocket of IPD in the active site in hIDO1 is much more flexible as compared to that in hTDO, which offers a molecular explanation for the superior inhibition activity of IPD in hIDO1 with respect to hTDO. In addition to the IPD bound in the active site, a second IPD molecule was identified in an inhibitory site on the proximal side of the heme in hIDO1 and in an exosite that is ∼40 Å away from the active site in hTDO. Taken together the data provide new insights into structure-based design of mono and dual inhibitors targeting hIDO1 and/or hTDO.

Human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (hIDO1) is an important heme-containing enzyme that is a key drug target for cancer immunotherapy. Several hIDO1 inhibitors have entered clinical trials, among which BMS-986205 (BMS) stands out as the only suicide inhibitor. Despite its “best-in-class” activity, the action mechanism of BMS remains elusive. Here, we report three crystal structures of hIDO1–BMS complexes that define the complete binding trajectory of the inhibitor. BMS first binds in a solvent exposed surface cleft near the active site in an extended conformation. The initial binding partially unfolds the active site, which triggers heme release, thereby exposing a new binding pocket. The inhibitor then undergoes a large scale movement to this new binding pocket, where it binds by adopting a high energy kinked conformation. Finally, the inhibitor relaxes to a bent conformation, via an additional large scale rearrangement, culminating in the energy minimum state. The structural data offer a molecular explanation for the remarkable efficacy and suicide inhibition activity of the inhibitor. They also suggest a novel strategy that can be applied for drug development targeting hIDO1 and related enzymes.

Dioxygenases belong to one of the three major classes of heme-based enzymes that utilize atmospheric O2 as a substrate. Oxidases, such as cytochrome c oxidase, reduce O2 to two water molecules by utilizing four electrons and four protons, and harness the redox energy to pump four protons across the protein matrix. Monooxygenases, such as P450, convert one atom of dioxygen to a water by consuming two electrons and two protons, and exploit the redox energy to insert the other oxygen atom into an organic substrate. Dioxygenases, including tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), are unique, and least understood, as they are capable of inserting both atoms of O2 into Trp without using any electrons and protons. In Part A of this chapter, we review the structure and function relationships of human TDO and IDO1 and compare them with those of bacterial TDOs and two dioxygenase analogs, PrnB and MarE. In Part B we outline the mechanisms by which the TDO and IDO1 functions are regulated in vivo by a variety of effectors under various (patho)physiological conditions.

Human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (hIDO1) is an attractive cancer immunotherapeutic target owing to its role in promoting tumoral immune escape. However, drug development has been hindered by limited structural information. Here, we report the crystal structures of hIDO1 in complex with its substrate, Trp, an inhibitor, epacadostat, and/or an effector, indole ethanol (IDE). The data reveal structural features of the active site (Sa) critical for substrate activation; in addition, they disclose a new inhibitor-binding mode and a distinct small molecule binding site (Si). Structure-guided mutation of a critical residue, F270, to glycine perturbs the Si site, allowing structural determination of an inhibitory complex, where both the Sa and Si sites are occupied by Trp. The Si site offers a novel target site for allosteric inhibitors and a molecular explanation for the previously baffling substrate-inhibition behavior of the enzyme. Taken together, the data open exciting new avenues for structure-based drug design.