Biology subjects

Vangos, N. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Vangos, N. E..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Taxol exploits molecular switches within tubulin to stabilize microtubules.

Microtubules are dynamic filaments of tubulin heterodimers that comprise an essential part of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton1. The nucleotide state of tubulin controls microtubule dynamics: stable GTP-microtubules favor polymerization, whereas unstable GDP-microtubules drive depolymerization2. Anticancer compounds such as Taxol (paclitaxel) target microtubule dynamicity by preventing microtubule depolymerization3,4. Despite decades of work, the molecular basis of microtubule dynamics remains poorly defined. Using cryo-EM, we determined [~]2.2 [A] structures of human microtubules in GTP-like (GMPCPP) and GDP states. Comparison of these two states revealed switch-like structural changes as tubulins transition from the pre-hydrolysis (GMPCPP) to the post-hydrolysis (GDP) state. Additional structure determination of Taxol-bound microtubules at [~]2.2 [A] showed that Taxol binding converts the microtubule lattice into a pre-hydrolysis state by reversing the structural switches flipped during GTP hydrolysis. Focusing our analysis on the microtubule seam shows that the pre-hydrolysis conformation of GMPCPP or Taxol-GDP exhibits favorable lateral interactions at the seam, with lattice deformations clearly visible at the GDP seam. Together, our data show the existence of structural switches in tubulin that are coupled to the nucleotide state and are exploited by Taxol to stabilize microtubules into a pre-hydrolysis-like state. (191 words)

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Conformational flexibility of tubulin dimers regulates the transitions of microtubule dynamic instability

Microtubules are highly conserved polymers of {beta}-tubulin dimers that undergo dynamic instability. While dynamic instability is conserved across eukaryotes, many of its associated conformational changes, like lattice compaction and twist, are not. Tubulin dimers sample multiple conformations in solution and undergo conformational changes during polymerization; the rate and extent of these changes describes their "conformational flexibility." Here, we investigate the relationship between the conformational flexibility of tubulins and the dynamic phenotypes of the microtubules they produce with a comparative study of Drosophila melanogaster tubulin (Dm-Tb) and Bos taurus brain tubulin (Bt-Tb). While these tubulins share high sequence and structural similarity, their microtubules display divergent dynamic phenotypes in vitro, with altered transition frequencies between phases of growth and shrinkage. Dm-Tb microtubules showed drastically longer lifetimes, lower barriers to nucleation, and a high rescue frequency, while maintaining a similar growth rate to Bt-Tb microtubules. 3D reconstruction of mature Dm-Tb microtubules showed high structural conservation with mammalian microtubules. However, when we performed molecular dynamics simulations of free tubulin dimers, we found Dm-Tb to be more rigid and adopt fewer conformational states than Bt-Tb. Biochemical characterizations experimentally confirmed this finding, leading us to hypothesize that differences in the conformational flexibility of tubulins may tune the frequency of transitions between the dynamic phases of microtubules, thereby altering their stability and overall dynamic phenotypes.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Development of PRPK Directed Phthalimides

Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide (Pom) bind to cereblon (CRBN) and trigger proteasomal degradation of neo-substrates IKZF1/3 leading to multiple myeloma (MM) cell apoptosis. Pomalidomide (Pom) also binds albeit weakly to p53-related protein kinase (PRPK, aka TP53RK), an understudied kinase reported to be associated with poor prognosis in MM patients. Here, we developed a series of IMiDs based on Pom and conducted a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study to identify a potent and selective PRPK binder. Structural analysis showed that IMiDs bind PRPK in a fundamentally different way from CRBN, and suggested specific derivatization to improve affinity. We employed a structure-guided strategy to develop compound TXM-02-118, which exhibited nanomolar affinityfor PRPK in binding assays, and showed high selectivity for PRPK over CRBN. Overall, the work represents an initial effort to develop tool compounds for studying PRPK. Moreover, it illustrates how a single class of molecules can use different recognition elements to bind diverse targets using fundamentally different binding poses. This has broad implications for chemical probe and lead compound selectivity profiling, and argues for more wide-spread use of global proteomics or similar methodologies.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2020

Sulfopin, a selective covalent inhibitor of Pin1, blocks Myc-driven tumor initiation and growth in vivo

The peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, Pin1, acts as a unified signaling hub that is exploited in cancer to activate oncogenes and inactivate tumor suppressors, in particular through up-regulation of c-Myc target genes. However, despite considerable efforts, Pin1 has remained an elusive drug target. Here, we screened an electrophilic fragment library to discover covalent inhibitors targeting Pin1s active site nucleophile - Cys113, leading to the development of Sulfopin, a double-digit nanomolar Pin1 inhibitor. Sulfopin is highly selective for Pin1, as validated by two independent chemoproteomics methods, achieves potent cellular and in vivo target engagement, and phenocopies genetic knockout of Pin1. Although Pin1 inhibition had a modest effect on viability in cancer cell cultures, Sulfopin induced downregulation of c-Myc target genes and reduced tumor initiation and tumor progression in murine and zebrafish models of MYCN-driven neuroblastoma. Our results suggest that Sulfopin is a suitable chemical probe for assessing Pin1-dependent pharmacology in cells and in vivo. Moreover, these studies indicate that Pin1 should be further investigated as a potential cancer target.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Fast transport of RNA granules by direct interactions with KIF5A/KLC1 motors prevents axon degeneration

Complex neural circuitry requires stable connections formed by lengthy axons. To maintain these functional circuits, fast transport delivers RNAs to distal axons where they undergo local translation. However, the mechanism that enables long distance transport of non-membrane enclosed organelles such as RNA granules is not known. Here we demonstrate that a complex containing RNA and the RNA-binding protein (RBP) SFPQ interacts directly with a tetrameric kinesin containing the adaptor KLC1 and the motor KIF5A. We show that binding of SFPQ to KIF5A/KLC1 motor complex is required for axon survival and is impacted by KIF5A mutations that cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Disease. Moreover, therapeutic approaches that bypass the need for local translation of SFPQ-bound proteins prevent axon degeneration in CMT models. Collectively, these observations show that non-membrane enclosed organelles can move autonomously and that replacing axonally translated proteins provides a therapeutic approach to axonal degenerative disorders.

cell biology↗