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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.01.19.474921

Dynamics and structural changes of calmodulin upon interaction with its potent antagonist calmidazolium

Leger, C.·Pitard, I.·Sadi, M.·Carvalho, N.·Brier, S.·Mechaly, A.·Raoux Barbot, D.·Davi, M.·Hoos, S.·Weber, P.·Vachette, P.·Durand, D.·Haouz, A.·Guijarro, J. I.·Ladant, D.·CHENAL, A.
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Abstract

Calmodulin (CaM) is a eukaryotic multifunctional, calcium-modulated protein that regulates the activity of numerous effector proteins involved in a variety of physiological processes. Calmidazolium (CDZ) is a potent small molecule antagonist of CaM and one the most widely used inhibitors of CaM in cell biology. Here, we report the structural characterization of CaM:CDZ complexes using combined SAXS, X-ray crystallography, HDX-MS and NMR approaches. Our results provide molecular insights into the CDZ-induced dynamics and structural changes of CaM leading to its inhibition. CDZ-binding induces an open-to-closed conformational change of CaM and results in a strong stabilization of its structural elements associated with a reduction of protein dynamics over a large time range. These CDZ-triggered CaM changes mimic those induced by CaM-binding peptides derived from protein targets, despite their distant chemical nature. CaM residues in close contact with CDZ and involved in the stabilization of the CaM:CDZ complex have been identified. These results open the way to rationally design new CaM-selective drugs. Figure and text for the Table of Contents (ToC) O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=127 SRC="FIGDIR/small/474921v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (40K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@b0c76org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@15f462forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f8e57forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a33575_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Calmidazolium is a potent and widely used inhibitor of calmodulin, a major mediator of calcium-signaling in eukaryotic cells. Structural characterization of calmidazolium-binding to calmodulin reveals that it triggers open-to-closed conformational changes similar to those induced by calmodulin-binding peptides derived from enzyme targets. These results open the way to rationally design new and more selective inhibitors of calmodulin.

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Leger, C., Pitard, I., Sadi, M., Carvalho, N., Brier, S., Mechaly, A., Raoux Barbot, D., Davi, M., Hoos, S., Weber, P., Vachette, P., Durand, D., Haouz, A., Guijarro, J. I., Ladant, D., CHENAL, A.. 2022-01-21. Dynamics and structural changes of calmodulin upon interaction with its potent antagonist calmidazolium. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.19.474921

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