Background and PurposeWithanolides are naturally occurring chemical compounds. They are secondary metabolites produced via oxidation of steroids and structurally consist of a steroid-backbone bound to a lactone or its derivatives. They are known to protect plants against herbivores and have medicinal value including anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, adaptogenic and anti-oxidant effects. Withaferin A (Wi-A) and Withanone (Wi-N) are two structurally similar withanolides isolated from Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Ashwagandha alcoholic leaf extract (i-Extract), rich in Wi-N, was shown to kill cancer cells selectively. Furthermore, the two closely related purified phytochemicals, Wi-A and Wi-N, showed differential activity in normal and cancer human cells in vitro and in vivo. We had earlier identified several genes involved in cytotoxicity of i-Extract in human cancer cells by loss-of-function assays using either siRNA or randomized ribozyme library.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn the present study, we have employed bioinformatics tools on four genes, i.e., mortalin, p53, p21 and Nrf2, identified by loss-of-function screenings. We examined the docking efficacy of Wi-N and Wi-A to each of the four targets and found that the two closely related phytochemicals have differential binding properties to the selected cellular targets that can potentially instigate differential molecular effects. We validated these findings by undertaking parallel experiments on specific gene responses to either Wi-N or Wi-A in human normal and cancer cells. We demonstrate that Wi-A that binds strongly to the selected targets acts as a strong cytotoxic agent both for normal and cancer cells. Wi-N, on the other hand, has a weak binding to the targets; it showed milder cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and was safe for normal cells. The present molecular docking analyses and experimental evidence revealed important insights to the use of Wi-A and Wi-N for cancer treatment and development of new anti-cancer phytochemical cocktails.

Carbonic anhydrases are zinc-containing metalloenzymes that catalyze the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. Three crystal structures of gamma-class carbonic anhydrase (one of which is bound to a bicarbonate molecule) from the aerobic OT3 strain of the hyperthermophilic archeon Pyrococcus horikoshii have been solved by molecular replacement in space group F4(1)32. The asymmetric unit contains a monomer of 173 amino acids and a catalytic Zn2+ ion. The protein fold is a regular prism formed by a left-handed beta-helix, similar to previously reported structures. The active-site Zn2+ ion located at the interface between the two monomers is bound to three histidyl residues and a water molecule in a tetrahedral fashion. In addition to the 20 beta-strands comprising the beta-helix, there is also a long C-terminal alpha-helix. For the first time, Ca2+ ions have been observed in addition to the catalytic Zn2+ ion. It is hypothesized that Tyr159 (which corresponds to the catalytically important Asn202 in previously reported structures) utilizes C-H...pi interactions to fulfill its functions. This study may shed light on the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme and throw open new questions on the mechanism of product removal in carbonic anhydrases.

The first step in the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthesis pathway involves the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to precursor Z by two proteins (MoaA and MoaC). MoaA belongs to the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent radical enzyme superfamily and is believed to generate protein and/or substrate radicals by reductive cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine using an Fe-S cluster. MoaC has been suggested to catalyze the release of pyrophosphate and the formation of the cyclic phosphate of precursor Z. However, structural evidence showing the binding of a substrate-like molecule to MoaC is not available. Here, apo and GTP-bound crystal structures of MoaC from Thermus thermophilus HB8 are reported. Furthermore, isothermal titration calorimetry experiments have been carried out in order to obtain thermodynamic parameters for the protein-ligand interactions. In addition, molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out on the protein-ligand complex of known structure and on models of relevant complexes for which X-ray structures are not available. The biophysical, structural and MD results reveal the residues that are involved in substrate binding and help in speculating upon a possible mechanism.

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The water molecules in 25 (21 high-resolution and four atomic resolution) crystal structures of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A(2) have been analyzed in order to identify the invariant water molecules and their possible roles. A total of 24 water molecules have been identified that are invariant in all 25 crystal structures examined. These include the catalytic water molecule, which is directly involved in the enzyme mechanism, and the conserved structural water molecule, which stabilizes the extended hydrogen-bonding network of the active site. Furthermore, many other water molecules stabilize the structure, whilst a few have been found to maintain the active-site geometry and provide coordination to the functionally important calcium ion. The invariant water molecules have been carefully examined and their possible roles in the structure and/or function are discussed. Molecular-dynamics studies of all 25 crystal structures have also been carried out and the results provide a good explanation of and support the findings obtained from the crystal structures.