Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly those of subfamily B, are involved in cell detoxification, multidrug resistance, drug treatment pharmacodynamics, and also ecological adaptation. In this regard, ABCB transporters may play a decisive role in the co-evolution between plants and he...

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Main Authors: Mario Röpcke, Sha Lu, Cäcilia Plate, Fee Meinzer, Antonia Lisiecki, Susanne Dobler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5272
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author Mario Röpcke
Sha Lu
Cäcilia Plate
Fee Meinzer
Antonia Lisiecki
Susanne Dobler
author_facet Mario Röpcke
Sha Lu
Cäcilia Plate
Fee Meinzer
Antonia Lisiecki
Susanne Dobler
author_sort Mario Röpcke
collection DOAJ
description ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly those of subfamily B, are involved in cell detoxification, multidrug resistance, drug treatment pharmacodynamics, and also ecological adaptation. In this regard, ABCB transporters may play a decisive role in the co-evolution between plants and herbivores. Cardenolides, toxic steroid glycosides, are secondary plant metabolites that defend plants against herbivores by targeting their sodium–potassium ATPase. Despite their toxicity, several herbivorous insects such as the large milkweed bug (<i>Oncopeltus fasciatus</i>) have evolved adaptations to tolerate cardenolides and sequester them for their own defense. We investigate the role of two ABCB transporters of <i>O. fasciatus</i> for the paracellular transport of cardenolides by docking simulations and ATPase assays. Cardenolide binding of <i>Of</i>ABCB1 and <i>Of</i>ABCB2 is predicted by docking simulations and calculated binding energies are compared with substrate specificities determined in ATPase assays. Both tested ABCB transporters showed activity upon exposure to cardenolides and Km values that agreed well with the predictions of our docking simulations. We conclude that docking simulations can help identify transporter binding regions and predict substrate specificity, as well as provide deeper insights into the structural basis of ABC transporter function.
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issn 1420-3049
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-4ff8e9b1e3e84b0b9d6361db5df946e32024-11-26T18:15:22ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-11-012922527210.3390/molecules29225272Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental TestsMario Röpcke0Sha Lu1Cäcilia Plate2Fee Meinzer3Antonia Lisiecki4Susanne Dobler5Institute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Cell and System Biology of Animals, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly those of subfamily B, are involved in cell detoxification, multidrug resistance, drug treatment pharmacodynamics, and also ecological adaptation. In this regard, ABCB transporters may play a decisive role in the co-evolution between plants and herbivores. Cardenolides, toxic steroid glycosides, are secondary plant metabolites that defend plants against herbivores by targeting their sodium–potassium ATPase. Despite their toxicity, several herbivorous insects such as the large milkweed bug (<i>Oncopeltus fasciatus</i>) have evolved adaptations to tolerate cardenolides and sequester them for their own defense. We investigate the role of two ABCB transporters of <i>O. fasciatus</i> for the paracellular transport of cardenolides by docking simulations and ATPase assays. Cardenolide binding of <i>Of</i>ABCB1 and <i>Of</i>ABCB2 is predicted by docking simulations and calculated binding energies are compared with substrate specificities determined in ATPase assays. Both tested ABCB transporters showed activity upon exposure to cardenolides and Km values that agreed well with the predictions of our docking simulations. We conclude that docking simulations can help identify transporter binding regions and predict substrate specificity, as well as provide deeper insights into the structural basis of ABC transporter function.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5272ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporterlarge milkweed bug<i>Oncopeltus fassciatus</i>cardenolidesco-evolutionary relationshipsATPase activity assays
spellingShingle Mario Röpcke
Sha Lu
Cäcilia Plate
Fee Meinzer
Antonia Lisiecki
Susanne Dobler
Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
Molecules
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter
large milkweed bug
<i>Oncopeltus fassciatus</i>
cardenolides
co-evolutionary relationships
ATPase activity assays
title Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
title_full Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
title_fullStr Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
title_full_unstemmed Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
title_short Substrate Specificity of ABCB Transporters Predicted by Docking Simulations Can Be Confirmed by Experimental Tests
title_sort substrate specificity of abcb transporters predicted by docking simulations can be confirmed by experimental tests
topic ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter
large milkweed bug
<i>Oncopeltus fassciatus</i>
cardenolides
co-evolutionary relationships
ATPase activity assays
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5272
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AT caciliaplate substratespecificityofabcbtransporterspredictedbydockingsimulationscanbeconfirmedbyexperimentaltests
AT feemeinzer substratespecificityofabcbtransporterspredictedbydockingsimulationscanbeconfirmedbyexperimentaltests
AT antonialisiecki substratespecificityofabcbtransporterspredictedbydockingsimulationscanbeconfirmedbyexperimentaltests
AT susannedobler substratespecificityofabcbtransporterspredictedbydockingsimulationscanbeconfirmedbyexperimentaltests