title: The importance of dynamic effects on the enzyme activity: X-ray structure and molecular dynamics of onconase mutants.
abstract: Onconase (ONC), a member of the RNase A superfamily extracted from oocytes of Rana pipiens, is an effective cancer killer. It is currently used in treatment of various forms of cancer. ONC antitumor properties depend on its ribonucleolytic activity that is low in comparison with other members of the superfamily. The most damaging side effect from Onconase treatment is renal toxicity, which seems to be caused by the unusual stability of the enzyme. Therefore, mutants with reduced thermal stability and/or increased catalytic activity may have significant implications for human cancer chemotherapy. In this context, we have determined the crystal structures of two Onconase mutants (M23L-ONC and C87S,des103-104-ONC) and performed molecular dynamic simulations of ONC and C87S,des103-104-ONC with the aim of explaining on structural grounds the modifications of the activity and thermal stability of the mutants. The results also provide the molecular bases to explain the lower catalytic activity of Onconase compared with RNase A and the unusually high thermal stability of the amphibian enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II," Via Cynthia, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merlino
authors.forename: Lelio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carannante
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Fiore
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Donato
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Notomista
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sica
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D011894:Rana pipiens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012260:Ribonucleases; C058703:ranpirnase