Structural evidence of the species-dependent albumin binding of the modified cyclic phosphatidic acid with cytotoxic properties

Cyclic phosphatidic acids (cPAs) are naturally occurring, very active signaling molecules, which are involved in several pathological states, such as cancer, diabetes, or obesity. As molecules of highly lipidic character found in the circulatory system, cPAs are bound and transported by the main extracellular lipid binding protein - serum albumin.

<br />Here, we present the detailed interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) and equine serum albumin (ESA) with a derivative of cPA, 1-O-myristoyl-sn-glycerol-2,3-cyclic phosphorodithioate (Myr-2S-cPA). Initial selection of the ligand used for the structural study was made by the analysis of the therapeutically promising properties of the sulfur containing analogues of cPA in respect to the unmodified lysophospholipids. Substitution of one or two non-bridging oxygen atoms in the phosphate group with one or two sulfur atoms increases the cytotoxic effect of cPAs up to 60% on the human prostate cancer cells. Myr-2S-cPA reduces cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 value of 29.0 μM after 24h incubation, which is almost 30% lower than IC50 of single substituted phosphorothioate cPA.<br />Although, the structural homology between HSA and ESA is big, their crystal complexes with Myr-2S-cPA demonstrate significantly different mode of binding of this lysophospholipid analogue. HSA binds three molecules of Myr-2S-cPA, while ESA only one. Moreover, none of the identified Myr-2S-cPA binding sites overlap in both albumins.

Bioscience reports. 2016 Apr 15 [Epub ahead of print]

Bartosz Sekula, Anna Ciesielska, Przemyslaw Rytczak, Maria Koziolkiewicz, Anna Bujacz

Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz, 90-924, Poland., Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz, 90-924, Poland., Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz, 90-924, Poland., Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz, 90-924, Poland., Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 4/10, Lodz, 90-924, Poland