Binding of a Soluble meso-Tetraarylporphyrin to Human Galectin-7 Induces Oligomerization and Modulates Its Pro-Apoptotic Activity

Biochemistry. 2020 Dec 8;59(48):4591-4600. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00736. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Abstract

The selective targeting of protein-protein interactions remains a significant determinant for the proper modulation and regulation of cell apoptosis. Prototypic galectins such as human galectin-7 (GAL-7) are characterized by their ability to form homodimers that control the molecular fate of a cell by mediating subtle yet critical glycan-dependent interactions between pro- and anti-apoptotic molecular partners. Altering the structural architecture of GAL-7 can therefore result in resistance to apoptosis in various human cancer cells, further illustrating its importance in cell survival. In this study, we used a combination of biophysical and cellular assays to illustrate that binding of a water-soluble meso-tetraarylporphyrin molecule to GAL-7 induces protein oligomerization and modulation of GAL-7-induced apoptosis in human Jurkat T cells. Our results suggest that the integrity of the GAL-7 homodimer architecture is essential for its molecular function, in addition to providing an interesting porphyrin binding modulator for controlling apoptosis in mammalian cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Galectins / chemistry*
  • Galectins / metabolism*
  • Galectins / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Mesoporphyrins / chemistry*
  • Mesoporphyrins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / drug effects
  • Protein Multimerization / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary / drug effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Solubility
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Galectins
  • LGALS7 protein, human
  • Mesoporphyrins
  • Recombinant Proteins