
pmid: 37884585
pmc: PMC10603048
AbstractInhibiting protein–protein interactions of the Myc family is a viable pharmacological strategy for modulation of the levels of Myc oncoproteins in cancer. Aurora A kinase (AurA) and N-Myc interaction is one of the most attractive targets of this strategy because formation of this complex blocks proteasomal degradation of N-Myc in neuroblastoma. Two crystallization studies have captured this complex (PDB IDs: 5g1x, 7ztl), partially resolving the AurA interaction region (AIR) of N-Myc. Prompted by the missing N-Myc fragment in these crystal structures, we modeled the complete structure between AurA and N-Myc, and comprehensively analyzed how the incomplete and complete N-Myc behave in complex by molecular dynamics simulations. Molecular dynamics simulations of the incomplete PDB complex (5g1x) repeatedly showed partial dissociation of the short N-Myc fragment (61–89) from the kinase. The missing N-Myc (19–60) fragment was modeled utilizing the N-terminal lobe of AurA as the protein–protein interaction surface, wherein TPX2, a well-known partner of AurA, also binds. Binding free energy calculations along with flexibility analysis confirmed that the complete AIR of N-Myc stabilizes the complex, accentuating the N-terminal lobe of AurA as a binding site for the missing N-Myc fragment (19–60). We further generated additional models consisting of only the missing N-Myc (19–60), and the fused form of TPX2 (7–43) and N-Myc (61–89). These partners also formed more stable interactions with the N-terminal lobe of AurA than did the incomplete N-Myc fragment (61–89) in the 5g1x complex. Altogether, this study provides structural insights into the involvement of the N-terminus of the AIR of N-Myc and the N-terminal lobe of AurA in formation of a stable complex, reflecting its potential for effective targeting of N-Myc.
Cancer Research, Kinase, Science, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Biochemistry, Article, Binding site, Neuroblastoma, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, Tumor Microenvironment, Humans, Biology, Internal medicine, Migraine, Aurora Kinase A, N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein, Binding Sites, Epilepsy, Q, Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB), R, Life Sciences, Cell Biology, Regulation and Function of Microtubules in Cell Division, Chemistry, Neurology, Neuroblastoma Research and Treatment, Medicine, Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer Biology, Aura
Cancer Research, Kinase, Science, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Biochemistry, Article, Binding site, Neuroblastoma, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Health Sciences, Tumor Microenvironment, Humans, Biology, Internal medicine, Migraine, Aurora Kinase A, N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein, Binding Sites, Epilepsy, Q, Protein Data Bank (RCSB PDB), R, Life Sciences, Cell Biology, Regulation and Function of Microtubules in Cell Division, Chemistry, Neurology, Neuroblastoma Research and Treatment, Medicine, Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer Biology, Aura
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