Molecular docking simulations provide insights in the substrate binding sites and possible substrates of the ABCC6 transporter

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 25;9(7):e102779. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102779. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The human ATP-binding cassette family C member 6 (ABCC6) gene encodes an ABC transporter protein (ABCC6), primarily expressed in liver and kidney. Mutations in the ABCC6 gene cause pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), an autosomal recessive connective tissue disease characterized by ectopic mineralization of the elastic fibers. The pathophysiology underlying PXE is incompletely understood, which can at least partly be explained by the undetermined nature of the ABCC6 substrates as well as the unknown substrate recognition and binding sites. Several compounds, including anionic glutathione conjugates (N-ethylmaleimide; NEM-GS) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) were shown to be modestly transported in vitro; conversely, vitamin K3 (VK3) was demonstrated not to be transported by ABCC6. To predict the possible substrate binding pockets of the ABCC6 transporter, we generated a 3D homology model of ABCC6 in both open and closed conformation, qualified for molecular docking and virtual screening approaches. By docking 10 reported in vitro substrates in our ABCC6 3D homology models, we were able to predict the substrate binding residues of ABCC6. Further, virtual screening of 4651 metabolites from the Human Serum Metabolome Database against our open conformation model disclosed possible substrates for ABCC6, which are mostly lipid and biliary secretion compounds, some of which are found to be involved in mineralization. Docking of these possible substrates in the closed conformation model also showed high affinity. Virtual screening expands this possibility to explore more compounds that can interact with ABCC6, and may aid in understanding the mechanisms leading to PXE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Databases, Chemical
  • Humans
  • Metabolome*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / chemistry*
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / genetics*
  • Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / pathology
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • ABCC6 protein, human
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a BOF research fellowship from the Ghent University to Olivier M. Vanakker, a research grant (G.0241.11N) of the Research Foundation - Flanders (Belgium) to Anne De Paepe and Olivier M. Vanakker, and a Methusalem grant (BOF08/01M01108) from the Ghent University to Anne De Paepe. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.