Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3

The global spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases (NDMs) has exacerbated the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This study resolved the crystal structure of NDM-1 hydrolyzing amoxicillin for the first time, revealed that the hydroxyl group in the R1 moiety of amoxicillin anchors a key water molecule...

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Main Authors: Xiangrui Shi, Huijuan Yang, Yujie Dai, Hui Zhao, Yuhang Li, Yanxi Li, Xin Zhou, Hailong Yan, Qinghua Zhang, Wei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Journal of Structural Biology: X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590152425000145
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author Xiangrui Shi
Huijuan Yang
Yujie Dai
Hui Zhao
Yuhang Li
Yanxi Li
Xin Zhou
Hailong Yan
Qinghua Zhang
Wei Liu
author_facet Xiangrui Shi
Huijuan Yang
Yujie Dai
Hui Zhao
Yuhang Li
Yanxi Li
Xin Zhou
Hailong Yan
Qinghua Zhang
Wei Liu
author_sort Xiangrui Shi
collection DOAJ
description The global spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases (NDMs) has exacerbated the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This study resolved the crystal structure of NDM-1 hydrolyzing amoxicillin for the first time, revealed that the hydroxyl group in the R1 moiety of amoxicillin anchors a key water molecule (Wat1) via hydrogen bond, inducing a conformational shift in Met67 (average displacement of 3.8 Å compared to its position in complexes with ampicillin, penicillin G, and penicillin V) and impairing the hydrophobic interaction between the loop 3 and the substrate. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the π-π stacking contact time between amoxicillin and the L3 critical residue Phe70 decreased to 4.3 % (ampicillin: 12.3 %), with a binding energy reduction of 10.5 kcal/mol. Steady-state kinetics showed that amoxicillin exhibited a 2.2-fold higher Km and a 5.2-fold higher kcat compared to ampicillin, demonstrating that hydrophilic R1 groups impair enzyme-substrate binding. This work demonstrates the essential role of hydrophobic interactions in L3-mediated substrate binding and provides a novel strategy for designing L3-targeted NDM-1 inhibitors: maximize hydrophobicity and minimize polar surface area in the L3 contact region to block water penetration, thereby stabilizing the inhibitor-L3 interaction.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2590-1524
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Structural Biology: X
spelling doaj-art-3308d59dc0414bc89eda1504c59b2c692025-08-20T03:31:06ZengElsevierJournal of Structural Biology: X2590-15242025-12-011210013310.1016/j.yjsbx.2025.100133Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3Xiangrui Shi0Huijuan Yang1Yujie Dai2Hui Zhao3Yuhang Li4Yanxi Li5Xin Zhou6Hailong Yan7Qinghua Zhang8Wei Liu9Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, ChinaChongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China; Institute of Immunology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.The global spread of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamases (NDMs) has exacerbated the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This study resolved the crystal structure of NDM-1 hydrolyzing amoxicillin for the first time, revealed that the hydroxyl group in the R1 moiety of amoxicillin anchors a key water molecule (Wat1) via hydrogen bond, inducing a conformational shift in Met67 (average displacement of 3.8 Å compared to its position in complexes with ampicillin, penicillin G, and penicillin V) and impairing the hydrophobic interaction between the loop 3 and the substrate. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the π-π stacking contact time between amoxicillin and the L3 critical residue Phe70 decreased to 4.3 % (ampicillin: 12.3 %), with a binding energy reduction of 10.5 kcal/mol. Steady-state kinetics showed that amoxicillin exhibited a 2.2-fold higher Km and a 5.2-fold higher kcat compared to ampicillin, demonstrating that hydrophilic R1 groups impair enzyme-substrate binding. This work demonstrates the essential role of hydrophobic interactions in L3-mediated substrate binding and provides a novel strategy for designing L3-targeted NDM-1 inhibitors: maximize hydrophobicity and minimize polar surface area in the L3 contact region to block water penetration, thereby stabilizing the inhibitor-L3 interaction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590152425000145NDM-1AmoxicillinL3R1 group
spellingShingle Xiangrui Shi
Huijuan Yang
Yujie Dai
Hui Zhao
Yuhang Li
Yanxi Li
Xin Zhou
Hailong Yan
Qinghua Zhang
Wei Liu
Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
Journal of Structural Biology: X
NDM-1
Amoxicillin
L3
R1 group
title Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
title_full Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
title_fullStr Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
title_full_unstemmed Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
title_short Crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic R1 group impairs NDM-1–ligand binding via water penetration at L3
title_sort crystal structure reveals the hydrophilic r1 group impairs ndm 1 ligand binding via water penetration at l3
topic NDM-1
Amoxicillin
L3
R1 group
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590152425000145
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