Single Mutations Reshape the Structural Correlation Network of the DMXAA–Human STING Complex

Abstract

Subtle changes in protein sequences are able to alter ligand-protein interactions. Unraveling the mechanism of such phenomena is important for understanding ligand-protein interactions, including the DMXAA-STING interaction. DMXAA specifically binds to mouse STING instead of human STING. However, the S162A mutation and a newly discovered E260I mutation endow human STING^AQ with DMXAA sensitivity. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we revealed how these single mutations alter the DMXAA-STING interaction. Compared to mutated systems, structural correlations in the interaction of STING^AQ with DMXAA are stronger, and the correlations are cross-protomers in the dimeric protein. Analyses on correlation coefficients lead to the identification of two key interactions that mediate the strong cross-protomer correlation in the DMXAA-STING^AQ interaction network: DMXAA-267T-162S* and 238R-260E*. These two interactions are partially and totally interrupted by the S162A and E260I mutations, respectively. Moreover, a smaller number of water molecules are displaced upon DMXAA binding to STING^AQ than that on binding to its mutants, leading to a larger entropic penalty for the former. Considering the sensitivity of STING^AQ and two of its mutants to DMXAA, a strong structural correlation appears to discourage DMXAA-STING binding. Such an observation suggests that DMXAA derivatives, which are deprived of hydrogen-bond interaction with both 162S* and 267T, are potential agonists of human STING.