Target enzyme recognition by calmodulin: 2.4 A structure of a calmodulin-peptide complex

Molecular tuning of ion binding to calcium signaling proteins

Intracellular calcium plays an essential role in the transduction of most hormonal, neuronal, visual, and muscle stimuli. (Recent reviews include Putney, 1993; Berridge, 1993a,b; Tsunoda, 1993; Gnegy, 1993; Bachset al.1992; Hanson & Schulman, 1992; Villereal & Byron, 1992; Premack & Gardner, 1992; Meanset al.1991).

Calmodulin and the regulation of smooth muscle contraction

Calmodulin, the ubiquitous and multifunctional Ca(2+)-binding protein, mediates many of the regulatory effects of Ca2+, including the contractile state of smooth muscle. The principal function of calmodulin in smooth muscle is to activate crossbridge cycling and the development of force in response to a [Ca2+]i transient via the activation of myosin light-chain kinase and phosphorylation of myosin. A distinct calmodulin-dependent kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, has been implicated in modulation of smooth-muscle contraction. This kinase phosphorylates myosin light-chain kinase, resulting in an increase in the calmodulin concentration required for half-maximal activation of myosin light-chain kinase, and may account for desensitization of the contractile response to Ca2+. In addition, the thin filament-associated proteins, caldesmon and calponin, which inhibit the actin-activated MgATPase activity of smooth-muscle myosin (the cross-bridge cycling rate), appear to be regulated by calmodulin, either by the direct binding of Ca2+/calmodulin or indirectly by phosphorylation catalysed by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Another level at which calmodulin can regulate smooth-muscle contraction involves proteins which control the movement of Ca2+ across the sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and which are regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin, e.g. the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump and the ryanodine receptor/Ca2+ release channel, and other proteins which indirectly regulate [Ca2+]i via cyclic nucleotide synthesis and breakdown, e.g. NO synthase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The interplay of such regulatory mechanisms provides the flexibility and adaptability required for the normal functioning of smooth-muscle tissues.

Structural mechanisms for domain movements in proteins

We survey all the known instances of domain movements in proteins for which there is crystallographic evidence for the movement. We explain these domain movements in terms of the repertoire of low-energy conformation changes that are known to occur in proteins. We first describe the basic elements of this repertoire, hinge and shear motions, and then show how the elements of the repertoire can be combined to produce domain movements. We emphasize that the elements used in particular proteins are determined mainly by the structure of the interfaces between the domains.

Dual calcium ion regulation of calcineurin by calmodulin and calcineurin B

The dependence of calcineurin on Ca2+ for activity is the result of the concerted action of calmodulin, which increases the turnover rate of the enzyme and modulates its response to Ca2+ transients, and of calcineurin B, which decreases the Km of the enzyme for its substrate. The calmodulin-stimulated protein phosphatase calcineurin is under the control of two functionally distinct, but structurally similar, Ca(2+)-regulated proteins, calmodulin and calcineurin B. The Ca(2+)-dependent activation of calcineurin by calmodulin is highly cooperative (Hill coefficient of 2.8-3), and the concentration of Ca2+ needed for half-maximum activation decreases from 1.3 to 0.6 microM when the concentration of calmodulin is increased from 0.03 to 20 microM. Conversely, the affinity of calmodulin for Ca2+ is increased by more than 2 orders of magnitude in the presence of a peptide corresponding to the calmodulin-binding domain of calcineurin A. Calmodulin increases the Vmax without changing the Km value of the enzyme. Unlike calmodulin, calcineurin B interacts with calcineurin A in the presence of EGTA, and Ca2+ binding to calcineurin B stimulates native calcineurin up to only 10% of the maximum activity achieved with calmodulin. The Ca(2+)-dependent activation of a proteolyzed derivative of calcineurin, calcineurin-45, which lacks the regulatory domain, was used to study the role of calcineurin B. Removal of the regulatory domain increases the Vmax of calcineurin, as does binding of calmodulin, but it also increases the affinity of calcineurin for Ca2+. Ca2+ binding to calcineurin B decreases the Km value of calcineurin without changing its Vmax.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

New non-lethal calmodulin mutations in Paramecium. A structural and functional bipartition hypothesis

The mechanisms by which calmodulin coordinates its numerous molecular targets in living cells remain largely unknown. To further understand how this pivotal Ca(2+)-binding protein functions in vivo, we isolated and studied nine new Paramecium behavioral mutants defective in calmodulin. Nucleotide sequences of mutant calmodulin genes indicated single amino-acid substitutions in mutants cam4(E104K), cam5-1 (D95G), cam6 (A102V), cam7 (H135R), cam14-1 (G59S) and cam15 (D50G). In addition, we encountered a second occurrence of three identified substitutions; they are cam1-2 (S101F), cam5-2 (D95G) and cam14-2 (G59S). Most of these mutational changes occurred in sites that have been highly conserved throughout evolution. Furthermore, most of these changes were not among the amino acids known to interact with the basic amphiphilic peptides of calmodulin targets. Consistent with our previous finding [Kink, J. A., Maley, M. E., Preston R. R., Ling, K.-Y., Wallen-Friedman, M. A., Saimi, Y. & Kung, C. (1990) Cell 62, 165-174], mutants that under-reacted to certain stimuli (allele number above 10) had substitutions in the N-terminal lobe of calmodulin, and those that over-reacted (below 10) had substitutions in the C-terminal lobe. No mutations were found in the central helix that connects the lobes. Thus, through undirected in vivo mutation analyses of Paramecium, we discovered that each of the two lobes of calmodulin has a distinct role in regulating the function of a specific ion channel and eventually the behavior of Paramecium. We, therefore, propose a hypothesis of functional bipartition of calmodulin that reflects its structural bipartition.

Correlations between biological activities and conformational properties for human, salmon, eel, porcine calcitonins and Elcatonin elucidated by CD spectroscopy

Calcitonin (CT) inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption and induces calcium uptake from body fluids. A comparative study of the conformational behaviours of therapeutic calcitonins [salmon (s), eel (e), a synthetic eel calcitonin analogue (Elcatonin), porcine (p) and human (h) calcitonins] as a function of solvent polarity and temperature have been performed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Elements of secondary structure were lacking in H2O but could be observed in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and sodium dodecyl sulphate. In particular, similar amounts of alpha-helical content (four alpha-helical turns) were estimated in trifluoroethanol despite the considerable differences in amino acid sequences. The relative ability to form an alpha helix, assessed by trifluoroethanol/H2O titration, was found to be Elcatonin > sCT > pCT > eCT > hCT. In Elcatonin, sCT, pCT and eCT the four alpha-helical turns were promoted almost completely in a single step, between 0 and 35% trifluoroethanol, unlike hCT where helical structure formation has been reported to involve two steps over the whole trifluoroethanol/H2O range [Arvinte, T. & Drake, A. F. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 6408-6414]. In SDS, which mimics the membrane environment, conformational differences (3-4 helical turns in Elcatonin, sCT, eCT versus one helical turn in pCT, hCT) were observed and correlate well with biological activity (Elcatonin = sCT = eCT > pCT = hCT). Low-temperature studies in a cryogenic solvent mixture showed the formation of high alpha-helix content (similar to that in trifluoroethanol) in Elcatonin, sCT, eCT and pCT, whilst a left-handed extended helix (3(1) helix) was formed in hCT. This is consistent with the hypothesis of 'linear' and 'helical' calcitonin receptors [Nakanuta, H., Orlowski, R. C. & Epand, R. M. (1990) Endocrinology 127, 163-169].

Dual role of calmodulin in autophosphorylation of multifunctional CaM kinase may underlie decoding of calcium signals

Autophosphorylation of multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase makes it Ca2+ independent by trapping bound calmodulin and by enabling the kinase to remain partially active even after calmodulin dissociates. We show that autophosphorylation is an intersubunit reaction between neighbors in the multimeric kinase which requires two molecules of calmodulin. Ca2+/calmodulin acts not only to activate the "kinase" subunit but also to present effectively the "substrate" subunit for autophosphorylation. Conversion of the kinase to the potentiated or trapped state is a cooperative process that is inefficient at low occupancy of calmodulin. Simulations show that repetitive Ca2+ pulses at limiting calmodulin lead to the recruitment of calmodulin to the holoenzyme, which further stimulates autophosphorylation and trapping. This cooperative, positive feedback loop will potentiate the response of the kinase to sequential Ca2+ transients and establish a threshold frequency at which the enzyme becomes highly active.

Modeling studies of the change in conformation required for cleavage of limited proteolytic sites

Previous analyses of limited proteolytic sites within native, folded protein structures have shown that a significant conformational change is required in order to facilitate binding into the active site of the attacking proteinase. For the serine proteinases, the optimum conformation to match the proteinase binding-site geometry has been well characterized crystallographically by the conserved main-chain geometry of the reactive site loops of their protein inhibitors. A good substrate must adopt a conformation very similar to this "target" main-chain conformation prior to cleavage. Using a "loop-closure" modeling approach, we have tested the ability of a set of tryptic-limited proteolytic sites to achieve this target conformation and further tested their suitability for cleavage. The results show that in most cases, significant changes in the conformation of at least 12 residues are required. All the putative tryptic cleavage sites in 1 protein, elastase, were also modeled and tested to compare the results to the actual nicksite in that protein. These results strongly suggest that large local motions proximate to the scissile bond are required for proteolysis, and it is this ability to unfold locally without perturbing the overall protein conformation that is the prime determinant for limited proteolysis.

Multifunctional proteins. Calmodulin clarified

Genetic analysis in yeast is helping to dissect the multiple functions of calmodulin: mutations have been made that uncouple calmodulin from single targets among many.

Calmodulin interacts with amphiphilic peptides composed of all D-amino acids

Calmodulin binds to amphiphilic, helical peptides of a variety of amino-acid sequences. These peptides are usually positively charged, although there is spectroscopic evidence that at least one neutral peptide binds. The complex between calmodulin and one of its natural target peptides, the binding site for calmodulin on smooth muscle myosin light-chain kinase (RS20), has been investigated by crystallography and NMR which have characterized the interactions between the ligand and the protein. From these data, it appears that the calmodulin-binding surface is sterically malleable and van der Waals forces probably dominate the binding. To explore further this apparently permissive binding, we investigated the chiral selectivity of calmodulin using synthesized analogues of melittin and RS20 that consisted of only D-amino acids. Fluorescence and NMR measurements show that D-melittin and D-RS20 both bind avidly to calmodulin, probably in the same general binding site as that for peptides having all L-amino acids. The calmodulin-peptide binding surface is therefore remarkably tolerant sterically. Our results suggest a potentially useful approach to the design of non-hydrolysable or slowly hydrolysable intracellular inhibitors of calmodulin.

Baculovirus-directed expression of the gamma-subunit of phosphorylase kinase: purification and calmodulin dependence

A recombinant baculovirus containing a cDNA encoding the gamma-subunit of phosphorylase kinase from mouse skeletal muscle was constructed. Cultures of Sf-9 insect cells infected with the gamma-baculovirus produce an intact and soluble gamma-protein. A purification procedure is presented that yields a sample of gamma-protein which is devoid of interfering enzyme activity and which is not associated with calmodulin from the insect cells. The isolated gamma sample has a Km for phosphorylase b of 36 (+/- 6, S.E.M) microM at pH 8.2 and 140 (+/- 25) microM at pH 6.8. These values are similar to those reported for the activated phosphorylase kinase holoenzyme isolated from skeletal muscle tissue. However, the Vmax. of the baculovirus-expressed gamma is 65 and 80% of that of the activated holoenzyme at pH 6.8 and 8.2 respectively. These results indicate that one or more of the regulatory subunits alpha, beta, or calmodulin stimulate the activity of the catalytic subunit gamma in the activated holoenzyme. Addition of calmodulin to the baculovirus-expressed gamma stimulates its activity 1.5-2.0 fold at pH 6.8 in both the presence and absence of calcium. At pH 8.2, calmodulin has only minor stimulatory affects. The stimulation by calmodulin at pH 6.8 results from an increase in the Vmax of gamma with little effect on its Km. This result is unlike that for most calmodulin-stimulated kinases which bind calmodulin only in the presence of calcium and exhibit a decrease in their Km upon binding calmodulin. The change in Vmax. of gamma in the presence of calmodulin and in the absence of calcium presents a novel mechanism for the regulation of a calmodulin-stimulated kinase.

Distribution of distances between the tryptophan and the N-terminal residue of melittin in its complex with calmodulin, troponin C, and phospholipids

We used frequency-domain measurements of fluorescence resonance energy transfer to measure the distribution of distances between Trp-19 of melittin and a 1-dimethylamino-5-sulfonylnaphthalene (dansyl) residue on the N-terminal-alpha-amino group. Distance distributions were obtained for melittin free in solution and when complexed with calmodulin (CaM), troponin C (TnC), or palmitoyloleoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) vesicles. A wide range of donor (Trp-19)-to-acceptor (dansyl) distances was found for free melittin, which is consistent with that expected for the random coil state, characterized by a Gaussian width (full width at half maxima) of 28.2 A. In contrast, narrow distance distributions were found for melittin complexed with CaM, 8.2 A, or with POPC vesicles, 4.9 A. A somewhat wider distribution was found for the melittin complex with TnC, 12.8 A, suggesting the presence of heterogeneity in the mode of binding between melittin and TnC. For all the complexes the mean Trp-19 to dansyl distance was near 20 A. This value is somewhat smaller than expected for the free alpha-helical state of melittin, suggesting that binding with CaM or TnC results in a modest decrease in the length of the melittin molecule.

Structure of the regulatory domain of scallop myosin at 2.8 A resolution

The regulatory domain of scallop myosin is a three-chain protein complex that switches on this motor in response to Ca2+ binding. This domain has been crystallized and the structure solved to 2.8 A resolution. Side-chain interactions link the two light chains in tandem to adjacent segments of the heavy chain bearing the IQ-sequence motif. The Ca(2+)-binding site is a novel EF-hand motif on the essential light chain and is stabilized by linkages involving the heavy chain and both light chains, accounting for the requirement of all three chains for Ca2+ binding and regulation in the intact myosin molecule.

Crystal structure of a NAD-dependent D-glycerate dehydrogenase at 2.4 A resolution

D-Glycerate dehydrogenase (GDH) catalyzes the NADH-linked reduction of hydroxypyruvate to D-glycerate. GDH is a member of a family of NAD-dependent dehydrogenases that is characterized by a specificity for the D-isomer of the hydroxyacid substrate. The crystal structure of the apoenzyme form of GDH from Hyphomicrobium methylovorum has been determined by the method of isomorphous replacement and refined at 2.4 A resolution using a restrained least-squares method. The crystallographic R-factor is 19.4% for all 24,553 measured reflections between 10.0 and 2.4 A resolution. The GDH molecule is a symmetrical dimer composed of subunits of molecular mass 38,000, and shares significant structural homology with another NAD-dependent enzyme, formate dehydrogenase. The GDH subunit consists of two structurally similar domains that are approximately related to each other by 2-fold symmetry. The domains are separated by a deep cleft that forms the putative NAD and substrate binding sites. One of the domains has been identified as the NAD-binding domain based on its close structural similarity to the NAD-binding domains of other NAD-dependent dehydrogenases. The topology of the second domain is different from that found in the various catalytic domains of other dehydrogenases. A model of a ternary complex of GDH has been built in which putative catalytic residues are identified based on sequence homology between the D-isomer specific dehydrogenases. A structural comparison between GDH and L-lactate dehydrogenase indicates a convergence of active site residues and geometries for these two enzymes. The reactions catalyzed are chemically equivalent but of opposing stereospecificity. A hypothesis is presented to explain how the two enzymes may exploit the same coenzyme stereochemistry and a similar spatial arrangement of catalytic residues to carry out reactions that proceed to opposite enantiomers.

The three-dimensional structure of a molecular motor

Myosin is one of only three proteins known to convert chemical energy into mechanical work. Although the chemical, kinetic and physiological characteristics of this protein have been studied extensively, it has been difficult to define its molecular basis of movement. With the recent X-ray structural determination of the myosin head, however, it is now possible to put forward a hypothesis on how myosin might function as a molecular motor.

Diverse essential functions revealed by complementing yeast calmodulin mutants

Calmodulin, a cytoplasmic calcium-binding protein, is indispensable for eukaryotic cell growth. Examination of 14 temperature-sensitive yeast mutants bearing one or more phenylalanine to alanine substitutions in the single essential calmodulin gene of yeast (CMD1) revealed diverse essential functions. Mutations could be classified into four intragenic complementation groups. Each group showed different characteristic functional defects in actin organization, calmodulin localization, nuclear division, or bud emergence. Phenylalanine residues implicated in calmodulin localization and nuclear division are located in the amino-terminal half of the protein, whereas those implicated in actin organization and bud emergence are located in the carboxyl-terminal half.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer within the regulatory light chain of myosin

Rabbit skeletal muscle myosin regulatory light chain-2 (LC2) contains two reactive cysteine residues, Cys125 and Cys154, and one tryptophan at position 137. Using wild-type rabbit LC2 or its genetically engineered mutant with Cys125-->Arg (C125R), these residues can be selectively modified with fluorescent or chromophoric probes for spectroscopic studies. We have bound suitable donor/acceptor probe pairs to the two cysteine residues and Trp137 in LC2 or C125R, and measured the distance in solution between the probes by fluorescence resonance energy transfer spectroscopy. C125R was made to facilitate specific labelling of the less reactive Cys154, thus allowing the distance between Cys154 and Trp137 to be measured. Our measurements show that these residues are in close proximity to each other, the distance between them ranging from 1.7 nm (between Cys125 and Trp137) to 2.7 nm (Cys125 and Cys154). These results suggest that Cys125, Trp137 and Cys154, spanning up to 29 residues in the sequence of LC2, are spatially close, consistent with these residues residing within a C-terminal globular domain. The distances we obtained are in agreement with previous crosslinking studies [Huber, P. A., Brunner, U.T. & Schaub, M. C. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 9116-9123; Saraswat, L. & Lowey, S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 19777-19785] and structure predictions of LC2. LC2 is located at the head-rod junction of the myosin crossbridge, and provides the primary regulatory mechanism in molluscan and smooth muscle. In skeletal muscle, its functional role is unclear, although it has been implicated in modulating actomyosin interaction [Metzger, J. M. & Moss, R. L. (1992) Biophys. J. 63, 460-468]. The incorporation of spectroscopic probes onto the light chains of myosin in solution or in fibres has become a valuable tool for evaluating the dynamic properties of the crossbridge during force generation.

The structure of apo-calmodulin. A 1H NMR examination of the carboxy-terminal domain

The structure of the carboxy-terminal domain of bovine calmodulin, TR2C, in the calcium-free form was investigated using two-dimensional 1H NMR. Sequential resonance assignments were made using standard methods. Using information from medium and long range contacts revealed by nuclear Overhauser enhancement, the secondary structure and global fold were determined. The apo protein possesses essentially the same secondary structure as that in the calcium activated form of intact calmodulin. However, the secondary structural elements are rearranged so that the hydrophobic binding pocket is closed in the apo-form.

Isolation and kinetic characterization of the calmodulin methyltransferase from sheep brain

The methyltransferase that catalyzes the trimethylation of lysine 115 in calmodulin has been purified from sheep brain. The enzyme is a monomer with an apparent molecular weight of 38,000 on the basis of gel filtration chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. In the presence of calcium the methyltransferase exhibited a Km of 100 nM for unmethylated calmodulin and a kcat of 0.0278 s-1. The enzyme was able to use calcium-depleted calmodulin as a substrate, albeit with less efficiency. The methylation of calcium-depleted calmodulin was inhibited by increases in ionic strength, whereas methylation of calcium-saturated calmodulin was not affected. This suggests a difference in the mode of interaction of calcium-saturated and calcium-depleted calmodulins with the enzyme. As with calmodulin's interactions with other calmodulin-dependent enzymes, the oxidation of the methionines of calmodulin by performic acid treatment decreases the ability of the methyltransferase to recognize and methylate calmodulin. A calmodulin-binding peptide based on the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II sequence and the naphthalenesulfonamide W-7 inhibit the calmodulin methyltransferase-calmodulin interaction in a calcium-dependent manner. Removal of the NH2-terminal lobe (residues 1-77) does not affect the ability of the calmodulin methyltransferase to recognize and methylate lysine 115. Thus, the determinants for calmodulin methyltransferase binding reside solely in the COOH-terminal lobe of calmodulin. Further, structural features within this region, in particular, the hydrophobic cleft, that are manifested upon calcium binding may contribute to the interaction of calmodulin with the enzyme.

Modulation of calmodulin plasticity in molecular recognition on the basis of x-ray structures

Calmodulin is the primary calcium-dependent signal transducer and regulator of a wide variety of essential cellular functions. The structure of calcium-calmodulin bound to the peptide corresponding to the calmodulin-binding domain of brain calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha was determined to 2 angstrom resolution. A comparison to two other calcium-calmodulin structures reveals how the central helix unwinds in order to position the two domains optimally in the recognition of different target enzymes and clarifies the role of calcium in maintaining recognition-competent domain structures.

Development and characterization of fluorescently-labeled myosin light chain kinase calmodulin-binding domain peptides

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinases such as myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), calmodulin kinase II, and phosphorylase kinase contain specific sequences responsible for binding calmodulin. These regions are known as calmodulin-binding domains and in many cases are contained within sequences that are short enough to be synthesized by solid-phase techniques. The ability to chemically-synthesize target enzyme calmodulin-binding domains has permitted the use of a variety of biophysical techniques to study the interactions between calmodulin and calmodulin-binding domain peptides. The work reviewed here describes the development and characterization of peptides based on the sequence of the calmodulin-binding domain of skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase which were labeled with the fluorescent reagent, acrylodan. Data are presented demonstrating the use of fluorescently-labeled peptides to study various aspects of calmodulin-peptide interactions including binding affinity, stoichiometry, specificity, changes in peptide conformation, and thermal stability of the peptide-calmodulin complex. These data indicate the peptides exhibit many of the salient features seen with calmodulin-target enzyme interactions. The fluorescently-labeled peptides should thus serve as useful models for studying calmodulin-target enzyme interactions at the molecular level.

The amino-terminal peptide of HIV-1 gp41 interacts with human serum albumin

Structural and functional studies were made to assess interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) and the amino-terminal peptide (FP-I; 23-residue peptide 519-541) of glycoprotein 41,000 (gp41) of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicated that the peptide binds to albumin with dominant alpha-helical character. Peptide binding to albumin was also examined using FP-I spin labeled at either the amino-terminal alanine (FP-II; residue 519) or methionine (FP-III; position 537). Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of FP-II bound to HSA at 38 degrees C indicated that the spin label at the amino-terminal residue (Ala-519) was motionally restricted. The ESR spectrum of 12-nitroxide stearate (12-NS)-labeled HSA was identical to that obtained with FP-II, indicating that the reporter groups for the 12-NS and FP-II probes are similarly bound to albumin. Contrarily, ESR spectra of HSA labeled with FP-III indicated high mobility for the reporter group (Met-537) at the aqueous-protein interface. This suggests that the N-terminal gp41 peptide binds as an alpha helix (residues 519-536) to fatty acid sites on HSA, such that Ala-519 of the peptide residues in the interior of the protein while Met-537 lies outside the protein in aqueous solution. It is also of interest that addition of HSA to human red blood cells dramatically reduced the ability of FP-I to induce hemolysis, presumably through peptide-albumin binding that inhibited FP-I interactions with red cell membranes. The significance of these results focuses on the following three points. The first is that high serum levels of albumin may limit the efficacy of anti-HIV therapies using peptides based on the N-terminal gp41 domain. The second is that the elucidation of FP-I and HSA interactions with physical techniques may provide clues on the molecular features underlying viral FP-I combination with receptors on the target cell surface. Last, the affinity of albumin for the N-terminal gp41 peptide may play a subordinate role in the blocking of HIV infectivity in vitro that has been reported for chemically modified albumins.

A peptide analog of the calmodulin-binding domain of myosin light chain kinase adopts an alpha-helical structure in aqueous trifluoroethanol

A 22-residue synthetic peptide encompassing the calmodulin (CaM)-binding domain of skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase was studied by two-dimensional NMR and CD spectroscopy. In water the peptide does not form any regular structure; however, addition of the helix-inducing solvent trifluoroethanol (TFE) causes it to form an alpha-helical structure. The proton NMR spectra of this peptide in 25% and 40% TFE were assigned by double quantum-filtered J-correlated spectroscopy, total correlation spectroscopy, and nuclear Overhauser effect correlated spectroscopy spectra. In addition, the alpha-carbon chemical shifts were obtained from (1H,13C)-heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence spectra. The presence of numerous dNN(i, i + 1), d alpha N(i, i + 3), and d alpha beta(i, i + 3) NOE crosspeaks indicates that an alpha-helix can be formed from residues 3 to 20; this is further supported by the CD data. Upfield alpha-proton and downfield alpha-carbon shifts in this region of the peptide provide further support for the formation of an alpha-helix. The helix induced by TFE appears to be similar to that formed upon binding of the peptide to CaM.

Calcium-calmodulin and regulation of brush border myosin-I MgATPase and mechanochemistry

We examined the Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of brush border (BB) myosin-I by probing the possible roles of the calmodulin (CM) light chains. BB myosin-I MgATPase activity, sensitivity to chymotryptic digestion, and mechanochemical properties were assessed using 1-10 microM Ca2+ and in the presence of exogenously added CM since it has been proposed that this myosin is regulated by calcium-induced CM dissociation from the 119-kD heavy chain. Each of these BB myosin-I properties were dramatically altered by the same threshold of 2-3 microM Ca2+. Enzymatically active NH2-terminal proteolytic fragments of BB myosin-I which lack the CM binding domains (the 78-kD peptide) differ from CM-containing peptides in that the former is completely insensitive to Ca2+. Furthermore, the 78-kD peptide exhibits high levels of MgATPase activity which are comparable to that observed for BB myosin-I in the presence of Ca2+. This suggests that Ca2+ regulates BB myosin-I MgATPase by binding directly to the CM light chains, and that CM acts to repress endogenous MgATPase activity. Ca(2+)-induced CM dissociation from BB myosin-I can be prevented by the addition of exogenous CM. Under these conditions Ca2+ causes a reversible slowing of motility. In contrast, in the absence of exogenous CM, motility is stopped by Ca2+. We demonstrate this reversible slowing is not due to the presence of inactive BB myosin-I molecules exerting a "braking" effect on motile filaments. However, we did observe Ca(2+)-independent slowing of motility by acidic phospholipids, suggesting that factors other than Ca2+ and CM content can affect the mechanochemical properties of BB myosin-I.

Peptide-protein interactions: an overview

Most biological processes involve recognition and binding between molecules. Protein-peptide interactions are particularly common as, for example, in the action of hormones, such as oxytocin and vasopressin, or neurotransmitters including morphine-like peptides.

Evidence for calmodulin binding to the cytoplasmic domains of two C-CAM isoforms

C-CAM (cell-CAM 105) is a transmembrane cell adhesion molecule, belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is expressed in epithelia, vessel endothelia and leukocytes, and mediates intercellular adhesion in rat hepatocytes by homophilic binding. Two major isoforms (C-CAM1 and C-CAM2) that differ in their cytoplasmic domains occur. A previous study demonstrated that C-CAM can bind calmodulin in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In this study we have expressed the cytoplasmic domains of C-CAM1 and C-CAM2 in fusion proteins and measured calmodulin binding by a gel overlay assay, using 125I-labelled calmodulin. Our results indicate that the cytoplasmic domains of both C-CAM1 and C-CAM2 can bind calmodulin.

Kinetic control of Ca(II) signaling: tuning the ion dissociation rates of EF-hand Ca(II) binding sites

EF-hand Ca(II) binding sites share a conserved architecture and are prevalent in Ca(II) signaling pathways. The ion binding kinetics of these sites are carefully tuned to provide the physiologically appropriate activation and inactivation time scales. Here we examine kinetic tuning by the side chain at the ninth position of the EF-loop. A model is proposed in which both the size and charge of the side chain contribute to kinetic tuning. To test this model, the ninth loop position of the EF-hand-like site in the Escherichia coli D-galactose binding protein has been engineered and the Tb(III) dissociation kinetics of the resulting sites have been analyzed. Substitutions at this position are observed to generate up to 10(4)-fold changes in Tb(III) dissociation rates, with little effect on Tb(III) affinity. Furthermore, the observed pattern of rate changes confirm the model's predictions; long side chains at the ninth loop position yield slow dissociation kinetics as predicted for a steric block, whereas acidic side chains yield slow dissociation kinetics as expected for an electrostatic barrier.

The linker of des-Glu84-calmodulin is bent

The crystal structure of a mutant calmodulin (CaM) lacking Glu-84 has been refined to R = 0.23 using data measured to 2.9-A resolution. In native CaM the central helix is fully extended, and the molecule is dumbbell shaped. In contrast, the deletion of Glu-84 causes a bend of 95 degrees in the linker region of the central helix at Ile-85. However, EF-hand domains 1 and 2 (lobe 1,2) do not touch lobe 3,4. The length, by alpha-carbon separation, of des-Glu84-CaM is 56 A; that of native CaM is 64 A. The shape of des-Glu84-CaM is similar to that of native CaM, as it is bound to the target peptide of myosin light-chain kinase. This result supports the proposal that the linker region of the central helix of CaM functions as a flexible tether.