Structural characterization of protein folding intermediates by proton magnetic resonance and hydrogen exchange

A statistical mechanical model for hydrogen exchange in globular proteins

We develop a statistical mechanical theory for the mechanism of hydrogen exchange in globular proteins. Using the HP lattice model, we explore how the solvent accessibilities of chain monomers vary as proteins fluctuate from their stable native conformations. The model explains why hydrogen exchange appears to involve two mechanisms under different conditions of protein stability: (1) a "global unfolding" mechanism by which all protons exchange at a similar rate, approaching that of the denatured protein, and (2) a "stable-state" mechanism by which protons exchange at rates that can differ by many orders of magnitude. There has been some controversy about the stable-state mechanism: does exchange take place inside the protein by solvent penetration, or outside the protein by the local unfolding of a subregion? The present model indicates that the stable-state mechanism of exchange occurs through an ensemble of conformations, some of which may bear very little resemblance to the native structure. Although most fluctuations are small-amplitude motions involving solvent penetration or local unfolding, other fluctuations (the conformational distant relatives) can involve much larger transient excursions to completely different chain folds.

Multiple interconverting conformers of the cyclic tetrapeptide tentoxin, [cyclo-(L-MeAla1-L-Leu2-MePhe[(Z) delta]3-Gly4)], as seen by two-dimensional 1H-nmr spectroscopy

The conformations of the phytotoxic cyclic tetrapeptide tentoxin [cyclo-(L-MeAla1-L-Leu2-MePhe[(Z) delta]3-Gly4)] have been studied in aqueous solution by two-dimensional proton nmr at various temperatures. Contrary to what is observed in chloroform, tentoxin exhibits multiple exchanging conformations in water. Aggregation phenomena were also observed. Four conformations with different proportions (51, 37, 8, and 4%) were observed at -5 degrees C. Models were constructed from nmr parameters and restrained molecular dynamics simulations. All the models exhibit cis-trans-cis-trans conformation of the amide bond sequence. The conversion from one form to another is accomplished by a conformational peptide flip consisting of a 180 degree rotation of a nonmethylated peptide bond.

Rapid amide proton exchange rates in peptides and proteins measured by solvent quenching and two-dimensional NMR

In an effort to develop a more versatile quenched hydrogen exchange method for studies of peptide conformation and protein-ligand interactions, the mechanism of amide proton exchange for model peptides in DMSO-D2O mixtures was investigated by NMR methods. As in water, H-D exchange rates in the presence of 90% or 95% DMSO exhibit characteristic acid- and base-catalyzed processes and negligible water catalysis. However, the base-catalyzed rate is suppressed by as much as four orders of magnitude in 95% DMSO. As a result, the pH at which the exchange rate goes through a minimum is shifted up by about two pH units and the minimum exchange rate is approximately 100-fold reduced relative to that in D2O. The solvent-dependent decrease in base-catalyzed exchange rates can be attributed primarily to a large increase in pKa values for the NH group, whereas solvent effects on pKW seem less important. Addition of toluene and cyclohexane resulted in improved proton NMR chemical shift dispersion. The dramatic reduction in exchange rates observed in the solvent mixture at optimal pH makes it possible to apply 2D NMR for NH exchange measurements on peptides under conditions where rates are too rapid for direct NMR analysis. To test this solvent-quenching method, melittin was exchanged in D2O (pH 3.2, 12 degrees C), aliquots were quenched by rapid freezing, lyophilized, and dissolved in quenching buffer (70% DMSO, 25% toluene, 4% D2O, 1% cyclohexane, 75 mM dichloroacetic acid) for NMR analysis. Exchange rates for 21 amide protons were measured by recording 2D NMR spectra on a series of samples quenched at different times. The results are consistent with a monomeric unfolded conformation of melittin at acidic pH. The ability to trap labile protons by solvent quenching makes it possible to extend amide protection studies to peptide ligands or labile protons on the surface of a protein involved in macromolecular interactions.

Structure and stability of monomeric lambda repressor: NMR evidence for two-state folding

The absence of equilibrium intermediates in protein folding reactions (i.e., two-state folding) simplifies thermodynamic and kinetic analyses but is difficult to prove rigorously. We demonstrate a sensitive method for detecting partially folded species based on using proton chemical shifts as local probes of structure. The coincidence of denaturation curves for probes throughout the molecule is a particularly stringent test for two-state folding. In this study we investigate a new form of the N-terminal domain of bacteriophage lambda repressor consisting of residues 6-85 (lambda 6-85) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD). This truncated version lacks the residues required for dimerization and is monomeric under the conditions used for NMR. Heteronuclear NMR was used to assign the 1H, 15N, and backbone 13C resonances. The secondary and tertiary structure of lambda 6-85 is very similar to that reported for the crystal structure of the DNA-bound 1-92 fragment [Beamer, L. J., and Pabo, C. O. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 227, 177-196], as judged by analysis of chemical shifts, amide hydrogen exchange, amide-alpha coupling constants, and nuclear Overhauser enhancements. Thermal and urea denaturation studies were conducted using the chemical shifts of the four aromatic side chains as local probes and the CD signal at 222 nm as a global probe. Plots of the fraction denatured versus denaturant concentration obtained from these studies are identical for all probes under all conditions studied. This observation provides strong evidence for two-state folding, indicating that there are no populated intermediates in the folding of lambda 6-85.

Partially folded, molten globule and molten coil states of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor

Three denatured states of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor have been characterized, using two chemically synthesized analogues designed for study of folding intermediates. One analogue, [14-38]Abu, retains only the 14-38 disulphide. At pH 4.5-6 and 1-7 degrees C, [14-38]Abu is a highly ordered beta-sheet molten globule; it has the circular dichroism (CD), ANS-binding and folding kinetics of a molten globule; is partially folded by NMR analysis; and undergoes cooperative thermal denaturation. At low temperature [14-38]Abu also forms an acid state at pH 1.5, as well as a denatured state at pH 2.5. A second BPTI analogue with all three disulphide bridges eliminated, [R]Abu, lacks detectable secondary and tertiary structure but has stable hydrophobic surfaces and is collapsed. We term this species a 'molten coil'.

Structure of a protein in a kinetic trap

We have determined the structure of a metastable disulphide isomer of human insulin. Although not observed for proinsulin folding or insulin-chain recombination, the isomer retains ordered secondary structure and a compact hydrophobic core. Comparison with native insulin reveals a global rearrangement in the orientation of A- and B-chains. One face of the protein's surface is nevertheless in common between native and non-native structures. This face contains receptor-binding determinants, rationalizing the partial biological activity of the isomer. Structures of native and non-native disulphide isomers also define alternative three-dimensional templates. Threading of insulin-like sequences provide an experimental realization of the inverse protein-folding problem.

Comparison of the hydrogen-exchange behavior of reduced and oxidized Escherichia coli thioredoxin

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates for the amide protons in oxidized (disulfide) and reduced (dithiol) thioredoxin have been measured using a series of 15N-1H HSQC spectra at various times after buffer exchange into 99% 2H2O. Information on exchange rates and protection factors was obtained for both forms of thioredoxin for 68 amide protons using this method; in general, the rates obtained by this method were for amide protons of residues in the hydrogen-bonded beta-sheet and alpha-helix secondary structure of thioredoxin. Estimates of the exchange rate for those amide protons that exchanged with rates too fast to measure by hydrogen--deuterium exchange were made by saturation-transfer measurements, which were particularly useful in defining the hydrogen exchange behavior of the active site Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys sequence and of the loops adjacent to it (residues 73-75 and 91-98). Amide proton exchange rates provide a qualitative estimate of the backbone mobility, and the differences in hydrogen exchange behavior between the two forms of thioredoxin are consistent with those observed in calculations of polypeptide chain dynamics obtained from 15N relaxation measurements [Stone, M. J., et al. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 426-435]. For most of the protein, the exchange rates are close to identical in the two forms, consistent with their very close similarity in structure and backbone dynamics. Significant differences in behavior are observed in the active site sequence and in the regions of the protein that are close to this sequence in the three-dimensional structure, including portions of the beta-strand and alpha-helical sequences immediately adjacent to the active site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mutations of surface residues in Anabaena vegetative and heterocyst ferredoxin that affect thermodynamic stability as determined by guanidine hydrochloride denaturation

The stability properties of oxidized wild-type (wt) and site-directed mutants in surface residues of vegetative (Vfd) and heterocyst (Hfd) ferredoxins from Anabaena 7120 have been characterized by guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) denaturation. For Vfd it was found that mutants E95K, E94Q, F65Y, F65W, and T48A are quite similar to wt in stability. E94K is somewhat less stable, whereas E94D, F65A, F65I, R42A, and R42H are substantially less stable than wt. R42H is a substitution found in all Hfds, and NMR comparison of the Anabaena 7120 Vfd and Hfd showed the latter to be much less stable on the basis of hydrogen exchange rates (Chae YK, Abildgaard F, Mooberry ES, Markley JL, 1994, Biochemistry 33:3287-3295); we also find this to be true with respect to Gdn-HCl denaturation. Strikingly, the Hfd mutant H42R is more stable than the wt Hfd by precisely the amount of stability lost in Vfd upon mutating R42 to H (2.0 kcal/mol). On the basis of comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of wt Anabaena Vfd and Hfd, the decreased stabilities of F65A and F65I can be ascribed to increased solvent exposure of interior hydrophobic groups. In the case of Vfd mutants E94K and E94D, the decreased stabilities may result from disruption of a hydrogen bond between the E94 and S47 side chains. The instability of the R42 mutants is also most probably due to decreased hydrogen bonding capabilities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Peptides as standards for denaturing isoelectric focusing

A set of commercially available peptides suitable for use as standards in denaturing isoelectric focusing (IEF) is described. The peptides N-procalcitonin fragment 1-57 (pI 3.98), Gln11-amyloid beta-protein fragment 1-28 (pI 5.76), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (pI 7.14), parathyroid hormone fragment 1-34 (pI 8.64) and human beta-endorphin (pI 9.49) can be focused to their isoelectric point in the presence of 8 M urea and 2% Nonidet P-40, and subsequently fixed and stained in polyacrylamide gels. The peptides give a linear standard curve in close agreement with a slope determined with a surface pH electrode. Under the same conditions some proteins focus to positions significantly at odds with their theoretical isoelectric point. The origins of these discrepancies and the implications for the determination of isoelectric points of unknown proteins by denaturing IEF are discussed.

Fast folding of a prototypic polypeptide: the immunoglobulin binding domain of streptococcal protein G

The folding of the small (56 residues) highly stable B1 immunoglobulin binding domain (GB1) of streptococcal protein G has been investigated by quenched-flow deuterium-hydrogen exchange. This system represents a paradigm for the study of protein folding because it exhibits no complicating features superimposed upon the intrinsic properties of the polypeptide chain. Collapse to a semicompact state exhibiting partial order, reflected in protection factors for ND-NH exchange up to 10-fold higher than that expected for a random coil, occurs within the dead time (< or = 1 ms) of the quenched flow apparatus. This is followed by the formation of the fully native state, as monitored by the fractional proton occupancy of 26 backbone amide groups spread throughout the protein, in a single rapid concerted step with a half-life of 5.2 ms at 5 degrees C.

Protein stability parameters measured by hydrogen exchange

The hydrogen exchange (HX) rates of the slowest peptide group NH hydrogens in oxidized cytochrome c (equine) are controlled by the transient global unfolding equilibrium. These rates can be measured by one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and used to determine the thermodynamic parameters of global unfolding at mild solution conditions well below the melting transition. The free energy for global unfolding measured by hydrogen exchange can differ from values found by standard denaturation methods, most notably due to the slow cis-trans isomerization of the prolyl peptide bond. This difference can be quantitatively calculated from basic principles. Even with these corrections, HX experiments at low denaturant concentration measure a free energy of protein stability that rises above the usual linear extrapolation from denaturation data, as predicted by the denaturant binding model of Tanford.

Kinetic mechanism of cytochrome c folding: involvement of the heme and its ligands

The covalently attached heme and its axial ligands not only are essential for the structure and function of cytochrome c but they also play an important role in the folding process. Under typical denaturing conditions (concentrated guanidine hydrochloride or urea near pH 7), one of the axial ligands, His 18, remains bound to the oxidized heme iron, but the second ligand, Met 80, is replaced by a non-native histidine ligand (His 26 or His 33 in horse cytochrome c). Using quenched-flow and NMR methods, hydrogen exchange rates were measured for several individual amide protons in guanidine-denatured horse cytochrome c. The observation of a single highly protected (140-fold) backbone amide, that of His 18, suggests the presence of a persistent H-bond consistent with heme ligation of the His 18 side chain in the unfolded state. Heme absorbance changes induced by rapid acidification of oxidized cytochrome c in 4.5 M guanidine hydrochloride from pH 7.8 to 4.6 or below exhibit two kinetic phases with rates of 110 and 25 s-1, attributed to the dissociation of non-native histidine ligands from the heme in the unfolded state. The kinetics of folding from guanidine-denatured cytochrome c under a variety of initial and final conditions was investigated by stopped-flow methods, using tryptophan fluorescence as a conformational probe and Soret absorbance as a probe for the ligation state of the heme. A fast kinetic phase (80 s-1) accompanied by a major decrease in fluorescence and a minor absorbance change coincides with the formation of a partially folded intermediate with interacting chain termini detected in earlier pulsed NH exchange measurements [Roder, H., Elöve, G. A., & Englander, S. W. (1988) Nature 335, 700]. At neutral pH, an intermediate kinetic phase (1.8 s-1) accounts for 78% of the absorbance change and 47% of the fluorescence change. In contrast, the folding kinetics at pH 5 is dominated by the fast phase, and the amplitude of the intermediate phase is reduced to approximately 10%. The pH-dependent amplitude changes show titration behavior with an apparent pK of approximately 5.7, consistent with the protonation of a single histidine residue. The intermediate phase can also be suppressed by the addition of 20 mM imidazole. Since both of these conditions interfere with histidine ligation, the intermediate kinetic phase is attributed to the presence of a non-native histidine ligand (His 26 or His 33) that can become trapped in a partially folded intermediate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange in the free and immunoglobulin G-bound protein G B-domain

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiements have been used to measure backbone amide proton (NH) exchange rates in the free and IgG-bound protein G B2-domain (GB2). Exchange rates were analyzed in terms of the free energy required for transient opening of an H-bonded NH (delta Gop), and exchange mechanisms were interpreted in the context of local and global opening motions. In free GB2 at 22 degrees C, 28 detectable NHs have delta Gop values which approximate the free energy of thermal unfolding (delta Gu) obtained from calorimetry. This indicates that the majority of detectable NHs exchange through a global unfolding mechanism, reflecting the cooperative two-state unfolding behavior observed thermodynamically [Alexander et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 3597-3603]. IgG binding results in a broadening of exchange rates and delta Gop values, consistent with a less cooperative exchange mechanism than in free GB2. The large range of protection factors (1.3 to > 210) also indicates that exchange does not occur cooperatively for all detectable NHs in bound GB2. Nineteen of the detectable NHs have significantly slowed exchange rates in the complex with protection factors > 5. Residues with protection factors of the order of 100 or more occur in both the helix region (F30, K31, A34) and in the central core of the beta-sheet (V6, F52, V54). The highest protection factors are consistent with a binding constant of approximately 10(8) M-1. The pattern of high protection observed in the helix overlaps with the putative binding site suggested from previous studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetics and thermodynamics of thermal denaturation in acyl carrier protein

The denaturation of Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein (ACP) in buffers containing both monovalent and divalent cations was followed by variable-temperature NMR and differential scanning calorimetry. Both high concentrations of monovalent salts (Na+) and moderate concentrations of divalent salts (Ca2+) raise the denaturation temperature, but calorimetry indicates that a significant increase in the enthalpy of denaturation is obtained only with the addition of a divalent salt. NMR experiments in both low ionic strength monovalent buffers and low ionic strength monovalent buffers containing calcium ions show exchange between native and denatured forms to be slow on the NMR time scale. However, in high ionic strength monovalent buffers, where the temperature of denaturation is elevated as it is in the presence of Ca2+, the transition is fast on the NMR time scale. These results suggest that monovalent and divalent cations may act to stabilize ACP in different ways. Monovalent ions may nonspecifically balance the intrinsic negative charge of this protein in a way that is similar for native, denatured, and intermediate forms. Divalent cations provide stability by binding to specific sites present only in the native state.

NMR and protein folding: equilibrium and stopped-flow studies

NMR studies are now unraveling the structure of intermediates of protein folding using hydrogen-deuterium exchange methodologies. These studies provide information about the time dependence of formation of secondary structure. They require the ability to assign specific resonances in the NMR spectra to specific amide protons of a protein followed by experiments involving competition between folding and exchange reactions. Another approach is to use 19F-substituted amino acids to follow changes in side-chain environment upon folding. Current techniques of molecular biology allow assignments of 19F resonances to specific amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis. It is possible to follow changes and to analyze results from 19F spectra in real time using a stopped-flow device incorporated into the NMR spectrometer.

Guanidinium chloride induction of partial unfolding in amide proton exchange in RNase A

Amide (NH) proton exchange rates were measured in 0.0 to 0.7 M guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) for 23 slowly exchanging peptide NH protons of ribonuclease A (RNase A) at pH* 5.5 (uncorrected pH measured in D2O), 34 degrees C. The purpose was to find out whether GdmCl induces exchange through binding to exchange intermediates that are partly or wholly unfolded. It was predicted that, when the logarithm of the exchange rate is plotted as a function of the molarity of GdmCl, the slope should be a measure of the amount of buried surface area exposed to GdmCl in the exchange intermediate. The results indicate that these concentrations of GdmCl do induce exchange by means of a partial unfolding mechanism for all 23 protons; this implies that exchange reactions can be used to study the unfolding and stability of local regions. Of the 23 protons, nine also show a second mechanism of exchange at lower concentrations of GdmCl, a mechanism that is nearly independent of GdmCl concentration and is termed "limited structural fluctuation."

Detection of transient protein folding populations by mass spectrometry

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange measurements are becoming increasingly important in studies of the dynamics of protein molecules and, particularly, of their folding behavior. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been used to obtain the distribution of masses within a population of protein molecules that had undergone hydrogen exchange in solution. This information is complementary to that from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) experiments, which measure the average occupancy of individual sites over the distribution of protein molecules. In experiments with hen lysozyme, a combination of ESI-MS and NMR was used to distinguish between alternative mechanisms of hydrogen exchange, providing insight into the nature and populations of transient folding intermediates. These results have helped to detail the pathways available to a protein during refolding.

Hydrogen exchange in unligated and ligated staphylococcal nuclease

The exchange kinetics of over 70% of the 143 backbone amide hydrogens in staphylococcal nuclease H124L (nuclease H124L), both in its unligated state and in its ternary complex with Ca2+ and thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate, have been quantified by nitrogen-15 resolved proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Protection factors for the slowly exchanging hydrogens in unligated nuclease H124L at 37 degrees C and pH 5.5 were found to vary by over one order of magnitude. This range of protection factors has been interpreted in the framework of global and local structural fluctuations. The three most highly protected hydrogens (K24, L25, M26) map to strand 2 of the central five-stranded beta-barrel. The free energy change for the opening reaction which exposes these hydrogens to the solvent (delta G(degree)op) was calculated from the exchange rates in the native and denatured states, the latter values being estimated from model peptide exchange studies [Molday, R. S., Englander, S. W., & Kallen, R. G. (1972) Biochemistry 11, 150-158]. Close agreement was found between delta G(degree)op and delta G(degree)u, the free energy change of unfolding as measured by urea denaturation experiments. Exchange of these hydrogens thus appears to occur via global unfolding of the protein. One region exhibited somewhat lower protection factors: it mapped to the C-terminal portions of helix 2 and helix 3 and to part of the intervening segment. This region has been identified as a minor hydrophobic domain of nuclease [Shortle, D., Stites, W. E., & Meeker, A. K. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8033-8041].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural energetics of the molten globule state

Certain partly ordered protein conformations, commonly called "molten globule states," are widely believed to represent protein folding intermediates. Recent structural studies of molten globule states of different proteins have revealed features which appear to be general in scope. The emerging consensus is that these partly ordered forms exhibit a high content of secondary structure, considerable compactness, nonspecific tertiary structure, and significant structural flexibility. These characteristics may be used to define a general state of protein folding called "the molten globule state," which is structurally and thermodynamically distinct from both the native state and the denatured state. Despite extensive knowledge of structural features of a few molten globule states, a cogent thermodynamic argument for their stability has not yet been advanced. The prevailing opinion of the last decade was that there is little or no enthalpy difference or heat capacity difference between the molten globule state and the unfolded state. This view, however, appears to be at variance with the existing database of protein structural energetics and with recent estimates of the energetics of denaturation of alpha-lactalbumin, cytochrome c, apomyoglobin, and T4 lysozyme. We discuss these four proteins at length. The results of structural studies, together with the existing thermodynamic values for fundamental interactions in proteins, provide the foundation for a structural thermodynamic framework which can account for the observed behavior of molten globule states. Within this framework, we analyze the physical basis for both the high stability of several molten globule states and the low probability of other potential folding intermediates. Additionally, we consider, in terms of reduced enthalpy changes and disrupted cooperative interactions, the thermodynamic basis for the apparent absence of a thermally induced, cooperative unfolding transition for some molten globule states.

Small effects of amino acid replacements on the reduced and unfolded state of pancreatic trypsin inhibitor

The effects of amino acid replacements on the hydrodynamic volume of reduced and unfolded bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) have been examined by gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic mobilities of the reduced forms of 46 BPTI variants were compared at room temperature in the absence of denaturants. The single substitutions examined include many different types of replacements at sites throughout the polypeptide, and, collectively, alter 22 of the 58 residues of the wild-type protein. The only substitutions found to alter the electrophoretic mobility of the reduced protein by more than approximately 3% are those that change the net charge of the protein. For nine mutants, the rates of disulfide formation in the reduced protein were also examined and found to be very similar to that of the wild-type protein. These results suggest that any structure that may be present in the reduced protein is either relatively insensitive to amino acid replacements or does not greatly influence the averaged properties of the polypeptide chain.

Molten-globule conformation of Arc repressor monomers determined by high-pressure 1H NMR spectroscopy

The conformation of the pressure-dissociated monomer of Arc repressor was characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The NMR spectra of the monomer under pressure (up to 5.0 kbar; 1 bar = 100 kPa) are typical of a molten globule and they are considerably different from those of the native dimer and thermally denatured monomer. The two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectra suggest that the pressure-induced molten globule retains some secondary structure. The presence of nuclear Overhauser effects in the beta-sheet region in the dissociated state suggests that the intermonomer beta-sheet (residues 8-14) in the native dimer is replaced by an intramonomer beta-sheet. Changes in one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR spectra prior to pressure dissociation were found and suggest the existence of a "predissociated" state.

A partially folded state of hen egg white lysozyme in trifluoroethanol: structural characterization and implications for protein folding

The effect of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) on the solution conformation of hen egg white lysozyme has been investigated using circular dichroism (CD) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Addition of TFE to lysozyme at pH 2.0, 27 degrees C, up to a concentration of 15% (v/v) induces only slight changes in the NMR spectrum. However, above this concentration a cooperative transition to a new but partially structured state of the protein is observed. This state shows no structural cooperativity against further denaturation and is characterized by an ellipticity in the far-UV CD greater than that of the native protein. Near-UV CD intensity is dramatically reduced compared with that of the native state, and 1H NMR studies indicate that side-chain interactions are substantially averaged in this denatured state. Solvent proton/deuterium exchange rates for 66 amide hydrogens were measured site-specifically by a combination of amide trapping experiments and 2D 1H NMR. Significant protection from exchange occurs for about 25 backbone amides, the majority of which are located in regions of the protein that are helical in the native enzyme. By contrast, amides located in a second region of the native protein which contains a beta-sheet and one 3(10)-helix as well as a long loop show little protection. This pattern of protection resembles that found in the stable molten globule state of alpha-lactalbumin and in an early kinetic intermediate detected in the refolding of hen lysozyme.

Hydrogen exchange in native and denatured states of hen egg-white lysozyme

The hydrogen exchange kinetics of 68 individual amide protons in the native state of hen lysozyme have been measured at pH 7.5 and 30 degrees C by 2D NMR methods. These constitute the most protected subset of amides, with exchange half lives some 10(5)-10(7) times longer than anticipated from studies of small model peptides. The observed distribution of rates under these conditions can be rationalized to a large extent in terms of the hydrogen bonding of individual amides and their burial from bulk solvent. Exchange rates have also been measured in a reversibly denatured state of lysozyme; this was made possible under very mild conditions, pH 2.0 35 degrees C, by lowering the stability of the native state through selective cleavage of the Cys-6-Cys-127 disulfide cross-link (CM6-127 lysozyme). In this state the exchange rates for the majority of amides approach, within a factor of 5, the values anticipated from small model peptides. For a few amides, however, there is evidence for significant retardation (up to nearly 20-fold) relative to the predicted rates. The pattern of protection observed under these conditions does not reflect the behavior of the protein under strongly native conditions, suggesting that regions of native-like structure do not persist significantly in the denatured state of CM6-127 lysozyme. The pattern of exchange rates from the native protein at high temperature, pH 3.8 69 degrees C, resembles that of the acid-denatured state, suggesting that under these conditions the exchange kinetics are dominated by transient global unfolding. The rates of folding and unfolding under these conditions were determined independently by magnetization transfer NMR methods, enabling the intrinsic exchange rates from the denatured state to be deduced on the basis of this model, under conditions where the predominant equilibrium species is the native state. Again, in the case of most amides these rates showed only limited deviation from those predicted by a simple random coil model. This reinforces the view that these denatured states of lysozyme have little persistent residual order and contrasts with the behavior found for compact partially folded states of proteins, including an intermediate detected transiently during the refolding of hen lysozyme.

Dynamic NMR spectral analysis and protein folding: identification of a highly populated folding intermediate of rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein by 19F NMR

The folding of intestinal fatty-acid binding protein has been monitored by 19F NMR after incorporation of 6-fluorotryptophan into the protein. The two resonances resulting from the two tryptophans of this protein showed different dependencies on denaturant concentration. One of the resonances was in slow chemical exchange between two resonance frequencies, native and completely unfolded. The changes for this resonance occurred over a denaturant concentration range identical to that monitored by circular dichroism or fluorescence during unfolding. The other resonance continued to show changes at concentrations of denaturant well above that needed to complete the unfolding transition as monitored by optical techniques. Site directed mutagenesis showed that tryptophan-82 was the residue responsible for the unexpected behavior. We conclude, based on complete line-shape analysis, that there are significant concentrations of one or more intermediates in equilibrium with the native and unfolded forms. The structure of the intermediate(s) is more similar to the completely unfolded form of the protein than to the native structure, since little if any secondary structure is present. Further, these structure(s) persist at high denaturant concentrations and may represent local initiating sites in the folding of this beta-sheet protein.

Hydrogen exchange in Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551

Hydrogen exchange rates were measured or estimated for 75 amide protons in in ferrocytochrome c-551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (82 residues total) at neutral pH and 300 K. Rate constants span at least eight orders of magnitude. Rate constants or limiting estimates were determined by a combination of methods relying upon 1H-NMR spectroscopy, including the direct observation in one- or two-dimensional spectra of the decrease in proton intensity for samples dissolved in deuterium oxide, or, in a few favorable cases, saturation transfer from the solvent protic water. The heme ligand residues and the thioether bridge residues were slowly exchanging backbone amides, but the slowest exchanging backbone amides were found in two clusters. One was composed of Ile-48 and Lys-49 in the last turn of what is termed the 40's helix in the protein. The second was composed of Leu-74, Ala-75, Lys-76 and Val-78 in the C-terminal alpha helix.

Backbone dynamics of the Bacillus subtilis glucose permease IIA domain determined from 15N NMR relaxation measurements

The backbone dynamics of the uniformly 15N-labeled IIA domain of the glucose permease of Bacillus subtilis have been characterized using inverse-detected two-dimensional 1H-15N NMR spectroscopy. Longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) 15N relaxation time constants and steady-state (1H)-15N NOEs were measured, at a spectrometer proton frequency of 500 MHz, for 137 (91%) of the 151 protonated backbone nitrogens. These data were analyzed by using a model-free dynamics formalism to determine the generalized order parameter (S2), the effective correlation time for internal motions (tau e), and 15N exchange broadening contributions (Rex) for each residue, as well as the overall molecular rotational correlation time (tau m). The T1 and T2 values for most residues were in the ranges 0.45-0.55 and 0.11-0.15 s, respectively; however, a small number of residues exhibited significantly slower relaxation. Similarly, (1H)-15N NOE values for most residues were in the range 0.72-0.80, but a few residues had much smaller positive NOEs and some exhibited negative NOEs. The molecular rotational correlation time was 6.24 +/- 0.01 ns; most residues had order parameters in the range 0.75-0.90 and tau e values of less than ca. 25 ps. Residues found to be more mobile than the average were concentrated in three areas: the N-terminal residues (1-13), which were observed to be highly disordered; the loop from P25 to D41, the apex of which is situated adjacent to the active site and may have a role in binding to other proteins; and the region from A146 to S149. All mobile residues occurred in regions close to termini, in loops, or in irregular secondary structure.

Early hydrogen-bonding events in the folding reaction of ubiquitin

The formation of hydrogen-bonded structure in the folding reaction of ubiquitin, a small cytoplasmic protein with an extended beta-sheet and an alpha-helix surrounding a pronounced hydrophobic core, has been investigated by hydrogen-deuterium exchange labeling in conjunction with rapid mixing methods and two-dimensional NMR analysis. The time course of protection from exchange has been measured for 26 back-bone amide protons that form stable hydrogen bonds upon refolding and exchange slowly under native conditions. Amide protons in the beta-sheet and the alpha-helix, as well as protons involved in hydrogen bonds at the helix/sheet interface, become 80% protected in an initial 8-ms folding phase, indicating that the two elements of secondary structure form and associate in a common cooperative folding event. Somewhat slower protection rates for residues 59, 61, and 69 provide evidence for the subsequent stabilization of a surface loop. Most probes also exhibit two minor phases with time constants of about 100 ms and 10 s. Only two of the observed residues, Gln-41 and Arg-42, display significant slow folding phases, with amplitudes of 37% and 22%, respectively, which can be attributed to native-like folding intermediates containing cis peptide bonds for Pro-37 and/or Pro-38. Compared with other proteins studied by pulse labeling, including cytochrome c, ribonuclease, and barnase, the initial formation of hydrogen-bonded structure in ubiquitin occurs at a more rapid rate and slow-folding species are less prominent.

Hydrophobic clustering in nonnative states of a protein: interpretation of chemical shifts in NMR spectra of denatured states of lysozyme

Chemical shifts of resonances of specific protons in the 1H NMR spectrum of thermally denatured hen lysozyme have been determined by exchange correlation with assigned native state resonances in 2D NOESY spectra obtained under conditions where the two states are interconverting. There are subtle but widespread deviations of the measured shifts from the values which would be anticipated for a random coil; in the case of side chain protons these are virtually all net upfield shifts and it is shown that this may be the averaged effect of interactions with aromatic rings in a partially collapsed denatured state. In a very few cases, notably that of two sequential tryptophan residues, it is possible to interpret these effects in terms of specific, local interresidue interactions. Generally, however, there is no correlation with either native state shift perturbations or with sequence proximity to aromatic groups. Diminution of most of the residual shift perturbations on reduction of the disulfide cross-links confirms that they are not simply effects of residues adjacent in the sequence. Similar effects of chemical denaturants, with the disulfides intact, demonstrate that the shift perturbations reflect an enhanced tendency to side chain clustering in the thermally denatured state. The temperature dependences of the shift perturbations suggest that this clustering is noncooperative and is driven by small, favorable enthalpy changes. While the extent of conformational averaging is clearly much greater than that observed for a homologous protein, alpha-lactalbumin, in its partially folded "molten globule" state, the results clearly show that thermally denatured lysozyme differs substantially from a random coil, principally in that it is partially hydrophobically collapsed.

Conformational changes in proteins probed by hydrogen-exchange electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry

Hydrogen-exchange electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry is demonstrated to be an effective new method for probing conformational changes of proteins in solutions. The method is based on the mass spectrometric measurement of the extent of hydrogen/deuterium exchange that occurs in different protein conformers over defined periods of time. Results are presented in which hydrogen-exchange electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry is used to probe conformational changes in bovine ubiquitin induced by the addition of methanol to aqueous acidic solutions of the protein.

Chemical exchange in two dimensions in the 1H NMR assignment of cytochrome c

The important role played by chemical exchange in solving the proton assignment problem for oxidized and reduced horse cytochrome c is described. Some novel approaches for establishing oxidation-reduction exchange correlations in combinations of several two-dimensional spectra were used. Unambiguous chemical exchange correlations were established for 55 NH-C alpha H resonances and all the aromatic and side chain methyl resonances. Consistent although not fully unambiguous main chain proton correlations were observed for 47 of the remaining 49 residues. The many exchange correlations found serve to multiply cross-connect the two extensive, individually self-consistent networks of assignments found for the oxidized and reduced forms, and thus help to confirm both sets of assignments.

A three-disulphide derivative of hen lysozyme. Structure, dynamics and stability

A three-disulphide derivative of hen egg-white lysozyme was made by selective reduction and carboxymethylation of one of the four original disulphide bridges. N-Terminal sequencing and two-dimensional 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy revealed that the disulphide bridge linking cysteine residues 6 and 127 had been modified and that the three remaining disulphide bonds were native-like in nature. Analysis of COSY and NOESY spectra indicated that the three-disulphide lysozyme (CM6.127-lysozyme retains the same secondary and tertiary structure as its four-disulphide counterpart; its stability to pH and temperature is, however, dramatically decreased. N.m.r. spectroscopy was used to characterize the thermal folding and unfolding transition of CM6.127-lysozyme. Not only is the transition still a highly co-operative event, but the enthalpy change associated with folding and unfolding resembles that of intact lysozyme when their differences in thermal stability are taken into consideration. The significance of these results in terms of the folding process of lysozyme is discussed. By contrast with authentic lysozyme, CM6.127-lysozyme was found to exist in an unfolded state at pH 2 at room temperature. N.m.r. spectroscopy and c.d. were used to characterize this state. Unlike their homologous relative, alpha-lactalbumin, which exists in a partially folded molten globule state under these conditions, only residual non-native-like structure persists in the acid-unfolded state of CM6.127-lysozyme. These results indicate that the difference in folding behaviour of lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin cannot be accounted for simply by their differences in thermal stability.