Structural Studies of Self-Assembled Subviral Particles: Combining Cell-Free Expression with 110 kHz MAS NMR Spectroscopy

Viral membrane proteins are prime targets in combatting infection. Still, the determination of their structure remains a challenge, both with respect to sample preparation and the need for structural methods allowing for analysis in a native-like lipid environment. Cell-free protein synthesis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy are promising approaches in this context, the former with respect to its great potential in the native expression of complex proteins, and the latter for the analysis of membrane proteins in lipids. Herein, we show that milligram amounts of the small envelope protein of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) can be produced by cell-free expression, and that the protein self-assembles into subviral particles. Proton-detected 2D NMR spectra recorded at a magic-angle-spinning frequency of 110 kHz on <500 μg protein show a number of isolated peaks with line widths comparable to those of model membrane proteins, paving the way for structural studies of this protein that is homologous to a potential drug target in HBV infection.

Intermolecular Interactions and Protein Dynamics by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Understanding the dynamics of interacting proteins is a crucial step toward describing many biophysical processes. Here we investigate the backbone dynamics for protein GB1 in two different assemblies: crystalline GB1 and the precipitated GB1-antibody complex with a molecular weight of more than 300 kDa. We perform these measurements on samples containing as little as eight nanomoles of GB1. From measurements of site-specific 15N relaxation rates including relaxation dispersion we obtain snapshots of dynamics spanning nine orders of magnitude in terms of the time scale. A comparison of measurements for GB1 in either environment reveals that while many of the dynamic features of the protein are conserved between them (in particular for the fast picosecond-nanosecond motions), much greater differences occur for slow motions with motions in the >500 ns range being more prevalent in the complex. The data suggest that GB1 can potentially undergo a small-amplitude overall anisotropic motion sampling the interaction interface in the complex.

Intermolecular Interactions and Protein Dynamics by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Understanding the dynamics of interacting proteins is a crucial step toward describing many biophysical processes. Here we investigate the backbone dynamics for protein GB1 in two different assemblies: crystalline GB1 and the precipitated GB1-antibody complex with a molecular weight of more than 300 kDa. We perform these measurements on samples containing as little as eight nanomoles of GB1. From measurements of site-specific (15) N relaxation rates including relaxation dispersion we obtain snapshots of dynamics spanning nine orders of magnitude in terms of the time scale. A comparison of measurements for GB1 in either environment reveals that while many of the dynamic features of the protein are conserved between them (in particular for the fast picosecond-nanosecond motions), much greater differences occur for slow motions with motions in the >500 ns range being more prevalent in the complex. The data suggest that GB1 can potentially undergo a small-amplitude overall anisotropic motion sampling the interaction interface in the complex.

Differences in Dynamics between Crosslinked and Non-Crosslinked Hyaluronates Measured by using Fast Field-Cycling Relaxometry

The dynamic properties of water molecules in gels containing linear and crosslinked hyaluronic acid polymers are investigated by using an integrated approach that includes relaxometry, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. A model-free analysis of field-dependent nuclear relaxation is applied to obtain information on mobility and the population of different pools of water molecules in the gels. Differences between linear and crosslinked hyaluronic acid polymers are observed, indicating that crosslinking increases both the fraction and the correlation time of water molecules with slow dynamics.

Visualizing the chain-flipping mechanism in fatty-acid biosynthesis

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) from fatty acid synthases sequesters elongating products within its hydrophobic core, but this dynamic mechanism remains poorly understood. We exploited solvatochromic pantetheine probes attached to ACP that fluoresce when sequestered. The addition of a catalytic partner lures the cargo out of the ACP and into the active site of the enzyme, thus enhancing fluorescence to reveal the elusive chain-flipping mechanism. This activity was confirmed by the use of a dual solvatochromic cross-linking probe and solution-phase NMR spectroscopy. The chain-flipping mechanism was visualized by single-molecule fluorescence techniques, thus demonstrating specificity between the Escherichia coli ACP and its ketoacyl synthase catalytic partner KASII.