1
|
The A39G FF domain folds on a volcano-shaped free energy surface via separate pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2115113118. [PMID: 34764225 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115113118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conformational dynamics play critical roles in protein folding, misfolding, function, misfunction, and aggregation. While detecting and studying the different conformational states populated by protein molecules on their free energy surfaces (FESs) remain a challenge, NMR spectroscopy has emerged as an invaluable experimental tool to explore the FES of a protein, as conformational dynamics can be probed at atomic resolution over a wide range of timescales. Here, we use chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) to detect "invisible" minor states on the energy landscape of the A39G mutant FF domain that exhibited "two-state" folding kinetics in traditional experiments. Although CEST has mostly been limited to studies of processes with rates between ∼5 to 300 s-1 involving sparse states with populations as low as ∼1%, we show that the line broadening that is often associated with minor state dips in CEST profiles can be exploited to inform on additional conformers, with lifetimes an order of magnitude shorter and populations close to 10-fold smaller than what typically is characterized. Our analysis of CEST profiles that exploits the minor state linewidths of the 71-residue A39G FF domain establishes a folding mechanism that can be described in terms of a four-state exchange process between interconverting states spanning over two orders of magnitude in timescale from ∼100 to ∼15,000 μs. A similar folding scheme is established for the wild-type domain as well. The study shows that the folding of this small domain proceeds through a pair of sparse, partially structured intermediates via two discrete pathways on a volcano-shaped FES.
Collapse
|
2
|
Resolving biomolecular motion and interactions by R2 and R1ρ relaxation dispersion NMR. Methods 2018; 148:28-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
|
3
|
Abstract
The measurement of R1ρ , the longitudinal relaxation rate constant in the rotating frame, is one of the few available methods to characterize the μs-ms functional dynamics of biomolecules. Here, we focus on 15N R1ρ experiments for protein NH groups. We present protocols for both on- and off-resonance 15N R1ρ measurements needed for relaxation dispersion studies, and describe the data analysis for extracting kinetic and thermodynamic parameters characterizing the motional processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Massi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Jeffrey W Peng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shukla D, Peck A, Pande VS. Conformational heterogeneity of the calmodulin binding interface. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10910. [PMID: 27040077 PMCID: PMC4822001 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous Ca(2+) sensor and a crucial signalling hub in many pathways aberrantly activated in disease. However, the mechanistic basis of its ability to bind diverse signalling molecules including G-protein-coupled receptors, ion channels and kinases remains poorly understood. Here we harness the high resolution of molecular dynamics simulations and the analytical power of Markov state models to dissect the molecular underpinnings of CaM binding diversity. Our computational model indicates that in the absence of Ca(2+), sub-states in the folded ensemble of CaM's C-terminal domain present chemically and sterically distinct topologies that may facilitate conformational selection. Furthermore, we find that local unfolding is off-pathway for the exchange process relevant for peptide binding, in contrast to prior hypotheses that unfolding might account for binding diversity. Finally, our model predicts a novel binding interface that is well-populated in the Ca(2+)-bound regime and, thus, a candidate for pharmacological intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- SIMBIOS NIH Center for Biomedical Computation, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Ariana Peck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Vijay S. Pande
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- SIMBIOS NIH Center for Biomedical Computation, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kukic P, Lundström P, Camilloni C, Evenäs J, Akke M, Vendruscolo M. Structural Insights into the Calcium-Mediated Allosteric Transition in the C-Terminal Domain of Calmodulin from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements. Biochemistry 2015; 55:19-28. [PMID: 26618792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Calmodulin is a two-domain signaling protein that becomes activated upon binding cooperatively two pairs of calcium ions, leading to large-scale conformational changes that expose its binding site. Despite significant advances in understanding the structural biology of calmodulin functions, the mechanistic details of the conformational transition between closed and open states have remained unclear. To investigate this transition, we used a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on the Ca(2+)-saturated E140Q C-terminal domain variant. Using chemical shift restraints in replica-averaged metadynamics simulations, we obtained a high-resolution structural ensemble consisting of two conformational states and validated such an ensemble against three independent experimental data sets, namely, interproton nuclear Overhauser enhancements, (15)N order parameters, and chemical shift differences between the exchanging states. Through a detailed analysis of this structural ensemble and of the corresponding statistical weights, we characterized a calcium-mediated conformational transition whereby the coordination of Ca(2+) by just one oxygen of the bidentate ligand E140 triggers a concerted movement of the two EF-hands that exposes the target binding site. This analysis provides atomistic insights into a possible Ca(2+)-mediated activation mechanism of calmodulin that cannot be achieved from static structures alone or from ensemble NMR measurements of the transition between conformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Predrag Kukic
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Patrik Lundström
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University , SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carlo Camilloni
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Johan Evenäs
- Red Glead Discovery , Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mikael Akke
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University , SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Myriad biological processes proceed through states that defy characterization by conventional atomic-resolution structural biological methods. The invisibility of these 'dark' states can arise from their transient nature, low equilibrium population, large molecular weight, and/or heterogeneity. Although they are invisible, these dark states underlie a range of processes, acting as encounter complexes between proteins and as intermediates in protein folding and aggregation. New methods have made these states accessible to high-resolution analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, as long as the dark state is in dynamic equilibrium with an NMR-visible species. These methods - paramagnetic NMR, relaxation dispersion, saturation transfer, lifetime line broadening, and hydrogen exchange - allow the exploration of otherwise invisible states in exchange with a visible species over a range of timescales, each taking advantage of some unique property of the dark state to amplify its effect on a particular NMR observable. In this review, we introduce these methods and explore two specific techniques - paramagnetic relaxation enhancement and dark state exchange saturation transfer - in greater detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Anthis
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, USA
| | - G. Marius Clore
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Weininger U, Brath U, Modig K, Teilum K, Akke M. Off-resonance rotating-frame relaxation dispersion experiment for 13C in aromatic side chains using L-optimized TROSY-selection. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2014; 59:23-9. [PMID: 24706175 PMCID: PMC4003406 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-014-9826-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein dynamics on the microsecond-millisecond time scales often play a critical role in biological function. NMR relaxation dispersion experiments are powerful approaches for investigating biologically relevant dynamics with site-specific resolution, as shown by a growing number of publications on enzyme catalysis, protein folding, ligand binding, and allostery. To date, the majority of studies has probed the backbone amides or side-chain methyl groups, while experiments targeting other sites have been used more sparingly. Aromatic side chains are useful probes of protein dynamics, because they are over-represented in protein binding interfaces, have important catalytic roles in enzymes, and form a sizable part of the protein interior. Here we present an off-resonance R 1ρ experiment for measuring microsecond to millisecond conformational exchange of aromatic side chains in selectively (13)C labeled proteins by means of longitudinal- and transverse-relaxation optimization. Using selective excitation and inversion of the narrow component of the (13)C doublet, the experiment achieves significant sensitivity enhancement in terms of both signal intensity and the fractional contribution from exchange to transverse relaxation; additional signal enhancement is achieved by optimizing the longitudinal relaxation recovery of the covalently attached (1)H spins. We validated the L-TROSY-selected R 1ρ experiment by measuring exchange parameters for Y23 in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor at a temperature of 328 K, where the ring flip is in the fast exchange regime with a mean waiting time between flips of 320 μs. The determined chemical shift difference matches perfectly with that measured from the NMR spectrum at lower temperatures, where separate peaks are observed for the two sites. We further show that potentially complicating effects of strong scalar coupling between protons (Weininger et al. in J Phys Chem B 117: 9241-9247, 2013b) can be accounted for using a simple expression, and provide recommendations for data acquisition when the studied system exhibits this behavior. The present method extends the repertoire of relaxation methods tailored for aromatic side chains by enabling studies of faster processes and improved control over artifacts due to strong coupling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Weininger
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Brath
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
- Present Address: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Kristofer Modig
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Kaare Teilum
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikael Akke
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Weininger U, Blissing AT, Hennig J, Ahlner A, Liu Z, Vogel HJ, Akke M, Lundström P. Protein conformational exchange measured by 1H R1ρ relaxation dispersion of methyl groups. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2013; 57:47-55. [PMID: 23904100 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-013-9764-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Activated dynamics plays a central role in protein function, where transitions between distinct conformations often underlie the switching between active and inactive states. The characteristic time scales of these transitions typically fall in the microsecond to millisecond range, which is amenable to investigations by NMR relaxation dispersion experiments. Processes at the faster end of this range are more challenging to study, because higher RF field strengths are required to achieve refocusing of the exchanging magnetization. Here we describe a rotating-frame relaxation dispersion experiment for (1)H spins in methyl (13)CHD2 groups, which improves the characterization of fast exchange processes. The influence of (1)H-(1)H rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effects (ROE) is shown to be negligible, based on a comparison of R 1ρ relaxation data acquired with tilt angles of 90° and 35°, in which the ROE is maximal and minimal, respectively, and on samples containing different (1)H densities surrounding the monitored methyl groups. The method was applied to ubiquitin and the apo form of calmodulin. We find that ubiquitin does not exhibit any (1)H relaxation dispersion of its methyl groups at 10 or 25 °C. By contrast, calmodulin shows significant conformational exchange of the methionine methyl groups in its C-terminal domain, as previously demonstrated by (1)H and (13)C CPMG experiments. The present R 1ρ experiment extends the relaxation dispersion profile towards higher refocusing frequencies, which improves the definition of the exchange correlation time, compared to previous results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Weininger
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
NMR paves the way for atomic level descriptions of sparsely populated, transiently formed biomolecular conformers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:12867-74. [PMID: 23868852 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1305688110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of dynamics to biomolecular function is becoming increasingly clear. A description of the structure-function relationship must, therefore, include the role of motion, requiring a shift in paradigm from focus on a single static 3D picture to one where a given biomolecule is considered in terms of an ensemble of interconverting conformers, each with potentially diverse activities. In this Perspective, we describe how recent developments in solution NMR spectroscopy facilitate atomic resolution studies of sparsely populated, transiently formed biomolecular conformations that exchange with the native state. Examples of how this methodology is applied to protein folding and misfolding, ligand binding, and molecular recognition are provided as a means of illustrating both the power of the new techniques and the significant roles that conformationally excited protein states play in biology.
Collapse
|
10
|
Lundström P, Ahlner A, Blissing AT. Isotope labeling methods for relaxation measurements. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 992:63-82. [PMID: 23076579 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4954-2_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear magnetic spin relaxation has emerged as a powerful technique for probing molecular dynamics. Not only is it possible to use it for determination of time constant(s) for molecular reorientation but it can also be used to characterize internal motions on time scales from picoseconds to seconds. Traditionally, uniformly (15)N labeled samples have been used for these experiments but it is clear that this limits the applications. For instance, sensitivity for large systems is dramatically increased if dynamics is probed at methyl groups and structural characterization of low-populated states requires measurements on (13)Cα, (13)Cβ or (13)CO or (1)Hα. Unfortunately, homonuclear scalar couplings may lead to artifacts in the latter types of experiments and selective isotopic labeling schemes that only label the desired position are necessary. Both selective and uniform labeling schemes for measurements of relaxation rates for a large number of positions in proteins are discussed in this chapter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Lundström
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Weininger U, Liu Z, McIntyre DD, Vogel HJ, Akke M. Specific 12CβD(2)12CγD(2)S13CεHD(2) isotopomer labeling of methionine to characterize protein dynamics by 1H and 13C NMR relaxation dispersion. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:18562-5. [PMID: 23106551 PMCID: PMC3497853 DOI: 10.1021/ja309294u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Protein dynamics on the micro- to millisecond time scale
is increasingly
found to be critical for biological function, as demonstrated by numerous
NMR relaxation dispersion studies. Methyl groups are excellent probes
of protein interactions and dynamics because of their favorable NMR
relaxation properties, which lead to sharp signals in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Out of the six different methyl-bearing
amino acid residue types in proteins, methionine plays a special role
because of its extensive side-chain flexibility and the high polarizability
of the sulfur atom. Methionine is over-represented in many protein–protein
recognition sites, making the methyl group of this residue type an
important probe of the relationships among dynamics, interactions,
and biological function. Here we present a straightforward method
to label methionine residues with specific 13CHD2 methyl isotopomers against a deuterated background. The resulting
protein samples yield NMR spectra with improved sensitivity due to
the essentially 100% population of the desired 13CHD2 methyl isotopomer, which is ideal for 1H and 13C spin relaxation experiments to investigate protein dynamics
in general and conformational exchange in particular. We demonstrate
the approach by measuring 1H and 13C CPMG relaxation
dispersion for the nine methionines in calcium-free calmodulin (apo-CaM).
The results show that the C-terminal domain, but not the N-terminal
domain, of apo-CaM undergoes fast exchange between the ground state
and a high-energy state. Since target proteins are known to bind specifically
to the C-terminal domain of apo-CaM, we speculate that the high-energy
state might be involved in target binding through conformational selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Weininger
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Weininger U, Respondek M, Akke M. Conformational exchange of aromatic side chains characterized by L-optimized TROSY-selected ¹³C CPMG relaxation dispersion. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2012; 54:9-14. [PMID: 22833056 PMCID: PMC3427480 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-012-9656-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Protein dynamics on the millisecond time scale commonly reflect conformational transitions between distinct functional states. NMR relaxation dispersion experiments have provided important insights into biologically relevant dynamics with site-specific resolution, primarily targeting the protein backbone and methyl-bearing side chains. Aromatic side chains represent attractive probes of protein dynamics because they are over-represented in protein binding interfaces, play critical roles in enzyme catalysis, and form an important part of the core. Here we introduce a method to characterize millisecond conformational exchange of aromatic side chains in selectively (13)C labeled proteins by means of longitudinal- and transverse-relaxation optimized CPMG relaxation dispersion. By monitoring (13)C relaxation in a spin-state selective manner, significant sensitivity enhancement can be achieved in terms of both signal intensity and the relative exchange contribution to transverse relaxation. Further signal enhancement results from optimizing the longitudinal relaxation recovery of the covalently attached (1)H spins. We validated the L-TROSY-CPMG experiment by measuring fast folding-unfolding kinetics of the small protein CspB under native conditions. The determined unfolding rate matches perfectly with previous results from stopped-flow kinetics. The CPMG-derived chemical shift differences between the folded and unfolded states are in excellent agreement with those obtained by urea-dependent chemical shift analysis. The present method enables characterization of conformational exchange involving aromatic side chains and should serve as a valuable complement to methods developed for other types of protein side chains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Weininger
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Michal Respondek
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mikael Akke
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tripathi S, Portman JJ. Conformational flexibility and the mechanisms of allosteric transitions in topologically similar proteins. J Chem Phys 2011; 135:075104. [PMID: 21861587 DOI: 10.1063/1.3625636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Conformational flexibility plays a central role in allosteric transition of proteins. In this paper, we extend the analysis of our previous study [S. Tripathi and J. J. Portman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 2104 (2009)] to investigate how relatively minor structural changes of the meta-stable states can significantly influence the conformational flexibility and allosteric transition mechanism. We use the allosteric transitions of the domains of calmodulin as an example system to highlight the relationship between the transition mechanism and the inter-residue contacts present in the meta-stable states. In particular, we focus on the origin of transient local unfolding (cracking), a mechanism that can lower free energy barriers of allosteric transitions, in terms of the inter-residue contacts of the meta-stable states and the pattern of local strain that develops during the transition. We find that the magnitude of the local strain in the protein is not the sole factor determining whether a region will ultimately crack during the transition. These results emphasize that the residue interactions found exclusively in one of the two meta-stable states is the key in understanding the mechanism of allosteric conformational change.
Collapse
|
14
|
Price ES, Aleksiejew M, Johnson CK. FRET-FCS detection of intralobe dynamics in calmodulin. J Phys Chem B 2011; 115:9320-6. [PMID: 21688835 DOI: 10.1021/jp203743m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be coupled with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to detect intramolecular dynamics of proteins on the microsecond time scale. Here we describe application of FRET-FCS to detect fluctuations within the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of the Ca(2+)-signaling protein calmodulin. Intramolecular fluctuations were resolved by global fitting of the two fluorescence autocorrelation functions (green-green and red-red) together with the two cross-correlation functions (green-red and red-green). To match the Förster radius for FRET to the dimensions of the N-terminal and C-terminal domains, a near-infrared acceptor fluorophore (Atto 740) was coupled with a green-emitting donor (Alexa Fluor 488). Fluctuations were detected in both domains on the time scale of 30 to 40 μs. In the N-terminal domain, the amplitude of the fluctuations was dependent on occupancy of Ca(2+) binding sites. A high amplitude of dynamics in apo-calmodulin (in the absence of Ca(2+)) was nearly abolished at a high Ca(2+) concentration. For the C-terminal domain, the dynamic amplitude changed little with Ca(2+) concentration. The Ca(2+) dependence of dynamics for the N-terminal domain suggests that the fluctuations detected by FCS in the N-terminal domain are coupled to the opening and closing of the EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding loops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Shane Price
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dominguez C, Schubert M, Duss O, Ravindranathan S, Allain FHT. Structure determination and dynamics of protein-RNA complexes by NMR spectroscopy. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2011; 58:1-61. [PMID: 21241883 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2010.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2010] [Accepted: 04/24/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Dominguez
- Institute for Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Namanja AT, Wang XJ, Xu B, Mercedes-Camacho AY, Wilson BD, Wilson KA, Etzkorn FA, Peng JW. Toward flexibility-activity relationships by NMR spectroscopy: dynamics of Pin1 ligands. J Am Chem Soc 2010; 132:5607-9. [PMID: 20356313 PMCID: PMC3056322 DOI: 10.1021/ja9096779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Drug design involves iterative ligand modifications. For flexible ligands, these modifications often entail restricting conformational flexibility. However, defining optimal restriction strategies can be challenging if the relationship between ligand flexibility and biological activity is unclear. Here, we describe an approach for ligand flexibility-activity studies using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spin relaxation. Specifically, we use (13)C relaxation dispersion measurements to compare site-specific changes in ligand flexibility for a series of related ligands that bind a common macromolecular receptor. The flexibility changes reflect conformational reorganization resulting from formation of the receptor-ligand complex. We demonstrate this approach on three structurally similar but flexibly differentiated ligands of human Pin1, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase. The approach is able to map the ligand dynamics relevant for activity and expose changes in those dynamics caused by conformational locking. Thus, NMR flexibility-activity studies can provide information to guide strategic ligand rigidification. As such, they help establish an experimental basis for developing flexibility-activity relationships (FAR) to complement traditional structure-activity relationships (SAR) in molecular design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Namanja
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Xiaodong J. Wang
- Virginia Tech, Department of Chemistry, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - Bailing Xu
- Virginia Tech, Department of Chemistry, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | | | - Brian D. Wilson
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | - Kimberly A. Wilson
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| | | | - Jeffrey W. Peng
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Quinn CM, McDermott AE. Monitoring conformational dynamics with solid-state R 1rho experiments. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2009; 45:5-8. [PMID: 19636799 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-009-9346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2009] [Accepted: 06/30/2009] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
A new application of solid-state rotating frame (R(1rho)) relaxation experiments to observe conformational dynamics is presented. Studies on a model compound, dimethyl sulfone (DMS), show that R(1rho) relaxation due to reorientation of a chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensor undergoing chemical exchange can be used to monitor slow-to-intermediate timescale conformational exchange processes. Control experiments used d ( 6 ) -DMS and alanine to confirm that the technique is monitoring reorientation of the CSA tensor rather than dipolar interactions or methyl group rotation. The application of this method to proteins could represent a new site-specific probe of conformational dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin M Quinn
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Brath U, Akke M. Differential responses of the backbone and side-chain conformational dynamics in FKBP12 upon binding the transition-state analog FK506: implications for transition-state stabilization and target protein recognition. J Mol Biol 2009; 387:233-44. [PMID: 19361439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2008] [Revised: 01/12/2009] [Accepted: 01/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
FKBP12 serves a dual role as a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase and as a modulator of several cell signaling pathways. The macrolide FK506 is a transition-state analog of the catalyzed reaction and displaces FKBP12 from its natural target proteins. We compared the conformational exchange dynamics of the backbone and methyl-bearing side chains of FKBP12 in the free and FK506-bound states using NMR relaxation-dispersion experiments. Our results show that the free enzyme exchanges between the ground state and an excited state that resembles the ligand-bound state or Michaelis complex. In FK506-bound FKBP12, the backbone is confined to a single conformation, while conformational exchange prevails for many methyl groups. The residual side-chain dynamics in the transition-state analog-bound state suggests that the transition-state ensemble involves multiple conformations, a finding that challenges the long-standing concept of conformational restriction in the transition-state complex. Furthermore, exchange between alternative conformations is observed in the bound state for an extended network of methyl groups that includes locations remote from the active site. Several of these locations are known to be important for interactions with cellular target proteins, including calcineurin and the ryanodine receptor, suggesting that the conformational heterogeneity might play a role in the promiscuous binding of FKBP12 to different targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Brath
- Division of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zintsmaster JS, Wilson BD, Peng JW. Dynamics of ligand binding from 13C NMR relaxation dispersion at natural abundance. J Am Chem Soc 2008; 130:14060-1. [PMID: 18834120 DOI: 10.1021/ja805839y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We show that Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) 13Calpha NMR relaxation dispersion measurements are a viable means for profiling mus-ms ligand dynamics involved in receptor binding. Critically, the dispersion is at natural 13C abundance; this matches typical pharmaceutical research settings in which ligand isotope-labeling is often impractical. The dispersion reveals ligand 13Calpha nuclei that experience mus-ms modulation of their chemical shifts due to binding. 13Calpha shifts are dominated by local torsion angles , psi, chi1; hence, these experiments identify flexible torsion angles that may assist complex formation. Since the experiments detect the ligand, they are viable even in the absence of a receptor structure. The mus-ms dynamic information gained helps establish flexibility-activity relationships. We apply these experiments to study the binding of a phospho-peptide substrate ligand to the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S Zintsmaster
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Palmer AG, Massi F. Characterization of the dynamics of biomacromolecules using rotating-frame spin relaxation NMR spectroscopy. Chem Rev 2007; 106:1700-19. [PMID: 16683750 DOI: 10.1021/cr0404287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arthur G Palmer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
van Ingen H, Vuister GW, Wijmenga S, Tessari M. CEESY: characterizing the conformation of unobservable protein states. J Am Chem Soc 2006; 128:3856-7. [PMID: 16551062 DOI: 10.1021/ja0568749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein conformations that are only marginally populated often play important roles as intermediate states in many processes such as ligand binding, enzyme catalysis, allostery, and protein folding. An NMR method is presented that can give valuable information about the structure of these "excited states" by measuring the relative position of exchanging excited- and ground-state resonances using a single 2D spectrum. This new approach can be applied to any nucleus, which will facilitate a complete structural characterization of these states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo van Ingen
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Teilum K, Brath U, Lundström P, Akke M. Biosynthetic 13C labeling of aromatic side chains in proteins for NMR relaxation measurements. J Am Chem Soc 2006; 128:2506-7. [PMID: 16492013 DOI: 10.1021/ja055660o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Site-specific 13C labeling offers a desirable means of eliminating unwanted relaxation pathways and coherent magnetization transfer in NMR relaxation experiments. Here we use [1-13C]-glucose as the sole carbon source in the growth media for protein overexpression in Escherichia coli. The approach results in specific incorporation of 13C at isolated positions in the side chains of aromatic amino acids, which greatly simplifies the measurements and interpretation of 13C relaxation rates in these spin systems. The method is well suited for characterization of chemical exchange by CPMG or spin-lock relaxation methods. We validated the method by acquiring 13C rotating-frame relaxation dispersion data on the E140Q mutant of the C-terminal domain of calmodulin, which reveal conformational exchange dynamics with a time constant of 71 mus for Y138.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaare Teilum
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Lund University, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lundström P, Mulder FAA, Akke M. Correlated dynamics of consecutive residues reveal transient and cooperative unfolding of secondary structure in proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:16984-9. [PMID: 16278300 PMCID: PMC1287973 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0504361102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear spin relaxation is a powerful method for studying molecular dynamics at atomic resolution. Recent methods development in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy has enabled detailed investigations of molecular dynamics that are critical for biological function, with prominent examples addressing allostery, enzyme catalysis, and protein folding. Dynamic processes with similar correlation times are often detected in multiple locations of the molecule, raising the question of whether the underlying motions are correlated (corresponding to concerted fluctuations involving many atoms distributed across extended regions of the molecule) or uncorrelated (corresponding to independent fluctuations involving few atoms in localized regions). Here, we have used (13)C(alpha)(i - 1)/(13)C(alpha)(i) differential multiple-quantum spin relaxation to provide direct evidence for correlated dynamics of consecutive amino acid residues in the protein sequence. By monitoring overlapping pairs of residues (i - 1 and i, i and i + 1, etc.), we identified correlated motions that extend through continuous segments of the sequence. We detected significant correlated conformational transitions in the native state of the E140Q mutant of the calmodulin C-terminal domain. Previous work has shown that this domain exchanges between two major conformational states that resemble the functionally relevant open and closed states of the WT protein, with a mean correlation time of approximately 20 micros. The present results reveal that an entire alpha-helix undergoes partial unraveling in a transient and cooperative manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Lundström
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | | | | |
Collapse
|