Fractal dimension of an intrinsically disordered protein: small-angle X-ray scattering and computational study of the bacteriophage λ N protein

High-moisture extrusion of curdlan: Texture and structure

High-moisture extrusion is a promising thermomechanical technology extensively employed in manufacturing fibrous meat analogues from plant-based proteins, garnering considerable research attention. However, polysaccharide-based extrusion has been rarely explored. The present study investigates the effects of varying extruder barrel temperatures (130 °C-200 °C) on the texture and structure of curdlan extrudates, and highlights the formation mechanism. Results showed that the single chain of curdlan aggregates to form triple-helix chains upon extrusion, consequently enhancing the crystallinity, particularly at 170 °C. The hardness, chewiness, and mechanical properties improved with increasing barrel temperature. Moreover, barrel temperatures affected the macrostructure, the extrudates maintained intact morphologies except at 160 °C due to the melting of curdlan gel as confirmed by the differential scanning calorimetry thermogram. Microstructural analysis revealed that curdlan extrudates transited through three phases: original gel (130 °C, 140 °C, and 150 °C), transition state (160 °C), and regenerated gel (170 °C, 180 °C, 190 °C, and 200 °C). The steady state of regenerated gel (170 °C) exhibited higher crystallinity and smaller fractal dimension, resulting in a more compact and crosslinked gel network. This study elucidates the structure transition of curdlan gel at extremely high temperatures, offering valuable technical insights for developing theories and methods with respect to polysaccharide-based extrusion that may find applications in food-related fields.

Biophysical and Integrative Characterization of Protein Intrinsic Disorder as a Prime Target for Drug Discovery

Protein intrinsic disorder is increasingly recognized for its biological and disease-driven functions. However, it represents significant challenges for biophysical studies due to its high conformational flexibility. In addressing these challenges, we highlight the complementary and distinct capabilities of a range of experimental and computational methods and further describe integrative strategies available for combining these techniques. Integrative biophysics methods provide valuable insights into the sequence–structure–function relationship of disordered proteins, setting the stage for protein intrinsic disorder to become a promising target for drug discovery. Finally, we briefly summarize recent advances in the development of new small molecule inhibitors targeting the disordered N-terminal domains of three vital transcription factors.

Effects of temperature and ionic strength on the microscopic structure and dynamics of egg white gels

We investigate the thermal gelation of egg white proteins at different temperatures with varying salt concentrations using x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy in the geometry of ultra-small angle x-ray scattering. Temperature-dependent structural investigation suggests a faster network formation with increasing temperature, and the gel adopts a more compact network, which is inconsistent with the conventional understanding of thermal aggregation. The resulting gel network shows a fractal dimension δ, ranging from 1.5 to 2.2. The values of δ display a non-monotonic behavior with increasing amount of salt. The corresponding dynamics in the q range of 0.002-0.1 nm^-1 is observable after major change of the gel structure. The extracted relaxation time exhibits a two-step power law growth in dynamics as a function of waiting time. In the first regime, the dynamics is associated with structural growth, whereas the second regime is associated with the aging of the gel, which is directly linked with its compactness, as quantified by the fractal dimension. The gel dynamics is characterized by a compressed exponential relaxation with a ballistic-type of motion. The addition of salt gradually makes the early stage dynamics faster. Both gelation kinetics and microscopic dynamics show that the activation energy barrier in the system systematically decreases with increasing salt concentration.

Self-Diffusive Properties of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein Histatin 5 and the Impact of Crowding Thereon: A Combined Neutron Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are proteins that, in comparison with globular/structured proteins, lack a distinct tertiary structure. Here, we use the model IDP, Histatin 5, for studying its dynamical properties under self-crowding conditions with quasi-elastic neutron scattering in combination with full atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The aim is to determine the effects of crowding on the center-of-mass diffusion as well as the internal diffusive behavior. The diffusion was found to decrease significantly, which we hypothesize can be attributed to some degree of aggregation at higher protein concentrations, (≥100 mg/mL), as indicated by recent small-angle X-ray scattering studies. Temperature effects are also considered and found to, largely, follow Stokes–Einstein behavior. Simple geometric considerations fail to accurately predict the rates of diffusion, while simulations show semiquantitative agreement with experiments, dependent on assumptions of the ratio between translational and rotational diffusion. A scaling law that previously was found to successfully describe the behavior of globular proteins was found to be inadequate for the IDP, Histatin 5. Analysis of the MD simulations show that the width of the distribution with respect to diffusion is not a simplistic mirroring of the distribution of radius of gyration, hence, displaying the particular features of IDPs that need to be accounted for.

Beta turn propensity and a model polymer scaling exponent identify intrinsically disordered phase-separating proteins

The complex cellular milieu can spontaneously demix, or phase separate, in a process controlled in part by intrinsically disordered (ID) proteins. A protein's propensity to phase separate is thought to be driven by a preference for protein-protein over protein-solvent interactions. The hydrodynamic size of monomeric proteins, as quantified by the polymer scaling exponent (v), is driven by a similar balance. We hypothesized that mean v, as predicted by protein sequence, would be smaller for proteins with a strong propensity to phase separate. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed protein databases containing subsets of proteins that are folded, disordered, or disordered and known to spontaneously phase separate. We find that the phase-separating disordered proteins, on average, had lower calculated values of v compared with their non-phase-separating counterparts. Moreover, these proteins had a higher sequence-predicted propensity for β-turns. Using a simple, surface area-based model, we propose a physical mechanism for this difference: transient β-turn structures reduce the desolvation penalty of forming a protein-rich phase and increase exposure of atoms involved in π/sp2 valence electron interactions. By this mechanism, β-turns could act as energetically favored nucleation points, which may explain the increased propensity for turns in ID regions (IDRs) utilized biologically for phase separation. Phase-separating IDRs, non-phase-separating IDRs, and folded regions could be distinguished by combining v and β-turn propensity. Finally, we propose a new algorithm, ParSe (partition sequence), for predicting phase-separating protein regions, and which is able to accurately identify folded, disordered, and phase-separating protein regions based on the primary sequence.

Kinetics of Network Formation and Heterogeneous Dynamics of an Egg White Gel Revealed by Coherent X-Ray Scattering

The kinetics of heat-induced gelation and the microscopic dynamics of a hen egg white gel are probed using x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy along with ultrasmall-angle x-ray scattering. The kinetics of structural growth reveals a reaction-limited aggregation process with a gel fractal dimension of ≈2 and an average network mesh size of ca. 400 nm. The dynamics probed at these length scales reveals an exponential growth of the characteristic relaxation times followed by an intriguing steady state in combination with a compressed exponential correlation function and a temporal heterogeneity. The degree of heterogeneity increases with decreasing length scale. We discuss our results in the broader context of experiments and models describing attractive colloidal gels.

The Aggregation of αB-Crystallin under Crowding Conditions Is Prevented by αA-Crystallin: Implications for α-Crystallin Stability and Lens Transparency

One of the most crowded biological environments is the eye lens which contains a high concentration of crystallin proteins. The molecular chaperones αB-crystallin (αBc) with its lens partner αA-crystallin (αAc) prevent deleterious crystallin aggregation and cataract formation. However, some forms of cataract are associated with structural alteration and dysfunction of αBc. While many studies have investigated the structure and function of αBc under dilute in vitro conditions, the effect of crowding on these aspects is not well understood despite its in vivo relevance. The structure and chaperone ability of αBc under conditions that mimic the crowded lens environment were investigated using the polysaccharide Ficoll 400 and bovine γ-crystallin as crowding agents and a variety of biophysical methods, principally contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering. Under crowding conditions, αBc unfolds, increases its size/oligomeric state, decreases its thermal stability and chaperone ability, and forms kinetically distinct amorphous and fibrillar aggregates. However, the presence of αAc stabilizes αBc against aggregation. These observations provide a rationale, at the molecular level, for the aggregation of αBc in the crowded lens, a process that exhibits structural and functional similarities to the aggregation of cataract-associated αBc mutants R120G and D109A under dilute conditions. Strategies that maintain or restore αBc stability, as αAc does, may provide therapeutic avenues for the treatment of cataract.

Glycation from α-dicarbonyl compounds has different effects on the heat-induced aggregation of bovine serum albumin and β-casein

α-Dicarbonyl compounds are generated in large amounts during heat treatment in food production. This work compared the influence of glycation by α-dicarbonyl on the hydrothermal aggregation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and of β-casein (β-CN). Glycation by α-dicarbonyl compounds was found to be more efficient than glycation by glucose in reducing the free amino groups, surface hydrophobicity and isoelectric point of BSA, thus greatly inhibited the hydrothermal aggregation of BSA. In addition, glycation by α-dicarbonyl greatly transformed the rigid BSA aggregates into flexible structures, based on analysis by fluorescence spectrum, transmission electron microscope and small-angle X-ray scattering. In contrast, both the aggregation process and aggregates conformation of β-CN were found to be minimally affected by glycation, possibly due to the intrinsic disorder of β-CN. This work highlights the substantial influences of α-dicarbonyl on dietary proteins during heat treatment depending on the protein structural characteristics.

Physical Chemistry of the Protein Backbone: Enabling the Mechanisms of Intrinsic Protein Disorder

Over the last two decades it has become clear that well-defined structure is not a requisite for proteins to properly function. Rather, spectra of functionally competent, structurally disordered states have been uncovered requiring canonical paradigms in molecular biology to be revisited or reimagined. It is enticing and oftentimes practical to divide the proteome into structured and unstructured, or disordered, proteins. While function, composition, and structural properties largely differ, these two classes of protein are built upon the same scaffold, namely, the protein backbone. The versatile physicochemical properties of the protein backbone must accommodate structural disorder, order, and transitions between these states. In this review, we survey these properties through the conceptual lenses of solubility and conformational populations and in the context of protein-disorder mediated phenomena (e.g., phase separation, order-disorder transitions, allostery). Particular attention is paid to the results of computational studies, which, through thermodynamic decomposition and dissection of molecular interactions, can provide valuable mechanistic insight and testable hypotheses to guide further solution experiments. Lastly, we discuss changes in the dynamics of side chains and order-disorder transitions of the protein backbone as two modes or realizations of "entropic reservoirs" capable of tuning coupled thermodynamic processes.

Intrinsically disordered proteins of viruses: Involvement in the mechanism of cell regulation and pathogenesis

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) possess the property of inherent flexibility and can be distinguished from other proteins in terms of lack of any fixed structure. Such dynamic behavior of IDPs earned the name "Dancing Proteins." The exploration of these dancing proteins in viruses has just started and crucial details such as correlation of rapid evolution, high rate of mutation and accumulation of disordered contents in viral proteome at least understood partially. In order to gain a complete understanding of this correlation, there is a need to decipher the complexity of viral mediated cell hijacking and pathogenesis in the host organism. Further there is necessity to identify the specific patterns within viral and host IDPs such as aggregation; Molecular recognition features (MoRFs) and their association to virulence, host range and rate of evolution of viruses in order to tackle the viral-mediated diseases. The current book chapter summarizes the aforementioned details and suggests the novel opportunities for further research of IDPs senses in viruses.

Protein structural changes characterized by high-pressure, pulsed field gradient diffusion NMR spectroscopy

Pulsed-field gradient NMR spectroscopy is widely used to measure the translational diffusion and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) of biomolecules in solution. For unfolded proteins, the R_h provides a sensitive reporter on the ensemble-averaged conformation and the extent of polypeptide chain expansion as a function of added denaturant. Hydrostatic pressure is a convenient and reversible alternative to chemical denaturants for the study of protein folding, and enables NMR measurements to be performed on a single sample. While the impact of pressure on the viscosity of water is well known, and our water diffusivity measurements agree closely with theoretical expectations, we find that elevated pressures increase the R_h of dioxane and other small molecules by amounts that correlate with their hydrophobicity, with parallel increases in rotational friction indicated by ¹³C longitudinal relaxation times. These data point to a tighter coupling with water for hydrophobic surfaces at elevated pressures. Translational diffusion measurement of the unfolded state of a pressure-sensitized ubiquitin mutant (VA2-ubiquitin) as a function of hydrostatic pressure or urea concentration shows that R_h values of both the folded and the unfolded states remain nearly invariant. At ca 23 Å, the R_h of the fully pressure-denatured state is essentially indistinguishable from the urea-denatured state, and close to the value expected for an idealized random coil of 76 residues. The intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) α-synuclein shows slight compaction at pressures above 2 kbar. Diffusion of unfolded ubiquitin and α-synuclein is significantly impacted by sample concentration, indicating that quantitative measurements need to be carried out under dilute conditions.

Emerging consensus on the collapse of unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins in water

Establishing the degree of collapse of unfolded or disordered proteins is a fundamental problem in biophysics, because of its relation to protein folding and to the function of intrinsically disordered proteins. However, until recently, different experiments gave qualitatively different results on collapse and there were large discrepancies between experiments and all-atom simulations. New methodology introduced in the past three years has helped to resolve the differences between experiments, and improvements in simulations have closed the gap between experiment and simulation. These advances have led to an emerging consensus on the collapse of disordered proteins in water.

Predicting Conformational Properties of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins from Sequence

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can adopt a range of conformations from globules to swollen coils. This large range of conformational preferences for different IDPs raises the question of how conformational preferences are encoded by sequence. Global compositional features of a sequence such as the fraction of charged residues and the net charge per residue engender certain conformational biases. However, more specific sequence features such as the patterning of oppositely charged residues, expansion driving residues, or residues that can undergo posttranslational modifications can also influence the conformational ensembles of an IDP. Here, we outline how to calculate important global compositional features and patterning metrics that can be used to classify IDPs into different conformational classes and predict relative changes in conformation for sequences with the same amino acid composition. Although increased effort has been devoted to determining conformational properties of IDPs in recent years, quantitative predictions of conformation directly from sequence remain difficult and often inaccurate. Thus, if quantitative predictions of conformational properties are desired, then sequence-specific simulations must be performed.

Dynamical Oligomerisation of Histidine Rich Intrinsically Disordered ProteinS Is Regulated through Zinc-Histidine Interactions

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can form functional oligomers and in some cases, insoluble disease related aggregates. It is therefore vital to understand processes and mechanisms that control pathway distribution. Divalent cations including Zn²⁺ can initiate IDP oligomerisation through the interaction with histidine residues but the mechanisms of doing so are far from understood. Here we apply a multi-disciplinary approach using small angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, calorimetry and computations to show that that saliva protein Histatin 5 forms highly dynamic oligomers in the presence of Zn²⁺. The process is critically dependent upon interaction between Zn²⁺ ions and distinct histidine rich binding motifs which allows for thermodynamic switching between states. We propose a molecular mechanism of oligomerisation, which may be generally applicable to other histidine rich IDPs. Finally, as Histatin 5 is an important saliva component, we suggest that Zn²⁺ induced oligomerisation may be crucial for maintaining saliva homeostasis.

Self-organization, entropy and allostery

Allostery is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in biology. Although generally accepted that it is a dynamics-driven process, the exact molecular mechanism of allosteric signal transmission is hotly debated. We argue that allostery is as a part of a bigger picture that also includes fractal-like properties of protein interior, hierarchical protein folding and entropy-driven molecular recognition. Although so far all these phenomena were studied separately, they stem from the same common root: self-organization of polypeptide chains and, thus, has to be studied collectively. This merge will allow the cross-referencing of a broad spectrum of multi-disciplinary data facilitating progress in all these fields.

Decoupling of size and shape fluctuations in heteropolymeric sequences reconciles discrepancies in SAXS vs. FRET measurements

Unfolded states of proteins and native states of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) populate heterogeneous conformational ensembles in solution. The average sizes of these heterogeneous systems, quantified by the radius of gyration (R_G ), can be measured by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Another parameter, the mean dye-to-dye distance (R_E ) for proteins with fluorescently labeled termini, can be estimated using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET). A number of studies have reported inconsistencies in inferences drawn from the two sets of measurements for the dimensions of unfolded proteins and IDPs in the absence of chemical denaturants. These differences are typically attributed to the influence of fluorescent labels used in smFRET and to the impact of high concentrations and averaging features of SAXS. By measuring the dimensions of a collection of labeled and unlabeled polypeptides using smFRET and SAXS, we directly assessed the contributions of dyes to the experimental values R_G and R_E For chemically denatured proteins we obtain mutual consistency in our inferences based on R_G and R_E , whereas for IDPs under native conditions, we find substantial deviations. Using computations, we show that discrepant inferences are neither due to methodological shortcomings of specific measurements nor due to artifacts of dyes. Instead, our analysis suggests that chemical heterogeneity in heteropolymeric systems leads to a decoupling between R_E and R_G that is amplified in the absence of denaturants. Therefore, joint assessments of R_G and R_E combined with measurements of polymer shapes should provide a consistent and complete picture of the underlying ensembles.

Hybrid Applications of Solution Scattering to Aid Structural Biology

Biomolecular applications of solution X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS, respectively) started in late 1960s - early 1970s but were relatively limited in their ability to provide a detailed structural picture and lagged behind what became the two primary methods of experimental structural biology - X-ray crystallography and NMR. However, improvements in both data analysis and instrumentation led to an explosive growth in the number of studies that used small-angle scattering (SAS) for investigation of macromolecular structure, often in combination with other biophysical techniques. Such hybrid applications are nowadays quickly becoming a norm whenever scattering data are used for two reasons. First, it is generally accepted that SAS data on their own cannot lead to a uniquely defined high-resolution structural model, creating a need for supplementing them with information from complementary techniques. Second, solution scattering data are frequently applied in situations when a method such NMR or X-ray crystallography cannot provide a satisfactory structural picture, which makes these additional restraints highly desirable. Maturation of the hybrid bio-SAS approaches brings to light new questions including completeness of the conformational space sampling, model validation, and data compatibility.

Probing the Action of Chemical Denaturant on an Intrinsically Disordered Protein by Simulation and Experiment

Chemical denaturants are the most commonly used agents for unfolding proteins and are thought to act by better solvating the unfolded state. Improved solvation is expected to lead to an expansion of unfolded chains with increasing denaturant concentration, providing a sensitive probe of the denaturant action. However, experiments have so far yielded qualitatively different results concerning the effects of chemical denaturation. Studies using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and other methods found an increase in radius of gyration with denaturant concentration, but most small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies found no change. This discrepancy therefore challenges our understanding of denaturation mechanism and more generally the accuracy of these experiments as applied to unfolded or disordered proteins. Here, we use all-atom molecular simulations to investigate the effect of urea and guanidinium chloride on the structure of the intrinsically disordered protein ACTR, which can be studied by experiment over a wide range of denaturant concentration. Using unbiased molecular simulations with a carefully calibrated denaturant model, we find that the protein chain indeed swells with increasing denaturant concentration. This is due to the favorable association of urea or guanidinium chloride with the backbone of all residues and with the side-chains of almost all residues, with denaturant-water transfer free energies inferred from this association in reasonable accord with experimental estimates. Interactions of the denaturants with the backbone are dominated by hydrogen bonding, while interactions with side-chains include other contributions. By computing FRET efficiencies and SAXS intensities at each denaturant concentration, we show that the simulation trajectories are in accord with both experiments on this protein, demonstrating that there is no fundamental inconsistency between the two types of experiment. Agreement with experiment also supports the picture of chemical denaturation described in our simulations, driven by weak association of denaturant with the protein. Our simulations support some assumptions needed for each experiment to accurately reflect changes in protein size, namely, that the commonly used FRET chromophores do not qualitatively alter the results and that possible effects such as preferential solvent partitioning into the interior of the chain do not interfere with the determination of radius of gyration from the SAXS experiments.

Consistent View of Polypeptide Chain Expansion in Chemical Denaturants from Multiple Experimental Methods

There has been a long-standing controversy regarding the effect of chemical denaturants on the dimensions of unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins: A wide range of experimental techniques suggest that polypeptide chains expand with increasing denaturant concentration, but several studies using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) have reported no such increase of the radius of gyration (Rg). This inconsistency challenges our current understanding of the mechanism of chemical denaturants, which are widely employed to investigate protein folding and stability. Here, we use a combination of single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), SAXS, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and two-focus fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (2f-FCS) to characterize the denaturant dependence of the unfolded state of the spectrin domain R17 and the intrinsically disordered protein ACTR in two different denaturants. Standard analysis of the primary data clearly indicates an expansion of the unfolded state with increasing denaturant concentration irrespective of the protein, denaturant, or experimental method used. This is the first case in which SAXS and FRET have yielded even qualitatively consistent results regarding expansion in denaturant when applied to the same proteins. To more directly illustrate this self-consistency, we used both SAXS and FRET data in a Bayesian procedure to refine structural ensembles representative of the observed unfolded state. This analysis demonstrates that both of these experimental probes are compatible with a common ensemble of protein configurations for each denaturant concentration. Furthermore, the resulting ensembles reproduce the trend of increasing hydrodynamic radius with denaturant concentration obtained by 2f-FCS and DLS. We were thus able to reconcile the results from all four experimental techniques quantitatively, to obtain a comprehensive structural picture of denaturant-induced unfolded state expansion, and to identify the most likely sources of earlier discrepancies.

Probing the Action of Chemical Denaturant on an Intrinsically Disordered Protein by Simulation and Experiment

Chemical denaturants are the most commonly used agents for unfolding proteins and are thought to act by better solvating the unfolded state. Improved solvation is expected to lead to an expansion of unfolded chains with increasing denaturant concentration, providing a sensitive probe of the denaturant action. However, experiments have so far yielded qualitatively different results concerning the effects of chemical denaturation. Studies using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and other methods found an increase in radius of gyration with denaturant concentration, but most small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies found no change. This discrepancy therefore challenges our understanding of denaturation mechanism and more generally the accuracy of these experiments as applied to unfolded or disordered proteins. Here, we use all-atom molecular simulations to investigate the effect of urea and guanidinium chloride on the structure of the intrinsically disordered protein ACTR, which can be studied by experiment over a wide range of denaturant concentration. Using unbiased molecular simulations with a carefully calibrated denaturant model, we find that the protein chain indeed swells with increasing denaturant concentration. This is due to the favorable association of urea or guanidinium chloride with the backbone of all residues and with the side-chains of almost all residues, with denaturant-water transfer free energies inferred from this association in reasonable accord with experimental estimates. Interactions of the denaturants with the backbone are dominated by hydrogen bonding, while interactions with side-chains include other contributions. By computing FRET efficiencies and SAXS intensities at each denaturant concentration, we show that the simulation trajectories are in accord with both experiments on this protein, demonstrating that there is no fundamental inconsistency between the two types of experiment. Agreement with experiment also supports the picture of chemical denaturation described in our simulations, driven by weak association of denaturant with the protein. Our simulations support some assumptions needed for each experiment to accurately reflect changes in protein size, namely, that the commonly used FRET chromophores do not qualitatively alter the results and that possible effects such as preferential solvent partitioning into the interior of the chain do not interfere with the determination of radius of gyration from the SAXS experiments.

Tick receptor for outer surface protein A from Ixodes ricinus - the first intrinsically disordered protein involved in vector-microbe recognition

The tick receptor for outer surface protein A (TROSPA) is the only identified factor involved in tick gut colonization by various Borrelia species. TROSPA is localized in the gut epithelium and can recognize and bind the outer surface bacterial protein OspA via an unknown mechanism. Based on earlier reports and our latest observations, we considered that TROSPA would be the first identified intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) involved in the interaction between a vector and a pathogenic microbe. To verify this hypothesis, we performed structural studies of a TROSPA mutant from Ixodes ricinus using both computational and experimental approaches. Irrespective of the method used, we observed that the secondary structure content of the TROSPA polypeptide chain is low. In addition, the collected SAXS data indicated that this protein is highly extended and exists in solution as a set of numerous conformers. These features are all commonly considered hallmarks of IDPs. Taking advantage of our SAXS data, we created structural models of TROSPA and proposed a putative mechanism for the TROSPA-OspA interaction. The disordered nature of TROSPA may explain the ability of a wide spectrum of Borrelia species to colonize the tick gut.

High surface area hierarchical porous Al2O3 prepared by the integration of sol–gel transition and phase separation

Mechanism of gelation process and phase separation for production of hierarchical porous alumina with high surface area.

Minimal effects of macromolecular crowding on an intrinsically disordered protein: a small-angle neutron scattering study

Small-angle neutron scattering was used to study the effects of macromolecular crowding by two globular proteins, i.e., bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and equine metmyoglobin, on the conformational ensemble of an intrinsically disordered protein, the N protein of bacteriophage λ. The λ N protein was uniformly labeled with (2)H, and the concentrations of D2O in the samples were adjusted to match the neutron scattering contrast of the unlabeled crowding proteins, thereby masking their contribution to the scattering profiles. Scattering from the deuterated λ N was recorded for samples containing up to 0.12 g/mL bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor or 0.2 g/mL metmyoglobin. The radius of gyration of the uncrowded protein was estimated to be 30 Å and was found to be remarkably insensitive to the presence of crowders, varying by <2 Å for the highest crowder concentrations. The scattering profiles were also used to estimate the fractal dimension of λ N, which was found to be ∼1.8 in the absence or presence of crowders, indicative of a well-solvated and expanded random coil under all of the conditions examined. These results are contrary to the predictions of theoretical treatments and previous experimental studies demonstrating compaction of unfolded proteins by crowding with polymers such as dextran and Ficoll. A computational simulation suggests that some previous treatments may have overestimated the effective volumes of disordered proteins and the variation of these volumes within an ensemble. The apparent insensitivity of λ N to crowding may also be due in part to weak attractive interactions with the crowding proteins, which may compensate for the effects of steric exclusion.

Self crowding of globular proteins studied by small-angle x-ray scattering

Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study the behavior of equine metmyoglobin (Mb) and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) at concentrations up to 0.4 and 0.15 g/mL, respectively, in solutions also containing 50% D2O and 1 M urea. For both proteins, significant effects because of interference between x-rays scattered by different molecules (interparticle interference) were observed, indicating nonideal behavior at high concentrations. The experimental data were analyzed by comparison of the observed scattering profiles with those predicted by crystal structures of the proteins and a hard-sphere fluid model used to represent steric exclusion effects. The Mb scattering data were well fit by the hard-sphere model using a sphere radius of 18 Å, only slightly smaller than that estimated from the three-dimensional structure (20 Å). In contrast, the scattering profiles for BPTI in phosphate buffer displayed substantially less pronounced interparticle interference than predicted by the hard-sphere model and the radius estimated from the known structure of the protein (15 Å). Replacing the phosphate buffer with 3-(N-morpolino)propane sulfonic acid (MOPS) led to increased interparticle interference, consistent with a larger effective radius and suggesting that phosphate ions may mediate attractive intermolecular interactions, as observed in some BPTI crystal structures, without the formation of stable oligomers. The scattering data were also used to estimate second virial coefficients for the two proteins: 2.0 ×10(-4) cm(3)mol/g(2) for Mb in phosphate buffer, 1.6 ×10(-4) cm(3)mol/g(2) for BPTI in phosphate buffer and 9.2 ×10(-4) cm(3)mol/g(2) for BPTI in MOPS. The results indicate that the behavior of Mb, which is nearly isoelectric under the conditions used, is well described by the hard-sphere model, but that of BPTI is considerably more complex and is likely influenced by both repulsive and attractive electrostatic interactions. The hard-sphere model may be a generally useful tool for the analysis of small-angle scattering data from concentrated macromolecular solutions.

Aggregation and network formation in self-assembly of protein (H3.1) by a coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulation

Multi-scale aggregation to network formation of interacting proteins (H3.1) are examined by a knowledge-based coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulation as a function of temperature and the number of protein chains, i.e., the concentration of the protein. Self-assembly of corresponding homo-polymers of constitutive residues (Cys, Thr, and Glu) with extreme residue-residue interactions, i.e., attractive (Cys-Cys), neutral (Thr-Thr), and repulsive (Glu-Glu), are also studied for comparison with the native protein. Visual inspections show contrast and similarity in morphological evolutions of protein assembly, aggregation of small aggregates to a ramified network from low to high temperature with the aggregation of a Cys-polymer, and an entangled network of Glu and Thr polymers. Variations in mobility profiles of residues with the concentration of the protein suggest that the segmental characteristic of proteins is altered considerably by the self-assembly from that in its isolated state. The global motion of proteins and Cys polymer chains is enhanced by their interacting network at the low temperature where isolated chains remain quasi-static. Transition from globular to random coil transition, evidenced by the sharp variation in the radius of gyration, of an isolated protein is smeared due to self-assembly of interacting networks of many proteins. Scaling of the structure factor S(q) with the wave vector q provides estimates of effective dimension D of the mass distribution at multiple length scales in self-assembly. Crossover from solid aggregates (D ∼ 3) at low temperature to a ramified fibrous network (D ∼ 2) at high temperature is observed for the protein H3.1 and Cys polymers in contrast to little changes in mass distribution (D ∼ 1.6) of fibrous Glu- and Thr-chain configurations.

The dynamic duo: combining NMR and small angle scattering in structural biology

Structural biology provides essential information for elucidating molecular mechanisms that underlie biological function. Advances in hardware, sample preparation, experimental methods, and computational approaches now enable structural analysis of protein complexes with increasing complexity that more closely represent biologically entities in the cellular environment. Integrated multidisciplinary approaches are required to overcome limitations of individual methods and take advantage of complementary aspects provided by different structural biology techniques. Although X-ray crystallography remains the method of choice for structural analysis of large complexes, crystallization of flexible systems is often difficult and does typically not provide insights into conformational dynamics present in solution. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is well-suited to study dynamics at picosecond to second time scales, and to map binding interfaces even of large systems at residue resolution but suffers from poor sensitivity with increasing molecular weight. Small angle scattering (SAS) methods provide low resolution information in solution and can characterize dynamics and conformational equilibria complementary to crystallography and NMR. The combination of NMR, crystallography, and SAS is, thus, very useful for analysis of the structure and conformational dynamics of (large) protein complexes in solution. In high molecular weight systems, where NMR data are often sparse, SAS provides additional structural information and can differentiate between NMR-derived models. Scattering data can also validate the solution conformation of a crystal structure and indicate the presence of conformational equilibria. Here, we review current state-of-the-art approaches for combining NMR, crystallography, and SAS data to characterize protein complexes in solution.

Describing sequence-ensemble relationships for intrinsically disordered proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins participate in important protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions and control cellular phenotypes through their prominence as dynamic organizers of transcriptional, post-transcriptional and signalling networks. These proteins challenge the tenets of the structure-function paradigm and their functional mechanisms remain a mystery given that they fail to fold autonomously into specific structures. Solving this mystery requires a first principles understanding of the quantitative relationships between information encoded in the sequences of disordered proteins and the ensemble of conformations they sample. Advances in quantifying sequence-ensemble relationships have been facilitated through a four-way synergy between bioinformatics, biophysical experiments, computer simulations and polymer physics theories. In the present review we evaluate these advances and the resultant insights that allow us to develop a concise quantitative framework for describing the sequence-ensemble relationships of intrinsically disordered proteins.

Small-angle X-ray scattering and single-molecule FRET spectroscopy produce highly divergent views of the low-denaturant unfolded state

The results of more than a dozen single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments suggest that chemically unfolded polypeptides invariably collapse from an expanded random coil to more compact dimensions as the denaturant concentration is reduced. In sharp contrast, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies suggest that, at least for single-domain proteins at non-zero denaturant concentrations, such compaction may be rare. Here, we explore this discrepancy by studying protein L, a protein previously studied by SAXS (at 5 °C), which suggested fixed unfolded-state dimensions from 1.4 to 5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), and by smFRET (at 25 °C), which suggested that, in contrast, the chain contracts by 15-30% over this same denaturant range. Repeating the earlier SAXS study under the same conditions employed in the smFRET studies, we observe little, if any, evidence that the unfolded state of protein L contracts as the concentration of GuHCl is reduced. For example, scattering profiles (and thus the shape and dimensions) collected within ∼4 ms after dilution to as low as 0.67 M GuHCl are effectively indistinguishable from those observed at equilibrium at higher denaturant. Our results thus argue that the disagreement between SAXS and smFRET is statistically significant and that the experimental evidence in favor of obligate polypeptide collapse at low denaturant cannot be considered conclusive yet.