Side chain contributions to the interconversion of the topological isomers of guanylin-like peptides

Topological Regulation of the Bioactive Conformation of a Disulfide-Rich Peptide, Heat-Stable Enterotoxin

Heat-stable enterotoxin (ST_a) produced by enterotoxigenic E. coli causes acute diarrhea and also can be used as a specific probe for colorectal cancer cells. ST_a contains three intra-molecular disulfide bonds (C1–C4, C2–C5, and C3–C6 connectivity). The chemical synthesis of ST_a provided not only the native type of ST_a but also a topological isomer that had the native disulfide pairings. Interestingly, the activity of the topological isomer was approximately 1/10–1/2 that of the native ST_a. To further investigate the bioactive conformation of this molecule and the regulation of disulfide-coupled folding during its chemical syntheses, we examined the folding mechanism of ST_a that occurs during its chemical synthesis. The folding intermediate of ST_a with two disulfide bonds (C1–C4 and C3–C6) and two Cys(Acm) residues, the precursor peptide, was treated with iodine to produce a third disulfide bond under several conditions. The topological isomer was predominantly produced under all conditions tested, along with trace amounts of the native type of ST_a. In addition, NMR measurements indicated that the topological isomer has a left-handed spiral structure similar to that of the precursor peptide, while the native type of ST_a had a right-handed spiral structure. These results indicate that the order of the regioselective formation of disulfide bonds is important for the regulation of the final conformation of disulfide-rich peptides in chemical synthesis.

Mosaic Cooperativity in Slow Polypeptide Topological Isomerization Revealed by Residue-Specific NMR Thermodynamic Analysis

Slow polypeptide conformational changes on time scales of >1 s are generally assumed to be highly cooperative two-state transitions, reflecting the high energy barrier. However, few experimental characterizations have tested the validity of this assumption. We performed residue-specific NMR thermodynamic analysis of the 27-residue lantibiotic peptide, nukacin ISK-1, to characterize the isomerization between two topological states on the second time scale. Unexpectedly, the thermal transition behaviors were distinct among peptide regions, indicating that the topological isomerization process is a mosaic of different degrees of cooperativity. The conformational change path between the two NMR structures was deduced by a targeted molecular dynamics simulation. The unique side-chain threading motions through the monosulfide rings are the structural basis of the high energy barrier, and the nonlocal interactions in the hydrophobic core are the structural basis of the cooperativity. Taken together, we provide an energetic description of the topological isomerization of nukacin ISK-1.

Blunted Evoked Prouroguanylin Endocrine Secretion in Chronic Constipation

OBJECTIVES

Prouroguanylin (ProUGN) in the intestine is cleaved to form uroguanylin (UGN), which stimulates guanylate cyclase C (GUCY2C), inducing cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling. Paracrine release regulates fluid secretion, contributing to bowel function, whereas endocrine secretion evoked by eating forms a gut-brain axis, controlling appetite. Whereas hormone insufficiency contributes to hyperphagia in obesity, its contribution to the pathophysiology of constipation syndromes remains unexplored. Here, we compared circulating ProUGN and UGN in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

METHODS

Circulating ProUGN and UGN levels were measured in 60 healthy subjects, 53 patients with CIC, and 54 patients with IBS-C. After an overnight fast, the participants ingested a standardized meal; blood samples were drawn at fasting and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes thereafter, and hormone levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Fasting ProUGN levels were >30% lower in patients with CIC and those with IBS-C compared with healthy subjects regardless of age, sex, or disease state. After eating, ProUGN levels increased compared with fasting levels, although the rate of change was slower and maximum levels were lower in patients with CIC and those with IBS-C. Similarly, fasting UGN levels were lower in patients with CIC and those with IBS-C compared with healthy subjects. However, unlike ProUGN levels, UGN levels did not increase after eating.

DISCUSSION

These observations support a novel pathophysiologic model in which CIC and IBS-C reflect a contribution of ProUGN insufficiency dysregulating intestinal fluid and electrolyte secretion.

TRANSLATIONAL IMPACT

This study suggests that CIC and IBS-C can be treated by oral GUCY2C hormone replacement. Indeed, these observations provide a mechanistic framework for the clinical utility of oral GUCY2C ligands like plecanatide (Trulance) and linaclotide (Linzess) to treat CIC and IBS-C.

Guanylate cyclase-C as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal disorders

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and IBDs are two of the most prevalent disorders of the GI tract and consume a significant proportion of healthcare resources. Recent studies have shown that membrane-bound guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) receptors lining the GI tract may serve as novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of FGIDs and IBDs. GC-C receptor activation by its endogenous paracrine hormones uroguanylin and guanylin, and the resulting intracellular production of its downstream effector cyclic GMP, occurs in a pH-dependent manner and modulates key physiological functions. These include fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, maintenance of the intestinal barrier, anti-inflammatory activity and regulation of epithelial regeneration. Studies of the GC-C paracrine signalling axis have revealed the therapeutic potential of these receptors in treating GI disorders, including chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome-constipation. This review focuses on the evolving understanding of GC-C function in health and disease, and strategies for translating these principles into new treatments for FGIDs and IBDs.

Characterization of immunological cross-reactivity between enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-stable toxin and human guanylin and uroguanylin

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) expressing the heat-stable toxin (ST) (human-type [STh] and porcine-type [STp] variants) is among the five most important enteric pathogens in young children living in low- and middle-income countries. ST mediates diarrheal disease through activation of the guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor and is an attractive vaccine target with the potential to confer protection against a wide range of ETEC strains. However, immunological cross-reactivity to the endogenous GC-C ligands guanylin and uroguanylin is a major concern because of the similarities to ST in amino acid sequence, structure, and function. We have investigated the presence of similar epitopes on STh, STp, guanylin, and uroguanylin by analyzing these peptides in eight distinct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A fraction (27%) of a polyclonal anti-STh antibody and an anti-STh monoclonal antibody (MAb) cross-reacted with uroguanylin, the latter with a 73-fold-lower affinity. In contrast, none of the antibodies raised against STp, one polyclonal antibody and three MAbs, cross-reacted with the endogenous peptides. Antibodies raised against guanylin and uroguanylin showed partial cross-reactivity with the ST peptides. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that immunological cross-reactions between ST and the endogenous peptides can occur. However, the partial nature and low affinity of the observed cross-reactions suggest that the risk of adverse effects from a future ST vaccine may be low. Furthermore, our results suggest that this risk may be reduced or eliminated by basing an ST immunogen on STp or a selectively mutated variant of STh.

Chemical methods and approaches to the regioselective formation of multiple disulfide bonds

Disulfide-bond formation plays an important role in the stabilization of the native conformation of peptides and proteins. In the case of multidisulfide-containing peptides and proteins, numerous folding intermediates are produced, including molecules that contain non-native and native disulfide bonds during in vitro folding. These intermediates can frequently be trapped covalently during folding and subsequently analyzed. The structural characterization of these kinetically trapped disulfide intermediates provides a clue to understanding the oxidative folding pathway. To investigate the folding of disulfide-containing peptides and proteins, in this unit, chemical methods are described for regulating regioselective disulfide formation (1) by using a combination of several types of thiol protecting groups, (2) by incorporating unique SeCys residues into a protein or peptide molecule, and (3) by combining with post-translational modification.

A chemical method for investigating disulfide-coupled peptide and protein folding

Investigations of protein folding have largely involved studies using disulfide-containing proteins, as disulfide-coupled folding of proteins permits the folding intermediates to be trapped and their conformations determined. Over the last decade, a combination of new biotechnical and chemical methodology has resulted in a remarkable acceleration in our understanding of the mechanism of disulfide-coupled protein folding. In particular, expressed protein ligation, a combination of native chemical ligation and an intein-based approach, permits specifically labeled proteins to be easily produced for studies of protein folding using biophysical methods, such as NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. A method for regio-selective formation of disulfide bonds using chemical procedures has also been established. This strategy is particularly relevant for the study of disulfide-coupled protein folding, and provides us not only with the native conformation, but also the kinetically trapped topological isomer with native disulfide bonds. Here we review recent developments and applications of biotechnical and chemical methods to investigations of disulfide-coupled peptide and protein folding. Chemical additives designed to accelerate correct protein folding and to avoid non-specific aggregation are also discussed.

Cure and curse: E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin and its receptor guanylyl cyclase C

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) associated diarrhea is responsible for roughly half a million deaths per year, the majority taking place in developing countries. The main agent responsible for these diseases is the bacterial heat-stable enterotoxin STa. STa is secreted by ETEC and after secretion binds to the intestinal receptor guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C), thus triggering a signaling cascade that eventually leads to the release of electrolytes and water in the intestine. Additionally, GC-C is a specific marker for colorectal carcinoma and STa is suggested to have an inhibitory effect on intestinal carcinogenesis. To understand the conformational events involved in ligand binding to GC-C and to devise therapeutic strategies to treat both diarrheal diseases and colorectal cancer, it is paramount to obtain structural information on the receptor ligand system. Here we summarize the currently available structural data and report on physiological consequences of STa binding to GC-C in intestinal epithelia and colorectal carcinoma cells.

The natriuretic peptide uroguanylin elicits physiologic actions through 2 distinct topoisomers

The peptide uroguanylin regulates electrolyte transport in the intestine and kidney. Human uroguanylin has 2 conformations that can be stably isolated because of their slow interconversion rate. The A isomer potently activates the guanylate cyclase C receptor found primarily in the intestine. The B isomer, by contrast, is a very weak agonist of this receptor, leading to a widely held assumption that it is physiologically irrelevant. We show here, however, that human uroguanylin B has potent natriuretic activity in the kidney. Interestingly, uroguanylin A and B both induce saluretic responses, but the activity profiles for the 2 peptides differ markedly. The uroguanylin B dose-response curve is sigmoidal with a threshold dose of approximately 10 nmol/kg of body weight, whereas uroguanylin A has a comparable threshold but a bell-shaped dose-response curve. In addition, our study indicates a unique interplay between the A and B isoforms, such that the A form at high concentrations antagonizes the natriuretic action of the B form. These data show that the kidney contains a uroguanylin receptor of which the pharmacological profile does not match that of the well-defined intestinal uroguanylin receptor (guanylate cyclase C), an observation consistent with previous studies showing that the kidney of the guanylate cyclase C knockout mouse remains responsive to uroguanylin. The results presented here also support the unconventional notion that distinct conformations of a single endocrine peptide can elicit different responses in different tissues.

Guanylin-like peptides, guanylate cyclase and osmoregulation in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Three guanylin-like peptides, guanylin, uroguanylin and renoguanylin and two guanylate cyclase type C (GC-C) receptor isoforms were cloned and sequenced from the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). All peptides and both receptors (GC-C1 and GC-C2) were predominantly expressed within the intestine and kidney of both sexually immature yellow, and sexually maturing, migratory silver eels. The derived amino acid sequences for the pre-prohormones and guanylate cyclase isoforms had structural features in common with sequences previously reported for guanylin-like peptides and guanylate cyclases from teleost fish and other species in general. The highest sequence homologies for the prohormones were found within the active, 15-16 amino acid C-terminal peptide domain, whereas the guanylate cyclase receptors exhibited highest homology throughout the transmembrane domain and intracellular region of the protein comprising the kinase homology, oligomerisation/coiled-coil and catalytic domains. In both yellow and silver eels, seawater (SW) acclimation induced sustained increases in the expression of uroguanylin and GC-C1 mRNAs within the intestine but no significant changes were found in the abundance of mRNAs for guanylin, renoguanylin or GC-C2. Likewise there were no significant changes in expression of any of the prohormone or receptor mRNAs within the renal kidney following transfer to SW. The results suggest that uroguanylin and GC-C1 are key components of a cGMP signalling system that may play an important role within intestinal enterocytes for the regulation of salt and water absorption in the SW-acclimated eel.