1
|
Nefedova VV, Kleymenov SY, Safenkova IV, Levitsky DI, Matyushenko AM. Neurofilament Light Protein Rod Domain Exhibits Structural Heterogeneity. Biomolecules 2024; 14:85. [PMID: 38254685 PMCID: PMC10813002 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofilaments are neuron-specific proteins that belong to the intermediate filament (IFs) protein family, with the neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) being the most abundant. The IFs structure typically includes a central coiled-coil rod domain comprised of coils 1A, 1B, and 2, separated by linker regions. The thermal stability of the IF molecule plays a crucial role in its ability for self-association. In the current study, we investigated the thermal stability of NFL coiled-coil domains by analyzing a set of recombinant domains and their fusions (NFL1B, NFL1A+1B, NFL2, NFL1B+2, and NFLROD) via circular dichroism spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of coiled-coil domains is evident in a wide range of temperatures, and thermal transition values (Tm) correspond well between isolated coiled-coil domains and full-length NFL. NFL1B has a Tm of 39.4 °C, and its' fusions, NFL1A+1B and NFL1B+2, have a Tm of 41.9 °C and 41.5 °C, respectively. However, in the case of NFL2, thermal denaturation includes at least two thermal transitions at 37.2 °C and 62.7 °C. These data indicate that the continuous α-helical structure of the coil 2 domain has parts with varied thermal stability. Among all the NFL fragments, only NFL2 underwent irreversible heat-induced denaturation. Together, these results unveil the origin of full-length NFL's thermal transitions, and reveal its domains structure and properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria V. Nefedova
- Research Centre of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.Y.K.); (I.V.S.); (D.I.L.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Sergey Y. Kleymenov
- Research Centre of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.Y.K.); (I.V.S.); (D.I.L.); (A.M.M.)
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V. Safenkova
- Research Centre of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.Y.K.); (I.V.S.); (D.I.L.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Dmitrii I. Levitsky
- Research Centre of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.Y.K.); (I.V.S.); (D.I.L.); (A.M.M.)
| | - Alexander M. Matyushenko
- Research Centre of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.Y.K.); (I.V.S.); (D.I.L.); (A.M.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lilina AV, Leekens S, Hashim HM, Vermeire P, Harvey JN, Strelkov SV. Stability profile of vimentin rod domain. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4505. [PMID: 36369679 PMCID: PMC9703591 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) form an essential part of the metazoan cytoskeleton. Despite a long history of research, a proper understanding of their molecular architecture and assembly process is still lacking. IFs self-assemble from elongated dimers, which are defined by their central "rod" domain. This domain forms an α-helical coiled coil consisting of three segments called coil1A, coil1B, and coil2. It has been hypothesized that the structural plasticity of the dimer, including the unraveling of some coiled-coil regions, is essential for the assembly process. To systematically explore this possibility, we have studied six 50-residue fragments covering the entire rod domain of human vimentin, a model IF protein. After creating in silico models of these fragments, their evaluation using molecular dynamics was performed. Large differences were seen across the six fragments with respect to their structural variability during a 100 ns simulation. Next, the fragments were prepared recombinantly, whereby their correct dimerization was promoted by adding short N- or C-terminal capping motifs. The capped fragments were subjected to circular dichroism measurements at varying temperatures. The obtained melting temperatures reveal the relative stabilities of individual fragments, which correlate well with in silico results. We show that the least stable regions of vimentin rod are coil1A and the first third of coil2, while the structures of coil1B and the rest of coil2 are significantly more robust. These observations are in line with the data obtained using other experimental approaches, and contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving IF assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Leekens
- Laboratory for BiocrystallographyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Hani M. Hashim
- Laboratory for BiocrystallographyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Department of ChemistryKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ostrowska-Podhorodecka Z, Ding I, Norouzi M, McCulloch CA. Impact of Vimentin on Regulation of Cell Signaling and Matrix Remodeling. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:869069. [PMID: 35359446 PMCID: PMC8961691 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.869069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vimentin expression contributes to cellular mechanoprotection and is a widely recognized marker of fibroblasts and of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. But it is not understood how vimentin affects signaling that controls cell migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Recent data indicate that vimentin controls collagen deposition and ECM structure by regulating contractile force application to the ECM and through post-transcriptional regulation of ECM related genes. Binding of cells to the ECM promotes the association of vimentin with cytoplasmic domains of adhesion receptors such as integrins. After initial adhesion, cell-generated, myosin-dependent forces and signals that impact vimentin structure can affect cell migration. Post-translational modifications of vimentin determine its adaptor functions, including binding to cell adhesion proteins like paxillin and talin. Accordingly, vimentin regulates the growth, maturation and adhesive strength of integrin-dependent adhesions, which enables cells to tune their attachment to collagen, regulate the formation of cell extensions and control cell migration through connective tissues. Thus, vimentin tunes signaling cascades that regulate cell migration and ECM remodeling. Here we consider how specific properties of vimentin serve to control cell attachment to the underlying ECM and to regulate mesenchymal cell migration and remodeling of the ECM by resident fibroblasts.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ho M, Thompson B, Fisk JN, Nebert DW, Bruford EA, Vasiliou V, Bunick CG. Update of the keratin gene family: evolution, tissue-specific expression patterns, and relevance to clinical disorders. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:1. [PMID: 34991727 PMCID: PMC8733776 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-021-00374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filament (IntFil) genes arose during early metazoan evolution, to provide mechanical support for plasma membranes contacting/interacting with other cells and the extracellular matrix. Keratin genes comprise the largest subset of IntFil genes. Whereas the first keratin gene appeared in sponge, and three genes in arthropods, more rapid increases in keratin genes occurred in lungfish and amphibian genomes, concomitant with land animal-sea animal divergence (~ 440 to 410 million years ago). Human, mouse and zebrafish genomes contain 18, 17 and 24 non-keratin IntFil genes, respectively. Human has 27 of 28 type I "acidic" keratin genes clustered at chromosome (Chr) 17q21.2, and all 26 type II "basic" keratin genes clustered at Chr 12q13.13. Mouse has 27 of 28 type I keratin genes clustered on Chr 11, and all 26 type II clustered on Chr 15. Zebrafish has 18 type I keratin genes scattered on five chromosomes, and 3 type II keratin genes on two chromosomes. Types I and II keratin clusters-reflecting evolutionary blooms of keratin genes along one chromosomal segment-are found in all land animal genomes examined, but not fishes; such rapid gene expansions likely reflect sudden requirements for many novel paralogous proteins having divergent functions to enhance species survival following sea-to-land transition. Using data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, tissue-specific keratin expression throughout the human body was reconstructed. Clustering of gene expression patterns revealed similarities in tissue-specific expression patterns for previously described "keratin pairs" (i.e., KRT1/KRT10, KRT8/KRT18, KRT5/KRT14, KRT6/KRT16 and KRT6/KRT17 proteins). The ClinVar database currently lists 26 human disease-causing variants within the various domains of keratin proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minh Ho
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, 333 Cedar St., LCI 501, PO Box 208059, New Haven, CT, 06520-8059, USA
| | - Brian Thompson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Jeffrey Nicholas Fisk
- Program of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Daniel W Nebert
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Elspeth A Bruford
- HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC), EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Christopher G Bunick
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, 333 Cedar St., LCI 501, PO Box 208059, New Haven, CT, 06520-8059, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Conquer by cryo-EM without physically dividing. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2287-2298. [PMID: 34709401 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This mini-review provides an update regarding the substantial progress that has been made in using single-particle cryo-EM to obtain high-resolution structures for proteins and other macromolecules whose particle sizes are smaller than 100 kDa. We point out that establishing the limits of what can be accomplished, both in terms of particle size and attainable resolution, serves as a guide for what might be expected when attempting to improve the resolution of small flexible portions of a larger structure using focused refinement approaches. These approaches, which involve computationally ignoring all but a specific, targeted region of interest on the macromolecules, is known as 'masking and refining,' and it thus is the computational equivalent of the 'divide and conquer' approach that has been used so successfully in X-ray crystallography. The benefit of masked refinement, however, is that one is able to determine structures in their native architectural context, without physically separating them from the biological connections that they require for their function. This mini-review also compares where experimental achievements currently stand relative to various theoretical estimates for the smallest particle size that can be successfully reconstructed to high resolution. Since it is clear that a substantial gap still remains between the two, we briefly recap the areas in which further improvement seems possible, both in equipment and in methods.
Collapse
|
6
|
Vermeire PJ, Stalmans G, Lilina AV, Fiala J, Novak P, Herrmann H, Strelkov SV. Molecular Interactions Driving Intermediate Filament Assembly. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092457. [PMID: 34572105 PMCID: PMC8466517 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the role of intermediate filaments (IFs) in normal cell physiology and scores of IF-linked diseases, the importance of understanding their molecular structure is beyond doubt. Research into the IF structure was initiated more than 30 years ago, and some important advances have been made. Using crystallography and other methods, the central coiled-coil domain of the elementary dimer and also the structural basis of the soluble tetramer formation have been studied to atomic precision. However, the molecular interactions driving later stages of the filament assembly are still not fully understood. For cytoplasmic IFs, much of the currently available insight is due to chemical cross-linking experiments that date back to the 1990s. This technique has since been radically improved, and several groups have utilized it recently to obtain data on lamin filament assembly. Here, we will summarize these findings and reflect on the remaining open questions and challenges of IF structure. We argue that, in addition to X-ray crystallography, chemical cross-linking and cryoelectron microscopy are the techniques that should enable major new advances in the field in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pieter-Jan Vermeire
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.-J.V.); (G.S.); (A.V.L.)
| | - Giel Stalmans
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.-J.V.); (G.S.); (A.V.L.)
| | - Anastasia V. Lilina
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.-J.V.); (G.S.); (A.V.L.)
| | - Jan Fiala
- Department of Biochemistry, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (P.N.)
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Novak
- Department of Biochemistry, Charles University, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (P.N.)
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Harald Herrmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Sergei V. Strelkov
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (P.-J.V.); (G.S.); (A.V.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-1633-0845
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bend, Push, Stretch: Remarkable Structure and Mechanics of Single Intermediate Filaments and Meshworks. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081960. [PMID: 34440729 PMCID: PMC8394331 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytoskeleton of the eukaryotic cell provides a structural and functional scaffold enabling biochemical and cellular functions. While actin and microtubules form the main framework of the cell, intermediate filament networks provide unique mechanical properties that increase the resilience of both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, thereby maintaining cellular function while under mechanical pressure. Intermediate filaments (IFs) are imperative to a plethora of regulatory and signaling functions in mechanotransduction. Mutations in all types of IF proteins are known to affect the architectural integrity and function of cellular processes, leading to debilitating diseases. The basic building block of all IFs are elongated α-helical coiled-coils that assemble hierarchically into complex meshworks. A remarkable mechanical feature of IFs is the capability of coiled-coils to metamorphize into β-sheets under stress, making them one of the strongest and most resilient mechanical entities in nature. Here, we discuss structural and mechanical aspects of IFs with a focus on nuclear lamins and vimentin.
Collapse
|
8
|
Eldirany SA, Lomakin IB, Ho M, Bunick CG. Recent insight into intermediate filament structure. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 68:132-143. [PMID: 33190098 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are key players in multiple cellular processes throughout human tissues. Their biochemical and structural properties are important for understanding filament assembly mechanisms, for interactions between IFs and binding partners, and for developing pharmacological agents that target IFs. IF proteins share a conserved coiled-coil central-rod domain flanked by variable N-terminal 'head' and C-terminal 'tail' domains. There have been several recent advances in our understanding of IF structure from the study of keratins, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and lamin. These include discoveries of (i) a knob-pocket tetramer assembly mechanism in coil 1B; (ii) a lamin-specific coil 1B insert providing a one-half superhelix turn; (iii) helical, yet flexible, linkers within the rod domain; and (iv) the identification of coil 2B residues required for mature filament assembly. Furthermore, the head and tail domains of some IFs contain low-complexity aromatic-rich kinked segments, and structures of IFs with binding partners show electrostatic surfaces are a major contributor to complex formation. These new data advance the connection between IF structure, pathologic mutations, and clinical diseases in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherif A Eldirany
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Ivan B Lomakin
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Minh Ho
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Christopher G Bunick
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Addressing the Molecular Mechanism of Longitudinal Lamin Assembly Using Chimeric Fusions. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071633. [PMID: 32645958 PMCID: PMC7407374 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular architecture and assembly mechanism of intermediate filaments have been enigmatic for decades. Among those, lamin filaments are of particular interest due to their universal role in cell nucleus and numerous disease-related mutations. Filament assembly is driven by specific interactions of the elementary dimers, which consist of the central coiled-coil rod domain flanked by non-helical head and tail domains. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal 'head-to-tail' interaction of lamin dimers (the so-called ACN interaction), which is crucial for filament assembly. To this end, we prepared a series of recombinant fragments of human lamin A centred around the N- and C-termini of the rod. The fragments were stabilized by fusions to heterologous capping motifs which provide for a correct formation of parallel, in-register coiled-coil dimers. As a result, we established crystal structures of two N-terminal fragments one of which highlights the propensity of the coiled-coil to open up, and one C-terminal rod fragment. Additional studies highlighted the capacity of such N- and C-terminal fragments to form specific complexes in solution, which were further characterized using chemical cross-linking. These data yielded a molecular model of the ACN complex which features a 6.5 nm overlap of the rod ends.
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee CH, Kim MS, Li S, Leahy DJ, Coulombe PA. Structure-Function Analyses of a Keratin Heterotypic Complex Identify Specific Keratin Regions Involved in Intermediate Filament Assembly. Structure 2020; 28:355-362.e4. [PMID: 31995743 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) provide vital mechanical support in a broad array of cell types. Interference with this role causes cell fragility and accounts for a large number of human diseases. Gaining an understanding of the structure of IFs is paramount to understanding their function and designing therapeutic agents for relevant diseases. Here, we report the 2.6-Å resolution crystal structure of a complex of interacting 2B domains of keratin 5 (K5) and K14. K5 and K14 form a long-range, left-handed coiled coil, with participating α helices aligned in parallel and in register. Follow-up mutagenesis revealed that specific contacts between interacting 2B domains play a crucial role during 10-nm IF assembly, likely at the step of octamer-octamer association. The resulting structural model represents an atomic-resolution visualization of 2B-2B interactions important to filament assembly and provides insight into the defects introduced by mutations in IF genes associated with human skin diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Min-Sung Kim
- Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel J Leahy
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Pierre A Coulombe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gae DD, Budamagunta MS, Hess JF, McCarrick RM, Lorigan GA, FitzGerald PG, Voss JC. Completion of the Vimentin Rod Domain Structure Using Experimental Restraints: A New Tool for Exploring Intermediate Filament Assembly and Mutations. Structure 2019; 27:1547-1560.e4. [PMID: 31402219 PMCID: PMC6774864 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2019.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of full-length vimentin and X-ray crystallography of vimentin peptides has provided concordant structural data for nearly the entire central rod domain of the protein. In this report, we use a combination of EPR spectroscopy and molecular modeling to determine the structure and dynamics of the missing region and unite the separate elements into a single structure. Validation of the linker 1-2 (L1-2) modeling approach is demonstrated by the close correlation between EPR and X-ray data in the previously solved regions. Importantly, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation of the constructed model agrees with spin label motion as determined by EPR. Furthermore, MD simulation shows L1-2 heterogeneity, with a concerted switching of states among the dimer chains. These data provide the first ever experimentally driven model of a complete intermediate filament rod domain, providing research tools for further modeling and assembly studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David D Gae
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Madhu S Budamagunta
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - John F Hess
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Robert M McCarrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Paul G FitzGerald
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - John C Voss
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Structural basis for lamin assembly at the molecular level. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3757. [PMID: 31434876 PMCID: PMC6704074 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11684-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear structure and function are governed by lamins, which are intermediate filaments that mostly consist of α-helices. Different lamin assembly models have been proposed based on low resolution and fragmented structures. However, their assembly mechanisms are still poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we present the crystal structure of a long human lamin fragment at 3.2 Å resolution that allows the visualization of the features of the full-length protein. The structure shows an anti-parallel arrangement of the two coiled-coil dimers, which is important for the assembly process. We further discover an interaction between the lamin dimers by using chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry analysis. Based on these two interactions, we propose a molecular mechanism for lamin assembly that is in agreement with a recent model representing the native state and could explain pathological mutations. Our findings also provide the molecular basis for assembly mechanisms of other intermediate filaments. Lamins are intermediate filaments and the major component of the nuclear lamina. Here the authors determine the crystal structure of a construct comprising the N-terminal half of human lamin A/C and use their structure and cross-linking and biochemical experiments to discuss lamin assembly.
Collapse
|
13
|
Samson C, Petitalot A, Celli F, Herrada I, Ropars V, Le Du MH, Nhiri N, Jacquet E, Arteni AA, Buendia B, Zinn-Justin S. Structural analysis of the ternary complex between lamin A/C, BAF and emerin identifies an interface disrupted in autosomal recessive progeroid diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10460-10473. [PMID: 30137533 PMCID: PMC6212729 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Lamins are the main components of the nucleoskeleton. Whereas their 3D organization was recently described using cryoelectron tomography, no structural data highlights how they interact with their partners at the interface between the inner nuclear envelope and chromatin. A large number of mutations causing rare genetic disorders called laminopathies were identified in the C-terminal globular Igfold domain of lamins A and C. We here present a first structural description of the interaction between the lamin A/C immunoglobulin-like domain and emerin, a nuclear envelope protein. We reveal that this lamin A/C domain both directly binds self-assembled emerin and interacts with monomeric emerin LEM domain through the dimeric chromatin-associated Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF) protein. Mutations causing autosomal recessive progeroid syndromes specifically impair proper binding of lamin A/C domain to BAF, thus destabilizing the link between lamin A/C and BAF in cells. Recent data revealed that, during nuclear assembly, BAF’s ability to bridge distant DNA sites is essential for guiding membranes to form a single nucleus around the mitotic chromosome ensemble. Our results suggest that BAF interaction with lamin A/C also plays an essential role, and that mutations associated with progeroid syndromes leads to a dysregulation of BAF-mediated chromatin organization and gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Samson
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Ambre Petitalot
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Florian Celli
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Isaline Herrada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Virginie Ropars
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Hélène Le Du
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Naïma Nhiri
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UPR 2301, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Eric Jacquet
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UPR 2301, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Ana-Andrea Arteni
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Brigitte Buendia
- Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative (BFA), CNRS UMR 8251, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Zinn-Justin
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33 169083026;
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Eldirany SA, Ho M, Hinbest AJ, Lomakin IB, Bunick CG. Human keratin 1/10-1B tetramer structures reveal a knob-pocket mechanism in intermediate filament assembly. EMBO J 2019; 38:embj.2018100741. [PMID: 31036554 PMCID: PMC6545558 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018100741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To characterize keratin intermediate filament assembly mechanisms at atomic resolution, we determined the crystal structure of wild-type human keratin-1/keratin-10 helix 1B heterotetramer at 3.0 Å resolution. It revealed biochemical determinants for the A11 mode of axial alignment in keratin filaments. Four regions on a hydrophobic face of the K1/K10-1B heterodimer dictated tetramer assembly: the N-terminal hydrophobic pocket (defined by L227K1, Y230K1, F231K1, and F234K1), the K10 hydrophobic stripe, K1 interaction residues, and the C-terminal anchoring knob (formed by F314K1 and L318K1). Mutation of both knob residues to alanine disrupted keratin 1B tetramer and full-length filament assembly. Individual knob residue mutant F314AK1, but not L318AK1, abolished 1B tetramer formation. The K1-1B knob/pocket mechanism is conserved across keratins and many non-keratin intermediate filaments. To demonstrate how pathogenic mutations cause skin disease by altering filament assembly, we additionally determined the 2.39 Å structure of K1/10-1B containing a S233LK1 mutation linked to epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma. Light scattering and circular dichroism measurements demonstrated enhanced aggregation of K1S233L/K10-1B in solution without affecting secondary structure. The K1S233L/K10-1B octamer structure revealed S233LK1 causes aberrant hydrophobic interactions between 1B tetramers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Minh Ho
- Department of DermatologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | | | - Ivan B Lomakin
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and BiochemistryYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Christopher G Bunick
- Department of DermatologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA,Department of Molecular Biophysics and BiochemistryYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Favre B, Begré N, Bouameur JE, Lingasamy P, Conover GM, Fontao L, Borradori L. Desmoplakin interacts with the coil 1 of different types of intermediate filament proteins and displays high affinity for assembled intermediate filaments. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205038. [PMID: 30286183 PMCID: PMC6171917 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of intermediate filaments (IFs) with the cell-cell adhesion complexes desmosomes is crucial for cytoskeletal organization and cell resilience in the epidermis and heart. The intracellular desmosomal protein desmoplakin anchors IFs to the cell adhesion complexes predominantly via its four last carboxy-terminal domains (C-terminus). However, it remains unclear why the C-terminus of desmoplakin interacts with different IF types or if there are different binding affinities for each type of IFs that may influence the stability of cell-specific adhesion complexes. By yeast three-hybrid and fluorescence binding assays, we found that the coiled-coil 1 of the conserved central rod domain of the heterodimeric cytokeratins (Ks) 5 and 14 (K5/K14) was required for their interaction with the C-terminus of desmoplakin, while their unique amino head- and C-tail domains were dispensable. Similar findings were obtained in vitro with K1/K10, and the type III IF proteins desmin and vimentin. Binding assays testing the C-terminus of desmoplakin with assembled K5/K14 and desmin IFs yielded an apparent affinity in the nM range. Our findings reveal that the same conserved domain of IF proteins binds to the C-terminus of desmoplakin, which may help explain the previously reported broad binding IF-specificity to desmoplakin. Our data suggest that desmoplakin high-affinity binding to diverse IF proteins ensures robust linkages of IF cytoskeleton and desmosomes that maintain the structural integrity of cellular adhesion complexes. In summary, our results give new insights into the molecular basis of the IF-desmosome association.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Favre
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadja Begré
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jamal-Eddine Bouameur
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Prakash Lingasamy
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gloria M. Conover
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lionel Fontao
- Department of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luca Borradori
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Guzenko D, Strelkov SV. CCFold: rapid and accurate prediction of coiled-coil structures and application to modelling intermediate filaments. Bioinformatics 2017; 34:215-222. [DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Guzenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergei V Strelkov
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Design considerations in coiled-coil fusion constructs for the structural determination of a problematic region of the human cardiac myosin rod. J Struct Biol 2017; 200:219-228. [PMID: 28743637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
X-ray structural determination of segments of the myosin rod has proved difficult because of the strong salt-dependent aggregation properties and repeating pattern of charges on the surface of the coiled-coil that lead to the formation of paracrystals. This problem has been resolved in part through the use of globular assembly domains that improve protein folding and prevent aggregation. The primary consideration now in designing coiled-coil fusion constructs for myosin is deciding where to truncate the coiled-coil and which amino acid residues to include from the folding domain. This is especially important for myosin that contains numerous regions of low predicted coiled-coil propensity. Here we describe the strategy adopted to determine the structure of the region that extends from Arg1677 - Leu1797 that included two areas that do not show a strong sequence signature of a conventional left-handed coiled coil or canonical heptad repeat. This demonstrates again that, with careful choice of fusion constructs, overlapping structures exhibit very similar conformations for the myosin rod fragments in the canonical regions. However, conformational variability is seen around Leu1706 which is a hot spot for cardiomyopathy mutations suggesting that this might be important for function.
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs), together with microtubules and actin microfilaments, are the three main cytoskeletal components in metazoan cells. IFs are formed by a distinct protein family, which is made up of 70 members in humans. Most IF proteins are tissue- or organelle-specific, which includes lamins, the IF proteins of the nucleus. The building block of IFs is an elongated dimer, which consists of a central α-helical 'rod' domain flanked by flexible N- and C-terminal domains. The conserved rod domain is the 'signature feature' of the IF family. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that the rod domain of all IF proteins contains three α-helical segments of largely conserved length, interconnected by linkers. Moreover, there is a conserved pattern of hydrophobic repeats within each segment, which includes heptads and hendecads. This defines the presence of both left-handed and almost parallel coiled-coil regions along the rod length. Using X-ray crystallography on multiple overlapping fragments of IF proteins, the atomic structure of the nearly complete rod domain has been determined. Here, we discuss some specific challenges of this procedure, such as crystallization and diffraction data phasing by molecular replacement. Further insights into the structure of the coiled coil and the terminal domains have been obtained using electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on the full-length protein, with spin labels attached at specific positions. This atomic resolution information, as well as further interesting findings, such as the variation of the coiled-coil stability along the rod length, provide clues towards interpreting the data on IF assembly, collected by a range of methods. However, a full description of this process at the molecular level is not yet at hand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dmytro Guzenko
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anastasia A Chernyatina
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergei V Strelkov
- Laboratory for Biocrystallography, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
For years intermediate filaments (IF), belonging to the third class of filamentous cytoskeletal proteins alongside microtubules and actin filaments, were thought to be exclusive to metazoan cells. Structurally these eukaryote IFs are very well defined, consisting of globular head and tail domains, which flank the central rod-domain. This central domain is dominated by an α-helical secondary structure predisposed to form the characteristic coiled-coil, parallel homo-dimer. These elementary dimers can further associate, both laterally and longitudinally, generating a variety of filament-networks built from filaments in the range of 10 nm in diameter. The general role of these filaments with their characteristic mechano-elastic properties both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of eukaryote cells is to provide mechanical strength and a scaffold supporting diverse shapes and cellular functions.Since 2003, after the first bacterial IF-like protein, crescentin was identified, it has been evident that bacteria also employ filamentous networks, other than those built from bacterial tubulin or actin homologues, in order to support their cell shape, growth and, in some cases, division. Intriguingly, compared to their eukaryote counterparts, the group of bacterial IF-like proteins shows much wider structural diversity. The sizes of both the head and tail domains are markedly reduced and there is great variation in the length of the central rod-domain. Furthermore, bacterial rod-domains often lack the sub-domain organisation of eukaryote IFs that is the defining feature of the IF-family. However, the fascinating display of filamentous assemblies, including rope, striated cables and hexagonal laces together with the conditions required for their formation both in vitro and in vivo strongly resemble that of eukaryote IFs suggesting that these bacterial proteins are deservedly classified as part of the IF-family and that the current definition should be relaxed slightly to allow their inclusion. The lack of extensive head and tail domains may well make the bacterial proteins more amenable for structural characterisation, which will be essential for establishing the mechanism for their association into filaments. What is more, the well-developed tools for bacterial manipulations provide an excellent opportunity of studying the bacterial systems with the prospect of making significant progress in our understanding of the general underlying principles of intermediate filament assemblies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella H Kelemen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu L, Hess J, Sahu ID, FitzGerald PG, McCarrick RM, Lorigan GA. Probing the Local Secondary Structure of Human Vimentin with Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:12321-12326. [PMID: 27934222 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b10054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Previously, an electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopic approach was established to probe the local secondary structure of membrane proteins and peptides utilizing site-directed spin-labeling (SDSL). In this method, the side chain of one amino acid residue is selectively 2H-labeled and a nitroxide spin label is strategically placed 1, 2, 3, or 4 amino acids away from the 2H-labeled amino acid (denoted as i ± 1 to i ± 4, i represents the 2H-labeled amino acid). ESEEM can detect the dipolar coupling between the nitroxide spin label and 2H atoms on the amino acid side chain. Due to the periodicity of different secondary structures, different ESEEM patterns can be revealed to probe the structure. For an α-helical structural component, a 2H ESEEM signal can be detected for i ± 3 and i ± 4 samples, but not for i ± 1 or i ± 2 samples. Several 2H-labeled hydrophobic amino acids have been demonstrated in model system that can be utilized to identify local secondary structures via this ESEEM approach in an extremely efficient fashion. In this study, the ESEEM approach was used to investigate the rod 2B region of the full-length intermediate filament protein human vimentin. Consistent with previous EPR and X-ray crystallography results, our ESEEM results indicated helical structural components within this region. Thus, this ESEEM approach is able to identify α-helical structural components despite the coiled-coil nature of the vimentin structure. The data show that the human vimentin rod 2B adapted a typical α-helical structure around residue Leu309. This result is consistent with the X-ray data from fragmented protein segments and continuous wave EPR data on the full-length vimentin. Finally, the ESEEM data suggested that a local secondary structure slightly different from a typical α-helix was adopted around residue 340.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University , Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - John Hess
- Dept of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California , Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University , Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Paul G FitzGerald
- Dept of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California , Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Robert M McCarrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University , Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University , Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Premchandar A, Mücke N, Poznański J, Wedig T, Kaus-Drobek M, Herrmann H, Dadlez M. Structural Dynamics of the Vimentin Coiled-coil Contact Regions Involved in Filament Assembly as Revealed by Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:24931-24950. [PMID: 27694444 PMCID: PMC5122765 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.748145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IF) are major constituents of the cytoskeleton of metazoan cells. They are not only responsible for the mechanical properties but also for various physiological activities in different cells and tissues. The building blocks of IFs are extended coiled-coil-forming proteins exhibiting a characteristic central α-helical domain ("rod"). The fundamental principles of the filament assembly mechanism and the network formation have been widely elucidated for the cytoplasmic IF protein vimentin. Also, a comprehensive structural model for the tetrameric complex of vimentin has been obtained by X-ray crystallography in combination with various biochemical and biophysical techniques. To extend these static data and to investigate the dynamic properties of the full-length proteins in solution during the various assembly steps, we analyzed the patterns of hydrogen-deuterium exchange in vimentin and in four variants carrying point mutations in the IF consensus motifs present at either end of the α-helical rod that cause an assembly arrest at the unit-length filament (ULF) stage. The results yielded unique insights into the structural properties of subdomains within the full-length vimentin, in particular in regions of contact in α-helical and linker segments that stabilize different oligomeric forms such as tetramers, ULFs, and mature filaments. Moreover, hydrogen-deuterium exchange analysis of the point-mutated variants directly demonstrated the active role of the IF consensus motifs in the oligomerization mechanism of tetramers during ULF formation. Ultimately, using molecular dynamics simulation procedures, we provide a structural model for the subdomain-mediated tetramer/tetramer interaction via "cross-coiling" as the first step of the assembly process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aiswarya Premchandar
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Jarosław Poznański
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Kaus-Drobek
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Harald Herrmann
- Division of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany, and
- the Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michał Dadlez
- From the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland,
- the Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Biology Department, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 3, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Proteins of the intermediate filament (IF) supergene family are ubiquitous structural components that comprise, in a cell type-specific manner, the cytoskeleton proper in animal tissues. All IF proteins show a distinctly organized, extended α-helical conformation prone to form two-stranded coiled coils, which are the basic building blocks of these highly flexible, stress-resistant cytoskeletal filaments. IF proteins are highly charged, thus representing versatile polyampholytes with multiple functions. Taking vimentin, keratins, and the nuclear lamins as our prime examples, we present an overview of their molecular and structural parameters. These, in turn, document the ability of IF proteins to form distinct, highly diverse supramolecular assemblies and biomaterials found, for example, at the inner nuclear membrane, throughout the cytoplasm, and in highly complex extracellular appendages, such as hair and nails, of vertebrate organisms. Ultimately, our aim is to set the stage for a more rational understanding of the immediate effects that missense mutations in IF genes have on cellular functions and for their far-reaching impact on the development of the numerous IF diseases caused by them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harald Herrmann
- Functional Architecture of the Cell (B065), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany, and Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ueli Aebi
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
The X-Ray Crystal Structure of the Keratin 1-Keratin 10 Helix 2B Heterodimer Reveals Molecular Surface Properties and Biochemical Insights into Human Skin Disease. J Invest Dermatol 2016; 137:142-150. [PMID: 27595935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Keratins 1 (K1) and 10 (K10) are the primary keratins expressed in differentiated epidermis. Mutations in K1/K10 are associated with human skin diseases. We determined the crystal structure of the complex between the distal (2B) helices of K1 and K10 to better understand how human keratin structure correlates with function. The 3.3 Å resolution structure confirms many features inferred by previous biochemical analyses, but adds unexpected insights. It demonstrates a parallel, coiled-coil heterodimer with a predominantly hydrophobic intermolecular interface; this heterodimer formed a higher order complex with a second K1-K10-2B heterodimer via a Cys401K10 disulfide link, although the bond angle is unanticipated. The molecular surface analysis of K1-K10-2B identified several pockets, one adjacent to the disulfide linkage and conserved in K5-K14. The solvent accessible surface area of the K1-K10 structure is 20-25% hydrophobic. The 2B region contains mixed acidic and basic patches proximally (N-terminal), whereas it is largely acidic distally (C-terminal). Mapping of conserved and nonconserved residues between K1-K10 and K5-K14 onto the structure demonstrated the majority of unique residues align along the outer helical ridge. Finally, the structure permitted a fresh analysis of the deleterious effects caused by K1/K10 missense mutations found in patients with phenotypic skin disease.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ridge KM, Shumaker D, Robert A, Hookway C, Gelfand VI, Janmey PA, Lowery J, Guo M, Weitz DA, Kuczmarski E, Goldman RD. Methods for Determining the Cellular Functions of Vimentin Intermediate Filaments. Methods Enzymol 2015; 568:389-426. [PMID: 26795478 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The type III intermediate filament protein vimentin was once thought to function mainly as a static structural protein in the cytoskeleton of cells of mesenchymal origin. Now, however, vimentin is known to form a dynamic, flexible network that plays an important role in a number of signaling pathways. Here, we describe various methods that have been developed to investigate the cellular functions of the vimentin protein and intermediate filament network, including chemical disruption, photoactivation and photoconversion, biolayer interferometry, soluble bead binding assay, three-dimensional substrate experiments, collagen gel contraction, optical-tweezer active microrheology, and force spectrum microscopy. Using these techniques, the contributions of vimentin to essential cellular processes can be probed in ever further detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Ridge
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Veterans Administration, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | - Dale Shumaker
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amélie Robert
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Caroline Hookway
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Vladimir I Gelfand
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Departments of Physiology and Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jason Lowery
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ming Guo
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David A Weitz
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward Kuczmarski
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert D Goldman
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
Withaferin A (WFA), initially identified as a compound that inhibits experimental angiogenesis, has been shown to bind to soluble vimentin (sVim) and other type III intermediate filament (IF) proteins. We review WFA's dose-related activities (Section 1), examining nanomolar concentrations effects on sVim in cell proliferation and submicromolar effects on lamellipodia and focal adhesion formation. WFA effects on polymeric IFs are especially interesting to the study of cell migration and invasion that depend on IF mechanical contractile properties. WFA interferes with NF-κB signaling, though this anti-inflammatory mechanism may occur via perturbation of sVim-protein complexes, and possibly also via targeting IκB kinase β directly. However, micromolar concentrations that induce vimentin cleavage to promote apoptosis may increasingly show off-target effects via targeting other IFs (neurofilaments and keratin) and non-IFs (tubulin, heat-shock proteins, proteasome). Thus, in Section 2, we describe our studies combining cell cultures with animal models of injury to validate relevant type III IF-targeting mechanisms of WFA. In Section 3, we illuminate from investigating myofibroblast differentiation how sVim phosphorylation may govern cell type-selective sensitivity to WFA, offering impetus for exploring vimentin phosphorylation isoforms as targets and biomarkers of fibrosis. These different WFA targets and activities are listed in a summary table.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Royce Mohan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
| | - Paola Bargagna-Mohan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Chernyatina AA, Hess JF, Guzenko D, Voss JC, Strelkov SV. How to Study Intermediate Filaments in Atomic Detail. Methods Enzymol 2015; 568:3-33. [PMID: 26795465 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Studies of the intermediate filament (IF) structure are a prerequisite of understanding their function. In addition, the structural information is indispensable if one wishes to gain a mechanistic view on the disease-related mutations in the IFs. Over the years, considerable progress has been made on the atomic structure of the elementary building block of all IFs, the coiled-coil dimer. Here, we discuss the approaches, methods and practices that have contributed to this advance. With abundant genetic information on hand, bioinformatics approaches give important insights into the dimer structure, including the head and tail regions poorly assessable experimentally. At the same time, the most important contribution has been provided by X-ray crystallography. Following the "divide-and-conquer" approach, many fragments from several IF proteins could be crystallized and resolved to atomic resolution. We will systematically cover the main procedures of these crystallographic studies, suggest ways to maximize their efficiency, and also discuss the possible pitfalls and limitations. In addition, electron paramagnetic resonance with site-directed spin labeling was another method providing a major impact toward the understanding of the IF structure. Upon placing the spin labels into specific positions within the full-length protein, one can evaluate the proximity of the labels and their mobility. This makes it possible to make conclusions about the dimer structure in the coiled-coil region and beyond, as well as to explore the dimer-dimer contacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John F Hess
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Dmytro Guzenko
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - John C Voss
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sergei V Strelkov
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
The Cardiomyopathy Lamin A/C D192G Mutation Disrupts Whole-Cell Biomechanics in Cardiomyocytes as Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy Loading-Unloading Curve Analysis. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13388. [PMID: 26323789 PMCID: PMC4555041 DOI: 10.1038/srep13388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) cell loading/unloading curves were used to provide comprehensive insights into biomechanical behavior of cardiomyocytes carrying the lamin A/C (LMNA) D192G mutation known to cause defective nuclear wall, myopathy and severe cardiomyopathy. Our results suggested that the LMNA D192G mutation increased maximum nuclear deformation load, nuclear stiffness and fragility as compared to controls. Furthermore, there seems to be a connection between this lamin nuclear mutation and cell adhesion behavior since LMNA D192G cardiomyocytes displayed loss of AFM probe-to-cell membrane adhesion. We believe that this loss of adhesion involves the cytoskeletal architecture since our microscopic analyses highlighted that mutant LMNA may also lead to a morphological alteration in the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, chemical disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D in control cardiomyocytes mirrored the alterations in the mechanical properties seen in mutant cells, suggesting a defect in the connection between the nucleoskeleton, cytoskeleton and cell adhesion molecules in cells expressing the mutant protein. These data add to our understanding of potential mechanisms responsible for this fatal cardiomyopathy, and show that the biomechanical effects of mutant lamin extend beyond nuclear mechanics to include interference of whole-cell biomechanical properties.
Collapse
|
28
|
Complete Structure of an Epithelial Keratin Dimer: Implications for Intermediate Filament Assembly. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132706. [PMID: 26181054 PMCID: PMC4504709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratins are cytoskeletal proteins that hierarchically arrange into filaments, starting with the dimer sub-unit. They are integral to the structural support of cells, in skin, hair and nails. In skin, keratin is thought to play a critical role in conferring the barrier properties and elasticity of skin. In general, the keratin dimer is broadly described by a tri-domain structure: a head, a central rod and a tail. As yet, no atomistic-scale picture of the entire dimer structure exists; this information is pivotal for establishing molecular-level connections between structure and function in intermediate filament proteins. The roles of the head and tail domains in facilitating keratin filament assembly and function remain as open questions. To address these, we report results of molecular dynamics simulations of the entire epithelial human K1/K10 keratin dimer. Our findings comprise: (1) the first three-dimensional structural models of the complete dimer unit, comprising of the head, rod and tail domains; (2) new insights into the chirality of the rod-domain twist gained from analysis of the full domain structure; (3) evidence for tri-subdomain partitioning in the head and tail domains; and, (4) identification of the residue characteristics that mediate non-covalent contact between the chains in the dimer. Our findings are immediately applicable to other epithelial keratins, such as K8/K18 and K5/K14, and to intermediate filament proteins in general.
Collapse
|
29
|
Chernyatina AA, Guzenko D, Strelkov SV. Intermediate filament structure: the bottom-up approach. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2015; 32:65-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2014.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
30
|
Mechanical Properties and Failure of Biopolymers: Atomistic Reactions to Macroscale Response. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2015; 369:317-43. [PMID: 26108895 DOI: 10.1007/128_2015_643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of chemical bonding under various mechanical loadings is an intriguing mechanochemical property of biological materials, and the property plays a critical role in determining their deformation and failure mechanisms. Because of their astonishing mechanical properties and roles in constituting the basis of a variety of physiologically relevant materials, biological protein materials have been intensively studied. Understanding the relation between chemical bond networks (structures) and their mechanical properties offers great possibilities to enable new materials design in nanotechnology and new medical treatments for human diseases. Here we focus on how the chemical bonds in biological systems affect mechanical properties and how they change during mechanical deformation and failure. Three representative cases of biomaterials related to the human diseases are discussed in case studies, including: amyloids, intermediate filaments, and collagen, each describing mechanochemical features and how they relate to the pathological conditions at multiple scales.
Collapse
|
31
|
Hess JF, Budamagunta MS, Aziz A, FitzGerald PG, Voss JC. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis of the vimentin tail domain reveals points of order in a largely disordered region and conformational adaptation upon filament assembly. Protein Sci 2014; 22:47-55. [PMID: 23109052 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Very little data have been reported that describe the structure of the tail domain of any cytoplasmic intermediate filament (IF) protein. We report here the results of studies using site directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance (SDSL-EPR) to explore the structure and dynamics of the tail domain of human vimentin in tetramers (protofilaments) and filaments. The data demonstrate that in contrast to the vimentin head and rod domains, the tail domains are not closely apposed in protofilaments. However, upon assembly into intact IFs, several sites, including positions 445, 446, 451, and 452, the conserved "beta-site," become closely apposed, indicating dynamic changes in tail domain structure that accompany filament elongation. No evidence is seen for coiled-coil structure within the region studied, in either protofilaments or assembled filaments. EPR analysis also establishes that more than half of the tail domain is very flexible in both the assembly intermediate and the intact IF. However, by positioning the spin label at distinct sites, EPR is able to identify both the rod proximal region and sites flanking the beta-site motif as rigid locations within the tail. The rod proximal region is well assembled at the tetramer stage with only slight changes occurring during filament elongation. In contrast, at the beta site, the polypeptide backbone transitions from flexible in the assembly intermediate to much more rigid in the intact IF. These data support a model in which the distal tail domain structure undergoes significant conformational change during filament elongation and final assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John F Hess
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Gobeaux F, Tarabout C, Fay N, Meriadec C, Ligeti M, Buisson DA, Cintrat JC, Artzner F, Paternostre M. Directing peptide crystallization through curvature control of nanotubes. J Pept Sci 2014; 20:508-16. [PMID: 24916887 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of efficient crystallization methods, the molecular structures of fibrous assemblies have so far remained rather elusive. In this paper, we present a rational method to crystallize the lanreotide octapeptide by modification of a residue involved in a close contact. Indeed, we show that it is possible to modify the curvature of the lanreotide nanotubes and hence their diameter. This fine tuning leads to crystallization because the radius of curvature of the initially bidimensional peptide wall can be increased up to a point where the wall is essentially flat and a crystal is allowed to grow along a third dimension. By comparing X-ray diffraction data and Fourier transform Raman spectra, we show that the nanotubes and the crystals share similar cell parameters and molecular conformations, proving that there is indeed a structural continuum between these two morphologies. These results illustrate a novel approach to crystallization and represent the first step towards the acquisition of an Å-resolution structure of the lanreotide nanotubes β-sheet assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Gobeaux
- iBiTec-S, SB2SM, UMR 8221, CEA/CNRS, CEA-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Institut de Physique de Rennes, UMR 6251 CNRS/Université Rennes 1, Campus Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France; Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire sur l'Organisation Nanométrique et Supramoléculaire (LIONS), IRAMIS, NIMBE, UMR 3299 CEA/CNRS CEA-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Leccia E, Batonnet-Pichon S, Tarze A, Bailleux V, Doucet J, Pelloux M, Delort F, Pizon V, Vicart P, Briki F. Cyclic stretch reveals a mechanical role for intermediate filaments in a desminopathic cell model. Phys Biol 2012; 10:016001. [PMID: 23234811 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/10/1/016001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Mechanics is now recognized as crucial in cell function. To date, the mechanical properties of cells have been inferred from experiments which investigate the roles of actin and microtubules ignoring the intermediate filaments (IFs) contribution. Here, we analyse myoblasts behaviour in the context of myofibrillar myopathy resulting from p.D399Y desmin mutation which disorganizes the desmin IF network in muscle cells. We compare the response of myoblasts expressing either mutated or wild-type desmin to cyclic stretch. Cells are cultivated on supports submitted to periodic uniaxial stretch of 20% elongation amplitude and 0.3 Hz frequency. We show that during stretching cycles, cells expressing mutated desmin reduce their mean amplitude both for the elongation and spreading area compared to those expressing wild-type desmin. Even more unexpected, the reorientation angles are altered in the presence of p.D399Y desmin. Yet, at rest, the whole set of those parameters are similar for the two cell populations. Thus, we demonstrate that IFs affect the mechanical properties and the dynamics of cell reorientation. Since these processes are known due to actin cytoskeleton, these results suggest the IFs implication in mechanics signal transduction. Further studies may lead to better understanding of their contribution to this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Leccia
- Université Paris Sud, Paris 11, Laboratoire de Physique des solides, Bat 510-91405 Orsay Cedex, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Bruce Fraser R, Parry DA. The role of disulfide bond formation in the structural transition observed in the intermediate filaments of developing hair. J Struct Biol 2012; 180:117-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2012.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2012] [Revised: 05/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
35
|
Atomic structure of the vimentin central α-helical domain and its implications for intermediate filament assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:13620-5. [PMID: 22869704 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1206836109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Together with actin filaments and microtubules, intermediate filaments (IFs) are the basic cytoskeletal components of metazoan cells. Over 80 human diseases have been linked to mutations in various IF proteins to date. However, the filament structure is far from being resolved at the atomic level, which hampers rational understanding of IF pathologies. The elementary building block of all IF proteins is a dimer consisting of an α-helical coiled-coil (CC) "rod" domain flanked by the flexible head and tail domains. Here we present three crystal structures of overlapping human vimentin fragments that comprise the first half of its rod domain. Given the previously solved fragments, a nearly complete atomic structure of the vimentin rod has become available. It consists of three α-helical segments (coils 1A, 1B, and 2) interconnected by linkers (L1 and L12). Most of the CC structure has a left-handed twist with heptad repeats, but both coil 1B and coil 2 also exhibit untwisted, parallel stretches with hendecad repeats. In the crystal structure, linker L1 was found to be α-helical without being involved in the CC formation. The available data allow us to construct an atomic model of the antiparallel tetramer representing the second level of vimentin assembly. Although the presence of the nonhelical head domains is essential for proper tetramer stabilization, the precise alignment of the dimers forming the tetramer appears to depend on the complementarity of their surface charge distribution patterns, while the structural plasticity of linker L1 and coil 1A plays a role in the subsequent IF assembly process.
Collapse
|
36
|
Lee CH, Kim MS, Chung BM, Leahy DJ, Coulombe PA. Structural basis for heteromeric assembly and perinuclear organization of keratin filaments. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2012; 19:707-15. [PMID: 22705788 PMCID: PMC3864793 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
There is as yet no high-resolution data regarding the structure and organization of keratin intermediate filaments, which are obligate heteropolymers providing vital mechanical support in epithelia. We report the crystal structure of interacting 2B regions from the central coiled-coil domains of keratins 5 and 14 (K5 and K14), expressed in progenitor keratinocytes of epidermis. The interface of the K5-K14 coiled-coil heterodimer has asymmetric salt bridges, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts, and its surface exhibits a notable charge polarization. A trans-dimer homotypic disulfide bond involving Cys367 in K14's stutter region occurs in the crystal and in skin keratinocytes, where it is concentrated in a keratin filament cage enveloping the nucleus. We show that K14-Cys367 impacts nuclear shape in cultured keratinocytes and that mouse epidermal keratinocytes lacking K14 show aberrations in nuclear structure, highlighting a new function for keratin filaments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Min-Sung Kim
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Byung Min Chung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel J Leahy
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pierre A Coulombe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Stabilization of vimentin coil2 fragment via an engineered disulfide. J Struct Biol 2012; 177:46-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2011.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
38
|
Goldman RD, Cleland MM, Murthy SNP, Mahammad S, Kuczmarski ER. Inroads into the structure and function of intermediate filament networks. J Struct Biol 2011; 177:14-23. [PMID: 22120848 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2011.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although intermediate filaments are one of three major cytoskeletal systems of vertebrate cells, they remain the least understood with respect to their structure and function. This is due in part to the fact that they are encoded by a large gene family which is developmentally regulated in a cell and tissue type specific fashion. This article is in honor of Ueli Aebi. It highlights the studies on IF that have been carried out by our laboratory for more than 40 years. Many of our advances in understanding IF are based on conversations with Ueli which have taken place during adventurous and sometimes dangerous hiking and biking trips throughout the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Goldman
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Arslan M, Qin Z, Buehler MJ. Coiled-coil intermediate filament stutter instability and molecular unfolding. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2011; 14:483-9. [PMID: 21516532 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2011.560147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are the key components of cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and are critical for cell mechanics. The building block of IFs is a coiled-coil alpha-helical dimer, consisting of several domains that include linkers and other structural discontinuities. One of the discontinuities in the dimer's coiled-coil region is the so-called 'stutter' region. The stutter is a region where a variation of the amino acid sequence pattern from other parts of the alpha-helical domains of the protein is found. It was suggested in earlier works that due to this sequence variation, the perfect coiled-coil arrangement ceases to exist. Here, we show using explicit water molecular dynamics and well-tempered metadynamics that for the coil2 domain of vimentin IFs the stutter is more stable in a non-alpha-helical, unfolded state. This causes a local structural disturbance in the alpha helix, which has a global effect on the nanomechanics of the structure. Our analysis suggests that the stutter features an enhanced tendency to unfolding even under the absence of external forces, implying a much greater structural instability than previously assumed. As a result it features a smaller local bending stiffness than other segments and presents a seed for the initiation of molecular bending and unfolding at large deformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melis Arslan
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Kapinos LE, Burkhard P, Herrmann H, Aebi U, Strelkov SV. Simultaneous Formation of Right- and Left-handed Anti-parallel Coiled-coil Interfaces by a Coil2 Fragment of Human Lamin A. J Mol Biol 2011; 408:135-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Revised: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
41
|
Structure and dynamics of human vimentin intermediate filament dimer and tetramer in explicit and implicit solvent models. J Mol Model 2010; 17:37-48. [PMID: 20358386 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-010-0696-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2009] [Accepted: 02/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments, in addition to microtubules and microfilaments, are one of the three major components of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, and play an important role in mechanotransduction as well as in providing mechanical stability to cells at large stretch. The molecular structures, mechanical and dynamical properties of the intermediate filament basic building blocks, the dimer and the tetramer, however, have remained elusive due to persistent experimental challenges owing to the large size and fibrillar geometry of this protein. We have recently reported an atomistic-level model of the human vimentin dimer and tetramer, obtained through a bottom-up approach based on structural optimization via molecular simulation based on an implicit solvent model (Qin et al. in PLoS ONE 2009 4(10):e7294, 9). Here we present extensive simulations and structural analyses of the model based on ultra large-scale atomistic-level simulations in an explicit solvent model, with system sizes exceeding 500,000 atoms and simulations carried out at 20 ns time-scales. We report a detailed comparison of the structural and dynamical behavior of this large biomolecular model with implicit and explicit solvent models. Our simulations confirm the stability of the molecular model and provide insight into the dynamical properties of the dimer and tetramer. Specifically, our simulations reveal a heterogeneous distribution of the bending stiffness along the molecular axis with the formation of rather soft and highly flexible hinge-like regions defined by non-alpha-helical linker domains. We report a comparison of Ramachandran maps and the solvent accessible surface area between implicit and explicit solvent models, and compute the persistence length of the dimer and tetramer structure of vimentin intermediate filaments for various subdomains of the protein. Our simulations provide detailed insight into the dynamical properties of the vimentin dimer and tetramer intermediate filament building blocks, which may guide the development of novel coarse-grained models of intermediate filaments, and could also help in understanding assembly mechanisms.
Collapse
|
42
|
Ise H, Kobayashi S, Goto M, Sato T, Kawakubo M, Takahashi M, Ikeda U, Akaike T. Vimentin and desmin possess GlcNAc-binding lectin-like properties on cell surfaces. Glycobiology 2010; 20:843-64. [PMID: 20332081 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwq039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Vimentin and desmin are intermediate filament proteins found in various mesenchymal and skeletal muscle cells, respectively. These proteins play an important role in the stabilization of the cytoplasmic architecture. Here, we found, using artificial biomimicking glycopolymers, that vimentin and desmin possess N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-binding lectin-like properties on the cell surfaces of various vimentin- and desmin-expressing cells such as cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. The rod II domain of these proteins was demonstrated to be localized to the cell surface and to directly bind to the artificial biomimicking GlcNAc-bearing polymer, by confocal laser microscopy and surface plasmon resonance analysis. These glycopolymers strongly interact with lectins and are useful tools for the analysis of lectin-carbohydrate interactions, since glycopolymers binding to lectins can induce the clustering of lectins due to multivalent glycoside ligand binding. Moreover, immunocytochemistry and pull-down assay with His-tagged vimentin-rod II domain protein showed that the vimentin-rod II domain interacts with O-GlcNAc proteins. These results suggest that O-GlcNAc proteins might be one candidate for physiological GlcNAc-bearing ligands with which vimentin and desmin interact. These findings demonstrate a novel function of vimentin and desmin that does not involve stabilization of the cytoplasmic architecture by which these proteins interact with physiological GlcNAc-bearing ligands such as O-GlcNAc proteins on the cell surface through their GlcNAc-binding lectin-like properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirohiko Ise
- Frontier Research Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Aziz A, Hess JF, Budamagunta MS, Voss JC, FitzGerald PG. Site-directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance determination of vimentin head domain structure. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:15278-15285. [PMID: 20231271 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.075598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filament (IF) proteins have been predicted to have a conserved tripartite domain structure consisting of a largely alpha-helical central rod domain, flanked by head and tail domains. However, crystal structures have not been reported for any IF or IF protein. Although progress has been made in determining central rod domain structure, no structural data have been reported for either the head or tail domains. We used site-directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance to analyze 45 different spin labeled mutants spanning the head domain of vimentin. The data, combined with results from a previous study, provide strong evidence that the polypeptide backbones of the head domains form a symmetric dimer of closely apposed backbones that fold back onto the rod domain, imparting an asymmetry to the dimer. By following the behavior of spin labels during the process of in vitro assembly, we show that head domain structure is dynamic, changing as a result of filament assembly. Finally, because the vimentin head domain is the major site of the phosphorylation that induces disassembly at mitosis, we studied the effects of phosphorylation on head domain structure and demonstrate that phosphorylation drives specific head domain regions apart. These data provide the first evidence-based model of IF head domain structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atya Aziz
- Departments of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - John F Hess
- Departments of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Madhu S Budamagunta
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - John C Voss
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Paul G FitzGerald
- Departments of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, California 95616.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Desmin myopathy with severe cardiomyopathy in a Uruguayan family due to a codon deletion in a new location within the desmin 1A rod domain. Neuromuscul Disord 2010; 20:178-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2010.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2009] [Revised: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 01/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
45
|
Kapinos LE, Schumacher J, Mücke N, Machaidze G, Burkhard P, Aebi U, Strelkov SV, Herrmann H. Characterization of the head-to-tail overlap complexes formed by human lamin A, B1 and B2 "half-minilamin" dimers. J Mol Biol 2010; 396:719-31. [PMID: 20004208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2009] [Revised: 11/30/2009] [Accepted: 12/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Half-minilamins, representing amino- and carboxy-terminal fragments of human lamins A, B1 and B2 with a truncated central rod domain, were investigated for their ability to form distinct head-to-tail-type dimer complexes. This mode of interaction represents an essential step in the longitudinal assembly reaction exhibited by full-length lamin dimers. As determined by analytical ultracentrifugation, the amino-terminal fragments were soluble under low ionic strength conditions sedimenting with distinct profiles and s-values (1.6-1.8 S) indicating the formation of coiled-coil dimers. The smaller carboxy-terminal fragments were, except for lamin B2, largely insoluble under these conditions. However, after equimolar amounts of homotypic amino- and carboxy-terminal lamin fragments had been mixed in 4 M urea, upon subsequent renaturation the carboxy-terminal fragments were completely rescued from precipitation and distinct soluble complexes with higher s-values (2.3-2.7 S) were obtained. From this behavior, we conclude that the amino- and carboxy-terminal coiled-coil dimers interact to form distinct oligomers (i.e. tetramers). Furthermore, a corresponding interaction occurred also between heterotypic pairs of A- and B-type lamin fragments. Hence, A-type lamin dimers may interact with B-type lamin dimers head-to-tail to yield linear polymers. These findings indicate that a lamin dimer principally has the freedom for a "combinatorial" head-to-tail association with all types of lamins, a property that might be of significant importance for the assembly of the nuclear lamina. Furthermore, we suggest that the head-to-tail interaction of the rod end domains represents a principal step in the assembly of cytoplasmic intermediate filament proteins too.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larisa E Kapinos
- M.E. Müller Institute for Structural Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Nicolet S, Herrmann H, Aebi U, Strelkov SV. Atomic structure of vimentin coil 2. J Struct Biol 2010; 170:369-76. [PMID: 20176112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2010.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2010] [Revised: 02/12/2010] [Accepted: 02/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are essential cytoskeletal components in metazoan cells. They assemble from elementary dimers that are built around the central alpha-helical coiled-coil rod domain representing the IF 'signature'. The rod consists of two similarly-sized parts, coil 1 and coil 2, connected by a non-alpha-helical linker L12. Coil 2 is absolutely conserved in length across all IF types and was initially predicted to consist of a short coiled-coil segment 2A based on a heptad pattern of hydrophobic residues, another linker L2 and a coiled-coil segment 2B. Here we present the crystal structure of human vimentin fragment including residues 261-335 i.e. approximately the first half of coil 2. The N-terminal part of this fragment reveals a parallel alpha-helical bundle characterized by 3.5 consecutive hendecad repeats. It is immediately followed by a regular left-handed coiled coil. The distinct non-helical linker L2 is therefore not observed. Together with the previously determined crystal structure of the major part of segment 2B (Strelkov et al., 2002), we can now build a complete atomic model of the 21nm long vimentin coil 2 dimer being a relatively rigid rod.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nicolet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wilson NJ, Messenger AG, Leachman SA, O'Toole EA, Lane EB, Irwin McLean W, Smith FJ. Keratin K6c Mutations Cause Focal Palmoplantar Keratoderma. J Invest Dermatol 2010; 130:425-9. [DOI: 10.1038/jid.2009.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
|
48
|
A multi-scale approach to understand the mechanobiology of intermediate filaments. J Biomech 2010; 43:15-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
|
49
|
Qin Z, Kreplak L, Buehler MJ. Hierarchical structure controls nanomechanical properties of vimentin intermediate filaments. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7294. [PMID: 19806221 PMCID: PMC2752800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Accepted: 08/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs), in addition to microtubules and microfilaments, are one of the three major components of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, playing a vital role in mechanotransduction and in providing mechanical stability to cells. Despite the importance of IF mechanics for cell biology and cell mechanics, the structural basis for their mechanical properties remains unknown. Specifically, our understanding of fundamental filament properties, such as the basis for their great extensibility, stiffening properties, and their exceptional mechanical resilience remains limited. This has prevented us from answering fundamental structure-function relationship questions related to the biomechanical role of intermediate filaments, which is crucial to link structure and function in the protein material's biological context. Here we utilize an atomistic-level model of the human vimentin dimer and tetramer to study their response to mechanical tensile stress, and describe a detailed analysis of the mechanical properties and associated deformation mechanisms. We observe a transition from alpha-helices to beta-sheets with subsequent interdimer sliding under mechanical deformation, which has been inferred previously from experimental results. By upscaling our results we report, for the first time, a quantitative comparison to experimental results of IF nanomechanics, showing good agreement. Through the identification of links between structures and deformation mechanisms at distinct hierarchical levels, we show that the multi-scale structure of IFs is crucial for their characteristic mechanical properties, in particular their ability to undergo severe deformation of ≈300% strain without breaking, facilitated by a cascaded activation of a distinct deformation mechanisms operating at different levels. This process enables IFs to combine disparate properties such as mechanosensitivity, strength and deformability. Our results enable a new paradigm in studying biological and mechanical properties of IFs from an atomistic perspective, and lay the foundation to understanding how properties of individual protein molecules can have profound effects at larger length-scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Qin
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Laurent Kreplak
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Computational Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Herrmann H, Strelkov SV, Burkhard P, Aebi U. Intermediate filaments: primary determinants of cell architecture and plasticity. J Clin Invest 2009; 119:1772-83. [PMID: 19587452 DOI: 10.1172/jci38214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are major constituents of the cytoskeleton and nuclear boundary in animal cells. They are of prime importance for the functional organization of structural elements. Depending on the cell type, morphologically similar but biochemically distinct proteins form highly viscoelastic filament networks with multiple nanomechanical functions. Besides their primary role in cell plasticity and their established function as cellular stress absorbers, recently discovered gene defects have elucidated that structural alterations of IFs can affect their involvement both in signaling and in controlling gene regulatory networks. Here, we highlight the basic structural and functional properties of IFs and derive a concept of how mutations may affect cellular architecture and thereby tissue construction and physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harald Herrmann
- Group Functional Architecture of the Cell, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|