Multiplicity-Selective Coherence Transfer Steps for the Design of Amino Acid-Selective Experiments-A Triple-Resonance Experiment Selective for Asn and Gln

Simplifying LR-HSQC spectra using a triple-quantum filter: The LR-HTQC experiment

Long-range heteronuclear single quantum correlation (LR-HSQC) experiments may be applied for detecting long-range correlations but suffer from two disadvantages, common to all heteronuclear long-range correlation experiments: (i) The information density in LR-HSQC spectra may be too high to be used directly without "filtering out" shorter range correlations, and (ii) often, substantial differences in intensity among cross peaks exist, potentially hampering the visualization of weak, often crucial cross peaks. In this contribution, we propose a modified LR-HSQC experiment, the LR-HTQC experiment (Long-Range Heteronuclear Triple Quantum Correlation) that partially solves the problems aforementioned. We show theoretically and experimentally that the LR-HTQC experiment removes the intense cross peaks of CH spin pairs, substantially reduces the medium intensity of cross peaks originating from CHH' spin systems, whereas the typically weak intensity of cross peaks of CHH'H″ and C(H)_n, _{n > 3} spin systems is less affected. Consequently, the LR-HTQC experiment affords simplified long-range heteronuclear shift correlation spectra and scales down large intensity differences among different types of cross peaks, although a certain general reduction of signal intensities has to be accepted.

Generating NMR chemical shift assignments of intrinsically disordered proteins using carbon-detected NMR methods

There is an extraordinary need to describe the structures of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) due to their role in various biological processes involved in signaling and transcription. However, general study of IDPs by NMR spectroscopy is limited by the poor (1)H amide chemical shift dispersion typically observed in their spectra. Recently, (13)C direct-detected NMR spectroscopy has been recognized as enabling broad structural study of IDPs. Most notably, multidimensional experiments based on the (15)N,(13)C CON spectrum make complete chemical shift assignment feasible. Here we document a collection of NMR-based tools that efficiently lead to chemical shift assignment of IDPs, motivated by a case study of the C-terminal disordered region from the human pancreatic transcription factor Pdx1. Our strategy builds on the combination of two three-dimensional (3D) experiments, (HN-flip)N(CA)CON and 3D (HN-flip)N(CA)NCO, that enable daisy chain connections to be built along the IDP backbone, facilitated by acquisition of amino acid-specific (15)N,(13)C CON-detected experiments. Assignments are completed through carbon-detected, total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY)-based side chain chemical shift measurement. Conducting our study required producing valuable modifications to many previously published pulse sequences, motivating us to announce the creation of a database of our pulse programs, which we make freely available through our website.

Selective lighting up of segments around Gly, Ala and Ser/Thr in proteins

Direct detection of (13) C nucleus can be used as a valuable alternative where (1) H detection poses a challenge due to relaxation effects, chemical exchange and poor chemical shift dispersion. In this context, we have designed a suite of 2D (13) C(α) -detected hNCA experiments that provide sequential correlations of (13) C(α) with (15) N on one hand and efficient spectroscopic labeling of certain groups of residues, namely, Gly, Ala, Ser and Thr, on the other. These residues act as checkpoints in the sequential walk, which in turn offer new possibilities of backbone assignment of small proteins from a set of 2D experiments, thereby providing great economy in terms of spectrometer time. The direct identification of peptide segments around Gly, Ala, Ser and Thr residues along a protein chain will be highly valuable for deriving important information on sites of ligand binding, phosphorylation, inhibitor/substrate binding, understanding protein folding pathways, comprehending local conformational dynamics etc. without having to obtain complete sequence-specific assignments, which can be time consuming and at times formidable, especially in large proteins. We have illustratively demonstrated the multifaceted applications of these variants of 2D experiments on ubiquitin and M-crystallin. We foresee that these 2D hNCA experiments will provide economic and efficient strategies for studying the structure and function of proteins.

Automated protein NMR structure determination in solution

The main drawback of protein NMR spectroscopy today is still the extensive amount of time required for solving a single structure. The main bottleneck in this respect is the manual evaluation of the experimental spectra. A clear solution to this challenge is the development of automated methods for this purpose. At the current stage of development, this goal has been almost or in a few cases fully reached for favorable cases such as well-behaved, stably folding smaller proteins below the 25 kDa range. For larger and/or more difficult molecules, the input of a human expert is still required. However, even here, automated routines will substantially speed up the structure determination process. In this report, we will summarize recent developments in this field and especially emphasize practical aspects important for a successful automated protein structure determination in solution. An important aspect closely related to structure determination is structure validation. Therefore, we devote a section to automated approaches for this topic.

Amino acid type identification in NMR spectra of proteins via beta- and gamma-carbon edited experiments

In this work, we introduce a set of pulse sequences that provide amino acid type identification of the NH correlation signals of proteins. The first pulse sequence is a modification of the CBCA(CO)NH experiment that exploits spin-coupling topologies to differentiate between amino acid types. A set of eight 2D (1)H-(15)N correlation spectra is recorded where the sign of the cross-peaks change from one spectrum to another according to the amino acid type of the preceding residue in the protein sequence. Linear combination of these eight data sets produces four subspectra. Taking also into account the sign of the correlation signals, this method allows the classification of the NH signals into six different groups, depending on the character of the preceding residue. This sequence is complemented with a (CGCBCACO)NH experiment that allows the subdivision of the largest of these groups into two smaller ones. Finally, a modification of the CBCANH experiment led to a similar classification of NH signals into six different groups, but now depending on the type of its own amino acid. The set of pulse sequences is demonstrated with two proteins of small to moderate size.

Amino-acid type identification in 15N-HSQC spectra by combinatorial selective 15N-labelling

The efficiency of cell-free protein synthesis combined with combinatorial selective 15N-labelling provides a method for the rapid assignment of 15N-HSQC cross-peaks to the 19 different non-proline amino-acid types from five 15N-HSQC spectra. This strategy was explored with two different constructs of the C-terminal domain V of the tau subunit of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, tauC16 and tauC14. Since each of the five 15N-HSQC spectra contained only about one third of the cross-peaks present in uniformly labelled samples, spectral overlap was much reduced. All 15N-HSQC cross-peaks of the backbone amides could be assigned to the correct amino-acid type. Availability of the residue-type information greatly assisted the evaluation of the changes in chemical shifts observed for corresponding residues in tauC16 vs. those in tauC14, and the analysis of the structure and mobility of the C-terminal residues present in tauC16 but not in tauC14.

The solution structure of an N-terminally truncated version of the yeast CDC24p PB1 domain shows a different β-sheet topology

Phox and Bem1 (PB1) domains mediate protein-protein interactions via the formation of homo- or hetero-dimers. The C-terminal PB1 domain of yeast cell division cycle 24 (CDC24p), a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor involved in cell polarity establishment, is known to interact with the PB1 domain occurring in bud emergence MSB1 interacting 1 (BEM1p) during the regulation of the yeast budding process via its OPR/PC/AID (OPCA) motif. Here, we present the structure of an N-terminally truncated version of the Sc CDC24p PB1 domain. It shows a different topology of the beta-sheet than the long form. However, the C-terminal part of the structure shows the conserved PB1 domain features including the OPCA motif with a slight rearrangement of helix alpha1. Residues which are important for the heterodimerization with BEM1p are structurally preserved.

The oxidized subunit B8 from human complex I adopts a thioredoxin fold

Subunit B8 from ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) (CI-B8) is one of several nuclear-encoded supernumerary subunits that are not present in bacterial complex I. Its solution structure shows a thioredoxin fold with highest similarities to the human thioredoxin mutant C73S and thioredoxin 2 from Anabeana sp. Interestingly, these proteins contain active sites in the same area, where the disulfide bond of oxidized CI-B8 is located. The redox potential of this disulfide bond is -251.6 mV, comparing well to that of disulfides in other thioredoxin-like proteins. Analysis of the structure reveals a surface area that is exclusively composed of highly conserved residues and thus most likely a subunit interaction site within complex I.

A modified strategy for sequence specific assignment of protein NMR spectra based on amino acid type selective experiments

The determination of the three-dimensional structure of a protein or the study of protein-ligand interactions requires the assignment of all relevant nuclei as an initial step. This is nowadays almost exclusively performed using triple-resonance experiments. The conventional strategy utilizes one or more pairs of three dimensional spectra to obtain redundant information and thus reliable assignments. Here, a modified strategy for obtaining sequence specific assignments based on two dimensional amino acid type selective triple-resonance experiments is proposed. These experiments can be recorded with good resolution in a relatively short time. They provide very specific and redundant information, in particular on sequential connectivities, that drastically increases the ease and reliability of the assignment procedure, done either manually or in an automated fashion. The new strategy is demonstrated with the protein domain PB1 from yeast CDC24p.

The solution structure of the SODD BAG domain reveals additional electrostatic interactions in the HSP70 complexes of SODD subfamily BAG domains

The solution structure of an N-terminally extended construct of the SODD BAG domain was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A homology model of the SODD-BAG/HSP70 complex reveals additional possible interactions that are specific for the SODD subfamily of BAG domains while the overall geometry of the complex remains the same. Relaxation rate measurements show that amino acids N358-S375 of SODD which were previously assigned to its BAG domain are not structured in our construct. The SODD BAG domain is thus indeed smaller than the homologous domain in Bag1 defining a new subfamily of BAG domains.

NMR analysis of in vitro-synthesized proteins without purification: a high-throughput approach

A cell-free protein expression system was established that provides protein samples of adequate concentration and purity for direct NMR analysis. The Escherichia coli peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase PpiB was expressed in this system with dual amino acid-selective isotope labeling to identify the NMR signal from the active site-residue Arg87. Addition of the substrate succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide selectively shifted its (15)N-HSQC cross peak, confirming binding to the active site. As cell-free protein expression provides high yields of protein per unit mass of labeled amino acid and sample handling is minimal, this strategy presents an exceptionally inexpensive and rapid approach to protein analysis.

MUSIC and aromatic residues: amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations, III

Amino acid type-selective experiments can help to remove ambiguities in automated assignment procedures for (15)N/(13)C-labeled proteins. Here we present five triple-resonance experiments that yield amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations for aromatic amino acids. Four of the novel experiments are based on the MUSIC coherence transfer scheme that replaces the initial INEPT transfer and is selective for CH(2). The MUSIC sequence is combined with selective excitation pulses to create experiments for Trp (W-HSQC) as well as Phe, Tyr, and His (FYH-HSQC). In addition, an experiment selective for Trp H(epsilon1)-N(epsilon1) is presented. The new experiments are recorded as two-dimensional experiments and their performance is demonstrated with the application to a protein domain of 115 amino acids.

MUSIC, selective pulses, and tuned delays: amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations, II

Amino acid type-selective experiments help to remove ambiguities in either manual or automated assignment procedures. Here we present modified triple-resonance experiments that yield amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations. They are based on the MUSIC coherence transfer scheme which replaces the initial INEPT transfer and is selective for XH(2) or XH(3) (where X is either (15)N or (13)C). Signals of the desired amino acid types are thus selected based on the topology of the side chain. MUSIC is combined with selective pulses and carefully tuned delays to create experiments for Ser (S-HSQC); Val, Ile, and Ala (VIA-HSQC); Leu and Ala (LA-HSQC); Asp, Asn, and Gly (DNG-HSQC), as well as Glu, Gln, and Gly (EQG-HSQC). The new experiments are recorded as two-dimensional spectra and their performance is demonstrated by their application to two protein domains of 83 and 115 residues.

3D HCCH(3)-TOCSY for resonance assignment of methyl-containing side chains in (13)C-labeled proteins

Two 3D experiments, (H)CCH(3)-TOCSY and H(C)CH(3)-TOCSY, are proposed for resonance assignment of methyl-containing amino acid side chains. After the initial proton-carbon INEPT step, during which either carbon or proton chemical shift labeling is achieved (t(1)), the magnetization is spread along the amino acid side chains by a carbon spin lock. The chemical shifts of methyl carbons are labeled (t(2)) during the following constant time interval. Finally the magnetization is transferred, in a reversed INEPT step, to methyl protons for detection (t(3)). The proposed experiments are characterized by high digital resolution in the methyl carbon dimension (t(2max) = 28.6 ms), optimum sensitivity due to the use of proton decoupling during the long constant time interval, and an optional removal of CH(2), or CH(2) and CH, resonances from the F(2)F(3) planes. The building blocks used in these experiments can be implemented in a range of heteronuclear experiments focusing on methyl resonances in proteins. The techniques are illustrated using a (15)N, (13)C-labeled E93D mutant of Schizosacharomyces pombe phosphoglycerate mutase (23.7 kDa).

MUSIC in triple-resonance experiments: amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations

Amino acid type-selective triple-resonance experiments can be of great help for the assignment of protein spectra, since they help to remove ambiguities in either manual or automated assignment procedures. Here, modified triple-resonance experiments that yield amino acid type-selective (1)H-(15)N correlations are presented. They are based on novel coherence transfer schemes, the MUSIC pulse sequence elements, that replace the initial INEPT transfer and are selective for XH(2) or XH(3) (X can be (15)N or (13)C). The desired amino acid type is thereby selected based on the topology of the side chain. Experiments for Gly (G-HSQC); Ala (A-HSQC); Thr, Val, Ile, and Ala (TAVI-HSQC); Thr and Ala (TA-HSQC), as well as Asn and Gln (N-HSQC and QN-HSQC), are described. The new experiments are recorded as two-dimensional experiments and therefore need only small amounts of spectrometer time. The performance of the experiments is demonstrated with the application to two protein domains. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.