Dynamical Aspects of Biomacromolecular Multi-resolution Modelling Using the UltraScan Solution Modeler (US-SOMO) Suite. In: Howard JA, Sparkes HA, Raithby PR, Churakov AV, editors. The Future of Dynamic Structural Science. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 2014. pp. 189-99. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8550-1_13]

Farnesylation of human guanylate-binding protein 1 as safety mechanism preventing structural rearrangements and uninduced dimerization

Human guanylate-binding protein 1 (hGBP1) belongs to the family of dynamin-like proteins and is activated by addition of nucleotides, leading to protein oligomerization and stimulated GTPase activity. In vivo, hGBP1 is post-translationally modified by attachment of a farnesyl group yielding farn-hGBP1. In this study, hydrodynamic differences in farn-hGBP1 and unmodified hGBP1 were investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and analytical size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). In addition, we performed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments coupled with a SEC setup (SEC-SAXS) to investigate structural properties of nonmodified hGBP1 and farn-hGBP1 in solution. SEC-SAXS measurements revealed that farnesylation keeps hGBP1 in its inactive monomeric and crystal-like conformation in nucleotide-free solution, whereas unmodified hGBP1 forms a monomer-dimer equilibrium both in the inactive ground state in nucleotide-free solution as well as in the activated state that is trapped by addition of the nonhydrolysable GTP analogue GppNHp. Nonmodified hGBP1 is structurally perturbed as compared to farn-hGBP. In particular, GppNHp binding leads to large structural rearrangements and higher conformational flexibility of the monomer and the dimer. Structural changes observed in the nonmodified protein are prerequisites for further oligomer assemblies of farn-hGBP1 that occur in the presence of nucleotides. DATABASE: All SEC-SAXS data, corresponding fits to the data and structural models are deposited in the Small Angle Scattering Biological Data Bank [SASBDB (Nucleic Acids Res, 43, 2015, D357)] with project IDs: SASDEE8, SASDEF8, SASDEG8, SASDEH8, SASDEJ8, SASDEK8, SASDEL8 and SASDEM8.

Recent advances in the UltraScan SOlution MOdeller (US-SOMO) hydrodynamic and small-angle scattering data analysis and simulation suite

The UltraScan SOlution MOdeller (US-SOMO) is a comprehensive, public domain, open-source suite of computer programs centred on hydrodynamic modelling and small-angle scattering (SAS) data analysis and simulation. We describe here the advances that have been implemented since its last official release (#3087, 2017), which are available from release #3141 for Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems. A major effort has been the transition from the legacy Qt3 cross platform software development and user interface library to the modern Qt5 release. Apart from improved graphical support, this has allowed the direct implementation of the newest, almost two-orders of magnitude faster version of the ZENO hydrodynamic computation algorithm for all operating systems. Coupled with the SoMo-generated bead models with overlaps, ZENO provides the most accurate translational friction computations from atomic-level structures available (Rocco and Byron Eur Biophys J 44:417-431, 2015a), with computational times comparable with or faster than those of other methods. In addition, it has allowed us to introduce the direct representation of each atom in a structure as a (hydrated) bead, opening interesting new modelling possibilities. In the small-angle scattering (SAS) part of the suite, an indirect Fourier transform Bayesian algorithm has been implemented for the computation of the pairwise distance distribution function from SAS data. Finally, the SAS HPLC module, recently upgraded with improved baseline correction and Gaussian decomposition of not baseline-resolved peaks and with advanced statistical evaluation tools (Brookes et al. J Appl Cryst 49:1827-1841, 2016), now allows automatic top-peak frame selection and averaging.

US-SOMO HPLC-SAXS module: dealing with capillary fouling and extraction of pure component patterns from poorly resolved SEC-SAXS data

The US-SOMO HPLC-SAXS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with small-angle X-ray scattering) module is an advanced tool for the comprehensive analysis of SEC-SAXS (size-exclusion chromatography coupled with SAXS) data. It includes baseline and band-broadening correction routines, and Gaussian decomposition of overlapping skewed peaks into pure components.

Size-exclusion chromatography coupled with SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering), often performed using a flow-through capillary, should allow direct collection of monodisperse sample data. However, capillary fouling issues and non-baseline-resolved peaks can hamper its efficacy. The UltraScan solution modeler (US-SOMO) HPLC-SAXS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with SAXS) module provides a comprehensive framework to analyze such data, starting with a simple linear baseline correction and symmetrical Gaussian decomposition tools [Brookes, Pérez, Cardinali, Profumo, Vachette & Rocco (2013 ▸). J. Appl. Cryst.46, 1823–1833]. In addition to several new features, substantial improvements to both routines have now been implemented, comprising the evaluation of outcomes by advanced statistical tools. The novel integral baseline-correction procedure is based on the more sound assumption that the effect of capillary fouling on scattering increases monotonically with the intensity scattered by the material within the X-ray beam. Overlapping peaks, often skewed because of sample interaction with the column matrix, can now be accurately decomposed using non-symmetrical modified Gaussian functions. As an example, the case of a polydisperse solution of aldolase is analyzed: from heavily convoluted peaks, individual SAXS profiles of tetramers, octamers and dodecamers are extracted and reliably modeled.