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Analytical ultracentrifugation: still the gold standard that offers multiple solutions. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2021; 49:673-676. [PMID: 33211149 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-020-01483-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the nature of macromolecules and their interactions in solution underpins many fields, including biology, chemistry and materials science. The 24th International Analytical Ultracentrifugation Workshop and Symposium (AUC2019, held in Christchurch, New Zealand, August 2019), brought together 77 international delegates to highlight recent developments in the field. There was a focus on analytical ultracentrifugation, although we recognise that this is but one of the key methods in the biophysicist's toolkit. Many of the presentations showcased the versatility of analytical ultracentrifugation and how such experiments are integrated with other solution techniques, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, cryo-electron microscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and more. This special issue emphasises a wide range of themes covered in the meeting, including carbohydrate chemistry, protein chemistry, polymer science, and macromolecular interactions.
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Turk LS, Kuang X, Dal Pozzo V, Patel K, Chen M, Huynh K, Currie MJ, Mitchell D, Dobson RCJ, D'Arcangelo G, Dai W, Comoletti D. The structure-function relationship of a signaling-competent, dimeric Reelin fragment. Structure 2021; 29:1156-1170.e6. [PMID: 34089653 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Reelin operates through canonical and non-canonical pathways that mediate several aspects of brain development and function. Reelin's dimeric central fragment (CF), generated through proteolytic cleavage, is required for the lipoprotein-receptor-dependent canonical pathway activation. Here, we analyze the signaling properties of a variety of Reelin fragments and measure the differential binding affinities of monomeric and dimeric CF fragments to lipoprotein receptors to investigate the mode of canonical signal activation. We also present the cryoelectron tomography-solved dimeric structure of Reelin CF and support it using several other biophysical techniques. Our findings suggest that Reelin CF forms a covalent parallel dimer with some degree of flexibility between the two protein chains. As a result of this conformation, Reelin binds to lipoprotein receptors in a manner inaccessible to its monomeric form and is capable of stimulating canonical pathway signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam S Turk
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Xuyuan Kuang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Valentina Dal Pozzo
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Khush Patel
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Muyuan Chen
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kevin Huynh
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Michael J Currie
- Biomolecular Interactions Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Renwick C J Dobson
- Biomolecular Interactions Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Gabriella D'Arcangelo
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Davide Comoletti
- Child Health Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
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