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Pham TL, Fazliev S, Baur P, Comba P, Thomas F. An Engineered β-Hairpin Peptide Forming Thermostable Complexes with Zn II , Ni II , and Cu II through a His 3 Site. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200588. [PMID: 36445805 PMCID: PMC10107957 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The three-dimensional structure of a peptide, which determines its function, can denature at elevated temperatures, in the presence of chaotropic reagents, or in organic solvents. These factors limit the applicability of peptides. Herein, we present an engineered β-hairpin peptide containing a His3 site that forms complexes with ZnII , NiII , and CuII . Circular dichroism spectroscopy shows that the peptide-metal complexes exhibit melting temperatures up to 80 °C and remain folded in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride as well as in organic solvents. Intrinsic fluorescence titration experiments were used to determine the dissociation constants of metal binding in the nano- to sub-nanomolar range. The coordination geometry of the peptide-CuII complex was studied by EPR spectroscopy, and a distorted square planar coordination geometry with weak interactions to axial ligands was revealed. Due to their impressive stability, the presented peptide-metal complexes open up interesting fields of application, such as the development of a new class of peptide-metal catalysts for stereoselective organic synthesis or the directed design of extremophilic β-sheet peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Lam Pham
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sunnatullo Fazliev
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Baur
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Comba
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Abstract
The natural function of many proteins depends on their ability to switch their conformation driven by environmental changes. In this work, we present a small, monomeric β-sheet peptide that switches between a molten globule and a folded state through Zn(II) binding. The solvent-exposed hydrophobic core on the β-sheet surface was substituted by a His3-site, whereas the internal hydrophobic core was left intact. Zn(II) is specifically recognized by the peptide relative to other divalent metal ions, binds in the lower micromolar range, and can be removed and re-added without denaturation of the peptide. In addition, the peptide is fully pH-switchable, has a pKa of about 6, and survives several cycles of acidification and neutralization. In-depth structural characterization of the switch was achieved by concerted application of circular dichroism (CD) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Thus, this study represents a viable approach toward a globular β-sheet Zn(II) mini-receptor prototype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Lam Pham
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kovermann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Franziska Thomas
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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3
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Ghanbarpour A, Pinger C, Esmatpour Salmani R, Assar Z, Santos EM, Nosrati M, Pawlowski K, Spence D, Vasileiou C, Jin X, Borhan B, Geiger JH. Engineering the hCRBPII Domain-Swapped Dimer into a New Class of Protein Switches. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:17125-17132. [PMID: 31557439 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b04664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein conformational switches or allosteric proteins play a key role in the regulation of many essential biological pathways. Nonetheless, the implementation of protein conformational switches in protein design applications has proven challenging, with only a few known examples that are not derivatives of naturally occurring allosteric systems. We have discovered that the domain-swapped (DS) dimer of hCRBPII undergoes a large and robust conformational change upon retinal binding, making it a potentially powerful template for the design of protein conformational switches. Atomic resolution structures of the apo- and holo-forms illuminate a simple, mechanical movement involving sterically driven torsion angle flipping of two residues that drive the motion. We further demonstrate that the conformational "readout" can be altered by addition of cross-domain disulfide bonds, also visualized at atomic resolution. Finally, as a proof of principle, we have created an allosteric metal binding site in the DS dimer, where ligand binding results in a reversible 5-fold loss of metal binding affinity. The high resolution structure of the metal-bound variant illustrates a well-formed metal binding site at the interface of the two domains of the DS dimer and confirms the design strategy for allosteric regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ghanbarpour
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Cody Pinger
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Rahele Esmatpour Salmani
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Zahra Assar
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Elizabeth M Santos
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Meisam Nosrati
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Kathryn Pawlowski
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Dana Spence
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Chrysoula Vasileiou
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Xiangshu Jin
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - Babak Borhan
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
| | - James H Geiger
- Department of Chemistry , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan 48824 , United States
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4
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Computational approaches for de novo design and redesign of metal-binding sites on proteins. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20160179. [PMID: 28167677 PMCID: PMC5482196 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20160179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal ions play pivotal roles in protein structure, function and stability. The functional and structural diversity of proteins in nature expanded with the incorporation of metal ions or clusters in proteins. Approximately one-third of these proteins in the databases contain metal ions. Many biological and chemical processes in nature involve metal ion-binding proteins, aka metalloproteins. Many cellular reactions that underpin life require metalloproteins. Most of the remarkable, complex chemical transformations are catalysed by metalloenzymes. Realization of the importance of metal-binding sites in a variety of cellular events led to the advancement of various computational methods for their prediction and characterization. Furthermore, as structural and functional knowledgebase about metalloproteins is expanding with advances in computational and experimental fields, the focus of the research is now shifting towards de novo design and redesign of metalloproteins to extend nature’s own diversity beyond its limits. In this review, we will focus on the computational toolbox for prediction of metal ion-binding sites, de novo metalloprotein design and redesign. We will also give examples of tailor-made artificial metalloproteins designed with the computational toolbox.
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5
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Computational design of ligand-binding proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2016; 45:67-73. [PMID: 27951448 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2016.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Custom-designed ligand-binding proteins with novel functions hold the potential for numerous applications. In recent years, the developments of computational methods together with high-throughput experimental screening techniques have led to the generation of novel, high-affinity ligand-binding proteins for given ligands. In addition, naturally occurring ligand-binding proteins have been computationally designed to recognize new ligands while keeping their original biological functions at the same time. Furthermore, metalloproteins have been successfully designed for novel functions and applications. Though much has been learned in these successful design cases, advances in our understanding of protein dynamics and functions related to ligand binding and development of novel computational strategies are necessary to further increase the success rate of computational protein-ligand binding design.
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6
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Zhu C, Zhang C, Zhang T, Zhang X, Shen Q, Tang B, Liang H, Lai L. Rational design of TNFα binding proteins based on the de novo designed protein DS119. Protein Sci 2016; 25:2066-2075. [PMID: 27571536 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
De novo protein design offers templates for engineering tailor-made protein functions and orthogonal protein interaction networks for synthetic biology research. Various computational methods have been developed to introduce functional sites in known protein structures. De novo designed protein scaffolds provide further opportunities for functional protein design. Here we demonstrate the rational design of novel tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) binding proteins using a home-made grafting program AutoMatch. We grafted three key residues from a virus 2L protein to a de novo designed small protein, DS119, with consideration of backbone flexibility. The designed proteins bind to TNFα with micromolar affinities. We further optimized the interface residues with RosettaDesign and significantly improved the binding capacity of one protein Tbab1-4. These designed proteins inhibit the activity of TNFα in cellular luciferase assays. Our work illustrates the potential application of the de novo designed protein DS119 in protein engineering, biomedical research, and protein sequence-structure-function studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhu
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Changsheng Zhang
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qi Shen
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bo Tang
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Huanhuan Liang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Center for Quantitative Biology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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7
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Slow and bimolecular folding of a de novo designed monomeric protein DS119. Biophys J 2014; 105:2141-8. [PMID: 24209859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo protein design offers a unique means to test and advance our understanding of how proteins fold. However, most current design methods are native structure eccentric and folding kinetics has rarely been considered in the design process. Here, we show that a de novo designed mini-protein DS119, which folds into a βαβ structure, exhibits unusually slow and concentration-dependent folding kinetics. For example, the folding time for 50 μM of DS119 was estimated to be ~2 s. Stopped-flow fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments further suggested that its folding was likely facilitated by a transient dimerization process. Taken together, these results highlight the need for consideration of the entire folding energy landscape in de novo protein design and provide evidence suggesting nonnative interactions can play a key role in protein folding.
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8
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Zastrow M, Pecoraro VL. Designing hydrolytic zinc metalloenzymes. Biochemistry 2014; 53:957-78. [PMID: 24506795 PMCID: PMC3985962 DOI: 10.1021/bi4016617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Zinc is an essential element required for the function of more than 300 enzymes spanning all classes. Despite years of dedicated study, questions regarding the connections between primary and secondary metal ligands and protein structure and function remain unanswered, despite numerous mechanistic, structural, biochemical, and synthetic model studies. Protein design is a powerful strategy for reproducing native metal sites that may be applied to answering some of these questions and subsequently generating novel zinc enzymes. From examination of the earliest design studies introducing simple Zn(II)-binding sites into de novo and natural protein scaffolds to current studies involving the preparation of efficient hydrolytic zinc sites, it is increasingly likely that protein design will achieve reaction rates previously thought possible only for native enzymes. This Current Topic will review the design and redesign of Zn(II)-binding sites in de novo-designed proteins and native protein scaffolds toward the preparation of catalytic hydrolytic sites. After discussing the preparation of Zn(II)-binding sites in various scaffolds, we will describe relevant examples for reengineering existing zinc sites to generate new or altered catalytic activities. Then, we will describe our work on the preparation of a de novo-designed hydrolytic zinc site in detail and present comparisons to related designed zinc sites. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the significant progress being made toward building zinc metalloenzymes from the bottom up.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincent L. Pecoraro
- Department of Chemistry, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
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9
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Zastrow ML, Pecoraro VL. Designing functional metalloproteins: from structural to catalytic metal sites. Coord Chem Rev 2013; 257:2565-2588. [PMID: 23997273 PMCID: PMC3756834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2013.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Metalloenzymes efficiently catalyze some of the most important and difficult reactions in nature. For many years, coordination chemists have effectively used small molecule models to understand these systems. More recently, protein design has been shown to be an effective approach for mimicking metal coordination environments. Since the first designed proteins were reported, much success has been seen for incorporating metal sites into proteins and attaining the desired coordination environment but until recently, this has been with a lack of significant catalytic activity. Now there are examples of designed metalloproteins that, although not yet reaching the activity of native enzymes, are considerably closer. In this review, we highlight work leading up to the design of a small metalloprotein containing two metal sites, one for structural stability (HgS3) and the other a separate catalytic zinc site to mimic carbonic anhydrase activity (ZnN3O). The first section will describe previous studies that allowed for a high affinity thiolate site that binds heavy metals in a way that stabilizes three-stranded coiled coils. The second section will examine ways of preparing histidine rich environments that lead to metal based hydrolytic catalysts. We will also discuss other recent examples of the design of structural metal sites and functional metalloenzymes. Our work demonstrates that attaining the proper first coordination geometry of a metal site can lead to a significant fraction of catalytic activity, apparently independent of the type of secondary structure of the surrounding protein environment. We are now in a position to begin to meet the challenge of building a metalloenzyme systematically from the bottom-up by engineering and analyzing interactions directly around the metal site and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L. Zastrow
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Zastrow ML, Pecoraro VL. Influence of active site location on catalytic activity in de novo-designed zinc metalloenzymes. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:5895-903. [PMID: 23516959 DOI: 10.1021/ja401537t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
While metalloprotein design has now yielded a number of successful metal-bound and even catalytically active constructs, the question of where to put a metal site along a linear, repetitive sequence has not been thoroughly addressed. Often several possibilities in a given sequence may exist that would appear equivalent but may in fact differ for metal affinity, substrate access, or protein dynamics. We present a systematic variation of active site location for a hydrolytically active ZnHis3O site contained within a de novo-designed three-stranded coiled coil. We find that the maximal rate, substrate access, and metal-binding affinity are dependent on the selected position, while catalytic efficiency for p-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis can be retained regardless of the location of the active site. This achievement demonstrates how efficient, tailor-made enzymes which control rate, pKa, substrate and solvent access (and selectivity), and metal-binding affinity may be realized. These findings may be applied to the more advanced de novo design of constructs containing secondary interactions, such as hydrogen-bonding channels. We are now confident that changes to location for accommodating such channels can be achieved without location-dependent loss of catalytic efficiency. These findings bring us closer to our ultimate goal of incorporating the secondary interactions we believe will be necessary in order to improve both active site properties and the catalytic efficiency to be competitive with the native enzyme, carbonic anhydrase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Zastrow
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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11
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Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the prospects for bio-solar energy conversion. The Global Artificial Photosynthesis meeting at Lord Howe Island (14–18 August 2011) underscored the dependence that the world has placed on non-renewable energy supplies, particularly for transport fuels, and highlighted the potential of solar energy. Biology has used solar energy for free energy gain to drive chemical reactions for billions of years. The principal conduits for energy conversion on earth are photosynthetic reaction centres – but can they be harnessed, copied and emulated? In this communication, we initially discuss algal-based biofuels before investigating bio-inspired solar energy conversion in artificial and engineered systems. We show that the basic design and engineering principles for assembling photocatalytic proteins can be used to assemble nanocatalysts for solar fuel production.
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