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Khan S, Molloy JE, Puhl H, Schulman H, Vogel SS. Real-time single-molecule imaging of CaMKII-calmodulin interactions. Biophys J 2024; 123:824-838. [PMID: 38414237 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The binding of calcium/calmodulin (CAM) to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) initiates an ATP-driven cascade that triggers CaMKII autophosphorylation. The autophosphorylation in turn increases the CaMKII affinity for CAM. Here, we studied the ATP dependence of CAM association with the actin-binding CaMKIIβ isoform using single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Rhodamine-CAM associations/dissociations to surface-immobilized Venus-CaMKIIβ were resolved with 0.5 s resolution from video records, batch-processed with a custom algorithm. CAM occupancy was determined simultaneously with spot-photobleaching measurement of CaMKII holoenzyme stoichiometry. We show the ATP-dependent increase of the CAM association requires dimer formation for both the α and β isoforms. The study of mutant β holoenzymes revealed that the ATP-dependent increase in CAM affinity results in two distinct states. The phosphorylation-defective (T287.306-307A) holoenzyme resides only in the low-affinity state. CAM association is further reduced in the T287A holoenzyme relative to T287.306-307A. In the absence of ATP, the affinity of CAM for the T287.306-307A mutant and the wild-type monomer are comparable. The affinity of the ATP-binding impaired (K43R) mutant is even weaker. In ATP, the K43R holoenzyme resides in the low-affinity state. The phosphomimetic mutant (T287D) resides only in a 1000-fold higher-affinity state, with mean CAM occupancy of more than half of the 14-mer holoenzyme stoichiometry in picomolar CAM. ATP promotes T287D holoenzyme disassembly but does not elevate CAM occupancy. Single Poisson distributions characterized the ATP-dependent CAM occupancy of mutant holoenzymes. In contrast, the CAM occupancy of the wild-type population had a two-state distribution with both low- and high-affinity states represented. The low-affinity state was the dominant state, a result different from published in vitro assays. Differences in assay conditions can alter the balance between activating and inhibitory autophosphorylation. Bound ATP could be sufficient for CaMKII structural function, while antagonistic autophosphorylations may tune CaMKII kinase-regulated action-potential frequency decoding in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Khan
- Molecular Biology Consortium at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California.
| | | | - Henry Puhl
- Laboratory of Biophotonics and Quantum Biology, National Institutes on Alcohol, Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Howard Schulman
- Panorama Research Institute, Sunnyvale, California; Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Steven S Vogel
- Laboratory of Biophotonics and Quantum Biology, National Institutes on Alcohol, Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
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2
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Wang Q, DiForte C, Aleshintsev A, Elci G, Bhattacharya S, Bongiorno A, Gupta R. Calcium mediated static and dynamic allostery in S100A12: Implications for target recognition by S100 proteins. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4955. [PMID: 38501487 PMCID: PMC10949321 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4955] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Structure and functions of S100 proteins are regulated by two distinct calcium binding EF hand motifs. In this work, we used solution-state NMR spectroscopy to investigate the cooperativity between the two calcium binding sites and map the allosteric changes at the target binding site. To parse the contribution of the individual calcium binding events, variants of S100A12 were designed to selectively bind calcium to either the EF-I (N63A) or EF-II (E31A) loop, respectively. Detailed analysis of the backbone chemical shifts for wildtype protein and its mutants indicates that calcium binding to the canonical EF-II loop is the principal trigger for the conformational switch between 'closed' apo to the 'open' Ca2+ -bound conformation of the protein. Elimination of binding in S100-specific EF-I loop has limited impact on the calcium binding affinity of the EF-II loop and the concomitant structural rearrangement. In contrast, deletion of binding in the EF-II loop significantly attenuates calcium affinity in the EF-I loop and the structure adopts a 'closed' apo-like conformation. Analysis of experimental amide nitrogen (15 N) relaxation rates (R1 , R2 , and 15 N-{1 H} NOE) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrate that the calcium bound state is relatively floppy with pico-nanosecond motions induced in functionally relevant domains responsible for target recognition such as the hinge domain and the C-terminal residues. Experimental relaxation studies combined with MD simulations show that while calcium binding in the EF-I loop alone does not induce significant motions in the polypeptide chain, EF-I regulates fluctuations in the polypeptide in the presence of bound calcium in the EF-II loop. These results offer novel insights into the dynamic regulation of target recognition by calcium binding and unravels the role of cooperativity between the two calcium binding events in S100A12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | - Christopher DiForte
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and ChemistryThe Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkUnited States
| | - Aleksey Aleshintsev
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and ChemistryThe Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkUnited States
| | - Gianna Elci
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Angelo Bongiorno
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and ChemistryThe Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkUnited States
| | - Rupal Gupta
- Department of ChemistryCollege of Staten Island, City University of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and ChemistryThe Graduate Center of the City University of New YorkUnited States
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3
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Wang J, Ao M, Ma A, Yu J, Guo P, Huang S, Peng X, Yun DJ, Xu ZY. A Mitochondrial Localized Chaperone Regulator OsBAG6 Functions in Saline-Alkaline Stress Tolerance in Rice. RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 17:10. [PMID: 38252225 PMCID: PMC10803725 DOI: 10.1186/s12284-024-00686-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated athanogene (BAG) family genes play prominent roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress response. Although the molecular mechanism underlying BAG's response to abiotic stress has been studied in Arabidopsis, the function of OsBAG underlying saline-alkaline stress tolerance in rice remains unclear. In this study, OsBAG6, a chaperone regulator localized to mitochondria, was identified as a novel negative regulator of saline-alkaline stress tolerance in rice. The expression level of OsBAG6 was induced by high concentration of salt, high pH, heat and abscisic acid treatments. Overexpression of OsBAG6 in rice resulted in significantly reduced plant heights, grain size, grain weight, as well as higher sensitivity to saline-alkaline stress. By contrast, the osbag6 loss-of-function mutants exhibited decreased sensitivity to saline-alkaline stress. The transcriptomic analysis uncovered differentially expressed genes related to the function of "response to oxidative stress", "defense response", and "secondary metabolite biosynthetic process" in the shoots and roots of OsBAG6-overexpressing transgenic lines. Furthermore, cytoplasmic levels of Ca2+ increase rapidly in plants exposed to saline-alkaline stress. OsBAG6 bound to calcium sensor OsCaM1-1 under normal conditions, which was identified by comparative interactomics, but not in the presence of elevated Ca2+. Released OsCaM1-1 saturated with Ca2+ is then able to regulate downstream stress-responsive genes as part of the response to saline-alkaline stress. OsBAG6 also interacted with energy biosynthesis and metabolic pathway proteins that are involved in plant growth and saline-alkaline stress response mechanisms. This study reveals a novel function for mitochondrial localized OsBAG6 proteins in the saline-alkaline stress response alongside OsCaM1-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Min Ao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Ao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Jinlei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Peng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Shuangzhan Huang
- Jilin Province Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Peng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Dae-Jin Yun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 132-798, South Korea
| | - Zheng-Yi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China.
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4
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Nde J, Zhang P, Ezerski JC, Lu W, Knapp K, Wolynes PG, Cheung MS. Coarse-Grained Modeling and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ca 2+-Calmodulin. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:661322. [PMID: 34504868 PMCID: PMC8421859 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.661322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein that transduces signals to downstream proteins through target binding upon calcium binding in a time-dependent manner. Understanding the target binding process that tunes CaM’s affinity for the calcium ions (Ca2+), or vice versa, may provide insight into how Ca2+-CaM selects its target binding proteins. However, modeling of Ca2+-CaM in molecular simulations is challenging because of the gross structural changes in its central linker regions while the two lobes are relatively rigid due to tight binding of the Ca2+ to the calcium-binding loops where the loop forms a pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry with Ca2+. This feature that underlies the reciprocal relation between Ca2+ binding and target binding of CaM, however, has yet to be considered in the structural modeling. Here, we presented a coarse-grained model based on the Associative memory, Water mediated, Structure, and Energy Model (AWSEM) protein force field, to investigate the salient features of CaM. Particularly, we optimized the force field of CaM and that of Ca2+ ions by using its coordination chemistry in the calcium-binding loops to match with experimental observations. We presented a “community model” of CaM that is capable of sampling various conformations of CaM, incorporating various calcium-binding states, and carrying the memory of binding with various targets, which sets the foundation of the reciprocal relation of target binding and Ca2+ binding in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Nde
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pengzhi Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jacob C Ezerski
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Wei Lu
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kaitlin Knapp
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Peter G Wolynes
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Margaret S Cheung
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
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5
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Zhang P, Han J, Cieplak P, Cheung MS. Determining the atomic charge of calcium ion requires the information of its coordination geometry in an EF-hand motif. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:124104. [PMID: 33810667 DOI: 10.1063/5.0037517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is challenging to parameterize the force field for calcium ions (Ca2+) in calcium-binding proteins because of their unique coordination chemistry that involves the surrounding atoms required for stability. In this work, we observed a wide variation in Ca2+ binding loop conformations of the Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin, which adopts the most populated ternary structures determined from the molecular dynamics simulations, followed by ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) calculations on all 12 amino acids in the loop that coordinate Ca2+ in aqueous solution. Ca2+ charges were derived by fitting to the electrostatic potential in the context of a classical or polarizable force field (PFF). We discovered that the atomic radius of Ca2+ in conventional force fields is too large for the QM calculation to capture the variation in the coordination geometry of Ca2+ in its ionic form, leading to unphysical charges. Specifically, we found that the fitted atomic charges of Ca2+ in the context of PFF depend on the coordinating geometry of electronegative atoms from the amino acids in the loop. Although nearby water molecules do not influence the atomic charge of Ca2+, they are crucial for compensating for the coordination of Ca2+ due to the conformational flexibility in the EF-hand loop. Our method advances the development of force fields for metal ions and protein binding sites in dynamic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengzhi Zhang
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
| | - Jaebeom Han
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
| | - Piotr Cieplak
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Margaret S Cheung
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
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6
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Asciutto EK, Pantano S, General IJ. Physical interactions driving the activation/inhibition of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 105:107875. [PMID: 33711790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.107875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CaMKII is a protein kinase whose function is regulated by the binding of the Calcium/Calmodulin complex (Ca2+/CaM). It is a major player in the Long Term Potentiation process where it acts as a molecular switch, oscillating between inhibited and active conformations. The mechanism for the switching is thought to be initiated by Ca2+/CaM binding, which allows the trans-phosphorylation of a subunit of CaMKII by a neighboring kinase, leading to the active state of the system. A combination of all-atom and coarse-grained MD simulations with free energy calculations, led us to reveal an interplay of electrostatic forces exerted by Ca2+/CaM on CaMKII, which initiate the activation process. The highly electrically charged Ca2+/CaM neutralizes basic regions in the linker domain of CaMKII, facilitating its opening and consequent activation. The emerging picture of CaMKII's behavior highlights the preponderance of electrostatic interactions, which are modulated by the presence of Ca2+/CaM and the phosphorylation of key sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana K Asciutto
- School of Science and Technology, Universidad Nacional de San Martin, ICIFI and CONICET, 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, 1650, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio Pantano
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ignacio J General
- School of Science and Technology, Universidad Nacional de San Martin, ICIFI and CONICET, 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, 1650, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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7
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Xu S, Zhang Y, Xu Z, Song L. Effect of the cPKCγ-Ng Signaling System on Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Deprivation-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Rats. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:763032. [PMID: 34777065 PMCID: PMC8586205 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.763032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REM-SD) can cause a decline in learning and memory and lead to changes in behavior. Therefore, REM sleep plays a key role in processes that govern learning and memory. However, the mechanism underlying REM-SD-induced learning and memory impairment is unclear and the underlying molecular signaling still needs to be identified. In the present study, we investigated the role of the cPKCγ-Ng signaling pathway in REM-SD-induced learning and memory impairment. Method: Sixty male rats were divided into Control, REM-SD, REM-SD+cPKCγ activator PMA, REM-SD+cPKCγ inhibitor H-7, and sleep revival (SR) groups. The Morris water maze was used to assess spatial learning and memory. Western blot analysis was used to detect cPKCγ total protein expression and membrane translocation levels, and Ng total protein expression and phosphorylation levels. Results: The REM-SD group performed worse on the Morris water maze test than the control group. Western blot analysis showed that cPKCγ membrane translocation and Ng phosphorylation levels were significantly lower in the REM-SD group. SR following REM-SD restored learning and memory ability, cPKCγ transmembrane translocation, and Ng phosphorylation levels, but not to levels observed before REM-SD. PMA and H-7 significantly improved/disrupted task ability as well as cPKCγ transmembrane translocation and Ng phosphorylation levels in REM-SD rats. Conclusion: The REM-SD induced learning and memory impairment in rats and may be associated with the cPKCγ-Ng signaling pathway. Specifically, activation of the cPKCγ-Ng signaling pathway may protect against REM-SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Xu
- Neurorehabilitation Center, Beijing Boai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yanbo Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, The Second Affiliation Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai'an, China
| | - Zhiqing Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Luping Song
- Neurorehabilitation Center, Beijing Boai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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8
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Archer CR, Enslow BT, Taylor AB, De la Rosa V, Bhattacharya A, Shapiro MS. A mutually induced conformational fit underlies Ca 2+-directed interactions between calmodulin and the proximal C terminus of KCNQ4 K + channels. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:6094-6112. [PMID: 30808708 PMCID: PMC6463706 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Calmodulin (CaM) conveys intracellular Ca2+ signals to KCNQ (Kv7, "M-type") K+ channels and many other ion channels. Whether this "calmodulation" involves a dramatic structural rearrangement or only slight perturbations of the CaM/KCNQ complex is as yet unclear. A consensus structural model of conformational shifts occurring between low nanomolar and physiologically high intracellular [Ca2+] is still under debate. Here, we used various techniques of biophysical chemical analyses to investigate the interactions between CaM and synthetic peptides corresponding to the A and B domains of the KCNQ4 subtype. We found that in the absence of CaM, the peptides are disordered, whereas Ca2+/CaM imposed helical structure on both KCNQ A and B domains. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that Ca2+/CaM has higher affinity for the B domain than for the A domain of KCNQ2-4 and much higher affinity for the B domain when prebound with the A domain. X-ray crystallography confirmed that these discrete peptides spontaneously form a complex with Ca2+/CaM, similar to previous reports of CaM binding KCNQ-AB domains that are linked together. Microscale thermophoresis and heteronuclear single-quantum coherence NMR spectroscopy indicated the C-lobe of Ca2+-free CaM to interact with the KCNQ4 B domain (Kd ∼10-20 μm), with increasing Ca2+ molar ratios shifting the CaM-B domain interactions via only the CaM C-lobe to also include the N-lobe. Our findings suggest that in response to increased Ca2+, CaM undergoes lobe switching that imposes a dramatic mutually induced conformational fit to both the proximal C terminus of KCNQ4 channels and CaM, likely underlying Ca2+-dependent regulation of KCNQ gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal R Archer
- From the Departments of Cell and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229; Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Benjamin T Enslow
- the Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Alexander B Taylor
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Victor De la Rosa
- From the Departments of Cell and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Akash Bhattacharya
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Mark S Shapiro
- From the Departments of Cell and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229.
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9
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Ren W, Ji D, Xu X. Metal cofactor modulated folding and target recognition of HIV-1 NCp7. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196662. [PMID: 29715277 PMCID: PMC5929515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196662] [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: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 nucleocapsid 7 (NCp7) plays crucial roles in multiple stages of HIV-1 life cycle, and its biological functions rely on the binding of zinc ions. Understanding the molecular mechanism of how the zinc ions modulate the conformational dynamics and functions of the NCp7 is essential for the drug development and HIV-1 treatment. In this work, using a structure-based coarse-grained model, we studied the effects of zinc cofactors on the folding and target RNA(SL3) recognition of the NCp7 by molecular dynamics simulations. After reproducing some key properties of the zinc binding and folding of the NCp7 observed in previous experiments, our simulations revealed several interesting features in the metal ion modulated folding and target recognition. Firstly, we showed that the zinc binding makes the folding transition states of the two zinc fingers less structured, which is in line with the Hammond effect observed typically in mutation, temperature or denaturant induced perturbations to protein structure and stability. Secondly, We showed that there exists mutual interplay between the zinc ion binding and NCp7-target recognition. Binding of zinc ions enhances the affinity between the NCp7 and the target RNA, whereas the formation of the NCp7-RNA complex reshapes the intrinsic energy landscape of the NCp7 and increases the stability and zinc affinity of the two zinc fingers. Thirdly, by characterizing the effects of salt concentrations on the target RNA recognition, we showed that the NCp7 achieves optimal balance between the affinity and binding kinetics near the physiologically relevant salt concentrations. In addition, the effects of zinc binding on the inter-domain conformational flexibility and folding cooperativity of the NCp7 were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitong Ren
- School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Dongqing Ji
- School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiulian Xu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002, China
- * E-mail:
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Cinar S, Czeslik C. Inhibitor and peptide binding to calmodulin characterized by high pressure Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Förster resonance energy transfer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2018; 1866:617-623. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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11
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Cinar S, Al-Ayoubi S, Sternemann C, Peters J, Winter R, Czeslik C. A high pressure study of calmodulin-ligand interactions using small-angle X-ray and elastic incoherent neutron scattering. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:3514-3522. [PMID: 29336441 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp07399b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Calmodulin (CaM) is a Ca2+ sensor and mediates Ca2+ signaling through binding of numerous target ligands. The binding of ligands by Ca2+-saturated CaM (holo-CaM) is governed by attractive hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions that are weakened under high pressure in aqueous solutions. Moreover, the potential formation of void volumes upon ligand binding creates a further source of pressure sensitivity. Hence, high pressure is a suitable thermodynamic variable to probe protein-ligand interactions. In this study, we compare the binding of two different ligands to holo-CaM as a function of pressure by using X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. The two ligands are the farnesylated hypervariable region (HVR) of the K-Ras4B protein, which is a natural binding partner of holo-CaM, and the antagonist trifluoperazine (TFP), which is known to inhibit holo-CaM activity. From small-angle X-ray scattering experiments performed up to 3000 bar, we observe a pressure-induced partial unfolding of the free holo-CaM in the absence of ligands, where the two lobes of the dumbbell-shaped protein are slightly swelled. In contrast, upon binding TFP, holo-CaM forms a closed globular conformation, which is pressure stable at least up to 3000 bar. The HVR of K-Ras4B shows a different binding behavior, and the data suggest the dissociation of the holo-CaM/HVR complex under high pressure, probably due to a less dense protein contact of the HVR as compared to TFP. The elastic incoherent neutron scattering experiments corroborate these findings. Below 2000 bar, pressure induces enhanced atomic fluctuations in both holo-CaM/ligand complexes, but those of the holo-CaM/HVR complex seem to be larger. Thus, the inhibition of holo-CaM by TFP is supported by a low-volume ligand binding, albeit this is not associated with a rigidification of the complex structure on the sub-ns Å-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Süleyman Cinar
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, D-44221 Dortmund, Germany.
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