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Wang Z, Zhang S, Xu Q, Li Z, Gu X, Wood K, García Sakai V, Wan Q, Chu XQ. Experimental Evidence for the Role of Dynamics in pH-Dependent Enzymatic Activity. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:5814-5822. [PMID: 38726956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Enzymatic activity is heavily influenced by pH, but the rationale for the dynamical mechanism of pH-dependent enzymatic activity has not been fully understood. In this work, combined neutron scattering techniques, including quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS), are used to study the structural and dynamic changes of a model enzyme, xylanase, under different pH and temperature environments. The QENS results reveal that xylanase at optimal pH exhibits faster relaxational dynamics and a lower energy barrier between conformational substates. The SANS results demonstrate that pH affects both xylanase's stability and monodispersity. Our findings indicate that enzymes have optimized stability and function under their optimal pH conditions, with both structure and dynamics being affected. The current study offers valuable insights into enzymatic functionality mechanisms, allowing for broad industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixin Wang
- Graduate School of China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shengkai Zhang
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Institute of Advanced Science Facilities, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Qin Xu
- College of Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhihong Li
- College of Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xudong Gu
- Graduate School of China Academy of Engineering Physics, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kathleen Wood
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Victoria García Sakai
- ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Qun Wan
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Key Lab of Organic-Based Fertilizers of China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving Fertilizer, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang-Qiang Chu
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
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2
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Mandal A, Ahmed J, Singh S, Goyal A. Structure elucidation of a multi-modular recombinant endoglucanase, AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B from Acetivibrio thermocellus ATCC 27405 and its substrate binding analysis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 273:133212. [PMID: 38897502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Cellulases from GH9 family show endo-, exo- or processive endocellulase activity, but the reason behind the variation is unclear. A GH9 recombinant endoglucanase, AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B from Acetivibrio thermocellus was structurally characterized for conformation, binding and dynamics assessment. Modeled AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B depicted (α/α)6-barrel structure with Asp98, Asp101 and Glu489 acting as catalytic triad. CD results revealed 25.2 % α-helix, 18.4 % β-sheet and rest 56.4 % of random coils, corroborating with predictions from PSIPRED and SOPMA. MD simulation of AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B bound cellotetraose showed structural stability and global compactness with lowered RMSD values (1.5 nm) as compared with only AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B (1.8 nm) for 200 ns. Higher fluctuation in RMSF values in far-positioned CBM3B pointed to its redundancy in substrate binding. Docking studies showed maximum binding with cellotetraose (ΔG = -5.05 kcal/mol), with reduced affinity towards ligands with degree of polymerization (DP) lower (DP < 4) or higher than 4 (DP > 4). Processivity index displayed the enzyme to be processive with loop 3 (342-379 aa) possibly blocking the non-reducing end of cellulose chain, resulting in cellotetraose release. SAXS analysis of AtGH9C-CBM3A-CBM3B at 5 mg/mL displayed monodispersed state with fist-and-elbow shape in solution. Negative zeta potential of -24 mV at 5 mg/mL indicated stability and free from aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardhendu Mandal
- Carbohydrate Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Jebin Ahmed
- Carbohydrate Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Shweta Singh
- Carbohydrate Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India; Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Arun Goyal
- Carbohydrate Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
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3
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Mitra R, Usher ET, Dedeoğlu S, Crotteau MJ, Fraser OA, Yennawar NH, Gadkari VV, Ruotolo BT, Holehouse AS, Salmon L, Showalter SA, Bardwell JCA. Molecular insights into the interaction between a disordered protein and a folded RNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.12.598678. [PMID: 38915483 PMCID: PMC11195163 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.598678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) are well-established as contributors to intermolecular interactions and the formation of biomolecular condensates. In particular, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) often harbor IDRs in addition to folded RNA-binding domains that contribute to RBP function. To understand the dynamic interactions of an IDR-RNA complex, we characterized the RNA-binding features of a small (68 residues), positively charged IDR-containing protein, SERF. At high concentrations, SERF and RNA undergo charge-driven associative phase separation to form a protein- and RNA-rich dense phase. A key advantage of this model system is that this threshold for demixing is sufficiently high that we could use solution-state biophysical methods to interrogate the stoichiometric complexes of SERF with RNA in the one-phase regime. Herein, we describe our comprehensive characterization of SERF alone and in complex with a small fragment of the HIV-1 TAR RNA (TAR) with complementary biophysical methods and molecular simulations. We find that this binding event is not accompanied by the acquisition of structure by either molecule; however, we see evidence for a modest global compaction of the SERF ensemble when bound to RNA. This behavior likely reflects attenuated charge repulsion within SERF via binding to the polyanionic RNA and provides a rationale for the higher-order assembly of SERF in the context of RNA. We envision that the SERF-RNA system will lower the barrier to accessing the details that support IDR-RNA interactions and likewise deepen our understanding of the role of IDR-RNA contacts in complex formation and liquid-liquid phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishav Mitra
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Emery T. Usher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Selin Dedeoğlu
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique Nucléaire à Très Hauts Champs, (CRMN), UMR 5082, CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCBL, Université de Lyon, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Matthew J. Crotteau
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Olivia A. Fraser
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Neela H. Yennawar
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Varun V. Gadkari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brandon T. Ruotolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Loïc Salmon
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique Nucléaire à Très Hauts Champs, (CRMN), UMR 5082, CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCBL, Université de Lyon, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Scott A. Showalter
- Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - James C. A. Bardwell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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4
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Usher ET, Fossat MJ, Holehouse AS. Phosphorylation of disordered proteins tunes local and global intramolecular interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.598315. [PMID: 38915510 PMCID: PMC11195077 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.598315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Protein post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, are important regulatory signals for diverse cellular functions. In particular, intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) are subject to phosphorylation as a means to modulate their interactions and functions. Toward understanding the relationship between phosphorylation in IDRs and specific functional outcomes, we must consider how phosphorylation affects the IDR conformational ensemble. Various experimental techniques are suited to interrogate the features of IDR ensembles; molecular simulations can provide complementary insights and even illuminate ensemble features that may be experimentally inaccessible. Therefore, we sought to expand the tools available to study phosphorylated IDRs by all-atom Monte Carlo simulations. To this end, we implemented parameters for phosphoserine (pSer) and phosphothreonine (pThr) into the OPLS version of the continuum solvent model, ABSINTH, and assessed their performance in all-atom simulations compared to published findings. We simulated short (< 20 residues) and long (> 80 residues) phospho-IDRs that, collectively, survey both local and global phosphorylation-induced changes to the ensemble. Our simulations of four well-studied phospho-IDRs show near-quantitative agreement with published findings for these systems via metrics including changes to radius of gyration, transient helicity, and persistence length. We also leveraged the inherent advantage of sequence control in molecular simulations to explore the conformational effects of diverse combinations of phospho-sites in two multi-phosphorylated IDRs. Our results support and expand on prior observations that connect phosphorylation to changes in the IDR conformational ensemble. Herein, we describe phosphorylation as a means to alter sequence chemistry, net charge and charge patterning, and intramolecular interactions, which can collectively modulate the local and global IDR ensemble features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emery T. Usher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Martin J. Fossat
- Department of Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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5
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Dharmayanti C, Clulow AJ, Gillam TA, Klingler-Hoffmann M, Albrecht H, Blencowe A. Position Matters: Pyridine Regioisomers Influence Secondary Structure and Micelle Morphology in Polymer-Homopolypeptide Micelles. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 38850240 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Polymer-homopolypeptide block copolymers are a class of bioinspired materials that combine the processability and stability of synthetic polymers with the biocompatibility and unique secondary structures of peptides, such as α-helices and β-sheets. These properties make them ideal candidates for a wide variety of applications, for example, in the pharmaceutical field, where they are frequently explored as building blocks for polymeric micelle drug delivery systems. While homopolypeptide side chains can be furnished with an array of different moieties to impart the copolymers with desirable properties, such as stimulus responsivity, pyridine derivatives represent an underutilized functional group for this purpose. Additionally, the interplay between polypeptide side chain structure, secondary conformation, and micelle morphology is not yet well understood, particularly in the case of structural regioisomers. Therefore, in this work, a series of polymer-homopolypeptide copolymers were prepared from a poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PGA) backbone, where the pendant carboxylic acid groups were covalently conjugated to a series of pyridine regioisomers by carbodiimide coupling. These pyridine regioisomers differed only in the position of the nitrogen heteroatom, ortho, meta or para, relative to the linking group, generating a series of PEG-b-poly(pyridinylmethyl glutamate) (PEG-b-PMG) copolymers. Following self-assembly of the copolymers in aqueous solutions, dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed differences in micelle hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) (ranging from ∼60 to 120 nm), while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed distinctive morphologies ranging from ellipsoidal, to cylindrical, and disc-like, suggesting that subtle changes in positional isomers in the polypeptide block may influence the micelle structure. Analysis of the PEG-b-PMG copolymer micelles by circular dichroism (CD) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that differences in the morphology were associated with changes in polypeptide secondary structure, which in turn was influenced by the position of the pyridine heteroatom. Overall, these findings contribute to the broader understanding of the relationship between polypeptide structure and micelle morphology and serve as useful insight for the rational design of polymer-polypeptide nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintya Dharmayanti
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Andrew J Clulow
- Australian Synchrotron, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Todd A Gillam
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | | | - Hugo Albrecht
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Anton Blencowe
- Applied Chemistry and Translational Biomaterials (ACTB) Group, Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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6
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Kuzin S, Stolba D, Wu X, Syryamina VN, Boulos S, Jeschke G, Nyström L, Yulikov M. Quantification of Distributions of Local Proton Concentrations in Heterogeneous Soft Matter and Non-Anfinsen Biomacromolecules. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:5625-5632. [PMID: 38758534 PMCID: PMC11145652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
A new method to quantitatively analyze heterogeneous distributions of local proton densities around paramagnetic centers in unstructured and weakly structured biomacromolecules and soft matter is introduced, and its feasibility is demonstrated on aqueous solutions of stochastically spin-labeled polysaccharides. This method is based on the pulse EPR experiment ih-RIDME (intermolecular hyperfine relaxation-induced dipolar modulation enhancement). Global analysis of a series of RIDME traces allows for a mathematically stable transformation of the time-domain data to the distribution of local proton concentrations. Two pulse sequences are proposed and tested, which combine the ih-RIDME block and the double-electron-electron resonance (DEER) experiment. Such experiments can be potentially used to correlate the local proton concentration with the macromolecular chain conformation. We anticipate an application of this approach in studies of intrinsically disordered proteins, biomolecular aggregates, and biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Kuzin
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dario Stolba
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xiaowen Wu
- Department
of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Max
Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Victoria N. Syryamina
- Department
of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Voevodsky
Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Samy Boulos
- Department
of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gunnar Jeschke
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Laura Nyström
- Department
of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maxim Yulikov
- Department
of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH
Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 2, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Chakraborty G, Balinin K, Villar-Guerra RD, Emondts M, Portale G, Loznik M, Niels Klement WJ, Zheng L, Weil T, Chaires JB, Herrmann A. Supramolecular DNA-based catalysis in organic solvents. iScience 2024; 27:109689. [PMID: 38706840 PMCID: PMC11067378 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The distinct folding accompanied by its polymorphic character renders DNA G-quadruplexes promising biomolecular building blocks to construct novel DNA-based and supramolecular assemblies. However, the highly polar nature of DNA limits the use of G-quadruplexes to water as a solvent. In addition, the archetypical G-quadruplex fold needs to be stabilized by metal-cations, which is usually a potassium ion. Here, we show that a noncovalent PEGylation process enabled by electrostatic interactions allows the first metal-free G-quadruplexes in organic solvents. Strikingly, incorporation of an iron-containing porphyrin renders the self-assembled metal-free G-quadruplex catalytically active in organic solvents. Hence, these "supraG4zymes" enable DNA-based catalysis in organic media. The results will allow the broad utilization of DNA G-quadruplexes in nonaqueous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurudas Chakraborty
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Konstantin Balinin
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rafael del Villar-Guerra
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 505 S. Hancock St., Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Meike Emondts
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Portale
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Loznik
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Wiebe Jacob Niels Klement
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Lifei Zheng
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jonathan B. Chaires
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 505 S. Hancock St., Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52056 Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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8
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Ibrahim KA, Naidu AS, Miljkovic H, Radenovic A, Yang W. Label-Free Techniques for Probing Biomolecular Condensates. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10738-10757. [PMID: 38609349 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates play important roles in a wide array of fundamental biological processes, such as cellular compartmentalization, cellular regulation, and other biochemical reactions. Since their discovery and first observations, an extensive and expansive library of tools has been developed to investigate various aspects and properties, encompassing structural and compositional information, material properties, and their evolution throughout the life cycle from formation to eventual dissolution. This Review presents an overview of the expanded set of tools and methods that researchers use to probe the properties of biomolecular condensates across diverse scales of length, concentration, stiffness, and time. In particular, we review recent years' exciting development of label-free techniques and methodologies. We broadly organize the set of tools into 3 categories: (1) imaging-based techniques, such as transmitted-light microscopy (TLM) and Brillouin microscopy (BM), (2) force spectroscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the optical tweezer (OT), and (3) microfluidic platforms and emerging technologies. We point out the tools' key opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives and analyze their correlative potential as well as compatibility with other techniques. Additionally, we review emerging techniques, namely, differential dynamic microscopy (DDM) and interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT), that have huge potential for future applications in studying biomolecular condensates. Finally, we highlight how some of these techniques can be translated for diagnostics and therapy purposes. We hope this Review serves as a useful guide for new researchers in this field and aids in advancing the development of new biophysical tools to study biomolecular condensates.
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Plech A, Tack M, Huang H, Arefev M, Ziefuss AR, Levantino M, Karadas H, Chen C, Zhigilei LV, Reichenberger S. Physical Regimes and Mechanisms of Picosecond Laser Fragmentation of Gold Nanoparticles in Water from X-ray Probing and Atomistic Simulations. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10527-10541. [PMID: 38567906 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Laser fragmentation in liquids has emerged as a promising green chemistry technique for changing the size, shape, structure, and phase composition of colloidal nanoparticles, thus tuning their properties to the needs of practical applications. The advancement of this technique requires a solid understanding of the mechanisms of laser-nanoparticle interactions that lead to the fragmentation. While theoretical studies have made impressive practical and mechanistic predictions, their experimental validation is required. Hence, using the picosecond laser fragmentation of Au nanoparticles in water as a model system, the transient melting and fragmentation processes are investigated with a combination of time-resolved X-ray probing and atomistic simulations. The direct comparison of the diffraction profiles predicted in the simulations and measured in experiments has revealed a sequence of several nonequilibrium processes triggered by the laser irradiation. At low laser fluences, in the regime of nanoparticle melting and resolidification, the results provide evidence of a transient superheating of crystalline nanoparticles above the melting temperature. At fluences about three times the melting threshold, the fragmentation starts with evaporation of Au atoms and their condensation into small satellite nanoparticles. As fluence increases above five times the melting threshold, a transition to a rapid (explosive) phase decomposition of superheated nanoparticles into small liquid droplets and vapor phase atoms is observed. The transition to the phase explosion fragmentation regime is signified by prominent changes in the small-angle X-ray scattering profiles measured in experiments and calculated in simulations. The good match between the experimental and computational diffraction profiles gives credence to the physical picture of the cascade of thermal fragmentation regimes revealed in the simulations and demonstrates the high promise of the joint tightly integrated computational and experimental efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Plech
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Meike Tack
- Department of Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 7, D-45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4745, United States
- School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mikhail Arefev
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4745, United States
| | - Anna R Ziefuss
- Department of Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 7, D-45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Matteo Levantino
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, F-38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Hasan Karadas
- Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Chaobo Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4745, United States
| | - Leonid V Zhigilei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4745, United States
| | - Sven Reichenberger
- Department of Technical Chemistry I and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 7, D-45141 Essen, Germany
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10
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Reus MA, Reb LK, Kosbahn DP, Roth SV, Müller-Buschbaum P. INSIGHT: in situ heuristic tool for the efficient reduction of grazing-incidence X-ray scattering data. J Appl Crystallogr 2024; 57:509-528. [PMID: 38596722 PMCID: PMC11001412 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576723011159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
INSIGHT is a Python-based software tool for processing and reducing 2D grazing-incidence wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS/GISAXS) data. It offers the geometric transformation of the 2D GIWAXS/GISAXS detector image to reciprocal space, including vectorized and parallelized pixel-wise intensity correction calculations. An explicit focus on efficient data management and batch processing enables full control of large time-resolved synchrotron and laboratory data sets for a detailed analysis of kinetic GIWAXS/GISAXS studies of thin films. It processes data acquired with arbitrarily rotated detectors and performs vertical, horizontal, azimuthal and radial cuts in reciprocal space. It further allows crystallographic indexing and GIWAXS pattern simulation, and provides various plotting and export functionalities. Customized scripting offers a one-step solution to reduce, process, analyze and export findings of large in situ and operando data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A. Reus
- Chair for Functional Materials, Department of Physics, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Lennart K. Reb
- Chair for Functional Materials, Department of Physics, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - David P. Kosbahn
- Chair for Functional Materials, Department of Physics, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Stephan V. Roth
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Teknikringen 56–58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Müller-Buschbaum
- Chair for Functional Materials, Department of Physics, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
- Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 1, 85748 Garching, Germany
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11
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Farzam F, Dabirmanesh B. Experimental techniques for detecting and evaluating the amyloid fibrils. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 206:183-227. [PMID: 38811081 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are insoluble proteins with intricate β-sheet structures associated with various human diseases, including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and prion diseases. Proteins can form aggregates when their structure is misfolded, resulting in highly organized amyloid fibrils or amorphous aggregates. The formation of protein aggregates is a promising research field for mitigating diseases and the pharmaceutical and food industries. It is important to monitor and minimize the appearance of aggregates in these protein products. Several methods exist to assess protein aggregation, that includes from basic investigations to advanced biophysical techniques. Physicochemical parameters such as molecular weight, conformation, structure, and dimension are examined to study aggregation. There is an urgent need to develop methods for the detection of protein aggregation and amyloid fibril formation both in vitro and in vivo. This chapter focuses on a comprehensive discussion of the methods used to characterize and evaluate aggregates and amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnoosh Farzam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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De Maeseneer T, Cauwenbergh T, Gardiner J, White JF, Thielemans W, Martin C, Moldenaers P, Ballet S, Cardinaels R. Peptide Sequence Variations Govern Hydrogel Stiffness: Insights from a Multi-Scale Structural Analysis of H-FQFQFK-NH 2 Peptide Derivatives. Macromol Biosci 2024:e2300579. [PMID: 38552257 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Throughout the past decades, amphipathic peptide-based hydrogels have proven to be promising materials for biomedical applications. Amphipathic peptides are known to adopt β-sheet configurations that self-assemble into fibers that then interact to form a hydrogel network. A fundamental understanding of how the peptide sequence alters the structural properties of the hydrogels would allow for a more rational design of novel peptides for a variety of biomedical applications in the future. Therefore, the current work investigates how changing the type of amino acid, the amphipathic pattern, and the peptide length affects the secondary structure, fiber characteristics, and stiffness of peptide-based hydrogels. Hereto, seven amphipathic peptides of different sequence and length, four of which have not been previously reported, based on and including the hexapeptide H-Phe-Gln-Phe-Gln-Phe-Lys-NH2, are synthesized and thoroughly characterized by circular dichroism (CD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Thioflavin T (ThT) fibrillization assays. The results show that a high amount of regularly spaced β-sheets, a high amount of fibers, and fiber bundling contribute to the stiffness of the hydrogel. Furthermore, a study of the time-dependent fibril formation process reveals complex transient dynamics. The peptide strands structure through an intermediate helical state prior to β-sheet formation, which is found to be concentration- and time-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess De Maeseneer
- Soft Matter, Rheology and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, Box 2424, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Thibault Cauwenbergh
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - James Gardiner
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Jacinta F White
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Wim Thielemans
- Sustainable Materials Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, campus Kulak Kortrijk, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, Kortrijk, 8500, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Paula Moldenaers
- Soft Matter, Rheology and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, Box 2424, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Ruth Cardinaels
- Soft Matter, Rheology and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, Box 2424, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
- Processing and Performance of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, TU Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
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13
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Tamburrini KC, Kodama S, Grisel S, Haon M, Nishiuchi T, Bissaro B, Kubo Y, Longhi S, Berrin JG. The disordered C-terminal tail of fungal LPMOs from phytopathogens mediates protein dimerization and impacts plant penetration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319998121. [PMID: 38513096 PMCID: PMC10990093 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319998121] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are monocopper enzymes that oxidatively degrade various polysaccharides, such as cellulose. Despite extensive research on this class of enzymes, the role played by their C-terminal regions predicted to be intrinsically disordered (dCTR) has been overlooked. Here, we investigated the function of the dCTR of an LPMO, called CoAA9A, up-regulated during plant infection by Colletotrichum orbiculare, the causative agent of anthracnose. After recombinant production of the full-length protein, we found that the dCTR mediates CoAA9A dimerization in vitro, via a disulfide bridge, a hitherto-never-reported property that positively affects both binding and activity on cellulose. Using SAXS experiments, we show that the homodimer is in an extended conformation. In vivo, we demonstrate that gene deletion impairs formation of the infection-specialized cell called appressorium and delays penetration of the plant. Using immunochemistry, we show that the protein is a dimer not only in vitro but also in vivo when secreted by the appressorium. As these peculiar LPMOs are also found in other plant pathogens, our findings open up broad avenues for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketty C. Tamburrini
- CNRS Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257, Marseille13009, France
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, UMR 1163, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille13009, France
| | - Sayo Kodama
- Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Osaka573-0101, Japan
| | - Sacha Grisel
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, UMR 1163, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille13009, France
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, Marseille13009, France
| | - Mireille Haon
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, UMR 1163, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille13009, France
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, Marseille13009, France
| | - Takumi Nishiuchi
- Division of Functional Genomics, Advanced Science Research Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa920-1164, Japan
| | - Bastien Bissaro
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, UMR 1163, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille13009, France
| | - Yasuyuki Kubo
- Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Osaka573-0101, Japan
| | - Sonia Longhi
- CNRS Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257, Marseille13009, France
| | - Jean-Guy Berrin
- Institut National de la Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l'Environnement, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, UMR 1163, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille13009, France
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14
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Tariq D, Maurici N, Bartholomai BM, Chandrasekaran S, Dunlap JC, Bah A, Crane BR. Phosphorylation, disorder, and phase separation govern the behavior of Frequency in the fungal circadian clock. eLife 2024; 12:RP90259. [PMID: 38526948 PMCID: PMC10963029 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90259] [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] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks are composed of transcription-translation negative feedback loops that pace rhythms of gene expression to the diurnal cycle. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, the proteins Frequency (FRQ), the FRQ-interacting RNA helicase (FRH), and Casein-Kinase I (CK1) form the FFC complex that represses expression of genes activated by the white-collar complex (WCC). FRQ orchestrates key molecular interactions of the clock despite containing little predicted tertiary structure. Spin labeling and pulse-dipolar electron spin resonance spectroscopy provide domain-specific structural insights into the 989-residue intrinsically disordered FRQ and the FFC. FRQ contains a compact core that associates and organizes FRH and CK1 to coordinate their roles in WCC repression. FRQ phosphorylation increases conformational flexibility and alters oligomeric state, but the changes in structure and dynamics are non-uniform. Full-length FRQ undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to sequester FRH and CK1 and influence CK1 enzymatic activity. Although FRQ phosphorylation favors LLPS, LLPS feeds back to reduce FRQ phosphorylation by CK1 at higher temperatures. Live imaging of Neurospora hyphae reveals FRQ foci characteristic of condensates near the nuclear periphery. Analogous clock repressor proteins in higher organisms share little position-specific sequence identity with FRQ; yet, they contain amino acid compositions that promote LLPS. Hence, condensate formation may be a conserved feature of eukaryotic clocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniyal Tariq
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Nicole Maurici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseUnited States
| | - Bradley M Bartholomai
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at DartmouthHanoverUnited States
| | | | - Jay C Dunlap
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at DartmouthHanoverUnited States
| | - Alaji Bah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseUnited States
| | - Brian R Crane
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
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15
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Maiti S, Singh A, Maji T, Saibo NV, De S. Experimental methods to study the structure and dynamics of intrinsically disordered regions in proteins. Curr Res Struct Biol 2024; 7:100138. [PMID: 38707546 PMCID: PMC11068507 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2024.100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic proteins often feature long stretches of amino acids that lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure and are referred to as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or regions (IDRs). Although these proteins challenge conventional structure-function paradigms, they play vital roles in cellular processes. Recent progress in experimental techniques, such as NMR spectroscopy, single molecule FRET, high speed AFM and SAXS, have provided valuable insights into the biophysical basis of IDP function. This review discusses the advancements made in these techniques particularly for the study of disordered regions in proteins. In NMR spectroscopy new strategies such as 13C detection, non-uniform sampling, segmental isotope labeling, and rapid data acquisition methods address the challenges posed by spectral overcrowding and low stability of IDPs. The importance of various NMR parameters, including chemical shifts, hydrogen exchange rates, and relaxation measurements, to reveal transient secondary structures within IDRs and IDPs are presented. Given the high flexibility of IDPs, the review outlines NMR methods for assessing their dynamics at both fast (ps-ns) and slow (μs-ms) timescales. IDPs exert their functions through interactions with other molecules such as proteins, DNA, or RNA. NMR-based titration experiments yield insights into the thermodynamics and kinetics of these interactions. Detailed study of IDPs requires multiple experimental techniques, and thus, several methods are described for studying disordered proteins, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. The potential for integrating these complementary techniques, each offering unique perspectives, is explored to achieve a comprehensive understanding of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aakanksha Singh
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Tanisha Maji
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Nikita V. Saibo
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
| | - Soumya De
- School of Bioscience, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, WB, 721302, India
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16
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Muli CS, Tarasov SG, Walters KJ. High-throughput assay exploiting disorder-to-order conformational switches: application to the proteasomal Rpn10:E6AP complex. Chem Sci 2024; 15:4041-4053. [PMID: 38487241 PMCID: PMC10935766 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06370d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Conformational switching is pervasively driven by protein interactions, particularly for intrinsically disordered binding partners. We developed a dually orthogonal fluorescence-based assay to monitor such events, exploiting environmentally sensitive fluorophores. This assay is applied to E3 ligase E6AP, as its AZUL domain induces a disorder-to-order switch in an intrinsically disordered region of the proteasome, the so-named Rpn10 AZUL-binding domain (RAZUL). By testing various fluorophores, we developed an assay appropriate for high-throughput screening of Rpn10:E6AP-disrupting ligands. We found distinct positions in RAZUL for fluorophore labeling with either acrylodan or Atto610, which had disparate spectral responses to E6AP binding. E6AP caused a hypsochromic shift with increased fluorescence of acrylodan-RAZUL while decreasing fluorescence intensity of Atto610-RAZUL. Combining RAZUL labeled with either acrylodan or Atto610 into a common sample achieved robust and orthogonal measurement of the E6AP-induced conformational switch. This approach is generally applicable to disorder-to-order (or vice versa) transitions mediated by molecular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine S Muli
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Frederick MD 21702 USA
| | - Sergey G Tarasov
- Biophysics Resource, Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Frederick MD 21702 USA
| | - Kylie J Walters
- Protein Processing Section, Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Frederick MD 21702 USA
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17
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Heber S, McClintock MA, Simon B, Mehtab E, Lapouge K, Hennig J, Bullock SL, Ephrussi A. Tropomyosin 1-I/C coordinates kinesin-1 and dynein motors during oskar mRNA transport. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:476-488. [PMID: 38297086 PMCID: PMC10948360 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01212-x] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Dynein and kinesin motors mediate long-range intracellular transport, translocating towards microtubule minus and plus ends, respectively. Cargoes often undergo bidirectional transport by binding to both motors simultaneously. However, it is not known how motor activities are coordinated in such circumstances. In the Drosophila female germline, sequential activities of the dynein-dynactin-BicD-Egalitarian (DDBE) complex and of kinesin-1 deliver oskar messenger RNA from nurse cells to the oocyte, and within the oocyte to the posterior pole. We show through in vitro reconstitution that Tm1-I/C, a tropomyosin-1 isoform, links kinesin-1 in a strongly inhibited state to DDBE-associated oskar mRNA. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and structural modeling indicate that Tm1-I/C suppresses kinesin-1 activity by stabilizing its autoinhibited conformation, thus preventing competition with dynein until kinesin-1 is activated in the oocyte. Our work reveals a new strategy for ensuring sequential activity of microtubule motors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Heber
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark A McClintock
- Division of Cell Biology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bernd Simon
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Eve Mehtab
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karine Lapouge
- Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Janosch Hennig
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biochemistry IV, Biophysical Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Simon L Bullock
- Division of Cell Biology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Anne Ephrussi
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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Thirumalai D, Kumar A, Chakraborty D, Straub JE, Mugnai ML. Conformational fluctuations and phases in fused in sarcoma (FUS) low-complexity domain. Biopolymers 2024; 115:e23558. [PMID: 37399327 PMCID: PMC10831756 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23558] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The well-known phenomenon of phase separation in synthetic polymers and proteins has become a major topic in biophysics because it has been invoked as a mechanism of compartment formation in cells, without the need for membranes. Most of the coacervates (or condensates) are composed of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) or regions that are structureless, often in interaction with RNA and DNA. One of the more intriguing IDPs is the 526-residue RNA-binding protein, Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), whose monomer conformations and condensates exhibit unusual behavior that are sensitive to solution conditions. By focussing principally on the N-terminus low-complexity domain (FUS-LC comprising residues 1-214) and other truncations, we rationalize the findings of solid-state NMR experiments, which show that FUS-LC adopts a non-polymorphic fibril structure (core-1) involving residues 39-95, flanked by fuzzy coats on both the N- and C-terminal ends. An alternate structure (core-2), whose free energy is comparable to core-1, emerges only in the truncated construct (residues 110-214). Both core-1 and core-2 fibrils are stabilized by a Tyrosine ladder as well as hydrophilic interactions. The morphologies (gels, fibrils, and glass-like) adopted by FUS seem to vary greatly, depending on the experimental conditions. The effect of phosphorylation is site-specific. Simulations show that phosphorylation of residues within the fibril has a greater destabilization effect than residues that are outside the fibril region, which accords well with experiments. Many of the peculiarities associated with FUS may also be shared by other IDPs, such as TDP43 and hnRNPA2. We outline a number of problems for which there is no clear molecular explanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Abhinaw Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Debayan Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mauro L Mugnai
- Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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19
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Holehouse AS, Kragelund BB. The molecular basis for cellular function of intrinsically disordered protein regions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:187-211. [PMID: 37957331 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00673-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered protein regions exist in a collection of dynamic interconverting conformations that lack a stable 3D structure. These regions are structurally heterogeneous, ubiquitous and found across all kingdoms of life. Despite the absence of a defined 3D structure, disordered regions are essential for cellular processes ranging from transcriptional control and cell signalling to subcellular organization. Through their conformational malleability and adaptability, disordered regions extend the repertoire of macromolecular interactions and are readily tunable by their structural and chemical context, making them ideal responders to regulatory cues. Recent work has led to major advances in understanding the link between protein sequence and conformational behaviour in disordered regions, yet the link between sequence and molecular function is less well defined. Here we consider the biochemical and biophysical foundations that underlie how and why disordered regions can engage in productive cellular functions, provide examples of emerging concepts and discuss how protein disorder contributes to intracellular information processing and regulation of cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Birthe B Kragelund
- REPIN, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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20
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Veríssimo NVP, Mussagy CU, Bento HBS, Pereira JFB, Santos-Ebinuma VDC. Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for the stabilization of biopharmaceuticals: A review. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108316. [PMID: 38199490 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Biopharmaceuticals have allowed the control of previously untreatable diseases. However, their low solubility and stability still hinder their application, transport, and storage. Hence, researchers have applied different compounds to preserve and enhance the delivery of biopharmaceuticals, such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Although the biopharmaceutical industry can employ various substances for enhancing formulations, their effect will change depending on the properties of the target biomolecule and environmental conditions. Hence, this review organized the current state-of-the-art on the application of ILs and DESs to stabilize biopharmaceuticals, considering the properties of the biomolecules, ILs, and DESs classes, concentration range, types of stability, and effect. We also provided a critical discussion regarding the potential utilization of ILs and DESs in pharmaceutical formulations, considering the restrictions in this field, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of these substances for medical applications. Overall, the most applied IL and DES classes for stabilizing biopharmaceuticals were cholinium-, imidazolium-, and ammonium-based, with cholinium ILs also employed to improve their delivery. Interestingly, dilute and concentrated ILs and DESs solutions presented similar results regarding the stabilization of biopharmaceuticals. With additional investigation, ILs and DESs have the potential to overcome current challenges in biopharmaceutical formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Vieira Porphirio Veríssimo
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, CEP: 14801-902 Araraquara, SP, Brazil; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo University, CEP: 14040-020 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Cassamo Usemane Mussagy
- Escuela de Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas y de los Alimentos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Quillota 2260000, Chile.
| | - Heitor Buzetti Simões Bento
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, CEP: 14801-902 Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Valéria de Carvalho Santos-Ebinuma
- Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University, CEP: 14801-902 Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
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21
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Dao HM, AboulFotouh K, Hussain AF, Marras AE, Johnston KP, Cui Z, Williams RO. Characterization of mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles by Electron Density Mapping Reconstruction: X-ray Scattering with Density from Solution Scattering (DENSS) Algorithm. Pharm Res 2024; 41:501-512. [PMID: 38326530 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-024-03671-9] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to test the feasibility of using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) coupled with Density from Solution Scattering (DENSS) algorithm to characterize the internal architecture of messenger RNA-containing lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNPs). METHODS The DENSS algorithm was employed to construct a three-dimensional model of average individual mRNA-LNP. The reconstructed models were cross validated with cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to assess size, morphology, and internal structure. RESULTS Cryo-TEM and DLS complemented SAXS, revealed a core-shell mRNA-LNP structure with electron-rich mRNA-rich region at the core, surrounded by lipids. The reconstructed model, utilizing the DENSS algorithm, effectively distinguishes mRNA and lipids via electron density mapping. Notably, DENSS accurately models the morphology of the mRNA-LNPs as an ellipsoidal shape with a "bleb" architecture or a two-compartment structure with contrasting electron densities, corresponding to mRNA-filled and empty lipid compartments, respectively. Finally, subtle changes in the LNP structure after three freeze-thaw cycles were detected by SAXS, demonstrating an increase in radius of gyration (Rg) associated with mRNA leakage. CONCLUSION Analyzing SAXS profiles based on DENSS algorithm to yield a reconstructed electron density based three-dimensional model can be a useful physicochemical characterization method in the toolbox to study mRNA-LNPs and facilitate their development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy M Dao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Khaled AboulFotouh
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Aasim Faheem Hussain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Alexander E Marras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program, Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Keith P Johnston
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Zhengrong Cui
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Robert O Williams
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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22
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Aplin C, Zielinski KA, Pabit S, Ogunribido D, Katt WP, Pollack L, Cerione RA, Milano SK. Defining the conformational states that enable transglutaminase 2 to promote cancer cell survival versus cell death. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.04.578794. [PMID: 38370687 PMCID: PMC10871292 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.04.578794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a GTP-binding/protein-crosslinking enzyme that has been investigated as a therapeutic target for Celiac disease, neurological disorders, and aggressive cancers. TG2 has been suggested to adopt two conformational states that regulate its functions: a GTP-bound, closed conformation, and a calcium-bound, crosslinking-active open conformation. TG2 mutants that constitutively adopt an open conformation are cytotoxic to cancer cells. Thus, small molecules that maintain the open conformation of TG2 could offer a new therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigate TG2, using static and time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and single-particle cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), to determine the conformational states responsible for conferring its biological effects. We also describe a newly developed TG2 inhibitor, LM11, that potently kills glioblastoma cells and use SAXS to investigate how LM11 affects the conformational states of TG2. Using SAXS and cryo-EM, we show that guanine nucleotide-bound TG2 adopts a monomeric closed conformation while calcium-bound TG2 assumes an open conformational state that can form higher order oligomers. SAXS analysis also suggests how a TG2 mutant that constitutively adopts the open state binds nucleotides through an alternative mechanism to wildtype TG2. Furthermore, we use time-resolved SAXS to show that LM11 increases the ability of calcium to drive TG2 to an open conformation, which is not reversible by guanine nucleotides and is cytotoxic to cancer cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the conformational dynamics of TG2 are more complex than previously suggested and highlight how conformational stabilization of TG2 by LM11 maintains TG2 in a cytotoxic conformational state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Aplin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Kara A. Zielinski
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Suzette Pabit
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Deborah Ogunribido
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - William P. Katt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Lois Pollack
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Richard A. Cerione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Shawn K. Milano
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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23
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Mukhopadhyay S, Subedi S, Hopkins JB, Ugrinov A, Chakravarthy S, Colbert CL, Sinha SC. Invariant BECN1 CXXC motifs bind Zn 2+ and regulate structure and function of the BECN1 intrinsically disordered region. Autophagy 2024; 20:380-396. [PMID: 37791766 PMCID: PMC10813572 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2259707] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ABBREVIATIONS AFM: aromatic finger mutant; BH3D: BCL2 homology 3 domain; CCD: coiled-coil domain; CD: circular dichroism spectroscopy; [CysDM1]: C18S and C21S double mutant; [CysDM2]: C137S, and C140S double mutant; [CysTM], C18S, C21S, C137S, and C140S tetrad mutant; Dmax: maximum particle diameter; dRI, differential refractive index; EFA: evolving factor analysis; FHD: flexible helical domain; FL: full length; GFP: green fluorescent protein; HDX-MS: hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry; ICP-MS: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; IDR: intrinsically disordered region; ITC, isothermal titration calorimetry; MALS, multi angle light scattering; MBP: maltose-binding protein; MoRFs: molecular recognition features; P(r): pairwise-distance distribution; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Rg: radius of gyration; SASBDB: small angle scattering biological data bank; SEC: size-exclusion chromatography; SEC-SAXS: size-exclusion chromatography in tandem with small angle X-ray scattering; TEV: tobacco-etch virus; TFE: 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol; TPEN: N,N,N,N-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine; Vc: volume of correlation; WT: wild-type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Subeksha Subedi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Jesse B. Hopkins
- The Biophysics Collaborative Access Team, Departments of Biology and Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Angel Ugrinov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Srinivas Chakravarthy
- The Biophysics Collaborative Access Team, Departments of Biology and Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Sangita C. Sinha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
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24
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Hopkins JB. BioXTAS RAW 2: new developments for a free open-source program for small-angle scattering data reduction and analysis. J Appl Crystallogr 2024; 57:194-208. [PMID: 38322719 PMCID: PMC10840314 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576723011019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BioXTAS RAW is a free open-source program for reduction, analysis and modelling of biological small-angle scattering data. Here, the new developments in RAW version 2 are described. These include improved data reduction using pyFAI; updated automated Guinier fitting and D max finding algorithms; automated series (e.g. size-exclusion chromatography coupled small-angle X-ray scattering or SEC-SAXS) buffer- and sample-region finding algorithms; linear and integral baseline correction for series; deconvolution of series data using regularized alternating least squares (REGALS); creation of electron-density reconstructions using electron density via solution scattering (DENSS); a comparison window showing residuals, ratios and statistical comparisons between profiles; and generation of PDF reports with summary plots and tables for all analysis. Furthermore, there is now a RAW API, which can be used without the graphical user interface (GUI), providing full access to all of the functionality found in the GUI. In addition to these new capabilities, RAW has undergone significant technical updates, such as adding Python 3 compatibility, and has entirely new documentation available both online and in the program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse B. Hopkins
- The Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT), Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
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25
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Brown SJ, Ryan TM, Drummond CJ, Greaves TL, Han Q. Lysozyme aggregation and unfolding in ionic liquid solvents: Insights from small angle X-ray scattering and high throughput screening. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 655:133-144. [PMID: 37931553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.10.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Understanding protein behaviour is crucial for developing functional solvent systems. Ionic liquids (ILs) are designer salts with versatile ion combinations, where some suppress unfavourable protein behaviour. This work utilizes small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to investigate the size and shape changes of model protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in 137 IL and salt solutions. Guinier, Kratky, and pair distance distribution analysis were used to evaluate the protein size, shape, and aggregation changes in these solvents. At low IL and salt concentration (1 mol%), HEWL remained monodispersed and globular. Most ILs increased HEWL size compared to buffer, while the nitrate and mesylate anions induced the most significant size increases. IL cation branching, hydroxyl groups, and longer alkyl chains counteracted this size increase. Common salts exhibited specific ion effects, while the IL effect varied with concentration due to complex ion-pairing. Protein aggregation and unfolding occurred at 10 mol% IL, altering the protein shape, especially for ILs with multiple alkyl chains on the cation, or with a mesylate/nitrate anion. This study highlights the usefulness of adopting a high-throughput SAXS strategy for understanding IL effects on protein behaviour and provides insights on controlling protein aggregation and unfolding with ILs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart J Brown
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Timothy M Ryan
- SAXS/WAXS Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, 800 Blackburn Rd, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Calum J Drummond
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Tamar L Greaves
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
| | - Qi Han
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
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26
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Kawamukai H, Takishita S, Shimizu K, Kohda D, Ishimori K, Saio T. Conformational Distribution of a Multidomain Protein Measured by Single-Pair Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:744-750. [PMID: 38221741 PMCID: PMC10823528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The difficulty in evaluating the conformational distribution of proteins in solution often hinders mechanistic insights. One possible strategy for visualizing conformational distribution is distance distribution measurement by single-pair small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), in which the scattering interference from only a specific pair of atoms in the target molecule is extracted. Despite this promising concept, with few applications in synthetic small molecules and DNA, technical difficulties have prevented its application in protein conformational studies. This study used a synthetic tag to fix the lanthanide ion at desired sites on the protein and used single-pair SAXS with contrast matching to evaluate the conformational distribution of the multidomain protein enzyme MurD. These data highlighted the broad conformational and ligand-driven distribution shifts of MurD in solution. This study proposes an important strategy in solution structural biology that targets dynamic proteins, including multidomain and intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoka Kawamukai
- Graduate
School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
- Graduate
School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
| | - Shumpei Takishita
- Graduate
School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
| | - Kazumi Shimizu
- Faculty
of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kohda
- Division
of Structural Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Koichiro Ishimori
- Graduate
School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido
University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Tomohide Saio
- Graduate
School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Institute
of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima
University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
- Fujii
Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical
Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
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27
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Kumar S, Rath SK, Kushwaha A, Deshpande SK, Patro TU, Harikrishnan G. Thermal evolution of a polymer-nanoparticle binary mixture. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:3036-3043. [PMID: 38180133 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04780f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
We experimentally probe the microscopic variations in a model polymer-nanoparticle (NP) binary mixture (mixture of polybutadiene and clay nanoplatelets) across a thermal evolution path for which Tevolution > Tg(polymer). The evolution of the NP dispersion, NP crystallinity, polymer chain-NP interface, and nature of polymer chain-NP interaction are mapped for a spectrum of temperatures and NP concentrations constrained by experiments. Multiple pieces of evidence indicate that thermal evolution does not influence the nature of interparticle dispersion and is also independent of NP concentration in the binary mixture. However, the NP crystalline order significantly reduces across the thermal evolution path. Thermal evolution induces a transition of a sharp polymer chain-NP interface to a diffuse interfacial layer. In contrast, an already diffuse polymer-NP interface existing in the binary mixture due to particle crowding at high NP concentrations undergoes no significant change in its nature across the evolution path. At all particle concentrations, thermal evolution changes the dominant interaction from polymer chain-polymer chain to polymer chain-NP. These insights aid in explaining the molecular origins of unique and anomalous behaviors shown by polymer-nanoparticle binary mixtures while undergoing thermal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bengaluru 560 019, India
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
| | - Sangram K Rath
- Polymer Division, Naval Materials Research Laboratory, Ambernath, Maharashtra, 421506, India
| | - Ashwani Kushwaha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - S K Deshpande
- UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - T Umasankar Patro
- School of Materials and Chemical Sciences, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, 411025, India
| | - G Harikrishnan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
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28
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Smith KP, Chakravarthy S, Rahi A, Chakraborty M, Vosberg KM, Tonelli M, Plach MG, Grigorescu AA, Curtis JE, Varma D. SAXS/MC studies of the mixed-folded protein Cdt1 reveal monomeric, folded over conformations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.573975. [PMID: 38260441 PMCID: PMC10802334 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.573975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Cdt1 is a protein critical for DNA replication licensing and is well-established to be a binding partner of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex. Cdt1 has also been demonstrated to have an emerging, "moonlighting" role at the kinetochore via direct binding to microtubules and to the Ndc80 complex. However, it is not known how the structure and conformations of Cdt1 could allow for these multiple, completely unique sets of protein complexes. And while there exist multiple robust methods to study entirely folded or entirely unfolded proteins, structure-function studies of combined, mixed folded/disordered proteins remain challenging. It this work, we employ multiple orthogonal biophysical and computational techniques to provide a detailed structural characterization of human Cdt1 92-546. DSF and DSCD show both folded winged helix (WH) domains of Cdt1 are relatively unstable. CD and NMR show the N-terminal and the linker regions are intrinsically disordered. Using DLS and SEC-MALS, we show that Cdt1 is polydisperse, monomeric at high concentrations, and without any apparent inter-molecular self-association. SEC-SAXS of the monomer in solution enabled computational modeling of the protein in silico. Using the program SASSIE, we performed rigid body Monte Carlo simulations to generate a conformational ensemble. Using experimental SAXS data, we filtered for conformations which did and did not fit our data. We observe that neither fully extended nor extremely compact Cdt1 conformations are consistent with our SAXS data. The best fit models have the N-terminal and linker regions extended into solution and the two folded domains close to each other in apparent "folded over" conformations. The best fit Cdt1 conformations are consistent with a function as a scaffold protein which may be sterically blocked without the presence of binding partners. Our studies also provide a template for combining experimental and computational biophysical techniques to study mixed-folded proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle P Smith
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Present Address, Xylia Therapeutics, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Srinivas Chakravarthy
- Biophysics Collaborative Access Team, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Amit Rahi
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Manas Chakraborty
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Kristen M Vosberg
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Marco Tonelli
- National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | | | - Arabela A Grigorescu
- Keck Biophysics Facility, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA
| | - Joseph E Curtis
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 6102, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, United States
| | - Dileep Varma
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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29
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Shakour N, Hoseinpoor S, Rajabian F, Azimi SG, Iranshahi M, Sadeghi-Aliabadi H, Hadizadeh F. Discovery of non-peptide GLP-1r natural agonists for enhancing coronary safety in type 2 diabetes patients. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38165453 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2298734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This study explores the computational discovery of non-peptide agonists targeting the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1R) to enhance the safety of major coronary outcomes in individuals affected by Type 2 Diabetes. The objective is to identify novel compounds that can activate the GLP-1R pathway without the limitations associated with peptide agonists. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, which is attributed to the accumulation of fat in organs, including the heart. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are frequently used to manage T2DM and could potentially offer cardiovascular benefits. Therefore, this study examines non-peptide agonists of GLP-1R to improve coronary safety in type 2 diabetes patients. After rigorous assessments, two standout candidates were identified, with natural compound 12 emerging as the most promising. This study represents a notable advancement in enhancing the management of coronary outcomes among individuals with type 2 diabetes. The computational methodology employed successfully pinpointed potential GLP-1R natural agonists, providing optimism for the development of safer and more effective therapeutic interventions. Although computational methodologies have provided crucial insights, realizing the full potential of these compounds requires extensive experimental investigations, crucial in advancing therapeutic strategies for this critical patient population.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Shakour
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeideh Hoseinpoor
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
- International UNESCO Center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rajabian
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sabikeh G Azimi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Iranshahi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hojjat Sadeghi-Aliabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzin Hadizadeh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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30
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Saini M, Upadhyay N, Dhiman K, Manjhi SK, Kattuparambil AA, Ghoshal A, Arya R, Dey SK, Sharma A, Aduri R, Thelma BK, Ashish F, Kundu S. ARL15, a GTPase implicated in rheumatoid arthritis, potentially repositions its truncated N-terminus as a function of guanine nucleotide binding. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127898. [PMID: 37939768 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The ADP ribosylation factor like protein 15 (ARL15) gene encodes for an uncharacterized GTPase associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other metabolic disorders. Investigation of the structural and functional attributes of ARL15 is important to position the protein as a potential drug target. Using spectroscopy, we demonstrated that ARL15 exhibits properties inherent of GTPases. The Km and Vmax of the enzyme were calculated to be 100 μM and 1.47 μmole/min/μL, respectively. The equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of GTP binding with ARL15 was estimated to be about eight-fold higher than that of GDP. Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) data indicated that in solution, the apo state of monomeric ARL15 adopts a shape characterized by a globe of maximum linear dimension (Dmax) of 6.1 nm, and upon binding to GTP or GDP, the vector distribution profile changes to peak-n-tail shoulder with Dmax extended to 7.6 and 7.7 nm, respectively. Structure restoration using a sequence-based template and experimental SAXS data provided the first visual insight revealing that the folded N-terminal in the unbound state of the protein may toggle open upon binding to guanine nucleotides. The conformational dynamics observed in the N-terminal region offer a scope to develop drugs that target this unique GTPase, potentially providing treatments for a range of metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Saini
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Neelam Upadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Kanika Dhiman
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Satish Kumar Manjhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India
| | - Aman Achutan Kattuparambil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India
| | - Antara Ghoshal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Richa Arya
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar Dey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Aditya Sharma
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Raviprasad Aduri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India
| | - B K Thelma
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Fnu Ashish
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Suman Kundu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India; Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K K Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India.
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31
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Gorsheneva NA, Sopova JV, Azarov VV, Grizel AV, Rubel AA. Biomolecular Condensates: Structure, Functions, Methods of Research. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:S205-S223. [PMID: 38621751 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924140116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The term "biomolecular condensates" is used to describe membraneless compartments in eukaryotic cells, accumulating proteins and nucleic acids. Biomolecular condensates are formed as a result of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Often, they demonstrate properties of liquid-like droplets or gel-like aggregates; however, some of them may appear to have a more complex structure and high-order organization. Membraneless microcompartments are involved in diverse processes both in cytoplasm and in nucleus, among them ribosome biogenesis, regulation of gene expression, cell signaling, and stress response. Condensates properties and structure could be highly dynamic and are affected by various internal and external factors, e.g., concentration and interactions of components, solution temperature, pH, osmolarity, etc. In this review, we discuss variety of biomolecular condensates and their functions in live cells, describe their structure variants, highlight domain and primary sequence organization of the constituent proteins and nucleic acids. Finally, we describe current advances in methods that characterize structure, properties, morphology, and dynamics of biomolecular condensates in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia V Sopova
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | | | - Anastasia V Grizel
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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32
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Sun X, Saleh ASM, Wang Z, Yu Y, Li W, Zhang D. Insights into the interactions between etheric compounds and myofibrillar proteins using multi-spectroscopy, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. Food Res Int 2024; 175:113787. [PMID: 38129009 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine how the addition of etheric compounds (EC) affects the characteristics of myofibrillar proteins (MP) and to understand underlying interaction mechanisms. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the EC-MP complex was formed through hydrogen bonding. The addition of EC resulted in an increase in the α-helix content and a decrease in the β-sheet content of MP, which would promote the protein unfolding. The unfolding of MP led to aggregation and formation of larger and non-uniform particles. As a result, the exposure of negative charge on the MP surface was enhanced, and zeta potential was decreased from -5.33 mV to -7.45 mV. Moreover, the EC-induced modification of MP conformation resulted in a less rigid three-dimensional network structure of MP gel and enhanced the discharge of aldehyde compounds (C > 6). Moreover, the rheological characteristics of MP were enhanced by the suppression of protein-protein interactions due to the MP unfolding. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that anethole reduced the binding capacity of myosin to decanal by raising its binding energy from -22.22 kcal/mol to -19.38 kcal/mol. In the meantime, anethole competed for the amino acid residue (PHE165) where myosin connects to decanal. This caused the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts between the two molecules to dissolve, altering myosin's conformation and releasing decanal. The results might be useful in predicting and controlling the ability of proteins to release and hold onto flavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxiang Sun
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Integrated Laboratory of Processing Technology for Chinese Meat and Dish Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ahmed S M Saleh
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Integrated Laboratory of Processing Technology for Chinese Meat and Dish Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yumei Yu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Integrated Laboratory of Processing Technology for Chinese Meat and Dish Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Dequan Zhang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; Integrated Laboratory of Processing Technology for Chinese Meat and Dish Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, China.
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33
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Hopkins JB. BioXTAS RAW 2: new developments for a free open-source program for small angle scattering data reduction and analysis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.25.559353. [PMID: 37808703 PMCID: PMC10557611 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BioXTAS RAW is a free, open-source program for reduction, analysis and modelling of biological small angle scattering data. Here, the new developments in RAW version 2 are described. These include: improved data reduction using pyFAI; updated automated Guinier fitting and Dmax finding algorithms; automated series (e.g. SEC-SAXS) buffer and sample region finding algorithms; linear and integral baseline correction for series; deconvolution of series data using REGALS; creation of electron density reconstructions via DENSS; a comparison window showing residuals, ratios, and statistical comparisons between profiles; and generation of PDF reports with summary plots and tables for all analysis. In addition, there is now a RAW API, which can be used without the GUI, providing full access to all of the functionality found in the GUI. In addition to these new capabilities, RAW has undergone significant technical updates, such as adding Python 3 compatibility, and has entirely new documentation available both online and in the program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse B Hopkins
- The Biophysics Collaborative Access Team (BioCAT), Department of Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
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34
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Rinaldi F, Schipani F, Balboni B, Catalano F, Marotta R, Myers SH, Previtali V, Veronesi M, Scietti L, Cecatiello V, Pasqualato S, Ortega JA, Girotto S, Cavalli A. Isolation and Characterization of Monomeric Human RAD51: A Novel Tool for Investigating Homologous Recombination in Cancer. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202312517. [PMID: 37924230 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202312517] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
DNA repair protein RAD51 is a key player in the homologous recombination pathway. Upon DNA damage, RAD51 is transported into the nucleus by BRCA2, where it can repair DNA double-strand breaks. Due to the structural complexity and dynamics, researchers have not yet clarified the mechanistic details of every step of RAD51 recruitment and DNA repair. RAD51 possesses an intrinsic tendency to form oligomeric structures, which make it challenging to conduct biochemical and biophysical investigations. Here, for the first time, we report on the isolation and characterization of a human monomeric RAD51 recombinant form, obtained through a double mutation, which preserves the protein's integrity and functionality. We investigated different buffers to identify the most suitable condition needed to definitively stabilize the monomer. The monomer of human RAD51 provides the community with a unique biological tool for investigating RAD51-mediated homologous recombination, and paves the way for more reliable structural, mechanistic, and drug discovery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schipani
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Beatrice Balboni
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Catalano
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberto Marotta
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Samuel H Myers
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Viola Previtali
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luigi Scietti
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Cecatiello
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Current address: Structural Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole Milan, Italy Palazzo Italia Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Pasqualato
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
- Current address: Structural Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole Milan, Italy Palazzo Italia Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Jose Antonio Ortega
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Structural Biophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
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35
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Ferrero DS, Tomás Gilabert O, Verdaguer N. Structural insights on the nucleoprotein C-terminal domain of Měnglà virus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0237323. [PMID: 37888996 PMCID: PMC10714759 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02373-23] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Filoviruses are the causative agents of severe and often fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans. Měnglà virus (MLAV) is a recently reported filovirus, isolated from fruit bats that is capable to replicate in human cells, representing a potential risk for human health. An in-depth structural and functional knowledge of MLAV proteins is an essential step for antiviral research on this virus that can also be extended to other emerging filoviruses. In this study, we determined the first crystal structures of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the MLAV nucleoprotein (NP), showing important similarities to the equivalent domain in MARV. The structural data also show that the NP CTD has the ability to form large helical oligomers that may participate in the control of cytoplasmic inclusion body formation during viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nuria Verdaguer
- Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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36
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Itzhar A, Yosef G, Eilon-Ashkenazy M, Shmidov Y, Gil H, Lacham-Hartman S, Elyagon S, Etzion S, Bitton R, Cohen S, Etzion Y, Papo N. Potent inhibition of MMP-9 by a novel sustained-release platform attenuates left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction. J Control Release 2023; 364:246-260. [PMID: 37879441 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Sustained drug-release systems prolong the retention of therapeutic drugs within target tissues to alleviate the need for repeated drug administration. Two major caveats of the current systems are that the release rate and the timing cannot be predicted or fine-tuned because they rely on uncontrolled environmental conditions and that the system must be redesigned for each drug and treatment regime because the drug is bound via interactions that are specific to its structure and composition. We present a controlled and universal sustained drug-release system, which comprises minute spherical particles in which a therapeutic protein is affinity-bound to alginate sulfate (AlgS) through one or more short heparin-binding peptide (HBP) sequence repeats. Employing post-myocardial infarction (MI) heart remodeling as a case study, we show that the release of C9-a matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) inhibitor protein that we easily bound to AlgS by adding one, two, or three HBP repeats to its sequence-can be directly controlled by modifying the number of HBP repeats. In an in vivo study, we directly injected AlgS particles, which were bound to C9 through three HBP repeats, into the left ventricular myocardium of mice following MI. We found that the particles substantially reduced post-MI remodeling, attesting to the sustained, local release of the drug within the tissue. As the number of HBP repeats controls the rate of drug release from the AlgS particles, and since C9 can be easily replaced with almost any protein, our tunable sustained-release system can readily accommodate a wide range of protein-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Itzhar
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gal Yosef
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Maayan Eilon-Ashkenazy
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yulia Shmidov
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Hadas Gil
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shiran Lacham-Hartman
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sigal Elyagon
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sharon Etzion
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronit Bitton
- Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Smadar Cohen
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yoram Etzion
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell (RMSC) Research Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Niv Papo
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; National Institute of Biotechnology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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37
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Ballabio F, Paissoni C, Bollati M, de Rosa M, Capelli R, Camilloni C. Accurate and Efficient SAXS/SANS Implementation Including Solvation Layer Effects Suitable for Molecular Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:8401-8413. [PMID: 37923304 PMCID: PMC10687869 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00864] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) provide valuable insights into the structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solution, complementing a wide range of structural techniques, including molecular dynamics simulations. As contrast-based methods, they are sensitive not only to structural properties but also to solvent-solute interactions. Their use in molecular dynamics simulations requires a forward model that should be as fast and accurate as possible. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of calculating SAXS and SANS intensities using a coarse-grained representation consisting of one bead per amino acid and three beads per nucleic acid, with form factors that can be corrected on the fly to account for solvation effects at no additional computational cost. By coupling this forward model with molecular dynamics simulations restrained with SAS data, it is possible to determine conformational ensembles or refine the structure and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids in agreement with the experimental results. To assess the robustness of this approach, we applied it to gelsolin, for which we acquired SAXS data on its closed state, and to a UP1-microRNA complex, for which we used previously collected measurements. Our hybrid-resolution small-angle scattering (hySAS) implementation, being distributed in PLUMED, can be used with atomistic and coarse-grained simulations using diverse restraining strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ballabio
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Paissoni
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Bollati
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Istituto
di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche (IBF-CNR), via
Alfonso Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo de Rosa
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Istituto
di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche (IBF-CNR), via
Alfonso Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Capelli
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Camilloni
- Dipartimento
di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi
di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
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38
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He W, San Emeterio J, Woodside MT, Kirmizialtin S, Pollack L. Atomistic structure of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot in solution from SAXS-driven molecular dynamics. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11332-11344. [PMID: 37819014 PMCID: PMC10639041 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 depends on -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) to express proteins essential for its replication. The RNA pseudoknot stimulating -1 PRF is thus an attractive drug target. However, the structural models of this pseudoknot obtained from cryo-EM and crystallography differ in some important features, leaving the pseudoknot structure unclear. We measured the solution structure of the pseudoknot using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The measured profile did not agree with profiles computed from the previously solved structures. Beginning with each of these solved structures, we used the SAXS data to direct all atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to improve the agreement in profiles. In all cases, this refinement resulted in a bent conformation that more closely resembled the cryo-EM structures than the crystal structure. Applying the same approach to a point mutant abolishing -1 PRF revealed a notably more bent structure with reoriented helices. This work clarifies the dynamic structures of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei He
- Chemistry Program, Science Division, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, USA
| | | | - Michael T Woodside
- Department of Physics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, and Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Serdal Kirmizialtin
- Chemistry Program, Science Division, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, USA
| | - Lois Pollack
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, USA
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39
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Xu X, Jia Z, Chen N, Lele SM, Arash S, Reinhardt RA, Killeen AC, Wang D. The Development of Thermoresponsive Polymeric Simvastatin Prodrug for the Treatment of Experimental Periodontitis in Rats. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:5631-5645. [PMID: 37772991 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00508] [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] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Periodontitis (PD) is a severe inflammatory gum pathology that damages the periodontal soft tissue and bone. It is highly prevalent in the US, affecting more than 47% of adults. Besides routine scaling and root planing, there are few effective treatments for PD. Developed as an effective treatment for hyperlipidemia, simvastatin (SIM) is also known for its well-established anti-inflammatory and osteogenic properties, suggesting its potential utility in treating PD. Its clinical translation, however, has been impeded by its poor water-solubility, lack of osteotropicity, and side effects (e.g., hepatoxicity) associated with systemic exposure. To address these challenges, an N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-based thermoresponsive polymeric prodrug of SIM (ProGel-SIM) was developed as a local therapy for PD. Its aqueous solution is free-flowing at 4 °C and transitions into a hydrogel at ∼30 °C, allowing for easy local application and retention. After a thorough characterization of its physicochemical properties, ProGel-SIM was administered weekly into the periodontal pocket of an experimental rat model of PD. At 3 weeks post initiation of the treatment, the animals were euthanized with palate isolated for μ-CT and histological analyses. When compared to dose equivalent simvastatin acid (SMA, active form of SIM) treatment, the rats in the ProGel-SIM treated group showed significantly higher periodontal bone volume (0.34 mm3 vs 0.20 mm3, P = 0.0161) and less neutrophil (PMN) infiltration (P < 0.0001) and IL-1β secretion (P = 0.0036). No measurable side effect was observed. Collectively, these results suggest that ProGel-SIM may be developed as a promising drug candidate for the effective clinical treatment of PD.
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40
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Golub M, Pieper J. Recent Progress in Solution Structure Studies of Photosynthetic Proteins Using Small-Angle Scattering Methods. Molecules 2023; 28:7414. [PMID: 37959833 PMCID: PMC10650700 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217414] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Utilized for gaining structural insights, small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering techniques (SANS and SAXS, respectively) enable an examination of biomolecules, including photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes, in solution at physiological temperatures. These methods can be seen as instrumental bridges between the high-resolution structural information achieved by crystallography or cryo-electron microscopy and functional explorations conducted in a solution state. The review starts with a comprehensive overview about the fundamental principles and applications of SANS and SAXS, with a particular focus on the recent advancements permitting to enhance the efficiency of these techniques in photosynthesis research. Among the recent developments discussed are: (i) the advent of novel modeling tools whereby a direct connection between SANS and SAXS data and high-resolution structures is created; (ii) the employment of selective deuteration, which is utilized to enhance spatial selectivity and contrast matching; (iii) the potential symbioses with molecular dynamics simulations; and (iv) the amalgamations with functional studies that are conducted to unearth structure-function relationships. Finally, reference is made to time-resolved SANS/SAXS experiments, which enable the monitoring of large-scale structural transformations of proteins in a real-time framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jörg Pieper
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Wilhelm Ostwald Str. 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
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41
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Petrvalska O, Honzejkova K, Koupilova N, Herman P, Obsilova V, Obsil T. 14-3-3 protein inhibits CaMKK1 by blocking the kinase active site with its last two C-terminal helices. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4805. [PMID: 37817008 PMCID: PMC10588359 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4805] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Ca2+ /CaM-dependent protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (CaMKK1 and CaMKK2) phosphorylate and enhance the catalytic activity of downstream kinases CaMKI, CaMKIV, and protein kinase B. Accordingly, CaMKK1 and CaMKK2 regulate key physiological and pathological processes, such as tumorigenesis, neuronal morphogenesis, synaptic plasticity, transcription factor activation, and cellular energy homeostasis, and promote cell survival. Both CaMKKs are partly inhibited by phosphorylation, which in turn triggers adaptor and scaffolding protein 14-3-3 binding. However, 14-3-3 binding only significantly affects CaMKK1 function. CaMKK2 activity remains almost unchanged after complex formation for reasons still unclear. Here, we aim at structurally characterizing CaMKK1:14-3-3 and CaMKK2:14-3-3 complexes by SAXS, H/D exchange coupled to MS, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results revealed that complex formation suppresses the interaction of both phosphorylated CaMKKs with Ca2+ /CaM and affects the structure of their kinase domains and autoinhibitory segments. But these effects are much stronger on CaMKK1 than on CaMKK2 because the CaMKK1:14-3-3γ complex has a more compact and rigid structure in which the active site of the kinase domain directly interacts with the last two C-terminal helices of the 14-3-3γ protein, thereby inhibiting CaMKK1. In contrast, the CaMKK2:14-3-3 complex has a looser and more flexible structure, so 14-3-3 binding only negligibly affects the catalytic activity of CaMKK2. Therefore, Ca2+ /CaM binding suppression and the interaction of the kinase active site of CaMKK1 with the last two C-terminal helices of 14-3-3γ protein provide the structural basis for 14-3-3-mediated CaMKK1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Petrvalska
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Structural Biology of Signaling ProteinsDivision BIOCEVVestecCzech Republic
| | - Karolina Honzejkova
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Nicola Koupilova
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Petr Herman
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and PhysicsCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Veronika Obsilova
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Structural Biology of Signaling ProteinsDivision BIOCEVVestecCzech Republic
| | - Tomas Obsil
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
- Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Structural Biology of Signaling ProteinsDivision BIOCEVVestecCzech Republic
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42
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Omori NE, Bobitan AD, Vamvakeros A, Beale AM, Jacques SDM. Recent developments in X-ray diffraction/scattering computed tomography for materials science. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2023; 381:20220350. [PMID: 37691470 PMCID: PMC10493554 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2022.0350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
X-ray diffraction/scattering computed tomography (XDS-CT) methods are a non-destructive class of chemical imaging techniques that have the capacity to provide reconstructions of sample cross-sections with spatially resolved chemical information. While X-ray diffraction CT (XRD-CT) is the most well-established method, recent advances in instrumentation and data reconstruction have seen greater use of related techniques like small angle X-ray scattering CT and pair distribution function CT. Additionally, the adoption of machine learning techniques for tomographic reconstruction and data analysis are fundamentally disrupting how XDS-CT data is processed. The following narrative review highlights recent developments and applications of XDS-CT with a focus on studies in the last five years. This article is part of the theme issue 'Exploring the length scales, timescales and chemistry of challenging materials (Part 2)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi E. Omori
- Finden Limited, Merchant House, 5 East St Helens Street,Abingdon OX14 5EG, UK
| | - Antonia D. Bobitan
- Finden Limited, Merchant House, 5 East St Helens Street,Abingdon OX14 5EG, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Antonis Vamvakeros
- Finden Limited, Merchant House, 5 East St Helens Street,Abingdon OX14 5EG, UK
- Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2DB, UK
| | - Andrew M. Beale
- Finden Limited, Merchant House, 5 East St Helens Street,Abingdon OX14 5EG, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Simon D. M. Jacques
- Finden Limited, Merchant House, 5 East St Helens Street,Abingdon OX14 5EG, UK
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43
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Blanchet CE, Round A, Mertens HDT, Ayyer K, Graewert M, Awel S, Franke D, Dörner K, Bajt S, Bean R, Custódio TF, de Wijn R, Juncheng E, Henkel A, Gruzinov A, Jeffries CM, Kim Y, Kirkwood H, Kloos M, Knoška J, Koliyadu J, Letrun R, Löw C, Makroczyova J, Mall A, Meijers R, Pena Murillo GE, Oberthür D, Round E, Seuring C, Sikorski M, Vagovic P, Valerio J, Wollweber T, Zhuang Y, Schulz J, Haas H, Chapman HN, Mancuso AP, Svergun D. Form factor determination of biological molecules with X-ray free electron laser small-angle scattering (XFEL-SAS). Commun Biol 2023; 6:1057. [PMID: 37853181 PMCID: PMC10585004 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05416-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-electron lasers (FEL) are revolutionizing X-ray-based structural biology methods. While protein crystallography is already routinely performed at FELs, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) studies of biological macromolecules are not as prevalent. SAXS allows the study of the shape and overall structure of proteins and nucleic acids in solution, in a quasi-native environment. In solution, chemical and biophysical parameters that have an influence on the structure and dynamics of molecules can be varied and their effect on conformational changes can be monitored in time-resolved XFEL and SAXS experiments. We report here the collection of scattering form factors of proteins in solution using FEL X-rays. The form factors correspond to the scattering signal of the protein ensemble alone; the scattering contributions from the solvent and the instrument are separately measured and accurately subtracted. The experiment was done using a liquid jet for sample delivery. These results pave the way for time-resolved studies and measurements from dilute samples, capitalizing on the intense and short FEL X-ray pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement E Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Adam Round
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.
| | - Haydyn D T Mertens
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kartik Ayyer
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melissa Graewert
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Salah Awel
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Franke
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
- BIOSAXS GmbH, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katerina Dörner
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Saša Bajt
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Richard Bean
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Tânia F Custódio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestrasse 85, D-22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raphael de Wijn
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - E Juncheng
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Alessandra Henkel
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrey Gruzinov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cy M Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Henry Kirkwood
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Marco Kloos
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Juraj Knoška
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Romain Letrun
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Christian Löw
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestrasse 85, D-22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Abhishek Mall
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rob Meijers
- Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), 4 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gisel Esperanza Pena Murillo
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Round
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Carolin Seuring
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Notkestrasse 85, D-22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marcin Sikorski
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Patrik Vagovic
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joana Valerio
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Tamme Wollweber
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yulong Zhuang
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Schulz
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Henry N Chapman
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adrian P Mancuso
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL, Hamburg Site, c/o DESY Notkestrasse 85, 22603, Hamburg, Germany.
- BIOSAXS GmbH, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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44
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Dorn G, Gmeiner C, de Vries T, Dedic E, Novakovic M, Damberger FF, Maris C, Finol E, Sarnowski CP, Kohlbrecher J, Welsh TJ, Bolisetty S, Mezzenga R, Aebersold R, Leitner A, Yulikov M, Jeschke G, Allain FHT. Integrative solution structure of PTBP1-IRES complex reveals strong compaction and ordering with residual conformational flexibility. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6429. [PMID: 37833274 PMCID: PMC10576089 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42012-z] [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: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are crucial regulators of gene expression, often composed of defined domains interspersed with flexible, intrinsically disordered regions. Determining the structure of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes involving such RBPs necessitates integrative structural modeling due to their lack of a single stable state. In this study, we integrate magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and small-angle scattering data to determine the solution structure of the polypyrimidine-tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1/hnRNP I) bound to an RNA fragment from the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). This binding, essential for enhancing the translation of viral RNA, leads to a complex structure that demonstrates RNA and protein compaction, while maintaining pronounced conformational flexibility. Acting as an RNA chaperone, PTBP1 orchestrates the IRES RNA into a few distinct conformations, exposing the RNA stems outward. This conformational diversity is likely common among RNP structures and functionally important. Our approach enables atomic-level characterization of heterogeneous RNP structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Dorn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Gmeiner
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tebbe de Vries
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emil Dedic
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mihajlo Novakovic
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fred F Damberger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Maris
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Esteban Finol
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Chris P Sarnowski
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Kohlbrecher
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Welsh
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sreenath Bolisetty
- Laboratory of Food & Soft Materials, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department for Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Raffaele Mezzenga
- Laboratory of Food & Soft Materials, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department for Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ruedi Aebersold
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Leitner
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maxim Yulikov
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Gunnar Jeschke
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Frédéric H-T Allain
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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45
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Rusbjerg-Weberskov C, Johansen ML, Nowak JS, Otzen DE, Pedersen JS, Enghild JJ, Nielsen NS. Periostin C-Terminal Is Intrinsically Disordered and Interacts with 143 Proteins in an In Vitro Epidermal Model of Atopic Dermatitis. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2803-2815. [PMID: 37704583 PMCID: PMC10552548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Human periostin is a 78-91 kDa matricellular protein implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling, tumor development, metastasis, and inflammatory diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and asthma. The protein consists of six domains, including an N-terminal Cys-rich CROPT domain, four fasciclin-1 domains, and a C-terminal domain. The exons encoding the C-terminal domain may be alternatively spliced by shuffling four exons, generating ten variants of unknown function. Here, we investigate the structure and interactome of the full-length variant of the C-terminal domain with no exons spliced out. The structural analysis showed that the C-terminal domain lacked a tertiary structure and was intrinsically disordered. In addition, we show that the motif responsible for heparin-binding is in the conserved very C-terminal part of periostin. Pull-down confirmed three known interaction partners and identified an additional 140 proteins, among which nine previously have been implicated in atopic dermatitis. Based on our findings, we suggest that the C-terminal domain of periostin facilitates interactions between connective tissue components in concert with the four fasciclin domains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mette Liere Johansen
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Aarhus
C 8000, Denmark
| | - Jan S. Nowak
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Aarhus
C 8000, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Daniel E. Otzen
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Aarhus
C 8000, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Jan Skov Pedersen
- Department
of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark
| | - Jan J. Enghild
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Aarhus
C 8000, Denmark
| | - Nadia Sukusu Nielsen
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus
University, Aarhus
C 8000, Denmark
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46
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Mistry H, Kumari S, Aswal VK, Gupta GD. Structural characterization of transcription-coupled repair protein UVSSA and its interaction with TFIIH protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 247:125792. [PMID: 37442507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
UV-stimulated scaffold protein A (UVSSA) is a key protein in the Transcription-Coupled Nucleotide Excision Repair (TC-NER) pathway. UVSSA, an intrinsically disordered protein, interacts with multiple members of the pathway, tethering them into the complex. Several studies have reported that UVSSA recruits Transcription Factor IIH (TFIIH) via direct interaction, following which CSB is degraded and the lesion recognition TC-NER complex dissociates from the damage site to facilitate the DNA repair. Structural insights into these events remain largely unknown. Herein, we have investigated the interaction of human UVSSA with the Pleckstrin-Homology-domain of p62 subunit of TFIIH (p62-PHD) using biophysical techniques. We observed that UVSSA forms a stable complex with the p62-PHD in vitro. Small-angle scattering measurements using X-rays and neutrons revealed a significant change in pair-distance distribution function for UVSSA662/p62-PHD complex compared to UVSSA alone. Additionally, a significant decrease was observed in the radius of gyration of the complex. Our findings suggest that TFIIH binding to UVSSA causes significant conformational changes in UVSSA. We hypothesize that these conformational changes play an important role in the dissociation of the lesion recognition TC-NER complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiral Mistry
- Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Shweta Kumari
- Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Vinod K Aswal
- Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India
| | - Gagan D Gupta
- Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, India.
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47
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Ogata M, Onoda T, Wakamatsu T. In situ characterization of the agglutination of lectins via cross-linking of carbohydrates by time-resolved measurement of forward static light scattering. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2023; 87:1036-1044. [PMID: 37348468 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad082] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
We present real-time observations of a structurally variable process for cross-linking agglutination between multivalent lectins and glycoclusters using a small-angle forward static light scattering (F-SLS) technique. In this study, a cross-linking agglutination reaction was carried out using a tetravalent Neu5Acα2,6LacNAc-glycocluster and Sambucus sieboldiana agglutinin (SSA). The scattering intensity of time-resolved F-SLS increased with formation of the Neu5Acα2,6LacNAc-glycocluster-SSA cross-linked complex. Using this approach, fine sequential cross-linking agglutination between glycoclusters and lectins was observed in real-time. The rate of increase in the intensity of time-resolved F-SLS increased with the concentration of sialo-glycoclusters and SSA. Structural analysis based on the fractal dimension using time-resolved F-SLS patterns revealed that the density of the aggregates changed with progression of the cross-linking reaction until equilibrium was reached. This is the first report to evaluate the cross-linking agglutination reaction between glycoclusters and lectins and analysis of the subsequent structure of the obtained aggregates using time-resolved measurements of F-SLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ogata
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima city, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takashi Onoda
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takashi Wakamatsu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic System Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College, 866 Nakane, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan
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48
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Lalmansingh JM, Keeley AT, Ruff KM, Pappu RV, Holehouse AS. SOURSOP: A Python Package for the Analysis of Simulations of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:5609-5620. [PMID: 37463458 PMCID: PMC11188088 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Conformational heterogeneity is a defining hallmark of intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions (IDRs). The functions of IDRs and the emergent cellular phenotypes they control are associated with sequence-specific conformational ensembles. Simulations of conformational ensembles that are based on atomistic and coarse-grained models are routinely used to uncover the sequence-specific interactions that may contribute to IDR functions. These simulations are performed either independently or in conjunction with data from experiments. Functionally relevant features of IDRs can span a range of length scales. Extracting these features requires analysis routines that quantify a range of properties. Here, we describe a new analysis suite simulation analysis of unfolded regions of proteins (SOURSOP), an object-oriented and open-source toolkit designed for the analysis of simulated conformational ensembles of IDRs. SOURSOP implements several analysis routines motivated by principles in polymer physics, offering a unique collection of simple-to-use functions to characterize IDR ensembles. As an extendable framework, SOURSOP supports the development and implementation of new analysis routines that can be easily packaged and shared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared M. Lalmansingh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Alex T. Keeley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Kiersten M. Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Rohit V. Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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49
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Alston JJ, Soranno A. Condensation Goes Viral: A Polymer Physics Perspective. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167988. [PMID: 36709795 PMCID: PMC10368797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.167988] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The past decade has seen a revolution in our understanding of how the cellular environment is organized, where an incredible body of work has provided new insights into the role played by membraneless organelles. These rapid advancements have been made possible by an increasing awareness of the peculiar physical properties that give rise to such bodies and the complex biology that enables their function. Viral infections are not extraneous to this. Indeed, in host cells, viruses can harness existing membraneless compartments or, even, induce the formation of new ones. By hijacking the cellular machinery, these intracellular bodies can assist in the replication, assembly, and packaging of the viral genome as well as in the escape of the cellular immune response. Here, we provide a perspective on the fundamental polymer physics concepts that may help connect and interpret the different observed phenomena, ranging from the condensation of viral genomes to the phase separation of multicomponent solutions. We complement the discussion of the physical basis with a description of biophysical methods that can provide quantitative insights for testing and developing theoretical and computational models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhullian J Alston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St Louis, 660 St Euclid Ave, 63110 Saint Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, 63130 Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Soranno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St Louis, 660 St Euclid Ave, 63110 Saint Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, 63130 Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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50
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Chien YC, Wang YS, Sridharan D, Kuo CW, Chien CT, Uchihashi T, Kato K, Angata T, Meng TC, Hsu STD, Khoo KH. High Density of N- and O-Glycosylation Shields and Defines the Structural Dynamics of the Intrinsically Disordered Ectodomain of Receptor-type Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Alpha. JACS AU 2023; 3:1864-1875. [PMID: 37502146 PMCID: PMC10369406 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The intracellular phosphatase domain of the receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPRA) is known to regulate various signaling pathways related to cell adhesion through c-Src kinase activation. In contrast, the functional significance of its relatively short, intrinsically disordered, and heavily glycosylated ectodomain remains unclear. Through detailed mass spectrometry analyses of a combination of protease and glycosidase digests, we now provide the first experimental evidence for its site-specific glycosylation pattern. This includes the occurrence of O-glycan at the N-glycosylation sequon among the more than 30 O-glycosylation sites confidently identified beside the 7 N-glycosylation sites. The closely spaced N- and O-glycans appear to have mutually limited the extent of further galactosylation and sialylation. An immature smaller form of full-length PTPRA was found to be deficient in O-glycosylation, most likely due to failure to transit the Golgi. N-glycosylation, on the other hand, is dispensable for cell surface expression and contributes less than the extensive O-glycosylation to the overall solution structure of the ectodomain. The glycosylation information is combined with the overall structural features of the ectodomain derived from small-angle X-ray scattering and high-speed atomic force microscopy monitoring to establish a dynamic structural model of the densely glycosylated PTPRA ectodomain. The observed high structural flexibility, as manifested by continuous transitioning from fully to partially extended and fold-back conformations, suggests that the receptor-type phosphatase is anchored to the membrane and kept mostly at a monomeric state through an ectodomain shaped and fully shielded by glycosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Chien
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yong-Sheng Wang
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Deepa Sridharan
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Wei Kuo
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ta Chien
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Department
of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
- Exploratory
Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Koichi Kato
- Exploratory
Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Institute
for Molecular Science, National Institutes
of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya
City University, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Takashi Angata
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ching Meng
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Te Danny Hsu
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- International
Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima 739-8527, Japan
| | - Kay-Hooi Khoo
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Exploratory
Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| |
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