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Cukkemane A, Becker N, Zielinski M, Frieg B, Lakomek NA, Heise H, Schröder GF, Willbold D, Weiergräber OH. Conformational heterogeneity coupled with β-fibril formation of a scaffold protein involved in chronic mental illnesses. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:639. [PMID: 34921141 PMCID: PMC8683410 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic mental illnesses (CMIs) pose a significant challenge to global health due to their complex and poorly understood etiologies and hence, absence of causal therapies. Research of the past two decades has revealed dysfunction of the disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) protein as a predisposing factor involved in several psychiatric disorders. DISC1 is a multifaceted protein that serves myriads of functions in mammalian cells, for instance, influencing neuronal development and synapse maintenance. It serves as a scaffold hub forming complexes with a variety (~300) of partners that constitute its interactome. Herein, using combinations of structural and biophysical tools, we demonstrate that the C-region of the DISC1 protein is highly polymorphic, with important consequences for its physiological role. Results from solid-state NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy indicate that the protein not only forms symmetric oligomers but also gives rise to fibrils closely resembling those found in certain established amyloid proteinopathies. Furthermore, its aggregation as studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is an exergonic process, involving a negative enthalpy change that drives the formation of oligomeric (presumably tetrameric) species as well as β-fibrils. We have been able to narrow down the β-core region participating in fibrillization to residues 716-761 of full-length human DISC1. This region is absent in the DISC1Δ22aa splice variant, resulting in reduced association with proteins from the dynein motor complex, viz., NDE-like 1 (NDEL1) and lissencephaly 1 (LIS1), which are crucial during mitosis. By employing surface plasmon resonance, we show that the oligomeric DISC1 C-region has an increased affinity and shows cooperativity in binding to LIS1 and NDEL1, in contrast to the noncooperative binding mode exhibited by the monomeric version. Based on the derived structural models, we propose that the association between the binding partners involves two neighboring subunits of DISC1 C-region oligomers. Altogether, our findings highlight the significance of the DISC1 C-region as a crucial factor governing the balance between its physiological role as a multifunctional scaffold protein and aggregation-related aberrations with potential significance for disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Cukkemane
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany. .,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Nina Becker
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XJülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Mara Zielinski
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Frieg
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nils-Alexander Lakomek
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XJülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Henrike Heise
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XJülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Gunnar F. Schröder
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XJülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Physics Department, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany. .,Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. .,Jülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Oliver H. Weiergräber
- grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XInstitute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XJülich Centre for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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2
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Boone M, Ramasamy P, Zuallaert J, Bouwmeester R, Van Moer B, Maddelein D, Turan D, Hulstaert N, Eeckhaut H, Vandermarliere E, Martens L, Degroeve S, De Neve W, Vranken W, Callewaert N. Massively parallel interrogation of protein fragment secretability using SECRiFY reveals features influencing secretory system transit. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6414. [PMID: 34741024 PMCID: PMC8571348 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26720-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While transcriptome- and proteome-wide technologies to assess processes in protein biogenesis are now widely available, we still lack global approaches to assay post-ribosomal biogenesis events, in particular those occurring in the eukaryotic secretory system. We here develop a method, SECRiFY, to simultaneously assess the secretability of >105 protein fragments by two yeast species, S. cerevisiae and P. pastoris, using custom fragment libraries, surface display and a sequencing-based readout. Screening human proteome fragments with a median size of 50-100 amino acids, we generate datasets that enable datamining into protein features underlying secretability, revealing a striking role for intrinsic disorder and chain flexibility. The SECRiFY methodology generates sufficient amounts of annotated data for advanced machine learning methods to deduce secretability patterns. The finding that secretability is indeed a learnable feature of protein sequences provides a solid base for application-focused studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Boone
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium. .,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. .,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Pathmanaban Ramasamy
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ,grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Structural Biology Brussels, VUB, Brussels, Belgium ,grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium ,Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels (IB)2, ULB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jasper Zuallaert
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium ,grid.510328.dCenter for Biotech Data Science, Ghent University Global Campus, Songdo, Incheon, South Korea ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798IDLab, ELIS, UGent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robbin Bouwmeester
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Berre Van Moer
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Davy Maddelein
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Demet Turan
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niels Hulstaert
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hannah Eeckhaut
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elien Vandermarliere
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lennart Martens
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Degroeve
- grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wesley De Neve
- grid.510328.dCenter for Biotech Data Science, Ghent University Global Campus, Songdo, Incheon, South Korea ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798IDLab, ELIS, UGent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vranken
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Structural Biology Brussels, VUB, Brussels, Belgium ,grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium ,Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels (IB)2, ULB-VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Zwijnaarde, Belgium. .,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Bhatwa A, Wang W, Hassan YI, Abraham N, Li XZ, Zhou T. Challenges Associated With the Formation of Recombinant Protein Inclusion Bodies in Escherichia coli and Strategies to Address Them for Industrial Applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:630551. [PMID: 33644021 PMCID: PMC7902521 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.630551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant proteins are becoming increasingly important for industrial applications, where Escherichia coli is the most widely used bacterial host for their production. However, the formation of inclusion bodies is a frequently encountered challenge for producing soluble and functional recombinant proteins. To overcome this hurdle, different strategies have been developed through adjusting growth conditions, engineering host strains of E. coli, altering expression vectors, and modifying the proteins of interest. These approaches will be comprehensively highlighted with some of the new developments in this review. Additionally, the unique features of protein inclusion bodies, the mechanism and influencing factors of their formation, and their potential advantages will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshpreet Bhatwa
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Weijun Wang
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Yousef I. Hassan
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nadine Abraham
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Xiu-Zhen Li
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ting Zhou
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
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4
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Hot CoFi Blot: A High-Throughput Colony-Based Screen for Identifying More Thermally Stable Protein Variants. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31267459 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9624-7_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Highly soluble and stable proteins are desirable for many different applications, from basic science to reaching a cancer patient in the form of a biological drug. For X-ray crystallography-where production of a protein crystal might take weeks and even months-a stable protein sample of high purity and concentration can greatly increase the chances of producing a well-diffracting crystal. For a patient receiving a specific protein drug, its safety, efficacy, and even cost are factors affected by its solubility and stability. Increased protein expression and protein stability can be achieved by randomly altering the coding sequence. As the number of mutants generated might be overwhelming, a powerful protein expression and stability screen is required. In this chapter, we describe a colony filtration technology, which allows us to screen random mutagenesis libraries for increased thermal stability-the Hot CoFi blot. We share how to create the random mutagenesis library, how to perform the Hot CoFi blot, and how to identify more thermally stable clones. We use the Tobacco Etch Virus protease as a target to exemplify the procedure.
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5
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Membrane protein engineering to the rescue. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:1541-1549. [PMID: 30381335 DOI: 10.1042/bst20180140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The inherent hydrophobicity of membrane proteins is a major barrier to membrane protein research and understanding. Their low stability and solubility in aqueous environments coupled with poor expression levels make them a challenging area of research. For many years, the only way of working with membrane proteins was to optimise the environment to suit the protein, through the use of different detergents, solubilising additives, and other adaptations. However, with innovative protein engineering methodologies, the membrane proteins themselves are now being adapted to suit the environment. This mini-review looks at the types of adaptations which are applied to membrane proteins from a variety of different fields, including water solubilising fusion tags, thermostabilising mutation screening, scaffold proteins, stabilising protein chimeras, and isolating water-soluble domains.
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6
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Simonini S, Mas PJ, Mas CMVS, Østergaard L, Hart DJ. Auxin sensing is a property of an unstructured domain in the Auxin Response Factor ETTIN of Arabidopsis thaliana. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13563. [PMID: 30202032 PMCID: PMC6131142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31634-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant hormone auxin regulates numerous aspects of the plant life cycle. Auxin signalling is mediated by auxin response factors (ARFs) that dimerise with modulating Aux/IAA repressors. ARF3 (ETTIN or ETT) is atypical as it does not interact with Aux/IAA repressors. It is proposed to be a non-canonical auxin sensor, regulating diverse functions essential for development. This sensing ability relies on a unique C-terminal ETT specific domain (ES domain). Alignments of ETT orthologues across the angiosperm phylum revealed that the length and sequence identities of ES domains are poorly conserved. Computational predictors suggested the ES domains to be intrinsically disordered, explaining their tolerance of insertions, deletions and mutations during evolution. Nevertheless, five highly conserved short linear motifs were identified suggesting functional significance. High-throughput library screening identified an almost full-length soluble ES domain that did not bind auxin directly, but exhibited a dose-dependent response in a yeast two-hybrid system against the Arabidopsis INDEHISCENT (IND) transcription factor. Circular dichroism confirmed the domain was disordered. The identification and purification of this domain opens the way to the future characterisation of the ETT auxin-sensing mechanism in planta and an improved understanding of auxin-mediated regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Simonini
- Crop Genetics Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH, Norwich, UK
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philippe J Mas
- Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble (ISBG) CNRS, CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes, EMBL, 71 avenue des Martyrs, F-38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Caroline M V S Mas
- Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble (ISBG) CNRS, CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes, EMBL, 71 avenue des Martyrs, F-38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Lars Østergaard
- Crop Genetics Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH, Norwich, UK.
| | - Darren J Hart
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, CEA, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 71 avenue des Martyrs, F-38042, Grenoble, France.
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7
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Tarbouriech N, Ducournau C, Hutin S, Mas PJ, Man P, Forest E, Hart DJ, Peyrefitte CN, Burmeister WP, Iseni F. The vaccinia virus DNA polymerase structure provides insights into the mode of processivity factor binding. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1455. [PMID: 29129932 PMCID: PMC5682278 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01542-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototype member of the Poxviridae, replicates in the cytoplasm of an infected cell. The catalytic subunit of the DNA polymerase E9 binds the heterodimeric processivity factor A20/D4 to form the functional polymerase holoenzyme. Here we present the crystal structure of full-length E9 at 2.7 Å resolution that permits identification of important poxvirus-specific structural insertions. One insertion in the palm domain interacts with C-terminal residues of A20 and thus serves as the processivity factor-binding site. This is in strong contrast to all other family B polymerases that bind their co-factors at the C terminus of the thumb domain. The VACV E9 structure also permits rationalization of polymerase inhibitor resistance mutations when compared with the closely related eukaryotic polymerase delta–DNA complex. The catalytic subunit E9 of the vaccinia virus DNA polymerase forms a functional polymerase holoenzyme by interacting with the heterodimeric processivity factor A20/D4. Here the authors present the structure of full-length E9 and show that an insertion within its palm domain binds A20, in a mode different from other family B polymerases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Tarbouriech
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Corinne Ducournau
- Unité de Virologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, BP 73, 91223, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France
| | - Stephanie Hutin
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe J Mas
- Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble (ISBG) CNRS, CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes, EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Petr Man
- BioCeV-Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Eric Forest
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Darren J Hart
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Christophe N Peyrefitte
- Unité de Virologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, BP 73, 91223, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France.,Emerging Pathogens Laboratory, Fondation Mérieux, 21 Avenue Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France
| | - Wim P Burmeister
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Iseni
- Unité de Virologie, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, BP 73, 91223, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France.
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Abstract
The 2525 amino acid SMRT corepressor is an intrinsically disordered hub protein responsible for binding and coordinating the activities of multiple transcription factors and chromatin modifying enzymes. Here we have studied its interaction with HDAC7, a class IIa deacetylase that interacts with the corepressor complex together with the highly active class I deacetylase HDAC3. The binding site of class IIa deacetylases was previously mapped to an approximate 500 amino acid region of SMRT, with recent implication of short glycine-serine-isoleucine (GSI) containing motifs. In order to characterize the interaction in detail, we applied a random library screening approach within this region and obtained a range of stable, soluble SMRT fragments. In agreement with an absence of predicted structural domains, these were characterized as intrinsically disordered by NMR spectroscopy. We identified one of them, comprising residues 1255–1452, as interacting with HDAC7 with micromolar affinity. The binding site was mapped in detail by NMR and confirmed by truncation and alanine mutagenesis. Complementing this with mutational analysis of HDAC7, we show that HDAC7, via its surface zinc ion binding site, binds to a 28 residue stretch in SMRT comprising a GSI motif followed by an alpha helix.
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9
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Mouse Rif1 is a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). Sci Rep 2017; 7:2119. [PMID: 28522851 PMCID: PMC5437018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01910-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rif1 is a conserved protein that plays essential roles in orchestrating DNA replication timing, controlling nuclear architecture, telomere length and DNA repair. However, the relationship between these different roles, as well as the molecular basis of Rif1 function is still unclear. The association of Rif1 with insoluble nuclear lamina has thus far hampered exhaustive characterization of the associated protein complexes. We devised a protocol that overcomes this problem, and were thus able to discover a number of novel Rif1 interactors, involved in chromatin metabolism and phosphorylation. Among them, we focus here on PP1. Data from different systems have suggested that Rif1-PP1 interaction is conserved and has important biological roles. Using mutagenesis, NMR, isothermal calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance we demonstrate that Rif1 is a high-affinity PP1 adaptor, able to out-compete the well-established PP1-inhibitor I2 in vitro. Our conclusions have important implications for understanding Rif1 diverse roles and the relationship between the biological processes controlled by Rif1.
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10
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Leupold S, Büsing P, Mas PJ, Hart DJ, Scrima A. Structural insights into the architecture of the Shigella flexneri virulence factor IcsA/VirG and motifs involved in polar distribution and secretion. J Struct Biol 2017; 198:19-27. [PMID: 28268178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
IcsA/VirG is a key virulence factor of the human pathogen Shigella flexneri, acting as both an adhesin and actin-polymerizing factor during infection. We identified a soluble expression construct of the IcsA/VirG α-domain using the ESPRIT library screening system and determined its structure to 1.9Å resolution. In addition to the previously characterized autochaperone domain, our structure reveals a new domain, which shares a common fold with the autochaperone domains of various autotransporters. We further provide insight into the previously structurally uncharacterized β-helix domain that harbors the polar targeting motif and passenger-associated transport repeat. This structure is the first of any member of the recently identified passenger-associated transport repeat-containing autotransporters. Thus, it provides new insights into the overall architecture of this class of autotransporters, the function of the identified additional autochaperone domain and the structural properties of motifs involved in polar targeting and secretion of the Shigella flexneri virulence factor IcsA/VirG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Leupold
- Structural Biology of Autophagy, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Büsing
- Structural Biology of Autophagy, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Philippe J Mas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Grenoble Outstation and Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University Grenoble Alpes-CNRS-EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Darren J Hart
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Grenoble Outstation and Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University Grenoble Alpes-CNRS-EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Andrea Scrima
- Structural Biology of Autophagy, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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11
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Yerabham ASK, Mas PJ, Decker C, Soares DC, Weiergräber OH, Nagel-Steger L, Willbold D, Hart DJ, Bradshaw NJ, Korth C. A structural organization for the Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 protein, identified by high-throughput screening, reveals distinctly folded regions, which are bisected by mental illness-related mutations. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6468-6477. [PMID: 28249940 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.773903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a scaffolding protein of significant importance for neurodevelopment and a prominent candidate protein in the pathology of major mental illness. DISC1 modulates a number of critical neuronal signaling pathways through protein-protein interactions; however, the mechanism by which this occurs and how DISC1 causes mental illness is unclear, partly because knowledge of the structure of DISC1 is lacking. A lack of homology with known proteins has hindered attempts to define its domain composition. Here, we employed the high-throughput Expression of Soluble Proteins by Random Incremental Truncation (ESPRIT) technique to identify discretely folded regions of human DISC1 via solubility assessment of tens of thousands of fragments of recombinant DISC1. We identified four novel structured regions, named D, I, S, and C, at amino acids 257-383, 539-655, 635-738, and 691-836, respectively. One region (D) is located in a DISC1 section previously predicted to be unstructured. All regions encompass coiled-coil or α-helical structures, and three are involved in DISC1 oligomerization. Crucially, three of these domains would be lost or disrupted by a chromosomal translocation event after amino acid 597, which has been strongly linked to major mental illness. Furthermore, we observed that a known illness-related frameshift mutation after amino acid 807 causes the C region to form aberrantly multimeric and aggregated complexes with an unstable secondary structure. This newly revealed domain architecture of DISC1, therefore, provides a powerful framework for understanding the critical role of this protein in a variety of devastating mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe J Mas
- the Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble (ISBG) CNRS, CEA, Université Grenoble Alpes, EMBL, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Christina Decker
- the Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dinesh C Soares
- the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver H Weiergräber
- the Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany, and
| | - Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- the Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,the Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany, and
| | - Dieter Willbold
- the Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,the Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany, and
| | - Darren J Hart
- the Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany, and
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12
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ESPRIT: A Method for Defining Soluble Expression Constructs in Poorly Understood Gene Sequences. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1586:45-63. [PMID: 28470598 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6887-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Production of soluble, purifiable domains or multi-domain fragments of proteins is a prerequisite for structural biology and other applications. When target sequences are poorly annotated, or when there are few similar sequences available for alignments, identification of domains can be problematic. A method called expression of soluble proteins by random incremental truncation (ESPRIT) addresses this problem by high-throughput automated screening of tens of thousands of enzymatically truncated gene fragments. Rare soluble constructs are identified by experimental screening, and the boundaries revealed by DNA sequencing.
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13
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Pukáncsik M, Orbán Á, Nagy K, Matsuo K, Gekko K, Maurin D, Hart D, Kézsmárki I, Vertessy BG. Secondary Structure Prediction of Protein Constructs Using Random Incremental Truncation and Vacuum-Ultraviolet CD Spectroscopy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156238. [PMID: 27273007 PMCID: PMC4896422 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel uracil-DNA degrading protein factor (termed UDE) was identified in Drosophila melanogaster with no significant structural and functional homology to other uracil-DNA binding or processing factors. Determination of the 3D structure of UDE is excepted to provide key information on the description of the molecular mechanism of action of UDE catalysis, as well as in general uracil-recognition and nuclease action. Towards this long-term aim, the random library ESPRIT technology was applied to the novel protein UDE to overcome problems in identifying soluble expressing constructs given the absence of precise information on domain content and arrangement. Nine constructs of UDE were chosen to decipher structural and functional relationships. Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism (VUVCD) spectroscopy was performed to define the secondary structure content and location within UDE and its truncated variants. The quantitative analysis demonstrated exclusive α-helical content for the full-length protein, which is preserved in the truncated constructs. Arrangement of α-helical bundles within the truncated protein segments suggested new domain boundaries which differ from the conserved motifs determined by sequence-based alignment of UDE homologues. Here we demonstrate that the combination of ESPRIT and VUVCD spectroscopy provides a new structural description of UDE and confirms that the truncated constructs are useful for further detailed functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Pukáncsik
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and MTA-BME Lendület Magneto-optical Spectroscopy Research Group, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail: ; (BGV); (MP)
| | - Ágnes Orbán
- Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and MTA-BME Lendület Magneto-optical Spectroscopy Research Group, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kinga Nagy
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Koichi Matsuo
- Hiroshima Synchrotron Radiation Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Gekko
- Hiroshima Synchrotron Radiation Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Damien Maurin
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), CEA, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble 38044, France
| | - Darren Hart
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), CEA, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble 38044, France
| | - István Kézsmárki
- Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and MTA-BME Lendület Magneto-optical Spectroscopy Research Group, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Beata G. Vertessy
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Applied Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail: ; (BGV); (MP)
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14
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Bleckmann M, Schmelz S, Schinkowski C, Scrima A, van den Heuvel J. Fast plasmid based protein expression analysis in insect cells using an automated SplitGFP screen. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 113:1975-83. [PMID: 26913471 PMCID: PMC5069567 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant protein expression often presents a bottleneck for the production of proteins for use in many areas of animal‐cell biotechnology. Difficult‐to‐express proteins require the generation of numerous expression constructs, where popular prokaryotic screening systems often fail to identify expression of multi domain or full‐length protein constructs. Post‐translational modified mammalian proteins require an alternative host system such as insect cells using the Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS). Unfortunately this is time‐, labor‐, and cost‐intensive. It is clearly desirable to find an automated and miniaturized fast multi‐sample screening method for protein expression in such systems. With this in mind, in this paper a high‐throughput initial expression screening method is described using an automated Microcultivation system in conjunction with fast plasmid based transient transfection in insect cells for the efficient generation of protein constructs. The applicability of the system is demonstrated for the difficult to express Nucleotide‐binding Oligomerization Domain‐containing protein 2 (NOD2). To enable detection of proper protein expression the rather weak plasmid based expression has been improved by a sensitive inline detection system. Here we present the functionality and application of the sensitive SplitGFP (split green fluorescent protein) detection system in insect cells. The successful expression of constructs is monitored by direct measurement of the fluorescence in the BioLector Microcultivation system. Additionally, we show that the results obtained with our plasmid‐based SplitGFP protein expression screen correlate directly to the level of soluble protein produced in BEVS. In conclusion our automated SplitGFP screen outlines a sensitive, fast and reliable method reducing the time and costs required for identifying the optimal expression construct prior to large scale protein production in baculovirus infected insect cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1975–1983. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Bleckmann
- Recombinant Protein Expression, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmelz
- Structural Biology of Autophagy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christian Schinkowski
- Recombinant Protein Expression, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Andrea Scrima
- Structural Biology of Autophagy, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Joop van den Heuvel
- Recombinant Protein Expression, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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15
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Deller MC, Kong L, Rupp B. Protein stability: a crystallographer's perspective. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS 2016; 72:72-95. [PMID: 26841758 PMCID: PMC4741188 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15024619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein stability is a topic of major interest for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and food industries, in addition to being a daily consideration for academic researchers studying proteins. An understanding of protein stability is essential for optimizing the expression, purification, formulation, storage and structural studies of proteins. In this review, discussion will focus on factors affecting protein stability, on a somewhat practical level, particularly from the view of a protein crystallographer. The differences between protein conformational stability and protein compositional stability will be discussed, along with a brief introduction to key methods useful for analyzing protein stability. Finally, tactics for addressing protein-stability issues during protein expression, purification and crystallization will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc C Deller
- Stanford ChEM-H, Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center, Stanford University, Shriram Center, 443 Via Ortega, Room 097, MC5082, Stanford, CA 94305-4125, USA
| | - Leopold Kong
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 8, Room 1A03, 8 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Bernhard Rupp
- Department of Forensic Crystallography, k.-k. Hofkristallamt, 91 Audrey Place, Vista, CA 92084, USA
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16
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Fernández FJ, Vega MC. Choose a Suitable Expression Host: A Survey of Available Protein Production Platforms. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 896:15-24. [PMID: 27165316 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27216-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant overexpression of a protein or a protein complex using any specific heterologous host can be an overwhelming challenge. The reasons may range from low yield and poor solubility of a single-subunit enzyme to the wrong stoichiometry or the incomplete assembly of a multiprotein complex. Whatever the reason, overcoming the difficulties will take the researcher into a journey through the seemingly countless options that exist for protein expression. While some choices stand to reason fairly straightforwardly (e.g., using Escherichia coli for the production of bacterial enzymes), most other choices do not need to be so self-revealing. Here, we attempt to portrait the canvas of available hosts for heterologous expression of many different protein classes and complexes and offer guidance as to which expression host may be more suitable to the problem at hand. The guidance in this chapter must be taken only as a rough indication which will have to be checked against the available literature and corroborated by experiment. It is not only expected but also welcome that, as more knowledge is gathered about the performance of hosts and protein types and new expression systems develop, the information in this chapter will have to be updated and refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Fernández
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Cristina Vega
- Center for Biological Research, Spanish National Research Council (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Berlow RB, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Functional advantages of dynamic protein disorder. FEBS Lett 2015; 589:2433-40. [PMID: 26073260 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins participate in many important cellular regulatory processes. The absence of a well-defined structure in the free state of a disordered domain, and even on occasion when it is bound to physiological partners, is fundamental to its function. Disordered domains are frequently the location of multiple sites for post-translational modification, the key element of metabolic control in the cell. When a disordered domain folds upon binding to a partner, the resulting complex buries a far greater surface area than in an interaction of comparably-sized folded proteins, thus maximizing specificity at modest protein size. Disorder also maintains accessibility of sites for post-translational modification. Because of their inherent plasticity, disordered domains frequently adopt entirely different structures when bound to different partners, increasing the repertoire of available interactions without the necessity for expression of many different proteins. This feature also adds to the faithfulness of cellular regulation, as the availability of a given disordered domain depends on competition between various partners relevant to different cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca B Berlow
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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18
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Malito E, Carfi A, Bottomley MJ. Protein Crystallography in Vaccine Research and Development. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:13106-40. [PMID: 26068237 PMCID: PMC4490488 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160613106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of protein X-ray crystallography for structure-based design of small-molecule drugs is well-documented and includes several notable success stories. However, it is less well-known that structural biology has emerged as a major tool for the design of novel vaccine antigens. Here, we review the important contributions that protein crystallography has made so far to vaccine research and development. We discuss several examples of the crystallographic characterization of vaccine antigen structures, alone or in complexes with ligands or receptors. We cover the critical role of high-resolution epitope mapping by reviewing structures of complexes between antigens and their cognate neutralizing, or protective, antibody fragments. Most importantly, we provide recent examples where structural insights obtained via protein crystallography have been used to design novel optimized vaccine antigens. This review aims to illustrate the value of protein crystallography in the emerging discipline of structural vaccinology and its impact on the rational design of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Malito
- Protein Biochemistry Department, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l. (a GSK Company), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Andrea Carfi
- Protein Biochemistry Department, GSK Vaccines, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Matthew J Bottomley
- Protein Biochemistry Department, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l. (a GSK Company), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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19
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Bulloch EM, Kingston RL. Identifying protein domains by global analysis of soluble fragment data. Anal Biochem 2014; 465:53-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2014.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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20
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Puranik S, Acajjaoui S, Conn S, Costa L, Conn V, Vial A, Marcellin R, Melzer R, Brown E, Hart D, Theißen G, Silva CS, Parcy F, Dumas R, Nanao M, Zubieta C. Structural basis for the oligomerization of the MADS domain transcription factor SEPALLATA3 in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2014; 26:3603-15. [PMID: 25228343 PMCID: PMC4213154 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.114.127910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In plants, MADS domain transcription factors act as central regulators of diverse developmental pathways. In Arabidopsis thaliana, one of the most central members of this family is SEPALLATA3 (SEP3), which is involved in many aspects of plant reproduction, including floral meristem and floral organ development. SEP3 has been shown to form homo and heterooligomeric complexes with other MADS domain transcription factors through its intervening (I) and keratin-like (K) domains. SEP3 function depends on its ability to form specific protein-protein complexes; however, the atomic level determinants of oligomerization are poorly understood. Here, we report the 2.5-Å crystal structure of a small portion of the intervening and the complete keratin-like domain of SEP3. The domains form two amphipathic alpha helices separated by a rigid kink, which prevents intramolecular association and presents separate dimerization and tetramerization interfaces comprising predominantly hydrophobic patches. Mutations to the tetramerization interface demonstrate the importance of highly conserved hydrophobic residues for tetramer stability. Atomic force microscopy was used to show SEP3-DNA interactions and the role of oligomerization in DNA binding and conformation. Based on these data, the oligomerization patterns of the larger family of MADS domain transcription factors can be predicted and manipulated based on the primary sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriharsha Puranik
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Samira Acajjaoui
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Simon Conn
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Luca Costa
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Vanessa Conn
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and the University of South Australia, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
| | - Anthony Vial
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Romain Marcellin
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France Faculté des Sciences de Montpellier, place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Rainer Melzer
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Brown
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Darren Hart
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Integrated Structural Biology Grenoble, Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions, Unité Mixte Internationale 3265 (CNRS-EMBL-UJF), UMS 3518 (CNRS-CEA-UJF-EMBL), 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Günter Theißen
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University, 07737 Jena, Germany
| | - Catarina S Silva
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, UMR 5168, 38054 Grenoble, France Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France INRA, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, USC1359, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - François Parcy
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, UMR 5168, 38054 Grenoble, France Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France INRA, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, USC1359, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Renaud Dumas
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, UMR 5168, 38054 Grenoble, France Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France INRA, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, USC1359, F-38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Max Nanao
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 38042 Grenoble, France Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions, Université Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRS, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire and Végétale, UMR 5168, 38054 Grenoble, France Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, F-38054 Grenoble, France INRA, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, USC1359, F-38054 Grenoble, France
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21
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Sukackaite R, Jensen MR, Mas PJ, Blackledge M, Buonomo SB, Hart DJ. Structural and biophysical characterization of murine rif1 C terminus reveals high specificity for DNA cruciform structures. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:13903-11. [PMID: 24634216 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.557843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian Rif1 is a key regulator of DNA replication timing, double-stranded DNA break repair, and replication fork restart. Dissecting the molecular functions of Rif1 is essential to understand how it regulates such diverse processes. However, Rif1 is a large protein that lacks well defined functional domains and is predicted to be largely intrinsically disordered; these features have hampered recombinant expression of Rif1 and subsequent functional characterization. Here we applied ESPRIT (expression of soluble proteins by random incremental truncation), an in vitro evolution-like approach, to identify high yielding soluble fragments encompassing conserved regions I and II (CRI and CRII) at the C-terminal region of murine Rif1. NMR analysis showed CRI to be intrinsically disordered, whereas CRII is partially folded. CRII binds cruciform DNA with high selectivity and micromolar affinity and thus represents a functional DNA binding domain. Mutational analysis revealed an α-helical region of CRII to be important for cruciform DNA binding and identified critical residues. Thus, we present the first structural study of the mammalian Rif1, identifying a domain that directly links its function to DNA binding. The high specificity of Rif1 for cruciform structures is significant given the role of this key protein in regulating origin firing and DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Sukackaite
- From the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Grenoble Outstation, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France, the Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University of Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo Outstation, Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Via Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Malene Ringkjøbing Jensen
- the University of Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, CEA, DSV, IBS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, CNRS, IBS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, and
| | - Philippe J Mas
- From the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Grenoble Outstation, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France, the Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University of Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France
| | - Martin Blackledge
- the University of Grenoble Alpes, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, CEA, DSV, IBS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, CNRS, IBS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France, and
| | - Sara B Buonomo
- the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo Outstation, Adriano Buzzati-Traverso Campus, Via Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Darren J Hart
- From the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Grenoble Outstation, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France, the Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University of Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 France,
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22
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Correa A, Ortega C, Obal G, Alzari P, Vincentelli R, Oppezzo P. Generation of a vector suite for protein solubility screening. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:67. [PMID: 24616717 PMCID: PMC3934309 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant protein expression has become an invaluable tool for academic and biotechnological projects. With the use of high-throughput screening technologies for soluble protein production, uncountable target proteins have been produced in a soluble and homogeneous state enabling the realization of further studies. Evaluation of hundreds conditions requires the use of high-throughput cloning and screening methods. Here we describe a new versatile vector suite dedicated to the expression improvement of recombinant proteins (RP) with solubility problems. This vector suite allows the parallel cloning of the same PCR product into the 12 different expression vectors evaluating protein expression under different promoter strength, different fusion tags as well as different solubility enhancer proteins. Additionally, we propose the use of a new fusion protein which appears to be a useful solubility enhancer. Above all we propose in this work an economic and useful vector suite to fast track the solubility of different RP. We also propose a new solubility enhancer protein that can be included in the evaluation of the expression of RP that are insoluble in classical expression conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Correa
- Recombinant Protein Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Claudia Ortega
- Recombinant Protein Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Obal
- Protein Biophysics Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pedro Alzari
- Unité de Microbiologie Structurale, Institut Pasteur, Paris France
| | - Renaud Vincentelli
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université CNRS UMR7257, AFMB, Marseille, France
| | - Pablo Oppezzo
- Recombinant Protein Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo Montevideo, Uruguay
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Bignon C, Li C, Lichière J, Canard B, Coutard B. Improving the soluble expression of recombinant proteins by randomly shuffling 5' and 3' coding-sequence ends. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D: BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2013; 69:2580-2. [PMID: 24311598 DOI: 10.1107/s0907444913018751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Many structural genomics (SG) programmes rely on the design of soluble protein domains. The production and screening of large libraries to experimentally select these soluble protein-encoding constructs are limited by the technologies and efforts that can be devoted to a single target. Using basic technologies available in any laboratory, a method named `boundary shuffling' was devised to generate orientated libraries for soluble domain selection without impeding the target flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Bignon
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 13288 Marseille, France
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24
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Acajjaoui S, Zubieta C. Crystallization studies of the keratin-like domain from Arabidopsis thaliana SEPALLATA 3. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:997-1000. [PMID: 23989147 PMCID: PMC3758147 DOI: 10.1107/s174430911302006x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In higher plants, the MADS-box genes encode a large family of transcription factors (TFs) involved in key developmental processes, most notably plant reproduction, flowering and floral organ development. SEPALLATA 3 (SEP3) is a member of the MADS TF family and plays a role in the development of the floral organs through the formation of multiprotein complexes with other MADS-family TFs. SEP3 is divided into four domains: the M (MADS) domain, involved in DNA binding and dimerization, the I (intervening) domain, a short domain involved in dimerization, the K (keratin-like) domain important for multimeric MADS complex formation and the C (C-terminal) domain, a largely unstructured region putatively important for higher-order complex formation. The entire K domain along with a portion of the I and C domains of SEP3 was crystallized using high-throughput robotic screening followed by optimization. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 123.44, b = 143.07, c = 49.83 Å, and a complete data set was collected to 2.53 Å resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Acajjaoui
- Structural Biology, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- Structural Biology, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France
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25
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Rottier K, Faille A, Prudhomme T, Leblanc C, Chalut C, Cabantous S, Guilhot C, Mourey L, Pedelacq JD. Detection of soluble co-factor dependent protein expression in vivo: application to the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase PptT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Struct Biol 2013; 183:320-328. [PMID: 23916562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2013.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The need for early-on diagnostic tools to assess the folding and solubility of expressed protein constructs in vivo is of great interest when dealing with recalcitrant proteins. In this paper, we took advantage of the picomolar sensitivity of the bipartite GFP1-10/GFP11 system to investigate the solubility of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase PptT, an enzyme essential for the viability of the tubercle bacillus. In vivo and in vitro complementation assays clearly showed the improved solubility of the full-length PptT compared to its N- and C-terminally truncated counterparts. However, initial attempts to purify the full-length enzyme overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells were hampered by aggregation issues overtime that caused the protein to precipitate within hours. The fact that the naturally occurring Coenzyme A and Mg(2+), essentials for PptT to carry out its function, could play a role in stabilizing the enzyme was confirmed using DSF experiments. In vitro activity assays were performed using the ACP substrate from the type I polyketide synthase PpsC from M. tuberculosis, a 2188 amino-acid enzyme that plays a major role in the virulence and pathogenicity of this microbial pathogen. We selected the most soluble and compact ACP fragment (2042-2188), identified by genetic selection of in-frame fragments from random library experiments, to monitor the transfer of the P-pant moiety from Coenzyme A onto a conserved serine residue of this ACP domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Rottier
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Faille
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Prudhomme
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Cécile Leblanc
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Christian Chalut
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphanie Cabantous
- INSERM UMR 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, 20-24 Rue du Pont St. Pierre, 31052 Toulouse Cedex, France; Université de Toulouse, 31052 Toulouse Cedex, France; Institut Claudius Regaud, 31052 Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Christophe Guilhot
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Lionel Mourey
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Denis Pedelacq
- CNRS, IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 Route de Narbonne, BP 64182, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, F-31077 Toulouse, France.
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26
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Overman RC, Green I, Truman CM, Read JA, Embrey KJ, McAlister MSB, Attwood TK. Stability and solubility engineering of the EphB4 tyrosine kinase catalytic domain using a rationally designed synthetic library. Protein Eng Des Sel 2013; 26:695-704. [DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzt032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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27
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Hart DJ, Waldo GS. Library methods for structural biology of challenging proteins and their complexes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2013; 23:403-8. [PMID: 23602357 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering of constructs to improve solubility or stability is a common approach, but it is often unclear how to obtain improvements. When the domain composition of a target is poorly understood, or if there are insufficient structure data to guide sited directed mutagenesis, long iterative phases of subcloning or mutation and expression often prove unsuccessful despite much effort. Random library approaches can offer a solution to this problem and involve construction of large libraries of construct variants that are analysed via screens or selections for the desired phenotype. Huge improvements in construct behaviour can be achieved rapidly with no requirement for prior knowledge of the target. Here we review the development of these experimental strategies and recent successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Hart
- EMBL Grenoble Outstation and Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, UMI3265 UJF-EMBL-CNRS, Grenoble, France.
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28
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Vincentelli R, Romier C. Expression in Escherichia coli: becoming faster and more complex. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2013; 23:326-34. [PMID: 23422067 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2013.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is the major expression host for the production of homogeneous protein samples for structural studies. The introduction of high-throughput technologies in the last decade has further revitalized E. coli expression, with rapid assessment of different expression strategies and successful production of an ever-increasing number of proteins. In addition, miniaturization of biophysical characterizations should soon help choosing expression strategies based on quantitative and qualitative observations. Since many proteins form larger assemblies in vivo, dedicated co-expression systems for E. coli are now addressing the reconstitution of protein complexes. Yet, co-expression approaches show an increasing experimental combinatorial intricacy when considering larger complexes. The current combination of high-throughput and co-expression technologies paves the way, however, for tackling larger and more complex macromolecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renaud Vincentelli
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR7257 CNRS, Université Aix-Marseille, Case 932, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France
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29
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Gregoire S, Irwin J, Kwon I. Techniques for Monitoring Protein Misfolding and Aggregation in Vitro and in Living Cells. KOREAN J CHEM ENG 2012; 29:693-702. [PMID: 23565019 PMCID: PMC3615250 DOI: 10.1007/s11814-012-0060-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation have been considered important in understanding many neurodegenerative diseases and recombinant biopharmaceutical production. Therefore, various traditional and modern techniques have been utilized to monitor protein aggregation in vitro and in living cells. Fibril formation, morphology and secondary structure content of amyloidogenic proteins in vitro have been monitored by molecular probes, TEM/AFM, and CD/FTIR analyses, respectively. Protein aggregation in living cells has been qualitatively or quantitatively monitored by numerous molecular folding reporters based on either fluorescent protein or enzyme. Aggregation of a target protein is directly correlated to the changes in fluorescence or enzyme activity of the folding reporter fused to the target protein, which allows non-invasive monitoring aggregation of the target protein in living cells. Advances in the techniques used to monitor protein aggregation in vitro and in living cells have greatly facilitated the understanding of the molecular mechanism of amyloidogenic protein aggregation associated with neurodegenerative diseases, optimizing culture conditions to reduce aggregation of biopharmaceuticals expressed in living cells, and screening of small molecule libraries in the search for protein aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simpson Gregoire
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia22904
| | - Jacob Irwin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia22904
| | - Inchan Kwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia22904
- Institutes on Aging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia22904
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30
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Keys TG, Berger M, Gerardy-Schahn R. A high-throughput screen for polysialyltransferase activity. Anal Biochem 2012; 427:60-8. [PMID: 22579847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2012.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Polysialic acid is common to humans and a few bacterial pathogens and it holds great potential for the development of new therapeutic reagents. Currently, the bacterial polysialyltransferases (polySTs) are the only source of polysialic acid for research and biotechnological purposes either directly, by enzymatic polysialylation of therapeutic proteins, or indirectly, by harvest of polysialic acid from bacterial fermentation. Further engineering and optimization of these enzymes is hindered by the lack of high-throughput screening methodologies for polysialyltransferase activity. Here we report the development of an efficient in vivo activity screen for bacterial polySTs. The screen exploits complementation of a dormant capsule export complex in the expression strain, Escherichia coli BL21-Gold(DE3). This strain was metabolically engineered to synthesize CMP-Neu5Ac, the donor sugar for the polysialylation reaction. Using the new strain, a colony blotting procedure that enables the routine testing of more than 10(4) polyST genes was developed. To test the usefulness of the methodology, we screened a library of N-terminally truncated polySTs derived from the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (NmB)-polyST. We identified truncations that remove a putative membrane interaction domain, resulting in soluble and active enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Keys
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover 30625, Germany
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31
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Abstract
Escherichia coli is widely used as an expression system for production of recombinant proteins of prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin. A large body of knowledge has accumulated throughout the last few decades regarding expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli. However, despite this progress, protein production, primarily of eukaryotic origin, still remains a challenge. The biggest obstacle lies in obtaining large amounts of a given protein in a correctly folded form. Several strategies are being used to increase both yield and solubility. These include expression as fusion proteins, co-expression with molecular chaperones, or with a protein partner(s), and the use of multiple constructs for each protein. In this chapter, we focus on strategies for creating expression vectors, as well as on guidelines for improving recombinant protein solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Peleg
- Israel Structural Proteomics Center, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Meyer Building, Rehovot, Israel.
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32
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Yángüez E, Rodriguez P, Goodfellow I, Nieto A. Influenza virus polymerase confers independence of the cellular cap-binding factor eIF4E for viral mRNA translation. Virology 2011; 422:297-307. [PMID: 22112850 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2011.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Revised: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The influenza virus mRNAs are structurally similar to cellular mRNAs nevertheless; the virus promotes selective translation of viral mRNAs despite the inhibition of host cell protein synthesis. The infection proceeds normally upon functional impairment of eIF4E cap-binding protein, but requires functional eIF4A helicase and eIF4G factor. Here, we have studied whether the presence of cis elements in viral mRNAs or the action of viral proteins is responsible for this eIF4E-independence. The eIF4E protein is required for viral mRNA translation in vitro, indicating that cis-acting RNA sequences are not involved in this process. We also show that PB2 viral polymerase subunit interacts with the eIF4G protein. In addition, a chimeric mRNA containing viral UTR sequences transcribed by the viral polymerase out of the infection is successfully translated independently of an impaired eIF4E factor. These data support that the viral polymerase is responsible for the eIF4E independence of influenza virus mRNA translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Yángüez
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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33
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Levdikov VM, Blagova EV, Rawlings AE, Jameson K, Tunaley J, Hart DJ, Barak I, Wilkinson AJ. Structure of the phosphatase domain of the cell fate determinant SpoIIE from Bacillus subtilis. J Mol Biol 2011; 415:343-58. [PMID: 22115775 PMCID: PMC3517971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2011] [Revised: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis begins with an asymmetric cell division producing two genetically identical cells with different fates. SpoIIE is a membrane protein that localizes to the polar cell division sites where it causes FtsZ to relocate from mid-cell to form polar Z-rings. Following polar septation, SpoIIE establishes compartment-specific gene expression in the smaller forespore cell by dephosphorylating the anti-sigma factor antagonist SpoIIAA, leading to the release of the RNA polymerase sigma factor σF from an inhibitory complex with the anti-sigma factor SpoIIAB. SpoIIE therefore couples morphological development to differential gene expression. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the phosphatase domain of SpoIIE to 2.6 Å spacing, revealing a domain-swapped dimer. SEC-MALLS (size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering) analysis however suggested a monomer as the principal form in solution. A model for the monomer was derived from the domain-swapped dimer in which 2 five-stranded β-sheets are packed against one another and flanked by α-helices in an αββα arrangement reminiscent of other PP2C-type phosphatases. A flap region that controls access of substrates to the active site in other PP2C phosphatases is diminished in SpoIIE, and this observation correlates with the presence of a single manganese ion in the active site of SpoIIE in contrast to the two or three metal ions present in other PP2C enzymes. Mapping of a catalogue of mutational data onto the structure shows a clustering of sites whose point mutation interferes with the proper coupling of asymmetric septum formation to sigma factor activation and identifies a surface involved in intramolecular signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir M Levdikov
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5YW, UK
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34
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Generation and comprehensive analysis of an influenza virus polymerase cellular interaction network. J Virol 2011; 85:13010-8. [PMID: 21994455 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02651-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The influenza virus transcribes and replicates its genome inside the nucleus of infected cells. Both activities are performed by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is composed of the three subunits PA, PB1, and PB2, and recent studies have shown that it requires host cell factors to transcribe and replicate the viral genome. To identify these cellular partners, we generated a comprehensive physical interaction map between each polymerase subunit and the host cellular proteome. A total of 109 human interactors were identified by yeast two-hybrid screens, whereas 90 were retrieved by literature mining. We built the FluPol interactome network composed of the influenza virus polymerase (PA, PB1, and PB2) and the nucleoprotein NP and 234 human proteins that are connected through 279 viral-cellular protein interactions. Analysis of this interactome map revealed enriched cellular functions associated with the influenza virus polymerase, including host factors involved in RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription and mRNA processing. We confirmed that eight influenza virus polymerase-interacting proteins are required for virus replication and transcriptional activity of the viral polymerase. These are involved in cellular transcription (C14orf166, COPS5, MNAT1, NMI, and POLR2A), translation (EIF3S6IP), nuclear transport (NUP54), and DNA repair (FANCG). Conversely, we identified PRKRA, which acts as an inhibitor of the viral polymerase transcriptional activity and thus is required for the cellular antiviral response.
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35
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Yumerefendi H, Desravines DC, Hart DJ. Library-based methods for identification of soluble expression constructs. Methods 2011; 55:38-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2011.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Revised: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 06/11/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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36
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High-throughput protein expression screening and purification in Escherichia coli. Methods 2011; 55:65-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2011.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Revised: 07/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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37
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ORF-selector ESPRIT: A second generation library screen for soluble protein expression employing precise open reading frame selection. J Struct Biol 2011; 175:189-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2010] [Revised: 04/09/2011] [Accepted: 04/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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38
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Pedelacq JD, Nguyen HB, Cabantous S, Mark BL, Listwan P, Bell C, Friedland N, Lockard M, Faille A, Mourey L, Terwilliger TC, Waldo GS. Experimental mapping of soluble protein domains using a hierarchical approach. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:e125. [PMID: 21771856 PMCID: PMC3185438 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring the function and 3D space of large multidomain protein targets often requires sophisticated experimentation to obtain the targets in a form suitable for structure determination. Screening methods capable of selecting well-expressed, soluble fragments from DNA libraries exist, but require the use of automation to maximize chances of picking a few good candidates. Here, we describe the use of an insertion dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) vector to select in-frame fragments and a split-GFP assay technology to filter-out constructs that express insoluble protein fragments. With the incorporation of an IPCR step to create high density, focused sublibraries of fragments, this cost-effective method can be performed manually with no a priori knowledge of domain boundaries while permitting single amino acid resolution boundary mapping. We used it on the well-characterized p85α subunit of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase to demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our methodology. We then successfully tested it onto the polyketide synthase PpsC from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a potential drug target involved in the biosynthesis of complex lipids in the cell envelope. X-ray quality crystals from the acyl-transferase (AT), dehydratase (DH) and enoyl-reductase (ER) domains have been obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Denis Pedelacq
- CNRS; IPBS (Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale), 205 route de Narbonne, F-31077 Toulouse, France.
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39
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Lockard MA, Listwan P, Pedelacq JD, Cabantous S, Nguyen HB, Terwilliger TC, Waldo GS. A high-throughput immobilized bead screen for stable proteins and multi-protein complexes. Protein Eng Des Sel 2011; 24:565-78. [PMID: 21642284 PMCID: PMC3118733 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzr021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe an in vitro colony screen to identify Escherichia coli expressing soluble proteins and stable, assembled multiprotein complexes. Proteins with an N-terminal 6His tag and C-terminal green fluorescent protein (GFP) S11 tag are fluorescently labeled in cells by complementation with a coexpressed GFP 1-10 fragment. After partial colony lysis, the fluorescent soluble proteins or complexes diffuse through a supporting filtration membrane and are captured on Talon(®) resin metal affinity beads immobilized in agarose. Images of the fluorescent colonies convey total expression and the level of fluorescence bound to the beads indicates how much protein is soluble. Both pieces of information can be used together when selecting clones. After the assay, colonies can be picked and propagated, eliminating the need to make replica plates. We used the method to screen a DNA fragment library of the human protein p85 and preferentially obtained clones expressing the full-length 'breakpoint cluster region-homology' and NSH2 domains. The assay also distinguished clones expressing stable multi-protein complexes from those that are unstable due to missing subunits. Clones expressing stable, intact heterotrimeric E.coli YheNML complexes were readily identified in libraries dominated by complexes of YheML missing the N subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan A Lockard
- Biosciences Division, MS-M888, Los Alamos National Laboratory, PO Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
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40
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An Y, Meresse P, Mas PJ, Hart DJ. CoESPRIT: a library-based construct screening method for identification and expression of soluble protein complexes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16261. [PMID: 21364980 PMCID: PMC3043051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and biophysical studies of protein complexes require multi-milligram quantities of soluble material. Subunits are often unstable when expressed separately so co-expression strategies are commonly employed since in vivo complex formation can provide stabilising effects. Defining constructs for subunit co-expression experiments is difficult if the proteins are poorly understood. Even more problematic is when subunit polypeptide chains co-fold since individually they do not have predictable domains. We have developed CoESPRIT, a modified version of the ESPRIT random library construct screen used previously on single proteins, to express soluble protein complexes. A random library of target constructs is screened against a fixed bait protein to identify stable complexes. In a proof-of-principle study, C-terminal fragments of the influenza polymerase PB2 subunit containing folded domains were isolated using importin alpha as bait. Separately, a C-terminal fragment of the PB1 subunit was used as bait to trap N-terminal fragments of PB2 resulting in co-folded complexes. Subsequent expression of the target protein without the bait indicates whether the target is independently stable, or co-folds with its partner. This highly automated method provides an efficient strategy for obtaining recombinant protein complexes at yields compatible with structural, biophysical and functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingfeng An
- Grenoble Outstation, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BP181, Grenoble, France
- Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, UMI3265, Grenoble, France
| | - Patrick Meresse
- Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, UMI3265, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe J. Mas
- Grenoble Outstation, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BP181, Grenoble, France
- Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, UMI3265, Grenoble, France
| | - Darren J. Hart
- Grenoble Outstation, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, BP181, Grenoble, France
- Unit of Virus Host-Cell Interactions, UJF-EMBL-CNRS, UMI3265, Grenoble, France
- * E-mail:
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Rawlings AE, Levdikov VM, Blagova E, Colledge VL, Mas PJ, Tunaley J, Vavrova L, Wilson KS, Barak I, Hart DJ, Wilkinson AJ. Expression of soluble, active fragments of the morphogenetic protein SpoIIE from Bacillus subtilis using a library-based construct screen. Protein Eng Des Sel 2010; 23:817-25. [PMID: 20817757 PMCID: PMC2953957 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzq057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
SpoIIE is a dual function protein that plays important roles during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. It binds to the tubulin-like protein FtsZ causing the cell division septum to relocate from mid-cell to the cell pole, and it dephosphorylates SpoIIAA phosphate leading to establishment of differential gene expression in the two compartments following the asymmetric septation. Its 872 residue polypeptide contains a multiple-membrane spanning sequence at the N-terminus and a PP2C phosphatase domain at the C-terminus. The central segment that binds to FtsZ is unlike domains of known structure or function, moreover the domain boundaries are poorly defined and this has hampered the expression of soluble fragments of SpoIIE at the levels required for structural studies. Here we have screened over 9000 genetic constructs of spoIIE using a random incremental truncation library approach, ESPRIT, to identify a number of soluble C-terminal fragments of SpoIIE that were aligned with the protein sequence to map putative domains and domain boundaries. The expression and purification of three fragments were optimised, yielding multimilligram quantities of the PP2C phosphatase domain, the putative FtsZ-binding domain and a larger fragment encompassing both these domains. All three fragments are monomeric and the PP2C domain-containing fragments have phosphatase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea E Rawlings
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
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Structure and inhibition of herpesvirus DNA packaging terminase nuclease domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:16078-83. [PMID: 20805464 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1007144107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During viral replication, herpesviruses package their DNA into the procapsid by means of the terminase protein complex. In human cytomegalovirus (herpesvirus 5), the terminase is composed of subunits UL89 and UL56. UL89 cleaves the long DNA concatemers into unit-length genomes of appropriate length for encapsidation. We used ESPRIT, a high-throughput screening method, to identify a soluble purifiable fragment of UL89 from a library of 18,432 randomly truncated ul89 DNA constructs. The purified protein was crystallized and its three-dimensional structure was solved. This protein corresponds to the key nuclease domain of the terminase and shows an RNase H/integrase-like fold. We demonstrate that UL89-C has the capacity to process the DNA and that this function is dependent on Mn(2+) ions, two of which are located at the active site pocket. We also show that the nuclease function can be inactivated by raltegravir, a recently approved anti-AIDS drug that targets the HIV integrase.
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