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Włodarski T, Streit JO, Mitropoulou A, Cabrita LD, Vendruscolo M, Christodoulou J. Bayesian reweighting of biomolecular structural ensembles using heterogeneous cryo-EM maps with the cryoENsemble method. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18149. [PMID: 39103467 PMCID: PMC11300795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68468-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a powerful method for the determination of structures of complex biological molecules. The accurate characterisation of the dynamics of such systems, however, remains a challenge. To address this problem, we introduce cryoENsemble, a method that applies Bayesian reweighting to conformational ensembles derived from molecular dynamics simulations to improve their agreement with cryo-EM data, thus enabling the extraction of dynamics information. We illustrate the use of cryoENsemble to determine the dynamics of the ribosome-bound state of the co-translational chaperone trigger factor (TF). We also show that cryoENsemble can assist with the interpretation of low-resolution, noisy or unaccounted regions of cryo-EM maps. Notably, we are able to link an unaccounted part of the cryo-EM map to the presence of another protein (methionine aminopeptidase, or MetAP), rather than to the dynamics of TF, and model its TF-bound state. Based on these results, we anticipate that cryoENsemble will find use for challenging heterogeneous cryo-EM maps for biomolecular systems encompassing dynamic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Włodarski
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Julian O Streit
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alkistis Mitropoulou
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lisa D Cabrita
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - John Christodoulou
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
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2
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Hoff SE, Thomasen FE, Lindorff-Larsen K, Bonomi M. Accurate model and ensemble refinement using cryo-electron microscopy maps and Bayesian inference. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012180. [PMID: 39008528 PMCID: PMC11271924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Converting cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data into high-quality structural models is a challenging problem of outstanding importance. Current refinement methods often generate unbalanced models in which physico-chemical quality is sacrificed for excellent fit to the data. Furthermore, these techniques struggle to represent the conformational heterogeneity averaged out in low-resolution regions of density maps. Here we introduce EMMIVox, a Bayesian inference approach to determine single-structure models as well as structural ensembles from cryo-EM maps. EMMIVox automatically balances experimental information with accurate physico-chemical models of the system and the surrounding environment, including waters, lipids, and ions. Explicit treatment of data correlation and noise as well as inference of accurate B-factors enable determination of structural models and ensembles with both excellent fit to the data and high stereochemical quality, thus outperforming state-of-the-art refinement techniques. EMMIVox represents a flexible approach to determine high-quality structural models that will contribute to advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E. Hoff
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Computational Structural Biology Unit, Paris, France
| | - F. Emil Thomasen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Massimiliano Bonomi
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Computational Structural Biology Unit, Paris, France
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3
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Gauger M, Heinz M, Halbritter ALJ, Stelzl LS, Erlenbach N, Hummer G, Sigurdsson ST, Prisner TF. Structure and Internal Dynamics of Short RNA Duplexes Determined by a Combination of Pulsed EPR Methods and MD Simulations. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402498. [PMID: 38530284 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
We used EPR spectroscopy to characterize the structure of RNA duplexes and their internal twist, stretch and bending motions. We prepared eight 20-base-pair-long RNA duplexes containing the rigid spin-label Çm, a cytidine analogue, at two positions and acquired orientation-selective PELDOR/DEER data. By using different frequency bands (X-, Q-, G-band), detailed information about the distance and orientation of the labels was obtained and provided insights into the global conformational dynamics of the RNA duplex. We used 19F Mims ENDOR experiments on three singly Çm- and singly fluorine-labeled RNA duplexes to determine the exact position of the Çm spin label in the helix. In a quantitative comparison to MD simulations of RNA with and without Çm spin labels, we found that state-of-the-art force fields with explicit parameterization of the spin label were able to describe the conformational ensemble present in our experiments. The MD simulations further confirmed that the Çm spin labels are excellent mimics of cytidine inducing only small local changes in the RNA structure. Çm spin labels are thus ideally suited for high-precision EPR experiments to probe the structure and, in conjunction with MD simulations, motions of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Gauger
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marcel Heinz
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Lukas S Stelzl
- Faculty of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- KOMET 1, Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudingerweg 9, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Quantitative and Computational Bioscience (IQCB), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nicole Erlenbach
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Thomas F Prisner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and Center of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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4
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Bock LV, Igaev M, Grubmüller H. Single-particle Cryo-EM and molecular dynamics simulations: A perfect match. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102825. [PMID: 38723560 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of biomolecules is key to understanding the mechanisms underlying their biological functions. Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a powerful structural biology technique to characterize complex biomolecular systems. Here, we review recent advances of how Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are being used to increase and enhance the information extracted from cryo-EM experiments. We will particularly focus on the physics underlying these experiments, how MD facilitates structure refinement, in particular for heterogeneous and non-isotropic resolution, and how thermodynamic and kinetic information can be extracted from cryo-EM data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars V Bock
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen, 37077, Germany. https://twitter.com/Pogoscience
| | - Maxim Igaev
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen, 37077, Germany. https://twitter.com/maxotubule
| | - Helmut Grubmüller
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.
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Wang X, Zhu H, Terashi G, Taluja M, Kihara D. DiffModeler: Large Macromolecular Structure Modeling in Low-Resolution Cryo-EM Maps Using Diffusion Model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.20.576370. [PMID: 38328203 PMCID: PMC10849514 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.20.576370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has now been widely used for determining multi-chain protein complexes. However, modeling a complex structure is challenging particularly when the map resolution is low, typically in the intermediate resolution range of 5 to 10 Å. Within this resolution range, even accurate structure fitting is difficult, let alone de novo modeling. To address this challenge, here we present DiffModeler, a fully automated method for modeling protein complex structures. DiffModeler employs a diffusion model for backbone tracing and integrates AlphaFold2-predicted single-chain structures for structure fitting. Extensive testing on cryo-EM maps at intermediate resolutions demonstrates the exceptional accuracy of DiffModeler in structure modeling, achieving an average TM-Score of 0.92, surpassing existing methodologies significantly. Notably, DiffModeler successfully modeled a protein complex composed of 47 chains and 13,462 residues, achieving a high TM-Score of 0.94. Further benchmarking at low resolutions (10-20 Å confirms its versatility, demonstrating plausible performance. Moreover, when coupled with CryoREAD, DiffModeler excels in constructing protein-DNA/RNA complex structures for near-atomic resolution maps (0-5 Å), showcasing state-of-the-art performance with average TM-Scores of 0.88 and 0.91 across two datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Han Zhu
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Genki Terashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Manav Taluja
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu 642014, India
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
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Salem GM, Galula JU, Wu SR, Liu JH, Chen YH, Wang WH, Wang SF, Song CS, Chen FC, Abarientos AB, Chen GW, Wang CI, Chao DY. Antibodies from dengue patients with prior exposure to Japanese encephalitis virus are broadly neutralizing against Zika virus. Commun Biol 2024; 7:15. [PMID: 38267569 PMCID: PMC10808242 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05661-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to multiple mosquito-borne flaviviruses within a lifetime is not uncommon; however, how sequential exposures to different flaviviruses shape the cross-reactive humoral response against an antigen from a different serocomplex has yet to be explored. Here, we report that dengue-infected individuals initially primed with the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) showed broad, highly neutralizing potencies against Zika virus (ZIKV). We also identified a rare class of ZIKV-cross-reactive human monoclonal antibodies with increased somatic hypermutation and broad neutralization against multiple flaviviruses. One huMAb, K8b, binds quaternary epitopes with heavy and light chains separately interacting with overlapping envelope protein dimer units spanning domains I, II, and III through cryo-electron microscopy and structure-based mutagenesis. JEV virus-like particle immunization in mice further confirmed that such cross-reactive antibodies, mainly IgG3 isotype, can be induced and proliferate through heterologous dengue virus (DENV) serotype 2 virus-like particle stimulation. Our findings highlight the role of prior immunity in JEV and DENV in shaping the breadth of humoral response and provide insights for future vaccination strategies in flavivirus-endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gielenny M Salem
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan
| | - Jedhan Ucat Galula
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Rung Wu
- Institute of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan
| | - Jyung-Hurng Liu
- Graduate Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsu Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, 80424, Taiwan
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hung Wang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, 80424, Taiwan
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Fan Wang
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Sheng Song
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan
| | - Fan-Chi Chen
- Doctoral Program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan
| | - Adrian B Abarientos
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Wen Chen
- Institute of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-I Wang
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Day-Yu Chao
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan.
- Doctoral Program in Microbial Genomics, National Chung Hsing University and Academia Sinica, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan.
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan.
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7
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Beton JG, Mulvaney T, Cragnolini T, Topf M. Cryo-EM structure and B-factor refinement with ensemble representation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:444. [PMID: 38200043 PMCID: PMC10781738 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44593-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryo-EM experiments produce images of macromolecular assemblies that are combined to produce three-dimensional density maps. Typically, atomic models of the constituent molecules are fitted into these maps, followed by a density-guided refinement. We introduce TEMPy-ReFF, a method for atomic structure refinement in cryo-EM density maps. Our method represents atomic positions as components of a Gaussian mixture model, utilising their variances as B-factors, which are used to derive an ensemble description. Extensively tested on a substantial dataset of 229 cryo-EM maps from EMDB ranging in resolution from 2.1-4.9 Å with corresponding PDB and CERES atomic models, our results demonstrate that TEMPy-ReFF ensembles provide a superior representation of cryo-EM maps. On a single-model basis, it performs similarly to the CERES re-refinement protocol, although there are cases where it provides a better fit to the map. Furthermore, our method enables the creation of composite maps free of boundary artefacts. TEMPy-ReFF is useful for better interpretation of flexible structures, such as those involving RNA, DNA or ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G Beton
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Mulvaney
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tristan Cragnolini
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Maya Topf
- Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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Ignatiou A, Macé K, Redzej A, Costa TRD, Waksman G, Orlova EV. Structural Analysis of Protein Complexes by Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2715:431-470. [PMID: 37930544 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3445-5_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Structural studies of bio-complexes using single particle cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) is nowadays a well-established technique in structural biology and has become competitive with X-ray crystallography. Development of digital registration systems for electron microscopy images and algorithms for the fast and efficient processing of the recorded images and their following analysis has facilitated the determination of structures at near-atomic resolution. The latest advances in EM have enabled the determination of protein complex structures at 1.4-3 Å resolution for an extremely broad range of sizes (from ~100 kDa up to hundreds of MDa (Bartesaghi et al., Science 348(6239):1147-1151, 2015; Herzik et al., Nat Commun 10:1032, 2019; Wu et al., J Struct Biol X 4:100020, 2020; Zhang et al., Nat Commun 10:5511, 2019; Zhang et al., Cell Res 30(12):1136-1139, 2020; Yip et al., Nature 587(7832):157-161, 2020; https://www.ebi.ac.uk/emdb/statistics/emdb_resolution_year )). In 2022, nearly 1200 structures deposited to the EMDB database were at a resolution of better than 3 Å ( https://www.ebi.ac.uk/emdb/statistics/emdb_resolution_year ).To date, the highest resolutions have been achieved for apoferritin, which comprises a homo-oligomer of high point group symmetry (O432) and has rigid organization together with high stability (Zhang et al., Cell Res 30(12):1136-1139, 2020; Yip et al., Nature 587(7832):157-161, 2020). It has been used as a test object for the assessments of modern cryo-microscopes and processing methods during the last 5 years. In contrast to apoferritin bacterial secretion systems are typical examples of multi protein complexes exhibiting high flexibility owing to their functions relating to the transportation of small molecules, proteins, and DNA into the extracellular space or target cells. This makes their structural characterization extremely challenging (Barlow, Methods Mol Biol 532:397-411, 2009; Costa et al., Nat Rev Microbiol 13:343-359, 2015). The most feasible approach to reveal their spatial organization and functional modification is cryo-electron microscopy (EM). During the last decade, structural cryo-EM has become broadly used for the analysis of the bio-complexes that comprise multiple components and are not amenable to crystallization (Lyumkis, J Biol Chem 294:5181-5197, 2019; Orlova and Saibil, Methods Enzymol 482:321-341, 2010; Orlova and Saibil, Chem Rev 111(12):7710-7748, 2011).In this review, we will describe the basics of sample preparation for cryo-EM, the principles of digital data collection, and the logistics of image analysis focusing on the common steps required for reconstructions of both small and large biological complexes together with refinement of their structures to nearly atomic resolution. The workflow of processing will be illustrated by examples of EM analysis of Type IV Secretion System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Ignatiou
- Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | - Kévin Macé
- Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | - Adam Redzej
- Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | - Tiago R D Costa
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Gabriel Waksman
- Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK
| | - Elena V Orlova
- Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, UK.
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Cuervo A, Losana P, Carrascosa JL. Observation of Bacteriophage Ultrastructure by Cryo-Electron Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2734:13-25. [PMID: 38066360 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3523-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an ideal method to observe and determine the structure of bacteriophages. From early studies by negative staining to the present atomic structure models derived from cryo-TEM, bacteriophage detection, classification, and structure determination have been mostly done by electron microscopy. Although embedding in metal salts has been a routine method for virus observation for many years, the preservation of bacteriophages in a thin layer of fast frozen buffer has proven to be the most convenient preparation method for obtaining images using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). In this technique, frozen samples are observed at liquid nitrogen temperature, and the images are acquired using different recording media. The incorporation of direct electron detectors has been a fundamental step in achieving atomic resolution images of a number of viruses. These projection images can be numerically combined using different approaches to render a three-dimensional model of the virus. For those viral components exhibiting any symmetry, averaging can nowadays achieve atomic structures in most cases. Image processing methods have also evolved to improve the resolution in asymmetric viral components or regions showing different types of symmetries (symmetry mismatch).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cuervo
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Losana
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Carrascosa
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Mastrangelo R, Okada T, Ogura T, Ogura T, Baglioni P. Direct observation of the effects of chemical fixation in MNT-1 cells: A SE-ADM and Raman study. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308088120. [PMID: 38091295 PMCID: PMC10743460 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308088120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aldehydes fixation was accidentally discovered in the early 20th century and soon became a widely adopted practice in the histological field, due to an excellent staining enhancement in tissues imaging. However, the fixation process itself entails cell proteins denaturation and crosslinking. The possible presence of artifacts, that depends on the specific system under observation, must therefore be considered to avoid data misinterpretation. This contribution takes advantage of scanning electron assisted-dielectric microscopy (SE-ADM) and Raman 2D imaging to reveal the possible presence and the nature of artifacts in unstained, and paraformldehyde, PFA, fixed MNT-1 cells. The high resolution of the innovative SE-ADM technique allowed the identification of globular protein clusters in the cell cytoplasm, formed after protein denaturation and crosslinking. Concurrently, SE-ADM images showed a preferential melanosome adsorption on the cluster's outer surface. The micron-sized aggregates were discernible in Raman 2D images, as the melanosomes signal, extracted through 2D principal component analysis, unequivocally mapped their location and distribution within the cells, appearing randomly distributed in the cytoplasm. Protein clusters were not observed in living MNT-1 cells. In this case, mature melanosomes accumulate preferentially at the cell periphery and are more closely packed than in fixed cells. Our results show that, although PFA does not affect the melanin structure, it disrupts melanosome distribution within the cells. Proteins secondary structure, conversely, is partially lost, as shown by the Raman signals related to α-helix, β-sheets, and specific amino acids that significantly decrease after the PFA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Mastrangelo
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba305-8566, Japan
- NIKKOL GROUP Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo174-0046, Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (Center for Colloid and Surface Science), University of Florence, FlorenceI-50019, Italy
| | - Tomoko Okada
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba305-8566, Japan
| | - Taku Ogura
- NIKKOL GROUP Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd., Tokyo174-0046, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Ogura
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba305-8566, Japan
| | - Piero Baglioni
- Department of Chemistry and Consorzio Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase (Center for Colloid and Surface Science), University of Florence, FlorenceI-50019, Italy
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11
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Park J, Joung I, Joo K, Lee J. Application of conformational space annealing to the protein structure modeling using cryo-EM maps. J Comput Chem 2023; 44:2332-2346. [PMID: 37585026 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Conformational space annealing (CSA), a global optimization method, has been applied to various protein structure modeling tasks. In this paper, we applied CSA to the cryo-EM structure modeling task by combining the python subroutine of CSA (PyCSA) and the fast relax (FastRelax) protocol of PyRosetta. Refinement of initial structures generated from two methods, rigid fitting of predicted structures to the Cryo-EM map and de novo protein modeling by tracing the Cryo-EM map, was performed by CSA. In the refinement of the rigid-fitted structures, the final models showed that CSA can generate reliable atomic structures of proteins, even when large movements of protein domains were required. In the de novo modeling case, although the overall structural qualities of the final models were rather dependent on the initial models, the final models generated by CSA showed improved MolProbity scores and cross-correlation coefficients to the maps. These results suggest that CSA can accomplish flexible fitting and refinement together by sampling diverse conformations effectively and thus can be utilized for cryo-EM structure modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Keehyoung Joo
- Center for Advanced Computations, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jooyoung Lee
- School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul, South Korea
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12
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Malhotra S, Mulvaney T, Cragnolini T, Sidhu H, Joseph A, Beton J, Topf M. RIBFIND2: Identifying rigid bodies in protein and nucleic acid structures. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9567-9575. [PMID: 37670532 PMCID: PMC10570027 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular structures are often fitted into cryo-EM maps by flexible fitting. When this requires large conformational changes, identifying rigid bodies can help optimize the model-map fit. Tools for identifying rigid bodies in protein structures exist, however an equivalent for nucleic acid structures is lacking. With the increase in cryo-EM maps containing RNA and progress in RNA structure prediction, there is a need for such tools. We previously developed RIBFIND, a program for clustering protein secondary structures into rigid bodies. In RIBFIND2, this approach is extended to nucleic acid structures. RIBFIND2 can identify biologically relevant rigid bodies in important groups of complex RNA structures, capturing a wide range of dynamics, including large rigid-body movements. The usefulness of RIBFIND2-assigned rigid bodies in cryo-EM model refinement was demonstrated on three examples, with two conformations each: Group II Intron complexed IEP, Internal Ribosome Entry Site and the Processome, using cryo-EM maps at 2.7-5 Å resolution. A hierarchical refinement approach, performed on progressively smaller sets of RIBFIND2 rigid bodies, was clearly shown to have an advantage over classical all-atom refinement. RIBFIND2 is available via a web server with structure visualization and as a standalone tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sony Malhotra
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Scientific Computing, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Thomas Mulvaney
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg 20251, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - Tristan Cragnolini
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg 20251, Germany
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Haneesh Sidhu
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Agnel P Joseph
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Scientific Computing, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Joseph G Beton
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg 20251, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
| | - Maya Topf
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg 20251, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg D-22607, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg 20246, Germany
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13
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Miyashita O, Tama F. Advancing cryo-electron microscopy data analysis through accelerated simulation-based flexible fitting approaches. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 82:102653. [PMID: 37451233 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Flexible fitting based on molecular dynamics simulation is a technique for structure modeling from cryo-EM data. It has been utilized for nearly two decades, and while cryo-EM resolution has improved significantly, it remains a powerful approach that can provide structural and dynamical insights that are not directly accessible from experimental data alone. Molecular dynamics simulations provide a means to extract atomistic details of conformational changes that are encoded in cryo-EM data and can also assist in improving the quality of structural models. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations enable the characterization of conformational heterogeneity in cryo-EM data. We will summarize the advancements made in these techniques and highlight recent developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osamu Miyashita
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science, 6-7-1, Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Florence Tama
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science, 6-7-1, Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan; Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.
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14
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Singh S, Machida S, Tulsian NK, Choong YK, Ng J, Shankar S, Liu Y, Chandiramani KV, Shi J, Sivaraman J. Structural Basis for the Enzymatic Activity of the HACE1 HECT-Type E3 Ligase Through N-Terminal Helix Dimerization. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207672. [PMID: 37537642 PMCID: PMC10520629 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
HACE1 is an ankyrin repeat (AKR) containing HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase that interacts with and ubiquitinates multiple substrates. While HACE1 is a well-known tumor suppressor, its structure and mode of ubiquitination are not understood. The authors present the cryo-EM structures of human HACE1 along with in vitro functional studies that provide insights into how the enzymatic activity of HACE1 is regulated. HACE1 comprises of an N-terminal AKR domain, a middle (MID) domain, and a C-terminal HECT domain. Its unique G-shaped architecture interacts as a homodimer, with monomers arranged in an antiparallel manner. In this dimeric arrangement, HACE1 ubiquitination activity is hampered, as the N-terminal helix of one monomer restricts access to the C-terminal domain of the other. The in vitro ubiquitination assays, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) analysis, mutagenesis, and in silico modeling suggest that the HACE1 MID domain plays a crucial role along with the AKRs in RAC1 substrate recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Singh
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - Satoru Machida
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - Nikhil Kumar Tulsian
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
- Department of BiochemistryNational University of Singapore28 Medical DriveSingapore117546Singapore
| | - Yeu Khai Choong
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - Joel Ng
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - Srihari Shankar
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - Yaochen Liu
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | | | - Jian Shi
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
| | - J Sivaraman
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of Singapore14 Science Drive 4Singapore117558Singapore
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15
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DiIorio MC, Kulczyk AW. Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Approaches for Ab Initio Structure Determination and Atomic Model Building for Cryo-Electron Microscopy. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1674. [PMID: 37763837 PMCID: PMC10534518 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as the prevailing method for near-atomic structure determination, shedding light on the important molecular mechanisms of biological macromolecules. However, the inherent dynamics and structural variability of biological complexes coupled with the large number of experimental images generated by a cryo-EM experiment make data processing nontrivial. In particular, ab initio reconstruction and atomic model building remain major bottlenecks that demand substantial computational resources and manual intervention. Approaches utilizing recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly deep learning, have the potential to overcome the limitations that cannot be adequately addressed by traditional image processing approaches. Here, we review newly proposed AI-based methods for ab initio volume generation, heterogeneous 3D reconstruction, and atomic model building. We highlight the advancements made by the implementation of AI methods, as well as discuss remaining limitations and areas for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. DiIorio
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers University, 174 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Arkadiusz W. Kulczyk
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers University, 174 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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16
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Habeck M. Bayesian methods in integrative structure modeling. Biol Chem 2023; 404:741-754. [PMID: 37505205 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing interest in characterizing the structure and dynamics of large biomolecular assemblies and their interactions within the cellular environment. A diverse array of experimental techniques allows us to study biomolecular systems on a variety of length and time scales. These techniques range from imaging with light, X-rays or electrons, to spectroscopic methods, cross-linking mass spectrometry and functional genomics approaches, and are complemented by AI-assisted protein structure prediction methods. A challenge is to integrate all of these data into a model of the system and its functional dynamics. This review focuses on Bayesian approaches to integrative structure modeling. We sketch the principles of Bayesian inference, highlight recent applications to integrative modeling and conclude with a discussion of current challenges and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Habeck
- Microscopic Image Analysis Group, Jena University Hospital, D-07743 Jena, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, d-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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17
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Blau C, Yvonnesdotter L, Lindahl E. Gentle and fast all-atom model refinement to cryo-EM densities via a maximum likelihood approach. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011255. [PMID: 37523411 PMCID: PMC10427019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Better detectors and automated data collection have generated a flood of high-resolution cryo-EM maps, which in turn has renewed interest in improving methods for determining structure models corresponding to these maps. However, automatically fitting atoms to densities becomes difficult as their resolution increases and the refinement potential has a vast number of local minima. In practice, the problem becomes even more complex when one also wants to achieve a balance between a good fit of atom positions to the map, while also establishing good stereochemistry or allowing protein secondary structure to change during fitting. Here, we present a solution to this challenge using a maximum likelihood approach by formulating the problem as identifying the structure most likely to have produced the observed density map. This allows us to derive new types of smooth refinement potential-based on relative entropy-in combination with a novel adaptive force scaling algorithm to allow balancing of force-field and density-based potentials. In a low-noise scenario, as expected from modern cryo-EM data, the relative-entropy based refinement potential outperforms alternatives, and the adaptive force scaling appears to aid all existing refinement potentials. The method is available as a component in the GROMACS molecular simulation toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Blau
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linnea Yvonnesdotter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Lindahl
- Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Beton JG, Cragnolini T, Kaleel M, Mulvaney T, Sweeney A, Topf M. Integrating model simulation tools and
cryo‐electron
microscopy. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph George Beton
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) Leibniz‐Institut für Virologie (LIV) Hamburg Germany
| | - Tristan Cragnolini
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck and University College London London UK
| | - Manaz Kaleel
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) Leibniz‐Institut für Virologie (LIV) Hamburg Germany
| | - Thomas Mulvaney
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) Leibniz‐Institut für Virologie (LIV) Hamburg Germany
| | - Aaron Sweeney
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) Leibniz‐Institut für Virologie (LIV) Hamburg Germany
| | - Maya Topf
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) Leibniz‐Institut für Virologie (LIV) Hamburg Germany
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19
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Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has a single-stranded DNA genome encapsidated in a small icosahedrally symmetric protein shell with 60 subunits. AAV is the leading delivery vector in emerging gene therapy treatments for inherited disorders, so its structure and molecular interactions with human hosts are of intense interest. A wide array of electron microscopic approaches have been used to visualize the virus and its complexes, depending on the scientific question, technology available, and amenability of the sample. Approaches range from subvolume tomographic analyses of complexes with large and flexible host proteins to detailed analysis of atomic interactions within the virus and with small ligands at resolutions as high as 1.6 Å. Analyses have led to the reclassification of glycan receptors as attachment factors, to structures with a new-found receptor protein, to identification of the epitopes of antibodies, and a new understanding of possible neutralization mechanisms. AAV is now well-enough characterized that it has also become a model system for EM methods development. Heralding a new era, cryo-EM is now also being deployed as an analytic tool in the process development and production quality control of high value pharmaceutical biologics, namely AAV vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott
M. Stagg
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
- Institute
of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Craig Yoshioka
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health
& Science University, Portland Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Omar Davulcu
- Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Michael S. Chapman
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
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20
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Asi H, Dasgupta B, Nagai T, Miyashita O, Tama F. A hybrid approach to study large conformational transitions of biomolecules from single particle XFEL diffraction data. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:913860. [PMID: 36660427 PMCID: PMC9846856 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.913860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) is the latest generation of the X-ray source that could become an invaluable technique in structural biology. XFEL has ultrashort pulse duration, extreme peak brilliance, and high spatial coherence, which could enable the observation of the biological molecules in near nature state at room temperature without crystallization. However, for biological systems, due to their low diffraction power and complexity of sample delivery, experiments and data analysis are not straightforward, making it extremely challenging to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) structures from single particle XFEL data. Given the current limitations to the amount and resolution of the data from such XFEL experiments, we propose a new hybrid approach for characterizing biomolecular conformational transitions by using a single 2D low-resolution XFEL diffraction pattern in combination with another known conformation. In our method, we represent the molecular structure with a coarse-grained model, the Gaussian mixture model, to describe large conformational transitions from low-resolution XFEL data. We obtain plausible 3D structural models that are consistent with the XFEL diffraction pattern by deforming an initial structural model to maximize the similarity between the target pattern and the simulated diffraction patterns from the candidate models. We tested the proposed algorithm on two biomolecules of different sizes with different complexities of conformational transitions, adenylate kinase, and elongation factor 2, using synthetic XFEL data. The results show that, with the proposed algorithm, we can successfully describe the conformational transitions by flexibly fitting the coarse-grained model of one conformation to become consistent with an XFEL diffraction pattern simulated from another conformation. In addition, we showed that the incident beam orientation has some effect on the accuracy of the 3D structure modeling and discussed the reasons for the inaccuracies for certain orientations. The proposed method could serve as an alternative approach for retrieving information on 3D conformational transitions from the XFEL diffraction patterns to interpret experimental data. Since the molecules are represented by Gaussian kernels and no atomic structure is needed in principle, such a method could also be used as a tool to seek initial models for 3D reconstruction algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Asi
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Bhaskar Dasgupta
- Division of Biological Data Science, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Meguro City, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Nagai
- Department of Advanced Materials Science, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Osamu Miyashita
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Japan,*Correspondence: Osamu Miyashita, ; Florence Tama,
| | - Florence Tama
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan,RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Japan,Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan,*Correspondence: Osamu Miyashita, ; Florence Tama,
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21
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Unexpected structures formed by the kinase RET C634R mutant extracellular domain suggest potential oncogenic mechanisms in MEN2A. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102380. [PMID: 35985422 PMCID: PMC9490035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The RET receptor tyrosine kinase plays a pivotal role in cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation, and its abnormal activation leads to cancers through receptor fusions or point mutations. Mutations that disrupt the disulfide network in the extracellular domain (ECD) of RET drive multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A), a hereditary syndrome associated with the development of thyroid cancers. However, structural details of how specific mutations affect RET are unclear. Here, we present the first structural insights into the ECD of the RET(C634R) mutant, the most common mutation in MEN2A. Using electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the C634R mutation causes ligand-independent dimerization of the RET ECD, revealing an unusual tail-to-tail conformation that is distinct from the ligand-induced signaling dimer of WT RET. Additionally, we show that the RETC634R ECD dimer can form complexes with at least two of the canonical RET ligands and that these complexes form very different structures than WT RET ECD upon ligand binding. In conclusion, this structural analysis of cysteine-mutant RET ECD suggests a potential key mechanism of cancer induction in MEN2A, both in the absence and presence of its native ligands, and may offer new targets for therapeutic intervention.
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22
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Fry MY, Najdrová V, Maggiolo AO, Saladi SM, Doležal P, Clemons WM. Structurally derived universal mechanism for the catalytic cycle of the tail-anchored targeting factor Get3. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:820-830. [DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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23
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He J, Lin P, Chen J, Cao H, Huang SY. Model building of protein complexes from intermediate-resolution cryo-EM maps with deep learning-guided automatic assembly. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4066. [PMID: 35831370 PMCID: PMC9279371 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31748-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in microscopy instruments and image processing algorithms have led to an increasing number of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps. However, building accurate models into intermediate-resolution EM maps remains challenging and labor-intensive. Here, we propose an automatic model building method of multi-chain protein complexes from intermediate-resolution cryo-EM maps, named EMBuild, by integrating AlphaFold structure prediction, FFT-based global fitting, domain-based semi-flexible refinement, and graph-based iterative assembling on the main-chain probability map predicted by a deep convolutional network. EMBuild is extensively evaluated on diverse test sets of 47 single-particle EM maps at 4.0-8.0 Å resolution and 16 subtomogram averaging maps of cryo-ET data at 3.7-9.3 Å resolution, and compared with state-of-the-art approaches. We demonstrate that EMBuild is able to build high-quality complex structures that are comparably accurate to the manually built PDB structures from the cryo-EM maps. These results demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of EMBuild in automatic model building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua He
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Peicong Lin
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Ji Chen
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Hong Cao
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Sheng-You Huang
- School of Physics and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
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24
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Watanabe G, Lieber MR, Williams DR. Structural analysis of the basal state of the Artemis:DNA-PKcs complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7697-7720. [PMID: 35801871 PMCID: PMC9303282 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Artemis nuclease and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) are key components in nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ), the major repair mechanism for double-strand DNA breaks. Artemis activation by DNA-PKcs resolves hairpin DNA ends formed during V(D)J recombination. Artemis deficiency disrupts development of adaptive immunity and leads to radiosensitive T- B- severe combined immunodeficiency (RS-SCID). An activated state of Artemis in complex with DNA-PK was solved by cryo-EM recently, which showed Artemis bound to the DNA. Here, we report that the pre-activated form (basal state) of the Artemis:DNA-PKcs complex is stable on an agarose-acrylamide gel system, and suitable for cryo-EM structural analysis. Structures show that the Artemis catalytic domain is dynamically positioned externally to DNA-PKcs prior to ABCDE autophosphorylation and show how both the catalytic and regulatory domains of Artemis interact with the N-HEAT and FAT domains of DNA-PKcs. We define a mutually exclusive binding site for Artemis and XRCC4 on DNA-PKcs and show that an XRCC4 peptide disrupts the Artemis:DNA-PKcs complex. All of the findings are useful in explaining how a hypomorphic L3062R missense mutation of DNA-PKcs could lead to insufficient Artemis activation, hence RS-SCID. Our results provide various target site candidates to design disruptors for Artemis:DNA-PKcs complex formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go Watanabe
- Department of Pathology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Section of Computational & Molecular Biology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Rm. 5428, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael R Lieber
- Department of Pathology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Section of Computational & Molecular Biology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Rm. 5428, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Dewight R Williams
- Eyring Materials Center, John Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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25
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Alnabati E, Terashi G, Kihara D. Protein Structural Modeling for Electron Microscopy Maps Using VESPER and MAINMAST. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e494. [PMID: 35849043 PMCID: PMC9299282 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of protein structures are determined by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and stored in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB). To interpret determined cryo-EM maps, several methods have been developed that model the tertiary structure of biomolecules, particularly proteins. Here we show how to use two such methods, VESPER and MAINMAST, which were developed in our group. VESPER is a method mainly for two purposes: fitting protein structure models into an EM map and aligning two EM maps locally or globally to capture their similarity. VESPER represents each EM map as a set of vectors pointing toward denser points. By considering matching the directions of vectors, in general, VESPER aligns maps better than conventional methods that only consider local densities of maps. MAINMAST is a de novo protein modeling tool designed for EM maps with resolution of 3-5 Å or better. MAINMAST builds a protein main chain directly from a density map by tracing dense points in an EM map and connecting them using a tree-graph structure. This article describes how to use these two tools using three illustrative modeling examples. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Protein structure model fitting using VESPER Alternate Protocol: Atomic model fitting using VESPER web server Basic Protocol 2: Protein de novo modeling using MAINMAST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Alnabati
- Department of Computer SciencePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndiana
| | - Genki Terashi
- Department of Biological SciencesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndiana
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Computer SciencePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndiana
- Department of Biological SciencesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndiana
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26
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Zhu Z, Deng Z, Wang Q, Wang Y, Zhang D, Xu R, Guo L, Wen H. Simulation and Machine Learning Methods for Ion-Channel Structure Determination, Mechanistic Studies and Drug Design. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:939555. [PMID: 35837274 PMCID: PMC9275593 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.939555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are expressed in almost all living cells, controlling the in-and-out communications, making them ideal drug targets, especially for central nervous system diseases. However, owing to their dynamic nature and the presence of a membrane environment, ion channels remain difficult targets for the past decades. Recent advancement in cryo-electron microscopy and computational methods has shed light on this issue. An explosion in high-resolution ion channel structures paved way for structure-based rational drug design and the state-of-the-art simulation and machine learning techniques dramatically improved the efficiency and effectiveness of computer-aided drug design. Here we present an overview of how simulation and machine learning-based methods fundamentally changed the ion channel-related drug design at different levels, as well as the emerging trends in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengdan Zhu
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute of Big Data Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenfeng Deng
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Duo Zhang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihan Xu
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Visual Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Han Wen
- DP Technology, Beijing, China
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27
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The Vibrio vulnificus stressosome is an oxygen-sensor involved in regulating iron metabolism. Commun Biol 2022; 5:622. [PMID: 35761021 PMCID: PMC9237108 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03548-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Stressosomes are stress-sensing protein complexes widely conserved among bacteria. Although a role in the regulation of the general stress response is well documented in Gram-positive bacteria, the activating signals are still unclear, and little is known about the physiological function of stressosomes in the Gram-negative bacteria. Here we investigated the stressosome of the Gram-negative marine pathogen Vibrio vulnificus. We demonstrate that it senses oxygen and identified its role in modulating iron-metabolism. We determined a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the VvRsbR:VvRsbS stressosome complex, the first solved from a Gram-negative bacterium. The structure points to a variation in the VvRsbR and VvRsbS stoichiometry and a symmetry breach in the oxygen sensing domain of VvRsbR, suggesting how signal-sensing elicits a stress response. The findings provide a link between ligand-dependent signaling and an output – regulation of iron metabolism - for a stressosome complex. A cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of a stressosome complex from a Gram-negative bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, reveals variations in subunit composition and symmetry, which could serve to adjust the activation threshold in the response to low levels of oxygen and starvation.
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28
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Kelly JJ, Tranter D, Pardon E, Chi G, Kramer H, Happonen L, Knee KM, Janz JM, Steyaert J, Bulawa C, Paavilainen VO, Huiskonen JT, Yue WW. Snapshots of actin and tubulin folding inside the TRiC chaperonin. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:420-429. [PMID: 35449234 PMCID: PMC9113939 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00755-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The integrity of a cell's proteome depends on correct folding of polypeptides by chaperonins. The chaperonin TCP-1 ring complex (TRiC) acts as obligate folder for >10% of cytosolic proteins, including he cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin. Although its architecture and how it recognizes folding substrates are emerging from structural studies, the subsequent fate of substrates inside the TRiC chamber is not defined. We trapped endogenous human TRiC with substrates (actin, tubulin) and cochaperone (PhLP2A) at different folding stages, for structure determination by cryo-EM. The already-folded regions of client proteins are anchored at the chamber wall, positioning unstructured regions toward the central space to achieve their native fold. Substrates engage with different sections of the chamber during the folding cycle, coupled to TRiC open-and-close transitions. Further, the cochaperone PhLP2A modulates folding, acting as a molecular strut between substrate and TRiC chamber. Our structural snapshots piece together an emerging model of client protein folding within TRiC.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Kelly
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dale Tranter
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gamma Chi
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Holger Kramer
- Biological Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Lotta Happonen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kelly M Knee
- Pfizer Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jay M Janz
- Pfizer Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christine Bulawa
- Pfizer Rare Disease Research Unit, Worldwide Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ville O Paavilainen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha T Huiskonen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Wyatt W Yue
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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29
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De Bei O, Marchetti M, Ronda L, Gianquinto E, Lazzarato L, Chirgadze DY, Hardwick SW, Cooper LR, Spyrakis F, Luisi BF, Campanini B, Bettati S. Cryo-EM structures of staphylococcal IsdB bound to human hemoglobin reveal the process of heme extraction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2116708119. [PMID: 35357971 PMCID: PMC9168843 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116708119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron surface determinant B (IsdB) is a hemoglobin (Hb) receptor essential for hemic iron acquisition by Staphylococcus aureus. Heme transfer to IsdB is possible from oxidized Hb (metHb), but inefficient from Hb either bound to oxygen (oxyHb) or bound to carbon monoxide (HbCO), and encompasses a sequence of structural events that are currently poorly understood. By single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, we determined the structure of two IsdB:Hb complexes, representing key species along the heme extraction pathway. The IsdB:HbCO structure, at 2.9-Å resolution, provides a snapshot of the preextraction complex. In this early stage of IsdB:Hb interaction, the hemophore binds to the β-subunits of the Hb tetramer, exploiting a folding-upon-binding mechanism that is likely triggered by a cis/trans isomerization of Pro173. Binding of IsdB to α-subunits occurs upon dissociation of the Hb tetramer into α/β dimers. The structure of the IsdB:metHb complex reveals the final step of the extraction process, where heme transfer to IsdB is completed. The stability of the complex, both before and after heme transfer from Hb to IsdB, is influenced by isomerization of Pro173. These results greatly enhance current understanding of structural and dynamic aspects of the heme extraction mechanism by IsdB and provide insight into the interactions that stabilize the complex before the heme transfer event. This information will support future efforts to identify inhibitors of heme acquisition by S. aureus by interfering with IsdB:Hb complex formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar De Bei
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Marialaura Marchetti
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma 43126, Italy
| | - Luca Ronda
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma 43126, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gianquinto
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin 10125, Italy
| | - Loretta Lazzarato
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin 10125, Italy
| | - Dimitri Y. Chirgadze
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Steven W. Hardwick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Lee R. Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin 10125, Italy
| | - Ben F. Luisi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Campanini
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, Parma 43124, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma 43126, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa 56124, Italy
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30
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Zhou X, Li Y, Zhang C, Zheng W, Zhang G, Zhang Y. Progressive assembly of multi-domain protein structures from cryo-EM density maps. NATURE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 2:265-275. [PMID: 35844960 PMCID: PMC9281201 DOI: 10.1038/s43588-022-00232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Progress in cryo-electron microscopy has provided the potential for large-size protein structure determination. However, the success rate for solving multi-domain proteins remains low because of the difficulty in modelling inter-domain orientations. Here we developed domain enhanced modeling using cryo-electron microscopy (DEMO-EM), an automatic method to assemble multi-domain structures from cryo-electron microscopy maps through a progressive structural refinement procedure combining rigid-body domain fitting and flexible assembly simulations with deep-neural-network inter-domain distance profiles. The method was tested on a large-scale benchmark set of proteins containing up to 12 continuous and discontinuous domains with medium- to low-resolution density maps, where DEMO-EM produced models with correct inter-domain orientations (template modeling score (TM-score) >0.5) for 97% of cases and outperformed state-of-the-art methods. DEMO-EM was applied to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 genome and generated models with average TM-score and root-mean-square deviation of 0.97 and 1.3 Å, respectively, with respect to the deposited structures. These results demonstrate an efficient pipeline that enables automated and reliable large-scale multi-domain protein structure modelling from cryo-electron microscopy maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaogen Zhou
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- College of Information Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Wei Zheng
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Guijun Zhang
- College of Information Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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31
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Zheng F, Georgescu RE, Yao NY, O'Donnell ME, Li H. DNA is loaded through the 9-1-1 DNA checkpoint clamp in the opposite direction of the PCNA clamp. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:376-385. [PMID: 35314830 PMCID: PMC9010301 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00742-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The 9-1-1 DNA checkpoint clamp is loaded onto 5'-recessed DNA to activate the DNA damage checkpoint that arrests the cell cycle. The 9-1-1 clamp is a heterotrimeric ring that is loaded in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Rad24-RFC (hRAD17-RFC), an alternate clamp loader in which Rad24 replaces Rfc1 in the RFC1-5 clamp loader of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The 9-1-1 clamp loading mechanism has been a mystery, because, unlike RFC, which loads PCNA onto a 3'-recessed junction, Rad24-RFC loads the 9-1-1 ring onto a 5'-recessed DNA junction. Here we report two cryo-EM structures of Rad24-RFC-DNA with a closed or 27-Å open 9-1-1 clamp. The structures reveal a completely unexpected mechanism by which a clamp can be loaded onto DNA. Unlike RFC, which encircles DNA, Rad24 binds 5'-DNA on its surface, not inside the loader, and threads the 3' ssDNA overhang into the 9-1-1 clamp from above the ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengwei Zheng
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Roxana E Georgescu
- DNA Replication Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nina Y Yao
- DNA Replication Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael E O'Donnell
- DNA Replication Laboratory, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Huilin Li
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
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32
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Exploring cryo-electron microscopy with molecular dynamics. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:569-581. [PMID: 35212361 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Single particle analysis cryo-electron microscopy (EM) and molecular dynamics (MD) have been complimentary methods since cryo-EM was first applied to the field of structural biology. The relationship started by biasing structural models to fit low-resolution cryo-EM maps of large macromolecular complexes not amenable to crystallization. The connection between cryo-EM and MD evolved as cryo-EM maps improved in resolution, allowing advanced sampling algorithms to simultaneously refine backbone and sidechains. Moving beyond a single static snapshot, modern inferencing approaches integrate cryo-EM and MD to generate structural ensembles from cryo-EM map data or directly from the particle images themselves. We summarize the recent history of MD innovations in the area of cryo-EM modeling. The merits for the myriad of MD based cryo-EM modeling methods are discussed, as well as, the discoveries that were made possible by the integration of molecular modeling with cryo-EM. Lastly, current challenges and potential opportunities are reviewed.
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33
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Neijenhuis T, van Keulen SC, Bonvin AMJJ. Interface refinement of low- to medium-resolution Cryo-EM complexes using HADDOCK2.4. Structure 2022; 30:476-484.e3. [PMID: 35216656 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
A wide range of cellular processes requires the formation of multimeric protein complexes. The rise of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has enabled the structural characterization of these protein assemblies. The density maps produced can, however, still suffer from limited resolution, impeding the process of resolving structures at atomic resolution. In order to solve this issue, monomers can be fitted into low- to medium-resolution maps. Unfortunately, the models produced frequently contain atomic clashes at the protein-protein interfaces (PPIs), as intermolecular interactions are typically not considered during monomer fitting. Here, we present a refinement approach based on HADDOCK2.4 to remove intermolecular clashes and optimize PPIs. A dataset of 14 cryo-EM complexes was used to test eight protocols. The best-performing protocol, consisting of a semi-flexible simulated annealing refinement with centroid restraints on the monomers, was able to decrease intermolecular atomic clashes by 98% without significantly deteriorating the quality of the cryo-EM density fit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Neijenhuis
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Science for Life, Faculty of Science - Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Siri C van Keulen
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Science for Life, Faculty of Science - Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandre M J J Bonvin
- Computational Structural Biology Group, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Science for Life, Faculty of Science - Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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34
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Ivanova ME, Lukoyanova N, Malhotra S, Topf M, Trapani JA, Voskoboinik I, Saibil HR. The pore conformation of lymphocyte perforin. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk3147. [PMID: 35148176 PMCID: PMC8836823 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk3147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Perforin is a pore-forming protein that facilitates rapid killing of pathogen-infected or cancerous cells by the immune system. Perforin is released from cytotoxic lymphocytes, together with proapoptotic granzymes, to bind to a target cell membrane where it oligomerizes and forms pores. The pores allow granzyme entry, which rapidly triggers the apoptotic death of the target cell. Here, we present a 4-Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of the perforin pore, revealing previously unidentified inter- and intramolecular interactions stabilizing the assembly. During pore formation, the helix-turn-helix motif moves away from the bend in the central β sheet to form an intermolecular contact. Cryo-electron tomography shows that prepores form on the membrane surface with minimal conformational changes. Our findings suggest the sequence of conformational changes underlying oligomerization and membrane insertion, and explain how several pathogenic mutations affect function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina E. Ivanova
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
- Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Natalya Lukoyanova
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Sony Malhotra
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
- Scientific Computing Department, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Fermi Ave, Harwell, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Maya Topf
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Leibniz-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie and Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joseph A. Trapani
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Ilia Voskoboinik
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Helen R. Saibil
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
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35
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Kameda T, Awazu A, Togashi Y. Molecular dynamics analysis of biomolecular systems including nucleic acids. Biophys Physicobiol 2022; 19:e190027. [DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v19.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Akinori Awazu
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University
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36
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Warshamanage R, Yamashita K, Murshudov GN. EMDA: A Python package for Electron Microscopy Data Analysis. J Struct Biol 2021; 214:107826. [PMID: 34915128 PMCID: PMC8935390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
An open-source Python library EMDA for cryo-EM map and model manipulation is presented with a specific focus on validation. The use of several functionalities in the library is presented through several examples. The utility of local correlation as a metric for identifying map-model differences and unmodeled regions in maps, and how it is used as a metric of map-model validation is demonstrated. The mapping of local correlation to individual atoms, and its use to draw insights on local signal variations are discussed. EMDA’s likelihood-based map overlay is demonstrated by carrying out a superposition of two domains in two related structures. The overlay is carried out first to bring both maps into the same coordinate frame and then to estimate the relative movement of domains. Finally, the map magnification refinement in EMDA is presented with an example to highlight the importance of adjusting the map magnification in structural comparison studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rangana Warshamanage
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Garib N Murshudov
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom.
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37
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Integrative structural modeling of macromolecular complexes using Assembline. Nat Protoc 2021; 17:152-176. [PMID: 34845384 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Integrative modeling enables structure determination of macromolecular complexes by combining data from multiple experimental sources such as X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy or cross-linking mass spectrometry. It is particularly useful for complexes not amenable to high-resolution electron microscopy-complexes that are flexible, heterogeneous or imaged in cells with cryo-electron tomography. We have recently developed an integrative modeling protocol that allowed us to model multi-megadalton complexes as large as the nuclear pore complex. Here, we describe the Assembline software package, which combines multiple programs and libraries with our own algorithms in a streamlined modeling pipeline. Assembline builds ensembles of models satisfying data from atomic structures or homology models, electron microscopy maps and other experimental data, and provides tools for their analysis. Compared with other methods, Assembline enables efficient sampling of conformational space through a multistep procedure, provides new modeling restraints and includes a unique configuration system for setting up the modeling project. Our protocol achieves exhaustive sampling in less than 100-1,000 CPU-hours even for complexes in the megadalton range. For larger complexes, resources available in institutional or public computer clusters are needed and sufficient to run the protocol. We also provide step-by-step instructions for preparing the input, running the core modeling steps and assessing modeling performance at any stage.
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38
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Meek RW, Blaza JN, Busmann JA, Alteen MG, Vocadlo DJ, Davies GJ. Cryo-EM structure provides insights into the dimer arrangement of the O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine transferase OGT. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6508. [PMID: 34764280 PMCID: PMC8586251 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26796-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification is a core signalling mechanism, with erroneous patterns leading to cancer and neurodegeneration. Although thousands of proteins are subject to this modification, only a single essential glycosyltransferase catalyses its installation, the O-GlcNAc transferase, OGT. Previous studies have provided truncated structures of OGT through X-ray crystallography, but the full-length protein has never been observed. Here, we report a 5.3 Å cryo-EM model of OGT. We show OGT is a dimer, providing a structural basis for how some X-linked intellectual disability mutations at the interface may contribute to disease. We observe that the catalytic section of OGT abuts a 13.5 tetratricopeptide repeat unit region and find the relative positioning of these sections deviate from the previously proposed, X-ray crystallography-based model. We also note that OGT exhibits considerable heterogeneity in tetratricopeptide repeat units N-terminal to the dimer interface with repercussions for how OGT binds protein ligands and partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Meek
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - James N Blaza
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Jil A Busmann
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Matthew G Alteen
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - David J Vocadlo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Gideon J Davies
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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39
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Takazaki H, Kusumoto T, Ishibashi W, Yasunaga T, Sakamoto J. Extended supercomplex contains type-II NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome bcc complex, and aa 3 oxidase in the respiratory chain of Corynebacterium glutamicum. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 133:76-82. [PMID: 34753673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To clarify the precise subunit composition of the respiratory supercomplex of Corynebacterium glutamicum, several wash conditions were examined. MEGA (9 + 10) wash-buffer (0.5%) was used for this purpose and two-step column chromatography was performed. Almost equal amounts of cytochrome c, b, and a were observed in the purified fraction, estimated by their different absorption spectra. The 833 kDa and 685 kDa bands were observed in the clear native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (CN-PAGE) of the purified fraction. Both bands were stained using N,N',N',N-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) oxidase dye, and the 833 kDa band was also stained using NADH oxidase dye. The 3D map reconstructed from the 833 kDa band indicated that the bcc complex and aa3 oxidase are heterodimers. Lastly, electron transfer from NADH to the bcc-aa3 supercomplex was observed. The 833 kDa band is the supercomplex, which includes the heterodimer cytochrome bcc complex and cytochrome aa3 oxidase, as well as the monomer NDH-II. Hence, we termed the 833 kDa band the extended supercomplex (ESC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Takazaki
- Department of Systems Design and Informatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan; Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Tomoichirou Kusumoto
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
| | - Wataru Ishibashi
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
| | - Takuo Yasunaga
- Department of Systems Design and Informatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
| | - Junshi Sakamoto
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka, Fukuoka 820-8502, Japan.
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40
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Cook AD, Roberts AJ, Atherton J, Tewari R, Topf M, Moores CA. Cryo-EM structure of a microtubule-bound parasite kinesin motor and implications for its mechanism and inhibition. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101063. [PMID: 34375637 PMCID: PMC8526983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria and are responsible annually for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Kinesins are a superfamily of microtubule-dependent ATPases that play important roles in the parasite replicative machinery, which is a potential target for antiparasite drugs. Kinesin-5, a molecular motor that cross-links microtubules, is an established antimitotic target in other disease contexts, but its mechanism in Plasmodium falciparum is unclear. Here, we characterized P. falciparum kinesin-5 (PfK5) using cryo-EM to determine the motor's nucleotide-dependent microtubule-bound structure and introduced 3D classification of individual motors into our microtubule image processing pipeline to maximize our structural insights. Despite sequence divergence in PfK5, the motor exhibits classical kinesin mechanochemistry, including ATP-induced subdomain rearrangement and cover neck bundle formation, consistent with its plus-ended directed motility. We also observed that an insertion in loop5 of the PfK5 motor domain creates a different environment in the well-characterized human kinesin-5 drug-binding site. Our data reveal the possibility for selective inhibition of PfK5 and can be used to inform future exploration of Plasmodium kinesins as antiparasite targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Cook
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J Roberts
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Atherton
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rita Tewari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Maya Topf
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn A Moores
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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41
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Smith SM, Larocque G, Wood KM, Morris KL, Roseman AM, Sessions RB, Royle SJ, Smith CJ. Multi-modal adaptor-clathrin contacts drive coated vesicle assembly. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108795. [PMID: 34487371 PMCID: PMC8488560 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clathrin‐coated pits are formed by the recognition of membrane and cargo by the AP2 complex and the subsequent recruitment of clathrin triskelia. A role for AP2 in coated‐pit assembly beyond initial clathrin recruitment has not been explored. Clathrin binds the β2 subunit of AP2, and several binding sites have been identified, but our structural knowledge of these interactions is incomplete and their functional importance during endocytosis is unclear. Here, we analysed the cryo‐EM structure of clathrin cages assembled in the presence of β2 hinge‐appendage (β2HA). We find that the β2‐appendage binds in at least two positions in the cage, demonstrating that multi‐modal binding is a fundamental property of clathrin‐AP2 interactions. In one position, β2‐appendage cross‐links two adjacent terminal domains from different triskelia. Functional analysis of β2HA‐clathrin interactions reveals that endocytosis requires two clathrin interaction sites: a clathrin‐box motif on the hinge and the “sandwich site” on the appendage. We propose that β2‐appendage binding to more than one triskelion is a key feature of the system and likely explains why assembly is driven by AP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Gabrielle Larocque
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Kyle L Morris
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Alan M Roseman
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Stephen J Royle
- Centre for Mechanochemical Cell Biology, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Corinne J Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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42
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Britt HM, Cragnolini T, Thalassinos K. Integration of Mass Spectrometry Data for Structural Biology. Chem Rev 2021; 122:7952-7986. [PMID: 34506113 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) is increasingly being used to probe the structure and dynamics of proteins and the complexes they form with other macromolecules. There are now several specialized MS methods, each with unique sample preparation, data acquisition, and data processing protocols. Collectively, these methods are referred to as structural MS and include cross-linking, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, hydroxyl radical footprinting, native, ion mobility, and top-down MS. Each of these provides a unique type of structural information, ranging from composition and stoichiometry through to residue level proximity and solvent accessibility. Structural MS has proved particularly beneficial in studying protein classes for which analysis by classic structural biology techniques proves challenging such as glycosylated or intrinsically disordered proteins. To capture the structural details for a particular system, especially larger multiprotein complexes, more than one structural MS method with other structural and biophysical techniques is often required. Key to integrating these diverse data are computational strategies and software solutions to facilitate this process. We provide a background to the structural MS methods and briefly summarize other structural methods and how these are combined with MS. We then describe current state of the art approaches for the integration of structural MS data for structural biology. We quantify how often these methods are used together and provide examples where such combinations have been fruitful. To illustrate the power of integrative approaches, we discuss progress in solving the structures of the proteasome and the nuclear pore complex. We also discuss how information from structural MS, particularly pertaining to protein dynamics, is not currently utilized in integrative workflows and how such information can provide a more accurate picture of the systems studied. We conclude by discussing new developments in the MS and computational fields that will further enable in-cell structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Britt
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Tristan Cragnolini
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Thalassinos
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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43
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Han Y, He F, Chen Y, Qin W, Yu H, Xu D. Quality Assessment of Protein Docking Models Based on Graph Neural Network. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2021; 1:693211. [PMID: 36303780 PMCID: PMC9581034 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2021.693211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein docking provides a structural basis for the design of drugs and vaccines. Among the processes of protein docking, quality assessment (QA) is utilized to pick near-native models from numerous protein docking candidate conformations, and it directly determines the final docking results. Although extensive efforts have been made to improve QA accuracy, it is still the bottleneck of current protein docking systems. In this paper, we presented a Deep Graph Attention Neural Network (DGANN) to evaluate and rank protein docking candidate models. DGANN learns inter-residue physio-chemical properties and structural fitness across the two protein monomers in a docking model and generates their probabilities of near-native models. On the ZDOCK decoy benchmark, our DGANN outperformed the ranking provided by ZDOCK in terms of ranking good models into the top selections. Furthermore, we conducted comparative experiments on an independent testing dataset, and the results also demonstrated the superiority and generalization of our proposed method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Han
- School of Information Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Fei He
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongbing Chen
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenyuan Qin
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Helong Yu
- School of Information Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Helong Yu, ; Dong Xu,
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Helong Yu, ; Dong Xu,
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44
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Yu J, Raia P, Ghent CM, Raisch T, Sadian Y, Cavadini S, Sabale PM, Barford D, Raunser S, Morgan DO, Boland A. Structural basis of human separase regulation by securin and CDK1-cyclin B1. Nature 2021; 596:138-142. [PMID: 34290405 PMCID: PMC8482764 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03764-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In early mitosis, the duplicated chromosomes are held together by the ring-shaped cohesin complex1. Separation of chromosomes during anaphase is triggered by separase-a large cysteine endopeptidase that cleaves the cohesin subunit SCC1 (also known as RAD212-4). Separase is activated by degradation of its inhibitors, securin5 and cyclin B6, but the molecular mechanisms of separase regulation are not clear. Here we used cryogenic electron microscopy to determine the structures of human separase in complex with either securin or CDK1-cyclin B1-CKS1. In both complexes, separase is inhibited by pseudosubstrate motifs that block substrate binding at the catalytic site and at nearby docking sites. As in Caenorhabditis elegans7 and yeast8, human securin contains its own pseudosubstrate motifs. By contrast, CDK1-cyclin B1 inhibits separase by deploying pseudosubstrate motifs from intrinsically disordered loops in separase itself. One autoinhibitory loop is oriented by CDK1-cyclin B1 to block the catalytic sites of both separase and CDK19,10. Another autoinhibitory loop blocks substrate docking in a cleft adjacent to the separase catalytic site. A third separase loop contains a phosphoserine6 that promotes complex assembly by binding to a conserved phosphate-binding pocket in cyclin B1. Our study reveals the diverse array of mechanisms by which securin and CDK1-cyclin B1 bind and inhibit separase, providing the molecular basis for the robust control of chromosome segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Raia
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Chloe M Ghent
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tobias Raisch
- Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Yashar Sadian
- Bioimaging Center, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Simone Cavadini
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pramod M Sabale
- Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Stefan Raunser
- Department of Structural Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - David O Morgan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Boland
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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45
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Mori T, Terashi G, Matsuoka D, Kihara D, Sugita Y. Efficient Flexible Fitting Refinement with Automatic Error Fixing for De Novo Structure Modeling from Cryo-EM Density Maps. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3516-3528. [PMID: 34142833 PMCID: PMC9282639 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Structural modeling of proteins from cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) density maps is one of the challenging issues in structural biology. De novo modeling combined with flexible fitting refinement (FFR) has been widely used to build a structure of new proteins. In de novo prediction, artificial conformations containing local structural errors such as chirality errors, cis peptide bonds, and ring penetrations are frequently generated and cannot be easily removed in the subsequent FFR. Moreover, refinement can be significantly suppressed due to the low mobility of atoms inside the protein. To overcome these problems, we propose an efficient scheme for FFR, in which the local structural errors are fixed first, followed by FFR using an iterative simulated annealing (SA) molecular dynamics protocol with the united atom (UA) model in an implicit solvent model; we call this scheme "SAUA-FFR". The best model is selected from multiple flexible fitting runs with various biasing force constants to reduce overfitting. We apply our scheme to the decoys obtained from MAINMAST and demonstrate an improvement of the best model of eight selected proteins in terms of the root-mean-square deviation, MolProbity score, and RWplus score compared to the original scheme of MAINMAST. Fixing the local structural errors can enhance the formation of secondary structures, and the UA model enables progressive refinement compared to the all-atom model owing to its high mobility in the implicit solvent. The SAUA-FFR scheme realizes efficient and accurate protein structure modeling from medium-resolution maps with less overfitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaharu Mori
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Genki Terashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Daisuke Matsuoka
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.,Department of Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Yuji Sugita
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Computational Science, 7-1-26 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 7-1-26 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
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46
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van Noort CW, Honorato RV, Bonvin AMJJ. Information-driven modeling of biomolecular complexes. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 70:70-77. [PMID: 34139639 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Proteins play crucial roles in every cellular process by interacting with each other, nucleic acids, metabolites, and other molecules. The resulting assemblies can be very large and intricate and pose challenges to experimental methods. In the current era of integrative modeling, it is often only by a combination of various experimental techniques and computations that three-dimensional models of those molecular machines can be obtained. Among the various computational approaches available, molecular docking is often the method of choice when it comes to predicting three-dimensional structures of complexes. Docking can generate particularly accurate models when taking into account the available information on the complex of interest. We review here the use of experimental and bioinformatics data in protein-protein docking, describing recent software developments and highlighting applications for the modeling of antibody-antigen complexes and membrane protein complexes, and the use of evolutionary and shape information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte W van Noort
- Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584CH, Netherlands
| | - Rodrigo V Honorato
- Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584CH, Netherlands
| | - Alexandre M J J Bonvin
- Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584CH, Netherlands.
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47
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Nierzwicki Ł, Palermo G. Molecular Dynamics to Predict Cryo-EM: Capturing Transitions and Short-Lived Conformational States of Biomolecules. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:641208. [PMID: 33884260 PMCID: PMC8053777 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.641208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionized the field of the structural biology, providing an access to the atomic resolution structures of large biomolecular complexes in their near-native environment. Today's cryo-EM maps can frequently reach the atomic-level resolution, while often containing a range of resolutions, with conformationally variable regions obtained at 6 Å or worse. Low resolution density maps obtained for protein flexible domains, as well as the ensemble of coexisting conformational states arising from cryo-EM, poses new challenges and opportunities for Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. With the ability to describe the biomolecular dynamics at the atomic level, MD can extend the capabilities of cryo-EM, capturing the conformational variability and predicting biologically relevant short-lived conformational states. Here, we report about the state-of-the-art MD procedures that are currently used to refine, reconstruct and interpret cryo-EM maps. We show the capability of MD to predict short-lived conformational states, finding remarkable confirmation by cryo-EM structures subsequently solved. This has been the case of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing machinery, whose catalytically active structure has been predicted through both long-time scale MD and enhanced sampling techniques 2 years earlier than cryo-EM. In summary, this contribution remarks the ability of MD to complement cryo-EM, describing conformational landscapes and relating structural transitions to function, ultimately discerning relevant short-lived conformational states and providing mechanistic knowledge of biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Nierzwicki
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Giulia Palermo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
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48
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Atherton J, Moores CA. Cryo-EM of kinesin-binding protein: challenges and opportunities from protein-surface interactions. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:411-423. [PMID: 33825702 PMCID: PMC8025885 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321001935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinesin-binding protein (KBP) is an important selective inhibitor of specific kinesin family members and its genetic disruption causes Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has recently been used to reveal the structure of KBP alone (72 kDa) and in complex with the motor domain of the mitotic kinesin-12 KIF15 (110 kDa). KBP is an α-solenoid, tetratricopeptide-repeat protein that interacts with the microtubule-binding region of the kinesin motor domain and blocks microtubule attachment. Numerous challenges arose relating to the behavior of KBP and KBP-kinesin complexes during cryo-EM sample preparation. These included the partial denaturation of KBP by air-water interfaces, protein aggregation resulting from carbon interaction and preferential orientation. Sample preparation with a graphene oxide substrate enabled the eventual structure determination. Here, experiences with preparing these samples are detailed, bringing attention to some of the challenges and opportunities that are likely to arise from protein-surface interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Atherton
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn A. Moores
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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49
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Kulik M, Mori T, Sugita Y. Multi-Scale Flexible Fitting of Proteins to Cryo-EM Density Maps at Medium Resolution. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:631854. [PMID: 33842541 PMCID: PMC8025875 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.631854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure determination using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) medium-resolution density maps is often facilitated by flexible fitting. Avoiding overfitting, adjusting force constants driving the structure to the density map, and emulating complex conformational transitions are major concerns in the fitting. To address them, we develop a new method based on a three-step multi-scale protocol. First, flexible fitting molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with coarse-grained structure-based force field and replica-exchange scheme between different force constants replicas are performed. Second, fitted Cα atom positions guide the all-atom structure in targeted MD. Finally, the all-atom flexible fitting refinement in implicit solvent adjusts the positions of the side chains in the density map. Final models obtained via the multi-scale protocol are significantly better resolved and more reliable in comparison with long all-atom flexible fitting simulations. The protocol is useful for multi-domain systems with intricate structural transitions as it preserves the secondary structure of single domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kulik
- Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako-shi, Japan
| | - Takaharu Mori
- Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako-shi, Japan
| | - Yuji Sugita
- Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako-shi, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Computational Science, Kobe, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
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50
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Gilbert RJC. Electron microscopy as a critical tool in the determination of pore forming mechanisms in proteins. Methods Enzymol 2021; 649:71-102. [PMID: 33712203 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Electron microscopy has consistently played an important role in the description of pore-forming protein systems. The discovery of pore-forming proteins has depended on visualization of the structural pores formed by their oligomeric protein complexes, and as electron microscopy has advanced technologically so has the degree of insight it has been able to give. This review considers a large number of published studies of pore-forming complexes in prepore and pore states determined using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. Sample isolation and preparation, imaging and image analysis, structure determination and optimization of results are all discussed alongside challenges which pore-forming proteins particularly present. The review also considers the use made of cryo-electron tomography to study pores within their membrane environment and which will prove an increasingly important approach for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J C Gilbert
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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