Understanding the fluorescence changes of human plasminogen when it binds the ligand, 6-aminohexanoate: a synthesis

The interaction of streptococcal enolase with canine plasminogen: the role of surfaces in complex formation

The enolase from Streptococcus pyogenes (Str enolase F137L/E363G) is a homo-octamer shaped like a donut. Plasminogen (Pgn) is a monomeric protein composed of seven discrete separated domains organized into a lock washer. The enolase is known to bind Pgn. In past work we searched for conditions in which the two proteins would bind to one another. The two native proteins in solution would not bind under any of the tried conditions. We found that if the structures were perturbed binding would occur. We stated that only the non-native Str enolase or Pgn would interact such that we could detect binding. We report here the results of a series of dual polarization interferometry (DPI) experiments coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence. We show that the critical condition for forming stable complexes of the two native proteins involves Str enolase binding to a surface. Surfaces that attract Str enolase are a sufficient condition for binding Pgn. Under certain conditions, Pgn adsorbed to a surface will bind Str enolase.

Reduction of canine plasminogen leads to an expanded molecule which precipitates

Canine plasminogen is made up of seven domains. In each domain there are several cysteines that are linked by disulfide bonds. Reduction of a limited number of the cystines destabilizes the protein such that it precipitates. The bond or bonds that are broken provide about 14 kcal of stabilization energy. Circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering indicate that there is probably an intermediate that is formed prior to precipitation and that the intermediate is somewhat larger than the compact form of plasminogen.

Canine Plasminogen: Spectral Responses to Changes in 6-Aminohexanoate and Temperature

We studied the near UV absorption spectrum of canine plasminogen. There are 19 tryptophans, 19 phenylalanines and 34 tyrosines in the protein. 4th derivative spectra optimized for either tryptophan or tyrosine give a measure of the polarity of the environments of these two aromatic amino acids. Plasminogen at temperatures between 0°C and 37°C exists as a mixture of four conformations: closed-relaxed, open-relaxed, closed-compact, and open-compact. The closed to open transition is driven by addition of ligand to a site on the protein. The relaxed to compact transition is driven by increasing temperature from 0°C to above 15-20°C.

When the conformation of plasminogen is mainly closed-relaxed, the 4th derivative spectra suggest that the average tryptophan environment is similar to a solution of 20% methanol at the same temperature. Under the same conditions, 4th derivative spectra suggest that the average tyrosine environment is similar to water. These apparent polarities change as the plasminogen is forced to assume the other conformations. We try to rationalize the information based on the known portions of the plasminogen structure.

Influence of temperature on the conformation of canine plasminogen: an analytical ultracentrifugation and dynamic light scattering study

Plasminogen is known to undergo an extremely large conformational change when it binds ligands; the two well-established conformations are either closed (absence of external ligand) or open (presence of external ligand). We show here that plasminogen is more complicated than can be accommodated by a two-state, closed/open, model. Temperature changes induce large structural changes which can be detected with either dynamic light scattering or analytical ultracentrifugation. The temperature-induced changes are not related to the classical closed/open conformational change since both closed and open forms of the protein are similarly influenced. It appears as though the packing density of the protein increases as the temperature is raised. Over the range 4-20 degrees C, the Stokes' radius of the classical closed plasminogen goes from 4.7 to 4.2 nm, and that of the classical open form goes from 5.55 to 5.0 nm. These changes in packing can be rationalized if temperature change induces a large conformational change and if this is accompanied by a large change in hydration, by a change in solute binding, or by a change in the total void volume of the protein.

Identification of sequences in apolipoprotein(a) that maintain its closed conformation: a novel role for apo(a) isoform size in determining the efficiency of covalent Lp(a) formation

We have previously demonstrated that, in the presence of the lysine analogue epsilon-aminocaproic acid, apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] undergoes a conformational change from a closed to an open structure that is characterized by a change in tryptophan fluorescence, an increase in the radius of gyration, an alteration of domain stability, and an enhancement in the efficiency of covalent lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] formation. In the present study, to identify sequences within apo(a) that maintain its closed conformation, we used epsilon-aminocaproic acid to probe the conformational status of a variety of recombinant apo(a) isoforms using analytical ultracentrifugation, differential scanning calorimetry, intrinsic fluorescence, and in vitro covalent Lp(a) formation assays. We observed that the closed conformation of apo(a) is maintained by intramolecular interaction(s) between sequences within the amino- and carboxyl-terminal halves of the molecule. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified the strong lysine-binding site present within apo(a) kringle IV type 10 as an important site within the C-terminal half of the molecule, which is involved in maintaining the closed conformation of apo(a). Apo(a) exhibits marked isoform size heterogeneity because of the presence of varying numbers of copies of the kringle IV type-2 domain located within the amino-terminal half of the molecule. Using recombinant apo(a) species containing either 1, 3, or 8 copies of kringle IV type 2, we observed that, while apo(a) isoform size does not alter the affinity of apo(a) for low-density lipoprotein, it affects the conformational status of the protein and therefore influences the efficiency of covalent Lp(a) assembly. The inverse relationship between apo(a) isoform size and the efficiency of covalent Lp(a) formation that we report in vitro may contribute to the inverse relationship between apo(a) isoform size and plasma Lp(a) concentrations that has been observed in vivo.

The fate of the prion protein in the prion/plasminogen complex

The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) forms complexes with plasminogen. Here, we show that the PrP(c) in this complex is cleaved to yield fragments of PrP(c). The cleavage is accelerated by plasmin but does not appear to be dependent on it.

A ligand-induced conformational change in apolipoprotein(a) enhances covalent Lp(a) formation

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) assembly proceeds via a two-step mechanism in which initial non-covalent interactions between apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and low density lipoprotein precede disulfide bond formation. In this study, we used analytical ultracentrifugation, differential scanning calorimetry, and intrinsic fluorescence to demonstrate that in the presence of the lysine analog epsilon-aminocaproic acid, apo(a) undergoes a substantial conformational change from a "closed" to an "open" structure that is characterized by an increase in the hydrodynamic radius (approximately 10%), an alteration in domain stability, as well as a decrease in tryptophan fluorescence. Although epsilon-aminocaproic acid is a well characterized inhibitor of the non-covalent interaction between apo(a) and low density lipoprotein, we report the novel observation that this ligand at low concentrations (100 microm-1 mm) significantly enhances covalent Lp(a) assembly by altering the conformation of apo(a). We developed a model for the kinetics of Lp(a) assembly that incorporates the conformational change as a determinant of the efficiency of the process; this model quantitatively explains our experimental observations. Interestingly, an analogous conformational change has been previously described for plasminogen resulting in an increase in the hydrodynamic radius, an increase in tryptophan fluorescence, and an acceleration of the rate of plasminogen activation. Although the functions of apo(a) and plasminogen have diverged considerably, elements of structural and conformational homology have been retained leading to similar regulation of two unrelated biological processes.

Reaction of canine plasminogen with 6-aminohexanoate: a thermodynamic study combining fluorescence, circular dichroism, and isothermal titration calorimetry

The thermodynamics of the binding of 6-aminohexanoate (6-AH) to dog glu-plasminogen has been studied. Fluorescence titrations revealed four binding sites. Three yielded positive fluorescence changes on ligand binding; one yielded a negative fluorescence change. The fluorescence data gave no indication of cooperative interactions. Binding was studied using circular dichroism (CD). Near 295 nm there were small changes associated with binding ligand. These were magnified at 235 nm, a wavelength that is mainly associated with tryptophan bands. The dissociation constants obtained from the fluorescence were applied to the CD data and fit quite well. Below 220 nm, there were no significant differences between samples with or without 6-AH and, therefore, no substantial change in the secondary structure of the protein. Isothermal titration calorimetry was used in combination with the binding constants from fluorescence to study the enthalpy and entropy contributions to 6-AH binding. The enthalpies of association for the four sites are all negative. Their absolute values are small for the tight sites and large for the weakest. -TDeltaS is negative for the tight sites and positive for the weakest. The binding of 6-AH to plasminogen is entropically driven for the two tightest sites and enthalpically driven for the weakest site. The binding of 6-AH to lys-plasminogen has been studied and differs slightly from binding to glu-plasminogen. Most importantly, the binding of 6-AH for the weak site goes from enthalpy- to entropy-driven as is found with the other sites.