1
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Freedman H, Tuszynski JA. Study of the Myosin Relay Helix Peptide by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Pump-Probe and 2D Infrared Spectroscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6406. [PMID: 38928112 PMCID: PMC11203622 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Davydov model was conjectured to describe how an amide I excitation created during ATP hydrolysis in myosin might be significant in providing energy to drive myosin's chemomechanical cycle. The free energy surfaces of the myosin relay helix peptide dissolved in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), determined by metadynamics simulations, demonstrate local minima differing in free energy by only ~2 kT, corresponding to broken and stabilized hydrogen bonds, respectively. Experimental pump-probe and 2D infrared spectroscopy were performed on the peptide dissolved in TFE. The relative heights of two peaks seen in the pump-probe data and the corresponding relative volumes of diagonal peaks seen in the 2D-IR spectra at time delays between 0.5 ps and 1 ps differ noticeably from what is seen at earlier or later time delays or in the linear spectrum, indicating that a vibrational excitation may influence the conformational state of this helix. Thus, it is possible that the presence of an amide I excitation may be a direct factor in the conformational state taken on by the myosin relay helix following ATP hydrolysis in myosin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Freedman
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jack A. Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada;
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, I-1029 Turin, Italy
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
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2
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Just D, Palivec V, Bártová K, Bednárová L, Pazderková M, Císařová I, Martinez-Seara H, Jahn U. Foldamers controlled by functional triamino acids: structural investigation of α/γ-hybrid oligopeptides. Commun Chem 2024; 7:114. [PMID: 38796536 PMCID: PMC11128005 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01201-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptide-like foldamers controlled by normal amide backbone hydrogen bonding have been extensively studied, and their folding patterns largely rely on configurational and conformational constraints induced by the steric properties of backbone substituents at appropriate positions. In contrast, opportunities to influence peptide secondary structure by functional groups forming individual hydrogen bond networks have not received much attention. Here, peptide-like foldamers consisting of alternating α,β,γ-triamino acids 3-amino-4-(aminomethyl)-2-methylpyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (AAMP) and natural amino acids glycine and alanine are reported, which were obtained by solution phase peptide synthesis. They form ordered secondary structures, which are dominated by a three-dimensional bridged triazaspiranoid-like hydrogen bond network involving the non-backbone amino groups, the backbone amide hydrogen bonds, and the relative configuration of the α,β,γ-triamino and α-amino acid building blocks. This additional stabilization leads to folding in both nonpolar organic as well as in aqueous environments. The three-dimensional arrangement of the individual foldamers is supported by X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, chiroptical methods, and molecular dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Just
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Palivec
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Bártová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Bednárová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Pazderková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Císařová
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Hlavova 2030/8, 12843, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Hector Martinez-Seara
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Ullrich Jahn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo náměstí 2, 16610, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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3
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Hernández‐Sánchez I, Rindfleisch T, Alpers J, Dulle M, Garvey CJ, Knox‐Brown P, Miettinen MS, Nagy G, Pusterla JM, Rekas A, Shou K, Stadler AM, Walther D, Wolff M, Zuther E, Thalhammer A. Functional in vitro diversity of an intrinsically disordered plant protein during freeze-thawing is encoded by its structural plasticity. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4989. [PMID: 38659213 PMCID: PMC11043620 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4989] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play a central role in the tolerance of plants and other organisms to dehydration brought upon, for example, by freezing temperatures, high salt concentration, drought or desiccation, and many LEA proteins have been found to stabilize dehydration-sensitive cellular structures. Their conformational ensembles are highly sensitive to the environment, allowing them to undergo conformational changes and adopt ordered secondary and quaternary structures and to participate in formation of membraneless organelles. In an interdisciplinary approach, we discovered how the functional diversity of the Arabidopsis thaliana LEA protein COR15A found in vitro is encoded in its structural repertoire, with the stabilization of membranes being achieved at the level of secondary structure and the stabilization of enzymes accomplished by the formation of oligomeric complexes. We provide molecular details on intra- and inter-monomeric helix-helix interactions, demonstrate how oligomerization is driven by an α-helical molecular recognition feature (α-MoRF) and provide a rationale that the formation of noncanonical, loosely packed, right-handed coiled-coils might be a recurring theme for homo- and hetero-oligomerization of LEA proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzell Hernández‐Sánchez
- Max‐Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
- Present address:
Center for Desert Agriculture, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering DivisionKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Tobias Rindfleisch
- Max‐Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
- Physical BiochemistryUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of InformaticsUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Jessica Alpers
- Max‐Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
| | - Martin Dulle
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI‐8: Neutron Scattering and Biological Matter)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülichGermany
| | | | - Patrick Knox‐Brown
- Physical BiochemistryUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
- Present address:
Department of Discovery Pharmaceutical SciencesMerck & Co., Inc.South San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Markus S. Miettinen
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of InformaticsUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of Theory and Bio‐SystemsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdamGermany
| | - Gergely Nagy
- Neutron Scattering DivisionOak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeTennesseeUSA
| | - Julio M. Pusterla
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI‐8: Neutron Scattering and Biological Matter)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülichGermany
| | - Agata Rekas
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO)KirraweeNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Keyun Shou
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI‐8: Neutron Scattering and Biological Matter)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülichGermany
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO)KirraweeNew South WalesAustralia
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Andreas M. Stadler
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS‐1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI‐8: Neutron Scattering and Biological Matter)Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHJülichGermany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Dirk Walther
- Max‐Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
| | - Martin Wolff
- Physical BiochemistryUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Ellen Zuther
- Max‐Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyPotsdamGermany
- Present address:
Center of Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research (ZKI‐PH)Robert Koch InstituteBerlinGermany
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4
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Torres MDT, Cesaro A, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Peptides from non-immune proteins target infections through antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586636. [PMID: 38585860 PMCID: PMC10996515 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Encrypted peptides have been recently described as a new class of antimicrobial molecules. They have been proposed to play a role in host immunity and as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Intriguingly, many of these peptides are found embedded in proteins unrelated to the immune system, suggesting that immunological responses may extend beyond traditional host immunity proteins. To test this idea, here we synthesized and tested representative peptides derived from non-immune proteins for their ability to exert antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Our experiments revealed that most of the tested peptides from non-immune proteins, derived from structural proteins as well as proteins from the nervous and visual systems, displayed potent in vitro antimicrobial activity. These molecules killed bacterial pathogens by targeting their membrane, and those originating from the same region of the body exhibited synergistic effects when combined. Beyond their antimicrobial properties, nearly 90% of the peptides tested exhibited immunomodulatory effects, modulating inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. Moreover, eight of the peptides identified, collagenin 3 and 4, zipperin-1 and 2, and immunosin-2, 3, 12, and 13, displayed anti-infective efficacy in two different preclinical mouse models, reducing bacterial infections by up to four orders of magnitude. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that peptides from non-immune proteins may play a role in host immunity. These results potentially expand our notion of the immune system to include previously unrecognized proteins and peptides that may be activated upon infection to confer protection to the host.
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5
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Casoria M, Macchiagodena M, Rovero P, Andreini C, Papini AM, Cardini G, Pagliai M. Upgrading of the general AMBER force field 2 for fluorinated alcohol biosolvents: A validation for water solutions and melittin solvation. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3543. [PMID: 37734745 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The standard GAFF2 force field parameterization has been refined for the fluorinated alcohols 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-one (HFA), which are commonly used to study proteins and peptides in biomimetic media. The structural and dynamic properties of both proteins and peptides are significantly influenced by the biomimetic environment created by the presence of these cosolvents in aqueous solutions. Quantum mechanical calculations on stable conformers were used to parameterize the atomic charges. Different systems, such as pure liquids, aqueous solutions, and systems formed by melittin protein and cosolvent/water solutions, have been used to validate the new models. The calculated macroscopic and structural properties are in agreement with experimental findings, supporting the validity of the newly proposed models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Casoria
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Marina Macchiagodena
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paolo Rovero
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of NeuroFarBa, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Claudia Andreini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Papini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Unit of Peptide and Protein Chemistry and Biology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gianni Cardini
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Marco Pagliai
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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6
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Song Y, Wang J, Liu X, Yu S, Tang X, Tan H. LC-AMP-F1 Derived from the Venom of the Wolf Spider Lycosa coelestis, Exhibits Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:129. [PMID: 38276499 PMCID: PMC10818355 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010129] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in antimicrobial peptides as innovative antimicrobial agents for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections, particularly in the fields of biofilm control and eradication. In the present study, a novel cationic antimicrobial peptide, named LC-AMP-F1, was derived from the cDNA library of the Lycosa coelestis venom gland. The sequence, physicochemical properties and secondary structure of LC-AMP-F1 were predicted and studied. LC-AMP-F1 was tested for stability, cytotoxicity, drug resistance, antibacterial activity, and antibiofilm activity in vitro compared with melittin, a well-studied antimicrobial peptide. The findings indicated that LC-AMP-F1 exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of various bacteria, including five strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria commonly found in clinical settings. Additionally, LC-AMP-F1 demonstrated effective inhibition of biofilm formation and disruption of mature biofilms. Furthermore, LC-AMP-F1 exhibited favorable stability, minimal hemolytic activity, and low toxicity towards different types of eukaryotic cells. Also, it was found that the combination of LC-AMP-F1 with conventional antibiotics exhibited either synergistic or additive therapeutic benefits. Concerning the antibacterial mechanism, scanning electron microscopy and SYTOX Green staining results showed that LC-AMP-F1 increased cell membrane permeability and swiftly disrupted bacterial cell membranes to exert its antibacterial effects. In summary, the findings and studies facilitated the development and clinical application of novel antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Song
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Junyao Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Shengwei Yu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources in the Nanyue Mountainous Region, College of Life Sciences, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang 421002, China
| | - Huaxin Tan
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
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7
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Hilditch AT, Romanyuk A, Cross SJ, Obexer R, McManus JJ, Woolfson DN. Assembling membraneless organelles from de novo designed proteins. Nat Chem 2024; 16:89-97. [PMID: 37710047 PMCID: PMC10774119 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01321-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in de novo protein design have delivered a diversity of discrete de novo protein structures and complexes. A new challenge for the field is to use these designs directly in cells to intervene in biological processes and augment natural systems. The bottom-up design of self-assembled objects such as microcompartments and membraneless organelles is one such challenge. Here we describe the design of genetically encoded polypeptides that form membraneless organelles in Escherichia coli. To do this, we combine de novo α-helical sequences, intrinsically disordered linkers and client proteins in single-polypeptide constructs. We tailor the properties of the helical regions to shift protein assembly from arrested assemblies to dynamic condensates. The designs are characterized in cells and in vitro using biophysical methods and soft-matter physics. Finally, we use the designed polypeptide to co-compartmentalize a functional enzyme pair in E. coli, improving product formation close to the theoretical limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Hilditch
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andrey Romanyuk
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen J Cross
- Wolfson Bioimaging Facility, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Richard Obexer
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Jennifer J McManus
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, School of Physics, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Bristol BioDesign Institute, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Derek N Woolfson
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Bristol BioDesign Institute, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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8
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Li XH, Yu CWH, Gomez-Navarro N, Stancheva V, Zhu H, Murthy A, Wozny M, Malhotra K, Johnson CM, Blackledge M, Santhanam B, Liu W, Huang J, Freund SMV, Miller EA, Babu MM. Dynamic conformational changes of a tardigrade group-3 late embryogenesis abundant protein modulate membrane biophysical properties. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae006. [PMID: 38269070 PMCID: PMC10808001 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
A number of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) encoded in stress-tolerant organisms, such as tardigrade, can confer fitness advantage and abiotic stress tolerance when heterologously expressed. Tardigrade-specific disordered proteins including the cytosolic-abundant heat-soluble proteins are proposed to confer stress tolerance through vitrification or gelation, whereas evolutionarily conserved IDPs in tardigrades may contribute to stress tolerance through other biophysical mechanisms. In this study, we characterized the mechanism of action of an evolutionarily conserved, tardigrade IDP, HeLEA1, which belongs to the group-3 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein family. HeLEA1 homologs are found across different kingdoms of life. HeLEA1 is intrinsically disordered in solution but shows a propensity for helical structure across its entire sequence. HeLEA1 interacts with negatively charged membranes via dynamic disorder-to-helical transition, mainly driven by electrostatic interactions. Membrane interaction of HeLEA1 is shown to ameliorate excess surface tension and lipid packing defects. HeLEA1 localizes to the mitochondrial matrix when expressed in yeast and interacts with model membranes mimicking inner mitochondrial membrane. Yeast expressing HeLEA1 shows enhanced tolerance to hyperosmotic stress under nonfermentative growth and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. Evolutionary analysis suggests that although HeLEA1 homologs have diverged their sequences to localize to different subcellular organelles, all homologs maintain a weak hydrophobic moment that is characteristic of weak and reversible membrane interaction. We suggest that such dynamic and weak protein-membrane interaction buffering alterations in lipid packing could be a conserved strategy for regulating membrane properties and represent a general biophysical solution for stress tolerance across the domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Han Li
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Conny W H Yu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | | | - Hongni Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Andal Murthy
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Michael Wozny
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Ketan Malhotra
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Martin Blackledge
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Balaji Santhanam
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
- Department of Structural Biology, Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jinqing Huang
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - M Madan Babu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
- Department of Structural Biology, Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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9
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Tolmachev DA, Malkamäki M, Linder MB, Sammalkorpi M. Spidroins under the Influence of Alcohol: Effect of Ethanol on Secondary Structure and Molecular Level Solvation of Silk-Like Proteins. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5638-5653. [PMID: 38019577 PMCID: PMC10716855 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00637] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Future sustainable materials based on designer biomolecules require control of the solution assembly, but also interfacial interactions. Alcohol treatments of protein materials are an accessible means to this, making understanding of the process at the molecular level of seminal importance. We focus here on the influence of ethanol on spidroins, the main proteins of silk. By large-scale atomistically detailed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and interconnected experiments, we characterize the protein aggregation, secondary structure changes, molecular level origins of them, and solvation environment changes for the proteins, as induced by ethanol as a solvation additive. The MD and circular dichoroism (CD) findings jointly show that ethanol promotes ordered structure in the protein molecules, leading to an increase of helix content and turns but also increased aggregation, as revealed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and light microscopy. The structural changes correlate at the molecular level with increased intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The simulations reveal that polar amino acids, such as glutamine and serine, are most influenced by ethanol, whereas glycine residues are most prone to be involved in the ethanol-induced secondary structure changes. Furthermore, ethanol engages in interactions with the hydrophobic alanine-rich regions of the spidroin, significantly decreasing the hydrophobic interactions of the protein with itself and its surroundings. The protein solutes also change the microstructure of water/ethanol mixtures, essentially decreasing the level of larger local clustering. Overall, the work presents a systematic characterization of ethanol effects on a widely used, common protein type, spidroins, and generalizes the findings to other intrinsically disordered proteins by pinpointing the general features of the response. The results can aid in designing effective alcohol treatments for proteins, but also enable design and tuning of protein material properties by a relatively controllable solvation handle, the addition of ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A. Tolmachev
- Department
of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto
University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maaria Malkamäki
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Markus B. Linder
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department
of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto
University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy
of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials
(LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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10
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Hossain M, Huda N, Bhuyan AK. A three-state mechanism for trifluoroethanol denaturation of an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP). J Biochem 2023; 174:519-531. [PMID: 37709541 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Relating the amino acid composition and sequence to chain folding and binding preferences of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) has emerged as a huge challenge. While globular proteins have respective 3D structures that are unique to their individual functions, IDPs violate this structure-function paradigm because rather than having a well-defined structure an ensemble of rapidly interconverting disordered structures characterize an IDP. This work measures 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)-induced equilibrium transitions of an IDP called AtPP16-1 (Arabidopsis thaliana phloem protein type 16-1) by using fluorescence, circular dichroism, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods at pH 4, 298 K. Low TFE reversibly removes the tertiary structure to produce an ensemble of obligate intermediate ($\mathrm{I}$) retaining the native-state ($\mathrm{N}$) secondary structure. The intermediate $\mathrm{I}$ is preceded by a non-obligate tryptophan-specific intermediate ${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{w}}$ whose population is detectable for AtPP16-1 specifically. Accumulation of such non-obligate intermediates is discriminated according to the sequence composition of the protein. In all cases, however, a tertiary structure-unfolded general obligate intermediate $\mathrm{I}$ is indispensable. The $\mathrm{I}$ ensemble has higher helical propensity conducive to the acquisition of an exceedingly large level of α-helices by a reversible denaturation transition of $\mathrm{I}$ to the denatured state $\mathrm{D}$ as the TFE level is increased. Strikingly, it is the same $\mathrm{N}\rightleftharpoons \mathrm{I}\rightleftharpoons \mathrm{D}$ scheme typifying the TFE transitions of globular proteins. The high-energy state $\mathrm{I}$ characterized by increased helical propensity is called a universal intermediate encountered in both genera of globular and disordered proteins. Neither $\mathrm{I}$ nor $\mathrm{D}$ strictly show molten globule (MG)-like properties, dismissing the belief that TFE promotes MGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujahid Hossain
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Noorul Huda
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Abani K Bhuyan
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
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11
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Pan H, Raab SA, El-Baba TJ, Schrecke SR, Laganowsky A, Russell DH, Clemmer DE. Variation of CI-2 Conformers upon Addition of Methanol to Water: An IMS-MS-Based Thermodynamic Analysis. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:9399-9408. [PMID: 37934510 PMCID: PMC11212803 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c03651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI-2) is a well-studied, textbook example of a cooperative, two-state, native ↔ denatured folding transition. A recent hybrid ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)/mass spectrometry (MS) thermal denaturation study of CI-2 (the well-studied truncated 64-residue model) in water reported evidence that this two-state transition involves numerous (∼41) unique native and non-native (denatured) solution conformations. The characterization of so many, often low-abundance, states is possible because of the very high dynamic range of IMS-MS measurements of ionic species that are produced upon electrospraying CI-2 solutions from a variable temperature electrospray ionization source. A thermodynamic analysis of these states revealed large changes in enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) at different temperatures, and it was suggested that such variation might arise because of temperature-dependent conformational changes of the protein in response to changes in the conformational entropy and the dielectric permeability of water, which drops from a value of ε ∼ 79 at 24 °C to ∼ 60 at 82 °C. Herein, we examine how adding methanol to water influences the distributions of CI-2 conformers and their ensuing stabilities. The dielectric constant of a 60:40 water:methanol (MeOH) drops from ε ∼ 60 at 24 °C to ∼ 51 at 64 °C. Although the same set of conformers observed in water appears to be present in 60:40 water:MeOH, the abundance of each is substantially altered by the presence of methanol. Relative free energy values (ΔG) and thermodynamic values [ΔH and ΔS and heat capacities (ΔCp)] are derived from a Gibbs-Helmholtz analysis. A comparison of these data from water and water:MeOH systems allows rare insight into how variations in solvation and temperature affect many-state protein equilibria. While these studies confirm that variations in solvent dielectric constant with temperature affect the distributions of conformers that are observed, our findings suggest that other solvent differences may also affect abundances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Pan
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
| | - Shannon A Raab
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
| | - Tarick J El-Baba
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
| | - Samantha R Schrecke
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Arthur Laganowsky
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - David H Russell
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - David E Clemmer
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, United States
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12
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Garfagnini T, Bemporad F, Harries D, Chiti F, Friedler A. Amyloid Aggregation Is Potently Slowed Down by Osmolytes Due to Compaction of Partially Folded State. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168281. [PMID: 37734431 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168281] [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: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation is a key process in amyloidoses and neurodegenerative diseases. Hydrophobicity is one of the major driving forces for this type of aggregation, as an increase in hydrophobicity generally correlates with aggregation susceptibility and rate. However, most experimental systems in vitro and prediction tools in silico neglect the contribution of protective osmolytes present in the cellular environment. Here, we assessed the role of hydrophobic mutations in amyloid aggregation in the presence of osmolytes. To achieve this goal, we used the model protein human muscle acylphosphatase (mAcP) and mutations to leucine that increased its hydrophobicity without affecting its thermodynamic stability. Osmolytes significantly slowed down the aggregation kinetics of the hydrophobic mutants, with an effect larger than that observed on the wild-type protein. The effect increased as the mutation site was closer to the middle of the protein sequence. We propose that the preferential exclusion of osmolytes from mutation-introduced hydrophobic side-chains quenches the aggregation potential of the ensemble of partially unfolded states of the protein by inducing its compaction and inhibiting its self-assembly with other proteins. Our results suggest that including the effect of the cellular environment in experimental setups and predictive softwares, for both mechanistic studies and drug design, is essential in order to obtain a more complete combination of the driving forces of amyloid aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Garfagnini
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Daniel Harries
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; The Fritz Haber Research Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Assaf Friedler
- Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
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13
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Rajan V, Prykhozhij SV, Pandey A, Cohen AM, Rainey JK, Berman JN. KIT D816V is dimerization-independent and activates downstream pathways frequently perturbed in mastocytosis. Br J Haematol 2023; 202:960-970. [PMID: 35245395 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18116] [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: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
KIT, a type III tyrosine kinase receptor, plays a crucial role in haematopoietic development. The KIT receptor forms a dimer after ligand binding; this activates tyrosine kinase activity leading to downstream signal transduction. The D816V KIT mutation is extensively implicated in haematological malignancies, including mastocytosis and leukaemia. KIT D816V is constitutively active, but the molecular nuances that lead to constitutive tyrosine kinase activity are unclear. For the first time, we present experimental evidence that the KIT D816V mutant does not dimerize like KIT wild type. We further show evidence of decreased stabilization of the tyrosine kinase domain in the KIT D816V mutant, a phenomenon that might contribute to its constitutive activity. Since the mechanism of KIT D816V activation varies from that of the wild type, we explored downstream signal transduction events and found that even though KIT D816V targets similar signalling moieties, the signalling is amplified in the mutant compared to stem cell factor-activated wild type receptor. Uniquely, KIT D816V induces infection-related pathways and the spliceosome pathway, providing alternate options for selective as well as combinatorial therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinothkumar Rajan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sergey V Prykhozhij
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Aditya Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Alejandro M Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jan K Rainey
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jason N Berman
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Vignesh R, Aradhyam GK. Calnuc-derived nesfatin-1-like peptide is an activator of tumor cell proliferation and migration. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2288-2300. [PMID: 37539786 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Calnuc (nucleobindin-1, nucb1) is a Ca2+ -binding protein involved in the etiology of many human diseases. To understand the functions of calnuc, we have identified a nesfatin-1-like peptide (NLP) in its N terminus that is proteolyzed by a convertase enzyme in the secretory granules of cells. Mutational studies confirm the presence of a proteolytic cleavage site for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1). We demonstrate that NLP regulates Gαq-mediated intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, likely via a G-protein-coupled receptor. NLP treatment to carcinoma cell lines (SCC131 cells) promotes the expression of regulators of cell cycle, proliferation, and clonogenicity by the AKT/mTOR pathway. NLP is causative of augmented migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), illustrating its metastatic propensity and establishing its tumor promotion ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravichandran Vignesh
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gopala Krishna Aradhyam
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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15
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Biswas S, Kaur S, Myers CA, Chen AA, Welch JT. Aggregation in Aqueous Solutions of 2-(Tetrafluoro(trifluoromethyl)-λ 6-sulfanyl-ethan-1-ol (CF 3SF 4-ethanol)): A Comparison with Aqueous Trifluoroethanol and Hexafluoroisopropanol Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Dynamic Light Scattering Experiments. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:30037-30047. [PMID: 37636933 PMCID: PMC10448670 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
2-Tetrafluoro(trifluoromethyl)-λ6-sulfanylethan-1-ol (CF3SF4-ethanol) combines the polar hydrophobicity of tetrafluoro(trifluoromethyl)-λ6-sulfanyl (CF3SF4) group with the polarity of simple alcohols. The properties of aqueous solutions of the well-known fluorinated alcohols 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) were compared with those of aqueous solutions of the novel CF3SF4-ethanol. Those properties were computed using all atom molecular dynamics simulations with OPLS-compatible parameters. DFT ab initio calculations were used to accurately describe the nonsymmetrical, hypervalent sulfur in CF3SF4-ethanol. Although the molecular and conformational characteristics of CF3SF4-ethanol are like those of both TFE and HFIP, the greater hydrophobicity and lower polarity of CF3SF4-ethanol resulted in solution phase aggregation at a much lower concentration. The properties computed for TFE and HFIP in this work were consistent with published computational and experimental studies. CF3SF4-ethanol is predicted to be environmentally benign and hence an excellent green solvent candidate while possessing many of the same properties as TFE or HFIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samadrita Biswas
- Department
of Chemistry, University at Albany, State
University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Simi Kaur
- Department
of Chemistry, University at Albany, State
University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
- RNA
Institute, University at Albany, State University
of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Christopher A. Myers
- RNA
Institute, University at Albany, State University
of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
- Department
of Physics, University at Albany, State
University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - Alan A. Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, University at Albany, State
University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
- RNA
Institute, University at Albany, State University
of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
| | - John T. Welch
- Department
of Chemistry, University at Albany, State
University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, New York 12222, United States
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16
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Boaro A, Ageitos L, Torres MDT, Blasco EB, Oztekin S, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Structure-function-guided design of synthetic peptides with anti-infective activity derived from wasp venom. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2023; 4:101459. [PMID: 38239869 PMCID: PMC10795512 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from natural toxins and venoms offer a promising alternative source of antibiotics. Here, through structure-function-guided design, we convert two natural AMPs derived from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes micado into α-helical AMPs with reduced toxicity that kill Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in a preclinical mouse model. To identify the sequence determinants conferring antimicrobial activity, an alanine scan screen and strategic single lysine substitutions are made to the amino acid sequence of these natural peptides. These efforts yield a total of 34 synthetic derivatives, including alanine substituted and lysine-substituted sequences with stabilized α-helical structures and increased net positive charge. The resulting lead synthetic peptides kill the Gram-negative pathogens Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1 and PA14) by rapidly permeabilizing both their outer and cytoplasmic membranes, exhibit anti-infective efficacy in a mouse model by reducing bacterial loads by up to three orders of magnitude, and do not readily select for bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Boaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Lucía Ageitos
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: CICA - Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Departamento de Química, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Esther Broset Blasco
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sebahat Oztekin
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Bayburt University, Bayburt 69000, Turkey
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Lead contact
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17
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Plut E, Calderón JC, Stanojlović V, Gattor AO, Höring C, Humphrys LJ, Konieczny A, Kerres S, Schubert M, Keller M, Cabrele C, Clark T, Reiser O. Stereochemistry-Driven Interactions of α,γ-Peptide Ligands with the Neuropeptide Y Y 4-Receptor. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37440703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The G-protein-coupled Y4-receptor (Y4R) and its endogenous ligand, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), suppress appetite in response to food intake and, thus, are attractive drug targets for body-weight control. The C-terminus of human PP (hPP), T32-R33-P34-R35-Y36-NH2, penetrates deep into the binding pocket with its tyrosine-amide and di-arginine motif. Here, we present two C-terminally amidated α,γ-hexapeptides (1a/b) with sequence Ac-R31-γ-CBAA32-R33-L34-R35-Y36-NH2, where γ-CBAA is the (1R,2S,3R)-configured 2-(aminomethyl)-3-phenylcyclobutanecarboxyl moiety (1a) or its mirror image (1b). Both peptides bind the Y4R (Ki of 1a/b: 0.66/12 nM) and act as partial agonists (intrinsic activity of 1a/b: 50/39%). Their induced-fit binding poses in the Y4R pocket are unique and build ligand-receptor contacts distinct from those of the C-terminus of the endogenous ligand hPP. We conclude that energetically favorable interactions, although they do not match those of the native ligand hPP, still guarantee high binding affinity (with 1a rivaling hPP) but not the maximum receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Plut
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jacqueline C Calderón
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Computer-Chemistry-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vesna Stanojlović
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Albert O Gattor
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Carina Höring
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Laura J Humphrys
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Adam Konieczny
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Kerres
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mario Schubert
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Max Keller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Cabrele
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Timothy Clark
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Computer-Chemistry-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Reiser
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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18
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Lawanprasert A, Sloand JN, Vargas MG, Singh H, Eldor T, Miller MA, Pimcharoen S, Wang J, Leighow SM, Pritchard JR, Dokholyan NV, Medina SH. Deciphering the Mechanistic Basis for Perfluoroalkyl-Protein Interactions. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300159. [PMID: 36943393 PMCID: PMC10364144 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300159] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Although rarely used in nature, fluorine has emerged as an important elemental ingredient in the design of proteins with altered folding, stability, oligomerization propensities, and bioactivity. Adding to the molecular modification toolbox, here we report the ability of privileged perfluorinated amphiphiles to noncovalently decorate proteins to alter their conformational plasticity and potentiate their dispersion into fluorous phases. Employing a complementary suite of biophysical, in-silico and in-vitro approaches, we establish structure-activity relationships defining these phenomena and investigate their impact on protein structural dynamics and intracellular trafficking. Notably, we show that the lead compound, perfluorononanoic acid, is 106 times more potent in inducing non-native protein secondary structure in select proteins than is the well-known helix inducer trifluoroethanol, and also significantly enhances the cellular uptake of complexed proteins. These findings could advance the rational design of fluorinated proteins, inform on potential modes of toxicity for perfluoroalkyl substances, and guide the development of fluorine-modified biologics with desirable functional properties for drug discovery and delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atip Lawanprasert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Janna N. Sloand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Mariangely González Vargas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00682
| | - Harminder Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Tomer Eldor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Michael A. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Sopida Pimcharoen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA, 17033
| | - Scott M. Leighow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Justin R. Pritchard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA, 17033
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA, 17033
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
| | - Scott H. Medina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, 16802
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19
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Iitani K, Mori H, Ichikawa K, Toma K, Arakawa T, Iwasaki Y, Mitsubayashi K. Gas-Phase Biosensors (Bio-Sniffers) for Measurement of 2-Nonenal, the Causative Volatile Molecule of Human Aging-Related Body Odor. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:5857. [PMID: 37447706 DOI: 10.3390/s23135857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The molecule 2-nonenal is renowned as the origin of unpleasant human aging-related body odor that can potentially indicate age-related metabolic changes. Most 2-nonenal measurements rely on chromatographic analytical systems, which pose challenges in terms of daily usage and the ability to track changes in concentration over time. In this study, we have developed liquid- and gas-phase biosensors (bio-sniffers) with the aim of enabling facile and continuous measurement of trans-2-nonenal vapor. Initially, we compared two types of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) [NAD(P)]-dependent enzymes that have the catalytic ability of trans-2-nonenal: aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and enone reductase 1 (ER1). The developed sensor quantified the trans-2-nonanal concentration by measuring fluorescence (excitation: 340 nm, emission: 490 nm) emitted from NAD(P)H that was generated or consumed by ALDH or ER1. The ALDH biosensor reacted to a variety of aldehydes including trans-2-nonenal, whereas the ER1 biosensor showed high selectivity. In contrast, the ALDH bio-sniffer showed quantitative characteristics for trans-2-nonenal vapor at a concentration range of 0.4-7.5 ppm (with a theoretical limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.23 and 0.26 ppm, respectively), including a reported concentration (0.85-4.35 ppm), whereas the ER1 bio-sniffer detected only 0.4 and 0.8 ppm. Based on these findings, headspace gas of skin-wiped alcohol-absorbed cotton collected from study participants in their 20s and 50s was measured by the ALDH bio-sniffer. Consequently, age-related differences in signals were observed, suggesting the potential for measuring trans-2-nonenal vapor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Iitani
- Department of Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Hidehisa Mori
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kenta Ichikawa
- Department of Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Koji Toma
- Department of Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
- Department of Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo 135-8548, Japan
| | - Takahiro Arakawa
- Department of Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
- Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering, Tokyo University of Technology, Tokyo 192-0982, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Iwasaki
- Faculty of Chemistry, Materials and Bioengineering, Kansai University, Osaka 564-8680, Japan
| | - Kohji Mitsubayashi
- Department of Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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20
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Webb KR, Hess KA, Shmidt A, Segner KD, Buchanan LE. Probing local changes to α-helical structures with 2D IR spectroscopy and isotope labeling. Biophys J 2023; 122:1491-1502. [PMID: 36906800 PMCID: PMC10147839 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.03.014] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Helical secondary structures impart specific mechanical and physiochemical properties to peptides and proteins, enabling them to perform a vast array of molecular tasks ranging from membrane insertion to molecular allostery. Loss of α-helical content in specific regions can inhibit native protein function or induce new, potentially toxic, biological activities. Thus, identifying specific residues that exhibit loss or gain of helicity is critical for understanding the molecular basis of function. Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy coupled with isotope labeling is capable of capturing detailed structural changes in polypeptides. Yet, questions remain regarding the inherent sensitivity of isotope-labeled modes to local changes in α-helicity, such as terminal fraying; the origin of spectral shifts (hydrogen-bonding versus vibrational coupling); and the ability to definitively detect coupled isotopic signals in the presence of overlapping side chains. Here, we address each of these points individually by characterizing a short, model α-helix (DPAEAAKAAAGR-NH2) with 2D IR and isotope labeling. These results demonstrate that pairs of 13C18O probes placed three residues apart can detect subtle structural changes and variations along the length of the model peptide as the α-helicity is systematically tuned. Comparison of singly and doubly labeled peptides affirm that frequency shifts arise primarily from hydrogen-bonding, while vibrational coupling between paired isotopes leads to increased peak areas that can be clearly differentiated from underlying side-chain modes or uncoupled isotope labels not participating in helical structures. These results demonstrate that 2D IR in tandem with i,i+3 isotope-labeling schemes can capture residue-specific molecular interactions within a single turn of an α-helix.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kayla Anne Hess
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Alisa Shmidt
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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21
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Zhao H, Wu D, Hassan SA, Nguyen A, Chen J, Piszczek G, Schuck P. A conserved oligomerization domain in the disordered linker of coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg6473. [PMID: 37018390 PMCID: PMC10075959 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg6473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N-)protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a key role in viral assembly and scaffolding of the viral RNA. It promotes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming dense droplets that support the assembly of ribonucleoprotein particles with as-of-yet unknown macromolecular architecture. Combining biophysical experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and analysis of the mutational landscape, we describe a heretofore unknown oligomerization site that contributes to LLPS, is required for the assembly of higher-order protein-nucleic acid complexes, and is coupled to large-scale conformational changes of N-protein upon nucleic acid binding. The self-association interface is located in a leucine-rich sequence of the intrinsically disordered linker between N-protein folded domains and formed by transient helices assembling into trimeric coiled-coils. Critical residues stabilizing hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between adjacent helices are highly protected against mutations in viable SARS-CoV-2 genomes, and the oligomerization motif is conserved across related coronaviruses, thus presenting a target for antiviral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sergio A. Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiji Chen
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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22
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Zschau RL, Zacharias M. Mechanism of β-hairpin formation in AzoChignolin and Chignolin. J Comput Chem 2023; 44:988-1001. [PMID: 36575994 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AzoChignolin is a photoswitchable variant of the mini-protein Chignolin with an azobenzene (AMPP) replacing the central loop. AzoChignolin is unfolded with AMPP in the trans-isomer. Transition to the cis-isomer causes β-hairpin folding similar to Chignolin. The AzoChignolin system is excellently suited for comprehensive analysis of folding nucleation kinetics. Utilizing multiple long-time MD simulations of AzoChignolin and Chignolin in MeOH and water, we estimated Markov models to examine folding kinetics of both peptides. We show that while AzoChignolin mimics Chignolin's structure well, the folding kinetics are quite different. Not only folding times but also intermediate states differ, particularly Chignolin is able to fold in MeOH into an α-helical intermediate which is impossible to form in AzoChignolin. The Markov models demonstrate that AzoChignolin's kinetics are generally faster, specifically when comparing the two main microfolding processes of hydrophobic collapse and turn formation. Photoswitchable loops are used frequently to understand the kinetics of elementary protein folding nucleation. However, our results indicate that intermediates and folding kinetics may differ between natural loops and photoswitchable variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Zschau
- Physics Department and Center of Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Physics Department and Center of Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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23
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Andreadis M, Moschakis T. Formation of thermo-reversible gels from whey proteins after combined thermal and ethanol pretreatment. Food Hydrocoll 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
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24
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Motov VV, Kot EF, Shabalkina AV, Goncharuk SA, Arseniev AS, Goncharuk MV, Mineev KS. Investigation of lipid/protein interactions in trifluoroethanol-water mixtures proposes the strategy for the refolding of helical transmembrane domains. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2023; 77:15-24. [PMID: 36451032 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-022-00408-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are one of the keystone objects in molecular biology, but their structural studies often require an extensive search for an appropriate membrane-like environment and an efficient refolding protocol for a recombinant protein. Isotropic bicelles are a convenient membrane mimetic used in structural studies of membrane proteins. Helical membrane domains are often transferred into bicelles from trifluoroethanol-water mixtures. However, the protocols for such a refolding are empirical and the process itself is still not understood in detail. In search of the optimal refolding approaches for helical membrane proteins, we studied here how membrane proteins, lipids, and detergents interact with each other at various trifluoroethanol-water ratios. Using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, we determined the key states of the listed compounds in the trifluoroethanol/water mixture, found the factors that could be critical for the efficiency of refolding, and proposed several most optimal protocols. These protocols were developed on the transmembrane domain of neurotrophin receptor TrkA and tested on two model helical membrane domains-transmembrane of Toll-like receptor TLR9 and voltage-sensing domain of a potassium channel KvAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav V Motov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Erik F Kot
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997.
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.
| | - Alexandra V Shabalkina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Sergey A Goncharuk
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Alexander S Arseniev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
| | - Marina V Goncharuk
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
| | - Konstantin S Mineev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, Moscow, Russian Federation, 117997
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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25
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Makarov M, Sanchez Rocha AC, Krystufek R, Cherepashuk I, Dzmitruk V, Charnavets T, Faustino AM, Lebl M, Fujishima K, Fried SD, Hlouchova K. Early Selection of the Amino Acid Alphabet Was Adaptively Shaped by Biophysical Constraints of Foldability. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:5320-5329. [PMID: 36826345 PMCID: PMC10017022 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Whereas modern proteins rely on a quasi-universal repertoire of 20 canonical amino acids (AAs), numerous lines of evidence suggest that ancient proteins relied on a limited alphabet of 10 "early" AAs and that the 10 "late" AAs were products of biosynthetic pathways. However, many nonproteinogenic AAs were also prebiotically available, which begs two fundamental questions: Why do we have the current modern amino acid alphabet and would proteins be able to fold into globular structures as well if different amino acids comprised the genetic code? Here, we experimentally evaluate the solubility and secondary structure propensities of several prebiotically relevant amino acids in the context of synthetic combinatorial 25-mer peptide libraries. The most prebiotically abundant linear aliphatic and basic residues were incorporated along with or in place of other early amino acids to explore these alternative sequence spaces. The results show that foldability was likely a critical factor in the selection of the canonical alphabet. Unbranched aliphatic amino acids were purged from the proteinogenic alphabet despite their high prebiotic abundance because they generate polypeptides that are oversolubilized and have low packing efficiency. Surprisingly, we find that the inclusion of a short-chain basic amino acid also decreases polypeptides' secondary structure potential, for which we suggest a biophysical model. Our results support the view that, despite lacking basic residues, the early canonical alphabet was remarkably adaptive at supporting protein folding and explain why basic residues were only incorporated at a later stage of protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Makarov
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Alma C Sanchez Rocha
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Robin Krystufek
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 12843, Czech Republic.,Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Cherepashuk
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Prague 12843, Czech Republic
| | - Volha Dzmitruk
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Vestec 25250, Czech Republic
| | - Tatsiana Charnavets
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Vestec 25250, Czech Republic
| | - Anneliese M Faustino
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Michal Lebl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Kosuke Fujishima
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 1528550, Japan.,Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa 2520882, Japan
| | - Stephen D Fried
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Klara Hlouchova
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Prague 12843, Czech Republic.,Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 16610, Czech Republic
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26
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Mini-αA-Crystallin Stifled Melittin-Induced Haemolysis and Lymphocyte Lysis. Int J Pept Res Ther 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-023-10502-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractMelittin, the most potent pharmacological ingredient of honey bee venom, induces haemolysis, lymphocyte lysis, long-term pain, localised inflammation, and hyperalgesia. In this study, efforts were made to subdue the melittin’s ill effects using a chaperone peptide called ‘mini-αA-crystallin’ (MAC) derived from eye lens αA-crystallin. Haemolytic test on human red blood cells, percentage viability, and DNA diffusion assay on Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) were performed with melittin in the presence or absence of MAC. Propidium iodide and Annexin V-FITC dual staining were performed to analyse quantitative levels of necrotic and apoptotic induction by melittin in the presence or absence of MAC on HPBLs using a flow cytometer. A computational study to find out the interactions between MAC and melittin was undertaken by modelling the structure of MAC using a PEP-FOLD server. The result showed that MAC inhibited melittin-induced lysis in nucleated (lymphocytes) and enucleated (RBC) cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a substantial increase in the necrotic and late apoptotic cells after treating HPBLs with melittin (4 µg/ml) for 24 h. Treatment with MAC at a 2:1 molar ratio prevented HPBLs from developing melittin-induced necrosis and late apoptosis. In the docking study, hydrogen, van der Waals, π-π stacking, and salt bridges were observed between the MAC and melittin complex, confirming a strong interaction between them. The MAC-melittin complex was stable during molecular dynamics simulation. These findings may be beneficial in developing a medication for treating severe cases of honeybee stings.
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27
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Starkova TY, Polyanichko AM, Artamonova TO, Tsimokha AS, Tomilin AN, Chikhirzhina EV. Structural Characteristics of High-Mobility Group Proteins HMGB1 and HMGB2 and Their Interaction with DNA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043577. [PMID: 36834988 PMCID: PMC9962726 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-histone nuclear proteins HMGB1 and HMGB2 (High Mobility Group) are involved in many biological processes, such as replication, transcription, and repair. The HMGB1 and HMGB2 proteins consist of a short N-terminal region, two DNA-binding domains, A and B, and a C-terminal sequence of glutamic and aspartic acids. In this work, the structural organization of calf thymus HMGB1 and HMGB2 proteins and their complexes with DNA were studied using UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Post-translational modifications (PTM) of HMGB1 and HMGB2 proteins were determined with MALDI mass spectrometry. We have shown that despite the similar primary structures of the HMGB1 and HMGB2 proteins, their post-translational modifications (PTMs) demonstrate quite different patterns. The HMGB1 PTMs are located predominantly in the DNA-binding A-domain and linker region connecting the A and B domains. On the contrary, HMGB2 PTMs are found mostly in the B-domain and within the linker region. It was also shown that, despite the high degree of homology between HMGB1 and HMGB2, the secondary structure of these proteins is also slightly different. We believe that the revealed structural properties might determine the difference in the functioning of the HMGB1 and HMGB2 as well as their protein partners.
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28
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Hossain M, Huda N, Bhuyan AK. A surprisingly simple three-state generic process for reversible protein denaturation by trifluoroethanol. Biophys Chem 2022; 291:106895. [PMID: 36182744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite the rich knowledge of the influence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) on the structure and conformation of peptides and proteins, the mode(s) of TFE-protein interactions and the mechanism by which TFE reversibly denatures a globular protein remain elusive. This study systematically examines TFE-induced equilibrium transition curves for six paradigmatic globular proteins by using basic fluorescence and circular dichroism measurements under neutral pH conditions. The results are remarkably simple. Low TFE invariably unfolds the tertiary structure of all proteins to produce the obligate intermediate (I) which retains nearly all of native-state secondary structure, but enables the formation of extra α-helices as the level of TFE is raised higher. Inspection of the transitions at once reveals that the tertiary structure unfolding is always a distinct process, necessitating the inclusion of at least one obligate intermediate in the TFE-induced protein denaturation. It appears that the intermediate in the minimal unfolding mechanism N⇌I⇌D somehow acquires higher α-helical propensity to generate α-helices in excess of that in the native state to produce the denatured state (D), also called the TFE state. The low TFE-populated intermediate I may be called a universal intermediate by virtue of its α-helical propensity. Contrary to many earlier suggestions, this study dismisses molten globule (MG)-like attribute of I or D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujahid Hossain
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Noorul Huda
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Abani K Bhuyan
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
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29
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Beasley MA, Dunkelberger AD, Thum MD, Ryland ES, Fears KP, Grafton AB, Owrutsky JC, Lundin JG, So CR. Extremophilic behavior of catalytic amyloids sustained by backbone structuring. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:9400-9412. [PMID: 36285764 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb01605b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme function relies on the placement of chemistry defined by solvent and self-associative hydrogen bonding displayed by the protein backbone. Amyloids, long-range multi-peptide and -protein materials, can mimic enzyme functions while having a high proportion of stable self-associative backbone hydrogen bonds. Though catalytic amyloid structures have exhibited a degree of temperature and solvent stability, defining their full extremophilic properties and the molecular basis for such extreme activity has yet to be realized. Here we demonstrate that, like thermophilic enzymes, catalytic amyloid activity persists across high temperatures with an optimum activity at 81 °C where they are 30-fold more active than at room temperature. Unlike thermophilic enzymes, catalytic amyloids retain both activity and structure well above 100 °C as well as in the presence of co-solvents. Changes in backbone vibrational states are resolved in situ using non-linear 2D infrared spectroscopy (2DIR) to reveal that activity is sustained by reorganized backbone hydrogen bonds in extreme environments, evidenced by an emergent vibrational mode centered at 1612 cm-1. Restructuring also occurs in organic solvents, and facilitates complete retention of hydrolysis activity in co-solvents of lesser polarity. We support these findings with molecular modeling, where the displacement of water by co-solvents leads to shorter, less competitive, bonding lifetimes that further stabilize self-associative backbone interactions. Our work defines amyloid properties that counter classical proteins, where extreme environments induce mechanisms of restructuring to support enzyme-like functions necessary for synthetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryssa A Beasley
- NRC Postdoctoral Associate Sited in Chemistry Division, Code 6176, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Adam D Dunkelberger
- Chemistry Division, Code 6121, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Matthew D Thum
- ASEE Postdoctoral Associate Sited in Chemistry Division, Code 6124, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Ryland
- NRC Postdoctoral Associate Sited in Chemistry Division, Code 6121, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Kenan P Fears
- Chemistry Division, Code 6176, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA.
| | - Andrea B Grafton
- NRC Postdoctoral Associate Sited in Chemistry Division, Code 6121, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Owrutsky
- Chemistry Division, Code 6121, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Lundin
- Chemistry Division, Code 6124, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA
| | - Christopher R So
- Chemistry Division, Code 6176, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5342, USA.
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30
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Pereira AF, Piccoli V, Martínez L. Trifluoroethanol direct interactions with protein backbones destabilize α-helices. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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31
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Motiwala HF, Armaly AM, Cacioppo JG, Coombs TC, Koehn KRK, Norwood VM, Aubé J. HFIP in Organic Synthesis. Chem Rev 2022; 122:12544-12747. [PMID: 35848353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) is a polar, strongly hydrogen bond-donating solvent that has found numerous uses in organic synthesis due to its ability to stabilize ionic species, transfer protons, and engage in a range of other intermolecular interactions. The use of this solvent has exponentially increased in the past decade and has become a solvent of choice in some areas, such as C-H functionalization chemistry. In this review, following a brief history of HFIP in organic synthesis and an overview of its physical properties, literature examples of organic reactions using HFIP as a solvent or an additive are presented, emphasizing the effect of solvent of each reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hashim F Motiwala
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Ahlam M Armaly
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Jackson G Cacioppo
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Thomas C Coombs
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 United States
| | - Kimberly R K Koehn
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Verrill M Norwood
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Jeffrey Aubé
- Divison of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
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32
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Koszinowski K, Rahrt R. Anionic Dimers of Fluorinated Alcohols. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2022; 33:1411-1418. [PMID: 35609237 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Negative-ion mode electrospray ionization of solutions of ethanol (RF0OH), 2-fluoroethanol (RF1OH), 2,2-difluoroethanol (RF2OH), and/or 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (RF3OH) produces anionic dimers of the types (RFnO)2H- and (RFnO)(RFn+1O)H-. The exchange reactions of these anionic dimers with the neutral alcohols are examined in a quadrupole-ion trap to extract kinetic data, from which the reaction Gibbs energies are obtained. In all cases, the formation of anionic dimers containing the more highly fluorinated alcohols is favored. Quantum chemical calculations confirm this trend and, besides affording structural data, also determine the dissociation energies of the anionic dimers. These dissociation energies are much higher than those of the corresponding neutral dimers and increase further for the more highly fluorinated alcohols due to the stronger hydrogen-bond donor ability of the latter. The present results on the interaction of individual alkoxide anions and neutral alcohol molecules contribute to a better understanding of the association of the fluorinated alcohols in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Koszinowski
- Universität Göttingen, Institut für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Tammannstr. 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rene Rahrt
- Universität Göttingen, Institut für Organische und Biomolekulare Chemie, Tammannstr. 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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33
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Xia K, Shen H, Wang P, Tan R, Xun D. Investigation of the conformation of human prion protein in ethanol solution using molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35838152 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2099466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
When the conformation of protein is changed from its natural state to a misfolded state, some diseases will happen like prion disease. Prion diseases are a set of deadly neurodegenerative diseases caused by prion protein misfolding and aggregation. Monohydric alcohols have a strong influence on the structure of protein. However, whether monohydric alcohols inhibit amyloid fibrosis remains uncertain. Here, to elucidate the effect of ethanol on the structural stability of human prion protein, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the conformational changes and dynamics characteristics of human prion proteins at different temperatures. The results show that the extension of β-sheet occurs more easily and the α-helix is more easily disrupted at high temperatures. We found that ethanol can destroy the hydrophobic interactions and make the hydrogen bonds stable, which protects the secondary structure of the protein, especially at 500 K.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Xia
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Haolei Shen
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Rongri Tan
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Damao Xun
- Department of Physics, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
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34
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Effect of ethanol on gelation and microstructure of whey protein gels in the presence of NaCl. Food Hydrocoll 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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35
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A modular approach to map out the conformational landscapes of unbound intrinsically disordered proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2113572119. [PMID: 35658083 PMCID: PMC9191344 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113572119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceIntrinsically disordered proteins have the unique ability to morph in response to multiple partners and thereby process sophisticated inputs and outputs. It is, however, a mystery whether their response is passive, that is, entirely determined by the partner, or controlled via an internal, yet unknown, folding mechanism. Here we introduce an approach to examine this key question and demonstrate its potential by dissecting the conformational properties of the partially disordered protein NCBD and obtaining important clues about how it performs its biological function.
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36
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Whitehead RD, Teschke CM, Alexandrescu AT. Pulse-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance of protein translational diffusion from native to non-native states. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4321. [PMID: 35481638 PMCID: PMC9047038 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hydrodynamic radii (Rh -values) calculated from diffusion coefficients measured by pulse-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance are compared for folded and unfolded proteins. For native globular proteins, the Rh -values increase as a power of 0.35 with molecular size, close to the scaling factor of 0.33 predicted from polymer theory. Unfolded proteins were studied under four sets of conditions: in the absence of denaturants, in the presence of 6 M urea, in 95% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and in 40% hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). Scaling factors under all four unfolding conditions are similar (0.49-0.53) approaching the theoretical value of 0.60 for a fully unfolded random coil. Persistence lengths are also similar, except smaller in 95% DMSO, suggesting that the polypeptides are more disordered on a local scale with this solvent. Three of the proteins in our unfolded set have an asymmetric sequence-distribution of charged residues. While these proteins behave normally in water and 6 M urea, they give atypically low Rh -values in 40% HFIP and 95% DMSO suggesting they are forming electrostatic hairpins, favored by their asymmetric sequence charge distribution and the low dielectric constants of DMSO and HFIP. While diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy can separate small molecules, we show a number of factors combine to make protein-sized molecules much more difficult to resolve in mixtures. Finally, we look at the temperature dependence of apparent diffusion coefficients. Small molecules show a linear temperature response, while large proteins show abnormally large apparent diffusion coefficients at high temperatures due to convection, suggesting diffusion reference standards are only useful near 25°C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Whitehead
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Carolyn M Teschke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Andrei T Alexandrescu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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37
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Kumar A, Nimsarkar P, Singh S. Probing the Interactions Responsible for the Structural Stability of Trypanothione Reductase Through Computer Simulation and Biophysical Characterization. Protein J 2022; 41:230-244. [PMID: 35364760 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-022-10052-x] [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] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
With the necessity to develop antileishmanial drugs with substrate specificity, trypanothione reductase (TryR) has gained popularity in parasitology. TryR is unique to be present only in trypanosomatids and is functionally similar to glutathione in mammals. It protects against oxidative stress exerted by the host defense mechanism. The TryR enzyme is essential for the survival of Leishmania parasites in the host as it reduces trypanothione and aids in neutralizing hydrogen peroxide produced by the host macrophages during infection. Henceforth, it becomes vital to decipher their functional stability and behaviour in the presence of denaturants. Our study is focused on structural, functional and behavioural stability aspects of TryR with different concentrations of Urea, Guanidinium chloride, alcohol based compounds followed by extensive molecular dynamics simulations in a lipid bilayer system. The results obtained from the study reveal an interesting insight into the possible mechanisms of modulation of the structure, function and stability of the TryR protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Kumar
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Prajakta Nimsarkar
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Shailza Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India.
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38
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Andlinger DJ, Schlemmer L, Jung I, Schroeter B, Smirnova I, Kulozik U. Hydro- and aerogels from ethanolic potato and whey protein solutions: Influence of temperature and ethanol concentration on viscoelastic properties, protein interactions, and microstructure. Food Hydrocoll 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.107424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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39
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Temporal and spatial characterisation of protein liquid-liquid phase separation using NMR spectroscopy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1767. [PMID: 35365630 PMCID: PMC8976059 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29408-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of protein solutions is increasingly recognised as an important phenomenon in cell biology and biotechnology. However, opalescence and concentration fluctuations render LLPS difficult to study, particularly when characterising the kinetics of the phase transition and layer separation. Here, we demonstrate the use of a probe molecule trifluoroethanol (TFE) to characterise the kinetics of protein LLPS by NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shift and linewidth of the probe molecule are sensitive to local protein concentration, with this sensitivity resulting in different characteristic signals arising from the dense and lean phases. Monitoring of these probe signals by conventional bulk-detection 19F NMR reports on the formation and evolution of both phases throughout the sample, including their concentrations and volumes. Meanwhile, spatially-selective 19F NMR, in which spectra are recorded from smaller slices of the sample, was used to track the distribution of the different phases during layer separation. This experimental strategy enables comprehensive characterisation of the process and kinetics of LLPS, and may be useful to study phase separation in protein systems as a function of their environment.
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40
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PEGylation enhances the antibacterial and therapeutic potential of amphibian host defence peptides. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183806. [PMID: 34656552 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Aurein 2.1, aurein 2.6 and aurein 3.1 are amphibian host defence peptides that kill bacteria via the use of lytic amphiphilic α-helical structures. The C-terminal PEGylation of these peptides led to decreased antibacterial activity (Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLCs) ↓ circa one and a half to threefold), reduced levels of amphiphilic α-helical structure in solvents (α-helicity ↓ circa 15.0%) and lower surface activity (Δπ ↓ > 1.5 mN m-1). This PEGylation of aureins also led to decreased levels of amphiphilic α-helical structure in the presence of anionic membranes and zwitterionic membranes (α-helicity↓ > 10.0%) as well as reduced levels of penetration (Δπ ↓ > 3.0 mN m-1) and lysis (lysis ↓ > 10.0%) of these membranes. Based on these data, it was proposed that the antibacterial action of PEGylated aureins involved the adoption of α-helical structures that promote the lysis of bacterial membranes, but with lower efficacy than their native counterparts. However, PEGylation also reduced the haemolytic activity of native aureins to negligible levels (haemolysis ↓ from circa 10% to 3% or less) and improved their relative therapeutic indices (RTIs ↑ circa three to sixfold). Based on these data, it is proposed that PEGylated aureins possess the potential for therapeutic development; for example, to combat infections due to multi-drug resistant strains of S. aureus, designated as high priority by the World Health Organization.
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41
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de Moura Ferreira MA, da Silveira FA, da Silveira WB. Ethanol stress responses in Kluyveromyces marxianus: current knowledge and perspectives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:1341-1353. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11799-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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42
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Sidorova MV, Bibilashvili RS, Avdeev DV, Kozhokar US, Palkeeva ME, Ovchinnikov MV, Molokoedov AS, Shirokov DA, Semyonova AV, Uvarova VI, Kulyaev PO, Khvatov EV, Ignatova AA, Feofanov AV, Osolodkin DI, Porozov YB, Kozlovskaya LI, Ishmukhametov AA, Parfyonova YV, Egorov AM. Properties and Activity of Peptide Derivatives of ACE2 Cellular Receptor and Their Interaction with SARS-CoV-2 S Protein Receptor-Binding Domain. DOKL BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2022; 507:237-241. [PMID: 36580213 PMCID: PMC9798946 DOI: 10.1134/s1607672922060126] [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: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to design and characterize peptides based on the α-helices h1 and h2 of the ACE2 receptor, forming the interaction interface between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and the cellular ACE2 receptor. Monomeric and heterodimeric peptides connected by disulfide bonds at different positions were synthesized. Solubility, RBD-binding affinity, and peptide helicity were experimentally measured, and molecular dynamics simulation was performed in various solvents. It was established that the preservation of the helical conformation is a necessary condition for the binding of peptides to RBD. The peptides have a low degree of helicity and low affinity for RBD in water. Dimeric peptides have a higher degree of helicity than monomeric ones, probably due to the mutual influence of helices. The degree of helicity of the peptides in trifluoroethanol is the highest; however, for in vitro studies, the most suitable solvent is a water-ethanol mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. V. Sidorova
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - R. S. Bibilashvili
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - D. V. Avdeev
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - U. S. Kozhokar
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - M. E. Palkeeva
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - M. V. Ovchinnikov
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. S. Molokoedov
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - D. A. Shirokov
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia ,Skryabin Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. V. Semyonova
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - V. I. Uvarova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia
| | - P. O. Kulyaev
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - E. V. Khvatov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia
| | - A. A. Ignatova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - D. I. Osolodkin
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia ,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Yu. B. Porozov
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia ,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - L. I. Kozlovskaya
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia ,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - A. A. Ishmukhametov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia ,Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Ye. V. Parfyonova
- Chazov National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - A. M. Egorov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Poliomyelitis), Moscow, Russia ,Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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43
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Singhvi P, Saneja A, Ahuja R, Panda AK. Solubilization and refolding of variety of inclusion body proteins using a novel formulation. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 193:2352-2364. [PMID: 34798190 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.068] [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: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Formation of protein aggregates as inclusion bodies (IBs) still poses a major hurdle in the recovery of bioactive proteins from E. coli. Despite the development of many mild solubilization buffers in last two decades, high-throughput recovery of functional protein from wide range of IBs is still a challenge at an academic and industrial scale. Herein, a novel formulation for improved recovery of bioactive protein from variety of bacterial IBs is developed. This novel formulation is comprised of 20% trifluoroethanol, 20% n-propanol and 2 M urea at pH 12.5 which disrupts the major dominant forces involved in protein aggregation. An extensive comparative study of novel formulation conducted on different IBs demonstrates its high solubilization and refolding efficiency. The overall yield of bioactive protein from human growth hormone expressed as bacterial IBs is reported to be around 50%. This is attributed to the capability of novel formulation to disrupt the tertiary structure of the protein while protecting the secondary structure of the protein, thereby reducing the formation of soluble aggregates during refolding. Thus, the formulation can eliminate the need of screening and optimizing various solubilization formulation and will improve the efficiency of recovering bioactive protein from variety of IB aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyank Singhvi
- Product Development Cell, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
| | - Ankit Saneja
- Formulation Laboratory, Dietetics & Nutrition Technology Division, CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Rahul Ahuja
- Product Development Cell, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Amulya K Panda
- Product Development Cell, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
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44
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Fischer NH, Fumi E, Oliveira MT, Thulstrup PW, Diness F. Tuning peptide structure and function through fluorobenzene stapling. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103788. [PMID: 34897848 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103788] [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: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides are promising next-generation therapeutics with improved biological stability and activity. A catalyst-free stapling method for cysteine-containing peptides was developed. This enables fine-tuning of the macrocycle by using the appropriate regioisomers of fluorobenzene linkers. Stapling was performed on the unprotected linear peptide or, more conveniently, directly on-resin after peptide synthesis. NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism studies demonstrate that the type of stapling can tune the secondary structures of the peptides. The method was applied to a set of potential agonists for melanocortin receptors, generating a library of macrocyclic potent ligands with ortho , meta or para relationships between the thioethers. Their small but significant difference in potency and efficacy demonstrates how the method allows facile fine-tuning of macrocyclic peptides towards biological targets from the same linear precursor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erik Fumi
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Chemistry, DENMARK
| | | | - Peter W Thulstrup
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Chemistry, DENMARK
| | - Frederik Diness
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Chemistry, Universitetsparken 5, DK2100, Copenhagen, DENMARK
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45
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Stanojlovic V, Müller A, Moazzam A, Hinterholzer A, Ożga K, Berlicki Ł, Schubert M, Cabrele C. A Conformationally Stable Acyclic β-Hairpin Scaffold Tolerating the Incorporation of Poorly β-Sheet-Prone Amino Acids. Chembiochem 2021; 23:e202100604. [PMID: 34856053 PMCID: PMC9299858 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The β-hairpin is a structural element of native proteins, but it is also a useful artificial scaffold for finding lead compounds to convert into peptidomimetics or non-peptide structures for drug discovery. Since linear peptides are synthetically more easily accessible than cyclic ones, but are structurally less well-defined, we propose XWXWXpPXK(/R)X(R) as an acyclic but still rigid β-hairpin scaffold that is robust enough to accommodate different types of side chains, regardless of the secondary-structure propensity of the X residues. The high conformational stability of the scaffold results from tight contacts between cross-strand cationic and aromatic side chains, combined with the strong tendency of the d-Pro-l-Pro dipeptide to induce a type II' β-turn. To demonstrate the robustness of the scaffold, we elucidated the NMR structures and performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a series of peptides displaying mainly non-β-branched, poorly β-sheet-prone residues at the X positions. Both the NMR and MD data confirm that our acyclic β-hairpin scaffold is highly versatile as regards the amino-acid composition of the β-sheet face opposite to the cationic-aromatic one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Stanojlovic
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Anna Müller
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ali Moazzam
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.,School of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6619, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arthur Hinterholzer
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Katarzyna Ożga
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Łukasz Berlicki
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mario Schubert
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Chiara Cabrele
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
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46
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Timmons PB, Hewage CM. Conformation and membrane interaction studies of the potent antimicrobial and anticancer peptide palustrin-Ca. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22468. [PMID: 34789753 PMCID: PMC8599514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01769-3] [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: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Palustrin-Ca (GFLDIIKDTGKEFAVKILNNLKCKLAGGCPP) is a host defence peptide with potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities, first isolated from the skin of the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus. The peptide is 31 amino acid residues long, cationic and amphipathic. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was employed to characterise its three-dimensional structure in a 50/50% water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$^{26}$$\end{document}26, and a cyclic disulfide-bridged domain at the C-terminal end of the peptide sequence, between residues 23 and 29. A molecular dynamics simulation was employed to model the peptide’s interactions with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles, a widely used bacterial membrane-mimicking environment. Throughout the simulation, the peptide was found to maintain its \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$^{26}$$\end{document}26, while adopting a position parallel to the surface to micelle, which is energetically-favourable due to many hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts with the micelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Timmons
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Chandralal M Hewage
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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47
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Dirauf MP, Hajnal A, Gurikov P, Braeuer AS. Protein gel shrinkage during solvent exchange: Quantification of gel compaction, mass transfer and compressive strength. Food Hydrocoll 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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48
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Timmons PB, Hewage CM. Biophysical study of the structure and dynamics of the antimicrobial peptide maximin 1. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3370. [PMID: 34569121 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Maximin 1 is a cationic, amphipathic antimicrobial peptide found in the skin secretions and brains of the Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima. The 27 amino acid residue-long peptide is biologically interesting as it possesses a variety of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumour and spermicidal activities. Its three-dimensional structural model was obtained in a 50/50% water/2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-d3 mixture using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Maximin 1 was found to adopt an α-helical structure from residue Ile2 to Ala26 . The peptide is amphipathic, showing a clear separation between polar and non-polar residues. The interactions with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles, a widely-used bacterial membrane-mimicking environment, were modelled using molecular dynamics simulations. The peptide maintains an α-helical conformation, occasionally displaying a flexibility around the Gly9 and Gly16 residues, which is likely responsible for the peptide's low haemolytic activity. It is found to preferentially adopt a position parallel to the micellar surface, establishing a number of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with the micelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Timmons
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science,UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Chandralal M Hewage
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science,UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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49
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Pyne P, Das Mahanta D, Gohil H, Prabhu SS, Mitra RK. Correlating solvation with conformational pathways of proteins in alcohol-water mixtures: a THz spectroscopic insight. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:17536-17544. [PMID: 34369530 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp01841h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Water, being an active participant in most of the biophysical processes, is important to trace how protein solvation changes as its conformation evolves in the presence of solutes or co-solvents. In this study, we investigate how the secondary structures of two diverse proteins - lysozyme and β-lactoglobulin - change in the aqueous mixtures of two alcohols - ethanol and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) using circular dichroism measurements. We observe that these alcohols change the secondary structures of these proteins and the changes are protein-specific. Subsequently, we measure the collective solvation dynamics of these two proteins both in the absence and in the presence of alcohols by measuring the frequency-dependent absorption coefficient (α(ν)) in the THz (0.1-1.2 THz) frequency domain. The alcohol-water mixtures exhibit a non-ideal behaviour with the highest absorption difference (Δα) obtained at Xalcohol = 0.2. The protein solvation in the presence of the alcohols shows an oscillating behaviour in which Δαprotein changes with Xalcohol. Such an oscillatory behaviour of protein solvation results from a delicate interplay between the protein-water, protein-alcohol and water-alcohol associations. We attempt to correlate the various structural conformations of the proteins with the associated solvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Pyne
- Department of Chemical, Biological & Macromolecular Sciences, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block-JD; Sector-III; Salt Lake, Kolkata-700106, India.
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50
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Ohgi H, Imamura H, Sumi T, Nishikawa K, Koga Y, Westh P, Morita T. Two different regimes in alcohol-induced coil-helix transition: effects of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol on proteins being either independent of or enhanced by solvent structural fluctuations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:5760-5772. [PMID: 33481971 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp05103a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Inhomogeneous distribution of constituent molecules in a mixed solvent has been known to give remarkable effects on the solute, e.g., conformational changes of biomolecules in an alcohol-water mixture. We investigated the general effects of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) on proteins/peptides in a mixture of water and TFE using melittin as a model protein. Fluctuations and Kirkwood-Buff integrals (KBIs) in the TFE-H2O mixture, quantitative descriptions of inhomogeneity, were determined by small-angle X-ray scattering investigation and compared with those in the aqueous solutions of other alcohols. The concentration fluctuation for the mixtures ranks as methanol < ethanol ≪ TFE < tert-butanol < 1-propanol, indicating that the inhomogeneity of molecular distribution in the TFE-H2O mixture is unexpectedly comparable to those in the series of mono-ols. On the basis of the concentration dependence of KBIs between the TFE molecules, it was found that a strong attraction between the TFE molecules is not necessarily important to induce helix conformation, which is inconsistent with the previously proposed mechanism. To address this issue, by combining the KBIs and the helix contents reported by the experimental spectroscopic studies, we quantitatively evaluated the change in the preferential binding parameter of TFE to melittin attributed to the coil-helix transition. As a result, we found two different regimes on TFE-induced helix formation. In the dilute concentration region of TFE below ∼2 M, where the TFE molecules are not aggregated among themselves, the excess preferential binding of TFE to the helix occurs due to the direct interaction between them, namely independent of the solvent fluctuation. In the higher concentration region above ∼2 M, in addition to the former effect, the excess preferential binding is significantly enhanced by the solvent fluctuation. This scheme should be held as general cosolvent effects of TFE on proteins/peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyo Ohgi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Imamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Tomonari Sumi
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
| | - Keiko Nishikawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan. and Toyota Physical & Chemical Research Institute, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1192, Japan
| | - Yoshikata Koga
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Peter Westh
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Takeshi Morita
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
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