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Khan RH, Rotich NC, Morris A, Ahammad T, Baral B, Sahu ID, Lorigan GA. Probing the Structural Topology and Dynamic Properties of gp28 Using Continuous Wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9236-9247. [PMID: 37856870 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Lysis of Gram-negative bacteria by dsDNA phages is accomplished through either the canonical holin-endolysin pathway or the pinholin-SAR endolysin pathway. During lysis, the outer membrane (OM) is disrupted, typically by two-component spanins or unimolecular spanins. However, in the absence of spanins, phages use alternative proteins called Disruptin to disrupt the OM. The Disruptin family includes the cationic antimicrobial peptide gp28, which is found in the virulent podophage φKT. In this study, EPR spectroscopy was used to analyze the dynamics and topology of gp28 incorporated into a lipid bilayer, revealing differences in mobility, depth parameter, and membrane interaction among different segments and residues of the protein. Our results indicate that multiple points of helix 2 and helix 3 interact with the phospholipid membrane, while others are solvent-exposed, suggesting that gp28 is a surface-bound peptide. The CW-EPR power saturation data and helical wheel analysis confirmed the amphipathic-helical structure of gp28. Additionally, course-grain molecular dynamics simulations were further used to develop the structural model of the gp28 peptide associated with the lipid bilayers. Based on the data obtained in this study, we propose a structural topology model for gp28 with respect to the membrane. This work provides important insights into the structural and dynamic properties of gp28 incorporated into a lipid bilayer environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Nancy C Rotich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Andrew Morris
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Binaya Baral
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718, United States
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
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2
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Scheyer MW, Campbell C, William PL, Hussain M, Begum A, Fonseca SE, Asare IK, Dabney P, Dabney-Smith C, Lorigan GA, Sahu ID. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic characterization of the human KCNE3 protein in lipodisq nanoparticles for structural dynamics of membrane proteins. Biophys Chem 2023; 301:107080. [PMID: 37531799 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
One of the major challenges in solubilization of membrane proteins is to find the optimal physiological environment for their biophysical studies. EPR spectroscopy is a powerful biophysical technique for studying the structural and dynamic properties of macromolecules. However, the challenges in the membrane protein sample preparation and flexible motion of the spin label limit the utilization of EPR spectroscopy to a majority of membrane protein systems in a physiological membrane-bound state. Recently, lipodisq nanoparticles or styrene-maleic acid copolymer-lipid nanoparticles (SMALPs) have emerged as a membrane mimetic system for investigating the structural studies of membrane proteins. However, its detail characterization for membrane protein studies is still poorly understood. Recently, we characterized the potassium channel membrane protein KCNQ1 voltage sensing domain (KCNQ1-VSD) and KCNE1 reconstituted into lipodisq nanoparticles using EPR spectroscopy. In this study, the potassium channel accessory protein KCNE3 containing flexible N- and C-termini was encapsulated into proteoliposomes and lipodisq nanoparticles and characterized for studying its structural and dynamic properties using nitroxide based site-directed spin labeling EPR spectroscopy. CW-EPR lineshape analysis data indicated an increase in spectral line broadenings with the addition of the styrene-maleic acid (SMA) polymer which approaches close to the rigid limit providing a homogeneous stabilization of the protein-lipid complex. Similarly, EPR DEER measurements indicated an enhanced quality of distance measurements with an increase in the phase memory time (Tm) values upon incorporation of the sample into lipodisq nanoparticles, when compared to proteoliposomes. These results agree with the solution NMR structural structure of the KCNE3 and EPR studies of other membrane proteins in lipodisq nanoparticles. This study along with our earlier studies will provide the reference characterization data that will provide benefit to the membrane protein researchers for studying structural dynamics of challenging membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Scheyer
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Conner Campbell
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Patrick L William
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Mustakim Hussain
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Afsana Begum
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | | | - Isaac K Asare
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Peyton Dabney
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Carole Dabney-Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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3
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Khan RH, Ahammad T, Sahu ID, Rotich NC, Daufel A, Lorigan GA. Determining the helical tilt angle and dynamic properties of the transmembrane domains of pinholin S 2168 using mechanical alignment EPR spectroscopy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2023; 1865:184154. [PMID: 37023970 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The lytic cycle of bacteriophage φ21 for the infected E. coli is initiated by pinholin S21, which determines the timing of host cell lysis through the function of pinholin (S2168) and antipinholin (S2171). The activity of pinholin or antipinholin directly depends on the function of two transmembrane domains (TMDs) within the membrane. For active pinholin, TMD1 externalizes and lies on the surface while TMD2 remains incorporated inside the membrane forming the lining of the small pinhole. In this study, spin labeled pinholin TMDs were incorporated separately into mechanically aligned POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine) lipid bilayers and investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to determine the topology of both TMD1 and TMD2 with respect to the lipid bilayer; the TOAC (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid) spin label was used here because it attaches to the backbone of a peptide and is very rigid. TMD2 was found to be nearly colinear with the bilayer normal (n) with a helical tilt angle of 16 ± 4° while TMD1 lies on or near the surface with a helical tilt angle of 84 ± 4°. The order parameters (~0.6 for both TMDs) obtained from our alignment study were reasonable, which indicates the samples incorporated inside the membrane were well aligned with respect to the magnetic field (B0). The data obtained from this study supports previous findings on pinholin: TMD1 partially externalizes from the lipid bilayer and interacts with the membrane surface, whereas TMD2 remains buried in the lipid bilayer in the active conformation of pinholin S2168. In this study, the helical tilt angle of TMD1 was measured for the first time. For TMD2 our experimental data corroborates the findings of the previously reported helical tilt angle by the Ulrich group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA; Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Nancy C Rotich
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Andrew Daufel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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4
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Abeysekera GS, Love MJ, Manners SH, Billington C, Dobson RCJ. Bacteriophage-encoded lethal membrane disruptors: Advances in understanding and potential applications. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1044143. [PMID: 36345304 PMCID: PMC9636201 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1044143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Holins and spanins are bacteriophage-encoded membrane proteins that control bacterial cell lysis in the final stage of the bacteriophage reproductive cycle. Due to their efficient mechanisms for lethal membrane disruption, these proteins are gaining interest in many fields, including the medical, food, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical fields. However, investigating these lethal proteins is challenging due to their toxicity in bacterial expression systems and the resultant low protein yields have hindered their analysis compared to other cell lytic proteins. Therefore, the structural and dynamic properties of holins and spanins in their native environment are not well-understood. In this article we describe recent advances in the classification, purification, and analysis of holin and spanin proteins, which are beginning to overcome the technical barriers to understanding these lethal membrane disrupting proteins, and through this, unlock many potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayan S. Abeysekera
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Michael J. Love
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Health and Environment Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sarah H. Manners
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Craig Billington
- Health and Environment Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Renwick C. J. Dobson
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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5
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Campbell C, Faleel FDM, Scheyer MW, Haralu S, Williams PL, Carbo WD, Wilson-Taylor AS, Patel NH, Sanders CR, Lorigan GA, Sahu ID. Comparing the structural dynamics of the human KCNE3 in reconstituted micelle and lipid bilayered vesicle environments. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183974. [PMID: 35716725 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
KCNE3 is a single transmembrane protein of the KCNE family that modulates the function and trafficking of several voltage-gated potassium channels, including KCNQ1. Structural studies of KCNE3 have been previously conducted in a wide range of model membrane mimics. However, it is important to assess the impact of the membrane mimics used on the observed conformation and dynamics. In this study, we have optimized a method for the reconstitution of the KCNE3 into POPC/POPG lipid bilayer vesicles for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Our CD spectroscopic data suggested that the degree of regular secondary structure for KCNE3 protein reconstituted into lipid bilayered vesicle is significantly higher than in DPC detergent micelles. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in combination with site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) was used to probe the structural dynamics of S49C, M59C, L67C, V85C, and S101C mutations of KCNE3 in both DPC micelles and in POPC/POPG lipid bilayered vesicles. Our CW-EPR power saturation data suggested that the site S74C is buried inside the lipid bilayered membrane while the site V85C is located outside the membrane, in contrast to DPC micelle results. These results suggest that the KCNE3 micelle structures need to be refined using data obtained in the lipid bilayered vesicles in order to ascertain the native structure of KCNE3. This work will provide guidelines for detailed structural studies of KCNE3 in a more native membrane environment and comparing the lipid bilayer results to the isotropic bicelle structure and to the KCNQ1-bound cryo-EM structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner Campbell
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | | | - Matthew W Scheyer
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | - Samuel Haralu
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | - Patrick L Williams
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | - William David Carbo
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | | | - Nima H Patel
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America
| | - Charles R Sanders
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States of America
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY, United States of America; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States of America.
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6
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Weber W, Roeder M, Probanowski T, Yang J, Abujubara H, Koeppl H, Tietze A, Stein V. Functional Nanopore Screen: A Versatile High-Throughput Assay to Study and Engineer Protein Nanopores in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2070-2079. [PMID: 35604782 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00635] [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: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nanopores comprise a versatile class of membrane proteins that carry out a range of key physiological functions and are increasingly developed for different biotechnological applications. Yet, a capacity to study and engineer protein nanopores by combinatorial means has so far been hampered by a lack of suitable assays that combine sufficient experimental resolution with throughput. Addressing this technological gap, the functional nanopore (FuN) screen now provides a quantitative and dynamic readout of nanopore assembly and function in the context of the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. The assay is based on genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensors that resolve the nanopore-dependent influx of Ca2+ across the inner membrane of E. coli. Illustrating its versatile capacity, the FuN screen is first applied to dissect the molecular features that underlie the assembly and stability of nanopores formed by the S2168 holin. In a subsequent step, nanopores are engineered by recombining the transmembrane module of S2168 with different ring-shaped oligomeric protein structures that feature defined hexa-, hepta-, and octameric geometries. Library screening highlights substantial plasticity in the ability of the S2168 transmembrane module to oligomerize in alternative geometries, while the functional properties of the resultant nanopores can be fine-tuned through the identity of the connecting linkers. Overall, the FuN screen is anticipated to facilitate both fundamental studies and complex nanopore engineering endeavors with many potential applications in biomedicine, biotechnology, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wadim Weber
- Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Markus Roeder
- Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Tobias Probanowski
- Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jie Yang
- Wallenberg Centre, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Helal Abujubara
- Wallenberg Centre, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Heinz Koeppl
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, TU Darmstadt, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Alesia Tietze
- Wallenberg Centre, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Viktor Stein
- Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany
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7
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Formation of styrene maleic acid lipid nanoparticles (SMALPs) using SMA thin film on a substrate. Anal Biochem 2022; 647:114692. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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8
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Drew DL, Ahammad T, Serafin RA, Sahu ID, Khan RH, Faul E, McCarrick RM, Lorigan GA. Probing the local secondary structure of bacteriophage S 21 pinholin membrane protein using electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183836. [PMID: 34906602 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There have recently been advances in methods for detecting local secondary structures of membrane protein using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). A three pulsed electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) approach was used to determine the local helical secondary structure of the small hole forming membrane protein, S21 pinholin. This ESEEM approach uses a combination of site-directed spin labeling and 2H-labeled side chains. Pinholin S21 is responsible for the permeabilization of the inner cytosolic membrane of double stranded DNA bacteriophage host cells. In this study, we report on the overall global helical structure using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy for the active form and the negative-dominant inactive mutant form of S21 pinholin. The local helical secondary structure was confirmed for both transmembrane domains (TMDs) for the active and inactive S21 pinholin using the ESEEM spectroscopic technique. Comparison of the ESEEM normalized frequency domain intensity for each transmembrane domain gives an insight into the α-helical folding nature of these domains as opposed to a π or 310-helix which have been observed in other channel forming proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Rachel A Serafin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA; Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Emily Faul
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Robert M McCarrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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9
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Ahammad T, Khan RH, Sahu ID, Drew DL, Faul E, Li T, McCarrick RM, Lorigan GA. Pinholin S 21 mutations induce structural topology and conformational changes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183771. [PMID: 34499883 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The bacteriophage infection cycle is terminated at a predefined time to release the progeny virions via a robust lytic system composed of holin, endolysin, and spanin proteins. Holin is the timekeeper of this process. Pinholin S21 is a prototype holin of phage Φ21, which determines the timing of host cell lysis through the coordinated efforts of pinholin and antipinholin. However, mutations in pinholin and antipinholin play a significant role in modulating the timing of lysis depending on adverse or favorable growth conditions. Earlier studies have shown that single point mutations of pinholin S21 alter the cell lysis timing, a proxy for pinholin function as lysis is also dependent on other lytic proteins. In this study, continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW-EPR) power saturation and double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopic techniques were used to directly probe the effects of mutations on the structure and conformational changes of pinholin S21 that correlate with pinholin function. DEER and CW-EPR power saturation data clearly demonstrate that increased hydrophilicity induced by residue mutations accelerate the externalization of antipinholin transmembrane domain 1 (TMD1), while increased hydrophobicity prevents the externalization of TMD1. This altered hydrophobicity is potentially accelerating or delaying the activation of pinholin S21. It was also found that mutations can influence intra- or intermolecular interactions in this system, which contribute to the activation of pinholin and modulate the cell lysis timing. This could be a novel approach to analyze the mutational effects on other holin systems, as well as any other membrane protein in which mutation directly leads to structural and conformational changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA; Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
| | - Daniel L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Emily Faul
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Tianyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Robert M McCarrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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10
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Probing Structural Dynamics of Membrane Proteins Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Techniques. BIOPHYSICA 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/biophysica1020009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are essential for the survival of living organisms. They are involved in important biological functions including transportation of ions and molecules across the cell membrane and triggering the signaling pathways. They are targets of more than half of the modern medical drugs. Despite their biological significance, information about the structural dynamics of membrane proteins is lagging when compared to that of globular proteins. The major challenges with these systems are low expression yields and lack of appropriate solubilizing medium required for biophysical techniques. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy coupled with site directed spin labeling (SDSL) is a rapidly growing powerful biophysical technique that can be used to obtain pertinent structural and dynamic information on membrane proteins. In this brief review, we will focus on the overview of the widely used EPR approaches and their emerging applications to answer structural and conformational dynamics related questions on important membrane protein systems.
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11
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Grabowski Ł, Łepek K, Stasiłojć M, Kosznik-Kwaśnicka K, Zdrojewska K, Maciąg-Dorszyńska M, Węgrzyn G, Węgrzyn A. Bacteriophage-encoded enzymes destroying bacterial cell membranes and walls, and their potential use as antimicrobial agents. Microbiol Res 2021; 248:126746. [PMID: 33773329 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Appearance of pathogenic bacteria resistant to most, if not all, known antibiotics is currently one of the most significant medical problems. Therefore, development of novel antibacterial therapies is crucial for efficient treatment of bacterial infections in the near future. One possible option is to employ enzymes, encoded by bacteriophages, which cause destruction of bacterial cell membranes and walls. Bacteriophages use such enzymes to destroy bacterial host cells at the final stage of their lytic development, in order to ensure effective liberation of progeny virions. Nevertheless, to use such bacteriophage-encoded proteins in medicine and/or biotechnology, it is crucial to understand details of their biological functions and biochemical properties. Therefore, in this review article, we will present and discuss our current knowledge on the processes of bacteriophage-mediated bacterial cell lysis, with special emphasis on enzymes involved in them. Regulation of timing of the lysis is also discussed. Finally, possibilities of the practical use of these enzymes as antibacterial agents will be underlined and perspectives of this aspect will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grabowski
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Łepek
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Stasiłojć
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwaśnicka
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Karolina Zdrojewska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Monika Maciąg-Dorszyńska
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Alicja Węgrzyn
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
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12
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Ahammad T, Drew DL, Sahu ID, Khan RH, Butcher BJ, Serafin RA, Galende AP, McCarrick RM, Lorigan GA. Conformational Differences Are Observed for the Active and Inactive Forms of Pinholin S 21 Using DEER Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:11396-11405. [PMID: 33289567 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c09081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophages have evolved with an efficient host cell lysis mechanism to terminate the infection cycle and release the new progeny virions at the optimum time, allowing adaptation with the changing host and environment. Among the lytic proteins, holin controls the first and rate-limiting step of host cell lysis by permeabilizing the inner membrane at an allele-specific time known as "holin triggering". Pinholin S21 is a prototype holin of phage Φ21 which makes many nanoscale holes and destroys the proton motive force, which in turn activates the signal anchor release (SAR) endolysin system to degrade the peptidoglycan layer of the host cell and destruction of the outer membrane by the spanin complex. Like many others, phage Φ21 has two holin proteins: active pinholin and antipinholin. The antipinholin form differs only by three extra amino acids at the N-terminus; however, it has a different structural topology and conformation with respect to the membrane. Predefined combinations of active pinholin and antipinholin fine-tune the lysis timing through structural dynamics and conformational changes. Previously, the dynamics and topology of active pinholin and antipinholin were investigated (Ahammad et al. JPCB 2019, 2020) using continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW-EPR) spectroscopy. However, detailed structural studies and direct comparison of these two forms of pinholin S21 are absent in the literature. In this study, the structural topology and conformations of active pinholin (S2168) and inactive antipinholin (S2168IRS) in DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) proteoliposomes were investigated using the four-pulse double electron-electron resonance (DEER) EPR spectroscopic technique to measure distances between transmembrane domains 1 and 2 (TMD1 and TMD2). Five sets of interlabel distances were measured via DEER spectroscopy for both the active and inactive forms of pinholin S21. Structural models of the active pinholin and inactive antipinholin forms in DMPC proteoliposomes were obtained using the experimental DEER distances coupled with the simulated annealing software package Xplor-NIH. TMD2 of S2168 remains in the lipid bilayer, and TMD1 is partially externalized from the bilayer with some residues located on the surface. However, both TMDs remain incorporated in the lipid bilayer for the inactive S2168IRS form. This study demonstrates, for the first time, clear structural topology and conformational differences between the two forms of pinholin S21. This work will pave the way for further studies of other holin systems using the DEER spectroscopic technique and will give structural insight into these biological clocks in molecular detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Daniel L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States.,Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718, United States
| | - Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Brandon J Butcher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Rachel A Serafin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Alberto P Galende
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718, United States
| | - Robert M McCarrick
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
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13
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Steger LME, Kohlmeyer A, Wadhwani P, Bürck J, Strandberg E, Reichert J, Grage SL, Afonin S, Kempfer M, Görner AC, Koch J, Walther TH, Ulrich AS. Structural and functional characterization of the pore-forming domain of pinholin S 2168. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29637-29646. [PMID: 33154156 PMCID: PMC7703622 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2007979117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pinholin S2168 triggers the lytic cycle of bacteriophage φ21 in infected Escherichia coli Activated transmembrane dimers oligomerize into small holes and uncouple the proton gradient. Transmembrane domain 1 (TMD1) regulates this activity, while TMD2 is postulated to form the actual "pinholes." Focusing on the TMD2 fragment, we used synchrotron radiation-based circular dichroism to confirm its α-helical conformation and transmembrane alignment. Solid-state 15N-NMR in oriented DMPC bilayers yielded a helix tilt angle of τ = 14°, a high order parameter (Smol = 0.9), and revealed the azimuthal angle. The resulting rotational orientation places an extended glycine zipper motif (G40xxxS44xxxG48) together with a patch of H-bonding residues (T51, T54, N55) sideways along TMD2, available for helix-helix interactions. Using fluorescence vesicle leakage assays, we demonstrate that TMD2 forms stable holes with an estimated diameter of 2 nm, as long as the glycine zipper motif remains intact. Based on our experimental data, we suggest structural models for the oligomeric pinhole (right-handed heptameric TMD2 bundle), for the active dimer (right-handed Gly-zipped TMD2/TMD2 dimer), and for the full-length pinholin protein before being triggered (Gly-zipped TMD2/TMD1-TMD1/TMD2 dimer in a line).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena M E Steger
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Annika Kohlmeyer
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Parvesh Wadhwani
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jochen Bürck
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Erik Strandberg
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Johannes Reichert
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Stephan L Grage
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sergii Afonin
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marin Kempfer
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anne C Görner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Julia Koch
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Torsten H Walther
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany;
| | - Anne S Ulrich
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany;
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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14
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Ahammad T, Drew DL, Khan RH, Sahu ID, Faul E, Li T, Lorigan GA. Structural Dynamics and Topology of the Inactive Form of S 21 Holin in a Lipid Bilayer Using Continuous-Wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:5370-5379. [PMID: 32501696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c03575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bacteriophage infection cycle plays a crucial role in recycling the world's biomass. Bacteriophages devise various cell lysis systems to strictly control the length of the infection cycle for an efficient phage life cycle. Phages evolved with lysis protein systems, which can control and fine-tune the length of this infection cycle depending on the host and growing environment. Among these lysis proteins, holin controls the first and rate-limiting step of host cell lysis by permeabilizing the inner membrane at an allele-specific time and concentration hence known as the simplest molecular clock. Pinholin S21 is the holin from phage Φ21, which defines the cell lysis time through a predefined ratio of active pinholin and antipinholin (inactive form of pinholin). Active pinholin and antipinholin fine-tune the lysis timing through structural dynamics and conformational changes. Previously we reported the structural dynamics and topology of active pinholin S2168. Currently, there is no detailed structural study of the antipinholin using biophysical techniques. In this study, the structural dynamics and topology of antipinholin S2168IRS in DMPC proteoliposomes is investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques. Continuous-wave (CW) EPR line shape analysis experiments of 35 different R1 side chains of S2168IRS indicated restricted mobility of the transmembrane domains (TMDs), which were predicted to be inside the lipid bilayer when compared to the N- and C-termini R1 side chains. In addition, the R1 accessibility test performed on 24 residues using the CW-EPR power saturation experiment indicated that TMD1 and TMD2 of S2168IRS were incorporated into the lipid bilayer where N- and C-termini were located outside of the lipid bilayer. Based on this study, a tentative model of S2168IRS is proposed where both TMDs remain incorporated into the lipid bilayer and N- and C-termini are located outside of the lipid bilayer. This work will pave the way for the further studies of other holins using biophysical techniques and will give structural insights into these biological clocks in molecular detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Daniel L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Rasal H Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States.,Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718, United States
| | - Emily Faul
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Tianyan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, United States
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15
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Sahu ID, Lorigan GA. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance as a Tool for Studying Membrane Proteins. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E763. [PMID: 32414134 PMCID: PMC7278021 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins possess a variety of functions essential to the survival of organisms. However, due to their inherent hydrophobic nature, it is extremely difficult to probe the structure and dynamic properties of membrane proteins using traditional biophysical techniques, particularly in their native environments. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in combination with site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) is a very powerful and rapidly growing biophysical technique to study pertinent structural and dynamic properties of membrane proteins with no size restrictions. In this review, we will briefly discuss the most commonly used EPR techniques and their recent applications for answering structure and conformational dynamics related questions of important membrane protein systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra D. Sahu
- Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Gary A. Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
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16
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Drew DL, Butcher B, Sahu ID, Ahammad T, Dixit G, Lorigan GA. Active S 2168 and inactive S 21IRS pinholin interact differently with the lipid bilayer: A 31P and 2H solid state NMR study. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183257. [PMID: 32147355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Pinholins are a family of lytic membrane proteins responsible for the lysis of the cytosolic membrane in host cells of double stranded DNA bacteriophages. Protein-lipid interactions have been shown to influence membrane protein topology as well as its function. This work investigated the interactions of pinholin with the phospholipid bilayer while in active and inactive confirmations to elucidate the different interactions the two forms have with the bilayer. Pinholin incorporated into deuterated DMPC-d54 lipid bilayers, along with 31P and 2H solid state NMR (SS-NMR) spectroscopy were used to probe the protein-lipid interactions with the phosphorus head group at the surface of the bilayer while interactions with the 2H nuclei were used to study the hydrophobic core. A comparison of the 31P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) values of the active S2168 pinholin and inactive S21IRS pinholin indicated stronger head group interactions for the pinholin in its active form when compared to that of the inactive form supporting the model of a partially externalized peripheral transmembrane domain (TMD) of the active S2168 instead of complete externalized TMD1 as suggested by Ahammad et al. JPC B 2019. The 2H quadrupolar splitting analysis showed a decrease in spectral width for both forms of the pinholin when compared to the empty bilayers at all temperatures. In this case the decrease in the spectral width of the inactive S21IRS form of the pinholin showed stronger interactions with the acyl chains of the bilayer. The presence of the inactive form's additional TMD within the membrane was supported by the loss of peak resolution observed in the 2H NMR spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Drew
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Brandon Butcher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Indra D Sahu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA; Natural Science Division, Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY 42718, USA.
| | - Tanbir Ahammad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Gunjan Dixit
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Gary A Lorigan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
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