Native quaternary structure of bovine alpha-crystallin

The mechanism for thermal-enhanced chaperone-like activity of α-crystallin against UV irradiation-induced aggregation of γD-crystallin

Exposure to solar UV irradiation damages γ-crystallin, leading to cataract formation via aggregation. α-Crystallin, as a small heat-shock protein (sHsps), efficiently suppresses this irreversible aggregation by selectively binding the denatured γ-crystallin monomer. In this study, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to evaluate UV-325 nm irradiation-induced photodamage of human γD-crystallin in the presence of bovine α-crystallin, atomic force microscope (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were used to detect the quaternary structure changes of α-crystallin oligomer, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and temperature-jump (T-jump) nanosecond time-resolved IR absorbance difference spectroscopy were used to probe the secondary structure changes of bovine α-crystallin. We find that the thermal-induced subunit dissociation of α-crystallin oligomer involves the breaking of hydrogen bonds at the dimeric interface, leading to three different spectral components at varied temperature regions as resolved from temperature-dependent IR spectra. Under UV-325 nm irradiation, unfolded γD-crystallin binds to the dissociated α-crystallin subunit to form αγ-complex, then follows the reassociation of αγ-complex to the partially dissociated α-crystallin oligomer. This prevents the aggregation of denatured γD-crystallin. The formation of the γD-bound α-crystallin oligomer is further confirmed by AFM and DLS analysis, which reveals an obvious size expansion in the reassociated αγ-oligomers. In addition, UV-325 nm irradiation causes a peptide bond cleavage of γD-crystallin at Ala158 in presence of α-crystallin. Our results suggest a very effective protection mechanism for subunits dissociated from α-crystallin oligomers against UV irradiation-induced aggregation of γD-crystallin, at an expense of a loss of a short C-terminal peptide in γD-crystallin.

Chaperone-Like Activity of HSPB5: The Effects of Quaternary Structure Dynamics and Crowding

Small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs) are ATP-independent molecular chaperones that interact with partially unfolded proteins, preventing their aberrant aggregation, thereby exhibiting a chaperone-like activity. Dynamics of the quaternary structure plays an important role in the chaperone-like activity of sHSPs. However, relationship between the dynamic structure of sHSPs and their chaperone-like activity remains insufficiently characterized. Many factors (temperature, ions, a target protein, crowding etc.) affect the structure and activity of sHSPs. The least studied is an effect of crowding on sHSPs activity. In this work the chaperone-like activity of HSPB5 was quantitatively characterized by dynamic light scattering using two test systems, namely test systems based on heat-induced aggregation of muscle glycogen phosphorylase b (Phb) at 48 °C and dithiothreitol-induced aggregation of α-lactalbumin at 37 °C. Analytical ultracentrifugation was used to control the oligomeric state of HSPB5 and target proteins. The possible anti-aggregation functioning of suboligomeric forms of HSPB5 is discussed. The effect of crowding on HSPB5 anti-aggregation activity was characterized using Phb as a target protein. The duration of the nucleation stage was shown to decrease with simultaneous increase in the relative rate of aggregation of Phb in the presence of HSPB5 under crowded conditions. Crowding may subtly modulate sHSPs activity.

Oligomeric state of αB-crystallin under crowded conditions

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are molecular chaperones preventing protein aggregation. Dynamics of quaternary structure plays an important role in the chaperone-like activity of sHsps. However, an interrelation between the oligomeric state and chaperone-like activity of sHsps remains insufficiently characterized. Most of the accumulated data were obtained in dilute protein solutions, leaving the question of the oligomeric state of sHsps in crowded intracellular media largely unanswered. Here, we analyzed the effect of crowding on the oligomeric state of αB-crystallin (αB-Cr) using analytical ultracentrifugation. Marked increase in the sedimentation coefficient of αB-Cr was observed in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) at 48 °C. An especially pronounced effect was detected for the PEG and TMAO mixture, where the sedimentation coefficient (s_20,w) of αB-Cr increased from 10.7 S in dilute solution up to 40.7 S in the presence of crowding agents. In the PEG + TMAO mixture, addition of model protein substrate (muscle glycogen phosphorylase b) induced dissociation of large αB-Cr oligomers and formation of complexes with smaller sedimentation coefficients, supporting the idea that, under crowding conditions, protein substrates can promote dissociation of large αB-Cr oligomers.

The quaternary structure of Thermus thermophilus aldehyde dehydrogenase is stabilized by an evolutionary distinct C-terminal arm extension

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) form a superfamily of dimeric or tetrameric enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of a broad range of aldehydes into their corresponding carboxylic acids with the concomitant reduction of the cofactor NAD(P) into NAD(P)H. Despite their varied polypeptide chain length and oligomerisation states, ALDHs possess a conserved architecture of three domains: the catalytic domain, NAD(P)⁺ binding domain, and the oligomerization domain. Here, we describe the structure and function of the ALDH from Thermus thermophilus (ALDH_Tt) which exhibits non-canonical features of both dimeric and tetrameric ALDH and a previously uncharacterized C-terminal arm extension forming novel interactions with the N-terminus in the quaternary structure. This unusual tail also interacts closely with the substrate entry tunnel in each monomer providing further mechanistic detail for the recent discovery of tail-mediated activity regulation in ALDH. However, due to the novel distal extension of the tail of ALDH_Tt and stabilizing termini-interactions, the current model of tail-mediated substrate access is not apparent in ALDH_Tt. The discovery of such a long tail in a deeply and early branching phylum such as Deinococcus-Thermus indicates that ALDH_Tt may be an ancestral or primordial metabolic model of study. This structure provides invaluable evidence of how metabolic regulation has evolved and provides a link to early enzyme regulatory adaptations.

3D structure of the native α-crystallin from bovine eye lens

α-Crystallin is the major eye lens protein that has been shown to support lens transparency by preventing the aggregation of lens proteins. The 3D structure of α-crystallin is largely unknown. Electron microscopy, single-particle 3D reconstruction, size exclusion chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and analytical ultracentrifugation were used to study the structure of the native α-crystallin. Native α-crystallin has a wide distribution in size. The shape of mass distribution is temperature-dependent, but the oligomers with a sedimentation coefficient of ~22 S (750-830 kDa) strongly prevailed at all temperatures used. A 3D model of native α-crystallin with resolution of ~2 nm was created. The model is asymmetrical, has an elongated bean-like shape 13 × 19 nm with a dense core and filamentous "kernel". It does not contain a central cavity. The majority of α-crystallin particles regardless of experimental conditions are 13 × 19 nm, which corresponds to 22S sedimentation coefficient, hydrodynamic diameter 20 nm and mass of 750-830 kD. These particles are in dynamic equilibrium with particles of smaller and larger sizes.

Structure and function of α-crystallins: Traversing from in vitro to in vivo

BACKGROUND

The two α-crystallins (αA- and αB-crystallin) are major components of our eye lenses. Their key function there is to preserve lens transparency which is a challenging task as the protein turnover in the lens is low necessitating the stability and longevity of the constituent proteins. α-Crystallins are members of the small heat shock protein family. αB-crystallin is also expressed in other cell types.

SCOPE OF THE REVIEW

The review summarizes the current concepts on the polydisperse structure of the α-crystallin oligomer and its chaperone function with a focus on the inherent complexity and highlighting gaps between in vitro and in vivo studies.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Both α-crystallins protect proteins from irreversible aggregation in a promiscuous manner. In maintaining eye lens transparency, they reduce the formation of light scattering particles and balance the interactions between lens crystallins. Important for these functions is their structural dynamics and heterogeneity as well as the regulation of these processes which we are beginning to understand. However, currently, it still remains elusive to which extent the in vitro observed properties of α-crystallins reflect the highly crowded situation in the lens.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Since α-crystallins play an important role in preventing cataract in the eye lens and in the development of diverse diseases, understanding their mechanism and substrate spectra is of importance. To bridge the gap between the concepts established in vitro and the in vivo function of α-crystallins, the joining of forces between different scientific disciplines and the combination of diverse techniques in hybrid approaches are necessary. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Crystallin Biochemistry in Health and Disease.

Design of heat shock-resistant surfaces to prevent protein aggregation: Enhanced chaperone activity of immobilized α-Crystallin

α-Crystallin is a multimeric protein belonging to the family of small heat shock proteins, which function as molecular chaperones by resisting heat and oxidative stress induced aggregation of other proteins. We immobilized α-Crystallin on a self-assembled monolayer on glass surface and studied its activity in terms of the prevention of aggregation of aldolase. We discovered that playing with grafted protein density led to interesting variations in the chaperone activity of immobilized α-Crystallin. This result is in accordance with the hypothesis that dynamicity of subunits plays a vital role in the functioning of α-Crystallin and might be able to throw light on the structure-activity relationship. We showed that the chaperone activity of a certain number of immobilized α-Crystallins was superior compared to a solution containing an equivalent number of the protein and 10 times the number of the protein at temperatures >60 °C. The α-Crystallin grafted surfaces retained activity on reuse. This could also lead to the design of potent heat-shock resistant surfaces that can find wide applications in storage and shipping of protein based biopharmaceuticals.

Mechanism of suppression of protein aggregation by α-crystallin

This review summarizes experimental data illuminating the mechanism of suppression of heat-induced protein aggregation by alpha-crystallin, one of the small heat shock proteins. The dynamic light scattering data show that the initial stage of thermal aggregation of proteins is the formation of the initial aggregates involving hundreds of molecules of the denatured protein. Further sticking of the starting aggregates proceeds in a regime of diffusion-limited cluster-cluster aggregation. The protective effect of alpha-crystallin is due to transition of the aggregation process to the regime of reaction-limited cluster-cluster aggregation, wherein the sticking probability for the colliding particles becomes lower than unity.

Alpha crystallin: the quest for a homogeneous quaternary structure

Alpha A and alpha B crystallins are key members of the small heat-shock protein family. In addition to being a major structural protein of the lens, they are constitutively found in many other cells, where their function is not completely understood. Alpha B crystallin is also known to be over-expressed in many neurological diseases. To date, all efforts to crystallize alpha A or alpha B have failed. Thus, high-resolution data on the tertiary and quaternary structures of alpha crystallin is not available. The main reason for this failure seems to be the polydisperse nature of alpha crystallin. This review deals mainly with the polydisperse properties of alpha crystallin and the influence of post-translational modification, chemical modifications, truncations and mutation on its quaternary structure.

The dramatically increased chaperone activity of small heat-shock protein IbpB is retained for an extended period of time after the stress condition is removed

sHSP (small heat-shock protein) IbpB (inclusion-body-binding protein B) from Escherichia coli is known as an ATP-independent holding chaperone which prevents the insolubilization of aggregation-prone proteins by forming stable complexes with them. It was found that the chaperone function of IbpB is greatly modulated by the ambient temperature, i.e. when the temperature increases from normal to heat-shock, the chaperone activity of IbpB is dramatically elevated to a level that allows it to effectively bind the aggregation-prone client proteins. Although it is generally believed that the release and refolding of the client protein from the sHSPs depends on the aid of the ATP-dependent chaperones such as Hsp (heat-shock protein) 70 and Hsp100 when the ambient temperature recovers from heat-shock to normal, the behaviour of the sHSPs during this recovery stage has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we examined the behaviour and properties of IbpB upon temperature decrease from heat-shock to normal. We found that IbpB, which becomes functional only under heat-shock conditions, retains the chaperone activity for an extended period of time after the heat-shock stress condition is removed. A detail comparison demonstrates that such preconditioned IbpB is distinguished from the non-preconditioned IbpB by a remarkable conformational transformation, including a significant increase in the flexibility of the N- and C-terminal regions, as well as enhanced dynamic subunit dissociation/reassociation. Intriguingly, the preconditioned IbpB displayed a dramatic decrease in its surface hydrophobicity, suggesting that the exposure of hydrophobic sites might not be the sole determinant for IbpB to exhibit chaperone activity. We propose that the maintenance of the chaperone activity for such ‘holdases’ as sHSPs would be important for cells to recover from heat-shock stress.

Effect of α-crystallin on thermal denaturation and aggregation of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The study of thermal denaturation of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in the presence of alpha-crystallin by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the position of the maximum on the DSC profile (T(max)) was shifted toward lower temperatures with increasing alpha-crystallin concentration. The diminishing GAPDH stability in the presence of alpha-crystallin has been explained assuming that heating of GAPDH induces dissociation of the tetrameric form of the enzyme into dimers interacting with alpha-crystallin. The dissociation of the enzyme tetramer was shown by sedimentation velocity at 45 degrees C. Suppression of thermal aggregation of GAPDH by alpha-crystallin was studied by dynamic light scattering under the conditions wherein temperature was elevated at a constant rate. The construction of the light scattering intensity versus the hydrodynamic radius (R(h)) plots enabled estimating the hydrodynamic radius of the start aggregates (R(h,0)). When aggregation of GAPDH was studied in the presence of alpha-crystallin, the start aggregates of lesser size were observed.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer study of subunit exchange in human lens crystallins and congenital cataract crystallin mutants

Lens alpha-crystallin is an oligomeric protein with a molecular mass of 500-1000 kDa and a polydispersed assembly. It consists of two types of subunits, alphaA and alphaB, each with a molecular mass of 20 kDa. The subunits also form homo-oligomers in some other tissues and in vitro. Their quaternary structures, which are dynamic and characterized by subunit exchange, have been studied by many techniques, including fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and mass spectrometry analysis. The proposed mechanism of subunit exchange has been either by dissociation/association of monomeric subunits or by rapid equilibrium between oligomers and suboligomers. To explore the nature of subunit exchange further, we performed additional FRET measurements and analyses using a fluorescent dye-labeled W9F alphaA-crystallin as the acceptor probe and Trp in other crystallins (wild-type and R116C alphaA, wild-type and R120G alphaB, wild-type and Q155* betaB2) as the donor probe and calculated the transfer efficiency, Förster distance, and average distance between two probes. The results indicate only slight decreased efficiency and increased distance between two probes for the R116C alphaA and R120G alphaB mutations despite conformational changes.

Phylogenetic and biochemical studies reveal a potential evolutionary origin of small heat shock proteins of animals from bacterial class A

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), as one subclass of molecular chaperones, are important for cells to protect proteins under stress conditions. Unlike the large HSPs (represented by Hsp60 and Hsp70), sHSPs are highly divergent in both primary sequences and oligomeric status, with their evolutionary relationships being unresolved. Here the phylogenetic analysis of a representative 51 sHSPs (covering the six subfamilies: bacterial class A, bacterial class B, archae, fungi, plant, and animal) reveals a close relationship between bacterial class A and animal sHSPs which form an outgroup. Accumulating data indicate that the oligomers from bacterial class A and animal sHSPs appear to exhibit polydispersity, while those from the rest exhibit monodispersity. Together, the close evolutionary relationship and the similarity in oligomeric polydispersity between bacterial class A and animal sHSPs not only suggest a potential evolutionary origin of the latter from the former, but also imply that their oligomeric polydispersity is somehow a property determined by their primary sequences.

Onset of oxidative damage in alpha-crystallin by radical probe mass spectrometry

The early onset oxidative damage within segments of the protein alpha-crystallin is examined by radical probe mass spectrometry by its treatment with reactive oxygen species under low-, moderate-, and high-oxidizing conditions. Five regions comprising the first 11 residues of the N-termini of the A and B subunits (A/B:1-11), central domains from each subunit B:57-69 and A:104-112, and a C-terminal segment of the A subunit A:120-145 were found to be the initial sites of oxidation. The susceptibility of each segment to oxidation and oxidative damage is investigated by subjecting the intact protein to different oxidation conditions within the ion source of an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. LC-MS of the oxidized protein digests enables the sites and levels of oxidation to be monitored. The onset of oxidative damage and the levels of oxidation observed before damage occurs differ across the protein surface. The regions comprising residues A/B:1-11 and A:104-112 are shown to be more susceptible to oxidative damage than those comprising residues B:57-69 and A:120-145. The results are discussed in the context of available experimental and homology-modeled theoretical structures for the subunits of alpha-crystallin.

Cold-stable eye lens crystallins of the Antarctic nototheniid toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni Norman

The eye lenses of the Antarctic nototheniid fishes that inhabit the perennially freezing Antarctic seawater are transparent at -2 degrees C, whereas the cold-sensitive mammalian and tropical fish lenses display cold-induced cataract at 20 degrees C and 7 degrees C, respectively. No cold-cataract occurs in the giant Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni lens when cooled to temperatures as low as -12 degrees C, indicating highly cold-stable lens proteins. To investigate this cold stability, we characterised the lens crystallin proteins of the Antarctic toothfish, in parallel with those of the sub-tropical bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus and the endothermic cow Bos taurus, representing three disparate thermal climes (-2 degrees C, 18 degrees C and 37 degrees C, respectively). Sizing chromatography resolved their lens crystallins into three groups, alpha/betaH, beta and gamma, with gamma crystallins being the most abundant (>40%) lens proteins in fish, in contrast to the cow lens where they comprise only 19%. The upper thermal stability of these crystallin components correlated with the body temperature of the species. In vitro chaperone assays showed that fish alpha crystallin can protect same-species gamma crystallins from heat denaturation, as well as lysozyme from DTT-induced unfolding, and therefore are small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) like their mammalian counterparts. Dynamic light scattering measured an increase in size of alphagamma crystallin mixtures upon heating, which supports formation of the alphagamma complex as an integral part of the chaperone process. Surprisingly, in cross-species chaperone assays, tuna alpha crystallins only partly protected toothfish gamma crystallins, while cow alpha crystallins completely failed to protect, indicating partial and no alphagamma interaction, respectively. Toothfish gamma was likely to be the component that failed to interact, as the supernatant from a cow alpha plus toothfish gamma incubation could chaperone cow gamma crystallins in a subsequent heat incubation, indicating the presence of uncomplexed cow alpha. This suggests that the inability of toothfish gamma crystallins to fully complex with tuna alpha, and not at all with the cow alpha crystallins, may have its basis in adaptive changes in the protein that relate to the extreme cold-stability of the toothfish lens.

Ageing and vision: structure, stability and function of lens crystallins

The alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins are the major protein components of the vertebrate eye lens, alpha-crystallin as a molecular chaperone as well as a structural protein, beta- and gamma-crystallins as structural proteins. For the lens to be able to retain life-long transparency in the absence of protein turnover, the crystallins must meet not only the requirement of solubility associated with high cellular concentration but that of longevity as well. For proteins, longevity is commonly assumed to be correlated with long-term retention of native structure, which in turn can be due to inherent thermodynamic stability, efficient capture and refolding of non-native protein by chaperones, or a combination of both. Understanding how the specific interactions that confer intrinsic stability of the protein fold are combined with the stabilizing effect of protein assembly, and how the non-specific interactions and associations of the assemblies enable the generation of highly concentrated solutions, is thus of importance to understand the loss of transparency of the lens with age. Post-translational modification can have a major effect on protein stability but an emerging theme of the few studies of the effect of post-translational modification of the crystallins is one of solubility and assembly. Here we review the structure, assembly, interactions, stability and post-translational modifications of the crystallins, not only in isolation but also as part of a multi-component system. The available data are discussed in the context of the establishment, the maintenance and finally, with age, the loss of transparency of the lens. Understanding the structural basis of protein stability and interactions in the healthy eye lens is the route to solve the enormous medical and economical problem of cataract.

Temperature-dependent subunit exchange and chaperone-like activities of Hsp16.3, a small heat shock protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) usually exist as oligomers that undergo dynamic oligomeric dissociation/re-association, with the dissociated oligomers as active forms to bind substrate proteins under heat shock conditions. In this study, however, we found that Hsp16.3, one sHsp from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is able to sensitively modulate its chaperone-like activity in a range of physiological temperatures (from 25 to 37.5 degrees C) while its native oligomeric size is still maintained. Further analysis demonstrated that Hsp16.3 exposes higher hydrophobic surfaces upon temperatures increasing and that a large soluble complex between Hsp16.3 and substrate is formed only in the condition of heating temperature up to 35 and 37.5 degrees C. Structural analysis by fluorescence anisotropy showed that Hsp16.3 nonameric structure becomes more dynamic and variable at elevated temperatures. Moreover, subunit exchange between Hsp16.3 oligomers was found to occur faster upon temperatures increasing as revealed by fluorescence energy resonance transfer. These observations indicate that Hsp16.3 is able to modulate its chaperone activity by adjusting the dynamics of oligomeric dissociation/re-association process while maintaining its static oligomeric size unchangeable. A kinetic model is therefore proposed to explain the mechanism of sHsps-binding substrate proteins through oligomeric dissociation. The present study also implied that Hsp16.3 is at least capable of binding non-native proteins in vivo while expressing in the host organism that survives at 37 degrees C.

Structural Changes in α-Crystallin and Whole Eye Lens During Heating, Observed by Low-angle X-ray Diffraction

Whole eye lens and alpha-crystallin gels and solutions were investigated using X-ray scattering techniques at temperatures ranging from 20 degrees C to 70 degrees C. In whole lens isolated in phosphate-buffered saline, the spacing of the dominant X-ray reflection seen with low-angle scattering was constant from 20 degrees C to 45 degrees C but increased at 50 degrees C from 15.2 nm to 16.5 nm. At room temperature, the small-angle X-ray diffraction pattern of the intact lens was very similar to the pattern of alpha-crystallin gels at near-physiological concentration (approximately 300 mg/ml), so it is reasonable to assume that the alpha-crystallin pattern dominates the pattern of the intact lens. Our results therefore indicate that in whole lens alpha-crystallin is capable of maintaining its structural properties over a wide range of temperature. This property would be useful in providing protection for other lens proteins super-aggregating. In the alpha-crystallin gels, a moderate increase in both the spacing and intensity of the reflection was observed from 20 degrees C to 45 degrees C, followed by an accelerated increase from 45 degrees C to 70 degrees C. Upon cooling, this effect was found to be irreversible over 11 hours. Qualitatively similar results were observed for alpha-crystallin solutions at a variety of lower concentrations.

Thermal stability of human alpha-crystallins sensed by amide hydrogen exchange

The alpha-crystallins, alphaA and alphaB, are major lens structural proteins with chaperone-like activity and sequence homology to small heat-shock proteins. As yet, their crystal structures have not been determined because of the large size and heterogeneity of the assemblies they form in solution. Because alpha-crystallin chaperone activity increases with temperature, understanding structural changes of alpha-crystallin as it is heated may help elucidate the mechanism of chaperone activity. Although a variety of techniques have been used to probe changes in heat-stressed alpha-crystallin, the results have not yet yielded a clear understanding of chaperone activity. We report examination of native assemblies of human lens alpha-crystallin using hydrogen/deuterium exchange in conjunction with enzymatic digestion and analysis by mass spectrometry. This technique has the advantage of sensing structural changes along much of the protein backbone and being able to detect changes specific to alphaA and alphaB in the native assembly. The reactivity of the amide linkages to hydrogen/deuterium exchange was determined for 92% of the sequence of alphaA and 99% of alphaB. The behavior of alphaA and alphaB is remarkably similar. At low temperatures, there are regions at the beginning of the alpha-crystallin domains in both alphaA and alphaB that have high protection to isotope exchange, whereas the C termini offer little protection. The N terminus of alphaA also has low protection. With increasing temperatures, both proteins show gradual unfolding. The maximum percent change in exposure with increasing temperatures was found in alphaA 72-75 and alphaB 76-79, two regions considered critical for chaperone activity.

Small heat shock protein Hsp16.3 modulates its chaperone activity by adjusting the rate of oligomeric dissociation

Small heat shock proteins usually exist as oligomers and appear to undergo dynamic dissociation/reassociation, with oligomeric dissociation being a prerequisite for their chaperone activities. However, contradictory cases were also reported that chaperone activities could be enhanced with no change or even increase in oligomeric sizes. Using Hsp16.3 as a model system, our studies show the following: (1) Although a preheat (over 60 degrees C) treatment or the presence of low concentrations of urea (around 0.8M) hardly caused any change in the oligomeric size of Hsp16.3 proteins when examined by size exclusion chromatography, its chaperone activities were increased significantly. (2) Further analysis using the unique pore-gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a dramatic increase in the tendency of oligomeric dissociation for both the preheated and urea-containing Hsp16.3. (3) Meanwhile, for both cases, an apparent increase in the rate constants of oligomeric dissociation was also observed, as determined by utilizing conjugated fluorescence probes whose quantum yield increases accompanying oligomeric dissociation. (4) Moreover, the fluorescence anisotropy analysis also demonstrated that the oligomeric structures for the preheated or urea-containing Hsp16.3 proteins seem to be more dynamic and variable. In light of these observations, we propose that the small heat shock proteins like Hsp16.3 can modulate their chaperone activities by adjusting the rate of oligomeric dissociation in responding to environmental changes. Results obtained here also suggest that small heat shock proteins might be able to "remember" their stress experiences via certain structural alterations which will allow them to act as better chaperones when the stress conditions reappear.

The molecular chaperone, alpha-crystallin, protects against loss of antigenicity and activity of esterase caused by sugars, sugar phosphate and a steroid

Previously we showed that glycation-induced inactivation and loss of antigenicity of enzymes occur simultaneously. Alpha-crystallin, a major structural protein of the mammalian lens, prevents the aggregation of other proteins and protects enzyme function against post-translational modification in vitro. However, it is not known whether alpha-crystallin can also protect against loss of antigenicity of enzymes. Esterase activity in the lens is decreased in senile cataract and diabetes. We investigated the loss of antigenicity of esterase caused by different insults and the ability of alpha-crystallin to protect. Inactivation of carboxylesterase by sugars, fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) and a steroid, prednisolone-21-hemisuccinate (P-21-H), was measured spectrophotometrically in the presence and absence of alpha-crystallin, while loss of antigenicity was monitored simultaneously using an immunoprecipitation method. The esterase was progressively inactivated by fructose, F6P, ribose, and P-21-H. Bovine alpha-crystallin fully protected against inactivation of esterase by all four compounds, and also protected against loss of antigenicity of the esterase by fructose, ribose and P-21-H at a molar ratio of 1:1. The results indicated that alpha-crystallin, under our experimental conditions, clearly exhibited the ability to prevent loss of antigenicity and inactivation of esterase. The protective effect of alpha-crystallin against loss of antigenicity indicates a novel aspect of its chaperoning function.

Alpha-crystallin

Alpha A and alpha B-crystallins are a major protein component of the mammalian eye lens. Being a member of the small heat-shock protein family they possess chaperone-like function. The alpha-crystallins and especially alpha B is also found outside the lens having an extensive tissue distribution. Alpha B-crystallin is found to be over-expressed in many neurological diseases, and mutations in alpha A or B-crystallin can cause cataract and myopathy. This review deals with some of the unique properties of the alpha-crystallins emphasizing especially what we don't know about its function and structure.

Ligand binding promotes the entropy-driven oligomerization of integrin alpha IIb beta 3

Integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) clusters on the platelet surface after binding adhesive proteins in a process that regulates signal transduction. However, the intermolecular forces driving integrin self-association are poorly understood. This work provides new insights into integrin clustering mechanisms by demonstrating how temperature and ligand binding interact to affect the oligomeric state of alpha(IIb)beta(3). The ligand-free receptor, solubilized in thermostable octyl glucoside micelles, exhibited a cooperative transition at approximately 43 degrees C, monitored by changes in intrinsic fluorescence and circular dichroism. Both signals changed in a direction opposite to that for global unfolding, and both were diminished upon binding the fibrinogen gamma-chain ligand-mimetic peptide cHArGD. Free and bound receptors also exhibited differential sensitivity to temperature-enhanced oligomerization, as measured by dynamic light scattering, sedimentation velocity, and sedimentation equilibrium. Van't Hoff analyses of dimerization constants for alpha(IIb)beta(3) complexed with cHArGD, cRGD, or eptifibatide yielded large, favorable entropy changes partly offset by unfavorable enthalpy changes. Transmission electron microscopy showed that ligand binding and 37 degrees C incubation enhanced assembly of integrin dimers and larger oligomers linked by tail-to-tail contacts. Interpretation of these images was aided by threading models for alpha(IIb)beta(3) protomers and dimers based on the ectodomain structure of alpha(v)beta(3). We propose that entropy-favorable nonpolar interactions drive ligand-induced integrin clustering and outside-in signaling.

Subunit exchange, conformational stability, and chaperone-like function of the small heat shock protein 16.5 from Methanococcus jannaschii

Hsp16.5, isolated from the hyperthermophilic Archaea Methanococcus jannaschii, is a member of the small heat-shock protein family. Small Hsps have 12- to 42-kDa subunit sizes and have sequences that are conserved among all organisms. The recently determined crystal structure of Hsp16.5 indicates that it consists discretely of 24 identical subunits. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer, we show that at temperatures above 60 degrees C, the subunits of MjHsp16.5 freely and reversibly exchange with a rate constant of exchange at 68 degrees C of 0.067 min(-1). The subunit exchange reactions were strongly temperature-dependent, similar to the exchange reactions of the alpha-crystallins. The exchange reaction was specific to MjHsp16.5 subunits, as other sHsps such as alpha-crystallin were not structurally compatible and could not integrate into the MjHsp16.5 oligomer. In addition, we demonstrate that at temperatures as high as 70 degrees C, MjHsp16.5 retains its multimeric structure and subunit organization. Using insulin and alpha-lactalbumin as model target proteins, we also show that MjHsp16.5 at 37 degrees C is a markedly inefficient chaperone compared with other sHsps with these substrates. The results of this study support the hypothesis that MjHsp16.5 has a dynamic quaternary structure at temperatures that are physiologically relevant to M. jannaschii.

Kinetics of chaperoning of dithiothreitol-denatured alpha-lactalbumin by alpha-crystallin

Molecular chaperones prevent the aggregation of partially folded or misfolded forms of protein. alpha-Crystallin performs such a function in the ocular lens. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were performed to gain insight into the kinetics and mechanism of alpha-crystallin chaperoning. Experiments were conducted as a function of alpha-lactalbumin concentration as well as the alpha-crystallin/alpha-lactalbumin ratio over a 24 h period. In the particle distribution patterns the lactalbumin concentration was partitioned into three compartments: (a) monomeric free lactalbumin; (b) lactalbumin in the chaperoning complex; and (c) lactalbumin aggregates. DLS intensities were converted to molar concentrations by assuming a model of a spherical chaperoning complex. In the model, alpha-crystallin is the central core and alpha-lactalbumin molecules occupy a ring surrounding the core. The kinetics of chaperoning was studied by proposing a simple scheme with four rate constants. The reversible reaction of the formation of the chaperoning complex is characterized by rate constants k(1) and k(2). The rate constants k(3) and k(4) govern the irreversible aggregation of lactalbumin: the former from the free monomeric lactalbumin pool and the latter describing the aggregation of the denatured lactalbumin released from the chaperoning complex. The rate constants, k(3) and k(4) are four magnitudes larger than k(1) and k(2). The equilibrium constant of chaperoning complex formation lies in favor of the reactants. k(4) is somewhat faster than k(3) and it is three times faster than k(s) governing the self-aggregation of lactalbumin in the absence of alpha-crystallin.

Decreased subunit exchange of heat-treated lens alpha A-crystallin

alpha A-Crystallin high-molecular-weight (HMW) aggregates were prepared by preheating at 80-90 degrees C and studied using spectroscopic measurements. Conformational differences were suggested based on data of increased bis-ANS (4,4(')-dianilino-1,1(')-binaphthalene-5,5(')-disulfonic acid) and ThT (thioflavin T) fluorescence as well as increased far-UV and decreased near-UV circular dichroism (CD). These results indicated that HMW aggregated alpha-crystallin was more hydrophobic than the native alpha-crystallin, possibly resulting from partial unfolding of alpha-crystallin. The two cysteines in alpha A-crystallin were mostly oxidized in HMW aggregates. The effects of HMW aggregation on the dynamic structure were studied with fluorescence resonance energy transfer; subunit exchange became slower. These results strongly suggest that HMW alpha A-crystallin aggregates result from exposure of buried beta-pleated sheets and increased hydrophobic interaction.

Alpha-crystallin-type heat shock proteins: socializing minichaperones in the context of a multichaperone network

Alpha-crystallins were originally recognized as proteins contributing to the transparency of the mammalian eye lens. Subsequently, they have been found in many, but not all, members of the Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya. Most members of the diverse alpha-crystallin family have four common structural and functional features: (i) a small monomeric molecular mass between 12 and 43 kDa; (ii) the formation of large oligomeric complexes; (iii) the presence of a moderately conserved central region, the so-called alpha-crystallin domain; and (iv) molecular chaperone activity. Since alpha-crystallins are induced by a temperature upshift in many organisms, they are often referred to as small heat shock proteins (sHsps) or, more accurately, alpha-Hsps. Alpha-crystallins are integrated into a highly flexible and synergistic multichaperone network evolved to secure protein quality control in the cell. Their chaperone activity is limited to the binding of unfolding intermediates in order to protect them from irreversible aggregation. Productive release and refolding of captured proteins into the native state requires close cooperation with other cellular chaperones. In addition, alpha-Hsps seem to play an important role in membrane stabilization. The review compiles information on the abundance, sequence conservation, regulation, structure, and function of alpha-Hsps with an emphasis on the microbial members of this chaperone family.

Functional analysis of a small heat shock/alpha-crystallin protein from Artemia franciscana. Oligomerization and thermotolerance

Oviparously developing embryos of the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana, synthesize abundant quantities of a small heat shock/alpha-crystallin protein, termed p26. Wild-type p26 functions as a molecular chaperone in vitro and is thought to help encysted Artemia embryos survive severe physiological stress encountered during diapause and anoxia. Full-length and truncated p26 cDNA derivatives were generated by PCR amplification of p26-3-6-3, then cloned in either pET21(+) or pRSETC and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). All constructs gave a polypeptide detectable on Western blots with either p26 specific antibody, or with antibody to the His(6) epitope tag encoded by pRSETC. Full-length p26 in cell-free extracts of E. coli was about equal in mass to that found in Artemia embryos, but p26 lacking N- and C-terminal residues remained either as monomers or small multimers. All p26 constructs conferred thermotolerance on transformed E. coli, although not all formed oligomers, and cells expressing N-terminal truncated derivatives of p26 were more heat resistant than bacteria expressing p26 with C-terminal deletions. The C-terminal extension of p26 is seemingly more important for thermotolerance than is the N-terminus, and p26 protects E. coli against heat shock when oligomer size and protein concentration are low. The findings have important implications for understanding the functional mechanisms of small heat shock/alpha-crystallin proteins.

Study of the chaperoning mechanism of bovine lens alpha-crystallin, a member of the alpha-small heat shock superfamily

We have studied the interaction between lysozyme, destabilized by reducing its -S-S- bonds, and bovine eye lens alpha-crystallin, a member of the alpha-small heat shock protein superfamily. We have used gel filtration, photon correlation spectroscopy, and analytical ultracentrifugation to study the binding of lysozyme by alpha-crystallin at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. We can conclude that alpha-crystallin chaperones the destabilized protein in a two-step process. First the destabilized proteins are bound by the alpha-crystallin so that nonspecific aggregation of the destabilized protein is prevented. This complex is unstable, and a reorganization and inter-particle exchange of the peptides result in stable and soluble large particles. alpha-Crystallin does not require activation by temperature for the first step of its chaperone activity as it prevents the formation of nonspecific aggregates at 25 degrees C as well as at 37 degrees C. The reorganization of the peptides, however, gives rise to smaller particles at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. Indirect evidence shows that the association of several alpha-crystallin/substrate protein complexes leads to the formation of very large particles. These are responsible for the increase of the light scattering.

On the equilibrium between monomeric alpha-lactalbumin and the chaperoning complex of alpha-crystallin

In chaperoning dithiothreitol-denatured alpha-lactabumin, alpha-crystallin forms a chaperoning complex. In order to study the kinetics of such chaperoning it needs to be established whether the formation of the chaperoning complex is a reversible or irreversible process. The chaperoning reaction was studied by dynamic light scattering as a function of concentration and weight ratio of alpha-lactalbumin/alpha-crystallin. HPLC and subsequent SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis experiments established that the chaperoning complex formed contains both alpha-crystallin and alpha-lactalbumin. Upon rechromatographing the chaperoning complex, the presence of monomeric alpha-lactalbumin has been demonstrated in addition to the chaperoning complex itself. This and equilibrium dialysis experiments demonstrated conclusively the existence of an equilibrium between monomeric partially denatured alpha-lactalbumin and the chaperoning complex made of alpha-lactalbumin and alpha-crystallin.

Chaperone-like activity of bovine lens alpha-crystallin in the presence of dithiothreitol-destabilized proteins: characterization of the formed complexes

Since alpha-crystallin was shown to have in vitro chaperone-like activity, its structure-function relationship has been extensively studied. However, the mechanism of this function is poorly understood. In this study, we monitored the interaction of alpha-crystallin with different proteins namely the insulin B-chain (3.382 kDa), lysozyme (14.4 kDa), and conalbumin (86.18 kDa), all destabilized by dithiothreitol. We found that at 4 degrees C alpha-crystallin prevents the aggregation of destabilized insulin. During the time course of the interaction of alpha-crystallin with the substrate protein, we observed three classes of molecules: the monomeric protein and monomeric alpha-crystallin peptides, alpha-crystallin/substrate protein complexes with a size comparable to alpha-crystallin and large particles. The latter are responsible for the increase of the light scattering of solutions, containing alpha-crystallin/destabilized protein complexes. The molecular exchange between the different populations is temperature dependent and seems to be ruled by the kinetics of the structural changes of the destabilized proteins. At the end all monomeric species are transformed to larger aggregates. The large complexes are enriched in destabilized proteins, compared to the initial ratio alpha-crystallin/substrate protein.