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Cvekl A, Vijg J. Aging of the eye: Lessons from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 99:102407. [PMID: 38977082 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging is the greatest risk factor for chronic human diseases, including many eye diseases. Geroscience aims to understand the effects of the aging process on these diseases, including the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that underlie the increased risk of disease over the lifetime. Understanding of the aging eye increases general knowledge of the cellular physiology impacted by aging processes at various biological extremes. Two major diseases, age-related cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are caused by dysfunction of the lens and retina, respectively. Lens transparency and light refraction are mediated by lens fiber cells lacking nuclei and other organelles, which provides a unique opportunity to study a single aging hallmark, i.e., loss of proteostasis, within an environment of limited metabolism. In AMD, local dysfunction of the photoreceptors/retinal pigmented epithelium/Bruch's membrane/choriocapillaris complex in the macula leads to the loss of photoreceptors and eventually loss of central vision, and is driven by nearly all the hallmarks of aging and shares features with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The aging eye can function as a model for studying basic mechanisms of aging and, vice versa, well-defined hallmarks of aging can be used as tools to understand age-related eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Cvekl
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Jan Vijg
- Departments of Genetics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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2
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Negi KS, Das N, Khan T, Sen P. Osmolyte induced protein stabilization: modulation of associated water dynamics might be a key factor. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:32602-32612. [PMID: 38009208 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03357k] [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: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of protein stabilization by osmolytes remains one of the most important and long-standing puzzles. The traditional explanation of osmolyte-induced stability through the preferential exclusion of osmolytes from the protein surface has been seriously challenged by the observations like the concentration-dependent reversal of osmolyte-induced stabilization/destabilization. The more modern explanation of protein stabilization/destabilization by osmolytes considers an indirect effect due to osmolyte-induced distortion of the water structure. It provides a general mechanism, but there are numerous examples of protein-specific effects, i.e., a particular osmolyte might stabilize one protein, but destabilize the other, that could not be rationalized through such an explanation. Herein, we hypothesized that osmolyte-induced modulation of associated water might be a critical factor in controlling protein stability in such a medium. Taking different osmolytes and papain as a protein, we proved that our proposal could explain protein stability in osmolyte media. Stabilizing osmolytes rigidify associated water structures around the protein, whereas destabilizing osmolytes make them flexible. The strong correlation between the stability and the associated water dynamics, and the fact that such dynamics are very much protein specific, established the importance of considering the modulation of associated water structures in explaining the osmolyte-induced stabilization/destabilization of proteins. More interestingly, we took another protein, bromelain, for which a traditionally stabilizing osmolyte, sucrose, acts as a stabilizer at higher concentrations but as a destabilizer at lower concentrations. Our proposal successfully explains such observations, which is probably impossible by any known mechanisms. We believe this report will trigger much research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep Singh Negi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Nilimesh Das
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Tanmoy Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Pratik Sen
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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3
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Whitcomb K, Warncke K. Oligomeric and Fibrillar α-Synuclein Display Persistent Dynamics and Compressibility under Controlled Confinement. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3905-3912. [PMID: 37861459 PMCID: PMC10623556 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of α-synuclein in neurotransmitter release in brain neurons and in the Parkinson's disease condition have challenged comprehensive description. To gain insight into molecular mechanistic properties that actuate α-synuclein function and dysfunction, the coupled protein and solvent dynamics of oligomer and fibril forms of human α-synuclein are examined in a low-temperature system that allows control of confinement and localization of a motionally sensitive electron paramagnetic resonance spin probe in the coupled solvent-protein regions. The rotational mobility of the spin probe resolves two distinct α-synuclein-associated solvent components for oligomers and fibrils, as for globular proteins, but with dramatically higher fluidities at each temperature, that are comparable to low-confinement, aqueous-cryosolvent mesophases. In contrast to the temperature-independent volumes of the solvent phases that surround globular and condensate-forming proteins, the higher-fluidity mesophase volume of α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils decreases with decreasing temperature, signaling a compression of this phase. This unique property and thermal hysteresis in the mobilities and component weights, together with previous high-resolution structural characterizations, suggest a model in which the dynamically disordered C-terminal domain of α-synuclein creates a compressible phase that maintains high fluidity under confinement. Robust dynamics and compressibility are fundamental molecular mechanical properties of α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils, which may contribute to dysfunction and inform about function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie
Lynn Whitcomb
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Kurt Warncke
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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4
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Li W, Whitcomb KL, Warncke K. Confinement dependence of protein-associated solvent dynamics around different classes of proteins, from the EPR spin probe perspective. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:23919-23928. [PMID: 36165617 PMCID: PMC10371532 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp03047k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein function is modulated by coupled solvent fluctuations, subject to the degree of confinement from the surroundings. To identify universal features of the external confinement effect, the temperature dependence of the dynamics of protein-associated solvent over 200-265 K for proteins representative of different classes and sizes is characterized by using the rotational correlation time (detection bandwidth, 10-10-10-7 s) of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR, X-band) spin probe, TEMPOL, which is restricted to regions vicinal to protein in frozen aqueous solution. Weak (protein surrounded by aqueous-dimethylsulfoxide cryosolvent mesodomain) and strong (no added crysolvent) conditions of ice boundary confinement are imposed. The panel of soluble proteins represents large and small oligomeric (ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, 488 kDa; streptavidin, 52.8 kDa) and monomeric (myoglobin, 16.7 kDa) globular proteins, an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP, β-casein, 24.0 kDa), an unstructured peptide (protamine, 4.38 kDa) and a small peptide with partial backbone order (amyloid-β residues 1-16, 1.96 kDa). Expanded and condensate structures of β-casein and protamine are resolved by the spin probe under weak and strong confinement, respectively. At each confinement condition, the soluble globular proteins display common T-dependences of rotational correlation times and normalized weights, for two mobility components, protein-associated domain, PAD, and surrounding mesodomain. Strong confinement induces a detectable PAD component and emulation of globular protein T-dependence by the amyloid-β peptide. Confinement uniformly impacts soluble globular protein PAD dynamics, and is therefore a generic control parameter for modulation of soluble globular protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322.
| | | | - Kurt Warncke
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322.
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5
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Norton-Baker B, Rocha MA, Granger-Jones J, Fishman DA, Martin RW. Human γS-Crystallin Resists Unfolding Despite Extensive Chemical Modification from Exposure to Ionizing Radiation. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:679-690. [PMID: 35021623 PMCID: PMC9977691 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c08157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation has dramatic effects on living organisms, causing damage to proteins, DNA, and other cellular components. γ radiation produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage biological macromolecules. Protein modification due to interactions with hydroxyl radical is one of the most common deleterious effects of radiation. The human eye lens is particularly vulnerable to the effects of ionizing radiation, as it is metabolically inactive and its proteins are not recycled after early development. Therefore, radiation damage accumulates and eventually can lead to cataract formation. Here we explore the impact of γ radiation on a long-lived structural protein. We exposed the human eye lens protein γS-crystallin (HγS) to high doses of γ radiation and investigated the chemical and structural effects. HγS accumulated many post-translational modifications (PTMs), appearing to gain significant oxidative damage. Biochemical assays suggested that cysteines were affected, with the concentration of free thiol reduced with increasing γ radiation exposure. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that irradiated samples form protein-protein cross-links, including nondisulfide covalent bonds. Tandem mass spectrometry on proteolytic digests of irradiated samples revealed that lysine, methionine, tryptophan, leucine, and cysteine were oxidized. Despite these chemical modifications, HγS remained folded past 10.8 kGy of γ irradiation as evidenced by circular dichroism and intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna Norton-Baker
- These authors contributed equally.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
| | - Megan A. Rocha
- These authors contributed equally.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
| | | | - Dmitry A. Fishman
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
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6
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Song J. Adenosine triphosphate energy-independently controls protein homeostasis with unique structure and diverse mechanisms. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1277-1293. [PMID: 33829608 PMCID: PMC8197423 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteins function in the crowded cellular environments with high salt concentrations, thus facing tremendous challenges of misfolding/aggregation which represents a pathological hallmark of aging and an increasing spectrum of human diseases. Recently, intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) were recognized to drive liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a common principle for organizing cellular membraneless organelles (MLOs). ATP, the universal energy currency for all living cells, mysteriously has concentrations of 2-12 mM, much higher than required for its previously-known functions. Only recently, ATP was decoded to behave as a biological hydrotrope to inhibit protein LLPS and aggregation at mM. We further revealed that ATP also acts as a bivalent binder, which not only biphasically modulates LLPS driven by IDRs of human and viral proteins, but also bind to the conserved nucleic-acid-binding surfaces of the folded proteins. Most unexpectedly, ATP appears to act as a hydration mediator to antagonize the crowding-induced destabilization as well as to enhance folding of proteins without significant binding. Here, this review focuses on summarizing the results of these biophysical studies and discussing their implications in an evolutionary context. By linking triphosphate with unique hydration property to adenosine, ATP appears to couple the ability for establishing hydrophobic, π-π, π-cation and electrostatic interactions to the capacity in mediating hydration of proteins, which is at the heart of folding, dynamics, stability, phase separation and aggregation. Consequently, ATP acquired a category of functions at ~mM to energy-independently control protein homeostasis with diverse mechanisms, thus implying a link between cellular ATP concentrations and protein-aggregation diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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7
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Rocha MA, Sprague-Piercy MA, Kwok AO, Roskamp KW, Martin RW. Chemical Properties Determine Solubility and Stability in βγ-Crystallins of the Eye Lens. Chembiochem 2021; 22:1329-1346. [PMID: 33569867 PMCID: PMC8052307 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
βγ-Crystallins are the primary structural and refractive proteins found in the vertebrate eye lens. Because crystallins are not replaced after early eye development, their solubility and stability must be maintained for a lifetime, which is even more remarkable given the high protein concentration in the lens. Aggregation of crystallins caused by mutations or post-translational modifications can reduce crystallin protein stability and alter intermolecular interactions. Common post-translational modifications that can cause age-related cataracts include deamidation, oxidation, and tryptophan derivatization. Metal ion binding can also trigger reduced crystallin solubility through a variety of mechanisms. Interprotein interactions are critical to maintaining lens transparency: crystallins can undergo domain swapping, disulfide bonding, and liquid-liquid phase separation, all of which can cause opacity depending on the context. Important experimental techniques for assessing crystallin conformation in the absence of a high-resolution structure include dye-binding assays, circular dichroism, fluorescence, light scattering, and transition metal FRET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. Rocha
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Marc A. Sprague-Piercy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-2525
| | - Ashley O. Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Kyle W. Roskamp
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-2525
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8
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He Y, Kang J, Song J. ATP differentially antagonizes the crowding-induced destabilization of human γS-crystallin and its four cataract-causing mutants. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 533:913-918. [PMID: 33004175 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
αβγ-crystallins account for ∼90% of ocular proteins in lens with concentrations ≥400 mg/ml, which has to be soluble for the whole life-span and their aggregation results in cataract. So far, four cataract-causing mutants G18V, D26G, S39C and V42 M have been identified for human γS-crystallin. Mysteriously, lens maintains ATP concentrations of 3-7 mM despite being a metabolically-quiescent organ. Here by DSF and NMR, we characterized the binding of ATP to three cataract-causing mutants of human γS-crystallin as well as its effect on the solution conformations and thermal stability. The results together decode several novel findings: 1) ATP shows no detectable binding to WT and mutants, as well as no significant alternation of their conformations even at molar ratio of 1:200.2) Cataract-causing mutants show distinctive patterns of the crowding-induced destabilization. 3) ATP differentially antagonizes their crowding-induced destabilization. Our studies suggest that the crowding-induced destabilization of human γS-crystallin is also critically dependent of the hydration shell which could be differentially altered by four mutations. Most unexpectedly, ATP acts as an effective mediator for the protein hydration shell to antagonize the crowding-induced destabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore.
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9
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He Y, Kang J, Song J. Cataract-causing G18V eliminates the antagonization by ATP against the crowding-induced destabilization of human γS-crystallin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 530:554-560. [PMID: 32753316 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In lens, ∼90% of ocular proteins are αβγ-crystallins with concentrations ≥400 mg/ml, which need to remain soluble for the whole life-span and their aggregation leads to cataract. The G18V mutation of human γS-crystallin causes hereditary childhood-onset cortical cataract. Mysteriously, despite being a metabolically-quiescent organ, lens maintains ATP concentrations of 3-7 mM. Very recently, we found that ATP has no significant binding to γS-crystallin as well as no alternation of its conformation. Nevertheless, ATP antagonizes the crowding-induced destabilization of γS-crystallin even at 1:1, most likely by interacting with the hydration shell. Here by DSF and NMR, we characterized the effect of ATP on binding, conformation, stability of G18V γS-crystallin and its interactions with α-crystallin. The results reveal: 1) G18V significantly accelerates the crowding-induced destabilization with Tm of 67 °C reduced to 50.5 °C at 1 mM. 2) Most unexpectedly, G18V almost completely eliminates the antagonizing effect of ATP against the crowding-induced destabilization. 3) ATP shows no significant effect on the interactions of α-crystallin with both WT and G18V γS-crystallin. Results together decode for the first time that G18V causes cataract not only by accelerating the crowding-induced destabilization, but also by eliminating the antagonizing effect of ATP against the crowding-induced destabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore.
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10
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Roskamp KW, Paulson CN, Brubaker WD, Martin RW. Function and Aggregation in Structural Eye Lens Crystallins. Acc Chem Res 2020; 53:863-874. [PMID: 32271004 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Crystallins are transparent, refractive proteins that contribute to the focusing power of the vertebrate eye lens. These proteins are extremely soluble and resist aggregation for decades, even under crowded conditions. Crystallins have evolved to avoid strong interprotein interactions and have unusual hydration properties. Crystallin aggregation resulting from mutation, damage, or aging can lead to cataract, a disease state characterized by opacity of the lens.Different aggregation mechanisms can occur, following multiple pathways and leading to aggregates with varied morphologies. Studies of variant proteins found in individuals with childhood-onset cataract have provided insight into the molecular factors underlying crystallin stability and solubility. Modulation of exposed hydrophobic surface is critical, as is preventing specific intermolecular interactions that could provide nucleation sites for aggregation. Biophysical measurements and structural biology techniques are beginning to provide a detailed picture of how crystallins crowd into the lens, providing high refractivity while avoiding excessively tight binding that would lead to aggregation.Despite the central biological importance of refractivity, relatively few experimental measurements have been made for lens crystallins. Our work and that of others have shown that hydration is important to the high refractive index of crystallin proteins, as are interactions between pairs of aromatic residues and potentially other specific structural features.This Account describes our efforts to understand both the functional and disease states of vertebrate eye lens crystallins, particularly the γ-crystallins. We use a variety of biophysical techniques, notably NMR spectroscopy, to investigate crystallin stability and solubility. In the first section, we describe efforts to understand the relative stability and aggregation propensity of different γS-crystallin variants. The second section focuses on interactions of these proteins with the holdase chaperone αB-crystallin. The third, fourth, and fifth sections explore different modes of aggregation available to crystallin proteins, and the final section highlights the importance of refractive index and the sometimes conflicting demands of selection for refractivity and solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle W. Roskamp
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Carolyn N. Paulson
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, United States
| | - William D. Brubaker
- SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, United States
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He Y, Kang J, Song J. ATP antagonizes the crowding-induced destabilization of the human eye-lens protein γS-crystallin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 526:1112-1117. [PMID: 32307080 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In lens, αβγ-crystallins accounting for ∼90% of ocular proteins with concentrations >400 mg/ml need to remain soluble for the whole life-span and their aggregation can lead to cataract. Mysteriously, despite being a metabolically-quiescent organ, lens maintains ATP concentrations of 3-7 mM. Very recently, ATP was proposed to hydrotropically prevent aggregation of crystallins but the mechanism remains unexplored. Here by NMR, DLS and DSF, we characterized the association, thermal stability and conformation of the 178-residue human γS-crystallin at concentrations from 2 to 100 mg/ml in the absence and in the presence of ATP. Results together reveal for the first time that ATP does antagonize the crowding-induced destabilization, although it has no significant binding to γS-crystallin as well as no alteration of its conformation. Therefore, ATP prevents aggregation in lens by a novel mechanism, thus rationalizing the fact that declining concentrations of ATP upon being aged is related to age-related cataractogenesis. To restore the normal concentrations of ATP in lens may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to treat aggregation-causing eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260.
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12
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Houston P, Macro N, Kang M, Chen L, Yang J, Wang L, Wu Z, Zhong D. Ultrafast Dynamics of Water-Protein Coupled Motions around the Surface of Eye Crystallin. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:3997-4007. [PMID: 31991083 PMCID: PMC7261499 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b13506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Water dynamics on the protein surface mediate both protein structure and function. However, many questions remain about the role of the protein hydration layers in protein fluctuations and how the dynamics of these layers relate to specific protein properties. The fish eye lens protein γM7-crystallin (γM7) is found in vivo at extremely high concentrations nearing the packing limit, corresponding to only a few water layers between adjacent proteins. In this study, we conducted a site-specific probing of hydration water motions and side-chain dynamics at nine selected sites around the surface of γM7 using a tryptophan scan with femtosecond spectroscopy and NMR nuclear spin relaxation (NSR). We observed correlated fluctuations between hydration water and protein side chains on the time scales of a few picoseconds and hundreds of picoseconds, corresponding to local reorientations and network restructuring, respectively. These motions are heterogeneous over the protein surface and relate to the various steric and chemical properties of the local protein environment. Overall, we found that γM7 has relatively slower water dynamics within the hydration shell than a similar β-sheet protein, which may contribute to the high packing limit of this unique protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Houston
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Nicolas Macro
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Minhee Kang
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Jin Yang
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Zhengrong Wu
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Dongping Zhong
- Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Programs of Biophysics, Chemical Physics, and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio, 43210, USA
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13
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Bianco V, Alonso-Navarro M, Di Silvio D, Moya S, Cortajarena AL, Coluzza I. Proteins are Solitary! Pathways of Protein Folding and Aggregation in Protein Mixtures. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:4800-4804. [PMID: 31373499 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b01753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present a computational and experimental study on the folding and aggregation in solutions of multiple protein mixtures at different concentrations. We show how in protein mixtures each component is capable of maintaining its folded state at densities greater than the one at which they would precipitate in single-species solutions. We demonstrate the generality of our observation over many different proteins using computer simulations capable of fully characterizing the cross-aggregation phase diagram of all the mixtures. Dynamic light scattering experiments were performed to evaluate the aggregation of two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and consensus tetratricopeptide repeat (CTPR), in solutions of one or both proteins. The experiments confirm our hypothesis and the simulations. These findings elucidate critical aspects of the cross-regulation of expression and aggregation of proteins exerted by the cell and on the evolutionary selection of folding and non-aggregating protein sequences, paving the way for new experimental tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentino Bianco
- Faculty of Chemistry, Chemical Physics Deprtment, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de las Ciencias, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | | | | | - Sergio Moya
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo Miramon 182, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Aitziber L Cortajarena
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo Miramon 182, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ivan Coluzza
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo Miramon 182, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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14
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Zhang J, Zhou L, Du Q, Shen Z, Hu J, Zhang Y. Assembly of peptides in mica-graphene nanocapillaries controlled by confined water. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:8210-8218. [PMID: 30973561 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr01092k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Water in nanoscale-confined geometries has unique physicochemical properties in contrast to bulk water, and is believed to play important roles in biological processes although there is less direct information available in the literature. Here, we report the self-assembly behaviors of a neurodegenerative disease related peptide termed GAV-9 encapsulated in mica-graphene nanocapillaries interacting with water nanofilms condensed under ambient conditions, based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results revealed that, upon increase in the humidity, the GAV-9 peptide monomers adsorbed the confined water molecules and transitioned to unexpected hydrogel-like structures. Our MD simulations also suggested that in the confined mica-graphene nanocapillaries, the GAV-9 peptide monomers would indeed form water-rich hydrogel structures instead of highly ordered nanofilaments. The interfacial water confined in the mica-graphene nanocapillary is found to be crucial for such a transition. Moreover, the distribution of confined water layers largely depended on the locations of the preformed peptide nanofilaments, and the peptide nanofilaments further assembled into nanosheets with the water layer increasing, but depolymerized to amorphous peptide assemblies with the water layer decreasing. The polymerization and depolymerization of the peptide nanofilaments could be controlled in a reversible manner. Our results have supplied a simplified model system to uncover the effects of the confined interfacial water on the biological process at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Zhang
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China.
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15
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Matveev VV. Cell theory, intrinsically disordered proteins, and the physics of the origin of life. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 149:114-130. [PMID: 30965040 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell theory, as formulated by Theodor Schwann in 1839, introduced the idea that the cell is the main structural unit of living nature. Later, in solving the problem of cell multiplication, Rudolf Virchow expanded the cell theory with a postulate: all cells only arise from pre-existing cells. But what did the very first cell arise from? This paper proposes extending the Virchow's law by the assumption that between the nonliving protocell and the first living cell the continuity of fundamental physical properties (the principle of invariance of physical properties) is preserved. The protocell is understood here as a cell-shaped physical system on the basis of the self-organized biologically significant prebiotic macromolecules, primarily peptides, having a potential to transform into the living cell. Biophase is considered as the physical basis of the membraneless protocell, the internal environment of which is separated from the external environment due to the phase of adsorbed water. The evidence is given that the first protocells may have been formed on the basis of intrinsically disordered peptides. Data on the similarity of the physical properties of living cells and the following model systems are given: protein and artificial polymer solutions, coacervate droplets, and ion-exchange resin granules. Available data on the similarity of the physical properties of cell models and living cells allow us to rephrase the Virchow's postulate as follows: the physical properties of a living cell could only arise from pre-existing physical properties of the protocell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir V Matveev
- Laboratory of Cell Physiology, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave 4, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russia.
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16
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Verma PK, Kundu A, Cho M. How Molecular Crowding Differs from Macromolecular Crowding: A Femtosecond Mid-Infrared Pump-Probe Study. J Phys Chem Lett 2018; 9:6584-6592. [PMID: 30380875 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b03153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Crowding is an inherent property of living systems in which biochemical processes occur in highly concentrated solutions of various finite-sized species of both low (molecular crowding) and high (macromolecular crowding) molecular weights. Is molecular crowding fundamentally different from macromolecular crowding? To answer this question, we use a femtosecond mid-infrared pump-probe technique with three vibrational probes in molecular (diethylene glycol) and macromolecular (polyethylene glycol) solutions. In less crowded media, both molecular and macromolecular crowders fail to affect the dynamics of interstitial bulk-like water molecules and those at the crowder/water interface. In highly crowded media, interstitial water dynamics strongly depends on molecular crowding, but macromolecular crowding does not alter the bulk-like hydration dynamics and has a modest crowding effect on water at the crowder/water interface. The results of this study provide a molecular level understanding of the structural and dynamic changes to water and the water-mediated cross-linking of crowders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Kumar Verma
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics , Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry , Korea University , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi 221005 , India
| | - Achintya Kundu
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics , Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry , Korea University , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics , Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry , Korea University , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
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17
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Überrück T, Neudert O, Kreuer KD, Blümich B, Granwehr J, Stapf S, Han S. Effect of nitroxide spin probes on the transport properties of Nafion membranes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:26660-26674. [PMID: 30320331 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04607g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Nafion is the most common material used as a proton exchange membrane in fuel cells. Yet, details of the transport pathways for protons and water in the inner membrane are still under debate. Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (ODNP) has proven to be a useful tool for probing hydration dynamics and interactions within 5-8 Å of protein and soft material surfaces. Recently it was suggested that ODNP can also be applied to analyze surface water dynamics along Nafion's inner membrane. Here we interrogate the viability of this method for Nafion by carrying out a series of measurements relying on 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry and diffusometry experiments with and without ODNP hyperpolarization, accompanied by other complementary characterization methods including small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of hydration, and proton conductivity by AC impedance spectroscopy. Our comprehensive study shows that commonly used paramagnetic spin probes-here, stable nitroxide radicals-for ODNP, as well as their diamagnetic analogues, reduce the inner membrane surface hydrophilicity, depending on the location and concentration of the spin probe. This heavily reduces the hydration of Nafion, hence increases the tortuosity of the inner membrane morphology and/or increases the activiation barrier for water transport, and consequently impedes water diffusion, transport, and proton conductivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Überrück
- RWTH Aachen University, Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Oliver Neudert
- Dept. Technical Physics II/Polymer Physics, University of Technology Ilmenau, 98684 Ilmenau, Germany and GMBU e.V., Erich-Neuß-Weg 5, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Klaus-Dieter Kreuer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstr. 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Bernhard Blümich
- RWTH Aachen University, Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Josef Granwehr
- RWTH Aachen University, Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany. and Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Energie- und Klimaforschung - Grundlagen der Elektrochemie (IEK-9), 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Siegfried Stapf
- Dept. Technical Physics II/Polymer Physics, University of Technology Ilmenau, 98684 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Songi Han
- University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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18
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Khago D, Bierma JC, Roskamp KW, Kozlyuk N, Martin RW. Protein refractive index increment is determined by conformation as well as composition. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:435101. [PMID: 30280702 PMCID: PMC6387658 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aae000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The refractive index gradient of the eye lens is controlled by the concentration and distribution of its component crystallin proteins, which are highly enriched in polarizable amino acids. The current understanding of the refractive index increment ([Formula: see text]) of proteins is described using an additive model wherein the refractivity and specific volume of each amino acid type contributes according to abundance in the primary sequence. Here we present experimental measurements of [Formula: see text] for crystallins from the human lens and those of aquatic animals under uniform solvent conditions. In all cases, the measured values are much higher than those predicted from primary sequence alone, suggesting that structural factors also contribute to protein refractive index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domarin Khago
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America
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19
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Ma L, Cui X, Cai W, Shao X. Understanding the function of water during the gelation of globular proteins by temperature-dependent near infrared spectroscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:20132-20140. [PMID: 30027956 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp01431k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Water plays an indispensable role in the gelation of proteins, but its function still remains unclear. In this work, the variation of water species with the structural changes of globular proteins was investigated using temperature-dependent near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used as a model protein, which forms a gel-like structure as the temperature increases through three phases, i.e., phase I (native), phase II (molten globule state), and phase III (gel state). The structural change and the content variation of different water species in the three phases of gelation were analyzed by two-dimensional correlation NIR spectroscopy and Gaussian fitting. A decrease in the water species with two hydrogen bonds (S2) was found and the change follows the same phases as OVA. In the first two phases, the change occurs after those of other water species but in the third phase, the change is faster than that of free water species. The result indicates that in the native and molten globule states, S2 is located in the hydration shell of OVA to maintain the stability of the protein structure, and then in the gel state, high temperature weakens the hydrogen bonding of S2 and leads to the destruction of the hydration shell, making OVA clusters form a gel structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China.
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20
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Biller JR, Barnes R, Han S. Perspective of Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization for the study of soft materials. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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21
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Collaborative routes to clarifying the murky waters of aqueous supramolecular chemistry. Nat Chem 2017; 10:8-16. [DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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22
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Trovato F, Fumagalli G. Molecular simulations of cellular processes. Biophys Rev 2017; 9:941-958. [PMID: 29185136 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-017-0363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is, nowadays, possible to simulate biological processes in conditions that mimic the different cellular compartments. Several groups have performed these calculations using molecular models that vary in performance and accuracy. In many cases, the atomistic degrees of freedom have been eliminated, sacrificing both structural complexity and chemical specificity to be able to explore slow processes. In this review, we will discuss the insights gained from computer simulations on macromolecule diffusion, nuclear body formation, and processes involving the genetic material inside cell-mimicking spaces. We will also discuss the challenges to generate new models suitable for the simulations of biological processes on a cell scale and for cell-cycle-long times, including non-equilibrium events such as the co-translational folding, misfolding, and aggregation of proteins. A prominent role will be played by the wise choice of the structural simplifications and, simultaneously, of a relatively complex energetic description. These challenging tasks will rely on the integration of experimental and computational methods, achieved through the application of efficient algorithms. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Trovato
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Giordano Fumagalli
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 55041, Lido di Camaiore, Lucca, Italy
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23
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Daley KR, Kubarych KJ. An “Iceberg” Coating Preserves Bulk Hydration Dynamics in Aqueous PEG Solutions. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:10574-10582. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b08030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R. Daley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Kevin J. Kubarych
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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24
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Gao M, Held C, Patra S, Arns L, Sadowski G, Winter R. Crowders and Cosolvents-Major Contributors to the Cellular Milieu and Efficient Means to Counteract Environmental Stresses. Chemphyschem 2017; 18:2951-2972. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201700762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Gao
- TU Dortmund University; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry; Otto Hahn Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Christoph Held
- TU Dortmund University; Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering; Emil-Figge-Str. 70 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Satyajit Patra
- TU Dortmund University; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry; Otto Hahn Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Loana Arns
- TU Dortmund University; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry; Otto Hahn Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Gabriele Sadowski
- TU Dortmund University; Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering; Emil-Figge-Str. 70 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- TU Dortmund University; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry; Otto Hahn Str. 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
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25
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Feig M, Yu I, Wang PH, Nawrocki G, Sugita Y. Crowding in Cellular Environments at an Atomistic Level from Computer Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:8009-8025. [PMID: 28666087 PMCID: PMC5582368 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b03570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The
effects of crowding in biological environments on biomolecular
structure, dynamics, and function remain not well understood. Computer
simulations of atomistic models of concentrated peptide and protein
systems at different levels of complexity are beginning to provide
new insights. Crowding, weak interactions with other macromolecules
and metabolites, and altered solvent properties within cellular environments
appear to remodel the energy landscape of peptides and proteins in
significant ways including the possibility of native state destabilization.
Crowding is also seen to affect dynamic properties, both conformational
dynamics and diffusional properties of macromolecules. Recent simulations
that address these questions are reviewed here and discussed in the
context of relevant experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Feig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan, United States.,Quantitative Biology Center, RIKEN , Kobe, Japan
| | - Isseki Yu
- Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN , Wako, Japan.,iTHES Research Group, RIKEN , Wako, Japan
| | - Po-Hung Wang
- Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN , Wako, Japan
| | - Grzegorz Nawrocki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan, United States
| | - Yuji Sugita
- Quantitative Biology Center, RIKEN , Kobe, Japan.,Theoretical Molecular Science Laboratory, RIKEN , Wako, Japan.,iTHES Research Group, RIKEN , Wako, Japan.,Advanced Institute for Computational Science, RIKEN , Kobe, Japan
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26
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Mochizuki K, Ben-Amotz D. Hydration-Shell Transformation of Thermosensitive Aqueous Polymers. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:1360-1364. [PMID: 28277683 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Although water plays a key role in the coil-globule transition of polymers and biomolecules, it is not clear whether a change in water structure drives or follows polymer collapse. Here, we address this question by using Raman multivariate curve resolution (Raman-MCR) spectroscopy to investigate the hydration shell structure around poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), both below and above the cloud point temperature at which the polymers collapse and form mesoscopic polymer-rich aggregates. We find that, upon clouding, the water surrounding long PNIPAM chains transforms to a less ordered and more weakly hydrogen bonded structure, while the water surrounding short PNIPAM and PPO chains remains similar above and below the cloud point. Furthermore, microfluidic temperature jump studies demonstrate that the onset of clouding precedes the hydration-shell structural transformation, and thus the observed water structural transformation is associated with ripening of aggregates composed of long-chain polymers, on a time scale that is long compared to the onset of clouding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Mochizuki
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University , Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Dor Ben-Amotz
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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27
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Jho Y, Yoo HY, Lin Y, Han S, Hwang DS. Molecular and structural basis of low interfacial energy of complex coacervates in water. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 239:61-73. [PMID: 27499328 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Complex coacervate refers to a phase-separated fluid, typically of two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in solution, representing a complex fluid system that has been shown to be of essential interest to biological systems, as well as for soft materials processing owing to the expectation of superior underwater coating or adhesion properties. The significance and interest in complex coacervate fluids critically rely on its low interfacial tension with respect to water that, in turn, facilitates the wetting of macromolecular or material surfaces under aqueous conditions, provided there is attractive interaction between the polyelectrolyte constituents and the surface. However, the molecular and structural bases of these properties remain unclear. Recent studies propose that the formation of water-filled and bifluidic sponge-like nanostructured network, driven by the tuning of electrostatic interactions between the polyelectrolyte constituents or their complexes may be a common feature of complex coacervate fluids that display low fluid viscosity and low interfacial tension, but more studies are needed to verify the generality of these observations. In this review, we summarize representative studies of interfacial tension and ultrastructures of complex coacervate fluids. We highlight that a consensus property of the complex coacervate fluid is the observation of high or even bulk-like water dynamics within the dense complex coacervate phase that is consistent with a low cohesive energy fluid. Our own studies on this subject are enabled by the application of magnetic resonance relaxometry methods relying on spin labels tethered to polyelectrolyte constituents or added as spin labeled probe molecules that partition into the dense versus the equilibrium coacervate phase, permitting the extraction of information on local polymer dynamics, polymer packing and local water dynamics. We conclude with a snapshot of our current perspective on the molecular and structural bases of the low interfacial tension of complex coacervate fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- YongSeok Jho
- Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Young Yoo
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Yanxian Lin
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - Dong Soo Hwang
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea.
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28
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Stachura M, Chakraborty S, Gottberg A, Ruckthong L, Pecoraro VL, Hemmingsen L. Direct Observation of Nanosecond Water Exchange Dynamics at a Protein Metal Site. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 139:79-82. [PMID: 27973778 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b11525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nanosecond ligand exchange dynamics at metal sites within proteins is essential in catalysis, metal ion transport, and regulatory metallobiochemistry. Herein we present direct observation of the exchange dynamics of water at a Cd2+ binding site within two de novo designed metalloprotein constructs using 111mCd perturbed angular correlation (PAC) of γ-rays and 113Cd NMR spectroscopy. The residence time of the Cd2+-bound water molecule is tens of nanoseconds at 20 °C in both proteins. This constitutes the first direct experimental observation of the residence time of Cd2+ coordinated water in any system, including the simple aqua ion. A Leu to Ala amino acid substitution ∼10 Å from the Cd2+ site affects both the equilibrium constant and the residence time of water, while, surprisingly, the metal site structure, as probed by PAC spectroscopy, remains essentially unaltered. This implies that remote mutations may affect metal site dynamics, even when structure is conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Stachura
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen , Universitetsparken 5, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
| | - Saumen Chakraborty
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | | | - Leela Ruckthong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Vincent L Pecoraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Lars Hemmingsen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen , Universitetsparken 5, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
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29
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Verma PK, Kundu A, Ha JH, Cho M. Water Dynamics in Cytoplasm-Like Crowded Environment Correlates with the Conformational Transition of the Macromolecular Crowder. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:16081-16088. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b10164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Kumar Verma
- Center
for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Achintya Kundu
- Center
for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyon Ha
- Space-Time
Resolved Molecular Imaging Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul 136-075, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Center
for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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