1
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Gopich IV, Chung HS. Unraveling Burst Selection Bias in Single-Molecule FRET of Species with Unequal Brightness and Diffusivity. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:5576-5589. [PMID: 38833567 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01178] [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: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Single-molecule free diffusion experiments enable accurate quantification of coexisting species or states. However, unequal brightness and diffusivity introduce a burst selection bias and affect the interpretation of experimental results. We address this issue with a photon-by-photon maximum likelihood method, burstML, which explicitly considers burst selection criteria. BurstML accurately estimates parameters, including photon count rates, diffusion times, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiencies, and population, even in cases where species are poorly distinguished in FRET efficiency histograms. We develop a quantitative theory that determines the fraction of photon bursts corresponding to each species and thus obtain accurate species populations from the measured burst fractions. In addition, we provide a simple approximate formula for burst fractions and establish the range of parameters where unequal brightness and diffusivity can significantly affect the results obtained by conventional methods. The performance of the burstML method is compared with that of a maximum likelihood method that assumes equal species brightness and diffusivity, as well as standard Gaussian fitting of FRET efficiency histograms, using both simulated and real single-molecule data for cold-shock protein, protein L, and protein G. The burstML method enhances the accuracy of parameter estimation in single-molecule fluorescence studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina V Gopich
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Hoi Sung Chung
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
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2
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Pietrek LM, Stelzl LS, Hummer G. Hierarchical Assembly of Single-Stranded RNA. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:2246-2260. [PMID: 38361440 PMCID: PMC10938505 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) plays a major role in the flow of genetic information-most notably, in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA)-and in the regulation of biological processes. The highly dynamic nature of chains of unpaired nucleobases challenges structural characterizations of ssRNA by experiments or molecular dynamics (MD) simulations alike. Here, we use hierarchical chain growth (HCG) to construct ensembles of ssRNA chains. HCG assembles the structures of protein and nucleic acid chains from fragment libraries created by MD simulations. Applied to homo- and heteropolymeric ssRNAs of different lengths, we find that HCG produces structural ensembles that overall are in good agreement with diverse experiments, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The agreement can be further improved by ensemble refinement using Bayesian inference of ensembles (BioEn). HCG can also be used to assemble RNA structures that combine base-paired and base-unpaired regions, as illustrated for the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Pietrek
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lukas S. Stelzl
- Faculty
of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University
Mainz, Gresemundweg 2, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- KOMET
1, Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg
University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
- Institute
of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute
for Biophysics, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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3
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Montepietra D, Tesei G, Martins JM, Kunze MBA, Best RB, Lindorff-Larsen K. FRETpredict: a Python package for FRET efficiency predictions using rotamer libraries. Commun Biol 2024; 7:298. [PMID: 38461354 PMCID: PMC10925062 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05910-6] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a widely-used and versatile technique for the structural characterization of biomolecules. Here, we introduce FRETpredict, an easy-to-use Python software to predict FRET efficiencies from ensembles of protein conformations. FRETpredict uses a rotamer library approach to describe the FRET probes covalently bound to the protein. The software efficiently and flexibly operates on large conformational ensembles such as those generated by molecular dynamics simulations to facilitate the validation or refinement of molecular models and the interpretation of experimental data. We provide access to rotamer libraries for many commonly used dyes and linkers and describe a general methodology to generate new rotamer libraries for FRET probes. We demonstrate the performance and accuracy of the software for different types of systems: a rigid peptide (polyproline 11), an intrinsically disordered protein (ACTR), and three folded proteins (HiSiaP, SBD2, and MalE). FRETpredict is open source (GPLv3) and is available at github.com/KULL-Centre/FRETpredict and as a Python PyPI package at pypi.org/project/FRETpredict .
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Montepietra
- Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, 43125, Italy
- Istituto Nanoscienze - CNR-NANO, Center S3, via G. Campi 213/A, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulio Tesei
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - João M Martins
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Micha B A Kunze
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Robert B Best
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-0520, USA.
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark.
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4
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Holehouse AS, Kragelund BB. The molecular basis for cellular function of intrinsically disordered protein regions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:187-211. [PMID: 37957331 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00673-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered protein regions exist in a collection of dynamic interconverting conformations that lack a stable 3D structure. These regions are structurally heterogeneous, ubiquitous and found across all kingdoms of life. Despite the absence of a defined 3D structure, disordered regions are essential for cellular processes ranging from transcriptional control and cell signalling to subcellular organization. Through their conformational malleability and adaptability, disordered regions extend the repertoire of macromolecular interactions and are readily tunable by their structural and chemical context, making them ideal responders to regulatory cues. Recent work has led to major advances in understanding the link between protein sequence and conformational behaviour in disordered regions, yet the link between sequence and molecular function is less well defined. Here we consider the biochemical and biophysical foundations that underlie how and why disordered regions can engage in productive cellular functions, provide examples of emerging concepts and discuss how protein disorder contributes to intracellular information processing and regulation of cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Birthe B Kragelund
- REPIN, Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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5
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Tesei G, Trolle AI, Jonsson N, Betz J, Knudsen FE, Pesce F, Johansson KE, Lindorff-Larsen K. Conformational ensembles of the human intrinsically disordered proteome. Nature 2024; 626:897-904. [PMID: 38297118 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-07004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (collectively, IDRs) are pervasive across proteomes in all kingdoms of life, help to shape biological functions and are involved in numerous diseases. IDRs populate a diverse set of transiently formed structures and defy conventional sequence-structure-function relationships1. Developments in protein science have made it possible to predict the three-dimensional structures of folded proteins at the proteome scale2. By contrast, there is a lack of knowledge about the conformational properties of IDRs, partly because the sequences of disordered proteins are poorly conserved and also because only a few of these proteins have been characterized experimentally. The inability to predict structural properties of IDRs across the proteome has limited our understanding of the functional roles of IDRs and how evolution shapes them. As a supplement to previous structural studies of individual IDRs3, we developed an efficient molecular model to generate conformational ensembles of IDRs and thereby to predict their conformational properties from sequences4,5. Here we use this model to simulate nearly all of the IDRs in the human proteome. Examining conformational ensembles of 28,058 IDRs, we show how chain compaction is correlated with cellular function and localization. We provide insights into how sequence features relate to chain compaction and, using a machine-learning model trained on our simulation data, show the conservation of conformational properties across orthologues. Our results recapitulate observations from previous studies of individual protein systems and exemplify how to link-at the proteome scale-conformational ensembles with cellular function and localization, amino acid sequence, evolutionary conservation and disease variants. Our freely available database of conformational properties will encourage further experimental investigation and enable the generation of hypotheses about the biological roles and evolution of IDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Tesei
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Anna Ida Trolle
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Jonsson
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johannes Betz
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frederik E Knudsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesco Pesce
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer E Johansson
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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6
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Smith KP, Chakravarthy S, Rahi A, Chakraborty M, Vosberg KM, Tonelli M, Plach MG, Grigorescu AA, Curtis JE, Varma D. SAXS/MC studies of the mixed-folded protein Cdt1 reveal monomeric, folded over conformations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.573975. [PMID: 38260441 PMCID: PMC10802334 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.573975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Cdt1 is a protein critical for DNA replication licensing and is well-established to be a binding partner of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex. Cdt1 has also been demonstrated to have an emerging, "moonlighting" role at the kinetochore via direct binding to microtubules and to the Ndc80 complex. However, it is not known how the structure and conformations of Cdt1 could allow for these multiple, completely unique sets of protein complexes. And while there exist multiple robust methods to study entirely folded or entirely unfolded proteins, structure-function studies of combined, mixed folded/disordered proteins remain challenging. It this work, we employ multiple orthogonal biophysical and computational techniques to provide a detailed structural characterization of human Cdt1 92-546. DSF and DSCD show both folded winged helix (WH) domains of Cdt1 are relatively unstable. CD and NMR show the N-terminal and the linker regions are intrinsically disordered. Using DLS and SEC-MALS, we show that Cdt1 is polydisperse, monomeric at high concentrations, and without any apparent inter-molecular self-association. SEC-SAXS of the monomer in solution enabled computational modeling of the protein in silico. Using the program SASSIE, we performed rigid body Monte Carlo simulations to generate a conformational ensemble. Using experimental SAXS data, we filtered for conformations which did and did not fit our data. We observe that neither fully extended nor extremely compact Cdt1 conformations are consistent with our SAXS data. The best fit models have the N-terminal and linker regions extended into solution and the two folded domains close to each other in apparent "folded over" conformations. The best fit Cdt1 conformations are consistent with a function as a scaffold protein which may be sterically blocked without the presence of binding partners. Our studies also provide a template for combining experimental and computational biophysical techniques to study mixed-folded proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle P Smith
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Present Address, Xylia Therapeutics, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Srinivas Chakravarthy
- Biophysics Collaborative Access Team, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Amit Rahi
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Manas Chakraborty
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Kristen M Vosberg
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Marco Tonelli
- National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | | | - Arabela A Grigorescu
- Keck Biophysics Facility, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA
| | - Joseph E Curtis
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 6102, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, United States
| | - Dileep Varma
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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7
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Vancraenenbroeck R, Hofmann H. Electrostatics and hydrophobicity in the dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:133. [PMID: 38127117 PMCID: PMC10739388 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00383-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Internal friction is a major contribution to the dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Yet, the molecular origin of internal friction has so far been elusive. Here, we investigate whether attractive electrostatic interactions in IDPs modulate internal friction differently than the hydrophobic effect. To this end, we used nanosecond fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (nsFCS) and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to quantify the conformation and dynamics of the disordered DNA-binding domains Myc, Max and Mad at different salt concentrations. We find that internal friction effects are stronger when the chain is compacted by electrostatic attractions compared to the hydrophobic effect. Although the effect is moderate, the results show that the heteropolymeric nature of IDPs is reflected in their dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee Vancraenenbroeck
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
- Present Address: Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Darwin Building, 107 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Hagen Hofmann
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
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8
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Moses D, Ginell GM, Holehouse AS, Sukenik S. Intrinsically disordered regions are poised to act as sensors of cellular chemistry. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:1019-1034. [PMID: 37657994 PMCID: PMC10840941 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions (IDRs) are abundant in eukaryotic proteomes and play a wide variety of essential roles. Instead of folding into a stable structure, IDRs exist in an ensemble of interconverting conformations whose structure is biased by sequence-dependent interactions. The absence of a stable 3D structure, combined with high solvent accessibility, means that IDR conformational biases are inherently sensitive to changes in their environment. Here, we argue that IDRs are ideally poised to act as sensors and actuators of cellular physicochemistry. We review the physical principles that underlie IDR sensitivity, the molecular mechanisms that translate this sensitivity to function, and recent studies where environmental sensing by IDRs may play a key role in their downstream function.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Moses
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Garrett M Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Biomolecular Condensates (CBC), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Shahar Sukenik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, CA, USA; Quantitative Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
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9
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Truong HP, Koren G, Avinery R, Beck R, Saleh OA. Pincus blob elasticity in an intrinsically disordered protein. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:100. [PMID: 37847354 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00360-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the dynamic structure of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) is important to deciphering their biological functions. Here, we exploit precision entropic elasticity measurements to infer the conformational behavior of a model IDP construct formed from the disordered tail of the neurofilament low molecular weight protein. The IDP construct notably displays a low-force power-law elastic regime, consistent with the Pincus blob model, which allows direct extraction of the Flory exponent, [Formula: see text], from the force-extension relationship. We find [Formula: see text] increases with added denaturant, transitioning from a nearly ideal chain to a swollen chain in a manner quantitatively consistent with measurements of IDP dimensions from other experimental techniques. We suggest that measurements of entropic elasticity could be broadly useful in the study of IDP structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang P Truong
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
| | - Gil Koren
- The Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Center of Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ram Avinery
- The Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Center of Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Roy Beck
- The Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Center of Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omar A Saleh
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
- Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
- Physics Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
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10
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Wilson C, Lewis KA, Fitzkee NC, Hough LE, Whitten ST. ParSe 2.0: A web tool to identify drivers of protein phase separation at the proteome level. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4756. [PMID: 37574757 PMCID: PMC10464302 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4756] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
We have developed an algorithm, ParSe, which accurately identifies from the primary sequence those protein regions likely to exhibit physiological phase separation behavior. Originally, ParSe was designed to test the hypothesis that, for flexible proteins, phase separation potential is correlated to hydrodynamic size. While our results were consistent with that idea, we also found that many different descriptors could successfully differentiate between three classes of protein regions: folded, intrinsically disordered, and phase-separating intrinsically disordered. Consequently, numerous combinations of amino acid property scales can be used to make robust predictions of protein phase separation. Built from that finding, ParSe 2.0 uses an optimal set of property scales to predict domain-level organization and compute a sequence-based prediction of phase separation potential. The algorithm is fast enough to scan the whole of the human proteome in minutes on a single computer and is equally or more accurate than other published predictors in identifying proteins and regions within proteins that drive phase separation. Here, we describe a web application for ParSe 2.0 that may be accessed through a browser by visiting https://stevewhitten.github.io/Parse_v2_FASTA to quickly identify phase-separating proteins within large sequence sets, or by visiting https://stevewhitten.github.io/Parse_v2_web to evaluate individual protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colorado Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
- Present address:
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular BiophysicsUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Karen A. Lewis
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
| | - Nicholas C. Fitzkee
- Department of ChemistryMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMississippiUSA
| | - Loren E. Hough
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Steven T. Whitten
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
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11
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Koren G, Meir S, Holschuh L, Mertens HDT, Ehm T, Yahalom N, Golombek A, Schwartz T, Svergun DI, Saleh OA, Dzubiella J, Beck R. Intramolecular structural heterogeneity altered by long-range contacts in an intrinsically disordered protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220180120. [PMID: 37459524 PMCID: PMC10372579 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220180120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-range interactions and long-range contacts drive the 3D folding of structured proteins. The proteins' structure has a direct impact on their biological function. However, nearly 40% of the eukaryotes proteome is composed of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and protein regions that fluctuate between ensembles of numerous conformations. Therefore, to understand their biological function, it is critical to depict how the structural ensemble statistics correlate to the IDPs' amino acid sequence. Here, using small-angle X-ray scattering and time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (trFRET), we study the intramolecular structural heterogeneity of the neurofilament low intrinsically disordered tail domain (NFLt). Using theoretical results of polymer physics, we find that the Flory scaling exponent of NFLt subsegments correlates linearly with their net charge, ranging from statistics of ideal to self-avoiding chains. Surprisingly, measuring the same segments in the context of the whole NFLt protein, we find that regardless of the peptide sequence, the segments' structural statistics are more expanded than when measured independently. Our findings show that while polymer physics can, to some level, relate the IDP's sequence to its ensemble conformations, long-range contacts between distant amino acids play a crucial role in determining intramolecular structures. This emphasizes the necessity of advanced polymer theories to fully describe IDPs ensembles with the hope that it will allow us to model their biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Koren
- The School of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Condensed Matter, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
| | - Sagi Meir
- The School of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Condensed Matter, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
| | - Lennard Holschuh
- Applied Theoretical Physics-Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universit Freiburg, FreiburgD-79104, Germany
| | | | - Tamara Ehm
- The School of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Condensed Matter, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, MünchenD-80539, Germany
| | - Nadav Yahalom
- The Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences and Tel Aviv University Center for Light–Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv6997801, Israel
| | - Adina Golombek
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences and Tel Aviv University Center for Light–Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv6997801, Israel
| | - Tal Schwartz
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences and Tel Aviv University Center for Light–Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv6997801, Israel
| | - Dmitri I. Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg22607, Germany
| | - Omar A. Saleh
- BMSE Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93110
- Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93110
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Applied Theoretical Physics-Computational Physics, Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universit Freiburg, FreiburgD-79104, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT–Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, Albert-Ludwigs-Universit Freiburg, FreiburgD-79104, Germany
| | - Roy Beck
- The School of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Condensed Matter, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv69978, Israel
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12
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Pesce F, Lindorff-Larsen K. Combining Experiments and Simulations to Examine the Temperature-Dependent Behavior of a Disordered Protein. J Phys Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37433228 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins are a class of proteins that lack stable folded conformations and instead adopt a range of conformations that determine their biochemical functions. The temperature-dependent behavior of such disordered proteins is complex and can vary depending on the specific protein and environment. Here, we have used molecular dynamics simulations and previously published experimental data to investigate the temperature-dependent behavior of histatin 5, a 24-residue-long polypeptide. We examined the hypothesis that histatin 5 undergoes a loss of polyproline II (PPII) structure with increasing temperature, leading to more compact conformations. We found that the conformational ensembles generated by the simulations generally agree with small-angle X-ray scattering data for histatin 5, but show some discrepancies with the hydrodynamic radius as probed by pulsed-field gradient NMR spectroscopy, and with the secondary structure information derived from circular dichroism. We attempted to reconcile these differences by reweighting the conformational ensembles against the scattering and NMR data. By doing so, we were in part able to capture the temperature-dependent behavior of histatin 5 and to link the observed decrease in hydrodynamic radius with increasing temperature to a loss of PPII structure. We were, however, unable to achieve agreement with both the scattering and NMR data within experimental errors. We discuss different possible reasons for this including inaccuracies in the force field, differences in conditions of the NMR and scattering experiments, and issues related to the calculation of the hydrodynamic radius from conformational ensembles. Our study highlights the importance of integrating multiple types of experimental data when modeling conformational ensembles of disordered proteins and how environmental factors such as the temperature influence them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pesce
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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Alston JJ, Ginell GM, Soranno A, Holehouse AS. The Analytical Flory Random Coil Is a Simple-to-Use Reference Model for Unfolded and Disordered Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:4746-4760. [PMID: 37200094 PMCID: PMC10875986 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Denatured, unfolded, and intrinsically disordered proteins (collectively referred to here as unfolded proteins) can be described using analytical polymer models. These models capture various polymeric properties and can be fit to simulation results or experimental data. However, the model parameters commonly require users' decisions, making them useful for data interpretation but less clearly applicable as stand-alone reference models. Here we use all-atom simulations of polypeptides in conjunction with polymer scaling theory to parameterize an analytical model of unfolded polypeptides that behave as ideal chains (ν = 0.50). The model, which we call the analytical Flory random coil (AFRC), requires only the amino acid sequence as input and provides direct access to probability distributions of global and local conformational order parameters. The model defines a specific reference state to which experimental and computational results can be compared and normalized. As a proof-of-concept, we use the AFRC to identify sequence-specific intramolecular interactions in simulations of disordered proteins. We also use the AFRC to contextualize a curated set of 145 different radii of gyration obtained from previously published small-angle X-ray scattering experiments of disordered proteins. The AFRC is implemented as a stand-alone software package and is also available via a Google Colab notebook. In summary, the AFRC provides a simple-to-use reference polymer model that can guide intuition and aid in interpreting experimental or simulation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhullian J. Alston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Garrett M. Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Soranno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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14
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Paladino A, Vitagliano L, Graziano G. The Action of Chemical Denaturants: From Globular to Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050754. [PMID: 37237566 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Proteins perform their many functions by adopting either a minimal number of strictly similar conformations, the native state, or a vast ensemble of highly flexible conformations. In both cases, their structural features are highly influenced by the chemical environment. Even though a plethora of experimental studies have demonstrated the impact of chemical denaturants on protein structure, the molecular mechanism underlying their action is still debated. In the present review, after a brief recapitulation of the main experimental data on protein denaturants, we survey both classical and more recent interpretations of the molecular basis of their action. In particular, we highlight the differences and similarities of the impact that denaturants have on different structural classes of proteins, i.e., globular, intrinsically disordered (IDP), and amyloid-like assemblies. Particular attention has been given to the IDPs, as recent studies are unraveling their fundamental importance in many physiological processes. The role that computation techniques are expected to play in the near future is illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Paladino
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Graziano
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via Francesco de Sanctis snc, 82100 Benevento, Italy
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15
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Wohl S, Zheng W. Interpreting Transient Interactions of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:2395-2406. [PMID: 36917561 PMCID: PMC10038935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c00096] [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: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
The flexible nature of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) gives rise to a conformational ensemble with a diverse set of conformations. The simplest way to describe this ensemble is through a homopolymer model without any specific interactions. However, there has been growing evidence that the conformational properties of IDPs and their relevant functions can be affected by transient interactions between specific and even nonlocal pairs of amino acids. Interpreting these interactions from experimental methods, each of which is most sensitive to a different distance regime referred to as probing length, remains a challenging and unsolved problem. Here, we first show that transient interactions can be realized between short fragments of charged amino acids by generating conformational ensembles using model disordered peptides and coarse-grained simulations. Using these ensembles, we investigate how sensitive different types of experimental measurements are to the presence of transient interactions. We find methods with shorter probing lengths to be more appropriate for detecting these transient interactions, but one experimental method is not sufficient due to the existence of other weak interactions typically seen in IDPs. Finally, we develop an adjusted polymer model with an additional short-distance peak which can robustly reproduce the distance distribution function from two experimental measurements with complementary short and long probing lengths. This new model can suggest whether a homopolymer model is insufficient for describing a specific IDP and meets the challenge of quantitatively identifying specific, transient interactions from a background of nonspecific, weak interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Wohl
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona 85212, United States
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16
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Batista M, Donker EIM, Bon C, Guillien M, Caisso A, Mourey Funding L, Marie François Funding J, Maveyraud L, Zerbib D. The conserved yeast protein Knr4 involved in cell wall integrity is a multi-domain intrinsically disordered protein. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168048. [PMID: 36933821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Knr4/Smi1 proteins are specific to the fungal kingdom and their deletion in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the human pathogen Candida albicans results in hypersensitivity to specific antifungal agents and a wide range of parietal stresses. In S. cerevisiae, Knr4 is located at the crossroads of several signalling pathways, including the conserved cell wall integrity and calcineurin pathways. Knr4 interacts genetically and physically with several protein members of those pathways. Its sequence suggests that it contains large intrinsically disordered regions. Here, a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and crystallographic analysis led to a comprehensive structural view of Knr4. This experimental work unambiguously showed that Knr4 comprises two large intrinsically disordered regions flanking a central globular domain whose structure has been established. The structured domain is itself interrupted by a disordered loop. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique, strains expressing KNR4 genes deleted from different domains were constructed. The N-terminal domain and the loop are essential for optimal resistance to cell wall-binding stressors. The C-terminal disordered domain, on the other hand, acts as a negative regulator of this function of Knr4. The identification of molecular recognition features, the possible presence of secondary structure in these disordered domains and the functional importance of the disordered domains revealed here designate these domains as putative interacting spots with partners in either pathway. Targeting these interacting regions is a promising route to the discovery of inhibitory molecules that could increase the susceptibility of pathogens to the antifungals currently in clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Batista
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Ellen I M Donker
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Cécile Bon
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Myriam Guillien
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, F-31077 Toulouse, France; Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Adriana Caisso
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, F-31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Lionel Mourey Funding
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Laurent Maveyraud
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
| | - Didier Zerbib
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, F-31077 Toulouse, France.
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17
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Luo S, Wohl S, Zheng W, Yang S. Biophysical and Integrative Characterization of Protein Intrinsic Disorder as a Prime Target for Drug Discovery. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030530. [PMID: 36979465 PMCID: PMC10046839 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein intrinsic disorder is increasingly recognized for its biological and disease-driven functions. However, it represents significant challenges for biophysical studies due to its high conformational flexibility. In addressing these challenges, we highlight the complementary and distinct capabilities of a range of experimental and computational methods and further describe integrative strategies available for combining these techniques. Integrative biophysics methods provide valuable insights into the sequence–structure–function relationship of disordered proteins, setting the stage for protein intrinsic disorder to become a promising target for drug discovery. Finally, we briefly summarize recent advances in the development of new small molecule inhibitors targeting the disordered N-terminal domains of three vital transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqi Luo
- Center for Proteomics and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Samuel Wohl
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA
- Correspondence: (W.Z.); (S.Y.)
| | - Sichun Yang
- Center for Proteomics and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Correspondence: (W.Z.); (S.Y.)
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18
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Alston JJ, Ginell GM, Soranno A, Holehouse AS. The analytical Flory random coil is a simple-to-use reference model for unfolded and disordered proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.12.531990. [PMID: 36993592 PMCID: PMC10054940 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.12.531990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Denatured, unfolded, and intrinsically disordered proteins (collectively referred to here as unfolded proteins) can be described using analytical polymer models. These models capture various polymeric properties and can be fit to simulation results or experimental data. However, the model parameters commonly require users' decisions, making them useful for data interpretation but less clearly applicable as stand-alone reference models. Here we use all-atom simulations of polypeptides in conjunction with polymer scaling theory to parameterize an analytical model of unfolded polypeptides that behave as ideal chains (ν = 0.50). The model, which we call the analytical Flory Random Coil (AFRC), requires only the amino acid sequence as input and provides direct access to probability distributions of global and local conformational order parameters. The model defines a specific reference state to which experimental and computational results can be compared and normalized. As a proof-of-concept, we use the AFRC to identify sequence-specific intramolecular interactions in simulations of disordered proteins. We also use the AFRC to contextualize a curated set of 145 different radii of gyration obtained from previously published small-angle X-ray scattering experiments of disordered proteins. The AFRC is implemented as a stand-alone software package and is also available via a Google colab notebook. In summary, the AFRC provides a simple-to-use reference polymer model that can guide intuition and aid in interpreting experimental or simulation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhullian J. Alston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Garrett M. Ginell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Soranno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alex S. Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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19
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Montepietra D, Tesei G, Martins JM, Kunze MBA, Best RB, Lindorff-Larsen K. FRETpredict: A Python package for FRET efficiency predictions using rotamer libraries. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.27.525885. [PMID: 36789411 PMCID: PMC9928041 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.27.525885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Here, we introduce FRETpredict, a Python software program to predict FRET efficiencies from ensembles of protein conformations. FRETpredict uses an established Rotamer Library Approach to describe the FRET probes covalently bound to the protein. The software efficiently operates on large conformational ensembles such as those generated by molecular dynamics simulations to facilitate the validation or refinement of molecular models and the interpretation of experimental data. We demonstrate the performance and accuracy of the software for different types of systems: a relatively structured peptide (polyproline 11), an intrinsically disordered protein (ACTR), and three folded proteins (HiSiaP, SBD2, and MalE). We also describe a general approach to generate new rotamer libraries for FRET probes of interest. FRETpredict is open source (GPLv3) and is available at github.com/KULL-Centre/FRETpredict and as a Python PyPI package at pypi.org/project/FRETpredict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Montepietra
- Department of Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A 41125 Modena, Italy
- Istituto Nanoscienze – CNR-NANO, Center S3, via G. Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giulio Tesei
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - João M. Martins
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Micha B. A. Kunze
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Robert B. Best
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory & the Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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20
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Vovk A, Zilman A. Effects of Sequence Composition, Patterning and Hydrodynamics on the Conformation and Dynamics of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:1444. [PMID: 36674958 PMCID: PMC9867189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) perform diverse functions in cellular organization, transport and signaling. Unlike the well-defined structures of the classical natively folded proteins, IDPs and IDRs dynamically span large conformational and structural ensembles. This dynamic disorder impedes the study of the relationship between the amino acid sequences of the IDPs and their spatial structures and dynamics, with different experimental techniques often offering seemingly contradictory results. Although experimental and theoretical evidence indicates that some IDP properties can be understood based on their average biophysical properties and amino acid composition, other aspects of IDP function are dictated by the specifics of the amino acid sequence. We investigate the effects of several key variables on the dimensions and the dynamics of IDPs using coarse-grained polymer models. We focus on the sequence "patchiness" informed by the sequence and biophysical properties of different classes of IDPs-and in particular FG nucleoporins of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). We show that the sequence composition and patterning are well reflected in the global conformational variables such as the radius of gyration and hydrodynamic radius, while the end-to-end distance and dynamics are highly sequence-specific. We find that in good solvent conditions highly heterogeneous sequences of IDPs can be well mapped onto averaged minimal polymer models for the purpose of prediction of the IDPs dimensions and dynamic relaxation times. The coarse-grained simulations are in a good agreement with the results of atomistic MD. We discuss the implications of these results for the interpretation of the recent experimental measurements, and for the further applications of mesoscopic models of FG nucleoporins and IDPs more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Vovk
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St George Street, Toronto, ON M1M 2P7, Canada
| | - Anton Zilman
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 60 St George Street, Toronto, ON M1M 2P7, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
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21
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Buholzer KJ, McIvor J, Zosel F, Teppich C, Nettels D, Mercadante D, Schuler B. Multilayered allosteric modulation of coupled folding and binding by phosphorylation, peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization, and diversity of interaction partners. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:235102. [PMID: 36550025 DOI: 10.1063/5.0128273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play key roles in cellular regulation, including signal transduction, transcription, and cell-cycle control. Accordingly, IDPs can commonly interact with numerous different target proteins, and their interaction networks are expected to be highly regulated. However, many of the underlying regulatory mechanisms have remained unclear. Here, we examine the representative case of the nuclear coactivator binding domain (NCBD) of the large multidomain protein CBP, a hub in transcriptional regulation, and the interaction with several of its binding partners. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer measurements show that phosphorylation of NCBD reduces its binding affinity, with effects that vary depending on the binding partner and the site and number of modifications. The complexity of the interaction is further increased by the dependence of the affinities on peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization in NCBD. Overall, our results reveal the potential for allosteric regulation on at least three levels: the different affinities of NCBD for its different binding partners, the differential modulation of these affinities by phosphorylation, and the effect of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerization on binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin J Buholzer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jordan McIvor
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Franziska Zosel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Teppich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nettels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Davide Mercadante
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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22
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Pastore A, Temussi PA. The Protein Unfolded State: One, No One and One Hundred Thousand. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22352-22357. [PMID: 36450361 PMCID: PMC9756289 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Many in vitro studies, in which proteins have been unfolded by the action of a variety of physical or chemical agents, have led to the definition of a folded versus an unfolded state and to the question of what is the nature of the unfolded state. The unstructured nature of this state could suggest that "the" unfolded state is a unique entity which holds true for all kinds of unfolding processes. This assumption has to be questioned because the unfolding processes under different stress conditions are dictated by entirely different mechanisms. As a consequence, it can be easily understood that the final state, generically referred to as "the unfolded state", can be completely different for each of the unfolding processes. The present review examines recent data on the characteristics of the unfolded states emerging from experiments under different conditions, focusing specific attention to the level of compaction of the unfolded species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piero Andrea Temussi
- UK Dementia Research Institute at
the Maurice Wohl Institute of King’s College London, London, SE5 9RT, United Kingdom
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23
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Ando T. Functional Implications of Dynamic Structures of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Revealed by High-Speed AFM Imaging. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121876. [PMID: 36551304 PMCID: PMC9776203 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique functions of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) depend on their dynamic protean structure that often eludes analysis. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) can conduct this difficult analysis by directly visualizing individual IDP molecules in dynamic motion at sub-molecular resolution. After brief descriptions of the microscopy technique, this review first shows that the intermittent tip-sample contact does not alter the dynamic structure of IDPs and then describes how the number of amino acids contained in a fully disordered region can be estimated from its HS-AFM images. Next, the functional relevance of a dumbbell-like structure that has often been observed on IDPs is discussed. Finally, the dynamic structural information of two measles virus IDPs acquired from their HS-AFM and NMR analyses is described together with its functional implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Ando
- Nano Life Science Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
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24
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The biophysics of disordered proteins from the point of view of single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:875-890. [PMID: 36416865 PMCID: PMC9760427 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions (IDRs) have emerged as key players across many biological functions and diseases. Differently from structured proteins, disordered proteins lack stable structure and are particularly sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment. Investigation of disordered ensembles requires new approaches and concepts for quantifying conformations, dynamics, and interactions. Here, we provide a short description of the fundamental biophysical properties of disordered proteins as understood through the lens of single-molecule fluorescence observations. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) provides an extensive and versatile toolbox for quantifying the characteristics of conformational distributions and the dynamics of disordered proteins across many different solution conditions, both in vitro and in living cells.
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25
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Lenton S, Fagerberg E, Tully M, Skepö M. From dilute to concentrated solutions of intrinsically disordered proteins: Interpretation and analysis of collected data. Methods Enzymol 2022; 678:299-330. [PMID: 36641212 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have a broad energy landscape and consequently sample many different conformations in solution. The innate flexibility of IDPs is exploited in their biological function, and in many instances allows a single IDP to regulate a range of processes in vivo. Due to their highly flexible nature, characterizing the structural properties of IDPs is not straightforward. Often solution-based methods such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) are used. SAXS is indeed a powerful technique to study the structural and conformational properties of IDPs in solution, and from the obtained SAXS spectra, information about the average size, shape, and extent of oligomerization can be determined. In this chapter, we will introduce model-free methods that can be used to interpret SAXS data and introduce methods that can be used to interpret SAXS data beyond analytical models, for example, by using atomistic and different levels of coarse-grained models in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Lenton
- Drug Delivery and Biophysics of Biopharmaceuticals, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Theoretical Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eric Fagerberg
- Division of Theoretical Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mark Tully
- BioSAXS beamline, BM29, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, ESRF, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Skepö
- Division of Theoretical Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; LINXS-Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-ray Science, Lund, Sweden.
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26
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Zheng W, Du Z, Ko SB, Wickramasinghe N, Yang S. Incorporation of D 2O-Induced Fluorine Chemical Shift Perturbations into Ensemble-Structure Characterization of the ERalpha Disordered Region. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:9176-9186. [PMID: 36331868 PMCID: PMC10066504 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05456] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Structural characterization of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) requires a concerted effort between experiments and computations by accounting for their conformational heterogeneity. Given the diversity of experimental tools providing local and global structural information, constructing an experimental restraint-satisfying structural ensemble remains challenging. Here, we use the disordered N-terminal domain (NTD) of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) as a model system to combine existing small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and hydroxyl radical protein footprinting (HRPF) data and newly acquired solvent accessibility data via D2O-induced fluorine chemical shifting (DFCS) measurements. A new set of DFCS data for the solvent exposure of a set of 12 amino acid positions were added to complement previously acquired HRPF measurements for the solvent exposure of the other 16 nonoverlapping amino acids, thereby improving the NTD ensemble characterization considerably. We also found that while choosing an initial ensemble of structures generated from a different atomic-level force field or sampling/modeling method can lead to distinct contact maps even when the same sets of experimental measurements were used for ensemble-fitting, comparative analyses from these initial ensembles reveal commonly recurring structural features in their ensemble-averaged contact map. Specifically, nonlocal or long-range transient interactions were found consistently between the N-terminal segments and the central region, sufficient to mediate the conformational ensemble and regulate how the NTD interacts with its coactivator proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona 85212, United States
| | - Zhanwen Du
- Center for Proteomics and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
| | - Soo Bin Ko
- Center for Proteomics and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
| | - Nalinda Wickramasinghe
- Chemistry-NMR Facility, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Sichun Yang
- Center for Proteomics and Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
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27
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Roesgaard MA, Lundsgaard JE, Newcombe EA, Jacobsen NL, Pesce F, Tranchant EE, Lindemose S, Prestel A, Hartmann-Petersen R, Lindorff-Larsen K, Kragelund BB. Deciphering the Alphabet of Disorder-Glu and Asp Act Differently on Local but Not Global Properties. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101426. [PMID: 36291634 PMCID: PMC9599281 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared to folded proteins, the sequences of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are enriched in polar and charged amino acids. Glutamate is one of the most enriched amino acids in IDPs, while the chemically similar amino acid aspartate is less enriched. So far, the underlying functional differences between glutamates and aspartates in IDPs remain poorly understood. In this study, we examine the differential effects of aspartate and glutamates in IDPs by comparing the function and conformational ensemble of glutamate and aspartate variants of the disordered protein Dss1, using a range of assays, including interaction studies, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulation. First, we analyze the sequences of the rapidly growing database of experimentally verified IDPs (DisProt) and show that glutamate enrichment is not caused by a taxonomy bias in IDPs. From analyses of local and global structural properties as well as cell growth and protein-protein interactions using a model acidic IDP from yeast and three Glu/Asp variants, we find that while the Glu/Asp variants support similar function and global dimensions, the variants differ in their binding affinities and population of local transient structural elements. We speculate that these local structural differences may play roles in functional diversity, where glutamates can support increased helicity, important for folding and binding, while aspartates support extended structures and form helical caps, as well as playing more relevant roles in, e.g., transactivation domains and ion-binding.
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28
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Mitra S, Oikawa H, Rajendran D, Kowada T, Mizukami S, Naganathan AN, Takahashi S. Flexible Target Recognition of the Intrinsically Disordered DNA-Binding Domain of CytR Monitored by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:6136-6147. [PMID: 35969476 PMCID: PMC9422980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsically disordered DNA-binding domain of cytidine repressor (CytR-DBD) folds in the presence of target DNA and regulates the expression of multiple genes in E. coli. To explore the conformational rearrangements in the unbound state and the target recognition mechanisms of CytR-DBD, we carried out single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) measurements. The smFRET data of CytR-DBD in the absence of DNA show one major and one minor population assignable to an expanded unfolded state and a compact folded state, respectively. The population of the folded state increases and decreases upon titration with salt and denaturant, respectively, in an apparent two-state manner. The peak FRET efficiencies of both the unfolded and folded states change continuously with denaturant concentration, demonstrating the intrinsic flexibility of the DNA-binding domain and the deviation from a strict two-state transition. Remarkably, the CytR-DBD exhibits a compact structure when bound to both the specific and nonspecific DNA; however, the peak FRET efficiencies of the two structures are slightly but consistently different. The observed conformational heterogeneity highlights the potential structural changes required for CytR to bind variably spaced operator sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrutarshi Mitra
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Oikawa
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Divya Rajendran
- Department
of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Toshiyuki Kowada
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Shin Mizukami
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Athi N. Naganathan
- Department
of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department
of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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29
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Haris L, Biehl R, Dulle M, Radulescu A, Holderer O, Hoffmann I, Stadler AM. Variation of Structural and Dynamical Flexibility of Myelin Basic Protein in Response to Guanidinium Chloride. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6969. [PMID: 35805997 PMCID: PMC9266411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin basic protein (MBP) is intrinsically disordered in solution and is considered as a conformationally flexible biomacromolecule. Here, we present a study on perturbation of MBP structure and dynamics by the denaturant guanidinium chloride (GndCl) using small-angle scattering and neutron spin-echo spectroscopy (NSE). A concentration of 0.2 M GndCl causes charge screening in MBP resulting in a compact, but still disordered protein conformation, while GndCl concentrations above 1 M lead to structural expansion and swelling of MBP. NSE data of MBP were analyzed using the Zimm model with internal friction (ZIF) and normal mode (NM) analysis. A significant contribution of internal friction was found in compact states of MBP that approaches a non-vanishing internal friction relaxation time of approximately 40 ns at high GndCl concentrations. NM analysis demonstrates that the relaxation rates of internal modes of MBP remain unaffected by GndCl, while structural expansion due to GndCl results in increased amplitudes of internal motions. Within the model of the Brownian oscillator our observations can be rationalized by a loss of friction within the protein due to structural expansion. Our study highlights the intimate coupling of structural and dynamical plasticity of MBP, and its fundamental difference to the behavior of ideal polymers in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luman Haris
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.H.); (R.B.); (M.D.)
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ralf Biehl
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.H.); (R.B.); (M.D.)
| | - Martin Dulle
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.H.); (R.B.); (M.D.)
| | - Aurel Radulescu
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungzentrum Jülich GmbH, 85747 Garching, Germany; (A.R.); (O.H.)
| | - Olaf Holderer
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungzentrum Jülich GmbH, 85747 Garching, Germany; (A.R.); (O.H.)
| | - Ingo Hoffmann
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 20156, CEDEX 9, 38042 Grenoble, France;
| | - Andreas M. Stadler
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (L.H.); (R.B.); (M.D.)
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056 Aachen, Germany
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30
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Rajendran D, Mitra S, Oikawa H, Madhurima K, Sekhar A, Takahashi S, Naganathan AN. Quantification of Entropic Excluded Volume Effects Driving Crowding-Induced Collapse and Folding of a Disordered Protein. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:3112-3120. [PMID: 35357183 PMCID: PMC7612738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the conformational properties of the intrinsically disordered DNA-binding domain of CytR in the presence of the polymeric crowder polyethylene glycol (PEG). Integrating circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer measurements, we demonstrate that disordered CytR populates a well-folded minor conformation in its native ensemble, while the unfolded ensemble collapses and folds with an increase in crowder density independent of the crowder size. Employing a statistical-mechanical model, the effective reduction in the accessible conformational space of a residue in the unfolded state is estimated to be 10% at 300 mg/mL PEG8000, relative to dilute conditions. The experimentally consistent PEG-temperature phase diagram thus constructed reveals that entropic effects can stabilize disordered CytR by 10 kJ mol-1, driving the equilibrium toward folded conformations under physiological conditions. Our work highlights the malleable conformational landscape of CytR, the presence of a folded conformation in the disordered ensemble, and proposes a scaling relation for quantifying excluded volume effects on protein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Rajendran
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Shrutarshi Mitra
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Oikawa
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kulkarni Madhurima
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Ashok Sekhar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Athi N Naganathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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31
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Karamanos TK, Kalverda AP, Radford SE. Generating Ensembles of Dynamic Misfolding Proteins. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:881534. [PMID: 35431773 PMCID: PMC9008329 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.881534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The early stages of protein misfolding and aggregation involve disordered and partially folded protein conformers that contain a high degree of dynamic disorder. These dynamic species may undergo large-scale intra-molecular motions of intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) precursors, or flexible, low affinity inter-molecular binding in oligomeric assemblies. In both cases, generating atomic level visualization of the interconverting species that captures the conformations explored and their physico-chemical properties remains hugely challenging. How specific sub-ensembles of conformers that are on-pathway to aggregation into amyloid can be identified from their aggregation-resilient counterparts within these large heterogenous pools of rapidly moving molecules represents an additional level of complexity. Here, we describe current experimental and computational approaches designed to capture the dynamic nature of the early stages of protein misfolding and aggregation, and discuss potential challenges in describing these species because of the ensemble averaging of experimental restraints that arise from motions on the millisecond timescale. We give a perspective of how machine learning methods can be used to extract aggregation-relevant sub-ensembles and provide two examples of such an approach in which specific interactions of defined species within the dynamic ensembles of α-synuclein (αSyn) and β2-microgloblulin (β2m) can be captured and investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros K. Karamanos
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sheena E. Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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32
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Stelzl L, Pietrek LM, Holla A, Oroz J, Sikora M, Köfinger J, Schuler B, Zweckstetter M, Hummer G. Global Structure of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein Tau Emerges from Its Local Structure. JACS AU 2022; 2:673-686. [PMID: 35373198 PMCID: PMC8970000 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The paradigmatic disordered protein tau plays an important role in neuronal function and neurodegenerative diseases. To disentangle the factors controlling the balance between functional and disease-associated conformational states, we build a structural ensemble of the tau K18 fragment containing the four pseudorepeat domains involved in both microtubule binding and amyloid fibril formation. We assemble 129-residue-long tau K18 chains with atomic detail from an extensive fragment library constructed with molecular dynamics simulations. We introduce a reweighted hierarchical chain growth (RHCG) algorithm that integrates experimental data reporting on the local structure into the assembly process in a systematic manner. By combining Bayesian ensemble refinement with importance sampling, we obtain well-defined ensembles and overcome the problem of exponentially varying weights in the integrative modeling of long-chain polymeric molecules. The resulting tau K18 ensembles capture nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift and J-coupling measurements. Without further fitting, we achieve very good agreement with measurements of NMR residual dipolar couplings. The good agreement with experimental measures of global structure such as single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiencies is improved further by ensemble refinement. By comparing wild-type and mutant ensembles, we show that pathogenic single-point P301L, P301S, and P301T mutations shift the population from the turn-like conformations of the functional microtubule-bound state to the extended conformations of disease-associated tau fibrils. RHCG thus provides us with an atomically detailed view of the population equilibrium between functional and aggregation-prone states of tau K18, and demonstrates that global structural characteristics of this intrinsically disordered protein emerge from its local structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas
S. Stelzl
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty
of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University
Mainz, Gresemundweg 2, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- KOMET 1, Institute of Physics, Johannes
Gutenberg University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Lisa M. Pietrek
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrea Holla
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Javier Oroz
- German
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Rocasolano
Institute for Physical Chemistry, CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mateusz Sikora
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Faculty
of Physics, University of Vienna, Kolingasse 14-16, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Köfinger
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Physics, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Department
for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck
Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department
of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute
for Biophysics, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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33
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Abstract
Proteins have dynamic structures that undergo chain motions on time scales spanning from picoseconds to seconds. Resolving the resultant conformational heterogeneity is essential for gaining accurate insight into fundamental mechanistic aspects of the protein folding reaction. The use of high-resolution structural probes, sensitive to population distributions, has begun to enable the resolution of site-specific conformational heterogeneity at different stages of the folding reaction. Different states populated during protein folding, including the unfolded state, collapsed intermediate states, and even the native state, are found to possess significant conformational heterogeneity. Heterogeneity in protein folding and unfolding reactions originates from the reduced cooperativity of various kinds of physicochemical interactions between various structural elements of a protein, and between a protein and solvent. Heterogeneity may arise because of functional or evolutionary constraints. Conformational substates within the unfolded state and the collapsed intermediates that exchange at rates slower than the subsequent folding steps give rise to heterogeneity on the protein folding pathways. Multiple folding pathways are likely to represent distinct sequences of structure formation. Insight into the nature of the energy barriers separating different conformational states populated during (un)folding can also be obtained by resolving heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Bhatia
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India.,Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India.,Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
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34
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Kulkarni P, Leite VBP, Roy S, Bhattacharyya S, Mohanty A, Achuthan S, Singh D, Appadurai R, Rangarajan G, Weninger K, Orban J, Srivastava A, Jolly MK, Onuchic JN, Uversky VN, Salgia R. Intrinsically disordered proteins: Ensembles at the limits of Anfinsen's dogma. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:011306. [PMID: 38505224 PMCID: PMC10903413 DOI: 10.1063/5.0080512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are proteins that lack rigid 3D structure. Hence, they are often misconceived to present a challenge to Anfinsen's dogma. However, IDPs exist as ensembles that sample a quasi-continuum of rapidly interconverting conformations and, as such, may represent proteins at the extreme limit of the Anfinsen postulate. IDPs play important biological roles and are key components of the cellular protein interaction network (PIN). Many IDPs can interconvert between disordered and ordered states as they bind to appropriate partners. Conformational dynamics of IDPs contribute to conformational noise in the cell. Thus, the dysregulation of IDPs contributes to increased noise and "promiscuous" interactions. This leads to PIN rewiring to output an appropriate response underscoring the critical role of IDPs in cellular decision making. Nonetheless, IDPs are not easily tractable experimentally. Furthermore, in the absence of a reference conformation, discerning the energy landscape representation of the weakly funneled IDPs in terms of reaction coordinates is challenging. To understand conformational dynamics in real time and decipher how IDPs recognize multiple binding partners with high specificity, several sophisticated knowledge-based and physics-based in silico sampling techniques have been developed. Here, using specific examples, we highlight recent advances in energy landscape visualization and molecular dynamics simulations to discern conformational dynamics and discuss how the conformational preferences of IDPs modulate their function, especially in phenotypic switching. Finally, we discuss recent progress in identifying small molecules targeting IDPs underscoring the potential therapeutic value of IDPs. Understanding structure and function of IDPs can not only provide new insight on cellular decision making but may also help to refine and extend Anfinsen's structure/function paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Vitor B. P. Leite
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Susmita Roy
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharyya
- Translational Bioinformatics, Center for Informatics, Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Srisairam Achuthan
- Center for Informatics, Division of Research Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
| | - Divyoj Singh
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Rajeswari Appadurai
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Govindan Rangarajan
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Keith Weninger
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | | | - Anand Srivastava
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Jose N. Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892, USA
| | | | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 91010, USA
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35
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Conformational ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins and flexible multidomain proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:541-554. [PMID: 35129612 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and multidomain proteins with flexible linkers show a high level of structural heterogeneity and are best described by ensembles consisting of multiple conformations with associated thermodynamic weights. Determining conformational ensembles usually involves the integration of biophysical experiments and computational models. In this review, we discuss current approaches to determine conformational ensembles of IDPs and multidomain proteins, including the choice of biophysical experiments, computational models used to sample protein conformations, models to calculate experimental observables from protein structure, and methods to refine ensembles against experimental data. We also provide examples of recent applications of integrative conformational ensemble determination to study IDPs and multidomain proteins and suggest future directions for research in the field.
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36
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Zosel F, Holla A, Schuler B. Labeling of Proteins for Single-Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2376:207-233. [PMID: 34845612 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1716-8_12] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy has become an important technique for studying the conformational dynamics and folding of proteins. A key step for performing such experiments is the availability of high-quality samples. This chapter describes a simple and widely applicable strategy for preparing proteins that are site-specifically labeled with a donor and an acceptor dye for single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. The method is based on introducing two cysteine residues that are labeled with maleimide-functionalized fluorophores, combined with high-resolution chromatography. We discuss how to optimize site-specific labeling even in the absence of orthogonal coupling chemistry and present purification strategies that are suitable for samples ranging from intrinsically disordered proteins to large folded proteins. We also discuss common problems in protein labeling, how to avoid them, and how to stringently control sample quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Zosel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Andrea Holla
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Physics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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37
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Naudi-Fabra S, Blackledge M, Milles S. Synergies of Single Molecule Fluorescence and NMR for the Study of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Biomolecules 2021; 12:biom12010027. [PMID: 35053175 PMCID: PMC8773649 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Single molecule fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) are two very powerful techniques for the analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Both techniques have individually made major contributions to deciphering the complex properties of IDPs and their interactions, and it has become evident that they can provide very complementary views on the distance-dynamics relationships of IDP systems. We now review the first approaches using both NMR and single molecule fluorescence to decipher the molecular properties of IDPs and their interactions. We shed light on how these two techniques were employed synergistically for multidomain proteins harboring intrinsically disordered linkers, for veritable IDPs, but also for liquid–liquid phase separated systems. Additionally, we provide insights into the first approaches to use single molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and NMR for the description of multiconformational models of IDPs.
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38
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Naudi-Fabra S, Tengo M, Jensen MR, Blackledge M, Milles S. Quantitative Description of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Using Single-Molecule FRET, NMR, and SAXS. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:20109-20121. [PMID: 34817999 PMCID: PMC8662727 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studying the conformational landscape of intrinsically disordered and partially folded proteins is challenging and only accessible to a few solution state techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small-angle scattering techniques, and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET). While each of the techniques is sensitive to different properties of the disordered chain, such as local structural propensities, overall dimension, or intermediate- and long-range contacts, conformational ensembles describing intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) accurately should ideally respect all of these properties. Here we develop an integrated approach using a large set of FRET efficiencies and fluorescence lifetimes, NMR chemical shifts, and paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (PREs), as well as small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to derive quantitative conformational ensembles in agreement with all parameters. Our approach is tested using simulated data (five sets of PREs and 15 FRET efficiencies) and validated experimentally on the example of the disordered domain of measles virus phosphoprotein, providing new insights into the conformational landscape of this viral protein that comprises transient structural elements and is more compact than an unfolded chain throughout its length. Rigorous cross-validation using FRET efficiencies, fluorescence lifetimes, and SAXS demonstrates the predictive nature of the calculated conformational ensembles and underlines the potential of this strategy in integrative dynamic structural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Naudi-Fabra
- Institut de Biologie Structurale,
Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Maud Tengo
- Institut de Biologie Structurale,
Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Malene Ringkjøbing Jensen
- Institut de Biologie Structurale,
Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Martin Blackledge
- Institut de Biologie Structurale,
Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Sigrid Milles
- Institut de Biologie Structurale,
Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 71, Avenue des Martyrs, 38044 Grenoble, France
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39
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Pesce F, Lindorff-Larsen K. Refining conformational ensembles of flexible proteins against small-angle x-ray scattering data. Biophys J 2021; 120:5124-5135. [PMID: 34627764 PMCID: PMC8633713 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins and flexible regions in multidomain proteins display substantial conformational heterogeneity. Characterizing the conformational ensembles of these proteins in solution typically requires combining one or more biophysical techniques with computational modeling or simulations. Experimental data can either be used to assess the accuracy of a computational model or to refine the computational model to get a better agreement with the experimental data. In both cases, one generally needs a so-called forward model (i.e., an algorithm to calculate experimental observables from individual conformations or ensembles). In many cases, this involves one or more parameters that need to be set, and it is not always trivial to determine the optimal values or to understand the impact on the choice of parameters. For example, in the case of small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, many forward models include parameters that describe the contribution of the hydration layer and displaced solvent to the background-subtracted experimental data. Often, one also needs to fit a scale factor and a constant background for the SAXS data but across the entire ensemble. Here, we present a protocol to dissect the effect of the free parameters on the calculated SAXS intensities and to identify a reliable set of values. We have implemented this procedure in our Bayesian/maximum entropy framework for ensemble refinement and demonstrate the results on four intrinsically disordered proteins and a protein with three domains connected by flexible linkers. Our results show that the resulting ensembles can depend on the parameters used for solvent effects and suggest that these should be chosen carefully. We also find a set of parameters that work robustly across all proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pesce
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural Biology and NMR Laboratory, The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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40
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Klose D, Holla A, Gmeiner C, Nettels D, Ritsch I, Bross N, Yulikov M, Allain FHT, Schuler B, Jeschke G. Resolving distance variations by single-molecule FRET and EPR spectroscopy using rotamer libraries. Biophys J 2021; 120:4842-4858. [PMID: 34536387 PMCID: PMC8595751 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy are complementary techniques for quantifying distances in the nanometer range. Both approaches are commonly employed for probing the conformations and conformational changes of biological macromolecules based on site-directed fluorescent or paramagnetic labeling. FRET can be applied in solution at ambient temperature and thus provides direct access to dynamics, especially if used at the single-molecule level, whereas EPR requires immobilization or work at cryogenic temperatures but provides data that can be more reliably used to extract distance distributions. However, a combined analysis of the complementary data from the two techniques has been complicated by the lack of a common modeling framework. Here, we demonstrate a systematic analysis approach based on rotamer libraries for both FRET and EPR labels to predict distance distributions between two labels from a structural model. Dynamics of the fluorophores within these distance distributions are taken into account by diffusional averaging, which improves the agreement with experiment. Benchmarking this methodology with a series of surface-exposed pairs of sites in a structured protein domain reveals that the lowest resolved distance differences can be as small as ∼0.25 nm for both techniques, with quantitative agreement between experimental and simulated transfer efficiencies within a range of ±0.045. Rotamer library analysis thus establishes a coherent way of treating experimental data from EPR and FRET and provides a basis for integrative structural modeling, including studies of conformational distributions and dynamics of biological macromolecules using both techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Klose
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Holla
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nettels
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irina Ritsch
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nadja Bross
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maxim Yulikov
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Physics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Gunnar Jeschke
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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41
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Leavens MJ, Spang LE, Cherney MM, Bowler BE. Denatured State Conformational Biases in Three-Helix Bundles Containing Divergent Sequences Localize near Turns and Helix Capping Residues. Biochemistry 2021; 60:3071-3085. [PMID: 34606713 PMCID: PMC8751257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rhodopseudomonas palustris cytochrome c', a four-helix bundle, and the second ubiquitin-associated domain, UBA(2), a three-helix bundle from the human homologue of yeast Rad23, HHR23A, deviate from random coil behavior under denaturing conditions in a fold-specific manner. The random coil deviations in each of these folds occur near interhelical turns and loops in their tertiary structures. Here, we examine an additional three-helix bundle with an identical fold to UBA(2), but a highly divergent sequence, the first ubiquitin-associated domain, UBA(1), of HHR23A. We use histidine-heme loop formation methods, employing eight single histidine variants, to probe for denatured state conformational bias of a UBA(1) domain fused to the N-terminus of iso-1-cytochrome c (iso-1-Cytc). Guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) denaturation shows that the iso-1-Cytc domain unfolds first, followed by the UBA(1) domain. Denatured state (4 and 6 M GuHCl) histidine-heme loop formation studies show that as the size of the histidine-heme loop increases, loop stability decreases, as expected for the Jacobson-Stockmayer relationship. However, loops formed with His35, His31, and His15, of UBA(1), are 0.6-1.1 kcal/mol more stable than expected from the Jacobson-Stockmayer relationship, confirming the importance of deviations of the denatured state from random coil behavior near interhelical turns of helical domains for facilitating folding to the correct topology. For UBA(1) and UBA(2), hydrophobic clusters on either side of the turns partially explain deviations from random coil behavior; however, helix capping also appears to be important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses J. Leavens
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
- Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Lisa E. Spang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
- Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Melisa M. Cherney
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
- Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Bruce E. Bowler
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
- Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
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42
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Nassar R, Dignon GL, Razban RM, Dill KA. The Protein Folding Problem: The Role of Theory. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167126. [PMID: 34224747 PMCID: PMC8547331 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The protein folding problem was first articulated as question of how order arose from disorder in proteins: How did the various native structures of proteins arise from interatomic driving forces encoded within their amino acid sequences, and how did they fold so fast? These matters have now been largely resolved by theory and statistical mechanics combined with experiments. There are general principles. Chain randomness is overcome by solvation-based codes. And in the needle-in-a-haystack metaphor, native states are found efficiently because protein haystacks (conformational ensembles) are funnel-shaped. Order-disorder theory has now grown to encompass a large swath of protein physical science across biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Nassar
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Gregory L Dignon
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Rostam M Razban
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Ken A Dill
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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43
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Alston JJ, Soranno A, Holehouse AS. Integrating single-molecule spectroscopy and simulations for the study of intrinsically disordered proteins. Methods 2021; 193:116-135. [PMID: 33831596 PMCID: PMC8713295 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions (IDRs) have emerged from a niche corner of biophysics to be recognized as essential drivers of cellular function. Various techniques have provided fundamental insight into the function and dysfunction of IDRs. Among these techniques, single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular simulations have played a major role in shaping our modern understanding of the sequence-encoded conformational behavior of disordered proteins. While both techniques are frequently used in isolation, when combined they offer synergistic and complementary information that can help uncover complex molecular details. Here we offer an overview of single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular simulations in the context of studying disordered proteins. We discuss the various means in which simulations and single-molecule spectroscopy can be integrated, and consider a number of studies in which this integration has uncovered biological and biophysical mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhullian J Alston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis 63110, MO, USA; Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis 63130, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Soranno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis 63110, MO, USA; Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis 63130, MO, USA.
| | - Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis 63110, MO, USA; Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis 63130, MO, USA.
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44
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Dingfelder F, Macocco I, Benke S, Nettels D, Faccioli P, Schuler B. Slow Escape from a Helical Misfolded State of the Pore-Forming Toxin Cytolysin A. JACS AU 2021; 1:1217-1230. [PMID: 34467360 PMCID: PMC8397351 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The pore-forming toxin cytolysin A (ClyA) is expressed as a large α-helical monomer that, upon interaction with membranes, undergoes a major conformational rearrangement into the protomer conformation, which then assembles into a cytolytic pore. Here, we investigate the folding kinetics of the ClyA monomer with single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer spectroscopy in combination with microfluidic mixing, stopped-flow circular dichroism experiments, and molecular simulations. The complex folding process occurs over a broad range of time scales, from hundreds of nanoseconds to minutes. The very slow formation of the native state occurs from a rapidly formed and highly collapsed intermediate with large helical content and nonnative topology. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest pronounced non-native interactions as the origin of the slow escape from this deep trap in the free-energy surface, and a variational enhanced path-sampling approach enables a glimpse of the folding process that is supported by the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Dingfelder
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Iuri Macocco
- Department
of Physics, Trento University, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy
- SISSA, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stephan Benke
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nettels
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pietro Faccioli
- Department
of Physics, Trento University, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy
- INFN-TIFPA, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy
| | - Benjamin Schuler
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department
of Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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45
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Malliavin TE. Tandem domain structure determination based on a systematic enumeration of conformations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16925. [PMID: 34413388 PMCID: PMC8376923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein structure determination is undergoing a change of perspective due to the larger importance taken in biology by the disordered regions of biomolecules. In such cases, the convergence criterion is more difficult to set up and the size of the conformational space is a obstacle to exhaustive exploration. A pipeline is proposed here to exhaustively sample protein conformations using backbone angle limits obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and then to determine the populations of conformations. The pipeline is applied to a tandem domain of the protein whirlin. An original approach, derived from a reformulation of the Distance Geometry Problem is used to enumerate the conformations of the linker connecting the two domains. Specifically designed procedure then permit to assemble the domains to the linker conformations and to optimize the tandem domain conformations with respect to two sets of NMR measurements: residual dipolar couplings and paramagnetic resonance enhancements. The relative populations of optimized conformations are finally determined by fitting small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data. The most populated conformation of the tandem domain is a semi-closed one, fully closed and more extended conformations being in minority, in agreement with previous observations. The SAXS and NMR data show different influences on the determination of populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thérèse E Malliavin
- Unité de Bioinformatique Structurale, Institut Pasteur, UMR 3528, CNRS, Paris, France.
- Center of Bioinformatics, Biostatistics and Integrative Biology, Institut Pasteur, USR 3756, CNRS, Paris, France.
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46
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Ghosh A, Enderlein J. Advanced fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for studying biomolecular conformation. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 70:123-131. [PMID: 34371261 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We present the recent developments and advances in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and their application to the investigation of biomolecular conformations. In particular, we present and discuss three techniques: multichannel nanosecond FCS, photo-induced electron transfer FCS, and fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy. We briefly describe each method and discuss recent applications to diverse biophysical studies of biomolecular conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Ghosh
- Third Institute of Physics, Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich Hund Platz 1 Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- Third Institute of Physics, Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich Hund Platz 1 Göttingen, 37077, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), Georg August University, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.
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47
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Clerc I, Sagar A, Barducci A, Sibille N, Bernadó P, Cortés J. The diversity of molecular interactions involving intrinsically disordered proteins: A molecular modeling perspective. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3817-3828. [PMID: 34285781 PMCID: PMC8273358 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and Regions (IDPs/IDRs) are key components of a multitude of biological processes. Conformational malleability enables IDPs/IDRs to perform very specialized functions that cannot be accomplished by globular proteins. The functional role for most of these proteins is related to the recognition of other biomolecules to regulate biological processes or as a part of signaling pathways. Depending on the extent of disorder, the number of interacting sites and the type of partner, very different architectures for the resulting assemblies are possible. More recently, molecular condensates with liquid-like properties composed of multiple copies of IDPs and nucleic acids have been proven to regulate key processes in eukaryotic cells. The structural and kinetic details of disordered biomolecular complexes are difficult to unveil experimentally due to their inherent conformational heterogeneity. Computational approaches, alone or in combination with experimental data, have emerged as unavoidable tools to understand the functional mechanisms of this elusive type of assemblies. The level of description used, all-atom or coarse-grained, strongly depends on the size of the molecular systems and on the timescale of the investigated mechanism. In this mini-review, we describe the most relevant architectures found for molecular interactions involving IDPs/IDRs and the computational strategies applied for their investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinka Clerc
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Amin Sagar
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Alessandro Barducci
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Nathalie Sibille
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Pau Bernadó
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale, INSERM, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Juan Cortés
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
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48
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Ploetz EA, Karunaweera S, Smith PE. Kirkwood-Buff-Derived Force Field for Peptides and Proteins: Applications of KBFF20. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:2991-3009. [PMID: 33878264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Here, we perform structural, thermodynamic, and kinetics tests of the Kirkwood-Buff-derived force field, KBFF20, for peptides and proteins developed in the previous article. The physical/structural tests measure the ability of KBFF20 to capture the experimental J-couplings for small peptides, to keep globular monomeric and oligomeric proteins folded, and to produce the experimentally relevant expanded conformational ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins. The thermodynamic-based tests probe KBFF20's ability to quantify the preferential interactions of sodium chloride around native β-lactoglobulin and urea around native lysozyme, to reproduce the melting curves for small helix- and sheet-based peptides, and to fold the small proteins Trp-cage and Villin. The kinetics-based tests quantify how well KBFF20 can match the experimental contact formation rates of small, repeat-sequence peptides of variable lengths and the rotational diffusion coefficients of globular proteins. The results suggest that KBFF20 is naturally able to reproduce properties of both folded and disordered proteins, which we attribute to the use of the Kirkwood-Buff theory as the foundation of the force field's development. However, we show that KBFF20 tends to lose some well-defined secondary structural elements and increases the percentage of coil regions, indicating that the perfect balance of all interactions remains elusive. Nevertheless, we argue that KBFF20 is an improvement over recently modified force fields that require ad hoc interventions to prevent the collapse of intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Ploetz
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, 1212 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Sadish Karunaweera
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, 1212 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Paul E Smith
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, 1212 Mid-Campus Drive North, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
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49
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Dannenhoffer-Lafage T, Best RB. A Data-Driven Hydrophobicity Scale for Predicting Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:4046-4056. [PMID: 33876938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c11479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An accurate model for macroscale disordered assemblies of biological macromolecules such as those formed in so-called membraneless organelles would greatly assist in studying their structure, function, and dynamics. Recent evidence has suggested that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) underlies the formation of membraneless organelles. While the general mechanism of exchange of macromolecule/water for macromolecule/macromolecule interactions is known to be the driving force for LLPS, the specific interactions involved are not well understood. One way that protein-water and protein-protein interactions have been understood historically is via hydrophobicity scales. However, these scales are typically optimized for describing these relative interactions in certain cases, such as protein folding or insertion of proteins into membranes. To better describe the relative interactions of proteins that undergo LLPS, we have developed a new, data-driven hydrophobicity scale. To determine the new scale, we used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations using the hydrophobicity scale coarse-grained model, which relates the interactions between amino acids to their hydrophobicity. Hydrophobicity values were determined via the force-balance method on a library of proteins that includes unfolded, intrinsically disordered, and phase-separating proteins (PSP). The resulting hydrophobicity scale can better predict whether a given protein will undergo LLPS at physiological conditions by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations than existing hydrophobicity scales. This new scale confirms the importance of π-π interactions between amino acids as important drivers of LLPS. This new hydrophobicity scale provides a convenient and compact description of protein-protein interactions for proteins that undergo LLPS and could be used to develop new models to describe interactions between PSP and other components, such as nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dannenhoffer-Lafage
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| | - Robert B Best
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
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50
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Abstract
Modern experimental kinetics of protein folding began in the early 1990s with the introduction of nanosecond laser pulses to trigger the folding reaction, providing an almost 106-fold improvement in time resolution over the stopped-flow method being employed at the time. These experiments marked the beginning of the "fast-folding" subfield that enabled investigation of the kinetics of formation of secondary structural elements and disordered loops for the first time, as well as the fastest folding proteins. When I started to work on this subject, a fast folding protein was one that folded in milliseconds. There were, moreover, no analytical theoretical models and no atomistic or coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to describe the mechanism. Two of the most important discoveries from my lab since then are a protein that folds in hundreds of nanoseconds, as determined from nanosecond laser temperature experiments, and the discovery that the theoretically predicted barrier crossing time is about the same for proteins that differ in folding rates by 104-fold, as determined from single molecule fluorescence measurements. We also developed what has been called the "Hückel model" of protein folding, which quantitatively explains a wide range of equilibrium and kinetic measurements. This retrospective traces the history of contributions to the "fast folding" subfield from my lab until about 3 years ago, when I left protein folding to spend the rest of my research career trying to discover an inexpensive drug for treating sickle cell disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Eaton
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
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