1
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Pirro F, La Gatta S, Arrigoni F, Famulari A, Maglio O, Del Vecchio P, Chiesa M, De Gioia L, Bertini L, Chino M, Nastri F, Lombardi A. A De Novo-Designed Type 3 Copper Protein Tunes Catechol Substrate Recognition and Reactivity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202211552. [PMID: 36334012 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202211552] [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: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
De novo metalloprotein design is a remarkable approach to shape protein scaffolds toward specific functions. Here, we report the design and characterization of Due Rame 1 (DR1), a de novo designed protein housing a di-copper site and mimicking the Type 3 (T3) copper-containing polyphenol oxidases (PPOs). To achieve this goal, we hierarchically designed the first and the second di-metal coordination spheres to engineer the di-copper site into a simple four-helix bundle scaffold. Spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and functional characterization revealed that DR1 recapitulates the T3 copper site, supporting different copper redox states, and being active in the O2 -dependent oxidation of catechols to o-quinones. Careful design of the residues lining the substrate access site endows DR1 with substrate recognition, as revealed by Hammet analysis and computational studies on substituted catechols. This study represents a premier example in the construction of a functional T3 copper site into a designed four-helix bundle protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Pirro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Salvatore La Gatta
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Arrigoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonino Famulari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, University of of Zaragoza, Calle Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ornella Maglio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Chiesa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca De Gioia
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Bertini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Nastri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126, Naples, Italy
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2
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Choi TS, Tezcan FA. Design of a Flexible, Zn-Selective Protein Scaffold that Displays Anti-Irving-Williams Behavior. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:18090-18100. [PMID: 36154053 PMCID: PMC9949983 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Selective metal binding is a key requirement not only for the functions of natural metalloproteins but also for the potential applications of artificial metalloproteins in heterogeneous environments such as cells and environmental samples. The selection of transition-metal ions through protein design can, in principle, be achieved through the appropriate choice and the precise positioning of amino acids that comprise the primary metal coordination sphere. However, this task is made difficult by the intrinsic flexibility of proteins and the fact that protein design approaches generally lack the sub-Å precision required for the steric selection of metal ions. We recently introduced a flexible/probabilistic protein design strategy (MASCoT) that allows metal ions to search for optimal coordination geometry within a flexible, yet covalently constrained dimer interface. In an earlier proof-of-principle study, we used MASCoT to generate an artificial metalloprotein dimer, (AB)2, which selectively bound CoII and NiII over CuII (as well as other first-row transition-metal ions) through the imposition of a rigid octahedral coordination geometry, thus countering the Irving-Williams trend. In this study, we set out to redesign (AB)2 to examine the applicability of MASCoT to the selective binding of other metal ions. We report here the design and characterization of a new flexible protein dimer, B2, which displays ZnII selectivity over all other tested metal ions including CuII both in vitro and in cellulo. Selective, anti-Irving-Williams ZnII binding by B2 is achieved through the formation of a unique trinuclear Zn coordination motif in which His and Glu residues are rigidly placed in a tetrahedral geometry. These results highlight the utility of protein flexibility in the design and discovery of selective binding motifs.
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3
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Wang Z, Zhao Z, Li G, Zheng P. Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Reveals the Dynamic HgS Coordination Site in the De Novo-Designed Metalloprotein α 3DIV. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:5372-5378. [PMID: 35678420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The de novo-designed metalloprotein α3DIV binds to mercury via three cysteine residues under dynamic conditions. An unusual trigonal three-coordinate HgS3 site is formed in the protein in basic solution, whereas a linear two-coordinate HgS2 site is formed in acidic solution. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the two coordinated cysteines in the HgS2 site are fixed or not, which may lead to more dynamics. However, the signal for HgS2 sites with different cysteines may be similar or may be averaged and indistinguishable. To circumvent this problem, we adopt a single-molecule approach to study one mercury site at a time. Using atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy, the protein is unfolded, and the HgS site is ruptured. The results confirm the formation of HgS3 and HgS2 sites at different pH values. Moreover, it is found that any two of the three cysteines in the protein bind to mercury in the HgS2 site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Zhongxing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
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4
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Abstract
Natural metalloproteins perform many functions - ranging from sensing to electron transfer and catalysis - in which the position and property of each ligand and metal, is dictated by protein structure. De novo protein design aims to define an amino acid sequence that encodes a specific structure and function, providing a critical test of the hypothetical inner workings of (metallo)proteins. To date, de novo metalloproteins have used simple, symmetric tertiary structures - uncomplicated by the large size and evolutionary marks of natural proteins - to interrogate structure-function hypotheses. In this Review, we discuss de novo design applications, such as proteins that induce complex, increasingly asymmetric ligand geometries to achieve function, as well as the use of more canonical ligand geometries to achieve stability. De novo design has been used to explore how proteins fine-tune redox potentials and catalyse both oxidative and hydrolytic reactions. With an increased understanding of structure-function relationships, functional proteins including O2-dependent oxidases, fast hydrolases, and multi-proton/multi-electron reductases, have been created. In addition, proteins can now be designed using xeno-biological metals or cofactors and principles from inorganic chemistry to derive new-to-nature functions. These results and the advances in computational protein design suggest a bright future for the de novo design of diverse, functional metalloproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Chalkley
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, (CA), USA
| | - Samuel I. Mann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, (CA), USA
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, (CA), USA
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5
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Unravelling the Structure of the Tetrahedral Metal-Binding Site in METP3 through an Experimental and Computational Approach. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175221. [PMID: 34500655 PMCID: PMC8434281 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the structural determinants for metal ion coordination in metalloproteins is a fundamental issue for designing metal binding sites with predetermined geometry and activity. In order to achieve this, we report in this paper the design, synthesis and metal binding properties of METP3, a homodimer made up of a small peptide, which self assembles in the presence of tetrahedrally coordinating metal ions. METP3 was obtained through a redesign approach, starting from the previously developed METP molecule. The undecapeptide sequence of METP, which dimerizes to house a Cys4 tetrahedral binding site, was redesigned in order to accommodate a Cys2His2 site. The binding properties of METP3 were determined toward different metal ions. Successful assembly of METP3 with Co(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), in the expected 2:1 stoichiometry and tetrahedral geometry was proven by UV-visible spectroscopy. CD measurements on both the free and metal-bound forms revealed that the metal coordination drives the peptide chain to fold into a turned conformation. Finally, NMR data of the Zn(II)-METP3 complex, together with a retrostructural analysis of the Cys-X-X-His motif in metalloproteins, allowed us to define the model structure. All the results establish the suitability of the short METP sequence for accommodating tetrahedral metal binding sites, regardless of the first coordination ligands.
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6
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Jung SM, Lee J, Song WJ. Design of artificial metalloenzymes with multiple inorganic elements: The more the merrier. J Inorg Biochem 2021; 223:111552. [PMID: 34332336 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A large fraction of metalloenzymes harbors multiple metal-centers that are electronically and/or functionally arranged within their proteinaceous environments. To explore the orchestration of inorganic and biochemical components and to develop bioinorganic catalysts and materials, we have described selected examples of artificial metalloproteins having multiple metallocofactors that were grouped depending on their initial protein scaffolds, the nature of introduced inorganic moieties, and the method used to propagate the number of metal ions within a protein. They demonstrated that diverse inorganic moieties can be selectively grafted and modulated in protein environments, providing a retrosynthetic bottom-up approach in the design of versatile and proficient biocatalysts and biomimetic model systems to explore fundamental questions in bioinorganic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-Min Jung
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehee Lee
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Woon Ju Song
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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7
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A Peptides Prediction Methodology for Tertiary Structure Based on Simulated Annealing. MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL APPLICATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/mca26020039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Protein Folding Problem (PFP) is a big challenge that has remained unsolved for more than fifty years. This problem consists of obtaining the tertiary structure or Native Structure (NS) of a protein knowing its amino acid sequence. The computational methodologies applied to this problem are classified into two groups, known as Template-Based Modeling (TBM) and ab initio models. In the latter methodology, only information from the primary structure of the target protein is used. In the literature, Hybrid Simulated Annealing (HSA) algorithms are among the best ab initio algorithms for PFP; Golden Ratio Simulated Annealing (GRSA) is a PFP family of these algorithms designed for peptides. Moreover, for the algorithms designed with TBM, they use information from a target protein’s primary structure and information from similar or analog proteins. This paper presents GRSA-SSP methodology that implements a secondary structure prediction to build an initial model and refine it with HSA algorithms. Additionally, we compare the performance of the GRSAX-SSP algorithms versus its corresponding GRSAX. Finally, our best algorithm GRSAX-SSP is compared with PEP-FOLD3, I-TASSER, QUARK, and Rosetta, showing that it competes in small peptides except when predicting the largest peptides.
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8
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Nguyen H, Kleingardner J. Identifying metal binding amino acids based on backbone geometries as a tool for metalloprotein engineering. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1247-1257. [PMID: 33829594 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Metal cofactors within proteins perform a versatile set of essential cellular functions. In order to take advantage of the diverse functionality of metalloproteins, researchers have been working to design or modify metal binding sites in proteins to rationally tune the function or activity of the metal cofactor. This study has performed an analysis on the backbone atom geometries of metal-binding amino acids among 10 different metal binding sites within the entire protein data bank. A set of 13 geometric parameters (features) was identified that is capable of predicting the presence of a metal cofactor in the protein structure with overall accuracies of up to 97% given only the relative positions of their backbone atoms. The decision tree machine-learning algorithm used can quickly analyze an entire protein structure for the presence of sets of primary metal coordination spheres upon mutagenesis, independent of their original amino acid identities. The methodology was designed for application in the field of metalloprotein engineering. A cluster analysis using the data set was also performed and demonstrated that the features chosen are useful for identifying clusters of structurally similar metal-binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Nguyen
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jesse Kleingardner
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
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9
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Szczepaniak K, Bukala A, da Silva Neto AM, Ludwiczak J, Dunin-Horkawicz S. A library of coiled-coil domains: from regular bundles to peculiar twists. Bioinformatics 2021; 36:5368-5376. [PMID: 33325494 PMCID: PMC8016460 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa1041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Coiled coils are widespread protein domains involved in diverse processes ranging from providing structural rigidity to the transduction of conformational changes. They comprise two or more α-helices that are wound around each other to form a regular supercoiled bundle. Owing to this regularity, coiled-coil structures can be described with parametric equations, thus enabling the numerical representation of their properties, such as the degree and handedness of supercoiling, rotational state of the helices, and the offset between them. These descriptors are invaluable in understanding the function of coiled coils and designing new structures of this type. The existing tools for such calculations require manual preparation of input and are therefore not suitable for the high-throughput analyses. RESULTS To address this problem, we developed SamCC-Turbo, a software for fully automated, per-residue measurement of coiled coils. By surveying Protein Data Bank with SamCC-Turbo, we generated a comprehensive atlas of ∼50 000 coiled-coil regions. This machine learning-ready dataset features precise measurements as well as decomposes coiled-coil structures into fragments characterized by various degrees of supercoiling. The potential applications of SamCC-Turbo are exemplified by analyses in which we reveal general structural features of coiled coils involved in functions requiring conformational plasticity. Finally, we discuss further directions in the prediction and modeling of coiled coils. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION SamCC-Turbo is available as a web server (https://lbs.cent.uw.edu.pl/samcc_turbo) and as a Python library (https://github.com/labstructbioinf/samcc_turbo), whereas the results of the Protein Data Bank scan can be browsed and downloaded at https://lbs.cent.uw.edu.pl/ccdb. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Szczepaniak
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adriana Bukala
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Antonio Marinho da Silva Neto
- Molecular Prospecting and Bioinformatics Group, Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife, Brazil
| | - Jan Ludwiczak
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stanislaw Dunin-Horkawicz
- Laboratory of Structural Bioinformatics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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10
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Ferrando J, Solomon LA. Recent Progress Using De Novo Design to Study Protein Structure, Design and Binding Interactions. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11030225. [PMID: 33802210 PMCID: PMC7999464 DOI: 10.3390/life11030225] [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: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo protein design is a powerful methodology used to study natural functions in an artificial-protein context. Since its inception, it has been used to reproduce a plethora of reactions and uncover biophysical principles that are often difficult to extract from direct studies of natural proteins. Natural proteins are capable of assuming a variety of different structures and subsequently binding ligands at impressively high levels of both specificity and affinity. Here, we will review recent examples of de novo design studies on binding reactions for small molecules, nucleic acids, and the formation of protein-protein interactions. We will then discuss some new structural advances in the field. Finally, we will discuss some advancements in computational modeling and design approaches and provide an overview of some modern algorithmic tools being used to design these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ferrando
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Lee A. Solomon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +703-993-6418
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11
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Klein AS, Zeymer C. Design and engineering of artificial metalloproteins: from de novo metal coordination to catalysis. Protein Eng Des Sel 2021; 34:6150309. [PMID: 33635315 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metalloproteins are essential to sustain life. Natural evolution optimized them for intricate structural, regulatory and catalytic functions that cannot be fulfilled by either a protein or a metal ion alone. In order to understand this synergy and the complex design principles behind the natural systems, simpler mimics were engineered from the bottom up by installing de novo metal sites in either natural or fully designed, artificial protein scaffolds. This review focuses on key challenges associated with this approach. We discuss how proteins can be equipped with binding sites that provide an optimal coordination environment for a metal cofactor of choice, which can be a single metal ion or a complex multinuclear cluster. Furthermore, we highlight recent studies in which artificial metalloproteins were engineered towards new functions, including electron transfer and catalysis. In this context, the powerful combination of de novo protein design and directed evolution is emphasized for metalloenzyme development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas S Klein
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Cathleen Zeymer
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, 85747 Garching, Germany
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12
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Pirro F, Schmidt N, Lincoff J, Widel ZX, Polizzi NF, Liu L, Therien MJ, Grabe M, Chino M, Lombardi A, DeGrado WF. Allosteric cooperation in a de novo-designed two-domain protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:33246-33253. [PMID: 33318174 PMCID: PMC7776816 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2017062117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe the de novo design of an allosterically regulated protein, which comprises two tightly coupled domains. One domain is based on the DF (Due Ferri in Italian or two-iron in English) family of de novo proteins, which have a diiron cofactor that catalyzes a phenol oxidase reaction, while the second domain is based on PS1 (Porphyrin-binding Sequence), which binds a synthetic Zn-porphyrin (ZnP). The binding of ZnP to the original PS1 protein induces changes in structure and dynamics, which we expected to influence the catalytic rate of a fused DF domain when appropriately coupled. Both DF and PS1 are four-helix bundles, but they have distinct bundle architectures. To achieve tight coupling between the domains, they were connected by four helical linkers using a computational method to discover the most designable connections capable of spanning the two architectures. The resulting protein, DFP1 (Due Ferri Porphyrin), bound the two cofactors in the expected manner. The crystal structure of fully reconstituted DFP1 was also in excellent agreement with the design, and it showed the ZnP cofactor bound over 12 Å from the dimetal center. Next, a substrate-binding cleft leading to the diiron center was introduced into DFP1. The resulting protein acts as an allosterically modulated phenol oxidase. Its Michaelis-Menten parameters were strongly affected by the binding of ZnP, resulting in a fourfold tighter Km and a 7-fold decrease in kcat These studies establish the feasibility of designing allosterically regulated catalytic proteins, entirely from scratch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Pirro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nathan Schmidt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - James Lincoff
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - Zachary X Widel
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0346
| | - Nicholas F Polizzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - Lijun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, 518055 Shenzhen, China
- DLX Scientific, Lawrence, KS 66049
| | | | - Michael Grabe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy;
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001;
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13
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Kakkis A, Gagnon D, Esselborn J, Britt RD, Tezcan FA. Metal‐Templated Design of Chemically Switchable Protein Assemblies with High‐Affinity Coordination Sites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202009226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kakkis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093 USA
| | - Derek Gagnon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093 USA
| | - Julian Esselborn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093 USA
| | - R. David Britt
- Department of Chemistry University of California, Davis 1 Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - F. Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093 USA
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14
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Adolf-Bryfogle J, Teets FD, Bahl CD. Toward complete rational control over protein structure and function through computational design. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 66:170-177. [PMID: 33276237 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The grand challenge of protein design is a general method for producing a polypeptide with arbitrary functionality, conformation, and biochemical properties. To that end, a wide variety of methods have been developed for the improvement of native proteins, the design of ideal proteins de novo, and the redesign of suboptimal proteins with better-performing substructures. These methods employ informatic comparisons of function-structure-sequence relationships as well as knowledge-based evaluation of protein properties to narrow the immense protein sequence search space down to an enumerable and often manually evaluable set of structures that meet specified criteria. While arbitrary manipulation of protein-protein interfaces and molecular catalysis remains an unsolved problem, and no protein shape or behavior manipulation algorithm is universally applicable, the promising results thus far are a strong indicator that a general approach to the arbitrary manipulation of polypeptides is within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Adolf-Bryfogle
- Institute for Protein Innovation, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Frank D Teets
- Institute for Protein Innovation, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher D Bahl
- Institute for Protein Innovation, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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15
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Kakkis A, Gagnon D, Esselborn J, Britt RD, Tezcan FA. Metal-Templated Design of Chemically Switchable Protein Assemblies with High-Affinity Coordination Sites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:21940-21944. [PMID: 32830423 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202009226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
To mimic a hypothetical pathway for protein evolution, we previously tailored a monomeric protein (cyt cb562 ) for metal-mediated self-assembly, followed by re-design of the resulting oligomers for enhanced stability and metal-based functions. We show that a single hydrophobic mutation on the cyt cb562 surface drastically alters the outcome of metal-directed oligomerization to yield a new trimeric architecture, (TriCyt1)3. This nascent trimer was redesigned into second and third-generation variants (TriCyt2)3 and (TriCyt3)3 with increased structural stability and preorganization for metal coordination. The three TriCyt variants combined furnish a unique platform to 1) provide tunable coupling between protein quaternary structure and metal coordination, 2) enable the construction of metal/pH-switchable protein oligomerization motifs, and 3) generate a robust metal coordination site that can coordinate all mid-to-late first-row transition-metal ions with high affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kakkis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Derek Gagnon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Julian Esselborn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - R David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - F Akif Tezcan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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16
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Zambrano G, Nastri F, Pavone V, Lombardi A, Chino M. Use of an Artificial Miniaturized Enzyme in Hydrogen Peroxide Detection by Chemiluminescence. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E3793. [PMID: 32640736 PMCID: PMC7374304 DOI: 10.3390/s20133793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Advanced oxidation processes represent a viable alternative in water reclamation for potable reuse. Sensing methods of hydrogen peroxide are, therefore, needed to test both process progress and final quality of the produced water. Several bio-based assays have been developed so far, mainly relying on peroxidase enzymes, which have the advantage of being fast, efficient, reusable, and environmentally safe. However, their production/purification and, most of all, batch-to-batch consistency may inherently prevent their standardization. Here, we provide evidence that a synthetic de novo miniaturized designed heme-enzyme, namely Mimochrome VI*a, can be proficiently used in hydrogen peroxide assays. Furthermore, a fast and automated assay has been developed by using a lab-bench microplate reader. Under the best working conditions, the assay showed a linear response in the 10.0-120 μM range, together with a second linearity range between 120 and 500 μM for higher hydrogen peroxide concentrations. The detection limit was 4.6 μM and quantitation limits for the two datasets were 15.5 and 186 μM, respectively. In perspective, Mimochrome VI*a could be used as an active biological sensing unit in different sensor configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”. Via Cintia, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (G.Z.); (F.N.); (V.P.); (A.L.)
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17
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Abstract
Proteins are molecular machines whose function depends on their ability to achieve complex folds with precisely defined structural and dynamic properties. The rational design of proteins from first-principles, or de novo, was once considered to be impossible, but today proteins with a variety of folds and functions have been realized. We review the evolution of the field from its earliest days, placing particular emphasis on how this endeavor has illuminated our understanding of the principles underlying the folding and function of natural proteins, and is informing the design of macromolecules with unprecedented structures and properties. An initial set of milestones in de novo protein design focused on the construction of sequences that folded in water and membranes to adopt folded conformations. The first proteins were designed from first-principles using very simple physical models. As computers became more powerful, the use of the rotamer approximation allowed one to discover amino acid sequences that stabilize the desired fold. As the crystallographic database of protein structures expanded in subsequent years, it became possible to construct proteins by assembling short backbone fragments that frequently recur in Nature. The second set of milestones in de novo design involves the discovery of complex functions. Proteins have been designed to bind a variety of metals, porphyrins, and other cofactors. The design of proteins that catalyze hydrolysis and oxygen-dependent reactions has progressed significantly. However, de novo design of catalysts for energetically demanding reactions, or even proteins that bind with high affinity and specificity to highly functionalized complex polar molecules remains an importnant challenge that is now being achieved. Finally, the protein design contributed significantly to our understanding of membrane protein folding and transport of ions across membranes. The area of membrane protein design, or more generally of biomimetic polymers that function in mixed or non-aqueous environments, is now becoming increasingly possible.
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18
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Zhou J, Panaitiu AE, Grigoryan G. A general-purpose protein design framework based on mining sequence-structure relationships in known protein structures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:1059-1068. [PMID: 31892539 PMCID: PMC6969538 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908723117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Current state-of-the-art approaches to computational protein design (CPD) aim to capture the determinants of structure from physical principles. While this has led to many successful designs, it does have strong limitations associated with inaccuracies in physical modeling, such that a reliable general solution to CPD has yet to be found. Here, we propose a design framework-one based on identifying and applying patterns of sequence-structure compatibility found in known proteins, rather than approximating them from models of interatomic interactions. We carry out extensive computational analyses and an experimental validation for our method. Our results strongly argue that the Protein Data Bank is now sufficiently large to enable proteins to be designed by using only examples of structural motifs from unrelated proteins. Because our method is likely to have orthogonal strengths relative to existing techniques, it could represent an important step toward removing remaining barriers to robust CPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfu Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
| | | | - Gevorg Grigoryan
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755
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19
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Jeong WJ, Yu J, Song WJ. Proteins as diverse, efficient, and evolvable scaffolds for artificial metalloenzymes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:9586-9599. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc03137b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We have extracted and categorized the desirable properties of proteins that are adapted as the scaffolds for artificial metalloenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Jae Jeong
- Department of Chemistry
- Seoul National University
- Seoul 08826
- Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeseung Yu
- Department of Chemistry
- Seoul National University
- Seoul 08826
- Republic of Korea
| | - Woon Ju Song
- Department of Chemistry
- Seoul National University
- Seoul 08826
- Republic of Korea
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20
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Yu J, Horsley JR, Abell AD. Unravelling electron transfer in peptide-cation complexes: a model for mimicking redox centres in proteins. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:8409-8417. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00635a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We provide evidence that bound zinc promotes electron transfer in a peptide by changing the electronic properties of the peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxian Yu
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
| | - John R. Horsley
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
| | - Andrew D. Abell
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS)
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Adelaide
- Adelaide
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21
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Engineering Metalloprotein Functions in Designed and Native Scaffolds. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 44:1022-1040. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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22
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Boyle AL, Rabe M, Crone NSA, Rhys GG, Soler N, Voskamp P, Pannu NS, Kros A. Selective coordination of three transition metal ions within a coiled-coil peptide scaffold. Chem Sci 2019; 10:7456-7465. [PMID: 31489168 PMCID: PMC6713864 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc01165j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Designing peptides that fold and assemble in response to metal ions tests our understanding of how peptide folding and metal binding influence one another. Here, histidine residues are introduced into the hydrophobic core of a coiled-coil trimer, generating a peptide that self-assembles upon the addition of metal ions. HisAD, the resulting peptide, is unstructured in the absence of metal and folds selectively to form an α-helical construct upon complexation with Cu(ii) and Ni(ii) but not Co(ii) or Zn(ii). The structure, and metal-binding ability, of HisAD is probed using a combination of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. These show the peptide is trimeric and binds to both Cu(ii) and Ni(ii) in a 1 : 1 ratio with the histidine residues involved in the metal coordination, as designed. The X-ray crystal structure of the HisAD-Cu(ii) complex reveals the trimeric HisAD peptide coordinates three Cu(ii) ions; this is the first example of such a structure. Additionally, HisAD demonstrates an unprecedented discrimination between transition metal ions, the basis of which is likely to be related to the stability of the peptide-metal complexes formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee L Boyle
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands .
| | - Martin Rabe
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH , Max-Planck-Straße 1 , 40237 Düsseldorf , Germany
| | - Niek S A Crone
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands .
| | - Guto G Rhys
- School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Cantock's Close , Bristol , BS8 1TS , UK
| | - Nicolas Soler
- Structural Biology Unit , Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) , Baldiri Reixac 15 , 08028 Barcelona , Spain
| | - Patrick Voskamp
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands .
| | - Navraj S Pannu
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands .
| | - Alexander Kros
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry , Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands .
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23
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Lin YW. Rational Design of Artificial Metalloproteins and Metalloenzymes with Metal Clusters. Molecules 2019; 24:E2743. [PMID: 31362341 PMCID: PMC6696605 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metalloproteins and metalloenzymes play important roles in biological systems by using the limited metal ions, complexes, and clusters that are associated with the protein matrix. The design of artificial metalloproteins and metalloenzymes not only reveals the structure and function relationship of natural proteins, but also enables the synthesis of artificial proteins and enzymes with improved properties and functions. Acknowledging the progress in rational design from single to multiple active sites, this review focuses on recent achievements in the design of artificial metalloproteins and metalloenzymes with metal clusters, including zinc clusters, cadmium clusters, iron-sulfur clusters, and copper-sulfur clusters, as well as noble metal clusters and others. These metal clusters were designed in both native and de novo protein scaffolds for structural roles, electron transfer, or catalysis. Some synthetic metal clusters as functional models of native enzymes are also discussed. These achievements provide valuable insights for deep understanding of the natural proteins and enzymes, and practical clues for the further design of artificial enzymes with functions comparable or even beyond those of natural counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Wu Lin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
- Laboratory of Protein Structure and Function, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory for the Design and Application of Actinide Complexes, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
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24
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Lombardi A, Pirro F, Maglio O, Chino M, DeGrado WF. De Novo Design of Four-Helix Bundle Metalloproteins: One Scaffold, Diverse Reactivities. Acc Chem Res 2019; 52:1148-1159. [PMID: 30973707 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
De novo protein design represents an attractive approach for testing and extending our understanding of metalloprotein structure and function. Here, we describe our work on the design of DF (Due Ferri or two-iron in Italian), a minimalist model for the active sites of much larger and more complex natural diiron and dimanganese proteins. In nature, diiron and dimanganese proteins protypically bind their ions in 4-Glu, 2-His environments, and they catalyze diverse reactions, ranging from hydrolysis, to O2-dependent chemistry, to decarbonylation of aldehydes. In the design of DF, the position of each atom-including the backbone, the first-shell ligands, the second-shell hydrogen-bonded groups, and the well-packed hydrophobic core-was bespoke using precise mathematical equations and chemical principles. The first member of the DF family was designed to be of minimal size and complexity and yet to display the quintessential elements required for binding the dimetal cofactor. After thoroughly characterizing its structural, dynamic, spectroscopic, and functional properties, we added additional complexity in a rational stepwise manner to achieve increasingly sophisticated catalytic functions, ultimately demonstrating substrate-gated four-electron reduction of O2 to water. We also briefly describe the extension of these studies to the design of proteins that bind nonbiological metal cofactors (a synthetic porphyrin and a tetranuclear cluster), and a Zn2+/proton antiporting membrane protein. Together these studies demonstrate a successful and generally applicable strategy for de novo metalloprotein design, which might indeed mimic the process by which primordial metalloproteins evolved. We began the design process with a highly symmetrical backbone and binding site, by using point-group symmetry to assemble the secondary structures that position the amino acid side chains required for binding. The resulting models provided a rough starting point and initial parameters for the subsequent precise design of the final protein using modern methods of computational protein design. Unless the desired site is itself symmetrical, this process requires reduction of the symmetry or lifting it altogether. Nevertheless, the initial symmetrical structure can be helpful to restrain the search space during assembly of the backbone. Finally, the methods described here should be generally applicable to the design of highly stable and robust catalysts and sensors. There is considerable potential in combining the efficiency and knowledge base associated with homogeneous metal catalysis with the programmability, biocompatibility, and versatility of proteins. While the work reported here focuses on testing and learning the principles of natural metalloproteins by designing and studying proteins one at a time, there is also considerable potential for using designed proteins that incorporate both biological and nonbiological metal ion cofactors for the evolution of novel catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Lombardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabio Pirro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Napoli, Italy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-9001, United States
| | - Ornella Maglio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Napoli, Italy
- IBB, National Research Council, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-9001, United States
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25
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Abe S, Ito N, Maity B, Lu C, Lu D, Ueno T. Coordination design of cadmium ions at the 4-fold axis channel of the apo-ferritin cage. Dalton Trans 2019; 48:9759-9764. [PMID: 30993287 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt00609e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Spherical protein cages with highly symmetrical structures provide unique environments for the conjugation of metal ions and metal nanoparticles. Ferritin has been widely studied as a template for the coordination of metal ions and metal nanoparticles in fundamental research and applications. However, it remains difficult to design metal coordination sites precisely. In this work, we describe the design and construction of new metal coordination sites by introducing Cys residues at the 4-fold symmetrical hydrophobic channel of apo-ferritin. X-ray crystal structure analyses of the mutants containing Cd(ii) ions show that the four or eight binding sites for Cd(ii) ions are located at the 4-fold symmetrical axis channel of apo-ferritin. It was found that the coordination number and configuration of Cd(ii) ions can be varied by adjusting the positions of the Cys residues at the symmetrical channels of the apo-ferritin cage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Abe
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
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26
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Chino M, Zhang SQ, Pirro F, Leone L, Maglio O, Lombardi A, DeGrado WF. Spectroscopic and metal binding properties of a de novo metalloprotein binding a tetrazinc cluster. Biopolymers 2018; 109:e23339. [PMID: 30203532 PMCID: PMC6218314 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
De novo design provides an attractive approach, which allows one to test and refine the principles guiding metalloproteins in defining the geometry and reactivity of their metal ion cofactors. Although impressive progress has been made in designing proteins that bind transition metal ions including iron-sulfur clusters, the design of tetranuclear clusters with oxygen-rich environments remains in its infancy. In previous work, we described the design of homotetrameric four-helix bundles that bind tetra-Zn2+ clusters. The crystal structures of the helical proteins were in good agreement with the overall design, and the metal-binding and conformational properties of the helical bundles in solution were consistent with the crystal structures. However, the corresponding apo-proteins were not fully folded in solution. In this work, we design three peptides, based on the crystal structure of the original bundles. One of the peptides forms tetramers in aqueous solution in the absence of metal ions as assessed by CD and NMR. It also binds Zn2+ in the intended stoichiometry. These studies strongly suggest that the desired structure has been achieved in the apo state, providing evidence that the peptide is able to actively impart the designed geometry to the metal cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cintia, 46, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Shao-Qing Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 209 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6396, United States
| | - Fabio Pirro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cintia, 46, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Linda Leone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cintia, 46, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Ornella Maglio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cintia, 46, 80126 Napoli, Italy
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, via Mezzocannone, 16, 80134, Napoli, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Via Cintia, 46, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001, United States
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27
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Designed peptides that assemble into cross-α amyloid-like structures. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:870-875. [PMID: 30061717 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0105-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Amyloids adopt 'cross-β' structures composed of long, twisted fibrils with β-strands running perpendicular to the fibril axis. Recently, a toxic peptide was proposed to form amyloid-like cross-α structures in solution, with a planar bilayer-like assembly observed in the crystal structure. Here we crystallographically characterize designed peptides that assemble into spiraling cross-α amyloid-like structures, which resemble twisted β-amyloid fibrils. The peptides form helical dimers, stabilized by packing of small and apolar residues, and the dimers further assemble into cross-α amyloid-like fibrils with superhelical pitches ranging from 170 Å to 200 Å. When a small residue that appeared critical for packing was converted to leucine, it resulted in structural rearrangement to a helical polymer. Fluorescently tagged versions of the designed peptides form puncta in mammalian cells, which recover from photobleaching with markedly different kinetics. These structural folds could be potentially useful for directing in vivo protein assemblies with predetermined spacing and stabilities.
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28
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Maguire JB, Boyken SE, Baker D, Kuhlman B. Rapid Sampling of Hydrogen Bond Networks for Computational Protein Design. J Chem Theory Comput 2018; 14:2751-2760. [PMID: 29652499 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.8b00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen bond networks play a critical role in determining the stability and specificity of biomolecular complexes, and the ability to design such networks is important for engineering novel structures, interactions, and enzymes. One key feature of hydrogen bond networks that makes them difficult to rationally engineer is that they are highly cooperative and are not energetically favorable until the hydrogen bonding potential has been satisfied for all buried polar groups in the network. Existing computational methods for protein design are ill-equipped for creating these highly cooperative networks because they rely on energy functions and sampling strategies that are focused on pairwise interactions. To enable the design of complex hydrogen bond networks, we have developed a new sampling protocol in the molecular modeling program Rosetta that explicitly searches for sets of amino acid mutations that can form self-contained hydrogen bond networks. For a given set of designable residues, the protocol often identifies many alternative sets of mutations/networks, and we show that it can readily be applied to large sets of residues at protein-protein interfaces or in the interior of proteins. The protocol builds on a recently developed method in Rosetta for designing hydrogen bond networks that has been experimentally validated for small symmetric systems but was not extensible to many larger protein structures and complexes. The sampling protocol we describe here not only recapitulates previously validated designs with performance improvements but also yields viable hydrogen bond networks for cases where the previous method fails, such as the design of large, asymmetric interfaces relevant to engineering protein-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack B Maguire
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Scott E Boyken
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States.,Institute for Protein Design , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States.,Institute for Protein Design , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195 , United States
| | - Brian Kuhlman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
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