1
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Martínez‐Crespo L, Vitórica‐Yrezábal IJ, Whitehead GFS, Webb SJ. Chemically Fueled Communication Along a Scaffolded Nanoscale Array of Squaramides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307841. [PMID: 37429824 PMCID: PMC10952809 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Relaying conformational change over several nanometers is central to the function of allosterically regulated proteins. Replicating this mechanism artificially would provide important communication tools, but requires nanometer-sized molecules that reversibly switch between defined shapes in response to signaling molecules. In this work, 1.8 nm long rigid rod oligo(phenylene-ethynylene)s are scaffolds for switchable multi-squaramide hydrogen-bond relays. Each relay can adopt either a parallel or an antiparallel orientation relative to the scaffold; the preferred orientation is dictated by a director group at one end. An amine director responded to proton signals, with acid-base cycles producing multiple reversible changes in relay orientation that were reported by a terminal NH, which is 1.8 nm distant. Moreover, a chemical fuel acted as a dissipative signal. As the fuel was consumed, the relay reverted to its original orientation, illustrating how information from out-of-equilibrium molecular signals can be communicated to a distant site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Martínez‐Crespo
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Manchester Oxford RoadManchesterM13 9PLUK
- Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyUniversity of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | | | | | - Simon J. Webb
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Manchester Oxford RoadManchesterM13 9PLUK
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2
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Liu Y, Liu J, He X. Different p Ka Shifts of Internal GLU8 in Human β-Endorphin Amyloid Revealing a Coupling of Internal Ionization and Stepwise Fibril Disassembly. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:1089-1096. [PMID: 36696655 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
As a functional amyloid, human β-endorphin amyloid fibril features a β-solenoid conformation and store peptide hormones within acidic secretory granules, which would be released into the blood through fibril disassembly when the cellular milieu pH increases from acidic to neutral level on exocytosis. To gain detailed atomic mechanism of β-endorphin amyloid fibrils' pH-responsive disassembly, we conduct constant pH molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structural and dynamical properties of β-endorphin amyloid fibrils in experiencing the environmental pH changes. Our results demonstrate a clear pKa shift of the internal ionizable residue of GLU8, and this shift becomes even more pronounced when it is buried more deeply in the amyloid fibrils. The unusual pKa of GLU8 reveals that its protonation state changes from the protonated state in the acidic secretory granule to the deprotonated state in the neutral pH conditions in the blood, where the deprotonation of GLU8 leads to unfavorable interactions within the hydrophobic core of the amyloid and subsequent fibril disassembly. The different pKa shifts of GLU8 relative to its positions in the amyloid fibril indicate that the β-endorphin amyloid fibril disassembly is a stepwise process, accounting for the experimental observation that the disassembly always initiates from the outermost layer. This study reveals the critical role of the protonation state of GLU8 in amyloid fibrils' pH-responsive disassembly, and provides clear insights for understanding the structural transitions of amyloids in hormone secretion. This study also provides theoretical basis for designing pH-sensitive biological tools for specific use with precise positioning of ionizable residues into the hydrophobic interior of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Liu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.,New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China
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3
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Huang S, Deng WH, Liao RZ, He C. Repurposing a Nitric Oxide Transport Hemoprotein Nitrophorin 2 for Olefin Cyclopropanation. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shunzhi Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510640 Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Hao Deng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, China
| | - Rong-Zhen Liao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, China
| | - Chunmao He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510640 Guangzhou, China
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4
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MacKenzie DWS, Schaefer A, Steckner J, Leo CA, Naser D, Artikis E, Broom A, Ko T, Shah P, Ney MQ, Tran E, Smith MTJ, Fuglestad B, Wand AJ, Brooks CL, Meiering EM. A fine balance of hydrophobic-electrostatic communication pathways in a pH-switching protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119686119. [PMID: 35737838 PMCID: PMC9245636 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119686119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Allostery is the phenomenon of coupling between distal binding sites in a protein. Such coupling is at the crux of protein function and regulation in a myriad of scenarios, yet determining the molecular mechanisms of coupling networks in proteins remains a major challenge. Here, we report mechanisms governing pH-dependent myristoyl switching in monomeric hisactophilin, whereby the myristoyl moves between a sequestered state, i.e., buried within the core of the protein, to an accessible state, in which the myristoyl has increased accessibility for membrane binding. Measurements of the pH and temperature dependence of amide chemical shifts reveal protein local structural stability and conformational heterogeneity that accompany switching. An analysis of these measurements using a thermodynamic cycle framework shows that myristoyl-proton coupling at the single-residue level exists in a fine balance and extends throughout the protein. Strikingly, small changes in the stereochemistry or size of core and surface hydrophobic residues by point mutations readily break, restore, or tune myristoyl switch energetics. Synthesizing the experimental results with those of molecular dynamics simulations illuminates atomistic details of coupling throughout the protein, featuring a large network of hydrophobic interactions that work in concert with key electrostatic interactions. The simulations were critical for discerning which of the many ionizable residues in hisactophilin are important for switching and identifying the contributions of nonnative interactions in switching. The strategy of using temperature-dependent NMR presented here offers a powerful, widely applicable way to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of allostery in proteins at high resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Schaefer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Julia Steckner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Christopher A. Leo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Dalia Naser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Efrosini Artikis
- Department of Chemistry and Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Aron Broom
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Travis Ko
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Purnank Shah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mikaela Q. Ney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Elisa Tran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Martin T. J. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Brian Fuglestad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - A. Joshua Wand
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Charles L. Brooks
- Department of Chemistry and Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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5
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Poor Person's pH Simulation of Membrane Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34302678 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1468-6_12] [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: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
pH conditions are central to the functioning of all biomolecules. However, implications of pH changes are nontrivial on a molecular scale. Though a rigorous microscopic definition of pH exists, its implementation in classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations is cumbersome, and more so in large integral membrane systems. In this chapter, an integrative pipeline is described that combines Multi-Conformation Continuum Electrostatics (MCCE) computations with MD simulations to capture the effect of transient protonation states on the coupled conformational changes in transmembrane proteins. The core methodologies are explained, and all the software required to set up this pipeline are outlined with their key parameters. All associated analyses of structure and function are provided using two case studies, namely those of bioenergetic complexes: NADH dehydrogenase (complex I) and Vo domain of V-type ATPase. The hybrid MCCE-MD pipeline has allowed the discovery of hydrogen bond networks, ligand binding pathways, and disease-causing mutations.
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6
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Gupta PL, Smith JS, Roitberg AE. pH Effects and Cooperativity among Key Titratable Residues for Escherichia coli Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:9168-9185. [PMID: 34351775 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Human glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase) is a regulatory enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway that has been extensively studied as an anticancer target. To some extent, inhibition of GAR Tfase selectively targets cancer cells over normal cells and inhibits purine formation and DNA replication. In this study, we investigated E. coli GAR Tfase, which shares high sequence similarity with the human GAR Tfase, and most functional residues are conserved. Herein, we aim to predict the pH-activity curve through a computational approach. We carried out pH-replica exchange molecular dynamics (pH-REMD) simulations to investigate pH-dependent functions such as structural changes, ligand binding, and catalytic activity. To compute the pH-activity curve, we identified the catalytic residues in specific protonation states, referred to as the catalytic competent protonation states (CCPS), which maintain the structure, keep ligands bound, and facilitate catalysis. Our computed population of CCPS with respect to pH matches well with the experimental pH-activity curve. To compute the microscopic pKa values in the catalytically active conformation, we devised a thermodynamic model that considers the coupling between protonation states of CCPS residues and conformational states. These results allow us to correctly identify the general acid and base catalysts and interpret the pH-activity curve at an atomistic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pancham Lal Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Justin S Smith
- Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
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7
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Control of distal lysine coordination in a monomeric hemoglobin: A role for heme peripheral interactions. J Inorg Biochem 2021; 219:111437. [PMID: 33892380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
THB1 is a monomeric truncated hemoglobin (TrHb) found in the cytoplasm of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The canonical heme coordination scheme in hemoglobins is a proximal histidine ligand and an open distal site. In THB1, the latter site is occupied by Lys53, which is likely to facilitate Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox cycling but hinders dioxygen binding, two features inherent to the NO dioxygenase activity of the protein. TrHb surveys show that a lysine at a position aligning with Lys53 is an insufficient determinant of coordination, and in this study, we sought to identify factors controlling lysine affinity for the heme iron. We solved the "Lys-off" X-ray structure of THB1, represented by the cyanide adduct of the Fe(III) protein, and hypothesized that interactions that differ between the known "Lys-on" structure and the Lys-off structure participate in the control of Lys53 affinity for the heme iron. We applied an experimental approach (site-directed mutagenesis, heme modification, pH titrations in the Fe(III) and Fe(II) states) and a computational approach (MD simulations in the Fe(II) state) to assess the role of heme propionate-protein interactions, distal helix capping, and the composition of the distal pocket. All THB1 modifications resulted in a weakening of lysine affinity and affected the coupling between Lys53 proton binding and heme redox potential. The results supported the importance of specific heme peripheral interactions for the pH stability of iron coordination and the ability of the protein to undergo redox reactions.
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8
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Sarkar A, Roitberg AE. pH-Dependent Conformational Changes Lead to a Highly Shifted p Ka for a Buried Glutamic Acid Mutant of SNase. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:11072-11080. [PMID: 33259714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c07136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ionizable residues are rarely present in the hydrophobic interior of proteins, but when they are, they play important roles in biological processes such as energy transduction and enzyme catalysis. Internal ionizable residues have anomalous experimental pKa values with respect to their pKa in bulk water. This work investigates the atomistic cause of the highly shifted pKa of the internal Glu23 in the artificially mutated variant V23E of Staphylococcal Nuclease (SNase) using pH replica exchange molecular dynamics (pH-REMD) simulations. The pKa of Glu23 obtained from our calculations is 6.55, which is elevated with respect to the glutamate pKa of 4.40 in bulk water. The calculated value is close to the experimental pKa of 7.10. Our simulations show that the highly shifted pKa of Glu23 is the product of a pH-dependent conformational change, which has been observed experimentally and also seen in our simulations. We carry out an analysis of this pH-dependent conformational change in response to the protonation state change of Glu23. Using a four-state thermodynamic model, we estimate the two conformation-specific pKa values of Glu23 and describe the coupling between the conformational and ionization equilibria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Sarkar
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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9
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Kumawat A, Chakrabarty S. Protonation-Induced Dynamic Allostery in PDZ Domain: Evidence of Perturbation-Independent Universal Response Network. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:9026-9031. [PMID: 33043672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic allostery is a relatively new paradigm where certain external perturbations may lead to modulation of conformational dynamics at a distant part of a protein without significant changes in the overall structure. While most well-characterized examples of dynamic allostery involve binding with other entities like small molecules, peptides, or nucleic acids, in this work we demonstrate that chemical modifications like protonation may lead to significant dynamical allosteric response in a PDZ domain protein. Tuning the protonation states of two histidine residues (H317 and H372), we identify the allosteric pathways responsible for the dynamic response. Interestingly, the same set of residues that constitute the allosteric response network upon ligand binding seem to be responsible for protonation-induced dynamic allostery. Thus, we propose the existence of an inherent universal response network in signaling proteins, where the same set of residues can respond to varying types of external perturbations in terms of rearrangement of hydrogen-bonded network and redistribution of electrostatic interaction energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumawat
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
| | - Suman Chakrabarty
- Department of Chemical, Biological & Macromolecular Sciences, S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata 700106, India
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10
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Sarkar A, Gupta PL, Roitberg AE. pH-Dependent Conformational Changes Due to Ionizable Residues in a Hydrophobic Protein Interior: The Study of L25K and L125K Variants of SNase. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:5742-5754. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b03816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Sarkar
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Pancham Lal Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32603, United States
| | - Adrian E. Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32603, United States
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11
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Cruzeiro VWD, Roitberg AE. Multidimensional Replica Exchange Simulations for Efficient Constant pH and Redox Potential Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Theory Comput 2019; 15:871-881. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.8b00935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrian E. Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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12
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He X, Ni D, Lu S, Zhang J. Characteristics of Allosteric Proteins, Sites, and Modulators. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:107-139. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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13
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Gorman SD, D'Amico RN, Winston DS, Boehr DD. Engineering Allostery into Proteins. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1163:359-384. [PMID: 31707711 PMCID: PMC7508002 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8719-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Our ability to engineer protein structure and function has grown dramatically over recent years. Perhaps the next level in protein design is to develop proteins whose function can be regulated in response to various stimuli, including ligand binding, pH changes, and light. Endeavors toward these goals have tested and expanded on our understanding of protein function and allosteric regulation. In this chapter, we provide examples from different methods for developing new allosterically regulated proteins. These methods range from whole insertion of regulatory domains into new host proteins, to covalent attachment of photoswitches to generate light-responsive proteins, and to targeted changes to specific amino acid residues, especially to residues identified to be important for relaying allosteric information across the protein framework. Many of the examples we discuss have already found practical use in medical and biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott D Gorman
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca N D'Amico
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Dennis S Winston
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - David D Boehr
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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14
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Damjanovic A, Miller BT, Okur A, Brooks BR. Reservoir pH replica exchange. J Chem Phys 2018; 149:072321. [PMID: 30134701 PMCID: PMC6005788 DOI: 10.1063/1.5027413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We present the reservoir pH replica exchange (R-pH-REM) method for constant pH simulations. The R-pH-REM method consists of a two-step procedure; the first step involves generation of one or more reservoirs of conformations. Each reservoir is obtained from a standard or enhanced molecular dynamics simulation with a constrained (fixed) protonation state. In the second step, fixed charge constraints are relaxed, as the structures from one or more reservoirs are periodically injected into a constant pH or a pH-replica exchange (pH-REM) simulation. The benefit of this two-step process is that the computationally intensive part of conformational search can be decoupled from constant pH simulations, and various techniques for enhanced conformational sampling can be applied without the need to integrate such techniques into the pH-REM framework. Simulations on blocked Lys, KK, and KAAE peptides were used to demonstrate an agreement between pH-REM and R-pH-REM simulations. While the reservoir simulations are not needed for these small test systems, the real need arises in cases when ionizable molecules can sample two or more conformations separated by a large energy barrier, such that adequate sampling is not achieved on a time scale of standard constant pH simulations. Such problems might be encountered in protein systems that exploit conformational transitions for function. A hypothetical case is studied, a small molecule with a large torsional barrier; while results of pH-REM simulations depend on the starting structure, R-pH-REM calculations on this model system are in excellent agreement with a theoretical model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Damjanovic
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: . Tel.: (410) 516-5390. FAX: (410) 516-4118
| | - Benjamin T. Miller
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5690, USA
| | - Asim Okur
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5690, USA
| | - Bernard R. Brooks
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5690, USA
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15
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Cruzeiro VWD, Amaral MS, Roitberg AE. Redox potential replica exchange molecular dynamics at constant pH in AMBER: Implementation and validation. J Chem Phys 2018; 149:072338. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5027379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Wilian D. Cruzeiro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, DF 70040-020, Brazil
| | - Marcos S. Amaral
- Institute of Physics, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Adrian E. Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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16
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Narayan A, Naganathan AN. Switching Protein Conformational Substates by Protonation and Mutation. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:11039-11047. [PMID: 30048131 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b05108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein modules that regulate the availability and conformational status of transcription factors determine the rapidity, duration, and magnitude of cellular response to changing conditions. One such system is the single-gene product Cnu, a four-helix bundle transcription co-repressor, which acts as a molecular thermosensor regulating the expression of virulence genes in enterobacteriaceae through modulation of its native conformational ensemble. Cnu and related genes have also been implicated in pH-dependent expression of virulence genes. We hypothesize that protonation of a conserved buried histidine (H45) in Cnu promotes large electrostatic frustration, thus disturbing the H-NS, a transcription factor, binding face. Spectroscopic and calorimetric methods reveal that H45 exhibits a suppressed p Ka of ∼5.1, the protonation of which switches the conformation to an alternate native ensemble in which the fourth helix is disordered. The population redistribution can also be achieved through a mutation H45V, which does not display any switching behavior at pH values greater than 4. The Wako-Saitô-Muñoz-Eaton (WSME) statistical mechanical model predicts specific differences in the conformations and fluctuations of the fourth and first helices of Cnu determining the observed pH response. We validate these predictions through fluorescence lifetime measurements of a sole tryptophan, highlighting the presence of both native and non-native interactions in the regions adjoining the binding face of Cnu. Our combined experimental-computational study thus shows that Cnu acts both as a thermo- and pH-sensor orchestrated via a subtle but quantifiable balance between the weak packing of a structural element and protonation of a buried histidine that promotes electrostatic frustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Narayan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences , Indian Institute of Technology Madras , Chennai 600036 , India
| | - Athi N Naganathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences , Indian Institute of Technology Madras , Chennai 600036 , India
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17
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Liu J, Swails J, Zhang JZH, He X, Roitberg AE. A Coupled Ionization-Conformational Equilibrium Is Required To Understand the Properties of Ionizable Residues in the Hydrophobic Interior of Staphylococcal Nuclease. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:1639-1648. [PMID: 29308643 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b08569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ionizable residues in the interior of proteins play essential roles, especially in biological energy transduction, but are relatively rare and seem incompatible with the complex and polar environment. We perform a comprehensive study of the internal ionizable residues on 21 variants of staphylococcal nuclease with internal Lys, Glu, or Asp residues. Using pH replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations, we find that, in most cases, the pKa values of these internal ionizable residues are shifted significantly from their values in solution. Our calculated results are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations of the Garcia-Moreno group. We show that the interpretation of the experimental pKa values requires the study of not only protonation changes but also conformational changes. The coupling between the protonation and conformational equilibria suggests a mechanism for efficient pH-sensing and regulation in proteins. This study provides new physical insights into how internal ionizable residues behave in the hydrophobic interior of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Liu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, East China Normal University , Shanghai, 200062, China.,Department of Chemistry, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States.,Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jason Swails
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and BioMaPS Institute, Rutgers University , Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - John Z H Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, East China Normal University , Shanghai, 200062, China.,NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry at NYU Shanghai , Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiao He
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, East China Normal University , Shanghai, 200062, China.,NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry at NYU Shanghai , Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Adrian E Roitberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
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18
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The application of magnetically modified bacterial cellulose for immobilization of laccase. Int J Biol Macromol 2017; 108:462-470. [PMID: 29223754 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The usefulness of bacterial cellulose (BC), obtained from the cultures of Komagataeibacter xylinus exposed to rotating magnetic field (RMF), as a carrier for laccase immobilization was investigated in this study. It was found that the highest yield of laccase immobilization (>70%) was achieved in pH of 4.0 and this value was optimal in the case of both types of cellulose carriers applied. The pH equals 4.0 was also the optimal one with regard to immobilized enzymes' activity, while in case of free laccase, optimal pH value was 3.0. Process of immobilization had an impact on enzyme's optimal temperatures: while free laccase and laccase bound to RMF-unexposed cellulose was the most effective at 60°C, optimal activity of enzyme immobilized on RMF-exposed carrier was reached at 70°C. Laccase immobilized on both type of carriers had also better thermal stability at 70°C compared to free laccase. After 8 cycles of use, laccase immobilized on RMF-exposed BC remained more active than laccase immobilized on RMF-unexposed BC (65% vs. 50% of initial activity, respectively). Our results indicate that RMF-modified BC may be successfully used as a carrier for the laccase immobilization.
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19
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Peck MT, Ortega G, De Luca-Johnson JN, Schlessman JL, Robinson AC, García-Moreno E B. Local Backbone Flexibility as a Determinant of the Apparent pKa Values of Buried Ionizable Groups in Proteins. Biochemistry 2017; 56:5338-5346. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Meredith T. Peck
- Department
of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Gabriel Ortega
- Structural
Biology Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park Ed. 800, 48160 Derio, Spain
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | | | - Jamie L. Schlessman
- Chemistry
Department, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, United States
| | - Aaron C. Robinson
- Department
of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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20
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Gunner MR, Koder R. The design features cells use to build their transmembrane proton gradient. Phys Biol 2017; 14:013001. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/14/1/013001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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21
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Zheng Y, Cui Q. Microscopic mechanisms that govern the titration response and pK a values of buried residues in staphylococcal nuclease mutants. Proteins 2016; 85:268-281. [PMID: 27862310 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
To probe the microscopic mechanisms that govern the titration behavior of buried ionizable groups, microsecond explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations are carried out for several mutants of Staphylococcal nuclease using both fixed charge and polarizable force fields. While the ionization of Asp 66, Glu 66, and Lys 125 lead to enhanced structural fluctuations and partial unfolding of adjacent α-helical regions, the ionization of Lys 25 causes local unfolding of adjacent β sheets. Using the sampled conformational ensembles, good agreement with experimental pKa values is obtained with Poisson-Boltzmann calculations using a protein dielectric constant of 2-4 for V66D/E; slightly larger dielectric constants are needed for Lys mutants especially L25K, suggesting that structural responses beyond microseconds are involved in ionization of Lys 25. Overall, the set of unbiased simulations provides insights into the spatial and temporal scales of protein and solvent motions that dictate the diverse titration behaviors of buried protein residues. Proteins 2017; 85:268-281. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zheng
- Graduate Program in Biophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1525 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry and Theoretical Chemistry Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706
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22
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Gunner MR, Baker NA. Continuum Electrostatics Approaches to Calculating pKas and Ems in Proteins. Methods Enzymol 2016; 578:1-20. [PMID: 27497160 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Proteins change their charge state through protonation and redox reactions as well as through binding charged ligands. The free energy of these reactions is dominated by solvation and electrostatic energies and modulated by protein conformational relaxation in response to the ionization state changes. Although computational methods for calculating these interactions can provide very powerful tools for predicting protein charge states, they include several critical approximations of which users should be aware. This chapter discusses the strengths, weaknesses, and approximations of popular computational methods for predicting charge states and understanding the underlying electrostatic interactions. The goal of this chapter is to inform users about applications and potential caveats of these methods as well as outline directions for future theoretical and computational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Gunner
- City College of New York in the City University of New York, New York, United States.
| | - N A Baker
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, DC, United States; Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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23
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Drusin SI, Suarez IP, Gauto DF, Rasia RM, Moreno DM. dsRNA-protein interactions studied by molecular dynamics techniques. Unravelling dsRNA recognition by DCL1. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 596:118-25. [PMID: 26987516 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) participates in several biological processes, where RNA molecules acquire secondary structure inside the cell through base complementarity. The double stranded RNA binding domain (dsRBD) is one of the main protein folds that is able to recognize and bind to dsRNA regions. The N-terminal dsRBD of DCL1 in Arabidopsis thaliana (DCL1-1), in contrast to other studied dsRBDs, lacks a stable structure, behaving as an intrinsically disordered protein. DCL1-1 does however recognize dsRNA by acquiring a canonical fold in the presence of its substrate. Here we present a detailed modeling and molecular dynamics study of dsRNA recognition by DCL1-1. We found that DCL1-1 forms stable complexes with different RNAs and we characterized the residues involved in binding. Although the domain shows a binding loop substantially shorter than other homologs, it can still interact with the dsRNA and results in bending of the dsRNA A-type helix. Furthermore, we found that R8, a non-conserved residue located in the first dsRNA binding region, recognizes preferentially mismatched base pairs. We discuss our findings in the context of the function of DCL1-1 within the microRNA processing complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador I Drusin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Área Física, Departamento de Químico-Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Irina P Suarez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Diego F Gauto
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo M Rasia
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Ocampo y Esmeralda, Predio CCT, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Área Biofísica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego M Moreno
- Instituto de Química de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Suipacha 570, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina; Área Inorgánica, Departamento de Químico-Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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24
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Wang Y, Li QY, Liu XB, Zhang CY, Wu ZM, Guo XD. Mesoscale Simulations and Experimental Studies of pH-Sensitive Micelles for Controlled Drug Delivery. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:25592-25600. [PMID: 26539742 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b08366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The microstructures of doxorubicin-loaded micelles prepared from block polymers His(x)Lys10 (x = 0, 5, 10) conjugated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are investigated under different pH conditions, using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. The conformation of micelles and the DOX distributions in micelles were obviously influenced by pH values and the length of the histidine segment. At pH >6.0, the micelles self-assembled from the polymers were dense and compact. The drugs were entrapped well within the micellar core. The particle size increases as the histidine length increases. With the decrease of pH value to be lower than 6.0, there was no distinct difference for the micelles self-assembled from the polymer without histidine residues. However, the micelles prepared from the polymers with histidine residues shows a structural transformation from dense to swollen conformation, leading to an increased particle size from 10.3 to 14.5 DPD units for DHD-His10Lys10 micelles. This structural transformation of micelles can accelerate the DOX release from micelles under lower pH conditions. The in vitro drug release from micelles is accelerated by the decrease of pH value from 7.4 (physiological environment) to 5.0 (lysosomal environment). The integration of simulation and experiments might be a valuable method for the optimization and design of biomaterials for drug delivery with desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University , Xiangtan 411105, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu Yu Li
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Bo Liu
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - Can Yang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China , Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Min Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University , Xiangtan 411105, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Dong Guo
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
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25
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Elferich J, Williamson DM, David LL, Shinde U. Determination of Histidine pKa Values in the Propeptides of Furin and Proprotein Convertase 1/3 Using Histidine Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2015; 87:7909-17. [PMID: 26110992 PMCID: PMC4903077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b01721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Propeptides of proprotein convertases regulate activation of their protease domains by sensing the organellar pH within the secretory pathway. Earlier experimental work highlighted the importance of a conserved histidine residue within the propeptide of a widely studied member, furin. A subsequent evolutionary analysis found an increase in histidine content within propeptides of secreted eukaryotic proteases compared with their prokaryotic orthologs. However, furin activates in the trans-golgi network at a pH of 6.5 while a paralog, proprotein convertase 1/3, activates in secretory vesicles at a pH of 5.5. It is unclear how a conserved histidine can mediate activation at two different pH values. In this manuscript, we measured the pKa values of histidines within the propeptides of furin and proprotein convertase 1/3 using a histidine hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry approach. The high density of histidine residues combined with an abundance of basic residues provided challenges for generation of peptide ions with unique histidine residues, which were overcome by employing ETD fragmentation. During this analysis, we found slow hydrogen-deuterium exchange in residues other than histidine at basic pH. Finally, we demonstrate that the pKa of the conserved histidine in proprotein convertase 1/3 is acid-shifted compared with furin and is consistent with its lower pH of activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Elferich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Danielle M. Williamson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Larry L. David
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Ujwal Shinde
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
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