1
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Komar AA, Samatova E, Rodnina MV. Translation Rates and Protein Folding. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168384. [PMID: 38065274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The mRNA coding sequence defines not only the amino acid sequence of the protein, but also the speed at which the ribosomes move along the mRNA while making the protein. The non-uniform local kinetics - denoted as translational rhythm - is similar among mRNAs coding for related protein folds. Deviations from this conserved rhythm can result in protein misfolding. In this review we summarize the experimental evidence demonstrating how local translation rates affect cotranslational protein folding, with the focus on the synonymous codons and patches of charged residues in the nascent peptide as best-studied examples. Alterations in nascent protein conformations due to disturbed translational rhythm can persist off the ribosome, as demonstrated by the effects of synonymous codon variants of several disease-related proteins. Charged amino acid patches in nascent chains also modulate translation and cotranslational protein folding, and can abrogate translation when placed at the N-terminus of the nascent peptide. During cotranslational folding, incomplete nascent chains navigate through a unique conformational landscape in which earlier intermediate states become inaccessible as the nascent peptide grows. Precisely tuned local translation rates, as well as interactions with the ribosome, guide the folding pathway towards the native structure, whereas deviations from the natural translation rhythm may favor pathways leading to trapped misfolded states. Deciphering the 'folding code' of the mRNA will contribute to understanding the diseases caused by protein misfolding and to rational protein design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Ekaterina Samatova
- Max Planck Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Max Planck Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
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2
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Rajasekaran N, Kaiser CM. Navigating the complexities of multi-domain protein folding. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102790. [PMID: 38432063 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Proteome complexity has expanded tremendously over evolutionary time, enabling biological diversification. Much of this complexity is achieved by combining a limited set of structural units into long polypeptides. This widely used evolutionary strategy poses challenges for folding of the resulting multi-domain proteins. As a consequence, their folding differs from that of small single-domain proteins, which generally fold quickly and reversibly. Co-translational processes and chaperone interactions are important aspects of multi-domain protein folding. In this review, we discuss some of the recent experimental progress toward understanding these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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3
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McDonnell RT, Elcock AH. AutoRNC: An automated modeling program for building atomic models of ribosome-nascent chain complexes. Structure 2024; 32:621-629.e5. [PMID: 38428431 PMCID: PMC11073581 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The interpretation of experimental studies of co-translational protein folding often benefits from the use of computational methods that seek to model or simulate the nascent chain and its interactions with the ribosome. Building realistic 3D models of ribosome-nascent chain (RNC) constructs often requires expert knowledge, so to circumvent this issue, we describe here AutoRNC, an automated modeling program capable of constructing large numbers of plausible atomic models of RNCs within minutes. AutoRNC takes input from the user specifying any regions of the nascent chain that contain secondary or tertiary structure and attempts to build conformations compatible with those specifications-and with the constraints imposed by the ribosome-by sampling and progressively piecing together dipeptide conformations extracted from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB). Despite using only modest computational resources, we show here that AutoRNC can build plausible conformations for a wide range of RNC constructs for which experimental data have already been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert T McDonnell
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Adrian H Elcock
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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4
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de la Torre M, Pomorski A. Investigation of metal ion binding biomolecules one molecule at a time. Front Chem 2024; 12:1378447. [PMID: 38680456 PMCID: PMC11045889 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1378447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Metal ions can perform multiple roles ranging from regulatory to structural and are crucial for cell function. While some metal ions like Na+ are ubiquitously present at high concentrations, other ions, especially Ca2+ and transition metals, such as Zn2+ or Cu+/2+ are regulated. The concentrations above or below the physiological range cause severe changes in the behavior of biomolecules that bind them and subsequently affect the cell wellbeing. This has led to the development of specialized protocols to study metal ion binding biomolecules in bulk conditions that mimic the cell environment. Recently, there is growing evidence of influence of post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications on the affinity of the metal ion binding sites. However, such targets are difficult to obtain in amounts required for classical biophysical experiments. Single molecule techniques have revolutionized the field of biophysics, molecular and structural biology. Their biggest advantage is the ability to observe each molecule's interaction independently, without the need for synchronization. An additional benefit is its extremely low sample consumption. This feature allows characterization of designer biomolecules or targets obtained coming from natural sources. All types of biomolecules, including proteins, DNA and RNA were characterized using single molecule methods. However, one group is underrepresented in those studies. These are the metal ion binding biomolecules. Single molecule experiments often require separate optimization, due to extremely different concentrations used during the experiments. In this review we focus on single molecule methods, such as single molecule FRET, nanopores and optical tweezers that are used to study metal ion binding biomolecules. We summarize various examples of recently characterized targets and reported experimental conditions. Finally, we discuss the potential promises and pitfalls of single molecule characterization on metal ion binding biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Pomorski
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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Greiss F, Lardon N, Schütz L, Barak Y, Daube SS, Weinhold E, Noireaux V, Bar-Ziv R. A genetic circuit on a single DNA molecule as an autonomous dissipative nanodevice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:883. [PMID: 38287055 PMCID: PMC10825189 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Realizing genetic circuits on single DNA molecules as self-encoded dissipative nanodevices is a major step toward miniaturization of autonomous biological systems. A circuit operating on a single DNA implies that genetically encoded proteins localize during coupled transcription-translation to DNA, but a single-molecule measurement demonstrating this has remained a challenge. Here, we use a genetically encoded fluorescent reporter system with improved temporal resolution and observe the synthesis of individual proteins tethered to a DNA molecule by transient complexes of RNA polymerase, messenger RNA, and ribosome. Against expectations in dilute cell-free conditions where equilibrium considerations favor dispersion, these nascent proteins linger long enough to regulate cascaded reactions on the same DNA. We rationally design a pulsatile genetic circuit by encoding an activator and repressor in feedback on the same DNA molecule. Driven by the local synthesis of only several proteins per hour and gene, the circuit dynamics exhibit enhanced variability between individual DNA molecules, and fluctuations with a broad power spectrum. Our results demonstrate that co-expressional localization, as a nonequilibrium process, facilitates single-DNA genetic circuits as dissipative nanodevices, with implications for nanobiotechnology applications and artificial cell design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Greiss
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Nicolas Lardon
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leonie Schütz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoav Barak
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Shirley S Daube
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Elmar Weinhold
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Roy Bar-Ziv
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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Vazulka S, Schiavinato M, Tauer C, Wagenknecht M, Cserjan-Puschmann M, Striedner G. RNA-seq reveals multifaceted gene expression response to Fab production in Escherichia coli fed-batch processes with particular focus on ribosome stalling. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:14. [PMID: 38183013 PMCID: PMC10768439 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02278-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Escherichia coli is a cost-effective expression system for production of antibody fragments like Fabs. Various yield improvement strategies have been applied, however, Fabs remain challenging to produce. This study aimed to characterize the gene expression response of commonly used E. coli strains BL21(DE3) and HMS174(DE3) to periplasmic Fab expression using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Two Fabs, Fabx and FTN2, fused to a post-translational translocation signal sequence, were produced in carbon-limited fed-batch cultivations. RESULTS Production of Fabx impeded cell growth substantially stronger than FTN2 and yields of both Fabs differed considerably. The most noticeable, common changes in Fab-producing cells suggested by our RNA-seq data concern the cell envelope. The Cpx and Psp stress responses, both connected to inner membrane integrity, were activated, presumably by recombinant protein aggregation and impairment of the Sec translocon. The data additionally suggest changes in lipopolysaccharide synthesis, adjustment of membrane permeability, and peptidoglycan maturation and remodeling. Moreover, all Fab-producing strains showed depletion of Mg2+, indicated by activation of the PhoQP two-component signal transduction system during the early stage and sulfur and phosphate starvation during the later stage of the process. Furthermore, our data revealed ribosome stalling, caused by the Fabx amino acid sequence, as a contributor to low Fabx yields. Increased Fabx yields were obtained by a site-specific amino acid exchange replacing the stalling sequence. Contrary to expectations, cell growth was not impacted by presence or removal of the stalling sequence. Considering ribosome rescue is a conserved mechanism, the substantial differences observed in gene expression between BL21(DE3) and HMS174(DE3) in response to ribosome stalling on the recombinant mRNA were surprising. CONCLUSIONS Through characterization of the gene expression response to Fab production under industrially relevant cultivation conditions, we identified potential cell engineering targets. Thereby, we hope to enable rational approaches to improve cell fitness and Fab yields. Furthermore, we highlight ribosome stalling caused by the amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein as a possible challenge during recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vazulka
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matteo Schiavinato
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Computational Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Tauer
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Wagenknecht
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV, GmbH & Co KG, Dr.-Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, A-1120, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Cserjan-Puschmann
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gerald Striedner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Production of Next-Level Biopharmaceuticals in E. Coli, Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Soya N, Xu H, Roldan A, Yang Z, Ye H, Jiang F, Premchandar A, Veit G, Cole SPC, Kappes J, Hegedüs T, Lukacs GL. Folding correctors can restore CFTR posttranslational folding landscape by allosteric domain-domain coupling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6868. [PMID: 37891162 PMCID: PMC10611759 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42586-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The folding/misfolding and pharmacological rescue of multidomain ATP-binding cassette (ABC) C-subfamily transporters, essential for organismal health, remain incompletely understood. The ABCC transporters core consists of two nucleotide binding domains (NBD1,2) and transmembrane domains (TMD1,2). Using molecular dynamic simulations, biochemical and hydrogen deuterium exchange approaches, we show that the mutational uncoupling or stabilization of NBD1-TMD1/2 interfaces can compromise or facilitate the CFTR(ABCC7)-, MRP1(ABCC1)-, and ABCC6-transporters posttranslational coupled domain-folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. Allosteric or orthosteric binding of VX-809 and/or VX-445 folding correctors to TMD1/2 can rescue kinetically trapped CFTR posttranslational folding intermediates of cystic fibrosis (CF) mutants of NBD1 or TMD1 by global rewiring inter-domain allosteric-networks. We propose that dynamic allosteric domain-domain communications not only regulate ABCC-transporters function but are indispensable to tune the folding landscape of their posttranslational intermediates. These allosteric networks can be compromised by CF-mutations, and reinstated by correctors, offering a framework for mechanistic understanding of ABCC-transporters (mis)folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Soya
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Haijin Xu
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ariel Roldan
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Zhengrong Yang
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Haoxin Ye
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Fan Jiang
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Aiswarya Premchandar
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Guido Veit
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Susan P C Cole
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - John Kappes
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tamás Hegedüs
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-SE Biophysical Virology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely L Lukacs
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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8
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Soya N, Xu H, Roldan A, Yang Z, Ye H, Jiang F, Premchandar A, Veit G, Cole SPC, Kappes J, Hegedus T, Lukacs GL. Folding correctors can restore CFTR posttranslational folding landscape by allosteric domain-domain coupling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.19.563107. [PMID: 37905074 PMCID: PMC10614980 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.19.563107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
The folding/misfolding and pharmacological rescue of multidomain ATP-binding cassette (ABC) C-subfamily transporters, essential for organismal health, remain incompletely understood. The ABCC transporters core consists of two nucleotide binding domains (NBD1,2) and transmembrane domains (TMD1,2). Using molecular dynamic simulations, biochemical and hydrogen deuterium exchange approaches, we show that the mutational uncoupling or stabilization of NBD1-TMD1/2 interfaces can compromise or facilitate the CFTR(ABCC7)-, MRP1(ABCC1)-, and ABCC6-transporters posttranslational coupled domain-folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. Allosteric or orthosteric binding of VX-809 and/or VX-445 folding correctors to TMD1/2 can rescue kinetically trapped CFTR post-translational folding intermediates of cystic fibrosis (CF) mutants of NBD1 or TMD1 by global rewiring inter-domain allosteric-networks. We propose that dynamic allosteric domain-domain communications not only regulate ABCC-transporters function but are indispensable to tune the folding landscape of their post-translational intermediates. These allosteric networks can be compromised by CF-mutations, and reinstated by correctors, offering a framework for mechanistic understanding of ABCC-transporters (mis)folding. One-Sentence Summary Allosteric interdomain communication and its modulation are critical determinants of ABCC-transporters post-translational conformational biogenesis, misfolding, and pharmacological rescue.
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9
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Bitran A, Park K, Serebryany E, Shakhnovich EI. Co-translational formation of disulfides guides folding of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. Biophys J 2023; 122:3238-3253. [PMID: 37422697 PMCID: PMC10465708 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Many secreted proteins, including viral proteins, contain multiple disulfide bonds. How disulfide formation is coupled to protein folding in the cell remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we combine experiment and simulation to address this question as it pertains to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). We show that the RBD can only refold reversibly if its native disulfides are present before folding. But in their absence, the RBD spontaneously misfolds into a nonnative, molten-globule-like state that is structurally incompatible with complete disulfide formation and that is highly prone to aggregation. Thus, the RBD native structure represents a metastable state on the protein's energy landscape with reduced disulfides, indicating that nonequilibrium mechanisms are needed to ensure native disulfides form before folding. Our atomistic simulations suggest that this may be achieved via co-translational folding during RBD secretion into the endoplasmic reticulum. Namely, at intermediate translation lengths, native disulfide pairs are predicted to come together with high probability, and thus, under suitable kinetic conditions, this process may lock the protein into its native state and circumvent highly aggregation-prone nonnative intermediates. This detailed molecular picture of the RBD folding landscape may shed light on SARS-CoV-2 pathology and molecular constraints governing SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Bitran
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; PhD Program in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| | - Kibum Park
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Eugene Serebryany
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Eugene I Shakhnovich
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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10
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McDonnell RT, Elcock AH. AutoRNC: an automated modeling program for building atomic models of ribosome-nascent chain complexes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544999. [PMID: 37398297 PMCID: PMC10312685 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The interpretation of experimental studies of co-translational protein folding often benefits from the use of computational methods that seek to model the nascent chain and its interactions with the ribosome. Ribosome-nascent chain (RNC) constructs studied experimentally can vary significantly in size and the extent to which they contain secondary and tertiary structure, and building realistic 3D models of them therefore often requires expert knowledge. To circumvent this issue, we describe here AutoRNC, an automated modeling program capable of constructing large numbers of plausible atomic models of RNCs within minutes. AutoRNC takes input from the user specifying any regions of the nascent chain that contain secondary or tertiary structure and attempts to build conformations compatible with those specifications - and with the constraints imposed by the ribosome - by sampling and progressively piecing together dipeptide conformations extracted from the RCSB. We first show that conformations of completely unfolded proteins built by AutoRNC in the absence of the ribosome have radii of gyration that match well with the corresponding experimental data. We then show that AutoRNC can build plausible conformations for a wide range of RNC constructs for which experimental data have already been reported. Since AutoRNC requires only modest computational resources, we anticipate that it will prove to be a useful hypothesis generator for experimental studies, for example, in providing indications of whether designed constructs are likely to be capable of folding, as well as providing useful starting points for downstream atomic or coarse-grained simulations of the conformational dynamics of RNCs.
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11
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Vu QV, Nissley DA, Jiang Y, O'Brien EP, Li MS. Is Posttranslational Folding More Efficient Than Refolding from a Denatured State: A Computational Study. J Phys Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37200608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The folding of proteins into their native conformation is a complex process that has been extensively studied over the past half-century. The ribosome, the molecular machine responsible for protein synthesis, is known to interact with nascent proteins, adding further complexity to the protein folding landscape. Consequently, it is unclear whether the folding pathways of proteins are conserved on and off the ribosome. The main question remains: to what extent does the ribosome help proteins fold? To address this question, we used coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to compare the mechanisms by which the proteins dihydrofolate reductase, type III chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and d-alanine-d-alanine ligase B fold during and after vectorial synthesis on the ribosome to folding from the full-length unfolded state in bulk solution. Our results reveal that the influence of the ribosome on protein folding mechanisms varies depending on the size and complexity of the protein. Specifically, for a small protein with a simple fold, the ribosome facilitates efficient folding by helping the nascent protein avoid misfolded conformations. However, for larger and more complex proteins, the ribosome does not promote folding and may contribute to the formation of intermediate misfolded states cotranslationally. These misfolded states persist posttranslationally and do not convert to the native state during the 6 μs runtime of our coarse-grain simulations. Overall, our study highlights the complex interplay between the ribosome and protein folding and provides insight into the mechanisms of protein folding on and off the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quyen V Vu
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel A Nissley
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3LB, U.K
| | - Yang Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Edward P O'Brien
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
- Institute for Computational Sciences and Technology, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
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12
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Bitran A, Park K, Serebryany E, Shakhnovich EI. Cotranslational formation of disulfides guides folding of the SARS COV-2 receptor binding domain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.11.10.516025. [PMID: 36380756 PMCID: PMC9665344 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.10.516025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many secreted proteins contain multiple disulfide bonds. How disulfide formation is coupled to protein folding in the cell remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we combine experiment and simulation to address this question as it pertains to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD). We show that, whereas RBD can refold reversibly when its disulfides are intact, their disruption causes misfolding into a nonnative molten-globule state that is highly prone to aggregation and disulfide scrambling. Thus, non-equilibrium mechanisms are needed to ensure disulfides form prior to folding in vivo. Our simulations suggest that co-translational folding may accomplish this, as native disulfide pairs are predicted to form with high probability at intermediate lengths, ultimately committing the RBD to its metastable native state and circumventing nonnative intermediates. This detailed molecular picture of the RBD folding landscape may shed light on SARS-CoV-2 pathology and molecular constraints governing SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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13
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The Development of Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy: From Polymer Biophysics to Molecular Machines. Q Rev Biophys 2022; 55:e9. [PMID: 35916314 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583522000087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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14
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Rajasekaran N, Kaiser CM. Co-Translational Folding of Multi-Domain Proteins. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:869027. [PMID: 35517860 PMCID: PMC9065291 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.869027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of proteins in nature are composed of multiple domains connected in a single polypeptide. How these long sequences fold into functional structures without forming toxic misfolds or aggregates is poorly understood. Their folding is inextricably linked to protein synthesis and interactions with cellular machinery, making mechanistic studies challenging. Recent progress has revealed critical features of multi-domain protein folding in isolation and in the context of translation by the ribosome. In this review, we discuss challenges and progress in understanding multi-domain protein folding, and highlight how molecular interactions shape folding and misfolding pathways. With the development of new approaches and model systems, the stage is now set for mechanistically exploring the folding of large multi-domain proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian M. Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Christian M. Kaiser,
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15
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Tao P, Xiao Y. Role of cotranslational folding for β-sheet-enriched proteins: A perspective from molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:024402. [PMID: 35291071 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.024402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The formations of correct three-dimensional structures of proteins are essential to their functions. Cotranslational folding is vital for proteins to form correct structures in vivo. Although some experiments have shown that cotranslational folding can improve the efficiency of folding, its microscopic mechanism is not yet clear. Previously, we built a model of the ribosomal exit tunnel and investigated the cotranslational folding of a three-helix protein by using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Here we study the cotranslational folding of three β-sheet-enriched proteins using the same method. The results show that cotranslational folding can enhance the helical population in most cases and reduce non-native long-range contacts before emerging from the ribosomal exit tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, all proteins fall into local minimal states and the structural ensembles of cotranslational folding show more helical conformations than those of free folding. In particular, for one of the three proteins, the GTT WW domain, we find that one local minimum state of the cotranslational folding is the known folding intermediate, which is not found in free folding. This result suggests that the cotranslational folding may increase the folding efficiency by accelerating the sampling more than by avoiding the misfolded state, which is presently a mainstream viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Tao
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yi Xiao
- School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China
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16
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Sorokina I, Mushegian AR, Koonin EV. Is Protein Folding a Thermodynamically Unfavorable, Active, Energy-Dependent Process? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:521. [PMID: 35008947 PMCID: PMC8745595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevailing current view of protein folding is the thermodynamic hypothesis, under which the native folded conformation of a protein corresponds to the global minimum of Gibbs free energy G. We question this concept and show that the empirical evidence behind the thermodynamic hypothesis of folding is far from strong. Furthermore, physical theory-based approaches to the prediction of protein folds and their folding pathways so far have invariably failed except for some very small proteins, despite decades of intensive theory development and the enormous increase of computer power. The recent spectacular successes in protein structure prediction owe to evolutionary modeling of amino acid sequence substitutions enhanced by deep learning methods, but even these breakthroughs provide no information on the protein folding mechanisms and pathways. We discuss an alternative view of protein folding, under which the native state of most proteins does not occupy the global free energy minimum, but rather, a local minimum on a fluctuating free energy landscape. We further argue that ΔG of folding is likely to be positive for the majority of proteins, which therefore fold into their native conformations only through interactions with the energy-dependent molecular machinery of living cells, in particular, the translation system and chaperones. Accordingly, protein folding should be modeled as it occurs in vivo, that is, as a non-equilibrium, active, energy-dependent process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arcady R. Mushegian
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA;
- Clare Hall College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9AL, UK
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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17
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Plessa E, Chu LP, Chan SHS, Thomas OL, Cassaignau AME, Waudby CA, Christodoulou J, Cabrita LD. Nascent chains can form co-translational folding intermediates that promote post-translational folding outcomes in a disease-causing protein. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6447. [PMID: 34750347 PMCID: PMC8576036 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26531-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
During biosynthesis, proteins can begin folding co-translationally to acquire their biologically-active structures. Folding, however, is an imperfect process and in many cases misfolding results in disease. Less is understood of how misfolding begins during biosynthesis. The human protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) folds under kinetic control via a folding intermediate; its pathological variants readily form self-associated polymers at the site of synthesis, leading to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. We observe that AAT nascent polypeptides stall during their biosynthesis, resulting in full-length nascent chains that remain bound to ribosome, forming a persistent ribosome-nascent chain complex (RNC) prior to release. We analyse the structure of these RNCs, which reveals compacted, partially-folded co-translational folding intermediates possessing molten-globule characteristics. We find that the highly-polymerogenic mutant, Z AAT, forms a distinct co-translational folding intermediate relative to wild-type. Its very modest structural differences suggests that the ribosome uniquely tempers the impact of deleterious mutations during nascent chain emergence. Following nascent chain release however, these co-translational folding intermediates guide post-translational folding outcomes thus suggesting that Z's misfolding is initiated from co-translational structure. Our findings demonstrate that co-translational folding intermediates drive how some proteins fold under kinetic control, and may thus also serve as tractable therapeutic targets for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Plessa
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lien P Chu
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sammy H S Chan
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Oliver L Thomas
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Anaïs M E Cassaignau
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Christopher A Waudby
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John Christodoulou
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. .,School of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.
| | - Lisa D Cabrita
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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18
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Bruneaux M, Kronholm I, Ashrafi R, Ketola T. Roles of adenine methylation and genetic mutations in adaptation to different temperatures in Serratia marcescens. Epigenetics 2021; 17:861-881. [PMID: 34519613 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1966215] [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: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications can contribute to adaptation, but the relative contributions of genetic and epigenetic variation are unknown. Previous studies on the role of epigenetic changes in adaptation in eukaryotes have nearly exclusively focused on cytosine methylation (m5C), while prokaryotes exhibit a richer system of methyltransferases targetting adenines (m6A) or cytosines (m4C, m5C). DNA methylation in prokaryotes has many roles, but its potential role in adaptation still needs further investigation. We collected phenotypic, genetic, and epigenetic data using single molecule real-time sequencing of clones of the bacterium Serratia marcescens that had undergone experimental evolution in contrasting temperatures to investigate the relationship between environment and genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic changes. The genomic distribution of GATC motifs, which were the main target for m6A methylation, and of variable m6A epiloci pointed to a potential link between m6A methylation and regulation of gene expression in S. marcescens. Evolved strains, while genetically homogeneous, exhibited many polymorphic m6A epiloci. There was no strong support for a genetic control of methylation changes in our experiment, and no clear evidence of parallel environmentally induced or environmentally selected methylation changes at specific epiloci was found. Both genetic and epigenetic variants were associated with some phenotypic traits. Overall, our results suggest that both genetic and adenine methylation changes have the potential to contribute to phenotypic adaptation in S. marcescens, but that any environmentally induced epigenetic change occurring in our experiment would probably have been quite labile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Bruneaux
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Ilkka Kronholm
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Roghaieh Ashrafi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tarmo Ketola
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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19
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Abstract
The inverse problem of designing component interactions to target emergent structure is fundamental to numerous applications in biotechnology, materials science, and statistical physics. Equally important is the inverse problem of designing emergent kinetics, but this has received considerably less attention. Using recent advances in automatic differentiation, we show how kinetic pathways can be precisely designed by directly differentiating through statistical physics models, namely free energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. We consider two systems that are crucial to our understanding of structural self-assembly: bulk crystallization and small nanoclusters. In each case, we are able to assemble precise dynamical features. Using gradient information, we manipulate interactions among constituent particles to tune the rate at which these systems yield specific structures of interest. Moreover, we use this approach to learn nontrivial features about the high-dimensional design space, allowing us to accurately predict when multiple kinetic features can be simultaneously and independently controlled. These results provide a concrete and generalizable foundation for studying nonstructural self-assembly, including kinetic properties as well as other complex emergent properties, in a vast array of systems.
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20
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Abstract
Folding of polypeptides begins during their synthesis on ribosomes. This process has evolved as a means for the cell to maintain proteostasis, by mitigating the risk of protein misfolding and aggregation. The capacity to now depict this cellular feat at increasingly higher resolution is providing insight into the mechanistic determinants that promote successful folding. Emerging from these studies is the intimate interplay between protein translation and folding, and within this the ribosome particle is the key player. Its unique structural properties provide a specialized scaffold against which nascent polypeptides can begin to form structure in a highly coordinated, co-translational manner. Here, we examine how, as a macromolecular machine, the ribosome modulates the intrinsic dynamic properties of emerging nascent polypeptide chains and guides them toward their biologically active structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs M E Cassaignau
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck College, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; , ,
| | - Lisa D Cabrita
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck College, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; , ,
| | - John Christodoulou
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck College, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; , ,
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21
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Koubek J, Schmitt J, Galmozzi CV, Kramer G. Mechanisms of Cotranslational Protein Maturation in Bacteria. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:689755. [PMID: 34113653 PMCID: PMC8185961 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.689755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing cells invest a significant part of their biosynthetic capacity into the production of proteins. To become functional, newly-synthesized proteins must be N-terminally processed, folded and often translocated to other cellular compartments. A general strategy is to integrate these protein maturation processes with translation, by cotranslationally engaging processing enzymes, chaperones and targeting factors with the nascent polypeptide. Precise coordination of all factors involved is critical for the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis and cellular homeostasis. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on cotranslational protein maturation, with a focus on the production of cytosolic proteins in bacteria. We describe the role of the ribosome and the chaperone network in protein folding and how the dynamic interplay of all cotranslationally acting factors guides the sequence of cotranslational events. Finally, we discuss recent data demonstrating the coupling of protein synthesis with the assembly of protein complexes and end with a brief discussion of outstanding questions and emerging concepts in the field of cotranslational protein maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Koubek
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jaro Schmitt
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carla Veronica Galmozzi
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Günter Kramer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Maciuba K, Rajasekaran N, Chen X, Kaiser CM. Co-translational folding of nascent polypeptides: Multi-layered mechanisms for the efficient biogenesis of functional proteins. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100042. [PMID: 33987870 PMCID: PMC8262109 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The coupling of protein synthesis and folding is a crucial yet poorly understood aspect of cellular protein folding. Over the past few years, it has become possible to experimentally follow and define protein folding on the ribosome, revealing principles that shape co-translational folding and distinguish it from refolding in solution. Here, we highlight some of these recent findings from biochemical and biophysical studies and their potential significance for cellular protein biogenesis. In particular, we focus on nascent chain interactions with the ribosome, interactions within the nascent protein, modulation of translation elongation rates, and the role of mechanical force that accompanies nascent protein folding. The ability to obtain mechanistic insight in molecular detail has set the stage for exploring the intricate process of nascent protein folding. We believe that the aspects discussed here will be generally important for understanding how protein synthesis and folding are coupled and regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maciuba
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Xiuqi Chen
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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23
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From folding to function: complex macromolecular reactions unraveled one-by-one with optical tweezers. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:129-142. [PMID: 33438724 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Single-molecule manipulation with optical tweezers has uncovered macromolecular behaviour hidden to other experimental techniques. Recent instrumental improvements have made it possible to expand the range of systems accessible to optical tweezers. Beyond focusing on the folding and structural changes of isolated single molecules, optical tweezers studies have evolved into unraveling the basic principles of complex molecular processes such as co-translational folding on the ribosome, kinase activation dynamics, ligand-receptor binding, chaperone-assisted protein folding, and even dynamics of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). In this mini-review, we illustrate the methodological principles of optical tweezers before highlighting recent advances in studying complex protein conformational dynamics - from protein synthesis to physiological function - as well as emerging future issues that are beginning to be addressed with novel approaches.
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24
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Bustamante CJ, Chemla YR, Liu S, Wang MD. Optical tweezers in single-molecule biophysics. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2021; 1:25. [PMID: 34849486 PMCID: PMC8629167 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-021-00021-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Optical tweezers have become the method of choice in single-molecule manipulation studies. In this Primer, we first review the physical principles of optical tweezers and the characteristics that make them a powerful tool to investigate single molecules. We then introduce the modifications of the method to extend the measurement of forces and displacements to torques and angles, and to develop optical tweezers with single-molecule fluorescence detection capabilities. We discuss force and torque calibration of these instruments, their various modes of operation and most common experimental geometries. We describe the type of data obtained in each experimental design and their analyses. This description is followed by a survey of applications of these methods to the studies of protein-nucleic acid interactions, protein/RNA folding and molecular motors. We also discuss data reproducibility, the factors that lead to the data variability among different laboratories and the need to develop field standards. We cover the current limitations of the methods and possible ways to optimize instrument operation, data extraction and analysis, before suggesting likely areas of future growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J. Bustamante
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Yann R. Chemla
- Department of Physics, Center for the Physics of Living Cells, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle D. Wang
- Department of Physics, Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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25
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Cassaignau AME, Włodarski T, Chan SHS, Woodburn LF, Bukvin IV, Streit JO, Cabrita LD, Waudby CA, Christodoulou J. Interactions between nascent proteins and the ribosome surface inhibit co-translational folding. Nat Chem 2021; 13:1214-1220. [PMID: 34650236 PMCID: PMC8627912 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Most proteins begin to fold during biosynthesis on the ribosome. It has been suggested that interactions between the emerging polypeptide and the ribosome surface might allow the ribosome itself to modulate co-translational folding. Here we combine protein engineering and NMR spectroscopy to characterize a series of interactions between the ribosome surface and unfolded nascent chains of the immunoglobulin-like FLN5 filamin domain. The strongest interactions are found for a C-terminal segment that is essential for folding, and we demonstrate quantitative agreement between the strength of this interaction and the energetics of the co-translational folding process itself. Mutations in this region that reduce the extent of binding result in a shift in the co-translational folding equilibrium towards the native state. Our results therefore demonstrate that a competition between folding and binding provides a simple, dynamic mechanism for the modulation of co-translational folding by the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs M. E. Cassaignau
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tomasz Włodarski
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sammy H. S. Chan
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lauren F. Woodburn
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ivana V. Bukvin
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julian O. Streit
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lisa D. Cabrita
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher A. Waudby
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - John Christodoulou
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK ,grid.4464.20000 0001 2161 2573Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
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26
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Liutkute M, Maiti M, Samatova E, Enderlein J, Rodnina MV. Gradual compaction of the nascent peptide during cotranslational folding on the ribosome. eLife 2020; 9:60895. [PMID: 33112737 PMCID: PMC7593090 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nascent polypeptides begin to fold in the constrained space of the ribosomal peptide exit tunnel. Here we use force-profile analysis (FPA) and photo-induced energy-transfer fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (PET-FCS) to show how a small α-helical domain, the N-terminal domain of HemK, folds cotranslationally. Compaction starts vectorially as soon as the first α-helical segments are synthesized. As nascent chain grows, emerging helical segments dock onto each other and continue to rearrange at the vicinity of the ribosome. Inside or in the proximity of the ribosome, the nascent peptide undergoes structural fluctuations on the µs time scale. The fluctuations slow down as the domain moves away from the ribosome. Mutations that destabilize the packing of the domain's hydrophobic core have little effect on folding within the exit tunnel, but abolish the final domain stabilization. The results show the power of FPA and PET-FCS in solving the trajectory of cotranslational protein folding and in characterizing the dynamic properties of folding intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Liutkute
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Manisankar Maiti
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Samatova
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Enderlein
- III. Institute of Physics - Biophysics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
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27
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Chen X, Rajasekaran N, Liu K, Kaiser CM. Synthesis runs counter to directional folding of a nascent protein domain. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5096. [PMID: 33037221 PMCID: PMC7547688 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18921-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Folding of individual domains in large proteins during translation helps to avoid otherwise prevalent inter-domain misfolding. How folding intermediates observed in vitro for the majority of proteins relate to co-translational folding remains unclear. Combining in vivo and single-molecule experiments, we followed the co-translational folding of the G-domain, encompassing the first 293 amino acids of elongation factor G. Surprisingly, the domain remains unfolded until it is fully synthesized, without collapsing into molten globule-like states or forming stable intermediates. Upon fully emerging from the ribosome, the G-domain transitions to its stable native structure via folding intermediates. Our results suggest a strictly sequential folding pathway initiating from the C-terminus. Folding and synthesis thus proceed in opposite directions. The folding mechanism is likely imposed by the final structure and might have evolved to ensure efficient, timely folding of a highly abundant and essential protein. In vivo experiments and optical tweezers force-spectroscopy measurements assessing the co-translational folding of the G-domain from bacterial elongation factor G reveal a sequential folding pathway initiating from the C-terminus. These results suggest that protein folding and synthesis proceed in opposite directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqi Chen
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Kaixian Liu
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Molecular Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. .,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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28
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Shishido H, Yoon JS, Yang Z, Skach WR. CFTR trafficking mutations disrupt cotranslational protein folding by targeting biosynthetic intermediates. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4258. [PMID: 32848127 PMCID: PMC7450043 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18101-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding causes a wide spectrum of human disease, and therapies that target misfolding are transforming the clinical care of cystic fibrosis. Despite this success, however, very little is known about how disease-causing mutations affect the de novo folding landscape. Here we show that inherited, disease-causing mutations located within the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) have distinct effects on nascent polypeptides. Two of these mutations (A455E and L558S) delay compaction of the nascent NBD1 during a critical window of synthesis. The observed folding defect is highly dependent on nascent chain length as well as its attachment to the ribosome. Moreover, restoration of the NBD1 cotranslational folding defect by second site suppressor mutations also partially restores folding of full-length CFTR. These findings demonstrate that nascent folding intermediates can play an important role in disease pathogenesis and thus provide potential targets for pharmacological correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Shishido
- CFFT Lab, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 44 Hartwell Ave, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Jae Seok Yoon
- CFFT Lab, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 44 Hartwell Ave, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Zhongying Yang
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - William R Skach
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100N, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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29
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Abstract
Manipulation of individual molecules with optical tweezers provides a powerful means of interrogating the structure and folding of proteins. Mechanical force is not only a relevant quantity in cellular protein folding and function, but also a convenient parameter for biophysical folding studies. Optical tweezers offer precise control in the force range relevant for protein folding and unfolding, from which single-molecule kinetic and thermodynamic information about these processes can be extracted. In this review, we describe both physical principles and practical aspects of optical tweezers measurements and discuss recent advances in the use of this technique for the study of protein folding. In particular, we describe the characterization of folding energy landscapes at high resolution, studies of structurally complex multidomain proteins, folding in the presence of chaperones, and the ability to investigate real-time cotranslational folding of a polypeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Bustamante
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Physics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA;
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Lisa Alexander
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Kevin Maciuba
- Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology and Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA;
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30
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Cotranslational folding allows misfolding-prone proteins to circumvent deep kinetic traps. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:1485-1495. [PMID: 31911473 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913207117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many large proteins suffer from slow or inefficient folding in vitro. It has long been known that this problem can be alleviated in vivo if proteins start folding cotranslationally. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this improvement have not been well established. To address this question, we use an all-atom simulation-based algorithm to compute the folding properties of various large protein domains as a function of nascent chain length. We find that for certain proteins, there exists a narrow window of lengths that confers both thermodynamic stability and fast folding kinetics. Beyond these lengths, folding is drastically slowed by nonnative interactions involving C-terminal residues. Thus, cotranslational folding is predicted to be beneficial because it allows proteins to take advantage of this optimal window of lengths and thus avoid kinetic traps. Interestingly, many of these proteins' sequences contain conserved rare codons that may slow down synthesis at this optimal window, suggesting that synthesis rates may be evolutionarily tuned to optimize folding. Using kinetic modeling, we show that under certain conditions, such a slowdown indeed improves cotranslational folding efficiency by giving these nascent chains more time to fold. In contrast, other proteins are predicted not to benefit from cotranslational folding due to a lack of significant nonnative interactions, and indeed these proteins' sequences lack conserved C-terminal rare codons. Together, these results shed light on the factors that promote proper protein folding in the cell and how biomolecular self-assembly may be optimized evolutionarily.
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Cotranslational Folding of Proteins on the Ribosome. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10010097. [PMID: 31936054 PMCID: PMC7023365 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many proteins in the cell fold cotranslationally within the restricted space of the polypeptide exit tunnel or at the surface of the ribosome. A growing body of evidence suggests that the ribosome can alter the folding trajectory in many different ways. In this review, we summarize the recent examples of how translation affects folding of single-domain, multiple-domain and oligomeric proteins. The vectorial nature of translation, the spatial constraints of the exit tunnel, and the electrostatic properties of the ribosome-nascent peptide complex define the onset of early folding events. The ribosome can facilitate protein compaction, induce the formation of intermediates that are not observed in solution, or delay the onset of folding. Examples of single-domain proteins suggest that early compaction events can define the folding pathway for some types of domain structures. Folding of multi-domain proteins proceeds in a domain-wise fashion, with each domain having its role in stabilizing or destabilizing neighboring domains. Finally, the assembly of protein complexes can also begin cotranslationally. In all these cases, the ribosome helps the nascent protein to attain a native fold and avoid the kinetic traps of misfolding.
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