1
|
Notari S, Gambardella G, Vincenzoni F, Desiderio C, Castagnola M, Bocedi A, Ricci G. The unusual properties of lactoferrin during its nascent phase. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14113. [PMID: 37644064 PMCID: PMC10465537 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactoferrin, a multifunctional iron-binding protein containing 16 disulfides, is actively studied for its antibacterial and anti-carcinogenic properties. However, scarce information is nowadays available about its oxidative folding starting from the reduced and unfolded status. This study discovers unusual properties when this protein is examined in its reduced molten globule-like conformation. Using kinetic, CD and fluorescence analyses together with mass spectrometry, we found that a few cysteines display astonishing hyper-reactivity toward different thiol reagents. In details, four cysteines (i.e. 668, 64, 512 and 424) display thousands of times higher reactivity toward GSSG but normal against other natural disulfides. The formation of these four mixed-disulfides with glutathione probably represents the first step of its folding in vivo. A widespread low pKa decreases the reactivity of other 14 cysteines toward GSSG limiting their involvement in the early phase of the oxidative folding. The origin of this hyper-reactivity was due to transient lactoferrin-GSSG complex, as supported by fluorescence experiments. Lactoferrin represents another disulfide containing protein in addition to albumin, lysozyme, ribonuclease, chymotrypsinogen, and trypsinogen which shows cysteines with an extraordinary and specific hyper-reactivity toward GSSG confirming the discovery of a fascinating new feature of proteins in their nascent phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Notari
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Gambardella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze biotecnologiche di Base, cliniche intensivologiche e perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Desiderio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gambardella G, Notari S, Cavaterra D, Iavarone F, Castagnola M, Bocedi A, Ricci G. The Anfinsen Dogma: Intriguing Details Sixty-Five Years Later. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147759. [PMID: 35887107 PMCID: PMC9318638 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pioneering experiments of Anfinsen on the oxidative folding of RNase have been revisited discovering some details, which update the statement of his dogma and shed new light on the leading role of the correct disulfide in the attainment of the native structure. CD analysis, mass spectrometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and enzyme activity indicate that native disulfides drive the formation of the secondary and tertiary structures that cannot be entirely formed in their absence. This opposes a common opinion that these structures are first formed and then stabilized by the native disulfides. Our results also indicate that a spontaneous re-oxidation of a reduced RNase cannot produce a complete recovery of activity, as described by many textbooks; this can be obtained only in the presence of a reshuffling solution such as GSH/GSSG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Gambardella
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (S.N.); (D.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Sara Notari
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (S.N.); (D.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Dario Cavaterra
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (S.N.); (D.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (S.N.); (D.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (S.N.); (D.C.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0672594353
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Injectable Hydrogel Based on Protein-Polyester Microporous Network as an Implantable Niche for Active Cell Recruitment. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040709. [PMID: 35456546 PMCID: PMC9024632 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the potential of hydrogel-based localized cancer therapies, their efficacy can be limited by cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a hydrogel system that can provoke robust and durable immune response in the human body. This study has developed an injectable protein-polymer-based porous hydrogel network composed of lysozyme and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide (PCLA) (Lys-PCLA) bioconjugate for the active recruitment dendritic cells (DCs). The Lys-PCLA bioconjugates are prepared using thiol-ene reaction between thiolated lysozyme (Lys-SH) and acrylated PCLA (PCLA-Ac). The free-flowing Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols at low temperature transformed to immovable gel at the physiological condition and exhibited stability upon dilution with buffers. According to the in vitro toxicity test, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate and PCLA copolymer were non-toxic to RAW 263.7 cells at higher concentrations (1000 µg/mL). In addition, subcutaneous administration of Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols formed stable hydrogel depot instantly, which suggested the in situ gel forming ability of the bioconjugate. Moreover, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot formed at the interface between subcutaneous tissue and dermis layers allowed the active migration and recruitment of DCs. As suggested by these results, the in-situ forming injectable Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot may serve as an implantable immune niche for the recruitment and modification of DCs.
Collapse
|
4
|
Oxidative Folding of Proteins: The "Smoking Gun" of Glutathione. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221810148. [PMID: 34576311 PMCID: PMC8468038 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione has long been suspected to be the primary low molecular weight compound present in all cells promoting the oxidative protein folding, but twenty years ago it was found “not guilty”. Now, new surprising evidence repeats its request to be the “smoking gun” which reopens the criminal trial revealing the crucial involvement of this tripeptide.
Collapse
|
5
|
Cattani G, Bocedi A, Gambardella G, Iavarone F, Boroumand M, Castagnola M, Ricci G. Trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen: the mysterious hyper-reactivity of selected cysteines is still present after their divergent evolution. FEBS J 2021; 288:6003-6018. [PMID: 33876866 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
An enigmatic and never described hyper-reactivity of most of the cysteines resident in the reduced, molten globule-like intermediate of a few proteins has been recently discovered. In particular, all ten cysteines of chymotrypsinogen showed hundred times increased reactivity against hydrophobic reagents. A single cysteine (Cys1) was also found thousand times more reactive toward GSSG, making speculate that a single glutathionylation could represent the primordial event of its oxidative folding. In the present study, we compare these kinetic properties with those present in trypsinogen taken in its reduced, molten globule-like intermediate and identify the origin of these unusual properties. Despite the divergent evolution of these two proteins, the different amount of disulfides and the very different 3D localization of three disulfides, their hyper-reactivity toward hydrophobic thiol reagents and disulfides is very similar. Mass spectrometry identifies two cysteines in trypsinogen, Cys148 and Cys197, 800 times more reactive toward GSSG than an unperturbed protein cysteine. These results point toward a stringent and accurate preservation of these peculiar kinetic properties during a divergent evolution suggesting some important role, which at the present can only be hypothesized. Similar extraordinary hyper-reactivity has been found also in albumin, ribonuclease, and lysozyme confirming that it cannot be considered a kinetic singularity of a single protein. Interestingly, the very flexible and fluctuating structures like those typical of the molten globule status prove capable of enabling sophisticated actions typical of enzymes such as binding to GSSG with relevant specificity and high affinity (KD = 0.4 mm) and accelerating the reaction of its cysteines by thousands of times.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cattani
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Giorgia Gambardella
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mozhgan Boroumand
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica, Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
New Factors Enhancing the Reactivity of Cysteines in Molten Globule-Like Structures. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186949. [PMID: 32971812 PMCID: PMC7555924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein cysteines often play crucial functional and structural roles, so they are emerging targets to design covalent thiol ligands that are able to modulate enzyme or protein functions. Some of these residues, especially those involved in enzyme mechanisms—including nucleophilic and reductive catalysis and thiol-disulfide exchange—display unusual hyper-reactivity; such a property is expected to result from a low pKa and from a great accessibility to a given reagent. New findings and previous evidence clearly indicate that pKa perturbations can only produce two–four-times increased reactivity at physiological pH values, far from the hundred and even thousand-times kinetic enhancements observed for some protein cysteines. The data from the molten globule-like structures of ribonuclease, lysozyme, bovine serum albumin and chymotrypsinogen identified new speeding agents, i.e., hydrophobic/electrostatic interactions and productive complex formations involving the protein and thiol reagent, which were able to confer exceptional reactivity to structural cysteines which were only intended to form disulfides. This study, for the first time, evaluates quantitatively the different contributions of pKa and other factors to the overall reactivity. These findings may help to clarify the mechanisms that allow a rapid disulfide formation during the oxidative folding of many proteins.
Collapse
|
7
|
Ultra-rapid glutathionylation of chymotrypsinogen in its molten globule-like conformation: A comparison to archaeal proteins. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8943. [PMID: 32488029 PMCID: PMC7265447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65696-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chymotrypsinogen, when reduced and taken to its molten globule-like conformation, displays a single cysteine with an unusual kinetic propensity toward oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and other organic thiol reagents. A single residue, identified by mass spectrometry like Cys1, reacts with GSSG about 1400 times faster than an unperturbed protein cysteine. A reversible protein-GSSG complex and a low pKa (8.1 ± 0.1) make possible such astonishing kinetic property which is absent toward other natural disulfides like cystine, homocystine and cystamine. An evident hyper-reactivity toward 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was also found for this specific residue. The extraordinary reactivity toward GSSG is absent in two proteins of the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, an organism lacking glutathione: the Protein Disulphide Oxidoreductase (SsPDO) and the Bacterioferritin Comigratory Protein 1 (Bcp1) that displays Cys residues with an even lower pKa value (7.5 ± 0.1) compared to chymotrypsinogen. This study, which also uses single mutants in Cys residues for Bcp1, proposes that this hyper-reactivity of a single cysteine, similar to that found in serum albumin, lysozyme, ribonuclease, may have relevance to drive the “incipit” of the oxidative folding of proteins from organisms where the glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) system is present.
Collapse
|
8
|
Bocedi A, Cattani G, Gambardella G, Ticconi S, Cozzolino F, Di Fusco O, Pucci P, Ricci G. Ultra-Rapid Glutathionylation of Ribonuclease: Is this the Real Incipit of its Oxidative Folding? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215440. [PMID: 31683668 PMCID: PMC6862303 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many details of oxidative folding of proteins remain obscure, in particular, the role of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). This study reveals some unknown aspects. When a reduced ribonuclease A refolds in the presence of GSSG, most of its eight cysteines accomplish a very fast glutathionylation. In particular, one single cysteine, identified as Cys95 by mass spectrometry, displays 3600 times higher reactivity when compared with an unperturbed protein cysteine. Furthermore, the other five cysteines show 40-50 times higher reactivity toward GSSG. This phenomenon is partially due to a low pKa value of most of these cysteines (average pKa = 7.9), but the occurrence of a reversible GSSG-ribonuclease complex (KD = 0.12 mM) is reasonably responsible for the extraordinary hyper-reactivity of Cys95. Neither hyper-reactivity nor some protein-disulfide complexes have been found by reacting a reduced ribonuclease with other natural disulfides i.e., cystine, cystamine, and homocystine. Hyper-reactivity of all cysteines was observed toward 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Given that GSSG is present in high concentrations in the endoplasmic reticulum, this property may shed light on the early step of its oxidative folding. The ultra-rapid glutathionylation of cysteines, only devoted to form disulfides, is a novel property of the molten globule status of the ribonuclease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Bocedi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giada Cattani
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Gambardella
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Ticconi
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Flora Cozzolino
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate and Department of Chemical Science, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ornella Di Fusco
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate and Department of Chemical Science, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Piero Pucci
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate and Department of Chemical Science, University of Naples "Federico II", 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Ricci
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|