1
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Galano-Frutos JJ, Nerín-Fonz F, Sancho J. Calculation of Protein Folding Thermodynamics Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7791-7806. [PMID: 37955428 PMCID: PMC10751793 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in artificial intelligence methods, protein folding remains in many ways an enigma to be solved. Accurate computation of protein folding energetics could help drive fields such as protein and drug design and genetic interpretation. However, the challenge of calculating the state functions governing protein folding from first-principles remains unaddressed. We present here a simple approach that allows us to accurately calculate the energetics of protein folding. It is based on computing the energy of the folded and unfolded states at different temperatures using molecular dynamics simulations. From this, two essential quantities (ΔH and ΔCp) are obtained and used to calculate the conformational stability of the protein (ΔG). With this approach, we have successfully calculated the energetics of two- and three-state proteins, representatives of the major structural classes, as well as small stability differences (ΔΔG) due to changes in solution conditions or variations in an amino acid residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J. Galano-Frutos
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Biocomputation
and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit GBs-CSIC, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Francho Nerín-Fonz
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Sancho
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Biocomputation
and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit GBs-CSIC, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon
Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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2
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Ó'Fágáin C. Protein Stability: Enhancement and Measurement. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2699:369-419. [PMID: 37647007 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3362-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
This chapter defines protein stability, emphasizes its importance, and surveys the field of protein stabilization, with summary reference to a selection of 2014-2021 publications. One can enhance stability, particularly by protein engineering strategies but also by chemical modification and by other means. General protocols are set out on how to measure a given protein's (i) kinetic thermal stability and (ii) oxidative stability and (iii) how to undertake chemical modification of a protein in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán Ó'Fágáin
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
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3
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García-Cebollada H, López A, Sancho J. Protposer: the web server that readily proposes protein stabilizing mutations with high PPV. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2415-2433. [PMID: 35664235 PMCID: PMC9133766 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein stability is a requisite for most biotechnological and medical applications of proteins. As natural proteins tend to suffer from a low conformational stability ex vivo, great efforts have been devoted toward increasing their stability through rational design and engineering of appropriate mutations. Unfortunately, even the best currently used predictors fail to compute the stability of protein variants with sufficient accuracy and their usefulness as tools to guide the rational stabilisation of proteins is limited. We present here Protposer, a protein stabilising tool based on a different approach. Instead of quantifying changes in stability, Protposer uses structure- and sequence-based screening modules to nominate candidate mutations for subsequent evaluation by a logistic regression model, carefully trained to avoid overfitting. Thus, Protposer analyses PDB files in search for stabilization opportunities and provides a ranked list of promising mutations with their estimated success rates (eSR), their probabilities of being stabilising by at least 0.5 kcal/mol. The agreement between eSRs and actual positive predictive values (PPV) on external datasets of mutations is excellent. When Protposer is used with its Optimal kappa selection threshold, its PPV is above 0.7. Even with less stringent thresholds, Protposer largely outperforms FoldX, Rosetta and PoPMusiC. Indicating the PDB file of the protein suffices to obtain a ranked list of mutations, their eSRs and hints on the likely source of the stabilization expected. Protposer is a distinct, straightforward and highly successful tool to design protein stabilising mutations, and it is freely available for academic use at http://webapps.bifi.es/the-protposer.
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4
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Conde-Giménez M, Sancho J. Unravelling the Complex Denaturant and Thermal-Induced Unfolding Equilibria of Human Phenylalanine Hydroxylase. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126539. [PMID: 34207146 PMCID: PMC8234983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is a metabolic enzyme involved in the catabolism of L-Phe in liver. Loss of conformational stability and decreased enzymatic activity in PAH variants result in the autosomal recessive disorder phenylketonuria (PKU), characterized by developmental and psychological problems if not treated early. One current therapeutic approach to treat PKU is based on pharmacological chaperones (PCs), small molecules that can displace the folding equilibrium of unstable PAH variants toward the native state, thereby rescuing the physiological function of the enzyme. Understanding the PAH folding equilibrium is essential to develop new PCs for different forms of the disease. We investigate here the urea and the thermal-induced denaturation of full-length PAH and of a truncated form lacking the regulatory and the tetramerization domains. For either protein construction, two distinct transitions are seen in chemical denaturation followed by fluorescence emission, indicating the accumulation of equilibrium unfolding intermediates where the catalytic domains are partly unfolded and dissociated from each other. According to analytical centrifugation, the chemical denaturation intermediates of either construction are not well-defined species but highly polydisperse ensembles of protein aggregates. On the other hand, each protein construction similarly shows two transitions in thermal denaturation measured by fluorescence or differential scanning calorimetry, also indicating the accumulation of equilibrium unfolding intermediates. The similar temperatures of mid denaturation of the two constructions, together with their apparent lack of response to protein concentration, indicate the catalytic domains are unfolded in the full-length PAH thermal intermediate, where they remain associated. That the catalytic domain unfolds in the first thermal transition is relevant for the choice of PCs identified in high throughput screening of chemical libraries using differential scanning fluorimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Conde-Giménez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain;
| | - Javier Sancho
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain;
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence:
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5
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Olsen AJ, Halvorsen LA, Yang CY, Barak Ventura R, Yin L, Renfrew PD, Bonneau R, Montclare JK. Impact of phenylalanines outside the dimer interface on phosphotriesterase stability and function. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2018; 13:2092-2106. [PMID: 28817149 DOI: 10.1039/c7mb00196g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
We explore the significance of phenylalanine outside of the phosphotriesterase (PTE) dimer interface through mutagenesis studies and computational modeling. Previous studies have demonstrated that the residue-specific incorporation of para-fluorophenylalanine (pFF) into PTE improves stability, suggesting the importance of phenylalanines in stabilization of the dimer. However, this comes at a cost of decreased solubility due to pFF incorporation into other parts of the protein. Motivated by this, eight single solvent-exposed phenylalanine mutants are evaluated viarosetta and good correspondence between experiments and these predictions is observed. Three residues, F304, F327, and F335, appear to be important for PTE activity and stability, even though they do not reside in the dimer interface region or active site. While the remaining mutants do not significantly affect structure or activity, one variant, F306L, reveals improved activity at ambient and elevated temperatures. These studies provide further insight into role of these residues on PTE function and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Olsen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, New York 11201, USA
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6
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Lamazares E, Vega S, Ferreira P, Medina M, Galano-Frutos JJ, Martínez-Júlvez M, Velázquez-Campoy A, Sancho J. Direct examination of the relevance for folding, binding and electron transfer of a conserved protein folding intermediate. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:19021-19031. [PMID: 28702545 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02606d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Near the minimum free energy basin of proteins where the native ensemble resides, partly unfolded conformations of slightly higher energy can be significantly populated under native conditions. It has been speculated that they play roles in molecular recognition and catalysis, but they might represent contemporary features of the evolutionary process without functional relevance. Obtaining conclusive evidence on these alternatives is difficult because it requires comparing the performance of a given protein when populating and when not populating one such intermediate, in otherwise identical conditions. Wild type apoflavodoxin populates under native conditions a partly unfolded conformation (10% of molecules) whose unstructured region includes the binding sites for the FMN cofactor and for redox partner proteins. We recently engineered a thermostable variant where the intermediate is no longer detectable. Using the wild type and variant, we assess the relevance of the intermediate comparing folding kinetics, cofactor binding kinetics, cofactor affinity, X-ray structure, intrinsic dynamics, redox potential of the apoflavodoxin-cofactor complex (Fld), its affinity for partner protein FNR, and electron transfer rate within the Fld/FNR physiological complex. Our data strongly suggest the intermediate state, conserved in long-chain apoflavodoxins, is not required for the correct assembly of flavodoxin nor does it contribute to shape its electron transfer properties. This analysis can be applied to evaluate other native basin intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Lamazares
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Vega
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Patricia Ferreira
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Milagros Medina
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Juan J Galano-Frutos
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Martínez-Júlvez
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Fundación ARAID, Gobierno de Aragón, Spain and Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Javier Sancho
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI)-Joint Units: BIFI-IQFR (CSIC) and GBsC-CSIC, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain and Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
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7
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Abstract
This article defines protein stability, emphasizes its importance and surveys the field of protein stabilization, with summary reference to a selection of 2009-2015 publications. One can enhance stability by, in particular, protein engineering strategies and by chemical modification (including conjugation) in solution. General protocols are set out on how to measure a given protein's (1) kinetic thermal stability, and (2) oxidative stability, and (3) how to undertake chemical modification of a protein in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán Ó'Fágáin
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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8
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Yang Z, Zhou Q, Mok L, Singh A, Swartz DJ, Urbatsch IL, Brouillette CG. Interactions and cooperativity between P-glycoprotein structural domains determined by thermal unfolding provides insights into its solution structure and function. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1859:48-60. [PMID: 27783926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Structural changes in mouse P-glycoprotein (Pgp) induced by thermal unfolding were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy to gain insight into the solution conformation(s) of this ABC transporter that may not be apparent from current crystal structures. DSC of reconstituted Pgp showed two thermal unfolding transitions in the absence of MgATP, suggesting that each transition involved the cooperative unfolding of two or more interacting structural domains. A low calorimetric unfolding enthalpy and minimal structural changes were observed, which are hallmarks of the thermal unfolding of α-helical membrane proteins, because generally only the extramembranous regions undergo significant unfolding. Nucleotide binding increased the unfolding temperature of both transitions to the same extent, suggesting that one nucleotide binding domain (NBD) unfolds with each transition. Combined with the results from the two isolated NBDs, we propose that each DSC transition represents the cooperative unfolding of one NBD and the two contacting intracellular loops. Further, the presence of two transitions in both apo and MgATP bound wild-type Pgp suggests the NBD-dimeric conformation is transient, and that Pgp resides predominantly in the crystallographically observed inward-facing conformation with NBDs separated, even under conditions supporting continuous MgATP hydrolysis. In contrast, DSC of the vanadate-trapped MgADP·Pgp complex and the MgATP-bound catalytically inactive mutant, E552A/E1197A, show an additional transition at much higher temperature, corresponding to the unfolding of the nucleotide-trapped NBD-dimeric outward-facing conformation. The collective results indicate a strong preference for an NBD dissociated, inward-facing conformation of Pgp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Yang
- Center for Structural Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Qingxian Zhou
- Center for Structural Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leo Mok
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Anukriti Singh
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Douglas J Swartz
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ina L Urbatsch
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, and Center for Membrane Protein Research, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA.
| | - Christie G Brouillette
- Center for Structural Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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9
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Tong X, Barberi TT, Botting CH, Sharma SV, Simmons MJH, Overton TW, Goss RJM. Rapid enzyme regeneration results in the striking catalytic longevity of an engineered, single species, biocatalytic biofilm. Microb Cell Fact 2016; 15:180. [PMID: 27769259 PMCID: PMC5073922 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-016-0579-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engineering of single-species biofilms for enzymatic generation of fine chemicals is attractive. We have recently demonstrated the utility of an engineered Escherichia coli biofilm as a platform for synthesis of 5-halotryptophan. E. coli PHL644, expressing a recombinant tryptophan synthase, was employed to generate a biofilm. Its rapid deposition, and instigation of biofilm formation, was enforced by employing a spin-down method. The biofilm presents a large three-dimensional surface area, excellent for biocatalysis. The catalytic longevity of the engineered biofilm is striking, and we had postulated that this was likely to largely result from protection conferred to recombinant enzymes by biofilm's extracellular matrix. SILAC (stable isotopic labelled amino acids in cell cultures), and in particular dynamic SILAC, in which pulses of different isotopically labelled amino acids are administered to cells over a time course, has been used to follow the fate of proteins. To explore within our spin coated biofilm, whether the recombinant enzyme's longevity might be in part due to its regeneration, we introduced pulses of isotopically labelled lysine and phenylalanine into medium overlaying the biofilm and followed their incorporation over the course of biofilm development. RESULTS Through SILAC analysis, we reveal that constant and complete regeneration of recombinant enzymes occurs within spin coated biofilms. The striking catalytic longevity within the biofilm results from more than just simple protection of active enzyme by the biofilm and its associated extracellular matrix. The replenishment of recombinant enzyme is likely to contribute significantly to the catalytic longevity observed for the engineered biofilm system. CONCLUSIONS Here we provide the first evidence of a recombinant enzyme's regeneration in an engineered biofilm. The recombinant enzyme was constantly replenished over time as evidenced by dynamic SILAC, which suggests that the engineered E. coli biofilms are highly metabolically active, having a not inconsiderable energetic demand. The constant renewal of recombinant enzyme highlights the attractive possibility of utilising this biofilm system as a dynamic platform into which enzymes of interest can be introduced in a "plug-and-play" fashion and potentially be controlled through promoter switching for production of a series of desired fine chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Tong
- School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.,Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Tania Triscari Barberi
- School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.,Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Catherine H Botting
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Sunil V Sharma
- School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.,Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Mark J H Simmons
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B152TT, UK
| | - Tim W Overton
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B152TT, UK
| | - Rebecca J M Goss
- School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK. .,Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.
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10
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Rodríguez-Cárdenas Á, Rojas AL, Conde-Giménez M, Velázquez-Campoy A, Hurtado-Guerrero R, Sancho J. Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 Flavodoxin: Structural and Biophysical Characterization of a Novel Drug Target. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161020. [PMID: 27649488 PMCID: PMC5029806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) strain TIGR4 is a virulent, encapsulated serotype that causes bacteremia, otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia. Increased bacterial resistance and limited efficacy of the available vaccine to some serotypes complicate the treatment of diseases associated to this microorganism. Flavodoxins are bacterial proteins involved in several important metabolic pathways. The Sp flavodoxin (Spfld) gene was recently reported to be essential for the establishment of meningitis in a rat model, which makes SpFld a potential drug target. To facilitate future pharmacological studies, we have cloned and expressed SpFld in E. coli and we have performed an extensive structural and biochemical characterization of both the apo form and its active complex with the FMN cofactor. SpFld is a short-chain flavodoxin containing 146 residues. Unlike the well-characterized long-chain apoflavodoxins, the Sp apoprotein displays a simple two-state thermal unfolding equilibrium and binds FMN with moderate affinity. The X-ray structures of the apo and holo forms of SpFld differ at the FMN binding site, where substantial rearrangement of residues at the 91-100 loop occurs to permit cofactor binding. This work will set up the basis for future studies aiming at discovering new potential drugs to treat S. pneumoniae diseases through the inhibition of SpFld.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela Rodríguez-Cárdenas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Joint Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Joint Unit EEAD-CSIC-BIFI, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adriana L. Rojas
- Structural Biology Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - María Conde-Giménez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Joint Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Joint Unit EEAD-CSIC-BIFI, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrián Velázquez-Campoy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Joint Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Joint Unit EEAD-CSIC-BIFI, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, Government of Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ramón Hurtado-Guerrero
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Joint Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Joint Unit EEAD-CSIC-BIFI, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Fundación ARAID, Government of Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain
- * E-mail: (RHG); (JS)
| | - Javier Sancho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), University of Zaragoza, Joint Unit IQFR-CSIC-BIFI, Joint Unit EEAD-CSIC-BIFI, Mariano Esquillor s/n, Campus Rio Ebro, Edificio I+D, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- * E-mail: (RHG); (JS)
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11
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Li G, Zhang H, Sun Z, Liu X, Reetz MT. Multiparameter Optimization in Directed Evolution: Engineering Thermostability, Enantioselectivity, and Activity of an Epoxide Hydrolase. ACS Catal 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.6b01113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guangyue Li
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- Fachbereich
Chemie der Philipps-Universität, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hui Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhoutong Sun
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- Fachbereich
Chemie der Philipps-Universität, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Xinqi Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Manfred T. Reetz
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- Fachbereich
Chemie der Philipps-Universität, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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12
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Liu H, Gao YS, Chen XJ, Chen Z, Zhou HM, Yan YB, Gong H. A single residue substitution accounts for the significant difference in thermostability between two isoforms of human cytosolic creatine kinase. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21191. [PMID: 26879258 PMCID: PMC4754747 DOI: 10.1038/srep21191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Creatine kinase (CK) helps maintain homeostasis of intracellular ATP level by catalyzing the reversible phosphotransfer between ATP and phosphocreatine. In humans, there are two cytosolic CK isoforms, the muscle-type (M) and the brain-type (B), which frequently function as homodimers (hMMCK and hBBCK). Interestingly, these isoenzymes exhibit significantly different thermostabilities, despite high similarity in amino acid sequences and tertiary structures. In order to investigate the mechanism of this phenomenon, in this work, we first used domain swapping and site-directed mutagenesis to search for the key residues responsible for the isoenzyme-specific thermostability. Strikingly, the difference in thermostability was found to principally arise from one single residue substitution at position 36 (Pro in hBBCK vs. Leu in hMMCK). We then engaged the molecular dynamics simulations to study the molecular mechanism. The calculations imply that the P36L substitution introduces additional local interactions around residue 36 and thus further stabilizes the dimer interface through a complex interaction network, which rationalizes the observation that hMMCK is more resistant to thermal inactivation than hBBCK. We finally confirmed this molecular explanation through thermal inactivation assays on Asp36 mutants that were proposed to devastate the local interactions and thus the dimer associations in both isoenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yan-Song Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
| | - Xiang-Jun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
| | - Hai-Meng Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Enzymology, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, China
| | - Yong-Bin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haipeng Gong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Angarica VE, Orozco M, Sancho J. Exploring the complete mutational space of the LDL receptor LA5 domain using molecular dynamics: linking SNPs with disease phenotypes in familial hypercholesterolemia. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1233-46. [PMID: 26755827 PMCID: PMC4764198 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder with a prevalence of 0.2%, represents a high-risk factor to develop cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The majority and most severe FH cases are associated to mutations in the receptor for low-density lipoproteins receptor (LDL-r), but the molecular basis explaining the connection between mutation and phenotype is often unknown, which hinders early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. We have used atomistic simulations to explore the complete SNP mutational space (227 mutants) of the LA5 repeat, the key domain for interacting with LDL that is coded in the exon concentrating the highest number of mutations. Four clusters of mutants of different stability have been identified. The majority of the 50 FH known mutations (33) appear distributed in the unstable clusters, i.e. loss of conformational stability explains two-third of FH phenotypes. However, one-third of FH phenotypes (17 mutations) do not destabilize the LR5 repeat. Combining our simulations with available structural data from different laboratories, we have defined a consensus-binding site for the interaction of the LA5 repeat with LDL-r partner proteins and have found that most (16) of the 17 stable FH mutations occur at binding site residues. Thus, LA5-associated FH arises from mutations that cause either the loss of stability or a decrease in domain's-binding affinity. Based on this finding, we propose the likely phenotype of each possible SNP in the LA5 repeat and outline a procedure to make a full computational diagnosis for FH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Espinosa Angarica
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain, Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Edificio I + D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Modesto Orozco
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica (IRB Barcelona), Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain, Joint BSC-CRG-IRB Program in Computational Biology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain, and
| | - Javier Sancho
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain, Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Edificio I + D, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain, Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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14
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Estrada J, Echenique P, Sancho J. Predicting stabilizing mutations in proteins using Poisson-Boltzmann based models: study of unfolded state ensemble models and development of a successful binary classifier based on residue interaction energies. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:31044-54. [PMID: 26530878 DOI: 10.1039/c5cp04348d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In many cases the stability of a protein has to be increased to permit its biotechnological use. Rational methods of protein stabilization based on optimizing electrostatic interactions have provided some fine successful predictions. However, the precise calculation of stabilization energies remains challenging, one reason being that the electrostatic effects on the unfolded state are often neglected. We have explored here the feasibility of incorporating Poisson-Boltzmann model electrostatic calculations performed on representations of the unfolded state as large ensembles of geometrically optimized conformations calculated using the ProtSA server. Using a data set of 80 electrostatic mutations experimentally tested in two-state proteins, the predictive performance of several such models has been compared to that of a simple one that considers an unfolded structure of non-interacting residues. The unfolded ensemble models, while showing correlation between the predicted stabilization values and the experimental ones, are worse than the simple model, suggesting that the ensembles do not capture well the energetics of the unfolded state. A more attainable goal is classifying potential mutations as either stabilizing or non-stabilizing, rather than accurately calculating their stabilization energies. To implement a fast classification method that can assist in selecting stabilizing mutations, we have used a much simpler electrostatic model based only on the native structure and have determined its precision using different stabilizing energy thresholds. The binary classifier developed finds 7 true stabilizing mutants out of every 10 proposed candidates and can be used as a robust tool to propose stabilizing mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Estrada
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. and Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Edificio I+D, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Echenique
- Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Edificio I+D, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain and Instituto de Química Física "Rocasolano", CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Sancho
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. and Biocomputation and Complex Systems Physics Institute (BIFI), Joint Unit BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Mariano Esquillor s/n, Edificio I+D, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
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15
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Malito E, Carfi A, Bottomley MJ. Protein Crystallography in Vaccine Research and Development. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:13106-40. [PMID: 26068237 PMCID: PMC4490488 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160613106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of protein X-ray crystallography for structure-based design of small-molecule drugs is well-documented and includes several notable success stories. However, it is less well-known that structural biology has emerged as a major tool for the design of novel vaccine antigens. Here, we review the important contributions that protein crystallography has made so far to vaccine research and development. We discuss several examples of the crystallographic characterization of vaccine antigen structures, alone or in complexes with ligands or receptors. We cover the critical role of high-resolution epitope mapping by reviewing structures of complexes between antigens and their cognate neutralizing, or protective, antibody fragments. Most importantly, we provide recent examples where structural insights obtained via protein crystallography have been used to design novel optimized vaccine antigens. This review aims to illustrate the value of protein crystallography in the emerging discipline of structural vaccinology and its impact on the rational design of vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Malito
- Protein Biochemistry Department, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l. (a GSK Company), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Andrea Carfi
- Protein Biochemistry Department, GSK Vaccines, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Matthew J Bottomley
- Protein Biochemistry Department, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l. (a GSK Company), Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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