1
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Chaudhari AS, Chatterjee A, Domingos CAO, Andrikopoulos PC, Liu Y, Andersson I, Schneider B, Lórenz-Fonfría VA, Fuertes G. Genetically encoded non-canonical amino acids reveal asynchronous dark reversion of chromophore, backbone and side-chains in EL222. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4590. [PMID: 36764820 PMCID: PMC10019195 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Photoreceptors containing the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domain elicit biological responses upon excitation of their flavin mononucleotide (FMN) chromophore by blue light. The mechanism and kinetics of dark-state recovery are not well understood. Here we incorporated the non-canonical amino acid p-cyanophenylalanine (CNF) by genetic code expansion technology at forty-five positions of the bacterial transcription factor EL222. Screening of light-induced changes in infrared (IR) absorption frequency, electric field and hydration of the nitrile groups identified residues CNF31 and CNF35 as reporters of monomer/oligomer and caged/decaged equilibria, respectively. Time-resolved multi-probe UV/Visible and IR spectroscopy experiments of the lit-to-dark transition revealed four dynamical events. Predominantly, rearrangements around the A'α helix interface (CNF31 and CNF35) precede FMN-cysteinyl adduct scission, folding of α-helices (amide bands), and relaxation of residue CNF151. This study illustrates the importance of characterizing all parts of a protein and suggests a key role for the N-terminal A'α extension of the LOV domain in controlling EL222 photocycle length. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya S Chaudhari
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Aditi Chatterjee
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Catarina A O Domingos
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Escola Superior de Tecnologia do Barreiro, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Lavradio, Portugal
| | | | - Yingliang Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Inger Andersson
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bohdan Schneider
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Gustavo Fuertes
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czech Republic
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2
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Photosynthetic reaction center variants made via genetic code expansion show Tyr at M210 tunes the initial electron transfer mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2116439118. [PMID: 34907018 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116439118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides were engineered to vary the electronic properties of a key tyrosine (M210) close to an essential electron transfer component via its replacement with site-specific, genetically encoded noncanonical amino acid tyrosine analogs. High fidelity of noncanonical amino acid incorporation was verified with mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography and demonstrated that RC variants exhibit no significant structural alterations relative to wild type (WT). Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy indicates the excited primary electron donor, P*, decays via a ∼4-ps and a ∼20-ps population to produce the charge-separated state P+HA - in all variants. Global analysis indicates that in the ∼4-ps population, P+HA - forms through a two-step process, P*→ P+BA -→ P+HA -, while in the ∼20-ps population, it forms via a one-step P* → P+HA - superexchange mechanism. The percentage of the P* population that decays via the superexchange route varies from ∼25 to ∼45% among variants, while in WT, this percentage is ∼15%. Increases in the P* population that decays via superexchange correlate with increases in the free energy of the P+BA - intermediate caused by a given M210 tyrosine analog. This was experimentally estimated through resonance Stark spectroscopy, redox titrations, and near-infrared absorption measurements. As the most energetically perturbative variant, 3-nitrotyrosine at M210 creates an ∼110-meV increase in the free energy of P+BA - along with a dramatic diminution of the 1,030-nm transient absorption band indicative of P+BA - formation. Collectively, this work indicates the tyrosine at M210 tunes the mechanism of primary electron transfer in the RC.
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3
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Thielges MC. Transparent window 2D IR spectroscopy of proteins. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:040903. [PMID: 34340394 PMCID: PMC8302233 DOI: 10.1063/5.0052628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins are complex, heterogeneous macromolecules that exist as ensembles of interconverting states on a complex energy landscape. A complete, molecular-level understanding of their function requires experimental tools to characterize them with high spatial and temporal precision. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has an inherently fast time scale that can capture all states and their dynamics with, in principle, bond-specific spatial resolution. Two-dimensional (2D) IR methods that provide richer information are becoming more routine but remain challenging to apply to proteins. Spectral congestion typically prevents selective investigation of native vibrations; however, the problem can be overcome by site-specific introduction of amino acid side chains that have vibrational groups with frequencies in the "transparent window" of protein spectra. This Perspective provides an overview of the history and recent progress in the development of transparent window 2D IR of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. Thielges
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana 47405, USA
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4
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Kurttila M, Stucki-Buchli B, Rumfeldt J, Schroeder L, Häkkänen H, Liukkonen A, Takala H, Kottke T, Ihalainen JA. Site-by-site tracking of signal transduction in an azidophenylalanine-labeled bacteriophytochrome with step-scan FTIR spectroscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:5615-5628. [PMID: 33656023 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp06553f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Signal propagation in photosensory proteins is a complex and multidimensional event. Unraveling such mechanisms site-specifically in real time is an eligible but a challenging goal. Here, we elucidate the site-specific events in a red-light sensing phytochrome using the unnatural amino acid azidophenylalanine, vibrationally distinguishable from all other protein signals. In canonical phytochromes, signal transduction starts with isomerization of an excited bilin chromophore, initiating a multitude of processes in the photosensory unit of the protein, which eventually control the biochemical activity of the output domain, nanometers away from the chromophore. By implementing the label in prime protein locations and running two-color step-scan FTIR spectroscopy on the Deinococcus radiodurans bacteriophytochrome, we track the signal propagation at three specific sites in the photosensory unit. We show that a structurally switchable hairpin extension, a so-called tongue region, responds to the photoconversion already in microseconds and finalizes its structural changes concomitant with the chromophore, in milliseconds. In contrast, kinetics from the other two label positions indicate that the site-specific changes deviate from the chromophore actions, even though the labels locate in the chromophore vicinity. Several other sites for labeling resulted in impaired photoswitching, low structural stability, or no changes in the difference spectrum, which provides additional information on the inner dynamics of the photosensory unit. Our work enlightens the multidimensionality of the structural changes of proteins under action. The study also shows that the signaling mechanism of phytochromes is accessible in a time-resolved and site-specific approach by azido probes and demonstrates challenges in using these labels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moona Kurttila
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Brigitte Stucki-Buchli
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Jessica Rumfeldt
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Lea Schroeder
- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Heikki Häkkänen
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Alli Liukkonen
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Heikki Takala
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Tilman Kottke
- Physical and Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Janne A Ihalainen
- University of Jyväskylä, Nanoscience Center, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
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5
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Motta S, Pandini A, Fornili A, Bonati L. Reconstruction of ARNT PAS-B Unfolding Pathways by Steered Molecular Dynamics and Artificial Neural Networks. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:2080-2089. [PMID: 33780250 PMCID: PMC8047803 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c01308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
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Several experimental
studies indicated that large conformational
changes, including partial domain unfolding, have a role in the functional
mechanisms of the basic helix loop helix Per/ARNT/SIM (bHLH-PAS) transcription
factors. Recently, single-molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed
two distinct pathways for the mechanical unfolding of the ARNT PAS-B.
In this work we used steered molecular dynamics simulations to gain
new insights into this process at an atomistic level. To reconstruct
and classify pathways sampled in multiple simulations, we designed
an original approach based on the use of self-organizing maps (SOMs).
This led us to identify two types of unfolding pathways for the ARNT
PAS-B, which are in good agreement with the AFM findings. Analysis
of average forces mapped on the SOM revealed a stable conformation
of the PAS-B along one pathway, which represents a possible structural
model for the intermediate state detected by AFM. The approach here
proposed will facilitate the study of other signal transmission mechanisms
involving the folding/unfolding of PAS domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Motta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pandini
- Department of Computer Science, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.,The Thomas Young Centre for Theory and Simulation of Materials, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Arianna Fornili
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom.,The Thomas Young Centre for Theory and Simulation of Materials, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Bonati
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
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6
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El Khoury Y, Le Breton G, Cunha AV, Jansen TLC, van Wilderen LJGW, Bredenbeck J. Lessons from combined experimental and theoretical examination of the FTIR and 2D-IR spectroelectrochemistry of the amide I region of cytochrome c. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:124201. [PMID: 33810651 DOI: 10.1063/5.0039969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Amide I difference spectroscopy is widely used to investigate protein function and structure changes. In this article, we show that the common approach of assigning features in amide I difference signals to distinct secondary structure elements in many cases may not be justified. Evidence comes from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 2D-IR spectroelectrochemistry of the protein cytochrome c in the amide I range, in combination with computational spectroscopy based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. This combination reveals that each secondary structure unit, such as an alpha-helix or a beta-sheet, exhibits broad overlapping contributions, usually spanning a large part of the amide I region, which in the case of difference absorption experiments (such as in FTIR spectroelectrochemistry) may lead to intensity-compensating and even sign-changing contributions. We use cytochrome c as the test case, as this small electron-transferring redox-active protein contains different kinds of secondary structure units. Upon switching its redox-state, the protein exhibits a different charge distribution while largely retaining its structural scaffold. Our theoretical analysis suggests that the change in charge distribution contributes to the spectral changes and that structural changes are small. However, in order to confidently interpret FTIR amide I difference signals in cytochrome c and proteins in general, MD simulations in combination with additional experimental approaches such as isotope labeling, the insertion of infrared labels to selectively probe local structural elements will be required. In case these data are not available, a critical assessment of previous interpretations of protein amide I 1D- and 2D-IR difference spectroscopy data is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef El Khoury
- Institut für Biophysik, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Strasse. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Guillaume Le Breton
- University of Groningen, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ana V Cunha
- University of Groningen, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas L C Jansen
- University of Groningen, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Luuk J G W van Wilderen
- Institut für Biophysik, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Strasse. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jens Bredenbeck
- Institut für Biophysik, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Max-von-Laue-Strasse. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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7
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Baiz CR, Błasiak B, Bredenbeck J, Cho M, Choi JH, Corcelli SA, Dijkstra AG, Feng CJ, Garrett-Roe S, Ge NH, Hanson-Heine MWD, Hirst JD, Jansen TLC, Kwac K, Kubarych KJ, Londergan CH, Maekawa H, Reppert M, Saito S, Roy S, Skinner JL, Stock G, Straub JE, Thielges MC, Tominaga K, Tokmakoff A, Torii H, Wang L, Webb LJ, Zanni MT. Vibrational Spectroscopic Map, Vibrational Spectroscopy, and Intermolecular Interaction. Chem Rev 2020; 120:7152-7218. [PMID: 32598850 PMCID: PMC7710120 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vibrational spectroscopy is an essential tool in chemical analyses, biological assays, and studies of functional materials. Over the past decade, various coherent nonlinear vibrational spectroscopic techniques have been developed and enabled researchers to study time-correlations of the fluctuating frequencies that are directly related to solute-solvent dynamics, dynamical changes in molecular conformations and local electrostatic environments, chemical and biochemical reactions, protein structural dynamics and functions, characteristic processes of functional materials, and so on. In order to gain incisive and quantitative information on the local electrostatic environment, molecular conformation, protein structure and interprotein contacts, ligand binding kinetics, and electric and optical properties of functional materials, a variety of vibrational probes have been developed and site-specifically incorporated into molecular, biological, and material systems for time-resolved vibrational spectroscopic investigation. However, still, an all-encompassing theory that describes the vibrational solvatochromism, electrochromism, and dynamic fluctuation of vibrational frequencies has not been completely established mainly due to the intrinsic complexity of intermolecular interactions in condensed phases. In particular, the amount of data obtained from the linear and nonlinear vibrational spectroscopic experiments has been rapidly increasing, but the lack of a quantitative method to interpret these measurements has been one major obstacle in broadening the applications of these methods. Among various theoretical models, one of the most successful approaches is a semiempirical model generally referred to as the vibrational spectroscopic map that is based on a rigorous theory of intermolecular interactions. Recently, genetic algorithm, neural network, and machine learning approaches have been applied to the development of vibrational solvatochromism theory. In this review, we provide comprehensive descriptions of the theoretical foundation and various examples showing its extraordinary successes in the interpretations of experimental observations. In addition, a brief introduction to a newly created repository Web site (http://frequencymap.org) for vibrational spectroscopic maps is presented. We anticipate that a combination of the vibrational frequency map approach and state-of-the-art multidimensional vibrational spectroscopy will be one of the most fruitful ways to study the structure and dynamics of chemical, biological, and functional molecular systems in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R. Baiz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, U.S.A
| | - Bartosz Błasiak
- Department of Physical and Quantum Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jens Bredenbeck
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Ho Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Steven A. Corcelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, U.S.A
| | - Arend G. Dijkstra
- School of Chemistry and School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Chi-Jui Feng
- Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, U.S.A
| | - Sean Garrett-Roe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, U.S.A
| | - Nien-Hui Ge
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, U.S.A
| | - Magnus W. D. Hanson-Heine
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Jonathan D. Hirst
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Thomas L. C. Jansen
- University of Groningen, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kijeong Kwac
- Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kevin J. Kubarych
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A
| | - Casey H. Londergan
- Department of Chemistry, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041, U.S.A
| | - Hiroaki Maekawa
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, U.S.A
| | - Mike Reppert
- Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Shinji Saito
- Department of Theoretical and Computational Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan
| | - Santanu Roy
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6110, U.S.A
| | - James L. Skinner
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, U.S.A
| | - Gerhard Stock
- Biomolecular Dynamics, Institute of Physics, Albert Ludwigs University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - John E. Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, U.S.A
| | - Megan C. Thielges
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, U.S.A
| | - Keisuke Tominaga
- Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-0013, Japan
| | - Andrei Tokmakoff
- Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, U.S.A
| | - Hajime Torii
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and Department of Optoelectronics and Nanostructure Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-Ku, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers University, 174 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E. 24th Street, STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712, U.S.A
| | - Martin T. Zanni
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1396, U.S.A
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8
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Transitional States in Ligand-Dependent Transformation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor into Its DNA-Binding Form. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072474. [PMID: 32252465 PMCID: PMC7177239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the biological and toxicological effects of an AhR lacking the entire PASB structurally diverse chemicals, including halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Ligand-dependent transformation of the AhR into its DNA binding form involves a ligand-dependent conformational change, heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), dissociation from the AhR complex and AhR dimerization with the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) protein. The mechanism of AhR transformation was examined using mutational approaches and stabilization of the AhR:hsp90 complex with sodium molybdate. Insertion of a single mutation (F281A) in the hsp90-binding region of the AhR resulted in its constitutive (ligand-independent) transformation/DNA binding in vitro. Mutations of AhR residues within the Arg-Cys-rich region (R212A, R217A, R219A) and Asp371 (D371A) impaired AhR transformation without a significant effect on ligand binding. Stabilization of AhR:hsp90 binding with sodium molybdate decreased transformation/DNA binding of the wild type AhR but had no effect on constitutively active AhR mutants. Interestingly, transformation of the AhR in the presence of molybdate allowed detection of an intermediate transformation ternary complex containing hsp90, AhR, and ARNT. These results are consistent with a stepwise transformation mechanism in which binding of ARNT to the liganded AhR:hsp90 complex results in a progressive displacement of hsp90 and conversion of the AhR into its high affinity DNA binding form. The available molecular insights into the signaling mechanism of other Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domains and structural information on hsp90 association with other client proteins are consistent with the proposed transformation mechanism of the AhR.
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9
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Abstract
Infrared difference spectroscopy probes vibrational changes of proteins upon their perturbation. Compared with other spectroscopic methods, it stands out by its sensitivity to the protonation state, H-bonding, and the conformation of different groups in proteins, including the peptide backbone, amino acid side chains, internal water molecules, or cofactors. In particular, the detection of protonation and H-bonding changes in a time-resolved manner, not easily obtained by other techniques, is one of the most successful applications of IR difference spectroscopy. The present review deals with the use of perturbations designed to specifically change the protein between two (or more) functionally relevant states, a strategy often referred to as reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy. In the first half of this contribution, I review the technique of reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy of proteins, with special emphasis given to the preparation of suitable samples and their characterization, strategies for the perturbation of proteins, and methodologies for time-resolved measurements (from nanoseconds to minutes). The second half of this contribution focuses on the spectral interpretation. It starts by reviewing how changes in H-bonding, medium polarity, and vibrational coupling affect vibrational frequencies, intensities, and bandwidths. It is followed by band assignments, a crucial aspect mostly performed with the help of isotopic labeling and site-directed mutagenesis, and complemented by integration and interpretation of the results in the context of the studied protein, an aspect increasingly supported by spectral calculations. Selected examples from the literature, predominately but not exclusively from retinal proteins, are used to illustrate the topics covered in this review.
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10
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Schmidt-Engler JM, Zangl R, Guldan P, Morgner N, Bredenbeck J. Exploring the 2D-IR repertoire of the -SCN label to study site-resolved dynamics and solvation in the calcium sensor protein calmodulin. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:5463-5475. [PMID: 32096510 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp06808b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The calcium sensor protein calmodulin is ubiquitous among eukaryotes. It translates intracellular Ca2+ influx (by a decrease of conformational flexibility) into increased target recognition affinity. Here we demonstrate that by using the IR reporter -SCN in combination with 2D-IR spectroscopy, global structure changes and local dynamics, degree of solvent exposure and protein-ligand interaction can be characterised in great detail. The long vibrational lifetime of the -SCN label allows for centerline slope analysis of the 2D-IR line shape up to 120 ps to deduce the frequency-frequency correlation function (FFCF) of the -SCN label in various states and label positions in the protein. Based on that we show clear differences between a solvent exposed site, the environment close to the Ca2+ binding motif and three highly conserved positions for ligand binding. Furthermore, we demonstrate how these dynamics are affected by conformational change induced by the addition of Ca2+ ions and by interaction with a short helical peptide mimicking protein binding. We show that the binding mode is strongly heterogeneous among the probed key binding methionine residues. SCN's vibrational relaxation is dominated by intermolecular contributions. Changes in the vibrational lifetime upon changing between H2O and D2O buffer therefore provide a robust measure for water accessibility of the label. Characterising -SCN's extinction coefficient, vibrational lifetime in light and heavy water and its FFCF we demonstrate the vast potential it has as a label especially for nonlinear spectroscopies, such as 2D-IR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian M Schmidt-Engler
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Rene Zangl
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Patrick Guldan
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Nina Morgner
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jens Bredenbeck
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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11
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Schmidt-Engler JM, Blankenburg L, Zangl R, Hoffmann J, Morgner N, Bredenbeck J. Local dynamics of the photo-switchable protein PYP in ground and signalling state probed by 2D-IR spectroscopy of –SCN labels. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:22963-22972. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04307a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We employ 2D-IR spectroscopy of the protein label –SCN to describe the local dynamics in the photo-switchable protein PYP in its dark state (pG) and after photoactivation, concomitant with vast structural rearrangements, in its signalling state (pB).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Larissa Blankenburg
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University
- Institute of Biophysics
- 60438 Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - Rene Zangl
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - Jan Hoffmann
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - Nina Morgner
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - Jens Bredenbeck
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University
- Institute of Biophysics
- 60438 Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
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Schmidt-Engler JM, Blankenburg L, Błasiak B, van Wilderen LJGW, Cho M, Bredenbeck J. Vibrational Lifetime of the SCN Protein Label in H 2O and D 2O Reports Site-Specific Solvation and Structure Changes During PYP's Photocycle. Anal Chem 2019; 92:1024-1032. [PMID: 31769286 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The application of vibrational labels such as thiocyanate (-S-C≡N) for studying protein structure and dynamics is thriving. Absorption spectroscopy is usually employed to obtain wavenumber and line shape of the label. An observable of great significance might be the vibrational lifetime, which can be obtained by pump probe or 2D-IR spectroscopy. Due to the insulating effect of the heavy sulfur atom in the case of the SCN label, the lifetime of the C≡N oscillator is expected to be particularly sensitive to its surrounding as it is not dominated by through-bond relaxation. We therefore investigate the vibrational lifetime of the SCN label at various positions in the blue light sensor protein Photoactive Yellow Protein (PYP) in the ground state and signaling state of the photoreceptor. We find that the vibrational lifetime of the C≡N stretching mode is strongly affected both by its protein environment and by the degree of exposure to the solvent. Even for label positions where the line shape and wavenumber observed by FTIR are barely changing upon activation of the photoreceptor, we find that the lifetime can change considerably. To obtain an unambiguous measure for the solvent exposure of the labeled site, we show that it is imperative to compare the lifetimes in H2O and D2O. Importantly, the lifetimes shorten in H2O as compared to D2O for water exposed labels, while they stay largely the same for buried labels. We quantify this effect by defining a solvent exclusion coefficient (SEC). The response of the label's vibrational lifetime to its solvent exposure renders it a suitable universal probe for protein investigations. This applies even to systems that are otherwise hard to address, such as transient or short-lived states, which could be created during a protein's working cycle (as here in PYP) or during protein folding. It is also applicable to flexible systems (intrinsically disordered proteins), protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian M Schmidt-Engler
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Institute of Biophysics , Max-von-Laue-Straße 1 , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Larissa Blankenburg
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Institute of Biophysics , Max-von-Laue-Straße 1 , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Bartosz Błasiak
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Institute of Biophysics , Max-von-Laue-Straße 1 , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Luuk J G W van Wilderen
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Institute of Biophysics , Max-von-Laue-Straße 1 , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Institute of Basic Science , Center of Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics , 145 Anam-ro , Seongbuk-gu , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea.,Korea University , Department of Chemistry , 145 Anam-ro , Seongbuk-gu , Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea
| | - Jens Bredenbeck
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University , Institute of Biophysics , Max-von-Laue-Straße 1 , 60438 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
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