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Bou‐Abdallah F, Fish J, Terashi G, Zhang Y, Kihara D, Arosio P. Unveiling the stochastic nature of human heteropolymer ferritin self-assembly mechanism. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5104. [PMID: 38995055 PMCID: PMC11241160 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Despite ferritin's critical role in regulating cellular and systemic iron levels, our understanding of the structure and assembly mechanism of isoferritins, discovered over eight decades ago, remains limited. Unveiling how the composition and molecular architecture of hetero-oligomeric ferritins confer distinct functionality to isoferritins is essential to understanding how the structural intricacies of H and L subunits influence their interactions with cellular machinery. In this study, ferritin heteropolymers with specific H to L subunit ratios were synthesized using a uniquely engineered plasmid design, followed by high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy analysis and deep learning-based amino acid modeling. Our structural examination revealed unique architectural features during the self-assembly mechanism of heteropolymer ferritins and demonstrated a significant preference for H-L heterodimer formation over H-H or L-L homodimers. Unexpectedly, while dimers seem essential building blocks in the protein self-assembly process, the overall mechanism of ferritin self-assembly is observed to proceed randomly through diverse pathways. The physiological significance of these findings is discussed including how ferritin microheterogeneity could represent a tissue-specific adaptation process that imparts distinctive tissue-specific functions to isoferritins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Bou‐Abdallah
- Department of ChemistryState University of New YorkPotsdamNew YorkUSA
| | - Jeremie Fish
- Department of Electrical & Computer EngineeringCoulter School of Engineering, Clarkson UniversityPotsdamNew YorkUSA
| | - Genki Terashi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Computer SciencePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Computer SciencePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Daisuke Kihara
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Computer SciencePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndianaUSA
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Molecular and Translational MedicineUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
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2
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Eren E, Watts NR, Montecinos F, Wingfield PT. Encapsulated Ferritin-like Proteins: A Structural Perspective. Biomolecules 2024; 14:624. [PMID: 38927029 PMCID: PMC11202242 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060624] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Encapsulins are self-assembling nano-compartments that naturally occur in bacteria and archaea. These nano-compartments encapsulate cargo proteins that bind to the shell's interior through specific recognition sequences and perform various metabolic processes. Encapsulation enables organisms to perform chemical reactions without exposing the rest of the cell to potentially harmful substances while shielding cargo molecules from degradation and other adverse effects of the surrounding environment. One particular type of cargo protein, the ferritin-like protein (FLP), is the focus of this review. Encapsulated FLPs are members of the ferritin-like protein superfamily, and they play a crucial role in converting ferrous iron (Fe+2) to ferric iron (Fe+3), which is then stored inside the encapsulin in mineralized form. As such, FLPs regulate iron homeostasis and protect organisms against oxidative stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that FLPs have tremendous potential as biosensors and bioreactors because of their ability to catalyze the oxidation of ferrous iron with high specificity and efficiency. Moreover, they have been investigated as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer drug development and bacterial pathogenesis. Further research will likely lead to new insights and applications for these remarkable proteins in biomedicine and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paul T. Wingfield
- Protein Expression Laboratory, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Deschamps E, Calabrese V, Schmitz I, Hubert-Roux M, Castagnos D, Afonso C. Advances in Ultra-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Pharmaceutical Analysis. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052061. [PMID: 36903305 PMCID: PMC10003995 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmaceutical analysis refers to an area of analytical chemistry that deals with active compounds either by themselves (drug substance) or when formulated with excipients (drug product). In a less simplistic way, it can be defined as a complex science involving various disciplines, e.g., drug development, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, tissue distribution studies, and environmental contamination analyses. As such, the pharmaceutical analysis covers drug development to its impact on health and the environment. Moreover, due to the need for safe and effective medications, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors of the global economy. For this reason, powerful analytical instrumentation and efficient methods are required. In the last decades, mass spectrometry has been increasingly used in pharmaceutical analysis both for research aims and routine quality controls. Among different instrumental setups, ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry with Fourier transform instruments, i.e., Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) and Orbitrap, gives access to valuable molecular information for pharmaceutical analysis. In fact, thanks to their high resolving power, mass accuracy, and dynamic range, reliable molecular formula assignments or trace analysis in complex mixtures can be obtained. This review summarizes the principles of the two main types of Fourier transform mass spectrometers, and it highlights applications, developments, and future perspectives in pharmaceutical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Deschamps
- Normandie Univ, COBRA, UMR 6014 and FR 3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, IRCOF, 1 rue Tesnières, CEDEX, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
- ORIL Industrie, Servier Group, 13 r Auguste Desgenétais, 76210 Bolbec, France
| | - Valentina Calabrese
- Normandie Univ, COBRA, UMR 6014 and FR 3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, IRCOF, 1 rue Tesnières, CEDEX, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut des Sciences Analytiques, CNRS UMR 5280, 5 Rue de La Doua, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Isabelle Schmitz
- Normandie Univ, COBRA, UMR 6014 and FR 3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, IRCOF, 1 rue Tesnières, CEDEX, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Marie Hubert-Roux
- Normandie Univ, COBRA, UMR 6014 and FR 3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, IRCOF, 1 rue Tesnières, CEDEX, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Denis Castagnos
- ORIL Industrie, Servier Group, 13 r Auguste Desgenétais, 76210 Bolbec, France
| | - Carlos Afonso
- Normandie Univ, COBRA, UMR 6014 and FR 3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, IRCOF, 1 rue Tesnières, CEDEX, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
- Correspondence:
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4
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Bacterioferritin nanocage: Structure, biological function, catalytic mechanism, self-assembly and potential applications. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 61:108057. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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5
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Abstract
Subcellular compartmentalization is a defining feature of all cells. In prokaryotes, compartmentalization is generally achieved via protein-based strategies. The two main classes of microbial protein compartments are bacterial microcompartments and encapsulin nanocompartments. Encapsulins self-assemble into proteinaceous shells with diameters between 24 and 42 nm and are defined by the viral HK97-fold of their shell protein. Encapsulins have the ability to encapsulate dedicated cargo proteins, including ferritin-like proteins, peroxidases, and desulfurases. Encapsulation is mediated by targeting sequences present in all cargo proteins. Encapsulins are found in many bacterial and archaeal phyla and have been suggested to play roles in iron storage, stress resistance, sulfur metabolism, and natural product biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that they share a common ancestor with viral capsid proteins. Many pathogens encode encapsulins, and recent evidence suggests that they may contribute toward pathogenicity. The existing information on encapsulin structure, biochemistry, biological function, and biomedical relevance is reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias W. Giessen
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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6
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Ross J, McIver Z, Lambert T, Piergentili C, Bird JE, Gallagher KJ, Cruickshank FL, James P, Zarazúa-Arvizu E, Horsfall LE, Waldron KJ, Wilson MD, Mackay CL, Baslé A, Clarke DJ, Marles-Wright J. Pore dynamics and asymmetric cargo loading in an encapsulin nanocompartment. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj4461. [PMID: 35080974 PMCID: PMC8791618 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj4461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Encapsulins are protein nanocompartments that house various cargo enzymes, including a family of decameric ferritin-like proteins. Here, we study a recombinant Haliangium ochraceum encapsulin:encapsulated ferritin complex using cryo-electron microscopy and hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to gain insight into the structural relationship between the encapsulin shell and its protein cargo. An asymmetric single-particle reconstruction reveals four encapsulated ferritin decamers in a tetrahedral arrangement within the encapsulin nanocompartment. This leads to a symmetry mismatch between the protein cargo and the icosahedral encapsulin shell. The encapsulated ferritin decamers are offset from the interior face of the encapsulin shell. Using hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we observed the dynamic behavior of the major fivefold pore in the encapsulin shell and show the pore opening via the movement of the encapsulin A-domain. These data will accelerate efforts to engineer the encapsulation of heterologous cargo proteins and to alter the permeability of the encapsulin shell via pore modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ross
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Zak McIver
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Thomas Lambert
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Cecilia Piergentili
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jasmine Emma Bird
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Kelly J. Gallagher
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Faye L. Cruickshank
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Patrick James
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | | | - Louise E. Horsfall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Kevin J. Waldron
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Marcus D. Wilson
- Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Michael Swann Building, Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JR, UK
| | - C. Logan Mackay
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Arnaud Baslé
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - David J. Clarke
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Jon Marles-Wright
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
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7
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8
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Almeida AV, Carvalho AJ, Pereira AS. Encapsulin nanocages: Protein encapsulation and iron sequestration. Coord Chem Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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9
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Lohner P, Zmyslia M, Thurn J, Pape JK, Gerasimaitė R, Keller‐Findeisen J, Groeer S, Deuringer B, Süss R, Walther A, Hell SW, Lukinavičius G, Hugel T, Jessen‐Trefzer C. Inside a Shell—Organometallic Catalysis Inside Encapsulin Nanoreactors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202110327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Lohner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology University of Freiburg Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Mariia Zmyslia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology University of Freiburg Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Johann Thurn
- Institute of Physical Chemistry II University of Freiburg Albertstr. 21 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Jasmin K. Pape
- Department of NanoBiophotonics Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Fassberg 11 37077 Goettingen Germany
| | - Rūta Gerasimaitė
- Chromatin Labeling and Imaging Group Department of NanoBiophotonics Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Fassberg 11 37077 Göttingen Germany
| | - Jan Keller‐Findeisen
- Department of NanoBiophotonics Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Fassberg 11 37077 Goettingen Germany
| | - Saskia Groeer
- Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry A3BMS Lab: Adaptive, Active and Autonomous Bioinspired Material Systems University of Freiburg Stefan-Meier-Str. 31, Hermann Staudinger Building 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Benedikt Deuringer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy University of Freiburg Sonnenstraße 5 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Regine Süss
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy University of Freiburg Sonnenstraße 5 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - Andreas Walther
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT–Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies Georges-Köhler-Allee 105 79110 Freiburg Germany
- Department of Chemistry, A3BMS Lab University of Mainz Duesbergweg 10–14 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Stefan W. Hell
- Department of NanoBiophotonics Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Fassberg 11 37077 Goettingen Germany
- Department of Optical Nanoscopy Max Planck Institute for Medical Research Jahnstraße 29 69120 Heidelberg Germany
| | - Gražvydas Lukinavičius
- Chromatin Labeling and Imaging Group Department of NanoBiophotonics Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry Am Fassberg 11 37077 Göttingen Germany
| | - Thorsten Hugel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry II University of Freiburg Albertstr. 21 79104 Freiburg Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT–Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies Georges-Köhler-Allee 105 79110 Freiburg Germany
| | - Claudia Jessen‐Trefzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology University of Freiburg Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 79104 Freiburg Germany
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10
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Lohner P, Zmyslia M, Thurn J, Pape JK, Gerasimaitė R, Keller‐Findeisen J, Groeer S, Deuringer B, Süss R, Walther A, Hell SW, Lukinavičius G, Hugel T, Jessen‐Trefzer C. Inside a Shell-Organometallic Catalysis Inside Encapsulin Nanoreactors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:23835-23841. [PMID: 34418246 PMCID: PMC8596989 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202110327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalization of chemical reactions inside cells are a fundamental requirement for life. Encapsulins are self-assembling protein-based nanocompartments from the prokaryotic repertoire that present a highly attractive platform for intracellular compartmentalization of chemical reactions by design. Using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer and 3D-MINFLUX analysis, we analyze fluorescently labeled encapsulins on a single-molecule basis. Furthermore, by equipping these capsules with a synthetic ruthenium catalyst via covalent attachment to a non-native host protein, we are able to perform in vitro catalysis and go on to show that engineered encapsulins can be used as hosts for transition metal catalysis inside living cells in confined space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Lohner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of FreiburgStefan-Meier-Str. 1979104FreiburgGermany
| | - Mariia Zmyslia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of FreiburgStefan-Meier-Str. 1979104FreiburgGermany
| | - Johann Thurn
- Institute of Physical Chemistry IIUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstr. 2179104FreiburgGermany
| | - Jasmin K. Pape
- Department of NanoBiophotonicsMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryAm Fassberg 1137077GoettingenGermany
| | - Rūta Gerasimaitė
- Chromatin Labeling and Imaging GroupDepartment of NanoBiophotonicsMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryAm Fassberg 1137077GöttingenGermany
| | - Jan Keller‐Findeisen
- Department of NanoBiophotonicsMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryAm Fassberg 1137077GoettingenGermany
| | - Saskia Groeer
- Institute for Macromolecular ChemistryA3BMS Lab: Adaptive, Active and Autonomous Bioinspired Material SystemsUniversity of FreiburgStefan-Meier-Str. 31, Hermann Staudinger Building79104FreiburgGermany
| | - Benedikt Deuringer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and BiopharmacyUniversity of FreiburgSonnenstraße 579104FreiburgGermany
| | - Regine Süss
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and BiopharmacyUniversity of FreiburgSonnenstraße 579104FreiburgGermany
| | - Andreas Walther
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT–Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired TechnologiesGeorges-Köhler-Allee 10579110FreiburgGermany
- Department of Chemistry, A3BMS LabUniversity of MainzDuesbergweg 10–1455128MainzGermany
| | - Stefan W. Hell
- Department of NanoBiophotonicsMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryAm Fassberg 1137077GoettingenGermany
- Department of Optical NanoscopyMax Planck Institute for Medical ResearchJahnstraße 2969120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Gražvydas Lukinavičius
- Chromatin Labeling and Imaging GroupDepartment of NanoBiophotonicsMax Planck Institute for Biophysical ChemistryAm Fassberg 1137077GöttingenGermany
| | - Thorsten Hugel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry IIUniversity of FreiburgAlbertstr. 2179104FreiburgGermany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS @ FIT–Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired TechnologiesGeorges-Köhler-Allee 10579110FreiburgGermany
| | - Claudia Jessen‐Trefzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and BiotechnologyUniversity of FreiburgStefan-Meier-Str. 1979104FreiburgGermany
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11
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Crack JC, Gray E, Le Brun NE. Sensing mechanisms of iron-sulfur cluster regulatory proteins elucidated using native mass spectrometry. Dalton Trans 2021; 50:7887-7897. [PMID: 34037038 PMCID: PMC8204329 DOI: 10.1039/d1dt00993a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The ability to sense and respond to various key environmental cues is important for the survival and adaptability of many bacteria, including pathogens. The particular sensitivity of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters is exploited in nature, such that multiple sensor-regulator proteins, which coordinate the detection of analytes with a (in many cases) global transcriptional response, are Fe-S cluster proteins. The fragility and sensitivity of these Fe-S clusters make studying such proteins difficult, and gaining insight of what they sense, and how they sense it and transduce the signal to affect transcription, is a major challenge. While mass spectrometry is very widely used in biological research, it is normally employed under denaturing conditions where non-covalently attached cofactors are lost. However, mass spectrometry under conditions where the protein retains its native structure and, thus, cofactors, is now itself a flourishing field, and the application of such 'native' mass spectrometry to study metalloproteins is now relatively widespread. Here we describe recent advances in using native MS to study Fe-S cluster proteins. Through its ability to accurately measure mass changes that reflect chemistry occurring at the cluster, this approach has yielded a remarkable richness of information that is not accessible by other, more traditional techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Crack
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Nick E. Le Brun
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
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12
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Plays M, Müller S, Rodriguez R. Chemistry and biology of ferritin. Metallomics 2021; 13:6244244. [PMID: 33881539 PMCID: PMC8083198 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfab021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential element required by cells and has been described as a key player in ferroptosis. Ferritin operates as a fundamental iron storage protein in cells forming multimeric assemblies with crystalline iron cores. We discuss the latest findings on ferritin structure and activity and its link to cell metabolism and ferroptosis. The chemistry of iron, including its oxidation states, is important for its biological functions, its reactivity, and the biology of ferritin. Ferritin can be localized in different cellular compartments and secreted by cells with a variety of functions depending on its spatial context. Here, we discuss how cellular ferritin localization is tightly linked to its function in a tissue-specific manner, and how impairment of iron homeostasis is implicated in diseases, including cancer and coronavirus disease 2019. Ferritin is a potential biomarker and we discuss latest research where it has been employed for imaging purposes and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Plays
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.,Centre national de la recherche scientifique UMR 3666, Paris, France.,Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1143, Paris, France.,PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sebastian Müller
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.,Centre national de la recherche scientifique UMR 3666, Paris, France.,Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1143, Paris, France.,PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Rodriguez
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.,Centre national de la recherche scientifique UMR 3666, Paris, France.,Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale U1143, Paris, France.,PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
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13
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Abstract
Iron-sulfur clusters constitute a large and widely distributed group of protein cofactors that play key roles in a wide range of metabolic processes. The inherent reactivity of iron-sulfur clusters toward small molecules, for example, O2, NO, or free Fe, makes them ideal for sensing changes in the cellular environment. Nondenaturing, or native, MS is unique in its ability to preserve the noncovalent interactions of many (if not all) species, including stable intermediates, while providing accurate mass measurements in both thermodynamic and kinetic experimental regimes. Here, we provide practical guidance for the study of iron-sulfur proteins by native MS, illustrated by examples where it has been used to unambiguously determine the type of cluster coordinated to the protein framework. We also describe the use of time-resolved native MS to follow the kinetics of cluster conversion, allowing the elucidation of the precise series of molecular events for all species involved. Finally, we provide advice on a unique approach to a typical thermodynamic titration, uncovering early, quasi-stable, intermediates in the reaction of a cluster with nitric oxide, resulting in cluster nitrosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Crack
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Nick E Le Brun
- Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
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14
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Piergentili C, Ross J, He D, Gallagher KJ, Stanley WA, Adam L, Mackay CL, Baslé A, Waldron KJ, Clarke DJ, Marles-Wright J. Dissecting the structural and functional roles of a putative metal entry site in encapsulated ferritins. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15511-15526. [PMID: 32878987 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Encapsulated ferritins belong to the universally distributed ferritin superfamily, whose members function as iron detoxification and storage systems. Encapsulated ferritins have a distinct annular structure and must associate with an encapsulin nanocage to form a competent iron store that is capable of holding significantly more iron than classical ferritins. The catalytic mechanism of iron oxidation in the ferritin family is still an open question because of the differences in organization of the ferroxidase catalytic site and neighboring secondary metal-binding sites. We have previously identified a putative metal-binding site on the inner surface of the Rhodospirillum rubrum encapsulated ferritin at the interface between the two-helix subunits and proximal to the ferroxidase center. Here we present a comprehensive structural and functional study to investigate the functional relevance of this putative iron-entry site by means of enzymatic assays, MS, and X-ray crystallography. We show that catalysis occurs in the ferroxidase center and suggest a dual role for the secondary site, which both serves to attract metal ions to the ferroxidase center and acts as a flow-restricting valve to limit the activity of the ferroxidase center. Moreover, confinement of encapsulated ferritins within the encapsulin nanocage, although enhancing the ability of the encapsulated ferritin to undergo catalysis, does not influence the function of the secondary site. Our study demonstrates a novel molecular mechanism by which substrate flux to the ferroxidase center is controlled, potentially to ensure that iron oxidation is productively coupled to mineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Piergentili
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Ross
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Didi He
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Kelly J Gallagher
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Will A Stanley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Laurène Adam
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - C Logan Mackay
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Arnaud Baslé
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J Waldron
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David J Clarke
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
| | - Jon Marles-Wright
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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