19F n.m.r. studies of conformational changes accompanying cyclic AMP binding to 3-fluorophenylalanine-containing cyclic AMP receptor protein from Escherichia coli

Site-specific incorporation of a (19)F-amino acid into proteins as an NMR probe for characterizing protein structure and reactivity

19F NMR is a powerful tool for monitoring protein conformational changes and interactions; however, the inability to site-specifically introduce fluorine labels into proteins of biological interest severely limits its applicability. Using methods for genetically directing incorporation of unnatural amino acids, we have inserted trifluoromethyl-l-phenylalanine (tfm-Phe) into proteins in vivo at TAG nonsense codons with high translational efficiency and fidelity. The binding of substrates, inhibitors, and cofactors, as well as reactions in enzymes, were studied by selective introduction of tfm-Phe and subsequent monitoring of the 19F NMR chemical shifts. Subtle protein conformational changes were detected near the active site and at long distances (25 Angstrom). 19F signal sensitivity and resolution was also sufficient to differentiate protein environments in vivo. Since there has been interest in using 19F-labeled proteins in solid-state membrane protein studies, folding studies, and in vivo studies, this general method for genetically incorporating a 19F-label into proteins of any size in Escherichia coli should have broad application beyond that of monitoring protein conformational changes.

Linkage of multiequilibria in DNA recognition by the D53H Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein

The transcription factor cyclic AMP receptor protein, CRP, regulates the operons that encode proteins involved in translocation and metabolism of carbohydrates in Escherichia coli. The structure of the CRP-cAMP complex reveals the presence of two sets of cAMP binding sites. Solution biophysical studies show that there are two high-affinity and two low-affinity binding sites, to which the binding of cAMP is characterized by varying degrees of cooperativity. A stoichiometry of four implies that potentially CRP can exist in five conformers with different numbers of bound cAMP. These conformers may exhibit differential affinities for specific DNA sequences. In this study, the affinity between DNA and each conformer of D53H CRP was defined through a dissection of the thermodynamic linkage scheme that included all the conformers. Loading of the high- and low-affinity sites with cAMP leads to high and low affinity for DNA, respectively. The specific magnitude of the binding constants of these conformers is DNA sequence dependent. The various association constants defined by the present study provide a solution to address an enigma of the CRP system, namely, the 3 orders of magnitude difference between the cAMP binding constants determined by in vitro studies and the cAMP concentration regime to which the bacteria respond. Under physiological conditions, the apo-CRP-DNA complex is the dominant species. As a consequence of the 1000-fold stronger affinity of cAMP to the apo-CRP-DNA complex than that to CRP, the relevant reaction is the binding of cAMP to this DNA-protein complex. The binding constant is of the order of 10(7) M(-)(1), the same concentration regime as that of cellular concentration of cAMP. In addition, under physiological conditions the species that binds to the lac and gal operons is predicted to be CRP-(cAMP)(1). A comparison of parameters between the wild type and the mutant CRP shows that the mutation apparently shifts the various thermodynamically linked equilibria without a change in the basic mechanism that governs CRP activities. Thus, the conclusions derived from a study of the mutant are relevant to wild-type CRP. A dissection of the individual binding constants in this multiequilibria reaction scheme leads to a definition of the mechanism of action of this transcription factor.

Binding modes of cyclic AMP and environments of tryptophan residues in 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of cyclic AMP receptor protein and cyclic AMP

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein (CRP) forms 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with cAMP, and the former complex is considered to be the most active form of CRP in binding to specific DNA sequences and in modulating gene transcription by RNA polymerases. We examine the cAMP binding modes and structural changes of CRP upon cAMP binding by UV resonance Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of CRP-(cAMP)(1) and CRP-(cAMP)(2) extracted from those of CRP-cAMP mixtures at varied mixing ratios clearly show that the hydrogen bonding state and the conformation of cAMP in both complexes in solution are very similar to those found in the X-ray crystal structure of CRP-(cAMP)(2), which is evidence that the cAMP binding mode does not differ between the two complexes. The environmental hydrophobicity of Trp85 monitored by UV resonance Raman intensity shows a significant decrease upon binding of the first cAMP molecule, whereas no further change occurs in the second cAMP binding step. The environmental change of Trp85 suggests an opening of the cleft between the N-terminal cAMP and C-terminal DNA binding domains in the process of CRP activation by binding of a single cAMP molecule.

Allosteric regulation of the cAMP receptor protein

The cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) of Escherichia coli is a dimer made up of identical subunits. Each CRP subunit contains a cyclic nucleotide binding pocket and the CRP dimer exhibits negative cooperativity in binding cAMP. In solutions containing cAMP, CRP undergoes sequential conformation changes from the inactive apo-form through the active CRP:(cAMP)(1) complex to the less active CRP:(cAMP)(2) complex depending on the cAMP concentration. Apo-CRP binds DNA with low affinity and no apparent sequence specificity. The CRP:(cAMP)(1) complex exhibits high affinity, sequence-specific DNA binding and interacts with RNA polymerase, whether free in solution or complexed with DNA. The results of genetic, biochemical and biophysical studies have helped to uncover many of the details of cAMP-mediated allosteric control over CRP conformation and activity as a transcription factor. These studies indicate that cAMP binding produces only small, but significant, changes in CRP structure; changes that include subunit realignment and concerted motion of the secondary structure elements within the C-terminal DNA binding domain of each subunit. These adjustments promote CRP surface-patch interaction with RNA polymerase and protrusion of the F-helix to promote CRP site-specific interaction with DNA. Interactions between CRP and RNA polymerase at CRP-dependent promoters produce active ternary transcription complexes.

Mapping cyclic nucleotide-induced conformational changes in cyclicAMP receptor protein by a protein footprinting technique using different chemical proteases

CyclicAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulates transcription of numerous genes in Escherichia coli. Both cAMP and cGMP bind CRP, but only cAMP induces conformational changes that dramatically increase the specific DNA binding activity of the protein. We have shown previously that our protein footprinting technique is sensitive enough to detect conformational changes in CRP by cAMP [Baichoo N, Heyduk T. 1997. Biochemistry 36:10830-10836]. In this work, conformational changes in CRP induced by cAMP and cGMP binding were mapped and quantitatively analyzed by protein footprinting using iron complexed to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ([Fe-DTPA]2-), iron complexed to ethylenediaminediacetic acid ([Fe-EDDA]), iron complexed to desferrioxamine mesylate ([Fe-HDFO]+), and copper complexed to o-phenanthroline ([(OP)2Cu]+) as proteases. These chemical proteases differ in size, charge, and hydrophobicity. Binding of cAMP to CRP resulted in changes in susceptibility to cleavage by all four proteases. Cleavage by [Fe-EDDA] and [Fe-DTPA]2- of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in the DNA-binding F alpha-helix, the interdomain hinge, and the ends of the C alpha-helix, which is involved in intersubunit interactions. [Fe-EDDA] and [Fe-DTPA]2- also detected reductions in cleavage in the D and E alpha-helices, which are involved in DNA recognition. Cleavage by [Fe-HDFO]+ of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in beta-strand 8, the B alpha-helix, as well as in parts of the F and C alpha-helices. [Fe-HDFO]+ also detected protections from cleavage in beta-strands 4 to 5 and their intervening loop, beta-strand 7, which is part of the nucleotide binding pocket, as well as in the D and E alpha-helices. Cleavage by [(OP)2Cu]+ of CRP-cAMP detected hypersensitivities in beta-strands 9 and 11 as well as in the D and E alpha-helices. [(OP)2Cu]+ also detected protections in the C alpha-helix , the interdomain hinge, and beta-strands 2-7. Binding of cGMP to CRP resulted in changes in susceptibility to cleavage only by [(OP)2Cu]+, which detected minor protections in beta-strands 3-7, the interdomain hinge, and the C alpha-helix. These results show that binding of cAMP causes structural changes in CRP in the nucleotide binding domain, the interdomain hinge, the DNA binding domain, and regions involved in intersubunit interaction. Structural changes induced by binding of cGMP appear to be very minor and confined to the nucleotide binding domain, the interdomain hinge, and regions involved in intersubunit interaction. Use of different cleaving agents in protein footprinting seems to give a more detailed picture of structural changes than the use of a single protease alone.

Determination of the conformations of cAMP receptor protein and its T127L,S128A mutant with and without cAMP from small angle neutron scattering measurements

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements were performed on solutions of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) and on solutions of the T127L,S128A double mutant of CRP (CRP*) in D2O K3PO4 buffer containing 0.5 M KCl, in the absence and presence of 3',5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Energy-minimized structures of the CRP were calculated by minimization of the x-ray crystallographic structure of CRP in either the exclusively "closed" form where the alpha-helices of the carboxyl-terminal domain are folded close to the amino-terminal domain and in the exclusively "open" form where the alpha-helices of the carboxyl-terminal domain are folded away from the amino-terminal domain. Neutron scattering models show that the CRP SANS data follow closely the data curve predicted for unligated CRP in the open form, whereas the cAMP-ligated data are more in agreement with the data predicted for the minimized cAMP-ligated CRP structure in the closed form. Thus, it appears that CRP undergoes a conformational change from the open form to the closed form in solution upon ligation with cAMP. The SANS data from the CRP* and cAMP-ligated CRP* are coincidental, which implies that there is very little structural difference between the two species of CRP*. This is in agreement with in vivo results, which show that whereas CRP activates transcription in the cell only in the presence of cAMP, CRP* activates transcription in the absence of cAMP, implying that CRP* is already in the correct conformation for the activation of transcription.

Interactive and dominant effects of residues 128 and 141 on cyclic nucleotide and DNA bindings in Escherichia coli cAMP receptor protein

The molecular events in the cAMP-induced allosteric activation of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) involve interfacial communications between subunits and domains. However, the roles of intersubunit and interdomain interactions in defining the selectivity of cAMP against other cyclic nucleotides and cooperativity in ligand binding are still not known. Natural occurring CRP mutants with different phenotypes were employed to address these issues. Thermodynamic analyses of subunit association, protein stability, and cAMP and DNA binding as well as conformational studies of the mutants and wild-type CRPs lead to an identification of the apparently dominant roles of residues 128 and 141 in the cAMP-modulated DNA binding activity of CRP. Serine 128 and the C-helix were implicated as playing a critical role in modulating negative cooperativity of cyclic nucleotide binding. A correlation was established between a weak affinity for subunit assembly and the relaxation of cyclic nucleotide selectivity in the G141Q and S128A/G141Q mutants. These results imply that intersubunit interaction is important for cyclic nucleotide discrimination in CRP. The double mutant S128A/G141Q, constructed from two single mutations of S128A and G141Q, which exhibit opposite phenotypic characteristics of CRP- and CRP*, respectively, assumes a CRP* phenotype and has biochemical properties similar to those of the G141Q mutant. These observations suggest that mutation G141Q exerts a dominant effect over mutation S128A and that the subunit realignment induced by the G141Q mutation can override the local structural disruption created by mutation S128A.

Mapping conformational changes in a protein: application of a protein footprinting technique to cAMP-induced conformational changes in cAMP receptor protein

We have used protein footprinting [Heyduk, E., & Heyduk, T. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 9643] to detect and map ligand-induced conformational changes in cAMP receptor protein (CRP). The binding of cAMP to CRP dramatically increases the specific DNA binding activity of the protein and, as has been previously shown, induces conformational changes in the protein. Protein footprinting experiments with the free CRP, the CRP-cAMP complex, and the CRP-cGMP complex were analyzed quantitatively. Binding of cAMP produced measurable differences in the susceptibility of CRP to the cleavage by Fe-EDTA. Almost all of these changes occurred in the C-terminal domain (DNA binding domain) of the protein. Additional changes were observed at the ends of the C alpha-helix, which is involved in intersubunit contacts in the CRP dimer, and in the hinge peptide, connecting N-terminal and C-terminal domains of the protein. The boundaries of the regions in the C-terminal domain, which exhibited changes in susceptibility to Fe-EDTA cleavage, almost exactly corresponded to D, E, and F alpha-helices which are involved directly in the recognition of DNA. The F alpha-helix, which provides all base-specific contacts in the CRP-DNA complex, became hypersensitive to Fe-EDTA-mediated cleavage, whereas the solvent exposure of D and E alpha-helices was decreased upon binding of cAMP. These results suggest that a significant part of cAMP-induced conformational change in CRP involves a movement of secondary structure elements in the C-terminal domain of the protein so that the recognition F alpha-helix becomes exposed to the solvent. In contrast to cAMP, binding of cGMP produced insignificant changes in susceptibility to Fe-EDTA-mediated cleavage. This is consistent with the inability of cGMP to induce functional conformational changes in CRP. The protein footprinting technique appears to be sufficiently sensitive for detection and mapping of ligand-induced conformational changes in proteins.

19F NMR relaxation studies on 5-fluorotryptophan- and tetradeutero-5-fluorotryptophan-labeled E. coli glucose/galactose receptor

19F NMR relaxation studies have been carried out on a fluorotryptophan-labeled E. coli periplasmic glucose/galactose receptor (GGR). The protein was derived from E. coli grown on a medium containing a 50:50 mixture of 5-fluorotryptophan and [2,4,6,7-2H4]-5-fluorotryptophan. As a result of the large gamma-isotope shift, the two labels give rise to separate resonances, allowing relaxation contributions of the substituted indole protons to be selectively monitored. Spin-lattice relaxation rates were determined at field strengths of 11.75 T and 8.5 T, and the results were analyzed using a model-free formalism. In order to evaluate the contributions of chemical shift anisotropy to the observed relaxation parameters, solid-state NMR studies were performed on [2,4,6,7-2H4]-5-fluorotryptophan. Analysis of the observed 19F powder pattern lineshape resulted in anisotropy and asymmetry parameters of delta sigma = -93.5 ppm and eta = 0.24. Theoretical analyses of the relaxation parameters are consistent with internal motion of the fluorotryptophan residues characterized by order parameters S2 of approximately 1, and by correlation times for internal motion approximately 10(-11)s. Simultaneous least squares fitting of the spin-lattice relaxation and line-width data with tau i set at 10 ps yielded a molecular correlation time of 20 ns for the glucose-complexed GGR, and a mean order parameter S2 = 0.89 for fluorotryptophan residues 183, 127, 133, and 195. By contrast, the calculated order parameter for FTrp284, located on the surface of the protein, was 0.77. Significant differences among the spin-lattice relaxation rates of the five fluorotryptophan residues of glucose-complexed GGR were also observed, with the order of relaxation rates given by: R1F183 > R1F127 approximately R1F133 approximately R1F195 > R1F284. Although such differences may reflect motional variations among these residues, the effects are largely predicted by differences in the distribution of nearby hydrogen nuclei, derived from crystal structure data. In the absence of glucose, spin-lattice relaxation rates for fluorotryptophan residues 183, 127, 133, and 195 were found to decrease by a mean of 13%, while the value for residue 284 exhibits an increase of similar magnitude relative to the liganded molecule. These changes are interpreted in terms of a slower overall correlation time for molecular motion, as well as a change in the internal mobility of FTrp284, located in the hinge region of the receptor.

Towards engineering proteins by site-directed incorporation in vivo of non-natural amino acids

Altering protein structure via the techniques of protein engineering has already allowed the development of proteins displaying both modified and novel activities. The only limitation of conventional site-directed mutagenesis, the cornerstone of protein engineering, is that substitutions are restricted to the 20 naturally occurring, proteinogenic amino acids. However, the discovery of a 21st amino acid, selenocysteine, and the development of novel in vitro translation systems have demonstrated that considerably more substitutions are possible. To this end, a number of experimental approaches have been developed that allow the incorporation of synthetic amino acids into proteins. Some of these have already been successfully applied in vitro and efforts to transfer this technology to in vivo systems are now underway.