C-terminal domain mutations in ClpX uncouple substrate binding from an engagement step required for unfolding

Dynamic and static components power unfolding in topologically closed rings of a AAA+ proteolytic machine

In the E. coli ClpXP protease, a hexameric ClpX ring couples ATP binding and hydrolysis to mechanical protein unfolding and translocation into the ClpP degradation chamber. Rigid-body packing between the small AAA+ domain of each ClpX subunit and the large AAA+ domain of its neighbor stabilizes the hexamer. By connecting the parts of each rigid-body unit with disulfide bonds or linkers, we created covalently closed rings that retained robust activity. A single-residue insertion in the hinge that connects the large and small AAA+ domains and forms part of the nucleotide-binding site uncoupled ATP hydrolysis from productive unfolding. We propose that ATP hydrolysis drives changes in the conformation of one hinge and its flanking domains, which are propagated around the AAA+ ring via the topologically constrained set of rigid-body units and hinges to produce coupled ring motions that power substrate unfolding.

Stepwise activity of ClpY (HslU) mutants in the processive degradation of Escherichia coli ClpYQ (HslUV) protease substrates

In Escherichia coli, ClpYQ (HslUV) is a two-component ATP-dependent protease composed of ClpY (HslU), an ATPase with unfolding activity, and ClpQ (HslV), a peptidase. In the ClpYQ proteolytic complex, the hexameric rings of ClpY (HslU) are responsible for protein recognition, unfolding, and translocation into the proteolytic inner chamber of the dodecameric ClpQ (HslV). Each of the three domains, N, I, and C, in ClpY has its own distinct activity. The double loops (amino acids [aa] 137 to 150 and 175 to 209) in domain I of ClpY are necessary for initial recognition/tethering of natural substrates such as SulA, a cell division inhibitor protein. The highly conserved sequence GYVG (aa 90 to 93) pore I site, along with the GESSG pore II site (aa 265 to 269), contribute to the central pore of ClpY in domain N. These two central loops of ClpY are in the center of its hexameric ring in which the energy of ATP hydrolysis allows substrate translocation and then degradation by ClpQ. However, no data have been obtained to determine the effect of the central loops on substrate binding or as part of the processivity of the ClpYQ complex. Thus, we probed the features of ClpY important for substrate engagement and protease processivity via random PCR or site-specific mutagenesis. In yeast two-hybrid analysis and pulldown assays, using isolated ClpY mutants and the pore I or pore II site of ClpY, each was examined for its influence on the adjoining structural regions of the substrates. The pore I site is essential for the translocation of the engaged substrates. Our in vivo study of the ClpY mutants also revealed that an ATP-binding site in domain N, separate from its role in polypeptide (ClpY) oligomerization, is required for complex formation with ClpQ. Additionally, we found that the tyrosine residue at position 408 in ClpY is critical for stabilization of hexamer formation between subunits. Therefore, our studies suggest that stepwise activities of the ClpYQ protease are necessary to facilitate the processive degradation of its natural substrates.

Structures of asymmetric ClpX hexamers reveal nucleotide-dependent motions in a AAA+ protein-unfolding machine

ClpX is a AAA+ machine that uses the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to unfold native proteins and translocate unfolded polypeptides into the ClpP peptidase. The crystal structures presented here reveal striking asymmetry in ring hexamers of nucleotide-free and nucleotide-bound ClpX. Asymmetry arises from large changes in rotation between the large and small AAA+ domains of individual subunits. These differences prevent nucleotide binding to two subunits, generate a staggered arrangement of ClpX subunits and pore loops around the hexameric ring, and provide a mechanism for coupling conformational changes caused by ATP binding or hydrolysis in one subunit to flexing motions of the entire ring. Our structures explain numerous solution studies of ClpX function, predict mechanisms for pore elasticity during translocation of irregular polypeptides, and suggest how repetitive conformational changes might be coupled to mechanical work during the ATPase cycle of ClpX and related molecular machines.

Studying tmRNA-mediated surveillance and nonstop mRNA decay

In bacteria, ribosomes stalled at the 3'-end of nonstop or defective mRNAs are rescued by the action of a specialized ribonucleoprotein complex composed of tmRNA and SmpB protein in a process known as trans-translation; for recent reviews see Dulebohn et al. [2007], Keiler [2007], and Moore and Sauer [2007]. tmRNA is a bifunctional RNA that acts as both a tRNA and an mRNA. SmpB-bound tmRNA is charged with alanine by alanyl-tRNA synthetase and recognized by EF-Tu (GTP). The quaternary complex of tmRNA-SmpB-EF-Tu and GTP recognizes stalled ribosomes and transfers the nascent polypeptide to the tRNA-like domain of tmRNA. A specialized reading frame within tmRNA is then engaged as a surrogate mRNA to append a 10 amino acid (ANDENYALAA) tag to the C-terminus of the nascent polypeptide. A stop codon at the end of the tmRNA reading frame then facilitates normal termination and recycling of the translation machinery. Through this surveillance mechanism, stalled ribosomes are rescued, and nascent polypeptides bearing the C-terminal tmRNA-tag are directed for proteolysis. Several proteases (ClpXP, ClpAP, Lon, FtsH, and Tsp) are known to be involved in the degradation of tmRNA-tagged proteins (Choy et al., 2007; Farrell et al., 2005; Gottesman et al., 1998; Herman et al., 1998, 2003; Keiler et al., 1996). In addition to its ribosome rescue and peptide tagging activities, trans-translation also facilitates the selective decay of nonstop mRNAs in a process that is dependent on the activities of SmpB protein, tmRNA, and the 3' to 5'-exonuclease, RNase R (Mehta et al., 2006; Richards et al., 2006; Yamamoto et al., 2003). Here, we describe methods and strategies for the purification of tmRNA, SmpB, Lon, and RNase R from Escherichia coli that are likely to be applicable to other bacterial species. Protocols for the purification of the Clp proteases, Tsp, and FtsH, as well as EF-Tu and other essential E. coli translation factors may be found elsewhere (Joshi et al., 2003; Kihara et al., 1996; Makino et al., 1999; Maurizi et al., 1990; Shotland et al., 2000). In addition, we present biochemical and genetic assays to study the various aspects of the trans-translation mechanism.

AAA+ proteins: have engine, will work

The AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) family is a large and functionally diverse group of enzymes that are able to induce conformational changes in a wide range of substrate proteins. The family's defining feature is a structurally conserved ATPase domain that assembles into oligomeric rings and undergoes conformational changes during cycles of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. Here, we review the structural organization of AAA+ proteins, the conformational changes they undergo, the range of different reactions they catalyse, and the diseases associated with their dysfunction.

Crystal structure of the AAA+ alpha domain of E. coli Lon protease at 1.9A resolution

The crystal structure of the small, mostly helical alpha domain of the AAA+ module of the Escherichia coli ATP-dependent protease Lon has been solved by single isomorphous replacement combined with anomalous scattering and refined at 1.9A resolution to a crystallographic R factor of 17.9%. This domain, comprising residues 491-584, was obtained by chymotrypsin digestion of the recombinant full-length protease. The alpha domain of Lon contains four alpha helices and two parallel strands and resembles similar domains found in a variety of ATPases and helicases, including the oligomeric proteases HslVU and ClpAP. The highly conserved "sensor-2" Arg residue is located at the beginning of the third helix. Detailed comparison with the structures of 11 similar domains established the putative location of the nucleotide-binding site in this first fragment of Lon for which a crystal structure has become available.

Spectrometric analysis of degradation of a physiological substrate sigma32 by Escherichia coli AAA protease FtsH

We have established a fluorescence polarization assay system by which degradation of sigma32, a physiological substrate, by FtsH can be monitored spectrometrically. Using the system, it was found that an FtsH hexamer degrades approximately 0.5 molecules of Cy3-sigma32 per min at 42 degrees C and hydrolyzes approximately 140 ATP molecules during the degradation of a single molecule of Cy3-sigma32. Evidence also suggests that degradation of sigma32 proceeds from the N-terminus to the C-terminus. Although FtsH does not have a robust enough unfoldase activity to unfold a tightly folded proteins such as green fluorescent protein, it can unfold proteins with lower T(m)s such as glutathione S-transferase (T(m) = 52 degrees C).

Sculpting the proteome with AAA(+) proteases and disassembly machines

Machines of protein destruction-including energy-dependent proteases and disassembly chaperones of the AAA(+) ATPase family-function in all kingdoms of life to sculpt the cellular proteome, ensuring that unnecessary and dangerous proteins are eliminated and biological responses to environmental change are rapidly and properly regulated. Exciting progress has been made in understanding how AAA(+) machines recognize specific proteins as targets and then carry out ATP-dependent dismantling of the tertiary and/or quaternary structure of these molecules during the processes of protein degradation and the disassembly of macromolecular complexes.

Role of the processing pore of the ClpX AAA+ ATPase in the recognition and engagement of specific protein substrates

ClpX binds substrates bearing specific classes of peptide signals, denatures these proteins, and translocates them through a central pore into ClpP for degradation. ClpX with the V154F po e mutation is severely defective in binding substrates bearing C-motif 1 degradation signals and is also impaired in a subsequent step of substrate engagement. In contrast, this mutant efficiently processes substrates with other classes of recognition signals both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate that the ClpX pore functions in the recognition and catalytic engagement of specific substrates, and that ClpX recognizes different substrate classes in at least two distinct fashions.

Communication between ClpX and ClpP during substrate processing and degradation

In the ClpXP compartmental protease, ring hexamers of the AAA(+) ClpX ATPase bind, denature and then translocate protein substrates into the degradation chamber of the double-ring ClpP(14) peptidase. A key question is the extent to which functional communication between ClpX and ClpP occurs and is regulated during substrate processing. Here, we show that ClpX-ClpP affinity varies with the protein-processing task of ClpX and with the catalytic engagement of the active sites of ClpP. Functional communication between symmetry-mismatched ClpXP rings depends on the ATPase activity of ClpX and seems to be transmitted through structural changes in its IGF loops, which contact ClpP. A conserved arginine in the sensor II helix of ClpX links the nucleotide state of ClpX to the binding of ClpP and protein substrates. A simple model explains the observed relationships between ATP binding, ATP hydrolysis and functional interactions between ClpX, protein substrates and ClpP.

Protein Binding and Disruption by Clp/Hsp100 Chaperones

Clp/Hsp100 chaperones work with other cellular chaperones and proteases to control the quality and amounts of many intracellular proteins. They employ an ATP-dependent protein unfoldase activity to solubilize protein aggregates or to target specific classes of proteins for degradation. The structural complexity of Clp/Hsp100 proteins combined with the complexity of the interactions with their macromolecular substrates presents a considerable challenge to understanding the mechanisms by which they recognize and unfold substrates and deliver them to downstream enzymes. Fortunately, high-resolution structural data is now available for several of the chaperones and their functional partners, which together with mutational data on the chaperones and their substrates has provided a glimmer of light at the end of the Clp/Hsp100 tunnel.

Crystal structure of ClpX molecular chaperone from Helicobacter pylori

ClpX, a heat shock protein 100 chaperone, which acts as the regulatory subunit of the ATP-dependent ClpXP protease, is responsible for intracellular protein remodeling and degradation. To provide a structural basis for a better understanding of the function of the Clp ATPase family, the crystal structures of Helicobacter pylori ClpX, lacking an N-terminal Cys cluster region complexed with ADP, was determined. The overall structure of ClpX is similar to that of heat shock locus U (HslU), consisting of two subdomains, with ADP bound at the subdomain interface. The crystal structure of ClpX reveals that a conserved tripeptide (LGF) is located on the tip of ClpP binding loop extending from the N-terminal subdomain. A hexameric model of ClpX suggests that six tripeptides make hydrophobic contacts with the hydrophobic clefts of the ClpP heptmer asymmetrically. In addition, the nucleotide binding environment provides the structural explanation for the hexameric assembly and the modulation of ATPase activity.