Proline to the rescue

Host-Guest Complexation by β-Cyclodextrin Enhances the Solubility of an Esterified Protein

The carboxyl groups of a protein can be esterified by reaction with a diazo compound, 2-diazo-2-(p-methylphenyl)-N,N-dimethylacetamide. This esterification enables the entry of the protein into the cytosol of a mammalian cell, where the nascent ester groups are hydrolyzed by endogenous esterases. The low aqueous solubility of the ensuing esterified protein is, however, a major practical challenge. Solubility screening revealed that β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is an optimal solubilizing agent for esterified green fluorescent protein (est-GFP). Its addition can increase the recovery of est-GFP by 10-fold. α-CD, γ-CD, and cucurbit-7-uril are less effective excipients. ¹H NMR titration experiments revealed that β-CD encapsulates the hydrophobic tolyl group of ester conjugates with K_a = 321 M^-1. Combining l-arginine and sucrose with β-CD enables the nearly quantitative recovery of est-GFP. Thus, the insolubility of esterified proteins can be overcome with excipients.

Human organotypic brain model as a tool to study chemical-induced dopaminergic neuronal toxicity

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). This imbalance plays an important role in brain aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. In the context of Parkinson’s disease (PD), the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta to oxidative stress is considered a key factor of PD pathogenesis. Here we study the effect of different oxidative stress-inducing compounds (6-OHDA, MPTP or MPP⁺) on the population of dopaminergic neurons in an iPSC-derived human brain 3D model (aka BrainSpheres). Treatment with 6-OHDA, MPTP or MPP⁺ at 4 weeks of differentiation disrupted the dopaminergic neuronal phenotype in BrainSpheres at (50, 5000, 1000 μM respectively). 6-OHDA increased ROS production and decreased mitochondrial function most efficiently. It further induced the greatest changes in gene expression and metabolites related to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Co-culturing BrainSpheres with an endothelial barrier using a transwell system allowed the assessment of differential penetration capacities of the tested compounds and the damage they caused in the dopaminergic neurons within the BrainSpheres In conclusion, treatment with compounds known to induce PD-like phenotypes in vivo caused molecular deficits and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the BrainSphere model. This approach therefore recapitulates common animal models of neurodegenerative processes in PD at similarly high doses. The relevance as tool for drug discovery is discussed.

Nε-Acetyl L-α Lysine Improves Activity and Stability of α-Amylase at Acidic Conditions: A Comparative Study with other Osmolytes

BACKGROUND

Nε-acetyl L-α lysine is an unusual acetylated di-amino acid synthesized and accumulated by certain halophiles under osmotic stress. Osmolytes are generally known to protect proteins and other cellular components under various stress conditions.

OBJECTIVE

The structural and functional stability imparted by Nε-acetyl L-lysine on proteins were unknown and hence was studied and compared to other commonly known bacterial osmolytes - ectoine, proline, glycine betaine, trehalose and sucrose.

METHODS

Effects of osmolytes on the temperature and pH profiles, pH stability and thermodynamic stability of the model enzyme, α-amylase were analyzed.

RESULTS

At physiological pH, all the osmolytes under study increased the optimal temperature for enzyme activity and improved the thermodynamic stability of the enzyme. At acidic conditions (pH 3.0), Nε-acetyl L-α lysine and ectoine improved both the catalytic and thermodynamic stability of the enzyme; it was reflected in the increase in residual enzyme activity after incubation of the enzyme at pH 3.0 for 15 min by 60% and 63.5% and the midpoint temperature of unfolding transition by 11°C and 10°C respectively.

CONCLUSION

Such significant protective effects on both activity and stability of α-amylase imparted by addition of Nε-acetyl L-α lysine and ectoine at acidic conditions make these osmolytes interesting candidates for biotechnological applications.

Multi-strain probiotics enhance immune responsiveness and alters metabolic profiles in the New Zealand black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris)

We assessed whether dietary administration of a multi-strain probiotic (Exiguobacterium JHEb1, Vibrio JH1 and Enterococcus JHLDc) lead to enhanced immune responsiveness in juvenile New Zealand black-footed abalone (Haliotis iris). Two groups of abalone were fed (1% body weight per day) over a four-month period with different diets. The control diet consisted of a standard commercial pellet feed (AbMax 16), whereas the treatment diet was additionally enriched with the probiotic mix. At the end of the experiment, probiotic-fed animals showed improved growth compared with control-fed abalone in length (32.3% vs 22.3%), width (31.9% vs 20.7%) and wet weight (109.6% vs 72.8%), respectively. Haemolymph sampling was conducted at the beginning of the experiment and after 2 and 4 months. Haemolymph samples were analysed for total haemocyte count (THC) and viability, presence of apoptotic cells and production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Compared with control abalone, probiotic-fed abalone had significantly higher THC (1.9 × 10⁶ vs 5.6 × 10⁵ cells), higher viability (90.8% vs 75.6%), higher percentage of ROS-positive cells (19.4% vs 0.5%) and higher numbers of non-apoptotic cells (88.0% vs 78.0%), respectively. These results indicate that the probiotic-enriched diet enhanced the immunostimulatory mechanisms, with a simultaneous low-level up-regulation of ROS production as a priming mechanism of the antibacterial defence system. Metabolomics-based profiling of foot muscle tissue additionally revealed that probiotic-fed abalone differentially expressed 17 unique metabolites, including amino acids, fatty acids and TCA cycle related compounds. These data suggest that the probiotic-supplemented diet can also alter central carbon metabolic processes, which may improve the survival, as well as the growth of abalone.

Changing relations between proteins and osmolytes: a choice of nature

The stabilization and destabilization of the protein in the presence of any additive is mainly attributed to its preferential exclusion from protein surface and its preferential binding to the protein surface, respectively.

Osmolyte induced enhancement of expression and solubility of human dihydrofolate reductase: An in vivo study

The process of recombinant protein production in E. coli system is often hampered by the formation of insoluble aggregates. Human Dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of purine, thymidilate and several other amino acids like glycine, methionine and serine is highly aggregation prone. It catalyzes the reduction of dihydrofolate (H₂F) in order to regenerate tetrahydrofolate (H₄F) utilizing NADPH as a cofactor. We have attempted to ameliorate the production of soluble and functional protein by growing and inducing the cells under osmotic stress condition, in the presence of various osmolytes like glycerol, sorbitol, TMAO, proline and glycine at 37°C. The expression and yield of functional hDHFR protein were highly enhanced in the presence of these osmolytes. The specific activity of the purified recombinant hDHFR protein has also been increased to a cogent level in the presence of osmolytes. We also observed that protein expressed in presence of the osmolytes was stable in the denaturing conditions as compared to the protein expressed in absence of an osmolyte. We also observed using the intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy that the osmolytes didn't interfere with the structure of the protein and in denaturing conditions the protein expressed in presence of osmolytes had more stability. Our study is consequential in increasing the production of functional and soluble protein in the cell extract and will also be appropriate to find a therapeutic agent against many neurodegenerative diseases.

Plant-derived compatible solutes proline betaine and betonicine confer enhanced osmotic and temperature stress tolerance to Bacillus subtilis

L-Proline is a widely used compatible solute and is employed by Bacillus subtilis, through both synthesis and uptake, as an osmostress protectant. Here, we assessed the stress-protective potential of the plant-derived L-proline derivatives N-methyl-L-proline, L-proline betaine (stachydrine), trans-4-L-hydroxproline and trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline betaine (betonicine) for cells challenged by high salinity or extremes in growth temperature. l-Proline betaine and betonicine conferred salt stress protection, but trans-4-L-hydroxyproline and N-methyl-L-proline was unable to do so. Except for L-proline, none of these compounds served as a nutrient for B. subtilis. L-Proline betaine was a considerably better osmostress protectant than betonicine, and its import strongly reduced the l-proline pool produced by B. subtilis under osmotic stress conditions, whereas a supply of betonicine affected the L-proline pool only modestly. Both compounds downregulated the transcription of the osmotically inducible opuA operon, albeit to different extents. Mutant studies revealed that L-proline betaine was taken up via the ATP-binding cassette transporters OpuA and OpuC, and the betaine-choline-carnitine-transporter-type carrier OpuD; betonicine was imported only through OpuA and OpuC. L-Proline betaine and betonicine also served as temperature stress protectants. A striking difference between these chemically closely related compounds was observed: L-proline betaine was an excellent cold stress protectant, but did not provide heat stress protection, whereas the reverse was true for betonicine. Both compounds were primarily imported in temperature-challenged cells via the high-capacity OpuA transporter. We developed an in silico model for the OpuAC-betonicine complex based on the crystal structure of the OpuAC solute receptor complexed with L-proline betaine.

Desiccation induced changes in osmolytes production and the antioxidative defence in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Cells of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, a low desiccation tolerant cyanobacterium, was subjected to prolonged desiccation and effect of loss of water was examined on production of osmolytes, and antioxidant response as well as on overall viability in terms of photosynthetic activity. During dehydration (22 h), the organism maintained about 98.5 % loss of cellular water, yet cells remained viable as about 30 % of photosynthetic O2-evolution activity resumed upon hydrating (1 h) such cells. In desiccated state, cyanobacterial cells accumulated osmolytes within 1 h though their contents decreased thereafter. The highest levels of trehalose (179 nmol mg(-1) protein), sucrose (805 nmol mg(-1) protein) and proline (23.2 nmol mg(-1) protein) were attained within 1 h. Chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents also increased within 1 h but phycocyanin level showed opposite trend. The oxygen-evolving activity declined in desiccated cyanobacterial biomass while rehydration led to instant recovery, indicating that cells protect the photosynthetic machinery against desiccation. Notwithstanding, activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) attained their peaks after 3 h of desiccation, though within 10 min of rehydration, their levels returned back close to basal activities of the cultured cells. We propose that onset of osmolyte production in conjunction with upshift of antioxidant enzymes apparently protects the cyanobacterial cells from desiccation stress.

Stabilizing additives added during cell lysis aid in the solubilization of recombinant proteins

Insoluble recombinant proteins are a major issue for both structural genomics and enzymology research. Greater than 30% of recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) appear to be insoluble. The prevailing view is that insolubly expressed proteins cannot be easily solubilized, and are usually sequestered into inclusion bodies. However, we hypothesize that small molecules added during the cell lysis stage can yield soluble protein from insoluble protein previously screened without additives or ligands. We present a novel screening method that utilized 144 additive conditions to increase the solubility of recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli. These selected additives are natural ligands, detergents, salts, buffers, and chemicals that have been shown to increase the stability of proteins in vivo. We present the methods used for this additive solubility screen and detailed results for 41 potential drug target recombinant proteins from infectious organisms. Increased solubility was observed for 80% of the recombinant proteins during the primary and secondary screening of lysis with the additives; that is 33 of 41 target proteins had increased solubility compared with no additive controls. Eleven additives (trehalose, glycine betaine, mannitol, L-Arginine, potassium citrate, CuCl₂, proline, xylitol, NDSB 201, CTAB and K₂PO₄) solubilized more than one of the 41 proteins; these additives can be easily screened to increase protein solubility. Large-scale purifications were attempted for 15 of the proteins using the additives identified and eight (40%) were prepared for crystallization trials during the first purification attempt. Thus, this protocol allowed us to recover about a third of seemingly insoluble proteins for crystallography and structure determination. If recombinant proteins are required in smaller quantities or less purity, the final success rate may be even higher.

Osmoprotection of Bacillus subtilis through import and proteolysis of proline-containing peptides

Bacillus subtilis can attain cellular protection against the detrimental effects of high osmolarity through osmotically induced de novo synthesis and uptake of the compatible solute l-proline. We have now found that B. subtilis can also exploit exogenously provided proline-containing peptides of various lengths and compositions as osmoprotectants. Osmoprotection by these types of peptides is generally dependent on their import via the peptide transport systems (Dpp, Opp, App, and DtpT) operating in B. subtilis and relies on their hydrolysis to liberate proline. The effectiveness with which proline-containing peptides confer osmoprotection varies considerably, and this can be correlated with the amount of the liberated and subsequently accumulated free proline by the osmotically stressed cell. Through gene disruption experiments, growth studies, and the quantification of the intracellular proline pool, we have identified the PapA (YqhT) and PapB (YkvY) peptidases as responsible for the hydrolysis of various types of Xaa-Pro dipeptides and Xaa-Pro-Xaa tripeptides. The PapA and PapB peptidases possess overlapping substrate specificities. In contrast, osmoprotection by peptides of various lengths and compositions with a proline residue positioned at their N terminus was not affected by defects in the PapA and PapB peptidases. Taken together, our data provide new insight into the physiology of the osmotic stress response of B. subtilis. They illustrate the flexibility of this ubiquitously distributed microorganism to effectively exploit environmental resources in its acclimatization to sustained high-osmolarity surroundings through the accumulation of compatible solutes.

Osmotically controlled synthesis of the compatible solute proline is critical for cellular defense of Bacillus subtilis against high osmolarity

Bacillus subtilis is known to accumulate large amounts of the compatible solute proline via de novo synthesis as a stress protectant when it faces high-salinity environments. We elucidated the genetic determinants required for the osmoadaptive proline production from the precursor glutamate. This proline biosynthesis route relies on the proJ-encoded γ-glutamyl kinase, the proA-encoded γ-glutamyl phosphate reductase, and the proH-encoded Δ1-pyrroline-5-caboxylate reductase. Disruption of the proHJ operon abolished osmoadaptive proline production and strongly impaired the ability of B. subtilis to cope with high-osmolarity growth conditions. Disruption of the proA gene also abolished osmoadaptive proline biosynthesis but caused, in contrast to the disruption of proHJ, proline auxotrophy. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the transcription of the proHJ operon is osmotically inducible, whereas that of the proBA operon is not. Reporter gene fusion studies showed that proHJ expression is rapidly induced upon an osmotic upshift. Increased expression is maintained as long as the osmotic stimulus persists and is sensitively linked to the prevalent osmolarity of the growth medium. Primer extension analysis revealed the osmotically controlled proHJ promoter, a promoter that resembles typical SigA-type promoters of B. subtilis. Deletion analysis of the proHJ promoter region identified a 126-bp DNA segment carrying all sequences required in cis for osmoregulated transcription. Our data disclose the presence of ProA-interlinked anabolic and osmoadaptive proline biosynthetic routes in B. subtilis and demonstrate that the synthesis of the compatible solute proline is a central facet of the cellular defense to high-osmolarity surroundings for this soil bacterium.

The SV40 late protein VP4 is a viroporin that forms pores to disrupt membranes for viral release

Nonenveloped viruses are generally released by the timely lysis of the host cell by a poorly understood process. For the nonenveloped virus SV40, virions assemble in the nucleus and then must be released from the host cell without being encapsulated by cellular membranes. This process appears to involve the well-controlled insertion of viral proteins into host cellular membranes rendering them permeable to large molecules. VP4 is a newly identified SV40 gene product that is expressed at late times during the viral life cycle that corresponds to the time of cell lysis. To investigate the role of this late expressed protein in viral release, water-soluble VP4 was expressed and purified as a GST fusion protein from bacteria. Purified VP4 was found to efficiently bind biological membranes and support their disruption. VP4 perforated membranes by directly interacting with the membrane bilayer as demonstrated by flotation assays and the release of fluorescent markers encapsulated into large unilamellar vesicles or liposomes. The central hydrophobic domain of VP4 was essential for membrane binding and disruption. VP4 displayed a preference for membranes comprised of lipids that replicated the composition of the plasma membranes over that of nuclear membranes. Phosphatidylethanolamine, a lipid found at high levels in bacterial membranes, was inhibitory against the membrane perforation activity of VP4. The disruption of membranes by VP4 involved the formation of pores of ∼3 nm inner diameter in mammalian cells including permissive SV40 host cells. Altogether, these results support a central role of VP4 acting as a viroporin in the perforation of cellular membranes to trigger SV40 viral release.

Viruses exploit host cells for their propagation. Once an adequate number of viral particles have been assembled within the cell through the aid of cellular machinery of the host cell, the virus must be released from the cell for the virus to spread. For nonenveloped viruses or viruses that are solely encapsulated by a protein shell, this step most commonly involves the perforation of cellular membranes resulting in the lysis or death of the host cell. The mechanism for how this key terminal step in the viral life cycle is performed is poorly understood. We demonstrated that for the model nonenveloped virus SV40, the newly discovered virally encoded protein, termed VP4, perforates membranes by forming pores with a diameter of ∼3 nm in host cell membranes. While these pores are not of a sufficient size to provide a conduit that permits the movement of the virus through the membrane, they support membrane destabilization that leads to the disintegration of the membrane of the host cell and viral release.

Study of cosolvent-induced alpha-chymotrypsin fibrillogenesis: does protein surface hydrophobicity trigger early stages of aggregation reaction?

The misfolding of specific proteins is often associated with their assembly into fibrillar aggregates, commonly termed amyloid fibrils. Despite the many efforts expended to characterize amyloid formation in vitro, there is no deep knowledge about the environment (in which aggregation occurs) as well as mechanism of this type of protein aggregation. Alpha-chymotrypsin was recently driven toward amyloid aggregation by the addition of intermediate concentrations of trifluoroethanol. In the present study, approaches such as turbidimetric, thermodynamic, intrinsic fluorescence and quenching studies as well as chemical modification have been successfully used to elucidate the underlying role of hydrophobic interactions (involved in early stages of amyloid formation) in alpha-chymotrypsin-based experimental system.

Chaperone mediated solubilization of 69-kDa recombinant maltodextrin glucosidase in Escherichia coli

AIMS

To investigate the factors affecting expression and solubilization of Escherichia coli maltodextrin glucosidase in E. coli.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Expression level and solubilization of the recombinant E. coli maltodextrin glucosidase was studied in E. coli at different temperatures, in presence of overexpressed GroEL, GroES and externally supplemented glycerol. Aggregation of maltodextrin glucosidase in the cytoplasm was partially prevented by the co-expression of GroEL and GroES, and using externally supplemented glycerol or lowering the culture temperature. Co-expression of GroEL and GroES or simultaneous presence of overexpressed GroEL, GroES and externally supplemented glycerol together resulted significant increase of the activity of maltodextrin glucosidase. The growth rate of E. coli was inhibited by the formation of inclusion bodies whereas the presence of overexpressed GroEL, GroES alone or together with glycerol enhanced the growth rate of E. coli substantially.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that lowering the temperature, use of GroEL, GroES and glycerol could be few controlling factors for the solubilization of recombinant aggregation-prone maltodextrin glucosidase in E. coli.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our study could help in developing the strategy for enhancing the production of soluble industrial enzymes and finding the therapeutic agents against protein misfolding diseases.

Inhibition of beta-amyloid peptide aggregation and neurotoxicity by alpha-d-mannosylglycerate, a natural extremolyte

The aggregation of soluble beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide into oligomers/fibrils is one of the key pathological features in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The use of naturally occurring small molecules for inhibiting protein aggregation has recently attracted many interests due to their effectiveness for treating protein folding diseases such as AD, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, and other amyloidosis diseases. alpha-d-Mannosylglycerate (MG), a natural extremolyte identified in microorganisms growing under extremely high temperatures up to 100 degrees C, had been shown to protect proteins against various stress conditions such as heat, freezing, thawing, and drying. Here, we report the effectiveness of MG on the suppression of Alzheimer's Abeta aggregation and neurotoxicity to human neuroblastoma cells. According to our study--carried out by using thioflavin-T induced fluorescence, atomic force microscopy, and cell viability assay--MG had significant inhibitory effect against Abeta amyloid formation and could reduce the toxicity of amyloid aggregates to human neuroblastoma cells while MG itself was innocuous to cells. On the other hand, the structural analogs of MG such as alpha-d-mannosylglyceramide, mannose, methylmannoside, glycerol, showed negligible effect on Abeta aggregate formation. The results suggest that MG could be a potential drug candidate for treating Alzheimer's disease.