Divalent cations can induce the exposure of GroEL hydrophobic surfaces and strengthen GroEL hydrophobic binding interactions. Novel effects of Zn2+ GroEL interactions

Interplays between copper and Mycobacterium tuberculosis GroEL1

The chaperone GroEL1 enhances copper tolerance during Mycobacterium bovis BCG biofilm formation. The binding of copper ions to the GroEL1 histidine-rich region protects the chaperone from destabilization and increases its ATPase activity.

New insight on 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid interaction with TgFNR for hydrophobic exposure analysis

The exposed hydrophobic patches of protein are widely detected through the binding by the fluorescent probes such as 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), Nile Red (NR) and 1-(N-phenylamino) naphthalene, N-(1-Naphthyl) aniline (1NPN). Interestingly, at pH4, where the Toxoplasma gondii Ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (TgFNR) is stable, an exclusive binding and fluorescence emission was observed for ANS. To understand the underlying difference in the binding of ANS, NR and 1NPN; their effect on the protein structure was studied in detail. ANS was found to interact with TgFNR via electrostatic as well as hydrophobic interactions at pH4. NR and 1NPN did not show any such binding to TgFNR in the similar conditions, however showed strong hydrophobic interaction in the presence of NaCl or DSS (2, 2-dimethyl-2-silapentane-5-sulfonate). The subsequent structural studies suggest that ANS, NaCl and DSS induced partial unfolding of TgFNR by modulating ionic interactions of the enzyme, leading to the exposure of buried hydrophobic patches amicable for the binding by NR and 1NPN. The induced unfolding of TgFNR by ANS is unique and thus cautions to use the fluorescent dye as simple indicator to probe the exposed hydrophobic patches of the protein or its folding intermediates.

Zinc Modulates Self-Assembly of Bacillus thermocatenulatus Lipase

Thermoalkalophilic lipases are prone to aggregation from their dimer interface to which structural zinc is very closely located. Structural zinc sites have been shown to induce protein aggregation, but the interaction between zinc and aggregation tendency in thermoalkalophilic lipases remains elusive. Here we delineate the interplay between zinc and aggregation of the lipase from Bacillus thermocatenulatus (BTL2), which is taken to be a representative of thermoalkalophilic lipase. Results showed that zinc removal disrupted the BTL2 dimer, leading to monomer formation and reduced thermostability manifesting as a link between zinc and dimerization that leads to thermostability, while zinc addition induced aggregation. Biochemical and kinetic characterizations of zinc-induced aggregates showed that the aggregates obtained from the early and late stages of aggregation had differential characteristics. In the early stages, the aggregates were soluble and possessed native-like structures, while in the late stages, the aggregates became insoluble and showed fibrillar characteristics with binding affinities for Congo red and thioflavin T. The impact of temperature on zinc-induced aggregation was further investigated, and it was found that the native-like early aggregates could completely dissociate into functional lipase forms at high temperatures while dissociation of the late aggregates was limited. To this end, we report that the zinc-induced aggregation of BTL2 can be reversed by temperature switches and initiated by ordered aggregates in the early stages that gain fibrillar-like features over time. Insights revealed by this work contributes to the knowledge of aggregation mechanisms that exist in thermophilic proteins, reflecting the potential use of metal addition and/or removal to fine-tune aggregation tendency.

Zinc induces unfolding and aggregation of dimeric arginine kinase by trapping reversible unfolding intermediate

Arginine kinase plays an important role in the cellular energy metabolism of invertebrates. Dimeric arginine kinase (dAK) is unique in some marine invertebrates. The effects of Zn²(+) on the unfolding and aggregation of dAK from the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus were investigated. Our results indicated that Zn²(+) caused dAK inactivation accompanied by conformational unfolding, the exposure of hydrophobic surface, and aggregation. Kinetic studies showed the inactivation and unfolding of dAK followed biphasic kinetic courses. Zn²(+) can affect unfolding and refolding of dAK by trapping the reversible intermediate. Our study provides important information regarding the effect of Zn²(+) on metabolic enzymes in marine invertebrates.

Divalent cations stabilize GroEL under conditions of oxidative stress

The divalent cations Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Ca(2+), and Ni(2+) were found to protect against proteolysis a form of GroEL (ox-GroEL) prepared by exposing GroEL for 16h to 6mM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). K(+) and other monovalent cations did not have any effect. Divalent cations also induced a conformational change of ox-GroEL that led to the decrease of its large exposed hydrophobic surfaces (exposed with H(2)O(2)). Ox-GroEL incubated with a divalent cation behaved like N-GroEL in that it could transiently interact with H(2)O(2)-inactivated rhodanese (ox-rhodanese), whereas ox-GroEL alone could strongly interact with ox-rhodanese. Although, ox-GroEL incubated with a divalent cation could not recover the ATPase activity (66%) lost with H(2)O(2), it could facilitate the reactivation of ox-rhodanese (>86% of active rhodanese recovered), without requiring ATP or the co-chaperonin, GroES. This is the first report to demonstrate a role for the divalent cations on the structure and function of ox-GroEL.

Effects of divalent cations on encapsulation and release in the GroEL-assisted folding

Chaperonin GroEL assists protein folding in the presence of ATP and magnesium. Recent studies have shown that several divalent cations other than magnesium induce conformational changes of GroEL, thereby influencing chaperonin-assisted protein folding, but little is known about the detailed mechanism for such actions. Thus, the effects of divalent cations on protein encapsulation by GroEL/ES complexes were investigated. Of the divalent cations, not only magnesium, but also manganese ions enabled the functional refolding and release of 5,10-methylenetetrahydroforate reductase (METF) by GroEL. Neither ATP hydrolysis nor METF refolding was observed in the presence of zinc ion, whereas only ATP hydrolysis was induced by cobalt and nickel ions. SDS-PAGE and gel filtration analyses revealed that cobalt, nickel and zinc ions permit the formation of stable substrate-GroEL-GroES cis-ternary complexes, but prevent the release of METF from GroEL.

Ca2+-dependent expression of the CIRCE regulon in Streptococcus pneumoniae

DnaK and GroEL play a pivotal role in protein folding, and promote cell proliferation and survival. In Gram-positive and several Gram-negative bacteria, HrcA represses the transcription of dnaK and groE operons by binding to the highly conserved CIRCE (controlling inverted repeat of chaperone expression) operator sequence in the presence of GroEL. HrcA may respond to environmental stress and various other factors that modulate the transcription of the dnaK and groE operons. However, the mechanisms by which these factors modulate the activity of HrcA remain elusive. Here, we show that the thermoresistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae is significantly repressed in the presence of Ca2+. Furthermore, heat shock-induced expression of the CIRCE regulon in S. pneumoniae is repressed in the presence of Ca2+, although to a lesser degree than in the hrcA mutant, strongly suggesting that HrcA inhibits expression of the CIRCE regulon in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Although HrcA does not bind directly to Ca2+, its hydrophobicity is increased in the presence of the metal ion. Taken together, our observations suggest that Ca2+ induces conformational changes, such as exposure of the hydrophobic surfaces of HrcA, which facilitate binding to GroEL. Alternatively, the presence of Ca2+ may facilitate GroEL in interacting freely with HrcA. This, in turn, enhances access to CIRCE and leads to repression of the dnaK and groE operons in S. pneumoniae.

Hydrogen peroxide induces the dissociation of GroEL into monomers that can facilitate the reactivation of oxidatively inactivated rhodanese

Although, several studies have been reported on the effects of oxidants on the structure and function of other molecular chaperones, no reports have been made so far for the chaperonin GroEL. The ability of GroEL to function under oxidative stress was investigated in this report by monitoring the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) on the structure and refolding activity of this protein. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and light scattering, we observed that GroEL showed increases in exposed hydrophobic sites and changes in tertiary and quaternary structure. Differential sedimentation, gel electrophoresis, and circular dichroism showed that H(2)O(2) treated GroEL underwent irreversible dissociation into monomers with partial loss of secondary structure. Relative to other proteins, GroEL was found to be highly resistant to oxidative damage. Interestingly, GroEL monomers produced under these conditions can facilitate the reactivation of H(2)O(2)-inactivated rhodanese but not urea-denatured rhodanese. Recovery of approximately 84% active rhodanese was obtained with either native or oxidized GroEL in the absence of GroES or ATP. In comparison, urea-denatured GroEL, BSA and the refolding mixture in the absence of proteins resulted in the recovery of 72, 50, and 49% rhodanese activity, respectively. Previous studies have shown that GroEL monomers can reactivate rhodanese. Here, we show that oxidized monomeric GroEL can reactivate oxidized rhodanese suggesting that GroEL retains the ability to protect proteins during oxidative stress.

Effect of extraneous zinc on calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase

The effect of extraneous zinc on calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase was studied for quick reversible binding and slow irreversible binding of zinc ions at various concentrations. Under the conditions of slow binding of zinc to CIP increasing Zn2+ (less than 1.0 mM, nM/nE 1.0 x 10(6)) inhibited enzymatic activity, and further increasing Zn2+ resulted in an increase of activity. For quick reversible binding of Zn2+, the effect on CIP activity changed at lower concentrations of substrate, indicating a complex cooperativity between Zn2+ and pNPP. Both protein intrinsic emission fluorescence and ANS-bound protein fluorescence, as well as circular dichroism spectra have shown that the binding of zinc ions changed the enzyme conformation, which was the reason for the changes in enzyme activity induced by extraneous zinc.

Protein-protein interactions: mechanisms and modification by drugs

Protein-protein interactions form the proteinaceous network, which plays a central role in numerous processes in the cell. This review highlights the main structures, properties of contact surfaces, and forces involved in protein-protein interactions. The properties of protein contact surfaces depend on their functions. The characteristics of contact surfaces of short-lived protein complexes share some similarities with the active sites of enzymes. The contact surfaces of permanent complexes resemble domain contacts or the protein core. It is reasonable to consider protein-protein complex formation as a continuation of protein folding. The contact surfaces of the protein complexes have unique structure and properties, so they represent prospective targets for a new generation of drugs. During the last decade, numerous investigations have been undertaken to find or design small molecules that block protein dimerization or protein(peptide)-receptor interaction, or on the other hand, induce protein dimerization.

Zinc induces exposure of hydrophobic sites in the C-terminal domain of gC1q-R/p33

Endothelial cells and platelets are known to express gC1q-R on their surface. In addition to C1q, endothelial cell gC1q-R has been shown to bind high molecular weight kininogen (HK) and factor XII (FXII). However, unlike C1q, whose interaction with gC1q-R does not require divalent ions, the binding of HK to gC1q-R is absolutely dependent on the presence of zinc. However, the mechanism by which zinc modulates this interaction is not fully understood. To investigate the role of zinc, binding studies were done using the hydrophobic dye, bis-ANS. The fluorescence intensity of bis-ANS, greatly increases and the emission maximum is blue-shifted from 525 to 485nm upon binding to hydrophobic sites on proteins. In this report, we show that a blue-shift in emission maximum is also observed when bis-ANS binds to gC1q-R in the presence but not in the absence of zinc suggesting that zinc induces exposure of hydrophobic sites in the molecule. The binding of bis-ANS to gC1q-R is specific, dose-dependent, and reversible. In the presence of zinc, this binding is abrogated by monoclonal antibody 74.5.2 directed against gC1q-R residues 204-218. This segment of gC1q-R, which corresponds to the beta6 strand in the crystal structure, has been shown previously to be the binding site for HK. A similar trend in zinc-induced gC1q-R binding was also observed using the hydrophobic matrix octyl-Sepharose. Taken together, our data suggest that zinc can induce the exposure of hydrophobic sites in the C-terminal domain of gC1q-R involved in binding to HK/FXII.

Study of substrate-enzyme interaction between immobilized pyridoxamine and recombinant porcine pyridoxal kinase using surface plasmon resonance biosensor

Pyridoxal kinase (PK) is an important enzyme involved in bioactivation of vitamin B(6). Binding of PK with its substrate is the prerequisite step for the subsequent catalytic phosphorylation of the substrate. In the present study, a surface plasmon resonance biosensor (BIAcore) was employed to characterize the binding interaction between wild-type porcine PK and an immobilized substrate, pyridoxamine. Pyridoxamine was modified with 11-mercaptoundecanic acid and immobilized on a sensor chip through the formation of a self-assembled monolayer. The binding of PK to the immobilized pyridoxamine was followed in real time and the kinetic parameters were derived from non-linear analysis of the sensorgram. The effects of buffer pH, monovalent cations (Na(+), K(+)) and divalent cations (Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+)) on the binding kinetics were determined. Optimal pH for PK-pyridoxamine interaction in the absence of divalent ions is at around 7.4. While K(+) increased and Na(+) decreased the binding affinity (K(A)) of PK to immobilized pyridoxamine, all divalent cations increased the K(A) of PK for pyridoxamine. Solution phase affinity measurement based on a competitive binding assay was used to determine the affinities of PK for different vitamin B(6) analogues. The order of affinity of PK for different analogues is: pyridoxal-oxime>pyridoxine>pyridoxamine>pyridoxal>pyridoxal phosphate. This is the first study to demonstrate that buffer conditions such as pH and concentration of monovalent and/or divalent ions can directly alter the binding of PK for its substrates. The quantitative kinetic and thermodynamic parameters obtained by SPR measurement provide the insight information into the catalytic activity of this enzyme.

The alphaA-crystallin R116C mutant has a higher affinity for forming heteroaggregates with alphaB-crystallin

An autosomal dominant congenital cataract in humans is associated with mutation of Arg-116 to Cys in alphaA-crystallin (alphaA-R116C). The chaperone activity and biophysical properties of reconstituted alpha-crystallin from different proportions of wild-type alphaB-crystallin (alphaB-wt) and alphaA-R116C-crystallin were studied by gel permeation chromatography, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy and compared with those of reconstituted alpha-crystallin from alphaB-wt and wild-type alphaA-crystallin (alphaA-wt). The reconstituted alpha-crystallin containing alphaA-R116C and alphaB-wt had a higher molecular mass, a higher thermal sensitivity to exposition of Trp side chains, fewer available hydrophobic surfaces, and lower chaperone activity than the alpha-crystallin containing alphaA-wt and alphaB-wt. The secondary structure exhibited very small changes, whereas the tertiary structure was distinctly different for alpha-crystallin formed from alphaA-R116C and alphaB-wt. Most importantly, subunit exchange studies by fluorescence resonance energy transfer showed that alphaA-R116C forms heteroaggregates faster than alphaA-wt with alphaB-wt, and the reconstituted alpha-crystallins were true heteroaggregates of two interacting subunits. These findings suggest that the molecular basis for the congenital cataract with the alphaA-R116C mutation is the formation of highly oligomerized heteroaggregates of alpha-crystallin with modified structure. However, contrary to the earlier conclusions based on the studies of homoaggregates, the loss in chaperone activity of the heteroaggregates having alphaA-R116C does not appear to be large enough to become the main factor in initiating cataract development in the affected individuals.

The 4,4'-dipyridyl disulfide-induced formation of GroEL monomers is cooperative and leads to increased hydrophobic exposure

The molecular chaperone, GroEL, is completely disassembled into monomers by the addition of 4,4'-dipyridyl disulfide. The dissociation leads to monomers in a kinetically controlled process. The additions of functional ligands of GroEL such as Mg(2+) or adenine nucleotides produced differences in the observed rates, but at the end of the kinetics, the dissociation was complete. In addition to the information obtained from native gels, the fluorescent probe bis-ANS was utilized to follow the monomer formation. The results demonstrate that the formation of monomers was associated with the exposure of hydrophobic surfaces. This assessment was possible without the use of added chaotropes, such as urea, to dissociate GroEL. Dissociation kinetics were also followed by light scattering. The kinetics of dissociation of the 14mer are cooperative with respect to the concentration of 4,4'-DPDS. Thermodynamic parameters for the kinetic process gave a free energy of activation (DeltaG) of 19.3 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-1), which was decomposed to an enthalpy of activation (DeltaH) of 19.30 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-1) and an entropy of activation (DeltaS) of -8.2 +/- 3.9 cal mol(-1) K(-1). We conclude that the dissociation of GroEL observed in this investigation is an enthalpy-controlled process.

Structural changes in GroEL effected by binding a denatured protein substrate

In the absence of nucleotides or cofactors, the Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL binds select proteins in non-native conformations, such as denatured glutamine synthetase (GS) monomers, preventing their aggregation and spontaneous renaturation. The nature of the GroEL-GS complexes thus formed, specifically the effect on the conformation of the GroEL tetradecamer, has been examined by electron microscopy. We find that specimens of GroEL-GS are visibly heterogeneous, due to incomplete loading of GroEL with GS. Images contain particles indistinguishable from GroEL alone, and also those with consistent identifiable differences. Side-views of the modified particles reveal additional protein density at one end of the GroEL-GS complex, and end-views display chirality in the heptameric projection not seen in the unliganded GroEL. The coordinate appearance of these two projection differences suggests that binding of GS, as representative of a class of protein substrates, induces or stabilizes a conformation of GroEL that differs from the unliganded chaperonin. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the GroEL-GS complex reveals the location of the bound protein substrate, as well as complex conformational changes in GroEL itself, both cis and trans with respect to the bound GS. The most apparent structural alterations are inward movements of the apical domains of both GroEL heptamers, protrusion of the substrate protein from the cavity of the cis ring, and a narrowing of the unoccupied opening of the trans ring.

Structure-function analysis of the zinc-binding region of the Clpx molecular chaperone

The ClpX heat shock protein of Escherichia coli is a member of the universally conserved Hsp100 family of proteins, and possesses a putative zinc finger motif of the C(4) type. The ClpX is an ATPase which functions both as a substrate specificity component of the ClpXP protease and as a molecular chaperone. Using an improved purification procedure we show that the ClpX protein is a metalloprotein complexed with Zn(II) cations. Contrary to other Hsp100 family members, ClpXZn(II) exists in an oligomeric form even in the absence of ATP. We show that the single ATP-binding site of ClpX is required for a variety of tasks, namely, the stabilization of the ClpXZn(II) oligomeric structure, binding to ClpP, and the ClpXP-dependent proteolysis of the lambdaO replication protein. Release of Zn(II) from ClpX protein affects the ability of ClpX to bind ATP. ClpX, free of Zn(II), cannot oligomerize, bind to ClpP, or participate in ClpXP-dependent proteolysis. We also show that ClpXDeltaCys, a mutant protein whose four cysteine residues at the putative zinc finger motif have been replaced by serine, behaves in similar fashion as wild type ClpX protein whose Zn(II) has been released either by denaturation and renaturation, or chemically by p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonic acid.

The binding of bis-ANS to the isolated GroEL apical domain fragment induces the formation of a folding intermediate with increased hydrophobic surface not observed in tetradecameric GroEL

The extent of hydrophobic exposure upon bis-ANS binding to the functional apical domain fragment of GroEL, or minichaperone (residues 191-345), was investigated and compared with that of the GroEL tetradecamer. Although a total of seven molecules of bis-ANS bind cooperatively to this minichaperone, most of the hydrophobic sites were induced following initial binding of one to two molecules of probe. From the equilibrium and kinetics studies at low bis-ANS concentrations, it is evident that the native apical domain is converted to an intermediate conformation with increased hydrophobic surfaces. This intermediate binds additional bis-ANS molecules. Tyrosine fluorescence detected denaturation demonstrated that bis-ANS can destabilize the apical domain. The results from (i) bis-ANS titrations, (ii) urea denaturation studies in the presence and absence of bis-ANS, and (iii) intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence studies of the apical domain are consistent with a model in which bis-ANS binds tightly to the intermediate state, relatively weakly to the native state, and little to the denatured state. The results suggest that the conformational changes seen in apical domain fragments are not seen in the intact GroEL oligomer due to restrictions imposed by connections of the apical domain to the intermediate domain and suppression of movement due to quaternary structure.

Structural changes in alpha-synuclein affect its chaperone-like activity in vitro

Alpha-synuclein, a major constituent of Lewy bodies (LBs) in Parkinson's disease (PD), has been implicated to play a critical role in synaptic events, such as neuronal plasticity during development, learning, and degeneration under pathological conditions, although the physiological function of alpha-synuclein has not yet been established. We here present biochemical evidence that recombinant alpha-synuclein has a chaperone-like function against thermal and chemical stress in vitro. In our experiments, alpha-synuclein protected glutathione S-transferase (GST) and aldolase from heat-induced precipitation, and alpha-lactalbumin and bovine serum albumin from dithiothreitol (DTT)-induced precipitation like other molecular chaperones. Moreover, preheating of alpha-synuclein, which is believed to reorganize the molecular surface of alpha-synuclein, increased the chaperone-like activity. Interestingly, in organic solvents, which promotes the formation of secondary structure, alpha-synuclein aggregated more easily than in its native condition, which eventually might abrogate the chaperone-like function of the protein. In addition, alpha-synuclein was also rapidly and significantly precipitated by heat in the presence of Zn2+ in vitro, whereas it was not affected by the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+. Circular dichroism spectra confirmed that alpha-synuclein underwent conformational change in the presence of Zn2+. Taken together, our data suggest that alpha-synuclein could act as a molecular chaperone, and that the conformational change of the alpha-synuclein could explain the aggregation kinetics of alpha-synuclein, which may be related to the abolishment of the chaperonic-like activity.

High salt-induced conversion of Escherichia coli GroEL into a fully functional thermophilic chaperonin

The GroE chaperonin system can adapt to and function at various environmental folding conditions. To examine chaperonin-assisted protein folding at high salt concentrations, we characterized Escherichia coli GroE chaperonin activity in 1.2 m ammonium sulfate. Our data are consistent with GroEL undergoing a conformational change at this salt concentration, characterized by elevated ATPase activity and increased exposure of hydrophobic surface, as indicated by increased binding of the fluorophore bis-(5, 5')-8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid to the chaperonin. The presence of the salt results in increased substrate stringency and dependence on the full GroE system for release and productive folding of substrate proteins. Surprisingly, GroEL is fully functional as a thermophilic chaperonin in high concentrations of ammonium sulfate and is stable at temperatures up to 75 degrees C. At these extreme conditions, GroEL can suppress aggregation and mediate refolding of non-native proteins.

Effects of zinc on creatine kinase: activity changes, conformational changes, and aggregation

The effects of zinc on creatine kinase (CK) are very distinctive compared with other bivalent metal ions. Zinc up to 0.1 mM induced increases in CK activity, accompanied by significant hydrophobic surface exposure and increase in alpha-helix content of CK. Zinc over 0.1 mM denatured and inactived CK. In the presence of 0.1 mM zinc, the CK activity was very close to that of the native CK, but its conformation changed greatly. The kinetic courses of CK inactivation and conformational change in the presence of 1 mM zinc were measured to determine apparent rate constants of inactivation and conformational change. Zinc over 0.05 mM induced CK aggregation at 37 degrees C, and the aggregation was dependent on zinc concentration, CK concentration, and temperature. The inactivation and aggregation can be reversed by EDTA. An explanation for CK aggregation induced by zinc is proposed, as well as a mechanism for CK abnormality in Alzheimer's disease.

Polypeptide stimulators of the Ms-Lon protease

Both the peptidase activity against small fluorescent peptide substrates and the ATPase activity of Lon (La) proteases are stimulated by unstructured proteins such as alpha-casein. This stimulation reveals the simultaneous interaction of Lon with two proteolytic substrates--alpha-casein and the peptide substrate. To understand the cellular function of this stimulation, it is important to determine the physical properties of Lon stimulators. The abilities of compositionally simple random copolymers of amino acids (rcAAs) to stimulate the peptidase and ATPase activities of the Lon protease from Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms-Lon) and its N-terminal truncation mutant (N-E226) were determined. We report that cationic but not anionic rcAAs stimulated Ms-Lon's peptidase activity but were themselves poor substrates for the enzyme. Peptidase stimulation by rcAAs correlated approximately with the degree of hydrophobicity of these polypeptides and reached levels >10-fold higher than observed previously for Ms-Lon stimulators such as alpha-casein. In contrast to alpha-casein, which stimulates Ms-Lon's peptidase activity by 40% and ATPase activity by 150%, rcAAs stimulated peptidase activity without concomitant stimulation of ATPase activity. Active site labeling experiments suggested that both rcAAs and ATP increased peptidase activity by increasing accessibility to the peptidase active site. Peptidase activity assays in the presence of both alpha-casein and rcAAs revealed that interactions of rcAAs and alpha-casein with Ms-Lon are extremely complex and not mutually exclusive. Specifically, (1) additions of low concentrations of alpha-casein (<50 microg/mL) caused a further stimulation of Ms-Lon's rcAA-stimulated peptidase activity; (2) additions of higher concentrations of alpha-casein inhibited Ms-Lon's rcAA-stimulated peptidase activity; (3) additions of all concentrations of alpha-casein inhibited N-E226's rcAA-stimulated peptidase activity. We conclude the Ms-Lon can interact with an rcAA, alpha-casein, and a substrate peptide simultaneously, and that formation of this quaternary complex requires the N-terminal domain of Ms-Lon. These data support models of Ms-Lon that include two allosteric polypeptide binding sites distinct from the catalytic peptidase site.

GroEL binds a late folding intermediate of phage P22 coat protein

GroEL recognizes proteins that are folding improperly or that have aggregation-prone intermediates. Here we have used as substrates for GroEL, wildtype (WT) coat protein of phage P22 and 3 coat proteins that carry single amino acid substitutions leading to a temperature-sensitive folding (tsf) phenotype. In vivo, WT coat protein does not require GroEL for proper folding, whereas GroEL is necessary for the folding of the tsf coat proteins; thus, the single amino acid substitutions cause coat protein to become a substrate for GroEL. The conformation of WT and tsf coat proteins when in a binary complex with GroEL was investigated using tryptophan fluorescence, quenching of fluorescence, and accessibility of the coat proteins to proteolysis. WT coat protein and the tsf coat protein mutants were each found to be in a different conformation when bound to GroEL. As an additional measure of the changes in the bound conformation, the affinity of binding of WT and tsf coat proteins to GroEL was determined using a fluorescence binding assay. The tsf coat proteins were bound more tightly by GroEL than WT coat protein. Therefore, even though the proteins are identical except for a single amino acid substitution, GroEL did not bind these substrate polypeptides in the same conformation within its central cavity. Therefore, GroEL is likely to bind coat protein in a conformation consistent with a late folding intermediate, with substantial secondary and tertiary structure formed.

Effect of electrostatic interactions on the binding of charged substrate to GroEL studied by highly sensitive fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

The binding processes of GroEL with apo cytochrome c (apo-cyt c) and disulfide-reduced apo alpha-lactalbumin (rLA) in homogeneous solution at low concentration were analyzed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) with extremely high sensitivity. Although apo-cyt c, a positively charged substrate, was tightly bound to GroEL in both the absence and the presence of 200 mM KCl, the strength of the binding was changed with varying salt concentration. Results from experiments when two different salts (KCl or MgCl(2)) were titrated into a sample solution containing GroEL and apo-cyt c clearly showed that the binding strength decreased with increasing salt concentration. On the other hand, the binding affinity of GroEL for rLA, a negatively charged substrate, increased by adding of 200 mM KCl. These results indicate that electrostatic interactions substantially contribute to the binding interactions by manipulating the binding affinity of charged substrates.