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Das A, Bysack A, Raghuraman H. Cholesterol modulates the structural dynamics of the paddle motif loop of KvAP voltage sensor. Curr Res Struct Biol 2024; 7:100137. [PMID: 38500801 PMCID: PMC10945132 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2024.100137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
KvAP is a prokaryotic Kv channel, which has been widely used as a model system to understand voltage- and lipid-dependent gating mechanisms. In phospholipid membranes, the KvAP-VSD adopts the activated/'Up' conformation, whereas the presence of non-phospholipids in membranes favours the structural transition to resting/'Down' state. The S3b-S4 paddle motif loop of KvAP-VSD is functionally important as this participates in protein-protein interactions and is the target for animal toxins. In this study, we have monitored the modulatory role of cholesterol - the physiologically-relevant non-phospholipid - on the organization and dynamics of the S3b-S4 loop of the isolated KvAP-VSD in membranes by site-directed fluorescence approaches using the environmental sensitivity of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl-ethylenediamine (NBD) fluorescence. Our results show that cholesterol alters the dynamic nature (rotational and hydration dynamics) of S3b-S4 loop in a segmental fashion, i.e., the residues 110 to 114 and 115 to 117 behave differently in the presence of cholesterol, which is accompanied by considerable change in conformational heterogeneity. Further, quantitative depth measurements using the parallax quenching method reveal that the sensor loop is located at the shallow interfacial region of cholesterol-containing membranes, suggesting that the sensor loop organization is not directly correlated with S4 helix movement. Our results clearly show that cholesterol-induced changes in bilayer properties may not be the predominant factor for the sensor loop's altered structural dynamics, but can be attributed to the conformational change of the KvAP-VSD in cholesterol-containing membranes. Overall, these results are relevant for gating mechanisms, particularly the lipid-dependent gating, of Kv channels in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindita Das
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India
| | - Arpan Bysack
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India
| | - H. Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India
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2
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Kyrychenko A, Ladokhin AS. Fluorescent Probes and Quenchers in Studies of Protein Folding and Protein-Lipid Interactions. CHEM REC 2024; 24:e202300232. [PMID: 37695081 PMCID: PMC11113672 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence spectroscopy provides numerous methodological tools for structural and functional studies of biological macromolecules and their complexes. All fluorescence-based approaches require either existence of an intrinsic probe or an introduction of an extrinsic one. Moreover, studies of complex systems often require an additional introduction of a specific quencher molecule acting in combination with a fluorophore to provide structural or thermodynamic information. Here, we review the fundamentals and summarize the latest progress in applications of different classes of fluorescent probes and their specific quenchers, aimed at studies of protein folding and protein-membrane interactions. Specifically, we discuss various environment-sensitive dyes, FRET probes, probes for short-distance measurements, and several probe-quencher pairs for studies of membrane penetration of proteins and peptides. The goals of this review are: (a) to familiarize the readership with the general concept that complex biological systems often require both a probe and a quencher to decipher mechanistic details of functioning and (b) to provide example of the immediate applications of the described methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kyrychenko
- Institute of Chemistry and School of Chemistry, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody sq., Kharkiv, 61022, Ukraine
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS, 66160, United States
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Brahma R, Raghuraman H. Measuring Membrane Penetration Depths and Conformational Changes in Membrane Peptides and Proteins. J Membr Biol 2022; 255:469-483. [PMID: 35274157 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-022-00224-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The structural organization and dynamic nature of the biomembrane components are important determinants for numerous cellular functions. Particularly, membrane proteins are critically important for various physiological functions and are important drug targets. The mechanistic insights on the complex functionality of membrane lipids and proteins can be elucidated by understanding the interplay between structure and dynamics. In this regard, membrane penetration depth represents an important parameter to obtain the precise depth of membrane-embedded molecules that often define the conformation and topology of membrane probes and proteins. In this review, we discuss about the widely used fluorescence quenching-based methods (parallax method, distribution analysis, and dual-quencher analysis) to accurately determine the membrane penetration depths of fluorescent probes that are either membrane-embedded or attached to lipids and proteins. Further, we also discuss a relatively novel fluorescence quenching method that utilizes tryptophan residue as the quencher, namely the tryptophan-induced quenching, which is sensitive to monitor small-scale conformational changes (short distances of < 15 Å) and useful in mapping distances in proteins. We have provided numerous examples for the benefit of readers to appreciate the importance and applicability of these simple yet powerful methods to study membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupasree Brahma
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, A CI of Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700 064, India
| | - H Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, A CI of Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700 064, India.
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Site-directed fluorescence approaches to monitor the structural dynamics of proteins using intrinsic Trp and labeled with extrinsic fluorophores. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101200. [PMID: 35252885 PMCID: PMC8889417 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Comprehensive understanding of a protein’s function depends on having reliable, sophisticated tools to study protein structural dynamics in physiologically-relevant conditions. Here, we present an effective, robust step-by-step protocol to monitor the structural dynamics (including hydration dynamics) of a protein utilizing various site-directed fluorescence (SDFL) approaches. This protocol should be widely applicable for studying soluble proteins, intrinsically-disordered proteins, and membrane proteins. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Das et al. (2020), Das and Raghuraman (2021), and Chatterjee et al. (2021). A step-by-step protocol to monitor the structural dynamics of proteins using SDFL Applicable to proteins with intrinsic Trp and labeled with extrinsic fluorophores This protocol should be widely applicable for soluble and membrane proteins
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5
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Horsfall AJ, McDougal DP, Scanlon DB, Bruning JB, Abell AD. Approaches to Introduce Helical Structure in Cysteine-Containing Peptides with a Bimane Group. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2711-2720. [PMID: 34107164 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
An i-i+4 or i-i+3 bimane-containing linker was introduced into a peptide known to target Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα), in order to stabilise an α-helical geometry. These macrocycles were studied by CD and NMR to reveal the i-i+4 constrained peptide adopts a 310 -helical structure in solution, and an α-helical conformation on interaction with the ERα coactivator recruitment surface in silico. An acyclic bimane-modified peptide is also helical, when it includes a tryptophan or tyrosine residue; but is significantly less helical with a phenylalanine or alanine residue, which indicates such a bimane modification influences peptide structure in a sequence dependent manner. The fluorescence intensity of the bimane appears influenced by peptide conformation, where helical peptides displayed a fluorescence increase when TFE was added to phosphate buffer, compared to a decrease for less helical peptides. This study presents the bimane as a useful modification to influence peptide structure as an acyclic peptide modification, or as a side-chain constraint to give a macrocycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee J Horsfall
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Daniel P McDougal
- The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Denis B Scanlon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - John B Bruning
- The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Andrew D Abell
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics (CNBP), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.,The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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6
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Chatterjee S, Brahma R, Raghuraman H. Gating-related Structural Dynamics of the MgtE Magnesium Channel in Membrane-Mimetics Utilizing Site-Directed Tryptophan Fluorescence. J Mol Biol 2020; 433:166691. [PMID: 33203509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Magnesium is the most abundant divalent cation present in the cell, and an abnormal Mg2+ homeostasis is associated with several diseases in humans. However, among ion channels, the mechanisms of intracellular regulation and transport of Mg2+ are poorly understood. MgtE is a homodimeric Mg2+-selective channel and is negatively regulated by high intracellular Mg2+ concentration where the cytoplasmic domain of MgtE acts as a Mg2+ sensor. Most of the previous biophysical studies on MgtE have been carried out in detergent micelles and the information regarding gating-related structural dynamics of MgtE in physiologically-relevant membrane environment is scarce. In this work, we monitored the changes in gating-related structural dynamics, hydration dynamics and conformational heterogeneity of MgtE in micelles and membranes using the intrinsic site-directed Trp fluorescence. For this purpose, we have engineered six single-Trp mutants in the functional Trp-less background of MgtE to obtain site-specific information on the gating-related structural dynamics of MgtE in membrane-mimetic systems. Our results indicate that Mg2+-induced gating might involve the possibility of a 'conformational wave' from the cytosolic N-domain to transmembrane domain of MgtE. Although MgtE is responsive to Mg2+-induced gating in both micelles and membranes, the organization and dynamics of MgtE is substantially altered in physiologically important phospholipid membranes compared to micelles. This is accompanied by significant changes in hydration dynamics and conformational heterogeneity. Overall, our results highlight the importance of lipid-protein interactions and are relevant for understanding gating mechanism of magnesium channels in general, and MgtE in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyaki Chatterjee
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
| | - Rupasree Brahma
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
| | - H Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India.
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7
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Horsfall AJ, Dunning KR, Keeling KL, Scanlon DB, Wegener KL, Abell AD. A Bimane‐Based Peptide Staple for Combined Helical Induction and Fluorescent Imaging. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3423-3432. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aimee J. Horsfall
- The Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- The ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Kylie R. Dunning
- The ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Kelly L. Keeling
- The Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Denis B. Scanlon
- The Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Kate L. Wegener
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Andrew D. Abell
- The Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- The ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) The University of Adelaide North Terrace Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
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Raghuraman H, Chatterjee S, Das A. Site-Directed Fluorescence Approaches for Dynamic Structural Biology of Membrane Peptides and Proteins. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:96. [PMID: 31608290 PMCID: PMC6774292 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane proteins mediate a number of cellular functions and are associated with several diseases and also play a crucial role in pathogenicity. Due to their importance in cellular structure and function, they are important drug targets for ~60% of drugs available in the market. Despite the technological advancement and recent successful outcomes in determining the high-resolution structural snapshot of membrane proteins, the mechanistic details underlining the complex functionalities of membrane proteins is least understood. This is largely due to lack of structural dynamics information pertaining to different functional states of membrane proteins in a membrane environment. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used technique in the analysis of functionally-relevant structure and dynamics of membrane protein. This review is focused on various site-directed fluorescence (SDFL) approaches and their applications to explore structural information, conformational changes, hydration dynamics, and lipid-protein interactions of important classes of membrane proteins that include the pore-forming peptides/proteins, ion channels/transporters and G-protein coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Kolkata, India
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Das A, Chatterjee S, Raghuraman H. Structural Dynamics of the Paddle Motif Loop in the Activated Conformation of KvAP Voltage Sensor. Biophys J 2019; 118:873-884. [PMID: 31547975 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channels play a fundamental role in neuronal and cardiac excitability and are potential therapeutic targets. They assemble as tetramers with a centrally located pore domain surrounded by a voltage-sensing domain (VSD), which is critical for sensing transmembrane potential and subsequent gating. Although the sensor is supposed to be in "Up" conformation in both n-octylglucoside (OG) micelles and phospholipid membranes in the absence of membrane potential, toxins that bind VSD and modulate the gating behavior of Kv channels exhibit dramatic affinity differences in these membrane-mimetic systems. In this study, we have monitored the structural dynamics of the S3b-S4 loop of the paddle motif in activated conformation of KvAP-VSD by site-directed fluorescence approaches, using the environment-sensitive fluorescent probe 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl-ethylenediamine (NBD). Emission maximum of NBD-labeled loop region of KvAP-VSD (residues 110-117) suggests a significant change in the polarity of local environment in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) membranes compared to OG micelles. This indicates that S3b-S4 loop residues might be partitioning to membrane interface, which is supported by an overall increased mean fluorescence lifetimes and significantly reduced water accessibility in membranes. Further, the magnitude of red edge excitation shift (REES) supports the presence of restricted/bound water molecules in the loop region of the VSD in micelles and membranes. Quantitative analysis of REES data using Gaussian probability distribution function clearly indicates that the sensor loop has fewer discrete equilibrium conformational states when reconstituted in membranes. Interestingly, this reduced molecular heterogeneity is consistent with the site-specific NBD polarization results, which suggest that the membrane environment offers a relaxed/dynamic organization for most of the S3b-S4 loop residues of the sensor. Overall, our results are relevant for understanding toxin-VSD interaction and gating mechanisms of Kv channels in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindita Das
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
| | - Satyaki Chatterjee
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India
| | - H Raghuraman
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, India.
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Caputo GA, London E. Analyzing Transmembrane Protein and Hydrophobic Helix Topography by Dual Fluorescence Quenching. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2003:351-368. [PMID: 31218625 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9512-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The location of fluorescent groups relative to the lipid bilayer can be evaluated using fluorescence quenchers embedded in the membrane and/or dissolved in aqueous solution. Quenching can be used to define the membrane topography of membrane proteins and individual membrane-embedded hydrophobic helices by combining it with the placement of fluorescent groups, including Trp, at defined sequence positions. This chapter briefly discusses various quenching methods for studies of membrane protein topography, and provides detailed protocols for dual quencher analysis (DQA), a rapid, highly sensitive, and experimentally flexible approach in which the information gained from both a membrane-embedded and aqueous quencher is combined. The advantages of the DQA method include flexibility with regard to the bilayer compositions to which it can be applied, including membranes composed of lipids of varying head group and acyl chain compositions, as well as the ability to identify mixed populations of fluorophores residing at different depths within the bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Caputo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - Erwin London
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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Resolving the 3D spatial orientation of helix I in the closed state of the colicin E1 channel domain by FRET. Insights into the integration mechanism. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 608:52-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Jones Brunette AM, Farrens DL. Distance mapping in proteins using fluorescence spectroscopy: tyrosine, like tryptophan, quenches bimane fluorescence in a distance-dependent manner. Biochemistry 2014; 53:6290-301. [PMID: 25144569 PMCID: PMC4196733 DOI: 10.1021/bi500493r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
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Tryptophan-induced quenching of fluorophores
(TrIQ) uses intramolecular
fluorescence quenching to assess distances in proteins too small (<15
Å) to be easily probed by traditional Forster resonance energy
transfer methods. A powerful aspect of TrIQ is its ability to obtain
an ultrafast snapshot of a protein conformation, by identifying “static
quenching” (contact between the Trp and probe at the moment
of light excitation). Here we report new advances in this site-directed
fluorescence labeling (SDFL) approach, gleaned from recent studies
of T4 lysozyme (T4L). First, we show that like TrIQ, tyrosine-induced
quenching (TyrIQ) occurs for the fluorophore bimane in a distance-dependent
fashion, although with some key differences. The Tyr “sphere
of quenching” for bimane (≤10 Å) is smaller than
for Trp (≤15 Å, Cα–Cα distance), and
the size difference between the quenching residue (Tyr) and control
(Phe) differs by only a hydroxyl group. Second, we show how TrIQ and
TyrIQ can be used together to assess the magnitude and energetics
of a protein movement. In these studies, we placed a bimane (probe)
and Trp or Tyr (quencher) on opposite ends of a “hinge”
in T4L and conducted TrIQ and TyrIQ measurements. Our results are
consistent with an ∼5 Å change in Cα–Cα
distances between these sites upon substrate binding, in agreement
with the crystal structures. Subsequent Arrhenius analysis suggests
the activation energy barrier (Ea) to
this movement is relatively low (∼1.5–2.5 kcal/mol).
Together, these results demonstrate that TyrIQ, used together with
TrIQ, significantly expands the power of quenching-based distance
mapping SDFL studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber M Jones Brunette
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University , Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, United States
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