1
|
Khorn PA, Luginina AP, Pospelov VA, Dashevsky DE, Khnykin AN, Moiseeva OV, Safronova NA, Belousov AS, Mishin AV, Borshchevsky VI. Rational Design of Drugs Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: A Structural Biology Perspective. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:747-764. [PMID: 38831510 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924040138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a key role in the transduction of extracellular signals to cells and regulation of many biological processes, which makes these membrane proteins one of the most important targets for pharmacological agents. A significant increase in the number of resolved atomic structures of GPCRs has opened the possibility of developing pharmaceuticals targeting these receptors via structure-based drug design (SBDD). SBDD employs information on the structure of receptor-ligand complexes to search for selective ligands without the need for an extensive high-throughput experimental ligand screening and can significantly expand the chemical space for ligand search. In this review, we describe the process of deciphering GPCR structures using X-ray diffraction analysis and cryoelectron microscopy as an important stage in the rational design of drugs targeting this receptor class. Our main goal was to present modern developments and key features of experimental methods used in SBDD of GPCR-targeting agents to a wide range of specialists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Khorn
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Aleksandra P Luginina
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Pospelov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Dmitrii E Dashevsky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Andrey N Khnykin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Olga V Moiseeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
- Scryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Nadezhda A Safronova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Anatolii S Belousov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Alexey V Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia.
| | - Valentin I Borshchevsky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia.
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tracing transport of protein aggregates in microgravity versus unit gravity crystallization. NPJ Microgravity 2022; 8:4. [PMID: 35177635 PMCID: PMC8854672 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-022-00191-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microgravity conditions have been used to improve protein crystallization from the early 1980s using advanced crystallization apparatuses and methods. Early microgravity crystallization experiments confirmed that minimal convection and a sedimentation-free environment is beneficial for growth of crystals with higher internal order and in some cases, larger volume. It was however realized that crystal growth in microgravity requires additional time due to slower growth rates. The progress in space research via the International Space Station (ISS) provides a laboratory-like environment to perform convection-free crystallization experiments for an extended time. To obtain detailed insights in macromolecular transport phenomena under microgravity and the assumed reduction of unfavorable impurity incorporation in growing crystals, microgravity and unit gravity control experiments for three different proteins were designed. To determine the quantity of impurity incorporated into crystals, fluorescence-tagged aggregates of the proteins (acting as impurities) were prepared. The recorded fluorescence intensities of the respective crystals reveal reduction in the incorporation of aggregates under microgravity for different aggregate quantities. The experiments and data obtained, provide insights about macromolecular transport in relation to molecular weight of the target proteins, as well as information about associated diffusion behavior and crystal lattice formation. Results suggest one explanation why microgravity-grown protein crystals often exhibit higher quality. Furthermore, results from these experiments can be used to predict which proteins may benefit more from microgravity crystallization.
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu J, Zhang CY, Liu Y, Wu XL, Zhang TD, Zhao FZ, Chen LL, Jin XQ, He JL, Yin DC. The dual function of impurity in protein crystallization. CrystEngComm 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1ce01535d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Protein crystallization could be promoted with a low concentration of impurities and inhibited with a high concentration of impurities, and this inhibition can be weakened by an audible sound.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Chen-Yan Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yue Liu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiang-Long Wu
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Tuo-Di Zhang
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Feng-Zhu Zhao
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Liang-Liang Chen
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiao-Qian Jin
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Jin-Liang He
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Institute for Special Environmental Biophysics, Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cotrim CA, Jarrott RJ, Whitten AE, Choudhury HG, Drew D, Martin JL. Heterologous Expression and Biochemical Characterization of the Human Zinc Transporter 1 (ZnT1) and Its Soluble C-Terminal Domain. Front Chem 2021; 9:667803. [PMID: 33996761 PMCID: PMC8120272 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.667803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human zinc transporter 1 (hZnT1) belongs to the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family. It plays a major role in transporting zinc (Zn2+) from the cytoplasm across the plasma membrane and into the extracellular space thereby protecting cells from Zn2+ toxicity. Through homology with other CDF family members, ZnT1 is predicted to contain a transmembrane region and a soluble C-terminal domain though little is known about its biochemistry. Here, we demonstrate that human ZnT1 and a variant can be produced by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and purified in the presence of detergent and cholesteryl hemisuccinate. We show that the purified hZnT1 variant has Zn2+/H+ antiporter activity. Furthermore, we expressed, purified and characterized the soluble C-terminal domain of hZnT1 (hZnT1-CTD) in a bacterial expression system. We found that the hZnT1-CTD melting temperature increases at acidic pH, thus, we used an acetate buffer at pH 4.5 for purifications and concentration of the protein up to 12 mg/mL. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of hZnT1-CTD is consistent with the formation of a dimer in solution with a V-shaped core.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila A. Cotrim
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Russell J. Jarrott
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew E. Whitten
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Hassanul G. Choudhury
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - David Drew
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jennifer L. Martin
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
- Vice-Chancellor's Unit, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Islam MM, Kuroda Y. A hetero-micro-seeding strategy for readily crystallizing closely related protein variants. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:504-508. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.08.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
6
|
Crystallogenesis of Membrane Proteins Mediated by Polymer-Bounded Lipid Nanodiscs. Structure 2017; 25:384-392. [DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
7
|
Campos-Acevedo AA, Díaz-Vilchis A, Sotelo-Mundo RR, Rudiño-Piñera E. First attempts to crystallize a non-homogeneous sample of thioredoxin from Litopenaeus vannamei: What to do when you have diffraction data of a protein that is not the target? Biochem Biophys Rep 2016; 8:284-289. [PMID: 28955968 PMCID: PMC5614465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2016.09.011] [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: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of sample homogeneity and purity in protein crystallization is essential to obtain high-quality diffracting crystals. Here, in an attempt to determine the crystal structure of thioredoxin 1 from whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (LvTrx), we inadvertently crystallized the hexameric inorganic pyrophosphatase of Escherichia coli (E-PPase) from a non-homogeneous sample product during the initial over-expression steps and partial purification of LvTrx. The structure determination and identification of the crystallized protein were derived from several clues: the failures in the Molecular Replacement (MR) trials using LvTrx coordinates as a search model, the unit cell parameters and space group determination, and essentially by the use of the program BALBES. After using the previously deposited E-PPase structure (PDB entry 1mjw) as a search model and the correct space group assignation, the MR showed an E-PPase complexed with SO4-2 with small changes in the sulfate ion binding region when it compares to previously deposited E-PPases in the PDB. This work stresses the importance of protein purity to avoid the risk of crystallizing a contaminant protein or how pure need to be a protein sample in order to increase the possibility to obtain crystals, but also serves as a reminder that crystallization is by itself a purification process and how the program BALBES can be useful in the crystal structure determination of previously deposited structures in the PDB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam A. Campos-Acevedo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología (IBT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, PO Box 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Adelaida Díaz-Vilchis
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología (IBT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, PO Box 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo
- Laboratorio de Estructura Biomolecular, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A. C. (CIAD), Carretera a Ejido La Victoria Km 0.6, PO Box 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora 83304, Mexico
| | - Enrique Rudiño-Piñera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología (IBT), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Avenida Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, PO Box 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hungler A, Momin A, Diederichs K, Arold ST. ContaMiner and ContaBase: a webserver and database for early identification of unwantedly crystallized protein contaminants. J Appl Crystallogr 2016; 49:2252-2258. [PMID: 27980519 PMCID: PMC5140001 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576716014965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Solving the phase problem in protein X-ray crystallography relies heavily on the identity of the crystallized protein, especially when molecular replacement (MR) methods are used. Yet, it is not uncommon that a contaminant crystallizes instead of the protein of interest. Such contaminants may be proteins from the expression host organism, protein fusion tags or proteins added during the purification steps. Many contaminants co-purify easily, crystallize and give good diffraction data. Identification of contaminant crystals may take time, since the presence of the contaminant is unexpected and its identity unknown. A webserver (ContaMiner) and a contaminant database (ContaBase) have been established, to allow fast MR-based screening of crystallographic data against currently 62 known contaminants. The web-based ContaMiner (available at http://strube.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/contaminer/) currently produces results in 5 min to 4 h. The program is also available in a github repository and can be installed locally. ContaMiner enables screening of novel crystals at synchrotron beamlines, and it would be valuable as a routine safety check for 'crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis' publications. Thus, in addition to potentially saving X-ray crystallographers much time and effort, ContaMiner might considerably lower the risk of publishing erroneous data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Hungler
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Center for Computational Bioscience Research (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaque Momin
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Center for Computational Bioscience Research (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kay Diederichs
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, M647, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Stefan, T. Arold
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Center for Computational Bioscience Research (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Uncovering the lipidic basis for the preparation of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptor detergent complexes for structural studies. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32766. [PMID: 27641515 PMCID: PMC5027579 DOI: 10.1038/srep32766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This study compares the lipid composition, including individual phospholipid molecular species of solubilized nAChR detergent complexes (nAChR-DCs) with those of the bulk lipids from their source, Torpedo californica (Tc) electric tissue. This lipidomic analysis revealed seventy-seven (77) phospholipid species in the Tc tissue. Analysis of affinity-purified nAChR-DCs prepared with C-12 to C-16 phospholipid analog detergents alkylphosphocholine (FC) and lysofoscholine (LFC) demonstrated that nAChR-DCs prepared with FC12, LFC14, and LFC16 contained >60 phospholipids/nAChR, which was more than twice of those prepared with FC14, FC16, and LFC12. Significantly, all the nAChR-DCs lacked ethanolamine and anionic phospholipids, contained only four cholesterol molecules, and a limited number of phospholipid molecular species per nAChR. Upon incorporation into oocytes, FC12 produce significant functionality, whereas LFC14 and LFC16 nAChR-DCs displayed an increased functionality as compared to the crude Tc membrane. All three nAChR-DCs displayed different degrees of alterations in macroscopic activation and desensitization kinetics.
Collapse
|
10
|
McPherson A, DeLucas LJ. Microgravity protein crystallization. NPJ Microgravity 2015; 1:15010. [PMID: 28725714 PMCID: PMC5515504 DOI: 10.1038/npjmgrav.2015.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past 20 years a variety of technological advances in X-ray crystallography have shortened the time required to determine the structures of large macromolecules (i.e., proteins and nucleic acids) from several years to several weeks or days. However, one of the remaining challenges is the ability to produce diffraction-quality crystals suitable for a detailed structural analysis. Although the development of automated crystallization systems combined with protein engineering (site-directed mutagenesis to enhance protein solubility and crystallization) have improved crystallization success rates, there remain hundreds of proteins that either cannot be crystallized or yield crystals of insufficient quality to support X-ray structure determination. In an attempt to address this bottleneck, an international group of scientists has explored use of a microgravity environment to crystallize macromolecules. This paper summarizes the history of this international initiative along with a description of some of the flight hardware systems and crystallization results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lawrence James DeLucas
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, Birmingham, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Milić D, Veprintsev DB. Large-scale production and protein engineering of G protein-coupled receptors for structural studies. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:66. [PMID: 25873898 PMCID: PMC4379943 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural studies of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) gave insights into molecular mechanisms of their action and contributed significantly to molecular pharmacology. This is primarily due to technical advances in protein engineering, production and crystallization of these important receptor targets. On the other hand, NMR spectroscopy of GPCRs, which can provide information about their dynamics, still remains challenging due to difficulties in preparation of isotopically labeled receptors and their low long-term stabilities. In this review, we discuss methods used for expression and purification of GPCRs for crystallographic and NMR studies. We also summarize protein engineering methods that played a crucial role in obtaining GPCR crystal structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dalibor Milić
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen Switzerland
| | - Dmitry B Veprintsev
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen Switzerland ; Department of Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Baker BY, Gulati S, Shi W, Wang B, Stewart PL, Palczewski K. Crystallization of proteins from crude bovine rod outer segments. Methods Enzymol 2015; 557:439-58. [PMID: 25950977 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2014.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Obtaining protein crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies comprises the greatest challenge in the determination of protein crystal structures, especially for membrane proteins and protein complexes. Although high purity has been broadly accepted as one of the most significant requirements for protein crystallization, a recent study of the Escherichia coli proteome showed that many proteins have an inherent propensity to crystallize and do not require a highly homogeneous sample (Totir et al., 2012). As exemplified by RPE65 (Kiser, Golczak, Lodowski, Chance, & Palczewski, 2009), there also are cases of mammalian proteins crystallized from less purified samples. To test whether this phenomenon can be applied more broadly to the study of proteins from higher organisms, we investigated the protein crystallization profile of bovine rod outer segment (ROS) crude extracts. Interestingly, multiple protein crystals readily formed from such extracts, some of them diffracting to high resolution that allowed structural determination. A total of seven proteins were crystallized, one of which was a membrane protein. Successful crystallization of proteins from heterogeneous ROS extracts demonstrates that many mammalian proteins also have an intrinsic propensity to crystallize from complex biological mixtures. By providing an alternative approach to heterologous expression to achieve crystallization, this strategy could be useful for proteins and complexes that are difficult to purify or obtain by recombinant techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Y Baker
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
| | - Sahil Gulati
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Wuxian Shi
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Benlian Wang
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Phoebe L Stewart
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Liu W, Wacker D, Wang C, Abola E, Cherezov V. Femtosecond crystallography of membrane proteins in the lipidic cubic phase. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:20130314. [PMID: 24914147 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent technological advances in heterologous expression, stabilization and crystallization of membrane proteins (MPs), their structural studies remain difficult and require new transformative approaches. During the past two years, crystallization in lipidic cubic phase (LCP) has started gaining a widespread acceptance, owing to the spectacular success in high-resolution structure determination of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and to the introduction of commercial instrumentation, tools and protocols. The recent appearance of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has enabled structure determination from substantially smaller crystals than previously possible with minimal effects of radiation damage, offering new exciting opportunities in structural biology. The unique properties of LCP material have been exploited to develop special protocols and devices that have established a new method of serial femtosecond crystallography of MPs in LCP (LCP-SFX). In this method, microcrystals are generated in LCP and streamed continuously inside the same media across the intersection with a pulsed XFEL beam at a flow rate that can be adjusted to minimize sample consumption. Pioneering studies that yielded the first room temperature GPCR structures, using a few hundred micrograms of purified protein, validate the LCP-SFX approach and make it attractive for structure determination of difficult-to-crystallize MPs and their complexes with interacting partners. Together with the potential of femtosecond data acquisition to interrogate unstable intermediate functional states of MPs, LCP-SFX holds promise to advance our understanding of this biomedically important class of proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Marine Drug Research Institute, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang 222005, People's Republic of China Department of Integrated Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Daniel Wacker
- Department of Integrated Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Chong Wang
- Department of Integrated Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Enrique Abola
- Department of Integrated Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Department of Integrated Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Giegé R. A historical perspective on protein crystallization from 1840 to the present day. FEBS J 2013; 280:6456-97. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Giegé
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire; Université de Strasourg et CNRS; France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kubicek J, Schlesinger R, Baeken C, Büldt G, Schäfer F, Labahn J. Controlled in meso phase crystallization--a method for the structural investigation of membrane proteins. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35458. [PMID: 22536388 PMCID: PMC3334905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated in meso crystallization of membrane proteins to develop a fast screening technology which combines features of the well established classical vapor diffusion experiment with the batch meso phase crystallization, but without premixing of protein and monoolein. It inherits the advantages of both methods, namely (i) the stabilization of membrane proteins in the meso phase, (ii) the control of hydration level and additive concentration by vapor diffusion. The new technology (iii) significantly simplifies in meso crystallization experiments and allows the use of standard liquid handling robots suitable for 96 well formats. CIMP crystallization furthermore allows (iv) direct monitoring of phase transformation and crystallization events. Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) crystals of high quality and diffraction up to 1.3 Å resolution have been obtained in this approach. CIMP and the developed consumables and protocols have been successfully applied to obtain crystals of sensory rhodopsin II (SRII) from Halobacterium salinarum for the first time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramona Schlesinger
- Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Structural Biology and Biophysics (ISB-2), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christian Baeken
- Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Structural Biology and Biophysics (ISB-2), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Georg Büldt
- Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Structural Biology and Biophysics (ISB-2), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Labahn
- Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Structural Biology and Biophysics (ISB-2), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Efremov RG, Sazanov LA. Structure of Escherichia coli OmpF porin from lipidic mesophase. J Struct Biol 2012; 178:311-8. [PMID: 22484237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2012.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Revised: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Outer membrane protein F, a major component of the Escherichia coli outer membrane, was crystallized for the first time in lipidic mesophase of monoolein in novel space groups, P1 and H32. Due to ease of its purification and crystallization OmpF can be used as a benchmark protein for establishing membrane protein crystallization in meso, as a "membrane lyzozyme". The packing of porin trimers in the crystals of space group H32 is similar to natural outer membranes, providing the first high-resolution insight into the close to native packing of OmpF. Surprisingly, interaction between trimers is mediated exclusively by lipids, without direct protein-protein contacts. Multiple ordered lipids are observed and many of them occupy identical positions independently of the space group, identifying preferential interaction sites of lipid acyl chains. Presence of ordered aliphatic chains close to a positively charged area on the porin surface suggests a position for a lipopolysaccharide binding site on the surface of the major E. coli porins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rouslan G Efremov
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Wellcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Labahn J, Kubicek J, Schäfer F. Vapor diffusion-controlled meso crystallization of membrane proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 914:17-24. [PMID: 22976020 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-023-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The presented method to crystallize membrane proteins combines the advantages of the meso-phase crystallization method and the classical vapor diffusion crystallization. It allows fast screening of crystallization conditions employing automated liquid handlers suited for the 96-well crystallization format.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Labahn
- Institute for Structural Biology and Biophysics, Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wallace E, Dranow D, Laible PD, Christensen J, Nollert P. Monoolein lipid phases as incorporation and enrichment materials for membrane protein crystallization. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24488. [PMID: 21909395 PMCID: PMC3164205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The crystallization of membrane proteins in amphiphile-rich materials such as lipidic cubic phases is an established methodology in many structural biology laboratories. The standard procedure employed with this methodology requires the generation of a highly viscous lipidic material by mixing lipid, for instance monoolein, with a solution of the detergent solubilized membrane protein. This preparation is often carried out with specialized mixing tools that allow handling of the highly viscous materials while minimizing dead volume to save precious membrane protein sample. The processes that occur during the initial mixing of the lipid with the membrane protein are not well understood. Here we show that the formation of the lipidic phases and the incorporation of the membrane protein into such materials can be separated experimentally. Specifically, we have investigated the effect of different initial monoolein-based lipid phase states on the crystallization behavior of the colored photosynthetic reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. We find that the detergent solubilized photosynthetic reaction center spontaneously inserts into and concentrates in the lipid matrix without any mixing, and that the initial lipid material phase state is irrelevant for productive crystallization. A substantial in-situ enrichment of the membrane protein to concentration levels that are otherwise unobtainable occurs in a thin layer on the surface of the lipidic material. These results have important practical applications and hence we suggest a simplified protocol for membrane protein crystallization within amphiphile rich materials, eliminating any specialized mixing tools to prepare crystallization experiments within lipidic cubic phases. Furthermore, by virtue of sampling a membrane protein concentration gradient within a single crystallization experiment, this crystallization technique is more robust and increases the efficiency of identifying productive crystallization parameters. Finally, we provide a model that explains the incorporation of the membrane protein from solution into the lipid phase via a portal lamellar phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Wallace
- Emerald BioStructures, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States of America
| | - David Dranow
- Emerald BioStructures, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States of America
| | - Philip D. Laible
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jeff Christensen
- Emerald BioStructures, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States of America
| | - Peter Nollert
- Emerald BioStructures, Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Cherezov V. Lipidic cubic phase technologies for membrane protein structural studies. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2011; 21:559-66. [PMID: 21775127 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2011.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Revised: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Lipidic cubic phase (LCP) is a membrane-mimetic matrix suitable for stabilization and crystallization of membrane proteins in lipidic environment. LCP technologies, however, have not been fully embraced by the membrane protein structural biology community, primarily because of the difficulties associated with handling viscous materials. Recent developments of pre-crystallization assays and improvements in crystal imaging, successes in obtaining high resolution structures of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and commercial availability of LCP tools and instruments are beginning to attract structural biologists to integrate LCP technologies in their research. This wider acceptance should translate to an increased number of otherwise difficult-to-crystallize membrane protein structures, shedding light on their functional mechanisms and on structural details of lipid-protein interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Cherezov
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Libster D, Aserin A, Garti N. Interactions of biomacromolecules with reverse hexagonal liquid crystals: Drug delivery and crystallization applications. J Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 356:375-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
21
|
Siegel DP. Fourth-order curvature energy model for the stability of bicontinuous inverted cubic phases in amphiphile-water systems. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2010; 26:8673-8683. [PMID: 20349969 DOI: 10.1021/la904838z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The bicontinuous inverted cubic (Q(II)) phases of amphiphiles in water have many practical applications. It is necessary to understand the stability of these phases as a function of composition and ambient conditions in order to make the best use of them. Moreover, many biomembrane lipids and some biomembrane lipid extracts form Q(II) phases. The stability of Q(II) phases in a given lipid composition is closely related to the susceptibility of that composition to membrane fusion: changes in composition that stabilize Q(II) phases usually increase the rate of membrane fusion. However, the factors determining Q(II) phase stability are not fully understood. Previously, an expression was derived for the curvature free energy of Q(II) phases with respect to that of the lamellar (L(alpha)) phase using a model for the curvature energy with terms up to fourth order in curvature as formulated by Mitov. Here this model is extended to account for the effects of water content on Q(II) phase stability. It is shown that the observed L(alpha)/Q(II) phase-transition temperature, transition enthalpy, and transition kinetics are all sensitive to water content. The same observables also become sensitive to small noncurvature energy contributions to the total free-energy difference between the Q(II) and L(alpha) phases, especially the unbinding energy in the L(alpha) phase. These predictions rationalize earlier observations of Q(II) phase formation in N-monomethylated dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine that otherwise appear to be inconsistent. The model also provides a fundamental explanation of the hysteresis typically observed in transitions between the L(alpha) and Q(II) phases. It is an accurate model of Q(II) phase stability when the ratio of the volume fraction of the lipid in the Q(II) phase unit cell is < or = 0.5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David P Siegel
- Givaudan Inc., 1199 Edison Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Libster D, Aserin A, Amar-Yuli I, Mishraki T, Domovich-Eisenberg Y, Livnah O, Garti N. Crystallization of cyclosporin A in lyotropic reverse hexagonal liquid crystals. CrystEngComm 2010. [DOI: 10.1039/c001263g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|