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Balasco N, Vitagliano L, Merlino A, Verde C, Mazzarella L, Vergara A. The unique structural features of carbonmonoxy hemoglobin from the sub-Antarctic fish Eleginops maclovinus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18987. [PMID: 31831781 PMCID: PMC6908587 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55331-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetrameric hemoglobins (Hbs) are prototypical systems for the investigations of fundamental properties of proteins. Although the structure of these proteins has been known for nearly sixty years, there are many aspects related to their function/structure that are still obscure. Here, we report the crystal structure of a carbonmonoxy form of the Hb isolated from the sub-Antarctic notothenioid fish Eleginops maclovinus characterised by either rare or unique features. In particular, the distal site of the α chain results to be very unusual since the distal His is displaced from its canonical position. This displacement is coupled with a shortening of the highly conserved E helix and the formation of novel interactions at tertiary structure level. Interestingly, the quaternary structure is closer to the T-deoxy state of Hbs than to the R-state despite the full coordination of all chains. Notably, these peculiar structural features provide a rationale for some spectroscopic properties exhibited by the protein in solution. Finally, this unexpected structural plasticity of the heme distal side has been associated with specific sequence signatures of various Hbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Balasco
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, Naples, Italy.
| | - Antonello Merlino
- Dept. Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli "Federico II", Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Cinzia Verde
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Lelio Mazzarella
- Dept. Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli "Federico II", Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vergara
- Dept. Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli "Federico II", Via Cinthia, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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Crystal structure of the ferric homotetrameric β 4 human hemoglobin. Biophys Chem 2018; 240:9-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Handing KB, Niedzialkowska E, Shabalin IG, Kuhn ML, Zheng H, Minor W. Characterizing metal-binding sites in proteins with X-ray crystallography. Nat Protoc 2018; 13:1062-1090. [PMID: 29674755 PMCID: PMC6235626 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2018.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Metals have crucial roles in many physiological, pathological, toxicological, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic processes. Proper handling of metal-containing macromolecule samples for structural studies is not trivial, and failure to handle them properly is often a source of irreproducibility caused by issues such as pH changes, incorporation of unexpected metals, or oxidization/reduction of the metal. This protocol outlines the guidelines and best practices for characterizing metal-binding sites in protein structures and alerts experimenters to potential pitfalls during the preparation and handling of metal-containing protein samples for X-ray crystallography studies. The protocol features strategies for controlling the sample pH and the metal oxidation state, recording X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra, and collecting diffraction data sets above and below the corresponding metal absorption edges. This protocol should allow experimenters to gather sufficient evidence to unambiguously determine the identity and location of the metal of interest, as well as to accurately characterize the coordinating ligands in the metal binding environment within the protein. Meticulous handling of metal-containing macromolecule samples as described in this protocol should enhance experimental reproducibility in biomedical sciences, especially in X-ray macromolecular crystallography. For most samples, the protocol can be completed within a period of 7-190 d, most of which (2-180 d) is devoted to growing the crystal. The protocol should be readily understandable to structural biologists, particularly protein crystallographers with an intermediate level of experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna B Handing
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Ewa Niedzialkowska
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ivan G Shabalin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Misty L Kuhn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Heping Zheng
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Wladek Minor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID), University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Vitagliano L, Mazzarella L, Merlino A, Vergara A. Fine Sampling of the R→T Quaternary-Structure Transition of a Tetrameric Hemoglobin. Chemistry 2016; 23:605-613. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201603421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Vitagliano
- Institute of Biostructures and Biomaging; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16 80134 Napoli Italy
| | - Lelio Mazzarella
- Dept. Chemical Sciences; University of Napoli “Federico II”; Via Cinthia 80126 Napoli Italy
| | - Antonello Merlino
- Institute of Biostructures and Biomaging; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16 80134 Napoli Italy
- Dept. Chemical Sciences; University of Napoli “Federico II”; Via Cinthia 80126 Napoli Italy
| | - Alessandro Vergara
- Institute of Biostructures and Biomaging; CNR; Via Mezzocannone 16 80134 Napoli Italy
- Dept. Chemical Sciences; University of Napoli “Federico II”; Via Cinthia 80126 Napoli Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate scarlm; Via G. Salvatore Napoli Italy
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Krauss IR, Merlino A, Vergara A, Sica F. An overview of biological macromolecule crystallization. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:11643-91. [PMID: 23727935 PMCID: PMC3709751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The elucidation of the three dimensional structure of biological macromolecules has provided an important contribution to our current understanding of many basic mechanisms involved in life processes. This enormous impact largely results from the ability of X-ray crystallography to provide accurate structural details at atomic resolution that are a prerequisite for a deeper insight on the way in which bio-macromolecules interact with each other to build up supramolecular nano-machines capable of performing specialized biological functions. With the advent of high-energy synchrotron sources and the development of sophisticated software to solve X-ray and neutron crystal structures of large molecules, the crystallization step has become even more the bottleneck of a successful structure determination. This review introduces the general aspects of protein crystallization, summarizes conventional and innovative crystallization methods and focuses on the new strategies utilized to improve the success rate of experiments and increase crystal diffraction quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Russo Krauss
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, Napoli I-80126, Italy; E-Mails: (I.R.K.); (A.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Antonello Merlino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, Napoli I-80126, Italy; E-Mails: (I.R.K.); (A.M.); (A.V.)
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, C.N.R, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli I-80134, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vergara
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, Napoli I-80126, Italy; E-Mails: (I.R.K.); (A.M.); (A.V.)
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, C.N.R, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli I-80134, Italy
| | - Filomena Sica
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, Napoli I-80126, Italy; E-Mails: (I.R.K.); (A.M.); (A.V.)
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages, C.N.R, Via Mezzocannone 16, Napoli I-80134, Italy
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +39-81-674-479; Fax: +39-81-674-090
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Merlino A, Howes BD, Prisco GD, Verde C, Smulevich G, Mazzarella L, Vergara A. Occurrence and formation of endogenous histidine hexa-coordination in cold-adapted hemoglobins. IUBMB Life 2011; 63:295-303. [PMID: 21491555 DOI: 10.1002/iub.446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 02/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Spectroscopic and crystallographic evidence of endogenous (His) ligation at the sixth coordination site of the heme iron has been reported for monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric hemoglobins (Hbs) in both ferrous (hemochrome) and ferric (hemichrome) oxidation states. In particular, the ferric bis- histidyl adduct represents a common accessible ordered state for the β chains of all tetrameric Hbs isolated from Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fish. Indeed, the crystal structures of known tetrameric Hbs in the bis-His state are characterized by a different binding state of the α and β chains. An overall analysis of the bis-histidyl adduct of globin structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank reveals a marked difference between hemichromes in tetrameric Hbs compared to monomeric/dimeric Hbs. Herein, we review the structural, spectroscopic and stability features of hemichromes in tetrameric Antarctic fish Hbs. The role of bis-histidyl adducts is also addressed in a more evolutionary context alongside the concept of its potential physiological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonello Merlino
- Department of Chemistry "Paolo Corradini," University of Naples "Federico II," Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Italy
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