1
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DasGupta S. Synthetic antibodies for accelerated RNA crystallography. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1869. [PMID: 39187256 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
RNA structure is crucial to a wide range of cellular processes. The intimate relationship between macromolecular structure and function necessitates the determination of high-resolution structures of functional RNA molecules. X-ray crystallography is the predominant technique used for macromolecular structure determination; however, solving RNA structures has been more challenging than their protein counterparts, as reflected in their poor representation in the Protein Data Bank (<1%). Antibody-assisted RNA crystallography is a relatively new technique that promises to accelerate RNA structure determination by employing synthetic antibodies (Fabs) as crystallization chaperones that are specifically raised against target RNAs. Antibody chaperones facilitate the formation of ordered crystal lattices by minimizing RNA flexibility and replacing unfavorable RNA-RNA contacts with contacts between chaperone molecules. Atomic coordinates of these antibody fragments can also be used as search models to obtain phase information during structure determination. Antibody-assisted RNA crystallography has enabled the structure determination of 15 unique RNA targets, including 11 in the last 6 years. In this review, I cover the historical development of antibody fragments as crystallization chaperones and their application to diverse RNA targets. I discuss how the first structures of antibody-RNA complexes informed the design of second-generation antibodies and led to the development of portable crystallization modules that have greatly reduced the uncertainties associated with RNA crystallography. Finally, I outline unexplored avenues that can increase the impact of this technology in structural biology research and discuss potential applications of antibodies as affinity reagents for interrogating RNA biology outside of their use in crystallography. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics and Chemistry RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurja DasGupta
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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2
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Yi HB, Lee S, Seo K, Kim H, Kim M, Lee HS. Cellular and Biophysical Applications of Genetic Code Expansion. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7465-7530. [PMID: 38753805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00112] [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: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Despite their diverse functions, proteins are inherently constructed from a limited set of building blocks. These compositional constraints pose significant challenges to protein research and its practical applications. Strategically manipulating the cellular protein synthesis system to incorporate novel building blocks has emerged as a critical approach for overcoming these constraints in protein research and application. In the past two decades, the field of genetic code expansion (GCE) has achieved significant advancements, enabling the integration of numerous novel functionalities into proteins across a variety of organisms. This technological evolution has paved the way for the extensive application of genetic code expansion across multiple domains, including protein imaging, the introduction of probes for protein research, analysis of protein-protein interactions, spatiotemporal control of protein function, exploration of proteome changes induced by external stimuli, and the synthesis of proteins endowed with novel functions. In this comprehensive Review, we aim to provide an overview of cellular and biophysical applications that have employed GCE technology over the past two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Bin Yi
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungeun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungdeok Seo
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongjo Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Minah Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Soo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
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3
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Tyagi S, Yadav RK, Krishnan V. Determination of the Crystal Structure of the Cell Wall-Anchored Proteins and Pilins. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2727:159-191. [PMID: 37815717 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3491-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Surface proteins and pili (or pilus) anchored on the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall play a vital role in adhesion, colonization, biofilm formation, and immunomodulation. The pilus consists of building blocks called pilins or pilus subunits. The surface proteins and pilins share some common sequences and structural features. They contain an N-terminal signal sequence and the C-terminal cell wall sorting region, enabling their transportation across the membrane and covalent attachment to the bacterial cell wall, respectively. The transpeptidase enzymes called sortases facilitate the covalent links between the pilins during the pilus assembly and between surface proteins or basal subunits of pili and peptidoglycan-bridge during the cell wall anchoring. Thus, elucidating three-dimensional structures for the surface proteins and pilins at the atomic level is essential for understanding the mechanism of adhesion, pilus assembly, and host interaction. This chapter aims to provide a general protocol for crystal structure determination of surface proteins and pilins anchored on the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall and substrates for sortases. The protocol involves the production of recombinant protein, crystallization, and structure determination by X-ray crystallography technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivangi Tyagi
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Rajnesh Kumari Yadav
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.
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4
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Banna HA, Das NK, Ojha M, Koirala D. Advances in chaperone-assisted RNA crystallography using synthetic antibodies. BBA ADVANCES 2023; 4:100101. [PMID: 37655005 PMCID: PMC10466895 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2023.100101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules play essential roles in many biological functions, from gene expression regulation, cellular growth, and metabolism to catalysis. They frequently fold into three-dimensional structures to perform their functions. Therefore, determining RNA structure represents a key step for understanding the structure-function relationships and developing RNA-targeted therapeutics. X-ray crystallography remains a method of choice for determining high-resolution RNA structures, but it has been challenging due to difficulties associated with RNA crystallization and phasing. Several natural and synthetic RNA binding proteins have been used to facilitate RNA crystallography. Having unique properties to help crystal packing and phasing, synthetic antibody fragments, specifically the Fabs, have emerged as promising RNA crystallization chaperones, and so far, over a dozen of RNA structures have been solved using this strategy. Nevertheless, multiple steps in this approach need to be improved, including the recombinant expression of these anti-RNA Fabs, to warrant the full potential of these synthetic Fabs as RNA crystallization chaperones. This review highlights the nuts and bolts and recent advances in the chaperone-assisted RNA crystallography approach, specifically emphasizing the Fab antibody fragments as RNA crystallization chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Al Banna
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Naba Krishna Das
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Manju Ojha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
| | - Deepak Koirala
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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Chang TH, Hsieh FL, Gu X, Smallwood PM, Kavran JM, Gabelli SB, Nathans J. Structural insights into plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP): Implications for vascular endothelial diaphragms and fenestrae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221103120. [PMID: 36996108 PMCID: PMC10083539 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221103120] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In many organs, small openings across capillary endothelial cells (ECs) allow the diffusion of low-molecular weight compounds and small proteins between the blood and tissue spaces. These openings contain a diaphragm composed of radially arranged fibers, and current evidence suggests that a single-span type II transmembrane protein, plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein-1 (PLVAP), constitutes these fibers. Here, we present the three-dimensional crystal structure of an 89-amino acid segment of the PLVAP extracellular domain (ECD) and show that it adopts a parallel dimeric alpha-helical coiled-coil configuration with five interchain disulfide bonds. The structure was solved using single-wavelength anomalous diffraction from sulfur-containing residues (sulfur SAD) to generate phase information. Biochemical and circular dichroism (CD) experiments show that a second PLVAP ECD segment also has a parallel dimeric alpha-helical configuration-presumably a coiled coil-held together with interchain disulfide bonds. Overall, ~2/3 of the ~390 amino acids within the PLVAP ECD adopt a helical configuration, as determined by CD. We also determined the sequence and epitope of MECA-32, an anti-PLVAP antibody. Taken together, these data lend strong support to the model of capillary diaphragms formulated by Tse and Stan in which approximately ten PLVAP dimers are arranged within each 60- to 80-nm-diameter opening like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Passage of molecules through the wedge-shaped pores is presumably determined both by the length of PLVAP-i.e., the long dimension of the pore-and by the chemical properties of amino acid side chains and N-linked glycans on the solvent-accessible faces of PLVAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao-Hsin Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- HHMI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Fu-Lien Hsieh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- HHMI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Xiaowu Gu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- HHMI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Philip M. Smallwood
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- HHMI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Jennifer M. Kavran
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Sandra B. Gabelli
- Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- HHMI, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
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6
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Tolbatov I, Marrone A, Shepard W, Chiaverini L, Upadhyay Kahaly M, La Mendola D, Marzo T, Ciccone L. Inorganic Drugs as a Tool for Protein Structure Solving and Studies on Conformational Changes. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202202937. [PMID: 36477932 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Inorganic drugs are capable of tight interactions with proteins through coordination towards aminoacidic residues, and this feature is recognized as a key aspect for their pharmacological action. However, the "protein metalation process" is exploitable for solving the phase problem and structural resolution. In fact, the use of inorganic drugs bearing specific metal centers and ligands capable to drive the binding towards the desired portions of the protein target could represent a very intriguing and fruitful strategy. In this context, a theoretical approach may further contribute to solve protein structures and their refinement. Here, we delineate the main features of a reliable experimental-theoretical integrated approach, based on the use of metallodrugs, for protein structure solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iogann Tolbatov
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avgda. Països Catalans, 16, 43007, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Alessandro Marrone
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - William Shepard
- Department PROXIMA2 A, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lorenzo Chiaverini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Diego La Mendola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziano Marzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
- Department PROXIMA2 A, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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7
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Karasawa A, Andi B, Fuchs MR, Shi W, McSweeney S, Hendrickson WA, Liu Q. Multi-crystal native-SAD phasing at 5 keV with a helium environment. IUCRJ 2022; 9:768-777. [PMID: 36381147 PMCID: PMC9634608 DOI: 10.1107/s205225252200971x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
De novo structure determination from single-wavelength anomalous diffraction using native sulfur or phospho-rus in biomolecules (native-SAD) is an appealing method to mitigate the labor-intensive production of heavy-atom derivatives and seleno-methio-nyl substitutions. The native-SAD method is particularly attractive for membrane proteins, which are difficult to produce and often recalcitrant to grow into decent-sized crystals. Native-SAD uses lower-energy X-rays to enhance anomalous signals from sulfur or phospho-rus. However, at lower energies, the scattering and absorption of air contribute to the background noise, reduce the signals and are thus adverse to native-SAD phasing. We have previously demonstrated native-SAD phasing at an energy of 5 keV in air at the NSLS-II FMX beamline. Here, the use of a helium path developed to reduce both the noise from background scattering and the air absorption of the diffracted X-ray beam are described. The helium path was used for collection of anomalous diffraction data at 5 keV for two proteins: thaumatin and the membrane protein TehA. Although anomalous signals from each individual crystal are very weak, robust anomalous signals are obtained from data assembled from micrometre-sized crystals. The thaumatin structure was determined from 15 microcrystals and the TehA structure from 18 microcrystals. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a helium environment in support of native-SAD phasing at 5 keV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Karasawa
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Babak Andi
- Photon Sciences, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Martin R. Fuchs
- Photon Sciences, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Wuxian Shi
- Photon Sciences, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Sean McSweeney
- Photon Sciences, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Wayne A. Hendrickson
- Center on Membrane Protein Production and Analysis, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Qun Liu
- Photon Sciences, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
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8
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Selenourea for Experimental Phasing of Membrane Protein Crystals Grown in Lipid Cubic Phase. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12070976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Heavy-atom soaking has been a major method for experimental phasing, but it has been difficult for membrane proteins, partly owing to the lack of available sites in the scarce soluble domain for non-invasive heavy-metal binding. The lipid cubic phase (LCP) has proven to be a successful method for membrane protein crystallization, but experimental phasing with LCP-grown crystals remains difficult, and so far, only 68 such structures were phased experimentally. Here, the selenourea was tested as a soaking reagent for the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) phasing of crystals grown in LCP. Using a single crystal, the structure of the glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (PlsY, ~21 kDa), a very hydrophobic enzyme with 80% membrane-embedded residues, was solved. Remarkably, a total of 15 Se sites were found in the two monomers of PlsY, translating to one selenourea-binding site per every six residues in the accessible extramembrane protein. Structure analysis reveals that surface-exposed selenourea sites are mostly contributed by mainchain amides and carbonyls. This low-specificity binding pattern may explain its high loading ratio. Importantly, both the crystal diffraction quality and the LCP integrity were unaffected by selenourea soaking. Taken together, selenourea presents a promising and generally useful reagent for heavy-atom soaking of membrane protein crystals grown in LCP.
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9
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Naumann TA, Sollenberger KG, Hao G. Production of selenomethionine labeled polyglycine hydrolases in Pichia pastoris. Protein Expr Purif 2022; 194:106076. [PMID: 35240278 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Producing recombinant proteins with incorporated selenomethionine (SeMet) facilitates solving X-ray crystallographic structures of novel proteins. Production of SeMet labeled proteins in the yeast Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella phaffii) is difficult because SeMet is mildly toxic, reducing protein expression levels. To counteract this yield loss for a novel protease, Epicoccum sorghi chitinase modifying protein (Es-cmp), a novel disease promoting protease secreted by these plant pathogenic fungi, we isolated a yeast strain that secreted more protein. By comparing the expression level of 48 strains we isolated one that produced significantly more protein. This strain was found to be gene dosed, having four copies of the expression cassette. After optimization the strain produced Es-cmp in defined media with SeMet at levels nearly equal to that of the original strain in complex media. Also, we produced SeMet labeled protein for a homologous protease from the fungus Fusarium vanettenii, Fvan-cmp, by directly selecting a gene dosed strain on agar plates with increased zeocin. Linearization of plasmid with PmeI before electroporation led to high numbers of 1 mg/mL zeocin resistant clones with significantly increased expression compared to those selected on 0.1 mg/mL. The gene dosed strains expressing Es-cmp and Fvan-cmp allowed production of 8.5 and 16.8 mg of SeMet labeled protein from 500 mL shake flask cultures. The results demonstrate that selection of P. pastoris expression strains by plating after transformation on agar with 1 mg/mL zeocin rather than the standard 0.1 mg/mL directly selects gene dosed strains that can facilitate production of selenomethionine labeled proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Naumann
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA.
| | - Kurt G Sollenberger
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA
| | - Guixia Hao
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA
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10
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Sagar V, Wistow G. Acquired disorder and asymmetry in a domain-swapped model for γ-crystallin aggregation. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167559. [PMID: 35341744 PMCID: PMC9050881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of proteins occur in many pathological states. Because of the inherent disorder involved, these processes are difficult to study. We attempted to capture aggregation intermediates of γ S-crystallin, a highly stable, internally symmetrical monomeric protein, by crystallization under mildly acidic and oxidizing conditions. Here we describe novel oligomerization through strained domain-swapping and partial intermolecular disulfide formation. This forms an octamer built from asymmetric tetramers, each of which comprises an asymmetric pair of twisted, domain-swapped dimers. Each tetramer shows patterns of acquired disorder among subunits, ranging from local loss of secondary structure to regions of intrinsic disorder. The octamer ring is tied together by partial intermolecular disulfide bonds, which may contribute to strain and disorder in the octamer. Oligomerization in this structure is self-limited by the distorted octamer ring. In a more heterogeneous environment, the disordered regions could serve as seeds for cascading interactions with other proteins. Indeed, solubilized protein from crystals retain many features observed in the crystal and are prone to further oligomerization and precipitation. This structure illustrates modes of loss of organized structure and aggregation that are relevant for cataract and for other disorders involving deposition of formerly well-folded proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vatsala Sagar
- Section on Molecular Structure and Functional Genomics, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Graeme Wistow
- Section on Molecular Structure and Functional Genomics, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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11
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Marchetti A, Pizzi A, Bergamaschi G, Demitri N, Stollberg U, Diederichsen U, Pigliacelli C, Metrangolo P. Fibril Structure Demonstrates the Role of Iodine Labelling on a Pentapeptide Self-Assembly. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202104089. [PMID: 35084787 PMCID: PMC9306938 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202104089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Iodination has long been employed as a successful labelling strategy to gain structural insights into proteins and other biomolecules via several techniques, including Small Angle X-ray Scattering, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), and single-crystal crystallography. However, when dealing with smaller biomolecular systems, interactions driven by iodine may significantly alter their self-assembly behaviour. The engineering of amyloidogenic peptides for the development of ordered nanomaterials has greatly benefitted from this possibility. Still, to date, iodination has exclusively been applied to aromatic residues. In this work, an aliphatic bis-iodinated amino acid was synthesized and included into a custom pentapeptide, which showed enhanced fibrillogenic behaviour. Peptide single crystal X-ray structure and powder X-ray diffraction on its dried water solution demonstrated the key role of iodine atoms in promoting intermolecular interactions that drive the peptide self-assembly into amyloid fibrils. These findings enlarge the library of halogenated moieties available for directing and engineering the self-assembly of amyloidogenic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Marchetti
- Laboratory of Supramolecular and Bio-Nanomaterials (SBNLab)Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”Politecnico di MilanoVia L. Mancinelli 720131MilanoItaly
| | - Andrea Pizzi
- Laboratory of Supramolecular and Bio-Nanomaterials (SBNLab)Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”Politecnico di MilanoVia L. Mancinelli 720131MilanoItaly
| | - Greta Bergamaschi
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie ChimicheNational Research Council of ItalyVia M. Bianco 920131MilanoItaly
| | - Nicola Demitri
- Elettra – Sincrotrone TriesteS.S. 14 Km 163.5 in Area Science Park34149BasovizzaTriesteItaly
| | - Ulrike Stollberg
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular ChemistryGeorg-August-University GöttingenTammannstr. 237077GöttingenGermany
| | - Ulf Diederichsen
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular ChemistryGeorg-August-University GöttingenTammannstr. 237077GöttingenGermany
| | - Claudia Pigliacelli
- Laboratory of Supramolecular and Bio-Nanomaterials (SBNLab)Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”Politecnico di MilanoVia L. Mancinelli 720131MilanoItaly
| | - Pierangelo Metrangolo
- Laboratory of Supramolecular and Bio-Nanomaterials (SBNLab)Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”Politecnico di MilanoVia L. Mancinelli 720131MilanoItaly
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12
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Protein Crystallization in a Microfluidic Contactor with Nafion ®117 Membranes. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11080549. [PMID: 34436312 PMCID: PMC8398885 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11080549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein crystallization still remains mostly an empirical science, as the production of crystals with the required quality for X-ray analysis is dependent on the intensive screening of the best protein crystallization and crystal’s derivatization conditions. Herein, this demanding step was addressed by the development of a high-throughput and low-budget microfluidic platform consisting of an ion exchange membrane (117 Nafion® membrane) sandwiched between a channel layer (stripping phase compartment) and a wells layer (feed phase compartment) forming 75 independent micro-contactors. This microfluidic device allows for a simultaneous and independent screening of multiple protein crystallization and crystal derivatization conditions, using Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) as the model protein and Hg2+ as the derivatizing agent. This microdevice offers well-regulated crystallization and subsequent crystal derivatization processes based on the controlled transport of water and ions provided by the 117 Nafion® membrane. Diffusion coefficients of water and the derivatizing agent (Hg2+) were evaluated, showing the positive influence of the protein drop volume on the number of crystals and crystal size. This microfluidic system allowed for crystals with good structural stability and high X-ray diffraction quality and, thus, it is regarded as an efficient tool that may contribute to the enhancement of the proteins’ crystals structural resolution.
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13
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Prieto-Castañeda A, Martínez-Caballero S, Agarrabeitia AR, García-Moreno I, Moya SDL, Ortiz MJ, Hermoso JA. First Lanthanide Complex for De Novo Phasing in Native Protein Crystallography at 1 Å Radiation. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:4575-4581. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Prieto-Castañeda
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Siseth Martínez-Caballero
- Departamento de Cristalografía y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Química Física “Rocasolano”, C.S.I.C., Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonia R. Agarrabeitia
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inmaculada García-Moreno
- Departamento de Sistemas de Baja Dimensionalidad, Superficies y Materia Condensada, Instituto de Química Física “Rocasolano”, C.S.I.C., Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago de la Moya
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María J. Ortiz
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. Hermoso
- Departamento de Cristalografía y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Química Física “Rocasolano”, C.S.I.C., Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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14
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Truong JQ, Nguyen S, Bruning JB, Shearwin KE. Simplified heavy-atom derivatization of protein structures via co-crystallization with the MAD tetragon tetrabromoterephthalic acid. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2021; 77:156-162. [PMID: 33949976 PMCID: PMC8098126 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21004052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The phase problem is a persistent bottleneck that impedes the structure-determination pipeline and must be solved to obtain atomic resolution crystal structures of macromolecules. Although molecular replacement has become the predominant method of solving the phase problem, many scenarios still exist in which experimental phasing is needed. Here, a proof-of-concept study is presented that shows the efficacy of using tetrabromoterephthalic acid (B4C) as an experimental phasing compound. Incorporating B4C into the crystal lattice using co-crystallization, the crystal structure of hen egg-white lysozyme was solved using MAD phasing. The strong anomalous signal generated by its four Br atoms coupled with its compatibility with commonly used crystallization reagents render B4C an effective experimental phasing compound that can be used to overcome the phase problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Q. Truong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Stephanie Nguyen
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - John B. Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Keith E. Shearwin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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15
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Kermani AA. A guide to membrane protein X‐ray crystallography. FEBS J 2020; 288:5788-5804. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali A. Kermani
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
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16
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Moulis JM. Cellular Dynamics of Transition Metal Exchange on Proteins: A Challenge but a Bonanza for Coordination Chemistry. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1584. [PMID: 33233467 PMCID: PMC7700505 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition metals interact with a large proportion of the proteome in all forms of life, and they play mandatory and irreplaceable roles. The dynamics of ligand binding to ions of transition metals falls within the realm of Coordination Chemistry, and it provides the basic principles controlling traffic, regulation, and use of metals in cells. Yet, the cellular environment stands out against the conditions prevailing in the test tube when studying metal ions and their interactions with various ligands. Indeed, the complex and often changing cellular environment stimulates fast metal-ligand exchange that mostly escapes presently available probing methods. Reducing the complexity of the problem with purified proteins or in model organisms, although useful, is not free from pitfalls and misleading results. These problems arise mainly from the absence of the biosynthetic machinery and accessory proteins or chaperones dealing with metal / metal groups in cells. Even cells struggle with metal selectivity, as they do not have a metal-directed quality control system for metalloproteins, and serendipitous metal binding is probably not exceptional. The issue of metal exchange in biology is reviewed with particular reference to iron and illustrating examples in patho-physiology, regulation, nutrition, and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marc Moulis
- Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission—Fundamental Research Division—Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (CEA-IRIG), University of Grenoble Alpes, F-38000 Grenoble, France;
- National Institute of Health and Medical Research, University of Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1055, F-38000 Grenoble, France
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetics (LBFA), University of Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U1055, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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17
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Birch J, Cheruvara H, Gamage N, Harrison PJ, Lithgo R, Quigley A. Changes in Membrane Protein Structural Biology. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E401. [PMID: 33207666 PMCID: PMC7696871 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are essential components of many biochemical processes and are important pharmaceutical targets. Membrane protein structural biology provides the molecular rationale for these biochemical process as well as being a highly useful tool for drug discovery. Unfortunately, membrane protein structural biology is a difficult area of study due to low protein yields and high levels of instability especially when membrane proteins are removed from their native environments. Despite this instability, membrane protein structural biology has made great leaps over the last fifteen years. Today, the landscape is almost unrecognisable. The numbers of available atomic resolution structures have increased 10-fold though advances in crystallography and more recently by cryo-electron microscopy. These advances in structural biology were achieved through the efforts of many researchers around the world as well as initiatives such as the Membrane Protein Laboratory (MPL) at Diamond Light Source. The MPL has helped, provided access to and contributed to advances in protein production, sample preparation and data collection. Together, these advances have enabled higher resolution structures, from less material, at a greater rate, from a more diverse range of membrane protein targets. Despite this success, significant challenges remain. Here, we review the progress made and highlight current and future challenges that will be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Birch
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Harish Cheruvara
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Nadisha Gamage
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Peter J. Harrison
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Ryan Lithgo
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Andrew Quigley
- Membrane Protein Laboratory, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (J.B.); (H.C.); (N.G.); (P.J.H.); (R.L.)
- Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH), Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
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18
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McGregor NGS, Turkenburg JP, Mørkeberg Krogh KBR, Nielsen JE, Artola M, Stubbs KA, Overkleeft HS, Davies GJ. Structure of a GH51 α-L-arabinofuranosidase from Meripilus giganteus: conserved substrate recognition from bacteria to fungi. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:1124-1133. [PMID: 33135683 PMCID: PMC7604909 DOI: 10.1107/s205979832001253x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
α-L-Arabinofuranosidases from glycoside hydrolase family 51 use a stereochemically retaining hydrolytic mechanism to liberate nonreducing terminal α-L-arabinofuranose residues from plant polysaccharides such as arabinoxylan and arabinan. To date, more than ten fungal GH51 α-L-arabinofuranosidases have been functionally characterized, yet no structure of a fungal GH51 enzyme has been solved. In contrast, seven bacterial GH51 enzyme structures, with low sequence similarity to the fungal GH51 enzymes, have been determined. Here, the crystallization and structural characterization of MgGH51, an industrially relevant GH51 α-L-arabinofuranosidase cloned from Meripilus giganteus, are reported. Three crystal forms were grown in different crystallization conditions. The unliganded structure was solved using sulfur SAD data collected from a single crystal using the I23 in vacuo diffraction beamline at Diamond Light Source. Crystal soaks with arabinose, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-arabinitol and two cyclophellitol-derived arabinose mimics reveal a conserved catalytic site and conformational itinerary between fungal and bacterial GH51 α-L-arabinofuranosidases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G. S. McGregor
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Johan P. Turkenburg
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jens Erik Nielsen
- Protein Biochemistry and Stability, Novozymes A/S, Krogshøjvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark
| | - Marta Artola
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Herman S. Overkleeft
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gideon J. Davies
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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19
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Park JK, Park S. A Single Soaked Iridium (
IV
) Ion Observed in the Frog Ependymin‐Related Protein. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Kuk Park
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University Seoul 06978 South Korea
| | - SangYoun Park
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University Seoul 06978 South Korea
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20
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Lawrence JM, Orlans J, Evans G, Orville AM, Foadi J, Aller P. High-throughput in situ experimental phasing. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:790-801. [PMID: 32744261 PMCID: PMC7397491 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320009109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In this article, a new approach to experimental phasing for macromolecular crystallography (MX) at synchrotrons is introduced and described for the first time. It makes use of automated robotics applied to a multi-crystal framework in which human intervention is reduced to a minimum. Hundreds of samples are automatically soaked in heavy-atom solutions, using a Labcyte Inc. Echo 550 Liquid Handler, in a highly controlled and optimized fashion in order to generate derivatized and isomorphous crystals. Partial data sets obtained on MX beamlines using an in situ setup for data collection are processed with the aim of producing good-quality anomalous signal leading to successful experimental phasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Lawrence
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Julien Orlans
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- UMR0203, Biologie Fonctionnelle, Insectes et Interactions (BF2i); Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon); Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), University of Lyon (Univ Lyon), F-69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gwyndaf Evans
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Allen M. Orville
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - James Foadi
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Aller
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
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21
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Truong JQ, Panjikar S, Shearwin-Whyatt L, Bruning JB, Shearwin KE. Combining random microseed matrix screening and the magic triangle for the efficient structure solution of a potential lysin from bacteriophage P68. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2019; 75:670-681. [PMID: 31282476 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798319009008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Two commonly encountered bottlenecks in the structure determination of a protein by X-ray crystallography are screening for conditions that give high-quality crystals and, in the case of novel structures, finding derivatization conditions for experimental phasing. In this study, the phasing molecule 5-amino-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid (I3C) was added to a random microseed matrix screen to generate high-quality crystals derivatized with I3C in a single optimization experiment. I3C, often referred to as the magic triangle, contains an aromatic ring scaffold with three bound I atoms. This approach was applied to efficiently phase the structures of hen egg-white lysozyme and the N-terminal domain of the Orf11 protein from Staphylococcus phage P68 (Orf11 NTD) using SAD phasing. The structure of Orf11 NTD suggests that it may play a role as a virion-associated lysin or endolysin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Quyen Truong
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Santosh Panjikar
- MX, Australian Synchrotron, 800 Blackburn Road Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Linda Shearwin-Whyatt
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - John B Bruning
- Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Keith E Shearwin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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22
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Cherrier MV, Amara P, Talbi B, Salmain M, Fontecilla-Camps JC. Crystallographic evidence for unexpected selective tyrosine hydroxylations in an aerated achiral Ru-papain conjugate. Metallomics 2018; 10:1452-1459. [PMID: 30175357 DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00160j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The X-ray structure of an aerated achiral Ru-papain conjugate has revealed the hydroxylation of two tyrosine residues found near the ruthenium ion. The most likely mechanism involves a ruthenium-bound superoxide as the reactive species responsible for the first hydroxylation and the resulting high valent Ru(iv)[double bond, length as m-dash]O species for the second one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickaël V Cherrier
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Patricia Amara
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Metalloproteins, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Barisa Talbi
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Michèle Salmain
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
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23
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Bijelic A, Rompel A. Polyoxometalates: more than a phasing tool in protein crystallography. CHEMTEXTS 2018; 4:10. [PMID: 30596006 PMCID: PMC6294228 DOI: 10.1007/s40828-018-0064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Protein crystallography is the most widely used method for determining the molecular structure of proteins and obtaining structural information on protein–ligand complexes at the atomic level. As the structure determines the functions and properties of a protein, crystallography is of immense importance for nearly all research fields related to biochemistry. However, protein crystallography suffers from some major drawbacks, whereby the unpredictability of the crystallization process represents the main bottleneck. Crystallization is still more or less a ‘trial and error’ based procedure, and therefore, very time and resource consuming. Many strategies have been developed in the past decades to improve or enable the crystallization of proteins, whereby the use of so-called additives, which are mostly small molecules that make proteins more amenable to crystallization, is one of the most convenient and successful methods. Most of the commonly used additives are, however, restricted to particular crystallization conditions or groups of proteins. Therefore, a more universal additive addressing a wider range of proteins and being applicable to a broad spectrum of crystallization conditions would represent a significant advance in the field of protein crystallography. In recent years, polyoxometalates (POMs) emerged as a promising group of crystallization additives due to their unique structures and properties. In this regard, the tellurium-centered Anderson–Evans polyoxotungstate [TeW6O24]6− (TEW) showed its high potential as crystallization additive. In this lecture text, the development of POMs as tools in protein crystallography are discussed with a special focus on the so far most successful cluster TEW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Bijelic
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Annette Rompel
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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24
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Ereño-Orbea J, Sicard T, Cui H, Akula I, Julien JP. Characterization of Glycoproteins with the Immunoglobulin Fold by X-Ray Crystallography and Biophysical Techniques. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30035760 PMCID: PMC6124603 DOI: 10.3791/57750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycoproteins on the surface of cells play critical roles in cellular function, including signalling, adhesion and transport. On leukocytes, several of these glycoproteins possess immunoglobulin (Ig) folds and are central to immune recognition and regulation. Here, we present a platform for the design, expression and biophysical characterization of the extracellular domain of human B cell receptor CD22. We propose that these approaches are broadly applicable to the characterization of mammalian glycoprotein ectodomains containing Ig domains. Two suspension human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell lines, HEK293F and HEK293S, are used to express glycoproteins harbouring complex and high-mannose glycans, respectively. These recombinant glycoproteins with different glycoforms allow investigating the effect of glycan size and composition on ligand binding. We discuss protocols for studying the kinetics and thermodynamics of glycoprotein binding to biologically relevant ligands and therapeutic antibody candidates. Recombinant glycoproteins produced in HEK293S cells are amenable to crystallization due to glycan homogeneity, reduced flexibility and susceptibility to endoglycosidase H treatment. We present methods for soaking glycoprotein crystals with heavy atoms and small molecules for phase determination and analysis of ligand binding, respectively. The experimental protocols discussed here hold promise for the characterization of mammalian glycoproteins to give insight into their function and investigate the mechanism of action of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Ereño-Orbea
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
| | - Taylor Sicard
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto
| | - Hong Cui
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
| | - Indira Akula
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
| | - Jean-Philippe Julien
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto;
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25
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Abstract
Exciting new technological developments have pushed the boundaries of structural biology, and have enabled studies of biological macromolecules and assemblies that would have been unthinkable not long ago. Yet, the enhanced capabilities of structural biologists to pry into the complex molecular world have also placed new demands on the abilities of protein engineers to reproduce this complexity into the test tube. With this challenge in mind, we review the contents of the modern molecular engineering toolbox that allow the manipulation of proteins in a site-specific and chemically well-defined fashion. Thus, we cover concepts related to the modification of cysteines and other natural amino acids, native chemical ligation, intein and sortase-based approaches, amber suppression, as well as chemical and enzymatic bio-conjugation strategies. We also describe how these tools can be used to aid methodology development in X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy and in the studies of dynamic interactions. It is our hope that this monograph will inspire structural biologists and protein engineers alike to apply these tools to novel systems, and to enhance and broaden their scope to meet the outstanding challenges in understanding the molecular basis of cellular processes and disease.
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26
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Foos N, Seuring C, Schubert R, Burkhardt A, Svensson O, Meents A, Chapman HN, Nanao MH. X-ray and UV radiation-damage-induced phasing using synchrotron serial crystallography. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2018; 74:366-378. [PMID: 29652263 PMCID: PMC5892880 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318001535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Multi-crystal serial crystallography data can be used for UV and X-ray radiation-damage-induced phasing. Specific radiation damage can be used to determine phases de novo from macromolecular crystals. This method is known as radiation-damage-induced phasing (RIP). One limitation of the method is that the dose of individual data sets must be minimized, which in turn leads to data sets with low multiplicity. A solution to this problem is to use data from multiple crystals. However, the resulting signal can be degraded by a lack of isomorphism between crystals. Here, it is shown that serial synchrotron crystallography in combination with selective merging of data sets can be used to determine high-quality phases for insulin and thaumatin, and that the increased multiplicity can greatly enhance the success rate of the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Foos
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Genoble, France
| | - Carolin Seuring
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Schubert
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anja Burkhardt
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olof Svensson
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Genoble, France
| | - Alke Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Henry N Chapman
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Max H Nanao
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Genoble, France
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27
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Abstract
Radiation damage still remains a major limitation and challenge in macromolecular X-ray crystallography. Some of the high-intensity radiation used for diffraction data collection experiments is absorbed by the crystals, generating free radicals. These give rise to radiation damage even at cryotemperatures (~100 K), which can lead to incorrect biological conclusions being drawn from the resulting structure, or even prevent structure solution entirely. Investigation of mitigation strategies and the effects caused by radiation damage has been extensive over the past fifteen years. Here, recent understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena of radiation damage is described, along with the global effects inflicted on the collected data and the specific effects observed in the solved structure. Furthermore, this review aims to summarise the progress made in radiation damage studies in macromolecular crystallography from the experimentalist’s point of view and to give an introduction to the current literature.
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28
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Künzle M, Lach M, Beck T. Crystalline protein scaffolds as a defined environment for the synthesis of bioinorganic materials. Dalton Trans 2018; 47:10382-10387. [DOI: 10.1039/c8dt01192c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We discuss synthetic strategies and applications of highly ordered bioinorganic materials based on crystalline protein scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Künzle
- RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry
- JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter)
- and I3TM
- 52074 Aachen
| | - Marcel Lach
- RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry
- JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter)
- and I3TM
- 52074 Aachen
| | - Tobias Beck
- RWTH Aachen University
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry
- JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter)
- and I3TM
- 52074 Aachen
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29
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Huber TR, McPherson EC, Keating CE, Snow CD. Installing Guest Molecules at Specific Sites within Scaffold Protein Crystals. Bioconjug Chem 2017; 29:17-22. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thaddaus R. Huber
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1301 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Eli C. McPherson
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1301 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Carolyn E. Keating
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1301 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Christopher D. Snow
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, 1301 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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30
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Lach M, Künzle M, Beck T. Free-Standing Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Superlattices Constructed with Engineered Protein Containers Show in Crystallo Catalytic Activity. Chemistry 2017; 23:17482-17486. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201705061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Lach
- RWTH Aachen University; Institute of Inorganic Chemistry; JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter); and I3TM; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Matthias Künzle
- RWTH Aachen University; Institute of Inorganic Chemistry; JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter); and I3TM; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Tobias Beck
- RWTH Aachen University; Institute of Inorganic Chemistry; JARA-SOFT (Researching Soft Matter); and I3TM; 52074 Aachen Germany
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31
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Hansen SB, Laursen NS, Andersen GR, Andersen KR. Introducing site-specific cysteines into nanobodies for mercury labelling allows de novo phasing of their crystal structures. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2017; 73:804-813. [PMID: 28994409 PMCID: PMC5633906 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317013171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of high-quality protein crystals and the loss of phase information during an X-ray crystallography diffraction experiment represent the major bottlenecks in the determination of novel protein structures. A generic method for introducing Hg atoms into any crystal independent of the presence of free cysteines in the target protein could considerably facilitate the process of obtaining unbiased experimental phases. Nanobodies (single-domain antibodies) have recently been shown to promote the crystallization and structure determination of flexible proteins and complexes. To extend the usability of nanobodies for crystallographic work, variants of the Nb36 nanobody with a single free cysteine at one of four framework-residue positions were developed. These cysteines could be labelled with fluorophores or Hg. For one cysteine variant (Nb36-C85) two nanobody structures were experimentally phased using single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) and single isomorphous replacement with anomalous signal (SIRAS), taking advantage of radiation-induced changes in Cys-Hg bonding. Importantly, Hg labelling influenced neither the interaction of Nb36 with its antigen complement C5 nor its structure. The results suggest that Cys-Hg-labelled nanobodies may become efficient tools for obtaining de novo phase information during the structure determination of nanobody-protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Boje Hansen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nick Stub Laursen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gregers Rom Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kasper R. Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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32
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Espinosa S, Zhang L, Li X, Zhao R. Understanding pre-mRNA splicing through crystallography. Methods 2017; 125:55-62. [PMID: 28506657 PMCID: PMC5546983 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2017.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystallography is a powerful tool to determine the atomic structures of proteins and RNAs. X-ray crystallography has been used to determine the structure of many splicing related proteins and RNAs, making major contributions to our understanding of the molecular mechanism and regulation of pre-mRNA splicing. Compared to other structural methods, crystallography has its own advantage in the high-resolution structural information it can provide and the unique biological questions it can answer. In addition, two new crystallographic methods - the serial femtosecond crystallography and 3D electron crystallography - were developed to overcome some of the limitations of traditional X-ray crystallography and broaden the range of biological problems that crystallography can solve. This review discusses the theoretical basis, instrument requirements, troubleshooting, and exciting potential of these crystallographic methods to further our understanding of pre-mRNA splicing, a critical event in gene expression of all eukaryotes.
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33
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Ni F, Kung A, Duan Y, Shah V, Amador CD, Guo M, Fan X, Chen L, Chen Y, McKenna CE, Zhang C. Remarkably Stereospecific Utilization of ATP α,β-Halomethylene Analogues by Protein Kinases. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:7701-7704. [PMID: 28535041 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b03266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
ATP analogues containing a CXY group in place of the α,β-bridging oxygen atom are powerful chemical probes for studying ATP-dependent enzymes. A limitation of such probes has been that conventional synthetic methods generate a mixture of diastereomers when the bridging carbon substitution is nonequivalent (X ≠ Y). We report here a novel method based on derivatization of a bisphosphonate precursor with a d-phenylglycine chiral auxiliary that enables preparation of the individual diastereomers of α,β-CHF-ATP and α,β-CHCl-ATP, which differ only in the configuration at the CHX carbon. When tested on a dozen divergent protein kinases, these individual diastereomers exhibit remarkable diastereospecificity (up to over 1000-fold) in utilization by the enzymes. This high selectivity can be exploited in an enzymatic approach to obtain the otherwise inaccessible diastereomers of α,β-CHBr-ATP. The crystal structure of a tyrosine kinase Src bound to α,β-CHX-ADP establishes the absolute configuration of the CHX carbon and helps clarify the origin of the remarkable diastereospecificity observed. We further synthesized the individual diastereomers of α,β-CHF-γ-thiol-ATP and demonstrated their utility in labeling a wide spectrum of kinase substrates. The novel ATP substrate analogues afforded by these two complementary strategies should have broad application in the study of the structure and function of ATP-dependent enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Ni
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.,Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Alvin Kung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.,Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Yankun Duan
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.,Molecular & Computational Biology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Vivek Shah
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Carolina D Amador
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Ming Guo
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xuegong Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.,Molecular & Computational Biology Program, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University , Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Charles E McKenna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.,Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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34
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Quistgaard EM, Martinez Molledo M, Löw C. Structure determination of a major facilitator peptide transporter: Inward facing PepTSt from Streptococcus thermophilus crystallized in space group P3121. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173126. [PMID: 28264013 PMCID: PMC5338821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) peptide transporters (typically referred to as PepT, POT or PTR transporters) mediate the uptake of di- and tripeptides, and so play an important dietary role in many organisms. In recent years, a better understanding of the molecular basis for this process has emerged, which is in large part due to a steep increase in structural information. Yet, the conformational transitions underlying the transport mechanism are still not fully understood, and additional data is therefore needed. Here we report in detail the detergent screening, crystallization, experimental MIRAS phasing, and refinement of the peptide transporter PepTSt from Streptococcus thermophilus. The space group is P3121, and the protein is crystallized in a monomeric inward facing form. The binding site is likely to be somewhat occluded, as the lobe encompassing transmembrane helices 10 and 11 is markedly bent towards the central pore of the protein, but the extent of this potential occlusion could not be determined due to disorder at the apex of the lobe. Based on structural comparisons with the seven previously determined P212121 and C2221 structures of inward facing PepTSt, the structural flexibility as well as the conformational changes mediating transition between the inward open and inward facing occluded states are discussed. In conclusion, this report improves our understanding of the structure and conformational cycle of PepTSt, and can furthermore serve as a case study, which may aid in supporting future structure determinations of additional MFS transporters or other integral membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esben M. Quistgaard
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), DESY and European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Martinez Molledo
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), DESY and European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Löw
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), DESY and European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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35
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Schieferstein JM, Pawate AS, Sun C, Wan F, Sheraden PN, Broecker J, Ernst OP, Gennis RB, Kenis PJA. X-ray transparent microfluidic chips for high-throughput screening and optimization of in meso membrane protein crystallization. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2017; 11:024118. [PMID: 28469762 PMCID: PMC5403737 DOI: 10.1063/1.4981818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating and clarifying the function of membrane proteins ultimately requires atomic resolution structures as determined most commonly by X-ray crystallography. Many high impact membrane protein structures have resulted from advanced techniques such as in meso crystallization that present technical difficulties for the set-up and scale-out of high-throughput crystallization experiments. In prior work, we designed a novel, low-throughput X-ray transparent microfluidic device that automated the mixing of protein and lipid by diffusion for in meso crystallization trials. Here, we report X-ray transparent microfluidic devices for high-throughput crystallization screening and optimization that overcome the limitations of scale and demonstrate their application to the crystallization of several membrane proteins. Two complementary chips are presented: (1) a high-throughput screening chip to test 192 crystallization conditions in parallel using as little as 8 nl of membrane protein per well and (2) a crystallization optimization chip to rapidly optimize preliminary crystallization hits through fine-gradient re-screening. We screened three membrane proteins for new in meso crystallization conditions, identifying several preliminary hits that we tested for X-ray diffraction quality. Further, we identified and optimized the crystallization condition for a photosynthetic reaction center mutant and solved its structure to a resolution of 3.5 Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Schieferstein
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Ashtamurthy S Pawate
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Chang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Frank Wan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Paige N Sheraden
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Jana Broecker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S IA8, Canada
| | | | - Robert B Gennis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Paul J A Kenis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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36
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Liu Q, Hendrickson WA. Contemporary Use of Anomalous Diffraction in Biomolecular Structure Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1607:377-399. [PMID: 28573582 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7000-1_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The normal elastic X-ray scattering that depends only on electron density can be modulated by an "anomalous" component due to resonance between X-rays and electronic orbitals. Anomalous scattering thereby precisely identifies atomic species, since orbitals distinguish atomic elements, which enables the multi- and single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD and SAD) methods. SAD now predominates in de novo structure determination of biological macromolecules, and we focus here on the prevailing SAD method. We describe the anomalous phasing theory and the periodic table of phasing elements that are available for SAD experiments, differentiating between those readily accessible for at-resonance experiments and those that can be effective away from an edge. We describe procedures for present-day SAD phasing experiments and we discuss optimization of anomalous signals for challenging applications. We also describe methods for using anomalous signals as molecular markers for tracing and element identification. Emerging developments and perspectives are discussed in brief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Liu
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO Box 5000, 50 Bell Ave, Building 463, Upton, NY, 11973, USA.
| | - Wayne A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, 202 Black Building, 650 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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