Structure-function relationships in the polypeptide cardiac stimulant, anthopleurin-A. Effects of limited proteolysis by trypsin

Site-3 sea anemone toxins: Molecular probes of gating mechanisms in voltage-dependent sodium channels

Sea anemone toxins, whose biological function is the capture of marine prey, are invaluable tools for studying the structure and function of mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels. Their high degree of specificity and selectivity have allowed for detailed analysis of inactivation gating and assignment of molecular entities responsible for this process. Because of their ability to discriminate among channel isoforms, and their high degree of structural conservation, these toxins could serve as important lead compounds for future pharmaceutical design.

Structure and function of Cerebratulus lacteus neurotoxin B-IV: tryptophan-30 is critical for function while lysines-18, -19, -29, and -33 are not required

The Cerebratulus lacteus B-toxins are a family of polypeptide neurotoxins known to bind to crustacean voltage-sensitive sodium channels. We have previously shown that in the most abundant homolog, toxin B-IV, Arg-17 in the N-terminal helix and a positive charge at position 25 in the loop region are essential for function. In this report, we target a tryptophan residue at position 30, as well as lysine residues found in both the N-terminal helix and loop regions by polymerase chain reaction mutagenesis, to determine their contributions to toxin activity. Substitution of Trp-30 with a serine causes a more than 40-fold reduction in specific toxicity, whereas replacement by tyrosine and phenylalanine is well tolerated. The secondary structures of both these muteins are identical to that of the wild-type toxin as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Thermal denaturation experiments also show that their conformational stabilities are intact. These results demonstrate that an aromatic residue at this position is required for toxin function. Charge neutralizing substitutions of Lys-18 and Lys-19 located in the N-terminal helix have very little effect on toxicity, suggesting the nonessentiality of these residues. Similar results are also obtained for the charge neutralizing muteins for Lys-29 and Lys-33 in the loop region. Interestingly, reduction experiments demonstrate that both K29N and W30S are more sensitive to reducing agent than wild-type B-IV, raising the possibility that the loop sequence may modulate toxin stability.

Role for Pro-13 in directing high-affinity binding of anthopleurin B to the voltage-sensitive sodium channel

Anthopleurin A (ApA) and B (ApB) are 49-amino acid polypeptide toxins from the Pacific sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica that interfere with inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels. ApA, which differs from ApB in seven of the 49 amino acids, displays markedly enhanced isoform selectivity compared with ApB, acting preferentially on cardiac over neuronal sodium channels. Previous studies in this lab have indicated the importance of two unique charged residues in ApB, Arg-12 and Lys-49, in this toxin's ability to discriminate between neuronal and cardiac sodium channels. Likewise, a double mutant (R12S/K49Q) recently characterized in this lab (Khera et al., 1995) displays a greatly reduced affinity for neuronal channels, essentially restoring the discriminatory ability of ApA. When the remaining five residues unique to ApB are individually converted to those of ApA, only ApB (Pro-13) shows a major effect, reducing the affinity of the new mutant toxin (P13V) against both channel isoforms approximately 10-fold. This effect is most likely the result of a conformational rearrangement within the surrounding cationic cluster which includes Arg-12 and -14, as well as Lys-49. However, when placed into the context of the double mutant R12S/K49Q a unique effect is observed: the new triple mutant (R12S/P13V/K49Q) is no longer able to discriminate effectively between channel isoforms. Its affinity for the neuronal sodium channel is significantly enhanced compared to either P13V or to the double mutant R12S/K49Q. These results are consistent both with our proposed model (Khera et al., 1995) and with the recently reported solution structure of ApB, which implicate the cationic cluster in both affinity and channel isoform selectivity. We suggest that the P13V mutation results in a shift in the relative orientation of cationic residues within the large flexible loop between residues 9-18, thus strengthening their interactions with target sequences of the neuronal sodium channel.

Solution structure of the cardiostimulant polypeptide anthopleurin-B and comparison with anthopleurin-A

BACKGROUND

The polypeptide anthopleurin-B (AP-B) is one of a number of related toxins produced by sea anemones. AP-B delays inactivation of the voltage-gated sodium channel of excitable tissue. In the mammalian heart, this effect is manifest as an increase in the force of contraction. As a result, there is interest in exploiting the anthopleurins as lead compounds in the design of novel cardiac stimulants. Essential to this endeavour is a high-resolution solution structure of the molecule describing the positions of functionally important side chains.

RESULTS

AP-B exists in multiple conformations in solution as a result of cis-trans isomerization about the Gly40-Pro41 peptide bond. The solution structure of the major conformer of AP-B has been determined by two-dimensional 1H NMR at pH 4.5 and 25 degrees C. The core structure is a four-stranded, antiparallel beta-sheet (residues 2-4, 20-23, 34-37 and 45-48) and includes several beta-turns (6-9, 25-28, 30-33). Three loops connect the beta-strands, the longest and least well defined being the first loop, extending from residues 8-17. These features are shared by other members of this family of sea anemone toxins. The locations of a number of side chains which are important for the cardiac stimulatory activity of AP-B are well defined in the structures.

CONCLUSIONS

We have described the solution structure of AP-B and compared it with that of AP-A, from which it differs by substitutions at seven amino acid positions. It shares an essentially identical fold with AP-A yet is about 10-fold more active. Comparison of the structures, particularly in the region of residues essential for activity, gives a clearer indication of the location and extent of the cardioactive pharmacophore in these polypeptides.

Chemical modification of cationic groups in the polypeptide cardiac stimulant anthopleurin-A

Chemical modification studies have been carried out on the sea anemone polypeptide anthopleurin-A in order to clarify the role of Arg-14 in its cardiac stimulatory activity. Reaction with 1,2-cyclohexanedione at 37 degrees C produced a range of protein products, including some with amino group modifications. These side-reactions were eliminated by prior citraconylation of the amino groups, which, following reaction with cyclohexanedione, could be reversed under conditions which preserved the cyclohexanedione adduct. Citraconylation of the three amino groups, one from the N-terminus and two from Lys-37 and Lys-48, destroyed the cardiac stimulatory activity of the molecule, but this was fully recoverable upon reversal of this reaction. It appears that one or more of the amino groups is essential for activity. Anthopleurin-A contains only one arginine residue, and this was confirmed as the site of modification by cyclohexanedione by showing that the product was refractory to proteolysis by trypsin, which normally cleaves the molecule at this residue. The positive inotropic activity of the cyclohexanedione adduct on isolated guinea-pig atria was identical to that of unmodified anthopleurin-A, indicating that the side-chain of Arg-14 is not required for cardiotonic activity.

Limited proteolysis study of structure-function relationships in Sh I, a polypeptide neurotoxin from a sea anemone

The structure-function relationships of the neurotoxic polypeptide Sh I, from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, have been studied using limited proteolysis with trypsin and endoproteinase Lys-C. Major products from each of the proteolytic digests were characterised using N-terminal peptide sequencing and amino-acid analysis or mass spectrometry. Of the six possible tryptic cleavage sites in Sh I, the bonds adjacent to Arg-13 and Lys-47 were found to be the most susceptible, complete cleavage occurring within minutes. Cleavages adjacent to Lys-32 and Lys-46 proceeded more slowly and cleavage adjacent to Arg-45 was the slowest. The sixth potential site, adjacent to Lys-4, was not cleaved at all. All derivatives were inactive as crustacean neurotoxins. Cleavage with endoproteinase Lys-C generated two major products. Derivatives cleaved adjacent to Lys-32 and either Lys-46 or Lys-47 were isolated. Both were inactive, indicating that either cleavage adjacent to Lys-32 or the removal of the C-terminal lysine residue(s) was sufficient to abolish activity. Lys-4 again was refractory to cleavage. The sequence of cleavage events correlated well with the static accessibility of the lysyl and arginyl side chains and to a lesser extent with the accessibility of the carbonyl oxygen of susceptible peptide bonds, as measured from the solution structure of Sh I determined by 1H-NMR. In the case of Lys-4, the lack of cleavage by trypsin and endoproteinase Lys-C may reflect a lack of flexibility in this region. The effects of the various cleavages on biological activity emphasise that the surface of the protein near the reverse turn encompassing Asp-6, Asp-7 and Glu-8 is essential for activity.

1H-n.m.r. study of the solution properties and secondary structure of neurotoxin III from the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata

The solution properties, secondary structure and global fold of the 27-residue polypeptide neurotoxin III (ATX III), from the sea anemone Anemonia sulcata, have been investigated using high-resolution 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Studies of the concentration dependence of the n.m.r. spectrum indicate that the molecule self-associates in the millimolar concentration range useable for n.m.r. analysis, the association being less pronounced at acidic pH values. The dependence on pH of association implies that electrostatic interactions play a role in this process, while the significant concentration-dependent shifts of the aromatic resonances of Tyr-7 and Trp-13 indicate that hydrophobic interactions also contribute. Individual pKa values have been determined for most ionizable groups in the molecule. Sequence-specific resonance assignments were obtained for all protons using a range of two-dimensional homonuclear-correlated and nuclear-Overhauser-effect (nOe) spectra. The secondary structure of the polypeptide was identified from sequential (i, i+1) and medium-range (i, i+2/3/4) nOe connectivities, NH to C alpha H coupling constants, C alpha H chemical shifts, and the location of slowly exchanging backbone-amide protons. ATX III contains no regular alpha-helix or beta-sheet, consisting instead of a network of reverse turns. nOe connectivities between half-cystine residues are consistent with the disulphide pairings 3-17, 4-11 and 6-22. ATX III has a well-defined structure and appears to lack the disordered loop which, in the longer sea anemone toxins (46-49 residues), may be part of the receptor-binding surface.

Sequential 1H-NMR assignments of neurotoxin III from the sea anemone Heteractis macrodactylus and structural comparison with related toxins

The complete sequence-specific assignment of resonances in the 1H-NMR spectrum of the polypeptide neurotoxin III (Hm III) from the sea anemone Heteractis macrodactylus is described. Comparison of the chemical shifts and pattern of NOEs for Hm III with those for the related toxin Hp III from Heteractis paumotensis, which differs only in the substitution of Asn for Tyr at position 11, shows that the overall secondary and tertiary structures are conserved. The largest differences in chemical shift caused by the substitution at position 11 are observed for the NH resonances of Arg-13, Thr-14, Ala-15, Leu-17, and Cys-26. The C alpha H resonances influenced most are those of ASP-6, Gly-9, Leu-17, and Glu-42, while the most affected C beta H resonances are from Leu-17, Glu-28, and Lys-32. The absence of long-range NOEs to the aromatic ring of Tyr-11 as well as the lack of significant chemical shift effects on residues outside the loop comprising residues 7-16 confirm that this part of the loop makes no long-lived contacts with the rest of the molecule. The deviations from random coil shifts of Hm III are compared with those of the related anemone toxins Hp II, Hp III, and toxin I from Stichodactyla helianthus (Sh I). The similarity in deviations in chemical shift as a function of sequence position for these four toxins emphasizes the overall structural homology among these polypeptides.

Linear and cyclic peptide analogues of the polypeptide cardiac stimulant, anthopleurin-A. 1H-NMR and biological activity studies

A loop corresponding to residues 8-17 in the polypeptide cardiac stimulant anthopleurin-A is known to be important for the cardiostimulant activity of this molecule. To investigate the activity and possible conformations of this loop in isolation, two synthetic peptides have been studied. The first corresponds to residues 6-20 of anthopleurin-A with Cys6 replaced by Thr, and the second to residues 6-21 of anthopleurin-A, with Thr21 replaced by Cys. The introduction of an additional cysteine in the latter peptide enabled an intramolecular disulfide to be formed between the N- and C-terminal residues. Both linear peptides and the disulfide-containing analogue lack the cardiostimulant and Na(+-)-channel binding activity in the parent molecule, anthopleurin-A, indicating that although the loop is important for the function of anthopleurin-A, other regions of the molecule must also be involved in activity. Assignments of the 1H-NMR spectra of both peptides are presented, and their pH and temperature dependences investigated. The results show that the amide protons of Gly5 and Asn11 (corresponding to Gly10 and Asn16 in anthopleurin-A) sample hydrogen-bonded conformations in solution. Based on these NMR data, two regions of non-random structure, encompassing residues 2-5 and 8-11, respectively, are proposed, and the possible involvement of such structures in the activity of anthopleurin-A is discussed.

Structure and structure-function relationships of sea anemone proteins that interact with the sodium channel

Sea anemones produce a series of toxic polypeptides and proteins with molecular weights in the range 3000-5000 that act by binding to specific receptor sites on the voltage-gated sodium channel of excitable tissue. This article reviews our current knowledge of the molecular basis for activity of these molecules, with particular emphasis on recent results on their receptor binding properties, the role of individual residues in activity and receptor binding, and their three-dimensional structures as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A region of these molecules that constitutes at least part of the receptor binding domain is proposed.