Two-dimensional NMR studies on des-pentapeptide-insulin. Proton resonance assignments and secondary structure analysis

A thing of beauty: Structure and function of insulin's "aromatic triplet"

The classical crystal structure of insulin was determined in 1969 by D.C. Hodgkin et al. following a 35-year program of research. This structure depicted a hexamer remarkable for its self-assembly as a zinc-coordinated trimer of dimer. Prominent at the dimer interface was an "aromatic triplet" of conserved residues at consecutive positions in the B chain: PheB24 , PheB25 and TyrB26 . The elegance of this interface inspired the Oxford team to poetry: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" (John Keats as quoted by Blundell, T.L., et al. Advances in Protein Chemistry 26:279-286 [1972]). Here, we revisit this aromatic triplet in light of recent advances in the structural biology of insulin bound as a monomer to fragments of the insulin receptor. Such co-crystal structures have defined how these side chains pack at the primary hormone-binding surface of the receptor ectodomain. On receptor binding, the B-chain β-strand (residues B24-B28) containing the aromatic triplet detaches from the α-helical core of the hormone. Whereas TyrB26 lies at the periphery of the receptor interface and may functionally be replaced by a diverse set of substitutions, PheB24 and PheB25 engage invariant elements of receptor domains L1 and αCT. These critical contacts were anticipated by the discovery of diabetes-associated mutations at these positions by Donald Steiner et al. at the University of Chicago. Conservation of PheB24 , PheB25 and TyrB26 among vertebrate insulins reflects the striking confluence of structure-based evolutionary constraints: foldability, protective self-assembly and hormonal activity.

Evidence of oligomerization of bovine insulin in solution given by NMR

The protein hormone insulin exists in several forms in nature, and a large number of modified sequences are used in pharmacy. They differ by physicochemical properties and efficiency of biological action. Pancreatic bovine insulin was studied in an acidic solution by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [Formula: see text]H and [Formula: see text]C NMR signal assignment of backbone and side chains was made by analysis of a set of 2D spectra obtained on a sample with natural isotope abundance. The presence of certain secondary structure elements was revealed on a qualitative level based on nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, which are similar to those observed in the crystal structure. The C-terminus of the B-chain possessed a remarkable flexibility. The molecule was shown to exist in exchange with oligomers based on its self-diffusion coefficient and correlation time measurements performed at different concentrations. Certain signals in the NOESY and HSQC spectra are consistent with the presence of minor conformers; this is an obstacle in simulating the molecular structure under the conditions used in the experiment.

Aggregation of bovine insulin probed by DSC/PPC calorimetry and FTIR spectroscopy

Pressure perturbation calorimetry (PPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been employed to investigate aggregation of bovine insulin at pH 1.9. The aggregation process exhibits two distinguished phases. In the first phase, an intermediate molten globule-like conformational state is transiently formed, reflected by loose tertiary contacts and a robust H/D-exchange. This is followed by unfolding of the native secondary structure. The unfolding of insulin is fast, endothermic, partly reversible, and accompanied by a volume expansion of approximately 0.2%. The second phase consists of actual aggregation: an exothermic irreversible process revealing typical features of nucleation-controlled kinetics. The volumetric changes associated with the second phase are small. The concentration-dependence of DSC scans does not support a monomer intermediate model. While insulin aggregation under ambient pressure is fast and quantitative, pressure as low as 300 bar is sufficient to prevent the aggregation completely, as high-pressure FTIR spectroscopy revealed. This is explained in terms of the high pressure having an adverse effect on the thermal unfolding of insulin, and therefore preventing occurrence of the aggregation-prone intermediate. A comparison of the aggregation in H(2)O and D(2)O shows that the isotopic substitution has diverse effects on both the phases of aggregation. In heavy water, a more pronounced volume expansion accompanies the unfolding stage, while only the second phase shifts to higher temperature.

Mutational analysis of invariant valine B12 in insulin: implications for receptor binding

An invariant residue, valine B12, is part of the insulin B-chain central alpha-helix (B9-B19), and its aliphatic side chain lies at the surface of the hydrophobic core of the insulin monomer in close contact with the neighboring aromatic side chains of phenylalanines (B24 and B25) and tyrosines (B26 and B16). This surface contributes to the dimerization of insulin, maintains the active conformation of the insulin monomer, and has been suspected to be directly involved in receptor recognition. To investigate in detail the role of the B12 residue in insulin-receptor interactions, we have synthesized nine analogues bearing natural or unnatural amino acid replacements for valine B12 by chemical synthesis of modified insulin B-chains and the subsequent combination of each synthetic B-chain with natural insulin A-chain. The receptor binding potencies of the synthetic B12 analogues relative to porcine insulin were determined by use of isolated canine hepatocytes, and the following results were obtained: isoleucine, 13%; allo-isoleucine, 77%; tert-leucine, 107%; cyclopropylglycine, 43%; threonine, 5.4%; D-valine, 3.4%; alpha-amino-n-butyric acid, 14%; alanine, 1.0%; and glycine, 0.32%. Selected analogues were also analyzed by far-UV circular dichroic spectroscopy and by absorption spectroscopy of their complexes with Co(2+). Our results indicate that beta-branched aliphatic amino acids are generally tolerated at the B12 position with specific steric preferences and that the receptor binding potencies of these analogues correlate with their abilities to form dimers. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationships of valine B12 are quite similar to those of valine A3, suggesting that valine residues at both A3 and B12 contribute to the insulin-receptor interactions in a similar manner.

Dissecting the hydrogen exchange properties of insulin under amyloid fibril forming conditions: a site-specific investigation by mass spectrometry

We have examined the hydrogen exchange properties of bovine insulin under solution conditions that cause it to aggregate and eventually form amyloid fibrils. The results have been obtained at the residue-specific level using peptic digestion and mass spectrometry. A total of 19 peptides were assigned to regions of the protein and their exchange properties monitored for a period of 24 hours. The results of the peptic digestion show that residues A13 to A21 and B11 to B30 are more susceptible to proteolysis than the N-terminal regions of the protein. A total of 15 slowly exchanging amides were observed for insulin under these solution conditions. Location of the protected amides was carried out using a peptic-digestion protocol at low pH. Chromatographic separation was not required. This enabled a direct comparison of the peptides within the same mass spectrum. From kinetic analysis of the rates slow exchange has been located to 4(+/-1) backbone amides in the A13-A19 helix and 6(+/-1) in the B chain helix. The remaining 5(+/-1) are assigned to helix A2-A8. Taken together the results from digestion and hydrogen exchange show that at low pH and relatively high concentrations the C termini of both chains are susceptible to proteolysis but that the solution structure contains the native state helices. More generally the results demonstrate that mass spectrometry can be applied to study site-specific hydrogen exchange properties of proteins even under conditions where they are known to be partially folded and aggregate extensively in solution.

Solution structure of the B-chain of insulin as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Comparison with the crystal structure of the insulin hexamer and with the solution structure of the insulin monomer

The solution structure of the isolated B-chain of bovine insulin has been determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with simulated annealing calculations. Complete sequence-specific assignments for the proton resonances are reported together with a set of 309 NOEs used in the structure calculations. Chemical-shift variations from random coil values provide support for the existence of helical regions in the polypeptide chain, as do a characteristic series of d alpha beta(i, i + 3) NOEs from residues B8 to B17. While there is some evidence for a limited degree of conformational averaging over the helical region, in general the helix is relatively well defined and corresponds closely to the helical region seen in the X-ray crystal structure of the insulin hexamer. Other similarities with the crystal structure include turn-like conformations at the carboxy terminal end of the helix and extended strands at both the amino and carboxy termini of the peptide. These similarities between the crystal structure and the isolated B-chain suggest that this peptide has intrinsic folding properties, which allow it to adopt its characteristic structure in intact insulin without the need for extensive cooperative interactions with the A-chain. Despite these general similarities, an important difference between the isolated B-chain and the intact protein occurs in the carboxy terminal region. This region appears significantly more mobile in the isolated B-chain. As a conformational change involving the carboxy terminus has been implicated in receptor binding, the current study of the isolated B-chain provides valuable information on the extent of this region's intrinsic mobility.

A 1H-NMR determination of the solution structure of the A-chain of insulin: comparison with the crystal structure and an examination of the role of solvent

The 1H-NMR chemical shift assignments for the oxidized A-chain of bovine insulin have been determined in aqueous and 30% trifluoroethanol/water solutions. Analysis of the observed medium-range nuclear Overhauser effects indicates that in aqueous solution significant populations of the peptide exist, with a 3(10)-helical conformation over residues 12-17. This region corresponds to helix A (13-20) in the crystal structure of the 2 Zn insulin hexamer. In 30% TFE solution, the NOE data are supportive of a random coil conformation throughout the peptide.

High-resolution structure of an engineered biologically potent insulin monomer, B16 Tyr-->His, as determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Site-directed mutagenesis is used in conjunction with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in order to find an insulin species amenable for structure determination in aqueous solution by NMR spectroscopy. A successful candidate in this respect, i.e., B16 Tyr-->His mutant insulin, is identified and selected for detailed characterization by two-dimensional 1H NMR. This mutant species retains 43% biological potency and native folding stability, but in contrast to human insulin it remains monomeric at millimolar concentration in aqueous solution at pH 2.4. The resulting homogeneous sample allows high-quality 2D NMR spectra to be recorded. The NMR studies result in an almost complete assignment of the 1H resonance signals as well as identification of NOE cross peaks. NOE-derived distance restraints in conjunction with torsion restraints based on measured coupling constants, 3JHNH alpha, are used for structure calculations using the hybrid method of distance geometry and simulated annealing. The calculated structures show that the major part of the insulin monomer is structurally well-defined with an average rms deviation between the 20 calculated structures and the mean coordinates of 0.89 A for all backbone atoms, 0.46 A for backbone atoms (A2-A19 and B4-B28), and 1.30 A for all heavy atoms. The structure of the A-chain is composed of two helices from A2 to A7 and from A12 to A19 connected by a short extended strand. The B-chain consists of a loop, B1-B8, an alpha-helix, B9-B19, a beta-turn, B20-B23, and an extended strand from B24 to B30.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural biology and diabetes mellitus: molecular pathogenesis and rational drug design

Emerging concepts in the aetiology and pathogenesis of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus may offer new opportunities for treatment and cure. Here we describe recent advances in structural molecular biology and molecular design relevant to rational drug discovery. Such approaches focus on the three-dimensional structures of macromolecules and their interactions. In the coming decade such techniques may be applied to a wide variety of diabetes-related targets.

Three-dimensional solution structure of an insulin dimer. A study of the B9(Asp) mutant of human insulin using nuclear magnetic resonance, distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics

The solution structure of the B9(Asp) mutant of human insulin has been determined by two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thirty structures were calculated by distance geometry from 451 interproton distance restraints based on intra-residue, sequential and long-range nuclear Overhauser enhancement data, 17 restraints on phi torsional angles obtained from 3JH alpha HN coupling constants, and the restraints from 17 hydrogen bonds, and the three disulphide bridges. The distance geometry structures were optimized using restrained molecular dynamics (RMD) and energy minimization. The average root-mean-square deviation for the best 20 RMD refined structures is 2.26 A for the backbone and 3.14 A for all atoms if the less well-defined N and C-terminal residues are excluded. The helical regions are better defined, with root-mean-square deviation values of 1.11 A for the backbone and 2.03 A for all atoms. The data analysis and the calculations show that B9(Asp) insulin, in water solution at the applied pH (1.8 to 1.9), is a well-defined dimer with no detectable difference between the two monomers. The association of the two monomers in the solution dimer is relatively loose as compared with the crystal dimer. The overall secondary and tertiary structures of the monomers in the 2Zn crystal hexamer is found to be preserved. The conformation-averaged NMR structures obtained for the monomer is close to the structure of molecule 1 in the hexamer of the 2Zn insulin crystal. However, minor, but significant deviations from this structure, as well as from the structure of monomeric insulin in solution, exist and are ascribed to the absence of the hexamer and crystal packing forces, and to the presence of monomer-monomer interactions, respectively. Thus, the monomer in the solution dimer shows a conformation similar to that of the crystal monomer in molecular regions close to the monomer-monomer interface, whereas it assumes a conformation similar to that of the solution structure of monomeric insulin in other regions, suggesting that B9(Asp) insulin adopts a monomer-like conformation when this is not inconsistent with the monomer-monomer arrangement in the dimer.

Detection of an equilibrium intermediate in the folding of a monomeric insulin analog

To determine the conformational properties of the C-terminal region of the insulin B-chain relative to the helical core of the molecule, we have investigated the fluorescence properties of an insulin analog in which amino acids B28 and B29 have been substituted with a tryptophan and proline residue respectively, ([WB28,PB29]insulin). The biological properties and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of the molecule indicate that the conformation is similar to that of native human insulin. Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl)-induced equilibrium denaturation of the analog as monitored by CD intensity at 224 nm indicates a single cooperative transition with a midpoint of 4.9 M GdnHCl. In contrast, when the equilibrium denaturation is observed by steady-state fluorescence emission intensity at 350 nm, two distinct transitions are observed. The first transition accounts for 60% of the observed signal and has a midpoint of 1.5 M GdnHCl. The second transition roughly parallels that observed by CD measurements with an approximate midpoint of 4.5 M GdnHCl. The near-UV CD spectrum, size-exclusion, and ultracentrifugation properties of [WB28,PB29]insulin indicate that this analog does not self-associate in a concentration-dependent manner as does human insulin. Thus, the observed fluorescence changes must be due to specific conformational transitions which occur upon unfolding of the insulin monomer with the product of the first transition representing a stable folding intermediate of this molecule.

Structure and dynamics of des-pentapeptide-insulin in solution: the molten-globule hypothesis

Structures of insulin in different crystal forms exhibit significant local and nonlocal differences, including correlated displacement of elements of secondary structure. Here we describe the solution structure and dynamics of a monomeric insulin analogue, des-pentapeptide-(B26-B30)-insulin (DPI), as determined by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and distance geometry/restrained molecular dynamics (DG/RMD). Although the solution structure of DPI exhibits a general similarity to its crystal structure, individual DG/RMD structures in the NMR ensemble differ by rigid-body displacements of alpha-helices that span the range of different crystal forms. These results suggest that DPI exists as a partially folded state formed by coalescence of distinct alpha-helix-associated microdomains. The physical reality of this model is investigated by comparison of the observed two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) spectroscopy (NOESY) spectrum with that predicted from crystal and DG/RMD structures. The observed NOESY spectrum contains fewer tertiary contacts than predicted by any single simulation, but it matches their shared features; such "ensemble correspondence" is likely to reflect the effect of protein dynamics on observed NOE intensities. We propose (i) that the folded state of DPI is analogous to that of a compact protein-folding intermediate rather than a conventional native state and (ii) that the molten state is the biologically active species. This proposal (the molten-globule hypothesis) leads to testable thermodynamic predictions and has general implications for protein design.

The solution structure of a monomeric insulin. A two-dimensional 1H-NMR study of des-(B26-B30)-insulin in combination with distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics

The solution conformation of des-(B26-B30)-insulin (DPI) has been investigated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. A set of 250 approximate interproton distance restraints, derived from two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra, were used as the basis of a structure determination using distance geometry (DG) and distance-bound driven dynamics (DDD). Sixteen DG structures were optimized using energy minimization (EM) and submitted to short 5-ps restrained molecular dynamics (RMD) simulations. A further refinement of the DDD structure with the lowest distance errors was done by energy minimization, a prolonged RMD simulation in vacuo and a time-averaged RMD simulation. An average structure was obtained from a trajectory generated during 20-ps RMD. The final structure was compared with the des-(B26-B30)-insulin crystal structure refined by molecular dynamics and the 2-Zn crystal structure of porcine insulin. This comparison shows that the overall structure of des-(B26-B30)-insulin is retained in solution with respect to the crystal structures with a high flexibility at the N-terminal part of the A chain and at the N-terminal and C-terminal parts of the B chain. In the RMD run a high mobility of Gly A1, Asn A21 and of the side chain of Phe B25 is noticed. One of the conformations adopted by des-(B26-B30)-insulin in solution is similar to that of molecule 1 (Chinese nomenclature) in the crystal structure of porcine insulin.

Receptor binding redefined by a structural switch in a mutant human insulin

Crystal structures of insulin have been determined in various distinct forms, the relevance of which to receptor recognition has long been the subject of speculation. Recently the crystal structure of an inactive insulin analogue has been determined and, surprisingly, found to have a conformation identical to native insulin. On this basis Dodson and colleagues have suggested that the known insulin crystal structures reflect an inactive conformation, and that a change in conformation is required for activity--specifically, the carboxy terminal residues of the B-chain are proposed to separate from the amino terminal residues of the A-chain. Here we report the solution structure of an active insulin mutant, determined by two-dimensional NMR, which supports this hypothesis. In the mutant, the carboxy terminal beta-turn and beta-strand of the B-chain are destabilized and do not pack across the rest of the molecule. We suggest that analogous detachment of the carboxy terminal region of the B-chain occurs in native insulin on binding to its receptor. Our finding that partial unfolding of the B-chain exposes an alternative protein surface rationalizes the receptor-binding properties of a series of anomalous insulin analogues, including a mutant insulin associated with diabetes mellitus in man.

FTIR studies of secondary structures of bovine insulin and its derivatives

The amide I bands of the deconvolved FTIR spectrum of bovine insulin, despentapeptide (B26-B30) insulin and desoctapeptide (B23-B30) insulin in D2O solution have been assigned to alpha-helix, the 3(10) helix, irregular helix, extended chains, beta-turns and other secondary structures. From the peak areas the relative contents of these structures obtained are in general agreement with those calculated from the known structures of porcine insulin and DPI in the crystalline state. The main difference in the structure of DOI with those of insulin and DPI is the shortening of the helix segment and an extended chain for the C terminal segment in the B chain.

Two-dimensional NMR studies of Des-(B26-B30)-insulin: sequence-specific resonance assignments and effects of solvent composition

Des-pentapeptide-insulin (DPI), a monomeric analogue which lacks the C-terminal five residues of the B-chain, provides a tractable model for 2D-NMR studies of insulin under a variety of solvent conditions. In this paper we present the sequential assignment of DPI at pH 1.8 and 25 degrees C in 10% deuterated DMSO/90% H2O; the chemical shifts are in general similar to those recently described in the absence of an organic cosolvent [1], in 20% acetic acid [2] and (for intact insulin) in 35% acetonitrile [3]. Under each of these solvent conditions qualitative analysis of the 2D-NMR data indicates that the major elements of secondary structure observed in the crystal state (three alpha-helices and B-chain beta-turn) are retained in solution. However, there is disagreement in the literature regarding the stability of the insulin fold, as monitored by amide-proton exchange rates and long-range nuclear Overhauser enhancements [1-3]. In contrast to a previous study [1], we observe slowly exchanging amide resonances (in freshly prepared D2O solutions) and nonlocal NOEs under each of the solvent conditions described, implying the existence of a stably folded secondary structure and hydrophobic core. The slowly-exchanging resonances are assigned to the central alpha-helix of the B-chain, the ends of the adjoining beta-turn, and the two A-chain alpha-helices. Qualitative analysis of long-range NOEs indicates that the major features of the crystal state are retained under these solvent conditions.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of the B9(Asp) mutant of human insulin. Sequential assignment and secondary structure

The sequence-specific 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) assignment of 49 of the 51 amino acid residues of human B9(Asp) insulin in water at low pH is reported. Spin systems were identified using a series of two-dimensional n.m.r. techniques. For the majority of the amino acid residues with unique spin systems, particularly Ala, Thr, Val, Leu, Ile and Lys, the complete spin systems were identified. Sequence-specific assignments were obtained from sequential nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) connectivities. The results indicate that the solution structure of the mutant closely resembles the crystal structure of native insulin. Thus, the NOE data reveal three helical domains all consistent with the secondary structure of the native human 2Zn insulin in the crystal phase. Numerous slowly exchanging amide protons support these structural elements, and indicate a relatively stable structure of the protein. A corresponding resemblance of the tertiary structures in the two phases is also suggested by slowly exchanging amide protons, and by the extreme chemical shift values observed for the beta-protons of B15(Leu) that agree with a close contact between this residue and the aromatic rings of B24(Phe) and B26(Tyr), as found in the crystal structure of the 2Zn insulin. Finally, there are clear indications that the B9(Asp) insulin mutant exists primarily as a dimer under the given conditions.