1
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Tran QH, Eder OM, Winkler A. Dynamics-driven allosteric stimulation of diguanylate cyclase activity in a red light-regulated phytochrome. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107217. [PMID: 38522512 PMCID: PMC11035067 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107217] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensor-effector proteins integrate information from different stimuli and transform this into cellular responses. Some sensory domains, like red-light responsive bacteriophytochromes, show remarkable modularity regulating a variety of effectors. One effector domain is the GGDEF diguanylate cyclase catalyzing the formation of the bacterial second messenger cyclic-dimeric-guanosine monophosphate. While critical signal integration elements have been described for different phytochromes, a generalized understanding of signal processing and communication over large distances, roughly 100 Å in phytochrome diguanylate cyclases, is missing. Here we show that dynamics-driven allostery is key to understanding signal integration on a molecular level. We generated protein variants stabilized in their far-red-absorbing Pfr state and demonstrated by analysis of conformational dynamics using hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled to mass spectrometry that single amino acid replacements are accompanied by altered dynamics of functional elements throughout the protein. We show that the conformational dynamics correlate with the enzymatic activity of these variants, explaining also the increased activity of a non-photochromic variant. In addition, we demonstrate the functional importance of mixed Pfr/intermediate state dimers using a fast-reverting variant that still enables wild-type-like fold-changes of enzymatic stimulation by red light. This supports the functional role of single protomer activation in phytochromes, a property that might correlate with the non-canonical mixed Pfr/intermediate-state spectra observed for many phytochrome systems. We anticipate our results to stimulate research in the direction of dynamics-driven allosteric regulation of different bacteriophytochrome-based sensor-effectors. This will eventually impact design strategies for the creation of novel sensor-effector systems for enriching the optogenetic toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quang Hieu Tran
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria.
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2
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Vide U, Kasapović D, Fuchs M, Heimböck MP, Totaro MG, Zenzmaier E, Winkler A. Illuminating the inner workings of a natural protein switch: Blue-light sensing in LOV-activated diguanylate cyclases. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh4721. [PMID: 37531459 PMCID: PMC10396304 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory proteins play a crucial role in adaptation to environmental cues. Especially for lifestyle transitions, such as cell proliferation or apoptosis, switch-like characteristics are desirable. While nature frequently uses regulatory circuits to amplify or dampen signals, stand-alone protein switches are interesting for applications like biosensors, diagnostic tools, or optogenetics. However, such stand-alone systems frequently feature limited dynamic and operational ranges and suffer from slow response times. Here, we characterize a LOV-activated diguanylate cyclase (LadC) that offers precise temporal and spatial control of enzymatic activity with an exceptionally high dynamic range over four orders of magnitude. To establish this pronounced activation, the enzyme exhibits a two-stage activation process in which its activity is inhibited in the dark by caging its effector domains and stimulated upon illumination by the formation of an extended coiled-coil. These switch-like characteristics of the LadC system can be used to develop new optogenetic tools with tight regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uršula Vide
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Dženita Kasapović
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Maximilian Fuchs
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin P. Heimböck
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Massimo G. Totaro
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Elfriede Zenzmaier
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Mozartgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
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3
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Developments in rapid hydrogen-deuterium exchange methods. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:165-174. [PMID: 36636941 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, contain heteroatom-bonded hydrogens that undergo exchange with solvent hydrogens on timescales ranging from microseconds to hours. In hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), this exchange process is used to extract information about biomolecular structure and dynamics. This minireview focuses on millisecond timescale HDX-MS measurements, which, while less common than 'conventional' timescale (seconds to hours) HDX-MS, provide a unique window into weakly structured species, weak (or fast cycling) binding interactions, and subtle shifts in conformational dynamics. This includes intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDPs/IDRs) that are associated with cancer and amyloidotic neurodegenerative disease. For nucleic acids and carbohydrates, structures such as isomers, stems, and loops, can be elucidated and overall structural rigidity can be assessed. We will provide a brief overview of technical developments in rapid HDX followed by highlights of various applications, emphasising the importance of broadening the HDX timescale to improve throughput and to capture a wider range of function-relevant dynamic and structural shifts.
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4
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James EI, Murphree TA, Vorauer C, Engen JR, Guttman M. Advances in Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry and the Pursuit of Challenging Biological Systems. Chem Rev 2021; 122:7562-7623. [PMID: 34493042 PMCID: PMC9053315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
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Solution-phase hydrogen/deuterium
exchange (HDX) coupled to mass
spectrometry (MS) is a widespread tool for structural analysis across
academia and the biopharmaceutical industry. By monitoring the exchangeability
of backbone amide protons, HDX-MS can reveal information about higher-order
structure and dynamics throughout a protein, can track protein folding
pathways, map interaction sites, and assess conformational states
of protein samples. The combination of the versatility of the hydrogen/deuterium
exchange reaction with the sensitivity of mass spectrometry has enabled
the study of extremely challenging protein systems, some of which
cannot be suitably studied using other techniques. Improvements over
the past three decades have continually increased throughput, robustness,
and expanded the limits of what is feasible for HDX-MS investigations.
To provide an overview for researchers seeking to utilize and derive
the most from HDX-MS for protein structural analysis, we summarize
the fundamental principles, basic methodology, strengths and weaknesses,
and the established applications of HDX-MS while highlighting new
developments and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie I James
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Taylor A Murphree
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Clint Vorauer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - John R Engen
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Miklos Guttman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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5
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Engen JR, Botzanowski T, Peterle D, Georgescauld F, Wales TE. Developments in Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2020; 93:567-582. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John R. Engen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Thomas Botzanowski
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Daniele Peterle
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Florian Georgescauld
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Thomas E. Wales
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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6
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Insights into histidine kinase activation mechanisms from the monomeric blue light sensor EL346. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:4963-4972. [PMID: 30808807 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1813586116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of environmental cues into cellular behavior is a necessary process in all forms of life. In bacteria, this process frequently involves two-component systems in which a sensor histidine kinase (HK) autophosphorylates in response to a stimulus before subsequently transferring the phosphoryl group to a response regulator that controls downstream effectors. Many details of the molecular mechanisms of HK activation are still unclear due to complications associated with the multiple signaling states of these large, multidomain proteins. To address these challenges, we combined complementary solution biophysical approaches to examine the conformational changes upon activation of a minimal, blue-light-sensing histidine kinase from Erythrobacter litoralis HTCC2594, EL346. Our data show that multiple conformations coexist in the dark state of EL346 in solution, which may explain the enzyme's residual dark-state activity. We also observe that activation involves destabilization of the helices in the dimerization and histidine phosphotransfer-like domain, where the phosphoacceptor histidine resides, and their interactions with the catalytic domain. Similar light-induced changes occur to some extent even in constitutively active or inactive mutants, showing that light sensing can be decoupled from activation of kinase activity. These structural changes mirror those inferred by comparing X-ray crystal structures of inactive and active HK fragments, suggesting that they are at the core of conformational changes leading to HK activation. More broadly, our findings uncover surprising complexity in this simple system and allow us to outline a mechanism of the multiple steps of HK activation.
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Liyanage OT, Brantley MR, Calixte EI, Solouki T, Shuford KL, Gallagher ES. Characterization of Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Parameters on In-ESI Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange of Carbohydrate-Metal Ion Adducts. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2019; 30:235-247. [PMID: 30353291 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-018-2080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The conformations of glycans are crucial for their biological functions. In-electrospray ionization (ESI) hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) is a promising technique for studying carbohydrate conformations since rapidly exchanging functional groups, e.g., hydroxyls, can be labeled on the timeframe of ESI. However, regular application of in-ESI HDX to characterize carbohydrates requires further analysis of the in-ESI HDX methodology. For instance, in this method, HDX occurs concurrently to the analyte transitioning from solution to gas-phase ions. Therefore, there is a possibility of sampling both gas-phase and solution-phase conformations of the analyte. Herein, we differentiate in-ESI HDX of metal-adducted carbohydrates from gas-phase HDX and illustrate that this method analyzes solvated species. We also systematically examine the effects of ESI parameters, including spray solvent composition, auxiliary gas flow rate, sheath gas flow rate, sample infusion rate, sample concentration, and spray voltage, and discuss their effects on in-ESI HDX. Further, we model the structural changes of a trisaccharide, melezitose, and its intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding in solvents with different compositions of methanol and water. These molecular dynamic simulations support our experimental results and illustrate how an individual ESI parameter can alter the conformations we sample by in-ESI HDX. In total, this work illustrates how the fundamental processes of ESI alter the magnitude of HDX for carbohydrates and suggest parameters that should be considered and/or optimized prior to performing experiments with this in-ESI HDX technique. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Tara Liyanage
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Matthew R Brantley
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Emvia I Calixte
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Touradj Solouki
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Kevin L Shuford
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Elyssia S Gallagher
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97348, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
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8
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Fujisawa T, Masuda S. Light-induced chromophore and protein responses and mechanical signal transduction of BLUF proteins. Biophys Rev 2017; 10:327-337. [PMID: 29235080 PMCID: PMC5899715 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-017-0355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor proteins have been used to study how protein conformational changes are induced by alterations in their environments and how their signals are transmitted to downstream factors to dictate physiological responses. These proteins are attractive models because their signal transduction aspects and structural changes can be precisely regulated in vivo and in vitro based on light intensity. Among the known photoreceptors, members of the blue light–using flavin (BLUF) protein family have been well characterized with regard to how they control various light-dependent physiological responses in several microorganisms. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of their photoactivation and signal-transduction mechanisms. For signal transduction, we review recent studies concerning how the BLUF protein, PixD, transmits a light-induced signal to its downstream factor, PixE, to modulate phototaxis of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomotsumi Fujisawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saga University, Saga, 840-8502 Japan
| | - Shinji Masuda
- Center for Biological Resources & Informatics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, 226-8501 Japan
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9
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Gourinchas G, Etzl S, Göbl C, Vide U, Madl T, Winkler A. Long-range allosteric signaling in red light-regulated diguanylyl cyclases. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1602498. [PMID: 28275738 PMCID: PMC5336353 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Nature has evolved an astonishingly modular architecture of covalently linked protein domains with diverse functionalities to enable complex cellular networks that are critical for cell survival. The coupling of sensory modules with enzymatic effectors allows direct allosteric regulation of cellular signaling molecules in response to diverse stimuli. We present molecular details of red light-sensing bacteriophytochromes linked to cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate-producing diguanylyl cyclases. Elucidation of the first crystal structure of a full-length phytochrome with its enzymatic effector, in combination with the characterization of light-induced changes in conformational dynamics, reveals how allosteric light regulation is fine-tuned by the architecture and composition of the coiled-coil sensor-effector linker and also the central helical spine. We anticipate that consideration of molecular principles of sensor-effector coupling, going beyond the length of the characteristic linker, and the appreciation of dynamically driven allostery will open up new directions for the design of novel red light-regulated optogenetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Gourinchas
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Etzl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Christoph Göbl
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Technische Universität München, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Uršula Vide
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tobias Madl
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Technische Universität München, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching, Germany
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/III, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Corresponding author.
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10
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Losi A, Gärtner W. Solving Blue Light Riddles: New Lessons from Flavin-binding LOV Photoreceptors. Photochem Photobiol 2017; 93:141-158. [PMID: 27861974 DOI: 10.1111/php.12674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Detection of blue light (BL) via flavin-binding photoreceptors (Fl-Blues) has evolved throughout all three domains of life. Although the main BL players, that is light, oxygen and voltage (LOV), blue light sensing using flavins (BLUF) and Cry (cryptochrome) proteins, have been characterized in great detail with respect to structure and function, still several unresolved issues at different levels of complexity remain and novel unexpected findings were reported. Here, we review the most prevailing riddles of LOV-based photoreceptors, for example: the relevance of water and/or small metabolites for the dynamics of the photocycle; molecular details of light-to-signal transduction events; the interplay of BL sensing by LOV domains with other environmental stimuli, such as BL plus oxygen-mediating photodamage and its impact on microbial lifestyles; the importance of the cell or chromophore redox state in determining the fate of BL-driven reactions; the evolutionary pathways of LOV-based BL sensing and associated functions through the diverse phyla. We will discuss major novelties emerged during the last few years on these intriguing aspects of LOV proteins by presenting paradigmatic examples from prokaryotic photosensors that exhibit the largest complexity and richness in associated functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aba Losi
- Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Gärtner
- Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim, Germany
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