1
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Joiret M, Kerff F, Rapino F, Close P, Geris L. Reversing the relative time courses of the peptide bond reaction with oligopeptides of different lengths and charged amino acid distributions in the ribosome exit tunnel. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2453-2464. [PMID: 38882677 PMCID: PMC11179572 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.05.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The kinetics of the protein elongation cycle by the ribosome depends on intertwined factors. One of these factors is the electrostatic interaction of the nascent protein with the ribosome exit tunnel. In this computational biology theoretical study, we focus on the rate of the peptide bond formation and its dependence on the ribosome exit tunnel electrostatic potential profile. We quantitatively predict how oligopeptides of variable lengths can affect the peptide bond formation rate. We applied the Michaelis-Menten model as previously extended to incorporate the mechano-biochemical effects of forces on the rate of reaction at the catalytic site of the ribosome. For a given pair of carboxy-terminal amino acid substrate at the P- and an aminoacyl-tRNA at the A-sites, the relative time courses of the peptide bond formation reaction can be reversed depending on the oligopeptide sequence embedded in the tunnel and their variable lengths from the P-site. The reversal is predicted to occur from a shift in positions of charged amino acids upstream in the oligopeptidyl-tRNA at the P-site. The position shift must be adjusted by clever design of the oligopeptide probes using the electrostatic potential profile along the exit tunnel axial path. These predicted quantitative results bring strong evidence of the importance and relative contribution of the electrostatic interaction of the ribosome exit tunnel with the nascent peptide chain during elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Joiret
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, Liège University, CHU-B34(+5) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Frederic Kerff
- UR InBios Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines, Liège University, Bât B6a, Allèe du 6 Août, 19, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesca Rapino
- Cancer Signaling, GIGA Stem Cells, Liège University, CHU-B34(+2) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Pierre Close
- Cancer Signaling, GIGA Stem Cells, Liège University, CHU-B34(+2) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, Liège University, CHU-B34(+5) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology & Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, ON I Herestraat 49 - Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C - Box 2419, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
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2
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Komar AA, Samatova E, Rodnina MV. Translation Rates and Protein Folding. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168384. [PMID: 38065274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168384] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The mRNA coding sequence defines not only the amino acid sequence of the protein, but also the speed at which the ribosomes move along the mRNA while making the protein. The non-uniform local kinetics - denoted as translational rhythm - is similar among mRNAs coding for related protein folds. Deviations from this conserved rhythm can result in protein misfolding. In this review we summarize the experimental evidence demonstrating how local translation rates affect cotranslational protein folding, with the focus on the synonymous codons and patches of charged residues in the nascent peptide as best-studied examples. Alterations in nascent protein conformations due to disturbed translational rhythm can persist off the ribosome, as demonstrated by the effects of synonymous codon variants of several disease-related proteins. Charged amino acid patches in nascent chains also modulate translation and cotranslational protein folding, and can abrogate translation when placed at the N-terminus of the nascent peptide. During cotranslational folding, incomplete nascent chains navigate through a unique conformational landscape in which earlier intermediate states become inaccessible as the nascent peptide grows. Precisely tuned local translation rates, as well as interactions with the ribosome, guide the folding pathway towards the native structure, whereas deviations from the natural translation rhythm may favor pathways leading to trapped misfolded states. Deciphering the 'folding code' of the mRNA will contribute to understanding the diseases caused by protein misfolding and to rational protein design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Ekaterina Samatova
- Max Planck Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Max Planck Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
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3
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Roeselová A, Maslen SL, Shivakumaraswamy S, Pellowe GA, Howell S, Joshi D, Redmond J, Kjær S, Skehel JM, Balchin D. Mechanism of chaperone coordination during cotranslational protein folding in bacteria. Mol Cell 2024; 84:2455-2471.e8. [PMID: 38908370 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.06.002] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Protein folding is assisted by molecular chaperones that bind nascent polypeptides during mRNA translation. Several structurally distinct classes of chaperones promote de novo folding, suggesting that their activities are coordinated at the ribosome. We used biochemical reconstitution and structural proteomics to explore the molecular basis for cotranslational chaperone action in bacteria. We found that chaperone binding is disfavored close to the ribosome, allowing folding to precede chaperone recruitment. Trigger factor recognizes compact folding intermediates that expose an extensive unfolded surface, and dictates DnaJ access to nascent chains. DnaJ uses a large surface to bind structurally diverse intermediates and recruits DnaK to sequence-diverse solvent-accessible sites. Neither Trigger factor, DnaJ, nor DnaK destabilize cotranslational folding intermediates. Instead, the chaperones collaborate to protect incipient structure in the nascent polypeptide well beyond the ribosome exit tunnel. Our findings show how the chaperone network selects and modulates cotranslational folding intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alžběta Roeselová
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Sarah L Maslen
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Grant A Pellowe
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Steven Howell
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Dhira Joshi
- Chemical Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Joanna Redmond
- Chemical Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Svend Kjær
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - J Mark Skehel
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - David Balchin
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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4
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Wales TE, Pajak A, Roeselová A, Shivakumaraswamy S, Howell S, Kjær S, Hartl FU, Engen JR, Balchin D. Resolving chaperone-assisted protein folding on the ribosome at the peptide level. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01355-x. [PMID: 38987455 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01355-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Protein folding in vivo begins during synthesis on the ribosome and is modulated by molecular chaperones that engage the nascent polypeptide. How these features of protein biogenesis influence the maturation pathway of nascent proteins is incompletely understood. Here, we use hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to define, at peptide resolution, the cotranslational chaperone-assisted folding pathway of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase. The nascent polypeptide folds along an unanticipated pathway through structured intermediates not populated during refolding from denaturant. Association with the ribosome allows these intermediates to form, as otherwise destabilizing carboxy-terminal sequences remain confined in the ribosome exit tunnel. Trigger factor binds partially folded states without disrupting their structure, and the nascent chain is poised to complete folding immediately upon emergence of the C terminus from the exit tunnel. By mapping interactions between the nascent chain and ribosomal proteins, we trace the path of the emerging polypeptide during synthesis. Our work reveals new mechanisms by which cellular factors shape the conformational search for the native state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas E Wales
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aleksandra Pajak
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Alžběta Roeselová
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Steven Howell
- Proteomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Svend Kjær
- Structural Biology Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - F Ulrich Hartl
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - John R Engen
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David Balchin
- Protein Biogenesis Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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5
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Rajasekaran N, Kaiser CM. Navigating the complexities of multi-domain protein folding. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 86:102790. [PMID: 38432063 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2024.102790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Proteome complexity has expanded tremendously over evolutionary time, enabling biological diversification. Much of this complexity is achieved by combining a limited set of structural units into long polypeptides. This widely used evolutionary strategy poses challenges for folding of the resulting multi-domain proteins. As a consequence, their folding differs from that of small single-domain proteins, which generally fold quickly and reversibly. Co-translational processes and chaperone interactions are important aspects of multi-domain protein folding. In this review, we discuss some of the recent experimental progress toward understanding these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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6
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Masse MM, Guzman-Luna V, Varela AE, Mahfuza Shapla U, Hutchinson RB, Srivastava A, Wei W, Fuchs AM, Cavagnero S. Nascent chains derived from a foldable protein sequence interact with specific ribosomal surface sites near the exit tunnel. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12324. [PMID: 38811604 PMCID: PMC11137106 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61274-1] [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: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to become bioactive, proteins must be translated and protected from aggregation during biosynthesis. The ribosome and molecular chaperones play a key role in this process. Ribosome-bound nascent chains (RNCs) of intrinsically disordered proteins and RNCs bearing a signal/arrest sequence are known to interact with ribosomal proteins. However, in the case of RNCs bearing foldable protein sequences, not much information is available on these interactions. Here, via a combination of chemical crosslinking and time-resolved fluorescence-anisotropy, we find that nascent chains of the foldable globin apoHmp1-140 interact with ribosomal protein L23 and have a freely-tumbling non-interacting N-terminal compact region comprising 63-94 residues. Longer RNCs (apoHmp1-189) also interact with an additional yet unidentified ribosomal protein, as well as with chaperones. Surprisingly, the apparent strength of RNC/r-protein interactions does not depend on nascent-chain sequence. Overall, foldable nascent chains establish and expand interactions with selected ribosomal proteins and chaperones, as they get longer. These data are significant because they reveal the interplay between independent conformational sampling and nascent-protein interactions with the ribosomal surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meranda M Masse
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Valeria Guzman-Luna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Angela E Varela
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ummay Mahfuza Shapla
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Rachel B Hutchinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Aniruddha Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- McGaw Medical Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Wanting Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- AIDS Vaccine Research Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53711, USA
| | - Andrew M Fuchs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Silvia Cavagnero
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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7
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McDonnell RT, Elcock AH. AutoRNC: An automated modeling program for building atomic models of ribosome-nascent chain complexes. Structure 2024; 32:621-629.e5. [PMID: 38428431 PMCID: PMC11073581 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The interpretation of experimental studies of co-translational protein folding often benefits from the use of computational methods that seek to model or simulate the nascent chain and its interactions with the ribosome. Building realistic 3D models of ribosome-nascent chain (RNC) constructs often requires expert knowledge, so to circumvent this issue, we describe here AutoRNC, an automated modeling program capable of constructing large numbers of plausible atomic models of RNCs within minutes. AutoRNC takes input from the user specifying any regions of the nascent chain that contain secondary or tertiary structure and attempts to build conformations compatible with those specifications-and with the constraints imposed by the ribosome-by sampling and progressively piecing together dipeptide conformations extracted from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics Protein Data Bank (RCSB). Despite using only modest computational resources, we show here that AutoRNC can build plausible conformations for a wide range of RNC constructs for which experimental data have already been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert T McDonnell
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Adrian H Elcock
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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8
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Marina VI, Bidzhieva M, Tereshchenkov AG, Orekhov D, Sagitova VE, Sumbatyan NV, Tashlitsky VN, Ferberg AS, Maviza TP, Kasatsky P, Tolicheva O, Paleskava A, Polshakov VI, Osterman IA, Dontsova OA, Konevega AL, Sergiev PV. An easy tool to monitor the elemental steps of in vitro translation via gel electrophoresis of fluorescently labeled small peptides. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:298-307. [PMID: 38164606 PMCID: PMC10870375 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079766.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Several methods are available to visualize and assess the kinetics and efficiency of elemental steps of protein biosynthesis. However, each of these methods has its own limitations. Here, we present a novel, simple and convenient tool for monitoring stepwise in vitro translation initiated by BODIPY-Met-tRNA. Synthesis and release of very short, 1-7 amino acids, BODIPY-labeled peptides, can be monitored using urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Very short BODIPY-labeled oligopeptides might be resolved this way, in contrast to widely used Tris-tricine gel electrophoresis, which is suitable to separate peptides larger than 1 kDa. The method described in this manuscript allows one to monitor the steps of translation initiation, peptide transfer, translocation, and termination as well as their inhibition at an unprecedented single amino acid resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriya I Marina
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 121205, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Medina Bidzhieva
- Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute," Gatchina 188300, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Andrey G Tereshchenkov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitry Orekhov
- R&D Department, VIC Animal Health, Severny, Belgorod Region 308519, Russia
| | | | - Nataliya V Sumbatyan
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Vadim N Tashlitsky
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Artem S Ferberg
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Tinashe P Maviza
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 121205, Russia
| | - Pavel Kasatsky
- Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute," Gatchina 188300, Russia
| | - Olga Tolicheva
- Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute," Gatchina 188300, Russia
| | - Alena Paleskava
- Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute," Gatchina 188300, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Polshakov
- Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Ilya A Osterman
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 121205, Russia
| | - Olga A Dontsova
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 121205, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Department of Functioning of Living Systems, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Andrey L Konevega
- Molecular and Radiation Biophysics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of NRC "Kurchatov Institute," Gatchina 188300, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Saint Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Petr V Sergiev
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 121205, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- Institute of Functional Genomics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
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9
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Samatova E, Komar AA, Rodnina MV. How the ribosome shapes cotranslational protein folding. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 84:102740. [PMID: 38071940 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
During protein synthesis, the growing nascent peptide chain moves inside the polypeptide exit tunnel of the ribosome from the peptidyl transferase center towards the exit port where it emerges into the cytoplasm. The ribosome defines the unique energy landscape of the pioneering round of protein folding. The spatial confinement and the interactions of the nascent peptide with the tunnel walls facilitate formation of secondary structures, such as α-helices. The vectorial nature of protein folding inside the tunnel favors local intra- and inter-molecular interactions, thereby inducing cotranslational folding intermediates that do not form upon protein refolding in solution. Tertiary structures start to fold in the lower part of the tunnel, where interactions with the ribosome destabilize native protein folds. The present review summarizes the recent progress in understanding the driving forces of nascent protein folding inside the tunnel and at the surface of the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Samatova
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen 37077, Germany
| | - Anton A Komar
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen 37077, Germany.
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10
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Tan R, Hoare M, Welle KA, Swovick K, Hryhorenko JR, Ghaemmaghami S. Folding stabilities of ribosome-bound nascent polypeptides probed by mass spectrometry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303167120. [PMID: 37552756 PMCID: PMC10438377 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303167120] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The folding of most proteins occurs during the course of their translation while their tRNA-bound C termini are embedded in the ribosome. How the close proximity of nascent proteins to the ribosome influences their folding thermodynamics remains poorly understood. Here, we have developed a mass spectrometry-based approach for determining the stabilities of nascent polypeptide chains using methionine oxidation as a folding probe. This approach enables quantitative measurement subglobal folding stabilities of ribosome nascent chains within complex protein mixtures and extracts. To validate the methodology, we analyzed the folding thermodynamics of three model proteins (dihydrofolate reductase, chemotaxis protein Y, and DNA polymerase IV) in soluble and ribosome-bound states. The data indicate that the ribosome can significantly alter the stability of nascent polypeptides. Ribosome-induced stability modulations were highly variable among different folding domains and were dependent on localized charge distributions within nascent polypeptides. The results implicated electrostatic interactions between the ribosome surface and nascent polypeptides as the cause of ribosome-induced stability modulations. The study establishes a robust proteomic methodology for analyzing localized stabilities within ribosome-bound nascent polypeptides and sheds light on how the ribosome influences the thermodynamics of protein folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyue Tan
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Margaret Hoare
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Kevin A. Welle
- Mass Spectrometry Resource Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Kyle Swovick
- Mass Spectrometry Resource Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Jennifer R. Hryhorenko
- Mass Spectrometry Resource Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Sina Ghaemmaghami
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627
- Mass Spectrometry Resource Laboratory, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14627
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11
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McDonnell RT, Elcock AH. AutoRNC: an automated modeling program for building atomic models of ribosome-nascent chain complexes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544999. [PMID: 37398297 PMCID: PMC10312685 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The interpretation of experimental studies of co-translational protein folding often benefits from the use of computational methods that seek to model the nascent chain and its interactions with the ribosome. Ribosome-nascent chain (RNC) constructs studied experimentally can vary significantly in size and the extent to which they contain secondary and tertiary structure, and building realistic 3D models of them therefore often requires expert knowledge. To circumvent this issue, we describe here AutoRNC, an automated modeling program capable of constructing large numbers of plausible atomic models of RNCs within minutes. AutoRNC takes input from the user specifying any regions of the nascent chain that contain secondary or tertiary structure and attempts to build conformations compatible with those specifications - and with the constraints imposed by the ribosome - by sampling and progressively piecing together dipeptide conformations extracted from the RCSB. We first show that conformations of completely unfolded proteins built by AutoRNC in the absence of the ribosome have radii of gyration that match well with the corresponding experimental data. We then show that AutoRNC can build plausible conformations for a wide range of RNC constructs for which experimental data have already been reported. Since AutoRNC requires only modest computational resources, we anticipate that it will prove to be a useful hypothesis generator for experimental studies, for example, in providing indications of whether designed constructs are likely to be capable of folding, as well as providing useful starting points for downstream atomic or coarse-grained simulations of the conformational dynamics of RNCs.
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12
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Yu S, Srebnik S, Dao Duc K. Geometric differences in the ribosome exit tunnel impact the escape of small nascent proteins. Biophys J 2023; 122:20-29. [PMID: 36463403 PMCID: PMC9822834 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.2945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The exit tunnel is the subcompartment of the ribosome that contains the nascent polypeptide chain and, as such, is involved in various vital functions, including regulation of translation and protein folding. As the geometry of the tunnel shows important differences across species, we focus on key geometrical features of eukaryote and prokaryote tunnels. We used a simple coarse-grained molecular dynamics model to study the role of the tunnel geometry in the post-translational escape of short proteins (short open reading frames [sORFs]) with lengths ranging from 6 to 56 amino acids. We found that the probability of escape for prokaryotes is one for all but the 12-mer chains. Moreover, proteins of this length have an extremely low escape probability in eukaryotes. A detailed examination of the associated single trajectories and energy profiles showed that these variations can be explained by the interplay between the protein configurational space and the confinement effects introduced by the constriction sites of the ribosome exit tunnel. For certain lengths, either one or both of the constriction sites can lead to the trapping of the protein in the "pocket" regions preceding these sites. As the distribution of existing sORFs indicates some bias in length that is consistent with our findings, we finally suggest that the constraints imposed by the tunnel geometry have impacted the evolution of sORFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Simcha Srebnik
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Khanh Dao Duc
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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13
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Cotranslational folding and assembly of the dimeric Escherichia coli inner membrane protein EmrE. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205810119. [PMID: 35994672 PMCID: PMC9436324 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205810119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, it has become clear that many homo- and heterodimeric cytoplasmic proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells start to dimerize cotranslationally (i.e., while at least one of the two chains is still attached to the ribosome). Whether this is also possible for integral membrane proteins is, however, unknown. Here, we apply force profile analysis (FPA)-a method where a translational arrest peptide (AP) engineered into the polypeptide chain is used to detect force generated on the nascent chain during membrane insertion-to demonstrate cotranslational interactions between a fully membrane-inserted monomer and a nascent, ribosome-tethered monomer of the Escherichia coli inner membrane protein EmrE. Similar cotranslational interactions are also seen when the two monomers are fused into a single polypeptide. Further, we uncover an apparent intrachain interaction between E14 in transmembrane helix 1 (TMH1) and S64 in TMH3 that forms at a precise nascent chain length during cotranslational membrane insertion of an EmrE monomer. Like soluble proteins, inner membrane proteins thus appear to be able to both start to fold and start to dimerize during the cotranslational membrane insertion process.
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14
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The ribosome stabilizes partially folded intermediates of a nascent multi-domain protein. Nat Chem 2022; 14:1165-1173. [PMID: 35927328 PMCID: PMC7613651 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Co-translational folding is crucial to ensure the production of biologically active proteins. The ribosome can alter the folding pathways of nascent polypeptide chains, yet a structural understanding remains largely inaccessible experimentally. We have developed site-specific labelling of nascent chains to detect and measure, using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, multiple states accessed by an immunoglobulin-like domain within a tandem repeat protein during biosynthesis. By examining ribosomes arrested at different stages during translation of this common structural motif, we observe highly broadened NMR resonances attributable to two previously unidentified intermediates, which are stably populated across a wide folding transition. Using molecular dynamics simulations and corroborated by cryo-electron microscopy, we obtain models of these partially folded states, enabling experimental verification of a ribosome-binding site that contributes to their high stabilities. We thus demonstrate a mechanism by which the ribosome could thermodynamically regulate folding and other co-translational processes. ![]()
Most proteins must fold co-translationally on the ribosome to adopt biologically active conformations, yet structural, mechanistic descriptions are lacking. Using 19F NMR spectroscopy to study a nascent multi-domain protein has now enabled the identification of two co-translational folding intermediates that are significantly more stable than intermediates formed off the ribosome, suggesting that the ribosome may thermodynamically regulate folding.
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15
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Thommen M, Draycheva A, Rodnina MV. Ribosome selectivity and nascent chain context in modulating the incorporation of fluorescent non-canonical amino acid into proteins. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12848. [PMID: 35896582 PMCID: PMC9329280 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16932-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence reporter groups are important tools to study the structure and dynamics of proteins. Genetic code reprogramming allows for cotranslational incorporation of non-canonical amino acids at any desired position. However, cotranslational incorporation of bulky fluorescence reporter groups is technically challenging and usually inefficient. Here we analyze the bottlenecks for the cotranslational incorporation of NBD-, BodipyFL- and Atto520-labeled Cys-tRNACys into a model protein using a reconstituted in-vitro translation system. We show that the modified Cys-tRNACys can be rejected during decoding due to the reduced ribosome selectivity for the modified aa-tRNA and the competition with native near-cognate aminoacyl-tRNAs. Accommodation of the modified Cys-tRNACys in the A site of the ribosome is also impaired, but can be rescued by one or several Gly residues at the positions −1 to −4 upstream of the incorporation site. The incorporation yield depends on the steric properties of the downstream residue and decreases with the distance from the protein N-terminus to the incorporation site. In addition to the full-length translation product, we find protein fragments corresponding to the truncated N-terminal peptide and the C-terminal fragment starting with a fluorescence-labeled Cys arising from a StopGo-like event due to a defect in peptide bond formation. The results are important for understanding the reasons for inefficient cotranslational protein labeling with bulky reporter groups and for designing new approaches to improve the yield of fluorescence-labeled protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Thommen
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Albena Draycheva
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
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16
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Biziaev NS, Shuvalov AV, Alkalaeva EZ. HEMK-Like Methyltransferases in the Regulation of Cellular Processes. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322030025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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17
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León-González JA, Flatet P, Juárez-Ramírez MS, Farías-Rico JA. Folding and Evolution of a Repeat Protein on the Ribosome. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:851038. [PMID: 35707224 PMCID: PMC9189291 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.851038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Life on earth is the result of the work of proteins, the cellular nanomachines that fold into elaborated 3D structures to perform their functions. The ribosome synthesizes all the proteins of the biosphere, and many of them begin to fold during translation in a process known as cotranslational folding. In this work we discuss current advances of this field and provide computational and experimental data that highlight the role of ribosome in the evolution of protein structures. First, we used the sequence of the Ankyrin domain from the Drosophila Notch receptor to launch a deep sequence-based search. With this strategy, we found a conserved 33-residue motif shared by different protein folds. Then, to see how the vectorial addition of the motif would generate a full structure we measured the folding on the ribosome of the Ankyrin repeat protein. Not only the on-ribosome folding data is in full agreement with classical in vitro biophysical measurements but also it provides experimental evidence on how folded proteins could have evolved by duplication and fusion of smaller fragments in the RNA world. Overall, we discuss how the ribosomal exit tunnel could be conceptualized as an active site that is under evolutionary pressure to influence protein folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alberto León-González
- Synthetic Biology Program, Center for Genome Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Perline Flatet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - María Soledad Juárez-Ramírez
- Synthetic Biology Program, Center for Genome Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - José Arcadio Farías-Rico
- Synthetic Biology Program, Center for Genome Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- *Correspondence: José Arcadio Farías-Rico,
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18
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Mercier E, Wang X, Bögeholz LAK, Wintermeyer W, Rodnina MV. Cotranslational Biogenesis of Membrane Proteins in Bacteria. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:871121. [PMID: 35573737 PMCID: PMC9099147 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.871121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nascent polypeptides emerging from the ribosome during translation are rapidly scanned and processed by ribosome-associated protein biogenesis factors (RPBs). RPBs cleave the N-terminal formyl and methionine groups, assist cotranslational protein folding, and sort the proteins according to their cellular destination. Ribosomes translating inner-membrane proteins are recognized and targeted to the translocon with the help of the signal recognition particle, SRP, and SRP receptor, FtsY. The growing nascent peptide is then inserted into the phospholipid bilayer at the translocon, an inner-membrane protein complex consisting of SecY, SecE, and SecG. Folding of membrane proteins requires that transmembrane helices (TMs) attain their correct topology, the soluble domains are inserted at the correct (cytoplasmic or periplasmic) side of the membrane, and – for polytopic membrane proteins – the TMs find their interaction partner TMs in the phospholipid bilayer. This review describes the recent progress in understanding how growing nascent peptides are processed and how inner-membrane proteins are targeted to the translocon and find their correct orientation at the membrane, with the focus on biophysical approaches revealing the dynamics of the process. We describe how spontaneous fluctuations of the translocon allow diffusion of TMs into the phospholipid bilayer and argue that the ribosome orchestrates cotranslational targeting not only by providing the binding platform for the RPBs or the translocon, but also by helping the nascent chains to find their correct orientation in the membrane. Finally, we present the auxiliary role of YidC as a chaperone for inner-membrane proteins. We show how biophysical approaches provide new insights into the dynamics of membrane protein biogenesis and raise new questions as to how translation modulates protein folding.
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19
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Rajasekaran N, Kaiser CM. Co-Translational Folding of Multi-Domain Proteins. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:869027. [PMID: 35517860 PMCID: PMC9065291 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.869027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of proteins in nature are composed of multiple domains connected in a single polypeptide. How these long sequences fold into functional structures without forming toxic misfolds or aggregates is poorly understood. Their folding is inextricably linked to protein synthesis and interactions with cellular machinery, making mechanistic studies challenging. Recent progress has revealed critical features of multi-domain protein folding in isolation and in the context of translation by the ribosome. In this review, we discuss challenges and progress in understanding multi-domain protein folding, and highlight how molecular interactions shape folding and misfolding pathways. With the development of new approaches and model systems, the stage is now set for mechanistically exploring the folding of large multi-domain proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian M. Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Christian M. Kaiser,
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20
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Protein folding in vitro and in the cell: From a solitary journey to a team effort. Biophys Chem 2022; 287:106821. [PMID: 35667131 PMCID: PMC9636488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Correct protein folding is essential for the health and function of living organisms. Yet, it is not well understood how unfolded proteins reach their native state and avoid aggregation, especially within the cellular milieu. Some proteins, especially small, single-domain and apparent two-state folders, successfully attain their native state upon dilution from denaturant. Yet, many more proteins undergo misfolding and aggregation during this process, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Once formed, native and aggregated states are often kinetically trapped relative to each other. Hence, the early stages of protein life are absolutely critical for proper kinetic channeling to the folded state and for long-term solubility and function. This review summarizes current knowledge on protein folding/aggregation mechanisms in buffered solution and within the bacterial cell, highlighting early stages. Remarkably, teamwork between nascent chain, ribosome, trigger factor and Hsp70 molecular chaperones enables all proteins to overcome aggregation propensities and reach a long-lived bioactive state.
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21
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Agirrezabala X, Samatova E, Macher M, Liutkute M, Maiti M, Gil-Carton D, Novacek J, Valle M, Rodnina MV. A switch from α-helical to β-strand conformation during co-translational protein folding. EMBO J 2022; 41:e109175. [PMID: 34994471 PMCID: PMC8844987 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular proteins begin to fold as they emerge from the ribosome. The folding landscape of nascent chains is not only shaped by their amino acid sequence but also by the interactions with the ribosome. Here, we combine biophysical methods with cryo‐EM structure determination to show that folding of a β‐barrel protein begins with formation of a dynamic α‐helix inside the ribosome. As the growing peptide reaches the end of the tunnel, the N‐terminal part of the nascent chain refolds to a β‐hairpin structure that remains dynamic until its release from the ribosome. Contacts with the ribosome and structure of the peptidyl transferase center depend on nascent chain conformation. These results indicate that proteins may start out as α‐helices inside the tunnel and switch into their native folds only as they emerge from the ribosome. Moreover, the correlation of nascent chain conformations with reorientation of key residues of the ribosomal peptidyl‐transferase center suggest that protein folding could modulate ribosome activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ekaterina Samatova
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Meline Macher
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Marija Liutkute
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
| | - Manisankar Maiti
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
| | - David Gil-Carton
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jiri Novacek
- CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mikel Valle
- CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Marina V Rodnina
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
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22
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Sorokina I, Mushegian AR, Koonin EV. Is Protein Folding a Thermodynamically Unfavorable, Active, Energy-Dependent Process? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:521. [PMID: 35008947 PMCID: PMC8745595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevailing current view of protein folding is the thermodynamic hypothesis, under which the native folded conformation of a protein corresponds to the global minimum of Gibbs free energy G. We question this concept and show that the empirical evidence behind the thermodynamic hypothesis of folding is far from strong. Furthermore, physical theory-based approaches to the prediction of protein folds and their folding pathways so far have invariably failed except for some very small proteins, despite decades of intensive theory development and the enormous increase of computer power. The recent spectacular successes in protein structure prediction owe to evolutionary modeling of amino acid sequence substitutions enhanced by deep learning methods, but even these breakthroughs provide no information on the protein folding mechanisms and pathways. We discuss an alternative view of protein folding, under which the native state of most proteins does not occupy the global free energy minimum, but rather, a local minimum on a fluctuating free energy landscape. We further argue that ΔG of folding is likely to be positive for the majority of proteins, which therefore fold into their native conformations only through interactions with the energy-dependent molecular machinery of living cells, in particular, the translation system and chaperones. Accordingly, protein folding should be modeled as it occurs in vivo, that is, as a non-equilibrium, active, energy-dependent process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arcady R. Mushegian
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA;
- Clare Hall College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9AL, UK
| | - Eugene V. Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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23
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Joiret M, Kerff F, Rapino F, Close P, Geris L. Ribosome exit tunnel electrostatics. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:014409. [PMID: 35193250 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.014409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The impact of ribosome exit tunnel electrostatics on the protein elongation rate or on forces acting upon the nascent polypeptide chain are currently not fully elucidated. In the past, researchers have measured the electrostatic potential inside the ribosome polypeptide exit tunnel at a limited number of spatial points, at least in rabbit reticulocytes. Here we present a basic electrostatic model of the exit tunnel of the ribosome, providing a quantitative physical description of the tunnel interaction with the nascent proteins at all centro-axial points inside the tunnel. We show that a strong electrostatic screening is due to water molecules (not mobile ions) attracted to the ribosomal nucleic acid phosphate moieties buried in the immediate vicinity of the tunnel wall. We also show how the tunnel wall components and local ribosomal protein protrusions impact on the electrostatic potential profile and impede charged amino acid residues from progressing through the tunnel, affecting the elongation rate in a range of -40% to +85% when compared to the average elongation rate. The time spent by the ribosome to decode the genetic encrypted message is constrained accordingly. We quantitatively derive, at single-residue resolution, the axial forces acting on the nascent peptide from its particular sequence embedded in the tunnel. The model sheds light on how the experimental data point measurements of the potential are linked to the local structural chemistry of the inner wall, shape, and size of the tunnel. The model consistently connects experimental observations coming from different fields in molecular biology, x-ray crystallography, physical chemistry, biomechanics, and synthetic and multiomics biology. Our model should be a valuable tool to gain insight into protein synthesis dynamics, translational control, and the role of the ribosome's mechanochemistry in the cotranslational protein folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Joiret
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, Liège University, CHU-B34(+5) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Frederic Kerff
- UR InBios, Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines, Bât B6a, Allée du 6 Août, 19, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Francesca Rapino
- Cancer Signaling, GIGA Stem Cells, CHU-B34(+2) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Pierre Close
- Cancer Signaling, GIGA Stem Cells, CHU-B34(+2) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, Liège University, CHU-B34(+5) 1 Avenue de l'Hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology & Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, ON I Herestraat 49 - box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C box 2419, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
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24
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McBride JM, Tlusty T. Slowest-first protein translation scheme: Structural asymmetry and co-translational folding. Biophys J 2021; 120:5466-5477. [PMID: 34813729 PMCID: PMC8715247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins are translated from the N to the C terminus, raising the basic question of how this innate directionality affects their evolution. To explore this question, we analyze 16,200 structures from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). We find remarkable enrichment of α helices at the C terminus and β strands at the N terminus. Furthermore, this α-β asymmetry correlates with sequence length and contact order, both determinants of folding rate, hinting at possible links to co-translational folding (CTF). Hence, we propose the "slowest-first" scheme, whereby protein sequences evolved structural asymmetry to accelerate CTF: the slowest of the cooperatively folding segments are positioned near the N terminus so they have more time to fold during translation. A phenomenological model predicts that CTF can be accelerated by asymmetry in folding rate, up to double the rate, when folding time is commensurate with translation time; analysis of the PDB predicts that structural asymmetry is indeed maximal in this regime. This correspondence is greater in prokaryotes, which generally require faster protein production. Altogether, this indicates that accelerating CTF is a substantial evolutionary force whose interplay with stability and functionality is encoded in secondary structure asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M McBride
- Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science, Ulsan, South Korea.
| | - Tsvi Tlusty
- Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science, Ulsan, South Korea; Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, South Korea.
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25
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Guzman-Luna V, Fuchs AM, Allen AJ, Staikos A, Cavagnero S. An intrinsically disordered nascent protein interacts with specific regions of the ribosomal surface near the exit tunnel. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1236. [PMID: 34716402 PMCID: PMC8556260 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02752-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of the ribosome on nascent chains is poorly understood, especially in the case of proteins devoid of signal or arrest sequences. Here, we provide explicit evidence for the interaction of specific ribosomal proteins with ribosome-bound nascent chains (RNCs). We target RNCs pertaining to the intrinsically disordered protein PIR and a number of mutants bearing a variable net charge. All the constructs analyzed in this work lack N-terminal signal sequences. By a combination chemical crosslinking and Western-blotting, we find that all RNCs interact with ribosomal protein L23 and that longer nascent chains also weakly interact with L29. The interacting proteins are spatially clustered on a specific region of the large ribosomal subunit, close to the exit tunnel. Based on chain-length-dependence and mutational studies, we find that the interactions with L23 persist despite drastic variations in RNC sequence. Importantly, we also find that the interactions are highly Mg+2-concentration-dependent. This work is significant because it unravels a novel role of the ribosome, which is shown to engage with the nascent protein chain even in the absence of signal or arrest sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Guzman-Luna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Andrew M Fuchs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Anna J Allen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Alexios Staikos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Silvia Cavagnero
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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26
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Efficient integration of transmembrane domains depends on the folding properties of the upstream sequences. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2102675118. [PMID: 34373330 PMCID: PMC8379923 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102675118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The topology of membrane proteins is defined by the successive integration of α-helical transmembrane domains at the Sec61 translocon. For each polypeptide segment of ∼20 residues entering the translocon, their combined hydrophobicities were previously shown to define membrane integration. Here, we discovered that different sequences preceding a potential transmembrane domain substantially affect the hydrophobicity threshold. Sequences that are rapidly folding, intrinsically disordered, very short, or strongly binding chaperones allow efficient integration at low hydrophobicity. Folding deficient mutant domains and artificial sequences not binding chaperones interfered with membrane integration likely by remaining partially unfolded and exposing hydrophobic surfaces that compete with the translocon for the emerging transmembrane segment, reducing integration efficiency. Rapid folding or strong chaperone binding thus promote efficient integration. The topology of most membrane proteins is defined by the successive integration of α-helical transmembrane domains at the Sec61 translocon. The translocon provides a pore for the transfer of polypeptide segments across the membrane while giving them lateral access to the lipid. For each polypeptide segment of ∼20 residues, the combined hydrophobicities of its constituent amino acids were previously shown to define the extent of membrane integration. Here, we discovered that different sequences preceding a potential transmembrane domain substantially affect its hydrophobicity requirement for integration. Rapidly folding domains, sequences that are intrinsically disordered or very short or capable of binding chaperones with high affinity, allow for efficient transmembrane integration with low-hydrophobicity thresholds for both orientations in the membrane. In contrast, long protein fragments, folding-deficient mutant domains, and artificial sequences not binding chaperones interfered with membrane integration, requiring higher hydrophobicity. We propose that the latter sequences, as they compact on their hydrophobic residues, partially folded but unable to reach a native state, expose hydrophobic surfaces that compete with the translocon for the emerging transmembrane segment, reducing integration efficiency. The results suggest that rapid folding or strong chaperone binding is required for efficient transmembrane integration.
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27
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Hutchinson RB, Chen X, Zhou N, Cavagnero S. Fluorescence Anisotropy Decays and Microscale-Volume Viscometry Reveal the Compaction of Ribosome-Bound Nascent Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:6543-6558. [PMID: 34110829 PMCID: PMC8741338 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This work introduces a technology that combines fluorescence anisotropy decay with microscale-volume viscometry to investigate the compaction and dynamics of ribosome-bound nascent proteins. Protein folding in the cell, especially when nascent chains emerge from the ribosomal tunnel, is poorly understood. Previous investigations based on fluorescence anisotropy decay determined that a portion of the ribosome-bound nascent protein apomyoglobin (apoMb) forms a compact structure. This work, however, could not assess the size of the compact region. The combination of fluorescence anisotropy with microscale-volume viscometry, presented here, enables identifying the size of compact nascent-chain subdomains using a single fluorophore label. Our results demonstrate that the compact region of nascent apoMb contains 57-83 amino acids and lacks residues corresponding to the two native C-terminal helices. These amino acids are necessary for fully burying the nonpolar residues in the native structure, yet they are not available for folding before ribosome release. Therefore, apoMb requires a significant degree of post-translational folding for the generation of its native structure. In summary, the combination of fluorescence anisotropy decay and microscale-volume viscometry is a powerful approach to determine the size of independently tumbling compact regions of biomolecules. This technology is of general applicability to compact macromolecules linked to larger frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Ningkun Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Silvia Cavagnero
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
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Koubek J, Schmitt J, Galmozzi CV, Kramer G. Mechanisms of Cotranslational Protein Maturation in Bacteria. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:689755. [PMID: 34113653 PMCID: PMC8185961 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.689755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing cells invest a significant part of their biosynthetic capacity into the production of proteins. To become functional, newly-synthesized proteins must be N-terminally processed, folded and often translocated to other cellular compartments. A general strategy is to integrate these protein maturation processes with translation, by cotranslationally engaging processing enzymes, chaperones and targeting factors with the nascent polypeptide. Precise coordination of all factors involved is critical for the efficiency and accuracy of protein synthesis and cellular homeostasis. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on cotranslational protein maturation, with a focus on the production of cytosolic proteins in bacteria. We describe the role of the ribosome and the chaperone network in protein folding and how the dynamic interplay of all cotranslationally acting factors guides the sequence of cotranslational events. Finally, we discuss recent data demonstrating the coupling of protein synthesis with the assembly of protein complexes and end with a brief discussion of outstanding questions and emerging concepts in the field of cotranslational protein maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Koubek
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jaro Schmitt
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carla Veronica Galmozzi
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Günter Kramer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
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29
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Maciuba K, Rajasekaran N, Chen X, Kaiser CM. Co-translational folding of nascent polypeptides: Multi-layered mechanisms for the efficient biogenesis of functional proteins. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100042. [PMID: 33987870 PMCID: PMC8262109 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The coupling of protein synthesis and folding is a crucial yet poorly understood aspect of cellular protein folding. Over the past few years, it has become possible to experimentally follow and define protein folding on the ribosome, revealing principles that shape co-translational folding and distinguish it from refolding in solution. Here, we highlight some of these recent findings from biochemical and biophysical studies and their potential significance for cellular protein biogenesis. In particular, we focus on nascent chain interactions with the ribosome, interactions within the nascent protein, modulation of translation elongation rates, and the role of mechanical force that accompanies nascent protein folding. The ability to obtain mechanistic insight in molecular detail has set the stage for exploring the intricate process of nascent protein folding. We believe that the aspects discussed here will be generally important for understanding how protein synthesis and folding are coupled and regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maciuba
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Xiuqi Chen
- CMDB Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christian M Kaiser
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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30
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Cotranslational Translocation and Folding of a Periplasmic Protein Domain in Escherichia coli. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167047. [PMID: 33989648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In Gram-negative bacteria, periplasmic domains in inner membrane proteins are cotranslationally translocated across the inner membrane through the SecYEG translocon. To what degree such domains also start to fold cotranslationally is generally difficult to determine using currently available methods. Here, we apply Force Profile Analysis (FPA) - a method where a translational arrest peptide is used to detect folding-induced forces acting on the nascent polypeptide - to follow the cotranslational translocation and folding of the large periplasmic domain of the E. coli inner membrane protease LepB in vivo. Membrane insertion of LepB's two N-terminal transmembrane helices is initiated when their respective N-terminal ends reach 45-50 residues away from the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) in the ribosome. The main folding transition in the periplasmic domain involves all but the ~15 most C-terminal residues of the protein and happens when the C-terminal end of the folded part is ~70 residues away from the PTC; a smaller putative folding intermediate is also detected. This implies that wildtype LepB folds post-translationally in vivo, and shows that FPA can be used to study both co- and post-translational protein folding in the periplasm.
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31
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Cruzeiro L, Gill AC, Eilbeck JC. Statistical Evidence for a Helical Nascent Chain. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030357. [PMID: 33652806 PMCID: PMC7996779 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigate the hypothesis that protein folding is a kinetic, non-equilibrium process, in which the structure of the nascent chain is crucial. We compare actual amino acid frequencies in loops, α-helices and β-sheets with the frequencies that would arise in the absence of any amino acid bias for those secondary structures. The novel analysis suggests that while specific amino acids exist to drive the formation of loops and sheets, none stand out as drivers for α-helices. This favours the idea that the α-helix is the initial structure of most proteins before the folding process begins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonor Cruzeiro
- CCMAR/CIMAR - Centro de Ciências do Mar, FCT, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Andrew C Gill
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Green Lane, Lincoln LN67DL, UK
| | - J Chris Eilbeck
- Department of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
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32
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Cassaignau AME, Włodarski T, Chan SHS, Woodburn LF, Bukvin IV, Streit JO, Cabrita LD, Waudby CA, Christodoulou J. Interactions between nascent proteins and the ribosome surface inhibit co-translational folding. Nat Chem 2021; 13:1214-1220. [PMID: 34650236 PMCID: PMC8627912 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Most proteins begin to fold during biosynthesis on the ribosome. It has been suggested that interactions between the emerging polypeptide and the ribosome surface might allow the ribosome itself to modulate co-translational folding. Here we combine protein engineering and NMR spectroscopy to characterize a series of interactions between the ribosome surface and unfolded nascent chains of the immunoglobulin-like FLN5 filamin domain. The strongest interactions are found for a C-terminal segment that is essential for folding, and we demonstrate quantitative agreement between the strength of this interaction and the energetics of the co-translational folding process itself. Mutations in this region that reduce the extent of binding result in a shift in the co-translational folding equilibrium towards the native state. Our results therefore demonstrate that a competition between folding and binding provides a simple, dynamic mechanism for the modulation of co-translational folding by the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs M. E. Cassaignau
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tomasz Włodarski
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sammy H. S. Chan
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lauren F. Woodburn
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ivana V. Bukvin
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Julian O. Streit
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lisa D. Cabrita
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher A. Waudby
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - John Christodoulou
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK ,grid.4464.20000 0001 2161 2573Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK
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