A conserved arginine plays a role in the catalytic cycle of the protein disulphide isomerases

The pK(a) values of the CXXC active-site cysteine residues play a critical role in determining the physiological function of the thioredoxin superfamily. To act as an efficient thiol-disulphide oxidant the thiolate state of the N-terminal cysteine must be stabilised and the thiolate state of the C-terminal cysteine residue destabilised. While increasing the pK(a) value of the C-terminal cysteine residue promotes oxidation of substrates, it has an inhibitory effect on the reoxidation of the enzyme, which is promoted by the formation of a thiolate at this position. Since reoxidation is essential to complete the catalytic cycle, the differential requirement for a high and a low pK(a) value for the C-terminal cysteine residue for different steps in the reaction presents us with a paradox. Here, we report the identification of a conserved arginine residue, located in the loop between beta5 and alpha4 of the catalytic domains of the human protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) family, which is critical for the catalytic function of PDI, ERp57, ERp72 and P5, specifically for reoxidation. An examination of the published NMR structure for the a domain of PDI combined with molecular dynamic studies suggest that the side-chain of this arginine residue moves into and out of the active-site locale and that this has a very marked effect on the pK(a) value of the active-site cysteine residues. This intra-domain motion resolves the apparent dichotomy of the pK(a) requirements for the C-terminal active-site cysteine.

Response of SCP-2L domain of human MFE-2 to ligand removal: binding site closure and burial of peroxisomal targeting signal

In the study of the structure and function relationship of human MFE-2, we have investigated the dynamics of human MFE-2SCP-2L (hSCP-2L) and its response to ligand removal. A comparison was made with homologous rabbit SCP-2. Breathing and a closing motion are found, identifiable with an adjustment in size and a closing off of the binding pocket. Crucial residues for structural integrity have been identified. Particularly mobile areas of the protein are loop 1 that is connecting helices A and C in space, and helix D, next to the entrance of the pocket. In hSCP-2L, the binding pocket gets occupied by Phe93, which is making a tight hydrophobic contact with Trp36. In addition, it is found that the C-terminal peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1) that is solvent exposed in the complexed structure becomes buried when no ligand is present. Moreover, an anti-correlation exists between burial of PTS1 and the size of the binding pocket. The results are in accordance with plant nsLTPs, where a similar accommodation of binding pocket size was found after ligand binding/removal. Furthermore, the calculations support the suggestion of a ligand-assisted targeting mechanism.

Molecular dynamics study of peptide-bilayer adsorption

Two 6-ns simulations of the somatostatin analog sandostatin and a 1-palmityl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) bilayer are presented. In the first simulation, the peptide was placed in a region of bulk water density and allowed to spontaneously move toward and bind to the bilayer surface. An attractive force between the peptide and bilayer drove the binding process, which was opposed by a significant frictional force caused by the solvent (water). During the approach of the peptide toward the bilayer the area of the interacting surface between the species was inversely proportional to the distance between them, supporting the application of such a relationship in continuum calculations of peptide-bilayer binding free energies. In the second simulation, the N-terminus of the surface-bound peptide was deprotonated. Consistent with experiment, this strengthened interactions between the peptide and the bilayer. Details of both peptide-bilayer complexes, including the orientation, percent buried surface area, and orientation of the lipid headgroups are in good agreement with those obtained from experiment. The location of the different side chains in the bilayer is in direct correlation with an interfacial hydrophobicity scale developed using model peptides. The aromatic side chains of the Phe and Trp residues all lie flat with respect to the bilayer surface in both complexes. Changes in lipid and water ordering due to peptide binding suggest a possible domination of lipophobic over hydrophobic effects, as proposed by other workers. Where appropriate, peptide and lipid properties in the bound states are compared with separate simulations of sandostatin and the bilayer in water, respectively, so as to monitor the response of the system to the binding process.

pK(a) calculations of calbindin D(9k): effects of Ca(2+) binding, protein dielectric constant, and ionic strength

Calbindin is a small (75 residues) helix-loop-helix ("EF-hand") calcium-binding protein belonging to the calmodulin superfamily. It binds two Ca(2+) ions. Continuum electrostatics in combination with the boundary element method was employed for the calculation of the acid-dissociation constants K(a) (pK(a) = -log K(a)) values of all titratable residues in the protein. The objectives were to determine quantitatively the effects of divalent ion binding and small ion-induced structural changes on predicted pK(a)'s. Computations were carried out for the apo and holo form of calbindin, for which both X-ray and NMR structures were available. Comparison was made with several sets of experimental pK(a) values determined by NMR spectroscopy. Different choices of the dielectric constant (ranging from 4 to 78.5) for calbindin and variations in ionic strength (from 0 to 0.3 M) were investigated in a systematic fashion. Removal of the two bound Ca(2+) ions increases the pK(a) values of all residues if no conformational changes were allowed. If conformational differences between the apo and holo were accounted for, shifts in either direction were observed. Titrating groups that are directly involved in Ca(2+) binding (Asp and Glu) required a dielectric constant of 78.5 for the holo structure to obtain a reasonable estimate of their pK(a)'s. For the apo structure, passable values for the pK(a)'s of these ligating groups could be determined if the structure was allowed to relax upon ion removal.

Theoretical calculation of pKa reveals an important role of Arg205 in the activity and stability of Streptomyces sp. N174 chitosanase

Based on the crystal structure of chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. N174, we have calculated theoretical pK(a) values of the ionizable groups of this protein using a combination of the boundary element method and continuum electrostatics. The pK(a) value obtained for Arg(205), which is located in the catalytic cleft, was abnormally high (>20.0), indicating that the guanidyl group may interact strongly with nearby charges. Chitosanases possessing mutations in this position (R205A, R205H, and R205Y), produced by Streptomyces lividans expression system, were found to have less than 0.3% of the activity of the wild type enzyme and to possess thermal stabilities 4-5 kcal/mol lower than that of the wild type protein. In the crystal structure, the Arg(205) side chain is in close proximity to the Asp(145) side chain (theoretical pK(a), -1.6), which is in turn close to the Arg(190) side chain (theoretical pK(a), 17.7). These theoretical pK(a) values are abnormal, suggesting that both of these residues may participate in the Arg(205) interaction network. Activity and stability experiments using Asp(145)- and Arg(190)-mutated chitosanases (D145A and R190A) provide experimental data supporting the hypothesis derived from the theoretical pK(a) data and prompt the conclusion that Arg(205) forms a strong interaction network with Asp(145) and Arg(190) that stabilizes the catalytic cleft.

Comparative modeling studies of the calmodulin-like domain of calcium-dependent protein kinase from soybean

Calmodulin-like domain protein kinases (CDPKs) represent a new class of calcium-dependent protein-phosphorylating enzymes that are not activated by calmodulin or phospholipid compounds. They have been found exclusively in plant and protozoal tissues. CDPKs are typified by four distinct domains: an N-terminal leader sequence, a protein kinase (PK) domain, a calmodulin-like domain (CLD), and a junction domain (JD) between the PK domain and CLD. Structural characterization of the CLD of CDPKalpha from soybean was undertaken based on the amino acid sequence homology of CLD to the structurally well-characterized calmodulin (CaM) family of structures. Tertiary models of apo-CLD, Ca(2+)-CLD complex, and intermolecularly bound Ca(2+)-CLD-JD complexes were obtained via automated and non-automated homology building methods. The resulting structures were compared and validated based on energy differences, phi-psi angle distribution, solvent accessibility, and hydrophobic potential. Circular dichroism, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of the CLD and peptides encompassing the JD provide experimental support to the models. The results suggest that there is a possible interaction between the CLD and JD domain similar to that of the CaM/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II system. At low Ca(2+) levels, the JD may act as an autoinhibitory domain for kinase activity, and during calcium activation an intramolecular CLD-JD complex may form, relieving inhibition of the PK domain. Interactions between the JD and the C terminus of the CLD appear to be particularly important. The outcome of this study supports an intramolecular binding model for calcium activation of CDPK, although not exclusively.

Theoretical calculations of acid-dissociation constants of proteins

The purpose of this review is to introduce several computational procedures for the determination of acid-dissociation constants (pKa) of titratable groups in proteins. Several concepts, such as continuum electrostatics and the exact meaning of intrinsic and apparent pKas, will be explained in some detail. Each of the methods will be judged on its merits, and some comparisons between the methods will be presented. While the emphasis of this review will be on theoretical formulations, the experimental determination by means of nuclear magnetic resonance will be briefly explained. The determination of individual pKa values by nuclear magnetic resonance in combination with computationally determined pKas can provide unique information about the pH-dependent properties of proteins and their complexes with peptides, DNA, and ligands.

A flexible triangulation method to describe the solvent-accessible surface of biopolymers

A relatively simple protein solvent-accessible surface triangulation method for continuum electrostatics applications employing the boundary element method is presented. First, the protein is placed onto a three-dimensional lattice with a specified lattice spacing. To each lattice point, a box is assigned. Boxes located in the solvent region and in the interior of the protein are removed from the set. Improper connections between boxes and the possible existence of cavities in the interior of the protein which would destroy the proper connectivity of the triangulated surface are taken care of. The remaining set of boxes define the outer contour of the protein. Each free face exposed to the solvent of the remaining set of boxes is triangulated after the surface defined by the free faces has been smoothed to follow the shape of the macromolecule more accurately. The final step consists of a mapping of triangle vertices onto a set of surface points which define the solvent-accessible surface. Normal vectors at triangle vertices are obtained also from the free faces which define the orientation of the surface. The algorithm was tested for six molecules including four proteins; a dipeptide, a helical peptide consisting of 25 residues, calbindin, lysozyme, calmodulin and cutinase. For each molecule, total areas have been calculated and compared with the result computed from a dotted solvent-accessible surface. Since the boundary element method requires a low number of vertices and triangles to reduce the number of unknowns for reasons of efficiency, the number of triangles should not be too high. Nevertheless, credible results are obtained for the total area with relative errors not exceeding 12% for a large lattice spacing (0.30 nm) while close to zero for a smaller lattice spacing (down to 0.16 nm). The output of the triangulation computer program (written in C++) is rather simple so that it can be easily converted to any format acceptable for any molecular graphics programs.

Comparison of atomic solvation parametric sets: applicability and limitations in protein folding and binding

Atomic solvation parameters (ASP) are widely used to estimate the solvation contribution to the thermodynamic stability of proteins as well as the free energy of association for protein-ligand complexes. They are also included in several molecular mechanics computer programs. In this work, a total of eight atomic solvation parametric sets has been employed to calculate the solvation contribution to the free energy of folding delta Gs for 17 proteins. A linear correlation between delta Gs and the number of residues in each protein was found for each ASP set. The calculations also revealed a great variety in the absolute value and in the sign of delta Gs values such that certain ASP sets predicted the unfolded state to be more stable than the folded, whereas others yield precisely the opposite. Further, the solvation contribution to the free energy of association of helix pairs and to the disassociation of loops (connection between secondary structural elements in proteins) from the protein tertiary structures were computed for each of the eight ASP sets and discrepancies were evident among them.