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Kutzki F, Butera D, Lay AJ, Maag D, Chiu J, Woon HG, Kubař T, Elstner M, Aponte-Santamaría C, Hogg PJ, Gräter F. Disulfide Bond Reduction and Exchange in von-Willebrand-Factor's C4-Domain Undermines Platelet Binding. J Thromb Haemost 2023:S1538-7836(23)00273-8. [PMID: 37059301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a key player in regulating hemostasis through adhesion of platelets to sites of vascular injury. It is a large multi-domain mechano-sensitive protein stabilized by a net of disulfide bridges. Binding to platelet integrin is achieved by the vWF-C4 domain which exhibits a fixed fold, even under conditions of severe mechanical stress, but only if critical internal disulfide bonds are closed. OBJECTIVE To determine the oxidation state of C4's disulfide bridges and implications for vWF's platelet binding function. METHODS We combined classical molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical simulations, mass spectrometry, site-directed mutagenesis, and platelet binding assays. RESULTS We show that two disulfide bonds in the vWF-C4 domain, namely the two major force-bearing ones, are partially reduced in human blood. Reduction leads to pronounced conformational changes within C4 that considerably affect the accessibility of the RGD-integrin binding motif, and thereby impair integrin-mediated platelet binding. We also reveal that reduced species in the C4 domain undergo specific thiol/disulfide exchanges with the remaining disulfide bridges, in a process in which mechanical force may increase the proximity of specific reactant cysteines, further trapping C4 in a state of low integrin-binding propensity. We identify a multitude of redox states in all six vWF-C domains, suggesting disulfide bond reduction and swapping to be a general theme. CONCLUSION Our data put forward a mechanism in which disulfide bonds dynamically swap cysteine partners and control the interaction of vWF with integrin and potentially other partners, thereby critically influencing its hemostatic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Kutzki
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, Heidelberg, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Diego Butera
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Angelina J Lay
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Denis Maag
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Joyce Chiu
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Heng-Giap Woon
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Tomáš Kubař
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Camilo Aponte-Santamaría
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, Heidelberg, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Philip J Hogg
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
| | - Frauke Gräter
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, Heidelberg, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Chen PC, Kutzki F, Mojzisch A, Simon B, Xu ER, Aponte-Santamaría C, Horny K, Jeffries C, Schneppenheim R, Wilmanns M, Brehm MA, Gräter F, Hennig J. Structure and dynamics of the von Willebrand Factor C6 domain. J Struct Biol 2022; 214:107923. [PMID: 36410652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder with different levels of severity. VWD-associated mutations are located in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene, coding for the large multidomain plasma protein VWF with essential roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. On the one hand, a variety of mutations in the C-domains of VWF are associated with increased bleeding upon vascular injury. On the other hand, VWF gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the C4 domain have recently been identified, which induce an increased risk of myocardial infarction. Mechanistic insights into how these mutations affect the molecular behavior of VWF are scarce and holistic approaches are challenging due to the multidomain and multimeric character of this large protein. Here, we determine the structure and dynamics of the C6 domain and the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant G2705R in C6 by combining nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and aggregometry. Our findings indicate that this mutation mostly destabilizes VWF by leading to a more pronounced hinging between both subdomains of C6. Hemostatic parameters of variant G2705R are close to normal under static conditions, but the missense mutation results in a gain-of-function under flow conditions, due to decreased VWF stem stability. Together with the fact that two C4 variants also exhibit GOF characteristics, our data underline the importance of the VWF stem region in VWF's hemostatic activity and the risk of mutation-associated prothrombotic properties in VWF C-domain variants due to altered stem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Chia Chen
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Kutzki
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angelika Mojzisch
- Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Simon
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma-Ruoqi Xu
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Camilo Aponte-Santamaría
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai Horny
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cy Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Schneppenheim
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria A Brehm
- Department of Digital Health Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Siegen, Am Eichenhang 50, 57076 Siegen, Germany
| | - Frauke Gräter
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg University, INF 305, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Janosch Hennig
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; Chair of Biochemistry IV, Biophysical Chemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
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Huck V, Chen PC, Xu ER, Tischer A, Klemm U, Aponte-Santamaría C, Mess C, Obser T, Kutzki F, König G, Denis CV, Gräter F, Wilmanns M, Auton M, Schneider SW, Schneppenheim R, Hennig J, Brehm MA. Gain-of-Function Variant p.Pro2555Arg of von Willebrand Factor Increases Aggregate Size through Altering Stem Dynamics. Thromb Haemost 2020; 122:226-239. [PMID: 33385180 PMCID: PMC8828397 DOI: 10.1055/a-1344-4405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The multimeric plasma glycoprotein (GP) von Willebrand factor (VWF) is best known for recruiting platelets to sites of injury during primary hemostasis. Generally, mutations in the VWF gene lead to loss of hemostatic activity and thus the bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease. By employing cone and platelet aggregometry and microfluidic assays, we uncovered a platelet GPIIb/IIIa-dependent prothrombotic gain of function (GOF) for variant p.Pro2555Arg, located in the C4 domain, leading to an increase in platelet aggregate size. We performed complementary biophysical and structural investigations using circular dichroism spectra, small-angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations on the single C4 domain, and dimeric wild-type and p.Pro2555Arg constructs. C4-p.Pro2555Arg retained the overall structural conformation with minor populations of alternative conformations exhibiting increased hinge flexibility and slow conformational exchange. The dimeric protein becomes disordered and more flexible. Our data suggest that the GOF does not affect the binding affinity of the C4 domain for GPIIb/IIIa. Instead, the increased VWF dimer flexibility enhances temporal accessibility of platelet-binding sites. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we revealed that p.Pro2555Arg is the first VWF variant, which increases platelet aggregate size and shows a shear-dependent function of the VWF stem region, which can become hyperactive through mutations. Prothrombotic GOF variants of VWF are a novel concept of a VWF-associated pathomechanism of thromboembolic events, which is of general interest to vascular health but not yet considered in diagnostics. Thus, awareness should be raised for the risk they pose. Furthermore, our data implicate the C4 domain as a novel antithrombotic drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Huck
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Experimental Dermatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Po-Chia Chen
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma-Ruoqi Xu
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Tischer
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Ulrike Klemm
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Camilo Aponte-Santamaría
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, University of los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Mess
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Obser
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Kutzki
- Molecular Biomechanics Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gesa König
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cécile V Denis
- Laboratory of Hemostasis, Inflammation and Thrombosis, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR_1176, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Frauke Gräter
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Molecular Biomechanics Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany.,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthew Auton
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Stefan W Schneider
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Schneppenheim
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janosch Hennig
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria A Brehm
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Rennekamp B, Kutzki F, Obarska-Kosinska A, Zapp C, Gräter F. Hybrid Kinetic Monte Carlo/Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Bond Scissions in Proteins. Biophys J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Rennekamp B, Kutzki F, Obarska-Kosinska A, Zapp C, Gräter F. Hybrid Kinetic Monte Carlo/Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Bond Scissions in Proteins. J Chem Theory Comput 2019; 16:553-563. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.9b00786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Rennekamp
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Kutzki
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Obarska-Kosinska
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Zapp
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frauke Gräter
- Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Schloss-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, Heidelberg University, INF 205, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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