Characterization of the structure and dynamics of amyloidogenic variants of human lysozyme by NMR spectroscopy.

The structures and dynamics of the native states of two mutational variants of human lysozyme, I56T and D67H, both associated with non-neuropathic systemic amyloidosis, have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy. The (1)H and (15)N main-chain amide chemical shifts of the I56T variant are very similar to those of the wild-type protein, but those of the D67H variant are greatly altered for 28 residues in the beta-domain. This finding is consistent with the X-ray crystallographic analysis, which shows that the structure of this variant is significantly altered from that of the wild-type protein in this region. The (1)H-(15)N heteronuclear NOE values show that, with the exception of V121, every residue in the wild-type and I56T proteins is located in tightly packed structures characteristic of the native states of most proteins. In contrast, D67H has a region of substantially increased mobility as shown by a dramatic decrease in heteronuclear NOE values of residues near the site of mutation. Despite this unusual flexibility, the D67H variant has no greater propensity to form amyloid fibrils in vivo or in vitro than has I56T. This finding indicates that it is the increased ability of the variants to access partially folded conformations, rather than intrinsic changes in their native state properties, that is the origin of their amyloidogenicity.

Comparison of the denaturant-induced unfolding of the bovine and human alpha-lactalbumin molten globules.

Residue-specific information on the urea-induced unfolding of the molten globule state of bovine alpha-lactalbumin (BLA) has been obtained using NMR spectroscopy. In agreement with previous studies on human alpha-lactalbumin (HLA) the unfolding process for BLA has been found to be non-cooperative. Both the alpha and beta-domains of the protein are substantially collapsed in the absence of denaturant but in both proteins the majority of the structure in the beta-domain unfolds prior to that in the alpha-domain. However, in BLA the protein unfolds completely in 10 M urea at 50 degrees C, whilst in HLA a stable core region persists even under these extreme conditions. Previous studies on HLA have identified eight residues that are crucial for the stability of the molten globule. Of these residues, only three are conserved in the sequence of BLA. By taking into consideration the differences in inter-residue contacts between the four alpha-helices arising from these substitutions, and the relative hydrophobicity of the helices in the two proteins, we show that it is possible to rationalise the observed differences in the behaviour of the molten globule states of the two proteins. Taken together, these results suggest that there may be a number of ways of stabilising a given protein fold, and the specific manner that this is achieved for a particular protein is determined by details of its sequence.

Probing subtle differences in the hydrogen exchange behavior of variants of the human alpha-lactalbumin molten globule using mass spectrometry.

The hydrogen-exchange behavior of the low-pH molten globule of human alpha-lactalbumin, containing all four disulfides, has been examined and compared with that of a single disulfide variant, [28-111] alpha-lactalbumin, and of a series of proline variants of [28-111] alpha-lactalbumin. The small differences in hydrogen-exchange protection exhibited by these partially folded species were compared by mixing two or more proteins and monitoring their exchange simultaneously using mass spectrometry. The effect of single proline mutations within each alpha-domain helix on hydrogen-exchange protection has been investigated using six proline variants of [28-111] alpha-lactalbumin, L11P, L12P, M30P, I95P, K108P and Q117P. The results show that proline mutations in the A, B, C and D alpha-helices lead to a loss of hydrogen-exchange protection for residues in the local helix without perturbing hydrogen-exchange protection in other regions of the protein. Thus, local unfolding of the A, B, C and D helices does not significantly alter the packing and solvent accessibility of other regions of the molten globule. By contrast, introduction of a proline residue in the C-terminal 3(10) helix produces a larger and more widespread loss of hydrogen-exchange protection, demonstrating that longer-range perturbations of the molten globule have occurred. Thus, residues in this C-terminal region must be involved in contacts that are critical for the stabilisation of the compact molten globule structure.

A refined solution structure of hen lysozyme determined using residual dipolar coupling data.

A high resolution NMR structure of hen lysozyme has been determined using 209 residual 1H-15N dipolar coupling restraints from measurements made in two different dilute liquid crystalline phases (bicelles) in conjunction with a data set of 1632 NOE distance restraints, 110 torsion angle restraints, and 60 hydrogen bond restraints. The ensemble of 50 low-energy calculated structures has an average backbone RMSD of 0.50+/-0.13A to the mean structure and of 1.49+/-0.10A to the crystal structure of hen lysozyme. To assess the importance of the dipolar coupling data in the structure determination, the final structures are compared with an ensemble calculated using an identical protocol but excluding the dipolar coupling restraints. The comparison shows that structures calculated with the dipolar coupling data are more similar to the crystal structure than those calculated without, and have better stereochemical quality. The structures also show improved quality factors when compared with additional dipolar coupling data that were not included in the structure calculations, with orientation-dependent 15N chemical shift changes measured in the bicelle solutions, and with T1/T2 values obtained from 15N relaxation measurements. Analysis of the ensemble of NMR structures and comparisons with crystal structures, 15N relaxation data, and molecular dynamics simulations of hen lysozyme provides a detailed description of the solution structure of this protein and insights into its dynamical behavior.

Comparison of the structural and dynamical properties of holo and apo bovine alpha-lactalbumin by NMR spectroscopy.

In the presence of 0.5 M NaCl at pH 7.1, the Ca(2+)-free apo form of recombinant bovine alpha-lactalbumin (BLA) is sufficiently stabilised in its native state to give well-resolved NMR spectra at 20 degrees C. The (1)H and (15)N NMR resonances of native apo-BLA have been assigned, and the chemical-shifts compared with those of the native holo protein. Large changes observed between the two forms of BLA are mainly limited to the Ca(2+)-binding region of the protein. These data suggest that Na(+) stabilises the native apo state through the screening of repulsive negative charges, at the Ca(2+)-binding site or elsewhere, rather than by a specific interaction at the vacant Ca(2+)-binding site. The hydrogen exchange protection of residues in the Ca(2+)-binding loop and the C-helix is reduced in the apo form compared to that in the holo form. This indicates that the dynamic behaviour of this region of the protein is substantially increased in the absence of the bound Ca(2+). Real-time NMR experiments show that the rearrangements of the structure associated with the conversion of the holo to apo form of the protein do not involve the detectable population of partially unfolded intermediates. Rather, the conversion appears to involve local reorganisations of the structure in the vicinity of the Ca(2+)-binding site that are coupled to the intrinsic fluctuations in the protein structure.

Chemical shifts in denatured proteins: resonance assignments for denatured ubiquitin and comparisons with other denatured proteins.

Chemical shift assignment is reported for the protein ubiquitin denatured in 8M urea at pH 2. The variations in 15N chemical shifts of three different proteins (ubiquitin, disulfide reduced, carboxymethylated lysozyme, all-Ala-alpha-lactalbumin), all without disulfides and denatured in 8M urea at pH 2 are compared to 'random coil shifts' of small model peptides (Braun et al., 1994) and to the averaged native chemical shifts taken from the BMRB database. Both parameterizations show a remarkable agreement with the averaged measured 15N chemical shifts in the three denatured proteins. Detailed analysis of these experimental 15N chemical shifts provides an estimate of the influence of nearest neighbors and conformational preferences on the chemical shift and provides a direct means to identify non-random structural preferences in denatured proteins.

The structure and dynamics in solution of Cu(I) pseudoazurin from Paracoccus pantotrophus.

The solution structure and backbone dynamics of Cu(I) pseudoazurin, a 123 amino acid electron transfer protein from Paracoccus pantotrophus, have been determined using NMR methods. The structure was calculated to high precision, with a backbone RMS deviation for secondary structure elements of 0.35+/-0.06 A, using 1,498 distance and 55 torsion angle constraints. The protein has a double-wound Greek-key fold with two alpha-helices toward its C-terminus, similar to that of its oxidized counterpart determined by X-ray crystallography. Comparison of the Cu(I) solution structure with the X-ray structure of the Cu(II) protein shows only small differences in the positions of some of the secondary structure elements. Order parameters S2, measured for amide nitrogens, indicate that the backbone of the protein is rigid on the picosecond to nanosecond timescale.

Alpha-lactalbumin forms a compact molten globule in the absence of disulfide bonds.

Human alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) is a four disulfide-bonded protein that adopts partially structured conformations under a variety of mildly denaturing conditions. At low pH, the protein is denatured but compact, with a high degree of secondary structure and a native-like fold. This is commonly referred to as a molten globule. A variant of alpha-LA, in which all eight cysteines have been mutated to alanine (all-Ala alpha-LA), has been studied using NMR spectroscopy. At low pH all-Ala alpha-LA is nearly as compact as wild type alpha-LA. Urea-induced unfolding experiments reveal that the residues that remain compact in the absence of disulfide bonds are those that are most resistant to unfolding in the wild-type alpha-LA molten globule. This is particularly remarkable because this stable core is formed by segments of the polypeptide chain from both the N- and C-termini. These results show that the overall architecture of the protein fold of alpha-LA is determined by the polypeptide sequence itself, and not as the result of cross-linking by disulfide bonds, and provide insight into the way in which the sequence codes for the fold.

Rapid collapse and slow structural reorganisation during the refolding of bovine alpha-lactalbumin.

The refolding of bovine alpha-lactalbumin (BLA) from its chemically denatured state in 6 M GuHCl has been investigated by a variety of complementary biophysical approaches. CD experiments indicate that the species formed in the early stages of refolding of the apo-protein have at least 85 % of the alpha-helical content of the native state, and kinetic NMR experiments show that they possess near-native compactness. Hydrogen exchange measurements using mass spectrometry and NMR indicate that persistent structure in these transient species is located predominantly in the alpha-domain of the native protein and is similar to that present in the partially folded A-state formed by the protein at low pH. The extent of the exchange protection is, however, small, and there is no evidence for the existence of well-defined discrete kinetic intermediates of the type populated in the refolding of the structurally homologous c-type lysozymes. Rather, both mass spectrometric and NMR data indicate that the rate-determining transition from the compact partially structured (molten globule) species to the native state is highly cooperative. The data show that folding in the presence of Ca2+ is similar to that in its absence, although the rate is increased by more than two orders of magnitude. Sequential mixing experiments monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that this slower folding is not the result of the accumulation of kinetically trapped species. Rather, the data are consistent with a model in which binding of Ca2+ stabilizes native-like contacts in the partially folded species and reduces the barriers for the conversion of the protein to its native state. Taken together the results indicate that folding of BLA, in the presence of its four disulphide bonds, corresponds to one of the limiting cases of protein folding in which rapid collapse to a globule with a native-like fold is followed by a search for native-like side-chain contacts that enable efficient conversion to the close packed native structure.

Structural and dynamical characterization of a biologically active unfolded fibronectin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus.

A 130-residue fragment (D1-D4) taken from a fibronectin-binding protein of Staphylococcus aureus, which contains four fibronectin-binding repeats and is unfolded but biologically active at neutral pH, has been studied extensively by NMR spectroscopy. Using heteronuclear multidimensional techniques, the conformational properties of D1-D4 have been defined at both a global and a local level. Diffusion studies give an average effective radius of 26.2 +/- 0.1 A, approximately 75% larger than that expected for a globular protein of this size. Analysis of chemical shift, 3JHNalpha coupling constant, and NOE data show that the experimental parameters agree well overall with values measured in short model peptides and with predictions from a statistical model for a random coil. Sequences where specific features give deviations from these predictions for a random coil have however been identified. These arise from clustering of hydrophobic side chains and electrostatic interactions between charged groups. 15N relaxation studies demonstrate that local fluctuations of the chain are the dominant motional process that gives rise to relaxation of the 15N nuclei, with a persistence length of approximately 7-10 residues for the segmental motion. The consequences of the structural and dynamical properties of this unfolded protein for its biological role of binding to fibronectin have been considered. It is found that the regions of the sequence involved in binding have a high propensity for populating extended conformations, a feature that would allow a number of both charged and hydrophobic groups to be presented to fibronectin for highly specific binding.

A residue-specific NMR view of the non-cooperative unfolding of a molten globule.

Molten globules are partially folded forms of proteins that are thought to be general intermediates in protein folding. Nonetheless, there is limited structural information about such species because they possess conformational heterogeneity and complex dynamical properties that lead to extreme line broadening in NMR spectra. Here we use a 2-D NMR approach that overcomes this difficulty by detecting the unfolding of individual residues in a molten globule in increasing concentrations of denaturant. The results show that the structure in the low pH form of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) is not formed cooperatively. Moreover, a core region remains collapsed under extremely denaturing conditions, even when the majority of the polypeptide chain is completely unfolded. Our results support a model for protein folding in which the core provides a template for correct assembly of the remainder of the structure.

NMR analysis of main-chain conformational preferences in an unfolded fibronectin-binding protein.

A 130-residue fragment of the Staphylococcus aureus fibronectin-binding protein has been found to exist in a highly unfolded conformation at neutral pH. Measurement of experimental NMR 3JHNalpha coupling constants provides evidence for individual residues having distinct main-chain conformational preferences that are dependent both on the amino acid concerned and on neighbouring residues in the sequence. Analysis shows that these variations in the populations of individual residues can be explained in detail in terms of statistical distributions of conformational states derived from the protein data base. In particular, when the preceding residue has a beta-branched or aromatic side-chain, a significant increase occurs in the population of the less sterically restricted b region of phi,psi space. The results indicate that the local structure of the fibronectin binding protein in solution, under conditions where it displays full activity, approximates very closely to a statistical random coil structure. This may be an important feature in the biological role of this and other polypeptides involved in protein-protein interactions.

Native-like secondary structure in a peptide from the alpha-domain of hen lysozyme.

BACKGROUND: To gain insight into the local and nonlocal interactions that contribute to the stability of hen lysozyme, we have synthesized two peptides that together comprise the entire alpha-domain of the protein. One peptide (peptide 1-40) corresponds to the sequence that forms two alpha-helices, a loop region, and a small beta-sheet in the N-terminal region of the native protein. The other (peptide 84-129) makes up the C-terminal part of the alpha-domain and encompasses two alpha-helices and a 3(10) helix in the native protein. RESULTS: As judged by CD and a range of NMR parameters, peptide 1-40 has little secondary structure in aqueous solution and only a small number of local hydrophobic interactions, largely in the loop region. Peptide 84-129, by contrast, contains significant helical structure and is partially hydrophobically collapsed. More specifically, the region corresponding to helix C in native lysozyme is disordered, whereas regions corresponding to the D and 3(10) helices in the native protein are helical in this peptide. The structure in peptide 84-129 is at least partly stabilized by interactions between residues in the two helical regions, as suggested by further NMR analysis of three short peptides corresponding to the individual helices in this region of the native protein. CONCLUSIONS: Stabilization of structure in the sequence 1-40 appears to be facilitated predominantly by long-range interactions between this region and the sequence 84-129. In native lysozyme, the existence of two disulphide bonds between the N- and C-terminal halves of the alpha-domain is likely to be a major factor in their stabilization. The data show, however, that native-like secondary structure can be generated in the C-terminal portion of the alpha-domain by nonspecific and nonnative interactions within a partially collapsed state.

Different subdomains are most protected from hydrogen exchange in the molten globule and native states of human alpha-lactalbumin.

alpha-Lactalbumin (alpha-LA) is a two-domain, calcium-binding protein that forms one of the best studied molten globules. We present here amide hydrogen exchange studies of the molten globule formed by human alpha-LA at pH 2 and compare these results with a similar study of the native state at pH 6.3. The most persistent structure in the molten globule is localized in the helical domain, consistent with previous results. However, the helices most protected from hydrogen exchange in the molten globule are, in the native state, less protected from exchange than other regions of the protein. The molten globule appears to contain major elements of the native fold, but formation of the fully native state requires stabilization of structure around the calcium-binding site and domain interface.

Structural determinants of protein dynamics: analysis of 15N NMR relaxation measurements for main-chain and side-chain nuclei of hen egg white lysozyme.

15N-labeled hen lysozyme has been studied by 2D and 3D NMR in order to characterize its dynamic behavior. The resonances of all main-chain amide nitrogen atoms were assigned, as were resonances of nitrogen atoms in 28 side chains. Relaxation measurements for the main-chain and arginine and tryptophan side-chain 15N nuclei used standard methods, and those for the 15N nuclei of asparagine and glutamine side chains used pulse sequences designed to remove unwanted relaxation pathways in the NH2 groups. The calculated order parameters (S2) show that the majority of main-chain amides undergo only small amplitude librational motions on a fast time scale (S2 > or = 0.8). Increased main-chain motion (0.5 < S2 < 0.8) is observed for a total of 19 residues located at the C-terminus, in loop and turn regions, and in the first strand of the main beta-sheet. Order parameters derived for the side chains range from 0.05 to 0.9; five of the six tryptophan residues have high order parameters (S2 > or = 0.8), consistent with their location in the closely packed core of the protein, whereas the order parameters between 0.05 and 0.3 for arginine residues confirm increased side-chain mobility at the protein surface. Order parameters for the side chains of asparagine and glutamine residues range from 0.2 to 0.8; high values are found for side chains that have low solvent accessible surfaces and well-defined chi 1 values, as measured by 3J alpha beta coupling constants. Many of the main-chain and side-chain groups with low order parameters have higher than average temperature factors in X-ray crystal structures and increased positional uncertainty in NMR solution structures. They also tend to lack persistent hydrogen bond interactions and protection against amide hydrogen exchange. The most significant correlations are found between residues with low order parameters and high surface accessibility in both crystal and solution structures. The results suggest that a lack of van der Waals contacts is a major determinant of side-chain and main-chain mobility in proteins.

Comparison of four independently determined structures of human recombinant interleukin-4.

Four independent structures of human interleukin-4, two determined by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and two by X-ray diffraction, have been compared in detail. The core of this four helix bundle protein is very similar in all the structures but there are some differences in loop regions that are known to be mobile in solution. Careful comparison of the experimental data sets and the methods of analysis of the different laboratories has provided clues to the sources of most of the differences, and also answered some general questions about the accuracy of protein structure determination by these two techniques.

Measurement of the individual pKa values of acidic residues of hen and turkey lysozymes by two-dimensional 1H NMR.

The pH dependence of the two-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of hen and turkey egg-white lysozymes has been recorded over the pH range 1-7. By monitoring the chemical shifts of the resonances of the various protons of ionizable residues, individual pKa values for the acidic residues have been determined for both proteins. The pKa values are displaced, with the exception of those of the residues in the active site cleft, by an average of 1 unit to low pH compared to model compounds.

Analysis of the solution structure of human interleukin-4 determined by heteronuclear three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.

Human interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a member of the family of haemopoietic cytokines that modulate cell proliferation and differentiation within the immune system. It has a four-helix-bundle structure, and possesses a high degree of mobility in certain regions, notably in the two long loops running the length of the bundle in its up-up-down-down topology. Information from a variety of three-dimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments, including chemical shifts, coupling constants and NOE data, is analysed in terms of the solution structure of IL-4. In addition, structure calculations with and without specific restraints such as hydrogen bond location or torsion angle restrictions are compared in the light of the dynamic behaviour of the polypeptide chain. Particular emphasis is placed on defining the lengths and positions of secondary structure elements, and on the likely structural preferences within the less well ordered loop regions. The overall topology of IL-4 is compared with those defined in recent structure determinations of related proteins. This analysis is combined with recent mutagenesis data to propose a possible mode of interaction of IL-4 with its receptor.

Structural characterization of a highly-ordered 'molten globule' at low pH.

The characterization of unfolded and partly folded states of proteins is central to understanding protein stability and folding, as well as providing a basis for protein design. The four helix bundle-protein interleukin-4 undergoes an unfolding transition at low pH. Using heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance methods we show that following this transition the protein retains a highly ordered hydrophobic core in which most, but not all, of the secondary structure is preserved. Extensive disorder exists, however, in regions of polypeptide chain linking the structural elements which make up this core. We suggest that this 'highly ordered molten globule' could be indicative of the type of structures occurring late in protein folding processes, in contrast to more disordered 'molten globules' which relate to early folding intermediates.