Thermal unfolding of a llama antibody fragment: a two-state reversible process.

Camelids produce functional "heavy chain" antibodies which are devoid of light chains and CH1 domains [Hamers-Casterman, C., et al. (1993) Nature 363, 446-448]. It has been shown that the variable domains of these heavy chain antibodies (the V(HH) fragments) are functional at or after exposure to high temperatures, in contrast to conventional antibodies [Linden van der, R. H. J., et al. (1999) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1431, 37-44]. For a detailed understanding of the higher thermostability of these V(HH) fragments, knowledge of their structure and conformational dynamics is required. As a first step toward this goal, we report here the essentially complete (1)H and (15)N NMR backbone resonance assignments of a llama V(HH) antibody fragment, and an extensive analysis of the structure at higher temperatures. The H-D exchange NMR data at 300 K indicate that the framework of the llama V(HH) fragment is highly protected with a DeltaG(ex) of >5.4 kcal/mol, while more flexibility is observed for surface residues, particularly in the loops and the two outer strands (residues 4-7, 10-13, and 58-60) of the beta-sheet. The CD data indicate a reversible, two-state unfolding mechanism with a melting transition at 333 K and a DeltaH(m) of 56 kcal/mol. H-D exchange studies using NMR and ESI-MS show that below 313 K exchange occurs through local unfolding events whereas above 333 K exchange mainly occurs through global unfolding. The lack of a stable core at high temperatures, observed for V(HH) fragments, has also been observed for conventional antibody fragments. The main distinction between the llama V(HH) fragment and conventional antibody fragments is the reversibility of the thermal unfolding process, explaining its retained functionality after exposure to high temperatures.

A new fold in the scorpion toxin family, associated with an activity on a ryanodine-sensitive calcium channel.

We determined the structure in solution by (1)H two-dimensional NMR of Maurocalcine from the venom of Scorpio maurus. This toxin has been demonstrated to be a potent effector of ryanodyne-sensitive calcium channel from skeletal muscles. This is the first description of a scorpion toxin which folds following the Inhibitor Cystine Knot fold (ICK) already described for numerous toxic and inhibitory peptides, as well as for various protease inhibitors. Its three dimensional structure consists of a compact disulfide-bonded core from which emerge loops and the N-terminus. A double-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet comprises residues 20-23 and 30-33. A third extended strand (residues 9-11) is perpendicular to the beta-sheet. Maurocalcine structure mimics the activating segment of the dihydropyridine receptor II-III loop and is therefore potentially useful for dihydropyridine receptor/ryanodine receptor interaction studies. Proteins 2000;40:436-442.

Solution structure of BmKTX, a K+ blocker toxin from the Chinese scorpion Buthus Martensi.

BmKTX is a toxin recently purified from the venom of Buthus Martensi, which belongs to the kaliotoxin family. We have determined its solution structure by use of conventional two-dimensional NMR techniques followed by distance-geometry and energy minimization. The calculated structure is composed of a short alpha-helix (residues 14 to 20) connected by a tight turn to a two-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet (sequences 25-27 and 32-34). The beta-turn connecting these strands belongs to type I. The N-terminal segment (sequence 1 to 8) runs parallel to the beta-sheet although it cannot be considered as a third strand. Comparison of the conformation of BmKTX and toxins of the kaliotoxin family clearly demonstrates that they are highly related. Therefore, analysis of the residues belonging to the interacting surface of those toxins allows us to propose a functional map of BmKTX slightly different from the one of KTX and AgTX2, which may explain the variations in affinities of these toxins towards the Kv1.3 channels.

Solution structure of potassium channel-inhibiting scorpion toxin Lq2.

Lq2 is a unique scorpion toxin. Acting from the extracellular side, Lq2 blocks the ion conduction pore in not only the voltage- and Ca2+ -activated channels, but also the inward-rectifier K+ channels. This finding argues that the three-dimensional structures of the pores in these K+ channels are similar. However, the amino acid sequences that form the external part of the pore are minimally conserved among the various classes of K+ channels. Because Lq2 can bind to all the three classes of K+ channels, we can use Lq2 as a structural probe to examine how the non-conserved pore-forming sequences are arranged in space to form similar pore structures. In the present study, we determined the three-dimensional structure of Lq2 using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Lq2 consists of an alpha-helix (residues S10 to L20) and a beta-sheet, connected by an alphabeta3 loop (residues N22 to N24). The beta-sheet has two well-defined anti-parallel strands (residues G26 to M29 and residues K32 to C35), which are connected by a type I' beta-turn centered between residues N30 and K31. The N-terminal segment (residues Z1 to T8) appears to form a quasi-third strand of the beta-sheet.