Chemical Modification of the Tryptophan Residue in a Recombinant Ca2+-ATPase N-domain for Studying Tryptophan-ANS FRET.

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) is a P-type ATPase that has been crystallized in various conformations. Detailed functional information may nonetheless be obtained from isolated recombinant domains. The engineered (Trp552Leu and Tyr587Trp) recombinant nucleotide-binding domain (N-domain) displays fluorescence quenching upon ligand binding. An extrinsic fluorophore, namely, 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), binds to the nucleotide-binding site via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with Arg, His, Ala, Leu, and Phe residues. ANS binding is evidenced by the increase in fluorescence intensity when excited at a wavelength (λ) of 370 nm. However, when excited at λ of 295 nm, the increase in fluorescence intensity seems to be coupled to the quenching of the N-domain intrinsic fluorescence. Fluorescence spectra display a Föster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-like pattern, thereby suggesting the presence of a Trp-ANS FRET pair, which appears to be supported by the short distance (~20 Å) between Tyr587Trp and ANS. This study describes an analysis of the Trp-ANS FRET pair by Trp chemical modification (and fluorescence quenching) that is mediated by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). In the chemically modified N-domain, ANS fluorescence increased when excited at a λ of 295 nm, similar to when excited at a λ of 370 nm. Hence, the NBS-mediated chemical modification of the Trp residue can be used to probe the absence of FRET between Trp and ANS. In the absence of Trp fluorescence, one should not observe an increase in ANS fluorescence. The chemical modification of Trp residues in proteins by NBS may be useful for examining FRET between Trp residues that are close to the bound ANS. This assay will likely also be useful when using other fluorophores.

ANS Interacts with the Ca2+-ATPase Nucleotide Binding Site.

The binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) to the nucleotide binding domain (N-domain) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) was studied. Molecular docking predicted two ANS binding modes (BMI and BMII) in the nucleotide binding site. The molecular interaction was confirmed as the fluorescence intensity of ANS was dramatically increased when in the presence of an engineered recombinant N-domain. Molecular dynamics simulation showed BMI (which occupies the ATP binding site) as the mode that is stable in solution. The above was confirmed by the absence of ANS fluorescence in the presence of a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled N-domain. Further, the labeling of the N-domain with FITC was hindered by the presence of ANS, i.e., ANS was bound to the ATP binding site. Importantly, ANS displayed a higher affinity than ATP. In addition, ANS binding led to quenching the N-domain intrinsic fluorescence displaying a FRET pattern, which suggested the existence of a Trp-ANS FRET couple. Nonetheless, the chemical modification of the sole Trp residue with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) discarded the existence of FRET and instead indicated structural rearrangements in the nucleotide binding site during ANS binding. Finally, Ca2+-ATPase kinetics in the presence of ANS showed a partial mixed-type inhibition. The Dixon plot showed the ANS-Ca2+-ATPase complex as catalytically active, hence supporting the existence of a functional dimeric Ca2+-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. ANS may be used as a molecular platform for the development of more effective inhibitors of Ca2+-ATPase and appears to be a new fluorescent probe for the nucleotide binding site. Graphical Abstract Molecular docking of ANS to the nucleotide binding site of Ca2+-ATPase. ANS fluorescence increase reveals molecular interaction.