A Pathfinder in High-Pressure Bioscience: In Memoriam of Gaston Hui Bon Hoa.

On 26 July 2020, our colleague and friend Dr [...].

The influence of truncating the carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of streptococcal enolase on its ability to interact with canine plasminogen.

The native octameric structure of streptococcal enolase from Streptococcus pyogenes increasingly dissociates as amino acid residues are removed one by one from the carboxy-terminus. These truncations gradually convert native octameric enolase into monomers and oligomers. In this work, we investigated how these truncations influence the interaction between Streptococcal enolase and canine plasminogen. We used dual polarization interferometry (DPI), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) to study the interaction. The DPI was our first technique, was performed on all the truncations and used one exclusive kind of chip. The LSRP was used to show that the DPI results were not dependent on the type of chip used. The AUC was required to show that our surface results were not the result of selecting a minority population in any given sample; the majority of the protein was responsible for the binding phenomenon we observed. By comparing results from these techniques we identified one detail that is essential for streptococcal enolase to bind plasminogen: In our hands the individual monomers bind plasminogen; dimers, trimers, tetramers may or may not bind, the fully intact, native, octamer does not bind plasminogen. We also evaluated the contribution to the equilibrium constant made by surface binding as well as in solution. On a surface, the association coefficient is about twice that in solution. The difference is probably not significant. Finally, the fully octameric form of the protein that does not contain a hexa-his N-terminal peptide does not bind to a silicon oxynitride surface, does not bind to an Au-nanoparticle surface, does not bind to a surface coated with Ni-NTA nor does it bind to a surface coated with DPgn. The likelihood is great that the enolase species on the surface of Streptococcus pyogenes is an x-mer of the native octamer.

The Energetics of Streptococcal Enolase Octamer Formation: The Quantitative Contributions of the Last Eight Amino Acids at the Carboxy-Terminus.

The enolase produced by Streptococcus pyogenes is a homo-octamer whose overall shape resembles that of a donut. The octamer is best described as a tetramer of dimers. As such, it contains two types of interfaces. The first is common to almost all enolases as most enolases that have been studied are dimers. The second is unique to the octamers and includes residues near the carboxy-terminus. The primary sequence of the enolase contains 435 residues with an added 19 as an N-terminal hexahistine tag. We have systematically truncated the carboxy-terminus, individually removing the first 8 residues. This gave rise to a series of eight structures containing respectively, 435, 434, 433, 432, 431, 430, 429 and 427 residues. The truncations cause the protein to gradually dissociate from octamers to enzymatically inactive monomers with very small amounts of intermediate tetramers and dimers. We have evaluated the contributions of the missing residues to the monomer/octamer equilibrium using a combination of analytical ultracentrifugation and activity assays. For the dissociation reaction, octamer <== ==> 8 monomer truncation of all eight C-terminal residues resulted in a diminution in the standard Gibbs energy of dissociation of about 59 kJ/mole of octamer relative to the full length protein. Considering that this change is spread over eight subunits, this translates to a change in standard Gibbs interaction energy of less than 8 kJ/mole of monomer distributed over the eight monomers. The resulting proteins, containing 434, 433, 432, 431, 430, 429 and 427 residues per monomer, showed intermediate free energies of dissociation. Finally, three other mutations were introduced into our reference protein to establish how they influenced the equilibrium. The main importance of this work is it shows that for homo-multimeric proteins a small change in the standard Gibbs interaction energy between subunits can have major physiological effects.

A multilaboratory comparison of calibration accuracy and the performance of external references in analytical ultracentrifugation.

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a first principles based method to determine absolute sedimentation coefficients and buoyant molar masses of macromolecules and their complexes, reporting on their size and shape in free solution. The purpose of this multi-laboratory study was to establish the precision and accuracy of basic data dimensions in AUC and validate previously proposed calibration techniques. Three kits of AUC cell assemblies containing radial and temperature calibration tools and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) reference sample were shared among 67 laboratories, generating 129 comprehensive data sets. These allowed for an assessment of many parameters of instrument performance, including accuracy of the reported scan time after the start of centrifugation, the accuracy of the temperature calibration, and the accuracy of the radial magnification. The range of sedimentation coefficients obtained for BSA monomer in different instruments and using different optical systems was from 3.655 S to 4.949 S, with a mean and standard deviation of (4.304 ± 0.188) S (4.4%). After the combined application of correction factors derived from the external calibration references for elapsed time, scan velocity, temperature, and radial magnification, the range of s-values was reduced 7-fold with a mean of 4.325 S and a 6-fold reduced standard deviation of ± 0.030 S (0.7%). In addition, the large data set provided an opportunity to determine the instrument-to-instrument variation of the absolute radial positions reported in the scan files, the precision of photometric or refractometric signal magnitudes, and the precision of the calculated apparent molar mass of BSA monomer and the fraction of BSA dimers. These results highlight the necessity and effectiveness of independent calibration of basic AUC data dimensions for reliable quantitative studies.

tRNAGlu increases the affinity of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase for its inhibitor glutamyl-sulfamoyl-adenosine, an analogue of the aminoacylation reaction intermediate glutamyl-AMP: mechanistic and evolutionary implications.

For tRNA-dependent protein biosynthesis, amino acids are first activated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) yielding the reaction intermediates aminoacyl-AMP (aa-AMP). Stable analogues of aa-AMP, such as aminoacyl-sulfamoyl-adenosines, inhibit their cognate aaRSs. Glutamyl-sulfamoyl-adenosine (Glu-AMS) is the best known inhibitor of Escherichia coli glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS). Thermodynamic parameters of the interactions between Glu-AMS and E. coli GluRS were measured in the presence and in the absence of tRNA by isothermal titration microcalorimetry. A significant entropic contribution for the interactions between Glu-AMS and GluRS in the absence of tRNA or in the presence of the cognate tRNAGlu or of the non-cognate tRNAPhe is indicated by the negative values of -TΔSb, and by the negative value of ΔCp. On the other hand, the large negative enthalpy is the dominant contribution to ΔGb in the absence of tRNA. The affinity of GluRS for Glu-AMS is not altered in the presence of the non-cognate tRNAPhe, but the dissociation constant Kd is decreased 50-fold in the presence of tRNAGlu; this result is consistent with molecular dynamics results indicating the presence of an H-bond between Glu-AMS and the 3'-OH oxygen of the 3'-terminal ribose of tRNAGlu in the Glu-AMS•GluRS•tRNAGlu complex. Glu-AMS being a very close structural analogue of Glu-AMP, its weak binding to free GluRS suggests that the unstable Glu-AMP reaction intermediate binds weakly to GluRS; these results could explain why all the known GluRSs evolved to activate glutamate only in the presence of tRNAGlu, the coupling of glutamate activation to its transfer to tRNA preventing unproductive cleavage of ATP.

The interaction of streptococcal enolase with canine plasminogen: the role of surfaces in complex formation.

The enolase from Streptococcus pyogenes (Str enolase F137L/E363G) is a homo-octamer shaped like a donut. Plasminogen (Pgn) is a monomeric protein composed of seven discrete separated domains organized into a lock washer. The enolase is known to bind Pgn. In past work we searched for conditions in which the two proteins would bind to one another. The two native proteins in solution would not bind under any of the tried conditions. We found that if the structures were perturbed binding would occur. We stated that only the non-native Str enolase or Pgn would interact such that we could detect binding. We report here the results of a series of dual polarization interferometry (DPI) experiments coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and fluorescence. We show that the critical condition for forming stable complexes of the two native proteins involves Str enolase binding to a surface. Surfaces that attract Str enolase are a sufficient condition for binding Pgn. Under certain conditions, Pgn adsorbed to a surface will bind Str enolase.

eIF4E3 acts as a tumor suppressor by utilizing an atypical mode of methyl-7-guanosine cap recognition.

Recognition of the methyl-7-guanosine (m(7)G) cap structure on mRNA is an essential feature of mRNA metabolism and thus gene expression. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) promotes translation, mRNA export, proliferation, and oncogenic transformation dependent on this cap-binding activity. eIF4E-cap recognition is mediated via complementary charge interactions of the positively charged m(7)G cap between the negative π-electron clouds from two aromatic residues. Here, we demonstrate that a variant subfamily, eIF4E3, specifically binds the m(7)G cap in the absence of an aromatic sandwich, using instead a different spatial arrangement of residues to provide the necessary electrostatic and van der Waals contacts. Contacts are much more extensive between eIF4E3-cap than other family members. Structural analyses of other cap-binding proteins indicate this recognition mode is atypical. We demonstrate that eIF4E3 relies on this cap-binding activity to act as a tumor suppressor, competing with the growth-promoting functions of eIF4E. In fact, reduced eIF4E3 in high eIF4E cancers suggests that eIF4E3 underlies a clinically relevant inhibitory mechanism that is lost in some malignancies. Taken together, there is more structural plasticity in cap recognition than previously thought, and this is physiologically relevant.

The interaction of canine plasminogen with Streptococcus pyogenes enolase: they bind to one another but what is the nature of the structures involved?

For years it has been clear that plasminogen from different sources and enolase from different sources interact strongly. What is less clear is the nature of the structures required for them to interact. This work examines the interaction between canine plasminogen (dPgn) and Streptococcus pyogenes enolase (Str enolase) using analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence polarization, dynamic light scattering (DLS), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and simple pull-down reactions. Overall, our data indicate that a non-native structure of the octameric Str enolase (monomers or multimers) is an important determinant of its surface-mediated interaction with host plasminogen. Interestingly, a non-native structure of plasminogen is capable of interacting with native enolase. As far as we can tell, the native structures resist forming stable mixed complexes.

Structure-function relationships of wheat flavone O-methyltransferase: Homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis.

BACKGROUND: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) O-methyltransferase (TaOMT2) catalyzes the sequential methylation of the flavone, tricetin, to its 3'-methyl- (selgin), 3',5'-dimethyl- (tricin) and 3',4',5'-trimethyl ether derivatives. Tricin, a potential multifunctional nutraceutical, is the major enzyme reaction product. These successive methylations raised the question as to whether they take place in one, or different active sites. We constructed a 3-D model of this protein using the crystal structure of the highly homologous Medicago sativa caffeic acid/5-hydroxyferulic acid O-methyltransferase (MsCOMT) as a template with the aim of proposing a mechanism for multiple methyl transfer reactions in wheat. RESULTS: This model revealed unique structural features of TaOMT2 which permit the stepwise methylation of tricetin. Substrate binding is mediated by an extensive network of H-bonds and van der Waals interactions. Mutational analysis of structurally guided active site residues identified those involved in binding and catalysis. The partly buried tricetin active site, as well as proximity and orientation effects ensured sequential methylation of the substrate within the same pocket. Stepwise methylation of tricetin involves deprotonation of its hydroxyl groups by a His262-Asp263 pair followed by nucleophilic attack of SAM-methyl groups. We also demonstrate that Val309, which is conserved in a number of graminaceous flavone OMTs, defines the preference of TaOMT2 for tricetin as the substrate. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a mechanism for the sequential methylation of tricetin, and discuss the potential application of TaOMT2 to increase the production of tricin as a nutraceutical. The single amino acid residue in TaOMT2, Val309, determines its preference for tricetin as the substrate, and may define the evolutionary differences between the two closely related proteins, COMT and flavone OMT.

Reduction of canine plasminogen leads to an expanded molecule which precipitates.

Canine plasminogen is made up of seven domains. In each domain there are several cysteines that are linked by disulfide bonds. Reduction of a limited number of the cystines destabilizes the protein such that it precipitates. The bond or bonds that are broken provide about 14 kcal of stabilization energy. Circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering indicate that there is probably an intermediate that is formed prior to precipitation and that the intermediate is somewhat larger than the compact form of plasminogen.

Structure-activity relationships of wheat flavone O-methyltransferase: a homodimer of convenience.

Wheat flavone O-methyltransferase catalyzes three sequential methylations of the flavone tricetin. Like other flavonoid O-methyltransferases, the protein is a homodimer. We demonstrate, using analytical ultracentrifugation, that perchlorate dissociates the dimer into monomers. The resulting monomers retain all their catalytic capacity, including the ability to catalyze the three successive methylations. We show, using isothermal titration calorimetry, that the binding constant for S-adenosyl-L-methionine does not change significantly as the protein dissociates. The second substrate, tricetin, binds to the dimers but could not be tested with the monomers. CD, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy show that there are substantial changes in the structure of the protein as it dissociates. The fact that there are differences between the monomers and dimers even as the monomers maintain activity may be the result of the very low catalytic capacity of this enzyme. Maximal turnover numbers for the dimers and monomers are only about 6-7 per minute. Even though the binding pockets for S-adenosyl-L-methionine, tricetin, selgin and tricin are intact, selection of a catalytically competent structure may be a very slow step during catalysis.

Canine plasminogen: spectral responses to changes in 6-aminohexanoate and temperature.

We studied the near UV absorption spectrum of canine plasminogen. There are 19 tryptophans, 19 phenylalanines and 34 tyrosines in the protein. 4th derivative spectra optimized for either tryptophan or tyrosine give a measure of the polarity of the environments of these two aromatic amino acids. Plasminogen at temperatures between 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C exists as a mixture of four conformations: closed-relaxed, open-relaxed, closed-compact, and open-compact. The closed to open transition is driven by addition of ligand to a site on the protein. The relaxed to compact transition is driven by increasing temperature from 0 degrees C to above 15-20 degrees C.When the conformation of plasminogen is mainly closed-relaxed, the 4th derivative spectra suggest that the average tryptophan environment is similar to a solution of 20% methanol at the same temperature. Under the same conditions, 4th derivative spectra suggest that the average tyrosine environment is similar to water. These apparent polarities change as the plasminogen is forced to assume the other conformations. We try to rationalize the information based on the known portions of the plasminogen structure.

Influence of temperature on the conformation of canine plasminogen: an analytical ultracentrifugation and dynamic light scattering study.

Plasminogen is known to undergo an extremely large conformational change when it binds ligands; the two well-established conformations are either closed (absence of external ligand) or open (presence of external ligand). We show here that plasminogen is more complicated than can be accommodated by a two-state, closed/open, model. Temperature changes induce large structural changes which can be detected with either dynamic light scattering or analytical ultracentrifugation. The temperature-induced changes are not related to the classical closed/open conformational change since both closed and open forms of the protein are similarly influenced. It appears as though the packing density of the protein increases as the temperature is raised. Over the range 4-20 degrees C, the Stokes' radius of the classical closed plasminogen goes from 4.7 to 4.2 nm, and that of the classical open form goes from 5.55 to 5.0 nm. These changes in packing can be rationalized if temperature change induces a large conformational change and if this is accompanied by a large change in hydration, by a change in solute binding, or by a change in the total void volume of the protein.

The fate of the prion protein in the prion/plasminogen complex.

The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) forms complexes with plasminogen. Here, we show that the PrP(c) in this complex is cleaved to yield fragments of PrP(c). The cleavage is accelerated by plasmin but does not appear to be dependent on it.

The influence of temperature and osmolyte on the catalytic cycle of cytochrome c oxidase.

The influence of temperature on cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) catalytic activity was studied in the temperature range 240-308 K. Temperatures below 273 K required the inclusion of the osmolyte ethylene glycol. For steady-state activity between 278 and 308 K the activation energy was 12 kcal x mol-1; the molecular activity or turnover number was 12 s-1 at 280 K in the absence of ethylene glycol. CCO activity was studied between 240 and 277 K in the presence of ethylene glycol. The activation energy was 30 kcal x mol-1; the molecular activity was 1 s-1 at 280 K. Ethylene glycol inhibits CCO by lowering the activity of water. The rate limitation in electron transfer (ET) was not associated with ET into the CCO as cytochrome a was predominantly reduced in the aerobic steady state. The activity of CCO in flash-induced oxidation experiments was studied in the low temperature range in the presence of ethylene glycol. Flash photolysis of the reduced CO complex in the presence of oxygen resulted in three discernable processes. At 273 K the rate constants were 1500 s-1, 150 s-1 and 30 s-1 and these dropped to 220 s-1, 27 s-1 and 3 s-1 at 240 K. The activation energies were 5 kcal.mol-1, 7 kcal.mol-1, and 8 kcal.mol-1, respectively. The fastest rate we ascribe to the oxidation of cytochrome a3, the intermediate rate to cytochrome a oxidation and the slowest rate to the re-reduction of cytochrome a followed by its oxidation. There are two comparisons that are important: (a). with vs. without ethylene glycol and (b). steady state vs. flash-induced oxidation. When one makes these two comparisons it is clear that the CCO only senses the presence of osmolyte during the reductive portion of the catalytic cycle. In the present work that would mean after a flash-induced oxidation and the start of the next reduction/oxidation cycle.

The effects of osmotic and hydrostatic pressures on macromolecular systems.

Osmotic pressure and hydrostatic pressure can be used effectively to probe the behavior of biologically important macromolecules and their complexes. Using the two techniques requires a theoretical framework as well as knowledge of the more common pitfalls. Both are discussed in this review in the context of several examples.