Assignment of 1H NMR resonances of histidine and other aromatic residues in met-, cyano-, oxy-, and (carbon monoxy)myoglobins

The resolved 1H NMR resonances of the aromatic region in the 270-MHz NMR spectrum of sperm whale, horse, and pig metmyoglobin (metMb) have been assigned, including the observable H-2 and H-4 histidine resonances, the tryptophan H-2 resonances, and upfield-shifted resonances from one tyrosine residue. The use of different Mb species, carboxymethylation, and matching of pK values allows the assignment of the H-4 resonances, which agree in only three cases out of seven with scalar-correlated two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy assignments by others. The conversion to hydroxymyoglobin at high pH involves rearrangements throughout the molecule and is observed by many assigned residues. In sperm whale ferric cyanomyoglobin, nine H-2 and eight H-4 histidine resonances have been assigned, including the His-97 H-2 resonance and tyrosine resonances from residues 103 and 146. The hyperfine-shifted resonances from heme and near-heme protons observe a shift with a pK = 5.3 +/- 0.3 (probably due to deprotonation of His-97, pK = 5.6) and another shift at pK = 10.8 +/- 0.3. The spectrum of high-spin ferrous sperm whale deoxymyoglobin is very similar to that of metMb, which allows the assignment of seven surface histidine H-2 and H-4 resonances and also resonances from the two tryptophan residues and one tyrosine. In diamagnetic sperm whale (carbon monoxy)myoglobin (COMb), 10 His H-2 and 11 His H-4 resonances are observed, and 8 H-2 and 9 H-4 resonances are assigned, including His-64 H-4, the distal histidine. This important resonance is not observed in sperm whale oxymyoglobin, which in general shows very similar titration curves to COMb. Histidine-36 shows unusual titration behavior in the paramagnetic derivatives but normal behavior in the diamagnetic derivatives, which is discussed in the accompanying paper [Bradbury, J. H., & Carver, J. A. (1984) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)].     

Interaction of apocytochrome c and derived polypeptide fragments with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles monitored by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization 1H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy.

The topology of apocytochrome c, the heme-free precursor of the mitochondrial protein cytochrome c, was investigated in a lipid-associated form. For this purpose photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (CIDNP 1H NMR) spectroscopy and quenching of tryptophan and tyrosine fluorescence by acrylamide were applied to an apocytochrome c-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar system. A pH titration of the chemical shifts of the histidine C2 proton resonances of apocytochrome c, using conventional 1H NMR, yielded pK(a)'s of 5.9 +/- 0.1 and 6.2 +/- 0.1, which were assigned to histidine-18 and -33 and histidine-26, respectively. In the presence of SDS micelles an average pK(a) of 8.1 +/- 0.1 was obtained for all histidine C2 protons. Photo-CIDNP enhancements of the histidine, tryptophan, and tyrosine residues, contained in the intact apocytochrome c and in chemically and enzymatically prepared fragments of the precursor, were reduced in the presence of SDS micelles. Similarly, the quenching of the tryptophan fluorescence of the polypeptides by acrylamide was diminished in the presence of SDS. These results indicate the aromatic residues studied are localized in the interface of the SDS micelle.     

Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization NMR study of yeast and horse muscle phosphoglycerate kinase

A photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) study of yeast and horse muscle phosphoglycerate kinase with flavin dyes was undertaken to identify the histidine, tryptophan, and tyrosine resonances in the aromatic region of the simplified 1H NMR spectra of these enzymes and to investigate the effect of substrates on the resonances observable by CIDNP. Identification of the CIDNP-enhanced resonances with respect to the type of amino acid residue has been achieved since only tyrosine yields emission peaks and the dye 8-aminoriboflavin enhances tryptophan but not histidine. By use of the known amino acid sequences and structures derived from X-ray crystallographic studies of the enzymes from the two species, assignment of the specific residues in the protein sequences giving rise to the CIDNP spectra was partially achieved. In addition, flavin dye accessibility was used to probe any changes in enzyme structure induced by substrate binding. The nine resonance peaks observed in the CIDNP spectrum of yeast phosphoglycerate kinase have been assigned tentatively to five residues: histidines-53 and -151, tryptophan-310, and tyrosines-48 and -195. The accessibility of a tyrosine to photoexcited flavin is reduced in the presence of MgATP. Since the tyrosine residues are located some distance from the MgATP binding site of the catalytic center, it is proposed either that this change is due to a distant conformational change or that a second metal-ATP site inferred from other studies lies close to one of the tyrosines. Horse muscle phosphoglycerate kinase exhibits seven resonances by CIDNP NMR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Proton-magnetic-resonance spectroscopic study of the histidine residues of bovine alpha-lactalbumin.

A study of the three histidine residues of bovine alpha-lactalbumin has been made using proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectroscopy in order to obtain information on their environments in the protein and thereby to test in part the previously proposed structure. PMR titration curves are obtained for the H-4 resonances using difference spectroscopy and for the H-2 resonances and the 1-H-2-H exchange rates of the H-2 protons have been measured. The assignment of resonances to particular histidine residues is achieved by utilising their selective reaction with iodoacetate in conjunction with a PMR study of the carboxymethylation of alpha-N-acetyl-L-histidine. The H-2 and H-4 resonances labelled 1, 2 and 3 starting from the downfield end of the spectrum are assigned to histidine residues 107, 68 and 32 respectively. Their apparent pK values at low ionic strength and 20 degrees C are 5.78, 6.49 and 6.51 respectively. The experimental results on two histidine residues are consistent with the predictions of the proposed structure, which indicate that histidine-68 is an external residue and histidine-32 is partially buried and in the vicinity of aromatic residues. The experimental data on histidine 107 can also be rationalised with less certainty in terms of the proposed structure, which indicates a partially buried residue that may be involved in hydrogen bonding.     

Identification of 1H resonances from the bait region of human alpha 2-macroglobulin and effects of proteases and methylamine

The 1H NMR spectrum of human alpha 2-macroglobulin, Mr 716,000, consists of predominantly extremely broad unresolved resonances but also has nine relatively sharp (delta nu 1/2 less than 25 Hz) resonances from aromatic residues. By treatment of alpha 2-macroglobulin with methylamine, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin, it has been shown that eight of these resonances arise from bait region residues. More specifically, assignment has been made of resonances at 6.80 and 7.11 ppm to the ortho and meta protons, respectively, of tyrosine-685 and tentative assignment of a resonance at 7.29 ppm to the aromatic protons of phenylalanine-684. C2 proton resonances from five histidine residues are also visible. Four of these are attributed to residues in the bait region or immediately adjacent to this, at positions 675, 694, 699, and 704. The sharpness of resonances from bait region residues demonstrates the great flexibility of this region of the polypeptide. It is proposed that the flexible region extends from residue 675 to residue 710. These resonances are all affected by proteolytic cleavage in the bait region but are not influenced by the subsequent conformational rearrangement of the whole protein tetramer. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the current structural models of alpha 2-macroglobulin.     

Assignment of aromatic resonances in the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of cardioactive polypeptides from sea anemones

High-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy at 300 MHz has been used to investigate the aromatic residues of a series of homologous polypeptides from sea anemones: anthopleurin-A from Anthopleura xanthogrammica and toxins I and II from Anemonia sulcata. Using two-dimensional NMR techniques, specific assignments to individual protons have been made for all aromatic resonances in the spectra of these molecules. In all three polypeptides the resonances from the two conserved Trp residues, 23 and 33, are shifted significantly from their random coil values, and the indole NH resonance of Trp-23 is not observed. These shift perturbations are due in part to a mutual interaction of the two indole rings, which is also indicated by the observation of nuclear Overhauser enhancements between protons of the two rings. Several other nonpolar side chains also interact with these two Trp residues, forming a hydrophobic region, the overall structure of which is conserved throughout the series. The other aromatic residues in these polypeptides appear not to participate in this structural region.     

NMR study of the complexes between a synthetic peptide derived from the B subunit of cholera toxin and three monoclonal antibodies against it

The contact interactions between a synthetic peptide and three different anti-peptide monoclonal antibodies have been studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The synthetic peptide is CTP3 (residues 50-64 of the B subunit of cholera toxin) suggested as a possible epitope for synthetic vaccine against cholera. The hybridoma cell lines TE33 and TE32 derived after immunization with CTP3 produce antibodies cross-reactive with the native toxin. The cell line TE34 produces anti-CTP3 antibodies that do not bind the toxin. Selective deuteriation of the antibodies has been used to simplify the proton NMR spectra and to assign resonances to specific types of amino acids. The difference spectra between the proton NMR spectrum of the peptide-Fab complex and that of Fab indicate that the combining site structures of TE32 and TE33 are very similar but differ considerably from the combining site structure of TE34. By magnetization transfer experiments with selectively deuteriated Fab fragment of the antibody, we have found that in TE32 and TE33 the histidine residue of the peptide is buried in a hydrophobic pocket of the antibody combining site, formed by a tryptophan and two tyrosine residues. The hydrophobic nature of the pocket is further demonstrated by the lack of any pH titration effect on the chemical shift of the C4H of the bound peptide histidine. In contrast, for TE34 we have found only one tyrosine residue in contact with the histidine of the peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

15N and 1H NMR studies of Rhodospirillum rubrum cytochrome c2

15N-Enriched cytochrome c2 was purified from Rhodospirillum rubrum that had been grown on 15NH4Cl, and the diamagnetic iron(II) form of the cytochrome was studied by 15N and 1H NMR spectroscopy. 15N resonances of the four pyrrole nitrogens, the ligand histidine nitrogens, the highly conserved tryptophan indole nitrogen, and some proline nitrogens are assigned. The resonances of the single nonligand histidine are observed only at low pH because of severe broadening produced by proton tautomerization. The resonances of exchangeable protons bonded to the nitrogens of the ligand histidine, the tryptophan, and some amide groups are also assigned. The exchange rates of the nitrogen-bound protons vary greatly: most have half-lives of less than minutes, the indolic NH of Trp-62 exchanges with a half-time of weeks, and the ligand histidine NH proton exchanges with a half-time of months. The latter observation is indicative of extreme exclusion of solvent from the area surrounding the ligand histidine and lends credence to theories implicating the degree of hydrophobicity in this region as an important factor in adjusting the midpoint potential. The dependence of the 15N and 1H NMR spectra of ferrocytochrome c2 on pH indicates neither the Trp-62 nor the ligand His side chains become deprotonated to any appreciable extent below pH 9.5. The His-18 NH remains hydrogen bonded, presumably to the Pro-19 carboxyl group, throughout the pH titrations. Because neither deprotonated nor non-hydrogen-bonded forms of His-18 are observed in spectra of the ferrocytochrome, the participation of such forms in producing a heterogeneous population having different g tensor values seems unlikely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of the aromatic residues in the variant-3 neurotoxin from Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing

The amino acid sequence for the variant-3 (CsE-v3) toxin from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing contains eight aromatic residues. By use of 2D NMR spectroscopic methods, the resonances from the individual protons (NH, C alpha H, C beta H',H", and the ring) for each of the individual aromatic residues have been completely assigned. The spatial arrangement of the aromatic ring systems with respect to each other has been qualitatively analyzed by 2D-NOESY techniques. The results show that Trp-47, Tyr-4, and Tyr-42 are in close spatial proximity to each other. The NOESY contacts and the ring current induced shifts in the resonances of the individual protons of Tyr-4 and Trp-47 suggest that the aromatic ring planes of these residues are in an orthogonal arrangement. In addition, the spatial proximity of the rings in the pairs Tyr-4, Tyr-58; Tyr-42, Tyr-40; and Tyr-40, Tyr-38 has also been established. A comparison with the published crystal structure suggests that there is a minor rearrangement of the aromatic rings in the solution phase. No 2D-NOESY contacts involving Phe-44 and Tyr-14 to any other aromatic ring protons have been observed. The pH dependence of the aromatic ring proton chemical shifts has also been studied. These results suggest that the Tyr-58 phenolic group is experiencing a hydrogen-bonding interaction with a positively charged group, while Tyr-4, -14, -38, and -40 are experiencing through-space interactions with proximal negatively charged groups. The Trp-47 indole NH is interacting with the carboxylate groups of two proximal acidic residues. These studies define the microenvironment of the aromatic residues in the variant-3 neurotoxin in aqueous solution.     

Antithrombin III and its interaction with heparin. Comparison of the human, bovine, and porcine proteins by 1H NMR spectroscopy

1H NMR has been used to characterize and compare the structures of antithrombin III from human, bovine, and porcine plasma as well as to investigate the interactions of each of these proteins with heparin fragments of defined length. The amino acid compositions of the three proteins are very similar, which is reflected in the gross features of their 1H NMR spectra. In addition, aromatic and methyl proton resonances in upfield-shifted positions appear to be common to all three proteins and suggest similar tertiary structures. Human antithrombin III has five histidine residues, bovine has six, and porcine has five. The C(2) proton from each of these residues gives a narrow resonance and titrates with pH; the pKa's are in the range 5.15-7.25. It is concluded that all histidines in each protein are surface residues with considerable independent mobility. The carbohydrate chains in each protein also give sharp resonances consistent with a surface location and motional flexibility. The 1H spectra are sensitive to heparin binding. Although heparin resonances obscure protein resonances in the region 3.2-6.0 ppm, difference spectra between antithrombin III with and without heparin show clear perturbation of a small number of aromatic and aliphatic protein protons. These resonances include those of histidine C(2) and C(4) protons, of 10-20 other aromatic protons, of a methyl group, and also of protons with chemical shifts similar to those of lysine and/or arginine side chains. For human antithrombin III, it was shown that heparin fragments 8, 10, and 16 sugar residues in length result in almost identical perturbations to the protein. In contrast, tetrasaccharide results in fewer perturbations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Photo-CIDNP studies of the influence of ligand binding on the surface accessibility of aromatic residues in dihydrofolate reductase

The surface accessibility of the histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophan residues of Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase has been determined from 360-MHz 1H photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) NMR experiments. In the absence of ligands, four (or perhaps five) of the seven histidine residues and at least one of the four tryptophan residues are accessible to a flavin dye molecule. One of the five tyrosine residues is also slightly accessible. Of the accessible histidine residues, one becomes inaccessible on the binding of NADP+ and one on the binding of p-aminobenzoyl glutamate. These have been assigned to residues which interact directly with these two ligands. One histidine residue (probably His-22) shows an increase in accessibility on addition of folate or methotrexate to the enzyme . NADP+ complex. In addition, the binding of several ligands, notably trimethoprim, leads to an increase in the accessibility of a tryptophan residue. This is clear evidence for ligand-induced conformational changes in dihydrofolate reductase and allows us to identify some of the residues involved.     

Studies of individual carbon sites of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by natural-abundance carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The environments of the aromatic residues (and of the single arginine residue) of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are investigated by means of natural-abundance 13C Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy. In the case of the diamagnetic Cu(I) azurin, all 17 nonprotonated aromatic carbons (and Czota of Arg-79) yield narrow resonances. Furthermore, a single-carbon amide carbonyl resonance with an unusual chemical shift (peak chi) is observed. The pH dependence of chemical shifts is used to identify the resonances of Cgamma of titrating histidines, and of Cgamma and Czota of the two tyrosines. The resonances of Cgamma and Cdelta2 of the single tryptophan residue (and Czota of Arg-79) are also identified. The pKa values of the two tyrosines are different from each other and higher than typical values of "solvent-exposed" tyrosine residues. Two of the four histidine residues do not titrate (in the pH range 4 to 11). The resonance of Cgamma of one histidine exhibits a pH titration with fast proton exchange behavior and a pKa of 7.5 +/- 0.2. The direction of the titration shift indicates that the imidazole form of this histidine is the Ndelta1-H tautomer. The Cgamma resonance of the other titrating histidine exhibits slow exchange behavior with a pKa of about 7. The imidazole form of this histidine is the Nepsilon2-H tautomer. When going to the paramagnetic Cu(II) protein, only 11 of the 19 carbons mentioned above yield resonances that are narrow enough to be detected. Also, some of the observed resonances exhibit significant paramagnetic broadening. A comparison of spectra of fully reduced azurin, mixtures of reduced and oxidized azurin, and fully oxidized azurin yields the following information. (i) Peak chi arises from an amide group that probably is coordinated to the copper. (ii) The two nontitrating histidine residues are probably copper ligands, with Ndelta1 coordinated to the metal. (iii) The side chains of Arg-79 and the two tyrosine residues are not coordinated to the copper, and Trp-48 is probably not a ligand either. (iv) The gamma carbons of Trp-48, the tyrosine with the lower pKa, the titrating histidine with slow exchange behavior, and three or four of the six phenylalanine residues are sufficiently close to the copper to undergo significant paramagnetic broadening in the spectrum of oxidized azurin.     

NMR assignments of the four histidines of staphylococcal nuclease in native and denatured states

NMR signals from all four histidine ring C epsilon protons and three of the four histidine C delta protons in the protein staphylococcal nuclease have been assigned by comparing spectra of the wild-type (Foggi strain) protein to spectra of three variants that each lack a different histidine residue. All proteins studied were cloned and overproduced in Escherichia coli. The NMR spectra of the three mutant proteins (H8R, H46Y, and H124L) used to make these assignments were similar to one another and to those of the wild type, except for signals from the mutated residues. The pKa values of those histidines conserved between the wild type and the mutants remained essentially unchanged. Multiple histidine C epsilon proton resonances due to non-native forms of nuclease were observed in both thermally induced and acid-induced unfolding. Residue-specific assignments of H epsilon protons in the thermally denatured forms of the mutant H46Y were obtained from connectivities to the native state by saturation transfer.     

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of intact native bovine parathyroid hormone

Native intact bovine PTH was studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, at pH 3.5 and pH 6.3. The 1H-NMR spectra had good resolution and many multiplet structures were observed. Assignment of the NMR resonances corresponding to specific amino acids was approached using 1H chemical shifts, coupling constants, and pH dependence in the one-dimensional spectra and the 1H-1H connectivities revealed in two-dimensional homonuclear correlated spectroscopy (COSY) experiments. All the aromatic proton resonances were assigned. Two histidine residues had lower pK than the other two. The methyl groups of two residues were moved significantly downfield: using COSY and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) correlations, these were assigned to an alanine residue close to both Trp-23 and Tyr-43, and a valine residue in close spatial proximity to Trp-23. The NOESY spectrum also showed cross-peaks between the residues of the upfield valine-leucine-isoleucine methyl envelope. Many of the H alpha protons moved upfield as the pH was increased. These results indicate that intact native PTH exists in a preferred conformation in solution at pH 6.5. Our studies have provided new information on the three-dimensional spatial proximity of several amino acids along the polypeptide chain. The observed interactions are consistent with the currently accepted model suggesting that the hormone has two separate structural domains associated with the amino- and carboxy-terminal regions of the molecule respectively. The potential implications of this model for the expression of biological activity are discussed.     

Contribution of tryptophan residues to the combining site of a monoclonal anti dinitrophenyl spin-label antibody

Two Fab fragments of the monoclonal anti dinitrophenyl (DNP) spin-label antibody AN02 were prepared by recombination of specifically deuterated heavy and light chains. In the recombinant H(I)L(II) all the tyrosines and phenylalanines were perdeuterated as were the tryptophan residues of the heavy chain. In the recombinant H(II)L(I) all the tyrosines and phenylalanines were perdeuterated as were the tryptophan residues of the light chain. Saturation of three resonances of H(I)L(II), assigned to tryptophan protons of the light chain, resulted in magnetization transfer to the aromatic proton at position 6 of the DNP ring and to the CH2 protons of the glycines linked to the DNP in a diamagnetic hapten (DNP-DG). Saturation of three resonances of H(II)L(I) assigned to tryptophan protons of the heavy chain resulted in magnetization transfer to the CH2 protons of the glycines in DNP-DG. From the dependence of the magnetization transfer on the irradiation time, the cross relaxation rates between the involved protons were estimated. The inferred distances between these protons of the hapten and certain tryptophan protons are 3-4 A. It is concluded that in the combining site of AN02 there is one tryptophan from the light chain and one tryptophan from the heavy chain that are very near the hapten. When all tyrosines and phenylalanines were perdeuterated and all tryptophan aromatic protons were deuterated except for the protons at positions 2 and 5, titration of the Fab fragments with variable amounts of paramagnetic hapten showed that one proton from the light chain tryptophan is near (less than 7 A) the unpaired electron and that three other protons are significantly closer than 15 A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

High resolution NMR studies of histidine-substituted and histidine-perturbed hemoglobin variants. Histidine assignments, electrostatic interactions at the protein surface, and implications for hemoglobin S polymerization

The aromatic region of the proton NMR spectrum of human adult hemoglobin (HbA) contains resonances from at least 11 titratable histidine residues. Assignments for five beta chain histidines have previously been proposed. In order to further characterize the aromatic spectra of HbA we studied 11 histidine-substituted and -perturbed hemoglobin variants in oxy and deoxy states and at different pH values by 400 MHz NMR spectroscopy. We propose assignments for the resonances corresponding to the C2 protons of His alpha 20, His alpha 72, His alpha 112, and His beta 77 in oxy and deoxy spectra and of His beta 97 and His beta 117 in deoxy spectra. Our assignments for His beta 2 and His beta 117 in the oxy state agree with those previously reported for the CO form, but in the deoxy state our spectra suggest a different assignment. Studies with Hb variants in which a histidine is perturbed by a neighboring substitution suggest additional assignments for His alpha 50 and His alpha 89 and demonstrate a strong dependence of the imidazole ring pK on hydrogen bond interactions and on the net charge of neighboring residues. Some of the newly proposed assignments of histidine resonances are used to discuss specific intermolecular interactions implicating His alpha 20, His beta 77, and His beta 117 in deoxy HbS polymers.     

Study of the tryptophan residues of lysozyme using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance.

The identification and complete assignment of the C-2 and N-1 proton nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR) of the six tryptophan residues of hen lysozyme are reported. Identification of the resonances required a detailed examination of the spectra of the protein in H2O and in 2H2O, and involved the application of spin-echo and Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse sequences. Assignment was achieved by observing the effects on the NMR spectra of performing specific chemical modifications, of binding paramagnetic species (lanthanide ions and spin labels), of binding inhibitors and protons and of carrying out solvent exchange experiments. The problems involved in completion of assignment are fully discussed. In the course of performing experiments to make assignments, several interesting aspects of the behaviour of the tryptophan residues in the protein structure were observed and are discussed.     

Assignment of tyrosine resonances in the 1H-NMR spectrum of tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit. Monitoring conformational changes due to substitutions at position 49

In order to monitor the conformational changes of tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit from Escherichia coli in solution resulting from amino acid substitutions, we have assigned the Tyr resonances in the aromatic region of the 1H-NMR spectrum to specific residues. In the spectrum of the alpha-subunit deuterated with [2,3,4,5,6-2H5]Phe and [3,5-2H2]Tyr, the C2 and C6 protons of Tyr gave completely isolated signals at acidic p2H. Some of the C3 and C5 proton resonances overlapped with each other at acidic p2H. By using a series of mutant alpha-subunits in which each Tyr was singly substituted with His or Phe, we can now assign each of seven Tyr resonances in the aromatic region to a specific residue. We have previously studied the conformational stability of a series of variant alpha-subunits at position 49 [Yutani et al. (1987) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 84, 4441-4444]. We now compare the 1H-NMR spectra in the aromatic region of the wild-type alpha-subunit and mutant alpha-subunits substituted with Phe or Gly in place of Glu-49. The results suggest that the major conformational effects of substitutions at position 49 are localized close to the position of substitution.     

Heterologous Expression of Hen Egg White Lysozyme and Resonance Assignment of Tryptophan Side Chains in its Non-native States

A new protocol is described for the isotope (¹⁵N and ¹³C,¹⁵N) enrichment of hen egg white lysozyme. Hen egg white lysozyme and an all-Ala-mutant of this protein have been expressed in E. coli. They formed inclusion bodies from which mg quantities of the proteins were purified and prepared for NMR spectroscopic investigations. ¹H,¹³C and ¹⁵N main chain resonances of disulfide reduced and S-methylated lysozyme were assigned and its residual structure in water pH 2 was characterized by chemical shift perturbation analysis. A new NMR experiment has been developed to assign tryptophan side chain indole resonances by correlation of side chain and backbone NH resonances with the C^γ resonances of these residues. Assignment of tryptophan side chains enables further residue specific investigations on structural and dynamical properties, which are of significant interest for the understanding of non-natives states of lysozyme stabilized by hydrophobic interactions between clusters of tryptophan residues.     

1H NMR studies on the CuA center of nitrous oxide reductase from Pseudomonas stutzeri.

1H NMR spectra of the CuA center of N2OR from Pseudomonas stutzeri, and a mutant enzyme that contains only CuA, were recorded in both H2O- and D2O-buffered solution at pH 7.5. Several sharp, well-resolved hyperfine-shifted 1H NMR signals were observed in the 60 to -10 ppm chemical shift range. Comparison of the native and mutant N2OR spectra recorded in H2O-buffered solutions indicated that several additional signals are present in the native protein spectrum. These signals are attributed to a dinuclear copperII center. At least two of the observed hyperfine-shifted signals associated with the dinuclear center, those at 23.0 and 13.2 ppm, are lost upon replacement of H2O buffer with D2O buffer. These data indicate that at least two histidine residues are ligands of a dinuclear CuII center. Comparison of the mutant N2OR 1H NMR spectra recorded in H2O and D2O indicates that three signals, c (27.5 ppm), e (23.6 ppm), and i (12.4 ppm), are solvent exchangeable. The two most strongly downfield-shifted signals (c and e) are assigned to the two N epsilon 2H (N-H) protons of the coordinated histidine residues, while the remaining exchangeable signal is assigned to a backbone N-H proton in close proximity to the CuA cluster. Signal e was found to decrease in intensity as the temperature was increased, indicating that proton e resides on a more solvent-exposed histidine residue. One-dimensional nOe studies at pH 7.5 allowed the histidine ring protons to be definitively assigned, while the remaining signals were assigned by comparison to previously reported spectra from CuA centers. The temperature dependence of the observed hyperfine-shifted 1H NMR signals of mutant N2OR were recorded over the temperature range of 276-315 K. Both Curie and anti-Curie temperature dependencies are observed for sets of hyperfine-shifted protons. Signals a and h (cysteine protons) follow anti-Curie behavior (contact shift increases with increasing temperatures), while signals b-g, i, and j (histidine protons) follow Curie behavior (contact shift decreases with increasing temperatures). Fits of the temperature dependence of the observed hyperfine-shifted signals provided the energy separation (Delta EL) between the ground (2B3u) and excited (2B2u) states. The temperature data obtained for all of the observed hyperfine-shifted histidine ligand protons provided a Delta EL value of 62 +/- 35 cm-1. The temperature dependence of the observed cysteine C beta H and C alpha H protons (a and h) were fit in a separate experiment providing a Delta EL value of 585 +/- 125 cm-1. The differences between the Delta EL values determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and those determined by EPR or MCD likely arise from coupling between relatively low-frequency vibrational states and the ground and excited electronic states.