1.2A分辨率胰岛素二体中两个分子间的构象差异

以1.2A分辨率的胰岛素精细结构模型为基础,分析并确定了三方二锌猪胰岛素晶体中二体分子的构象差异。构象差异不仅表现于侧链残基,也涉及到主链构象的变化。二体分子的构象差异带来的不对称性也明显地表现在二体分子的氢键体系和结合水的差异。局部微环境的不同是维持二体分子构象差异的稳定因素。文中对有重要差异的残基作了较详细的分析和讨论。     

胰岛素单斜晶体(B型)结构的分子置换法研究

在含有ZnCl₂的柠檬酸缓冲体系中,保持苯酚浓度在0.76％～1.25％之间,获得了胰岛素单斜晶体(B型),空间群为P2₁,晶胞参数为:a=4.924 nm,b=6.094nm,c=4.818nm,β=95.8°,每个独立区包含有由6个胰岛素分子构成的1个六聚体。以四锌牛胰岛素六聚体作模型,用X-PLOR软件中的旋转函数程序和本实验室的分子密堆积程序,获得了胰岛素单斜晶体(B型)结构的初始相位。借助生物大分子刚体精化技术对模型进行了初步精化,用能量极小化的立体化学制约的最小二乘精化技术并辅以差值Fourier图人工分析对模型进行了调整和精化。最终R因子为22.4％,键长和键角与标准键长和键角的偏差分别为0.0022nm和4.7°。     

短杆菌肽A-DMPC通道内离子输运的分子动力学模拟

用最近提出的构建膜体系初始构象的有效方法 ,构建了在DMPC脂膜环境下短杆菌肽A通道模型 (GA -DMPC)。通过对Na 、Ca2 、Cl-三种不同离子在GA -DMPC通道内不同位置的分子动力学模拟 ,研究离子在通道内输运过程中与通道及通道内水分子的相互作用 ,从分子动力学的角度阐明离子在通道内的输运机制。主要计算结果表明 :(1)离子在通道内的输运使GA的构象发生变化 ,GA的柔性是离子在通道内通透的重要因素 ;(2)Cl- 离子可扩大通道半径 ,Na 离子和Ca2 离子则减小通道半径。Cl-离子不能在GA通道内通透 ;(3)离子的出现使通道内水分子的偶极方向发生变化。上述结果均与实验相符。     

2．5分辨率单斜Al－（L－丙氨酸）胰岛素晶体结构研究

空间群为Ｐ２１的Ａ１－（Ｌ－丙氨酸）胰岛素晶胞内,一个不对称单位含有一个六聚体,应用差值Ｆｏｕｒｉｅｒ技术,立体化学制最小二来技术和Ｘ—ＰＬＯＲ程序并辅以电子密度图的人工拟合,解析了分辨率ＡＩ—（Ｌ－丙氨酸）胰岛素（Ａｌ－Ｌ－ＡｌａⅠ）的晶体结构。最终Ｒ因子为２０．６％,与标准键长与键角的均方根偏差分别为和４．１９°,从电子密度图与模型的拟合来看,六聚体中每条Ａ链的Ａｌ位置替换的Ｌ—Ａｌａ清晰可见,每条Ｂ链Ｎ端Ｂ１—Ｂ８伏段都为α螺旋构象,形成了Ｂ１—Ｂ１９的连续α螺旋段。     

2．5分辨率单斜Al－（L－丙氨酸）胰岛素晶体结构研究

空间群为Ｐ２１的Ａ１－（Ｌ－丙氨酸）胰岛素晶胞内,一个不对称单位含有一个六聚体,应用差值Ｆｏｕｒｉｅｒ技术,立体化学制最小二来技术和Ｘ—ＰＬＯＲ程序并辅以电子密度图的人工拟合,解析了分辨率ＡＩ—（Ｌ－丙氨酸）胰岛素（Ａｌ－Ｌ－ＡｌａⅠ）的晶体结构。最终Ｒ因子为２０．６％,与标准键长与键角的均方根偏差分别为和４．１９°,从电子密度图与模型的拟合来看,六聚体中每条Ａ链的Ａｌ位置替换的Ｌ—Ａｌａ清晰可见,每条Ｂ链Ｎ端Ｂ１—Ｂ８伏段都为α螺旋构象,形成了Ｂ１—Ｂ１９的连续α螺旋段。     

锌转运蛋白7（ZnT7）在小鼠胰腺分布的研究

锌离子在小鼠胰岛细胞内的聚集和转运与锌转运蛋白家族（Zinc transporters,ZnTs）的关系密切。我们采用免疫组织化学ABC法首次对小鼠胰腺中ZnT7的定位、分布进行了详细的研究,探讨了锌转运蛋白7对小鼠胰岛细胞中锌离子稳态的维持以及对进一步了解锌与胰岛素之间的关系、锌离子对糖尿病的发生和治疗的研究打下了实验基础。     

胍和脲溶液对氨基酰化酶活性和构象的影响

 本文研究了不同浓度盐酸胍和脲溶液对猪肾氨基酰化酶活性和构象的影响。研究结果表明,在低浓度的胍和脲溶液中(小于2mol/L),酶分子的整体构象变化的程度与活力变化的程度基本是平行的;而在高浓度的胍和脲溶液中(2mol/L以上),失活程度稍大于构象变化的程度。这些结果与分子量和亚基组成基本相同,但不含金属配基的肌酸激酶的结果,以及小分子量的胰凝乳蛋白酶和牛胰核糖核酸酶的结果相比较来看,可以认为配基锌离子的存在对酶分子的活性部位区域构象的稳定作用有一定的贡献,致使氨基酰化酶的活性部位的构象状态不象后三种酶那样脆弱。同时,我们还发现锌离子的存在对酶分子整体构象的稳定性上贡献很小。     

游离锌离子和锌转运体-8在小鼠胰岛β细胞中的定位

目的观察游离锌离子和锌转运体-8(zinc transporter-8,ZNT-8)在小鼠胰腺定位,探讨游离锌离子和ZNT-8与胰岛素分泌的关系。方法应用金属自显影(AMG)染色技术显示小鼠胰腺中游离锌离子的定位,应用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学ABC法分别在mRNA水平和蛋白水平检测ZNT-8在小鼠胰腺内的表达,应用免疫荧光双标技术证明ZNT-8在小鼠胰岛β细胞内与胰岛素的共存。结果小鼠胰腺外分泌组织和胰岛均含有游离锌离子;在胰岛中,游离锌离子均匀分布在包括β细胞分布区在内的各个区域。胰腺组织表达ZNT-8 mRNA,ZNT-8主要表达于胰腺内分泌部胰岛中;在胰岛β细胞中,ZNT-8与胰岛素共存。结论游离锌离子在小鼠胰岛β细胞的存在及ZNT-8在小鼠胰岛β细胞中与胰岛素的共存提示ZNT-8可能通过参与胰岛β细胞内游离锌离子的转运而调节胰岛素的分泌。     

人源色氨酰tRNA合成酶H130R突变体的酶活和初步晶体学分析（英文）

色氨酰t RNA合成酶(tryptophanyl-t RNA synthetase,Trp RS)催化色氨酸的活化及其特异性t RNA的氨酰化,为蛋白质合成提供原料。在IFN-γ刺激下,人源细胞中的Trp RS通过结合血红素增强其氨酰化活性,以调节吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶表达水平增高所引起的色氨酸缺失。体外研究发现,锌离子和血红素竞争性结合人源Trp RS以增强其氨酰化活性。然而,由于一个氨基酸位点H130R的突变,牛和鼠的Trp RS以及人的H130R突变体都不再受锌离子和血红素的影响,并具有高氨酰化活性。H130R Trp RS模拟了一种结合着锌离子或血红素的高活性构象,但目前还没有对这种构象的结构描述。为了阐明H130R决定Trp RS氨酰化活性种属特异性的原因,以及锌离子和血红素的结合位点,作者对人H130R Trp RS进行了活性分析和初步晶体学研究,此工作将为锌离子和血红素调节Trp RS氨酰化活性的机制研究奠定基础。     

去七肽胰岛素的分子动力学研究

本文用分子动力学的方法对去七肽胰岛素(DHPI)分子的构象进行了研究,首先用分子动力学方法对晶体胰岛素分子的构象能进行了优化,然后除去B链C端的最后七个残基(B24—B30),做分子动力学模拟,得到了DHPI的平衡构象和均方差波动。胰岛素分子的X射线晶体衍射结构和能量优化构象之间的均方根偏差为0.1;所得DHPI构象和胰岛素能量优化构象间C原子间的均方根偏差为1.8。变化最大的区域是A8—A10,A18—A21,B1—B41和B18—B23。     

A solution equivalent of the 2Zn----4Zn transformation of insulin in the crystal

Circular dichroic spectroscopy clearly reveals a solvent-induced conformational change of insulin in the presence of zinc ions. The spectral change corresponds to an increase in helix content. The transition observed in solution is an equivalent of the 2Zn----4Zn insulin transformation in the crystal. This is inferred from a series of observations. (1) The spectral effects are compatible with the refolding of the B-chain N-terminus into a helix known from crystal studies. (2) The spectral effects are induced by the very same conditions which are known to induce the 2Zn----4Zn insulin transformation in the crystal (i.e. threshold concentrations of NaCl, KSCN, NaI, for example). (3) They fail to be induced by the same conditions that fail to induce the crystal transformation (e.g. Ni2+ instead of Zn2+). It is concluded that the potential to undergo the transition resides in the hexamer since neither insulin dimers nor monomeric des-pentapeptideB26-30-insulin respond detectably to high halide concentration. Secondly the ability of zinc ions to accommodate tetrahedral coordination allows the transition which is not permitted by other divalent metal ions. Thirdly the transition is independent of the off-axial tetrahedral zinc coordination sites since it occurs in [AlaB5]insulin which lacks the B5 histidine necessary for their formation. A symmetrically rearranged hexamer thus appears possible with two tetrahedrally coordinated zinc ions on the threefold axis; this is consistent with the observation that in native insulin two zinc ions per hexamer are sufficient to produce the full spectral effect. The amount of additional helix derived from the circular dichroic spectral change, however, cannot settle whether the transition comprises only three or all six of the subunits to yield a symmetrical hexamer. Finally the transformation in solution evidently still occurs in an intramolecularly A1-B29-cross-linked insulin in spite of the partially reduced flexibility.     

1H n.m.r. studies of insulin. Reversible transformation of 2-zinc to 4-zinc insulin hexamer

1H n.m.r. studies at 270 MHz were made of the transformation of 2 Zn insulin hexamer to 4 Zn hexamer produced by the addition of anions (thiocyanate ion). Four separate H2 histidine resonances were observed for the B5 and B10 histidines in 2 Zn hexamer at pH 7 and 9 and four separate resonances also occurred in the 4 Zn hexamer. The observation of these resonances and others from phenylalanine, tyrosine and leucine residues showed that the 2 Zn to 4 Zn transformation probably occurred in solution in a similar manner to that observed in the crystal. Furthermore as occurred in the crystal, it was found that in solution the transformation was reversible (on removal of thiocyanate) and that 2 Cd insulin was unable to undergo the transformation. Des-Phe-Bl-insulin did not undergo the transformation. Addition of SCN- to Zn-free insulin (mainly dimer) produced only a small transformation, consistent with the idea that Zn2+ promotes formation of hexamer from dimer but probably does not otherwise affect the transformation.     

Conformational analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance: insulin

High-resolution 270-MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the native two-zinc insulin hexamer at pH 9 have been obtained, and assignments of key resonances have been made. Spectra of zinc-free insulin titrated with Zn2+ are unchanged after the addition of 1 equiv of zinc per insulin hexamer, indicating that the conformation of the hexamer is fixed at this point and that the second zinc ion does not significantly change the conformation. Titration of the two-zinc insulin hexamer with anions high on the Hofmeister series such as SCN- causes marked changes in the NMR spectra which are interpreted as the result of major conformational changes to a new hexameric form of insulin having a twofold axis perpendicular to the threefold axis. Analysis of difference spectra indicates that this new hexamer (which should be capable of binding six zinc ions) binds 2 equiv of SCN- at two sites which are assumed to be identical and independent (K1 = 10(3), K2 = 2.5 X 10(2) M-1).     

Comparison of solution structural flexibility and zinc binding domains for insulin, proinsulin, and miniproinsulin

The chromophoric divalent metal ion chelators 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) and 2,2',2"-terpyridine (terpy) are used as kinetic and spectroscopic probes to investigate in solution the SCN- -induced conformational transformations of the insulin, proinsulin, and miniproinsulin hexamers (miniproinsulin is a proinsulin analogue wherein the C-chain is replaced by a dipeptide cross-link between Gly-A1 and Ala-B30). Herein we designate the 2Zn and 4Zn crystal forms of the hexamer as the T6 and T3R3 conformations, respectively. For all three proteins, addition of SCN- reduces the rate of sequestering and removal of zinc ion by chelator. The effect of SCN- on the rate of this process saturates at the same concentration (30 mM) known to induce the T6 to T3R3 transformation in the insulin crystal. Under both T6 and T3R3 conditions, the critical stoichiometry for high-affinity interaction between Zn2+ and each of the three proteins is shown to be 2 mol of Zn2+/mol of protein hexamer. Consequently, we confirm the finding that off-axial coordination of Zn2+ via His-B10 and His-B5 residues is of minor importance for the SCN- -induced conformation change in solution [Renscheidt, H., Strassburger, W., Glatter, U., Wollmer, A., Dodson, G. G., & Mercola, D. A. (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 142, 7-14]. Under T6 conditions, the kinetics of the reactions between insulin, proinsulin, and miniproinsulin and a variable excess of terpy are similar and biphasic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metal induced structural changes observed in hexameric insulin

The metal ions in insulin hexamer play a crucial role in the T to R conformational transitions. We have determined the crystal structures of 2Mn2+, 1Rb1+ and 4Ni2+ human arg-insulin and compared them with the 2Zn2+ structure. The first two structures exist in the T3R3f state like the native 2Zn2+ arg-insulin, while the 4Ni2+ adopts a T6 conformation. The metal coordination is found to be tetrahedral in all the structures except that of nickel where a dual octahedral and tetrahedral coordination is found at one site. Rubidium occupies only one of the high affinity metal binding sites. The metal induced structural changes observed, have been explained.     

1H Fourier transform NMR studies of insulin: coordination of Ca2+ to the Glu(B13) site drives hexamer assembly and induces a conformation change

1H Fourier transform NMR investigations of metal ion binding to insulin in 2H2O were undertaken as a function of pH* to determine the effects of metal ion coordination to the Glu(B13) site on the assembly and structure of the insulin hexamer. The C-2 histidyl regions of the 1H NMR spectra of insulin species containing respectively one Ca2+ and two Zn2+/hexamer and three Cd2+/hexamer have been assigned. Both the Cd2+ derivative (In)6(Cd2+)2Cd2+, where two of the Cd2+ ions are coordinated to the His(B10) sites and the remaining Cd2+ ion is coordinated to the Glu(B13) site [Sudmeier, J.L., Bell, S.J., Storm, M. C., & Dunn, M.F. (1981) Science (Washington, D.C.) 212, 560], and the Zn2+-Ca2+ derivative (In)6-(Zn2+)2Ca2+, where the two Zn2+ ions are coordinated to the His(B10) sites and Ca2+ ion is coordinated to the Glu(B13) site, give spectra in which the C-2 proton resonances of His(B10) are shifted upfield relative to metal-free insulin. Spectra of insulin solutions (3-20 mg/mL) containing a ratio of In:Zn2+ = 6:2 in the pH* region from 8.6 to 10 were found to contain signals both from metal-free insulin species and from the 2Zn-insulin hexamer, (In)6(Zn2+)2. The addition of either Ca2+ (in the ratio In:Zn2+:Ca2+ = 6:2:1) or 40 mM NaSCN was found to provide sufficient additional thermodynamic drive to bring about the nearly complete assembly of insulin hexamers. Cd2+ in the ratio In:Cd2+ = 6:3 also drives hexamer assembly to completion. We postulate that the additional thermodynamic drive provide by Ca2+ and CD2+ is due to coordination of these metal ions to the Glu(B13) carboxylates of the hexamer. At high pH*, this coordination neutralizes the repulsive Coulombic interactions between the six Glu(B13) carboxylates and forms metal ion "cross-links" across the dimer-dimer interfaces. Comparison of the aromatic regions of the 1H NMR spectra for (In)6(Zn2+)2 with (In)6(Zn2+)2Ca2+, (In)6(Cd2+)2Cd2+, and (In)6(Cd2+)2Ca2+ indicates that binding of either Ca2+ or Cd2+ to the Glu(B13) site induces a conformation change that perturbs the environments of the side chains of several of the aromatic residues in the insulin structure. Since these residues lie on the monomer-monomer and dimer-dimer subunit interfaces, we conclude that the conformation change includes small changes in the subunit interfaces that alter the microenvironments of the aromatic rings.     

Spectroscopic signatures of the T to R conformational transition in the insulin hexamer

The cobalt(II)-substituted human insulin hexamer has been shown to undergo the phenol-induced T6 to R6 structural transition in solution. The accompanying octahedral to tetrahedral change in ligand field geometry of the cobalt ions results in dramatic changes in the visible region of the electronic spectrum and thus represents a useful spectroscopic method for studying the T to R transition. Changes in the Co2+ spectral envelope show that the aqua ligand associated with each tetrahedral Co2+ center can be replaced by SCN-, CN-, OCN-, N3-, Cl-, and NO2-. 19F NMR experiments show that the binding of m-trifluorocresol stabilizes the R6 state of zinc insulin. The chemical shift and line broadening of the CF3 singlet, which occur due to binding, provide a useful probe of the T6 to R6 transition. Due to the appearance of new resonances in the aromatic region, the 500 MHz 1H NMR spectrum of the phenol-induced R6 hexamer is readily distinguishable from that of the T6 form. 1H NMR studies show that phenol induces the T6 to R6 transition, both in the (GlnB13)6(Zn2+)2 hexamer and in the metal-free GlnB13 species; we conclude that metal binding is not a prerequisite for formation of the R state in this mutant.     

Role of metal ions in the T- to R-allosteric transition in the insulin hexamer.

The role of metal ions in the T- to R-allosteric transition is ascertained from the investigation of the T- to R-allosteric transition of transition metal ions substituted-insulin hexamers, as well as from the kinetics of their dissociation. These studies establish that ligand field stabilization energy (LFSE), coordination geometry preference, and the Lewis acidity of the metal ion in the zinc sites modulate the T- to R-state transition. (1)H NMR, (113)Cd NMR, and UV-vis measurements demonstrate that, under suitable conditions, Fe2+/3+, Ni2+, and Cd2+ bind insulin to form stable hexamers, which are allosteric species. (1)H NMR R-state signatures are elicited by addition of phenol alone in the case of Ni(II)- and Cd(II)-substituted insulin hexamers. The Fe(II)-substituted insulin hexamer is converted to the ferric analogue upon addition of phenol. For the Fe(III)-substituted insulin hexamer, appearance of (1)H NMR R-state signatures requires, additionally to phenol, ligands containing a nitrogen that can donate a lone pair of electrons. This is consistent with stabilization of the R-state by heterotropic interactions between the phenol-binding pocket and ligand binding to Fe(III) in the zinc site. UV-vis measurements indicate that the (1)H NMR detected changes in the conformation of the Fe(III)-insulin hexamer are accompanied by a change in the electronic structure of the iron site. Kinetic measurements of the dissociation of the hexamers provide evidence for the modulation of the stability of the hexamer by ligand field stabilization effects. These kinetic studies also demonstrate that the T- to R-state transition in the insulin hexamer is governed by coordination geometry preference of the metal ion in the zinc site and the compatibility between Lewis acidity of the metal ion in the zinc site and the Lewis basicity of the exogenous ligands. Evidence for the alteration of the calcium site has been obtained from (113)Cd NMR measurements. This finding adds to the number of known conformational changes that occur during the T- to R-transition and is an important consideration in the formulation of allosteric mechanisms of the insulin hexamer.     

The T to R transition in the copper(II)-substituted insulin hexamer. Anion complexes of the R-state species exhibiting type 1 and type 2 spectral characteristics.

The R-state conformation of the Cu(II)-substituted insulin hexamer has been identified, and a number of its derivatives have been studied via 1H NMR, ESR, and UV-visible spectroscopy. This work establishes that the Cu(II)-substituted insulin hexamer undergoes an analogous T to R conformational transition in solution that has been identified previously for Zn(II)- and Co(II)-insulin hexamers [Roy, M., Brader, M.L., Lee, R. W.-K., Kaarsholm, N.C., Hansen, J., & Dunn, M.F. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19081-19085]. The data indicate that each Cu(II) center of the R-state Cu(II)-insulin hexamer possesses a coordination site that is accessible to anions from solution. Both phenol and anionic ligands that coordinate to the Cu(II) ions are required to generate the necessary heterotropic interactions that stabilize the R-state structure. With phenylmethylthiolate (PMT), a Cu(II)-R6 adduct that displays the spectral features of blue (type 1) copper proteins is obtained. This complex is proposed to embody a pseudotetrahedral CuIIN3S(PMT) chromophore, in which N is HisB10 (imidazolyl). The remaining ligands examined gave rise to Cu(II)-R6 adducts that possessed the spectral characteristics of normal (type 2) Cu(II) proteins. Under reducing conditions, Cu(I)-T6 and Cu(I)-R6 hexamers have been identified.