The Non-canonical Hop Protein from Caenorhabditis elegans Exerts Essential Functions and Forms Binary Complexes with Either Hsc70 or Hsp90

Heat shock protein (Hsp) 70/Hsp90-organizing proteins (Hop/Sti1) are thought to function as adaptor proteins to link the two chaperone machineries Hsp70 and Hsp90 during the processing of substrate proteins in eukaryotes. Hop (Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing protein) is composed of three tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, of which the first (TPR1) binds to Hsp70, the second (TPR2A) binds to Hsp90, and the third (TPR2B) is of unknown function. Contrary to most other eukaryotes, the homologue closest to the Caenorhabditis elegans Hop homologue R09E12.3 (CeHop) lacks the TPR1 domain and the short linker region connecting it to TPR2A, questioning the reported function as an Hsp90/Hsp70 adaptor in vitro and in vivo. We observed high constitutive expression levels of CeHop and detected significant phenotypes upon knockdown, linking the protein to functions in gonad development. Interestingly, we observed physical interactions with both chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90, albeit only the interaction with Hsp90 is strong and inhibition of the Hsp90 ATPase activity can be observed upon binding of CeHop. However, the formation of ternary complexes with both chaperone machineries is impaired, as Hsp70 and Hsp90 compete for CeHop interaction sites, in particular as Hsp90 binds to both TPR domains simultaneously and requires both TPR domains for ATPase regulation. These results imply that, at least in C. elegans, essential functions of Hop exist which apparently do not depend on the simultaneous binding of Hsp90 and Hsp70 to Hop.     

Hop/Sti1 phosphorylation inhibits its co-chaperone function

In eukaryotes, the molecular chaperones Hsp90 and Hsp70 are connected via the co-chaperone Sti1/Hop, which allows transfer of clients. Here, we show that the basic functions of yeast Sti1 and human Hop are conserved. These include the simultaneous binding of Hsp90 and Hsp70, the inhibition of the ATPase activity of Hsp90, and the ability to support client activation in vivo. Importantly, we reveal that both Hop and Sti1 are subject to inhibitory phosphorylation, although the sites modified and the influence of regulatory phosphorylation is species specific. Phospho-mimetic variants have a reduced ability to activate clients in vivo and different affinity for Hsp70. Hop is more tightly regulated, as phosphorylation affects also the interaction with Hsp90 and induces structural rearrangements in the core part of the protein.     

Characterisation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> Hsp70–Hsp90 organising protein (PfHop)

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium species, whose transmission to vertebrate hosts is facilitated by mosquito vectors. The transition from the cold blooded mosquito vector to the host represents physiological stress to the parasite, and additionally malaria blood stage infection is characterised by intense fever periods. In recent years, it has become clear that heat shock proteins play an essential role during the parasite's life cycle. Plasmodium falciparum expresses two prominent heat shock proteins: heat shock protein 70 (PfHsp70) and heat shock protein 90 (PfHsp90). Both of these proteins have been implicated in the development and pathogenesis of malaria. In eukaryotes, Hsp70 and Hsp90 proteins are functionally linked by an essential adaptor protein known as the Hsp70–Hsp90 organising protein (Hop). In this study, recombinant P. falciparum Hop (PfHop) was heterologously produced in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Using specific anti-PfHop antisera, the expression and localisation of PfHop in P. falciparum was investigated. PfHop was shown to co-localise with PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 in parasites at the trophozoite stage. Gel filtration and co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that PfHop was present in a complex together with PfHsp70 and PfHsp90. The association of PfHop with both PfHsp70 and PfHsp90 suggests that this protein may mediate the functional interaction between the two chaperones.     

Propagation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae [PSI+] prion is impaired by factors that regulate Hsp70 substrate binding

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae [PSI(+)] prion is believed to be a self-propagating cytoplasmic amyloid. Earlier characterization of HSP70 (SSA1) mutations suggested that [PSI(+)] propagation is impaired by alterations that enhance Ssa1p's substrate binding. This impairment is overcome by second-site mutations in Ssa1p's conserved C-terminal motif (GPTVEEVD), which mediates interactions with tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) cochaperones. Sti1p, a TPR cochaperone homolog of mammalian Hop1 (Hsp70/90 organizing protein), activates Ssa1p ATPase, which promotes substrate binding by Ssa1p. Here we find that in SSA1-21 cells depletion of Sti1p improved [PSI(+)] propagation, while excess Sti1p weakened it. In contrast, depletion of Fes1p, a nucleotide exchange factor for Ssa1p that facilitates substrate release, weakened [PSI(+)] propagation, while overproducing Fes1p improved it. Therefore, alterations of Hsp70 cochaperones that promote or prolong Hsp70 substrate binding impair [PSI(+)] propagation. We also find that the GPTVEEVD motif is important for physical interaction with Hsp40 (Ydj1p), another Hsp70 cochaperone that promotes substrate binding but is dispensable for viability. We further find that depleting Cpr7p, an Hsp90 TPR cochaperone and CyP-40 cyclophilin homolog, improved [PSI(+)] propagation in SSA1 mutants. Although Cpr7p and Sti1p are Hsp90 cochaperones, we provide evidence that Hsp90 is not involved in [PSI(+)] propagation, suggesting that Sti1p and Cpr7p functionally interact with Hsp70 independently of Hsp90.     

Definition of the minimal fragments of Sti1 required for dimerization, interaction with Hsp70 and Hsp90 and in vivo functions

The molecular chaperone Hsp (heat-shock protein) 90 is critical for the activity of diverse cellular client proteins. In a current model, client proteins are transferred from Hsp70 to Hsp90 in a process mediated by the co-chaperone Sti1/Hop, which may simultaneously interact with Hsp70 and Hsp90 via separate TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) domains, but the mechanism and in vivo importance of this function is unclear. In the present study, we used truncated forms of Sti1 to determine the minimal regions required for the Hsp70 and Hsp90 interaction, as well as Sti1 dimerization. We found that both TPR1 and TPR2B contribute to the Hsp70 interaction in vivo and that mutations in both TPR1 and TPR2B were required to disrupt the in vitro interaction of Sti1 with the C-terminus of the Hsp70 Ssa1. The TPR2A domain was required for the Hsp90 interaction in vivo, but the isolated TPR2A domain was not sufficient for the Hsp90 interaction unless combined with the TPR2B domain. However, isolated TPR2A was both necessary and sufficient for purified Sti1 to migrate as a dimer in solution. The DP2 domain, which is essential for in vivo function, was dispensable for the Hsp70 and Hsp90 interaction, as well as Sti1 dimerization. As evidence for the role of Sti1 in mediating the interaction between Hsp70 and Hsp90 in vivo, we identified Sti1 mutants that result in reduced recovery of Hsp70 in Hsp90 complexes. We also identified two Hsp90 mutants that exhibit a reduced Hsp70 interaction, which may help clarify the mechanism of client transfer between the two molecular chaperones.     

Effect of mutation of the tetratricopeptide repeat and asparatate-proline 2 domains of Sti1 on Hsp90 signaling and interaction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Through simultaneous interactions with Hsp70 and Hsp90 via separate tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains, the cochaperone protein Hop/Sti1 has been proposed to play a critical role in the transfer of client proteins from Hsp70 to Hsp90. However, no prior mutational analysis demonstrating a critical in vivo role for the TPR domains of Sti1 has been reported. We used site-directed mutagenesis of the TPR domains combined with a genetic screen to isolate mutations that disrupt Sti1 function. A single amino acid alteration in TPR2A disrupted Hsp90 interaction in vivo but did not significantly affect function. However, deletion of a conserved residue in TPR2A or mutations in the carboxy-terminal DP2 domain completely disrupted Sti1 function. Surprisingly, mutations in TPR1, previously shown to interact with Hsp70, were not sufficient to disrupt in vivo functions unless combined with mutations in TPR2B, suggesting that TPR1 and TPR2B have redundant or overlapping in vivo functions. We further examined the genetic and physical interaction of Sti1 with a mutant form of Hsp90, providing insight into the importance of the TPR2A domain of Sti1 in regulating Hsp90 function.     

The architecture of functional modules in the Hsp90 co-chaperone Sti1/Hop

Sti1/Hop is a modular protein required for the transfer of client proteins from the Hsp70 to the Hsp90 chaperone system in eukaryotes. It binds Hsp70 and Hsp90 simultaneously via TPR (tetratricopeptide repeat) domains. Sti1/Hop contains three TPR domains (TPR1, TPR2A and TPR2B) and two domains of unknown structure (DP1 and DP2). We show that TPR2A is the high affinity Hsp90-binding site and TPR1 and TPR2B bind Hsp70 with moderate affinity. The DP domains exhibit highly homologous α-helical folds as determined by NMR. These, and especially DP2, are important for client activation in vivo. The core module of Sti1 for Hsp90 inhibition is the TPR2A-TPR2B segment. In the crystal structure, the two TPR domains are connected via a rigid linker orienting their peptide-binding sites in opposite directions and allowing the simultaneous binding of TPR2A to the Hsp90 C-terminal domain and of TPR2B to Hsp70. Both domains also interact with the Hsp90 middle domain. The accessory TPR1-DP1 module may serve as an Hsp70-client delivery system for the TPR2A-TPR2B-DP2 segment, which is required for client activation in vivo.     

Sti1 is a novel activator of the Ssa proteins

The molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90 are involved in the folding and maturation of key regulatory proteins in eukaryotes. Of specific importance in this context is a ternary multichaperone complex in which Hsp70 and Hsp90 are connected by Hop. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae two components of the complex, yeast Hsp90 (yHsp90) and Sti1, the yeast homologue of Hop, had already been identified, but it remained to be shown which of the 14 different yeast Hsp70s are part of the Sti1 complex and what were the functional consequences resulting from this interaction. With a two-hybrid approach and co-immunoprecipitations, we show here that Sti1 specifically interacts with the Ssa group of the cytosolic yeast Hsp70 proteins. Using purified components, we reconstituted the dimeric Ssa1-Sti1 complex and the ternary Ssa1-Sti1-yHsp90 complex in vitro. The dissociation constant between Sti1 and Ssa1 was determined to be 2 orders of magnitude weaker than the affinity of Sti1 for yHsp90. Surprisingly, binding of Sti1 activates the ATPase of Ssa1 by a factor of about 200, which is in contrast to the behavior of Hop in the mammalian Hsp70 system. Analysis of the underlying activation mechanism revealed that ATP hydrolysis is rate-limiting in the Ssa1 ATPase cycle and that this step is accelerated by Sti1. Thus, Sti1 is a potent novel effector for the Hsp70 ATPase.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of an Hsp90/70 organizing protein gene from Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta: Thysanoptera,Thripidae)

The heat shock 90/70 organizing protein (Hop), also known as Sti-1 (stress-induced protein-1), is a co-chaperone that usually mediates the interaction of Hsp90 and Hsp70 and has been extensively characterized in mammals and plants. However, its role in insects remains unknown. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a Hop homologue gene from Frankliniella occidentalis (Fohop). The Fohop contains a 1659 bp ORF encoding a protein of 552 amino acids with a caculated molecular mass of approximately 62.25 kDa, which displays a reasonable degree of identity with the known Hops and shares several canonical motifs, including three tetratricopeptide repeated motif domains (TPR1, TPR2A and TPR2B) and two aspartic acid–proline (DP) repeat motifs (DP1 and DP2). As in other hops, Fohop contains introns, but the number and the position are quite variable. The mRNA expression patterns indicated that Fohop was constitutively expressed throughout the developmental stages, but was obviously upregulated by heat stress both in larvae and adults. Our studies imply that Hop, as in other Hsps, may play an important role in heat shock response of F. occidentalis.     

Independent regulation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 chaperones by Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing protein Sti1 (Hop1)

Hsp70 and Hsp90 protein chaperones cooperate in a protein-folding pathway required by many "client" proteins. The co-chaperone Sti1p coordinates functions of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in this pathway. Sti1p has three tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains. TPR1 binds Hsp70, TPR2a binds Hsp90, and the ligand for TPR2b is unknown. Although Sti1p is thought to be dedicated to the client folding pathway, we earlier showed that Sti1p regulated Hsp70, independently of Hsp90, in a way that impairs yeast [PSI+] prion propagation. Using this prion system to monitor Sti1p regulation of Hsp70 and an Hsp90-inhibiting compound to monitor Hsp90 regulation, we identified Sti1p mutations that separately affect Hsp70 and Hsp90. TPR1 mutations impaired Sti1p regulation of Hsp70, but deletion of TPR2a and TPR2b did not. Conversely, TPR2a and TPR2b mutations impaired Sti1p regulation of Hsp90, but deletion of TPR1 did not. All Sti1p mutations variously impaired the client folding pathway, which requires both Hsp70 and Hsp90. Thus, Sti1p regulated Hsp70 and Hsp90 separately, Hsp90 is implicated as a TPR2b ligand, and mutations separately affecting regulation of either chaperone impair a pathway that is dependent upon both. We further demonstrate that client folding depended upon bridging of Hsp70 and Hsp90 by Sti1p and find conservation of the independent regulation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 by human Hop1.     

Multiple domains of the co-chaperone Hop are important for Hsp70 binding

The Hop/Sti1 co-chaperone binds to both Hsp70 and Hsp90. Biochemical and co-crystallographic studies have suggested that the EEVD-containing C terminus of Hsp70 or Hsp90 binds specifically to one of the Hop tetratricopeptide repeat domains, TPR1 or TPR2a, respectively. Mutational analyses of Hsp70 and Hop were undertaken to better characterize interactions between the C terminus of Hsp70 and Hop domains. Surprisingly, truncation of EEVD plus as many as 34 additional amino acids from the Hsp70 C terminus did not reduce the ability of Hsp70 mutants to co-immunoprecipitate with Hop, although further truncation eliminated Hop binding. Hop point mutations targeting a carboxylate clamp position in TPR1 disrupted Hsp70 binding, as was expected; however, similar point mutations in TPR2a or TPR2b also inhibited Hsp70 binding in some settings. Using a yeast-based in vivo assay for Hop function, wild type Hop and TPR2b mutants could fully complement deletion of Sti1p; TPR1 and TPR2a point mutants could partially restore activity. Conformations of Hop and Hop mutants were probed by limited proteolysis. The TPR1 mutant digested in a similar manner to wild type; however, TPR2a and TPR2b mutants each displayed greater resistance to chymotryptic digestion. All point mutants retained an ability to dimerize, and none appeared to be grossly misfolded. These results raise questions about current models for Hop/Hsp70 interaction.     

Nucleotide-dependent interaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hsp90 with the cochaperone proteins Sti1, Cpr6, and Sba1

The ATP-dependent molecular chaperone Hsp90 and partner cochaperone proteins are required for the folding and activity of diverse cellular client proteins, including steroid hormone receptors and multiple oncogenic kinases. Hsp90 undergoes nucleotide-dependent conformational changes, but little is known about how these changes are coupled to client protein activation. In order to clarify how nucleotides affect Hsp90 interactions with cochaperone proteins, we monitored assembly of wild-type and mutant Hsp90 with Sti1, Sba1, and Cpr6 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell extracts. Wild-type Hsp90 bound Sti1 in a nucleotide-independent manner, while Sba1 and Cpr6 specifically and independently interacted with Hsp90 in the presence of the nonhydrolyzable analog of ATP, AMP-PNP. Alterations in Hsp90 residues that contribute to ATP binding or hydrolysis prevented or altered Sba1 and Cpr6 interaction; additional alterations affected the specificity of Cpr6 interaction. Some mutant forms of Hsp90 also displayed reduced Sti1 interaction in the presence of a nucleotide. These studies indicate that cycling of Hsp90 between the nucleotide-free, open conformation and the ATP-bound, closed conformation is influenced by residues both within and outside the N-terminal ATPase domain and that these conformational changes have dramatic effects on interaction with cochaperone proteins.     

Regulation of Hsp90 ATPase activity by the co-chaperone Cdc37p/p50cdc37

In vivo activation of client proteins by Hsp90 depends on its ATPase-coupled conformational cycle and on interaction with a variety of co-chaperone proteins. For some client proteins the co-chaperone Sti1/Hop/p60 acts as a "scaffold," recruiting Hsp70 and the bound client to Hsp90 early in the cycle and suppressing ATP turnover by Hsp90 during the loading phase. Recruitment of protein kinase clients to the Hsp90 complex appears to involve a specialized co-chaperone, Cdc37p/p50(cdc37), whose binding to Hsp90 is mutually exclusive of Sti1/Hop/p60. We now show that Cdc37p/p50(cdc37), like Sti1/Hop/p60, also suppresses ATP turnover by Hsp90 supporting the idea that client protein loading to Hsp90 requires a "relaxed" ADP-bound conformation. Like Sti1/Hop/p60, Cdc37p/p50(cdc37) binds to Hsp90 as a dimer, and the suppressed ATPase activity of Hsp90 is restored when Cdc37p/p50(cdc37) is displaced by the immunophilin co-chaperone Cpr6/Cyp40. However, unlike Sti1/Hop/p60, which can displace geldanamycin upon binding to Hsp90, Cdc37p/p50(cdc37) forms a stable complex with geldanamycin-bound Hsp90 and may be sequestered in geldanamycin-inhibited Hsp90 complexes in vivo.     

Intermolecular Interactions between Hsp90 and Hsp70

Members of the Hsp90 and Hsp70 families of molecular chaperones are imp\ortant for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and cellular recovery following environmental stresses, such as heat and oxidative stress. Moreover, the two chaperones can collaborate in protein remodeling and activation. In higher eukaryotes, Hsp90 and Hsp70 form a functionally active complex with Hop (Hsp90–Hsp70 organizing protein) acting as a bridge between the two chaperones. In bacteria, which do not contain a Hop homolog, Hsp90 and Hsp70, DnaK, directly interact during protein remodeling. Although yeast possesses a Hop-like protein, Sti1, Hsp90, and Hsp70 can directly interact in yeast in the absence of Sti1. Previous studies showed that residues in the middle domain of Escherichia coli Hsp90 are important for interaction with the J-protein binding region of DnaK. The results did not distinguish between the possibility that (i) these sites were involved in direct interaction and (ii) the residues in these sites participate in conformational changes which are transduced to other sites on Hsp90 and DnaK that are involved in the direct interaction. Here we show by crosslinking experiments that the direct interaction is between a site in the middle domain of Hsp90 and the J-protein binding site of Hsp70 in both E. coli and yeast. Moreover, J-protein promotes the Hsp70–Hsp90 interaction in the presence of ATP, likely by converting Hsp70 into the ADP-bound conformation. The identification of the protein–protein interaction site is anticipated to lead to a better understanding of the collaboration between the two chaperones in protein remodeling.     

Substrate transfer from the chaperone Hsp70 to Hsp90

Hsp90 is an essential chaperone protein in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. It cooperates with the chaperone Hsp70 in defined complexes mediated by the adaptor protein Hop (Sti1 in yeast). These Hsp70/Hsp90 chaperone complexes play a major role in the folding and maturation of key regulatory proteins in eukaryotes. Understanding how non-native client proteins are transferred from one chaperone to the other in these complexes is of central importance. Here, we analyzed the molecular mechanism of this reaction using luciferase as a substrate protein. Our experiments define a pathway for luciferase folding in the Hsp70/Hsp90 chaperone system. They demonstrate that Hsp70 is a potent capture device for unfolded protein while Hsp90 is not very efficient in this reaction. When Hsp90 is absent, in contrast to the in vivo situation, Hsp70 together with the two effector proteins Ydj1 and Sti1 exhibits chaperone activity towards luciferase. In the presence of the complete chaperone system, Hsp90 exhibits a specific positive effect only in the presence of Ydj1. If this factor is absent, the transferred luciferase is trapped on Hsp90 in an inactive conformation. Interestingly, identical results were observed for the yeast and the human chaperone systems although the regulatory function of human Hop is completely different from that of yeast Sti1.     

Dynamics of the regulation of Hsp90 by the co-chaperone Sti1

In eukaryotic cells, Hsp90 chaperones assist late folding steps of many regulatory protein clients by a complex ATPase cycle. Binding of clients to Hsp90 requires prior interaction with Hsp70 and a transfer reaction that is mediated by the co-chaperone Sti1/Hop. Sti1 furthers client transfer by inhibiting Hsp90's ATPase activity. To better understand how Sti1 prepares Hsp90 for client acceptance, we characterized the interacting domains and analysed how Hsp90 and Sti1 mutually influence their conformational dynamics using hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry. Sti1 stabilizes several regions in all three domains of Hsp90 and slows down dissociation of the Hsp90 dimer. Our data suggest that Sti1 inhibits Hsp90's ATPase activity by preventing N-terminal dimerization and docking of the N-terminal domain with the middle domain. Using crosslinking and mass spectrometry we identified Sti1 segments, which are in close vicinity of the N-terminal domain of Hsp90. We found that the length of the linker between C-terminal dimerization domain and the C-terminal MEEVD motif is important for Sti1 association rates and propose a kinetic model for Sti1 binding to Hsp90.     

The cochaperone murine stress-inducible protein 1: overexpression, purification, and characterization

Murine stress-inducible protein 1 (mSTI1) is a cochaperone that is homologous with the human heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70)/heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)-organizing protein (Hop). To analyze the biochemical properties of mSTI1 and the stoichiometry of the Hsc70.mSTI1.Hsp90 association, recombinant mSTI1 was produced in untagged, histidine (His)-tagged, and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged forms. His-mSTI1 was detected either as a dimer during size-exclusion-high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) or as a monomer during Superdex 200 gel filtration chromatography. SE-HPLC on GST-mSTI1 and untagged mSTI1 suggested that mSTI1 existed as a monomer. Cross-linking of His-mSTI1 detected a compact monomeric species and a dimeric species. Gel filtration on the association of bovine STI1 or His-mSTI1 with Hsc70 detected species of molecular mass consistent with a dimeric STI1 species or a 1:1 complex of STI1 and Hsc70. Our data and that of others suggest that mSTI1 and its homologues exist as either a monomer or a dimer and that this facilitates its proposed function as an Hsc70/Hsp90 organizing protein.     

Client-loading conformation of the Hsp90 molecular chaperone revealed in the cryo-EM structure of the human Hsp90:Hop complex

Hsp90 is an essential molecular chaperone required for the folding and activation of many hundreds of cellular "client" proteins. The ATP-dependent chaperone cycle involves significant conformational rearrangements of the Hsp90 dimer and interaction with a network of cochaperone proteins. Little is known about the mechanism of client protein binding or how cochaperone interactions modulate Hsp90 conformational states. We have determined the cryo-EM structure of the human Hsp90:Hop complex that receives client proteins from the Hsp70 chaperone. Hop stabilizes an alternate Hsp90 open state, where hydrophobic client-binding surfaces have converged and the N-terminal domains have rotated and match the closed, ATP conformation. Hsp90 is thus simultaneously poised for client loading by Hsp70 and subsequent N-terminal dimerization and ATP hydrolysis. Upon binding of a single Hsp70, the Hsp90:Hop conformation remains essentially unchanged. These results identify distinct functions for the Hop cochaperone, revealing an asymmetric mechanism for Hsp90 regulation and client loading.