人肌肌酸激酶在SDS溶液中失活与构象变化的比较研究

应用紫外差吸收光谱、荧光发射光谱、ＣＤ先谱等监测手段,研究了ＳＤＳ溶液滴定人肌肌酸激酶时的构象与活力变化的关系。结果表明酶的活力丧失先于以紫外差吸收先谱、荧先发射谱和巯基暴露数目所监测到的构象变化。ＳＤＳ滴定时引起的酶的荧光发射光谱的变化在低滴定度阶段随着ＳＤＳ滴定量的增加,荧光强度下降,发射峰位红移,当ＳＤＳ浓度达到２．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,荧光强度增大,继续增加ＳＤＳ滴定量,荧光强度又降低,发射峰位红移直至终态。紫外差吸收光谱随着ＳＤＳ溶液的加入,２８１ｎｍ．２８７ｎｍ和２９２ｎｍ的负差吸收峰增大。ＣＤ光谱结果表明在本实验所用的ＳＤＳ浓度范围内,ＳＤＳ对人肌肌酸激酶的二级结构几乎没有影响。上述结果支持了酶的活性部位构象柔性的观点。     

蛋白质的氧化重折叠

经过近几十年来广泛而深入的研究,蛋白质氧化重折叠的机制已得到相当详细的阐明。1在已研究过的蛋白质中,大多数蛋白质都是沿着多途径而非单一、特定的途径进行氧化重折叠,这与折叠能量景观学说是一致的。2正是氨基酸残基间的天然相互作用而不是非天然的相互作用控制蛋白质的折叠过程。这一结论与含非天然二硫键的折叠中间体在牛胰蛋白酶抑制剂（BPTI）折叠中所起的重要作用并非相互排斥,因为后者仅仅是进行链内二硫键重排的化学反应所必需,与控制肽链折叠无直接关系。3根据对BPTI的研究,二硫键曾被认为仅仅具有稳定蛋白质天然结构的作用,既不决定折叠途径也不决定其三维构象。这一观点不适用于其它蛋白质。对凝乳酶原的研究表明,天然二硫键的形成是恢复天然构象的前提。天然二硫键的形成与肽键的正确折叠相辅相成,更具有普遍意义。4在氧化重折叠的早期,二硫键的形成基本上是一个随机过程,随着肽链的折叠二硫键的形成越来越受折叠中间体构象的限制。提高重组蛋白质的复性产率是生物技术领域中的一个巨大的挑战。除了分子聚集外,在折叠过程中所形成的二硫键错配分子是导致低复性率的另一个主要原因。氧化重折叠机制的阐明为解决此问题提供了有益的启示。如上所述,在折叠的后期,二硫键的形成决定于折叠中间体的构象,类天然、有柔性的结构有利于天然二硫键形成和正确折叠,具有这类结构的分子为有效的折叠中间体,最终都能转变为天然产物;而无效折叠中间体往往具有稳定的结构,使巯基、二硫键内埋妨碍二硫键重排,并因能垒的障碍不利于进一步折叠。因此,降低无效折叠中间体的稳定性使之转变为有效折叠中间体是提高含二硫键蛋白质复性率的一条基本原则,实验证明,碱性pH、低温、降低蛋白质稳定性的试剂、蛋白质二硫键异构酶、改变蛋白质一级结构是实现这一原则的有效手段。此外,这里还就氧化重折叠的基础和应用研究的前景进行了讨论。     

FT-Raman光谱研究金属硫蛋白的折叠过程

为探索金属硫蛋白（ ＭＴ） 的折叠过程,寻找含硫蛋白折叠的动力,采用调节溶液ｐＨ 值的方法,使ＭＴ 处于不同的折叠状态。 测定了在ｐＨ１ ．０ － ７ ．５ 时溶液的Ｒａｍａｎ 谱, 进而得出ＭＴ 结构的变化。实验数据表明,在ｐＨ＝ ４ 时蛋白质的二级结构出现了两个转折点,提示ＭＴ 折叠过程中有两个中间态存在。根据实验结果,对ＭＴ 主链折叠的动力进行了讨论。     

GroEL的耗能分子伴侣机制

双环结构Gro EL及其辅分子伴侣Gro ES是目前研究得最深入的分子伴侣.然而,Gro EL/Gro ES帮助蛋白质折叠的一些关键理化机制,尤其是水解ATP,Gro EL发生构象改变,能否主动调节蛋白质错误折叠中间体的构象,以促进错误折叠中间体的复性,仍然存在争议.结合本研究组近年的工作,作者着力介绍Gro EL促进蛋白质折叠的主动解折叠机制.     

N端的改变对大肠杆菌精氨酰—tRNA合成酶的影响

得到了缺失Asn2 的大肠杆菌 (E .coli)精氨酰 tRNA合成酶 (ArgRS)的变种和在其N端添加酵母ArgRS的N端 2 3个氨基酸残基的嵌合变种。它们的基因在大肠杆菌中表达时 ,可能由于蛋白质误折叠 ,大部分产生了包涵体。与天然酶相比 ,缺失变种保留了全部的氨基酸活化活力 ,但氨基酰化活力下降了 2 6 % ;嵌合变种的以上两种活力下降了 90 %以上 ,不能氨基酰化酵母tRNAArg。缺失Asn2 和Ile3 的变种在E .coli中虽被表达 ,但不稳定。与天然酶相比 ,嵌合变种的荧光光谱的最大发射波长向长波移动 ,强度减小。表明变种酶的构象和天然酶不同 ,色氨酸更暴露。用远紫外CD光谱预测变种酶的二级结构表明 ,嵌合酶的α螺旋更少 ,β折叠更多 ,无规卷曲稍多。E .coliArgRS的N端结构域对活力和正确折叠是重要的     

重组白细胞介素2体外折叠的实验研究

包涵体中的重组蛋白贩提后可以在变性状态下纯化,而纯化后的体外折叠（即复性）是基因工程下处理中的重要环节。荧光光谱研究表明,ＩＬ－２分子折叠过程中荧光强度逐渐减小,最大发射峰由３１６ｎｍ红移到３４８ｎｍ。以Ｔｒｐ残基的暴露程序反映分子的折叠状态,ＧＭ－ＣＳＦ在折叠过程中的荧光强度有类似变化,凝胶排阻ＨＰＬＣ可以检测折叠过程中的聚合体,而反相ＨＰＬＣ可以将ＩＬ－２分成三个相互独立的异构体色谱峰,据此可     

二级结构形成：蛋白质折叠起始过程的框架模型

框架模型认为二级结构形成是蛋白质起始过程的结构基础.文章介绍蛋白质同源片段的溶液构象及其构象研究法和多肽二级结构的从头设计,并综述这些研究成果应用于折叠起始过程的理论模型和蛋白质折叠起始过程的最新研究进展.     

人肌肌酸激酶胍变性时的失活与构象变化的比较研究

应用二阶导数光谱、紫外差吸收光谱和荧光光谱等监测手段,研究了人肌肌酸激酶在盐酸胍溶液中的构象变化。二阶导数光谱结果表明,若以6M盐酸胍中肌酸激酶酪氨酸残基的暴露程度为100％,则天然酶酪氨酸残基的暴露程度只有2％。而紫外差吸收光谱和荧光光谱的变化与兔肌肌酸激酶的结果相似。比较不同胍浓度下人肌肌酸激酶的失活与构象变化,表明酶的失活先于构象变化。同时还测定了不同浓度胍溶液中人肌酶的失活与构象变化的速度常数。结果表明以几种方法测定的构象变化均为单相的一级过程,而酶的失活却呈现了由快慢两相组成的一级反应过程。比较同浓度胍溶液中的失活速度与构象变化速度,发现酶失活的快相反应速度常数比构象变化的速度常数大1—2个数量级,慢相速度常数与构象变化速度常数相近。上述结果进一步支持了酶的活性部位构象柔性的观点。     

分子伴侣(MolecularChaperones)与蛋白质的折叠

尽管几百种蛋白质的三维结构已研究得非常清楚,但这些蛋白质折叠成其天然构象的机制与途径仍有待于进一步的研究。有关于蛋白质折叠的一些体外实验确定,决定一个蛋白质三维结构的信息存在于蛋白质的多肽链之中。在体外,一定条件下,在没有任何其他蛋白质存更多还原在下,一些酶和蛋白质可以自我装配成天然构象[1,2].     

人亲环素18抑制肌酸激酶的去折叠

新生肽链折叠过程中容易出现错误折叠与聚沉,从而导致折叠病等病理现象. 分子伴侣具有辅助其他蛋白质正确折叠,保护蛋白质分子结构的功能.本文选用人肌肌酸激酶为靶蛋白,研究了肽基脯氨酰顺反异构酶人亲环素18（human cyclophilin 18,hCyp18）对人肌肌酸激酶去折叠的作用,发现hCyp18能够抑制人肌肌酸激酶在热变性与化学变性过程中的失活与构象变化,并抑制人肌肌酸激酶在化学变性过程中的聚沉,因此推断hCyp18具有针对人肌肌酸激酶的分子伴侣功能.本文同时研究了hCyp18与人肌肌酸激酶的结合作用,对hCyp18的作用机制进行了初步探讨.     

Characterization of a partially folded intermediate of stem bromelain at low pH.

Equilibrium studies on the acid included denaturation of stem bromelain (EC 3.4.22.32) were performed by CD spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and binding of the hydrophobic dye, 1-anilino 8-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). At pH 2.0, stem bromelain lacks a well defined tertiary structure as seen by fluorescence and near-UV CD spectra. Far-UV CD spectra show retention of some native like secondary structure at pH 2.0. The mean residue ellipticities at 208 nm plotted against pH showed a transition around pH 4.5 with loss of secondary structure leading to the formation of an acid-unfolded state. With further decrease in pH, this unfolded state regains most of its secondary structure. At pH 2.0, stem bromelain exists as a partially folded intermediate containing about 42.2% of the native state secondary structure Enhanced binding of ANS was observed in this state compared to the native folded state at neutral pH or completely unfolded state in the presence of 6 m GdnHCl indicating the exposure of hydrophobic regions on the protein molecule. Acrylamide quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan residues in the protein molecule showed that at pH 2.0 the protein is in an unfolded conformation with more tryptophan residues exposed to the solvent as compared to the native conformation at neutral pH. Interestingly, stem bromelain at pH 0.8 exhibits some characteristics of a molten globule, such as an enhanced ability to bind the fluorescent probe as well as considerable retention of secondary structure. All the above data taken together suggest the existence of a partially folded intermediate state under low pH conditions.     

Effects of guanidine hydrochloride on the conformation and enzyme activity of streptomycin adenylyltransferase monitored by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy

Equilibrium denaturation of streptomycin adenylyltransferase (SMATase) has been studied by CD spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and binding of the hydrophobic dye 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). Far-UV CD spectra show retention of 90% native-like secondary structure at 0.5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl). The mean residue ellipticities at 222 nm and enzyme activity plotted against GdnHCl concentration showed loss of about 50 and 75% of secondary structure and 35 and 60% of activity at 0.75 and 1.5 M GdnHCl, respectively. At 6 M GdnHCl, there was loss of secondary structure and activity leading to the formation of GdnHCl-induced unfolded state as evidenced by CD and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as by measuring enzymatic activity. The denaturant-mediated decrease in fluorescence intensity and 5 nm red shift of λ_max point to gradual unfolding of SMATase when GdnHCl is added up from 0.5 M to a maximum of 6 M. Decreasing of ANS binding and red shift (∼5 nm) were observed in this state compared to the native folded state, indicating the partial destruction of surface hydrophobic patches of the protein molecule on denaturation. Disruption of disulfide bonds in the protein resulted in sharp decrease in surface hydrophobicity of the protein, indicating that the surface hydrophobic patches are held by disulfide bonds even in the GdnHCl denatured state. Acrylamide and potassium iodide quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of SMATase showed that the native protein is in folded conformation with majority of the tryptophan residues exposed to the solvent, and about 20% of them are in negatively charged environment. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 11, pp. 1514–1523.     

Folding of intracellular retinol and retinoic acid binding proteins

The folding mechanisms of cellular retinol binding protein II (CRBP II), cellular retinoic acid binding protein I (CRABP I), and cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABP II) were examined. These beta-sheet proteins have very similar structures and higher sequence homologies than most proteins in this diverse family. They have similar stabilities and show completely reversible folding at equilibrium with urea as a denaturant. The unfolding kinetics of these proteins were monitored during folding and unfolding by circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. During unfolding, CRABP II showed no intermediates, CRABP I had an intermediate with nativelike secondary structure, and CRBP II had an intermediate that lacked secondary structure. The refolding kinetics of these proteins were more similar. Each protein showed a burst-phase change in intensity by both CD and fluorescence, followed by a single observed phase by both CD and fluorescence and one or two additional refolding phases by fluorescence. The fluorescence spectral properties of the intermediate states were similar and suggested a gradual increase in the amount of native tertiary structure present for each step in a sequential path. However, the rates of folding differed by as much as 3 orders of magnitude and were slower than those expected from the contact order and topology of these proteins. As such, proteins with the same final structure may not follow the same route to the native state.     

The acid-induced state of glucose oxidase exists as a compact folded intermediate

A systematic investigation of the acid-induced unfolding of glucose oxidase (beta-D-glucose: oxygen 1-oxidoreductase) (GOD) from Aspergillus niger was made using steady-state tryptophan fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and ANS (1-anilino 8-naphthalene sulfonic acid) binding. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence studies showed a maximally unfolded state at pH 2.6 and the presence of a non-native intermediate in the vicinity of pH 1.4. Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) fluorescence measurements indicate that the bound cofactors are released at low pH. In the pH range studied, near- and far-UV CD spectra show maximal loss of tertiary as well as secondary structure (40%) at pH 2.6 although glucose oxidase at this pH is relatively less denatured as compared to the conformation in 6M GdnHCl. Interestingly, in the vicinity of pH 1.4, glucose oxidase shows a refolded conformation (A-state) with approximately 90% of native secondary structure and native-like near-UV CD spectral features. ANS fluorescence studies, however, show maximal binding of the dye to the protein at pH 1.4, indicating a "molten-globule"-like conformation with enhanced exposure of hydrophobic surface area. Acrylamide quenching data exhibit reduced accessibility of quencher to tryptophan, suggesting a more compact conformation at low pH. Thermal stability of this state was assessed by ellipticity changes at 222 nm relative to native protein. While native glucose oxidase showed a completely reversible thermal denaturation profile, the state at pH 1.4 showed approximately 50% structural loss and the denatured state appeared to be in a different conformation exhibiting prominent beta-sheet structure (around 85 degrees C) that was not reversible. To summarize; the A-state of GOD exists as a compact folded intermediate with "molten-globule"-like characteristics, viz., native-like secondary structure but with non-native cofactor environment, enhanced hydrophobic surface area and non-cooperative thermal unfolding. That the A-state also possesses significant tertiary structure is an interesting observation made in this study.     

Conformational states of beta-lactamase: molten-globule states at acidic and alkaline pH with high salt

We present evidence that beta-lactamase is close to fully unfolded (i.e., random coil conformation) at low ionic strength at the extremes of pH and that the presence of salt causes a cooperative transition to a conformation with the properties of a molten globule, namely, a compact state with native-like secondary structure but disordered side chains (tertiary structure). The conformation of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus was examined over the pH 1.5-12.5 region by circular dichroism (CD), tryptophan fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) binding. Under conditions of low ionic strength (I = 0.05) beta-lactamase was unfolded below pH 2.5 and above pH 11.5, on the basis of the far-UV and near-UV CD and tryptophan fluorescence. However, at high ionic strength and low pH an intermediate conformation (state A) was observed, with a secondary structure content similar to that of the native protein but a largely disordered tertiary structure. The transition from the unfolded state (U) to state A induced by KCl was cooperative and had a midpoint at 0.12 M KCl (I = 0.17 M) at pH 1.6. A similar conformation (state B) was observed at high pH and high ionic strength. The transition from the alkaline U state to state B induced by KCl at pH 12.2 was cooperative and had a midpoint at 0.6 M KCl (I = 0.65 M). Light scattering measurements showed that state B was compact although somewhat expanded compared to the N state. The compactness of state A could not be determined due to its strong propensity to aggregate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Conformational stability of ribonuclease T1. I. Thermal denaturation and effects of salts.

The thermal transition of RNase T1 was studied by two different methods; tryptophan residue fluorescence and circular dichroism. The fluorescence measurements provide information about the environment of the indole group and CD measurements on the gross conformation of the polypeptide chain. Both measurements at pH 5 gave the same transition temperature of 56 degrees C and the same thermodynamic quantities, delta Htr (= 120 kcal/mol) and delta Str (= 360 eu/mol), for the transition from the native state to the thermally denatured state, indicating simultaneous melting of the whole molecule including the hydrophobic region where the tryptophan residue is buried. Stabilization by salts was observed in the pH range from 2 to 10, since the presence of 0.5 m NaCL caused an increase of about 5 degrees C to 10 degrees C in the transition temperature, depending on the pH. The fluorescence measurements on the RNase T1 complexed with 2'-GMP showed a transition with delta Htr =167 kcal/mol and delta Str =497 eu/mol at a transition temperature about 6 degrees C higher than that for the free enzyme. The large value of delta Htr for RNase T1 indicates the highly cooperative nature of the thermal transition; this value is much higher than those of other globular proteins. Analysis of the CD spectrum of thermally denatured RNase T1 suggests that the denatured state is not completely random but retains some ordered structures.     

Hexafluoroacetone hydrate as a structure modifier in proteins: characterization of a molten globule state of hen egg-white lysozyme.

A molten globule-like state of hen egg-white lysozyme has been characterized in 25% aqueous hexafluoroacetone hydrate (HFA) by CD, fluorescence, NMR, and H/D exchange experiments. The far UV CD spectra of lysozyme in 25% HFA supports retention of native-like secondary structure while the loss of near UV CD bands are indicative of the overall collapse of the tertiary structure. The intermediate state in 25% HFA exhibits an enhanced affinity towards the hydrophobic dye, ANS, and a native-like tryptophan fluorescence quenching. 1-D NMR spectra indicates loss of native-like tertiary fold as evident from the absence of ring current-shifted 1H resonances. CD, fluorescence, and NMR suggest that the transition from the native state to a molten globule state in 25% HFA is a cooperative process. A second structural transition from this compact molten globule-like state to an "open" helical state is observed at higher concentrations of HFA (> or = 50%). This transition is characterized by a dramatic loss of ANS binding with a concomitant increase in far UV CD bands. The thermal unfolding of the molten globule state in 25% HFA is sharply cooperative, indicating a predominant role of side-chain-side-chain interactions in the stability of the partially folded state. H/D exchange experiments yield higher protection factors for many of the backbone amide protons from the four alpha-helices along with the C-terminal 3(10) helix, whereas little or no protection is observed for most of the amide protons from the triple-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet domain. This equilibrium molten globule-like state of lysozyme in 25% HFA is remarkably similar to the molten globule state observed for alpha-lactalbumin and also with the molten globule state transiently observed in the kinetic refolding experiments of hen lysozyme. These results suggest that HFA may prove generally useful as a structure modifier in proteins.     

Photophysics of the single tryptophan residue in Fusarium solani Cutinase: evidence for the occurrence of conformational substates with unusual fluorescence behaviour

The single tryptophan residue, at position 69 in the amino acid sequence, was used as an intrinsic probe to obtain structural and dynamical information on the lipolytic enzyme Fusarium solani cutinase. In the enzyme's native state the tryptophan fluorescence is highly quenched. Time-resolved experiments reveal that the majority of the excited state species is characterized by an unusually fast decay time of approximately 40 ps, indicating the occurrence of a very efficient nonradiative relaxation process, possibly via the adjacent disulphide bond or via the peptide bonds of a nearby loop. A minority of the excited state species relaxes on a nanosecond time scale. Irradiation of the enzyme in the tryptophan absorption band causes an increase by an order of magnitude of the fluorescence quantum yield. This increase is ascribed to a photo-induced, subtle structural change of a minor subset of species whose fluorescence is not highly quenched. The structural change is accompanied by a tightening of the local environment of the tryptophan moiety, as indicated by results from time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy which reveal a complete disappearance of the segmental flexibility of the tryptophan moiety.     

Equilibrium unfolding of Escherichia coli ribonuclease H: characterization of a partially folded state.

We have examined the equilibrium unfolding of Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI (RNase H), a member of a family of enzymes that cleaves RNA from RNA:DNA hybrids. A completely synthetic gene was constructed that expresses a variant of the wild-type sequence with all 3 cysteines replaced with alanine. The resulting recombinant protein is active and folds reversibly. Denaturation studies monitored by circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence yield coincident curves that suggest the equilibrium unfolding reaction is a 2-state process. Acid denaturation, however, reveals a cooperative transition at approximately pH 1.8 to a partially folded state. This acid state can be further denatured in a reversible manner by the addition of heat or urea as monitored by either CD or tryptophan fluorescence. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies indicate that the acid state of RNase H is both compact and monomeric. Although compact, the acid state does not resemble the native protein: the acid state displays a near-UV CD spectrum similar to the unfolded state and binds to and enhances the fluorescence of the dye 1-anilinonaphthalene, 8-sulfonate much more than either the native or unfolded states. Therefore, the acid state of E. coli RNase H has the characteristics of a molten globule: it retains a high degree of secondary structure, remains compact, yet does not appear to contain a tightly packed core.