Redox properties of the tissue factor Cys186-Cys209 disulfide bond

TF (tissue factor) is a transmembrane cofactor that initiates blood coagulation in mammals by binding Factor VIIa to activate Factors X and IX. The cofactor can reside in a cryptic configuration on primary cells and de-encryption may involve a redox change in the C-terminal domain Cys(186)-Cys(209) disulfide bond. The redox potential of the bond, the spacing of the reduced cysteine thiols and their oxidation by TF activators was investigated to test the involvement of the dithiol/disulfide in TF activation. A standard redox potential of -278 mV was determined for the Cys(186)-Cys(209) disulfide of recombinant soluble TF. Notably, ablating the N-terminal domain Cys(49)-Cys(57) disulfide markedly increased the redox potential of the Cys(186)-Cys(209) bond, suggesting that the N-terminal bond may be involved in the regulation of redox activity at the C-terminal bond. Using As(III) and dibromobimane as molecular rulers for closely spaced sulfur atoms, the reduced Cys(186) and Cys(209) sulfurs were found to be within 3-6 ? (1 ?=0.1 nm) of each other, which is close enough to reform the disulfide bond. HgCl2 is a very efficient activator of cellular TF and activating concentrations of HgCl2-mediated oxidation of the reduced Cys(186) and Cys(209) thiols of soluble TF. Moreover, PAO (phenylarsonous acid), which cross-links two cysteine thiols that are in close proximity, and MMTS (methyl methanethiolsulfonate), at concentrations where it oxidizes closely spaced cysteine residues to a cystine residue, were efficient activators of cellular TF. These findings further support a role for Cys(186) and Cys(209) in TF activation.     

Evidence for activation of tissue factor by an allosteric disulfide bond

Tissue Factor (TF) is the mammalian plasma membrane cofactor responsible for initiation of blood coagulation. Binding of blood coagulation factor VIIa to TF activates the serine proteinase zymogens factors IX and X by limited proteolysis leading to the formation of a thrombin and fibrin meshwork that stabilizes the thrombus. TF on the plasma membrane of cells resides mostly in a cryptic configuration, which rapidly transforms into an active configuration in response to certain stimuli. The extracellular part of TF consists of two fibronectin type III domains. The disulfide bond in the membrane proximal domain (Cys186-Cys209) is atypical for domains of this type in that it links adjacent strands in the same beta sheet, what we have called an allosteric bond. Ablation of the allosteric disulfide by mutating both cysteine residues severely impairs procoagulant activity. The thiol-alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide and methyl methanethiolsulfonate block TF activation by ionomycin, while the thiol-oxidizing agent HgCl2 and dithiol cross-linkers promote activation. TF activation could not be explained by exposure of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Cryptic TF contained unpaired cysteine thiols that were depleted upon activation, and de-encryption was associated with a change in the conformation of the membrane-proximal domain. These findings imply that the Cys186-Cys209 disulfide bond is reduced in the cryptic form of TF and that activation involves formation of the disulfide. It is likely that formation of this disulfide bond changes the conformation of the domain that facilitates productive binding of factors IX and X.     

Contribution of allosteric disulfide in the structural regulation of membrane-bound tissue factor–factor VIIa binary complex

Abstract

Two distinct populations, active and cryptic forms of tissue factor (TF), reside on the cell surface. Apart from phospholipid contribution, various models have been introduced to explain decryption/encryption of TF. The proposed model, the switching of Cys186–Cys209 bond of TF, has become the matter of controversy. However, it is well accepted that this disulfide has an immense influence upon ligand factor VIIa (FVIIa) for its binding. However, molecular level understanding for this remains unveiled due to lack of detailed structural information. In this regard, we have performed the molecular dynamic study of membrane-bound TF/TF–FVIIa in both the forms (±Cys186–Cys209 allosteric disulfide bond), individually. Dynamic study depicts that disulfide bond provides structural rigidity of TF in both free and ligand-bound forms. This disulfide bond also governs the conformation of FVIIa structure as well as the binding affinity of FVIIa toward TF. Significant differences in lipid–protein interaction profiles of both the forms of TF in the complex were observed. Two forms of TF, oxidized and reduced, have different structural conformation and behave differentially toward its ligand FVIIa. This disulfide bond not only alters the conformation of GLA domain of FVIIa in the vicinity but allosterically regulates the conformation of the distantly located FVIIa protease domain. We suggest that the redox status of the disulfide bond also governs the lipid-mediated interactions with both TF and FVIIa.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

One-Way Allosteric Communication between the Two Disulfide Bonds in Tissue Factor

Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays distinct roles in the initiation of extrinsic coagulation cascade and thrombosis. TF contains two disulfide bonds, one each in the N-terminal and C-terminal extracellular domains. The C-domain disulfide, Cys186-Cys209, has a ?RHStaple configuration in crystal structures, suggesting that this disulfide carries high pre-stress. The redox state of this disulfide has been proposed to regulate TF encryption/decryption. Ablating the N-domain Cys49-Cys57 disulfide bond was found to increase the redox potential of the Cys186-Cys209 bond, implying an allosteric communication between the domains. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we observed that the Cys186-Cys209 disulfide bond retained the ?RHStaple configuration, whereas the Cys49-Cys57 disulfide bond fluctuated widely. The Cys186-Cys209 bond featured the typical ?RHStaple disulfide properties, such as a longer S-S bond length, larger C-S-S angles, and higher bonded prestress, in comparison to the Cys49-Cys57 bond. Force distribution analysis was used to sense the subtle structural changes upon ablating the disulfide bonds, and allowed us to identify a one-way allosteric communication mechanism from the N-terminal to the C-terminal domain. We propose a force propagation pathway using a shortest-pathway algorithm, which we suggest is a useful method for searching allosteric signal transduction pathways in proteins. As a possible explanation for the pathway being one-way, we identified a pronounced lower degree of conformational fluctuation, or effectively higher stiffness, in the N-terminal domain. Thus, the changes of the rigid domain (N-terminal domain) can induce mechanical force propagation to the soft domain (C-terminal domain), but not vice versa.     

Macromolecular substrate affinity for the tissue factor-factor VIIa complex is independent of scissile bond docking.

The upstream coagulation enzymes are homologous trypsin-like serine proteases that typically function in enzyme-cofactor complexes, exemplified by coagulation factor VIIa (VIIa), which is allosterically activated upon binding to its cell surface receptor tissue factor (TF). TF cooperates with VIIa to create a bimolecular recognition surface that serves as an exosite for factor X binding. This study analyzes to what extent scissile bond docking to the catalytic cleft contributes to macromolecular substrate affinity. Mutation of the P1 Arg residue in factor X to Gln prevented activation by the TF.VIIa complex but did not reduce macromolecular substrate affinity for TF.VIIa. Similarly, mutations of the S and S' subsites in the catalytic cleft of the enzyme VIIa failed to reduce affinity for factor X, although the affinity for small chromogenic substrates and the efficiency of factor X scissile bond cleavage were reduced. Thus, docking of the activation peptide bond to the catalytic cleft of this enzyme-cofactor complex does not significantly contribute to affinity for macromolecular substrate. Rather, it appears that the creation of an extended macromolecular substrate recognition surface involving enzyme and cofactor is utilized to generate substrate specificity between the highly homologous, regulatory proteases of the coagulation cascade.     

Disulfide reduction abolishes tissue factor cofactor function

Background

Tissue factor (TF), an in vivo initiator of blood coagulation, is a transmembrane protein and has two disulfides in the extracellular domain. The integrity of one cysteine pair, Cys186–Cys209, has been hypothesized to be essential for an allosteric “decryption” phenomenon, presumably regulating TF procoagulant function, which has been the subject of a lengthy debate. The conclusions of published studies on this subject are based on indirect evidences obtained by the use of reagents with potentially oxidizing/reducing properties.

Methods

The status of disulfides in recombinant TF_1–263 and natural placental TF in their non-reduced native and reduced forms was determined by mass-spectrometry. Functional assays were performed to assess TF cofactor function.

Results

In native proteins, all four cysteines of the extracellular domain of TF are oxidized. Reduced TF retains factor VIIa binding capacity but completely loses the cofactor function.

Conclusion

The reduction of TF disulfides (with or without alkylation) eliminates TF regulation of factor VIIa catalytic function in both membrane dependent FX activation and membrane independent synthetic substrate hydrolysis.

General significance

Results of this study advance our knowledge on TF structure/function relationships.     

The integrity of the cysteine 186-cysteine 209 bond of the second disulfide loop of tissue factor is required for binding of factor VII

The structural basis of function of tissue factor (TF), the cell surface receptor and cofactor for the serine protease factor VIIa, cannot be inferred from the primary sequence. The functional significance of the two disulfide bonded loops in the surface domain of TF has been analyzed using site-directed mutagenesis to selectively preclude covalent stabilization of these loops by pairwise substitution of serine residues for cysteines. Mutant TF lacking either the amino (TFS49S57) or carboxyl (TFS186S209) disulfide bond were expressed on the surface of cells consistent with proper processing. Each reacted with a panel of monoclonal antibodies further suggesting proper global folding of the mutant proteins. TFS186S209 exhibited a selective decrease in reactivity with an antibody directed against one epitope locus in the carboxyl aspect of the surface domain of TF. Whereas TFS49S57 was functionally comparable to the wild type protein, TFS186S209 was functionally 30-40-fold less effective, and the affinity of factor VIIa binding to this mutant was indirectly estimated to be diminished 20-fold. These data suggest that the Cys186-Cys209 disulfide bond is required to maintain conformation and implicate the disulfide loop or adjacent structures in the carboxyl half of the surface domain of TF in receptor function.     

Interaction between bisphenol derivatives and protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and inhibition of PDI functions: requirement of chemical structure for binding to PDI

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical and several biological effects have been reported. Previously, protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) was isolated as a target molecule of bisphenol A. In this study, to clarify the effects of BPA on PDI functions, we investigated the relationship between the chemical structure of BPA derivatives and the effects on PDI-mediated isomerase and chaperone activity. We also investigated the effects of changes in the isomerase domain of PDI on the binding of chemicals, using PDI mutants and oxidized or reduced PDI. Among six chemicals, only chemicals, which have a phenol group, can bind to PDI and these chemicals also have an inhibitory effect on PDI-mediated isomerase activity. Changes in the structure of the PDI isomerase domain did not affect chemical-binding activity. On the other hand, the chemicals used in this study have low effects on chaperone activity of PDI. Substitutions in Cys residues (Cys398 and Cys401) of the isomerase active site changed chaperone activity. The present study indicates that phenolic compounds specifically bind to PDI and inhibit isomerase activity. This study provides useful information to predict the biological effects of chemicals and structural studies of PDI containing the function of chemical binding.     

Thioredoxin and Thioredoxin Reductase Control Tissue Factor Activity by Thiol Redox-dependent Mechanism

Abnormally enhanced tissue factor (TF) activity is related to increased thrombosis risk in which oxidative stress plays a critical role. Human cytosolic thioredoxin (hTrx1) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), also secreted into circulation, have the power to protect against oxidative stress. However, the relationship between hTrx1/TrxR and TF remains unknown. Here we show reversible association of hTrx1 with TF in human serum and plasma samples. The association is dependent on hTrx1-Cys-73 that bridges TF-Cys-209 via a disulfide bond. hTrx1-Cys-73 is absolutely required for hTrx1 to interfere with FVIIa binding to purified and cell-surface TF, consequently suppressing TF-dependent procoagulant activity and proteinase-activated receptor-2 activation. Moreover, hTrx1/TrxR plays an important role in sensing the alterations of NADPH/NADP⁺ states and transducing this redox-sensitive signal into changes in TF activity. With NADPH, hTrx1/TrxR readily facilitates the reduction of TF, causing a decrease in TF activity, whereas with NADP⁺, hTrx1/TrxR promotes the oxidation of TF, leading to an increase in TF activity. By comparison, TF is more likely to favor the reduction by hTrx1-TrxR-NADPH. This reversible reduction-oxidation reaction occurs in the TF extracellular domain that contains partially opened Cys-49/-57 and Cys-186/-209 disulfide bonds. The cell-surface TF procoagulant activity is significantly increased after hTrx1-knockdown. The response of cell-surface TF procoagulant activity to H₂O₂ is efficiently suppressed through elevating cellular TrxR activity via selenium supplementation. Our data provide a novel mechanism for redox regulation of TF activity. By modifying Cys residues or regulating Cys redox states in TF extracellular domain, hTrx1/TrxR function as a safeguard against inappropriate TF activity.     

Chaperone activity of DsbC.

DsbC, a periplasmic disulfide isomerase of Gram-negative bacteria, displays about 30% of the activities of eukaryotic protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) as isomerase and as thiol-protein oxidoreductase. However, DsbC shows more pronounced chaperone activity than does PDI in promoting the in vitro reactivation and suppressing aggregation of denatured D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) during refolding. Carboxymethylation of DsbC at Cys98 decreases its intrinsic fluorescence, deprives of its enzyme activities, but lowers only partly its chaperone activity in assisting GAPDH reactivation. Simultaneous presence of DsbC and PDI in the refolding buffer shows an additive effect on the reactivation of GAPDH. The assisted reactivation of GAPDH and the protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity of DsbC can both be inhibited by scrambled and S-carboxymethylated RNases, but not by shorter peptides, including synthetic 10- and 14-mer peptides and S-carboxymethylated insulin A chain. In contrast, all the three peptides and the two nonnative RNases inhibit PDI-assisted GAPDH reactivation and the reductase activity of PDI. DsbC assists refolding of denatured and reduced lysozyme to a higher level than does PDI in phosphate buffer and does not show anti-chaperone activity in HEPES buffer. Like PDI, DsbC is also a disulfide isomerase with chaperone activity but may recognize different folding intermediates as does PDI.     

Human tissue factor contains thioester-linked palmitate and stearate on the cytoplasmic half-cystine

The state of the five half-cystine residues in human tissue factor (TF) has been characterized. The results indicate that the four half-cystines in the extracellular domain of TF form two disulfide bonds and the half-cystine in the cytoplasmic region is acylated by palmitic acid and stearic acid. The extracellular disulfide cross-links, Cys49-Cys57 and Cys186-Cys209, were deduced from the analysis of tryptic peptides. Acylation of the cytoplasmic half-cystine was demonstrated by purifying and characterizing fibroblast TF from cells labeled with [3H]palmitic acid. Radiolabeled fibroblast TF was observed by autoradiography following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The tritiated material covalently bound to the protein was identified as [3H]palmitate and [3H]stearate by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Deacylation of TF with hydroxylamine resulted in the spontaneous generation of disulfide-linked TF dimers. This result suggests that the disulfide-linked TF dimer, a minor component of most TF preparations, and the recently described heterodimeric form of TF are artifacts produced by deacylation of Cys245 and subsequent interchain disulfide bond formation.     

Cofactor residues lysine 165 and 166 are critical for protein substrate recognition by the tissue factor-factor VIIa protease complex.

High affinity binding of factor VIIa (VIIa) to its cellular receptor tissue factor (TF), as well as association of factor X with phospholipid are required for optimal assembly of the extrinsic activation complex. In addition to the interactions of substrate with phospholipid and enzyme, we here provide evidence that cofactor residues Lys-165 and Lys-166 specifically contribute to the recognition of macromolecular substrate. Ala for Lys replacement in TFA165A166 was compatible with high affinity binding of VIIa when analyzed on cell surfaces as well as in the absence of phospholipid. Dissociation of TFA165A166.VIIa did not occur with a faster rate compared to TF.VIIa, further supporting unaltered VIIa binding function of TFA165A166. Cleavage of chromogenic peptidyl substrate by TFA165A166.VIIa complexes was not diminished, demonstrating that TFA165A166 supported enhancement of catalytic function of the VIIa protease domain. In contrast, factor X activation was reduced in the presence and absence of phospholipid. Further, TFA165A166 effectively competed with wild-type TF in the cleavage of factor X at limited VIIa concentrations. Selective reduction in macromolecular substrate hydrolysis combined with normal VIIa binding by TFA165A166 indicates that the cofactor TF does contribute, either directly or indirectly via specific interactions with VIIa, to factor X recognition.     

Substrate-Induced Unfolding of Protein Disulfide Isomerase Displaces the Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit from Its Holotoxin

To generate a cytopathic effect, the catalytic A1 subunit of cholera toxin (CT) must be separated from the rest of the toxin. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is thought to mediate CT disassembly by acting as a redox-driven chaperone that actively unfolds the CTA1 subunit. Here, we show that PDI itself unfolds upon contact with CTA1. The substrate-induced unfolding of PDI provides a novel molecular mechanism for holotoxin disassembly: we postulate the expanded hydrodynamic radius of unfolded PDI acts as a wedge to dislodge reduced CTA1 from its holotoxin. The oxidoreductase activity of PDI was not required for CT disassembly, but CTA1 displacement did not occur when PDI was locked in a folded conformation or when its substrate-induced unfolding was blocked due to the loss of chaperone function. Two other oxidoreductases (ERp57 and ERp72) did not unfold in the presence of CTA1 and did not displace reduced CTA1 from its holotoxin. Our data establish a new functional property of PDI that may be linked to its role as a chaperone that prevents protein aggregation.     

A novel disulphide switch mechanism in Ero1alpha balances ER oxidation in human cells

Oxidative maturation of secretory and membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is powered by Ero1 oxidases. To prevent cellular hyperoxidation, Ero1 activity can be regulated by intramolecular disulphide switches. Here, we determine the redox-driven shutdown mechanism of Ero1alpha, the housekeeping Ero1 enzyme in human cells. We show that functional silencing of Ero1alpha in cells arises from the formation of a disulphide bond-identified by mass spectrometry--between the active-site Cys(94) (connected to Cys(99) in the active enzyme) and Cys(131). Competition between substrate thiols and Cys(131) creates a feedback loop where activation of Ero1alpha is linked to the availability of its substrate, reduced protein disulphide isomerase (PDI). Overexpression of Ero1alpha-Cys131Ala or the isoform Ero1beta, which does not have an equivalent disulphide switch, leads to augmented ER oxidation. These data reveal a novel regulatory feedback system where PDI emerges as a central regulator of ER redox homoeostasis.     

Importance of factor VIIa Gla-domain residue Arg-36 for recognition of the macromolecular substrate factor X Gla-domain

Macromolecular substrate docking with coagulation enzyme-cofactor complexes involves multiple contacts distant from the enzyme's catalytic cleft. Here we characterize the binding of the Gla-domain of macromolecular substrate coagulation factor X to the complex of tissue factor (TF) and VIIa. Site-directed mutagenesis of charged residue side chains in the VIIa Gla-domain identified Arg-36 as being important for macromolecular substrate docking. Ala substitution for Arg-36 resulted in an increased KM and a decreased rate of X activation. X with a truncated Gla-domain was activated by mutant and wild-type VIIa at indistinguishable rates, demonstrating that Arg-36 interactions require a properly folded Gla-domain of the macromolecular substrate. VIIa Arg-36 was also required for effective docking of the X Gla-domain in the absence of phospholipid, demonstrating that the Gla-domain of VIIa participates in protein-protein interactions with X. In the absence of TF, the mutant VIIa had essentially normal function, indicating that the cofactor positions VIIa's Gla-domain for optimal macromolecular substrate docking. Computational docking suggests multiple charge complementary contacts of the X Gla-domain with TF.VIIa. A prominent interaction is made by the functionally important X residue Gla-14 with the center of the extended docking site created by residues in the carboxyl module of TF and the contiguous VIIa Gla-domain. These data demonstrate the functional importance of interactions of the Gla-domains of enzyme and substrate, and begin to elucidate the molecular details of the ternary TF.VIIa.X complex.     

Contributions of cysteine residues in Zn2 to zinc fingers and thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activities of chaperone DnaJ

Escherichia coli DnaJ, possessing both chaperone and thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activities, is a homodimeric Hsp40 protein. Each subunit contains four copies of a sequence of -CXXCXGXG-, which coordinate with two Zn(II) ions to form an unusual topology of two C4-type zinc fingers, C144DVC147Zn(II)C197NKC200 (Zn1) and C161PTC164Zn(II)C183PHC186 (Zn2). Studies on five DnaJ mutants with Cys in Zn2 replaced by His or Ser (C183H, C186H, C161H/C183H, C164H/183H, and C161S/C164S) reveal that substitutions of one or two Cys residues by His or Ser have little effect on the general conformation and association property of the molecule. Replacement of two Cys residues by His does not interfere with the zinc coordination. However, replacement of two Cys by Ser results in a significant decrease in the proportion of coordinated Zn(II), although the unique zinc finger topology is retained. The mutants of C183H, C186H, and C161S/C164S display full disulfide reductase activity of wild-type DnaJ, while C161H/C183H and C164H/183H exhibit severe defect in the activity. All of the mutations do not substantially affect the chaperone activity. The results indicate that the motif of -CXXC- is critical to form an active site and indispensable to the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase activity of DnaJ. Each -CXXC- motif in Zn2 but not in Zn1 functions as an active site.     

Functional analysis of human P5, a protein disulfide isomerase homologue

Human P5 (hP5) was expressed in the Escherichia coli pET system and purified by sequential Ni(2+)-chelating resin column chromatography. Characterization of purified hP5 indicated that it has both isomerase and chaperone activities, but both activities are lower than those of human protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Moreover, hP5 was observed to have peptide-binding ability, and its chaperone activity was confirmed with rhodanese and citrate synthase as substrates, but not with D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, showing that hP5 has substrate specificity with respect to chaperone activity. Mutation of two thioredoxin-related motifs in hP5 revealed that the first motif is more important than the second for isomerase activity and that the first cysteine in each motif is necessary for isomerase activity. Since thioredoxin motif mutants lacking isomerase activity retain chaperone activity with the substrate citrate synthase, the isomerase and chaperone activities of hP5 are probably independent, as was shown for PDI.     

PPIase domain of trigger factor acts as auxiliary chaperone site to assist the folding of protein substrates bound to the crevice of trigger factor

Trigger factor (TF) is the first chaperone encountered by nascent chains in bacteria, which consists of two modules: peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerase (PPIase) domain and a crevice built by both N- and C-terminal domains. While the crevice is suggested to provide a protective space over the peptide exit site of ribosome for nascent polypeptides to fold, it remains unclear whether PPIase domain is directly involved in assisting protein folding. Here, we introduced structural change into different regions of TF, and investigated their influence on the chaperone function of TF in assisting the folding of various substrate proteins, including oligomeric glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and monomeric carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and lysozyme. Results showed that structural disturbances by site-specific mutations in the PPIase active site or by deletion of the PPIase domain from TF affected the chaperone activity of TF toward CA II and GAPDH but had no effect on TF-assisted lysozyme refolding, suggesting PPIase domain is involved in assisting the folding of substrates larger than lysozyme. Mutants with the structural disturbances in the crevice totally lost the chaperone activity toward all the substrates we used in this investigation. These results provide further evidence to confirm that the crevice is the major chaperone site of TF, and the hydrophobic pocket in PPIase domain acts as an auxiliary site to assist the folding of substrate proteins bound to the crevice in a substrate-dependent manner, which is beneficial for TF to provide appropriate assistance for protein folding by changing protective space and binding affinity.     

Identification of a potential hydrophobic peptide binding site in the C-terminal arm of trigger factor

Trigger factor (TF) is the first chaperone to interact with nascent chains and facilitate their folding in bacteria. Escherichia coli TF is 432 residues in length and contains three domains with distinct structural and functional properties. The N-terminal domain of TF is important for ribosome binding, and the M-domain carries the PPIase activity. However, the function of the C-terminal domain remains unclear, and the residues or regions directly involved in substrate binding have not yet been identified. Here, a hydrophobic probe, bis-ANS, was used to characterize potential substrate-binding regions. Results showed that bis-ANS binds TF with a 1:1 stoichiometry and a K(d) of 16 microM, and it can be covalently incorporated into TF by UV-light irradiation. A single bis-ANS-labeled peptide was obtained by tryptic digestion and identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as Asn391-Lys392. In silico docking analysis identified a single potential binding site for bis-ANS on the TF molecule, which is adjacent to this dipeptide and lies in the pocket formed by the C-terminal arms. The bis-ANS-labeled TF completely lost the ability to assist GAPDH or lysozyme refolding and showed increased protection toward cleavage by alpha-chymotrypsin, suggesting blocking of hydrophobic residues. The C-terminal truncation mutant TF389 also showed no chaperone activity and could not bind bis-ANS. These results suggest that bis-ANS binding may mimic binding of a substrate peptide and that the C-terminal region of TF plays an important role in hydrophobic binding and chaperone function.     

The tissue factor region that interacts with substrates factor IX and Factor X

The enzymatic activity of coagulation factor VIIa is controlled by its cellular cofactor tissue factor (TF). TF binds factor VIIa with high affinity and, in addition, participates in substrate interaction through its C-terminal fibronectin type III domain. We analyzed surface-exposed residues in the C-terminal TF domain to more fully determine the area on TF important for substrate activation. Soluble TF (sTF) mutants were expressed in E. coli, and their ability to support factor VIIa-dependent substrate activation was measured in the presence of phospholipid vesicles or SW-13 cell membranes. The results showed that factor IX and factor X interacted with the same TF region located proximal to the putative phospholipid surface. According to the degree of activity loss of the sTF mutants, this TF region can be divided into a main region (residues Tyr157, Lys159, Ser163, Gly164, Lys165, Lys166, Tyr185) forming a solvent-exposed patch of 488 A(2) and an extended region which comprises an additional 7-8 residues, including the distally positioned Asn199, Arg200, and Asp204. Some of the identified TF residues, such as Trp158 and those within the loop Lys159-Lys165, are near the factor VIIa gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain, suggesting that the factor VIIa Gla-domain may also participate in substrate interaction. Moreover, the surface identified as important for substrate interaction carries a net positive charge, suggesting that charge interactions may significantly contribute to TF-substrate binding. The calculated surface-exposed area of this substrate interaction region is about 1100 A(2), which is approximately half the size of the TF area that is in contact with factor VIIa. Therefore, a substantial portion of the TF surface (3000 A(2)) is engaged in protein-protein interactions during substrate catalysis.