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.     

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.     

Tissue factor coagulant function is enhanced by protein-disulfide isomerase independent of oxidoreductase activity

Protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) switches tissue factor (TF) from coagulation to signaling by targeting the allosteric Cys186-Cys209 disulfide. Here, we further characterize the interaction of purified PDI with TF. We find that PDI enhances factor VIIa-dependent substrate factor X activation 5-10-fold in the presence of wild-type, oxidized soluble TF but not TF mutants that contain an unpaired Cys186 or Cys209. PDI-accelerated factor Xa generation was blocked by bacitracin but not influenced by inhibition of vicinal thiols, reduction of PDI, changes in redox gradients, or covalent thiol modification of reduced PDI by N-ethylmaleimide or methyl-methanethiosulfonate, which abolished PDI oxidoreductase but not chaperone activity. PDI had no effect on fully active TF on either negatively charged phospholipids or in activating detergent, indicating that PDI selectively acts upon cryptic TF to facilitate ternary complex formation and macromolecular substrate turnover. PDI activation was reduced upon mutation of TF residues in proximity to the macromolecular substrate binding site, consistent with a primary interaction of PDI with TF. PDI enhanced TF coagulant activity on microvesicles shed from cells, suggesting that PDI plays a role as an activating chaperone for circulating cryptic TF.     

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     

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.     

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.     

Functional structure of the somatomedin B domain of vitronectin

The N-terminal somatomedin B domain (SMB) of vitronectin binds PAI-1 and the urokinase receptor with high affinity and regulates tumor cell adhesion and migration. We have shown previously in the crystal structure of the PAI-1/SMB complex that SMB, a peptide of 51 residues, is folded as a compact cysteine knot of four pairs of crossed disulfide bonds. However, the physiological significance of this structure was questioned by other groups, who disputed the disulfide bonding shown in the crystal structure (Cys5-Cys21, Cys9-Cys39, Cys19-Cys32, Cys25-Cys31), notably claiming that the first disulfide is Cys5-Cys9 rather than the Cys5-Cys21 bonding shown in the structure. To test if the claimed Cys5-Cys9 bond does exist in the SMB domain of plasma vitronectin, we purified mouse and rat plasma vitronectin that have a Met (hence cleavable by cyanogen bromide) at residue 14, and also prepared recombinant human SMB variants from insect cells with residues Asn14 or Leu24 mutated to Met. HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis showed that, after cyanogen bromide digestion, all the fragments of the SMB derived from mouse or rat vitronectin or the recombinant SMB mutants are still linked together by disulfides, and the N-terminal peptide (residue 1-14 or 1-24) can only be released when the disulfide bonds are broken. This clearly demonstrates that Cys5 and Cys9 of SMB do not form a disulfide bond in vivo, and together with other structural evidence confirms that the only functional structure of the SMB domain of plasma vitronectin is that seen in its crystallographic complex with PAI-1.     

Respiratory chain strongly oxidizes the CXXC motif of DsbB in the Escherichia coli disulfide bond formation pathway

Escherichia coli DsbB has four essential cysteine residues, among which Cys41 and Cys44 form a CXXC redox active site motif and the Cys104-Cys130 disulfide bond oxidizes the active site cysteines of DsbA, the disulfide bond formation factor in the periplasm. Functional respiratory chain is required for the cell to keep DsbA oxidized. In this study, we characterized the roles of essential cysteines of DsbB in the coupling with the respiratory chain. Cys104 was found to form the inactive complex with DsbA under respiration-defective conditions. While DsbB, under normal aerobic conditions, is in the oxidized state, having two intramolecular disulfide bonds, oxidation of Cys104 and Cys130 requires the presence of Cys41-Cys44. Remarkably, the Cys41-Cys44 disulfide bond is refractory to reduction by a high concentration of dithiothreitol, unless the membrane is solubilized with a detergent. This reductant resistance requires both the respiratory function and oxygen, since Cys41-Cys44 became sensitive to the reducing agent when membrane was prepared from quinone- or heme-depleted cells or when a membrane sample was deaerated. Thus, the Cys41-Val-Leu-Cys44 motif of DsbB is kept both strongly oxidized and strongly oxidizing when DsbB is integrated into the membrane with the normal set of respiratory components.     

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.     

Reversible inactivation of AT(2) angiotensin II receptor from cysteine-disulfide bond exchange

Dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II) type 2 (AT(2)) receptor potentiates ligand binding, but the underlying mechanism is not known. Two disulfide bonds proposed in the extracellular domain were examined in this report. Based on the analysis of ligand affinity of cysteine (Cys, C) to alanine (Ala, A) substitution mutants, we provide evidence that Cys(35)-Cys(290) and Cys(117)-Cys(195) disulfide bonds are formed in the wild-type AT(2) receptor. Disruption of the highly conserved Cys(117)-Cys(195) disulfide bond linking the second and third extracellular segments leads to inactivation of the receptor. The Cys(35)-Cys(290) bond is highly sensitive to DTT. Its breakage results in an increased binding affinity for both Ang II and the AT(2) receptor-specific antagonist PD123319. Surprisingly, in the single Cys mutants, C35A and C290A, a labile population of receptors is produced which can be re-folded to high-affinity state by DTT treatment. These results suggest that the free -SH group of Cys(35) or Cys(290) competes with the disulfide bond formation between Cys(117) and Cys(195). This Cys-disulfide bond exchange results in production of the inactive population of the mutant receptors through formation of a non-native disulfide bond.     

Cysteine reactivity and thiol-disulfide interchange pathways in AhpF and AhpC of the bacterial alkyl hydroperoxide reductase system

AhpC and AhpF from Salmonella typhimurium undergo a series of electron transfers to catalyze the pyridine nucleotide-dependent reduction of hydroperoxide substrates. AhpC, the peroxide-reducing (peroxiredoxin) component of this alkyl hydroperoxidase system, is an important scavenger of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in bacteria and acts through a reactive, peroxidatic cysteine, Cys46, and a second cysteine, Cys165, that forms an active site disulfide bond. AhpF, a separate disulfide reductase protein, regenerates AhpC every catalytic cycle via electrons from NADH which are transferred to AhpC through a tightly bound flavin and two disulfide centers, Cys345-Cys348 and Cys129-Cys132, through putative large domain movements. In order to assess cysteine reactivity and interdomain interactions in both proteins, a comprehensive set of single and double cysteine mutants (replacing cysteine with serine) of both proteins were prepared. Based on 5,5-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and AhpC reactivity with multiple mutants of AhpF, the thiolate of Cys129 in the N-terminal domain of AhpF initiates attack on Cys165 of the intersubunit disulfide bond within AhpC for electron transfer between proteins. Cys348 of AhpF has also been identified as the nucleophile attacking the Cys129 sulfur of the N-terminal disulfide bond to initiate electron transfer between these two redox centers. These findings support the modular architecture of AhpF and its need for domain rotations for function, and emphasize the importance of Cys165 in the reductive reactivation of AhpC. In addition, two new constructs have been generated, an AhpF-AhpC complex and a "twisted" form of AhpF, in which redox centers are locked together by stable disulfide bonds which mimic catalytic intermediates.     

An engineered intersubunit disulfide enhances the stability and DNA binding of the N-terminal domain of lambda repressor

Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace Tyr-88 at the dimer interface of the N-terminal domain of lambda repressor with cysteine. Computer model building had suggested that this substitution would allow formation of an intersubunit disulfide without disruption of the dimer structure [Pabo, C. O., & Suchanek, E. G. (1986) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. We find that the Cys-88 protein forms a disulfide-bonded dimer that is very stable to reduction by dithiothreitol and has increased operator DNA binding activity. The covalent Cys88-Cys88' dimer is also considerably more stable than the wild-type protein to thermal denaturation or urea denaturation. As a control, Tyr-85 was replaced with cysteine. A Cys85-Cys85' disulfide cannot form without disrupting the wild-type structure, and we find that this disulfide bond reduces the DNA binding activity and stability of the N-terminal domain.     

Mechanism of the electron transfer catalyst DsbB from Escherichia coli

The membrane protein DsbB from Escherichia coli is essential for disulfide bond formation and catalyses the oxidation of the periplasmic dithiol oxidase DsbA by ubiquinone. DsbB contains two catalytic disulfide bonds, Cys41-Cys44 and Cys104-Cys130. We show that DsbB directly oxidizes one molar equivalent of DsbA in the absence of ubiquinone via disulfide exchange with the 104-130 disulfide bond, with a rate constant of 2.7 x 10 M(-1) x s(-1). This reaction occurs although the 104-130 disulfide is less oxidizing than the catalytic disulfide bond of DsbA (E(o)' = -186 and -122 mV, respectively). This is because the 41-44 disulfide, which is only accessible to ubiquinone but not to DsbA, is the most oxidizing disulfide bond in a protein described so far, with a redox potential of -69 mV. Rapid intramolecular disulfide exchange in partially reduced DsbB converts the enzyme into a state in which Cys41 and Cys44 are reduced and thus accessible for reoxidation by ubiquinone. This demonstrates that the high catalytic efficiency of DsbB results from the extreme intrinsic oxidative force of the enzyme.     

Disulfide transfer between two conserved cysteine pairs imparts selectivity to protein oxidation by Ero1

The membrane-associated flavoprotein Ero1p promotes disulfide bond formation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by selectively oxidizing the soluble oxidoreductase protein disulfide isomerase (Pdi1p), which in turn can directly oxidize secretory proteins. Two redox-active disulfide bonds are essential for Ero1p oxidase activity: Cys100-Cys105 and Cys352-Cys355. Genetic and structural data indicate a disulfide bond is transferred from Cys100-Cys105 directly to Pdi1p, whereas a Cys352-Cys355 disulfide bond is used to reoxidize the reduced Cys100-Cys105 pair through an internal thiol-transfer reaction. Electron transfer from Cys352-Cys355 to molecular oxygen, by way of a flavin cofactor, maintains Cys352-Cys355 in an oxidized form. Herein, we identify a mixed disulfide species that confirms the Ero1p intercysteine thiol-transfer relay in vivo and identify Cys105 and Cys352 as the cysteines that mediate thiol-disulfide exchange. Moreover, we describe Ero1p mutants that have the surprising ability to oxidize substrates in the absence of Cys100-Cys105. We show the oxidase activity of these mutants results from structural changes in Ero1p that allow substrates increased access to Cys352-Cys355, which are normally buried beneath the protein surface. The altered activity of these Ero1p mutants toward selected substrates leads us to propose the catalytic mechanism involving transfer between cysteine pairs evolved to impart substrate specificity to Ero1p.     

The oxidation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase-1 by hydrogen peroxide in vitro

Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) plays an important role in the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. YADH-1 is a zinc-containing protein, and it accounts for the major part of ADH activity in growing baker's yeast. To gain insight into how oxidative modification of the enzyme affects its function, we exposed YADH-1 to hydrogen peroxide in vitro and assessed the oxidized protein by LC-MS/MS analysis of proteolytic cleavage products of the protein and by measurements of enzymatic activity, zinc release, and thiol/thiolate loss. The results illustrated that Cys43 and Cys153, which reside at the active site of the protein, could be selectively oxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid (Cys-SO2H) and cysteine sulfonic acid (Cys-SO3H). In addition, H2O2 induced the formation of three disulfide bonds: Cys43-Cys153 in the catalytic domain, Cys103-Cys111 in the noncatalytic zinc center, and Cys276-Cys277. Therefore, our results support the notion that the oxidation of cysteine residues in the zinc-binding domain of proteins can go beyond the formation of disulfide bond(s); the formation of Cys-SO2H and Cys-SO3H is also possible. Furthermore, most methionines could be oxidized to methionine sulfoxides. Quantitative measurement results revealed that, among all the cysteine residues, Cys43 was the most susceptible to H2O2 oxidation, and the major oxidation products of this cysteine were Cys-SO2H and Cys-SO3H. The oxidation of Cys43 might be responsible for the inactivation of the enzyme upon H2O2 treatment.     

Solution structure and backbone dynamics of the reduced form and an oxidized form of E. coli methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA): structural insight of the MsrA catalytic cycle

Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr) reduce methionine sulfoxide (MetSO)-containing proteins, back to methionine (Met). MsrAs are stereospecific for the S epimer whereas MsrBs reduce the R epimer of MetSO. Although structurally unrelated, the Msrs characterized so far display a similar catalytic mechanism with formation of a sulfenic intermediate on the catalytic cysteine and a concomitant release of Met, followed by formation of at least one intramolecular disulfide bond (between the catalytic and a recycling cysteine), which is then reduced by thioredoxin. In the case of the MsrA from Escherichia coli, two disulfide bonds are formed, i.e. first between the catalytic Cys51 and the recycling Cys198 and then between Cys198 and the second recycling Cys206. Three crystal structures including E. coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis MsrAs, which, for the latter, possesses only the unique recycling Cys198, have been solved so far. In these structures, the distances between the cysteine residues involved in the catalytic mechanism are too large to allow formation of the intramolecular disulfide bonds. Here structural and dynamical NMR studies of the reduced wild-type and the oxidized (Cys51-Cys198) forms of C86S/C206S MsrA from E. coli have been carried out. The mapping of MetSO substrate-bound C51A MsrA has also been performed. The data support (1) a conformational switch occurring subsequently to sulfenic acid formation and/or Met release that would be a prerequisite to form the Cys51-Cys198 bond and, (2) a high mobility of the C-terminal part of the Cys51-Cys198 oxidized form that would favor formation of the second Cys198-Cys206 disulfide bond.     

Solution synthesis of charybdotoxin (ChTX), a K+ channel blocker.

Charybdotoxin, a 37 amino acid peptide which is a minor component of Leiurus quinquestriatus venom, was synthesized by the solution procedure applying our maximum protection strategy. After formation of the three disulfide bonds, for which a redox buffer was necessary, the final product was purified to homogeneity and found to have similar biological potency to that reported by others for the natural product. The disulfide bond configuration was found to be: Cys7-Cys28; Cys13-Cys33; Cys17-Cys35. Conformational analysis by 1H-NMR showed that the molecule exists as a very tightly folded structure, in which residues 1-7 and 24-37 form a triple-stranded beta-sheet, with a turn at positions 30-31. The region from 11-20 appears to adopt an alpha-helical conformation.     

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.     

Disulfide bonding arrangements in active forms of the somatomedin B domain of human vitronectin

The N-terminal cysteine-rich somatomedin B (SMB) domain (residues 1-44) of the human glycoprotein vitronectin contains the high-affinity binding sites for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the urokinase receptor (uPAR). We previously showed that the eight cysteine residues of recombinant SMB (rSMB) are organized into four disulfide bonds in a linear uncrossed pattern (Cys(5)-Cys(9), Cys(19)-Cys(21), Cys(25)-Cys(31), and Cys(32)-Cys(39)). In the present study, we use an alternative method to show that this disulfide bond arrangement remains a major preferred one in solution, and we determine the solution structure of the domain using NMR analysis. The solution structure shows that the four disulfide bonds are tightly packed in the center of the domain, replacing the traditional hydrophobic core expected for a globular protein. The few noncysteine hydrophobic side chains form a cluster on the outside of the domain, providing a distinctive binding surface for the physiological partners PAI-1 and uPAR. The hydrophobic surface consists mainly of side chains from the loop formed by the Cys(25)-Cys(31) disulfide bond, and is surrounded by conserved acidic and basic side chains, which are likely to contribute to the specificity of the intermolecular interactions of this domain. Interestingly, the overall fold of the molecule is compatible with several arrangements of the disulfide bonds. A number of different disulfide bond arrangements were able to satisfy the NMR restraints, and an extensive series of conformational energy calculations performed in explicit solvent confirmed that several disulfide bond arrangements have comparable stabilization energies. An experimental demonstration of the presence of alternative disulfide conformations in active rSMB is provided by the behavior of a mutant in which Asn(14) is replaced by Met. This mutant has the same PAI-1 binding activity as rVN1-51, but its fragmentation pattern following cyanogen bromide treatment is incompatible with the linear uncrossed disulfide arrangement. These results suggest that active forms of the SMB domain may have a number of allowed disulfide bond arrangements as long as the Cys(25)-Cys(31) disulfide bond is preserved.     

Analyses of Native Disulfide Bond Formations in the Early Stage of the Folding Process in Mutant Lysozymes Where the Long-Range Interactions in the Denatured State Were Modulated

In order to clarify whether modulation of long-range interactions in the denatured state affect native disulfide bond (SS bond) formations of hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) containing a pair of cysteine residues, we examined the extent of SS bond formation among 12 variants containing a pair of cysteines. The loss of clusters 5 and 6 in the denatured state affected the formation of Cys30-Cys115 and Cys6-Cys127 respectively.