Mutations that improve export of maltose-binding protein in SecB- cells of Escherichia coli.

It previously has been proposed that the Escherichia coli SecB protein promotes the export of the maltose-binding protein (MBP) from the cytoplasm by preventing the folding of the precursor MBP (preMBP) into a translocation-incompetent conformation. The export of wild-type MBP is only partially blocked in SecB- cells. In contrast, the export of MBP16-1, an MBP species with a defective signal peptide, is totally dependent on SecB; hence, SecB- cells that synthesize MBP16-1 are unable to utilize maltose as a sole carbon source. The selection of Mal+ revertants primarily yielded mutants with alterations in the MBP16-1 signal peptide that permitted SecB-independent MBP export to the periplasm to various extents. Although each of these alterations increased the overall hydrophobicity of the signal peptide, it was not possible to strictly equate changes in hydrophobicity with the degree of SecB-independent export. Somewhat unexpectedly, two mutants were obtained in which MBP export in SecB- cells was markedly superior to that of the wild-type MBP. Although wild-type MBP is not cotranslationally translocated in SecB- cells, the two mutant proteins designated MBP172 and MBP173 exhibited significant cotranslational export in the absence of SecB. Thus, the role of SecB was partially supplanted by a signal peptide that promoted more rapid movement of MBP through the export pathway. When preMBP included the MBP172 signal peptide as well as an alteration in the mature moiety that slows folding, the SecB requirement for maximal MBP export efficiency was almost totally eliminated. These results provide additional strong support for the proposed antifolding role of SecB in MBP export.     

Mutations alter secretion of fukutin-related protein

Mutations in the fukutin-related protein (FKRP) gene cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I (LGMD2I) as well as other severe muscle disorders, including Walker–Warburg syndrome, muscle–eye–brain disease, and congenital muscular dystrophy type 1C. The FKRP gene encodes a putative glycosyltransferase, but its precise localization and functions have yet to be determined. In the present study, we demonstrated that normal FKRP is secreted into culture medium and mutations alter the pattern of secretion in CHO cells. L276I mutation associated with mild disease phenotype was shown to reduce the level of secretion whereas P448L and C318Y mutations associated with severe disease phenotype almost abolished the secretion. However, a truncated FKRP mutant protein lacking the entire C-terminal 185 amino acids due to the E310X nonsense mutation was able to secrete as efficiently as the normal FKRP. The N-terminal signal peptide sequence is apparently cleaved from the secreted FKRP proteins. Alteration of the secretion pathway by different mutations and spontaneous read-through of nonsense mutation may contribute to wide variations in phenotypes associated with FKRP-related diseases.     

Mutations that alter the allosteric nature of cAMP receptor protein of Escherichia coli.

Mutations which permit cAMP binding protein (CRP) to act in the absence of cAMP have been isolated by in vitro mutagenesis of a plasmid containing the cloned crp gene. Adenylate cyclase deficient cells harbouring the mutant (crp*) plasmids exhibited a variety of fermentation profiles on MacConkey indicator plates containing various sugars. beta-galactosidase synthesis in cells carrying the crp* plasmids was activated most by the addition of cGMP as well as cAMP. The sites of mutations which are responsible for the cAMP independent phenotype were determined by in vitro recombination and DNA sequencing. The amino acid substitutions in the mutant proteins were found in two specific regions of the crp gene encoding residues 53-62 and 141-148 of CRP polypeptide. The first region may participate in cAMP binding, while the second appears to be the inter-domain region of the N-terminal cAMP-binding and C-terminal DNA-binding domains.     

Increased solubility of integrin betaA domain using maltose-binding protein as a fusion tag

In proteomics research, generation of recombinant proteins in their native, soluble form with large quantity is often a challenging task. To tackle the expression difficulties, different expression vectors with distinct affinity fusion tags, i.e. pET-43.1a (N-utilization substance A tag), pMAL-cRI (maltose binding protein tag) (MBP tag), pGEX-4T-2 (glutathione S-transferase tag), and pET-15b (hexahistidine tag) were compared for their effects on the productivity and solubility, which were assessed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, of the integrin betaA domain. The incubation temperatures were tested for its effects on these parameters. Our data suggested that MBP tag enhanced the yield and solubility of the betaA domain protein, which can also be recognized using an anti-CD18 antibody, at room temperature incubation. Thus, the nature of fusion partner chosen for expression in bacteria and its incubation temperature would significantly affect the yield and solubility of the recombinant target protein.     

Mutations that alter the helix-turn-helix region of the spollAC protein: a Bacillus subtilis sporulation-specific sigma factor

It has previously been shown that spollAC561, a mutation that diminishes the incidence of sporulation by more than six orders of magnitude, alters the residue at position 13 of the helix-turn-helix region of the sporulation-specific sigma factor encoded by spollAC from valine to methionine (Yudkin, 1987b). We have now found that four spontaneous revertants, which sporulate at an incidence of 30-60%, all contain transitions within the codon that was altered by spo-561. The mutant methionine is replaced by isoleucine in two revertants, and by threonine in the other two.     

Mutations of putP that alter the lithium sensitivity of Salmonella typhimurium

The putP gene encodes the major proline permease in Salmonella typhimurium that couples transport of proline to the sodium electrochemical gradient. To identify residues involved in the cation binding site, we have isolated putP mutants that confer resistance to lithium during growth on proline. Wild-type S. typhimurium can grow well on proline as the sole carbon source in media supplemented with NaCl, but grows poorly when LiCl is substituted for NaCl. In contrast to the growth phenotype, proline permease is capable of transporting proline via Na+/proline or Li+/proline symport. Therefore, we selected mutants that grow well on media containing proline as the sole carbon source in the presence of lithium ions. All of the mutants assayed exhibit decreased rates of Li+/proline and Na+/proline cotransport relative to wild type. The location of each mutation was determined by deletion mapping: the mutations cluster in two small deletion intervals at the 5' and 3' termini of the putP gene. The map positions of these lithium resistance mutations are different from the locations of the previously isolated substrate specificity mutations. These results suggest that Lir mutations may define domains of the protein that fold to form the cation binding site of proline permease.     

Mutations that alter the signal sequence of alkaline phosphatase in Escherichia coli.

A phoA-lacZ gene fusion was used to isolate mutants altered in the alkaline phosphatase signal sequence. This was done by selecting Lac+ mutants from a phoA-lacZ fusion strain that produces a membrane-bound hybrid protein and is unable to grow on lactose. Two such mutant derivatives were characterized. The mutations lie within the phoA portion of the fused gene and cause internalization of the hybrid protein. When the mutations were genetically recombined into an otherwise wild-type phoA gene, they interfered with export of alkaline phosphatase to the periplasm. The mutant alkaline phosphatase protein was found instead in the cytoplasm in precursor form. DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that both mutations lead to amino acid alterations in the signal sequence of alkaline phosphatase.     

Mutations that alter the activity of the Rous sarcoma virus protease.

Mutations designed by analysis of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protease (PR) crystal structures were introduced into 1) the substrate binding pocket, 2) the substrate enclosing "flaps," and 3) surface loops of RSV PR. Each mutant PR was expressed in Escherichia coli. Changes in activity were detected by following cleavage of a truncated (NC-PR) precursor polypeptide in E. coli and cleavage of synthetic peptide substrates representing RSV and HIV-1 PR cleavage sites in vitro. Mutations in the substrate binding pocket exchanged amino acid residues located close to the substrate in the HIV-1 PR for structurally equivalent residues in the RSV PR. Changing histidine 65 to glycine (H65G) gave an inactive enzyme, while a double mutant R105P,G106V, as well as the triple mutant, H65G,R105P,G106V, produced enzymes which showed significant activity toward a substrate that represented a HIV-1 cleavage site. Mutating the catalytic aspartate (D37S) or an adjacent conserved alanine to threonine (A40T), produced inactive enzymes. In contrast, the substitution A40S was active, but showed a reduced rate of catalysis. Mutations in the flaps of conserved glycines (G69L, G70L) produced inactive PRs. Two extended RSV PR surface loops were shortened to the size found in HIV-1 PR and resulted in drastically reduced activity. These results have confirmed some of the basic predictions made from structural models but have also revealed unexpected roles and interactions in the protein.     

Mutations that uncouple the beta-adrenergic receptor from Gs and increase agonist affinity

The deletion of residues 239-272 from the hamster beta-adrenergic receptor resulted in a loss of the ability of the receptor, expressed in mouse L cells, to stimulate adenylate cyclase (Dixon, R. A. F., Sigal, I. S., Rands, E., Register, R. B., Candelore, M. R., Blake, A. D., and Strader, C. D. (1987) Nature 326, 73-77). This mutant receptor (D(239-272)beta AR) bound the agonist isoproterenol with a single class of binding sites, in contrast to the wild-type beta-adrenergic receptor, which exhibited two classes of agonist affinity sites. We now report that the affinity of D(239-272)beta AR for isoproterenol is relatively insensitive to detergent solubilization or to treatment with either GTP or NaF, indicating the absence of a receptor-Gs interaction. Whereas deletions within the region of amino acids 229-258 did not reduce the ability of the receptor to couple to Gs or to stimulate adenylate cyclase, the deletion of either of the regions 222-229 or 258-270 resulted in receptors which were unable to couple to Gs. The affinities of D(222-229)beta AR, D(239-272)beta AR, and D(258-270)beta AR toward isoproterenol were greater than that observed for the low affinity, uncoupled form of the wild-type receptor. These results suggest a role for the regions of the beta-adrenergic receptor encompassing amino acids 222-229 and 258-270, which are predicted to form amphiphilic helices, in the agonist-promoted activation of Gs.     

Mutations that alter the charge of type I regulatory subunit and modify activation properties of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from S49 mouse lymphoma cells.

Mutations in regulatory (R) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase were analyzed from cAMP-resistant mutants of S49 mouse lymphoma cells by direct sequencing of amplified regions of mutant R subunit cDNAs. Eight distinct single base-change lesions were identified in 24 independent mutants that were hemizygous for expression of mutant R subunits with altered protein charge. CG----TA transitions predominated, but AT----GC transitions and GC----TA transversions were also observed. Four of five spontaneous mutants had identical C----T transitions at CG causing substitution of Trp for Arg-334. Sites mutated in isolates obtained after mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were more varied. Six of the lesions (two in binding site A and four in site B) were at amino acid residues that are highly conserved among cAMP-binding sites of R subunits and the Escherichia coli catabolite activator protein. These mutations all either prevented or strongly hindered binding of cyclic nucleotides to the mutated site. One of the remaining lesions (at Arg-242) also prevented cyclic nucleotide binding to the mutated binding site; the other (at Gly-170) had only minimal effects on binding of cyclic nucleotides but, nevertheless, increased the apparent constant for cAMP-dependent kinase activation. These results are discussed with reference to a model for the cAMP-binding sites of R subunit based on the crystal structure of the E. coli catabolite activator protein.     

Mutations in the N-terminal cooperativity domain of gene 32 protein alter properties of the T4 DNA replication and recombination systems

The gene 32 protein (gp32) of bacteriophage T4 is the essential single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein required for phage DNA replication and recombination. gp32 binds ssDNA with high affinity and cooperativity, forming contiguous clusters that optimally configure the ssDNA for recognition by DNA polymerase or recombination enzymes. The precise roles of gp32 affinity and cooperativity in promoting replication and recombination have yet to be defined, however. Previous work established that the N-terminal "B-domain" of gp32 is essential for cooperativity and that point mutations at Arg(4) and Lys(3) positions have varying and dramatic effects on gp32-ssDNA interactions. Therefore, we examined the effects of six different gp32 B-domain mutants on T4 in vitro systems for DNA synthesis and homologous pairing. We find that the B-domain is essential for gp32's stimulation of these reactions. The stimulatory efficacy of gp32 B-domain mutants generally correlates with the hierarchy of relative ssDNA binding affinities, i.e. wild-type gp32 approximately R4K > K3A approximately R4Q > R4T > R4G gp32-B. However, the functional defect of a particular mutant is often greater than can be explained simply by its ability to saturate the ssDNA at equilibrium, suggesting additional defects in the proper assembly and activity of DNA polymerase and recombinase complexes on ssDNA, which may derive from a decreased lifetime of gp32-ssDNA clusters.     

Mutations that simultaneously alter both sugar and cation specificity in the melibiose carrier of Escherichia coli

The isolation and deduced amino acid sequence of 70 melibiose carrier mutants with impaired methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (TMG) and cation recognition properties is described. The Km for TMG transport ranged from 1 to greater than 100 mM. Amino acid substitutions occurred at 23 unique sites within the protein. These sites were clustered into four distinct regions: Asp-15 through Ile-18 (cluster I), Tyr-116 through Pro-122 (cluster II), Val-342 through Ile-348 (cluster III), and Ala-364 through Gly-374. Only two sites fell outside of these clusters: Ile-61 and Ala-236. In the native conformation, some or all of these clusters may interact to form the substrate recognition site. Impairment of TMG recognition was accompanied by decreased Li+ inhibition of melibiose transport in all but one mutant. That changes in sugar recognition properties should so frequently accompany changes in cation recognition properties suggests an interaction between the two substrates. A model for such interaction is proposed.