Self-malonylation is an intrinsic property of a chemically synthesized type II polyketide synthase acyl carrier protein

During polyketide biosynthesis, malonyl groups are transferred to the acyl carrier protein (ACP) component of the polyketide synthase (PKS), and it has been shown that a number of type II polyketide ACPs undergo rapid self-acylation from malonyl-CoA in the absence of a malonyl-CoA:holo-acyl carrier protein transacylase (MCAT). More recently, however, the observation of self-malonylation has been ascribed to contamination with Escherichia coli MCAT (FabD) rather than an intrinsic property of the ACP. The wild-type apo-ACP from the actinorhodin (act) PKS of Streptomyces coelicolor (synthetic apo-ACP) has therefore been synthesized using solid-state peptide methods and refolded using the GroEL/ES chaperone system from E. coli. Correct folding of the act ACP has been confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) and 1H NMR. Synthetic apo-ACP was phosphopantetheinylated to 100% by S. coelicolor holo-acyl carrier protein synthase (ACPS), and the resultant holo-ACP underwent self-malonylation in the presence of malonyl-CoA. No malonylation of negative controls was observed, confirming that the use of ACPS and GroEL/ES did not introduce contamination with E. coli MCAT. This result proves unequivocally that self-malonylation is an inherent activity of this PKS ACP in vitro.     

Solution structure of 4'-phosphopantetheine - GmACP3 from Geobacter metallireducens: a specialized acyl carrier protein with atypical structural features and a putative role in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis

GmACP3 from Geobacter metallireducens is a specialized acyl carrier protein (ACP) whose gene, gmet_2339, is located near genes encoding many proteins involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, indicating a likely function for GmACP3 in LPS production. By overexpression in Escherichia coli, about 50% holo-GmACP3 and 50% apo-GmACP3 were obtained. Apo-GmACP3 exhibited slow precipitation and non-monomeric behavior by (15)N NMR relaxation measurements. Addition of 4'-phosphopantetheine (4'-PP) via enzymatic conversion by E. coli holo-ACP synthase resulted in stable >95% holo-GmACP3 that was characterized as monomeric by (15)N relaxation measurements and had no indication of conformational exchange. We have determined a high-resolution solution structure of holo-GmACP3 by standard NMR methods, including refinement with two sets of NH residual dipolar couplings, allowing for a detailed structural analysis of the interactions between 4'-PP and GmACP3. Whereas the overall four helix bundle topology is similar to previously solved ACP structures, this structure has unique characteristics, including an ordered 4'-PP conformation that places the thiol at the entrance to a central hydrophobic cavity near a conserved hydrogen-bonded Trp-His pair. These residues are part of a conserved WDSLxH/N motif found in GmACP3 and its orthologs. The helix locations and the large hydrophobic cavity are more similar to medium- and long-chain acyl-ACPs than to other apo- and holo-ACP structures. Taken together, structural characterization along with bioinformatic analysis of nearby genes suggests that GmACP3 is involved in lipid A acylation, possibly by atypical long-chain hydroxy fatty acids, and potentially is involved in synthesis of secondary metabolites.     

Solution structures of conformationally equilibrium forms of holo-acyl carrier protein (PfACP) from Plasmodium falciparum provides insight into the mechanism of activation of ACPs

Acyl Carrier Protein (ACP) from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (PfACP) in its holo form is found to exist in two conformational states in solution. Unique 3D solution structures of holo-PfACP have been determined for both equilibrium conformations, using high-resolution NMR methods. Twenty high-resolution solution structures for each of the two forms of holo-PfACP have been determined on the basis of 1226 and 1218 unambiguously assigned NOEs (including NOEs between 4'-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group (4'-PP) and protein), 55 backbone dihedral angles and 26 hydrogen bonds. The atomic rmsd values of the determined structures of two equilibrium forms, about the mean coordinates of the backbone and heavy atoms, are 0.48 +/- 0.09 and 0.92 +/- 0.10 and 0.49 +/- 0.08 and 0.97 +/- 0.11 A, respectively. The interaction of 4'-PP with the polypeptide backbone is reported here for the first time for any of the ACPs. The structures of holo-PfACP consist of three well-defined helices that are tightly packed. The structured regions of the molecule are stabilized by extensive hydrophobic interactions. The difference between the two forms arises from a reorientation of the 4'-PP group. The enthalpy difference between the two forms, although small, implies that a conformational switch is essential for the activation of holo-ACP. Sequence and structures of holo-PfACP have been compared with those of the ACPs from type I and type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathways (FAS), in particular with the ACP from rat and the butyryl-ACP from E. coli. The PfACP structure, thus determined has several novel features hitherto not seen in other ACPs.     

Backbone and side chain 1H, 15N & 13C chemical shift assignments of the holo-acyl carrier protein (ACP) of Leishmania major

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is a small acidic protein, an important cofactor involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Its main function is to protect the growing acyl chain from the hydrophilic environment during fatty acid biosynthesis and simultaneously, present it to the active site of fatty acid pathway enzymes, liable for its elongation. The ACP molecule is expressed as apo-ACP (inactive) and is post-transitionally modified to the holo form (active) by the enzyme holo ACP synthase (ACPS). Here we report the complete backbone and side chain chemical shift assignments of the holo-ACP molecule of Leishmania major.     

The apparent coupling between synthesis and posttranslational modification of Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein is due to inhibition of amino acid biosynthesis.

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is modified on serine 36 by the covalent posttranslational attachment of 4'-phosphopantetheine from coenzyme A (CoA), and this modification is required for lipid biosynthesis. Jackowski and Rock (J. Biol. Chem 258:15186-15191, 1983) reported that upon depletion of the CoA pool by starvation for a CoA precursor, no accumulation of the unmodified form of ACP (apo-ACP) was detected. We report that this lack of apo-ACP accumulation results from decreased translation of the acpP mRNAs because of the limitation of the synthesis of glutamate and other amino acids made directly from tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates.     

Acyl carrier protein is a cellular target for the antibacterial action of the pantothenamide class of pantothenate antimetabolites

Pantothenate is the precursor of the essential cofactor coenzyme A (CoA). Pantothenate kinase (CoaA) catalyzes the first and regulatory step in the CoA biosynthetic pathway. The pantothenate analogs N-pentylpantothenamide and N-heptylpantothenamide possess antibiotic activity against Escherichia coli. Both compounds are substrates for E. coli CoaA and competitively inhibit the phosphorylation of pantothenate. The phosphorylated pantothenamides are further converted to CoA analogs, which were previously predicted to act as inhibitors of CoA-dependent enzymes. Here we show that the mechanism for the toxicity of the pantothenamides is due to the inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis through the formation and accumulation of the inactive acyl carrier protein (ACP), which was easily observed as a faster migrating protein using conformationally sensitive gel electrophoresis. E. coli treated with the pantothenamides lost the ability to incorporate [1-(14)C]acetate to its membrane lipids, indicative of the inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Cellular CoA was maintained at the level sufficient for bacterial protein synthesis. Electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed that the inactive ACP was the product of the transfer of the inactive phosphopantothenamide moiety of the CoA analog to apo-ACP, forming the ACP analog that lacks the sulfhydryl group for the attachment of acyl chains for fatty acid synthesis. Inactive ACP accumulated in pantothenamide-treated cells because of the active hydrolysis of regular ACP and the slow turnover of the inactive prosthetic group. Thus, the pantothenamides are pro-antibiotics that inhibit fatty acid synthesis and bacterial growth because of the covalent modification of ACP.     

Acyl carrier protein synthases from gram-negative, gram-positive, and atypical bacterial species: Biochemical and structural properties and physiological implications

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase (AcpS) catalyzes the transfer of the 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety from coenzyme A (CoA) onto a serine residue of apo-ACP, resulting in the conversion of apo-ACP to the functional holo-ACP. The holo form of bacterial ACP plays an essential role in mediating the transfer of acyl fatty acid intermediates during the biosynthesis of fatty acids and phospholipids. AcpS is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we have purified and characterized the AcpS enzymes from Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which exemplify gram-negative, gram-positive, and atypical bacteria, respectively. Our gel filtration column chromatography and cross-linking studies demonstrate that the AcpS enzyme from M. pneumoniae, like E. coli enzyme, exhibits a homodimeric structure, but the enzyme from S. pneumoniae exhibits a trimeric structure. Our biochemical studies show that the AcpS enzymes from M. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae can utilize both short- and long-chain acyl CoA derivatives but prefer long-chain CoA derivatives as substrates. On the other hand, the AcpS enzyme from E. coli can utilize short-chain CoA derivatives but not the long-chain CoA derivatives tested. Finally, our biochemical studies show that M. pneumoniae AcpS is kinetically a very sluggish enzyme compared with those from E. coli and S. pneumoniae. Together, the results of these studies show that the AcpS enzymes from different bacterial species exhibit different native structures and substrate specificities with regard to the utilization of CoA and its derivatives. These findings suggest that AcpS from different microorganisms plays a different role in cellular physiology.     

X-ray crystallographic studies on butyryl-ACP reveal flexibility of the structure around a putative acyl chain binding site

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) is an essential cofactor in biosynthesis of fatty acids and many other reactions that require acyl transfer steps. We have determined the first crystal structures of an acylated form of ACP from E. coli, that of butyryl-ACP. Our analysis of the molecular surface of ACP reveals a plastic hydrophobic cavity in the vicinity of the phosphopantethylated Ser36 residue that is expanded and occupied by the butyryl and beta-mercaptoethylamine moieties of the acylated 4'-phosphopantetheine group in one of our crystal forms. In the other form, the cavity is contracted, and we propose that the protein has adopted the conformation after delivery of substrate into the active site of a partner enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of the acyl carrier protein of the Streptomyces glaucescens tetracenomycin C polyketide synthase.

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) of the tetracenomycin C polyketide synthase, encoded by the tcmM gene, has been expressed in both Streptomyces glaucescens and Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Expression of the tcmM gene in E. coli results mainly in the TcmM apo-ACP, whereas expression in S. glaucescens yields solely the holo-ACP. The purified holo-TcmM is active in a malonyl coenzyme A:ACP transacylase assay and is labeled by radioactive beta-alanine, confirming that it carries a 4'-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group.     

The enigmatic acyl carrier protein phosphodiesterase of Escherichia coli: genetic and enzymological characterization

The acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) of fatty acid synthesis are functional only when modified by attachment of the prosthetic group, 4'-phosphopantetheine (4'-PP), which is transferred from CoA to the hydroxyl group of a specific serine residue. Almost 40 years ago Vagelos and Larrabee reported an enzyme from Escherichia coli that removed the prosthetic group. We report that this enzyme, called ACP hydrolyase or ACP phosphodiesterase, is encoded by a gene (yajB) of previously unknown function that we have renamed acpH. A mutant E. coli strain having a total deletion of the acpH gene has been constructed that grows normally, showing that phosphodiesterase activity is not essential for growth, although it is required for turnover of the ACP prosthetic group in vivo. ACP phosphodiesterase (AcpH) has been purified to homogeneity for the first time and is a soluble protein that very readily aggregates upon overexpression in vivo or concentration in vitro. The purified enzyme has been shown to cleave acyl-ACP species with acyl chains of 6-16 carbon atoms and is active on some, but not all, non-native ACP species tested. Possible physiological roles for AcpH are discussed.     

Solution structure and backbone dynamics of the holo form of the frenolicin acyl carrier protein

During polyketide biosynthesis, acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) perform the central role of transferring polyketide intermediates between active sites of polyketide synthase. The 4'-phosphopantetheine prosthetic group of a holo-ACP is a long and flexible arm that can reach into different active sites and provide a terminal sulfhydryl group for the attachment of acyl groups through a thioester linkage. We have determined the solution structure and characterized backbone dynamics of the holo form of the frenolicin acyl carrier protein (fren holo-ACP) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Unambiguous assignments were made for 433 hydrogen atoms, 333 carbon atoms, and 84 nitrogen atoms, representing a total of 94.6% of the assignable atoms in this protein. From 879 meaningful NOEs and 45 angle constraints, a family of 24 structures has been calculated. The solution structure is composed of three major alpha-helices packed in a bundle with three additional short helices in intervening loops; one of the short helices slowly exchanges between two conformations. Superposition of the major helical regions on the mean structure yields average atomic rmsd values of 0.49 +/- 0.09 and 0.91 +/- 0.08 A for backbone and non-hydrogen atoms, respectively. Although the three-helix bundle fold is conserved among acyl carrier proteins involved in fatty acid synthases and polyketide synthases, a detailed comparison revealed that ACPs from polyketide biosynthetic pathways are more related to each other in tertiary fold than to their homologues from fatty acid biosynthetic pathways. Comparison of the free form of ACPs (NMR structures of fren ACP and the Bacillus subtilis ACP) with the substrate-bound form of ACP (crystal structure of butyryl-ACP from Escherichia coli) suggests that conformational exchange plays a role in substrate binding.     

Recognition of hybrid peptidyl carrier proteins/acyl carrier proteins in nonribosomal peptide synthetase modules by the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferases AcpS and Sfp

The acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) of fatty acid synthase and polyketide synthase as well as peptidyl carrier proteins (PCPs) of nonribosomal peptide synthetases are modified by 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferases from inactive apo-enzymes to their active holo forms by transferring the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl moiety of coenzyme A to a conserved serine residue of the carrier protein. 4'-Phosphopantetheinyl transferases have been classified into two types; the AcpS type accepts ACPs of fatty acid synthase and some ACPs of type II polyketide synthase as substrates, whereas the Sfp type exhibits an extraordinarily broad substrate specificity. Based on the previously published co-crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis AcpS and ACP that provided detailed information about the interacting residues of the two proteins, we designed a novel hybrid PCP by replacing the Bacillus brevis TycC3-PCP helix 2 with the corresponding helix of B. subtilis ACP that contains the interacting residues. This was performed for the PCP domain as a single protein as well as for the TycA-PCP domain within the nonribosomal peptide synthetase module TycA from B. brevis. Both resulting proteins, designated hybrid PCP (hPCP) and hybrid TycA (hTycA), were modified in vivo during heterologous expression in Escherichia coli (hPCP, 51%; hTycA, 75%) and in vitro with AcpS as well as Sfp to 100%. The designated hTycA module contains two other domains: an adenylation domain (activating phenylalanine to Phe-AMP and afterward transferring the Phe to the PCP domain) and an epimerization domain (converting the PCP-bound l-Phe to d-Phe). We show here that the modified PCP domain of hTycA communicates with the adenylation domain and that the co-factor of holo-hPCP is loaded with Phe. However, communication between the hybrid PCP and the epimerization domain seems to be disabled. Nevertheless, hTycA is recognized by the next proline-activating elongation module TycB1 in vitro, and the dipeptide is formed and released as diketopiperazine.     

Crystal structures of substrate binding to Bacillus subtilis holo-(acyl carrier protein) synthase reveal a novel trimeric arrangement of molecules resulting in three active sites

BACKGROUND: Holo-(acyl carrier protein) synthase (AcpS), a member of the phosphopantetheinyl transferase superfamily, plays a crucial role in the functional activation of acyl carrier protein (ACP) in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway. AcpS catalyzes the attachment of the 4'-phosphopantetheinyl moiety of coenzyme A (CoA) to the sidechain of a conserved serine residue on apo-ACP. RESULTS: We describe here the first crystal structure of a type II ACP from Bacillus subtilis in complex with its activator AcpS at 2.3 A. We also have determined the structures of AcpS alone (at 1.8 A) and AcpS in complex with CoA (at 1.5 A). These structures reveal that AcpS exists as a trimer. A catalytic center is located at each of the solvent-exposed interfaces between AcpS molecules. Site-directed mutagenesis studies confirm the importance of trimer formation in AcpS activity. CONCLUSIONS: The active site in AcpS is only formed when two AcpS molecules dimerize. The addition of a third molecule allows for the formation of two additional active sites and also permits a large hydrophobic surface from each molecule of AcpS to be buried in the trimer. The mutations Ile5-->Arg, Gln113-->Glu and Gln113-->Arg show that AcpS is inactive when unable to form a trimer. The co-crystal structures of AcpS-CoA and AcpS-ACP allow us to propose a catalytic mechanism for this class of 4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferases.     

Isolation and properties of acyl carrier protein phosphodiesterase of Escherichia coli.

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) phosphodiesterase of Escherichia coli catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of the 4'-phosphopantetheine residue from ACP, with the generation of apo-ACP (P. R. Vagelos and A. R. Larrabee, J. Biol. Chem. 242:1776-1781, 1967). Although it has been postulated to play a role in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis, presently available evidence makes this unlikely, and its physiological function requires further investigation. We have now purified the enzyme from E. coli more than 3,000-fold and have identified it as a protein of Mr 25,000, as judged from its migration during electrophoresis in gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme has remarkable thermostability, being protected against irreversible inactivation at 90 degrees C by the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. A partial sequence of the amino terminus of the enzyme is as follows: H2N-Ser-Lys-Val-Leu-Val-Leu-Lys-Ser-?-Ile-Leu-Ala-Gly-Tyr-Ser-. Other properties of the enzyme are also described.     

Biochemical and molecular analyses of the Streptococcus pneumoniae acyl carrier protein synthase, an enzyme essential for fatty acid biosynthesis

Acyl carrier protein synthase (AcpS) is an essential enzyme in the biosynthesis of fatty acids in all bacteria. AcpS catalyzes the transfer of 4'-phosphopantetheine from coenzyme A (CoA) to apo-ACP, thus converting apo-ACP to holo-ACP that serves as an acyl carrier for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and lipids. To further understand the physiological role of AcpS, we identified, cloned, and expressed the acpS and acpP genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and purified both products to homogeneity. Both acpS and acpP form operons with the genes whose functions are required for other cellular metabolism. The acpS gene complements an Escherichia coli mutant defective in the production of AcpS and appears to be essential for the growth of S. pneumoniae. Gel filtration and cross-linking analyses establish that purified AcpS exists as a homotrimer. AcpS activity was significantly stimulated by apo-ACP at concentrations over 10 microm and slightly inhibited at concentrations of 5-10 microm. Double reciprocal analysis of initial velocities of AcpS at various concentrations of CoA or apo-ACP indicated a random or compulsory ordered bi bi type of reaction mechanism. Further analysis of the inhibition kinetics of the product (3',5'-ADP) suggested that it is competitive with respect to CoA but mixed (competitive and noncompetitive) with respect to apo-ACP. Finally, apo-ACP bound tightly to AcpS in the absence of CoA, but CoA failed to do so in the absence of apo-ACP. Together, these results suggest that AcpS may be allosterically regulated by apo-ACP and probably proceeds by an ordered reaction mechanism with the first formation of the AcpS-apo-ACP complex and the subsequent transfer of 4'-phosphopantetheine to the apo-ACP of the complex.     

Chemical and posttranslational modification of Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein for preparation of dansyl-acyl carrier proteins

Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein (ACP) contains a single tyrosine residue at position 71. The combined o-nitration of apo-ACP Y71 by tetranitromethane and reduction to 3-aminotyrosyl-apo-ACP were performed to introduce a specific site for attachment of a dansyl fluorescent label. Conditions for purification and characterization of dansylaminotyrosyl-apo-ACP are reported. Dansylaminotyrosyl-apo-ACP was enzymatically phosphopantetheinylated and acylated in vitro with an overall approximately 30% yield of purified stearoyl-dansylaminotyrosyl-ACP starting from unmodified apo-ACP. The steady-state kinetic parameters k(cat) = 22 min(-1) and K(M) = 2.7 microM were determined for reaction of stearoyl-dansylaminotyrosyl-ACP with stearoyl-ACP Delta(9)-desaturase. These results show that dansylaminotyrosyl-ACP will function well for studying binding interactions with the Delta(9)-desaturase and suggest similar possibilities for other ACP-dependent enzymes. The efficient in vivo phosphopantetheinylation of E. coli apo-ACP by coexpression with holo-ACP synthase in E. coli BL21(DE3) using fructose as the carbon source is also reported.     

4'-phosphopantetheine transfer in primary and secondary metabolism of Bacillus subtilis

4'-Phosphopantetheine transferases (PPTases) transfer the 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety of coenzyme A onto a conserved serine residue of acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) of fatty acid and polyketide synthases as well as peptidyl carrier proteins (PCPs) of nonribosomal peptide synthetases. This posttranslational modification converts ACPs and PCPs from their inactive apo into the active holo form. We have investigated the 4'-phosphopantetheinylation reaction in Bacillus subtilis, an organism containing in total 43 ACPs and PCPs but only two PPTases, the acyl carrier protein synthase AcpS of primary metabolism and Sfp, a PPTase of secondary metabolism associated with the nonribosomal peptide synthetase for the peptide antibiotic surfactin. We identified and cloned ydcB encoding AcpS from B. subtilis, which complemented an Escherichia coli acps disruption mutant. B. subtilis AcpS and its substrate ACP were biochemically characterized. AcpS also modified the d-alanyl carrier protein but failed to recognize PCP and an acyl carrier protein of secondary metabolism discovered in this study, designated AcpK, that was not identified by the Bacillus genome project. On the other hand, Sfp was able to modify in vitro all acyl carrier proteins tested. We thereby extend the reported broad specificity of this enzyme to the homologous ACP. This in vitro cross-interaction between primary and secondary metabolism was confirmed under physiological in vivo conditions by the construction of a ydcB deletion in a B. subtilis sfp(+) strain. The genes coding for Sfp and its homolog Gsp from Bacillus brevis could also complement the E. coli acps disruption. These results call into question the essential role of AcpS in strains that contain a Sfp-like PPTase and consequently the suitability of AcpS as a microbial target in such strains.     

Purification and characterization of recombinant spinach acyl carrier protein I expressed in Escherichia coli

Expression of plant acyl carrier protein (ACP) in Escherichia coli at levels above that of constitutive E. coli ACP does not appear to substantially alter bacterial growth or fatty acid metabolism. The plant ACP expressed in E. coli contains pantetheine and approximately 50% is present in vivo as acyl-ACP. We have purified and characterized the recombinant spinach ACP-I. NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing indicated identity to authentic spinach ACP-I, and there was no evidence for terminal methionine or formylmethionine. Recombinant ACP-I was found to completely cross-react immunologically with polyclonal antibody raised to spinach ACP-I. Recombinant ACP-I was a poor substrate for E. coli fatty acid synthesis. In contrast, Brassica napus fatty acid synthetase gave similar reaction rates with both recombinant and E. coli ACP. Similarly, malonyl-coenzyme A:acyl carrier protein transacylase isolated from E. coli was only poorly able to utilize the recombinant ACP-I while the same enzyme from B. napus reacted equally well with either E. coli ACP or recombinant ACP-I. E. coli acyl-ACP synthetase showed a higher reaction rate for recombinant ACP-I than for E. coli ACP. Expression of spinach ACP-I in E. coli provides, for the first time, plant ACP in large quantities and should aid in both structural analysis of this protein and in investigations of the many ACP-dependent reactions of plant lipid metabolism.     

Amide exchange rates in Escherichia coli acyl carrier protein: correlation with protein structure and dynamics.

The acyl carrier protein (ACP) of Escherichia coli is a 77-amino acid, highly negatively charged three-helix protein that plays a central role in fatty acid biosynthesis. Previous NMR studies have suggested the presence of multiple conformations and marginally stable secondary structural elements. The stability of these elements is now examined by monitoring amide exchange in apo-ACP using NMR-based methods. Because ACP exhibits many rapid exchange rates, application of traditional isotope exchange methods is difficult. In one approach, heteronuclear correlation experiments with pulsed field-gradient coherence selection have reduced the time needed to collect two-dimensional 1H-15N correlation spectra to the point where measurement of exchange of amide protons for deuterium on the timescale of minutes can be made. In another approach, water proton selective inversion-exchange experiments were performed to estimate the exchange rates of protons exchanging on timescales of less than a second. Backbone amide protons in the region of helix II were found to exchange significantly more rapidly than those in helices I and III, consistent with earlier structural models suggesting a dynamic disruption of the second helix. Highly protected amides occur on faces of the helices that may pack into a hydrophobic core present in a partially disrupted state.