The hyper-thermostable Fe-superoxide dismutase from the Archaeon Acidianus ambivalens: characterization, recombinant expression, crystallization and effects of metal exchange

An iron-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens (Aa-SOD) has been purified and characterized and the gene has been cloned and sequenced. The SOD from the facultatively aerobic member of the crenarchaeota could be expressed in E. coli. Both, the native as well as the heterologously overproduced protein turned out to have extraordinarily high melting temperatures of 128 degrees C and 124.5 degrees C, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest directly measured melting temperature of a native protein. Surprisingly, neither the native nor the recombinant superoxide dismutase displays 100% occupation of the metal coordination sites. Obviously it is not the incorporation of a metal ion that confers the extreme thermostability. Expression of the superoxide dismutase in the presence of different metals such as Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and Cu offered the possibility of studying the hitherto unknown cofactor preference of iron-superoxide dismutase. The recombinant enzyme displayed the highest preference for incorporation of cobalt although iron is used as the natural cofactor. Spectroscopic analysis by EPR, atomic absorption and UVNis spectroscopy as well as activity measurements and differential scanning calorimetry of the metal substituted superoxide dismutases were performed. However, the superoxide dismutase of A. ambivalens is active only with iron but may incorporate other metals equally well in the catalytic center without loss of conformational stability or heat tolerance. The co-form of the enzyme could be crystallized.     

A calorimetric study of human CuZn superoxide dismutase.

Structural alterations, as manifested by thermal transitions, caused by removal or binding of metal ions to human and bovine CuZn superoxide dismutases (SODs) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Although holo forms of the two mammalian enzymes exhibited irreversible thermal transitions (delta Hcal. = 27.7 J/g and Td = 104 degrees C for bovine SOD; delta Hcal. = 23.6 J/g and Td = 101 degrees C for human SOD), only the bovine apoenzyme showed the presence of a less thermostable form (delta Hcal. = 10.7 J/g and Td = 63 degrees C). These observations suggested that human apo-SOD had considerably less conformational order than bovine apo-SOD. Reconstitution of human and bovine apoenzymes with Cu2+ and Zn2+ resulted in recovery of thermodynamic parameters and specific activity. Binding of Zn2+ alone to human apo-SOD resulted in the formation of two distinct structural units, detectable by differential scanning calorimetry, which underwent conformational disorder at 82 and 101 degrees C respectively. Saturation of binding sites with both Zn2+ and Cu2+ appeared to stabilize the enzyme structure further as shown by elimination of the low-temperature transition and the appearance of another thermal transition at a higher temperature.     

Thermal-induced changes in the secondary conformation of superoxide dismutase containing different metal ions

The thermal stability of three superoxide dismutases (SODs) with different metal ions (Mn, Cu/Zn, Fe) in the solid state was studied by a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy combined with thermal analyzer. The IR spectra showed a maximum peak at 1652 cm(-1) for all the native SODs in the amide I band, suggesting a predominant random coil with less alpha-helix structures. By heating each sample, a shoulder at 1631 cm(-1) in the amide I band gradually appeared from 45 degrees C for Fe SOD and from 50 degrees C for Mn SOD but another shoulder at 1639 cm(-1) appeared from 50 degrees C for Cu/Zn SOD. The peak at 1631 cm(-1) is due to the intermolecular beta-sheet structure, but the peak at 1639 cm(-1) corresponds to the major intramolecular beta-sheet with less random coil structure. This reveals that in the first heating process the transformation from random coil/alpha-helix structure to beta-sheet structure initiated from around 45-50 degrees C. There was about 16-22% compositional change resulting from that transformation. However, both additional shoulders stood there and did not restore to their original spectra even with cooling to room temperature, suggesting the denaturation and irreversible properties of the solid SODs after heating. The thermal-dependent denaturation and irreversibility of Mn SOD, Cu/Zn SOD and Fe SOD were clearly evidenced by the increase in intramolecular and intermolecular beta-sheet structure.     

Thermal behavior of human plasma high density lipoprotein.

Human plasma low density lipoprotein displays a reversible thermal transition between 20 and 40 degrees C, due to a phase transition of its core cholesterol ester from a smectic to a more liquid-like state. To determine if the cholesterol of high density lipoprotein (HDL) displays similar thermal behavior, the human lipoprotein and its extracted lipid have been examined by differential scanning calorimetry, low angle X-ray scattering and polarizing microscopy. Neither HDL2**(d 1.063--1.125--1.21 g/ml) nor HDL3(d1.125--1.21g/ml) show thermal transitions between O and 60 degrees C. By contrast cholesterol ester isolated from HDL and mixtures of cholesterol oleate and linoleate show reversible liquid crystalline transitions between 20 and 40 degreesC. X-ray scattering studies of HDL2 and HDL3 performed at 10 degreesC show no scattering fringes attributable to a smectic phase of cholesterol ester. When HDL is heated to temperatures above 60 degreesC a broad, double-peaked endotherm is observed. The first component (peak temperature=71 degreesC) corresponds to a selective release of apoprotein A-1 from the lipoprotein, and the second component (peak temperature=90 degreesC) to a more generalized disruption of lipoprotein structure with release of cholesterol ester and apoprotein A-2. Following the thermal disruption of HDL, reversible liquid crystalline transitions of cholesterol ester can be seen by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy, showing the presence of large domains of cholesterol ester. The absence of cholesterol ester transitions in intact HDL may indicate an interaction of cholesterol ester molecules with the protein-phospholipid surface of HDL that prevents the formation of an organized lipid phase. The high temperature behavior of HDL indicates that apoprotein A-1 is less important than apoprotein A-2 in maintaining the HDL apolar lipids in the form of a stable miroemulsion.     

Thermodynamics of protein cross-links

The thermal transitions of native lysozyme and a well-characterized cross-linked derivative of lysozyme [Imoto, T., and Rupley, J. A. (1973), J. Mol. Biol. 80, 657] have been studied in 1.94 M guanidine hydrochloride at pH 2. The observed increase in the melting temperature from 32.4 degrees C for native lysozyme to 61.8 degrees C for the cross-linked derivative corresponds to a calculated 5.2 kcal/mol increase in the free energy of denaturation. This free-energy change is attributed to the decreased entropy of the unfolded polypeptide chain following introduction of a cross-link and is shown to compare well with theoretical predictions. The possibility that an introduction of a cross-link could also affect the enthalpy of an unfolded protein was investigated. The heats of reduction of bovine serum albumin and lysozyme by dithioerythritol in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride were determined and compared to that for the model peptide, oxidized glutathione. The near identity of the observed heats was taken as evidence that the introduction of cross-links into a random-coil protein does not, in general, introduce strain.     

Physical properties of apoprotein B in mixed micelles with sodium deoxycholate and in a vesicle with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine

Apoprotein B, the major apoprotein of normal human low density lipoprotein (LDL) was solubilized with sodium deoxycholate (NaDC). The protein was recombined with the phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) to produce a complex of DMPC-apoB (4:1 w/w). (Biochemistry. 22: 3170-3178. 1983). Carboxyfluorescein and [3H]dextran entrapment studies show the DMPC-apoB 4:1 (w/w) complex to encapsulate an aqueous volume of 0.17 microliter/mumol of DMPC. From the chemistry and morphology of the complex and the evidence that the complex possesses an encapsulated volume, the most appropriate structural model for this assembly is that of a phospholipid single bilayer vesicle into which apoB is incorporated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroic spectroscopy (CD) were used to investigate the physical properties of apoB in the mixed micellar complex with NaDC and in the vesicular DMPC-apoB complex. CD studies of apoB in NaDC mixed micelles show that apoB exhibits a similar secondary structure as apoB of native LDL over the temperature range 5-30 degrees C. Reversible structural changes occur between 30 and 50 degrees C. However, above 50 degrees C, disruption of the micellar particle and endothermic protein unfolding and denaturation occur with a Tmax of 52 degrees C and an enthalpy of 0.22 cal/g apoB, as shown by DSC. The DMPC-apoB complex exhibits a reversible thermal transition centered at 24 degrees C (delta H = 3.34 Kcal/mol DMPC) which is associated with the order-disorder transition of the hydrocarbon chains of DMPC. An endothermic transition occurs over the range 53-70 degrees C (delta H = 2.09 cal/g apoB) which, as shown by CD and turbidity study, corresponds to protein unfolding-denaturation and particle disruption. CD shows that apoB in the vesicular environment undergoes a series of conformational changes. The major alterations occur over the temperature range of the order-disorder transition of the phospholipid. Between 37-60 degrees C, the conformation is similar to that observed in native LDL.     

Thermal denaturation of T4 gene 32 protein: effects of zinc removal and substitution

Gene 32 protein (g32P), the single-stranded (ss) DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, is a zinc metalloprotein. The intrinsic zinc is one of the factors required for the protein to bind cooperatively to a ssDNA lattice. We have used differential scanning calorimetry to determine how the thermodynamic parameters characterizing the denaturation of g32P are affected by removal or substitution of the intrinsic zinc. Over a wide concentration range (1-10 mg/mL), the native Zn(II) protein unfolds at a tm of 55 degrees C with an associated mean enthalpy change of 139 kcal mol-1. Under the same conditions, the metal-free apoprotein denatures over a relatively broader temperature range centered at 49 degrees C, with a mean enthalpy change of 84 kcal mol-1. Substitution of Zn(II) in g32P by either Cd(II) or Co(II) does not significantly change the enthalpy of denaturation but does affect the thermal stability of the protein. All metallo forms of g32P when bound to poly(dT) undergo highly cooperative denaturational transitions characterized by asymmetric differential scanning calorimetry peaks with increases in tm of 4-5 degrees C compared to the unliganded metalloprotein. Removal of the metal ion from g32P significantly reduces the cooperativity of binding to poly(dT) [Giedroc, D. P., Keating, K. M., Williams, K. R., & Coleman, J. E. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5251-5259], and presumably as a consequence of this, apo-g32P shows no change in either the shape or the midpoint of the thermal transition on binding to poly(dT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biophysical properties of a major membrane phospholipid, dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine, found in an Escherichia coli fatty acid auxotroph.

Dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine, a principal lipid component of membranes of Escherichia coli fatty acid auxotrophs enriched in elaidic acid, has been studied by paramagnetic resonance, fluorescence, and calorimetric methods. EPR measurements with perdeutero-di-tert-butylnitroxide and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-1-oxyl indicate that, when dispersed in aqueous media, this phospholipid undergoes an abrupt order leads to disorder transition at 37.5 degrees C and 36.5 C, respectively. A similar transition temperature is suggested by experiments with 9-doxyl-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DEPE). cis- and trans-Parinaric-acid fluorescence polarization measurements indicate that the midpoint of this transition occurs at 34.0 degrees C and 35.5 degrees C, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry of DEPE revealed a single, sharp endotherm at 38.5 degrees C with increasing temperature; two exotherms of similar magnitude were observed at 36.5 degrees C and 34.5 degrees C upon cooling. This double transition was not observed by any of the other methods. From these results we conclude that the major structural transition at 30-31 degrees C observed previously with 5-, 12-, and 16-doxyl stearate in intact E. coli membranes is due to the DEPE present (Morrisett, J.D., Pownall, H.J., Plumlee, R.T., Smith, L.C., Zehner, Z.E., Esfahani, M., and Wakil, S.J. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 6969-6976).     

A study of the electron paramagnetic resonance properties of single monoclinic crystals of bovine superoxide dismutase

Monoclinic crystals of native bovine superoxide dismutase and its monocyano derivative were studied by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Through computer simulation of the spectra, the directions of the principal axes of the magnetic tensors (g and A) have been found with respect to the crystal principal axes and with respect to the positions of atoms bear the Cu(II) as previously determined by x-ray crystallography (Richardson, J. S., Thomas, K. A., and Richardson, D. C. (1975) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 63, 986-992; Tainer, J. A., Getzoff, E. D., Richardson, J. S., and Richardson, D. C. (1980) in 2SOD: Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Complete Atomic Coordinates (Richardson, D. C., and Richardson, J. S., eds) Brookhaven Protein Structure Data Bank). In the native protein, the direction of the gz axis of Cu(II) was found to lie perpendicular to the rough plane formed by the four imidazole nitrogen atoms coordinated to the Cu(II). The direction of gy is approximately along the His 44N-Cu-His 46N direction, and gx is in the direction of the Cu-His 61-Cu-N bond. The A is coaxial with g within 15 degrees C. A substantial shift occurs in the direction of gz when CN- binds to the Cu(II), suggesting a change in the coordination configuration of the metal.     

Thermostability of temperature-sensitive folding mutants of the P22 tailspike protein

Temperature-sensitive folding mutations (tsf) of the thermostable P22 tailspike protein prevent the mutant polypeptide chain from reaching the native state at the higher end of the temperature range of bacterial growth (37-42 degrees C). At lower temperatures the mutant polypeptide chains fold and associate into native proteins. The melting temperatures of the purified native forms of seven different tsf mutant proteins have been determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Under conditions in which the wild type protein had a melting temperature of 88.4 degrees C, the melting temperatures of the mutant proteins were all above 82 degrees C, more than 40 degrees C higher than the temperature for expression of the folding defect. Because the folding defects were observed in vivo, the thermostability of the native protein was also examined with infected cells. Once matured at 28 degrees C, intracellular tsf mutant tailspikes remained native when the cells were transferred to 42 degrees C, a temperature that prevents newly synthesized tsf chains from folding correctly. These results confirm that the failure of tsf polypeptide chains to reach their native state is not due to a lowered stability of the native state. Such mutants differ from the class of ts mutations which render the native state thermolabile. The intracellular folding defects must reflect decreased stabilities of folding intermediates or alteration in the off-pathway steps leading to aggregation and inclusion body formation. These results indicate that the stability of a native protein within the cells is not sufficient to insure the successful folding of the newly synthesized chains into the native state.     

The function of zinc in gene 32 protein from T4

Gene 32 protein (g32P), the single-stranded DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, contains 1 mol of Zn(II) bound in a tetrahedral complex to -S- ligands, proposed on spectral evidence to include Cys-77, Cys-87, and Cys-90 [Giedroc, D. P., Keating, K. M., Williams, K. R., Konigsberg, W. H., & Coleman, J. E. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8452]. The Zn(II) can be completely removed by treatment with the mercurial reagent p-(hydroxymercuri)benzenesulfonate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The resultant apo-g32P is rapidly digested by trypsin in contrast to the zinc protein which undergoes specific limited proteolysis to yield a resistant DNA-binding core. Rebinding of Zn(II) to the apoprotein restores the same limited susceptibility to proteolysis displayed by the native Zn(II) protein. In the presence of 150 mM NaCl, Zn(II) g32P reduces the melting temperature Tm of poly[d(A-T)] by 47 degrees C, while apo-g32P is unable to melt poly[d(A-T)] at this salt concentration, as the protein thermally unfolds before melting can take place. At 25 mM NaCl, however, apo-g32P lowers the Tm of poly[d(A-T)] by 36 degrees C, but the melting curve is broad compared to the steep cooperative melting induced by Zn(II) g32P. Association constants Ka calculated from the poly[d(A-T)] melting curves for Zn(II) and apo-g32P differ by 3 orders of magnitude, 4.8 X 10(10) M-1 and 4.3 X 10(7) M-1, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Contribution of conformational stability and reversibility of unfolding to the increased thermostability of human and bovine superoxide dismutase mutated at free cysteines

The conformational stability and reversibility of unfolding of the human dimeric enzyme Cu Zn superoxide dismutase (HSOD) and the three mutant enzymes constructed by replacement of Cys6 by Ala and Cys111 by Ser, singly and in combination, were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The differential scanning calorimetry profile of wild-type HSOD consists of two components, which probably represent the unfolding of the oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme, with denaturation temperatures (Tm) of 74.9 and 83.6 degrees C, approximately 7 degrees lower than those for bovine superoxide dismutase (BSOD). The conformational stabilities of the two components of the mutant HSOD's differ only slightly from those of the wild type (delta delta Gs of -0.2 to +0.8 kcal/mol of dimer), while replacement of the BSOD Cys6 by Ala is somewhat destabilizing (delta delta G of -0.7 to -1.3 kcal/mol of dimer). These small alterations in conformational stability do not correlate with the large increases in resistance to thermal inactivation following substitution of free Cys in both HSOD and BSOD (McRee, D.E., Redford, S.M., Getzoff, E.D., Lepock, J.R., Hallewell, R.A., and Tainer, J.A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 14234-14241 and Hallewell, R.A., Imlay, K.C., Laria, I., Gallegos, C., Fong, N., Irvine, B., Getzoff, E.D., Tainer, J.A., Cubelli, D.E., Bielski, B.H.J., Olson, P., Mallenbach, G.T., and Cousens, L.S. (1991) Proteins Struct. Funct. Genet., submitted for publication). The reversibility of unfolding was determined by scanning part way through the profile, cooling, rescanning, and calculating the amount of protein irreversibly unfolded by the first scan. The order of reversibility at a constant level of unfolding is the same as the order of resistance to inactivation for both the HSOD and BSOD wild-type and mutant enzymes. Thus, the greater resistance to thermal inactivation of the superoxide dismutase enzymes with free Cys replaced by Ala or Ser is dominated by a greater resistance to irreversible unfolding and relatively unaffected by changes in conformational stability.     

The role of the native lipids and lattice structure in bacteriorhodopsin protein conformation and stability as studied by temperature-dependent Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy

We report the effect of partial delipidation and monomerization on the protein conformational changes of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) as a function of temperature. Removal of up to 75% of the lipids is known to have the lattice structure of the purple membrane, albeit as a smaller unit cell, whereas treatment by Triton monomerizes bR into micelles. The effects of these modifications on the protein secondary structure is analyzed by monitoring the protein amide I and amide II bands in the Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectra. It is found that removal of the first 75% of the lipids has only a slight effect on the secondary structure at physiological temperature, whereas monomerizing bR into micelles alters the secondary structure considerably. Upon heating, the bR monomer is found to have a very low thermal stability compared with the native bR with its melting point reduced from 97 to 65 degrees C, and the pre-melting transition in which the protein changes conformation in native bR at 80 degrees C could not be observed. Also, the N[bond]H to N[bond]D exchange of the amide II band is effectively complete at room temperature, suggesting that there are no hydrophobic regions that are protected from the aqueous medium, possibly explaining the low thermal stability of the monomer. On the other hand, 75% delipidated bR has its melting temperature close to that of the native bR and does have a pre-melting transition, although the pre-melting transition occurs at significantly higher temperature than that of the native bR (91 degrees C compared with 80 degrees C) and is still reversible. Furthermore, we have also observed that the reversibility of this pre-melting transition of both native and partially delipidated bR is time-dependent and becomes irreversible upon holding at 91 degrees C between 10 and 30 min. These results are discussed in terms of the lipid and lattice contribution to the protein thermal stability of native bR.     

Fluorescent labelling of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

The thermophilic 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was inhibited upon specific modification of the -SH group of cysteine residues by 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole (NBD-Cl) at pH 7.0. By using 20-100-fold molar excess of NBD-CL the reaction occurs slowly at pH 7.0 as a first order process. Partial protection from inactivation was observed when the substrate 6-phosphogluconate or the coenzyme NADP was added to the reaction mixture. Complete inactivation was achieved upon modification of 1.9 of the six cysteine residues per mole of enzyme, which corresponds to nearly one residue per enzyme subunit. Circular dichroism measurements suggest that the gross structure of the protein molecule is practically unchanged upon reaction of the enzyme with NBD-Cl. Melting profile experiments revealed a single transition occurring at about 65 degrees C. Analogously, the profile of intensity of the fluorescence emission at 520 nm of the enzyme-bound S-NBD groups versus temperature indicated a midpoint of transition near 65 degrees C. Since this melting temperature corresponds closely to that observed with the native enzyme, these results would indicate that the molecular organizations of the native and modified enzyme are similar and stabilized by similar interactions within the polypeptide chain.     

Structure and properties of mixed-chain phosphatidylcholine bilayers

The structural and thermotropic properties of the hydrated mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines (PCs), C(8):C(18)-PC and C(10):C(18)-PC, have been studied by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. For fully hydrated C(8):C(18)-PC, the reversible chain melting transition is observed at 9.9 degrees C (delta H = 7.3 kcal/mol). X-ray diffraction at 0 degrees C (below the chain melting transition) shows a small bilayer repeat distance, d = 51.0 A, and a sharp, symmetric wide-angle reflection at 4.1 A, characteristic of a mixed interdigitated bilayer gel phase [see McIntosh, T. J., Simon, S. A., Ellington, J. C., Jr., & Porter, N. A. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 4038-4044; Hui, S. W., Mason, J. T., & Huang, C. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 5570-5577]. At 30 degrees C (above the chain melting transition), a diffuse band is observed at 4.5 A characteristic of an L alpha phase but with an increased bilayer periodicity, d = 61 A. Both the calculated lipid bilayer thickness (d1) and that determined directly from electron density profiles (dp-p) show unusual increases as a consequence of chain melting. In contrast, fully hydrated C(10):C(18)-PC shows an asymmetric endothermic transition at 11.8 degrees C. Below the chain melting transition, two lamellar phases are present, corresponding to coexisting interdigitated (d = 52.3 A) and noninterdigitated (d = 62.5 A) bilayer gel phases. The relative amounts of these phases depend upon the low-temperature incubation and/or hydration conditions, suggesting conversions, albeit kinetically complex, between metastable, and stable phases. The different behavior of C(8):C(18)-PC and C(10):C(18)-PC, as well as their positional isomers, is rationalized in terms of the molecular conformation of PC.     

Scan-rate dependence in protein calorimetry: the reversible transitions of Bacillus circulans xylanase and a disulfide-bridge mutant.

The stabilities of Bacillus circulans xylanase and a disulfide-bridge-containing mutant (S100C/N148C) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal inactivation kinetics. The thermal denaturation of both proteins was found to be irreversible, and the apparent transition temperatures showed a considerable dependence upon scanning rate. In the presence of low (nondenaturing) concentrations of urea, calorimetric transitions were observed for both proteins in the second heating cycle, indicating reversible denaturation occurs under those conditions. However, even for these reversible processes, the DSC curves for the wild-type protein showed a scan-rate dependence that was similar to that in the absence of urea. Calorimetric thermograms for the disulfide mutant were significantly less scan-rate dependent in the presence of urea than in the urea-free buffer. The present data show that, just as for irreversible transitions, the apparent transition temperature for the reversible denaturation of proteins can be scan-rate dependent, confirming the prediction of Lepock et al. (Lepock JR, Rithcie KP, Kolios MC, Rodahl AM, Heinz KA, Kruuf J, 1992, Biochemistry 31:12706-12712). The kinetic factors responsible for scan-rate dependence may lead to significant distortions and asymmetry of endotherms, especially at higher scanning rates. This points to the need to check for scan-rate dependence, even in the case of reversible denaturation, before any attempt is made to analyze asymmetric DSC curves by standard thermodynamic procedures. Experiments with the disulfide-bridge-containing mutant indicate that the introduction of the disulfide bond provides additional stabilization of xylanase by changing the rate-limiting step on the thermal denaturation pathway.     

Calorimetric investigation of the domain structure of human complement Cl-s: reversible unfolding of the short consensus repeat units

Cl-s is a multidomain serine protease that participates in Ca2+-dependent protein-protein interactions with other subcomponents of Cl, the first component of human complement. Proteolytically derived fragments that retain some of the functional properties of the parent protein have been isolated, and their thermal stability has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Three endothermic transitions are observed in whole Cl-s near 37, 49, and 60 degrees C in 0.05 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.2, containing 0.22 M NaCl and 0.1 mM EDTA. The first (37 degrees C) and third (60 degrees C) transitions are also seen in Cl-s-A, a derivative comprised mainly of the intact nonenzymatic A chain. The second (49 degrees C) and third transitions are seen in Cl-s-gamma B, a fragment comprised of the intact B chain, disulfide linked to the C-terminal gamma region of the A chain. Thus, the first transition, which is alone stabilized by Ca2+, corresponds to the melting of the N-terminal alpha beta region of the A chain, the second to the melting of the catalytic B chain domain, and the third to the gamma region. The gamma region is comprised of two homologous short consensus repeat (SCR) motifs that are also found in several other complement and coagulation proteins. A new 24-kDa fragment, Cl-s-gamma, which contains these two SCRs, was isolated from plasmic and chymotryptic digests of Cl-s-A. Cl-s-gamma exhibits a reversible transition near 60 degrees C corresponding to the highest temperature peak in whole Cl-s and Cl-s-A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Conformational changes in single-strand DNA as a function of temperature by SANS

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements were performed on a solution of single-strand DNA, 5'-ATGCTGATGC-3', in sodium phosphate buffer solution at 10 degrees C temperature increments from 25 degrees C to 80 degrees C. Cylindrical, helical, and random coil shape models were fitted to the SANS measurements at each temperature. All the shapes exhibited an expansion in the diameter direction causing a slightly shortened pitch from 25 degrees C to 43 degrees C, an expansion in the pitch direction with a slight decrease in the diameter from 43 degrees C to 53 degrees C, and finally a dramatic increase in the pitch and diameter from 53 degrees C to 80 degrees C. Differential scanning calorimeter scans of the sequence in solution exhibited a reversible two-state transition profile with a transition temperature of 47.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C, the midpoint of the conformational changes observed in the SANS measurements, and a calorimetric transition enthalpy of 60 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1) that indicates a broad transition as is observed in the SANS measurements. A transition temperature of 47 +/- 1 degrees C was also obtained from ultraviolet optical density measurements of strand melting scans of the single-strand DNA. This transition corresponds to unstacking of the bases of the sequence and is responsible for the thermodynamic discrepancy between its binding stability to its complementary sequence determined directly at ambient temperatures and determined from extrapolated values of the melting of the duplex at high temperature.     

Membrane lipids can modulate guanylate cyclase activity of rat intestinal microvillus membranes

Studies of the temperature dependence (10-40 degrees C) of guanylate cyclase in rat intestinal microbillus membranes reveal a change in energy of activation (slope of the Arrhenius plot) at 30 +/- 1 degree C. The break point temperature corresponds to the lipid thermotropic transition in these membranes previously characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (range: 23-39 degrees C; peak temperature, 31 degrees C). The break point temperature for guanylate cyclase also corresponds to that of a number of other microbillus membrane enzymes and of D-glucose transport. These activities are defined as "intrinsic" membrane activities by this operational criterion. Treatment with the nonionic detergent Lubrol WX increased the guanylate cyclase activity 4- to 8-fold and removed the discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot.     

Studies of thermally induced denaturation of azurin and azurin derivatives by differential scanning calorimetry: evidence for copper selectivity

Azurin, a blue copper protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and several derivatives of azurin have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Two well-separated, irreversible transitions are observed in a scan of apoazurin under a variety of conditions, and they are assigned to distinct steps in the denaturation process. No specific structural component can be assigned to the lower temperature transition, but a "flap" structure which is found near the metal binding site may be involved. Circular dichroic spectra suggest that melting of the beta-sheet structure, the main structural motif in the native protein, occurs during the second transition. With the exceptions of the Ni(II) and p-(hydroxymercuri)benzoate derivatives, the transitions are superposed in the metalated forms, and the enthalpies of denaturation are more endothermic. By comparison with other first-row divalent transition ions and especially Zn(II), the Cu(II) derivative exhibits the most endothermic denaturation process. Along with other data, this suggests that the binding energy is greater for Cu(II). It is postulated that the selectivity for copper over zinc arises because of the irregular binding geometry offered by the folded protein. Denaturation of the Hg(II) derivative is even more endothermic, confirming that the type 1 binding site has a very great affinity for Hg(II). Finally, when substoichiometric amounts of Hg(II) are added to the apoprotein, there is evidence that a novel mercury-bridged dimer of azurin forms.