Glycosylation is important for binding to human calcitonin receptors

Human calcitonin receptor (hCTR) subtypes contain three or four potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites in their extracellular amino termini. The role of glycosylation in hCTR function has not been identified, but it has been suggested that inhibition of glycosylation does not affect binding or signaling. To determine the role of glycosylation in hCTR biology, we studied the effects of inhibition of glycosylation and of substitution of Asn residues that are potential glycosylation sites. Native and mutated hCTRs were studied after transient expression in monkey kidney COS-1 cells. Tunicamycin, administered as part of a treatment protocol that inhibited glycosylation of all expressed receptors, decreased salmon calcitonin (sCT) binding affinities and signaling potencies at hCTRs with three or four potential glycosylation sites. In hCTR3, which contains three potential glycosylation sites at positions 26, 78, and 83, site-specific substitution of Asn-26 by Ala had no effect on sCT binding affinity or potency, whereas substitution of Asn-78 or Asn-83 lowered sCT affinity and potency. A mutant hCTR3 in which all three Asn residues were substituted with Ala exhibited no high-affinity sCT binding and potencies of several calcitonin analogues that were more than 100-fold lower than that of native hCTR3. Our data show that glycosylation is important for high-affinity binding and potency of calcitonin analogues at hCTRs.     

A 'Collagen Hug' model for Staphylococcus aureus CNA binding to collagen

The structural basis for the association of eukaryotic and prokaryotic protein receptors and their triple-helical collagen ligand remains poorly understood. Here, we present the crystal structures of a high affinity subsegment of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen-binding CNA as an apo-protein and in complex with a synthetic collagen-like triple helical peptide. The apo-protein structure is composed of two subdomains (N1 and N2), each adopting a variant IgG-fold, and a long linker that connects N1 and N2. The structure is stabilized by hydrophobic inter-domain interactions and by the N2 C-terminal extension that complements a beta-sheet on N1. In the ligand complex, the collagen-like peptide penetrates through a spherical hole formed by the two subdomains and the N1-N2 linker. Based on these two structures we propose a dynamic, multistep binding model, called the 'Collagen Hug' that is uniquely designed to allow multidomain collagen binding proteins to bind their extended rope-like ligand.     

Phosphorylation of calcineurin: effect on calmodulin binding

The effect of phosphorylation of calcineurin on calmodulin (CaM) binding was examined using a synthetic peptide which contains the CaM-binding domain and the serine phosphorylation site. The peptide, corresponding to residues 391-414 of brain calcineurin A subunit, was rapidly phosphorylated by protein kinase C and Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II but not by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of peptide 391-414 did not significantly alter the binding of CaM when compared to the non-phosphorylated peptide.     

Kinetics of calmodulin binding to calcineurin

Calcineurin (CaN) binds Ca(2+)-saturated calmodulin (CaM) with relatively high affinity; however, an accurate steady-state K(d) value has not been determined. In this report, we describe, using steady-state and stopped-flow fluorescence techniques, the rates of association and dissociation of Ca(2+)-saturated CaM from CaN heterodimer (CaNA/CaNB) and CaNA only. The rate of Ca(2+)/CaM association was determined to be 4.6 x 10(7) M(-1)s(-1). The rate of Ca(2+)/CaM dissociation from CaN was slower than previously reported and was approximately 0.0012 s(-1). In preparations of CaNA alone (no regulatory CaNB subunit), the dissociation rate was slowed further to 0.00026 s(-1). From these data we calculate a K(d) for binding of Ca(2+)-saturated CaM to CaN of 28 pM. This K(d) is significantly lower than previously reported estimates of approximately 1 nM and indicates that CaN is one of the highest affinity CaM-binding proteins identified to date.     

The structural flexibility of the shank1 PDZ domain is important for its binding to different ligands

The PDZ domain of the shank protein interacts with numerous cell membrane receptors and cytosolic proteins via the loosely defined binding motif X-(Ser/Thr)-X-Φ-COOH (Φ represents hydrophobic residues) at the carboxyl terminus of its target protein. This enables shank to serve as a membrane-associated scaffold for the assembly of signaling complexes. As the list of proteins that bind to the shank PDZ domain grows, it is not immediately clear what structural element(s) mediate this domain’s target specificity or the plasticity required to bind its different targets. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of the shank1 PDZ in complex with the βPIX C-terminal pentapeptide (642–646, DETNL) at 2.3 Å resolution and modeled shank1 PDZ binding to selected pentapeptide ligands. The resulting structures revealed a large hydrophobic pocket within the PDZ domain that can accommodate a variety of ligand residues at the P(0) position. A H-bond between His735 and Ser/Thr at the P(−2) position is invariant throughout the model structures. In addition, we identified multiple PDZ domain residues that are able to form H-bonds and salt bridges with an incoming target protein. Overall, our study provides a new level of understanding of the specificity and structural plasticity of the shank PDZ domain.     

A salt bridge between an N-terminal coiled coil of gp41 and an antiviral agent targeted to the gp41 core is important for anti-HIV-1 activity

HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein transmembrane subunit gp41 play a critical role in the fusion of viral and target cell membranes. The gp41 C-terminal heptad repeat region interacts with the N-terminal coiled-coil region to form a six-stranded core structure. Peptides derived from gp41 C-terminal heptad repeat region (C-peptides) are potent HIV-1 entry inhibitors by binding to gp41 N-terminal coiled-coil region. Most recently, we have identified two small organic compounds that inhibit HIV-1-mediated membrane fusion by blocking the formation of gp41 core. These two active compounds contain both hydrophobic and acidic groups while the inactive compounds only have hydrophobic groups. Analysis by computer modeling indicate that the acidic groups in the active compounds can form salt bridge with Lys 574 in the N-terminal coiled-coil region of gp41. Asp 632 in a C-peptide can also form a salt bridge with Lys 574. Replacement of Asp 632 with positively charged residues or hydrophobic residues resulted in significant decrease of HIV-1 inhibitory activity. These results suggest that a salt bridge between an N-terminal coiled coil of the gp41 and an antiviral agent targeted to the gp41 core is important for anti-HIV-1 activity.     

Ser-130 of Natronobacterium pharaonis halorhodopsin is important for the chloride binding

Pharaonis halorhodopsin (phR) is an inward light-driven chloride ion pump from Natronobacterium pharaonis. In order to clarify the role of Ser-130(phR) residue which corresponds to Ser-115(shR) for salinarum hR on the anion-binding affinity, the wild-type and Ser-130 mutants substituted with Thr, Cys and Ala were expressed in E. coli cells and solubilized with 0.1% n-dodecyl beta-D-maltopyranoside The absorption maximum (lambda(max)) of the S130T mutant indicated a blue shift from that of the wild type in the absence and presence of chloride. For S130A, a large red shift (12 nm) in the absence of chloride was observed. The wild-type and all mutants showed the blue-shift of lambda(max) upon Cl(-) addition, from which the dissociation constants of Cl(-) were determined. The dissociation constants were 5, 89, 153 and 159 mM for the wild-type, S130A, S130T and S130C, respectively, at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. Circular dichroic spectra of the wild-type and the Ser-130 mutants exhibited an oligomerization. The present study revealed that the Ser-130 of N. pharaonis halorhodopsin is important for the chloride binding.     

Competition between intradomain and interdomain interactions: a buried salt bridge is essential for villin headpiece folding and actin binding

Villin-type headpiece domains are ～70 residue motifs that reside at the C-terminus of a variety of actin-associated proteins. Villin headpiece (HP67) is a commonly used model system for both experimental and computational studies of protein folding. HP67 is made up of two subdomains that form a tightly packed interface. The isolated C-terminal subdomain of HP67 (HP35) is one of the smallest autonomously folding proteins known. The N-terminal subdomain requires the presence of the C-terminal subdomain to fold. In the structure of HP67, a conserved salt bridge connects N- and C-terminal subdomains. This buried salt bridge between residues E39 and K70 is unusual in a small protein domain. We used mutational analysis, monitored by CD and NMR, and functional assays to determine the role of this buried salt bridge. First, the two residues in the salt bridge were replaced with strictly hydrophobic amino acids, E39M/K70M. Second, the two residues in the salt bridge were swapped, E39K/K70E. Any change from the wild-type salt bridge residues results in unfolding of the N-terminal subdomain, even when the mutations were made in a stabilized variant of HP67. The C-terminal subdomain remains folded in all mutants and is stabilized by some of the mutations. Using actin sedimentation assays, we find that a folded N-terminal domain is essential for specific actin binding. Therefore, the buried salt bridge is required for the specific folding of the N-terminal domain which confers actin-binding activity to villin-type headpiece domains, even though the residues required for this specific interaction destabilize the C-terminal subdomain.     

The acidic domain of GPIHBP1 is important for the binding of lipoprotein lipase and chylomicrons

GPIHBP1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored endothelial cell protein of the lymphocyte antigen 6 (Ly6) family, plays a key role in the lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (e.g. chylomicrons). GPIHBP1 is expressed along the luminal surface of endothelial cells of heart, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue, and GPIHBP1-expressing cells bind lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and chylomicrons avidly. GPIHBP1 contains an amino-terminal acidic domain (amino acids 24-48) that is enriched in aspartate and glutamate residues, and we previously speculated that this domain might be important in binding ligands. To explore the functional importance of the acidic domain, we tested the ability of polyaspartate or polyglutamate peptides to block the binding of ligands to pgsA-745 Chinese hamster ovary cells that overexpress GPIHBP1. Both polyaspartate and polyglutamate blocked LPL and chylomicron binding to GPIHBP1. Also, a rabbit antiserum against the acidic domain of GPIHBP1 blocked LPL and chylomicron binding to GPIHBP1-expressing cells. Replacing the acidic amino acids within GPIHBP1 residues 38-48 with alanine eliminated the ability of GPIHBP1 to bind LPL and chylomicrons. Finally, mutation of the positively charged heparin-binding domains within LPL and apolipoprotein AV abolished the ability of these proteins to bind to GPIHBP1. These studies indicate that the acidic domain of GPIHBP1 is important and that electrostatic interactions play a key role in ligand binding.     

The conserved salt bridge in human alpha-defensin 5 is required for its precursor processing and proteolytic stability

Mammalian alpha-defensins, expressed primarily in leukocytes and epithelia, play important roles in innate and adaptive immune responses to microbial infection. Six invariant cysteine residues forming three indispensable disulfide bonds and one Gly residue required structurally for an atypical beta-bulge are totally conserved in the otherwise diverse sequences of all known mammalian alpha-defensins. In addition, a pair of oppositely charged residues (Arg/Glu), forming a salt bridge across a protruding loop in the molecule, is highly conserved. To investigate the structural and functional roles of the conserved Arg(6)-Glu(14) salt bridge in human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5), we chemically prepared HD5 and its precursor proHD5 as well as their corresponding salt bridge-destabilizing analogs E14Q-HD5 and E57Q-proHD5. The Glu-to-Gln mutation, whereas significantly reducing the oxidative folding efficiency of HD5, had no effect on the folding of proHD5. Bovine trypsin productively and correctly processed proHD5 in vitro but spontaneously degraded E57Q-proHD5. Significantly, HD5 was resistant to trypsin treatment, whereas E14Q-HD5 was highly susceptible. Further, degradation of E14Q-HD5 by trypsin was initiated by the cleavage of the Arg(13)-Gln(14) peptide bond in the loop region, a catastrophic proteolytic event resulting directly in quick digestion of the whole defensin molecule. The E14Q mutation did not alter the bactericidal activity of HD5 against Staphylococcus aureus but substantially enhanced the killing of Escherichia coli. By contrast, proHD5 and E57Q-proHD5 were largely inactive against both strains at the concentrations tested. Our results confirm that the primary function of the conserved salt bridge in HD5 is to ensure correct processing of proHD5 and subsequent stabilization of mature alpha-defensin in vivo.     

Conformational flexibility,binding energy,role of salt bridge and alanine-mutagenesis for c-Abl kinase complex

Abl kinase plays a decisive role in the mechanism of the most fatal human pathogen chronic mylogenous leukemia (CML). Here, we have carried out a comprehensive study about the conformational flexibility, role of salt bridge and the protein- ligand interaction for this kinase with its well-known inhibitor, Imatinib. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations for conformational behavior, investigated the salt bridges and calculated the binding free energy of Imatinib with MM-PB/SA method for Abl kinase complex. We also explored the role of salt-bridge in the kinase complex and its effect on binding activity of inhibitors. Furthermore, to investigate the importance of those residues which form salt bridges, we mutated them by Alanine with the help of Alanine scanning program. We noticed significant variations in total free energy of Imatinib in all possible mutations. The binding free energy of ligand for kinase receptor was analyzed by molecular mechanics Poission Boltzmann surface area (MM-PB/SA) method. These results suggest that conserved glutamic acid and lysine are necessary for stability of complex.     

The RGD integrin binding site in human L1-CAM is important for nuclear signaling

L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1-CAM) is a transmembrane cell adhesion molecule initially defined as a promigratory molecule in the developing nervous system. L1 is also overexpressed in a variety of human carcinomas and is associated with bad prognosis. In carcinoma cell lines L1 augments cell motility and metastasis, tumor growth in nude mice and induces expression of L1-dependent genes. It is not known whether L1-signaling requires ligand binding. The RGD motif in the sixth Ig domain of L1 is a binding site for integrins. In the present study we analyzed the role of RGDs in L1-signaling using site-directed mutagenesis combined with antibody blocking studies. We observed that L1-RGE expressing HEK293 cells showed reduced cell–cell binding, cell motility, invasiveness and tumor growth in NOD/SCID mice. The RGE-mutation impaired L1-dependent gene regulation and antibodies to αvβ5 integrin had similar effects. Mutant L1 was unable to translocate to the nucleus. Our findings highlight the importance of the RGD site in L1 for human tumors and suggest that nuclear signaling of L1 is dependent on integrins.     

Triadin binding to the C-terminal luminal loop of the ryanodine receptor is important for skeletal muscle excitation contraction coupling

Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores is controlled by complex interactions between multiple proteins. Triadin is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscle that interacts with both calsequestrin and the type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) to communicate changes in luminal Ca(2+) to the release machinery. However, the potential impact of the triadin association with RyR1 in skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling remains elusive. Here we show that triadin binding to RyR1 is critically important for rapid Ca(2+) release during excitation-contraction coupling. To assess the functional impact of the triadin-RyR1 interaction, we expressed RyR1 mutants in which one or more of three negatively charged residues (D4878, D4907, and E4908) in the terminal RyR1 intraluminal loop were mutated to alanines in RyR1-null (dyspedic) myotubes. Coimmunoprecipitation revealed that triadin, but not junctin, binding to RyR1 was abolished in the triple (D4878A/D4907A/E4908A) mutant and one of the double (D4907A/E4908A) mutants, partially reduced in the D4878A/D4907A double mutant, but not affected by either individual (D4878A, D4907A, E4908A) mutations or the D4878A/E4908A double mutation. Functional studies revealed that the rate of voltage- and ligand-gated SR Ca(2+) release were reduced in proportion to the degree of interruption in triadin binding. Ryanodine binding, single channel recording, and calcium release experiments conducted on WT and triple mutant channels in the absence of triadin demonstrated that the luminal loop mutations do not directly alter RyR1 function. These findings demonstrate that junctin and triadin bind to different sites on RyR1 and that triadin plays an important role in ensuring rapid Ca(2+) release during excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.     

A cluster of basic amino acid residues in calcineurin b participates in the binding of calcineurin to phosphatidylserine vesicles

Interactions between phospholipid membranes and the acyl chain and specific amino acid residues of myristoylated proteins are necessary for membrane association. In the present study we tested the effects of mutations of calcineurin B subunit amino acid residues K(20)K(21), K(24)R(25), K(27)K(28) to Glu on the interactions between calcineurin and phosphatidylserine vesicles. Calcineurin-phosphatidylserine interactions were measured using binding assays and assays of phosphatidylserine-stimulated calcineurin phosphatase activity. The reverse-charge calcineurin B subunit mutant had a slower mobility in SDS-PAGE relative to wild-type calcineurin B. In addition, the myristoylated calcineurin B reverse-charge mutant had a slower mobility in SDS-PAGE compared to the non-myristoylated form, in contrast to the faster mobility of myristoylated wild-type calcineurin B relative to non-myristoylated calcineurin B. The reverse-charge mutations had no apparent effect on N-terminal myristoylation, Ca(2+)-binding, or calcineurin heterodimer formation and stimulation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase activity. However, in contrast to the results obtained using native calcineurin, phosphatidylserine vesicles did not bind to or activate the phosphatase activity of calcineurin containing the calcineurin B reverse-charge mutant. These results indicate that calcineurin B contains an amino terminal basic residue cluster that is involved in the binding of calcineurin to acidic phospholipids.     

Tau binds both subunits of calcineurin, and binding is impaired by calmodulin

Calcineurin, an important protein Ser/Thr phosphatase which acts on tau in vivo, is a heterodimer of a catalytic subunit, calcineurin A, and a regulatory subunit, calcineurin B, and is unique in being regulated by calmodulin. Here, we find that both subunits of calcineurin bind tau, and calmodulin interferes with the association between calcineurin and tau. The domains of both subunits of calcineurin and tau involved in binding are mapped. We also investigate the functional consequences of the interactions between both subunits of calcineurin, tau and calmodulin, and reveal the interactions affect dephosphorylation of tau by calcineurin and contribute to the balance of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of tau in vivo. Our findings may be of potential significance in neuronal physiology and also in neurodegenerative disorders. They shed some light on how the interactions might control the phosphorylation state of tau under physiological conditions, and provide new insights into the treatment of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease.     

Methionine oxidation in the calmodulin-binding domain of calcineurin disrupts calmodulin binding and calcineurin activation

Calcineurin is a Ca (2+)/calmodulin-activated Ser/Thr phosphatase important in cellular actions resulting in memory formation, cardiac hypertrophy, and T-cell activation. This enzyme is subject to oxidative inactivation by superoxide at low micromolar concentrations and by H 2O 2 at low millimolar concentrations. On the basis of the hypothesis that oxidation of Met residues in calmodulin-binding domains inhibits binding to calmodulin, purified calcineurin was used to study the susceptibility of Met residues to oxidation by H 2O 2. The rate for oxidation of Met 406 in the calmodulin-binding domain was determined to be 4.4 x 10 (-3) M (-1) s (-1), indicating a high susceptibility to oxidation. Functional repercussions of Met 406 oxidation were evaluated using native enzyme and a calcineurin mutant in which Met 406 was exchanged for Leu. Measurement of fluorescent calmodulin binding demonstrated that oxidation of Met 406 results in a 3.3-fold decrease in the affinity of calmodulin for calcineurin. Calcineurin activation exhibited a loss in cooperativity with respect to calmodulin following Met 406 oxidation as shown by a reduction in the Hill slope from 1.88 to 0.86. Maximum phosphatase activity was unaffected by Met oxidation. Changes in the calcineurin-calmodulin interaction were accompanied by a 40% loss in the ability of calmodulin to stimulate binding of immunophilin/immunosuppressant to calcineurin. All effects on calmodulin binding to the native enzyme by the treatment with H 2O 2 could be reversed by treating the enzyme with methionine sulfoxide reductase. These results indicate that the calmodulin-binding domain of calcineurin is susceptible to oxidation at Met 406 and that oxidation disrupts calmodulin binding and enzyme activation. Oxidation-dependent decreases in the affinity of calmodulin for calcineurin can potentially modulate calmodulin-dependent signaling and calmodulin distribution.     

A hydrophobic loop in acyl-CoA binding protein is functionally important for binding to palmitoyl-coenzyme A: a molecular dynamics study

Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) plays a key role in lipid metabolism, interacting via a partly unknown mechanism with high affinity with long chain fatty acyl-CoAs (LCFA-CoAs). At present there is no study of the microscopic way ligand binding is accomplished. We analyzed this process by molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations. We proposed a computational model of ligand, able to reproduce some evidence from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, quantitative time resolved fluorometry and X-ray crystallography. We found that a hydrophobic loop, not in the active site, is important for function. Besides, multiple sequence alignment shows hydrophobicity (and not the residues itselves) conservation.     

The CNA1 histone of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila is essential for chromosome segregation in the germline micronucleus

Ciliated protozoans present several features of chromosome segregation that are unique among eukaryotes, including their maintenance of two nuclei: a germline micronucleus, which undergoes conventional mitosis and meiosis, and a somatic macronucleus that divides by an amitotic process. To study ciliate chromosome segregation, we have identified the centromeric histone gene in the Tetrahymena thermophila genome (CNA1). CNA1p specifically localizes to peripheral centromeres in the micronucleus but is absent in the macronucleus during vegetative growth. During meiotic prophase of the micronucleus, when chromosomes are stretched to twice the length of the cell, CNA1p is found localized in punctate spots throughout the length of the chromosomes. As conjugation proceeds, CNA1p appears initially diffuse, but quickly reverts to discrete dots in those nuclei destined to become micronuclei, whereas it remains diffuse and is gradually lost in developing macronuclei. In progeny of germline CNA1 knockouts, we see no defects in macronuclear division or viability of the progeny cells immediately following the knockout. However, within a few divisions, progeny show abnormal mitotic segregation of their micronucleus, with most cells eventually losing their micronucleus entirely. This study reveals a strong dependence of the germline micronucleus on centromeric histones for proper chromosome segregation.     

Loop II of DNA polymerase beta is important for discrimination during substrate binding

Loop II of DNA polymerase beta (pol β) consists of 14 amino acid residues and is highly flexible and solvent exposed. Previous research from our laboratory has shown that this loop is important for polymerase activity and fidelity. In the study presented here, we demonstrate that a shortened five amino acid residue loop compromises the fidelity of pol β. This five-residue loop, termed ENEYP, induces one base frameshift errors and A–C transversions within a specific sequence context. We demonstrate that ENEYP misincorporates dGTP opposite template A at higher efficiencies than wild-type pol β. The kinetic basis for misincorporation is a defect in discrimination of the correct from incorrect dNTP substrate at the level of ground-state binding. Our results are consistent with the idea that loop II of pol β functions to maintain accurate DNA synthesis by a direct or indirect influence on the nucleotide binding pocket.