In-cell protein NMR and protein leakage

In-cell nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a tool for studying proteins under physiologically relevant conditions. In some instances, however, protein signals from leaked protein are observed in the liquid surrounding the cells. Here, we examine the expression of four proteins in Escherichia coli. We describe the controls that should be used for in-cell NMR experiments and show that leakage is likely when the protein being studied exceeds ～20% of the total cellular protein.     

Bridging protein local structures and protein functions

One of the major goals of molecular and evolutionary biology is to understand the functions of proteins by extracting functional information from protein sequences, structures and interactions. In this review, we summarize the repertoire of methods currently being applied and report recent progress in the field of in silico annotation of protein function based on the accumulation of vast amounts of sequence and structure data. In particular, we emphasize the newly developed structure-based methods, which are able to identify locally structural motifs and reveal their relationship with protein functions. These methods include computational tools to identify the structural motifs and reveal the strong relationship between these pre-computed local structures and protein functions. We also discuss remaining problems and possible directions for this exciting and challenging area.     

Physical principles of protein structure and protein folding

Physical principles determining the protein structure and protein folding are reviewed: (i) the molecular theory of protein secondary structure and the method of its prediction based on this theory; (ii) the existence of a limited set of thermodynamically favourable folding patterns of α- and β-regions in a compact globule which does not depend on the details of the amino acid sequence; (iii) the moderns approaches to the prediction of the folding patterns of α- and β-regions in concrete proteins; (iv) experimental approaches to the mechanism of protein folding. The review reflects theoretical and experimental works of the author and his collaborators as well as those of other groups.     

ER protein quality control and proteasome-mediated protein degradation

A variety of mutant polypeptides that are associated with human disease are targeted for degradation by an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control system. In addition, physiological signals and viral gene products can target the degradation of several ER resident proteins and secreted proteins passing through the ER. Although the mechanism of protein quality control and the site of degradation were obscure, recent data indicate that degradation requires the cytosolic proteasome. Biochemical and genetic analyses have indicated that both lumenal and integral membrane proteins are selected for proteolysis and exported to the cytosol by a process that in several cases requires ER associated molecular chaperones.     

Solvent effects on protein association and protein folding

Solvent effects on the thermodynamics of two processes--folding of proteins and association between proteins--are examined in detail. A complete inventory of the multitude of solvent effects may be obtained by employing the concept of conditional solvation free energy. This theoretical tool allows for the isolation of specific side-chain effects from the entire protein and for the study of its contribution to the overall free energy change in small model compounds. Some numerical examples are presented, and ways of estimating other cases, for which no relevant experimental data are available, are suggested. Our findings lead to the conclusion that the currently used hydrophobicity scales, based on partition coefficients between water and an organic solvent, are inadequate measures of the contribution of side chains being transferred from water to the interior of the protein. We have also tentatively concluded that correlation between hydrophilic functional groups might be more important than correlations between hydrophobic side chains.     

Free-radical-mediated protein inactivation and recovery during protein photoencapsulation

Photoencapsulation of protein therapeutics is very attractive for preparing biomolecule-loaded hydrogels for a variety of biomedical applications. However, detrimental effects of highly active radical species generated during photoencapsulation must be carefully evaluated to maintain efficient hydrogel cross-linking while preserving the structure and bioactivity of encapsulated biomolecules. Here, we examine the free-radical-mediated inactivation and incomplete release of proteins from photocurable hydrogels utilizing lysozyme as a conservative model system. Various protein photoencapsulation conditions were tested to determine the factors affecting lysozyme structural integrity and bioactivity. It was found that a portion of the lysozyme becomes conjugated to polymer chains at high photoinitiator concentrations and long polymerization times. We also found that the more hydrophilic photoinitiator Irgacure-2959 (I-2959, 2-hydroxy-1-[4-(hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-methyl-1-propanone) causes more damage to lysozyme compared to the hydrophobic photoinitiator Irgacure-651 (I-651, 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone), even though I-2959 has been previously shown to be more cytocompatible. Furthermore, while nonacrylated PEG provides only limited protection from the denaturing free radicals that are present during hydrogel curing, acrylated PEG macromers effectively preserve lysozyme structural integrity and bioactivity in the presence of either photoinitiator. Overall, these findings indicate how photopolymerization conditions (e.g., photoinitiator type and concentration, UV exposure time, etc.) must be optimized to obtain a functional hydrogel device that can preserve protein bioactivity and provide maximal protein release.     

Spy chemistry-enabled protein directional immobilization and protein purification

Site-directed protein immobilization allows the homogeneous orientation of proteins with high retention of activity, which is advantageous for many applications. Here, we report a facile, specific, and efficient strategy based on the SpyTag-SpyCatcher chemistry. Two SpyTag-fused model proteins, that is, the monomeric red fluorescent protein (RFP) and the oligomeric glutaryl-7-aminocephalosporanic acid acylase, were easily immobilized onto a SpyCatcher-modified resin directly from cell lysates, with activity recoveries in the range of 85–91%. This strategy was further adapted to protein purification, which proceeded through the selective capture of the SpyCatcher-fused target proteins by a SpyTag-modified resin, with the aid of an intein to generate authentic N-termini. For two model proteins, that is, RFP and a variable domain of a heavy chain antibody, the yields were ∼3–7 mg/L culture with >90% purities. This approach could provide a versatile tool for producing high-performance immobilized protein devices and proteins for industrial and therapeutic uses.     

Death-associated protein kinase phosphorylates mammalian ribosomal protein S6 and reduces protein synthesis

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a pro-apoptotic, calcium/calmodulin-regulated protein kinase that is a drug discovery target for neurodegenerative disorders. Despite the potential profound physiological role of DAPK in neuronal function and pathophysiology, the endogenous substrate(s) of this kinase and the mechanisms via which DAPK elicits its biological action remain largely unknown. We report here that the mammalian 40S ribosomal protein S6 is a DAPK substrate. Results from immunoprecipitation experiments are consistent with endogenous DAPK being associated with endogenous S6 in rat brain. When S6 is a component of the 40S ribosomal subunit complex, DAPK selectively phosphorylates it at serine 235, one of the five sites in S6 that are phosphorylated by the S6 kinase family of proteins. The amino acid sequence flanking serine 235 matches the established pattern for DAPK peptide and protein substrates. Kinetic analyses using purified 40S subunits revealed a K(m) value of 9 microM, consistent with S6 being a potential physiological substrate of DAPK. This enzyme-substrate relationship has functional significance. DAPK suppresses translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate, and treatment of neuroblastoma cells with a stimulator of DAPK reduces protein synthesis. In both cases, suppression of translation correlates with increased phosphorylation of S6 at serine 235. These results demonstrate that DAPK is a S6 kinase and provide evidence for a novel role of DAPK in the regulation of translation.     

Patterns of protein protein interactions in salt solutions and implications for protein crystallization

The second osmotic virial coefficients of seven proteins-ovalbumin, ribonuclease A, bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, myoglobin, cytochrome c, and catalase-were measured in salt solutions. Comparison of the interaction trends in terms of the dimensionless second virial coefficient b(2) shows that, at low salt concentrations, protein-protein interactions can be either attractive or repulsive, possibly due to the anisotropy of the protein charge distribution. At high salt concentrations, the behavior depends on the salt: In sodium chloride, protein interactions generally show little salt dependence up to very high salt concentrations, whereas in ammonium sulfate, proteins show a sharp drop in b(2) with increasing salt concentration beyond a particular threshold. The experimental phase behavior of the proteins corroborates these observations in that precipitation always follows the drop in b(2). When the proteins crystallize, they do so at slightly lower salt concentrations than seen for precipitation. The b(2) measurements were extended to other salts for ovalbumin and catalase. The trends follow the Hofmeister series, and the effect of the salt can be interpreted as a water-mediated effect between the protein and salt molecules. The b(2) trends quantify protein-protein interactions and provide some understanding of the corresponding phase behavior. The results explain both why ammonium sulfate is among the best crystallization agents, as well as some of the difficulties that can be encountered in protein crystallization.     

Methods for analyzing and quantifying protein–protein interaction

Genome sequencing has led to the identification of many proteins, which had not been recognized before. In consequence, the basic set of human proteins is generally known. Far less information, however, exists about protein–protein interactions, which are required and responsible for cellular activities and their control. Many protein isoforms that result from mutations, splice-variations and post-translational modifications also come into play. Until recently, interactions of only few protein partners could be analyzed in a single experiment. However, this does not meet the challenge of investigating the highly complex interaction patterns in cellular systems. It is made even more demanding by the need to determine the intensity of interactions quantitatively in order to properly understand protein interplay. Currently available techniques vary with respect to accuracy, reliability, reproducibility and throughput and their performances range from a mere qualitative demonstration of binding to a quantitative characterization of affinities. In this article, an overview is given of the methodologies available for analysis of protein–protein interactions.     

Activities of the Sex-lethal protein in RNA binding and protein:protein interactions.

The Drosophila sex determination gene Sex-lethal (Sxl) controls its own expression, and the expression of downstream target genes such as transformer , by regulating pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA translation. Sxl codes an RNA-binding protein that consists of an N-terminus of approximately 100 amino acids, two 90 amino acid RRM domains, R1 and R2, and an 80 amino acid C-terminus. In the studies reported here we have examined the functional properties of the different Sxl protein domains in RNA binding and in protein:protein interactions. The two RRM domains are responsible for RNA binding. Specificity in the recognition of target RNAs requires both RRM domains, and proteins which consist of the single domains or duplicated domains have anomalous RNA recognition properties. Moreover, the length of the linker between domains can affect RNA recognition properties. Our results indicate that the two RRM domains mediate Sxl:Sxl protein interactions, and that these interactions probably occur both in cis and trans. We speculate that cis interactions between R1 and R2 play a role in RNA recognition by the Sxl protein, while trans interactions stabilize complex formation on target RNAs that contain two or more closely spaced binding sites. Finally, we show that the interaction of Sxl with the snRNP protein Snf is mediated by the R1 RRM domain.     

Prion protein scrapie and the normal cellular prion protein

Prions are infectious proteins and over the past few decades, some prions have become renowned for their causative role in several neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Since their discovery, the mechanisms and mode of transmission and molecular structure of prions have begun to be established. There is, however, still much to be elucidated about prion diseases, including the development of potential therapeutic strategies for treatment. The significance of prion disease is discussed here, including the categories of human and animal prion diseases, disease transmission, disease progression and the development of symptoms and potential future strategies for treatment. Furthermore, the structure and function of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP^C) and its importance in not only in prion disease development, but also in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease will also be discussed.     

Disulfide bonds: protein folding and subcellular protein trafficking

The study of disulfide-bond-containing proteins has advanced our understanding of the mechanism(s) by which the majority of secretory and membrane-bound proteins acquire their biologically functional folded forms. This covalent linkage has been exploited by a number of research laboratories to harness or trap intermediates populating the folding trajectories of biopolymers. The resulting body of gathered in vitro data demonstrates that, in general, there is a common event underscoring the maturation of disulfide-bond-containing proteins. This commonality is the existence of competition between a physical, conformational folding reaction and a chemical, thiol-disulfide exchange reaction during fold acquisition. The competition, in turn, impacts the fate of the polypeptide in being secreted or retrotranslocated. The role of a host of subcellular factors, including protein disulfide isomerase, that influences this critical spatiotemporal juncture of the fold-maturation process is discussed. Finally, the impact of this competition on the onset of neurodegenerative disorders is elaborated upon.     

Prediction of protein function from protein sequence and structure

The sequence of a genome contains the plans of the possible life of an organism, but implementation of genetic information depends on the functions of the proteins and nucleic acids that it encodes. Many individual proteins of known sequence and structure present challenges to the understanding of their function. In particular, a number of genes responsible for diseases have been identified but their specific functions are unknown. Whole-genome sequencing projects are a major source of proteins of unknown function. Annotation of a genome involves assignment of functions to gene products, in most cases on the basis of amino-acid sequence alone. 3D structure can aid the assignment of function, motivating the challenge of structural genomics projects to make structural information available for novel uncharacterized proteins. Structure-based identification of homologues often succeeds where sequence-alone-based methods fail, because in many cases evolution retains the folding pattern long after sequence similarity becomes undetectable. Nevertheless, prediction of protein function from sequence and structure is a difficult problem, because homologous proteins often have different functions. Many methods of function prediction rely on identifying similarity in sequence and/or structure between a protein of unknown function and one or more well-understood proteins. Alternative methods include inferring conservation patterns in members of a functionally uncharacterized family for which many sequences and structures are known. However, these inferences are tenuous. Such methods provide reasonable guesses at function, but are far from foolproof. It is therefore fortunate that the development of whole-organism approaches and comparative genomics permits other approaches to function prediction when the data are available. These include the use of protein-protein interaction patterns, and correlations between occurrences of related proteins in different organisms, as indicators of functional properties. Even if it is possible to ascribe a particular function to a gene product, the protein may have multiple functions. A fundamental problem is that function is in many cases an ill-defined concept. In this article we review the state of the art in function prediction and describe some of the underlying difficulties and successes.     

The cGMP-dependent protein kinase-gene,protein, and function

Special issue dedicated to Dr. Paul Greengard