Phenylalanine promotes interaction of transmembrane domains via GxxxG motifs

Interactions of transmembrane helices play a crucial role in the folding and oligomerisation of integral membrane proteins. In order to uncover novel sequence motifs mediating these interactions, we randomised one face of a transmembrane helix with a set of non-polar or moderately polar amino acids. Those sequences capable of self-interaction upon integration into bacterial inner membranes were selected by means of the ToxR/POSSYCCAT system. A comparison between low/medium-affinity and high-affinity sequences reveals that high-affinity sequences are strongly enriched in phenylalanine residues that are frequently observed at the − 3 position of GxxxG motifs, thus yielding FxxGxxxG motifs. Mutation of Phe or GxxxG in selected sequences significantly reduces self-interaction of the transmembrane domains without affecting their efficiency of membrane integration. Conversely, grafting FxxGxxxG onto unrelated transmembrane domains strongly enhances their interaction. Further, we find that FxxGxxxG is significantly over-represented in transmembrane domains of bitopic membrane proteins. The same motif contributes to self-interaction of the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein transmembrane domain. We conclude that Phe stabilises membrane-spanning GxxxG motifs. This is one example of how the role of certain side-chains in helix-helix interfaces is modulated by sequence context.     

霍乱弧菌ToxS蛋白间的互作增强ToxR蛋白诱导毒力基因的表达

【目的】阐明霍乱弧菌ToxR蛋白功能调控的分子机制。【方法】利用巯基捕获(thiol-trapping)的方法分析DsbA蛋白对ToxR周质空间结构域半胱氨酸残基的氧化作用;采用定点突变的方法构建ToxR半胱氨酸突变株(ToxR_(C236/293S));利用荧光素酶基因作为报告基因分析ToxR野生型(ToxR_(wt))和半胱氨酸突变体(ToxR_(C236/293S))诱导下游基因表达的活性;通过细菌双杂交系统分析ToxR_(wt)和ToxR_(C236/293S)蛋白之间、ToxR与ToxS之间以及ToxS之间的相互作用。【结果】ToxR周质空间结构域半胱氨酸残基确实可以被DsbA蛋白氧化,且当ToxR与ToxS共表达时,ToxR诱导ctxAB转录表达的活性显著增强,且在dsbA基因缺失突变株中ToxR诱导ctxAB转录表达的活性更高;成功构建株霍乱弧菌ToxR半胱氨酸突变株(ToxR_(C236/293S)),在没有ToxS存在的条件下,ToxR_(C236/293S)诱导毒力基因表达的活性与ToxRwt相当;细菌双杂交系统分析发现当ToxR与ToxS共转录表达时,ToxS极大增强ToxR蛋白之间的互作;在dsbA基因缺失突变株中,ToxS之间的相互作用显著增强。【结论】ToxR蛋白本身的氧还状态对其诱导毒力基因表达的活性没有影响;ToxS通过增强ToxR形成二聚体的能力从而增强其诱导毒力基因的表达,而DsbA对ToxS蛋白之间的相互作用具有抑制作用,DsbA通过影响ToxS的蛋白互作从而影响ToxR蛋白的功能。本文为进一步阐明霍乱弧菌毒力基因表达调控的分子机制提供重要的理论依据。