Refined crystal structure of deoxyhemoglobin S. I. Restrained least-squares refinement at 3.0-A resolution

The crystal structure of deoxyhemoglobin S has been refined at 3.0-A resolution using the Hendrickson-Konnert restrained least-squares method. Comparison with the structure of deoxyhemoglobin A reveals a hingelike movement of the beta-chain A helices, which are involved in molecular contacts, toward the EF corners of their respective subunits. This movement brings the amino termini of the beta-chains closer to the molecular dyad. The A helices remain alpha-helical throughout their entire lengths. No other major structural difference is found between deoxyhemoglobin A and deoxyhemoglobin S.     

Inhibitory effect of deoxyhemoglobin A2 on the rate of deoxyhemoglobin S polymerization.

From a consideration of the primary sequence of hemoglobin A₂ and the reported 5 å molecular contacts between deoxyhemoglobin S molecules in a crystal, it is predicted that hemoglobin A₂ might act as an inhibitor of the polymerization of deoxyhemoglobin S in a manner similar to hemoglobin. F. This has been tested experimentally by measuring the rate of change of the transverse water proton relaxation times (T₂) in equimolar mixtures of hemoglobin S and one of the non-gelling hemoglobins A, F or A₂. Hemoglobins A₂ and F have far more pronounced inhibitory effects on the rate of polymerization than does hemoglobin A. These molecules contain several amino acid differences from hemoglobin A beta chains which are located in the 5 Å molecular crystal contacts and these altered crystal contacts result in a much stronger inhibition of the rate of polymerization. Since hemoglobin A₂ is a normal hemoglobin found in small amounts in all adult red cells, increased delta chain synthesis may have potential importance in therapy for sickle cell disease.     

The crystal state binding of dithionite to deoxy-hemoglobin.

The crystal state binding of sodium dithionite to deoxyhemoglobin is reported. Dithionite has been used extensively to deoxygenate hemoglobin and myoglobin and there has been considerable interest among users of dithionite about its effect on protein structure and binding site(s). We have determined that dithionite binds to deoxygenated hemoglobin crystals at the interface of two molecules in the crystal lattice. Specific residues involved in hydrogen bonds or salt interactions with dithionite include His116 and His117 of the beta 2 subunit and Lys16 of the alpha 1 subunit of the adjacent hemoglobin molecule. No binding was observed at the symmetry related His116 and 117 beta 1 residues. We have shown that dithionite does not affect the native hemoglobin structure or the binding of several allosteric inhibitors to hemoglobin and can be used to mount T state crystals in the air.     

Gelation of sickle hemoglobin. III. Nitrosyl hemoglobin.

Sickle cell nitrosyl hemoglobin was examined for gelation by an ultracentrifugal method previously described (Briehl &; Ewert, 1973) and by birefringence. In the presence of inositol hexaphosphate gelation which exhibited the endothermic temperature dependence seen in gels of deoxyhemoglobin S was observed by both techniques. In the absence of inositol hexaphosphate no gelation was observed, nor did nitrosyl hemoglobin A exhibit gelation. On the assumption that gelation is dependent on the deoxy or T (low ligand affinity) as opposed to the oxy or R (high ligand affinity) quaternary structure this supports the conclusion that nitrosyl hemoglobin S in inositol hexaphosphate assumes the T structure, in contrast to the other liganded ferrohemoglobin derivatives oxy and carbon monoxide hemoglobin. Assuming further that the quaternary structures and isomerizations are the same in hemoglobins A and S it can also be concluded that nitrosyl hemoglobin A in inositol hexaphosphate assumes the T state. Since no gelation was seen in stripped nitrosyl hemoglobin S, inositol hexaphosphate serves to effect an R to T switch in this derivative. Thus R-T isomerization in nitrosyl hemoglobin occurs without change in ligand binding at the sixth position of the heme group confirming the conclusion of Salhany (1974) and Salhany et al. (1974).Lowering of the pH toward 6 favors gelation of NO hemoglobin S as it does of deoxy and aquomethemoglobin S (Briehl &; Ewert, 1973,1974), consistent with a favoring of the T structure due to strengthening of the interchain salt bridges and the binding of inositol hexaphosphate and/or changes in site-to-site interactions on which gelation depends.     

Modification of human hemoglobin by glutathione. III. Perturbations of hemoglobin conformation analyzed by computer modeling

The perturbations of the conformation of human deoxyhemoglobin induced by the covalent attachment of glutathione at cysteine beta 93 have been investigated by computer simulation in conjunction with molecular graphics. In the first phase of the analysis, a systematic search was carried out of the conformational space of glutathione attached to deoxyhemoglobin. In this search, the conformation of the hemoglobin molecule was held constant, while the relative energies of a series of 186,624 glutathione conformations involving systematic variation of six dihedral angels were calculated. From this search, the most favorable conformation was selected as the starting conformation for energy minimization of the glutathionyl hemoglobin molecule as a function of all Cartesian coordinates. In order to provide a reference state, an independent minimization by the same procedures was carried out for deoxyhemoglobin in the absence of glutathione. Comparison of the minimized structures with and without glutathione attached revealed a number of significant differences. The most conspicuous difference in the protein moiety concerned the salt bridge between aspartate beta 94 and histidine beta 146 which is destabilized upon minimization of the glutathionyl-hemoglobin complex due to interactions of the aspartate residue with the glycyl NH group of glutathione. Other observed differences in the minimized structures are located at the alpha 1-beta 2 interface and include displacement of the carboxyl group of aspartate beta 99. In the minimized complex, the glutathione portion assumes a quasi-cyclic conformation stabilized through interactions between the free (gamma-glutamyl) amino and (glycyl) carboxyl ends of the tripeptide and between this carboxyl end and the epsilon amino group of lysine alpha 40. In a parallel conformational study of glutathione alone, a similar structure was found as the lowest energy form. These quasi-cyclic conformations contrast with the extended structures reported by Wright (Wright, W.B. (1955) Acta Crystallogr. 11, 632-642) for crystals of glutathione where interactions between molecules play a major role. The conclusions of our analysis are in agreement with the experimental investigations reported in the two preceding papers and permit, moreover, a coherent interpretation of the observed functional and structural changes in deoxyhemoglobin induced by glutathione.     

The C-terminal domain of full-length E. coli SSB is disordered even when bound to DNA

The crystal structure of full-length homotetrameric single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein from Escherichia coli (SSB) has been determined to 3.3 A resolution and reveals that the entire C-terminal domain is disordered even in the presence of ssDNA. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence that the C-terminal domain of SSB may be inherently disordered. The N-terminal DNA-binding domain of the protein is well ordered and is virtually indistinguishable from the previously determined structure of the chymotryptic fragment of SSB (SSBc) in complex with ssDNA. The absence of observable interactions with the core protein and the crystal packing of SSB together suggest that the disordered C-terminal domains likely extend laterally away from the DNA- binding domains, which may facilitate interactions with components of the replication machinery in vivo. The structure also reveals the conservation of molecular contacts between successive tetramers mediated by the L(45) loops as seen in two other crystal forms of SSBc, suggesting a possible functional relevance of this interaction.     

Crystal packing in six crystal forms of pancreatic ribonuclease.

We compare the molecular packing of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) in six crystal forms, two grown with alcohol, three with high salt and one with polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. The six packings differ in the number of molecules in contact and in the extent of the contacts, which bury 1570 A2 to 2790 A2 of the RNase surface. Regions of the protein surface involved in the six packings cover almost the whole RNase molecule. The abundance of polar interactions, about one per 200 A2, is the same in all types of precipitants. All molecule-to-molecule contacts are different in the six crystal forms, except for the one that forms a RNase dimer. The dimer has a large interface covering 1800 A2 and eight to ten polar interactions. Its presence in the three salt-grown crystal forms suggests that it is an intermediate in salt induced crystallization. In contrast, the two alcohol-grown forms contain only small interfaces, implying a different mechanism of nucleation.     

The crystal and molecular structure of the alpha-helical nonapeptide antibiotic leucinostatin A

The crystal and molecular structure of the nonapeptide antibiotic leucinostatin A, containing some uncommon amino acids and three Aib residues, has been determined by x-ray diffraction analysis. The molecule crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 10.924, b = 17.810, c = 40.50 A, C62H111N11O13, HCl.H2O, Z = 4. The peptide backbone folds in a regular right-handed alpha-helix conformation, with six intramolecular i----(i + 4) hydrogen bonds, forming C13 rings. The nonapeptide chain includes at the C end an unusual beta-Ala residue, which also adopts the helical structure of the other eight residues. In the crystal the helices are linked head to tail by electrostatic and hydrogen-bond interactions, forming continuous helical rods. The crystal packing is formed by adjacent parallel and antiparallel helical rods. Between adjacent parallel helical columns there are only van der Waals contacts, while between adjacent antiparallel helical columns hydrogen-bond interactions are formed.     

A pH-dependent aquomet-to-hemichrome transition in crystalline horse methemoglobin

In 1947, Perutz and co-workers reported that crystalline horse methemoglobin undergoes a large lattice transition as the pH is decreased from 7.1 to 5.4. We have determined the pH 7.1 and 5.4 crystal structures of horse methemoglobin at 1.6 and 2.1 A resolution, respectively, and find that this lattice transition involves a 23 A translation of adjacent hemoglobin tetramers as well as changes in alpha heme ligation and the tertiary structure of the alpha subunits. Specifically, when the pH is lowered from 7.1 to 5.4, the Fe(3+) alpha heme groups (but not the beta heme groups) are converted from the aquomet form, in which the proximal histidine [His87(F8)alpha] and a water molecule are the axial heme ligands, to the hemichrome (bishistidine) form, in which the proximal histidine and the distal histidine [His58(E7)alpha] are the axial heme ligands. Hemichrome formation is coupled to a large tertiary structure transition in the eight-residue segment Pro44(CD2)alpha-Gly51(D7)alpha that converts from an extended loop structure at pH 7.1 to a pi-like helix at pH 5.4. The formation of the pi helix forces Phe46(CD4)alpha out of the alpha heme pocket and into the interface between adjacent hemoglobin tetramers where it participates in crystal lattice contacts unique to the pH 5.4 structure. In addition, the transition from aquomet alpha subunits to bishistidine alpha subunits is accompanied by an approximately 1.2 A movement of the alpha heme groups to a more solvent-exposed position as well as the creation of a solvent channel from the interior of the alpha heme pocket to the outside of the tetramer. These changes and the extensive rearrangement of the crystal lattice structure allow the alpha heme group of one tetramer to make direct contact with an alpha heme group on an adjacent tetramer. These results suggest possible functional roles for hemichrome formation in vivo.     

Oxygenation of hemoglobin: Correspondence of crystal and solution properties using diffusion coefficient measurements

Quasi-elastic light scattering has been used to measure the change in the translational diffusion coefficient of hemoglobin upon oxygenation and the difference in the diffusion coefficients of oxy- and methemoglobin. The diffusion coefficients of oxy- and methemoglobin were found to be the same within the experimental accuracy of 0.2%, while the diffusion coefficient of oxyhemoglobin tetramers in solution at 13 mg/ml was found to be 0.8% smaller than that of deoxyhemoglobin at the same concentration, when the reversible dissociation of oxyhemoglobin tetramers into dimers was taken into account. In the limit of zero concentration, the oxyhemoglobin diffusion coefficient was found to be 1.5% ± 1.0% smaller than that of deoxyhemoglobin. This result is in very good agreement with what we predict using atomic coordinates to model the liganded and unliganded hemoglobin molecules as ellipsoids of revolution.     

Deoxygenation-linked association of a tetrameric component of chicken hemoglobin.

Deoxygenation-dependent association of hemoglobin tetramers appears to be widespread among amphibians, reptiles, and possibly all or most birds. The evidence for this conclusion depends largely on oxygen equilibria of whole blood which have Hill coefficients that reach values as high as 5-7 at 80-90% oxygenation. Computer simulation of the sedimentation velocity behavior of the major components A and D of chicken hemoglobin shows that component D but not A self-associates to form dimers of tetramers. The gradient profiles at pH 7.5 were satisfactorily fitted with an association constant of 1.26 x 10(4) M-1 and sedimentation coefficients of 4.63 and 7.35 S for tetramer and (tetramer)2, respectively. Since components A and D share common beta chains we conclude that tetramer-tetramer contacts must depend on surface residues of the alpha chains. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the alpha D and alpha A chains of the hemoglobins from 12 avian species ranging from sparrow to ostrich shows that 20 residues are conserved in the alpha D chains but not in the alpha A chains. Nine of these (45%) are clustered between positions E20 and FG2. Four of the latter, Lys71 (E20), Asn75 (EF4), Gln78 (EF7), and Glu82 (F3) are conserved in all alpha D chains even though they do not appear to participate in intratetramer contacts. Molecular modeling indicates that residues Lys71, Gln78, and Glu82 of the alpha chain are strong candidates for the primary tetramer-tetramer contacts.     

Reaction pathway for the quaternary structure change in hemoglobin

We perform a computer simulation of the quaternary structure change during the allosteric transition of hemoglobin. The simulation is based on a docking procedure by which αβ dimers of human hemoglobin are associated into tetramers after being rotated in various orientations. The stability of tetramers thus reconstituted is estimated from the values of a simplified energy function describing nonbonded interactions and from the area of the surface buried in dimer–dimer contacts (their interface area), which we take to represent stabilizing interactions and solvent contribution. A systematic analysis of tetramers reconstituted with twofold symmetry reveals that when the dimers have the R tertiary structure, only tetramers having R-like quaternary structures are stable. When the dimers have the T tertiary structure, they may associate into T-like tetramers or a variety of quaternary structures ranging from T to near R, thus tracing a plausible reaction pathway for the allosteric transition. We subject intermediates of this pathway to energy refinement with rigid αβ dimers. The refinement demonstrates that symmetrical structures are more stable than non symmetrical ones. A detailed analysis of dimer–dimer contacts in intermediates shows how close packing is maintained over large interfaces throughout the quaternary structure change, especially in the “switch region” of contact between the C helix of α-chains and the FG corner of β-chains.     

Changes in interactions in complexes of hirudin derivatives and human alpha-thrombin due to different crystal forms.

The three-dimensional structures of D-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethyl ketone-inhibited thrombin in complex with Tyr-63-sulfated hirudin (ternary complex) and of thrombin in complex with the bifunctional inhibitor D-Phe-Pro-Arg-Pro-(Gly)4-hirudin (CGP 50,856, binary complex) have been determined by X-ray crystallography in crystal forms different from those described by Skrzypczak-Jankun et al. (Skrzypczak-Jankun, E., Carperos, V.E., Ravichandran, K.G., & Tulinsky, A., 1991, J. Mol. Biol. 221, 1379-1393). In both complexes, the interactions of the C-terminal hirudin segments of the inhibitors binding to the fibrinogen-binding exosite of thrombin are clearly established, including residues 60-64, which are disordered in the earlier crystal form. The interactions of the sulfate group of Tyr-63 in the ternary complex structure explain why natural sulfated hirudin binds with a 10-fold lower K(i) than the desulfated recombinant material. In this new crystal form, the autolysis loop of thrombin (residues 146-150), which is disordered in the earlier crystal form, is ordered due to crystal contacts. Interactions between the C-terminal fragment of hirudin and thrombin are not influenced by crystal contacts in this new crystal form, in contrast to the earlier form. In the bifunctional inhibitor-thrombin complex, the peptide bond between Arg-Pro (P1-P1') seems to be cleaved.     

Structural basis for development of cathepsin B-specific noncovalent-type inhibitor: crystal structure of cathepsin B-E64c complex

In order to elucidate the substrate specificity of the Sn subsites (n=1-3) of cathepsin B, its crystal structure inhibited by E64c [(+)-(2S,3S)-3-(1-[N-(3-methylbutyl)amino]-leucylcarbonyl)oxirane-2-carboxylic acid] was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction method. Iterative manual rebuilding and convenient conjugate refinement of structure decreased R- and free R-factors to 19.7% and to 23.9%, respectively, where 130 water molecules were included for the refinement using 14,759 independent reflections from 10 to 2.3 A resolution. The epoxy carbonyl carbon of E64c was covalently bonded to the Cys(29) S(gamma) atom and the remaining parts were located at Sn subsites (n=1-3). The substrate specificity of these subsites was characterized based on their interactions with the inhibitor. Base on these structural data, we developed a novel cathepsin B-specific noncovalent-type inhibitor, which may bind to S2'-S3. The molecular design of possessing structural elements of both CA074 and E64c, assisted by energy minimization and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, may lead to a new lead noncovalent-type inhibitor.     

Insights into carbohydrate recognition by Narcissus pseudonarcissus lectin: the crystal structure at 2 A resolution in complex with alpha1-3 mannobiose.

Carbohydrate recognition by monocot mannose-binding lectins was studied via the crystal structure determination of daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) lectin. The lectin was extracted from daffodil bulbs, and crystallised in the presence of alpha-1,3 mannobiose. Molecular replacement methods were used to solve the structure using the partially refined model of Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin as a search model. The structure was refined at 2.0 A resolution to a final R -factor of 18.7 %, and Rfreeof 26.7 %.The main feature of the daffodil lectin structure is the presence of three fully occupied binding pockets per monomer, arranged around the faces of a triangular beta-prism motif. The pockets have identical topology, and can bind mono-, di- or oligosaccharides. Strand exchange forms tightly bound dimers, and higher aggregation states are achieved through hydrophobic patches on the surface, completing a tetramer with internal 222-symmetry. There are therefore 12 fully occupied binding pockets per tetrameric cluster. The tetramer persists in solution, as shown with small-angle X-ray solution scattering. Extensive sideways and out-of-plane interactions between tetramers, some mediated via the ligand, make up the bulk of the lattice contacts.A fourth binding site was also observed. This is unique and has not been observed in similar structures. The site is only partially occupied by a ligand molecule due to the much lower binding affinity. A comparison with the Galanthus nivalis agglutinin/mannopentaose complex suggests an involvement of this site in the recognition mechanism for naturally occurring glycans.     

Nonequivalence in the electronic structure of the prosthetic groups between two alpha-subunits within deoxycobalthemoglobin as determined by single-crystal EPR spectroscopy

An artificial hybrid hemoglobin, alpha(Co)2 beta(Fe)2, the alpha- and beta-subunits of which contain cobaltous and ferrous protoporphyrins IX, respectively, and its complementary hybrid, alpha(Fe)2 beta(Co)2, were prepared from human hemoglobin, crystallized in the deoxy state, and examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The orientations of the porphyrin normals in these deoxy Fe-Co hybrid hemoglobins in terms of the g parallel signals, were closely coincident with those of the heme normals of deoxyhemoglobin determined by x-ray crystallography. Two sets of axially symmetric EPR signals were found in the alpha(Co)-subunits, whereas only one set was observed in the beta(Co)-subunits. Nonequivalence in the electronic structures of the prosthetic groups between the two alpha(Co)-subunits, designated alpha I and alpha II, within deoxy-alpha(Co)2 beta(Fe)2 hybrid hemoglobin was correlated to these two distinct EPR signals. The interaction between the epsilon-nitrogen of the imidazole ring of the proximal histidine and the cobaltous ion in deoxy-alpha I(Co)-subunit is different from that in the deoxy-alpha II(Co)-subunit. The absence of a strict molecular dyad axis in the deoxy-alpha(Co)2 beta(Fe)2 hybrid hemoglobin suggests that the affinity state of the alpha(Co)-subunits may be partially switched to the R-state having a higher affinity for oxygen. Upon partial ligation of carbon monoxide to the beta(Fe)-subunits, the line width of the g parallel and perpendicular signals of the alpha II(Co)-subunit was found to become somewhat narrower without disruption of the crystal structure. This suggests that there may be very close contacts between the alpha- and beta-subunits of different hemoglobin molecules which appear to be responsible for stabilizing the deoxy crystal structure after partial ligation in the crystalline state.     

Crystallization of deoxyhemoglobin S by fiber alignment and fusion.

Fibers of deoxyhemoglobin S obtained directly from lysed sickled red blood cells have been compared with fibers from chromatographically pure deoxyhemoglobin S solutions of known chemical composition. Electron micrographs of negatively stained specimens reveal that the molecular packing within the fibers remains largely invariant with changes in pH, ionic strength, Mg²⁺ concentration, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration, temperature or the method of deoxygenation.When solutions of chromatographically pure deoxyhemoglobin S are stirred, the fibers align into well defined fascicles. After several hours of stirring, long needles and twisted ribbons develop and in a relatively short time replace the fascicles in solution. With continued stirring all forms are replaced by small crystals. By use of electron microscopy and low-angle X-ray diffraction we have found these crystals to have cell parameters indistinguishable from those of crystals grown in polyethylene glycol and citrate/phosphate buffer at pH 5 to 6 (Wishner et al., 1975a).Our evidence indicates that crystal formation in stirred solutions of deoxyhemoglobin S is the result of a progressive alignment and fusion of the fibers, and that the molecular arrangement within the fibers is closely related to that within the crystal. The remarkable pH invariance of the molecular packing within the fiber and crystal structures is consistent with the dominance of hydrophobic bonding between molecules. The β6-valine contact observed by Wishner et al. (1975b) is apparently the pathological contact responsible for the polymerization of deoxyhemoglobin S in vivo. On the basis of our observations and knowledge of the crystal structure we propose that the deoxyhemoglobin S fiber consists of eight molecular double strands, four of which run in each direction along the length of the fiber.     

The 5S rRNA loop E: chemical probing and phylogenetic data versus crystal structure.

A significant fraction of the bases in a folded, structured RNA molecule participate in noncanonical base pairing interactions, often in the context of internal loops or multi-helix junction loops. The appearance of each new high-resolution RNA structure provides welcome data to guide efforts to understand and predict RNA 3D structure, especially when the RNA in question is a functionally conserved molecule. The recent publication of the crystal structure of the "Loop E" region of bacterial 5S ribosomal RNA is such an event [Correll CC, Freeborn B, Moore PB, Steitz TA, 1997, Cell 91:705-712]. In addition to providing more examples of already established noncanonical base pairs, such as purine-purine sheared pairings, trans-Hoogsteen UA, and GU wobble pairs, the structure provides the first high-resolution views of two new purine-purine pairings and a new GU pairing. The goal of the present analysis is to expand the capabilities of both chemical probing and phylogenetic analysis to predict with greater accuracy the structures of RNA molecules. First, in light of existing chemical probing data, we investigate what lessons could be learned regarding the interpretation of this widely used method of RNA structure probing. Then we analyze the 3D structure with reference to molecular phylogeny data (assuming conservation of function) to discover what alternative base pairings are geometrically compatible with the structure. The comparisons between previous modeling efforts and crystal structures show that the intricate involvements of ions and water molecules in the maintenance of non-Watson-Crick pairs render the process of correctly identifying the interacting sites in such pairs treacherous, except in cases of trans-Hoogsteen A/U or sheared A/G pairs for the adenine N1 site. The phylogenetic analysis identifies A/A, A/C, A/U and C/A, C/C, and C/U pairings isosteric with sheared A/G, as well as A/A and A/C pairings isosteric with both G/U and G/G bifurcated pairings. Thus, each non-Watson-Crick pair could be characterized by a phylogenetic signature of variations between isosteric-like pairings. In addition to the conservative changes, which form a dictionary of pairings isosterically compatible with those observed in the crystal structure, concerted changes involving several base pairs also occur. The latter covariations may indicate transitions between related but distinctive motifs within the loop E of 5S ribosomal RNA.     

The alkylation of hemoglobin S by nitrogen mustard. High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies.

Sickle cell hemoglobin (Hb S) treated with nitrogen mustard (bis(beta-chloroethyl)methylamine hydrochloride) gives two reaction products, one labile and one stable. After dialysis against buffer solution, the remaining stable product is found to inhibit the polymerization of deoxyhemoglobin S. High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to study the structure and function of this stable product and to investigate the nature of the binding sites of nitrogen mustard to the hemoglobin molecule. The NMR results suggest that the nitrogen mustard treatment of Hb S does not alter the heme environment or the subunit interfaces of the hemoglobin molecule. Moreover, the NMR spectra have also shown that the nitrogen mustard reacts with the beta2 histidines of the hemoglobin molecule and have suggested that several other surface amino acid residues of the hemoglobin molecule are also affected by the nitrogen mustard alkylation. These NMR findings are in good agreement with the data obtained from biochemical studies of nitrogen mustard-treated Hb S. The NMR spectra also indicate that nornitrogen mustard (which is also effective in inhibiting sickling) binds with the hemoglobin molecule in a manner identical with nitrogen mustard. Sulfur mustard, on the other hand, produces no observable changes in the aromatic proton resonances, which is consistent with the fact that it does not inhibit the polymerization of deoxy-Hb S.     

The crystal structure of the ligand-binding module of human TAG-1 suggests a new mode of homophilic interaction

Human TAG-1 is a neural cell adhesion molecule that is crucial for the development of the nervous system during embryogenesis. It consists of six immunoglobulin-like and four fibronectin III-like domains and is anchored to the membrane by glycosylphosphatidylinositol. Herein we present the crystal structure of the four N-terminal immunoglobulin-like domains of TAG-1 (TAG-1(Ig1-4)), known to be important in heterophilic and homophilic macromolecular interactions. The contacts of neighboring molecules within the crystal were investigated. A comparison with the structure of the chicken ortholog resulted in an alternative mode for the molecular mechanism of homophilic TAG-1 interaction. This mode of TAG-1 homophilic interaction is based on dimer formation rather than formation of a molecular zipper as proposed for the chicken ortholog.