The C terminus of apocytochrome b562 undergoes fast motions and slow exchange among ordered conformations resembling the folded state

The present work describes the dynamics of the apo form of cytochrome b(562), a small soluble protein consisting of 106 amino acid residues [Itagaki, E., and Hager, L. P. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 3687-3695]. The presence of exchange in the millisecond time scale is demonstrated for the last part of helix IV (residues 95-105 in the holo form). The chemical shift index analysis [Wishart, D. S., and Sykes, B. D. (1994) J. Biomol. NMR 4, 171-180] based on H(alpha), C(alpha), C(beta), and C' chemical shifts suggests a larger helical content than shown in the NMR structure based on NOEs. These results indicate the presence of helical-like conformations participating in the exchange process. This hypothesis is consistent with amide deuterium exchange rates and the presence of some hydrogen bonds identified from amide chemical shift temperature coefficients [Baxter, N. J., and Williamson, M. P. (1997) J. Biomol. NMR 9, 359-369]. (15)N relaxation indicates limited mobility for the amide protons of this part of the helix in the picosecond time scale. A 30 ns stochastic dynamics simulation shows small fluctuations around the helical conformation on this time scale. These fluctuations, however, do not result in a significant decrease of the calculated order parameters which are consistent with the experimental (15)N relaxation data. These results resolve an apparent discrepancy in the NMR structures between the disorder observed in helix IV due to a lack of NOEs and the secondary structure predictions based on H(alpha) chemical shifts [Feng, Y., Wand, A. J., and Sligar, S. G. (1994) Struct. Biol. 1, 30-35].     

A proton nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular modeling study of cardiac troponin C. Calcium dependence and aromatic spectral assignments

Proton (1H) NMR at 360 MHz has been used to characterize calcium-induced spectral changes in bovine cardiac troponin C in more detail than hitherto reported (Hincke, M. T., Sykes, B. D., and Kay, C. M. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 3286-3294). The observed changes are consistent with two equivalents of calcium occupying high affinity sites, with subsequent binding of a single equivalent to a lower affinity site. Two-dimensional J-correlated and nuclear Overhauser effect NOE-correlated and conventional one-dimensional NOE experiments, combined with a consideration of the titration behavior, have allowed all the aromatic signals, and several prominently shifted alpha-CH and methyl group signals, as well as some methionine methyl signals of the calcium-saturated protein, to be assigned. This exercise was facilitated by the construction of a model of the calcium-bound protein based on crystal structure data of the homologous calmodulin and skeletal troponin C, using mutations, energy minimizations, and molecular dynamics simulations, combined with the ring-current shift and NOE prediction program PARSNIP (Reid, D. G., and Saunders, M. R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2003-2012).     

Peptide/protein structure analysis using the chemical shift index method: upfield alpha-CH values reveal dynamic helices and alpha L sites.

The alpha-CH shifts observed by 1H NMR for medium-sized peptides and for an unusual small protein, herein, which has a high density of alpha L conformations within its 43 residue length, reveal that the recently introduced chemical shift index (CSI) analysis places short dynamic helices (alpha R) and alpha L residues in the same category as stable helices. The method appears to be a promising addition to the arsenal of methods for peptide structure analysis and is clearly not limited to rigid protein systems.     

Epidermal growth factor from the mouse. Structural characterization by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear overhauser experiments at 500 MHz

Mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF), a protein hormone effector molecule that regulates cellular development and division, has been investigated by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance techniques at 500 MHz. Well-resolved downfield aromatic and alpha-CH proton resonances (5.0-8.0 ppm) and an upfield ring current shifted isoleucine delta-methyl resonance (approximately 0.5 ppm) have been examined by using principally nuclear Overhauser methods. The data are analyzed in terms of model building based on the predictive Chou-Fasman secondary structure algorithm applied to mEGF [Holladay, L. A., Savage, C. R., Cohen, S., & Puett, D. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 2624-2633], which suggests the existence of some beta-structure and little or no alpha-helicity. Proximity relationships derived from nuclear Overhauser data among Tyr-3, -10, and -13, His-22, and Ile-23 allow refinement of some aspects of the predicted secondary structure and render additional information on how the protein backbone in mEGF is folded (i.e., tertiary structure). Nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) from irradiation of several alpha-CH proton resonances give evidence for tiered beta-sheet structure in mEGF. Such proximity relationships derived from NOE data place stringent limitations on possible models for the molecule. pH titration data demonstrate a His-22 pKa of 7.1, indicating either a salt bridge or hydrogen-bond formation between His-22 and another residue. The His-22 pKa is also reflected in the chemical shift changes of several other resonances as a function of pH. Nuclear Overhauser methods, used to differentiate direct (protonation) and indirect (conformation) effects on the chemical shift changes in the spectra of mEGF by varying the pH, yield evidence for a pH-induced conformational transition in the protein hormone associated with the breaking of the His-22 salt bridge or hydrogen bond.     

Simple techniques for the quantification of protein secondary structure by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Previous work by Wishart et al. (in press) and others [(1989) J. Magn. Reson. 83, 441-449; (1990) J. Magn. Reson. 90, 165-176] has shown a strong tendency for protein secondary structure to be manifested in 1H NMR chemical shifts. Based on these earlier results, two techniques have been developed for the quantification of secondary structure in proteins. Both methods allow for the rapid and accurate determination of the percent content of helix, coil, and beta-strand based on the integration (or peak enumeration) of selected portions of either 1-D or 2-D 1H NMR spectra. These new and very simple procedures have been found to compare quite favorably to other well established techniques for secondary structure determination such as CD, Raman and IR spectroscopy.     

Determination of the secondary structure and molecular topology of interleukin-1 beta by use of two- and three-dimensional heteronuclear 15N-1H NMR spectroscopy

A study of the regular secondary structure elements of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta has been carried out using NMR spectroscopy. Using a randomly 15N labeled sample, a number of heteronuclear three- and two-dimensional NMR experiments have been performed, which have enabled a complete analysis of short-, medium-, and long-range NOEs between protons of the polypeptide backbone, based on the sequence-specific resonance assignments that have been reported previously [Driscoll, P. C., Clore, G. M., Marion, D., Wingfield, P. T., & Gronenborn, A. M. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 3542-3556]. In addition, accurate measurements of a large number of 3JHN alpha coupling constants have been carried out by two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple-quantum-coherence-J spectroscopy. Amide NH solvent exchange rates have been measured by following the time dependence of the 15N-1H correlation spectrum of interleukin-1 beta on dissolving the protein in D2O solution. Analysis of these data indicate that the structure of interleukin-1 beta consists of 12 extended beta-strands aligned in a single extended network of antiparallel beta-sheet structure that in part folds into a skewed six-stranded beta-barrel. In the overall structure the beta-strands are connected by tight turns, short loops, and long loops in a manner that displays approximate pseudo-three-fold symmetry. The secondary structure analysis is discussed in the light of the unrefined X-ray structure of interleukin-1 beta at 3-A resolution [Priestle, J. P., Sch?r, H.-P., & Grütter, M. G. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 339-343], as well as biological activity data. Discernible differences between the two studies are highlighted. Finally, we have discovered conformational heterogeneity in the structure of interleukin-1 beta, which is characterized by an exchange rate that is slow on the NMR chemical shift time scale.     

A combined proton and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of the combining site of M603, a phosphocholine-binding myeloma protein

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on the two phosphorus nuclei of the phosphonium analogue (Me3P+CH2CH2OPO3(2-)) of phosphocholine are used to monitor the charged subsites in the phosphocholine-binding immunoglobulin A mouse myeloma M603. Comparison of the 270-MHz 1H NMR difference spectrum on addition of either this analogue or phosphocholine to M603 and the almost identical changes in the pKa values of the phosphate groups on binding to M603 confirm that the analogue is a good model for phosphocholine. The pKa of the phosphate groups is decreased by 0.5 unit on binding to M603, which is consistent with the phosphate group being hydrogen bonding to Tyr-33H and Arg-95L, as suggested from the X-ray structure, and also implies that the binding energies for the mono- and dianion are similar. The P+Me3 moiety is used to probe the electrostatic interactions in the choline subsite. Titration of the chemical shift of the phosphonium phosphorus reflects a group on the protein that has a pKa value of less than or equal to 5, which from the refined X-ray structure (D.R. Davies, personal communication) of the site is assigned to Asp-97L. The choline subsite is monitored by using 1H NMR difference spectra, which indicates that the subsite is highly aromatic as expected from the crystal structure that places Trp-107H and Tyr-100L in this subsite. The ring current interactions from these rings can account for the 1H NMR chemical shift data on choline.     

Triple-resonance multidimensional NMR study of calmodulin complexed with the binding domain of skeletal muscle myosin light-chain kinase: indication of a conformational change in the central helix

Heteronuclear 3D and 4D NMR experiments have been used to obtain 1H, 13C, and 15N backbone chemical shift assignments in Ca(2+)-loaded calmodulin complexed with a 26-residue synthetic peptide (M13) corresponding to the calmodulin-binding domain (residues 577-602) of rabbit skeletal muscle myosin light-chain kinase. Comparison of the chemical shift values with those observed in peptide-free calmodulin [Ikura, M., Kay, L. E., & Bax, A. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 4659-4667] shows that binding of M13 peptide induces substantial chemical shift changes that are not localized in one particular region of the protein. The largest changes are found in the first helix of the Ca(2+)-binding site I (E11-E14), the N-terminal portion of the central helix (M72-D78), and the second helix of the Ca(2+)-binding site IV (F141-M145). Analysis of backbone NOE connectivities indicates a change from alpha-helical to an extended conformation for residues 75-77 upon complexation with M13. This conformational change is supported by upfield changes in the C alpha and carbonyl chemical shifts of these residues relative to M13-free calmodulin and by hydrogen-exchange experiments that indicate that the amide protons of residues 75-82 are in fast exchange (kexch greater than 10 s-1 at pH 7, 35 degrees C) with the solvent. No changes in secondary structure are observed for the first helix of site I or the C-terminal helix of site IV. Upon complexation with M13, a significant decrease in the amide exchange rate is observed for residues T110, L112, G113, and E114 at the end of the second helix of site III.     

Two-dimensional NMR studies of Kazal proteinase inhibitors. 1. Sequence-specific assignments and secondary structure of turkey ovomucoid third domain

Two-dimensional proton NMR experiments have been used to sequentially assign resonances to all of the peptide backbone protons of turkey ovomucoid third domain (OMTKY3) except those of the N-terminal alpha-amino group whose signal was not resolved owing to exchange with the solvent. Assignments also have been made for more than 80% of the side-chain protons. Two-dimensional chemical shift correlated spectroscopy (COSY), relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy (RELAY), and two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy (HOHAHA) were used to identify the spin systems of almost half of the residues prior to sequential assignment. Assignments were based on two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancements observed between adjacent residues. The secondary structure of OMTKY3 in solution was determined from additional assigned NOESY cross-peaks; it closely resembles the secondary structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction of OMTKY3 in complex with Streptomyces griseus proteinase B [Fujinaga, M., Read, R.J., Sielecki, A., Ardelt, W., Laskowski, M., Jr., & James, M.N.G. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 4868-4872]. The NMR data provide evidence for three slowly exchanging amide protons that were not identified as hydrogen-bond donors in the crystal structure.     

15N NMR assignments and chemical shift analysis of uniformly labeled 15N calbindin D9k in the apo, (Cd2+)1 and (Ca2+)2 states.

15N has been uniformly incorporated into the EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding protein calbindin D9k so that heteronuclear experiments can be used to further characterize the structure and dynamics of the apo, (Cd2+)1 and (Ca2+)2 states of the protein. The 15N NMR resonances were assigned by 2D 15N-resolved 1H experiments, which also allowed the identification of a number of sequential and medium-range 1H-1H contacts that are obscured by chemical shift degeneracy in homonuclear experiments. The 15N chemical shifts are analyzed with respect to correlations with protein secondary structure. In addition, the changes in 15N chemical shift found for the apo----(Cd2+)1----(Ca2+)2 binding sequence confirm that the effects on the protein are mainly associated with chelation of the first ion.     

Assignment of the aliphatic 1H and 13C resonances of the Bacillus subtilis glucose permease IIA domain using double- and triple-resonance heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Nearly complete assignment of the aliphatic 1H and 13C resonances of the IIAglc domain of Bacillus subtilis has been achieved using a combination of double- and triple-resonance three-dimensional (3D) NMR experiments. A constant-time 3D triple-resonance HCA(CO)N experiment, which correlates the 1H alpha and 13C alpha chemical shifts of one residue with the amide 15N chemical shift of the following residue, was used to obtain sequence-specific assignments of the 13C alpha resonances. The 1H alpha and amide 15N chemical shifts had been sequentially assigned previously using principally 3D 1H-15N NOESY-HMQC and TOCSY-HMQC experiments [Fairbrother, W. J., Cavanagh, J., Dyson, H. J., Palmer, A. G., III, Sutrina, S. L., Reizer, J., Saier, M. H., Jr., & Wright, P. E. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 6896-6907]. The side-chain spin systems were identified using 3D HCCH-COSY and HCCH-TOCSY spectra and were assigned sequentially on the basis of their 1H alpha and 13C alpha chemical shifts. The 3D HCCH and HCA(CO)N experiments rely on large heteronuclear one-bond J couplings for coherence transfers and therefore offer a considerable advantage over conventional 1H-1H correlation experiments that rely on 1H-1H 3J couplings, which, for proteins the size of IIAglc (17.4 kDa), may be significantly smaller than the 1H line widths. The assignments reported herein are essential for the determination of the high-resolution solution structure of the IIAglc domain of B. subtilis using 3D and 4D heteronuclear edited NOESY experiments; these assignments have been used to analyze 3D 1H-15N NOESY-HMQC and 1H-13C NOESY-HSQC spectra and calculate a low-resolution structure [Fairbrother, W. J., Gippert, G. P., Reizer, J., Saier, M. H., Jr., & Wright, P. E. (1992) FEBS Lett. 296, 148-152].     

ORB, a homology-based program for the prediction of protein NMR chemical shifts

A computer program (ORB) has been developed to predict ¹H,¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts of previouslyunassigned proteins. The program makes use of the information contained in achemical shift database of previously assigned proteins supplemented by astatistically derived averaged chemical shift database in which the shifts arecategorized according to their residue, atom and secondary structure type[Wishart et al. (1991) J. Mol. Biol., 222, 311–333]. The predictionprocess starts with a multiple alignment of all previously assigned proteinswith the unassigned query protein. ORB uses the sequence and secondarystructure alignment program XALIGN for this task [Wishart et al. (1994)CABIOS, 10, 121–132; 687–688]. The prediction algorithm in ORB isbased on a scoring of the known shifts for each sequence. The scores dependon global sequence similarity, local sequence similarity, structuralsimilarity and residue similarity and determine how much weight one particularshift is given in the prediction process. In situations where no applicablepreviously assigned chemical shifts are available, the shifts derived from theaveraged database are used. In addition to supplying the user with predictedchemical shifts, ORB calculates a confidence value for every prediction. Theseconfidence values enable the user to judge which predictions are the mostaccurate and they are particularly useful when ORB is incorporated into acomplete autoassignment package. The usefulness of ORB was tested on threemedium-sized proteins: an interleukin-8 analog, a troponin C synthetic peptideheterodimer and cardiac troponin C. Excellent results are obtained if ORB isable to use the chemical shifts of at least one highly homologous sequence.ORB performs well as long as the sequence identity between proteins with knownchemical shifts and the new sequence is not less than 30%.     

Relationship between nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift and protein secondary structure

An analysis of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift assignments and secondary structure designations for over 70 proteins has revealed some very strong and unexpected relationships. Similar studies, performed on smaller databases, for 13C and 15N chemical shifts reveal equally strong correlations to protein secondary structure. Among the more interesting results to emerge from this work is the finding that all 20 naturally occurring amino acids experience a mean alpha-1H upfield shift of 0.39 parts per million (from the random coil value) when placed in a helical configuration. In a like manner, the alpha-1H chemical shift is found to move downfield by an average of 0.37 parts per million when the residue is placed in a beta-strand or extended configuration. Similar changes are also found for amide 1H, carbonyl 13C, alpha-13C and amide 15N chemical shifts. Other relationships between chemical shift and protein conformation are also uncovered; in particular, a correlation between helix dipole effects and amide proton chemical shifts as well as a relationship between alpha-proton chemical shifts and main-chain flexibility. Additionally, useful relationships between alpha-proton chemical shifts and backbone dihedral angles as well as correlations between amide proton chemical shifts and hydrogen bond effects are demonstrated.     

‘Random coil’ 1H chemical shifts obtained as a function of temperature and trifluoroethanol concentration for the peptide series GGXGG

Summary Proton chemical shifts of a series of disordered linear peptides (H-Gly-Gly-X-Gly-Gly-OH, with X being one of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids) have been obtained using 1D and 2D ¹H NMR at pH 5.0 as a function of temperature and solvent composition. The use of 2D methods has allowed some ambiguities in side-chain assignments in previous studies to be resolved. An additional benefit of the temperature data is that they can be used to obtain ‘random coil’ amide proton chemical shifts at any temperature between 278 and 318 K by interpolation. Changes of chemical shift as a function of trifluoroethanol concentration have also been determined at a variety of temperatures for a subset of peptides. Significant changes are found in backbone and side-chain amide proton chemical shifts in these ‘random coil’ peptides with increasing amounts of trifluoroethanol, suggesting that caution is required when interpreting chemical shift changes as a measure of helix formation in peptides in the presence of this solvent. Comparison of the proton chemical shifts obtained here for H-Gly-Gly-X-Gly-Gly-OH with those for H-Gly-Gly-X-Ala-OH [Bundi, A. and Wüthrich, K. (1979) Biopolymers, 18, 285–297] and for Ac-Gly-Gly-X-Ala-Gly-Gly-NH₂ [Wishart, D.S., Bigam, C.G., Holm, A., Hodges, R.S. and Sykes, B.D. (1995) J. Biomol. NMR, 5, 67–81] generally shows good agreement for CH protons, but reveals significant variability for NH protons. Amide proton chemical shifts appear to be highly sensitive to local sequence variations and probably also to solution conditions. Caution must therefore be exercised in any structural interpretation based on amide proton chemical shifts.     

1H, 15N, and 13C backbone chemical shift assignments, secondary structure, and magnesium-binding characteristics of the Bacillus subtilis response regulator, Spo0F, determined by heteronuclear high-resolution NMR.

Spo0F, sporulation stage 0 F protein, a 124-residue protein responsible, in part, for regulating the transition of Bacillus subtilis from a vegetative state to a dormant endospore, has been studied by high-resolution NMR. The 1H, 15N, and 13C chemical shift assignments for the backbone residues have been determined from analyses of 3D spectra, 15N TOCSY-HSQC, 15N NOESY-HSQC, HNCA, and HN(CO)CA. Assignments for many sidechain proton resonances are also reported. The secondary structure, inferred from short- and medium-range NOEs, 3JHN alpha coupling constants, and hydrogen exchange patterns, define a topology consistent with a doubly wound (alpha/beta)5 fold. Interestingly, comparison of the secondary structure of Spo0F to the structure of the Escherichia coli response regulator, chemotaxis Y protein (CheY) (Volz K, Matsumura P, 1991, J Biol Chem 266:15511-15519; Bruix M et al., 1993, Eur J Biochem 215:573-585), show differences in the relative length of secondary structure elements that map onto a single face of the tertiary structure of CheY. This surface may define a region of binding specificity for response regulators. Magnesium titration of Spo0F, followed by amide chemical shift changes, gives an equilibrium dissociation constant of 20 +/- 5 mM. Amide resonances most perturbed by magnesium binding are near the putative site of phosphorylation, Asp 54.     

Solubilization and localization of weakly polar lipids in unsonicated egg phosphatidylcholine: A 13C MAS NMR study

The weakly polar lipids cholesteryl ester, triacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol incorporate to a limited extent into the lamellar structure of small unilamellar vesicles. The localization of the carbonyl group(s) at the aqueous interface was detected by [13C]carbonyl chemical shift changes relative to the neat unhydrated lipid [Hamilton, J.A., & Small, D.M. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 6878-6882; Hamilton, J.A., & Small, D.M. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 7318-7321; Hamilton, J.A., Bhamidipati, S.B., Kodali, D.R., & Small, D.M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 1177-1186]. This study uses 13C NMR to investigate the interactions of these lipids with unsonicated (multilamellar) phosphatidylcholine, a model system for cellular membranes and surfaces of emulsion particles with low curvature. Magic angle spinning reduced the broad lines of the unsonicated dispersions to narrow lines comparable to those from sonicated dispersions. [13C]Carbonyl chemical shifts revealed incorporation of the three lipids into the lamellar structure of the unsonicated phospholipids and a partial hydration of the carbonyl groups similar to that observed in small vesicles. Other properties of interfacial weakly polar lipids in multilayers were similar to those in small unilamellar bilayers. There is thus a general tendency of weakly polar lipids to incorporate at least to a small extent into the lamellar structure of phospholipids and take on interfacial properties that are distinct from their bulk-phase properties. This pool of surface-located lipid is likely to be directly involved in enzymatic transformations and protein-mediated transport. The 13C magic angle spinning NMR method may be generally useful for determining the orientation of molecules in model membranes.     

Rapid and reliable protein structure determination via chemical shift threading

Protein structure determination using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be both time-consuming and labor intensive. Here we demonstrate how chemical shift threading can permit rapid, robust, and accurate protein structure determination using only chemical shift data. Threading is a relatively old bioinformatics technique that uses a combination of sequence information and predicted (or experimentally acquired) low-resolution structural data to generate high-resolution 3D protein structures. The key motivations behind using NMR chemical shifts for protein threading lie in the fact that they are easy to measure, they are available prior to 3D structure determination, and they contain vital structural information. The method we have developed uses not only sequence and chemical shift similarity but also chemical shift-derived secondary structure, shift-derived super-secondary structure, and shift-derived accessible surface area to generate a high quality protein structure regardless of the sequence similarity (or lack thereof) to a known structure already in the PDB. The method (called E-Thrifty) was found to be very fast (often?<?10 min/structure) and to significantly outperform other shift-based or threading-based structure determination methods (in terms of top template model accuracy)—with an average TM-score performance of 0.68 (vs. 0.50–0.62 for other methods). Coupled with recent developments in chemical shift refinement, these results suggest that protein structure determination, using only NMR chemical shifts, is becoming increasingly practical and reliable. E-Thrifty is available as a web server at http://ethrifty.ca.     

Determination of the secondary structure and folding topology of human interleukin-4 using three-dimensional heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The secondary structure of human recombinant interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been investigated by three-dimensional (3D) 15N- and 13C-edited nuclear Overhauser (NOE) spectroscopy on the basis of the 1H, 15N, and 13C assignments presented in the preceding paper [Powers, R., Garrett, D. S., March, C. J., Frieden, E. A., Gronenborn, A. M., & Clore, G. M. (1992) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. Based on the NOE data involving the NH, C alpha H, and C beta H protons, as well as 3JHN alpha coupling constant, amide exchange, and 13C alpha and 13C beta secondary chemical shift data, it is shown that IL-4 consists of four long helices (residues 9-21, 45-64, 74-96, and 113-129), two small helical turns (residues 27-29 and 67-70), and a mini antiparallel beta-sheet (residues 32-34 and 110-112). In addition, the topological arrangement of the helices and the global fold could be readily deduced from a number of long-range interhelical NOEs identified in the 3D 13C-edited NOE spectrum in combination with the spatial restrictions imposed by three disulfide bridges. These data indicate that the helices of interleukin-4 are arranged in a left-handed four-helix bundle with two overhand connections.     

H NMR study of a complex between the lac repressor headpiece and a 22 base pair symmetric lac operator

A complex between the lac repressor headpiece and a fully symmetric tight-binding 22 bp lac operator was studied by 2D NMR. Several 2D NOE spectra were recorded for the complex in both H2O and 2H2O. Many NOE cross-peaks between the headpiece and DNA could be identified, and changes in the chemical shift of the DNA protons upon complex formation were analyzed. Comparison of these data with those obtained for a complex between the headpiece and a 14 bp half-operator, studied previously [Boelens, R., Scheek, R. M., Lamerichs, R. M. J. N., de Vlieg, J., van Boom, J. H., & Kaptein, R. (1987) in DNA-ligand interactions (Guschlbauer, W., & Saenger, W., Eds.) pp 191-215, Plenum, New York], shows that two headpieces form a specific complex with the 22 bp lac operator in which each headpiece binds in the same way as found for the 14 bp complex. The orientation of the recognition helix in the major groove of DNA in these complexes is opposite with respect to the dyad axis to that found for other repressors.     

Overcoming the overlap problem in the assignment of 1H NMR spectra of larger proteins by use of three-dimensional heteronuclear 1H-15N Hartmann-Hahn-multiple quantum coherence and nuclear Overhauser-multiple quantum coherence spectroscopy: application to interleukin 1 beta

The application of three-dimensional (3D) heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy to the sequential assignment of the 1H NMR spectra of larger proteins is presented, using uniformly labeled (approximately 95%) [15N]interleukin 1 beta, a protein of 153 residues and molecular mass of 17.4 kDa, as an example. The two-dimensional (2D) 600-MHz spectra of interleukin 1 beta are too complex for complete analysis, owing to extensive cross-peak overlap and chemical shift degeneracy. We show that the combined use of 3D 1H-15N Hartmann-Hahn-multiple quantum coherence (HOHAHA-HMQC) and nuclear Overhauser-multiple quantum coherence (NOESY-HMQC) spectroscopy, designed to provide the necessary through-bond and through-space correlations for sequential assignment, provides a practical general-purpose method for resolving ambiguities which severely limit the analysis of conventional 2D NMR spectra. The absence of overlapping cross-peaks in these 3D spectra allows the unambiguous identification of C alpha H(i)-NH(i+1) and NH(i)-NH(i+1) through-space nuclear Overhauser connectivities necessary for connecting a particular C alpha H(i)-NH(i) through-bond correlation with its associated through-space sequential cross-peak The problem of amide NH chemical shift degeneracy in the 1H NMR spectrum is therefore effectively removed, and the assignment procedure simply involves inspecting a series of 2D 1H-1H slices edited by the chemical shift of the directly bonded 15N atom. Connections between residues can be identified almost without any knowledge of the spin system types involved, though this type of information is clearly required for the eventual placement of the connected residues within the primary sequence.