Nine amino acid residues at the NH2-terminal of lipoprotein are sufficient for its modification, processing, and localization in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli

We have examined the structural requirements at the NH2-terminal region of the lipoprotein for its assembly in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli by constructing a hybrid protein consisting of an NH2-terminal portion of the prolipoprotein, consisting of the signal peptide and 9 amino acid residues of lipoprotein, and the entire beta-lactamase sequence. The results from this study indicate that the hybrid protein is modified with glyceride, processed in a globomycin-sensitive step, and localized in the outer membrane. The translocation of the hybrid protein across the cytoplasmic membrane occurs post-translationally and is inhibited by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Our results, therefore, indicate that the signal peptide and 9 amino acid residues of prolipoprotein are sufficient for its modification, processing, and localization in the outer membrane.     

Aspartate transaminase from E. coli: amino acid sequences of the NH2-terminal 33 residues and chymotryptic pyridoxyl tetrapeptide.

The amino acid sequences of pyridoxal-binding tetrapeptide and the NH₂-terminal portion of aspartate transaminase from $\text{E.}$$\text{coli}$ B were analyzed and compared with those of the corresponding parts of the cytosolic and mitochondrial isozymes from pig heart. After borohydride reduction and chymotryptic digestion of the $\text{E.}$$\text{coli}$ enzyme, a pyridoxal-containing peptide was isolated, showing the sequence, Ser-Lys(Pxy)-Asn-Phe, identical with that of the cytosolic isozyme. The NH₂-terminal sequence was determined up to 33 residues with a liquid phase sequence analyzer. Nearly the same degree of homology was observed among the NH₂-terminal sequences of the three aspartate transaminases.     

The 20 C-terminal amino acid residues of the chloroplast ATP synthase gamma subunit are not essential for activity.

It has been suggested that the last seven to nine amino acid residues at the C terminus of the gamma subunit of the ATP synthase act as a spindle for rotation of the gamma subunit with respect to the alpha beta subunits during catalysis (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628). To test this hypothesis we selectively deleted C-terminal residues from the chloroplast gamma subunit, two at a time starting at the sixth residue from the end and finishing at the 20th residue from the end. The mutant gamma genes were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and assembled with a native alpha3beta3 complex. All the mutant forms of gamma assembled as effectively as the wild-type gamma. Deletion of the terminal 6 residues of gamma resulted in a significant increase (>50%) in the Ca-dependent ATPase activity when compared with the wild-type assembly. The increased activity persisted even after deletion of the C-terminal 14 residues, well beyond the seven residues proposed to form the spindle. Further deletions resulted in a decreased activity to approximately 19% of that of the wild-type enzyme after deleting all 20 C-terminal residues. The results indicate that the tip of the gammaC terminus is not essential for catalysis and raise questions about the role of the C terminus as a spindle for rotation.     

Identification of amino acid residues of Ras protein that are essential for signal-transducing activity but not for enhancement of GTPase activity by GAP.

To determine the amino acid residues required for the signal-transducing activity of the human c-Ha-Ras protein, we introduced point mutations at residues 45-54 near the 'effector region' (residues 32-40). We transfected PC12 cells with these mutant genes and also micro-injected the mutant proteins, bound with an unhydrolyzable GTP analog, into PC12 cells. Both procedures showed that Val45----Glu and Gly48----Cys mutations impaired the ability of the Ras protein to induce morphological change of PC12 cells. These mutations did not affect the guanine nucleotide-binding activity or GTPase activity in the absence or presence of bovine GTPase-activating protein (GAP). Therefore, the Val45 and Gly48 residues should be included by definition in the effector region responsible for the signal transduction, while only a subset of the effector-region residues is required for enhancement of the GTPase activity by GAP.     

Cross-species complementation of the indispensable Escherichia coli era gene highlights amino acid regions essential for activity.

Era is an essential GTP binding protein in Escherichia coli. Two homologs of this protein, Sgp from Streptococcus mutans and Era from Coxiella burnetii, can substitute for the essential function of Era in E. coli. Site-specific and randomly generated Era mutants which may indicate regions of the protein that are of functional importance are described.     

Conserved amino acid residues within the amino-terminal domain of ClpB are essential for the chaperone activity

ClpB from Escherichia coli is a member of a protein-disaggregating multi-chaperone system that also includes DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE. The sequence of ClpB contains two ATP-binding domains that are enclosed between the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal regions. The N-terminal sequence region does not contain known functional sequence motifs. Here, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of four polar residues within the N-terminal domain of ClpB (Thr7, Ser84, Asp103 and Glu109). These residues are conserved in several ClpB homologs. We found that the mutations, T7A, S84A, D103A, and E109A did not significantly affect the secondary structure and thermal stability of ClpB, nor did they inhibit the self-association of ClpB, its basal ATPase activity, or the enhanced rate of the ATP hydrolysis by ClpB in the presence of poly-L-lysine. We observed, however, that three mutations, T7A, D103A, and E109A, reduced the casein-induced activation of the ClpB ATPase. The same three mutant ClpB variants also showed low chaperone activity in the luciferase reactivation assay. We found, however, that the four ClpB mutants, as well as the wild-type, bound similar amounts of inactivated luciferase. In summary, we have identified three essential amino acid residues within the N-terminal region of ClpB that participate in the coupling between a protein-binding signal and the ATP hydrolysis, and also support the chaperone activity of ClpB.     

Scanning mutagenesis identifies amino acid residues essential for the in vivo activity of the Escherichia coli DnaJ (Hsp40) J-domain

The DnaJ (Hsp40) cochaperone regulates the DnaK (Hsp70) chaperone by accelerating ATP hydrolysis in a cycle closely linked to substrate binding and release. The J-domain, the signature motif of the Hsp40 family, orchestrates interaction with the DnaK ATPase domain. We studied the J-domain by creating 42 mutant E. coli DnaJ variants and examining their phenotypes in various separate in vivo assays, namely, bacterial growth at low and high temperatures, motility, and propagation of bacteriophage lambda. Most mutants studied behaved like wild type in all assays. In addition to the (33)HisProAsp(35) (HPD) tripeptide found in all known functional J-domains, our study uncovered three new single substitution mutations (Y25A, K26A, and F47A) that totally abolish J-domain function. Furthermore, two glycine substitution mutants in an exposed flexible loop (R36G, N37G) showed partial loss of J-domain function alone and complete loss of function as a triple (RNQ-GGG) mutant coupled with the phenotypically silent Q38G. Interestingly, all the essential residues map to a small region on the same solvent-exposed face of the J-domain. Engineered mutations in the corresponding residues of the human Hdj1 J-domain grafted in E. coli DnaJ also resulted in loss of function, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved interaction surface. We propose that these clustered residues impart critical sequence determinants necessary for J-domain catalytic activity and reversible contact interface with the DnaK ATPase domain.     

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of human proparathyroid hormone by radioisotope microanalysis.

The amino terminal amino acid sequence of human proparathyroid hormone was determined by a highly sensitive radioisotope method. Fresh human parathyroid glands were incubated with one of several ³H-labeled amino acids after which human proparathyroid hormone labeled with [³H]lysine, [³H]serine, [³H]valine, [³H]arginine, or [³H]leucine was isolated. These specimens were subjected to several cycles of Edman degradation. An increase in the amount of radioactivity liberated at any cycle was taken as evidence that the amino acid at that cycle was the one with which the sample was labeled. By this approach, we found that the amino-terminal sequence of human proparathyroid hormone is lys¹-ser²-val³-lys⁴-lys⁵-arg⁶-ser⁷-val⁸-ser⁹ … leu¹³ … leu¹⁷ … lys¹⁹ … Based on these results, we conclude that the amino-terminal region of human proparathyroid hormone consists of a hexapeptide lys-ser-val-lys-lys-arg followed by the amino acid sequence of human parathyroid hormone.     

Deletion of internal twenty-one amino acid residues of Escherichia coli prolipoprotein does not affect the formation of the murein-bound lipoprotein.

Mutation pgsA affecting the phosphatidylglycerol phosphate synthesis is lethal for all but certain E. coli strains such as strains deleted for the lpp gene or strains containing unmodifiable prolipoprotein like lppD14. Strain SD312 pgsA3 is tolerant to pgsA mutation, which suggests the lpp alleles in strain SD312 pgsA3 and its parental strain SD12 may be defective. DNA sequence analysis of the lpp genes in Escherichia coli strains SD12 and SD312 pgsA using asymmetric polymerase chain reaction showed that the lpp alleles in these two strains contained a 63 base pair deletion corresponding to the 37th to 57th codons of the wild-type lpp gene. [3H]Palmitate labeling of strains SD12 and SDS312 showed that the mutant lipoprotein in SD12 strain was modified with lipid, while the prolipoprotein in SD312 was not modified. The shortened mature lipoprotein in SD12 and the lipid-modified prolipoprotein in globomycin-treated SD12 were found to be covalently attached to the peptidoglycan, while the unmodified prolipoprotein in SD312 did not form significant amounts of murein-bound lipoprotein.     

Truncation of NH2-terminal amino acid residues increases agonistic potency of leukotactin-1 on CC chemokine receptors 1 and 3

Leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1) is a human CC chemokine that binds to both CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) and CCR3. Structurally, Lkn-1 is distinct from other human CC chemokines in that it has long amino acid residues preceding the first cysteine at the NH(2) terminus, and contains two extra cysteines. NH(2)-terminal amino acids of Lkn-1 were deleted serially, and the effects of each deletion were investigated. In CCR1-expressing cells, serial deletion up to 20 amino acids (Delta20) did not change the calcium flux-inducing activity significantly. Deletion of 24 amino acids (Delta24), however, increased the agonistic potency approximately 100-fold. Deletion of 27 or 28 amino acids also increased the agonistic potency to the same level shown by Delta24. Deletion of 29 amino acids, however, abolished the agonistic activity almost completely showing that at least 3 amino acid residues preceding the first cysteine at the NH(2) terminus are essential for the biological activity of Lkn-1. Loss of agonistic activity was due to impaired binding to CCR1. In CCR3-expressing cells, Delta24 was the only form of Lkn-1 mutants that revealed increased agonistic potency. Our results indicate that posttranslational modification is a potential mechanism for the regulation of biological activity of Lkn-1.     

The amino acid sequence of rabbit skeletal alpha-tropomyosin. The NH2-terminal half and complete sequence

The amino acid sequence of the large cyanogen bromide fragment (residues 11 to 127) derived from the NH2-terminal half of alpha-tropomyosin has been determined. This was achieved by automatic sequence analysis of the whole fragment as well as manual sequencing of fragments derived from tryptic digestion of the maleylated fragment and thermolytic, Myxobacter 495 alpha-lytic and Staphylococcus aureus protease digestion of the unmodified fragment. Methionine-containing overlap peptides have been isolated from tryptic digests of the maleylated protein as well as from S. aureus protease digests of the unmodified protein. Coupled with previously published information on the small cyanogen bromide fragments and methionine sequences of tropomyosin, these analyses have permitted the completion of the primary structure of the protein. The complete sequence differs by only 1 residue (Gln-24 instead of Glu-24) from that previously reported. Analysis of the sequence by several authors has permitted rational explanations for the stabilization of its coiled-coil structure, for the existence of its two chains in a nonstaggered arrangement, for a head-to-tail overlap of molecular ends of 8 to 9 residues, for the existence of 14 actin-binding sites on each tropomyosin molecule, and a suggestion for the site of binding of troponin-T.     

Identification of important amino acid residues that modulate binding of Escherichia coli GroEL to its various cochaperones

Genetic experiments have shown that the GroEL/GroES chaperone machine of Escherichia coli is absolutely essential, not only for bacterial growth but also for the propagation of many bacteriophages including lambda. The virulent bacteriophages T4 and RB49 are independent of the host GroES function, because they encode their own cochaperone proteins, Gp31 and CocO, respectively. E. coli groEL44 mutant bacteria do not form colonies above 42 degrees nor do they propagate bacteriophages lambda, T4, or RB49. We found that the vast majority (40/46) of spontaneous groEL44 temperature-resistant colonies at 43 degrees were due to the presence of an intragenic suppressor mutation. These suppressors define 21 different amino acid substitutions in GroEL, each affecting one of 13 different amino acid residues. All of these amino acid residues are located at or near the hinge, which regulates the large en bloc movements of the GroEL apical domain. All of these intragenic suppressors support bacteriophages lambda, T4, and RB49 growth to various extents in the presence of the groEL44 allele. Since it is known that the GroEL44 mutant protein does not interact effectively with Gp31, the suppressor mutations should enhance cochaperone binding. Analogous intragenic suppressor studies were conducted with the groEL673 temperature-sensitive allele.     

All four repeating domains of the endogenous inhibitor for calcium-dependent protease independently retain inhibitory activity. Expression of the cDNA fragments in Escherichia coli

We have already determined the primary structure of the endogenous inhibitor for calcium-dependent protease (CANP inhibitor, calpastatin) from the cDNA sequence and revealed that the CANP inhibitor contains four internally repeating units which could be responsible for its multiple reactive sites (Emori, Y., Kawasaki, H., Imajoh, S., Imahori, K., and Suzuki, K. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 3590-3594). Restriction fragments of the cDNA corresponding to each of the four domains (encoding 104-156 amino acid residues of the total 718 residues) were subcloned into the multicloning site of pUC9 or pUC18 in a direction and frame matched to the lacZ' open reading frame of the vector. Under the lac operator-promoter system, we succeeded in producing truncated fragments of the CANP inhibitor in Escherichia coli. The CANP inhibitor fragments were partially purified, and the inhibitory activities toward calcium-dependent protease (CANP) were examined. All fragments containing well conserved regions of about 30 amino acid residues (domains I-IV) located in the middle of the four units exhibited the inhibitory activity. However, their inhibitory activities varied considerably. Further truncation experiments revealed that small fragments containing 30-70 amino acid residues of the CANP inhibitor still retained inhibitory activity. From these experimental results the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) each of the four repeating units of the CANP inhibitor (about 140 amino acid residues) is a real functional unit and can inhibit CANP activity independently; and 2) domains corresponding to well conserved sequences of about 30 amino acid residues containing a consensus Thr-Ile-Pro-Pro-X-Tyr-Arg sequence are essential for the inhibitory activity, and the bordering regions are important for its modulation.     

Expression of compstatin in Escherichia coli: incorporation of unnatural amino acids enhances its activity

Compstatin, a 13-residue cyclic peptide, is a complement inhibitor that shows therapeutic potential. Several previous approaches have improved the activity of this peptide several-fold. In the present study, we have expressed and purified compstatin from Escherichia coli in an effort to increase its potency and to generate it in high yield in a more economical fashion. An intein-based expression system was used to express compstatin in fusion with chitin-binding domain and Ssp DnaB intein, which were later cleaved from the expressed molecule at room temperature and pH 7.0 to yield pure compstatin in one step. The expressed compstatin showed activity similar to the synthetic compstatin in an ELISA-based assay. The same expression system and purification strategy were used to incorporate three tryptophan analogs, 6-fluoro-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, and 7-aza-tryptophan, into compstatin. Interestingly, incorporation of 6-fluoro-tryptophan increased the activity three-fold relative to wild-type compstatin; in contrast, incorporation of 5-hydroxy- or 7-aza-tryptophan rendered compstatin less active than the wild-type form.     

Expression of guinea-pig liver transglutaminase cDNA in Escherichia coli. Amino-terminal N alpha-acetyl group is not essential for catalytic function of transglutaminase

Transglutaminases (EC 2.3.2.13) catalyze the formation of epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-links and the substitution of a variety of primary amines for the gamma-carboxamide groups of protein-bound glutamine residues. These enzymes are involved in many biological phenomena. Transglutaminase reactions also have been shown to be suitable for applied enzymology. In this study, as a first step of studies to elucidate the structure/function relationship of transglutaminase, we constructed an expression plasmid, pKTG1, containing a cDNA of guinea-pig liver transglutaminase between the NcoI and PstI sites of an expression vector, pKK233-2, and produced the liver transglutaminase as an unfused protein in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzyme was indistinguishable from natural liver transglutaminase in some structural properties such as molecular mass, amino acid composition, and amino- and carboxyl-terminal sequences. However, the alpha-amino group of the amino-terminal alanine residue of the recombinant transglutaminase was not acetylated as was that of the natural enzyme. Comparison of the recombinant enzyme with the natural one did not indicate significant differences in specific activity and apparent Km values for substrates in the histamine incorporation into acetyl alpha s1-casein. The sensitivity to activation by Ca2+ and the rate of catalyzed protein cross-linking were also similar between recombinant and natural transglutaminases. These results indicated that the N alpha-acetyl group in natural liver transglutaminase has not a particular role in the catalytic function of this enzyme.     

Effects of inserting eight amino acid residues into the major lipoprotein on its assembly in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

A DNA sequence consisting of 24 base pairs was inserted into the structural gene (lpp) coding for the major lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane which was carried on a high-copy-number plasmid in which expression was regulated through a lac promoter-operator region. This modification resulted in the insertion of eight amino acid residues, Glu-Glu-Phe-Leu-Glu-Glu-Phe-Leu, between the glutamine residue at position 9 and the leucine residue at position 10 of the wild-type lipoprotein sequence. When production of the mutant lipoprotein was induced by a lac inducer, the cells became swollen, showed unusual morphology, and eventually lysed. When the membrane fraction was analyzed after the induction, the mutant lipoprotein was found to have been normally secreted across the cytoplasmic membrane and assembled in the outer membrane. This lipoprotein was modified with glycerol and palmitic acid and even formed the bound form, which was linked covalently to peptidoglycan. The major difference between the membrane-associated mutant lipoprotein and the wild-type lipoprotein was that the mutant lipoprotein became sensitive to trypsin treatment. These results indicate that the substantial alteration in mutant lipoprotein structure near the amino-terminal end does not interfere with modification of the amino-terminal cysteine residue or cleavage of the signal peptide by the prolipoprotein-specific signal peptidase. However, this mutant lipoprotein assembled in the outer membrane appears to have deleterious effects with respect to envelope structure and cellular morphology and viability.     

Identification and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of three insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in porcine serum.

Three distinct species of IGFBP in porcine serum were identified by NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. The IGFBPs identified include pIGFBP-2 (34 kDa), three isoforms of pIGFBP-3 (43, 40 and 30 kDa) and two isoforms of pIGFBP-4 (30 and 26 kDa). The three isoforms of pIGFBP-3 were found to have a common NH2-terminal amino acid sequence, as were the two isoforms of pIGFBP-4. These results indicate that porcine serum contains a truncated form of IGFBP-3 and two forms of pIGFBP-4, similar to those previously isolated from human and rat serum. Furthermore, the presence of a truncated form(s) of the GH-dependent IGFBP-3 in porcine serum suggests that elucidating its origin and function may be important in understanding how IGFBPs affect the somatogenic actions of GH.     

Purification and determination of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of uracil-DNA glycosylase from human placenta

Uracil-DNA glycosylase has been purified approximately 130,000-fold from extracts of human placenta. Although all of the uracil-DNA glycosylase activity coeluted through six chromatographic steps, at least four distinct peaks of activity were resolved in the final purification on a Mono S column. Each of the peaks containing uracil-DNA glycosylase activity contained two peptides of Mr = 29,000 and Mr = 26,500, respectively, as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Experimental evidence indicated that the Mr = 29,000 peptide was the uracil-DNA glycosylase enzyme. The amino-terminal sequence of each peptide was determined after blotting of the peptides from the gel onto Polybrene GF/C paper. The sequences were not related to each other, and neither was any significant homology to other proteins found. Uracil-DNA glycosylase had a molecular turnover number of approximately 600/min and apparent Km value of 2 microM. The enzyme is a basic protein and was stimulated about 10-fold by 60-70 mM NaCl whereas higher concentrations were inhibitory.