S100A1 is a novel molecular chaperone and a member of the Hsp70/Hsp90 multichaperone complex

Although calmodulin is known to be a component of the Hsp70/Hsp90 multichaperone complex, the functional role of the protein remains uncertain. In this study, we have identified S100A1, but not calmodulin or other S100 proteins, as a potent molecular chaperone and a new member of the multichaperone complex. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays and co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicated the formation of stable complexes between S100A1 and Hsp90, Hsp70, FKBP52, and CyP40 both in vitro and in mammalian cells. S100A1 potently protected citrate synthase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and rhodanese from heat-induced aggregation and suppressed the aggregation of chemically denatured rhodanese and citrate synthase during the refolding pathway. In addition, S100A1 suppressed the heat-induced inactivation of citrate synthase activity, similar to that for Hsp90 and p23. The chaperone activity of S100A1 was antagonized by calmodulin antagonists, such as fluphenazine and prenylamine, that is, indeed an intrinsic function of the protein. The overexpression of S100A1 in COS-7 cells protected transiently expressed firefly luciferase and Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase from inactivation during heat shock. The results demonstrate a novel physiological function for S100A1 and bring us closer to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the Hsp70/Hsp90 multichaperone complex.     

Structural environment dictates the biological significance of heme-responsive motifs and the role of Hsp90 in the activation of the heme activator protein Hap1

Heme-responsive motifs (HRMs) mediate heme regulation of diverse regulatory proteins. The heme activator protein Hap1 contains seven HRMs, but only one of them, HRM7, is essential for heme activation of Hap1. To better understand the molecular basis underlying the biological significance of HRMs, we examined the effects of various mutations of HRM7 on Hap1. We found that diverse mutations of HRM7 significantly diminished the extent of Hap1 activation by heme and moderately enhanced the interaction of Hap1 with Hsp90. Furthermore, deletions of nonregulatory sequences completely abolished heme activation of Hap1 and greatly enhanced the interaction of Hap1 with Hsp90. These results show that the biological functions of HRMs and Hsp90 are highly sensitive to structural changes. The unique role of HRM7 in heme activation stems from its specific structural environment, not its mere presence. Likewise, the role of Hsp90 in Hap1 activation is dictated by the conformational or structural state of Hap1, not by the mere strength of Hap1-Hsp90 interaction. It appears likely that HRM7 and Hsp90 act together to promote the Hap1 conformational changes that are necessary for Hap1 activation. Such fundamental mechanisms of HRM-Hsp90 cooperation may operate in diverse regulatory systems to mediate signal transduction.     

Independent regulation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 chaperones by Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing protein Sti1 (Hop1)

Hsp70 and Hsp90 protein chaperones cooperate in a protein-folding pathway required by many "client" proteins. The co-chaperone Sti1p coordinates functions of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in this pathway. Sti1p has three tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains. TPR1 binds Hsp70, TPR2a binds Hsp90, and the ligand for TPR2b is unknown. Although Sti1p is thought to be dedicated to the client folding pathway, we earlier showed that Sti1p regulated Hsp70, independently of Hsp90, in a way that impairs yeast [PSI+] prion propagation. Using this prion system to monitor Sti1p regulation of Hsp70 and an Hsp90-inhibiting compound to monitor Hsp90 regulation, we identified Sti1p mutations that separately affect Hsp70 and Hsp90. TPR1 mutations impaired Sti1p regulation of Hsp70, but deletion of TPR2a and TPR2b did not. Conversely, TPR2a and TPR2b mutations impaired Sti1p regulation of Hsp90, but deletion of TPR1 did not. All Sti1p mutations variously impaired the client folding pathway, which requires both Hsp70 and Hsp90. Thus, Sti1p regulated Hsp70 and Hsp90 separately, Hsp90 is implicated as a TPR2b ligand, and mutations separately affecting regulation of either chaperone impair a pathway that is dependent upon both. We further demonstrate that client folding depended upon bridging of Hsp70 and Hsp90 by Sti1p and find conservation of the independent regulation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 by human Hop1.     

Client-loading conformation of the Hsp90 molecular chaperone revealed in the cryo-EM structure of the human Hsp90:Hop complex

Hsp90 is an essential molecular chaperone required for the folding and activation of many hundreds of cellular "client" proteins. The ATP-dependent chaperone cycle involves significant conformational rearrangements of the Hsp90 dimer and interaction with a network of cochaperone proteins. Little is known about the mechanism of client protein binding or how cochaperone interactions modulate Hsp90 conformational states. We have determined the cryo-EM structure of the human Hsp90:Hop complex that receives client proteins from the Hsp70 chaperone. Hop stabilizes an alternate Hsp90 open state, where hydrophobic client-binding surfaces have converged and the N-terminal domains have rotated and match the closed, ATP conformation. Hsp90 is thus simultaneously poised for client loading by Hsp70 and subsequent N-terminal dimerization and ATP hydrolysis. Upon binding of a single Hsp70, the Hsp90:Hop conformation remains essentially unchanged. These results identify distinct functions for the Hop cochaperone, revealing an asymmetric mechanism for Hsp90 regulation and client loading.     

Synthesis of novel fluorescent probes for the molecular chaperone Hsp90

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone necessary for maintaining oncogenic transformation. There is substantial interest in developing novel agents that bind to the N-terminal of the chaperone. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of two fluorescent Hsp90 inhibitors and probe their use in an Hsp90 fluorescent polarization assay.     

Characterization of Hsp70 binding and nucleotide exchange by the yeast Hsp110 chaperone Sse1

SSE1 and SSE2 encode the essential yeast members of the Hsp70-related Hsp110 molecular chaperone family. Both mammalian Hsp110 and the Sse proteins functionally interact with cognate cytosolic Hsp70s as nucleotide exchange factors. We demonstrate here that Sse1 forms high-affinity (Kd approximately 10-8 M) heterodimeric complexes with both yeast Ssa and mammalian Hsp70 chaperones and that binding of ATP to Sse1 is required for binding to Hsp70s. Sse1.Hsp70 heterodimerization confers resistance to exogenously added protease, indicative of conformational changes in Sse1 resulting in a more compact structure. The nucleotide binding domains of both Sse1/2 and the Hsp70s dictate interaction specificity and are sufficient for mediating heterodimerization with no discernible contribution from the peptide binding domains. In support of a strongly conserved functional interaction between Hsp110 and Hsp70, Sse1 is shown to associate with and promote nucleotide exchange on human Hsp70. Nucleotide exchange activity by Sse1 is physiologically significant, as deletion of both SSE1 and the Ssa ATPase stimulatory protein YDJ1 is synthetically lethal. The Hsp110 family must therefore be considered an essential component of Hsp70 chaperone biology in the eukaryotic cell.     

Association of DJ-1 with chaperones and enhanced association and colocalization with mitochondrial Hsp70 by oxidative stress

DJ-1 is a novel oncogene and causative gene for familial form of the Parkinson's disease (PD). DJ-1 has been shown to play a role in anti-oxidative stress by eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The onset of PD is thought to be caused by oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury, which leads to protein aggregation that results in neuronal cell death. However, the mechanism by which DJ-1 triggers the onset of PD is still not clear. In this study, we analyzed association and localization of DJ-1 and its mutants with various chaperones. The results showed that DJ-1 and its mutants were associated with Hsp70, CHIP and mtHsp70/Grp75, a mitochondria-resident Hsp70, and that L166P and M26I mutants found in PD patients were strongly associated with Hsp70 and CHIP compared to wild-type and other DJ-1 mutants. DJ-1 and its mutants were colocalized with Hsp70 and CHIP in cells. Furthermore, association and colocalization of wildtype DJ-1 with mtHsp70 in mitochondria were found to be enhanced by treatment of cells with H₂O₂. These results suggest that translocation of DJ-1 to mitochondria after oxidative stress is carried out in association with chaperones.     

Cooperative interaction of Hsp40 and TPR1 with Hsp70 reverses Hsp70-HspBp1 complex formation

Hsp40 and TPR1 are chaperone adaptors that regulate Hsp70-dependent folding processes by interacting with the amino terminal and carboxy terminal domains of Hsp70, respectively. In this study, we report cooperative interactions involving Hsp70, Hsp40, and TPR1 that enhance Hsp70-dependent folding of chemically denatured substrates. Hsp40 and Hsp70 dependent folding of chemically denatured luciferase was enhanced by up to 80% when TPR1 was also present. HspBp1, a negative modulator of Hsp70, completely inhibited Hsp70-dependent folding in the presence of Hsp40. However, when TPR1 was included in the reaction, the inhibitory effect of HspBp1 was reversed. To analyze the interactions, Kd analysis and competition assays were carried out. The Kds of the interactions of Hsp40, TRP1, and HspBp1 with Hsp70 were 0.5, 0.6, and 0.04 mM, respectively. Interestingly, the Hsp70/HspBp1 complex could only be dissociated in the presence of both Hsp40 and TPR1, suggesting cooperative interaction between Hsp70, Hsp40 and TPR1. To examine these interactions in vivo, we established a tetracycline-regulatable Hela cell line that expresses Hsp70 in the absence of doxycycline. Expression of HspBp1 inhibited Hsp70-dependent folding of heat-denatured luciferase, and this effect was only reversed in the presence of Hsp40 and TPR1. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism of positive regulation of Hsp70-dependent folding.     

BAG-1 modulates the chaperone activity of Hsp70/Hsc70.

The 70 kDa heat shock family of molecular chaperones is essential to a variety of cellular processes, yet it is unclear how these proteins are regulated in vivo. We present evidence that the protein BAG-1 is a potential modulator of the molecular chaperones, Hsp70 and Hsc70. BAG-1 binds to the ATPase domain of Hsp70 and Hsc70, without requirement for their carboxy-terminal peptide-binding domain, and can be co-immunoprecipitated with Hsp/Hsc70 from cell lysates. Purified BAG-1 and Hsp/Hsc70 efficiently form heteromeric complexes in vitro. BAG-1 inhibits Hsp/Hsc70-mediated in vitro refolding of an unfolded protein substrate, whereas BAG-1 mutants that fail to bind Hsp/Hsc70 do not affect chaperone activity. The binding of BAG-1 to one of its known cellular targets, Bcl-2, in cell lysates was found to be dependent on ATP, consistent with the possible involvement of Hsp/Hsc70 in complex formation. Overexpression of BAG-1 also protected certain cell lines from heat shock-induced cell death. The identification of Hsp/Hsc70 as a partner protein for BAG-1 may explain the diverse interactions observed between BAG-1 and several other proteins, including Raf-1, steroid hormone receptors and certain tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. The inhibitory effects of BAG-1 on Hsp/Hsc70 chaperone activity suggest that BAG-1 represents a novel type of chaperone regulatory proteins and thus suggest a link between cell signaling, cell death and the stress response.     

Hsp70 chaperone ligands control domain association via an allosteric mechanism mediated by the interdomain linker

Hsp70 chaperones assist in protein folding, disaggregation, and membrane translocation by binding to substrate proteins with an ATP-regulated affinity that relies on allosteric coupling between ATP-binding and substrate-binding domains. We have studied single- and two-domain versions of the E. coli Hsp70, DnaK, to explore the mechanism of interdomain communication. We show that the interdomain linker controls ATPase activity by binding to a hydrophobic cleft between subdomains IA and IIA. Furthermore, the domains of DnaK dock only when ATP binds and behave independently when ADP is bound. Major conformational changes in both domains accompany ATP-induced docking: of particular importance, some regions of the substrate-binding domain are stabilized, while those near the substrate-binding site become destabilized. Thus, the energy of ATP binding is used to form a stable interface between the nucleotide- and substrate-binding domains, which results in destabilization of regions of the latter domain and consequent weaker substrate binding.     

Modulation of polyglutamine inclusion formation by the Hsp70 chaperone machine

Components of the Hsp70 chaperone machine have been implied in protection against polyglutamine (poly-Q) pathologies. Yet, little is known about specific mechanisms and the rate-limiting components that account for this protective effect. Here, we examined the effects of an Hsp70 chaperone family member (HspA1A) and its cofactors Hsp40 (DnaJB1), Bag-1 and CHIP on poly-Q protein inclusion formation and SDS-insolubilization. Overexpression of HspA1A alone did not suppress inclusion formation, while overexpression of DnaJB1 reduced poly-Q inclusion formation and insolubilization. The reducing effect of DnaJB1 on inclusion formation was enhanced by coexpressing HspA1A, and was dependent on the interaction of DnaJB1 with Hsp70/Hsc70 chaperones. Additionally, two factors connecting Hsp70 activity with protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system Bag-1 and CHIP slightly decreased the levels of soluble poly-Q protein, but the amount of aggregated protein and fraction of cells with inclusions remained unaltered. Our data suggest that the HspA1A chaperone machine can modulate poly-Q inclusion formation depending on the ratio of its components and that DnaJB1 is the rate-limiting step.     

Identification of novel quaternary domain interactions in the Hsp90 chaperone, GRP94

The structural basis for the coupling of ATP binding and hydrolysis to chaperone activity remains a central question in Hsp90 biology. By analogy to MutL, ATP binding to Hsp90 is thought to promote intramolecular N-terminal dimerization, yielding a molecular clamp functioning in substrate protein activation. Though observed in studies with recombinant domains, whether such quaternary states are present in native Hsp90s is unknown. In this study, native subunit interactions in GRP94, the endoplasmic reticulum Hsp90, were analyzed using chemical cross-linking in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry. We report the identification of two distinct intermolecular interaction sites. Consistent with previous studies, one site comprises the C-terminal dimerization domain. The remaining site represents a novel intermolecular contact between the N-terminal and middle (M) domains of opposing subunits. This N+M domain interaction was present in the nucleotide-empty, ADP-, ATP-, or geldanamycin-bound states and could be selectively disrupted upon addition of synthetic geldanamycin dimers. These results identify a compact, intertwined quaternary conformation of native GRP94 and suggest that intersubunit N+M interactions are integral to the structural biology of Hsp90.