Microbial transglutaminase displays broad acyl-acceptor substrate specificity

The great importance of amide bonds in industrial synthesis has encouraged the search for efficient catalysts of amide bond formation. Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is heavily utilized in crosslinking proteins in the food and textile industries, where the side chain of a glutamine reacts with the side chain of a lysine, forming a secondary amide bond. Long alkylamines carrying diverse chemical entities can substitute for lysine as acyl-acceptor substrates, to link molecules of interest onto peptides or proteins. Here, we explore short and chemically varied acyl-acceptor substrates, to better understand the nature of nonnatural substrates that are tolerated by MTG, with the aim of diversifying biocatalytic applications of MTG. We show, for the first time, that very short-chain alkyl-based amino acids such as glycine can serve as acceptor substrates. The esterified α-amino acids Thr, Ser, Cys, and Trp—but not Ile—also showed reactivity. Extending the search to nonnatural compounds, a ring near the amine group—particularly if aromatic—was beneficial for reactivity, although ring substituents reduced reactivity. Overall, amines attached to a less hindered carbon increased reactivity. Importantly, very small amines carrying either the electron-rich azide or the alkyne groups required for click chemistry were highly reactive as acyl-acceptor substrates, providing a robust route to minimally modified, “clickable” peptides. These results demonstrate that MTG is tolerant to a variety of chemically varied natural and nonnatural acyl-acceptor substrates, which broadens the scope for modification of Gln-containing peptides and proteins.     

Light-chain framework region residue Tyr71 of chimeric B72.3 antibody plays an important role in influencing the TAG72 antigen binding.

The crystallographic study of chimeric B72.3 antibody illustrated that there are three FR side-chain interactions with either CDR residue's side chain or main chain. For example, hydrogen bonds are formed between the hydroxyl group of threonine at L5 in FR1 and the guanidinal nitrogen group of arginine at L24 in CDR1, between the hydroxyl group of tyrosine at L36 in FR2 and the amide nitrogen group of glutamine at L89 in CDR3 and between the hydroxyl group of tyrosine at L71 in FR3 and the carbonyl group of isoleucine at L29 as well as the amide nitrogen group of serine at L31 in CDR1. Elimination of these hydrogen bonds at these FR positions may affect CDR loop conformations. To confirm these assumptions, we altered these FR residues by site-directed mutagenesis and determined binding affinities of these mutant chimeric antibodies for the TAG72 antigen. We found that the substitution of tyrosine by phenylalanine at L71, altering main-chain hydrogen bonds, significantly reduced the binding affinity for the TAG72 antigen by 23-fold, whereas the substitution of threonine and tyrosine by alanine and phenylalanine at L5 and L36, eliminating hydrogen bonds to side-chain atoms, did not affect the binding affinity for the TAG72 antigen. Our results indicate that the light-chain FR residue tyrosine at L71 of chimeric B72.3 antibody plays an important role in influencing the TAG72 antigen binding. Our results will thus be of importance when the humanized B72.3 antibody is constructed, since this important mouse FR residue tyrosine at L71 must be maintained.     

Application of chemical selective cleavage methods to analyze post-translational modification in proteins

Three chemical specific cleavage reactions, one for the carboxyl side of aspartyl peptide bonds, one for the carboxyl side of asparaginyl peptide bonds and another for the amino side of seryl/threonyl peptide bonds have been recently established. Additionally, these reactions simultaneously react on several post-translationally modified groups in peptides or proteins. The modified groups cover the external modifications N-formyl, N-acetyl, N-pyroglutamyi residues and C-terminal-alpha amide, as well as the internal modifications such as O-acetyl serine, phosphorylated serine/tyrosine, sulfonylated tyrosine, glycosylated serine/threonine and glycosylated asparagine. These three cleavage reactions relate to key amino acids for modifications, deamidation for asparagine, phosphorylation and acetylation for serine, and glycosylation for asparagine, serine and threonine. The chemical reactions on these modifications change the peptide mapping pattern, and information from these reactions may contribute characterization and location of post-translational modified groups in the protein.     

Investigation of the PDZ domain ligand binding site using chemically modified peptides

Several chemically modified analogues to a tightly binding ligand for the second PDZ domain of MAGI-3 were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to compete with native peptide ligands. N-methyl scanning of the ligand backbone amides revealed the energetically important hydrogen bonds between the ligand backbone and the PDZ domain. Analogues to the ligand's conserved threonine/serine(-2) residue, involved in a side chain to side chain hydrogen bond with a conserved histidine in the PDZ domain, revealed that the interaction is highly sensitive to the steric structure around the hydroxyl group of this residue. Analogues of the ligand carboxy terminus revealed that the full hydrogen bond network of the GLGF loop is important in ligand binding.     

Chemical-scale studies on the role of a conserved aspartate in preorganizing the agonist binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and related Cys-loop receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast synaptic transmission throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. A highly conserved aspartate residue (D89) that is near the agonist binding site but does not directly contact the ligand plays a critical part in receptor function. Here we probe the role of D89 using unnatural amino acid mutagenesis coupled with electrophysiology. Homology modeling implicates several hydrogen bonds involving D89. We find that no single hydrogen bond is essential to proper receptor function. Apparently, the side chain of D89 establishes a redundant network of hydrogen bonds; these bonds preorganize the agonist binding site by positioning a critical tryptophan residue that directly contacts the ligand. Earlier studies of the D89N mutant led to the proposal that a negative charge at this position is essential for receptor function. However, we find that receptors with neutral side chains at position 89 can function well, if the side chain is less perturbing than the amide of asparagine (nitro or keto groups allow function) or if a compensating backbone mutation is introduced to relieve unfavorable electrostatics.     

Expression and characterization of human factor IX. Factor IXthr-397 and factor IXval-397

Factor IXLong Beach has a single amino acid substitution at 397 (Ile to Thr) in the catalytic domain which results in severe hemophilia B. Recent investigations have shown that the substitution of threonine for isoleucine at 397 may affect a part of the macromolecular substrate binding site. Because threonine has a hydroxyl group in its side chain, it is possible that this hydroxyl group makes new hydrogen bonds and disturbs the substrate binding site. We used three techniques: molecular biology, which includes site-directed mutagenesis and recombinant protein expression in tissue culture; computer-aided kinetic data analysis; and molecular modeling to study this mutation site. We have produced two mutant factor IX molecules that have isoleucine 397 replaced by valine or threonine. Factor IXwild type and the two mutants (factor IXVal and factor IXThr) were expressed in human kidney cells and purified using a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody column. After the activation by factor XIa, these three molecules were able to bind p-aminobenzamidine and increase its fluorescence intensity in a similar manner. Factor IXVal and factor IXwild type had indistinguishable activities in an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay and similar kinetic parameters with factor X as a substrate. Factor IXThr had only 5% clotting activity compared with normal factor IX, a slightly lower Km and significantly reduced kcat, using factor X as a substrate. We developed energy-refined (AMBER v.3.1) computer models of the three factor IX molecules based on previous work. Three factor IXa models (Ile, Val, or Thr at 397) with a fragment of the factor X activation site were used to predict the effect of the mutation at 397 and evaluate the significance of the new hydrogen bond thought to form between the side chain hydroxyl group of threonine 397 and the carbonyl oxygen of tryptophan 385. This new hydrogen bond would affect the position of an amide proton of adjacent glycine 386 which has been proposed to make a hydrogen bond with a backbone carbonyl oxygen of the P3 residue of factor X. In addition to the new hydrogen bond, there is significant movement in the side chain of tryptophan 385 between the factor IXawild type-factor X model and the factor IXaThr-factor X model that could interfere with substrate binding. This movement could be caused by the change in the molecular volume, the orientation of the side chain at 397, and the new hydrogen bond.     

The asparagine-stabilized beta-turn of apamin: contribution to structural stability from dynamics simulation and amide hydrogen exchange analysis

Molecular dynamics simulations of bee venom apamin, and an analogue having an Asn to Ala substitution at residue 2 (apamin-N2A), were analyzed to explore the contribution of hydrogen bonds involving Asn2 to local (beta-turn residues N2, C3, K4, A5) and global stability. The wild-type peptide retained a stable conformation during 2.4 ns of simulation at 67 degrees C, with high beta-turn stability characterized by backbone-side chain hydrogen bonds involving beta-turn residues K4 and A5, with the N2 side chain amide carbonyl. The loss of stabilizing interactions involving the N2 side chain resulted in the loss of the beta-turn conformation in the apamin N2A simulations (27 or 67 degrees C). This loss of beta-turn stability propagates throughout the peptide structure, with destabilization of the C-terminal helix connected to the N-terminal region by two disulfide bonds. Backbone stability in a synthetic peptide analogue (apamin-N2A) was characterized by NMR and amide hydrogen exchange measurements. Consistent with the simulations, loss of hydrogen bonds involving the N2 side chain resulted in destabilization of both the N-terminal beta-turn and the C-terminal helix. Amide exchange protection factors in the C-terminal helix were reduced by 9-11-fold in apamin N2A as compared with apamin, corresponding to free energy (deltaDeltaG(uf)) of around 1.5 kcal M(-1) at 20 degrees C. This is equivalent to the contribution of hydrogen bond interactions involving the N2 side chain to the stability of the beta-turn. Together with additional measures of exchange protection factors, the three main contributions to backbone stability in apamin that account for virtually the full thermodynamic stability of the peptide have been quantitated.     

Hydrogen bonds between short polar side chains and peptide backbone: prevalence in proteins and effects on helix-forming propensities

A survey of 322 proteins showed that the short polar (SP) side chains of four residues, Thr, Ser, Asp, and Asn, have a very strong tendency to form hydrogen bonds with neighboring backbone amides. Specifically, 32% of Thr, 29% of Ser, 26% of Asp, and 19% of Asn engage in such hydrogen bonds. When an SP residue caps the N terminal of a helix, the contribution to helix stability by a hydrogen bond with the amide of the N3 or N2 residue is well established. When an SP residue is in the middle of a helix, the side chain is unlikely to form hydrogen bonds with neighboring backbone amides for steric and geometric reasons. In essence the SP side chain competes with the backbone carbonyl for the same hydrogen-bonding partner (i.e., the backbone amide) and thus SP residues tend to break backbone carbonyl-amide hydrogen bonds. The proposition that this is the origin for the low propensities of SP residues in the middle of alpha helices (relative to those of nonpolar residues) was tested. The combined effects of restricting side-chain rotamer conformations (documented by Creamer and Rose, Proc Acad Sci USA, 1992;89:5937-5941; Proteins, 1994;19:85-97) and excluding side- chain to backbone hydrogen bonds by the helix were quantitatively analyzed. These were found to correlate strongly with four experimentally determined scales of helix-forming propensities. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.72 to 0.87, which are comparable to those found for nonpolar residues (for which only the loss of side-chain conformational entropy needs to be considered).     

Structure of the cell wall proteogalactomannan from Neurospora crassa. II. Structural analysis of the polysaccharide part

The native proteoheteroglycan (PHG) from mycelia of Neurospora crassa contain two kinds of carbohydrate chains differing structure. The oligosaccharides containing mannose and galactofuranose are attached by O-glycosidic linkages to serine or threonine residues in the protein (J. Biochem. 96, 1005-1011, 1984). The second kind of carbohydrate chain is a polysaccharide containing mannose and galactofuranose as the main sugar components. The results of structural studies with methylation and NMR analyses on the native PHG and some of its specifically degraded products obtained on partial acid hydrolysis and acetolysis indicate that the polysaccharide moiety of the PHG has an (alpha 1-6) linked mannan backbone with mainly (alpha 1-2) linked side chains, each of which consists of 2 to 5 mannose units, and most of the mannosyl side chains bear beta-galactofuranosyl residues linked to the 2 positions of the mannosyl nonreducing terminals. The galactofuranose residues are linked with each other by (beta 1-5) bonds.     

Molecular dissection of a critical specificity determinant within the amino acid editing domain of leucyl-tRNA synthetase

A highly conserved threonine residue marks the amino acid binding pocket within the editing active site of leucyl-tRNA synthetases (LeuRSs). It is essential to substrate specificity for the Escherichia coli enzyme in that it blocks the cognate leucine amino acid from binding in the hydrolytic editing active site. We combined mutagenesis and computational approaches to elucidate the molecular role of the critical side chain of this threonine residue. Removal of the terminal methyl group of the threonine side chain by replacement with serine yielded a mutant LeuRS that hydrolyzes Leu-tRNA(Leu). Substitution of valine for the conserved threonine conferred similar activities to the wild-type enzyme. However, an additional substitution within the editing active site suggested synergistic interactions with the conserved threonine site that significantly affected amino acid editing. On the basis of our combined biochemical and computational data, we propose that the threonine 252 side chain not only sterically hinders the cognate charged leucine from binding for hydrolysis but also plays a critical role in maintaining an active site geometry that is required for the fidelity of LeuRS.     

A code governing specific binding of regulatory proteins to DNA and structure of stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins]

A model is proposed for the structure of stereospecific sites in regulatory proteins. On its basis a possible code is suggested that governs the binding of regulatory proteins at specific control sites on DNA. Stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins are assumed to contain pairs of antiparallel polypeptide chain segments which form a right-hand twisted antiparallel beta-sheet, with single-stranded regions at the ends of the beta-structure. The model predicts that binding reaction between a regulatory protein and double-helical DNA is a cooperative phenomenon and is accompanied by significant structural alteration at the stereospecific site of the protein. Half of hydrogen bonds normally existing in beta-structure are broken upon complex formation with DNA and a new set of hydrogen bonds is formed between polypeptide amide groups and DNA base pairs. In a stereospecific site, one chain (t-chain) is attached through hydrogen bonds to the carbonyl oxygens of pyramides and N3 adenines lying in one DNA strand, while the second polypeptide chain (g chain) is hydrogen bonded to the 2-amino groups of guanine residues lying in the opposite DNA strand. The amide groups serve as specific reaction sites being hydrogen bond acceptors in g-chain and hydrogen bond donors in t-chain. The single-stranded portions of t- and g-chains lying in neighbouring subunits of regulatory protein interact with each other forming deformed beta-sheets. The recognition of regulatory sequences by proteins is based on the structural complementarity between stereospecific sites of regulatory proteins and base pairs sequences at the control sites. An essential feature of these sequences is the asymmetrical distribution of guanine residues between the two DNA strands. The code predicts that there are six fundamental amino acid residues (serine, threonine, asparagine, histidine, glutamine and cysteine) whose sequence in stereospecific site determines the base pair sequence to which a given regulatory protein would bind preferentially. The code states a correspondence between four amino acid residues at the stereospecific site of regulatory protein with the two residues being in t- and g-segments, respectively, and AT(GC) base pair at the control site. It is thus possible to determine which amino acid residues in the repressor and which base pairs in the operator DNA are involved in specific interactions with each other, as exemplified by lac repressor binding to lac operator.     

Main chain and side chain dynamics of oxidized flavodoxin from Cyanobacterium anabaena.

Oxidized flavodoxin from Cyanobacterium anabaena PCC 7119 is used as a model system to investigate the fast internal dynamics of a flavin-bearing protein. Virtually complete backbone and side chain resonance NMR assignments of an oxidized flavodoxin point mutant (C55A) have been determined. Backbone and side chain dynamics in flavodoxin (C55A) were investigated using (15)N amide and deuterium methyl NMR relaxation methods. The squared generalized order parameters (S(NH)(2)) for backbone amide N-H bonds are found to be uniformly high ( approximately 0.923 over 109 residues in regular secondary structure), indicating considerable restriction of motion in the backbone of the protein. In contrast, methyl-bearing side chains are considerably heterogeneous in their amplitude of motion, as indicated by obtained symmetry axis squared generalized order parameters (S(axis)(2)). However, in comparison to nonprosthetic group-bearing proteins studied with these NMR relaxation methods, the side chains of oxidized flavodoxin are unusually rigid.     

Oxytocin analogues with amide groups substituted by tetrazole groups in position 4, 5 or 9

Eleven oxytocin analogues substituted in position 4, 5 or 9 by tetrazole analogues of amino acids were prepared using solid-phase peptide synthesis method and tested for rat uterotonic in vitro and pressor activities, as well as for their affinity to human oxytocin receptor. The tetrazolic group has been used as a bioisosteric substitution of carboxylic, ester or amide groups in structure-activity relationship studies of biologically active compounds. Replacement of the amide groups of Gln(4) and Asn(5) in oxytocin by tetrazole analogues of aspartic, glutamic and alpha-aminoadipic acids containing the tetrazole moiety in the side chains leads to analogues with decreased biological activities. Oxytocin analogues in which the glycine amide residue in position 9 was substituted by tetrazole analogues of glycine had diminished activities as well. The analysis of differences in rat uterotonic activity and in the affinity to human oxytocin receptors of analogues containing either an acidic 5-substituted tetrazolic group or a neutral 1,5- or 2,5-tetrazole nucleus makes it possible to draw some new conclusions concerning the role of the amide group of amino acids in positions 4, 5 and 9 of oxytocin for its activity. The data suggest that the interaction of the side chain of Gln(4) with the oxytocin receptor is influenced mainly by electronic effects and the hydrogen bonding capacity of the amide group. Steric effects of the side chain are minor. Substitution of Asn(5) by its tetrazole derivative gave an analogue of very low activity. The result suggests that in the interaction between the amide group of Asn(5) and the binding sites of oxytocic receptor hydrogen bonds are of less importance than the spatial requirements for this group.     

Some observations on conserved polar side chains in immunoglobulin V-domains

1. The roles of conserved polar residues have been studied in 12 V-domains for which atomic coordinates are available. 2. In most cases a particular residue had a similar side chain conformation in all V-domains examined and the polar group provided the same hydrogen bonds which helped to stabilize the conformations of the domains. 3. In the case of a conserved glutamine/glutamic acid residue the buried side chain could adopt a variety of conformations and the polar group could form different hydrogen bonds from one domain to another. However, they contributed similarly to domain stability. 4. In the case of a conserved threonine/serine residue its side chain showed relative rotations of up to 180 degrees from one domain to another. The hydroxyl group could be buried or exposed at the domain surface. In some domains it formed hydrogen bonds to two other protein atoms but in other domains there was a single hydrogen bond or none at all. The varied roles of this residue are discussed in the text.     

Local sequence of protein β‐strands influences twist and bend angles

β‐Sheet twisting is thought to be mainly determined by interstrand hydrogen bonds with little contribution from side chains, but some proteins have large, flat β‐sheets, suggesting that side chains influence β‐structures. We therefore investigated the relationship between amino acid composition and twists or bends of β‐strands. We calculated and statistically analyzed the twist and bend angles of short frames of β‐strands in known protein structures. The most frequent twist angles were strongly negatively correlated with the proportion of hydrophilic amino acid residues. The majority of hydrophilic residues (except serine and threonine) were found in the edge regions of β‐strands, suggesting that the side chains of these residues likely do not affect β‐strand structure. In contrast, the majority of serine, threonine, and asparagine side‐chains in β‐strands made contacts with a nitrogen atom of the main chain, suggesting that these residues suppress β‐strand twisting. Proteins 2014; 82:1484–1493. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structure-property studies on carbohydrate-derived polymers for use as protein-resistant biomaterials

Here we describe structure-property studies on our carbohydrate-derived side-chain ether polymers as protein-resistant biomaterials. A series of side-chain ether polymers, including two polyesters and two polyamides, were prepared by condensation polymerization of monomers derived from simple carbohydrates. The two side-chain permethoxylated polyesters having different stereochemical repeating units demonstrate excellent resistance toward nonspecific protein adsorption as shown by surface plasmon resonance, indicating that the polymer stereochemistry does not have much effect on its protein-resistant properties. The introduction of amide bonds to polymer backbones leads to more pronounced effects. While the polymer degradation stability is significantly enhanced by replacing ester with amide linkages, the protein resistance for the polymer is greatly reduced by introduction of amide bonds. Finally, our results suggest that free hydroxyl and amide groups, while both are hydrogen-bond donors, seem to have different effects on protein resistant properties for polymers. It appears that free amide groups have more detrimental effect on protein resistance than free hydroxyl groups. These results show that the protein-resistant properties of this family of polymers can be tailored by modifying the backbone and side chain functionalities. In combination with the biodegradability and functionalizability, this family of carbohydrate-derived polymers shows promise as versatile biomaterials for biomedical applications.     

Isolation,structural characterization,and properties of mattacin (polymyxin M), a cyclic peptide antibiotic produced by Paenibacillus kobensis M

Mattacin is a nonribosomally synthesized, decapeptide antibiotic produced by Paenibacillus kobensis M. The producing strain was isolated from a soil/manure sample and identified using 16 S rRNA sequence homology along with chemical and morphological characterization. An efficient production and isolation procedure was developed to afford pure mattacin. Structure elucidation using a combination of chemical degradation, multidimensional NMR studies (COSY, HMBC, HMQC, ROESY), and mass spectrometric (MALDI MS/MS) analyses showed that mattacin is identical to polymyxin M, an uncommon antibiotic reported previously in certain Bacillus species by Russian investigators. Mattacin (polymyxin M) is cyclic and possesses an amide linkage between the C-terminal threonine and the side chain amino group of the diaminobutyric acid residue at position 4. It contains an (S)-6-methyloctanoic acid moiety attached as an amide at the N-terminal amino group, one D-leucine, six L-alpha,gamma-diaminobutyric acid, and three L-threonine residues. Transfer NOE experiments on the conformational preferences of mattacin when bound to lipid A and microcalorimetry studies on binding to lipopolysaccharide showed that its behavior was very similar to that observed in previous studies of polymyxin B (a commercial antibiotic), suggesting an identical mechanism of action. It was capable of inhibiting the growth of a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including several human and plant pathogens with activity comparable with purified polymyxin B. The biosynthesis of mattacin was also examined briefly using transpositional mutagenesis by which 10 production mutants were obtained, revealing a set of genes involved in production.     

Isolation and partial characterization of antagonistic peptides produced by Paenibacillus sp. strain B2 isolated from the sorghum mycorrhizosphere

Paenibacillus sp. strain B2, isolated from the mycorrhizosphere of sorghum colonized by Glomus mosseae, produces an antagonistic factor. This factor has a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and also against fungi. The antagonistic factor was isolated from the bacterial culture medium and purified by cation-exchange, reverse-phase, and size exclusion chromatography. The purified factor could be separated into three active compounds following characterization by amino acid analysis and by combined reverse-phase chromatography and mass spectrometry (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry). The first compound had the same retention time as polymyxin B1, whereas the two other compounds were more hydrophobic. The molecular masses of the latter compounds are 1,184.7 and 1,202.7 Da, respectively, and their structure is similar to that of polymyxin B1, with a cyclic heptapeptide moiety attached to a tripeptide side chain and a fatty acyl residue. They both contain threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid residues. The peptide with a molecular mass of 1,184.7 contains a 2,3-didehydrobutyrine residue with a molecular mass of 101 Da replacing a threonine at the A2 position of the polymyxin side chain. This modification could explain the broader range of antagonistic activity of this peptide compared to that of polymyxin B.     

Zinc ion mediated amino acid discrimination by threonyl-tRNA synthetase

Accurate translation of the genetic code depends on the ability of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to distinguish between similar amino acids. In order to investigate the basis of amino acid recognition and to understand the role played by the zinc ion present in the active site of threonyl-tRNA synthetase, we have determined the crystal structures of complexes of an active truncated form of the enzyme with a threonyl adenylate analog or threonine. The zinc ion is directly involved in threonine recognition, forming a pentacoordinate intermediate with both the amino group and the side chain hydroxyl. Amino acid activation experiments reveal that the enzyme shows no activation of isosteric valine, and activates serine at a rate 1,000-fold less than that of cognate threonine. This study demonstrates that the zinc ion is neither strictly catalytic nor structural and suggests how the zinc ion ensures that only amino acids that possess a hydroxyl group attached to the beta-position are activated.     

Characterization of threonine side chain dynamics in an antifreeze protein using natural abundance 13C NMR spectroscopy

The dynamics of threonine side chains of the Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein (TmAFP) were investigated using natural abundance (13)C NMR. In TmAFP, the array of threonine residues on one face of the protein is responsible for conferring its ability to bind crystalline ice and inhibit its growth. Heteronuclear longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates and the [(1)H]-(13)C NOE were determined in this study. The C alpha H relaxation measurements were compared to the previously measured (15)N backbone parameters and these are found to be in agreement. For the analysis of the threonine side chain motions, the model of restricted rotational diffusion about the chi(1) dihedral angle was employed [London and Avitabile (1978) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 100, 7159-7165]. We demonstrate that the motion experienced by the ice binding threonine side chains is highly restricted, with an approximate upper limit of less than +/-25 degrees.