RESUMO
The third complementary-determining regions of the heavy-chain (CDR3H) variable regions (VH) of some cattle antibodies are highly extended, consisting of 48 or more residues. These `ultralong' CDR3Hs form ß-ribbon stalks that protrude from the surface of the antibody with a disulfide cross-linked knob region at their apex that dominates antigen interactions over the other CDR loops. The structure of the Fab fragment of a naturally paired bovine ultralong antibody (D08), identified by single B-cell sequencing, has been determined to 1.6â Å resolution. By swapping the D08 native light chain with that of an unrelated antigen-unknown ultralong antibody, it is shown that interactions between the CDR3s of the variable domains potentially affect the fine positioning of the ultralong CDR3H; however, comparison with other crystallographic structures shows that crystalline packing is also a major contributor. It is concluded that, on balance, the exact positioning of ultralong CDR3H loops is most likely to be due to the constraints of crystal packing.
Assuntos
Regiões Determinantes de Complementaridade , Fragmentos Fab das Imunoglobulinas , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina , Modelos Moleculares , Animais , Bovinos , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/química , Cristalografia por Raios X , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina/química , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina/genética , Regiões Determinantes de Complementaridade/química , Fragmentos Fab das Imunoglobulinas/química , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Conformação ProteicaRESUMO
The Omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2 pose a significant challenge to the development of effective antibody-based treatments as immune evasion has compromised most available immune therapeutics. Therefore, in the 'arms race' with the virus, there is a continuing need to identify new biologics for the prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Here, we report the isolation of nanobodies that bind to the Omicron BA.1 spike protein by screening nanobody phage display libraries previously generated from llamas immunized with either the Wuhan or Beta spike proteins. The structure and binding properties of three of these nanobodies (A8, H6 and B5-5) have been characterized in detail providing insight into their binding epitopes on the Omicron spike protein. Trimeric versions of H6 and B5-5 neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern BA.5 both in vitro and in the hamster model of COVID-19 following nasal administration. Thus, either alone or in combination could serve as starting points for the development of new anti-viral immunotherapeutics.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Anticorpos de Domínio Único , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/imunologia , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/química , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/farmacologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/química , COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/virologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/química , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genética , Humanos , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Camelídeos Americanos/imunologia , Epitopos/imunologia , Epitopos/química , Cricetinae , Ligação Proteica , Modelos MolecularesRESUMO
Cytochromes c'-α are nitric oxide (NO)-binding heme proteins derived from bacteria that can thrive in a wide range of temperature environments. Studies of mesophilic Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cytochrome c'-α (AxCP-α) have revealed an unusual NO-binding mechanism involving both heme faces, in which NO first binds to form a distal hexa-coordinate Fe(II)-NO (6cNO) intermediate and then displaces the proximal His to form a proximal penta-coordinate Fe(II)-NO (5cNO) final product. Here, we characterize a thermally stable cytochrome c'-α from thermophilic Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus (PhCP-α) to understand how protein thermal stability affects NO binding. Electron paramagnetic and resonance Raman spectroscopies reveal the formation of a PhCP-α 5cNO product, with time-resolved (stopped-flow) UV-vis absorbance indicating the involvement of a 6cNO intermediate. Relative to AxCP-α, the rates of 6cNO and 5cNO formation in PhCP-α are â¼11- and â¼13-fold lower, respectively. Notably, x-ray crystal structures of PhCP-α in the presence and absence of NO suggest that the sluggish formation of the proximal 5cNO product results from conformational rigidity: the Arg-132 residue (adjacent to the proximal His ligand) is held in place by a salt bridge between Arg-75 and Glu-135 (an interaction not present in AxCP-α or a psychrophilic counterpart). Overall, our data provide fresh insights into structural factors controlling NO binding in heme proteins, including 5cNO complexes relevant to eukaryotic NO sensors.
RESUMO
A considerable bottleneck in serial crystallography at XFEL and synchrotron sources is the efficient production of large quantities of homogenous, well diffracting microcrystals. Efficient high-throughput screening of batch-grown microcrystals and the determination of ground-state structures from different conditions is thus of considerable value in the early stages of a project. Here, a highly sample-efficient methodology to measure serial crystallography data from microcrystals by raster scanning within standard in situ 96-well crystallization plates is described. Structures were determined from very small quantities of microcrystal suspension and the results were compared with those from other sample-delivery methods. The analysis of a two-dimensional batch crystallization screen using this method is also described as a useful guide for further optimization and the selection of appropriate conditions for scaling up microcrystallization.
Assuntos
Síncrotrons , Cristalografia por Raios X , Cristalização/métodos , Coleta de DadosRESUMO
Protocols for robotic protein crystallization using the Crystallization Facility at Harwell and in situ room temperature data collection from crystallization plates at Diamond Light Source beamline VMXi are described. This approach enables high-quality room-temperature crystal structures to be determined from multiple crystals in a straightforward manner and provides very rapid feedback on the results of crystallization trials as well as enabling serial crystallography. The value of room temperature structures in understanding protein structure, ligand binding, and dynamics is becoming increasingly recognized in the structural biology community. This pipeline is accessible to users from all over the world with several available modes of access. Crystallization experiments that are set up can be imaged and viewed remotely with crystals identified automatically using a machine learning tool. Data are measured in a queue-based system with up to 60° rotation datasets from user-selected crystals in a plate. Data from all the crystals within a particular well or sample group are automatically merged using xia2.multiplex with the outputs straightforwardly accessed via a web browser interface.
Assuntos
Proteínas , Síncrotrons , Cristalização/métodos , Cristalografia por Raios X , Temperatura , Proteínas/química , Coleta de DadosRESUMO
The utility of X-ray crystal structures determined under ambient-temperature conditions is becoming increasingly recognized. Such experiments can allow protein dynamics to be characterized and are particularly well suited to challenging protein targets that may form fragile crystals that are difficult to cryo-cool. Room-temperature data collection also enables time-resolved experiments. In contrast to the high-throughput highly automated pipelines for determination of structures at cryogenic temperatures widely available at synchrotron beamlines, room-temperature methodology is less mature. Here, the current status of the fully automated ambient-temperature beamline VMXi at Diamond Light Source is described, and a highly efficient pipeline from protein sample to final multi-crystal data analysis and structure determination is shown. The capability of the pipeline is illustrated using a range of user case studies representing different challenges, and from high and lower symmetry space groups and varied crystal sizes. It is also demonstrated that very rapid structure determination from crystals in situ within crystallization plates is now routine with minimal user intervention.
Assuntos
Proteínas , Síncrotrons , Cristalografia por Raios X , Temperatura , Proteínas/química , Transição de FaseRESUMO
γ-Amino acids can play important roles in the biological activities of natural products; however, the ribosomal incorporation of γ-amino acids into peptides is challenging. Here we report how a selection campaign employing a non-canonical peptide library containing cyclic γ2,4-amino acids resulted in the discovery of very potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Two kinds of cyclic γ2,4-amino acids, cis-3-aminocyclobutane carboxylic acid (γ1) and (1R,3S)-3-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (γ2), were ribosomally introduced into a library of thioether-macrocyclic peptides. One resultant potent Mpro inhibitor (half-maximal inhibitory concentration = 50 nM), GM4, comprising 13 residues with γ1 at the fourth position, manifests a 5.2 nM dissociation constant. An Mpro:GM4 complex crystal structure reveals the intact inhibitor spans the substrate binding cleft. The γ1 interacts with the S1' catalytic subsite and contributes to a 12-fold increase in proteolytic stability compared to its alanine-substituted variant. Knowledge of interactions between GM4 and Mpro enabled production of a variant with a 5-fold increase in potency.
Assuntos
Aminoácidos , COVID-19 , Aminoácidos/química , Antivirais/química , Ácidos Carboxílicos , Peptídeos/química , Inibidores de Proteases/química , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Conformação Proteica , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismoRESUMO
Despite being fundamental to multiple biological processes, phosphorus (P) availability in marine environments is often growth-limiting, with generally low surface concentrations. Picocyanobacteria strains encode a putative ABC-type phosphite/phosphate/phosphonate transporter, phnDCE, thought to provide access to an alternative phosphorus pool. This, however, is paradoxical given most picocyanobacterial strains lack known phosphite degradation or carbon-phosphate lyase pathway to utilise alternate phosphorus pools. To understand the function of the PhnDCE transport system and its ecological consequences, we characterised the PhnD1 binding proteins from four distinct marine Synechococcus isolates (CC9311, CC9605, MITS9220, and WH8102). We show the Synechococcus PhnD1 proteins selectively bind phosphorus compounds with a stronger affinity for phosphite than for phosphate or methyl phosphonate. However, based on our comprehensive ligand screening and growth experiments showing Synechococcus strains WH8102 and MITS9220 cannot utilise phosphite or methylphosphonate as a sole phosphorus source, we hypothesise that the picocyanobacterial PhnDCE transporter is a constitutively expressed, medium-affinity phosphate transporter, and the measured affinity of PhnD1 to phosphite or methyl phosphonate is fortuitous. Our MITS9220_PhnD1 structure explains the comparatively lower affinity of picocyanobacterial PhnD1 for phosphate, resulting from a more limited H-bond network. We propose two possible physiological roles for PhnD1. First, it could function in phospholipid recycling, working together with the predicted phospholipase, TesA, and alkaline phosphatase. Second, by having multiple transporters for P (PhnDCE and Pst), picocyanobacteria could balance the need for rapid transport during transient episodes of higher P availability in the environment, with the need for efficient P utilisation in typical phosphate-deplete conditions.
Assuntos
Organofosfonatos , Fosfitos , Synechococcus , Fósforo/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte de Fosfato , Fosfitos/metabolismo , Synechococcus/metabolismo , Fosfatos/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana TransportadorasRESUMO
Camelid single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, can be readily isolated from naïve libraries for specific targets but often bind too weakly to their targets to be immediately useful. Laboratory-based genetic engineering methods to enhance their affinity, termed maturation, can deliver useful reagents for different areas of biology and potentially medicine. Using the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein and a naïve library, we generated closely related nanobodies with micromolar to nanomolar binding affinities. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship using X-ray crystallography, cryoelectron microscopy, and biophysical methods, we observed that higher conformational entropy losses in the formation of the spike protein-nanobody complex are associated with tighter binding. To investigate this, we generated structural ensembles of the different complexes from electron microscopy maps and correlated the conformational fluctuations with binding affinity. This insight guided the engineering of a nanobody with improved affinity for the spike protein.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Afinidade de Anticorpos , SARS-CoV-2 , Anticorpos de Domínio Único , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/química , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/genética , Anticorpos Antivirais/química , Anticorpos Antivirais/genética , Afinidade de Anticorpos/genética , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Entropia , Engenharia Genética , Humanos , Ligação Proteica , Domínios Proteicos , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/química , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/genética , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologiaRESUMO
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) on the surface of epithelial cells, leading to fusion, and entry of the virus into the cell. This interaction can be blocked by the binding of llama-derived nanobodies (VHHs) to the RBD, leading to virus neutralisation. Structural analysis of VHH-RBD complexes by X-ray crystallography enables VHH epitopes to be precisely mapped, and the effect of variant mutations to be interpreted and predicted. Key to this is a protocol for the reproducible production and crystallization of the VHH-RBD complexes. Based on our experience, we describe a workflow for expressing and purifying the proteins, and the screening conditions for generating diffraction quality crystals of VHH-RBD complexes. Production and crystallization of protein complexes takes approximately twelve days, from construction of vectors to harvesting and freezing crystals for data collection.
RESUMO
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is a medicinal chemistry target for COVID-19 treatment. Given the clinical efficacy of ß-lactams as inhibitors of bacterial nucleophilic enzymes, they are of interest as inhibitors of viral nucleophilic serine and cysteine proteases. We describe the synthesis of penicillin derivatives which are potent Mpro inhibitors and investigate their mechanism of inhibition using mass spectrometric and crystallographic analyses. The results suggest that ß-lactams have considerable potential as Mpro inhibitors via a mechanism involving reaction with the nucleophilic cysteine to form a stable acyl-enzyme complex as shown by crystallographic analysis. The results highlight the potential for inhibition of viral proteases employing nucleophilic catalysis by ß-lactams and related acylating agents.
Assuntos
Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Cisteína , Antivirais/química , Antivirais/farmacologia , Proteases 3C de Coronavírus , Cisteína Endopeptidases/química , Humanos , Penicilinas , Inibidores de Proteases/química , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2 , beta-LactamasRESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 remains a global threat to human health particularly as escape mutants emerge. There is an unmet need for effective treatments against COVID-19 for which neutralizing single domain antibodies (nanobodies) have significant potential. Their small size and stability mean that nanobodies are compatible with respiratory administration. We report four nanobodies (C5, H3, C1, F2) engineered as homotrimers with pmolar affinity for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Crystal structures show C5 and H3 overlap the ACE2 epitope, whilst C1 and F2 bind to a different epitope. Cryo Electron Microscopy shows C5 binding results in an all down arrangement of the Spike protein. C1, H3 and C5 all neutralize the Victoria strain, and the highly transmissible Alpha (B.1.1.7 first identified in Kent, UK) strain and C1 also neutralizes the Beta (B.1.35, first identified in South Africa). Administration of C5-trimer via the respiratory route showed potent therapeutic efficacy in the Syrian hamster model of COVID-19 and separately, effective prophylaxis. The molecule was similarly potent by intraperitoneal injection.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/farmacologia , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/farmacologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Administração Intranasal , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/administração & dosagem , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/genética , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Cristalografia por Raios X , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Relação Dose-Resposta Imunológica , Epitopos/química , Epitopos/metabolismo , Feminino , Masculino , Mesocricetus , Testes de Neutralização , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/administração & dosagem , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/imunologia , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/químicaRESUMO
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
RESUMO
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is more transmissible than previous coronaviruses and causes a more serious illness than influenza. The SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein binds to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor as a prelude to viral entry into the cell. Using a naive llama single-domain antibody library and PCR-based maturation, we have produced two closely related nanobodies, H11-D4 and H11-H4, that bind RBD (KD of 39 and 12 nM, respectively) and block its interaction with ACE2. Single-particle cryo-EM revealed that both nanobodies bind to all three RBDs in the spike trimer. Crystal structures of each nanobody-RBD complex revealed how both nanobodies recognize the same epitope, which partly overlaps with the ACE2 binding surface, explaining the blocking of the RBD-ACE2 interaction. Nanobody-Fc fusions showed neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 (4-6 nM for H11-H4, 18 nM for H11-D4) and additive neutralization with the SARS-CoV-1/2 antibody CR3022.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus , Pandemias , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Pneumonia Viral , Receptores Virais/metabolismo , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/imunologia , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/metabolismo , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/ultraestrutura , Anticorpos Antivirais/metabolismo , Anticorpos Antivirais/ultraestrutura , Afinidade de Anticorpos , Reações Antígeno-Anticorpo/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/metabolismo , Ligação Competitiva , COVID-19 , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Cristalografia por Raios X , Epitopos/imunologia , Humanos , Fragmentos Fc das Imunoglobulinas/genética , Fragmentos Fc das Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , Modelos Moleculares , Biblioteca de Peptídeos , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/ultraestrutura , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , Receptores Virais/ultraestrutura , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2 , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/metabolismo , Anticorpos de Domínio Único/ultraestrutura , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/ultraestruturaRESUMO
VMXi is a new high-flux microfocus macromolecular crystallography beamline at Diamond Light Source. The beamline, dedicated to fully automated and fully remote data collection of macromolecular crystals in situ, allows rapid screening of hundreds of crystallization plates from multiple user groups. Its main purpose is to give fast feedback at the complex stages of crystallization and crystal optimization, but it also enables data collection of small and delicate samples that are particularly difficult to harvest using conventional cryo-methods, crystals grown in the lipidic cubic phase, and allows for multi-crystal data collections in drug discovery programs. The beamline is equipped with two monochromators: one with a narrow band-pass and fine energy resolution (optimal for regular oscillation experiments), and one with a wide band-pass and a high photon flux (optimal for fast screening). The beamline has a state-of-the-art detector and custom goniometry that allows fast data collection. This paper describes the beamline design, current status and future plans.
RESUMO
Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) and ERAP2 process N-terminally extended antigenic precursors for optimal loading onto major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules. We and others have demonstrated that ERAP1 processes peptides bound to MHC I, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. To this end, we utilized single-chain trimers (SCT) of the ovalbumin-derived epitope SIINFEKL (SL8) tethered to the H2-Kb MHC I determinant from mouse and introduced three substitutions, E63A, K66A, and W167A, at the A-pocket of the peptide-binding groove in the MHC I heavy chain, which interact with the N termini of peptides. These variants significantly decreased SL8-presenting SCT at the cell surface in the presence of ERAP1, but did not affect overall SCT expression, indicating that ERAP1 trims the SL8 N terminus. Comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of WT and three variant SCTs revealed only minor perturbations of the peptide-binding domain in the variants. However, molecular dynamics simulations suggested that SL8 can dissociate partially within a sub-microsecond timescale, exposing its N terminus to the solvent. We also found that the C terminus of MHC I-bound SL8 remains deeply buried in the F-pocket of MHC I. Furthermore, free-energy calculations revealed that the three SCT variants exhibit lower free-energy barriers of N terminus dissociation than the WT Kb Taken together, our results are consistent with a previously observed model in which the partial dissociation of bound peptides from MHC I exposes their N terminus to trimming by ERAP1, whereas their C terminus is anchored at the F-pocket.
Assuntos
Aminopeptidases/metabolismo , Epitopos/metabolismo , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/metabolismo , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Menor/metabolismo , Aminopeptidases/química , Apresentação de Antígeno , Cristalografia por Raios X , Epitopos/química , Células HeLa , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/química , Humanos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Menor/química , Modelos Moleculares , Conformação Proteica , Domínios ProteicosRESUMO
Protein synthesis, especially translation elongation, requires large amounts of energy, which is often generated by oxidative metabolism. Elongation is controlled by phosphorylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), which inhibits its activity and is catalyzed by eEF2 kinase (eEF2K), a calcium/calmodulin-dependent α-kinase. Hypoxia causes the activation of eEF2K and induces eEF2 phosphorylation independently of previously known inputs into eEF2K. Here, we show that eEF2K is subject to hydroxylation on proline-98. Proline hydroxylation is catalyzed by proline hydroxylases, oxygen-dependent enzymes which are inactivated during hypoxia. Pharmacological inhibition of proline hydroxylases also stimulates eEF2 phosphorylation. Pro98 lies in a universally conserved linker between the calmodulin-binding and catalytic domains of eEF2K. Its hydroxylation partially impairs the binding of calmodulin to eEF2K and markedly limits the calmodulin-stimulated activity of eEF2K. Neuronal cells depend on oxygen, and eEF2K helps to protect them from hypoxia. eEF2K is the first example of a protein directly involved in a major energy-consuming process to be regulated by proline hydroxylation. Since eEF2K is cytoprotective during hypoxia and other conditions of nutrient insufficiency, it may be a valuable target for therapy of poorly vascularized solid tumors.
Assuntos
Hipóxia Celular , Quinase do Fator 2 de Elongação/metabolismo , Neurônios/enzimologia , Prolina/metabolismo , Animais , Calmodulina/metabolismo , Domínio Catalítico , Células Cultivadas , Quinase do Fator 2 de Elongação/química , Ativação Enzimática , Células HCT116 , Células HEK293 , Células HeLa , Humanos , Hidroxilação , Camundongos , Fator 2 de Elongação de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Fosforilação/efeitos dos fármacos , Prolil Hidroxilases/metabolismo , Inibidores de Prolil-Hidrolase/farmacologiaRESUMO
Acidification of the extracellular and/or intracellular environment is involved in many aspects of cell physiology and pathology. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase that regulates translation elongation by phosphorylating and inhibiting eEF2. Here we show that extracellular acidosis elicits activation of eEF2K in vivo, leading to enhanced phosphorylation of eEF2. We identify five histidine residues in eEF2K that are crucial for the activation of eEF2K during acidosis. Three of them (H80, H87, and H94) are in its calmodulin-binding site, and their protonation appears to enhance the ability of calmodulin to activate eEF2K. The other two histidines (H227 and H230) lie in the catalytic domain of eEF2K. We also identify His108 in calmodulin as essential for activation of eEF2K. Acidification of cancer cell microenvironments is a hallmark of malignant solid tumors. Knocking down eEF2K in cancer cells attenuated the decrease in global protein synthesis when cells were cultured at acidic pH. Importantly, activation of eEF2K is linked to cancer cell survival under acidic conditions. Inhibition of eEF2K promotes cancer cell death under acidosis.
Assuntos
Sobrevivência Celular , Quinase do Fator 2 de Elongação/metabolismo , Histidina/metabolismo , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Animais , Calmodulina/metabolismo , Domínio Catalítico , Linhagem Celular , Quinase do Fator 2 de Elongação/química , Quinase do Fator 2 de Elongação/genética , Ativação Enzimática , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Células HCT116 , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Camundongos , Neoplasias/patologiaRESUMO
VWA domains are the predominant independent folding units within matrilins and mediate protein-protein interactions. Mutations in the matrilin-3 VWA domain cause various skeletal diseases. The analysis of the pathological mechanisms is hampered by the lack of detailed structural information on matrilin VWA domains. Attempts to resolve their structures were hindered by low solubility and a tendency to aggregation. We therefore took a comprehensive approach to improve the recombinant expression of functional matrilin VWA domains to enable X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. The focus was on expression in Escherichia coli, as this allows incorporation of isotope-labeled amino acids, and on finding conditions that enhance solubility. Indeed, circular dichroism (CD) and NMR measurements indicated a proper folding of the bacterially expressed domains and, interestingly, expression of zebrafish matrilin VWA domains and addition of N-ethylmaleimide yielded the most stable proteins. However, such proteins did still not crystallize and allowed only partial peak assignment in NMR. Moreover, bacterially expressed matrilin VWA domains differ in their solubility and functional properties from the same domains expressed in eukaryotic cells. Structural studies of matrilin VWA domains will depend on the use of eukaryotic expression systems.