15N CEST data and traditional model-free analysis capture fast internal dynamics of DJ-1.

Previous studies have shown that relaxation parameters and fast protein dynamics can be quickly elucidated from 15N-CEST experiments [1]. Longitudinal R1 and transverse R2 values were reliably derived from fitting of CEST profiles. Herein we show that 15N-CEST experiments and traditional modelfree analysis provide the internal dynamics of three states of human protein DJ-1 at physiological temperature. The chemical exchange profiles show the absence of a minor state conformation and, in conjunction with 1H-15N NOEs, show increased mobility. R1 and R2 values remained relatively unchanged at the three naturally occurring oxidation states of DJ-1, but exhibit striking NOE differences. The NOE data was, therefore, essential in determining the internal motions of the DJ-1 proteins. To the authors' knowledge, we present the first study that combines 15N CEST data with traditional model-free analyses in the study of a biological system and affirm that more 'lean' model-free approaches should be used cautiously.

The NMR solution structure and function of RPA3313: a putative ribosomal transport protein from Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

Protein function elucidation often relies heavily on amino acid sequence analysis and other bioinformatics approaches. The reliance is extended to structure homology modeling for ligand docking and protein-protein interaction mapping. However, sequence analysis of RPA3313 exposes a large, unannotated class of hypothetical proteins mostly from the Rhizobiales order. In the absence of sequence and structure information, further functional elucidation of this class of proteins has been significantly hindered. A high quality NMR structure of RPA3313 reveals that the protein forms a novel split ßßαß fold with a conserved ligand binding pocket between the first ß-strand and the N-terminus of the α-helix. Conserved residue analysis and protein-protein interaction prediction analyses reveal multiple protein binding sites and conserved functional residues. Results of a mass spectrometry proteomic analysis strongly point toward interaction with the ribosome and its subunits. The combined structural and proteomic analyses suggest that RPA3313 by itself or in a larger complex may assist in the transportation of substrates to or from the ribosome for further processing. Proteins 2016; 85:93-102. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.