Self-template-assisted micro-phase segregation in blended liquid-crystalline block copolymers films toward three-dimensional structures.

In-plane mesopatterns derived from block-copolymer (BCP) micro-phase segregation in thin films have attracted much interest in practical applications as well as fundamental research programs. However, phase segregation along the film-normal direction has been less studied. Here, we describe a strategy to concurrently, yet independently, control in-plane micro-phase and out-of-plane macro-phase segregation in multiblended films composed of liquid-crystalline BCPs (LCBCPs), affording spontaneously layered three-dimensional (3D) mesostructures. This strategy relies on sequential liquid crystallization during the cooling process in thermal annealing as follows. The constituent LCBCP with the highest isotropic-transition temperature (Tiso) first liquid-crystallizes and segregates from the other LCBCP mixture remaining in isotropic states to form a noncontaminated layer at the top surface. This preformed LCBCP layer preserves its inherent in-plane pattern and acts as a template guiding the subsequent micro-phase segregations of the other low-Tiso LCBCPs underneath. This self-template-assisted micro-phase segregation (STAMPS) readily provides 3D mesostructures, the potential toward rational material design of which is also demonstrated in water-separation applications.

Activation of CWI pathway through high hydrostatic pressure, enhancing glycerol efflux via the aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The fungal cell wall is the initial barrier for the fungi against diverse external stresses, such as osmolarity changes, harmful drugs, and mechanical injuries. This study explores the roles of osmoregulation and the cell-wall integrity (CWI) pathway in response to high hydrostatic pressure in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate the roles of the transmembrane mechanosensor Wsc1 and aquaglyceroporin Fps1 in a general mechanism to maintain cell growth under high-pressure regimes. The promotion of water influx into cells at 25 MPa, as evident by an increase in cell volume and a loss of the plasma membrane eisosome structure, activates the CWI pathway through the function of Wsc1. Phosphorylation of Slt2, the downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase, was increased at 25 MPa. Glycerol efflux increases via Fps1 phosphorylation, which is initiated by downstream components of the CWI pathway, and contributes to the reduction in intracellular osmolarity under high pressure. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying adaptation to high pressure through the well-established CWI pathway could potentially translate to mammalian cells and provide novel insights into cellular mechanosensation.

Large-scale preparation of the homogeneous LolA lipoprotein complex and efficient in vitro transfer of lipoproteins to the outer membrane in a LolB-dependent manner.

An ATP-binding cassette transporter LolCDE complex of Escherichia coli releases lipoproteins destined to the outer membrane from the inner membrane as a complex with a periplasmic chaperone, LolA. Interaction of the LolA-lipoprotein complex with an outer membrane receptor, LolB, then causes localization of lipoproteins to the outer membrane. As far as examined, formation of the LolA-lipoprotein complex strictly depends on ATP hydrolysis by the LolCDE complex in the presence of LolA. It has been speculated, based on crystallographic and biochemical observations, that LolA undergoes an ATP-dependent conformational change upon lipoprotein binding. Thus, preparation of a large amount of the LolA-lipoprotein complex is difficult. Moreover, lipoproteins bound to LolA are heterogeneous. We report here that the coexpression of LolA and outer membrane-specific lipoprotein Pal from a very efficient plasmid causes the unusual accumulation of the LolA-Pal complex in the periplasm. The complex was purified to homogeneity and shown to be a functional intermediate of the lipoprotein localization pathway. In vitro incorporation of Pal into outer membranes revealed that a single molecule of LolB catalyzes the incorporation of more than 100 molecules of Pal into outer membranes. Moreover, the LolB-dependent incorporation of Pal was not affected by excess-free LolA, indicating that LolB specifically interacts with liganded LolA. Finally, the LolB depletion caused the accumulation of a significant amount of Pal in the periplasm, thereby establishing the conditions for preparation of the homogeneous LolA-lipoprotein complex.

Conical Gradient Junctions of Dendritic Viologen Arrays on Electrodes.

The three-dimensional construction of arrays of functional molecules on an electrode surface, such as organic semiconductors and redox-active molecules, is a considerable challenge in the fabrication of sophisticated junctions for molecular devices. In particular, well-defined organic layers with precise molecular gradients are anticipated to function as novel metal/organic interfaces with specific electrical properties, such as a space charge layer at the metal/semiconductor interface. Here, we report a strategy for the construction of a three-dimensional molecular array with an electrical connection to a metal electrode by exploiting dendritic molecular architecture. Newly designed dendritic molecules consisting of viologens (1,1'-disubstituted-4,4'-bipyridilium salts) as the framework and mercapto groups as anchor units form unique self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface reflecting the molecular design. The dendritic molecules exhibit a conical shape and closely pack to form cone arrays on the substrate, whereas, in solution, they expand into more flexible conformations. Differences in the introduction position of the anchor units in the dendritic structure result in apical- and basal-type cone arrays in which the spatial concentration of the viologen units can be precisely configured in the cones. The concentration in apical-type SAMs increases away from the substrate, whereas the opposite is true in basal-type SAMs.

Head-to-tail interactions of the coiled-coil domains regulate ClpB activity and cooperation with Hsp70 in protein disaggregation.

The hexameric AAA+ chaperone ClpB reactivates aggregated proteins in cooperation with the Hsp70 system. Essential for disaggregation, the ClpB middle domain (MD) is a coiled-coil propeller that binds Hsp70. Although the ClpB subunit structure is known, positioning of the MD in the hexamer and its mechanism of action are unclear. We obtained electron microscopy (EM) structures of the BAP variant of ClpB that binds the protease ClpP, clearly revealing MD density on the surface of the ClpB ring. Mutant analysis and asymmetric reconstructions show that MDs adopt diverse positions in a single ClpB hexamer. Adjacent, horizontally oriented MDs form head-to-tail contacts and repress ClpB activity by preventing Hsp70 interaction. Tilting of the MD breaks this contact, allowing Hsp70 binding, and releasing the contact in adjacent subunits. Our data suggest a wavelike activation of ClpB subunits around the ring.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02481.001.

Mechanism of Hsp104/ClpB inhibition by prion curing Guanidinium hydrochloride.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae AAA+ protein Hsp104 and its Escherichia coli counterpart ClpB cooperate with Hsp70 chaperones to refold aggregated proteins and fragment prion fibrils. Hsp104/ClpB activity is regulated by interaction of the M-domain with the first ATPase domain (AAA-1), controlling ATP turnover and Hsp70 cooperation. Guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl) inhibits Hsp104/ClpB activity, leading to prion curing. We show that GdnHCl binding exerts dual effects on Hsp104/ClpB. First, GdnHCl strengthens M-domain/AAA-1 interaction, stabilizing Hsp104/ClpB in a repressed conformation and abrogating Hsp70 cooperation. Second, GdnHCl inhibits continuous ATP turnover by AAA-1. These findings provide the mechanistic basis for prion curing by GdnHCl.

Hsp70 proteins bind Hsp100 regulatory M domains to activate AAA+ disaggregase at aggregate surfaces.

Bacteria, fungi and plants rescue aggregated proteins using a powerful bichaperone system composed of an Hsp70 chaperone and an Hsp100 AAA+ disaggregase. In Escherichia coli, the Hsp70 chaperone DnaK binds aggregates and targets the disaggregase ClpB to the substrate. ClpB hexamers use ATP to thread substrate polypeptides through the central pore, driving disaggregation. How ClpB finds DnaK and regulates threading remains unclear. To dissect the disaggregation mechanism, we separated these steps using primarily chimeric ClpB-ClpV constructs that directly recognize alternative substrates, thereby obviating DnaK involvement. We show that ClpB has low intrinsic disaggregation activity that is normally repressed by the ClpB middle (M) domain. In the presence of aggregate, DnaK directly binds M-domain motif 2, increasing ClpB ATPase activity to unleash high ClpB threading power. Our results uncover a new function for Hsp70: the coupling of substrate targeting to AAA+ chaperone activation at aggregate surfaces.

A tightly regulated molecular toggle controls AAA+ disaggregase.

The ring-forming AAA+ protein ClpB cooperates with the DnaK chaperone system to refold aggregated proteins in Escherichia coli. The M domain, a ClpB-specific coiled-coil structure with two wings, motif 1 and motif 2, is essential to disaggregation, but the positioning and mechanistic role of M domains in ClpB hexamers remain unresolved. We show that M domains nestle at the ClpB ring surface, with both M-domain motifs contacting the first ATPase domain (AAA-1). Both wings contribute to maintaining a repressed ClpB activity state. Motif 2 docks intramolecularly to AAA-1 to regulate ClpB unfolding power, and motif 1 contacts a neighboring AAA-1 domain. Mutations that stabilize motif 2 docking repress ClpB, whereas destabilization leads to derepressed ClpB activity with greater unfolding power that is toxic in vivo. Our results underline the vital nature of tight ClpB activity control and elucidate a regulated M-domain toggle control mechanism.

Introduction of a lethal redox switch that controls the opening and closing of the hydrophobic cavity in LolA.

LolA plays a critical role in the outer membrane sorting of Escherichia coli lipoproteins because it carries a hydrophobic lipoprotein from the inner membrane through the hydrophilic periplasm to the outer membrane receptor LolB. LolA has an incomplete beta-barrel structure composed of 11 beta-strands with an alpha-helical lid forming a hydrophobic cavity inside. The accompanying study revealed that the hydrophobic cavity opens and closes upon the binding and release of lipoproteins, respectively. Ile(93) in the alpha-helix and Phe(140) in the beta-strand are located close to each other in the hydrophobic cavity. These two residues were replaced by Cys to construct the I93C/F140C derivative. Expression of I93C/F140C immediately arrested growth whether wild-type LolA was present or not. However, this dominant negative phenotype was abolished by reducing agents, indicating that the intramolecular disulfide bonding between the two Cys residues is lethal. I93C/F140C was unstable, and its periplasmic level was lower than that of wild-type LolA or its single Cys derivative. Reduction of I93C/F140C was essential for the release of lipoproteins from the inner membrane. Moreover, treatment of I93C/F140C with divalent cross-linkers having different side chain lengths revealed that opening of the lid for a sufficient distance is required for the release activity. The binding of a fluorescent probe to the hydrophobic cavity of I93C/F140C also depended on reducing agents. Taken together, these results indicate that the two Cys residues introduced into LolA function as a redox switch, which regulates the opening and closing of the hydrophobic cavity.

Opening and closing of the hydrophobic cavity of LolA coupled to lipoprotein binding and release.

Outer membrane-specific lipoproteins of Escherichia coli are released from the inner membrane through the action of Lol-CDE, which leads to the formation of a complex between the lipoprotein and LolA, a periplasmic chaperone. LolA then transfers lipoproteins to LolB, a receptor in the outer membrane. The structures of LolA and LolB are very similar, having an incomplete beta-barrel covered with an alpha-helical lid forming a hydrophobic cavity inside. The cavity of LolA, but not that of LolB, is closed and thus inaccessible to the bulk solvent. Previous studies suggested that Arg at position 43 of LolA is critical for maintaining this closed structure. We show here, through a crystallographic study, that the cavity of the LolA(R43L) mutant, in which Leu replaces Arg-43, is indeed open to the external milieu. We then found that the binding of a fluorescence probe distinguishes the open/close state of the cavity. Furthermore, it was revealed that the hydrophobic cavity of LolA opens upon the binding of lipoproteins. Such a liganded LolA was found to be inactive in the release of lipoproteins from the inner membrane. On the other hand, the liganded LolA became fully functional when lipoproteins were removed from LolA by detergent treatment or transferred to LolB. Free LolA thus formed was inaccessible to a fluorescence probe. These results, taken together, reveal the LolA cycle, in which the hydrophobic cavity undergoes opening and closing upon the binding and release of lipoproteins, respectively.

Hydrophobic interactions between the secondary structures on the molecular surface reinforce the alkaline stability of serine protease.

We employed random mutagenesis to determine the region of the initial unfolding of hyper-alkaline-sensitive subtilisin, ALP I, that precedes the denaturation of the entire protein under highly alkaline conditions. This region comprises two alpha-helices and a calcium-binding loop. Stabilization of the region caused the stabilization of the entire protein at a high alkaline pH 12. The alkaline stability of this region was most effectively improved by hydrophobic interactions, followed by ionic interactions with Arg residues. The effect of mutations on the improvement was different with regard to the alkaline stability and thermostability. This indicated that different strategies were necessary to improve the alkaline stability and thermostability of the protein.