Solution structure, copper binding and backbone dynamics of recombinant Ber e 1-the major allergen from Brazil nut.

BACKGROUND: The 2S albumin Ber e 1 is the major allergen in Brazil nuts. Previous findings indicated that the protein alone does not cause an allergenic response in mice, but the addition of components from a Brazil nut lipid fraction were required. Structural details of Ber e 1 may contribute to the understanding of the allergenic properties of the protein and its potential interaction partners. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The solution structure of recombinant Ber e 1 was solved using NMR spectroscopy and measurements of the protein back bone dynamics at a residue-specific level were extracted using (15)N-spin relaxation. A hydrophobic cavity was identified in the structure of Ber e 1. Using the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement property of Cu(2+) in conjunction with NMR, it was shown that Ber e 1 is able to specifically interact with the divalent copper ion and the binding site was modeled into the structure. The IgE binding region as well as the copper binding site show increased dynamics on both fast ps-ns timescale as well as slower µs-ms timescale. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The overall fold of Ber e 1 is similar to other 2S albumins, but the hydrophobic cavity resembles that of a homologous non-specific lipid transfer protein. Ber e 1 is the first 2S albumin shown to interact with Cu(2+) ions. This Cu(2+) binding has minimal effect on the electrostatic potential on the surface of the protein, but the charge distribution within the hydrophobic cavity is significantly altered. As the hydrophobic cavity is likely to be involved in a putative lipid interaction the Cu(2+) can in turn affect the interaction that is essential to provoke an allergenic response.

Structure and dynamics of human apolipoprotein CIII.

Human apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) is a surface component of chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins, and high density lipoproteins. ApoCIII inhibits lipoprotein lipase as well as binding of lipoproteins to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans and receptors. High levels of apoCIII are often correlated with elevated levels of blood lipids (hypertriglyceridemia). Here, we report the three-dimensional NMR structure and dynamics of human apo-CIII in complex with SDS micelles, mimicking its natural lipid-bound state. Thanks to residual dipolar coupling data, the first detailed view is obtained of the structure and dynamics of an intact apolipoprotein in its lipid-bound state. ApoCIII wraps around the micelle surface as a necklace of six approximately 10-residue amphipathic helices, which are curved and connected via semiflexible hinges. Three positively charged (Lys) residues line the polar faces of helices 1 and 2. Interestingly, their three-dimensional conformation is similar to that of the low density lipoprotein receptor binding motifs of apoE/B and the receptor-associated protein. At the C-terminal side of apoCIII, an array of negatively charged residues lines the polar faces of helices 4 and 5 and the adjacent flexible loop. Sequence comparison shows that this asymmetric charge distribution along the solvent-exposed face of apoCIII as well as other structural features are conserved among mammals. This structure provides a template for exploration of molecular mechanisms by which human apoCIII inhibits lipoprotein lipase and receptor binding.

Solution structure of the apical stem-loop of the human hepatitis B virus encapsidation signal.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is initiated by HBV RT binding to the highly conserved encapsidation signal, epsilon, at the 5' end of the RNA pregenome. Epsilon contains an apical stem-loop, whose residues are either totally conserved or show rare non-disruptive mutations. Here we present the structure of the apical stem-loop based on NOE, RDC and (1)H chemical shift NMR data. The (1)H chemical shifts proved to be crucial to define the loop conformation. The loop sequence 5'-CUGUGC-3' folds into a UGU triloop with a CG closing base pair and a bulged out C and hence forms a pseudo-triloop, a proposed protein recognition motif. In the UGU loop conformations most consistent with experimental data, the guanine nucleobase is located on the minor groove face and the two uracil bases on the major groove face. The underlying helix is disrupted by a conserved non-paired U bulge. This U bulge adopts multiple conformations, with the nucleobase being located either in the major groove or partially intercalated in the helix from the minor groove side, and bends the helical stem. The pseudo-triloop motif, together with the U bulge, may represent important anchor points for the initial recognition of epsilon by the viral RT.

Tryptophan-BODIPY: a versatile donor-acceptor pair for probing generic changes of intraprotein distances.

We demonstrate that Tryptophan (Trp) and N-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-yl)methyl iodoacetamide (BODIPY) is a suitable donor-acceptor (D-A) pair for intraprotein distance measurements, applicable to the study of protein folding. The suitability of the Trp-BODIPY electronic energy transfer is exemplified on the extensively-characterised two-state protein, S6, from Thermus thermophilus. This protein has proved to be useful for the elucidation of folding cooperativity and nucleation, as well as the changes upon induction of structural transitions. For a comprehensive structural coverage, BODIPY molecules were anchored by Cys insertions at four different positions on the S6 surface. Trp residues at position 33 or 62 acted as donors of electronic energy to the BODIPY groups. None of the D-A pairs show any detectable difference in the folding kinetics (or protein stability), which supports the notion that the two-state transition of S6 is a highly concerted process. Similar results are obtained for mutants affecting the N- and C-terminus. The kinetic analyses indicate that changes of the transition state occur through local unfolding of the native state, rather than by a decrease of the folding cooperativity. The distances obtained from the analysis of the time-resolved fluorescence experiments in the native state were compared to those calculated from X-ray structure. As an additional measure, molecular dynamics simulations of the different protein constructs were performed to account for variability in the BODIPY location on the protein surface. The agreement between fluorescence and X-ray data is quite convincing, and shows that energy transfer measurements between Trp and BODIPY can probe distances between ca. 17 to 34 A, with an error better than 10%.