Backbone resonance assignments for the SET domain of human methyltransferase NSD3 in complex with its cofactor.

NSD3 is a histone H3 methyltransferase that plays an important role in chromatin biology. A construct containing the methyltransferase domain encompassing residues Q1049-K1299 of human NSD3 was obtained and biochemical activity was demonstrated using histone as a substrate. Here we report the backbone HN, N, Cα, C', and side chain Cß assignments of the construct in complex with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). Based on these assignments, secondary structures of NSD3/SAM complex in solution were determined.

The major cockroach allergen Bla g 4 binds tyramine and octopamine.

Bla g 4 is a male cockroach specific protein and is one of the major allergens produced by Blattella germanica (German cockroach). This protein belongs to the lipocalin family that comprises a set of proteins that characteristically bind small hydrophobic molecules and play a role in a number of processes such as: retinoid and pheromone transport, prostaglandin synthesis and mammalian immune response. Using NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry we demonstrated that Bla g 4 binds tyramine and octopamine in solution. In addition, crystal structure analysis of the complex revealed details of tyramine binding. As tyramine and octopamine play important roles in invertebrates, and are counterparts to vertebrate adrenergic transmitters, we speculate that these molecules are physiological ligands for Bla g 4. The nature of binding these ligands to Bla g 4 sheds light on the possible biological function of the protein. In addition, we performed a large-scale analysis of Bla g 4 and Per a 4 (an allergen from American cockroach) homologs to get insights into the function of these proteins. This analysis together with a structural comparison of Blag 4 and Per a 4 suggests that these proteins may play different roles and most likely bind different ligands. Accession numbers: The atomic coordinates and the structure factors have been deposited to the Protein Data Band under accession codes: 4N7C for native Bla g 4 and 4N7D for the Se-Met Bla g 4 structure.

Structures of two major allergens, Bla g 4 and Per a 4, from cockroaches and their IgE binding epitopes.

Inhalant allergens from cockroaches are an important cause of asthma to millions of individuals worldwide. Here we report for the first time the structures of two major cockroach allergens, Bla g 4 and Per a 4, that adopt a typical lipocalin fold but with distinct structural features as compared with other known lipocalin allergens. Both Bla g 4 and Per a 4 contain two long-range disulfide bonds linking the N and C termini to a beta-barrel. The C-terminal helix of Bla g 4 is bent and greatly extended toward the N terminus. Bla g 4 is found to be a monomer, whereas Per a 4 exists as a dimer in solution with a novel dimeric interface involving residues from loops at the top and bottom of the beta-barrel. Putative ligand binding sites of both allergens are determined by docking of the juvenile hormone III inside the beta-barrel and found to interact with the ligand using non-conserved residues. Bla g 4 and Per a 4 are found to be cross-reactive in sera IgE binding, at least in the Singaporean Chinese population tested. A major IgE binding epitope unique to Per a 4 is found on the loops at the bottom of the beta-barrel that may aid the development of hypoallergens for immunotherapy.

NMR structure of a type IVb pilin from Salmonella typhi and its assembly into pilus.

The structure of the N-terminal-truncated Type IVb structural pilin (t-PilS) from Salmonella typhi was determined by NMR. Although topologically similar to the recently determined x-ray structure of pilin from Vibrio cholerae toxin-coregulated pilus, the only Type IVb pilin with known structure, t-PilS contains many distinct structural features. The protein contains an extra pair of beta-strands in the N-terminal alphabeta loop that align with the major beta-strands to form a continuous 7-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet. The C-terminal disulfide-bonded region of t-PilS is only half the length of that of toxin-coregulated pilus pilin. A model of S. typhi pilus has been proposed and mutagenesis studies suggested that residues on both the alphabeta loop and the C-terminal disulfide-bonded region of PilS might be involved in binding specificity of the pilus. This model structure reveals an exposed surface between adjacent subunits of PilS that could be a potential binding site for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.