THz streak camera performance for single-shot characterization of XUV pulses with complex temporal structures.

The THz-field-driven streak camera has proven to be a powerful diagnostic-technique that enables the shot-to-shot characterization of the duration and the arrival time jitter of free electron laser (FEL) pulses. Here we investigate the performance of three computational approaches capable to determine the duration of FEL pulses with complex temporal structures from single-shot measurements of up to three simultaneously recorded spectra. We use numerically simulated FEL pulses in order to validate the accuracy of the pulse length retrieval in average as well as in a single-shot mode. We discuss requirements for the THz field strength in order to achieve reliable results and compare our numerical study with the analysis of experimental data that were obtained at the FEL in Hamburg - FLASH.

Sensor Histidine Kinase NarQ Activates via Helical Rotation, Diagonal Scissoring, and Eventually Piston-Like Shifts.

Membrane-embedded sensor histidine kinases (HKs) and chemoreceptors are used ubiquitously by bacteria and archaea to percept the environment, and are often crucial for their survival and pathogenicity. The proteins can transmit the signal from the sensor domain to the catalytic kinase domain reliably over the span of several hundreds of angstroms, and regulate the activity of the cognate response regulator proteins, with which they form two-component signaling systems (TCSs). Several mechanisms of transmembrane signal transduction in TCS receptors have been proposed, dubbed (swinging) piston, helical rotation, and diagonal scissoring. Yet, despite decades of studies, there is no consensus on whether these mechanisms are common for all TCS receptors. Here, we extend our previous work on Escherichia coli nitrate/nitrite sensor kinase NarQ. We determined a crystallographic structure of the sensor-TM-HAMP fragment of the R50S mutant, which, unexpectedly, was found in a ligand-bound-like conformation, despite an inability to bind nitrate. Subsequently, we reanalyzed the structures of the ligand-free and ligand-bound NarQ and NarX sensor domains, and conducted extensive molecular dynamics simulations of ligand-free and ligand-bound wild type and mutated NarQ. Based on the data, we show that binding of nitrate to NarQ causes, first and foremost, helical rotation and diagonal scissoring of the α-helices at the core of the sensor domain. These conformational changes are accompanied by a subtle piston-like motion, which is amplified by a switch in the secondary structure of the linker between the sensor and TM domains. We conclude that helical rotation, diagonal scissoring, and piston are simply different degrees of freedom in coiled-coil proteins and are not mutually exclusive in NarQ, and likely in other nitrate sensors and TCS proteins as well.

Extensive targeting of chemical space at the prime side of ketoamide inhibitors of rhomboid proteases by branched substituents empowers their selectivity and potency.

Rhomboid intramembrane serine proteases have been implicated in several pathologies, and emerge as attractive pharmacological target candidates. The most potent and selective rhomboid inhibitors available to date are peptidyl α-ketoamides, but their selectivity for diverse rhomboid proteases and strategies to modulate it in relevant contexts are poorly understood. This gap, together with the lack of suitable in vitro models, hinders ketoamide development for relevant eukaryotic rhomboid enzymes. Here we explore the structure-activity relationship principles of rhomboid inhibiting ketoamides by medicinal chemistry and enzymatic in vitro and in-cell assays with recombinant rhomboid proteases GlpG, human mitochondrial rhomboid PARL and human RHBDL2. We use X-ray crystallography in lipidic cubic phase to understand the binding mode of one of the best ketoamide inhibitors synthesized here containing a branched terminal substituent bound to GlpG. In addition, to extend the interpretation of the co-crystal structure, we use quantum mechanical calculations and quantify the relative importance of interactions along the inhibitor molecule. These combined experimental analyses implicates that more extensive exploration of chemical space at the prime side is unexpectedly powerful for the selectivity of rhomboid inhibiting ketoamides. Together with variations in the peptide sequence at the non-prime side, or its non-peptidic alternatives, this strategy enables targeted tailoring of potent and selective ketoamides towards diverse rhomboid proteases including disease-relevant ones such as PARL and RHBDL2.

Structure-based insights into evolution of rhodopsins.

Rhodopsins, most of which are proton pumps generating transmembrane electrochemical proton gradients, span all three domains of life, are abundant in the biosphere, and could play a crucial role in the early evolution of life on earth. Whereas archaeal and bacterial proton pumps are among the best structurally characterized proteins, rhodopsins from unicellular eukaryotes have not been well characterized. To fill this gap in the current understanding of the proton pumps and to gain insight into the evolution of rhodopsins using a structure-based approach, we performed a structural and functional analysis of the light-driven proton pump LR (Mac) from the pathogenic fungus Leptosphaeria maculans. The first high-resolution structure of fungi rhodopsin and its functional properties reveal the striking similarity of its membrane part to archaeal but not to bacterial rhodopsins. We show that an unusually long N-terminal region stabilizes the protein through direct interaction with its extracellular loop (ECL2). We compare to our knowledge all available structures and sequences of outward light-driven proton pumps and show that eukaryotic and archaeal proton pumps, most likely, share a common ancestor.

Demonstration of electron diffraction from membrane protein crystals grown in a lipidic mesophase after lamella preparation by focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperatures.

Electron crystallography of sub-micrometre-sized 3D protein crystals has emerged recently as a valuable field of structural biology. In meso crystallization methods, utilizing lipidic mesophases, particularly lipidic cubic phases (LCPs), can produce high-quality 3D crystals of membrane proteins (MPs). A major step towards realizing 3D electron crystallography of MP crystals, grown in meso, is to demonstrate electron diffraction from such crystals. The first task is to remove the viscous and sticky lipidic matrix that surrounds the crystals without damaging the crystals. Additionally, the crystals have to be thin enough to let electrons traverse them without significant multiple scattering. In the present work, the concept that focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperatures (cryo-FIB milling) can be used to remove excess host lipidic mesophase matrix is experimentally verified, and then the crystals are thinned to a thickness suitable for electron diffraction. In this study, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) crystals grown in a lipidic cubic mesophase of monoolein were used as a model system. LCP from a part of a hexagon-shaped plate-like BR crystal (∼10 µm in thickness and ∼70 µm in the longest dimension), which was flash-frozen in liquid nitro-gen, was milled away with a gallium FIB under cryogenic conditions, and a part of the crystal itself was thinned into a ∼210 nm-thick lamella with the ion beam. The frozen sample was then transferred into an electron cryo-microscope, and a nanovolume of ∼1400 × 1400 × 210 nm of the BR lamella was exposed to 200 kV electrons at a fluence of ∼0.06 e Å-2. The resulting electron diffraction peaks were detected beyond 2.7 Šresolution (with an average peak height to background ratio of >2) by a CMOS-based Ceta 16M camera. The results demonstrate that cryo-FIB milling produces high-quality lamellae from crystals grown in lipidic mesophases and pave the way for 3D electron crystallography on crystals grown or embedded in highly viscous media.

Small-wedge synchrotron and serial XFEL datasets for Cysteinyl leukotriene GPCRs.

Structural studies of challenging targets such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have accelerated during the last several years due to the development of new approaches, including small-wedge and serial crystallography. Here, we describe the deposition of seven datasets consisting of X-ray diffraction images acquired from lipidic cubic phase (LCP) grown microcrystals of two human GPCRs, Cysteinyl leukotriene receptors 1 and 2 (CysLT1R and CysLT2R), in complex with various antagonists. Five datasets were collected using small-wedge synchrotron crystallography (SWSX) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility with multiple crystals under cryo-conditions. Two datasets were collected using X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at the Linac Coherent Light Source, with microcrystals delivered at room temperature into the beam within LCP matrix by a viscous media microextrusion injector. All seven datasets have been deposited in the open-access databases Zenodo and CXIDB. Here, we describe sample preparation and annotate crystallization conditions for each partial and full datasets. We also document full processing pipelines and provide wrapper scripts for SWSX and SFX data processing.

Author Correction: Small-wedge synchrotron and serial XFEL datasets for Cysteinyl leukotriene GPCRs.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00759-w.

Structure and mechanisms of sodium-pumping KR2 rhodopsin.

Rhodopsins are the most universal biological light-energy transducers and abundant phototrophic mechanisms that evolved on Earth and have a remarkable diversity and potential for biotechnological applications. Recently, the first sodium-pumping rhodopsin KR2 from Krokinobacter eikastus was discovered and characterized. However, the existing structures of KR2 are contradictory, and the mechanism of Na+ pumping is not yet understood. Here, we present a structure of the cationic (non H+) light-driven pump at physiological pH in its pentameric form. We also present 13 atomic structures and functional data on the KR2 and its mutants, including potassium pumps, which show that oligomerization of the microbial rhodopsin is obligatory for its biological function. The studies reveal the structure of KR2 at nonphysiological low pH where it acts as a proton pump. The structure provides new insights into the mechanisms of microbial rhodopsins and opens the way to a rational design of novel cation pumps for optogenetics.

Structure-based mechanism of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor inhibition by antiasthmatic drugs.

The G protein-coupled cysteinyl leukotriene receptor CysLT1R mediates inflammatory processes and plays a major role in numerous disorders, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Selective CysLT1R antagonists are widely prescribed as antiasthmatic drugs; however, these drugs demonstrate low effectiveness in some patients and exhibit a variety of side effects. To gain deeper understanding into the functional mechanisms of CysLTRs, we determined the crystal structures of CysLT1R bound to two chemically distinct antagonists, zafirlukast and pranlukast. The structures reveal unique ligand-binding modes and signaling mechanisms, including lateral ligand access to the orthosteric pocket between transmembrane helices TM4 and TM5, an atypical pattern of microswitches, and a distinct four-residue-coordinated sodium site. These results provide important insights and structural templates for rational discovery of safer and more effective drugs.

Unique structure and function of viral rhodopsins.

Recently, two groups of rhodopsin genes were identified in large double-stranded DNA viruses. The structure and function of viral rhodopsins are unknown. We present functional characterization and high-resolution structure of an Organic Lake Phycodnavirus rhodopsin II (OLPVRII) of group 2. It forms a pentamer, with a symmetrical, bottle-like central channel with the narrow vestibule in the cytoplasmic part covered by a ring of 5 arginines, whereas 5 phenylalanines form a hydrophobic barrier in its exit. The proton donor E42 is placed in the helix B. The structure is unique among the known rhodopsins. Structural and functional data and molecular dynamics suggest that OLPVRII might be a light-gated pentameric ion channel analogous to pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, however, future patch clamp experiments should prove this directly. The data shed light on a fundamentally distinct branch of rhodopsins and may contribute to the understanding of virus-host interactions in ecologically important marine protists.

Structural insights into ion conduction by channelrhodopsin 2.

The light-gated ion channel channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a major optogenetic tool. Photon absorption starts a well-characterized photocycle, but the structural basis for the regulation of channel opening remains unclear. We present high-resolution structures of ChR2 and the C128T mutant, which has a markedly increased open-state lifetime. The structure reveals two cavities on the intracellular side and two cavities on the extracellular side. They are connected by extended hydrogen-bonding networks involving water molecules and side-chain residues. Central is the retinal Schiff base that controls and synchronizes three gates that separate the cavities. Separate from this network is the DC gate that comprises a water-mediated bond between C128 and D156 and interacts directly with the retinal Schiff base. Comparison with the C128T structure reveals a direct connection of the DC gate to the central gate and suggests how the gating mechanism is affected by subtle tuning of the Schiff base's interactions.

Fast iodide-SAD phasing for high-throughput membrane protein structure determination.

We describe a fast, easy, and potentially universal method for the de novo solution of the crystal structures of membrane proteins via iodide-single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (I-SAD). The potential universality of the method is based on a common feature of membrane proteins-the availability at the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface of positively charged amino acid residues with which iodide strongly interacts. We demonstrate the solution using I-SAD of four crystal structures representing different classes of membrane proteins, including a human G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), and we show that I-SAD can be applied using data collection strategies based on either standard or serial x-ray crystallography techniques.

Mechanism of transmembrane signaling by sensor histidine kinases.

One of the major and essential classes of transmembrane (TM) receptors, present in all domains of life, is sensor histidine kinases, parts of two-component signaling systems (TCSs). The structural mechanisms of TM signaling by these sensors are poorly understood. We present crystal structures of the periplasmic sensor domain, the TM domain, and the cytoplasmic HAMP domain of the Escherichia coli nitrate/nitrite sensor histidine kinase NarQ in the ligand-bound and mutated ligand-free states. The structures reveal that the ligand binding induces rearrangements and pistonlike shifts of TM helices. The HAMP domain protomers undergo leverlike motions and convert these pistonlike motions into helical rotations. Our findings provide the structural framework for complete understanding of TM TCS signaling and for development of antimicrobial treatments targeting TCSs.

Inward H+ pump xenorhodopsin: Mechanism and alternative optogenetic approach.

Generation of an electrochemical proton gradient is the first step of cell bioenergetics. In prokaryotes, the gradient is created by outward membrane protein proton pumps. Inward plasma membrane native proton pumps are yet unknown. We describe comprehensive functional studies of the representatives of the yet noncharacterized xenorhodopsins from Nanohaloarchaea family of microbial rhodopsins. They are inward proton pumps as we demonstrate in model membrane systems, Escherichia coli cells, human embryonic kidney cells, neuroblastoma cells, and rat hippocampal neuronal cells. We also solved the structure of a xenorhodopsin from the nanohalosarchaeon Nanosalina (NsXeR) and suggest a mechanism of inward proton pumping. We demonstrate that the NsXeR is a powerful pump, which is able to elicit action potentials in rat hippocampal neuronal cells up to their maximal intrinsic firing frequency. Hence, inwardly directed proton pumps are suitable for light-induced remote control of neurons, and they are an alternative to the well-known cation-selective channelrhodopsins.

Structure of the light-driven sodium pump KR2 and its implications for optogenetics.

A key and common process present in organisms from all domains of life is the maintenance of the ion gradient between the inside and the outside of the cell. The gradient is generated by various active transporters, among which are the light-driven ion pumps of the microbial rhodopsin family. Whereas the proton-pumping and anion-pumping rhodopsins have been known for a long time, the cation (sodium) pumps were described only recently. Following the discovery, high-resolution atomic structures of the pump KR2 were determined that revealed the complete ion translocation pathway, including the positions of the characteristic Asn-Asp-Gln (NDQ) triad, the unusual ion uptake cavity acting as a selectivity filter, the unique N-terminal α-helix, capping the ion release cavity, and unexpected flexibility of the retinal-binding pocket. The structures also revealed pentamerization of KR2 and binding of sodium ions at the interface. Finally, on the basis of the structures, potassium-pumping KR2 variants have been designed, making the findings even more important for optogenetic applications. In this Structural Snapshot, we analyse the implications of the structural findings for understanding the sodium translocation mechanism and application of the pump and its mutants in optogenetics.

An Approach to Heterologous Expression of Membrane Proteins. The Case of Bacteriorhodopsin.

Heterologous overexpression of functional membrane proteins is a major bottleneck of structural biology. Bacteriorhodopsin from Halobium salinarum (bR) is a striking example of the difficulties in membrane protein overexpression. We suggest a general approach with a finite number of steps which allows one to localize the underlying problem of poor expression of a membrane protein using bR as an example. Our approach is based on constructing chimeric proteins comprising parts of a protein of interest and complementary parts of a homologous protein demonstrating advantageous expression. This complementary protein approach allowed us to increase bR expression by two orders of magnitude through the introduction of two silent mutations into bR coding DNA. For the first time the high quality crystals of bR expressed in E. Coli were obtained using the produced protein. The crystals obtained with in meso nanovolume crystallization diffracted to 1.67 Å.

Structural and functional investigation of flavin binding center of the NqrC subunit of sodium-translocating NADH:quinone oxidoreductase from Vibrio harveyi.

Na+-translocating NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (NQR) is a redox-driven sodium pump operating in the respiratory chain of various bacteria, including pathogenic species. The enzyme has a unique set of redox active prosthetic groups, which includes two covalently bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN) residues attached to threonine residues in subunits NqrB and NqrC. The reason of FMN covalent bonding in the subunits has not been established yet. In the current work, binding of free FMN to the apo-form of NqrC from Vibrio harveyi was studied showing very low affinity of NqrC to FMN in the absence of its covalent bonding. To study structural aspects of flavin binding in NqrC, its holo-form was crystallized and its 3D structure was solved at 1.56 Å resolution. It was found that the isoalloxazine moiety of the FMN residue is buried in a hydrophobic cavity and that its pyrimidine ring is squeezed between hydrophobic amino acid residues while its benzene ring is extended from the protein surroundings. This structure of the flavin-binding pocket appears to provide flexibility of the benzene ring, which can help the FMN residue to take the bended conformation and thus to stabilize the one-electron reduced form of the prosthetic group. These properties may also lead to relatively weak noncovalent binding of the flavin. This fact along with periplasmic location of the FMN-binding domains in the vast majority of NqrC-like proteins may explain the necessity of the covalent bonding of this prosthetic group to prevent its loss to the external medium.

Crystal structure of a light-driven sodium pump.

Recently, the first known light-driven sodium pumps, from the microbial rhodopsin family, were discovered. We have solved the structure of one of them, Krokinobacter eikastus rhodopsin 2 (KR2), in the monomeric blue state and in two pentameric red states, at resolutions of 1.45 Å and 2.2 and 2.8 Å, respectively. The structures reveal the ion-translocation pathway and show that the sodium ion is bound outside the protein at the oligomerization interface, that the ion-release cavity is capped by a unique N-terminal α-helix and that the ion-uptake cavity is unexpectedly large and open to the surface. Obstruction of the cavity with the mutation G263F imparts KR2 with the ability to pump potassium. These results pave the way for the understanding and rational design of cation pumps with new specific properties valuable for optogenetics.

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli-expressed Haloarcula marismortui bacteriorhodopsin I in the trimeric form.

Bacteriorhodopsins are a large family of seven-helical transmembrane proteins that function as light-driven proton pumps. Here, we present the crystal structure of a new member of the family, Haloarcula marismortui bacteriorhodopsin I (HmBRI) D94N mutant, at the resolution of 2.5 Å. While the HmBRI retinal-binding pocket and proton donor site are similar to those of other archaeal proton pumps, its proton release region is extended and contains additional water molecules. The protein's fold is reinforced by three novel inter-helical hydrogen bonds, two of which result from double substitutions relative to Halobacterium salinarum bacteriorhodopsin and other similar proteins. Despite the expression in Escherichia coli and consequent absence of native lipids, the protein assembles as a trimer in crystals. The unique extended loop between the helices D and E of HmBRI makes contacts with the adjacent protomer and appears to stabilize the interface. Many lipidic hydrophobic tail groups are discernible in the membrane region, and their positions are similar to those of archaeal isoprenoid lipids in the crystals of other proton pumps, isolated from native or native-like sources. All these features might explain the HmBRI properties and establish the protein as a novel model for the microbial rhodopsin proton pumping studies.