Gradient reconstitution of membrane proteins for solid-state NMR studies.

We here adapted the GRecon method used in electron microscopy studies for membrane protein reconstitution to the needs of solid-state NMR sample preparation. We followed in detail the reconstitution of the ABC transporter BmrA by dialysis as a reference, and established optimal reconstitution conditions using the combined sucrose/cyclodextrin/lipid gradient characterizing GRecon. We established conditions under which quantitative reconstitution of active protein at low lipid-to-protein ratios can be obtained, and also how to upscale these conditions in order to produce adequate amounts for NMR. NMR spectra recorded on a sample produced by GRecon showed a highly similar fingerprint as those recorded previously on samples reconstituted by dialysis. GRecon sample preparation presents a gain in time of nearly an order of magnitude for reconstitution, and shall represent a valuable alternative in solid-state NMR membrane protein sample preparation.

Variability and conservation of structural domains in divide-and-conquer approaches.

The use of protein building blocks for the structure determination of multidomain proteins and protein-protein complexes, also known as the "divide and conquer" approach, is an important strategy for obtaining protein structures. Atomic-resolution X-ray or NMR data of the individual domains are combined with lower-resolution electron microscopy maps or X-ray data of the full-length protein or the protein complex. Doing so, it is often assumed that the individual domain structures remain invariant in the context of the superstructure. In this work, we show the potentials and limitations of NMR to validate this approach at the example of the dodecameric DnaB helicase from Helicobacter pylori. We investigate how sequentially assigned spectra, as well as unassigned spectral fingerprints can be used to indicate the conservation of individual domains, and also to highlight conformational differences.

Solid-state NMR chemical-shift perturbations indicate domain reorientation of the DnaG primase in the primosome of Helicobacter pylori.

We here investigate the interactions between the DnaB helicase and the C-terminal domain of the corresponding DnaG primase of Helicobacter pylori using solid-state NMR. The difficult crystallization of this 387 kDa complex, where the two proteins interact in a six to three ratio, is circumvented by simple co-sedimentation of the two proteins directly into the MAS-NMR rotor. While the amount of information that can be extracted from such a large protein is still limited, we can assign a number of amino-acid residues experiencing significant chemical-shift perturbations upon helicase-primase complex formation. The location of these residues is used as a guide to model the interaction interface between the two proteins in the complex. Chemical-shift perturbations also reveal changes at the interaction interfaces of the hexameric HpDnaB assembly on HpDnaG binding. A structural model of the complex that explains the experimental findings is obtained.

Quadruple-resonance magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy of deuterated solid proteins.

(1)H-detected magic-angle spinning NMR experiments facilitate structural biology of solid proteins, which requires using deuterated proteins. However, often amide protons cannot be back-exchanged sufficiently, because of a possible lack of solvent exposure. For such systems, using (2)H excitation instead of (1)H excitation can be beneficial because of the larger abundance and shorter longitudinal relaxation time, T1, of deuterium. A new structure determination approach, "quadruple-resonance NMR spectroscopy", is presented which relies on an efficient (2)H-excitation and (2)H-(13)C cross-polarization (CP) step, combined with (1)H detection. We show that by using (2)H-excited experiments better sensitivity is possible on an SH3 sample recrystallized from 30 % H2O. For a membrane protein, the ABC transporter ArtMP in native lipid bilayers, different sets of signals can be observed from different initial polarization pathways, which can be evaluated further to extract structural properties.

A sedimented sample of a 59†kDa dodecameric helicase yields high-resolution solid-state NMR spectra.

Crystal clear: Preparing solid-state NMR samples that yield high-resolution spectra displaying high sensitivity is time-consuming and complicated. A sample of the 59 kDa protein DnaB, prepared simply by preparative centrifugation, provides spectra that are as good as the ones from carefully grown microcrystals.

A MAS NMR study of the bacterial ABC transporter ArtMP.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport systems facilitate the translocation of substances, like amino acids, across cell membranes energised by ATP hydrolysis. This work describes first structural studies on the ABC transporter ArtMP from Geobacillus stearothermophilus in native lipid environment by magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. The 2D crystals of ArtMP and 3D crystals of isolated ArtP were prepared in different nucleotide-bound or -unbound states. From selectively (13)C,(15)N-labelled ArtP, several sequence-specific assignments were obtained, most of which could be transferred to spectra of ArtMP. Residues Tyr133 and Pro134 protrude directly into the ATP-binding pocket at the interface of the ArtP subunits, and hence, are sensitive monitors for structural changes during nucleotide binding and hydrolysis. Distinct sets of NMR shifts were obtained for ArtP with different phosphorylation states of the ligand. Indications were found for an asymmetric or inhomogeneous state of the ArtP dimer bound with triphosphorylated nucleotides. With this investigation, a model system was established for screening all functional states occurring in one ABC transporter in native lipid environment.

Flexible-to-rigid transition is central for substrate transport in the ABC transporter BmrA from Bacillus subtilis.

ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporters are molecular pumps that translocate molecules across the cell membrane by switching between inward-facing and outward-facing states. To obtain a detailed understanding of their mechanism remains a challenge to structural biology, as these proteins are notoriously difficult to study at the molecular level in their active, membrane-inserted form. Here we use solid-state NMR to investigate the multidrug ABC transporter BmrA reconstituted in lipids. We identify the chemical-shift differences between the inward-facing, and outward-facing state induced by ATP:Mg2+:Vi addition. Analysis of an X-loop mutant, for which we show that ATPase and transport activities are uncoupled, reveals an incomplete transition to the outward-facing state upon ATP:Mg2+:Vi addition, notably lacking the decrease in dynamics of a defined set of residues observed in wild-type BmrA. This suggests that this stiffening is required for an efficient transmission of the conformational changes to allow proper transport of substrate by the pump.

Mapping putative contact sites between subunits in a bacterial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter by synthetic peptide libraries.

The maltose ATP-binding cassette transporter of Salmonella typhimurium is composed of the soluble periplasmic receptor, MalE, and a membrane-associated complex comprising one copy each of the pore-forming hydrophobic subunits, MalF and MalG, and of a homodimer of the ATP-hydrolyzing subunit, MalK. During the transport process the subunits are thought to undergo conformational changes that might transiently alter molecular contacts between MalFG and MalK(2). In order to map sites of subunit-subunit interactions we have used a comprehensive peptide mapping approach comprising large-scale microsynthesis of labelled probes and array techniques. In particular, we screened the binding of (i) MalFG-derived soluble biotinylated peptides to immobilized MalK, and (ii) radiolabelled MalK to MalFG-derived cellulose membrane-bound peptides. The first approach identified seven peptides (10mers) each of MalF and MalG that specifically bound to MalK. The peptides were localized to TMDs 3 and 6, periplasmic loop P4 and cytoplasmic loops C2 and C3 of MalF, while MalG-derived peptides localized to the N terminus, TMDs 4-6, periplasmic loop P1 and cytoplasmic loop C2. Peptides from C3 and C2, respectively, of MalF and MalG partially encompass the conserved EAA-motif, known to be crucial for interaction with MalK. These results were basically confirmed by screening MalFG-derived peptide arrays consisting of 16mers or 31mers with radiolabelled MalK. This approach also allowed us to perform complete substitutional analyses of peptides in question. The results led to the construction of MalFG variants that were subsequently analyzed for functional consequences in vivo. Growth experiments revealed that most of the mutations had no phenotype, suggesting that the mutated residues themselves are not critical but part of a discontinuous binding site. However, two novel mutations affecting residues from the EAA motifs of MalF (Ile417Glu) and MalG (Phe203Gln/Asn), respectively, displayed severe growth defects, indicating their functional importance. Together, these experimental outcomes identify specific molecular contacts made between MalK and MalFG that extend beyond the well-characterized EAA motif.

Sample Preparation for Membrane Protein Structural Studies by Solid-State NMR.

Conformational studies of membrane proteins remain a challenge in the field of structural biology, and in particular the investigation of the proteins in a native-like lipid environment. Solid-state NMR presents a valuable opportunity for this, and we present here three critical steps in the solid-state NMR sample preparation, i.e., membrane reconstitution of the protein in native lipids, rotor filling, and sample quality assessment, at the example of the Bacillus subtilis ATP-binding cassette transporter BmrA.

Solid-state NMR sequential assignments of the N-terminal domain of HpDnaB helicase.

We present solid-state NMR assignments of the N-terminal domain of the DnaB helicase from Helicobacter pylori (153 residues) in its microcrystalline form. We use a sequential resonance assignment strategy based on three-dimensional NMR experiments. The resonance assignments obtained are compared with automated resonance assignments computed with the ssFLYA algorithm. An analysis of the (13)C secondary chemical shifts determines the position of the secondary structure elements in this α-helical protein.

Efficient and stable reconstitution of the ABC transporter BmrA for solid-state NMR studies.

We present solid-state NMR sample preparation and first 2D spectra of the Bacillus subtilis ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter BmrA, a membrane protein involved in multidrug resistance. The homodimeric 130-kDa protein is a challenge for structural characterization due to its membrane-bound nature, size, inherent flexibility and insolubility. We show that reconstitution of this protein in lipids from Bacillus subtilis at a lipid-protein ratio of 0.5 w/w allows for optimal protein insertion in lipid membranes with respect to two central NMR requirements, high signal-to-noise in the spectra and sample stability over a time period of months. The obtained spectra point to a well-folded protein and a highly homogenous preparation, as witnessed by the narrow resonance lines and the signal dispersion typical for the expected secondary structure distribution of BmrA. This opens the way for studies of the different conformational states of the transporter in the export cycle, as well as on interactions with substrates, via chemical-shift fingerprints and sequential resonance assignments.

Solid-state magic-angle spinning NMR of membrane proteins and protein-ligand interactions.

Structural biology is developing into a universal tool for visualizing biological processes in space and time at atomic resolution. The field has been built by established methodology like X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and solution NMR and is now incorporating new techniques, such as small-angle X-ray scattering, electron tomography, magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR and femtosecond X-ray protein nanocrystallography. These new techniques all seek to investigate non-crystalline, native-like biological material. Solid-state NMR is a relatively young technique that has just proven its capabilities for de novo structure determination of model proteins. Further developments promise great potential for investigations on functional biological systems such as membrane-integrated receptors and channels, and macromolecular complexes attached to cytoskeletal proteins. Here, we review the development and applications of solid-state NMR from the first proof-of-principle investigations to mature structure determination projects, including membrane proteins. We describe the development of the methodology by looking at examples in detail and provide an outlook towards future 'big' projects.